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I have mixed emotions about this week.  I have been doing really well on counting my calories and eating but my exercise this week has been terrible.  Monday I was sick so we skipped.  Tuesday I only did bout 15 mins of exercise.  Tommy and I both had a lot going on yesterday so we were unable to work out.  Today Spicer is home sick so it will be hard to work out too.  I think I am going to try to work out when he takes a nap.  I hope I am able to at least get 30 mins of some kind of exercise.  The good news is.... I did a spot check on my weight and it looks like I will at least loose a pound this week and maybe more.   So for that I am happy.   I guess I just need to exercise when I can and stop beating myself up about it.  But I will try to get some time in today.   I really miss it!!!!!  On different note...  I highly recommend the new Chicken Berry Almond Salad from Wendy’s.  Very Very Tasty!!!

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I think people who are dieting or trying to lose weight often become afraid of certain foods like pizza or cookies or ice cream.   You can still eat these foods!!! The biggest 2 differences are how much and how often.   I have some then and now's for you.  

Then:  Sharing half of a Mat's Large Extra Cheese Pizza with Tommy and dipping it in their honey butter, 1350cals
Now:  Eating a small slice of cheese pizza at Spicer's block party then eating a smaller dinner because of it, 290cals 

Then:  Eating a med sonic recess peanut butter cup blast, 670 cals
Now:  Eating a junior recess candy sundae, 164 cals

Then:  Eating a bunch of doughnut holes and several doughnuts for Breakfast, 1050cals
Now:  Splitting a doughnut with Tommy, 100 cals

Then:  A McDonald’s chicken biscuit and hash brown and loaded carmel mocha with whipped cream, 847 cals
Now:  Half of a subway breakfast sandwich and a small coffee with one cream and one natural sweetener, 110 cals

Then:  Half a bag of Doritos and French onion dip, 720 cals
Now:  14 lite ranch chips and laughing cow, 105 cals

Then: Pecan Cobbler from Backyard Burger with Ice Cream, 740 cals
Now:  Half of a blackberry cobbler with ice cream from Backyard Burger, 220 cals

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I turned 31 on Saturday.   It has been a wild weekend.  I started out Friday by breaking my toe!!!  I had a weigh in and didn't lose any weight but didn't gain any weight.  I had a wonderful hot stone massage and a pedicure from Tommy.   I had dinner with Tommy, Mom, and Dad at JPs and it was wonderful.  Mom and Dad gave me roses, a picture frame, card, Hello Kitty Jelly Belly's, and a TJ Max's gift card.   Saturday I had ton of phone calls and wishes on facebook including my sweet boy :).   Tommy took me shopping at New York and Company, we went to the movies, had dinner, and enjoyed Adam and the H Bombs at Mother Duncan’s.   I started not feeling good last night and have started to lose my voice a little.  Tommy took care of me, he was so sweet and gave me medicine, put the heating pad on, and brought me coffee and breakfast in bed :).  Now he is headed home with dinner from Olive Garden (Splitting a meal of course) and a brand new printer/scanner combo.  Very Busy weekend but very fun.  31 is gunna be fun!!!!
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Yesterday I had a weigh in.  I didn't want to blog about it.  I didn't loose or gain.  I stayed the exact same weight.  But!!!! I think I have gained a lot and lost a lot.  Here are my gains and losses:
 
I have gained more knowledge about my body. 
I have gained insight about my health. 
I have gained perspective that the number of pounds I loose each week don't matter as much. 
I have lost dress and pant sizes. 
I have lost fat.
I have gained muscle. 


So I guess I do have a lot of losses and gains but in a good way :)
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You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.  ~William D. Tammeus


Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone


Always kiss your children goodnight - even if they're already asleep.  ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.


When you have brought up kids, there are memories you store directly in your tear ducts.  ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

It's hard being a parent!!!!!!!  Spicer has had some very tough last few days.   He has resorted back to some of his negitive behaviors he was having the first of the school year.   He had made a lot of improvments since our last ARC meeting but for whatever reason he tried to settle back into his old ways.   Over the past few years I have learned to understand why my mother was so hard on us.  I understand why she pushed us to do our best.  I understand why she wasn't "the cool mom" becasue she was being a great MOM.   It is easy to parent your child when they are doing well.  It is easy to love them.  But the challenge comes when they are not doing well, when they are not doing thier best.  That is when we are tested as parents.  That is where we question ourselves.   That is where it is easy to give in.   But this is where my son needs me the most.   You try to tell yourself, "You can do this!" but it's hard.   That being said I wouldn't trade it for the world.   I fell in love with my son the second I found out I was going to have a baby.   On Spicer's nightstand is a picture of him in the womb when I was just about 6 weeks pregnant.   In that frame there is a little letter to him telling him how much I love him and how excited I am to meet him.   I have that same excitement to this day every morning I get up to awaken him.   He wakes up and smiles and says my favorite words, "Good Morning Mommy, I love you!"   I love you too Spicer!!!!   I am so proud of you!!!  You make my heart swell!!!   I am honored to be your Mommy!!!!
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I blogged yesterday about me being in some size 16's and some size 18's.   Last night I went through my closet and tried on a few of my old size 16's.  Some of them fit but were not ready to be worn out.  They were WAY too tight!!  But some of them I was able to wear and they fit well.   It felt good to have on a size 16.   Size 14 here I come!!!!  So as tribute to my tight fitting 16's here is a little ditty I am sure most of you know :) 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty....

TIGHT FITTIN' JEANS
Recorded by:  Conway Twitty

(Verse 1)
She tried to hide it by the faded denim clothes she wore.
But I knew she'd never been inside a bar before.
I felt just like a peasant, who just had met a queen
And she knew I saw right through her tight fittin' jeans.

(Verse 2)
I asked her what's a woman, like you doin' here?
I see you're used to champagne, but I'll buy you a beer.
She said you've got me figured out, but I'm not what I seem
And for a dance I'll tell you 'bout these tight fittin' jeans.

(Chorus 1)
She said I married money, I'm used to wearin' pearls
But I've always dreamed of bein' just a good ol' boy's girl.
So tonight I left those crystal candlen lights to live a dream,
And partner there's a tiger in these tight fittin' jeans.

(Verse 3)
We danced every dance, and Lord the beer that we went through.
I'm satisfied I did my best to make her dreams come true.
As she played out her fantasy before my eyes it seemed,
A cowgirl came alive inside those tight fittin' jeans.

(Verse 4)
In my mind she's still a lady, that's all I'm gonna say.
I knew that I'd been broken by the time we parted ways.
And I know I held more woman than most eyes have ever seen
That night I knew a lady wearin' tight fittin' jeans.

(Chorus 2)
Well, now she's back in her world, and I'm still stuck in mine.
But I know I'll always remember the time.
A cowboy once had, a millionaire's dream.
And Lord I loved that lady wearin' tight fittin' jeans.

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I was looking through my last few blogs.  I haven't really been talking about my weight loss.  I pondered why on I hadn't put anything in the blogs about it.  It could be all the flooding we have had and my mind has been elsewhere.   I started to feel a little bad about not adding my weight loss into my blogs.  Then I had an “ah ha” moment.  I think the reason I am not blogging as much about my weight loss is that it has become such a part of my everyday routine I don't feel the need to blog about it.   I wouldn't blog about brushing my teeth or taking a shower or driving to work would I?   I'm not saying I won't blog about my weight loss journey again because I always blog about my weight loss on Fridays and like today as observations come up or I hit milestones.  I am saying it might be less and less as this just becomes old hat to me and part of my daily activity.  Anyone can do what I am doing.  I am only exercising 30 mins a day 5 days a week.   The weights I am lifting with are just Wal-Mart weights, stairs are free, and walking is free!  You don’t have to have a gym membership or spend a ton on some kind of magic diet food or weight loss pills.  ANYONE CAN DO THIS!!!  Just to update you here is where I stand today:

- As of my official weigh in last Friday I have lost a total of 33lbs.   

- I am counting my calories every day and trying to stay under 1400 during the week days and most Sundays. Saturday is my splurge day (but I still count my calories).

- I have gone from a size 22 (a very tight 22 I might add) to a 16 in most clothes (I am still a 18 in some)

-  I am now able to wear an extra-large which lets me shop at almost every major store!!!

- I am exercising 5 days a week

- 3 of the 5 days a week I am lifting weights

- 1 of the 5 days a week I am doing stairs (the toughest part of my workout)

- 1 of the 5 days a week I am riding my bike or walking

-  Each workout is about 30 mins

- I couldn’t have done this without Tommy, he has lost close to 50lbs.  

 
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Happy Mothers Day Mom!!!! I love you so much!!!!!  Thank you for being such an amazing mother and setting a great example!!!

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
~George Cooper

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"When I was in Italy, I learned a word - It's "tutti" with double T, which in Italian means "everybody." So that's the lesson, isn't it? When you set out in the world to help yourself, sometimes you end up helping Tutti. “Elizabeth Gilbert

In 2009, Crystal Galloway started a little paper called Bazooka Paducah.  It's kind of Paducah's Nashville Scene.   Bella has been edgy, honest, and a voice for those of us who often don't agree with the Mainstream.   When the Flood began in our region I started seeing posts on her Facebook organizing help for homes that needed sandbags and getting help to families in need.  This grew into a HQ for folks to get help or find out where to help others.   Almost overnight she went from Edgy Magazine Gal to a voice helping those impacted by the flood.   So a few days ago I had the idea that she needed a little credit for helping.   I emailed several people and asked them if they were interested in helping.  I had a huge response!!! Everyone wanted to help!!!  So we got together a little basket of thanks and presented it to her last night.  She had no idea we were doing this.   She cried but in a good way.   Thank you Bella for all you do!!!


Here is a copy of the letter we gave to her.......


“Tutti” Everybody

“There is a word - "tutti" with double T, which in Italian means "everybody." So that's the lesson, isn't it?  When you set out in the world to help yourself, sometimes you end up helping Tutti.”

Miss Bella,

On behalf of the PEOPLE of Paducah and the surrounding areas we would like to thank you for helping “Tutti”, EVERYBODY!  Sometimes a disaster or tragedy brings out the worst in people but sometimes if you are lucky it brings out the best in people.  My dear, this disaster has brought out the best in you!  We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you have done throughout this flood and all that you continue to do as we move to clean up.   We felt you needed a little love yourself so we put together these tokens of our appreciation.   

Thank You,

Ground Zero Promotions, Daniel and Carla Jones, Tommy McElrath, Elizabeth Blumrick, Steve Johnson, Lake Greer, Tim Whitaker, True North Yoga, Landee Bryant, Maiden Alley Cinema, Jessica Joy, JJ Leatherman Photography

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The Kentucky Derby!!!!!  Ever since I was a little girl I have loved the Horses and the Derby!!!   I allways watch the race.   For the first time in my life last year I bet on the race and won $38!  This year I have three picks.   My picks for the derby: Santiva (he has already won at Churchill in the Ky Jockey Race), Twice the Appeal (Calvin Borel's ride), and Pants On Fire (Gotta go for the little red headed gal!!!!).   We will see who wins!!!  I was really wanting Uncle Moe to win but he had to scratch the Derby due to tummy trouble.   I also started a tradition a few years ago of wearing a hat for derby day.  This year I bought a big brimmed bown floppy hat :)   I am very excited to see the races!!  Enjoy your Mint Julips everyone! CHEERS!
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