Hello, Friends!!

Guess what Mr. Pea and I did this weekend?  Ran Away!  🙂

Actually, we were chaperoning Princess Pea and six of her friends on a road trip to San Antonio to cheer on their school soccer team in the state finals and then visit the outlets in search of prom dresses.  It was So Much Fun…we let the girls have a little leeway exploring the River Walk and the Outlets on their own, with them checking in every thirty minutes or so.   Mr. Pea and I had dinner at Zumi (FAVORITE!) and so thoroughly enjoyed some quite time.  This was the first time we’ve been away together sans offspring in twelve years!

Here’s the prescribed update for Week Seven.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. I tried on seven or eight dresses this weekend, and couldn’t find a fitted sheath dress that fit, because slopers are made for ladies with tiny boobs.  Seriously.  My shoulders, waist and hips are a size 10 dress.  My bustline is a size 16. I did, however, try on a dress from last summer, and it fits even better now. I will have Princess Pea snap a photo this evening and will update.  I’ll continue to look for that perfect  Easter Dress.

2. Weight This Week: 161.4. Waist 30″. Weight up a bit more, waist same. It’s still freaking me out, and I’m trying not to go ballistic over the number.

3. Goal Recap

Shed Five Pounds:  Grrrrr.r.r.r.r

Five Pullups:  Bryan had us doing ladder “Dropdowns” again this week, working on strength for pullups.

Firm Up the Arms:  Lots of arm work – curls, snatches, pushups (100+).  Oh!  Mr. Pea and I worked out at the hotel gym, and there was a rack of medicine balls there.  The heaviest one was 12 pounds, and when I picked it up, it felt like nothing. NOTHING, I tell you!  I guess all the serious curls and exercises with the 25 pound kettlebells are working.

4. Books

The End of Overeating by David Kessler.  This book is making me MAD.  Like seriously furious.  Did you know that most of the pre-made foods we purchase here in American supermarkets and restaurants are specifically engineered to have just the right combination of texture, flavor, chewability, fat, salt and sugar that MAKES us CRAVE it?  Makes it irresistible to our puny brains? Forces us to run out, buy it, gobble it down and then buy more?  It’s all in the name of making more money.

I really hope that the second half of the book offers advice on breaking away from the gastronomic food dystopia that is the American Food Industry.

I continued to read along with Jenny at  A Minute Captured.  Reading my Bible is proceeding.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy.  I can’t remember.  Beat me with a stick.

7. Visit Other Challengers:  I think I did, but my blissful weekend is still casting a glow over my brain cells, and I’m just not up to trying to remember.  I’ll surely get around to everyone this week!

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Steal Some Time Away With Your Sweetie. Keep the Faith.

Guess what?  It’s SNOWING!!!

Right this minute, even as I type this update. Not enough to stick and pile up, but by golly, we’re getting snow.  The boys are positively giddy, convinced we’re getting a blizzard and there won’t be any school tomorrow.  It’s hard not to laugh at them.

Here’s the prescribed update for Week Six.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. Mir probably needs to smack me upside my head on this.  No progress on a new dress. Or even a used dress.

2. Weight This Week: 161.0. Waist 30″. Weight up a bit more, waist down. It’s freaky, but really?  I don’t give a fig. My clothes continue to get baggier – my new dress pants are a size 8, and I no longer wear a large. As a matter of fact, the mediums are no longer tight, either.

3. Goal Recap

Shed Five Pounds:  Today I’m doubting it will ever happen.  I’ll probably feel more optimistic tomorrow!

Do Five Pullups:  This week I worked a series of “Dropdowns” that made me really really sore, but I’ve been assured that eventually I’ll be able to crank out more than a single pullup. Yep.  I feel stronger already.

Firm Up the Arms:  Yes again. We worked double kettle bells on Thursday.  I did presses, cleans and snatches with 24 pound bells – one in each hand!!

4. Books

The End of Overeating by David Kessler.  Holy Cow, what an eye opener!  I’m in the middle of the information about restaurant chains and the descriptions of how their food is so processed and laden with fat, sugar and salt…I may never eat in a chain restaurant ever again!  It’s just as bad as fast food.

I continued to read along with Jenny at  A Minute Captured.  Reading my Bible is proceeding.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy.  Hey Jo!!

7. Visit Other Challengers:  Yes!  I find that I’m better at catching up midweek, as Sunday evening is spent prepping the offspring for school on Monday.

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Snow! Keep the Faith.

Mule Headed Crazy Stubborn. 

That’s me. At least, that’s what I want to think I am. Mr. Pea would agree, and I’m pretty sure my Mom would back him up.

I’ve had to have some serious self talking this week, reminding myself that it is persistence and not perfection that is going to get me to healthy.  Thank the Lord, because perfect I’m not!  Persistence I can handle.  Getting up every day, making wise food choices and choosing to move instead of sitting on my fanny at lunchtime I can do.  It’s days like today that I waver a bit.  The Pea family wanted tamales for dinner, with black beans, chips and salsa, to be enjoyed while watching the SuperBowl.  Chips? Definitely my Achilles Heel. Especially with my own homemade salsa. And a margarita. Oh yeah, I’m a huge fan of my own cooking.

Today was the Chainring Massacre, and The Architect did GREAT!!!  He finished in 3 hours and 21 minutes.  I was SO PROUD of him!  Doubly glad I decided not to race today, because after several weeks of warm weather, winter decided to return today. The wind was pretty brisk and terribly cold.  The Architect used my thermal gear to ride today, and was glad to have it. LOL..I’ve come pretty far insomuch that my teenage son can borrow my gear and it isn’t too terribly large on him.  Short, yes, but not really that big around. 🙂

Here’s the prescribed update for Week Five.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. Princess Pea just said “I’m working on it”.

2. Weight This Week: 160.0. Waist 31″.  Whoop it Up!  One Tenth of a Pound Loss!

3. Goal Recap

Shed Five Pounds:  It’s coming. Eventually.

Do Five Pullups:  Oooh…I couldn’t do my one this week.  May be due to the fact that I tried it after a majorly awesome kettlebell class where I did twelve bazillion sets of single presses, sweeps and snatches with the 18 pound bells. Yes.  That’s ARM and SHOULDER work, with EIGHTEEN POUND BELLS, one in each hand.  I was so proud of myself!

Firm Up the Arms:  See Above.

4. Books

I set aside Refuse to Regain this week and picked up End of Overeating by David Kessler. Talk about eye-opening.  I’ve only read through the first few chapters that explain the science and psychology behind our cravings, and the deep dark secrets of American Food manufacturers who are seriously out to get us addicted to fat, sugar and salt.   I didn’t get

I continued to read along with Jenny at  A Minute Captured.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy.  Oh, I was a slacker this week.  Hey Jo!!  I promise to pop by this week and check up on you.

7. Visit Other Challengers:  I missed Sunday posts, but did manage to pop by the mid week posts.

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Persistence, not Perfection. Keep the Faith.