BACK ON TRACK!

Although I won't have my Advocare products for a couple of weeks, I'm back on track with my weight loss.  I have to get up at 7am to be ready for the baby coming over, so that gets my day started earlier.  My exercise routine still isn't up to par, but I've added more protein into my diet and I do move constantly with the baby here.  When he's not here, I'm doing yard work and gardening.  As a result, I lost 4 lbs this week.  I'm at 161 though because I had gained 6 back from the yucky feeling days (Mother Nature helped).  If nothing else, I'm proud that I didn't let the bogged down feeling KEEP me down.  It could've been my bipolar cycling as well, so YAY that it didn't last weeks as it usually does.  At any rate, I'm back at it and happy.  I put a dry erase board on my fridge that has BREAKFAST: protein, oatmeal, fruit, water... Catalyst, exercise, water... LUNCH: protein, veggie, fruit, water...  DINNER: protein, veggie, fruit, water... Catalyst, exercise, water... SNACK: choice of nuts & berries OR Activia yogurt, water...  along with boxes for check marks, of course.  Not all of them are filled in (I don't cheat), but most are so I'm proud but need to do better.  And I get extra water when I'm outside in the yard, sweating out most of what I've already drank for the day.  I'm getting about 3-4 hours of yard work exercise per day.  My yard is looking spectacular.  Pics tomorrow.  

Last day of the cleanse.... Day 10

I'm a little nervous, as today is the last day of the cleanse process of my 24-day challenge.  The reason I am nervous is because starting tomorrow, my system will no longer be flushing itself out.  I am starting Day 11, with pre-meal pills, during meal pills, and still taking the Omega-3's at evening.  I am also still going to be taking the Catalyst.  I have been steadily losing a pound/day and I don't want that to stop.  I plan to increase my exercise even further to make sure that my weight loss stays steady.  I am starting to look a lot better, and I FEEL tremendous!!  The energy level feels like I did when I was in my early 20's, and that is saying a lot, because I am 43!!!  Today's breakfast consisted of melon balls, an apple, and an egg white.  Lunch was a piece of celery with my homemade guacamole on it and 3 tbs. of dried fruit w/pumpkin seeds.  Dinner consisted of 4 oz. of b/s chicken breast and steamed broccoli.  Snack was 18 grapes.  I have also been taking Zzz every night 60 mins. before bedtime and I am consistently getting between 8-10 hours of sleep!  Advocare and Becky are quickly becoming indispensable to me!!!!  On the gardening front, my cucumbers (both the climbers and the bush ones) are starting to pop through the soil, as well as the peas and 2 of my tomato varieties.  I picked my first ripe strawberries today.  Those are part of my breakfast tomorrow!!  Nothing like garden fresh fruit!  Tomorrow's post will include a picture of my rose bush (the pink one has SEVERAL roses on it~gorgeous!)....

15 down and counting.....

Wow!  I have lost 15 lbs. since the first of January!  So excited!  Can't wait until I am able to get my Advocare 24 day program!  Right now I am taking that Mega T Green Tea supplements and I can literally FEEL myself getting thinner every day...  it's awesome.  As for diet, yesterday for breakfast I had a yogurt, coffee, and my T.  For lunch I had a salad, water and my T.  For dinner I had boneless, skinless chicken breast cooked on the grill and watermelon.  For exercise, I did some bicep curls, tricep curls, leg lifts, walking, and taking care of an 8 month old baby for 3 hours.  I've started tracking my fitness and nutrition on SparkPeople.com.  It's a free fitness and nutrition site that I adore!  I didn't know until yesterday that I could connect it with my Facebook (thank you, Becky, for letting me know).  GREAT NEWS on the nature front......   I've finally started getting some birds eating at my feeder!!!  No hummingbirds yet, but I'm still praying for them, and both of my hummingbird feeders are bright red so it's only a matter of time.  Ok, so til tomorrow then.....

Loving my life right about now...

Now that I am getting "back to myself", I am really loving life!  The weather has been very cooperative, and so I have planted all of my marigold seeds, as well as some pansies and violas.  My morning glories are about an inch high.  As for my diet, today I had Special K cereal w/banana and ff milk.  For lunch, I had New York strip steak (1/4 of a whole one) on a whole wheat bun.  Loads and Loads of water.  And with both meals I took 1 Mega T green tea capsule.  My scale is still not working, despite replacing the battery so I don't know for sure how much weight I've lost, but I can see it and feel it.  It got too late for dinner, and I was not hungry anyways so I didn't have any.  Til tomorrow then....

Ok hummingbirds, now you can eat....

Very excited today as I put my hummingbird feeder out.  I was having my morning coffee, patiently awaiting the arrival of my new "guests" when the rain that God has been promising us for the last three days finally arrived.  My morning glories have started to emerge from the ground around the tree.  They will be an extra treat for the hummingbirds when they are in full bloom.  I expect they'll grow all the way up the tree, just like they did last year.  The hummingbirds love to suck the nectar from morning glory blooms.  I think this year, I'll put in one of those mist spraying bird baths also.  Was able to wake up earlier..... 8 am to be exact! YAY, me!  So, in honor of the new hummingbird feeder, I leave you with this image......

Ok, bump in the road notwithstanding... back on track

Rough night last night, as all who are keeping up with my blog already know.  But, today is a new day and I'm facing it with a smile!  I worked out in the garden area today.  Can't call it a garden yet, as it is just in the planning and building stages.  I've got the newspaper laid out to kill the grass and weeds, right where I want my vegetables to grow.  Later on tonight I'll be going to Walmart and buying my topsoil and additives to throw on top of that.  Muscles are definitely feeling the burn from moving all of the bricks that I used to hold the newspaper down, as well as pushing the wheelbarrow around and raking up last years leaves.  Starting to see some green in my brown grass finally.  Spring is emerging!  I think it's absolutely miraculous that I can say that already, when so many of my Northern friends are snowed in. . . .  Sorry, guys!  I am thinking warm and wonderful thoughts of you all, if that helps in the least bit.  I'm hoping that you all will be thinking cooling thoughts of me come June and July when your weather is beautiful and mine is scorching!!!  As for diet and exercise, my Special K Challenge is still ongoing... and the yard work speaks for itself with the exercise portion of my self-renewal.  Although yard work is a natural way to exercise, I still need to add some "formal" cardio to that, to get my metabolism racing.  I must admit, today I actually woke up at 8:30 am fully intending on popping in my Jillian Michaels DVD.  Alas, I went back to sleep instead.  In this case, I'm reminded of the "road to ... is filled with good intentions."  So, I admonish myself and resolve to get up earlier tomorrow.  'Til then, here is some pretty color for you Northerners.... (my Ipheon bulbs, when they are in full bloom)

Listening to music and dancing... YES ALL BY MYSELF... in my kitchen

I am LOVING my new attitude.  Every day I'm feeling more and more like my old self.  I've only lost like 8 lbs. since starting this, but I've lost a TON of old baggage so I feel loads lighter.  So, in reality, I've lost 130 lbs.  At least that's what he claims he weighed, but I'm saying it's more like 120 (he was a little guy... in every way!!!!) It's another beautiful day outside here in sunny Florida, so I will be going outside to plant some Nicotiana, some mixed Canna seeds, some Lemon Queen sunflower seeds, Mexican Bird of Paradise, some Hollyhocks and some Morning Glories.  I have to get on the 'net and look up how tall all of them get first so I know where I want to plant them.  Except the morning glories, I know just where those are going.... right around the base of the one and only tree in my yard because they will climb clear to the top.  The hummingbirds love that. Can't wait to get my feeders out in a couple of days.  So, I'm loving this new site that my son (thanks, Raymond) found for me to pull music off of...  BearShare....  awesome site, free but LEGAL.  You should check it out if you enjoy music like I do.  Well, all, have a great day and I will be back later!!!

My idea of a perfect day...

Well, that was just wonderful.  I worked out in the yard most of the day.  Played on the computer a little bit.  Chatted with an old friend who I miss dearly.  I got my Hibiscus planted, and she is happy about that. (I refer to all of my flowering plants as "her"...  my cacti and trees are "him"... one of my many quirks).  Nothing like a hard days work in the yard to tone up the muscles naturally!  I love it!  And, soon, I'll be rewarded by the beauty of color in my yard.  Next week, I'm putting out the bird feeders.  Usually leave them up year round, but I moved so many times this year that I didn't bother putting them out at the last place (knew I wouldn't be there long... it was the ex's place, and HE'S the reason I moved so many times this year.  Oh well, live and learn)...  Anywho.... loving my yard and loving that I'm feeling "me" returning!
Now, I'm gonna crank up MY music (now that I'm not bound by what someone else wanted to listen to...), read my Sunday paper and cut my coupons out!!!  Yep, she (meaning, me) is coming back!!!

'Til tomorrow, enjoy this photo of some of the Crocus bulbs I have planted and that are starting to come up already (the pic shows them last year in full bloom)....

What a beautiful day....

Well, it is just gorgeous outside today.  One of the reasons I moved from Michigan to Florida was to escape the cold weather.  Today, with it being sunny and 72 degrees in January, is proof that I did the right thing!  My day is going to be full of something that I love.... yard work and gardening!!!  Have to prepare the ground, as we are able to start planting certain vegetables and flowers around mid to late February around here.  I usually start everything indoors until mid March though.  All that yard work will have my muscles feeling good later, and even better tomorrow!  Have decided for sure, due to late night infomercials, to try out Zumba fitness.  I'm going to order the DVD series off www.Zumba.com.  I am so excited about the day today... I can't wait to get out in my yard!!  I'll post more later.

Til then....