The Challenge.

Hubs and I were talking the other night and the topic of weight came up. Well, more accurately, our mutual desire to lose it. He has lost quite a bit in the last few months and has done great. I've hovered within the same ten pounds since mid-December and, really, it's time to get out of them and down to a lighter number.

So, we have a challenge going. The goal is to each lose 20 pounds and while we have the same time frame to lose it, I am slightly concerned that I tend to plateau very quickly. Of course, I also tend to eat chocolate, so that might explain it. HOWEVER, this is a challenge I simply MUST NOT lose!

Know why?

Because if I lose (not happening!), I have to do laundry - wash and fold - for EVERYONE, ALONE for SIX MONTHS! You all know how much I love laundry. Laundry, to me, is like a splinter embedded in my EYE. And there is no WAY I want a splinter embedded in my eye for SIX MONTHS!

So, I have from now until New Years' to lose 20 lbs. That's 12 weeks away....about 2 pounds a week.

Someone please hide the sweets. Quickly!

Name That Soap to Get Some Soap

I am loving the handmade soap I bought on ArtFire a couple of weeks ago. My skin gets really dry in the winter, especially my arms, and with all of the washing I do at work, well, let's say, my skin and I have not been having a very good relationship. For those of you who don't know, I am, in addition to many other things, a licensed esthetician. You know, someone who can give facials, body treatments, waxing, etc. Not much call for that in this economy, eh?

Anyway, the soap. It smells like lilacs and is highly, highly moisturizing. My arms are on the verge of being silky smooth. That is amazing to me. Why? Well, because I was a staunch believer in the old "soap" is bad philosophy. Of course, now that I think about it, products laden with chemicals don't sound all that appealing either. I think it's the word "soap" that does it. And really, for awhile I knew nothing about handmade soaps except the ones that were shaped like bears or butterflies and they really did nothing to endear me to them.

So, what's in this soap I'm using? Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Goat's Milk, Shea Butter, Sodium Hydroxide and Lilac Oil. That's it. I can pronounce it all and I know what each component does. I understand the moisturizing and restorative properties of the ingredients. And I know how wonderful my skin feels after using it.

It's got me (and my hubby) thinking about making soap. So, I made myself chuckle when I was thinking of names for it. If I was going to make soap, what would be a good "Gym Mama" type name for it?

Here are a few I was (not) thinking of using...

1. Soap So You Don't Stink

2. Sweat Eradicator

3. For the Pits


What are YOUR suggestions? Leave a post and the one that I think is the funniest will receive a bar of the very soap I am so lovingly describing. Trust me. You want it. =)

A public apology. Not really.

No, honey, I'm not going to apologize. I didn't say you were out of shape. I said you couldn't get up off the floor.

[Please note there were quite a few versions of sentences that were written at this point, but I'd like to remain married for at least another 30-40 years, so it was best that I, er, we chuckle over them privately and then delete them.]

And no, faithful blog readers, we are apparently not done with this.

This One's For My Husband

Okay, so this post is specifically for my darling husband who is sitting here venting about yesterday's post.

Yes, honey, today I did bring my laundry down to the laundry room. By myself. And while your daughter was napping in her playpen. Call me hypocritical if you want, but I'm not the one with no clean undies.

And no, I didn't say you were out of shape. I said you couldn't get up off the floor. Imply what you will.

There. I blogged about it. Are we done now?

OMG, it's GILAD! and some other stuff

Like a beacon in the night, there he was. Popping up on my computer screen like some fit hunk of exercising goodness. His gaze piercing, his hair plugs darkened. Yes! It was GILAD! (Amy, I thought of you. Hey, where ARE you anyway?!)

I got an email from Discovery Health about their 2009 Body Challenge and I checked it out, because I'm not above wanting a free 90 gym membership to Bailey's. Yeah, only this year they were cheap-o and no free membership. Darn it. I was disappointed and slightly annoyed when I happened to glance down at the bottom of the screen and SAW HIM! WHO KNEW that all roads (or clicks) lead back to GILAD?!

I'm having high school nightmare flashbacks right. this. very. minute.

I'm seriously considering having a Gilad DVD as a Gym Mama Giveaway one week. Amy, I hope you win. (And I repeat...where ARE you anyway?!)



*******************************************************************************

So, I got so carried away seeing that Gilad DVD that I forgot to mention that I worked out this weekend on the treadmill. And yes. It WAS turned on. 3 miles in 30 minutes, thank you very much. I feel lighter and slightly less winded because of it.

It also gave me a chance to think about why I like working out in my very own laundry room/treadmill room/food storage area. Here's my Top Ten:

1. I can sing as loud as I want and no one will kick me out.

2. I can sweat and not worry about looking...sweaty.

3. I can do laundry (if my husband would ever bring it TO the laundry room, and btw, honey, I'm sorry you're out of boxers, but really, I can't carry the baby and the laundry down 2 flights of stairs without maxing out our health insurance coverage) and exercise at the same time.

4. I can walk at 2.0 mph without feeling guilty, because there's some lunatic going 8.0 mph next to me. (Seriously, you're on a treadmill. No matter how fast you run you're not going to get any further than right here.)

5. Did I mention I can sing as loud as I want and no one will kick me out?

6. I can finish exercising, walk upstairs and be in the kitchen. Hello, carbohydrates!

7. There is no one skinnier in the room than me.

8. I don't have to pay dues.

9. It takes me 10 seconds to get there.

10. I can sing as loud as I want and no one will kick me out. Did I say that already?

So, there's the top 10. Exciting as always. =)


By the way, I am still trying to find 10 walks that fit into my schedule. I haven't given up. =)

Oh! And go enter the Gym Mama Weekly Giveaway! You could win. =)

Why I Love My Job

I was running late tonight at work for a variety of reasons that were not of my doing, but I was left with a choice at 8:03pm. I could either help my last "assignment" (aka-"darling, sweet 96 year old woman") to bed or I could pass her off to the aide working her hallway and go home 3 minutes late vs. 30 minutes late. Either option was my call. I almost let the other aide help her to bed, but then I asked her a question... (all names have been changed for privacy reasons)

"Doris, would you like to go to bed?"

"No,I don't think yet. It's still early."

"Okay, that's fine. I just wanted to give you a choice, because I have you on my list tonight, but it's time for me to go home. If you'd like to go to bed I'm happy to stay and help you, but if you'd like to stay awake I'll let Susie know and she'll help you get to bed later tonight."

"Oh, in that case I'd like you to help me if that's okay."

"Of course it's okay. I'm happy to help you."

"You're always so cheerful and happy and it makes me happy to be in your company."

Did I mention I love Doris? Really. She's a sweet woman who doesn't get nearly as many visitors as she should and who doesn't get a lot of conversation with others, because it takes her awhile to answer sometimes. But I love her.

You know why else I love her? She said she couldn't even tell I'd had three kids and she didn't think I was old enough to have them....because aren't I only 20? Awww....

It was a good choice I made. I'm glad I stayed and left smiling...late, but smiling and thankful that my job gives me plenty of exercise and the opportunity to make people smile and feel loved. That's a good thing.

Does that get me out of going to the gym?

*************************************************************************************

P.S. - My husband pointed out that the gymnastics center that our kids go to offers adult classes. HA! You first, honey.

Welcome Back

It's been over a month and I'm finally back.

The summer has not been kind to dreams of stress-free times.

My brother-in-law passed on August 8th and I can honestly say that there are few things that are sadder than watching an 11 year old and a 5 year old tend to their daddy's casket. Some things just should not happen.

The proposed CNA class that was not thought to happen until early fall was surprisingly scheduled for the two weeks before my brother-in-law passed. A blessing that my husband took time off to watch the kids and, thus, had more time to spend visiting his brother. I finished the class, have been working on the floor as a trainee, and last night took my state exam. I am now a Certified Nurse's Aide (CNA). A difficult and not at all glamorous job, but one that's so appreciated by the residents and family members. I've discovered that it comes rather naturally for me and I enjoy caring for those in my charge.

With all of that going on I have seen the gym only when driving by it. My plan is to start going either tomorrow or Thursday morning. I miss being there, but I'm happy to report that I've actually lost more weight and am 13 lbs. lighter than I was when I got pregnant last year. I still want to lose another 25 lbs. so the gym is definitely needed.

I hope your summer has been kind and I promise to update much more frequently. It's time to get back into the swing of a routine. Don't you agree?

Sick

Not only is working at night conducive to weight loss, but it's also pretty good for catching body achy colds. Ugh.

Today was my one day to go to the gym early, but after a rough night of feeling awful it was clear I was going nowhere.

My darling husband took the day off, so that he could help with the kids while I snoozed. What a great man!

I actually went to the doctor's...by myself, for myself! Don't be surprised if it snows. The good thing about it was that my weight was down a bit and much lower (by about 10 pounds) from the last time I was there before I got pregnant with the baby. So, I've got my supply of antibiotics to rid my throat of the golf balls that have apparently lodged in there and will be back to sleep shortly.

Oh, and I received the same "words of wisdom" (or warning!) from the residents of the nursing home...that zucchini is going to be full of seeds. Don't worry, next time I won't let it get that big!