green with envy

Green shirts......there is just something about them. No matter what the size or material, I still somehow am drawn to them. As far as coloring goes, the color does seem to be good on me......as far as sizing goes, I seem to not make such wise decisions.
You all are aware of the flabilicious green shirt, which I have now owned for many, many, months. I must now admit that there is also another green shirt. It was a trip out of town, and the realization that I hadn't packed as well as I thought.
The family dropped me off at the doors of the evil big-box store and I ran in to grab a shirt to get me through the weekend. I scanned the aisles quickly, and my eyes rested on that green color that I just can't get enough of. Great!
I even grabbed a size larger than what I thought I needed, just to be safe. It was only $7.

Lessons learned:
Cheaper is not always better. In fact, despite my love affair with the dollar store, it usually is not better.
Make sure I am buying Women's sizes- not Juniors
Never, ever buy something that has a tag advertising (or is it warning?) "accentuates curves."
Never, ever buy a blouse that includes any percentage of spandex- even under 5%.
Spandex is a strange combination of the greatest invention known to the fashion world and the greatest tragedy. Stretch jeans? Yes. Stretch shirts? No, no, no.

I think this new green shirt was "accidentally" left at the relatives' home. Hopefully, they will consider it a donation of love or something like that.

So back to the original. I look forward to these days of posting my picture like I look forward to eating brussel sprouts.

The original, a long while back:



A month-ish ago:



Today:



See.....even un-motivated, lazy moms of 3 can make a difference. I even wore the shirt in public.
Sort of. I wore the shirt in the car to take my son to pre-school. And, I had a jacket on. BUT, I did leave my house in it. I did get out of the car to walk him up to the door too. I am sure that the one other mother that saw me was totally thinking about how I should lose a few more pounds in order to wear that. Ok, I know that she didn't think that, she was thinking about how amazingly cute her little girl with amazingly curly hair is, but whatever.
I know the shirt doesn't look fantastic yet, but it doesn't look quite as atrocious as before. Now, it just looks like maybe I should have bought a size larger. Before, it looked like I was trying to squeeze all of my glory into my 2-year-old's shirt. Someday, soon I hope, maybe it will hang loosely around me- and then you won't even see the wrinkles of fabric stretching against their will around me.

So, do you want to know my big secret for making more progress? The key to almost mastering my muffin top......

Fright.

I am afraid to go into a grocery store with all 3 of my children. I have a habit of avoiding confrontation, and now that my baby is mobile and likes to be entertained, grocery trips have become few and far between. I don't mind shopping when all the kids are contained. I hate shopping if any of them are walking alongside the cart. We all know that no child really walks alongside the cart. The big stores have the mammoth carts where 2 can be in the seats, and then the baby in the actual cart- but seriously?! I can't even park my husbands full-sized truck. Do you really think I can navigate those things around crowds and precariously stacked boxes of fruit juices? To those of you who can....jealousy.

The change in my eating habits has a lot less to do with will power and motivation, and alot more to do with a lack of options. Regardless of the reasons, having less junk food (or food in general) around the house has resulted in far less calories. Go figure.

In conclusion, may I just say: spandex..... can't live with it, can't live without it. And, mothers who have to, get to, shop with 3 or more children should have fast check out lanes all to themselves. Can you imagine that? The heavens are singing. I am turning this idea in to Google so that I can win a million dollars. Check-out lanes for frantic, frazzled, mothers....in too-tight green shirts. It gives me shivers......good shivers. Or- it might be lack of warmth this spandex-laced shirt gives me. I gotta go change.
Now.

......continued

flab to fab

Thanks for all of the great advice. Today is a good day. My motivation is back, it wasn't gone far- just stuffed waayyyy back behind those chocolate bars.

To make it brief, there is nothing like a ripped out pair of jeans, road trip to a much larger city and a new pair of jeans that *gasp* don't look half bad. A couple more weeks of flab to fab, and they might even look good.

It has been a looonnnnggg time since i last bought a pair ofjeans. I wasn't planning on a new pair until I reached "my goal." (don't we all say that?) But, alas, my options for pants officially reached drastic lows last week. Every pair I own either has paint stains or holes. And, I am not talking the cute trendy/vintage type of holes. I am talking about the holes-where-they-shouldn't-be type of holes.

I headed straight to the clearance at the back of the store. First I grabbed a size larger than my past, then, my old size, then, the size I want to be.

A play by play:

First, the bigger ones. Not bad, not bad. Besides my major suffering of flat-butt syndrome, or "Thutt" (thigh-butt combo), things came together quite well. No tugging, squeezing or sucking in.

May as well try the next pair. Again, on they go. Definitely my correct size. No problems, but what if......

The small pair. The itty bitty pair. The pair that should never have entered the dressing room with me anyway.
After a little twisting, hopping and creativity, they were on....... and buttoned.....and didn't look terrible.....not wonderful, but potential, definite potential.

Of course, being the smart shopper that you all know I am, I bought the small pair. It isn't too bad, really. I just can't wear a snug shirt with them or it is very eerily similar to the popular green shirt look.
I love them. Really, truly. It was great retail therapy. Seeing how we are on a tight budget right now (aren't we all?), I can't justify actually buying another pair anytime soon, so I have no choice than to keep up with my flab to fab work.

This week I am planning on doing crunches.... a lot of them. They will be 10 at a time, many times throughout the day. I never do crunches. My activity level has increased in the past few months, but I have yet to actually "target" an area.

Raise your glasses with me (of water, of course), here's to sore muscles that I never knew I had.

measuring up

flab to fab

Yes, yes, today is the day to post my green shirt picture.....well, it just isn't going to happen. You will all get the opportunity to shamelessly point and laugh next week.
It is one of those weeks, days where know matter what you do get done, you still somehow feel like it just isn't quite enough. Even there isn't really anyone following me around with a ruler, I still feel like I don't measure up. Can I get a "uh, huh?"
In the madness of this week, I started to clean out my pantry. Well, what do you know? I discovered an 8 pack of Hershey's chocolate bars, forgotten on an summer outing that was supposed to include campfire s'mores. I don't even like Hershey chocolate bars, but there are only 3 left.
Are you getting why no picture will go up today? I think I have made a little progress. In fact, I know I have made some progress, but today, I'm just not feelin' it.
So give it to me. Give us all your best pep talk. If you haven't commented before, please give us all your wisdom, (or plea for wisdom), now. Today's flab to fab is much more about you and much less about me. What keeps you motivated? What gets you down? What are we all going to do to get back on board that flabilicious bus?

eeeeeeaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaeeeeeaaaaa.

Flab to fab.

For the record, I think I should remind everyone that there is no specific timeline on this flabilicious project. For the record, I like to give myself little "safety cushion" rules such as this. That way, I can't set myself up for failure, right?

Jogging. I keep saying that I want to go. And I do, want to. But, I don't go. I even have a new pair of running shoes to replace the ones that I have been mowing the lawn in for the past 5 summers. How do you go jogging with 3 small children? The reality of going while my husband is home to watch the kids just isn't really reality. Well.....ok.....it could be. But I really like my lazy mornings. I mean, I really, really like my lazy mornings. I love laying in my bed, letting the kids crawl in with me and just drifting in and out of dreamland. Love it. What's a girl to do? (And, please don't answer "Get out of her warm snuggly bed and go!")
My little boy has started up pre school again a few times a week, I have a double stroller, so it might- might just be feasible......and even after 10 a.m.!

Also, as far as this weeks' challenge goes, I did it. I baked my first ever squash. I tasted my first ever squash and then I proceeded to feed the rest of it to my child. Tomorrow, I might just taste it again. I might even go crazy and buy a brussel sprout at the grocery store. Mind you, I am not committing to actually eat the thing, but I will feel healthier with it simply sitting in the crisper drawer of my fridge, right below the tub of cream cheese and pound of butter.

I will be making salsa today. Lots and lots of salsa. Jar after jar of salsa. Last year was my first attempt at canning salsa. I remember the acid from chopping tomatoes ate away the plastic gloves I was wearing. This year I am going to try using my freshly washed garden gloves to keep it all from seeping in to my not-so-soft and not-so-smooth skin. The smell of peppers, onion, cilantro, garlic and tomatoes roasting in my kitchen was the best smell of the year. My fitness routine today will definitely be concentrating on the arms. Hour after hour of chopping vegetables does a lot of toning. Seriously, check out the arms of all the chefs on Food Network. Plus, it all just adds up to this week's veggie challenge, right? (Have you noticed I have a few self-affirming questions in this post? It never hurts to get a little validation from your virtual friends in blog land.)

Last, but certainly, oh how certainly not least.
A friend stopped by my house yesterday. She doesn't know anything about my flab to fab project. She said, and I am directly quoting here, "Have you lost weight? You look like you have lost weight."

Insert hallelujah choir here.

Me: well, no.....but I would like to.
Her: Really, you look thinner.
Me, not so great at accepting compliments: I wish.
Inside my little head though, I was squealing like my former 14-year-old self. I revert back to my 14-year-old self in my head a lot.

And that my friends, is about as good as a weekly flab to fab check-in can get. At least, until that green shirt looks good on me. If you want to make someone else's day, please, oh please, ask them if they have lost weight.

eeeeeeaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaeeeeeaaaaa.

That is my 14-year-old squeal in case you were wondering.

What are the odds?

Before I get in to my weekly flab to fab rant- let us digress for a moment -or many moments- to be in awe of this woman, Natalie du Toit. The shortened condensed version is that Natalie is the first ever woman amputee to compete in an able-bodied Olympics. Her story is amazing, inspiring, and much better than anything that I could possibly have to write about today. If you have a spare few minutes, read her story. She has said, "I still believe in myself as a whole person." (Photo: Laureus World Sports Awards) This is the quote that hangs on her wall:

The tragedy of life does not lie in not

reaching your goals;
The tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for.

I think I am in love with this quote.

I think I am in love with gummy bears again too- you know that bag I mentioned not liking last week? Well, try and try again. I just couldn't give up on those bears. No need to worry, attempt after chewy, sugary attempt of taste bud training and our relationship has rekindled, good as ever.

Back to having goals....

Whew. Do I ever have a new goal to reach for today. The major dilemma is deciding if I want to reach for it. Earlier, my husband called from work with a, "You had better sit down for this."

I should have known. A similar phone call came about a year ago, only it started with a "congratulations!"

It is that time of year: summer coming to a close, school starting, fairs happening, ripe tomatoes in my garden and cool nights. It all brings us to the one downfall of my favorite time of year, fall. It is the thorn in my side. It is hunting season.

Are you shaking? Are you crying? Are you weeping and wailing?

Last year's phone call:

Him: Congratulations!

Me: On what?

Him: You drew.

Me: Drew what?

Him: On your hunt.

Me: What hunt?

It should be noted, I had not ever hunted before, had never necessarily wanted to hunt. However, I did at this point own a gun that my husband had lovingly bought me for Christmas the year before- because, you know, I would use it so often......

Today's call:

Him: "You had better sit down for this."

Me: "Uh-oh. What?"

Him: "Just sit down. You aren't going to like this."

Me: imagining a speeding ticket, unexpected bill, loss of job?? "Ok. I am." I wasn't.

Him: "You drew on your hunt........."

My husband's work allows him waaayyyy too many opportunities to peruse all that the state of Idaho's hunting regulations have to offer. Last year, he decided his 6-month-pregnant wife would really enjoy hiking and crawling, (yes, I am serious, crawling-I believe "real" hunters say stalking), through sagebrush in the hopes of shooting an antelope and then feeding her family the meat throughout the winter. Against the 90:1 odds, I won. Luckily for my entire family, and several speedy antelope, I am a terrible shot.

This year, he decided to go for the big one. The hardest hunt to draw on. Nearly 1000 desperate hunters put in for their chance at a few tags. This woman who couldn't care less got one of them and her elated husband got another. Here we go again.

I know that I am being a little cruel to the man I just gushed over a couple days ago, but really- how am I supposed to go hunting with a baby attached to my chest? Because really- there is a baby attached to my chest quite often.

He has good intentions. He says he wants us to be able to spend time together....rriigghhhttt. I do like going with him into the great outdoors- I just don't know that I necessarily need to be shooting at something.

What to do? What to do? I would burn lots of calories hiking. And since I just mentioned an exercising activity, this post now counts as my Thursday flab to fab check-in, but really, I want to know what you all think. Are there hunters in your family? Do you hunt? Would you hunt?

$8.49

On at least a weekly basis, I get sale catalogs from Victoria Secret. I know, I know- say/think what you will- but I love their bras and shoes.....I know, I know, shoes........right? Seriously, they are so cute and about once a year, I starve my family for a week so that I can buy a pair of these shoes.
Last year it was some great knee high brown leather boots. These boots gave me the self-esteem boost that my 8 month pregnant body needed. It was soooooo worth not giving my children Christmas presents....... oh- come on. I am not that terrible of a mother. The dollar store had several fantastic gifts for each of the kids.

So, anyhow.... the catalog arrived last week. I am talking about THE catalog. The clearance catalog. I am a sucker for clearance. My closets are filled with items I don't wear, don't use and won't eat. All for the sake of saving a penny .................and wasting a penny and wasting the little storage I have.

After leisurely perusing the pages, while my baby crawled around in a dirty diaper.....sorry sweetie, mommy is really busy right now.......I came to the swimwear section. There is nothing like seeing supermodels in stringy itty-bitty things to get a post-baby-body feeling a little schlumpy. UNTIL I read: $3.99.
That's right. I, being the brilliant shopper, am ordering a bikini for $3.99. It even has the phrase "spring break" emblazoned across it. I have had 3 children, my belly looks like I have had 3 children, eat a lot of candy, and have been out of college scene for 7 years. Perfect for me, right?
A few years ago, I bought a different bikini on clearance. I should clarify that I have never actually had the nerve to wear a bikini- I don't know that I ever will, but you can't pass up a good deal, right?

Something like that.

Seriously though, I am seeing results from my flabilicious project. Slow results, but still, results. What if, just what if, I get my body to the point where I felt good........dare I say "hot?"..........enough to wear the bikini? It will probably just be worn in my bathroom, with the door closed and when no one else is home. Most likely, just long enough for me to be able to look in the mirror and say, "Oh-yeah, that's right. That is me!" BUT- How cool would that be? In the words of my 14-year-old niece, "like, totally, like cool.'

I realize that I am wasting $3.99, plus the $4.50 in shipping. However, I don't pay for a gym membership. My elliptical came from a pawn shop and my work-out shoes are 8 years old. $8.49 is a fair price to pay for a little self-motivation.

Flab to Fab......all inclusive

Thursday Check-In

FYI- for those of you who love to see my fat rolls, I will be checking-in once again next week with "the shirt."



Do you ever wish you could be on one of the get fit & fabulous reality shows? Such as: Biggest Loser, Fit Club, etc. Can you imagine being able to be at an all inclusive resort where the opportunity to exercise surrounds you? Healthy food options are all around you, with temptations near by just to "test" your ability to withstand sweet sugary carbohydrate filled goodness?


Of course, in my dreams, this wish is minus the cameras and other people to witness my attempts. Oh, and it is okay to give into the sugary goodness once daily.

I have been lucky enough to be staying at such a place. Apparently, I have been at the "resort" for the past few years.

My husband and I had the brilliant idea to leave life in the city for a "few acres out of town." To anyone else that is contemplating this idea, may I suggest: include a high allowance of funds to be spent on a weed wacker, Round-Up, garden tools, gloves, and a few more weed wackers.

Since, our funds have not necessarily allowed for large quantities of these items, I have been spending ridiculous amounts of time in our yard pulling, prying, digging and raking. I dream at nights of buying the "Hula Hoe 1000L." Looking on the bright side though, I have been burning almost as many calories as the weeds I plan on torching later today.

I really, truly enjoy yard work. But the weeds- oh- the weeds!
We are surrounded by fields. If you have never lived in the country, let me explain. Every weed- each measly little single weed has the capability to produce seeds ten-fold. Every time the wind blows, literally millions of seeds land in my yard. Now, I realize that many people have figured out various solutions for said seeds, their yards are show places, but I am still working on it. I am quite positive the solution includes lots and lots of weed killer and a live-in nanny for the children. Neither of which are in my budget.

Our property is turning out to be the all inclusive healthy body makeover resort I needed.

This week's work out routine is proving to be my most effective yet: just plain old hard work. Out with the elliptical & Nikes; in with the gloves, mosquito spray, and hoe.

How am I ever going to stay motivated by dirt, dust, hay fever, and the never-ending pulling?

After reducing myself to bribery, (I reduce myself to this on a daily basis- just beyond television and fruit snacks this time)- I promised to take my kids to the swimming pool today. It will be the first time I have been in a swimming suit in public in over a year.

I should have no trouble staying motivated this up-coming week.

How is your flab to fab this week?



Oh- and if you would like to stay at my all-inclusive-resort for a little body magic, (AKA: be my slave and do yard work), room rates are low & include all of the free zucchini you could wish for.

Flab to Fab......I hit the pause button

All day long, I have tried to remember some brilliant attempt I have made in the past week on this flabilicious project. No such luck.

I am allowed a freebie week right? Please tell me I am right. It has been a very, very long day.

Nothing monumentally terrible has happened- it is just one of those days. You know the kind: dr. appts., embarrassing moments, comments taken out of context, an hour on hold with the phone company, tired children, Ramen Noodle dinner, and a sink full of dirty dishes- make that an entire kitchen full of dirty dishes. Seriously, not one clean spoon.
After I spent the better part of my evening wallowing in my own personal pity party, I got the urge to run.....
That's right, I said RUN! Now- don't get too excited for this exercise slacker; I didn't go- but only because it is dark outside and my little family currently has a silly fear of big foot- myself included, (scary camp stories will do that to a grown woman, you know).

I have never understood runners.
Randomly, it seems that everywhere I have been lately, marathons and talk of running has been a major theme. My nephews birthday party, the family reunion, a friend's phone call, etc.
I told them all that they are crazy. I told them all how much I hate jogging, how I haven't gone jogging in years, how I have no desire to. I think I just decided that I want to be a hypocrite. I want to run.

I think I get it. I have no desire to be in a marathon, mind you. but, I want to run. I want to release some frustration. My alarm is set. I am going before my husband is off to work.

I am going to hurt. I might not make it past the edge of our property and the only shoes I have to run in are the ones that I have used for the past few years to mow the lawn. AND, I think I am excited.

I just hope big foot doesn't get me.

Flab to Fab....... reunion routine

If you are looking for the giveaway, click here......
or scroll down to next post.

Thursday Check-In

I am writing today from the past.....sorta...... writing a post ahead of time- being the procrastinator that I am, this is a first for me....

If all goes according to plan, I should be accomplishing all sorts of active, healthy tasks as you are reading this; all while attending the worlds' longest family reunion.

Rafting and hiking are on the agenda. It is too bad that I have a water phobia and forgot my baby back pack. Boating and swimming are also in the plans- once again though, water phobia, plus a recently acquired acute fear of swimming suits, (I am working on the "cure").

Seeing how I will be lucky enough to be waking up in a beautiful cabin, next to a beautiful lake though, I will be walking- a lot- maybe I will even bring back last week's new ninja walk routine or use my babe as weights and do some arm curls while I am at it....... come to think of it, she would probably really like that.......giggling babies can motivate any sore muscles to "do it again, do it again!" And, as far as my great stealth ninja walking moves go- why not give the older relatives something to gossip about? Maybe they will all feel bad for the poor, young mother of three small children who seems to be breaking.... and offer to babysit while I go take a nap. Ooohhh- I am liking this idea. You all know that family reunions are great for good food, juicy talk and the best "people watching" there is. I may as well fuel the fire, right?

And, just to make you all feel better about your own travels, we made it almost to our final destination today in just under 10 hours.
It should have taken 4 1/2. Life was a little more....shall we say, exciting? To give you an idea: 4 potty breaks in the first hour, a flat tire, major detour, beautiful waterfall on the detour, lots of "don't touch your sister," a little "don't lick your sister," and then a "don't spit on your sister."

Best lessons learned? The baby goes in the middle on the ride home and Skittles are great problem solvers.....I prefer the term "problem solving" to bribery, but they might- maybe- just slightly be interchangeable in some given situations of mine.

It is a good thing this week's challenge is about finding joy in the unexpected.......... let me tell you, it has been an EXTREMELY joyous day.

To my comrades in the path to being flabilicious, how are you doing?

To the rest of you: go eat some Skittles for me- but not the yellow- those are my favorite.

Project Flabilicious.....Thursday Check-In

Flab to Fab....a realistic view

I don't really look like this when I exercise:




However, I am seemingly a perm away from turning my physique back into this look from my past:



So, I am continuing to exercise like this:



You do what you can!
40 lb. boy in the front + 10 lb baby in the back + 30 lb. toddler on my back = good workout with no membership fee.

My vacation was fabulous, but it is time for me to hop back on the flabilicious bus.
After last weeks' lament of my weigh-in woes, the scale is going to the trash. I am sending it with my husband to work to throw away so that I don't rescue it from the dumpster in a moment of weakness. I have lots of moments of weakness.....maybe they should be called weeks of weakness.

The plan?

An official 35 day goal. I have just over a month until I can check my results. I am not looking for a perfect number, just a noticeable change in the right direction. Something.
Thanks to the advice of many of you & your comments, this is going to be my new enemy.....I mean, best friend.....I mean, way to monitor things:

I am sure you wouldn't mind me sparing the details, but as I have mentioned before, I am using you all to stay obligated....I mean motivated.
I have 35 days to lose 2" from my natural waist, along with 2" from the area that is neither the waist nor the hips; my spare tire region....

You see, I seem to have recently confused the original plan. I have been eating many many many pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, (pure heaven I might add). I have mastered savoring every last bite of those babies.....but it is time to go pack to the original plan to master the muffin top- not eat all muffins in sight.

Some of you might think this is unrealistic, some of you might think this will be an easy goal, but that is the great thing- we are all so different. Make sure your goal is for you...not what some of the rest of us might think.

So, a little reminder for myself, and some of you who said you were also working on a little body shaping.....
Here is to hoping that this:

turns in to this:


July of 2008 is the greatest month ever for new habits to begin!

It is so dadgummed hot that you sweat without even trying- 105 degrees here today.

It is too hot to bake cookies, (or muffins- for that matter).

Gas is too expensive to drive to the store just for the cookies or muffins.

Fruits and veggies are everywhere and taste so much better this time of year. Vegetables? Really? Do I have to? Low fat ranch dressings have come a long ways my friends!

My idea for today is to brush your teeth with the freshest mintiest paste you have any time you feel the need to munch. It really does take away cravings. Your waist line (or lack thereof), and dentist will thank you.

What simple tips do you have?

Also, if any of you really are wanting to join this Project Flabilicious, let me know, and I will be happy to "check in" on you as well. Accountability isn't just for the kids anymore.