......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.

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.

Flab to Fab..... Reese's resistance

Since there are a lot of new readers this week, a quick catch-up: Flab to Fab is my little project to master the muffin top, lose the spare tire, find my waist line..... I want to know how it feels to be in good shape. Some fellow bloggers have joined in.

Thursday Check-In

Flabilicious or delicious?


The first problem was going to Costco with my husband. Rarely do I have assistance or babysitters while shopping. I have yet to master 3 children and a cart load of perishable, smashable food- but not for lack of trying. Since the husband had his own cart, he stocked up as he wished..... this is always a "gains outweigh the risks" decision in my marriage.......

We made it out of the store without too many extras- save it be the cases of Irish Spring soap and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

So- now not only will I smell like the same manly soap for the next 10 years, I get to open my fridge each day and debate on my choice of snack: grapes, carrot stick or large quantities of cold, smooth, creamy chocolate. I may have given in to the last option once or twice..............a day for the last 4 days.

The chocolate binge wasn't too bad until I also found a stash of Pepperidge Farm cookies......I think my husband is trying to sabotage me.

That was all yesterday's news though. Today, I have been good. I have strictly adhered to my new "Reese's Resistance Diet" and only ate a few cookies. I even put some candy in my mouth during a moment of weakness, but remembered the shirt and spit the candy in the trash. I have been drinking a lot of water- a ridiculously large H2O consumption- I have my irrational self convinced that it will wash all of the sugar out of me before it sticks to my hips.

In preparation for this post, I went on an extra last-ditch walk tonight- because, you know, that irrational part of me just knows that one walk will make the picture look so much better.....Rrriiight.
Anyhow- the walk- I added in some crazy lunge/jogging moves to the routine as I pushed the double stroller along & had the littlest one in a back pack. Of course, not wanting to shake the baby on m back, I was quite creative.
Imagine a combo of lunge/speed walking. I imagine it looked like the stealth moves of action movies when the stars are dashing from bullets......just a shorter, chubbier version. Of course, I changed to a regular walk as soon as the neighbor's house came in to view. I bet they were trying to figure out why I was breathing so hard from going on a "nice, pleasant little walk with the kids."

Even though my crazy ninja walking moves didn't magically melt the flab, I do feel better, and I did get the courage to once again post this beautiful picture of myself. If you were all originally lying and don't really find this at least a little inspiring/motivating.....so help me, I will make you learn my new walking routine.

My photographer (husband) doesn't get why I am doing this- and quite frankly, neither do I......

The original flab.....from exactly 1 month ago.

Today's flab.....





I know it isn't much, but even if you can't see the difference,
I can feel it. The bulge is obviously still there- the muffin top is still flowing over.....but there is slight -ever so slight- shrinkage. The pants button a little easier, and the stretch denim is stretching a little less.

This green shirt is going to look fab on me.....maybe not tomorrow, next week, or even next month.....but it will.


It has been asked.......For those of you that are in this Flabilicious project with me, (or would like to be), where/when to "check-in?" Every Thursday I post my progress (or lack thereof). You can leave your progress in a comment here too. If I have your blog or email address, I will randomly check up on you.

Project Flabilicious.....my check-in & yours

Friday's Thursday Check-In

It makes sense that a week with a procrastination challenge would have a few mishaps right? I'm a day late checking in on my Flab to Fab, but my other project I mentioned is finished! Yipee! After 3 days of being glued to the computer at all possible moments, the biggest procrastinated project of my grown-up life is done. Bed time for me this week has been at 4:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m., and 3:00 a.m. This morning my kids enjoyed Sesame Street and dry cereal and I enjoyed sleeping in.

Mom's are busy in general....but this was unbelievable. To top it off, we had company come to town last night and I had 2 meetings for other unrelated procrastinated projects.

I was taken back to my crazy-busy college days working in newspaper. Late nights, deadlines, and some stress. Too bad this time it also included a crying baby and two children begging for something other than cold cereal. I gave in and of course spent the time to also include Ramen Noodles in to their diet for the past few days.

This deja-vu of college life had me thinking and analyzing my Flabiliciousness. Maybe my metabolism really hasn't changed so much....maybe I just eat a lot more because now-a-days I have time to eat. It seems like I am feeding my "starving" children constantly- and of course, I feed myself along with them constantly.

Being so busy, I didn't have time to eat. I know this isn't necessarily a solution, but.... if I kept myself busier, and didn't snack at the rate of a growing 4-year-old, I might see results a little sooner.

So, my goal for the upcoming week is to keep myself busier- not a crazy stressful busy- but, not a "I'm busy because I am holding a baby, but still have 1 free hand to stuff my face with untold amounts of Ritz crackers."

Staying on task should also help me finish up the procrastination challenge for the week too.
A few of you agreed you were "officially" in this project with me and wanted to be held accountable. Here is your call out to check in with your results: Katie, Chambrae, Megan, Kristen, Sheri, Kirsten, Stephanie, Jennifer, and LeAnn: HOW IS IT GOING????
All of the rest of you are welcome to "hop on the bus" too......misery loves company. And, after a little candy/chip/cracker/bread withdrawals, the misery should fade away just like all of our inches...right?

Also, I am a huge believer in the concept of "free day." I have adapted it for myself to be "free moment of the day." For me, it is much easier to constantly be trying to eat a little healthier, but allow myself some small little joyous sugary moment here and there. If I allow myself a full official day off, then it is all over!

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.

Project Flabilicious.....Reality Check

In just a mere 2 days, I will be partying it up at my high school reunion. Well, as much as a mom who doesn't drink, with 3 small kids traveling by herself to a high school reunion can party it up.....bring on the apple juice!

While packing my bags, there was much debate with my body vs. my brain.

Finally, I settled on bringing an extra $20, counting on Grandma's babysitting services and crossing my fingers on finding a great deal on a great shirt.

My good friend Holly, from college, whose body type is identical to mine, will be joining me. She hasn't aged quite as "gracefully" as me though. She has always worked out, but the basic body shape is the same- mine is just hidden under some extra layers. Her reunion is in a week. We are going to hopefully find the perfect summer shirt, with sleeves (no flapping wings for me), and that magically makes me look 10 lbs. lighter. Any good shopping ideas out there?

I know, I know, last week I told you all that I don't care what others thing too much....... And really, I couldn't name off any people that I feel like I have to look good for, but I do want to feel cute. I will have a better time and enjoy myself more if I feel better about myself. That being said, I will hopefully not end up being a complete hypocrite, and spend hours primping just so I look great for my old boyfriends......except that I didn't have any serious boyfriends in high school- so yea for me, that takes care of that!

Anyhow- on to the reality check portion of the day:

I was so excited, ready to let you all know about my progress so far. I have only been really committed for a few weeks now to getting back in shape, and according to my scale at home, I have been doing quite well. Key words: according to my scale at home.

After traveling cross-state today, I climbed aboard this "vintage" scale from Grandma's house, ready to reaffirm what I already knew, success.

Apparently the saying "They don't make 'em like they used to," also includes scales.

Apparently my scale at home is off by 10 lbs. I made a frantic phone call to my husband at home with an affirmed, "Yes, I knew that our scale was off by 10 lbs."

Apparently you need to spend more than $10 at the local discount store to have an accurate scale.

I should have never weighed myself to begin with. I would have been a much happier girl. And that is why my friends, my scale is now going in the garbage, I will not be buying a new one and will try to be satisfied knowing that I am starting to feel better. I have been proud of my efforts so far- nothing dramatic; just lots of walking and a lot more water.

Apparently, it would have been a good idea to have really taken this lesson to heart weeks ago, but it is the seemingly apparent lessons that are sometimes the hardest to grasp.

Oh- and if you happen to be at my high school reunion, please don't imagine the belly photos I posted while talking to me. Thanks.