Mixed Bag

D and I passed our 10th Anniversary on Friday. SHOCKING! We each took the entire day from work to spend time together; a big breakfast at The Old European restaurant (open daily from 6am-2pm) , "The House Bunny" at the movie theater, a large seafood meal at home with the kids, and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" after the kids were in bed. Surprising, I know, but neither D nor I had ever seen "Fast Times..." prior to Friday night. We also watched "Used Cars", a Kurt Russell movie from 1980, last night.

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Unofficial Movie Review: The House Bunny. This movie is rated PG-13, and I think that might be a little too relaxed: adult content (scantily clad women, frequent innuendo) is highly inappropriate for young teenagers. However, even though I was skeptical, I did enjoy the movie. I would not purchase or purposely re-watch this movie, but it was good for some laughs. Rating: 3 stars (out of five).

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The school year is about to begin, and even though classes don't start until Wednesday, we have school-related activities tomorrow (Kindergarten Orientation Night) and Tuesday (Back-to-School Night at the elementary school). I am also leaving work early tomorrow to have a special lunch and one-on-one time with Owl since she is about to start High School. I'll try to report on that later.

Weight

As of yesterday morning, I am the heaviest I have ever been, with the exception of my second pregnancy -- I weighed 199 pounds on the eve of Tigger's birth. I don't know why, but at some point in my life I promised myself that I would never weigh more than 200 pounds, and I have been diligently battling food for (most of) the past twenty years to make sure I kept that promise, previously afore-mentioned pregnancy excluded. I am now dangerously close to breaking that promise, and I am almost frantic in my desire to keep that from occurring.

Last month, I thought I had found an answer … the Weigh Down Diet. Of course, I thought The South Beach Diet was the answer before that, along with the 3-day Fruit Flush diet, The Atkins Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet, etc. As I mentioned, I have been taking part in a prolonged conflict with food for more than half my life; they say that hindsight is 20-20 and I look back at my 135-pound high school self and regret all the time I was unhappy with my weight and build. I was a cheerleader my senior year, and I wanted to be the girl that was thrown into the air, but I had to accept my status as “base”.

For my current self, I know that the weight I am carrying around is not healthy … I get winded going up stairs, my ankles and feet hurt almost constantly, my waist measurement is 39”, my BMI is >30. I realize that I must make changes in order to lose some of this weight, and it can’t be another diet that calls for drastic changes. In fact, I now believe that a diet is not the answer at all. I need to add physical activity into my day. Certainly healthy food choices will also be necessary, but throughout the war I have relied on controlling the food rather than on exercise. That is about to change.

My goals:
1. I will achieve at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three days per week.
2. I will use exercise bands to achieve three days of strength training each week.
3. I will post my weight on this web site every Monday.
4. I will post any insight as to weight fluctuations, up or down.

I will appreciate any support you provide (be it through your comments or your prayers).

Oh, and my weight as of yesterday morning was 197 pounds.

Day of Fun (and relaxation)

We had a bit of fun today. I hope these are memories the kids will keep:

First a little back-story -- on Friday D and I purchased another vehicle … three months ago we had two, now we have four (and there are still only two drivers in our house). Anyway, through the generosity of D’s mom (“Thanks, Mom!”), we were able to purchase a 1996 Chevy Astro. Today we all took a ride, to the local Baskin Robbins. Each of us got a milkshake: Oreo Explosions for Owl and Tigger, Peppermint for D, Mint Chip for me and Strawberry Cheesecake for Lumpy (most of hers is still in the freezer).

When we got home, D had to leave again -- he has training for work in the nearest metropolis (far enough to drive, too far to come home every night) -- so the kids and I went to the local outdoor swimming pool. We stayed about 80 minutes. Lumpy was having a great time, but her lips were purple within the first half hour; as her teacher has pointed out, she has “no insulation.” Tigger kept bouncing off the high diving board; I jumped once and then dove off the lower board a few times. Owl and I, alternately, watched Lumpy working on her swimming and doing handstands. Although Lumpy rarely let go of the side of the pool, she did work on putting her face in the water and “swimming feet.”

I’m not sure why I’d not thought to visit the pool earlier this summer, and with only 9 days left before school begins, there aren’t that many more opportunities for us to swim, but we might try to go back again before the summer is officially over …

Back To School

Eight hours (over two days) and $376 dollars later, three intrepid adventurers have been outfitted for the next phase of their respective educational journeys; Lumpy begins, Tigger slogs on, and Owl can see the summit – it is distant, but within sight. That's right, as of the last week of August, all three children will be attending the local public school. I am both terrified and exhilarated by this knowledge. I feel, alternately, ready for, and bewildered by, the speed with which this is occurring. We only moved into this house yesterday; Lumpy was 4 weeks old, Tigger had a year to go before Kindergarten, and Owl was beginning 4th Grade -- now Lumpy is beginning Kindergarten, Tigger has taken Owl’s place in 4th Grade, and Owl is entering High School (FRESHMAN YEAR!!!!). Aaaagh! How did I get here?

On a positive note, Lumpy now shows excitement about starting school; up until Friday she was still showing more anxiety than any other emotion. With more than two weeks left before school begins, she was sorting through her new clothes to decide in which order she would wear them. Shopping for her was surprisingly simple; once she determined that the clothes fit, she wanted them all.

Tigger didn’t initially want to look for clothing at ShopKo; he wanted to go to the Old Navy store. After a quick cell phone conversation with D, though, he was ready; he ended up picking three new pairs of pants and six shirts (three polo’s and three t-shirts that can be worn separately or paired). His favorite pants are camouflage-pattern cargo pants; lots of pockets and a canvas belt.

Owl is so slender that almost anything looks good on her, and she also has a very good fashion sense. I’ll admit, the fact that shirts are now longer than in past years also pleases me mightily, and she has embraced that style wholeheartedly; it just works to make her look even taller and more slender.

Although the process wore me out, I’m glad that we did it now rather than waiting … the sheer number of other shoppers on the weekend before school is exhausting.