The countdown is on

Tomorrow is the big V-day! In an effort to save money... we are forfeiting our original plans to go to the CN tower for dinner and instead are going to try to get a table at The Keg. Alex had a wonderful idea to go to the CN tower because it was 5yrs ago at Valentine's Day that we had our first real fancy date together... and that is where he took me. It was a great and romantic idea to go there again (kudos to him)... but in the end saving money is our #1 priority... and that is even more exciting.

I am flying solo tonight. Alex is coming down with some minor flu symptoms... so, in an effort to feel better by tomorrow, he is being obedient and going straight home to bed to rest!! I will continue with the lazy theme of my day off and will lie on the couch and enjoy some chick flics!! (or I'll watch high school musical on TV. I love kiddie movies and actually haven't seen it).

So, as I mentioned... lazy day. I did some cleaning, but otherwise... relaxed. No sick people/relatives to worry about... no place to have to go... just me and the sun shining through my windows! I didn't get on the treadmill... I thought about going on this evening, but I'm not going to bother. Tomorrow morning I will... I swear.

Here's what I've eaten today
BF - oatmeal (2), cheese string (1)
Lunch - bagel (2), cheese (2), popcorn (3), 100cal packs x2 (4)
Dinner - smart ones lasagna (6), cheese (2)
(I don't know why I'm craving cheese today!)
Total: 22
Water: 3L... Trying to have a couple of more litres instead of snacking tonight

Happy Valentine's Day!!

We Have Success!

Down 2.4lbs! Yay! I must have burned more calories at work today or something... or my last ditch effort on the treadmill worked. This morning when I first stepped on the scale I weighed 0.3lbs more than last Thursday morning... but after I visited the powder room and THEN stepped back on the scale I was 0.4lbs LIGHTER than last Thursday... I figured at best I'd be the same this week. I did manage to get on the treadmill and do intervals... legs stayed intact (I am happy to report).

Here is what I ate today (so far)
Breakfast: ww bagel (2), pb (2)
Snack: cheese string (1)
Dinner: subway!! (12)
Total: 17

I may have some popcorn during Ugly Betty or Grey's... and enjoy NO baking tonight... just me and my couch and my puppy!

Happy Friday the 13th! I took the day off... let's see if I can muster up motivation to get on the treadmill!

Baking? Anyone? Anyone?

I've been baking again tonight... and making birthday cards. I love baking, but I will be glad not to tomorrow night! I will bake again on Saturday since I'm going to bake some chocolate cupcakes or brownies to take to my Poppa Jim on Sunday!

Here's some photos of the baking (which is for people at work... which I'm not getting paid for!).
Lemon cupcakes with whipped filling and cream cheese frosting... for a birthday party at work tomorrow:
Red velvet cupcakes (just a typical white cake but add cocoa or melted semi sweet chocolate and red food colouring!) with cream cheese frosting... and a candy for decoration: Sugar cookies (decorated with royal icing... just icing sugar, water and meringue powder):


I did get on the treadmill today but not for long... I was up late baking and busy this morning doing stuff for today's "accreditation jubilation". Tomorrow morning I plan to do a real last chance workout... and feel like my legs will fall off! I feel bloated today so at this point I'm not optimistic I will be down this week!!!

Here's what I ate today:
Breakfast - 2 oranges (2), yogurt (1), ww toast (1), pb (2)
Lunch - 1 slice veggie pizza at a meeting (4) - veggie pizza the day before weigh in? could be trouble! 1/2c chick peas (2), salsa (0), cheese (1), lettuce wraps (0), yogurt (1), apple (1)
Dinner - ww bagel (2), cheese (2), steamed veggies (0), chicken (3)
Total: 22
Water: 4L

The good news is that Poppa Jim is doing really well and is able to speak again... he's the best anyone has seen him in the last couple of weeks!! On Sunday I am going to Pontypool to see Grandma, then go with mom and dad and grandma to visit Poppa Jim in the hospital... then head to the farm to take grandma back... then back to Pontypool and back to Toronto on Monday (hopefully!).

Good luck tomorrow... jury is still out for me!!!

Happy Birthday my pup!!

Well, my dear Chicklet turns 6yrs old today. She has definitely been a great addition to my life... Nobody will ever love me like she does. I wish I could make her feel as loved as she does for me!!

Anyway, on to today. Let's cut to the chase... no treadmill. Alarm went off at 6am and I decided I needed sleep... so that is exactly what I did.

Here's what I ate today:
Breakfast: oatmeal (2), yogurt (1), apple (1)
Lunch: pasta (3), tuna (2), cheese (2), ff miracle whip (1), yogurt (1), fruit salad (2)
Snack: snap peas (0), cheese string (1)
Dinner: chicken (3), cheese (2), spaghetti squash (0), veg soup (0)
Total: 21
Water: 3L

Snaps for me... I'm baking tonight and have not done anything more than lick the spoon with cake batter on it!! I am sick of looking at icing right now!!

Tonight I have managed to watch biggest loser while baking... I wanted to be in bed by 10pm... I will take about 10min to ice some heart-shaped red velvet cupcakes (cream cheese icing)... and try to do most of the dishes quickly... and still try to be in bed by 10:30... and try for the treadmill tomorrow!!!

Staying positive

Well, Poppa Jim is safely back in his hometown hospital... he was lethargic today and refused to eat (for the RN's and for my aunt) and appeared annoyed... I can't blame him. He didn't get back to his home hospital until the wee hours of the morning... He is tired and cranky. He must be feeling bummed out by now and frustrated that when he tries to speak... the words can't come out. I feel bad for him. He is a fighter though, I have hopes for him! Can you tell how much I love my Poppa??? He is such a wonderful and kind person!!

So, I got myself on the treadmill today... yay. I did intervals and at one point felt like my legs may fell off, but I think that's what I needed.

Here's what I ate:
Breakfast - fruit salad (1), 1/2c all bran (1), yogurt (1)
Lunch - smart ones ravioli (5), yogurt (1)
snack - popcorn (3)
dinner - 0pt soup (0), chicken breast (3), spaghetti squash (1), tomatoes (0), yogurt (1)
Snack at home - sugar cookie pieces (?3)
Total: 20
Water: 5L

I have already made my lunch for tomorrow and planned what I will wear... I will now retire for the night and hopefully get on the treadmill in the morning... tuesdays are hard!

Tara: Kristen has a gazelle!! I think when I've used it long enough I do feel it in my butt the next day!

Happy Tuesday... I am off on Friday, but have a very busy week up until then... so I just have to get through the next 3 days!! At least it's a LONG weekend and I am NOT working (I took Valentine's weekend off!).

Roller Coaster Ride

Today is one of those days... My day started out with a phone call that things were not looking good for Poppa Jim... he was deteriorating and they thought they was more blood on the brain... i was done. I couldn't get myself out of bed except to be sick because I was so upset... Then we get the call that the catscan results came back and there was no blood on the brain... but his brain was swollen... so, they shipped him off to st mike's where he is now. when he got there the staff discovered he was totally dehydrated so they hooked up an IV and they saw improvements immediately... now we are waiting for results from a CT scan to figure out what is going on.

My plans for today changed. No treadmill. No appetite either... I did do some baking for work though.

Here's what I had today:
Breakfast/lunch - fruit salad (2), apple (1), leftover veggies (0)
Snack - cheese string (1), popcorn (3)
Total: 7
Water: 1L

i thought about dinner a couple of hours ago but haven't been hungry and don't have the energy to make anything.

I'll end with some photos from yesterday's hard work with my veggies:

NEW FOOD FINDS!!

You can imagine my pleasant surprise when I was browsing through my Superstore this morning and found the following NEW and EXCITING products!! Now... if we could only get all the crystal light flavours and flatout wraps here...







Now I'm off to cut up my vegetables (so they are easy to grab and steam/cook during the week) and make some 0pt vegetable soup!! I may get time for the treadmill before work... I might not... I won't freak out if I don't.

Happy weekend!!

Great and greater

I got up today and got myself on the treadmill! It felt great!! I have to go back to getting to bed at a decent time so I can get up earlier in the morning. I only went on for 30min... but it's a start.


I'm now waiting for Alex to get here so we can go grab dinner from the foodcourt (chicken and vegetables for me)... and then come home, watch a movie and play some Wii!!

So, the good news is I went on the treadmill. The GREAT news is Poppa Jim is back at the Lindsay hospital! My mom sent me photos of his scar (Aunt Linda took photos while visiting him)... it's the craziest scar on someone's head... I'm sure doctors/RNs/hospital staff see these scars all the time... but I don't! Regardless, he is back home for his rehab and we are all happy. My grandma is extremely happy to be able to go see him... she has missed him a lot.

This weekend will consist of grocery shopping tomorrow, then working an afternoon shift. Sunday will be "working from home" (baking)... I'm not sure how if I'll get to Lindsay or not... just like it's been all week... things could change at the drop of a hat.

Here's what I've eaten today
Breakfast: oatmeal (2), yogurt (1)
Lunch: lettuce wraps with chick peas (2), spoonful of black beans (0), salsa (0), cheese slices (1)... yogurt (1), fruit salad (1), angel food cake (2)
Snack: angel food cake (2)
Total so far: 12

Dinner (planned): chicken 4/5?, veggies (0)

Happy weekend!
**Just received confirmation that Poppa Jim is safely in his Lindsay bed!!**

Let's start the new week off right...

"Nothing will work unless you do" Nothing will work unless I do.

I have already made my lunch for tomorrow. My menus are done (with some tweaking tomorrow maybe).

I have taken my melatonin to help me get to sleep tonight. I am already going to head to bed. I am going to leave my computer in the living room so I'm not tempted to surf in bed.

It's going to be a good week.

Play by play / Results

Going to WW now! My honest to God prediction is I will be up 5lbs... more than what I weighed following Christmas. It's okay, I won't freak out. I will remedy this.

I will be back... and I have begun the game plan for recovery week - starting TOMORROW!!

I am back... I was up 4.2lbs. Not good. Unfortunately... I am not upset by this. How can I be upset when a week ago we didn't know if I would still have my Poppa Jim? He is doing well and may come home by the weekend!! I am back on track.


Here is what I vow to do:
Make my meal plans for the next week
Make my grocery list accordingly
Get back on the treadmill in the mornings
NOT push myself to get in 2 workouts a day... if it happens, it happens
TRACK everything... back to writing everything in my tracker WHEN I eat it (haven't tracked for about a week now)

I can totally do it!! I have EVERY reason to succeed. Life is good!!

I am off to eat my sub. Here's todays food:
BF - bagel (2), cheese slice (1)
Dinner - turkey sub (12)
Snack during Grey's - popcorn (3)

TARA - you can totally use me for your passport!!! I'm actually excited for us to kick each other's butts and get on track this week! Way to go on your last minute save on your week!!!! So awesome!! I can't believe you haven't found the vitalicious muffins! At the stores I look at they are in the freezer section with the vegetarian/healthy stuff... but let me know if you don't find them and I will bring some with me when I come visit you in March!! Do you ever go to Walmart Superstore at 401 and Stevenson in Oshawa? They have the McCain singles and the vitalicious muffins there!