Weight Loss Ticker

About Me

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TX, United States
I am a 39 yr. old stay at home mom to 3 girls ages 10, 9 and 7. My goal is to be fit by 40! I want to lead a healthier lifestyle. I was banded on 4/5/2011. I tend to be a bit on the sarcastic and cynical side. I love to read, hate to excersise (but am learning to tolerate it!), love to shop and want to smack anyone who is a size 2 (not really!). I am learning to work with my band and my new self one day at a time!

Contact Info

Please feel free to e-mail me at brendamyers@msn.com

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Ten Things Thursday

1.  Well, did you think I had fallen off the end of the Earth?  I think that would have been much easier than the chaos of trying to get 3 kids organized and on a new school schedule.  My life for the past 3 days has been nothing but back and forth to school and activities because different schools start and end at different times.  I may paint my car yellow with black and white checkerboard and start charging fares.

2.  I have however been hitting the gym.  Hard.  I have been every day this week (GASP!) since there are no little people hanging on me and following me around.  

3.  Speaking of the gym.  I was enjoying my much needed workout this morning while watching the Today Show when it was rudely interrupted by quite possibly the worst noise I have ever heard.  I thought my eardrums may burst.  Heck, that may have been an improvement compared to the noise I was hearing.   The Today Show had a UK music "sensation" on this morning.  And the term "sensation", I am using lightly.  Cher* Llyod*....please keep your music across the pond and out of ear shot of my 11 yr. old daughter.  Obviously, since they announced her song went platinum pre-teens are downloading the hideous song on I*tunes.   I may be getting old and crotchety but I found NO redeeming qualities about her or her song.  Way to ruin my workout Cher*.

4.  Tomorrow I get to go thrifting with a friend.  I can hardly contain my excitement.  A whole day to myself with a friend doing what I love to do.  It will be much needed girl time.

5.  Boot camp starts back up September 10th.  I am more than ready.  Even if it means I have to get up at the ungodly hour of 4:30 a.m.  I NEVER thought I would say that....I actually enjoy it.  Whoda thunk?!

6.  Hannah (my 6th grader) got chosen to play the oboe in the school band.  I guess it is a really big honor too.  She is so excited.  I thought my husband was going to jump up and down like the village idiot when they told him if she kept it up she would most likely get a college scholarship.  I could see the wheels  turning in this brain calculating all the money he will save.

7.  I am contemplating logging food again to keep up with my protein intake.  I am pretty sure I am not getting enough.   It just seems like so much effort.  I used to log every day religiously.  My laziness has taken over.  Is it still important to keep up your protein when you are in maintenance?

8.  I am thinking 7 things may be all I can do today.  I am going to enjoy the peace and quiet and my wonderful cup of coffee.

Have a great Thursday!!!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

TX3=Ten Things Thursday

This may be a quick edition since my full-time-non-paying job (PTO) has gone into full swing in anticipation of school starting Monday.

1.  I am ready and not ready for school to start.  We have done all the prepping and I am ready to take a break from the sibling bickering but I just can't believe summer is over.  It went by way to quick this year.

2.  I am however ready to get back to my routine.  As in..... drop the kids at the curb at school and head to the gym for some sweating time.  Also, I am ready to purge the cabinets of all the junk.  It seems that the junk food has multiplied in my cabinet (maybe it breeds in warm weather).  When the kids are home I am more apt to make bad food choices...that will definitely come to a halt on Monday.

3.  Tonight is meet the teacher night at the school where I am PTO prez.  So..............I get to go up to the school in about an hour and bake around 300 cookies.   Yeah.  Nice, huh?  That is like sending a druggie into a crack house.  Cookies are my kryptonite.  There may be no way I can stop myself from inhaling at least 2.  I just am lacking the self control it would take to resist.  I will however will be doing some gym time to work off the said cookies.  At least I have a plan.

4.  Yesterday, I spent the morning with Hannah at the middle school getting her schedule and meeting the teachers.  I really do not like the idea of having a middle schooler.  When did I get this old?  In my mind I am still 28 yrs. old and weigh 125 lbs. Hey, I can dream.

5.  We have not been to the pool in over a week.  It has been rainy and colder than any other summer I can remember.  Since my family is a bunch of wusses no one will swim when it is only 80.  It has to be like a gazillion degrees and bath water before we will put a toe in the water.  These girls are true Texans.

6.  It is 8:30 p.m.  I JUST got home.  We left the house at 8:30 a.m. and headed for the school.  And they say PTO isn't a full time gig.......WHATEVA!!!!

7.  And here is me and Georgie after meet the teacher night.........................

And me and Georgie last year at meet the teacher night.  And the really bad picture of me is when Georgia was in Kindergarten at meet the teacher night, 3 years ago. 

Lily just told me while I was uploading these photos that it made her really sad that I had gotten that big.  But now, she says she is happy because I am healthy.  That is all the encouragement I ever need.

8. And totally off any other topic on this list because after all I have to prove I have ADD.  This is what sits under my stool and waits for food to drop at a meal:

Seriously folks, how the hells bells am I supposed to NOT throw table scraps down to that face.  She smiles.......she may be the cutest puppy ever created.

9.  That is all I got for today because I am exhausted!!!!

Happy Ten Nine Things Thursday.



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Family Pictures=Crazy Eyes

Monday night we finally got our family pictures taken.  After years of dodging the camera, I finally agreed to be in front of it again.

Our wonderful photographer is actually one of my band surgeon's office staff.  Kinda crazy that she saw me before and now after. 

Anyway, here are some of the sneak peaks she posted on FB.





Okay, so here I am thinking I am all hot stuff and all and my middle schooler (ugh!  I am the mom of a middle schooler...I think I just threw up in my mouth when I typed that) says:

Uh, mom.  You have all crazy eyes in the pictures.  Are you tired or something?  Or mad?  You look funny.

Yeah, there is nothing like the commentary of a middle schooler to keep you grounded.

***SIGH***

I think I need me some Botox.....just sayin'.

Happy Wednesday!!!!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Motivational Monday

This is one of the life lessons I have to keep reminding myself of..........

That the only person I can change is myself.

Because to a control freak like me it is very unsettling to know that I really do not have control over others behavior.

Maybe it is because I am 40 that this lesson seems to be getting easier and easier to deal with.  Perhaps it is because of all the obstacles I have encountered in my life.

Either way, it is something that I am working on daily. 

I can change the way I react to a person or situation.  I can change the way I handle an obstacle.  But...I can only change me.



P.S.  I could not change that my Internet was running at turtle speed last week so I was unable to post or even check e-mail.  I could not change that my kids had used so many giga-bytes playing on their iPods that the Internet company put a screeching halt to racking up any additional charges to our account (because they thought someone had hacked into our account).  I could only change my reaction to this news.  So, I am proud to say I did not blow up.  I was calm.  Amazing, huh? 

Monday, August 13, 2012

Motivational Monday

I used to be so all or nothing.  Meaning...if I couldn't do something absolutely perfect then I didn't even try.

How sad is that? 

I wonder what wonderful things I missed out on because of my philosophy and how many times I threw in the towel before I even got started.

I came across this on FB this morning and it sums up how I now feel:



Sometimes, we just aren't going to be the best at something.

 That is a fact. 

All we can hope for is that we will continually improve.

Don't aim for perfection.  You will set yourself up for failure.  Just aim to do better than you did the last time.

Happy Monday!!!


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Ten Things Thursday

Thursday can only mean one thing.....................

Well, ten things actually................

Ten Things Thursday, brought to us by the the lovely Laura at Beer, Dogs and Getting Healthier.

1.  Meme (Kevin's mom) bought all the girls Ipod touches.  They arrived on Tuesday.  Let me just say...............they rock!  I am not proud to admit this, as the dinner table is usually a tech free zone but, Tuesday night was the first time in many years I have had the opportunity to eat my dinner in peace and quiet.  They all brought them to the dinner table to play the Smurfs game.  No arguing, no fighting, just creating magical blue villages.  I am sure this phenomenon will not last long but  until the newness wears off, I will enjoy the silence.

2.  Did you know there is a tooting app?  Yep.  A loud farting app.  Just what every 8 yr. old needs on her Ipod right?  Georgia thinks it is the funniest thing ever.  Kevin.......not so much.  He is questioning my parenting skills.  I guess he didn't find it too funny when she made a tooting noise and blamed it on him.  I however, almost fell on the floor laughing.

3.  Monday night we were scheduled to have family pictures.  Outside.  Guess what it did?  It rained.  Loud booming thunderstorm rain.  It NEVER rains here in the summer and it picked the day I have family pictures scheduled?!  I had spent 3 hours curling hair and expertly applying my makeup.  We had to reschedule.  I made the girls snap of picture of me in my size 8 jeans.  Because I wanted proof that I could get into them.  Inspiration for when I need to avoid the sample lady at the grocery store.
I very carefully took the jeans off and hung them back in my closet.  Because, if I wash them I am afraid they will shrink and I will have to sausage myself back into them.

4.  Number 3 is proof that boot camp works.  I had been very frustrated because the scale actually had gone up 4 lbs. since starting boot camp.  When I look at the picture though, it is apparent that I have toned.  So who really cares about the 4 lbs.  I need to focus on TONING and if that means I gain a few pounds but drop a size and look leaner than so be it.  The scale has been such a huge part of this process over the last year and a half that it has been hard to refocus and remember that it is not the most important part of my journey now.

5.  Does anyone else have adult ADD?  My mind goes like a million miles an hour at night.  Sometimes it is almost impossible to relax and fall asleep.


6.  Yesterday while I was putting up my clothes in my dresser a large   gargantuan spider came out from under the dresser.  I am talking like the size of my palm.  I let out a blood curdling scream.  The girls came running.  I am sure they thought I had been stabbed by the boogie man.  I HATE spiders.  I almost passed out squashing it with a shoe when it made a crunching sound.  I am having an anxiety attack just remembering it. I will be calling the bug man today.  This sums up how I feel about spiders............


7.  I am thinking today is pool kinda day. 

8.  Yesterday, the whole day I went sugar free.  Which must be some kinda record for me.  I focused on eating protein and avoiding anything laced with sugar.  And by the end of the day...............I had a raging headache and wanted to lock myself in my room to avoid all human contact.  AAWWWWW...sugar.....why do you have to be soooo good?  I am doing my best to avoid it today too. 

9.  What made me think that after losing weight I would keep any food particles from landing on my shirt?  I thought that not having my stomach or chest area stick out would mean I could eat a meal without finding some of it landing on me.  I guess I am just a sloppy eater because EVERY meal results in at least some of the food falling onto the front of me.  I am a food magnet. Or a slob.  Take your pick. 

10.  I gots nussin' for number 10....nussin'.

Have a great Thursday..............I will try to lead a sugar free lifestyle today...but I am making no promises.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Dear Grocery Store Sample Lady

Dear Grocery Store Sample Lady,

Why?  Why did you have to stand by the entrance with your delightful sample of strawberry cream cheese torte cake? 

Why did you have to point out that they are on special today?

I know you are just doing your job.  I realize you don't know that my weakness is anything in a bakery.  That right now my TOM has completely got me craving anything sweet.

But you are a devil woman.  A food pusher.  Peddler of crack-like goodies.

I know I am smarter than the sugar laced substances you are pushing, but for some reason I just couldn't resist. 

So, I ate a serving (or two) of the cream filled goody that somehow made its way into my cart.

But, just to prove I could control myself I did my penance on the cross-fit machine at the gym for 30 minutes. 

Next time I go to the grocery store, I am going in through the exit.

You won't get me next time.

Sincerely,
Brenda Myers
Self Diagnosed Sugar Addict

Monday, August 6, 2012

Motivational Monday

Have you been watching the Olympics?  If you have then you know about the double-amputee runner, Oscar Pistorius His story gave me chills and made me tear up.  He epitomizes the idea that anything is possible as long as you work hard and believe in yourself.  Pure inspiration.

He didn't make the Olympic finals.  But, it doesn't matter.  It only matters that he tried.  That he was there.  Because people told him he couldn't.  He proved them wrong and in the process made history.  The first double-amputee sprinter to make it to the Olympics.  He has paved the way for others.  Pretty amazing if you ask me.

Anyway, last week I was caught up in my own pity party.  Yep.  I had a reservation for one at the pity party table last Monday.  You see, the Friday before at boot camp someone asked me what I had done to my left leg.  She asked me why I was limping.  It just so happens that when I am tired or stressed my left side (the side affected by my stroke) does not want to cooperate with the rest of my body.  I limp and my left eye goes blurry.  I am very self-conscience about this. 

Why?  I mean those that love me could care less about my little deficit.  It doesn't matter to them in the least.  But, it bothers me to the point that I did not go to boot camp last Monday  because someone asked why I was limping.  I hate to admit to this..............I didn't go because of my own vanity.

It is something that I need to get over.  Because really, it is a very small inconvenience given the fact that the outcome of my stroke could have been so much different.  That I could possibly have died.

But, last night as I was watching the interviews about Oscar Pistorius, I couldn't help but think:  Here is a man that could have easily thrown in the towel.  He could have given up, felt sorry for himself and lived a completely different life.  But he didn't.  He just lived.  He is trying to be his best self.  It doesn't matter that he didn't make the Olympic finals.  It only matters that he tried.  He showed up, worked hard and gave it his best effort.  He is a winner.   He is a hero.  He is pure inspiration.

There is always going to be someone out there that has it much worse than I do.  There is always going to be someone out there that just wished their only deficit was an occasional limp or blurry eye.  There is always going to be someone that doesn't let any of their handicaps keep them from reaching their dreams and inspiring others.  I want that someone to be me.

So, the next time I feel a pity party coming on, I will remember Oscar Pistorius and repeat this to myself:

It only matters that you show up and give it all you got.  It only matters that you try.  All you can ask of yourself is that you do the best that you can do.  You are a winner because you tried.




Friday, August 3, 2012

Pictures

This week/weekend is completely insane.  Georgia (my youngest) is 8 today.  We have christened this week long birthday event as Georgiapalooza as it seems to go on forever. 

Anyway, I don't have much time to blog but thought I would post a few pictures.


Georgia and Me.  And no, I have not lost a single pound.  But, boot camp has proved to be a miracle worker.....I will post more about that later.


Georgia making a wish.


Have a great weekend!  If you want to celebrate Georgiapalooza it is perfectly acceptable to eat a cupcake or cookie in her honor.  She said it was okay!  :)

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Making Memories

Well, I only hit the snooze button ONCE this morning.  Which means I did make it to boot camp at the ungodly hour of 5:30 a.m.  But, I feel very strong.  And quite awesome.  Hmmmmm.  There is something to this empowering workout.

Monday, I will admit I was in a funk.  A deep funk.  I was genuinely mad at my scale (which said up 3 lbs.) because I have been sweating like a pig and getting up at the crack of dawn to gain 3 lbs.????  Yeah, I was mad.  Mad that I had 3 lbs. of water retention (PMS)  and mad that my sleep was being interrupted.  Just mad.  I guess we can all have an off day once in awhile. 

But, I did workout Monday.  And to be honest, I missed boot camp.  And I worked out yesterday (because I vowed not to be lazy).  Then this morning, boot camp.  No slacking for me.

When I got home this morning at 6:45 a.m.  there was a little soon to be 8 yr. old staring at me from my chair (her b'day is Friday...believe me when I say, she won't let us forget).  She snuggled in my chair with me and commented on my lovely sweatiness.  I am a sweater.  Yep.  One smelly mama.

Anyway, Georgia wanted to walk, after I just got back from boot camp.  And every part of my body just wanted to chill out in my chair with my coffee and watch the Today Show.  But I didn't.  Because her little face was staring at me.

So we walked down our country road.  Hand in hand.  Talking about important 7 year old stuff like Barbies, puppies, crickets and other stuff that was really important to her.

And as I held her little hand, I thought to myself..................

These are the moments I will hold dear.  That I will wrap up with a beautiful bow and keep close to my heart.   These wonderful times with my daughter.  They are my ultimate motivation for staying healthy. 

It never ceases to amaze me that in the process of saving my own life I have saved my whole family.  My health is a gift that keeps on giving.