Roller Coaster Week

Do you ever have one of those weeks where your emotions are completely all over the place and you just don't know why??? This week has been that way for me - and it's only Wednesday! HA!

Monday was an emotional roller coaster for me. I'm not sure why....I've even looked at my diet trying to decide if there is something I am eating that is throwing my hormones out of whack but no luck on that so far. Because I had such an emotional crying fit most of the day, my bestie took me out for Mexican (margaritas included of course!) and it was fabulous and much needed! We had all of the kids with us but put a basket of chips in front of them and silence falls over the table! LOL

Anywho, after a fabulous dinner out, we came home and hunkered down in my bed to watch our newest guilty pleasure: The Bachelorette! Yes, I know....it's all so ridiculous but we have become completely emotionally attached to this show - which is going to make us watch The Bachelor next! My horrible Monday ended so much better than it started - thanks, Bestie!!! You're the bestest!

Because of crying most of Monday, I didn't get any exercise in at all! Yesterday I got a lot of studying and tests done in the morning. I am a bit behind on my studying right now, which I will work on diligently over the weekend, so it was nice to sit down and have the time to really dig into my studies. Once I was done studying, I had a delicious Green Monster! I made this one with flax seeds, banana, strawberries, spinach and milk. While it was good, I didn't feel as satisfied as my first one with peanut butter instead of strawberries. I straightened up the house some in anticipation of a friend of ours coming over for dinner.

Once Steph got over, we indulged in some veggies and hummus with our wine while my hubby got the grill ready. We had a FABULOUS dinner: grilled steak, my "world famous" red-skinned mashed potatoes and a salad. Both the hubby and I had very little potatoes as we're trying to keep our carb intake on the lower side. We had great conversation, great food, great drink and lovely weather! I'm so glad it's going to be a bit cooler this week!

Today we had our Fun-Filled Family Day: Six Flags!! Me, the hubby and T-Man do this every summer when he comes but I guess we can do this even easier in the future with him living here now! What a day we had!!! I love roller coasters - not having roller coaster emotions! LOL
We are absolutely exhausted from the day! We had such a great time! I would love to go to FrightFest for Halloween. Has anyone ever been to this? How is it?

I have a couple of appointments in the morning and then I'm going to go to the park (especially since it's cooler these days) to get a really good walk/jog in - I'm going for a full 5.5 miles!! Later in the afternoon, I'm taking all the kids to the library as we do each Thursday. I'm kind of excited as T-Man has a reading list for his upcoming school year!!

Hope you're having a great week!!

Be true to you!
Hugs,
Heather

Relaxing Sunday

I hope you've had a nice weekend - I've had a great weekend! My pool party went pretty well last night, all things considered. As discussed before, T-Man brought out his TOGA outfit but it just wouldn't stay on right so we never took a picture of it but it sure brought on a lot of laughs!!! He sure is funny!

After much discussion, we have a major family change: T-Man is going to move to Georgia, transfer schools and live with us! As he pointed out to his Mom (he's so smart!!), we have a much better school system and athletic programs, which will help his chances to get some great scholarships into a great college. Did I mention he's an AWESOME baseball player???

We took care of some commercial clients this morning, met his dad for lunch at his restaurant and then came home to do some laps in the pool and relax a bit. Once we got out of the pool, we changed clothes and did some pilates and a booty boosting exercise circuit on OnDemand (which he really made me laugh hysterically over at times!!). We've decided to become training buddies, to help me lose weight and increase my exercise in general and to help him build up his cardio and overall strength so 1) we can run a 1/2 marathon together (we're thinking October-ish) and 2) he can get ready for high school (he's going into the 8th grade this year) athletics! We're super excited!

So, that's it for now! I'll keep you posted on our training - and I promise to get better at picture taking and posting! I'm off to make a Green Monster!

Be true to you!
Hugs,
Heather

The summer of 2010 with T-Man

As I've mentioned before, I have two bonus (step) children. T-Man is 13 and the sweetest kid you'll ever meet! We have built our relationship over the last 2 years and he told during this summer visit he would like to start calling me "Mom" if I didn't mind! Didn't mind??? What an honor! I'm so proud to be thought of so lovingly by a 13 year old young man!

We have so much fun together: we go jogging at the park together, shop together, cook together, talk about girls, school, sports and cars together, eat at our favorite restaurant together (a Chinese buffet) each time he visits, sing in the car together, dance in stores together, and truly enjoy our time together as friends. I never thought I could love a child as my own and with him, I really do.

We are having a cookout with some family friends at our house tomorrow and he is right there with me cleaning the house, preparing food and coming up with his cool TOGA outfit - yes, toga....he is very much his own person and does things that make him happy and set him apart from others. While he is so much like his dad, it's almost amazing, he also has the sweet tenderness of a Southern Gentleman.

**watch for photos tomorrow of the TOGA!!**

What or who do you have in your life that means so much to you, that surprised you?

Be true to you!

Hugs,

Heather

New Beginnings

I did just as I said I would today and went on my walk! Unfortunately, I didn't make it as early as I wanted to and was soooo HOT I thought I was going to pass out! But - I did make the 2.5 miles, along with Twister and bonus son, T-Man, who rode his bike. The track I run has mile markers every 1/10 of a mile so I walked a fast pace for 2/10 and then ran for 1/10 for 2.5 miles in the blazing heat at 12:00 Noon!! I felt so good afterwards - even hot, sweaty and red-faced!! I cannot take Twister in the middle of the day anymore - it was just too much for him.

When I got home, I made my first Green Monster (GM) drink! This was what is considered the Naked Green Monster (but I added some peanut butter for some extra flavor - and I love p.b. on just about anything!). You can find more recipes on www.greenmonstermovement.com. There are some great ideas on there!

I used 1 T flax seed, 1 cup thawed frozen spinach, 1 banana, 1 cup milk, 1 T peanut butter and about 1 cup ice and blended. I was really scared about the spinach part of it but I couldn't even taste the spinach!! I was so full after this that I didn't even have lunch - that was my lunch! The bestie loved it too!

Remember, spinach and kale are great foods for iron - especially if you're a vegetarian, as the bestie is, and you don't consume much iron (from red meat). She hasn't been feeling so hot lately and I think this will start to help her!! :) We are going to try some berries soon in this - I think it will be awesome!!!

After my GM, I worked on some school things, made dinner for everyone (cheese pizza) and then we all went swimming for about 2 hours - again, more exercise - and it was much cooler than the park and fun! In a while, I am going to journal all of my food for today. I think I've done really well and will start to see a difference.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with a client in the morning and then I will come home and find a yoga lesson on the exercise On Demand channel. Have you looked at these? They are awesome!! Later, I will take the girls to the library, as we do every Thursday and then off to Huddle House for a bite to eat (kids eat FREE from 3-8 on weekdays!!).

Here is a funny picture that will give you a little giggle....this is one of the cats of a client of mine - he is so funny!! He looks like a cartoon cat with his goofy crossed eyes!!! HA! HA! HA! And he follows me around all over the house and talks to me - he's hysterical!

Are you being true to you and taking care of yourself as well as you take care of those you love around you?

Be true to you!
Hugs,
Heather

It's HOT, HOT, HOT!

With the summer months hitting us so hard this year, it's been difficult for me to get into my warmer-month routine of going to the park with my dog, Twister, and walking 2-5 miles a day. Instead, I have been working hard in my yard: mowing, weeding, edging, etc. While I have not seen much of a change in my weight, I do feel good in the sun and sweating every day!

I have realized I am going to have to change my schedule a bit in order to get my walk/jog in each day. I will either start getting up early - before the high heat - or go in the evening hours when it starts to cool down. I'm actually opting for the early morning as I like knowing the rest of the day my workout is done.

I am also a bit torn about my eating. There are so many articles on low-carb, vegetarian, raw diets, blah, blah, blah. How is a girl supposed to figure all of this out? So what have I been doing? Kind of finding the happy medium. I am eating higher fiber, leaner meats, lower sugar, virtually no caffeine and more fruits. And I must admit I feel pretty good! But again, no real change in weight. Hmmm.....I think I will keep a journal of my food intake and see what I "really" eat on a day-by-day basis.

I've started an online account with http://www.fitday.com/ where you can enter in your food that you eat and it will pop up all of the nutritional values on food and keep it in a log for you! It's awesome! Doing this to "test" it, I've realized I already overate today - calorie wise! Eeeek!!! Maybe this will be the key to get me off this plateau and keep moving in the right direction!?

What do you need to keep you moving in the right direction?

Stay true to you!

Hugs,

Heather

Happy Father's Day!

I have been so bad about keeping up with my blog and I am so sorry!! I will be better at it from here on out - promise! :)

I have been so extremely busy with my business (which I'm not complaining about!), school and my personal life! All good things going on, of course! My hubby has his 2 children here right now - ages 16 and 13 - and they're a handful but a lot of fun! I was happy he had them here for Father's Day! That is a first in itself!

CD and T-Man with their Daddy:

My Daddy's birthday was on Friday and today is Father's Day. Our schedule's didn't jive for us to have a celebration together this weekend so we're having a cookout at my house next weekend with some great friends. I'm really looking forward to it!

Last night, my and my bestie had a GNO (Girl's Night Out) and had an amazingly wonderful time! We started at a Mexican restaurant near our house and had some margaritas and dips - guacamole, salsa, cheese dip and sour cream - and then started taking silly pictures! HA! HA!

We then went over to my hubby's restaurant where he works and had a couple drinks - LOTS of fun! Today we are both a bit on the sleepy side from our night out but it was sooooo worth it!

Today the kiddos woke me up to "supervise" their cooking breakfast for their dad - scrambled eggs and french toast. Yummy!! We are now getting CD packed and ready to fly back home. T-Man is going to work with his dad tonight so it'll just be us girls at the house tonight!

Hope you all have a wonderful Father's Day and have the Daddy and hubby that I have!!!

Be true to you!

Hugs,

Heather

Life is a Bowl of Cherries!

Today is one of those days when I don't have much to write about other than life is GOOD! My family and I have had some really rough months at the beginning of 2010 but it is really turning around for us! This can only lead to easier healthy living too, right??

How has your 2010 been? Have you made any wishes or dreams come true?

I am starting Clayton State University in September to complete my pre-reqs for nursing and will be applying to their Nursing program in August/September so keep your fingers crossed!!! I'm super nervous and SUPER excited about it, all at the same time.

I am also have to report I have lost another 1.5 pounds! Slow and steady wins the race.

I am meeting someone very near and dear to my hubby's heart tomorrow and I'm happy for that - and nervous! What if she doesn't like me? What if it's not a good visit? Oh well....what's not to like, right? HA!

Stay true to you!!!

Hugs,
Heather

TGIF!!

Hello all! Well, I have no pics for today - unless you want me to stick in some random ones - but I have a lot on my mind and a lot going on in my world...

I have a "friend" on FB who I really admire. I say friend in "quotes" because we have never met...weird, huh?? Anyway, after talking over FB last night about my nasty habit of smoking - yes, Nancy, I'm talking about YOU!!!....I have really realized how gross of a habit it is. I'm on day 3 of no caffeine and I am desperate for a diet coke or a a big GIANT Starbucks but I won't do it! I know, I know....I can get a decaf but what's the point??? And why tempt myself??? So I'm doing without all together.

I digress....back to Nancy...Nancy is a mother of two, helps her hubby with his company, retired cop (hot, huh??), fox hunter, horse rider, animal lover, and now a triathlete!! She is truly an amazing woman! She has become my inspiration for so many changes in my life and we're meeting in person soon and I can hardly wait! It's amazing to me how someone who isn't a part of your every day life can make such an impact.

As I was cleaning a house of a clients today I was thinking to myself "if you could change anything, what would it be?". I would have finished my nursing, check - in the process! I would have never started smoking....it truly is the hardest thing I have ever tried to kick (thank god I've never been addicted to drugs!) and they say it's harder to kick than heroin....can you imagine???

So, with that being said, I am on a quest to lose 75-100 pounds. That's right - I've said it out loud and put it out there! This will not make me "rail thin", "anorexic", "disgustingly thin"...this will make me at the weight I should be. Will I put the number out there? No. Telling you I want to lose 75-100 pounds is a big enough step for me. I've lost 2.5 pounds in the last week and we're now counting down....

Next up?? Another 2.5 pounds and quitting smoking. I can only imagine how "unhappy" those blogs will be..... :)

Thanks to all who support me and read my blog! Be sure to become a "follower"!!

What is your secret? Will it make you feel more free to put it out there??

Be true to you!

Hugs,
Heather

Goodbye, my Old Friend!

Because of my quest for clean living, and a healthier me, I am now on Day 2 of a caffeine-free life! For any of you who know me well, this is a HUGE step for me! I typically drink 2 VERY large cups of coffee in the morning and Diet Coke (and water, of course!) throughout the day. I had a bit of a headache last night and I have a small one right now but it's nothing I can't push through.

Why, you ask, would I put myself through this?? Well I'm glad you asked! :)

I have never given up caffeine in all my years of working towards getting healthy and I thought - maybe this should be the time to do so? I really do consume way too much caffeine in a day and I'm sure this is part of the reason I have had trouble sleeping. Not to mention all of the Splenda I use in my coffee and all of the aspartame in the soda.

Next up....quitting smoking - for good! So....goodbye, my old friends (coffee and Diet Coke)!!

We have a garden my sweet hubby built and planted at the beginning of this season. Today we pulled our first tomatoes, cucumbers and jalapeno peppers! They are all beautiful and delish!

With that being said, I have been reading a book on canning and preserving and I have decided to make my first dill pickles this weekend!! I've always wanted to make my own jellies and learn how to can, and from what I've read, pickling is a bit easier than jellies so this is where I'm starting! I may even make some salsa or tomato sauce!! I'm very excited about this! Can we get anymore "organic" or fresh than making our own???

Like I said before, I've always wanted to learn how to do my own canning but never had enough faith in myself. Everyone always says "oh, that's so hard and time consuming!" which pretty much turns me off of it. But after reading this book and realizing it's a bit easier than I thought - time consuming, yes - but I think it will be so worth it! And, it's just an added boost to my getting healthy!

What have you wanted to do to help your healthful living, but haven't due to others poo-pooing it? Why don't you start it this weekend?

Be true to YOU!

Hugs to all,

Heather