My Graduate

My Baby Girl, The graduate!

<= The picture to left is her in kindergarten

The picture to the right, is Graduation =>

Class of 2011

My Princess is graduating today!

Laguna Hills High School, Class of 2011

My Gym Rant....

This needs to be posted in all gyms across America

I rarely go on a rant about anything...but today I AM.

Last night I decide to try a new workout class with a girlfriend of mine.

It’s a class that is taught by a body builder, who only believes in training only with weights and no cardio.

I thought, “No problem, I get my cardio on in my other workouts, so let’s see what his hype is all about”

First imagine this, he’s 300 pounds ALL MUSCLE and sounds like Arnold Schwarzenegger,

“I’m going to pomp you up!” *Going forward I’ll be referring to the trainer as “Arnold”.

So I get to the gym and I first see the receptionist, small lil petite thing, no older than 18.

“Are you here to take the SPARTAN class?’

I thought to myself…psh I take Muay Thai, I got this.

I reply, “Yes, yes I am.”

Then she turns to my girl and says, “Oh, your back to take the class, too?”

My friend responds, “Yes, hopefully I don’t throw up this time.”

WT??? Throwup?

I look over at her and said, “You REALLY threw up? What kind of friggin class did you sign me up for??”

She laughs and says, “D, you’re good…class is hard but you got it.”

I looked at her confidently and said, “Yeah, you right. Where’s the restroom, I need to put my hair up.”

She pointed to where it was and I walked in.

I look at myself in the mirror fix my hair and proceed to give myself a pep talk.

“D! there is no way in hell you’re going to throw up! You take Boogie Box, Muay Thai, Boxing. You’ve handled all the “warm ups” UFC fighters and Boxers give you. There is no way you’re gonna let this Arnold wannabe “Terminator Jack Ass” Make you throw up. Got it!?”

I nod at myself and silently say, “Break!” *anything to get me through the next hour.

We all line up in a mirrored room because afterall, we all WANT to see parts of our body giggle in the mirror, right? Talk about motivation.

“Arnold” proceeds to tell us to jump and lift our legs side to side…let me tell you…there is nothing more awkward to see then a 300 pound juice head kick his leg in the air side to side….awwwwkward.

Then high kicks…again..I wanna laugh.

*Disclaimer…Okay, this is where my ranting begins:

HIS ASSISTANT is a 20 something year old girl with a her hair up in a pony tail, fully makeuped out and fit figure..ok ok, i’ll give her that, the figure was fit and she had a bubble butt however, she’s wearing running shorts so short that we could see her ass cheeks with every move she does.

“Arnold” is just loving this because with her moves he makes reference, “Good form.” She gives a coy smile as he compliments her.

UGH! Are you friggin kidding me? Get the Eff outta here.

I’m here to work out like a warrior…not see come chick's ass in my face with every workout movement.

*When I workout, whether at Boogie Box, Muay Thai or even the Boxing class…I don’t give a crap what I look like. I’m there to TRAIN not try to show everyone how busting I am in a sports bra or how almost ripped by abs are…I'm not there to flirt with the trainer, flirt with the employees, nor flirt with the other members. I'm there to prove one thing and one thing only and that is that I can get through the class and the person Im trying to prove this to is.....ME!*

So...after we’re done in the mirrored room, “Arnold” takes us outside so we could do walking lunges across the parking lot and Miss Bootylicious is half way down the parking lot…isn’t she suppose to make sure WE, the clients, have “good form” before trying to show off to us that she can lunge with that ass of hers? SOMEONE SLAP HER!

Just as I’m doing MY walking lunges I notice “Arnold’s” shirt that says “Squat til you puke”…WT???? Ah hell naw…screw you, jerk off!

I only puke for Don Julio who has had party with Jack Daniels in my tummy…you are NOT worthy of MY puke!

And I proceed down the parking lot like the warrior I am.

On the way back…side squats…psh…got this!

Then “Arnold” says “How about we work the tires?” As if he’s asking a bunch of kids, “Okay kids want some ice cream now, yeah” *kids scream with delight.

WTH!!! We aint kids and this aint ice cream…you’re asking us if we WANT to lift and push around a tire, big and heavy enough for Paul Bunyon to use as a hoola hoop. Ave Maria!

Bootylicious proceeds to jump ahead of the class and show off to every that she and her ass can do it…then she says, “C’mon guys if I can do it you can do it.” *annoying Barbie voice…Ugh! SOMEONE SLAP HER!

We do it and do it in somewhat perfect form. Well, actually one of us in our group is struggling…so we, the newbies, gather around her; show her the technique we all used and cheer her on…where’s “Arnold” and “Bootylicious”, you ask? Down the parking lot talking about, Lawd only knows what, while WE help and motivate each other….What the hell are they for? Just to show off?

Afterwards, "Arnold" says, "We're all done, who's ready to sign up?" and he was serious!

Yiiiyyyah….Like I’m really going to join this gym…NOT!

On my way home, I was reflecting on why I didn’t like it too much. The class itself was fine; it’s the atmosphere. “Arnold” is the type of person that is all about appearances. Yes, I understand people want to lose weight to look great, but I as I began my journey, it was lot more deepr than that for me. It was about extending the years to my life and feel amazing; the the additional compliments on my transformation is just an added bonus.

I told you all in the earlier posts, had my mami taken care of herself, she’d be here with us today and getting excited to see her only granddaughter graduate from high school next week. She didn’t so she’s won’t.

Though i couldn't control that situation, I could control mine and decided to change things and I have! I will not only see my princess graduate from high school, but I’ll see college graduations, all the achievements that she and her brother will accomplish. All because I took that step to take back my life.

And places like “Arnold’s” have no interest for someone like me and you know what? I’m so fine with that and you should be too.

With that my readers, remember you should feel good about yourself when your working out afterall, the transforamtion is for you and no one else.

Until next time:

Remember to Continue to

Be Inspring, Be Inspired.

Senior Awards: Class of 2011

Last night was Senior Awards Night, my baby girl was being honored with other classmates in her Senior Class.

Graduation is exactly two weeks away, it's all so surreal.

It seems like just yesterday I was dropping her off on the first day of kindergarten; a day that would be forever embedded in my heart.

*I remember putting her hair up in pigtails, buttoning up her white, long sleeve shirt then placing her overall wool dress over her head, the one that had white pinstripes. She sat on the edge of her twin size bed as I helped her put on her whites tights and buckle her black shoes. After, I stepped back, looked at her and thought, "She's about to take on the world!"

We all assembled in the auditorium anxiously waiting for the morning to be over.

The teachers were already there gathered in front of us and started to explain to some of us, new parents, what it meant if our child was an "early bird" or "late bird" and then proceeded to call for their students....our babies.

I watched as one by one stood behind their respective teacher, like a baby duckling behind its mother. I looked at each teacher and thought, "YOU will be the first outside my world to teach MY child about her ABC's, 123's and be thankful that I named her "Isis", so when the time came; it would be easy for her to spell her name...be good to my child and make an impression that will forever be rooted in her soul."

I watched children scared, some timid, some smiled, some with no expression at all, some cried...actually no..alot cried and then when it came to my baby girl to be called...I was fearful of which of these categories she would fall under...she amazed me by standing up nice and tall, went to stand behind a petite, red headed female with a nametag that read, "Miss Cooper"...my baby looked back at me with a look of, "Don't worry Mommy, I GOT THIS..." and smiled.

The classes started to walk out one by one and as I watched my little girl disappear behind the door, the inevitable happened....MY tears fell.*

Back then my last thought at that moment was:

My baby girl is growing up.

Last night almost 13 years later...I had that same feeling, but this time:

My Baby Girl Grew Up!!!

The Rite of Passage......the Corsage!

Isis and Mikey Prom 2011

There are several moments in my daughter's life that I been waiting for from the moment the nurse said...."It's a Girl".

The day she was born, the day she was baptized, her first communion, her Sweet 16 and the next on her...wups...MY list.....her Senior Prom.

Saturday, May 14, 2011 was my babygirl's Senior Prom.

From the moment she told she was going to prom, my heart hasn't stopped fluttering because I felt like it was me going.

Something happens to parents when our children live their lives...we begin to live vicariously through them.

My prom was almost 25 years ago and for almost 25 years I've been talking about me having a do over and that do over happened this past Saturday evening when I saw my baby girl dressed in her Tiffany blue floor length gown. She looked so breath taking as she did when the doctor placed her in my arms 18 years ago.

She told me she wasn't going to have a date, that most of her friends were going stag. I asked her, "Baby, you sure, I don't want you to feel bad without a date."

You wanna know how my daughter answered me?

"Mommy, I don't need a guy to take me so I could have a good time at MY prom, I'll be with my friends, I'm going to have a good time regardless."

My daughter: She marches to the beat of her own drum!

However....I didn't want not having a corsage for her prom to haunt her......like moi.

I had her lil brother, Mikey present her with a corsage and what a better picture for a mother to have than the one above.

Before I was Mom.....

My Prince and Princess, Dec 2010

In honor of all my beautiful Mothers on Mother's Day, this is for you:

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body...

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life!

Author Unknown

Happy Mothers Day

Remember to continue to:

Be Inspiring, Be Inspired

Instructions for Life According to the Dalai Lama XIV

His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama speaks at University California of Irvine 5 4 2011

Sometimes we need reminding on the simple things in life.

In honor of the Dalai Lama's visit to Southern California, I have found his "Instructions for Life", enjoy:

Instructions for life:

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

Follow the three R's:
- Respect for self.
- Respect for others.
- Responsibility for all your actions.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone everyday.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon."

Dalai Lama

Remember to continue to:

Be Inspiring, Be Inspired

What's the Problem?

Corny as this may be...this is so true.

It's been a while my readers, I am so sorry.

I've been going through a storm and now I'm beginning to see the light. I will get into what storm I was going through in later posts but for now I want to share where I am with my weight loss.

I was having some yo yo issues and couldn't seem to break the 190 mark, well I am happy, no....THRILLED to inform you all I finally broke it yesterday at the weigh in...I am now 186!!!!

My problem that I was facing was my plateau, I thought I was doing everything right..working out 4 times a week and eating 6 times a day.... in moderation of course.

Then a friend told me...when you're losing weight you've got trick your body and let it know that you're not gonna lose anymore and maintain what you have at the moment and then, when the body is comfortable with it, then start losing again.

Remember when we're losing weight; for some of us we may be losing it more quickly than others, the body freaks out and begins to hold on to the fat because its not sure if it'll eat again. This made sense to me. I was holding steady between 190-192 for 7 weeks...then I tweeked my eating a habits a bit and BAM....I broke 190.

Now, when looking at a problem...dont see it as a problem but as a challenge!

Here is an affirmation, if you will, that I came across when talking about problems.

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

Self-Talk for Solving Problems:

I am good at solving problems. I like challenges and I meet them head on.

Problems are my teachers. They help to learn and grow. Without then,I would be going nowhere. With then, I am movng forward int he direction of my own goals.

There is no problemwhich I cannot conquer. I am string in mind, body and spirit. My will, my strength, my determination are always greater than any problem I face.

When I meet a new problem, I do not see the problem as my enemy. I know that finding the solution to the problem will move me forward in my own personal growth.

Because I know that problems are a key ingredient in my spiritual and mental education and preparation, I recognize that all problems are important to me.

I do not fear problems, I solve them. I do not ignore problems, I confront them. I do not avoid problems, I conquer them.

I know every problem holds within itself the keys to its own solution. Therefore, the better I understand the problem, the clearer I am able to see its solution.

Having problems is not a problem for me. I am confidant, self-assured, positive and determined. I always know that I am going to overcome any problem I encounter and I always do.

I am good at breaking large obstacles down into smaller pieces that are easier to handle. And I never make any problem appear to be larger than it actually is.

I never worry; I turn "worry time" into positive, constructive, "solution time." I keep my mind alert and open to all solutions and solutions come quickly and easily to me.

I have learned to recognize that many problems carry with them benefits and potential opportunities which would not have presented themselves had the problem not occurred in the firts place.

I do not seek to live a life which is free from all problems. Instead, I chosse to live a life of finding solutions and enjoying the benefits which those solutions create.

Challenges, conquer, solutions and win are words which I live by daily. "Challenges" are opportunities. "Conquering" them is the inevitable outcome. "Solutions" are the stepping stones to my success, and "Winning" is my way of life!

Author Unknown

So there you go my readers....look at those problems from a different angle and you'll conquer them without an issue.

"Til me next entry and until then...

Remember to continue to:

Be Inspiring, Be Inspired

Have Not Forgotten about you Guys....

I owe you guys a weigh in story and I promise, I will sit down and get it written.

Please bare with me, my mind has been all over the place lately.

We'll shall chat very soon.

Until Then:

Please remember to continue to:

Be Inspiring, be Inspired

Weigh In Wednesday

Hello Readers,

My apologies for the delay...as you could have guessed I didn't do so well on the scale. I gained 2.6 pounds.

I had such great momentum going into this and now I here I am...gaining.

This weekend was a bit emotional...Michael has been sick...about a week to be exact and when any of us are sick in the house, it throws off the entire dynamics of the household; everything just gets thrown out of whack..if you will.

Watching him sleep all day and having no life in him brought back memories of my Mom, when she was ill...I would never tell Michael this and no...he doesn't read my blog, so please don't say anything to him. It was hard dealing with it....and to mention how hard it was for him not being to get well.

Even as I type this....my eyes are filling with tears and I just want to cry....actually I am...I can't hold bck the tears...they're streaming down my cheeks with every stroke of the keys.

You see, I'm not exactly a Florence Nightengale nor a Mother Theresa when it comes to adults being ill and think thats why it was emotional for me. He was sik and I wanted it to be a simple solution...drink liquids, eat soup and sweat the fever out....like I hoped with my Mom... and when it wasn't.....I did what I knew could make ME feel better.....and it was food....I ate. I slept in the living room and stayed up late and ate and ate and ate...whatever I could get my hands on, I ate.

I know...not the way to deal....but it was the only way I knew I could deal at that moment.

Well today I'm happy to say he's doing so much better, and my support system keeps giving awesome words of encouragement and reminding me why I am doing this journey.

Like in any type of journey that we set ourselves on, there will be many a road blocks, but its how we deal with them.

Some will say,"...hey it's just a block in the road...just go around it." But what I say...is to go around it just means it will pop up again later down the road...why not just BREAK THROUGH it, so you don't have to worry about it later down the road.

THAT's what I need to do.....I need to break though these blocks so I'm not dealing with them as often as I am.

One day at a time, my readers. One. Day. At. A. Time.

Until the next time my words meet your eyes.

Remember to Continue to:

Be Inspiring , Be Inspired

Weigh In Wednesday

So I'm not going to be beating around on how I did.....
Last week we left off at a loss of 4.6...ahhh....4.....point....6.

Well today! I....*head bowed*.....I gained .4.....let me clarify POINT 4....less than half a
pound...ugh...my toes were really looking forward to that pedicure!


But I know what did me in.....

(*see below)

VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Though my darling of a husband didn't bring home chocolates...what he did do was...take me out to dinner.

What was on the menu you ask? Why I shall tell you...

I had lobster bisque for an appetizer (*I shared that by the way) and lobster thermidor...what is that, you say?

Well the description says:

One pound of Maine lobster, exoctic mushroom, truffle oil & parmesan be chamel sauce

Hmmmm...I should have known that when the words truffle and sauce are in the same sentence it's no bueno for my thighs...but boy, was it goooooood...was it worth it? jury still out on that one...what this has taught me was I can still have a great meal, just cant over do it.

My husband can eat like this everyday and not gain an ounce...I just look at the food and I can feel the seams busting on my skirt.

Though I gained less than a half a pound, I'm not too discouraged because I know exactly what it was and I just start right back up.

How's the challenge working out? Boy, you guys have a lot of questions...

I must say oretty good...the first two days were lil rough, but i figured what I needed to walk to get my 10,000 steps in and so far its been great. My lil Prince and has been a great motivator and keeps me moving.

This week's challenge....I need to work on my flabby arms...I feel like I have wings and I'm about to take off.

My brothers tell me I need to start doing pushups..so pushups here I come...I can barely do one. Currently the measurements on my arms is 12.5 inches...need to get that number lower.

Til next week my readers...until then:

Remember to continue to:

Be Inspiring , Be Inspired

The quarrel I lost....but the battle isn't over!

How I felt last night.

Good Morning Readers,

Last night was a rough night with me and food. I got home last night with every intention to change into my workout clothes go for a walk to get in my 10000 steps, but instead....I opened the fridge and there staring back at me ....was a gallon of ice cream.

Did I shut the fridge? uh....nope! I "talked" myself into a bowl, because I did after all lose 4.6 pounds...not a smart move. I justified my eating, not because I was hungry but because it was there.

After I finished the bowl....I felt like crap...but shook it off quick because I was off to my Boogie Box class and there....I was about to burn 1100 calories, whew...so I was "safe".

Just like weeks before I show up to class early, stretch and ready to get this work out ON! Our instructor arrives and goes through the basics for the newbies and we begin.

I jump, I hop, I glide, I bounce...every step done with more resistance then the last....I HAVE to work off that ice cream I just had. Sweat is pouring down my head, even into my eyes...if I did nt know better i could swear it smells like cookie and cream....thats the ice cream I just ate.

"That's right ice cream, I'm sweating you OUT!!!" I tell myself.

After class was over, I go home, take a shower and have some jello before I go to bed...that was my cue....the jello is last thing I was to have before I end my night.

Just then, Michael comes home from a dinner date he had with his best friend and he brings home left overs. They had dinner at BJ's and BJ's has the best shrimp and pasta....mmm yummy. The thought was to bring the leftovers for lunch....but I "had" to have just one shrimp...one, turned into two, then three, then four with pasta...then when I looked down....I had finished the whole thing.

I was upset with myself, I had just worked off the ice cream ,now I'm about to go to sleep and this food will just sit. What did i just do???

Okay, see what I did there? I'm making food out to be my enemy, when in fact its not....its about discipline...I could've eaten the shrimp and pasta...just not at 10 o"clock at night. Had I just talked to myself a lil longer...was I really THAT hungry...when in fact I wasnt, the jello was enough for me, I wouldnt have gone to bed feelign guilty.

I woke up this morning weighed myself and what happened....of course I ganined a pound and I knew I would.

However, I cant beat myself up over it, I allow myself my splurge day...and instead of it being Saturday...I made it last night.

I also have to remember......i could have easily been like..."well since i screwed up, let me finish the ice cream" but I didn't. I went to bed.

I woke up this morning and thought..."I need to share this...I'm an emotional eater...I'm not perfect and neither are you; there will be quite a bit of pitfalls along my journey what matters is how we pick ourselves up after we have fallen."

Last night I fell, today I dust off my knees and I'm moving forward.

Until the next post my readers, meanwhile:

Remember to continue to:

Be Inspired, Be Inspiring

Weigh In Wednesday!

This is my new Wednesday Weigh In Image...

Did the scale make me cry out of happiness or sadness?

As you all are aware I gave myself a challenge....to become more disciplined where my eating habits were concerned. I had found an article on the Women's Health website that had a 7 day Healthy Eating plan; the article stated that if I followed the plan, I would loss weight quickly.

Below is what the past seven days consisted of and what exercise I did during those 7 days:

DAYS 1 Thursday 2/3

Breakfast 8:15am
Omelet with 4 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1/4 c asparagus, 1 c green tea, 12 oz water
Snack 10:30am
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt and blackberries , 20 oz water
Lunch 11:45am
6 oz grilled chicken breast, 3 c lettuce with lemon juice, 1/2 c steamed broccoli, asparagus, green beans, peas, or carrots, 20 oz water
Snack 2:30pm
8 almonds , 20 oz water

7p-8p Workout:
Boogie Box

Dinner 8:30pm
Boca burger (no bread/bun), 1/2 c steamed asparagus, 3 c plain lettuce with lemon juice
20 oz water
Snack
*Did not do a snack

Day 2 Friday 2/4

Breakfast 8:15am
Omelet with 4 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1/4 c asparagus, 1 c green tea, 12 oz water
Snack 10:30am
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt , 20 oz water
Lunch 11:45pm
6 oz grilled chicken breast, 3 c lettuce with lemon juice
1/2 c steamed broccoli, asparagus, green beans, peas, or carrots, 20 oz water
Snack 2:30pm
8 almonds , 20 oz water
Dinner 7:00pm
Boca burger (no bread/bun), 1/2 c steamed asparagus
3 c plain lettuce with lemon juice, 20 oz water
Snack 8:45pm
8 almonds

DAYS 3 Saturday

8am-9am Work out Boogie Box

Breakfast 9:30am
Omelet with 4 egg whites and minced asparagus and 1 slice plain whole-wheat toast , 1 c green tea, 12 oz water

10: 15am-2.5 mile walk

Snack 11:30 am
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c mixed berries
Lunch 2:30pm *I was at a children’s bday party so I had to work around the food that was provided.
No bread had lettuce and tomato WITH grilled chicken *I also had a beef patty, 20 oz water

AND I PASSED ON THE BDAY CAKE….very big deal for me.

Snack 4:30pm
8 almonds , 20 oz water

Dinner 7:30pm
6 oz sirloin steak WITH 1/4 c steamed brown rice , 20 oz water
Snack 9pm
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c berries

DAYS 4 2/6 *Super Bowl Sunday…..this was really rough for me….but the idea for this challenge was to be disciplined!

Breakfast 7am
Omelet with 4 egg whites and minced asparagus and 1 slice plain whole-wheat toast , 1 c green tea, 12 oz water
Snack 11:30am
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c mixed berries, 20 oz water
Lunch 1:30pm
1 slice whole-wheat bread WITH Boca burger (no bread or bun) , 20 oz water
Snack 3:30pm
8 almonds 20 oz water
Dinner 6:30pm
6 oz sirloin steak WITH 1/4 c steamed brown rice , 20 oz water
Snack 8:30pm
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c berries
*snuck in 4 meatballs <----had these about 9:30pm while cleaning the kitchen

DAYS 5 Monday 2/7

Breakfast 8:15am
Omelet with 4 egg whites and minced asparagus and 1 slice plain whole-wheat toast , 1 c green tea, 12 oz water
Snack 10:30am
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c mixed berries, 20 oz water
Lunch 11:45pm
1/4 c brown rice *I added pico de gallo for flavor WITH grilled chicken *from El Pollo Loco…no skin, 20 oz water
Snack 2:30p
8 almonds, 20 oz water
Dinner 6:30pm
*I actually did a Boca Burger WITH, 1/2 c mixed vegetables *with lemon juice
20 oz water
Snack 8:30pm
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c berries

DAYS 6 Tuesday 2/8

Breakfast 8:15am
Omelet with 4 egg whites and minced asparagus and 1 slice plain whole-wheat toast , 1 c green tea, 12 oz water
Snack 10:30am
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c mixed berries, 20 oz water
Lunch 11:45pm
1/4 c brown rice *I added pico de gallo for flavor WITH grilled chicken *from El Pollo Loco…no skin, 20 oz water
Snack 2:30p
8 almonds, 20 oz water

WORKOUT:7p-8p BOOGIE BOX

Dinner 8:30pm
*I actually did a Boca Burger WITH 1/2 c mixed vegetables, 20 oz water
Snack 9:45pm

1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c berries

DAYS 7 Wednesday 2/9

Breakfast 8:15am
Omelet with 4 egg whites and minced asparagus and 1 slice plain whole-wheat toast , 1 c green tea, 12 oz water
Snack 10:30am
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c mixed berries, 20 oz water
Lunch 11:45pm
1/4 c brown rice *I added pico de gallo for flavor WITH grilled chicken *from El Pollo Loco…no skin, 20 oz water
Snack 2:30p
8 almonds, 20 oz water
Dinner 6:30pm
*I will actually do a Boca Burger WITH 1/2 c mixed vegetables 20 oz water
Snack 9:45pm
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt with 1/2 c berries

Well, after all this, what did the scale tell me this morning? It loved me!!!! I lost 4.6 pounds!!!! My new weight today is 190.4....my BMI? ready...32.7! I dropped it by 1.1 points!!

There you have it readers....the healthy eating plan worked and I was disciplined, especially during Super Bowl...well... that was until I had those bloody meatballs...*head bowed

So, the question now is..though I didnt lose the complete 5 pounds...do I still get the predicure?.....if I had to break the 5 pound goal per each toe...that was half a pound each...and I lost 4.6...let me say it again.....4.......point.....6...*aaahhhh makes me smile.....I missed goal by half a pound...so that would mean that one of the toes doesn't get painted??? hmmm...could be my pinky toe...no one ever really notices it...no...no....I said the goal was 5 pounds and I didn't reach it, so I have to lose the half pound to get the pedicure...and I better lose at least a half a pound by next week.

Now this week's challenge? I was watching an episode of Dr. Oz and he constantly is promoting 10,000 steps a day, so this week I am taking on the challenge of completing 10,000 a day. I have a new pedometer and I'm going to put it to the test.

We'll see how I do.

Until next week my readers....

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Be Inspired, Be Inspiring

What Type of Eater are you?

You know I never really understood that question, what do you mean, what type of eater am I?

I’m one that likes food; all kinds of food! Mexican, Italian, Puerto Rican, Chinese, Indian, I don’t discrimínate.

I was having a conversation with an Aunt of mine and the topic came up about what typr of eater we were and she stated , “Humph….I’m a bored eater.”

Bored eater…what does that mean? You get bored with the food you eat…I’m thinking check out the Food Network I’m sure they’ll give you ideas on how to spice up your food.

Then she proceeded to tell me that when she has nothing to do around the house, she’ll automatically go to the fridge and find something to eat, if she finds nothing…she’ll find something.

Interesting….”a bored eater”…I wondered what I was?

Then one day, I found out.

I was in a former boss’ office and we were going through our yearend figures. I was doing my presentation and apparently I said something about department he did not like and proceeded to start yelling at me about my performance and production of my team.

I sat there and let him go on and on about what reports I wasn’t doing, what assignments I wasn’t delegating, what phone calls we weren’t making and all the while when I was looking at him, you know what I saw……….I saw a vat of chocolate chip ice cream screaming at me and “wahhh wahhh wahh wahh“ coming out the lid…you know the voice?… the Peanuts teacher voice.

All I kept thinking was, “When I get off work today, I’m going home, eat some chocolate chip ice cream ,Michael just went grocery shopping and I know he bought a half gallon!”

At that moment that was the only thing that was going to make me feel better. I think I associate ice cream with my childhood memories of whenever I got hurt, my mom gave me an ice cream pop to make be feel better. You know what? And it always did.

So here I am as an adult…whenever I am upset…I turn to food to help me feel better…so it was then that I found out I was an emotional eater.

Just like when a dam bursts from over flooding, that’s exactly what happened to me when I made that revelation. All sorts of past visions started to pop in my head of me eating from some type of emotional breakdown I had: My first breakup, a fight with my mom, an argument with my brothers, bad news, a bad day; all with the same end result….my head in the fridge or the cabinets searching for any type of food that would make the pain go away.

When I think about when I gained the majority of my weight when was when my family was at odds with each other. It was a tough time for all of us, I am happy to say, we’re all in a much better place and I’m very thankful for that. However, during it….it was very emotional and no amount of food was making it better.

Now, today? I deal with my emotions differently.

For instance, last night I was watching an episode of House. Don’t know if any of you watch it but the episode revolved around the Dean of Medicine, Lisa Cuddy and her mother. The mother was ill and the doctors were trying to figure out what was wrong. If you followed me a few years ago, you know this is what we went through with my own Mom. Needless to say, this was a rough for me.

Lisa argues with her mother about how hard she was on Lisa growing up, pushing her to do good in school and try out for different things at school , like becoming Yearbook Editor. The mother, who is played by Candice Bergen, claims she never was hard on her. They argue some more in typical mother- daughter fashion then to the next scene.

The scene is Lisa telling her mother, “I know why you were hard on me all those years, it’s because you wanted me to be all the things you never got to be, I see how proud you look when I talk about my job.”

When her mother gets well, the camera pans to how the mother reaches for her daughter's hand to hold it.

Just then…..I completely lost it. It was my mother and I all over again and at the moment I felt like I was right back at the hospital with her on January 1, 2009.

My initial reaction was to get up and grab something to eat, but instead….I grabbed the keys to the car and went to pick up my daughter from work. When I arrived to get her, I parked the car and had myself a good cry, it seems that was just what I needed, not ice cream, not chicken, not cookies…but a cry.

I did just that and didn’t step one foot in the kitchen when I got back home.

Ask yourself what type of eater are you and instead of turning to food, what can you do differently?

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Be Inspiring, Be Inspired