Hey gals,
I'm in physical pain today. LOTS of pain. Yesterday my 5 year old daughter accidently slammed my pointer finger in the playroom door so that was throbbing all afternoon. Then I had to take my little one to the doctor where the doc confirmed she does have pink eye...lovely. And my left side of my mouth has been throbbing since last night. I don't know if I brushed it funny or what but it is literally throbbing right now. I should probably take some Tylenol for the pain. I usually have a super high threshold for pain but this is ridiculous. In addition yesterday I had an IBS attack that happened on the way to the doctor. And only got 5 hours of sleep before work today. So I'm really dragging tonight. I'm happy DH is working again but this also means he doesn't get home til 5 on nights I work so my sleep time suffers.
Oh well, on to the good stuff. I purged my closets again yesterday to gather up a bunch of stuff to take to Goodwill this Monday. It felt good but was also a sad reminder I am no where close to being able to fit into the clothes I am hanging onto. I gotta get my you know what in gear. Anybody on here had c-sections? The majority of my problem areas are in my belly (which I've heard is the most dangerous to have fat pool) and also thighs. What are the best exercises for belly area? It's kinda funny (or gross depending on how you look at it) but if you cut off the belly fat I'd have the flattest tummy. I've always had a pooch but that pooch has turned into a roll now. Having had two c-sections didn't help cuz it pushed everything up. The incision is right above my bikini line and goes east to west. My belly area is just...well...gross. I'm suprised this is where my weight always seems to accumulate. Anyone else had this problem? Is it possible to ever have a flat stomach again? Is just working on a treadmill gonna do it or do I need to throw in some crunches, stomach toning, too.
I have another question. Is doing the treadmill enough right now to just get the weight loss really going? Or should I be throwing in the dvd and videos as well? I guess what I'm asking is should I just hold off on the toning and focus solely on the treadmill for steady weight loss and worry about the toning and tightening later? Any thought, suggestions? I feel heavier than I have in a while and I know it's from all this extra weight I'm carrying around. I feel like I've gained and wouldn't be at all suprised if I have. I have to be so careful with my medical condition (IBS) as one flare up can mess with my body for days. I get horrible cramping, bloating, even headaches. And the episodes can stretch over days where my body just acts up and I'm physically very uncomfortable if I slack on sleep, get overly stressed, or eat something that doesn't agree with me. The crazy thing about IBS is I can eat something one time and it doesn't bother me and then I can eat the same thing at a later date and I have a horrible attack.
Anywhoo I'm rambling. I don't feel healthy at all right now. It's amazing how eating even a few of the wrong things (Easter candy) can just mess with you and make you feel like crap. And eating healthy stuff just makes you feel great. All I know right now is that I feel sick to my stomach. I just need to stay away from ALL bad food for awhile cuz I've had too many IBS attacks over the past couple weeks. Gotta detox this body. Ugh this is gonna be a loooong night. If anybody is up early feel free to write to me. Hope everyone is well.

Kara

Good morning, Kara (and Everyone Else!)

You figure it being a Saturday I would sleep late...my body just doesn't know how to!!

Kara, I recommend adding some type of weight training. All I have is hand weights in various weights (5lb, 8lb, 10 lb, 15lb, and 20 lb). They don't really take up that much space and I use them at home. My "Body Shaping Plan" is a four day routine that a body builder friend wrote for me (aka my walking buddy). The size weight I use depends on the exercise. I was at 132 when we met and the lowest I had gotten was 123.5 but couldn't maintain it (lasted barely a month before it went back upwards). Then he writes me this plan and I start doing it every morning...weight kept dropping...very steadily (got down to 110 which I hadn't seen since I was 12 years old!!)...it started going up recently because I kind of stopped for awhile...got lazy...now it's going back down again as I've been getting back on track (currently 115). Weight lifting not only builds muscle but it helps speed up your metabolism which burns fat faster. Never too early or late to start toning! You don't need to go to a fancy gym and I bought my weights at a discount store... there's also a lot of sites online that have workout routines.

OK TMI but... As for the IBS, I was never diagnosed with that but I think I may have had it at one point (was told it was a stress ulcer but had similar reactions)...I carried tums and anti-diarhhea pills every where I went. It wasn't fun as my stomach could ruin a nice day for everyone...we once drove 6 hours to NJ to go to Six Flags and I spent the whole first day in the bathroom... Wasted trip for me and no one could have fun because we had to leave early... Anyway... I feel for you! Hope things improve. (Mine actually went away when I lost weight...that was back when I weighed 156.)

As for me, my DH has been on vacation all week but I have been working and K-Bug has been in school so instead we've been eating out alot. I feel bad that he had a wasted week...tonight K-Bug is going to her friend K-Dawg's (I named her that too) house for a sleepover so we might do something tonight...maybe a movie...most likely dinner as he likes to eat out every day he's on vacation...it's a rule for him...

But before that, my hope for today is to clean this house and get it to where it's presentable. We have a friend moving back from California and he might drop by at anytime so I don't want him to come over with the house looking like this. Tomorrow...I'll work on my homework -- Tuesday, I have to do an introduction to one stressed point of a debate...not good at talking in front of people but I'm going to try to fake it!! LOL! I have a good team so if I screw up, I think one of them can back me up! But I want to be able to go up there knowing what I'm talking about...

Anyway... my plan for today is elliptical and Day 1 of Body Shaping plan. Also, make good food choices and make more of an effort to get more water in as I went from 96 oz a day to nothing...

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Maria

Hey Maria,
You are an early bird this morning. I missed ya yesterday. Yeah having IBS sucks. TMI warning everybody: With IBS it can either go the constipation or diarrhea route. Mine takes the constipation route hence those horrible cramps I get sometimes. I'm hoping once I lose weight that the IBS will taper off and not be so much of an issue anymore. It's no fun. Anyways, so toning. Ok I can do that. I do have weights...hand ones but not sure of weight of them. I also have weights I can put on my ankles. I just need to get rid of this tummy. Seriously, it interferes so much with clothes fitting right (of course nothing is fitting right now) I have my dress fitting this Wednesday for that wedding. I'm really dreading it to be completely honest. But at the same time there is a good amount of time between now and Nov to make some noticeable changes. Trying to, you know, focus on the positives. Oh great..I'm starting to get one of those stomach aches right now. Dang it. I'm hoping it doesn't last long. My tummy has been upset all night I've got to get alot of sleep today to get rid of these IBS symptoms. And catch up on my zzzz's. Have a good day.

Kara

Hi again, Kara! Tried going back to sleep but K-Bug is an early bird too and woke me up again. Having my second cup of coffee now...will work out at 7 am...DH will have to deal if he's still sleeping by then.

I can't say I have a flat stomach as my lower abs is my problem area. My whole family has a "pouch" which looking at me sideways is very noticeable... I'm pretty sure it's genetic but it's "liveable" I guess... I should probably do more sit-ups but I don't. (Hate floor exercises.) Truthfully, standing up I don't think my stomach is "that bad" BUT I can never wear a bikini or anything "belly baring" as I have so many stretch marks (not just from being pregnant, but from being fat). It starts below my belly button so I've moved up to "shorts" bathing suit bottoms and cropped tank (which only shows the belly above the belly button). I've honestly thought about having a Tummy Tuck though as what I hate most about my stomach is that I have lots of extra skin that hangs down when I bend over. It's basically caused from years and years of being heavy...started in 6th grade...at 40 your (my) skin doesn't have the same elasticity so no matter what I do it's just there. I actually looked into what a Tummy tuck would involve and even read blogs and seen pictures from people who have done it. The one thing that holds me back is that I don't think the pain and scars are worth it for a few months a year -- especially, since no one else will ever see it as I don't think I'm the "bikini" type anyway. And it won't erase the stretch marks so that would still hold me back if I felt adventurous enough to actually wear one... I may wear one at home in my pool/deck for the tan but that's it...nothing public. Um... what I was trying to say but wrote a book instead...is I don't know what to tell you about abs!! LOL!! Sit-ups is what I've always been told though...

Kara, hope you're feeling better soon...or after you get some rest!!!

When I went for my wedding fitting (my own wedding) I went from a size 18 dress to a size 8...that's a lot of fittings... so you can definitely lose more and get it taken in by November...just picture yourself the "main attraction" and the one getting a lot of attention for how amazing you look... see it? Picture it? Now make it a reality!!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!

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Maria

Oh about yesterday... I was a little down and upset about something that happened at work... I spent the morning composing a letter of apology for my "impulsive" reaction to a dear friend who ended up taking the brunt of my aggravation. It was so unlike me but sometimes... my emotions just get carried away and I have no control over them and when it's over...I'm kicking myself as it's so against my personality. (I don't have an AF but my body still does the cycles...I just have no way of knowing when they will be as AF was how I used to keep track of them. Then I could take my Eve of Primrose to control them.) Fortunately, my friend understood and forgave.

Thank you for saying you miss me though ... I've found a nice connection with you!!

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Maria

Good Morning you early birds!

I did terrible with my eating for the past three days. It is so hard to stay on plan when you are traveling and are around other people. My friend's husband made lasagne for dinner for us on Tuesday night and we had leftovers again for dinner on Thursday. Plus for lunch on Thursday we ate at Boston Market. Then she sent me home with all of the lasagne that was left. Well DH and I had the left over lasagne for lunch on Thursday. Yikes! In three days I probably ate a 1/2 pan of that lasagne. It was good but full of pasta, whole milk ricotta, and tons of cheese.

Nothing is new here. Just the same old - too much school work. Only five weeks of school left! I can see the end of the semester coming. Now if I could only find a way to get my three large research papers completed.

My youngest daughter has a terrible virus. Cough, runny nose, and keep running to the bathroom. Well I discovered this morning that all day yesterday she was drinking out of my water bottle and I didn't know it. So now I have a bit of a sore throat and a cough. Aren't kids grand? Sharing their germs and all.....

Have a good weekend.

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Allison
Mother to Jessica, Joshua, Hannah and Nickolas

Allison-
Yeah I'm hoping Ava isn't going to share her pink eye with any of us. Gotta love kids...they love sharing everything with us and it's just impossible to stay mad at them. I hear ya about the food thing, too. The Easter candy is what's been killing me this week. And it just upsets my stomach so I don't get why I keep coming back. Happy Saturday. Take some Zicam..it can sometimes stave off or at very least shorten the length of a cold. Hope you feel better.

Kara

Allison-
I keep forgetting to ask the age of your kiddos. I know you have twins.

Kara

Hey Maria-
Aww thanks for the kind words. I feel like I have a connection with you, too. Yeah I hear it's a lot easier to take a dress in than to let it out. And there will be no letting out of a dress I tell you. I have a feeling I'm going to have a "moment of truth" moment when I go try dresses on Wednesday and I'm gonna come face to face with reality. MY reality. But I don't want that much focus to be put on me...it's the bride and groom's day. Though, I wouldn't mind being told all day long how HOT I look I'm planning on doing something drastic with my hair soon but at the same time I'm terrified. I think I need bangs and my face is a little chubby these days. When I gain weight it often goes to my face, too. Gonna look at some pics of hairstyles online and try to find something I like. I have an oval shaped face so luckily lots of hairstyles work with that shaped face. See I've done some homework already
Sorry to hear you had a falling out with your friend but glad to hear it's ok now. I'm a fiery one sometimes (it's the red hair) so it's scary when I have AF. Watch out And my pouch? Well let's just say it's been mistaken for a baby bump one too many times That is not good! I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!! There is hope. Can I have a body double stand in for me on Wednesday during my dress fitting Yeah..a hot Victoria's Secret lingerie model will do. OK, Snap back to reality now and face the music. I've created MY reality. Now it's time to reinvent myself

Kara

Kara -

My oldest daughter Jessica is 16 1/2 and my older son is 12 1/2. Jessica and Joshua are from my first marriage. My youngest two -Nickolas and Hannah- are twins, who are 5 1/2 years old. They are from my second marriage.

I also have a step-son from my first marriage, who is now 27 years old and a step-daugther from my second marriage, who is 15 (almost 16) years old.

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Allison
Mother to Jessica, Joshua, Hannah and Nickolas

csections-- all 4 of my kiddos were csections. I was told aerobics and weights will help get rid of it. I doubt it will ever be super flat, but I am working on it. If I could get rid of it, I would be a size 4 in jeans instead of a size 6. I didnt think I could ever lose the fat off my hips, but I have. I just need to get more serious on working out again.

IBS.... I actually have a gluten sensitivity, I have gotten to where if I dont get it for awhile, then I can handle some. I can generally handle a slice of pizza or a sandwich once a week, but more than that makes me sick. Certain restaurants can make me really sick also. Add in my dairy intolerance, my severe fish allergy and my MSG allergy.. things can get difficult.

Pink eye... the best thing to get rid of pink eye is to wash the eye out with warm water and baby shampoo. The baby shampoo doesnt hurt as its no tears. If you have meds from the drs... you can wash out the eyes before you put in the meds. I used to get pink eye all the time instead I did this, and dont have a problem at all anymore.

Yday dh and I got our new bikes. So I took the kids up to the park and we rode around for a bit, but it was a bit cold. Then dh got home from work and wanted to go for a ride, so we went for another mile ride. My rear end needs to grow some calluses lol because its sore from the seat. I found out that my Monday meetings are just a little over 6 miles from my house, so if its nice on Monday, Im going to leave an hr early and ride my bike. I can fit everything for work in a backpack, so no problem there. I was going to ride on Tuesdays, tahts just a bit over 9 miles away, but I have a lot of boxes to take, so thats out of the question. Maybe on days I dont have any boxes. THough 9 miles seems so much further than 6 lol. And I bet its a bit more due to thats highway and I have to take the back roads.

Lots going on in this house. Going to work on getting our house ready to sell so we can move at the end of the yr. Once we move Im going to find a part time job that pays more than Im making now. And I think Im going to start going back to school and work on getting my nursing degree.

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