3 Weeks and 2 Inches

 Update on the Flat Belly plan. In the 3 weeks that I've been trying this plan, I've gone from 37" around the waist to 34 3/4".  Not too shabby! Going to the gym 2-3 times per week does help. I'm not as hard core on the weekend eating due to the weekend festivities.  But during the week I try to keep to the "plan". 

It's very encouraging to see the results, but not many people have commented on my lack of belly fat.  Maybe they didn't notice to begin with or maybe nobody watches me as much as I watch myself :)

Anyways, I feel good and am encouraged to lose a bit more.

No picture here because I can't hold the camera and the measuring tape around my belly.

Till you're as tall as me

Alex: "You don't play with cleaning supplies till you're as tall as me!"

Need I say more?

The FLAT Belly Plan

It's really called the Flat Belly Diet but I don't like to use the D word.  To be honest, I've been skinny my whole life up until I had a few kids.  After 1, it wasn't so bad. But after #3 and not a consistent workout plan, my belly has left a lot to be desired.  It's been tough to nip those "after dinner sweets" cravings that I developed while pregnant. And also, I can eat a whole bag of chips in one sitting.  That's just what I love to do.

Anyways, I don't feel good.  I don't feel good when my belly is hanging over my belt or that I have to wear A-Line shirts that cover my belly.  Yes, I think my body type runs in my family but so does diabetes and I'm going to try to do what I can to post pone that as much as I can. 

So instead of Diet, I like to say healthy eating and watching what you eat. 
Rules:
(1) Eat every 4 hours, a meal of 400 calories
(2) Eat a MUFA (mono-unsaturated fat) with every mean (nuts, avocado, Olive Oil, olives, dark chocolate)

These MUFA's are healthy fats that lower your bad cholesterol and also target belly fat.

I went into this to change some eating habits and eat a little more healthy.  So, I try to eat a MUFA at every meal. I do still drink my coffee in the morning and usually something alcoholic at night, but I try to limit my meals to 400 calories or less. 

In a week, I feel better! My belly fat is reducing and I can tell when I overeat. All good things, right?!  I'm trying out new recipes and yes, I do add a bit of salt. I'm a firm believer of eating things that taste good. I think I get that from my dad.

Can't keep him away

No, I'm not talking about Alex. We can't keep James away from finding the camera and taking pictures of everything and everyone.  A rather nice photo of daddy.

My "Garden"

So, Gardening has always been a desire of mine, but I've never been successful at it.  Maybe that's why my husband didn't want to till up some land and make me a garden. He told me I had to grow it in pots.  So, I said, Okay.  The issue is placement.  Our yard does not have the best backyard for a garden. Very shady and no grass and floods during rainstorms.  The best sunny spots happen to be right next to our driveway, where some shrubs are.  So for my birthday, Alex dug up some shrubs in an attempt to get a garden going.  That was a month ago and the project has fallen by the wayside for now.  However, I keep helping him remember despit the many and more important other things has to attend to that a garden would be super great. 

These are my picking cucumbers. I can see 1 sprouting but it's really small.  The roots are in a pot but as you can see, it's spreading out quite nicely. 

These are my prized heirloom tomatos.  They are 2 varieties but I forgot their names.  One will be the small green kind and I forgot what the other one will be.  The camera caught a fairly good picture of the younglings. 

My Black Beauty zucchini's are flowering but only 1 squash is growing.  maybe they need to be out a pot but we'll see. 

This is my oregano, basil and chives.  The basil's been finicky this year even though they get plenty of water.  I have another pot of thyme and mint, parsley and even cilantro.  I think I'll have to pick some and dry it because it's growing so rapidly. 

Boarding School or the Military?

There was a time in my life when I thought I would be a great parent.  Then, I had James and thought, "Huh, this isn't so bad".  Then there were more.  Not that my 2nd child is a bad kid, I don't believe kids are bad, just need some help and boundaries.  However, my 2nd child always leaves me scratching my head and praying "Lord, please work through my inability to communicate to this child of mine". 

I've had to make a goal every day to keep things in perspective.  What's a big deal worth getting upset over and what's not.  Coming downstairs in the early morning and eating a cold cheese dog...not such a big deal.  Spreading Desitin over our couch....big deal.  For one, it's cloth.  Second, it's our only couch right now because our good couch is at our other house for the open house.  Does desiting come out and clean easily? No. 

Baby Poops

This is how it went: Ryan was sitting on the toilet and I was standing next to him.

Ryan: Baby poops say "mommy, mommy!"
Me: Oh yeah? What do daddy poops say?
Ryan: PBLTTTTP! (insert sound of motorboats)

Me: (laughing)