Two Weeks Down

Last week I began the Couch to 5k program again.  It's been a lot easier to get back into running than I expected.

I have to admit that the hardest part of picking up my running routine again lies in the fact that I have to run early in the morning or not at all.  By 8 a.m. it is over 90 degrees outside and it doesn't cool back down to 90 degrees until about midnight.  And I really don't think I want to run at midnight.  There are bats outside.  They freak me out a bit.

Now that I've completed two weeks of my challenge I'm happy to report that I've run/walked 6 of my 100 mile challenge.  Only 94 to go.  Still not sure how long this is going to take me, but I'm hoping for about three months or so.

It's slow, but it's progress.

My Newest Challenge

I've decided to return to Blog Land.  I've written on my personal blog for two days in a row (my newest record) and it's time to get back onto this blog as well.

So, in keeping my tradition of using this blog to write about the challenges and (eventual) successes of being healthy and losing weight, I am prepared to issue a challenge.

The last nine months have wreaked havoc on my body.  To say I've gained a little weight would be an all out lie.  True, I had a baby, but my philosophy during pregnancy is

So I've got lots of extra poundage to lose.

Luckily for me, my baby girl turns 6 weeks old this week and so I can begin exercising again.  Plus, I told myself that I get to continue eating like junk until Sarah turns 6 weeks old and then I have to begin being conscious about my food again.

So this week I change my eating habits back to healthy and start exercising.  Of course, my abdomen is still a little tender.  Three c-sections will do that to you.  I plan to start out slowly but I still needs me a challenge.  And here it is....

The 100 Miles Challenge

I want to walk (and eventually add in running) 100 miles before Labor Day.  I think I can do it.  You're welcome to join my challenge if you'd like.  See how long it takes to run/walk 100 miles.  I hope to report regularly to keep myself in check.

Summer Dinners

Been on vacation and LOVED having someone else do the cooking.  Sadly, that love translated into a few additional pounds on the scale.  I've got some weight to lose this summer!

I gotta hop on Pinterest and get some new ideas for dinners in the summer time.  I've got the same old, same old on the menu.  Bleh. Anybody want to share some light dinners?

MONDAY:  Chinese take-out (we were barely home and I wasn't cooking)

TUESDAY:  German pancakes and turkey sausage with fruit

WEDNESDAY:  Spaghetti

THURSDAY:  Tin Foil dinners

FRIDAY:  Tacos

SATURDAY:  Homemade pizza

SUNDAY:  Either Steaks or Burgers on the grill

One month to July 4th, and a 5K

I have been MIA for quite a while. 4 boys and baseball season will do that to you. Luckily only 2 are playing, but that is more than enough when you figure in all the practices.

On July 4th our little middle-of-nowhere town has a celebration. There's a parade that consists mostly of pick-up trucks, 4 wheelers and construction equipement. Booths in the park that sell all sorts of random nick-nacks. Local entertainment that actually can, sometimes, be pretty good. BBQ's, fireworks and home-made ice-cream. Also, early that morning there is a 5K race. Back in January I made a New Year's goal to run in that race.

I have been working on this for way too long. And honestly when I look back and say I've been at this for 5 months, I'm feeling a bit pathetic.  I can consistently run a 5K in 36 minutes. I've been able to do that for the past 6 weeks. I'm having a hard time getting faster, and honestly, it isn't getting any easier. But I am being consistent. I've actually dropped 8 pounds in the past 3 months.  One more month of my supposed "training" and then I'll let you know how I really do.

Food Sch-mood Plan

My husband is at a work conference all week.  It is very difficult for me to want to spend any time making culinary masterpieces for my 4 munchkins who would be tickled with frozen chicken nuggets every night.  Sadly, I don't have any frozen chicken nuggets.  And we had the last of the frozen mini-corn dogs last night.

So, in desperation, I came back to my menu.  I don't know that I'll actually make anything on it this week, but at least I can look prepared ...

MONDAY:  (pretend I didn't just tell you about the mini-corn dogs) Stew and homemade bread

TUESDAY:  Pasta Alfredo

WEDNESDAY:  Hot dogs and oven fries

THURSDAY:  Pancakes and sausage

FRIDAY:  Baked Mac and Cheese

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  Eatin' at the Mom Cafe

Meal Plan Monday

I got to be recharged this weekend.  I went to a Moms Retreat and spent two days being told how wonderful being a mom is and how it is very hard but totally worth it.  Yep.  Totally worth it.  My meal plans help make it a little less hard...

Here's what we've got planned:

MONDAY:  Leftover pork from Sunday dinner

TUESDAY:  Baked ziti

WEDNESDAY:  Bow tie chicken salad (didn't do last week)

THURSDAY:  Baked oatmeal

FRIDAY:  Fast Food Friday

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  Grilled hot dogs and hamburgers

Monday Meals in May

I'm not feeling very witty or wordy or wise, so this will be short and sweet (I am digging all the alliteration though).

My dinners for the week:

MONDAY:  Chicken Pot Pie Bundles (I couldn't find the egg roll wraps, but I found filo dough yesterday, so I'll do that instead)

TUESDAY:  Birthday Spaghetti and Meatballs (My baby is turning 2!)

WEDNESDAY:  Bow Tie Chicken Salad

THURSDAY:  Eggs, bacon, and muffins

FRIDAY:  Pizza

SATURDAY:  Take-out

SUNDAY:  Pulled Pork sandwiches (I'm hosting Mother's Day dinner)

Tell me what you are all eating!

Meal Plan Monday

It is almost May.  Holy Moly!  That means it is almost summer vacation!  I am very much looking forward to the not-so-lazy days of summer this year!  (if you haven't heard, I'm doing a day camp called Camp FitPlay for ages 3-9 ... check it out)

But, first we have to make it through evening swimming lessons and all the other May activities we have planned ... I love having my plan to fall back on (and my food storage ... although I am completely out of white sugar!  I know it isn't good for me, but I can't believe I'm completely out - for the first time in nearly 14 years of marriage!)  I digress ... my freezer is getting me through this week.  Here's my plan:

MONDAY:  Spinach Lasagna Rolls

TUESDAY:  Sweet and Sour Chicken and rice

WEDNESDAY:  Chicken Pot Pie Bundles (I have the filling in my freezer and I'm want to get egg roll wraps - if I can find them - to make bundles like these)

THURSDAY:  Pancakes and sausage and hashbrowns

FRIDAY:  Pizza

SATURDAY:  Taco Haystacks (Happy Cinco de Mayo)

SUNDAY:  Crockpot ham and potatoes

And, just for the record, we have some sort of fruit and vegetable with most every meal (well, not usually vegetables with pancakes).  Sometimes they are cooked, sometimes it is just carrots and celery with ranch dip.  I should get better about planning those healthy side dishes ... I'll add it to the "should" list.

Meal Plan for another week

(hmmm ... blogger has changed things up.  change can be good or a real pain in the patootie!)

I'm planning my groceries and I'm on the computer, so you get an early menu again this week.  But, it is a boring one!  You see, the past week, we strayed quite a bit from my plan (a luxury a good food storage provides) and so I'm throwing a bit of last week back in with this week.  Here you go:

MONDAY:  Crockpot Peach BBQ Sauce Chicken (I made the peach bbq sauce last canning season) and rice

TUESDAY:  Baked Ziti and homemade bread

WEDNESDAY:  Leftovers (this actually requires planning because I have to make enough of the previous nights' meals to HAVE leftovers)

THURSDAY:  Waffles and ice cream

FRIDAY:  Quinoa Mac & Cheese

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY: Sloppy Joes

There you go.  Happy eating! :)

Menu Plan Someday

We updated our 72 Hour kits over the weekend and I had an old friend stop by yesterday that threw off my meal preparation.  So it is very convenient that I hadn't posted my menu plan yet!  Those meals we didn't eat ... get bumped a couple of weeks and all is well.

MONDAY:  72 Hour Kit Smorgasbord (my eldest called it "junk food dinner" but most of the food is actually as healthy as you can get for food that is supposed to last a year!)

TUESDAY:  Ravioli

WEDNESDAY:  Quinoa Mac & Cheese

THURSDAY:  Waffles

FRIDAY:  Oven Baked Fajitas

SATURDAY:  Pizza

SUNDAY:  probably at my Mom's house

What's on your menu?