Progress and Plans!!!

Another busy week and I have finally made it through week 4 of the P90X.  I did the weight and measurement re-check.  I've lost 9 pounds.  I was hoping for a bigger number here because I feel like I've lost more.  Here's the tricky thing with weight loss and working out - Muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue because it is much, much denser - more compact and useful.  So I work out to build up muscle tissue, which increases metabolism, burns off the fat tissue faster, but does not accruately reflect the difference in body weight.  I have lost inches, though, and that shows up in how my clothes fit.  This is pretty sweet!  I have gone down almost 2 complete sizes.  :)  Oh, Happy Day!  I have been able to wear pants that I haven't gotten into in over a year.  This feels really good.  I know I have a ways to go, but feel possitive about the results so far.  At the start, just going by pounds, 35 was the goal.  However, if I can get into all those old sizes again, I am not real concerned what the number is on the scale.  Being female - that's how we need to look at it.  

For example: When I graduated high school - at the peak of my physical fitness, I weighed almost 150#, but wore size 7.  That's the old really skinny size 7, not the enlarged size 7 of today. In case you haven't noticed that about our clothes sizes.  They have shifted the smaller number to a larger measurement.  I know - sucks and keep us complacent.  Rotten scoundrels.  :(

Well, we are one week closer to that gand-baby arriving. Bry has her inducement orders for Nov 8th.  Not sure if she'll make it to that exact date, that will depend on her body and the strain of pregnancy on her heart.  If the body feels it is too much, labor will begin.  So far she is doing prett well.  Baby is doing great.  They are so excited for Korbin to arrive and finally get to hold him as they have been seeing ultrasounds of him for months.

OH, more excitement on the horizon!  Me, my sis, and cousins Lynn & Cindy are taking a carribean cruise next October!!!!  It will be so much fun and this is going to make 2012 a very long year.  Between now and then I will become a grandma, Alexa will graduate and be off at college, Scott will become an Eagle Scout, Meg will get her driver's license, then there's youth conference, girls' camp, high adventure, and possibly two scout camps and the holidays to get through.  I guess it will go faster than I think and I will really need that break.

If you don't have anything exciting in your future - plan it!  Fun doesn't usually happen by chance - we need to plan that too!!! Have fun planning!

Love ya,
Bren

October - Flying by!!!!

Sorry,  didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted.  I have made it through 3 weeks of the P90X.  Still hyped to continue.  I worecapris that I haven't worn since the summer of 2010, whoo hoo!!!!  I won't get on a scale until after completing week 4, though.  I still don't want to be discouraged if it isn't as low as I think/feel it should be.  However, good news to report in addition to being able to wear the capris.  I went shopping yesterday for a shirt to wear under a sweater and trying on the clothes - larges were too big.  Sweet!!!!  I know my arms are much smaller and show some definition.  It hasn't been hard to refuse donuts or other sweets, either.  When you work so hard at something you don't want to screw it up and defeat what work has been done.

Scott is finishing up Cross Country, Alexa is done with Football Cheerleading.  Of course, they are both getting ready for the basketball season - which isn't too long for Scott being in the middle school, but cheering for basketball is really a nightmare.  They cheer not only for the boys' home games, but the girls'.  So it is double duty and that can be 3 or more games in a week.  Hopefully, most weeks are only 2 games.  We don't have enough cheerleaders to do split sqauds, so they all do both.

I'm also waiting for Bry to have that baby.  I will fly out to help her for about 10 days.  Sometime after 10/24 with the latest date being 11/7.  It depends on her body, if it feels taxed by the preganancy before the 7th, it will begin labor and the docs will let it go.  Which isn't an entirely bad thing - the baby won't be as big as he would be if she went all 40 weeks.  So far, Mom and baby are doing great.

Then throw the holidays into the mix and lots of things are happening in the next couple of months.

Did I ever say there was a 'dull' moment - didn't think so.  Keeps me busy, happy and out of trouble, which I was usually good at finding when I was in my teens.  :)

Have a great day and keep looking for the good things in life - you will find them and they will make you smile - lots!!!!

Love Ya,
Bren

Homecoming week is done!

  This is always such a crazy week.  If regular school weeks weren't bad enough with homework, sports and everyoe else's schedules - throw homecoming in there and you just go nuts.  Alexa made the Homecoming Court, that made her happy.  It also drove her crazy.  Not only was there Vocal Jazz practice one morning, but they had to practice dancing with other members of the court one morning.  She was also in the Powder Puff football game that had practice before school 3 days.  This game is a tradition in our school where the Junior and Senior Girls face off in a flag football game.  Sounds not too bad, but Gwen had her shorts ripped off when she was a Senior - thank goodness she was wearing leggings underneath!  Underwear these days doesn't have much cloth to them.  Anyway, the game can be pretty rough, I think they maybe should wear the regular football gear.  Often lots of bruises on the girls when they're done.

Our team did win their football game last night.  Not sure the last time they actually won their homecoming game - quite a few years ago.  Now today is the dance.  Alexa, on court, can't figure out how to do her hair - yes this afternoon just 2 hours before she has to leave.  Well, that went over with me real well.  I am such a girly-girl and knew just how to help her.  NOT!  I tried to think of some type of suggestion, but none worth actually doing.  She was mad at me and stomped off to her bathroom.  20 min later I figured I had better go in to see if she was coping.  Her hair was looking really cute and I was able to help her curl the back.  She had it pulled up and away from her face with bobby pins and long curls draping down the back.  Nothing I could have given her direction on.

This is Meg on the left in her $15 dress from Goodwill.  She shortened it and wears a black t-shirt underneath so it is more than just spaghetti strap.  Alexa is on the right in her $36 JC Penney dress.  We added the red layer to the bottom as a peek-a-boo skirt and she is wearing a black shrug underneath to make it modest.  There really isn't a good choice out there this year for dresses.  All are short in length and low-cut on top. 

Something called 'NORMAL' returns next week.  So looking forward to it.  :)

I did pretty well starting back on the P90X.  I missed yesterday's workout and today's.  But will go again with it on Monday.  I might stretch out tomorrow.  I still feel better on the program and will keep at it.

Have a great rest of the weekend!  Go Pack Go!!!!

Love ya,
Ben