39 1/2

I went in for my 39 week appointment and everything is still going well.  I'm still sporting cankles, despite the cooler weather we've had, bubby's heartbeat was 156 today, my blood pressure still good.

I did decline the cervical check because really, what will that do for me?  So they tell me I'm dilated to 2 cm...I could stay there for 2 more weeks!  No thanks.

The plan of action if baby does not arrive by Monday is to return to the doctor's office Monday afternoon.   Routine appointment, I think.  But then if still no baby we return to the doctor on Thursday for a Non Stress Test, ultrasound, and cervical exam.  Then we'll go from there.

This is all still seeming very surreal.  I know the moment I see him I will fall head over heels for him, but I think there's a lot of self-preservation going on in my brain.  I know he exists but it's not totally real yet.

Thanks to my wonderful friend Jody, I have a birth plan.  I had the hubs read it over the other night and he thought I was being too particular.  I had to explain to him if I didn't say what I wanted, I might get talked into something I really don't want.  I'm glad that I'll have it with me.

So, there you have it.  39 weeks and still going strong.

The Mole Trap Part 2

A bucket? Seriously. You're going to trap a mole with a bucket?

Well, it turns out he wanted the neighbors and dog walkers to know that there was a trap UNDER the bucket and therefore labeled it. And he didn't quite understand that if someone hadn't been told there was an actual trap underneath that it looked as though the bucket was said trap.

Well, the bucket didn't seem to help trapping a mole anyway. He took it down a few days ago but yesterday actually caught himself a little yard diggin' mole. Those things are not cute. Those paddle-like paws that seem to come out of their neck. Yuck.

Let's hope our yard doesn't invite any more vermin over.

The Mole Trap Part 1

My husband...He's a funny guy. He's a hard working guy. He's a determined guy.

It's that time of year again where the moles are taking up residence in our lawn to eat the little grubby grubs that also live there. Seems like a good situation except for all those holes and mounds the moles create. One thing the hubs is insane about is the lawn. He owns three lawnmowers, and edger, and a weed wacker.

The other night the hubs came inside and told me he had set a mole trap-heads up.

The next morning I took the dog for a walk.

Love

I can't believe I forgot to write about this before. I've seen many kinds of love in my life but I recently witnessed a new one.

I know the hubs loves our pup. I love our pup. But when Codie got home after her surgery recently, the hubs was very gentle and thoughtful of her needs.

After she woke up from her anesthesia-induced nap he decided to get dinner for her. He grilled her her own chicken breast.

This may not sound like much but knowing that the hubs won't cook unless he's begged, for him to open a package of chicken for her one piece, and to stand in the cool rain outside on the deck to make his puppy dinner...that was a new kind of love.

Small Obsession

Okay, so I may have more than one. What's your obsession? Mine is yellow. Although, my favorite color is peach...peach like a Push-Up Pop. Isn't that such a delicious color?

Speaking of food, tonight I made veggie burgers. They were okay but that's entirely my own fault. I added way too much ginger.
"Mmm, I love ginger."
Scrape, scrape, scrape. (That's my microplaner)
Scrape, scrape, scrape.
Scrape, scrape, scrape.
Scrape, scrape, scrape.

Yeah, they're ginger-y.

In retrospect, I think I'd also smooth out the patty mixture more thoroughly next time. These were rather chunky and while I appreciate a good chunk, tonight wasn't the night.

I liked having the english muffin to cushion the burger, baby greens, and my yellow obsession.

These probably would have been much better grilled but well, it's been snowing the ENTIRE day, all day long. I'm not about to stand outside and grill in the snow. I'm fine with my lovely pan for frying.

My obsession? This isn't the half of it.

After a couple of bites, I flipped it over and covered the bottom side with mustard too. I've always loved mustard. Always.


Now onto the non-food talk. I Shredded tonight. I tried doing some of the lunges but very gently...um, bad idea. My poor knees. I will remember this.

Today I had-
Green tea with mixed berry-only a little
Small black coffee
Fat free Greek yogurt with honey and HBoOs (see the rest of the week)

Leftover turkey quinoa burger
Pineapple, mandarin oranges, whipped strawberry yogurt

Veggie burger
English muffin
Baby greens

All right, I'm tired, the pup has already gone to bed, and I have to get up early in the morning. Ciao!

P.S. I think I may have a small crush on Apolo Ohno. It may be that facial hair...or his composure. He's about to race right now...it's hard to concentrate!
But shhh, don't tell my husband.

Turkey Quinoa Burgers

Okay, thanks again to Shannon for the recipe. Unbelievably, the hubs liked them! They were hearty, had a good texture, and they tasted good.

I felt they were easy to prepare too. And it got us back to quinoa which we had neglected from last summer (I think hubs thought I was trying to make it too often).

This pan is one of the pans I got for Christmas. I love this pan. Love it.

I didn't do a very good job of keeping track of how long I cooked them. That's the one things hubs said about them, maybe slightly overcooked. I thought they were fine though.

Okay, so Shannon recommended the mayo mustard mix on top. And hey, that's something I used to make all the time...especially when I'd make chicken with either a cornflake coating or the French's Fried Onions.

But if you will recall, I'm not eating mayo these days ("It's eeee-veeilll. Like the fru-ittts of the dev-eeeel"- Mike Myers in So I Married An Axe Murderer). Instead I had planned to drown mine in mustard. I ♥ mustard.

But amazingly even though the hubs loves the aioli mix he recognized he should have eaten ketchup or even stuck with the white balsamic vinegar as a sauce. However, there was an incident with the mustard (and the mayo).

I had mixed it on one small bowl and was transferring to a ramekin for hubs' plate. Somewhere along the lines one thing slipped which then propelled the ramekin off the counter and screaming towards the floor. I'm sure I swore, I felt me legs tug back, the crack! Aioli everywhere. On the floor, cupboards, drawers, stove, trash can, my pants, etc etc. Thank goodness for our house cleaner, Codie. She had the whole mess cleaned up in two minutes...then I just went behind her and disinfected. If you don't own a dog, I understand you being grossed out. If you do own a dog, you know why I let it happen.

I was going to take a picture of the mess but she started her clean up so quickly I didn't have a chance. Good girl.

Anyway, make them, they were yummy and good for you!

Beef, it's Not What's for Dinner

Recently I made mini turkey meatloaves for dinner. They turned out okay...I'm not sure if it was because I was hoping for the taste of ground beef or if it was all the other ingredients but they left a little to be desired next time. However, and really I should have made this its own post, the hubs wanted the whole world to know that on first bite, he knew it wasn't meat. He literally told me to tell the ladies at work that he knew. As if enjoying turkey substituted meals is any less manly?

These things make me chuckle about my husband.

On the other hand, he surprises me when he agrees with things like going more organic, or only eating 11 oz. of red meat a week. I have to stop and think, is this my husband? But those concessions make me love him even more.

But then there is that every once in a while where I think, wait, what? You're picking a battle about this? Which brings me to tonight's dinner.

I had planned on making turkey and quinoa burgers. The recipe is courtesy of Shannon, whom I do not know, but love the foods she posts and what she stands for. Her recipe is called Quinoa Turkey Burgers. I've linked to her before when I made her Paprika Chicken.
Anyway, I was really stoked about this recipe. It sounds delicious and lower fat and calorie (no bun to boot). So when the hubs asked what I was making for dinner and I responded confidently with, "Turkey quinoa burgers," I expected a "yum", or "oh okay", but instead got, "Ttk." Moan. Groan.

Really hun? Really?

So now, I'm *still* going to make them. And gol' darn, I hope they're awesome. Wish me luck, I just might need it tonight in the kitchen.

Sleepless Nights

This is one department where I am very lucky. I don't often have sleepless nights but the hubs, he's just the opposite. More often than not he'll wake during the night and once he's up, that's it. He'll toss and turn until he's frustrated. When this happens he tends to take solace in our couch.

Really, this couch should have a name because we seriously spent months couch shopping before we finally committed to this one. Can I lay on it stretched completely out? Can we both fit on it laying down? Does it have good back support? Is the fabric what we like? And on and on it went.

So, needless to say, we love our couch. When we first got our puppy she wasn't allowed on this couch. It drove her mad. But we've since relented because we're suckers and love to snuggle with her.

Which brings me to last night's sleepless night for the hubs. I heard him get up once but I could have sworn he came back to bed. It wasn't until the puppy was nosing at my face this morning did I realize he wasn't there. Insert sad face.

When I finally rolled out of bed, oh it was around 8, I came downstairs to find this.

I think she may even be mimicking his body language. Aren't they sweet? Happy Saturday.

The Shred Part Two-Day 11 & 12

Days eleven and twelve done! Last night got so late-and frankly I got so tired-I could barely even get into the shower let alone blog.

Last night was level 2 while tonight was level 3. And gosh darn, what do I have to do to yearn for working out? Every night it's the same thing.

"C'mon Holly, it's only 20 minutes."
"Do it now and then eat."
"If you keep procrastinating it just means it's going to be later when you're done."
"Put the computer down, you can blog/FB/tweet (or is it twit?) later."

And then of course when I'm done I'm so glad I did it. It's just the getting to it part.

Anyhow, today I consumed:
Green tea with mixed berry
Fat free Greek yogurt with honey and granola

6 Multigrain Wheat Thins with 6 cubes of cheese-small cubes (I love cheese)

Turkey lasagna--but not the whole thing this time. The Wheat Thins put me over the edge

Banana

I scoped out MckMama's post today about lunch and decided to make it for dinner. I've been craving pizza like mad but couldn't bring myself to eat it--way too much of a splurge. But this I can handle. Smaller size and I'm controlling what all's going into it. Thanks MckMama!
So mini pizza pockets and a salad with mixed baby greens, spinach, egg, toasted cashews, and uber light ranch. (o:

Oh, and I totally ate one slice of the fresh mozzarella while I was making the salad. I couldn't help it and it was delicious!

Happy Friday night. The hubs and I have an appointment at the Apple store tomorrow. New trackpad for the MacBook. Poor little MacBook. But before then we're having lunch with the hubs' best friend (best man in our wedding) at their favorite--and I mean favorite spot. I'll give more details tomorrow.

The Shred Part Two-Day 10

Had hubby not come home so quickly I was going to bust out the LCW. Since he showed up (it's all dinner pending) I put in the Shred. I never thought I'd see the day when I thought the Shred was 'easy'. I say that very lightly, especially since it was Level 1, but what I really mean is I can do the entire thing and I'm looking for ways to make it tougher. I need to get myself some 8 lb weights. I'm still adding the pelvic thrust at the end (with a glut squeeze!). Next, heavier weights. And I'm now all Natalie-with the exception of the lunges. No way. After I started taking it easier on myself with the lunges my knees felt infinitely better.

But on to the most important thing today, dinner. YUM. It was a salad, but not just any salad.
Baby greens, romaine, spinach with grilled chicken with barbecue sauce, toasted cashews, sliced hard boiled egg, topped with ranch dressing. Hrm...is that really healthy? YES! The chicken was light on sauce, I used less than one serving of cashews on each salad. Only one hard boiled egg. Then there's the dressing-how can that be good for you?

So, have you seen those yogurt dressings? It got me to thinking...yogurt, like my Greek yogurt...100 calories and no fat....hrm....What if I mixed one of those ranch packets into the yogurt? Holy shamoley, it was great. I told hubs I could eat the entire thing of dressing and not feel guilty. But I wouldn't do that, because that's disgusting.

I'm no longer a dressing ON the salad kind of gal. Instead, it's on the side and I use it to dip in. I'm using waaaay less. So, anyway, try the dressing, even the hubs liked it!

What else did I eat?

Green tea with mixed berry
Fat free Greek yogurt with honey and granola (next week--err this weekend--I might try to find a lower cal replacement for this granola)

Leftover skirt steak sandwich (3 strips of steak) packed with spinach and topped with mustard.
Green grapes and mandarin oranges

Banana

Tomorrow I've packed the salad for lunch!

Happy Shredding!

The Shred Part Two-Day 9

First day of the work week and it's Tuesday. Very nice. I met Jillian for level three tonight. Amazingly I did (or should I say "did"?) the rockstars at the end. The planks on the weights with the leg lift are still very hard for me. So I did some Natalie and the rest Anita. Some day soon I'll rock only Natalie.

So, the amazing thing to me today was Aunt Flo's arrival. How's that amazing? Well, I still lost weight yesterday....that's unheard of when she's in town. Back in my Weight Watchers days (when I was very fastidious about my food journaling and working out) it was a guarantee that I would add on 4 pounds of water weight during that visit. Every. Single. Time. So frustrating. So me actually losing weight this week makes me feel great. I hope I can do the same next week.

I'm already trying to plan Thursday's workout this week. I'm helping out at an after school function that won't get me home until almost 9. This means I will have to eat an early dinner (5ish), to drink lots and lots of water during the night, possibly snag an apple or banana on the way home, then workout in the moonlight.

This weekend when my parents were here I gave my mom some of the turkey lasagna and today she ate it. The review? She loved it and said if I didn't tell her it was turkey she wouldn't have known. (o:

So, what did I eat today?
Green tea with mixed bery
Fat free Greek yogurt, honey, and granola

Leftover chicken, potato, asparagus
Apple

Banana

Grilled pork chop
Steamed spinach
Leftover potato

One bite of hub's cheesecake--and it was a little bite.

Tomorrow's Wednesday-middle of the week without even trying.

The Shred Part Two-Day 3

Level 3 of the Shred today. I'm pushing myself to do mostly Natalie style things. This does, however, end up in my doing less--maybe two or three reps less--so is it worth it?

Anyway, did I mention...SNOW DAY! We got the call last night even! It was great. Oh, I mean, it IS great.

So, I didn't do the LCW today because hubs has asked that I come with him to work and help him paint. I had planned on heading outside to shovel our driveway while the hubs was shoveling at a customer's house but he made it home to do ours' before I got done with my workout and such.

The video doesn't really do justice to how much snow we have. When I let Codie out this morning it was hilarious. She was just pushing her way through the drifts. But I think she's cute!

Today I made some puff pastries with dark and milk chocolate stuffed in the middle-like a pan au chocolat. One for me and one for hubs. Hubs at his when he got in from the cold and really liked it. I took one bite, looked at the fat content and about flipped. 13 grams of fat in the pastry alone! I had to make a big decision. So sad. I took one more bite and gave the rest to hubby. I'm guessing it had about 5 grams of fat in the amount I ate. Oy.

Hubby got a breakfast burrito today and I made myself a scramble-eggs, potatoes (leftover from last night), mushrooms, shallots, spicy turkey sausage, and cheese.

I already put dinner in the crockpot-white chicken chili. Although, the hubs says I'm not allowed to call it that--because it's not chili like enough. So, spicy chicken soup with white beans it is.

I ate breakfast rather late so I might try to forgo lunch.

Anyway, enjoy your day everyone. Have a great workout!

The Shred-Day Twenty Seven

I bring you this broadcast tonight direct from the comfort of my bed. I realize I'm a day past my deadline, but believe you me, I did Shred on Saturday.

As I mentioned previously my parents came up this weekend. They're currently on their way to sleepy land downstairs. I got up around 8:30, which is a huge sleep in for me, and Shredded. I'm definitely an evening workout girl. I have always been. But today went okay. I had to be extra quiet because the hubs was still sleeping in from his gig the night before.

I have nothing life shattering to report at day 27--which I thought for sure was day 26. Yeesh.

We did go out to dinner tonight to that place I referenced earlier also. Man oh man, talk about killing the excitement with expectations. Let me just say, I'm picky and have high standards. And when I am paying for a meal that triples my weekly budget, you bet I want things a certain way.
Our waiter was arrogant and aloof. I sat for 15 minutes with an empty water glass and a partially full pomegranate martini glass-because it was way too strong and tasted nothing of pomegranate. That's where this all began, he tried to tell me I needed a drink. When my mom and I decided we would try ONE I meant one. Instead we each got one at $8.00 a pop. Neither of us finished our drinks. Then when I ordered dinner he again tried to TELL me what salad dressing I wanted on my salad. And when I ordered a different one, he questioned me-no, he told me I was getting the house. This one I didn't let go-I ordered another one. But sadly, I barely at the salad because it was soaked in dressing. Mental note: order dressing on the side. My steak was okay. It was cooked well, medium rare, but I feel it should have been seasoned. And it was a filet...I was oh so sad. The garlic mashed potatoes that came with it had a fake garlic (or garlic overkill) taste to them. I took the equivalent of one bite of those and let them be. So argh. I'm totally pissed at that waiter. Thanks for ruining my dinner jackhead.

How'd the rest of my dining day go?

Green tea with mixed berry
Breakfast burrito

Everything Bagel (Panera) with cream cheese. Did you know there are 18 grams of fat in a one serving cream cheese from there?!?! I used less than half.

6 oz filet
3 bites of Italian dressing drenched salad
1 bite garlic mashed
3/4 pomegranate martini

I'm exhausted...

Happy Sunday Shredding!

The Shred-Day Twenty Six

I'm eating as I type tonight. And the puppy is staring me down. I got brave and decided to make my own sushi, thanks to Jen. I must say, it's not the same without the tuna. But it's not bad.

Okay, so on to business. Day 26 behind me now! I can't believe I've come this far. I know I have a far journey ahead of me but man, it feels good.

I have to do some major cleaning and arranging tonight before my parents get here tomorrow. With John being sick I really got behind on things.

The Shred went okay today. I'm struggling to get through the sumo squat things and the jump squats without keeling over. However, I'm not Anita-stylin' those, hello Natalie. I think the next thirty days through will be interesting. Will I find those other levels just as hard or easier?

Menu today-
Can I just interject, there were Friendship Bread and bagels in the lounge today. I didn't even give them a second glance. Dang, I so used to be that girl. "I'll just eat one," and now look at me! No more.

Green tea with mixed berry
Low fat Greek yogurt with granola nut bites and honey

Chicken noodle soup
Mixed fruit (yum yum yum)

Mixed fruit (I stayed after to get all my stuff ready for next week-I needed to tide myself over)

Sushi! Rice, cucumber, avocado, cream cheese, ginger. Although, I'm not doing too much damage to it. I think I've had 5 pieces, maybe 4 (I gave one to the pup) and I'm about stuffed!
I may have some mixed fruit later after I get to cleaning.

We made it to Friday now it's time to relax a little and enjoy the weekend.
Happy weekend Shredding everyone!!!

The Shred-Day Twenty Five

I did it again. I had to open a new tab and check my own blog to see which day I was on. You'd think I could get it straight. I'm guessing the numbers will get more confusing as I continue. Alas, day 25 has been done.

You know how I was complaining yesterday about having to do sub plans and all that? Well, today ended up being worth it. Was the training that amazing you may be asking? Um, well, it was good--but we were slated 8:30-3:30 and rocked out at 2:15. I had the best of intentions of coming home, working out, and then spending the rest of the evening cuddling with my recuperating hubby. Try that, but in reverse. I did a lot of cozying up to him and just now finished the Shred, at 8ish.

But did it I did. I still can't rockstar. I was so glad to read that I wasn't alone though. And is it just me or are those last ab moves on your elbow a killer? It's not the ab part but the elbow part. I couldn't even do more than two so now I do them with my arm straight. Am I alone there?

This weekend my parents are coming to visit. I haven't seen them since Christmas which is a long time. We usually see each other about every two to three weeks. Anyhow, my point being my parents haven't seen me in my less chubby state. I certainly hope she can see a difference. Hubby let slip one day that I was working out-I was trying to keep it a secret. I hope there's no let down.

It's always hard when you have company-the eating that is. Luckily my mom understands as we struggle with the same things. We do have dinner reservations on Saturday night to celebrate my dad and hubby's birthdays. We're headed to a local must. And I know I'll be eating healthy because I already know what I'm ordering.

I thought about this while watching the Biggest Loser this week. I've become defensive of Jillian. It's like I've seen a different side of her. And when the Red Team went on their lying rampage I was ticked for Jillian. Don't mess with my girl! Ha!

Today's menu is not exciting. In fact, had I been more prepared I would NOT have eaten the lunch I was given. I knew going into today that it wouldn't be spectacular but I didn't think we would be eating middle school cafeteria food.

Same breakfast as normal, tea and yogurt.

I have a thing against most lunch meats anyway and when I saw my oval "ham" sandwich, I was less than thrilled. We got boxed lunches. The contents:
Sandwich-ham with a white "cheese" square, tomato (which was immediately ripped off my bun, yuck!), lettuce, on a kaiser.
A banana so green even I wouldn't eat it for two days (gee thanks)
A bag of Ruffles (hello, 11 grams of fat)
A cookie--I think it's peanut butter

What did I actually eat? The sandwich, sans tomato plus mustard (I avoided the mayo packet), carrots, and fruit salad. I brought the latter two myself. I really, really wanted the chips. But it was more I wanted the salty crunch. They were even sour cream and cheddar. Yummm.

So I refrained from all the unhealthy stuff at lunch and I was so proud. Until I got in the car and was starving after the meeting. What did I do when I got home? I had a large handful of BAKED sour cream and cheddar chips, a small bowl of chicken noodle soup, and a serving and a half of the Dark Chocolate Chex. And this was around 4. I haven't had anything since and I'm thinking that's a good thing. I am about to make some fruit salad for tomorrow-with pineapple too this time. I might have a bite or two of that. All in all, not too shabby.

Tomorrow is day 26. The hubs has a gig so I'm on my own. Hope he's back to his old self and feeling well though! He hasn't been out of bed in two days! Saturday my plan is to work out in the morning before my parents arrive so I have the whole day free then I'll work out Sunday night after they leave.

How's your week? Tomorrow's Friday ya know!

The Shred-Day Twenty Four

I'm having the hardest time keeping track of which day I'm on. I usually guess one day behind...and have actually titled two posts incorrectly, giving me double titles! (Which I have since fixed...)

Today was a toughie. My poor hubby spent the majority of the night running to the bathroom (talk about an ab workout). Then there's me who can't sleep through that because it makes me feel awful-him experiencing pain and discomfort. Then the puppy can't figure out what the flip is happening so she's getting up and down. It was a long night last night. Then today having to leave him here. Mainly, I knew he wouldn't feed himself and whatnot so I tried loading him up with things he could stomach. He got an apple, a banana, saltines, and two glasses of water. He actually ate more than I thought he would-the banana and some saltines.

I had to run an errand after school but hurried home to make him some homemade chicken noodle soup. I did have to stop at the store for a few things, celery, chicken broth, Tylenol, and Sprite. When I got home I shoved everything into the stockpot and was going to work out but thought it best if I tended to the soup so hubs could eat before midnight.

Too bad I forgot to pick up noodles. I didn't realize we only had a small portion of egg noodles left and started to panic. I didn't want to have to go back out to the store (um, less than 10 degrees with the windchill today) so I panned the pantry and came up with a solution. Lasagna noodles. And it worked! Granted, it's more like chicken and dumpling soup but it turned out well! There's really nothing like homemade chicken noodle soup. I have plenty leftover to freeze and keep for another emergency sickness.

Tomorrow I have to be gone to a training all day so I had to get sub plans around. Do people-non teacher people-realize what a pain it is to be gone from work??? I can't just call in. There is so much work to be done to be gone. But at least I get to sleep in a bit tomorrow. I'm normally up around 5:45 so tomorrow I'm sleeping until 6:45. Watch out!

I really like Level 3. I know I've said it before but I'm serious. I like feeling like I'm making a difference. I can feel my thigh muscles. I can see my arms toning up. This is great. Next month Jackie is proposing a mixture of The Shred and The Biggest Loser's Last Chance Workout. Any takers on joining us?

Today's menu:

Green tea with mixed berry

Low fat Greek yogurt with granola nut bites and honey

(Do I ever get sick of this....no)

Chicken Chili--Hey it's fast and easy...and it was very good today

Mixed fruit

(ha! I was just thinking, I could go for something sweet then I typed the fruit, I'm so having some in a minute!)

Apple

Chicken noodle/dumpling soup

Mixed fruit

I have noticed my appetite curbing. I hope this sticks. I haven't had a morning snack in a few days. I usually start to get hungry around 11:00 and by that time I can wait until lunch at 11:30.

I do get hungry in the afternoon, around 3:00 (but hey, I did eat lunch at 11:30...) so I usually eat an apple or banana.

Then come dinner, I take what I think is a smaller portion than I had in the past and still can't finish it all. Yip!

I'm being a bad mom tonight. The pup is not getting a walk. It's toooooo cold outside and I have a sick hubs to tend to.

Good night and Happy Shredding Thursday tomorrow!

**Post edit! I forgot--I ate a cake ball this morning. I didn't make them, which made it taste all the better.
Oh, and I ate my fruit but then had a bad craving so I ate one serving of Dark Chocolate Chex. Yum.

The Shred-Day Twenty Two

OMG OMG OMG. Jillian is not fooling around this level and I like it! Yesterday I was set on doing Natalie style things only to realize I can't! Well, some yes, but the majority no. So I tried Anita style and man that was so much better. However, Anita kicked my butt. I haven't felt like this since early in level one.

Right under and inside my shoulder blade is sore. My thighs are screaming. But yes, I like it. I feel like there may be better progress in this level.

Today's menu-
Green tea with mixed berry
Low fat Greek yogurt with granola nut clusters

Leftover scalloped potatoes
Orange

Mixed fruit (kiwi, mandarin orange, apple, pear)

White Chicken Chili
I'm going to post this recipe later. It turned out really well and if it hadn't been for the cheese and sour cream it would have been uber-healthy. And the hubs loved it!
Mixed fruit (same as lunch)

So weights and measurements didn't go as well as I thought. I am so angry at the scale. I just can't seem to understand it. I get it with the first two weeks but come on!

Here's the measurements--

Chest-

Starting- 43"
Week 4- 40 3/4
(-2 1/4)

Waist
Starting- 41 1/2"
Week 4- 37"
(-4 1/2)

Thighs-
Starting- Right-30 1/2" Left-30 1/2"
Week 4- Right-29 1/4" Left-29"
(-2 3/4)

Calves-
Starting- Right- 18 1/4" Left- 18 1/4"
Week 4- Right 18 1/2" Left 18 1/2"
(+1/2)

Biceps-
Starting- Right- 14 1/2" Left- 14 1/4"
Week 4- Right- 14 1/4" Left- 13 3/4"
(I must have mis-measured last week -3/4)

All together at Week 4- minus 9 3/4"

Wow. Now if the numbers on the scale would just cooperate.

Starting 223.8
Week Four 221
-2.8

Lead Me Not To Temptation...

So, big huge cave. No control. No one home to keep me under control.

You know those Betty Crocker Warm Delights? Thanks to coupons, I picked up a whole stack of them for free. It wouldn't hurt to just have one...

That's what was going through my head. And I seriously almost caved. I was hungry, I wanted sweet, but I kept myself from making a huge mistake. Instead, I ate a bowl of Rice Krispies-with a Tbs of sugar on top. Yes, I know that wasn't a good choice but it was my sacrifice.

This morning guess what hubs wanted for breakfast. Yup, you guessed it, waffles. So today I thought, you know what I'm going to eat one, like normal. I'll work a bit harder this afternoon in my workout.

I only ate half. Honestly, before I was halfway in, I was getting full. And man I was glad. It wasn't that long ago that I could eat the ENTIRE waffle and sometimes still be hungry. Great change.

Through this whole journey I felt as though my stomach (which by the way, has always been slim--until these past 3 or 4 years) was not slimming down at all. And that has totally bummed me out. And then this morning, it seems as though something may have changed. I hope I'm not jinxing it but I think it might be finally losing inches-let us hope!

Tomorrow is weights and measures. I'm hoping for a loss of a couple pounds-please...don't make me beg.