Day 27 - Summer Blog -

The Sun has risen; the sun has set. How quickly it goes. The summer is hastily moving along - full of hot weather, days at the pool, playgrounds, hikes, and LOTS of ice cream. The BBQ has yet to cool down between evening meals; and the small children bathe away the chlorine, paints, sand, and sunscreen.

My 7 year anniversary also rolled on by - I spent the evening lounging at the rooftop pool of the Westin in Denver - followed by a swank dinner uptown ~17th & Park at a little place called Strings - sipping martinis at that outdoor patio - and then back to the pool for a little rooftop lounging and drinking...sitting in the middle of the lit up city - the sun setting over the mountains - the stars our of arms reach above us. It was lovely and perfect and one of my best experience :) - True story :)

Back to sunshine and heat and parks and pools...and the beat rolls on. And Im grateful for it all. Oh yeah, the kids yell - and scream - and cry - but the wine keeps pouring, i've got my babies, and for now, they're still in love with me - i've got fresh veggies from my garden. Its good livin'

Yay Summer.

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me"

Here's the thing...its good to be a dreamer. My new goal - to be happier where i am (as previously mentioned) BUT not giving up on my dreams. And i've got them - all be it small and plain...I have dreams and i'll never let them go. They involve my family seeing my kids grow...though they grow a little bit more each day - and this seems less and less likely - i refuse to accept the notion that my kids will grow up without their families. Of course, this is their reality and part of being happy is learning that some things wont change (and both sets of grandparents work so very hard to keep us close, even from a distance. So really, im v. lucky). My parents used to asked me to move closer to them...though they would never move closer to me at the expense of their happiness or comfort or well being. Im not upset with them - I get it. They LOVE where they live and couldn't imagine leaving it - especially for CO. It doesn't fit them. NC doesn't fit me, and truthfully Buffalo doesn't quite either. I am sad though that there is no middle ground.
So I'm here and they're there. and No one is coming this way and we're not going that way.............but............but...............
but i hold onto my dreams. And i always will. In my head - those dearest to me are just down the road. And we BBQ and shop for Christmas trees and go to the farmer's market and they stand up and clap at my kids graduations and there is someone there to hold my hand when im feeling alone and sad...
but then in my dreams the sun shines, i have friends that just drop by, my husband is home with me and the kids, and every weekend is an adventure.
It's good to have dreams - never stop dreaming.

"So forget the map, roll down the windows, and whenever you can pull over and have a picnic"

I think it's a beautiful thing - leaving behind all the baggage and looking for the simple things in life. The small triumphs, simple pleasures, and the joy to be found in such moments. If i can do that, then all the big crap wont matter so much. I guess its about appreciating not just what you have, but what you dont. Great things are out there to be accomplished and had - and im not saying not to try to be your best you. But maybe, there's a place to be found that leaves all the worry out of the when's and maybe's and if's...I've found things will happen in their time if you let them, and in the meantime - there is so much to revel in day to day.
This is not easily done - appreciating the space youre in - But i do believe it is possible. I remember a time when what i had was enough..."All i need is song in my heart, food in my belly and love in my family..." Family is a funny word...family can be the people you share each day with, it can be a true friend, or the people you love from afar - sometimes it was literally me, myself and I - It can be All those things really...i think i need to remember this most of all. Loneliness might be the shadow that walks in my footsteps, but i am never alone.
Anyway, I leave this bit of self reflection with a quote or two...

"Open up your plans and, Damn, you're free." J. Mraz

"Simple is Good"
"Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody.
It's a good life, enjoy it." J. Henson

This Old House...

And now its time for everyones favorite game: "If it ain't broke, Dont fix it" with your host Kim Smiley *wink

Can you guess what's left standing at Kim's house today...if you guessed her front window....EHHHH, that broke straight down the entire front panel. Try again....whats that you say, the screen sliding door???? EHHHHH. That broke yesterday when her husband was throwing the dog outside to do his business , yanked open the sliding door and collided with the screen. One last guess viewers...if you said the back shutter, yooooouuuu're WRONG. No, that blew away in a wind storm last month. The correct answer is, the four damn walls have not given up. (Applause Applause Applause). Thanks again for playing this round of "If it ain't broke, Dont fix it!" We'll see you next time folks. :)

Day 3 Summer Blog - We went to the Animal Fair - The birds and the beasts were there

Day 3 began much like the previous two...sun, children buzzing like jackhammers that someone forgot to shut off, coffee...having not had any luck with fitness the previous days, i decided to sequester myself upstairs; one can only imagine how this feat of ten uninterrupted minutes was achieved - if i had a clue, trust me, i would use it more often...i digress - i did my guaranteed* "Six Steps to Courteney Cox's Bikini Body" and felt so energized and ecstatic afterwards that I thoughts I would corall the small ones for an adventure to the wild...i.e. the zoo. We pack a picnic lunch of stinky tuna sandwiches and snacks - with reserves in tow, a.k.a. Husband, we took off for the zoo. Traffic on the way there - duh. Insane crowds, double-duh. Had a picnic in the family transport - it now smells like tuna that's been left in the sun (I will never find that crust of bread). We had special VIP family privileges that allowed us to pass the lay man waiting on a line of 4,000+...we pulled out our "membership cards" and quickly bypassed the throngs...only to walk immediately into more throngs once inside. Ahhh, children in their natural habitat - cavorting with wild animals, ya know, safely behind 3 inch glass partitions, sipping on Slurpys looking irritable and bored. Well, not entirely true - the python was a hit. Both the hippo and the rhino made an appearance, so that was cool. Though, even the elephants looked a bit Blase' - I swear one even rolled its eyes, while the other literally leaned its trunk against a wall. The orangutan had her newborn baby clinging to her back and swung two stories in the air away from the onlookers. I felt both sad and embarrassed. A mother trying to keep her baby safe from the faces pressing against the glass - it looked like she was searching for a modicum of privacy and settled behind a thick piling at the back of her room. I teared up and wanted to scream for everyone to get back - but found when i turned and saw the small newborn peek around her mother with curiosity, its gaze settled on my face - i couldn't help but turn entirely toward the tiny one and stare with a stupid look of wonder. A mother of any kind, looking at a bright eyed child - you cant help but smile broadly. I shrunk away from the crowd with bittersweet grin and moved on to the gorilla habitat. They have proved to be equally magnificent and captivating.
We finished our trip past the okapi, and Kudu around by the giraffes and out the Entrance/Exit. The whole expedition took under 3 hours - yet felt like surely it had been closer to 6. (Or so said my back and knees and patience told me). We took an alternate route home and stopped to get the children some ice cream - complete with servers on roller skates.
Having spent the day busy and full of treats, the Husband and I felt comfortable enough "mailing in" the rest of the day.

*Six Steps to Courteney Cox's Bikini Body makes no guarantees that workout will result in a figure anything near Cox's own. Let's face it, she has money and a personal trainer and you have an article online and your bedroom.

Day 2 Summer Blog - Fun in the Sun

It was a hot day - clearly affecting the little ones moods. The smallest was particularly uncomfortable from the heat - making her prickly and poopy. No really, it was the second day in a row we had to leave the fitness center early due to poop related reasons. The elder two were disappointed to leave so early - though surrounded by boundless toys - the T.V. proved yet again the most captivating entertainment in the room and I found myself eager to free them from its terrible grasp. The highpoint of the day would soon come, when the lads were put to work - washing the family transport. I watered the surrounding vegetation, picking my way through the flora, the occasional high kicking run away from a pesky buzzy bee; the lads were busy scrubbing the car in the grueling heat. Safari hats of Superman and Backyardigans were adorned - while i turned over the hose to what i was sure were capable hands. I could be heard saying...
"The first person to spray someone in the face is going to their room!"
It was the perfect lazy day afternoon. Blue skies and puffy clouds right out of The Simpsons' opening sequence - recliners in the shade of a tree - the children laughing and playing with the water hose.
The day finished with cold watermelon and ice cream. If there was yelling, I cant recall - if there was arguing, I cant say...there is just the image of the small children smiling on a golden summer day.

Thoughts? Obviously, I have an opinion, but I'd like to hear yours?

Anyone have an opinion on Rihanna's new video "Man Down"....?

Day 1 Summer Blog - For Goodness Snakes!

well, actually its Day 2 - but i need to get through the day to write about it soooo i guess each post will be a day behind if you will....
Anyway, the morning started off a little rocky - with the three young children crying, screaming, pestering and poking at one another. I did my best to duck and dodge their childhood ritual of wall bouncing - I've noted that the little youngin's seem to suffer from an intense case of selective hearing loss - also called "idontgiveashitwhatmomsaysitis." It was then that i reached for my secret Mom energy drink that brings both clarity and fortitude. The smell of the brewing elixir cut through the air clearing the minds of those in the house. Just as i took a sip of this magic potion, or "Coffee," the sneaky little-uns ran outside into the wild to escape the hypnotic effects of Folgers brewing. "Dash-it-all!" The youngers made not attempt to conceal themselves in the open - as they let forth their distinct childreny war cries of glee - and all for enjoyment of the neighbors at 8 in the morning. (At least it wasn't on a sunday morning.)
My attention was briefly interrupted by a telephoning from one Katy (of Kim and Katy fame). She too was in strange land facing unfamiliar territory and two strange furry beasts - I Believe they were called Mutt and Geoff with G (or something like that). Katy sat through a grueling 45minute hail storm of words (aka me bitching) when one of the children had escaped the compound...THE HUNT WAS ON!!! How exciting and by exciting i mean terrifying. Where could this lost child be!?! Locked in the family transport of course! After screaming the child's name yielded no results, i shrewdly checked the transport holding facility.
After the drama in the morning, all small ones were loaded into the car and dropped off for what was to be an hour of play while I exercised - a true Motheress must keep up her strength and agility (and get a break for sheer sanity), but alas, there was a poo incident with the youngest of the young and my training was cut short by 30min. After a wash down in the trunk of the transport with left over bits of water from half empty canteens - we were off again. The littlest fell asleep and was laid in bed while the boys entertained themselves with more backyard digging adventures and a round of He-Man - because they clearly need ideas for conduct. After a brief feeding - all were loaded back into the family shuttle and taken to a nearby glen for a walk and good romp on a playground. The sun was high and hot but the children could not seem to be slowed. By four we were on our hike back when along the path, while gathering "tickley weeds" the eldest let out a shriek "SNAKE!"
"Pfft" said I. "I know this game and will not be diverted little one." (or something like that).
But he was persistent in his ploy "SNAKE MOM!"
I turned slowly and there a foot away from my own foot was the beast!!! 3 feet long, curled and prone, with green and gold skin and a black tongue it was rudely sticking forth - I exclaimed "Oh." Gathering my herd we slowly backed away from the foul creature, ya know, then i ran back again just to have a better look, but then we backed away some more - lucky to escape.
On the way home the eldest sat wide eyed and whispered "Well, that freaked me out."
A little TOO much nature for one day i would say.
After a pasta dinner of bacon, fresh veggies and tomato cream sauce with cheese the children ran their cares off through the sprinkler while mother sat around to reflect on the mess in the kitchen.
Books were then read, foreheads kissed, and children tucked in bed, while I flopped down exhausted to watch high entertainment So You Think You Can Dance followed by some Craig Ferguson.
Oh Summer Vacation - how you test me - but I shall overcome! Day 1 was certainly an adventure - I will keep you posted on the days to come. Day 1 brought a Snake - what will Day 2 bring???................

Blarghy Bloggy

It's time to take a break from blogging every day about my diet/exercise. I've done it for a good month and it's been very helpful for most of it at keeping me aware of what and how I'm eating. However, it's gotten to the point where it feels like a job and is no longer providing that same impetus to keep going that it used to.

Instead, it's just kinda annoying, haha.

So for now, no more daily blogging. My eating habits have changed enough that I don't need to log every calorie in order to stay focused on the diet, and I can kick my own ass into exercising when I need to. I've come a long way, baby! ;)

I'll probably keep things updated here when I hit new weight lows. So, till then, adios!

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 30

Exercising was difficult at first today, but by the end I felt energized, yay!

More importantly, Cheat Day is tomorrow! Woohoo! :)

*

Weight: 151.4

Calories consumed: 1147

Glasses of water consumed: 6

Real exercise: 20 minutes low-impact aerobics and 17 minutes ab work

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 29

And so begins Round 2. It's pre-Shark Week, so I'm experiencing some bloating. Hoping that's what accounts for the 2 pound weight gain. Please be only temporary!

I'm getting lazy about my exercise, as I suspected I might once I hit comfy weight. Tomorrow I'm going to kick my own ass and get back into a routine. I will not wuss out! I will reach my goal weight! Rawr! Rawr!

*

Weight: 152.2 :(

Calories consumed: 1197

Glasses of water consumed: 6

Real exercise: None

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 28

Tomorrow begins Round 2 of the diet. Hopefully it's as successful as Round 1!

*

Weight: 150.4

Calories consumed: 1187

Glasses of water consumed: 6

Real exercise: None

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Weight Loss Progress So Far

Day 28 has arrived. The month long experiment has had fantastic results, as you can see below. I'm going to keep with the Nutrisystem for one more month, so starting tomorrow begins the second round of 28 days. I'm feeling great and optimistic! :)



~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 27

Clearly the day of rest was an excellent idea! I have officially hit comfy weight! The trick is now to keep going, not to get too comfy and complacent, but to continue pushing myself to my ultimate goal weight. I'm so excited to be so close to the 140s!!!!!

Also, I'm started to reintroduce non-Nutrisystem foods. I am making healthy choices outside of the program both to start putting what I've learned to use, and also to kinda start testing myself to see if I can stick to eating right even without the pre-packaged meals.

*

Weight: 150.2!!!

Calories consumed: Not sure exactly, but something reasonable and probably close to my usual intake

Glasses of water consumed: 3

Real exercise: 30 minutes on the elliptical

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 26

I read some things online that said that too many consecutive days of exercise can actually cause a plateau, and stop your weight from dropping. Something about not giving your muscles time to rest and recuperate. So I decided to take a day off from exercise, and will be working these days off into my routine if I see a positive change.

*

Weight: 152.8

Calories consumed: 1081

Glasses of water consumed: 3

Real exercise: None

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 25 - SECOND PLATEAU DEFEATED!

So so close to the the 140s! Almost there! I can do this! :D

*

Weight: 152.4

Calories consumed: 1148

Glasses of water consumed: 6

Real exercise: Cleaned the apartment, and was kinda pooped after that

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 24

Stupid plateau. Grumble grumble.

*

Weight: 154.6

Calories consumed: 1137

Glasses of water consumed: 7.5

Real exercise: 20 minutes muscle sculpting with weights

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 23

Back to the daily diet grind. Here's hoping I beat this new plateau soon.

*

Weight: 154.6

Calories consumed: 1163

Glasses of water consumed: 3

Real exercise: 37 minutes low impact aerobics

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Days 21 & 22

These past two days I went to visit family in New York (I live in Massachusetts), and proceeded to mostly eat like crap while I was there for a number of different reasons.

1. It's hard to stay on Nutrisystem when you're not in your own space. All the additional foods you need, all the veggies and fruits and proteins, just aren't readily accessible. And the prepackaged meals just aren't filling or enough calories by themselves.

2. My Mom, who I stay with when I visit, literally does not keep any food in the house that isn't takeout or sweets. Let me stress that I am NOT exaggerating when I say this. So not only are there no healthy options in sight, all my favorite New York foods and treats are splayed out in front of me just full of temptation.

3. I always end up eating out a lot when I visit. And it's very difficult to behave on a diet when you're at a restaurant full of yummy food options.

4. Eating healthily on the road to and from locations is never easy, as there are few healthy options and plenty of tempting bad ones.

5. I am an emotional eater, and being in New York always makes me emotional for a ton of reasons, not the least of which is missing my father (and the 3rd anniversary of his passing just happened to be this weekend).

So there you have it. I ate pretty badly, and didn't exercise. And yes, I know these excuses are just that - excuses. But, permanently changing how I eat is a process, and believe it or not I still did way better this trip than I have on past trips.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 20

NO SLEEP MAKE KATY CRAZY

Skipped some veggies today. Just wasn't feeling it.

*

Weight: 154.8

Calories consumed: 1061

Glasses of water consumed: 3

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 19

I haven't been sleeping very well lately, and last night was a prime example of crappy, crappy sleep. Therefore, I found myself very unenergetic and unmotivated today - especially when it came to exercise. But, because I'm awesome, I pushed myself to exercise anyways. :) I'm glad I did, not only because I feel better and burned calories, but because I proved to myself that I could get off my ass and work out even on an off day.

*

Weight: 154.6

Calories consumed: 1204

Glasses of water consumed: 6

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics and 10 minutes walking

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 18 - Plateau DEFEATED

Whether it was the extra exercise, or the switching of the meals, or some combination thereof...the weight loss plateau has been defeated! Woohoooo! :) 2 lb. drop from yesterday! I feel great! Soo close to comfy weight. Onwards!

*

Weight: 153.6!!!

Calories consumed: 1122

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics and 15 minutes walking

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 17

I was kinda hoping that the Cheat Day would lead to a break in my weight loss plateau, but not so much. Blarghy. I've been around the same weight for about 5 days now, and although I may be seeing/imagining some changes around my midsection from exercise, it's driving me bonkers that the scale isn't moving.

I went to Nutrisystem's website to see if they had any ideas. They suggested eating less dairy and more protein for the dairy/protein choices, in addition to switching the lunch and dinner meals, for a few days. And of course, increasing exercise. So I'm gonna switch some things around and see what happens. Wish me luck! I want 150 lbs. by the end of the month - I can do this!

*

Weight: 155.6

Calories consumed: 1093

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Real exercise: 30 minutes medium impact aerobics

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 16

Today was back to the daily Nutrisystem grind. Lo and behold, because I cheated on the diet yesterday, I felt no real cravings today. Woohoo! It worked! Thank goodness, because yesterday's food obsession was not a good thing. Kinda crazy. And, on a bright note, the scale did not move much at all, so no negative effects of the Cheat Day. Yay!

*

Weight: 155.8

Calories consumed: 1093

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics and 10 minutes ab work.

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 15 - CHEAT DAY!!

So I'm changing how I blog about this. I don't think I need to blog every little thing I eat anymore. Especially since by the time I do that, I don't feel like writing anything else, which makes for a very boring blog. I'm still gonna keep a detailed food journal for myself, just not here. So the new layout will look like this each day instead.

All day today I was obsessed with food. It wasn't supposed to be a Cheat Day - I wanted to hold out until later in the week when I knew I'd see friends and want to eat yummy foods with them. But I just could not stop thinking about food! It was constantly on my mind to the point where I was growing increasingly unhappy and grumpy. I took that as a sign that a Cheat Day was totally necessary, and as it had been about a week since my last one, I feel like it made sense.

I ate healthily for breakfast and lunch, but totally splurged on dinner and dessert. However, I did note that my "splurge" was still healthier than was an average pre-diet meal. So that definitely says something.

*

Weight: 155.6

Calories consumed: Who knows, it was a Cheat Day!!

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics.

*

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 14

Weight: 155.8

Calories consumed: 1246

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Breakfast:
NS Cluster Crunch Cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk
1 hardboiled egg
2 tbsp. raisins

Lunch:
NS Cheesy HomeStyle Potatoes (awesome!)
Romaine lettuce and carrots with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
2 slice low sodium, low fat ham

Dinner:
NS Italian Herb Flatbread Pizza (good, but small)
1/2 cup tomato juice
Carrots with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
2 tbsp. raisins
10 peanuts

Dessert:
NS Nutrichocolates (soooo yummy!! delicious!!)

Real exercise: 20 minutes medium impact aerobics.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 13

Weight: 155.6 (back to pre shark week weight)

Calories consumed: 1226

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Breakfast:
NS Double Chocolate Muffin
1 nonfat yogurt
3 dried apricots

Lunch:
NS Pasta with Beef (ehhh, not great)
Romaine lettuce with carrots and 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
14 slices turkey pepperoni

Dinner:
NS Homestyle Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy (delicious!!!)
1 cup broccoli and 1 cup carrots with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
3 prunes
10 peanuts

Dessert:
NS Fudge Brownie (kinda like a flat version of the NS Chocolate Cake, same funny aftertaste)

Late Night Snack: (not the best idea ever, but I was just so friggin hungry I couldn't help myself...well, I suppose I could have, but whatever I indulged :) )
1 hardboiled egg

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics and 10 minutes abs.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 12

Weight: 156.4

Calories consumed: 1135

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Breakfast:
NS Nutrifrosted Crunch Cereal with 1/2 cup fat free milk
2 slices low sodium, low fat turkey
2 tbsp. raisins

Lunch:
NS Fettuccini Alfredo (ehhh, not bad, but not great either)
Romaine lettuce with carrots and 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
2 slices low sodium, low fat turkey

Dinner:
NS Cheese Ravioli with Basil Tomato Sauce (blech, had mushrooms that made the sauce and ravioli taste really weird)
1 cup broccoli and 1 cup carrots with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
3 prunes
10 peanuts

Dessert:
NS Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pudding (ehh, funny aftertaste)

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Weight Loss Progress So Far

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 11

Weight: 156.8

Calories consumed: 1069

Glasses of water consumed: 3

Breakfast:
NS Blueberry Muffin
1 nonfat yogurt
1/2 a banana

Lunch:
NS Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing with Diced Chicken
Romaine lettuce with carrots and 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
String cheese

Dinner:
NS Rotini with Meatballs and Tomato Sauce (not bad, kinda Chef Boyardee)
2 cups tomato juice
3 dried apricots
10 peanuts

Dessert:
NS Thin Mint Crisp Bar (delicious!!!)

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics. 

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 10

Weight: 157.6

Calories consumed: 1074

Glasses of water consumed: 5

Breakfast:
NS NutriCinnamon Squares Cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk
2 slices low fat, low sodium ham
2 tbsp. raisins

Lunch:
NS Tuna Salad
2 cups tomato juice
String cheese
Whole wheat English muffin

Dinner:
NS Flame Broiled Beef Patty (tasted like the hamburgers I had in elementary school - not bad, but not great either)
2 cups raw broccoli with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
3 prunes
10 peanuts
Whole wheat English muffin

Dessert:
NS Chocolate Cake (blah, and a little weird tasting)

Real exercise: 20 minutes low impact aerobics.  My workout DVDs finally came today!

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 9 - Cheat Day!!

The best thing about today?  It's cheat day!  That means that for dinner, I am going to eat whatever the hell I want and love every second of it with no regard for calories.  Woohoo!  To that end, I'm hitting up the Olive Garden tonite.  Nom nom nom!!!  I know the Nutrisystem diet doesn't call for cheat days, but it's something I've decided to do for myself.  I think I will go completely bonkers and end up binging and ruining the diet if I don't actually schedule in cheats for myself.  So, once a week, cheat day it is!  Oh glorious, glorious cheat day.

Weight: 157.8 (at first I was like OMGWTF, but then I remembered it's shark week, so that means bloating (for those of you who don't know what shark week is, let's just say it comes once a month for the ladies))

Calories consumed: Who knows!  :)

Glasses of water consumed: 3.5

Breakfast:
NS Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar (pretty good)
2 slices low fat, low sodium ham
1/2 a banana

Lunch:
NS Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing with Diced Chicken (the dressing was the delicious, the chicken had a slightly weird texture, but tasted fine)
Romaine lettuce
1/2 cup tomato juice
1 hardboiled egg

Dinner: Olive Garden!!
Salad
Breadstick
Lasagna Fritta
Four Cheese Pastachettis with Grilled Sausage

Dessert: None.  I was too full from dinner.  Good for me for not overindulging!

Real exercise: None.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 8

Weight: 155.6 (not surprising considering my low caloric intake yesterday)

Calories consumed: 1230

Glasses of water consumed:  6

Breakfast:
NS NutriFrosted Crunch Cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk
1 fat free yogurt
2 tbsp. raisins

Lunch:
NS Three Cheese Pasta with Chicken (a little soupy, but the taste was very good)
1 cup raw carrots with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
1/2 cup tomato juice
2 slices low fat, low sodium ham

Dinner:
NS Chili with Beans (delicious!)
Romaine lettuce with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
1 cup raw broccoli with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
3 prunes
10 peanuts

Dessert:
NS Double Chocolate Almond Cookie (delicious!)

Real exercise: None.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 7

So today was all over the place.  I ended up spending the day out with a friend, and then going back to their house.  And since I was running late when I left to go out, I didn't have time to pack anything other than a lunch bar and a dinner, which I ended up eating together for dinner.  So no lunch, no groceries to supplement, and no real cooking since my friend's kitchen is being remodeled.  Therefore, I ate far fewer calories than usual and was very, very hungry at night and snacked a hardboiled egg at like 2am.

Weight: 156.8

Calories consumed: 864

Glasses of water consumed: 3

Breakfast:
NS Double Chocolate Muffin (texture was a bit weird, but the taste was pretty yummy)
2 slices low fat, low sodium ham
3 prunes

Dinner:
NS Chicken Pasta Parmesan (decent, nothing special, would order again)
NS Chocolate Peanut Butter Lunch Bar (very yummy!)
Handful of low fat potato chips

Late Night Snack:
1 hardboiled egg

Real exercise: None.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 6

Weight: 156.4

Calories consumed: 1089

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Breakfast:
NS Sweetened O's with 1/2 cup fat free milk (Cheerios knockoff, was just ehhh)
1 hardboiled egg
1/2 a banana

Lunch:
NS Turkey Hot Dog (had one bite, nearly puked - inedible and thoroughly gross)
NS Chocolate Raspberry Bar
Romaine lettuce with carrots and 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
1 slice low fat, low sodium turkey

Dinner:
NS Thick Crust Pizza (pretty decent, crust was a little cardboardy, but otherwise taste was good)
2 cups tomato juice
3 prunes
1 tsp. peanut butter

Dessert:
NS Chocolate Crunch Bar (knockoff Nestle Crunch Bar that was pretty good actually)

Real exercise: Does watching Fast Five count? Hehe.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 5

Weight: 156.4!!  Yay!!  (5.4 lbs. down since first weigh-in Monday morning)

Calories consumed: 1107

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5 so far

Breakfast:
NS Chocolate Chip Scone (tasted okay, but consistency was blech)
1 hardboiled egg
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

Lunch:
NS Chocolate Raspberry Bar (omg sooo yummy)
Romaine lettuce with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
1/2 cup tomato juice
2 slices low fat, low sodium turkey

Dinner:
NS Lasagan with Meat Sauce (good, but I think I wasn't as much in the mood for it as I thought I was)
1 cup tomato juice
2 tbsp. raisins
5 cashews

Dessert:
NS Chocolate Rainbow Delights (M&M knockoffs that were pretty good, more in the bag than I thought)

Real exercise: Walked for 20 minutes

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem - Day 4

I never actually discussed my weight loss goals.  First goal is 150 lbs.  That's kind of my comfort weight.  I look good at that weight and feel good at that weight.  Plus, it's a healthy weight for me.  So, once I hit that, I'll discuss my second and final weight goal.  Until then, I want to stay focused on 150 lbs., that way I don't get overwhelmed or psych myself out.

I think every week I'm going to post a graph detailing my weight loss thus far.  We shall see.

Weight: 157.6 (it's disheartening to see the scale move up, but I know slight weight fluctuations are totally normal)

Calories consumed: 1270 (a little higher with the added snack, wonder how that'll effect tomorrow's weigh-in)

Glasses of water consumed: 6

Breakfast:
NS Cluster Crunch Cereal with fat free milk (boring cereal is boring)
1 light, nonfat yogurt
1/2 a banana

Lunch:
NS Fudge Graham Lunch Bar (really good, if a little sweet)
Romaine lettuce with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
1/2 cup tomato juice
14 slices turkey pepperoni

Afternoon Snack: (I totally needed this today!)
Lowfat string cheese
3 prunes

Dinner:
NS BBQ Sauce over Beef, Beans and Rice (blech!!  the sauce was gross - edible, but way gross)
Romaine lettuce with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
1/2 cup tomato juice
3 dried apricots
5 cashews

Dessert:
NS Chocolate Chip Cookie (yum!)

Real exercise: None.

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

21

So, I told me dear friend Kate here to go out and get the new Adele cd 21 - but now i telling everyone (ya know, all 6 of you) to get it.  Here are a few of my fav. lyrics from her new cd.

"I set fire to rain, watched it pour as i touched your face, Well, it burned while i cried 'cause i heard it screaming out your name...."

"Next time ill be braver, ill be my own savior, when the thunder calls for me, Next time ill be braver, ill be my own savior, Standing on my own two feet..."

"I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, but i couldnt stay away, i couldnt fight it, I hoped youd see my face and that youd be reminded that for me it isnt over...."

"sometimes i wake up by the door, that heart you caught must be waiting for you..."

"Didn't i give it all?  Tried my best, gave you everything i had, everything and no less, Didnt i do it right? Did i let you down?...But go on and take it, take it all with you, Dont look back at this crumbling fool, just take it all, with my love..."


and so on and so on....how i love this cd - her voice, the music - there are days it keeps me going :)
so if you feel inclined - pick it up, give it a listen - i dare you not to find at least one song that speaks to you...

Nutrisystem - Day 3

So I've decided to eliminate the afternoon snack entirely unless I become ravenously hungry in the afternoons.  Also, I forgot to mention that I am attempting to not eat after 8pm.  Unfortunately, I am a total late night snacker, so this is definitely difficult for me.  But, I am already seeing results on this diet, so I really can't complain and am having my efforts reinforced.  So yay!  :)

So Day 3 is giving me some issues so far.  Even though I am not at all hungry, I am craving snacks like crazy.  I even dreamt about snacking on potato chips earlier when I fell asleep.  Lame!  I must be strong!!!

Weight: 157!

Calories consumed: 1120

Glasses of water consumed: 7

Breakfast:
NS NutriCinnamon Squares Cereal with fat free milk (I really liked this cereal, very cinnamon-y)
1 light, nonfat yogurt
2 tbsp. raisins

Lunch:
NS Cheese Tortellini (decent, but a little tangy for my taste)
2 slices low fat, low sodium turkey
Romaine lettuce with carrots, celery, onions and 2 tbsp. fat free dressing

Dinner:
NS Buffalo Chicken Wrap (beared no resemblance to buffalo chicken, but tasted okay)
Romaine lettuce with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
1/2 cup tomato juice
3 prunes
5 cashews

Dessert:
NS Butter Flavored Popcorn (delicious, and the bag was huge)

Real exercise: None. (I changed my Amazon.com order around so that my exercise DVDs would arrive sooner - I wanna start exercising already!)

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem: Day 2

And so begins Day 2.  Things I've noticed on the diet in one day:

A) The meals are really filling, and I am never hungry. 
B) I am eating WAY more veggies than I normally do, which is probably helping to fill me up.
C) The NS meals so far are better tasting than anticipated, and I'm digging the ease of having ready-made meals when I want them.
D) I don't think I'm going to be eating that afternoon snack very often, since I tend to feel very full after meals.  But we shall see.

Weight: 158.4 (3.4 lbs. down - guessing most of that was Easter binging and water weight)

Calories consumed: 1024

Glasses of water consumed: 6.5

Breakfast:
NS NutriFrosted Crunch Cereal with 1/2 cup of skim milk (tasted like cereal, nothing special)
1 light, nonfat yogurt
1/2 a banana

Lunch:
NS Tuna Salad with half a wheat bagel (tuna salad was okay, just eh)
1 oz. low fat, low sodium tukey meat
Romaine lettuce with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
1 cup raw carrots

Snack:
Skipped - Not hungry (I think I'm going to leave this snack out unless I become ravenous during the day)

Dinner:
NS Penne Pasta and Chicken in Alfredo Sauce (ehhh, not the greatest, but okay)
3 dried apricots
Romaine lettuce and carrots with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
5 cashews

Dessert:
NS Peppermint Cookie Patty (delicious!!)

Real exercise:
None

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Nutrisystem: An Experiment in 28 Days - Day 1

And so it begins.  It's the same old post I've made before.  Blah blah blah I've gotten too tubby.  Blah blah time for a change.  Yadda yadda I mean it this time. 

In an effort to really break my bad habits and kickstart what will hopefully be a real change, I've broken down and decided to give this Nutrisystem thing a shot.  I'm also cancelling my gym membership (seriously, it's a waste of money as I never go) and purchasing a workout DVD to give exercising at home a shot.  And lastly, I'm gonna blog about it here.  Every day for 28 days.  Even if just to list my weight and food/calories intake for the day.  I have a Nutrisystem app for my phone, but I feel like putting it out here will make it more "real" and more difficult for me to cheat on the diet.

Also, maybe somewhere out there someone will stumble across this blog who is curious about Nutrisystem.  Biggest thing I learned about the diet is that you need to supplement the provided meals with things from the supermarket.  Also, it's best to space meals out as evenly as possible throughout the day.  A basic breakdown of a typical day for me will look something like this.

Weight: Tubby

Calories consumed:

Glasses of water consumed: As close to 8 as possible

Breakfast:
NS (Nutrisystem) Breakfast Entree
Dairy or Protein
Fruit

Lunch:
NS Lunch Entree
Dairy or Protein
Veggie
Veggie

Snack:
Dairy or Protein
Fruit

Dinner:
NS Dinner Entree
Fruit or Veggie
Veggie
Veggie
Fat

Dessert:
NS Dessert Entree

Real exercise:

***

So, here goes Day 1.

Weight: 161.8

Calories consumed: 1133

Glasses of water consumed: 4.5

Breakfast:
NS Blueberry Muffin (actually not bad tasting at all, maybe a little sweet)
Glass of skim milk
1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce

Lunch:
NS Red Beans and Rice with Sausage (good, but a little smokey and spicy for my tastes)
Romaine lettuce and carrots with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
String cheese

Snack:
Skipped - I was not at all hungry

Dinner:
NS Macaroni and Cheese with Beef (delicious!!)
Romaine lettuce and carrots with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing
3 dried apricots
5 cashews

Dessert:
NS Carrot Cake (yum!)

Real exercise:
None

~Katy (aka Dorkopotamus)

Poster boy for anti-drug PSA

This is MY blog - so i can say things like this here....When did Charlie Sheen lose    his     mind?!?!   Seriously?  Bat **** crazy.  One interview after another..."I am on a drug - it's Charlie Sheen!  And its not available, cuz if you try it once you'll die..." I bet his lawyer is LOVING him right now?

I guess I'm picking on the dude, which isn't nice or fair given he is clearly off his rocker.

That is all.

I've got nothing.

A few random things
I've been spring cleaning my house for about 2 weeks now (spring cleaning = scouring) and then, as i was walking down the stairs today, a HUGE cobweb dangling about a foot from the ceiling collided with my head.  I went bat (bleepin) crazy.

I know i say this a lot, but time is moving So very fast.  I was looking at pictures of my baby-doll today, who will be turning 6 in two months...6!!!  In those pictures he was between new and 15mos. old.  What a treasure and a joy he was - what a happy time in my life.  Littlest baby will be 2 in a month.  Holy crap - there is no making things slow down - there aren't enough pictures or videos (though thank Goodness for them - my memory is so scattered, i can live vicariously through my own pictures).

I am only one year away from being fat as many years as I've been thin...which mean I will go from being a person who is thin but sometimes heavy - to a heavy person who is occasionally thin.  Boo to this.  And though I've eaten brownies, ice cream, and hotdogs in the last three days, I seriously need to come up with a new plan.  (Also, hotdogs with sauerkraut, friend onions and mustard is my new fav.)

I planted seeds for my veggie and flower garden - and bought a few house plants (my first ever).  I have yet to kill any, though a few are already a bit peaked, i have to say i LOVE having houseplants.  It had never occurred to me to bring the garden i always wanted to me in pots. :)

One of the hardest parts about being a parent (and notice i say, one) is having to be responsible ALL THE TIME.  When you screw up, it not only screws you but your entire family as well.  That - sucks.

I'm nauseous, headachey, and have chest pains...see, I told you, I need a new plan.  

Debbie Downer? More like, Kicking-Ass Kim - or something less lame.

That's it.  I've been wallowing unknowingly in some sort of one-woman pity party for too long - and I'm done.  It started, I believe, sometime this fall when i had a month of poor health and my Gram died during the same time.  I thought I had a kind of woe is me moment - but i think it was just the beginning of my current mindset.  I've been uncomfortable in my own skin - feeling stuck in a rut, and instead of finding solutions, I focus on what i cant do/accomplish or achieve in my limited circumstance.  It's done - no more I cant do this because i don't have that.  From now on its looking at the small things i can do in light of what I do have.  Two hands and an able body can get you farther than you think.  And the bullshit of taking out my depressed mood on those around me stops today as well!  It is not my husband or my children's fault I haven't found ways to move forward (They are my support/motivation/inspiration - so what the F*ck is my deal/problem?)  So, my larger goals are on hold for a while - there are still small steps I can manage to improve my happiness (for some reason, I've recently linked my happiness to who/what I can become - midwife/nurse/doula/artist/writer/mother extraordinaire...)

So, I'm here on this good green earth and there is no more waiting for tomorrow - because life is happening now and I'm done watching it fly by me.

Bucket List

1. Become a Midwife
2. Become a Doula
3. Learn how to play guitar
4. Wear a bikini
5. Swim in the largest swimming pool (San Alfonso del Mar in Chile)
6. Scuba dive with sharks
7. Travel to Italy
8. Travel to Scotland
9. Knit
10. Honeymoon in Hawaii
11. Buy car of my choice with own money.  (Pay cash).
12. Buy my parents house so they can always be in the home they love.
13. Visit Hagia Sophia
14. Climb glacier in New Zealand
15. Have pool in backyard.
16. Have library in home.
17. Learn to ride motorcycle.
18. Write novel.
19. Snowboard.
20. Practice nursing outside U.S.
21. Take children to N.Y.C. at Christmastime.
22. Buy father Corvette.
23. Live near brother.
24. Compete in triathlon
25. Attend a taping of The Late Late Show (and perhaps get Craig Ferguson to sign...an autograph).

On Writing

I wrote today.  For the first time in a long while.  I wrote poetry, and didn't think.  The words just came, and I didn't second-guess them.  And when I was finished, I had 13 lines that surprised me.  I can blame the music I was listening to, or my mood, or whatever, but really, it was just time to write again. 

I haven't expressed myself through writing like that in years.  Even my most recent writings have been with someone else reading them in mind, whereas this was just for me.  No audience allowed. 

Man, did that feel good.

~Dorkopotamus (aka Katy)

Losing It (Weight, That Is)

So I've got two weeks.  Two whole weeks until I leave for a fabulous long weekend in Las Vegas to celebrate my (eep!) 30th birthday.  And in that two weeks, I plan to lose between 5 (yay) and 10 (whoopie!) pounds.  Even with my half-assed dieting of late, I've gotten back to my starting point of pre-Colorado weight - 150lbs.  Not bad, but not where I want to be, either.

My thinnest "adult" weight was in senior year of high school - 135 lbs.  Now, to be fair, I wasn't finished, um how do you say, "filling out" at that point.  My breasts have grown in leaps and bounds since then, and as I've approached my 30s my weight has been redistributing itself (in pleasant ways, though, I must say).  So I think my ultimate goal of 140 lbs. is reasonable.  I can totally do this.  Course, I've been saying that for years, but this time I'm serious.  Course, I've been saying THAT for years as well, haha.

I have a teeny bikini I'd like to be able to confidently wear in Vegas, and two HOT dresses I want to look fabulous in!  So, today it begins in earnest.  Getting my ass to the gym tonight with a great friend of mine who's been egging me on to start exercising again for weeks.  Restarting the whole South Beach thing since it's worked so well for me in the past.  Hopefully journaling here about it will also help.

No more living in my head about this, and no more excuses. 

~Dorkopotamus (aka Katy)

A real yawn - but you know, i a good way.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/MM00623







Continuing with the "My Favorite Things" theme...this is a wonderful video - found at the Mayo Clinic website regarding meditation and relaxation.  I went there after a particularly trying time in my life - when i found nothing else was working to help ease the anxiety and stress that was proving to swallow me whole....it was during this desperate time I searched meditation on the web and stumbled across the MC website.  They talked quite a bit about the benefits of meditation - then went further to offer several videos and links on ways to bring meditation and relaxation into a daily routine.  Cool, Im all about making things easy and accessible in a busy life.   I love this video - whenever I use it I walk away feeling calmer :)  And while this might be the most boring post ever written (its takes too much effort to be wordy and creative when your freakin' sick) dont let that deter you from checking out the website.

It's called Guggle-Muggle (and no its not a spell from Harry Potter)...

So, this is actually a thing.  When i was pregnant and couldn't take cough syrup or cold medication, my mother would make me a batch of Guggle-Muggle - a cure for the cold she swore by my entire life - to help me find some relief.  I  thought this was some quaint boozy drink she picked up at college that she held onto fondly...but NO, it is real!  My household is sick today, and in lieu of medication, I thought I would whip up a batch of the old remedy, so i Googled it to find the recipe and sure enough, it is a real drink.  As a matter of fact, it is an old Jewish remedy that consists of warmed milk  and honey, usually with a raw egg yolk mixed in at the end topped off with a shot of brandy OR a bunch of citrus fruits (cooked/strained) and honey with a shot of brandy/whiskey to finish it.  My mother always made the latter (one grapefruit or apple, one orange,and one lemon cut and thrown in a pot with about 1-2 cups water - cooked down, pumelled then strained into a cup - add honey generously - then finish with shot of booze).  Seriously, this stuff has always worked for me.  Call it psychosomatic - call it and old wives tale - maybe its just the comfort a hot alcoholic drink can bring -  but it has always brought me some relief.  I invite you to try this old family recipe (that i was excited to learn today goes back a few many years) and see if it brings you the same comfort it always does me.

If I were Oprah, this would be one of my Favorite things...

Ok, quick plug here - Soapsbyshannon.com
These are probably the nicest all around soaps I've ever used (true story people).  Here are a few reasons why:
1.  Leaves my skin looking clean and soft - not clogged, cakey or oily - doesn't cause breakouts.
2.  Strong enough to clean everything else.
3.  (best part) Leaves you smelling gently and wonderfully of soap, which is awesome if you're not a perfume kinda gal, but are into smelling feminine and soft.
4. (also) All natural ingredients!!!
5. (2nd best part) So affordable.

So that's it my friends, go out and buy some - for you, for your lady (or man), for your girlfriends!!!  You can't go wrong!!!  You will Love this soap!

On the new picture

I've sat on hilltop, looking over the mountains - watching the clouds roll in and over me - I've closed my eyes and imagined I were one of those trees hanging off the cliff - suspended in heaven, yet deeply rooted to my spot. The world changes, the world moves, but how content I would be to sit there always; a witness to eternity, connected to earth. 

Back again cuz i can, or, What have you done for you lately?

Here's the thing guys and gals - I keep going back and forth on this blogging thing - I keep asking myself, who really cares about the minutia of my life? or really gives a crap about my opinion?  I'm just a boring housewife, with a totally ordinary life - and recently I was even put off by how much a friend shared in their blog about my life...I'm actually a rather private person - why would I put all my dirty laundry out there for the world to see/read?  Further more, I'm a habitual pleaser - I try so hard not to offend or upset people, it's a pastime!
But here's the thing....I LOVE to write.  Luuuv it!  And as a boring housewife, there isn't much opportunity for me in this venue, other than a little site that's sort of a hobby at times to put a thought or two into words and out there for someone to see (even if its no more than myself and a friend).  So, here I am, writing again - and even feeling sorry that I've thought so little of this particular outlet that I've put it off for so long. 
So, that's it.  If you happen to glance this way - cool, thanks - and anway, I'm just gonna keep writing when the mood strikes - after all, blogs are self indulgent aren't they, and this is kinda about me.