The One Where Autumn Runs Out of the Bathroom...

We went out to dinner with some friends last night.  While we were waiting for a table (at the wrong restaurant, mind you), I went to change Autumn.  There was a changing table in the handicap stall, so I changed her and decided to take care of my own "things" while I was in there.... no need to make another trip.  So I'm, um, sitting there, and Autumn is touching everything.  Because you know, she's a toddler, and to a toddler, even the sanitary napkins basket is super exciting.  I'm freaking out because all I can think of is germs.  But she gets bored of the sanitary napking basket and moves on to trying to unlock the door.  She's a smart kid, so in about 1.5 seconds, she's figured out how to open the door. 

This has all taken place in about 5 seconds. In 5 seconds, Autumn has managed to touch every disgusting spot in the stall, and has also figured out how to unlock the door.  Her 5-second adventure has already bored her.  And I guess she decided she was totally bored with the stall, so she decides to leave.  She crawls underneath the stall door and out of the bathroom while I'm sitting there.  I'm not done. 

So, I pull up my pants in about a millionth of a second, because Autumn is already long gone.  I leave all of our things in the stall and chase after her.  Once I finally get a hold of her, I grab her and drop her on Joel's lap.  He obviously knew, from my expression, that something went horribly wrong - but I don't have time to explain.  This is still an emergency and I have to get back to the bathroom.

With all that being said and shared, I do not understand why public bathrooms don't include the fold-down seat with a 5-point harness for situations such as these.  Mom's are not magicians.  Toddlers are pretty much uncontrollable.  And a seat that we can strap them in so that they don't touch every unthinkable space in a bathroom and then leave the bathroom, would be great.  As a mom, I just want 2 minutes of worry-free time in the bathroom.  2 minutes.  That's all I'm asking for.  So public restroom owners, please do all of us moms a favor and give us a seat for the kids!  It's a need, not a want.  I promise.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 7

I've been sick.  And sick equals zero motivation to get to the gym.  I tried, several times this week, to get up before every one else in the house and get to the gym, but every time my alarm went off, I was beyond-exhausted and opted to stay in bed.  But I did make it today - my first day in a week working out - and I thought I was going to die every time I saw another minute tick off on the gym equipment.

Since I wasn't getting to the gym, I did try to keep track of what I was eating each day and balance things out with all the sweets that were around.  So, with somewhat balanced eating and one workout this past week, I lost 1.2 pounds.  And considering my record the last few weeks, I'm happy to take the 1.2 pounds!

My one measly workout this week:

Wednesday -

45 minutes of cardio, including the elliptical trainer and stationary bike

Wednesday Weigh-In: Weeks 5 & 6

Yes.  I know.  It's been two weeks since my last weigh-in post.  For good reason, too.  See, I gained 2 pounds last week and was in no mood at the time to share it with you all.  I needed some quiet time to reflect and mourn.

I've been a pretty good girl - still going to the gym regularly, and up until last week, I was keeping a food journal.  I stopped the food journal because I feel I have a much better idea of what the calorie value of foods that I eat regularly are and that my food journal was keeping me way too focused on food... to the point of thinking about not a whole lot except for food.

The very, very bad news is that I am up 2.2 pounds in the last two weeks.  I'm super disappointed, frustrated and mad - but I'm not giving up on what I believe is a healthy, steady way to lose weight.  Although I'm gaining weight.  So perhaps I have no idea what I'm talking about.

One things that I'm considering may be the culprit is my thyroid.  Nine years ago, I had half of my thyroid removed because of a golf-size nodule that was getting large and at a fast rate.  I get my thyroid levels tested regularly and have always had perfectly good levels - even through two pregnancies.  I'm due for another blood test next month, so we'll see if my thyroid may have anything to do with my current situation.

Enough of that.... on to my workouts..

Week 5:

Friday -

60 minutes of cardio including the Elliptical, Arc Trainer and the Stationary Bike

Monday -

60 minutes of cardio including the treadmill, Arc Trainer and the Stationary Bike

This past week:

Friday -

60 minutes of cardio including the Elliptical, Arc Trainer and the Stationary Bike

Saturday -

60 minutes of cardio including the Elliptical, Stair-Master and the Stationary Bike

Monday -

50 minutes of cardio including the Elliptical and Arc Trainer

Wednesday -

40 minutes of cardio including the Arc Trainer and Elliptical

An End in Iraq

I knew the end was coming soon to our time in Iraq, but as I was reading the news this morning, it shocked me to know that our troops were done with our mission there.  I don't know about you, but I've had mixed emotions today about it - happy to be out, anxious of what may happen in the future and hopeful that they sacrifices made there will be known and remembered.

I never served there.  I never touched the soil or looked into a face of an Iraqi.  But Joel did.  And because of him, I feel somewhat invested in Iraq. 

I hope that as our troops come home, that we would remember their sacrifice to a country that is not theirs and that we would continue to be prayerful for the people of Iraq.

Well done, USA.  And welcome home.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 4

Boo.  Hiss.  This is getting old.  Guess what?  I didn't lose an ounce this week.

Now I have gotten a lot of comments from people like muscle weighs more than fat and it's more about how I feel and how my clothes fit rather than what the scale says.  And they are right and it's been good for me to keep that in perspective.  Honestly, I can totally tell a difference in how my clothes fit.  My muffin top is now a mini-muffin top so my pants fit a lot better around the waste.  My arms are totally toned-up - they have always been my easiest body part to tone.  My legs are firmer and I have a lot more definition in my calves than I've probably ever had.  So, with all of that said - I know my body is in better shape, even without much weight lost this month.  And most of all, in less than a month, I've doubled the amount of cardio that I can do in one session.

Another thing I'm considering are the types of foods that I'm eating.  I'm using an app on my phone to record my calories-in and calories-out.  The app also gives me a report about how much fat, sodium, cholesterol, carbs and vitamins I'm getting from my food.  It also gives me a breakdown of what percentage of my foods come from carbs, fat and protein.  My percentage of protein is pretty low in comparison to my carbs, so I'm working to balance that out with lean protein.

My workouts:

Friday -

70 minutes of cardio including the stationary bike and elliptical

30 minutes of strength training

Monday -

55 minutes of cardio including the stationary bike and the ARC trainer

(Note:  the ARC trainer is new for me and probably the most torturous piece of equipment I've ever used.)

20 minutes of strength training

Wednesday -

45 minutes of cardio including the elliptical and stationary bike

10 Things to Smile About: November

1.  My newest niece, Paige!

2.  Watching Gracie as The Little Red Hen in the Kindergarten musical.  She did awesome!

3.  Catching Autumn reading my US Weekly.  Yeah, we're both intellectuals.

4.  Starbuck's Carmel Brulle Lattes.

5.  Lots of great time at the gym with one of my dearest friends.

6.  Nearing completion of my Christmas shopping.

7.  Friend dates.  Karla and I had dinner out at one of our favorite restaurants and then cheered Bella and Edward

on at their wedding.  It was a perfect night.

8.  Eggnog season is here!

9.  Thanksgiving dinner.  It was awesome.

10.  Getting our first real Christmas tree.  Grace helped Joel bring it home for us & Joel's thrilled to finally have a real one this year!