OK, I’ll say it: I’m trying to lose weight. I’m following a minor exercise program that should burn some calories and keep me active at some point on at least 6 days of the week. “At some point”- doesn’t that sound ambitious? I’m not on the couch the rest of the day (well… not ALL of it), but I need at least a little bit of focused exercise in there. Cardio 3 days, strength training 3 days.
I’m also keeping track of what I’m eating. I’m using SparkPeople.com to track both. I’m not following their meal plans (too much to buy with groceries, and the boys wouldn’t go for the suggested meals), but I am entering everything I eat, and I’m trying to stay within the calorie/protein/fat/carb recommendations they’ve set for me. Eating better hasn’t been easy so far. I made “crustless quiche” last night that tasted pretty good to me, but all three of the boys gagged on the spinach. Hey, it’s not my favourite food, either, but it’s good for you. I’m hoping that if the little guys will at least try stuff enough times, they’ll learn to like it- or at least tolerate it. The big one… well, I’ve asked him to at least set a good example for the little ones and try three bites of stuff he doesn’t like. I can’t really complain- most of the time he eats whatever I cook and he’s happy with it, even it it’s bit burned. You know, as long as there’s no broccoli or spinach involved. ‘Cause that’s GROSS.
My in-laws sent me a couple of gift certificates for my birthday, for Wal-Mart and Reitman’s. The Reitman’s one will be staying in my wallet until I’ve actually lost some weight and need new clothes for the summer, but I used the Wal-Mart one yesterday. It was a tough decision- I was tempted to buy a baseball glove so I could join in playing catch out in the yard (Simon has decided that baseball is VERY cool, and he claims he’s “a ‘Ankee!”), but I decided I’d get a lot more use out of a pilates starter set- DVD, exercise ball and resistance band. I actually didn’t need the video, though I’ll probably use it; I just wanted the other stuff so I could do more of the videos on SparkPeople. I’ve done some of the 10-minute cardio videos already (Bootcamp day 1; cardio kickbox for beginners, that kind of stuff), but you need simple equipment for a lot of them. So there you go. That’s my present. I expect that the boys will enjoy the ball at least as much as I do- Ike thinks the ones in the physio area at my chiropractor’s office make GREAT drums. He’s not wrong, you know.
15 pounds by the end of June. That’s the goal. That, and I’m hoping to get more energy, but that’s not happening so far- I’ve been completely exhausted the last 2 weeks, feeling like I’ve been drugged a lot of the time. I’d also like to improve my health; I’ve decided that one of my goals in life is to either live to be old or (if that’s not possible) to be an organ donor. I figure being healthy will increase my chances of either.
On an only-slightly-unrelated note, the stuff I bought yesterday is all pink- the same pink as everything else that supports breast cancer research. It’s a nice colour, but the pump for the ball looks like either a really fancy cake-decorating tool or a weird sex toy. Or possibly a giant nasal aspirator for the Easter bunny. Some things were not meant to be made in pastel colours.
Oh, and if you’re on SparkPeople.com, my user name is MrsEmbers. 
