Abs Ouch

So I got out my Transfirmer and did the Jiggle Free Abs routine- 25 minutes. It has been a long time since I did that routine (obviously). I had to rest a few times in the middle of the crunches but I think I did okay. I will do this every other day to make sure my body doesn't get too used to it- plus aren't you supposed to rest a muscle group after working it so it heals and strengthens?
Do you read Jorge Cruz? I love him- he wrote the 8 minutes in the Morning exercise book, and also the 3 hr diet. For now I am following the Weight Watcher's points but Jorge has a point. He talks about the 9" plate. You divide it in half- in the top half you put green vegetables- it can be as much as you want. On the bottom half you divide the plate in half again- in the first 1/4 you put protein and the other quarter you put carbs. You are allowed a healthy fat as well (flax seed oil, etc). Now, obviously this is a don't count what your eating type of plan but don't go overboard- piling your plate 4 inches tall would kind of defeat the purpose. He said there is no restricted foods, just proper portion control. I feel I do better counting my points or calories but I still like his principle message and I try to follow it even on the WW plan because it makes sense.
So, today at Macaroni Grill for lunch I had the Rosemary Grilled Chicken with Roasted potatos. I only ate half of the potatos because I wasn't sure how many points the chicken was until I got home. Turns out the meal of the chicken with roasted vegetables would have been 7 points, but I didn't have the roasted vegetables (did I mention I am a picky eater?). But when I got home I had some spinach to make up for it. I went ahead and counted the whole 7 points because I am not sure how many pints 5 roasted potato wedges would be vs the roasted vegetables. Then Ari and Tamar and I went to Joann's and then to Border's Books. (the first for me, the 2nd for them). Then home and stuck the kids in the bath tub.
Anyways my Abs are going to be sore, and my thighs because there are some squats in that routine. Tomorrow I have to decide what exercise to do- I was considering my Zumba dvd- the basic workout since it has been years since I did that one (again, obviously).

I survived the first day

Well, I survived today- and it wasn't bad at all. Course I had a turkey sandwich for breakfast because it was the fastest protein thing I could come up with as we headed out the door to meet one of my photography clients. But it kept me full until we got home so I had tyson beef fajita strips and low carb tortillas for lunch. Not bad, I vaguely missed the cheese- but since I keep kosher now it was no big loss for me.
I went out shopping with Yael and on my way back we stopped at HEB to buy Totinos, Popsicles, and Ramen Noodles (none of those are mine). I also purchased one of the lean pockets 4 cheese pizzas. Wow, it was really good, and filling which meant I could have Israeli Salad for dinner and top it off with a Skinny Cow low fat Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich. I ended up thinking I might join Weight Watchers because as much as a I love you dear readers- what is it the Nesting Place calls readers- peeps? - I need to be accountable and if that means going to meetings, then that is what I will do. Don't worry- I will still blog here, for my sanity , if nothing else :)
Thanks for checking back

Answerability

Ok, apparently I have a little trouble with will power and responsibility. I know I am overweight and in the past it has been easy for me to decide to diet, and then do it. I cannot seem to gear up the same determination this time. I have started and stopped within a day or two at the first sign of a challenge or what my body is telling me is hunger (or craving). Like I said, before it has always been I decided I would lose the weight and was singleminded on making it happen, but this time... not so much. So I am putting this out there- if I tell someone I am going to do this I am answerable for my promises, I am unable to deny that I need to do this. So here goes:

(Deep Breath)
My current weight: 186
My short term goal: 170
My long term goal: 150
This is me at Thanksgiving. I was thinking I looked okay, until I saw this shot:

Lets take a closer look: (do we have to?)Yup, that is me in my size 16 jeans, with backboobs that are at least a c cup.
I am taking this as a wake-up call. It is time to stop ignoring the obvious.
My instigation are these pictures, this feeling of unhealthiness and unsexiness, and my going from a large shirt to an extra large. My inspiration is knowing I will feel better both about my health and my relationship with people instead of food, getting back to exercise and taking time for me, and last but not least- the inspiration of the Incredible Shrinking Woman- If you haven't heard of her, go to Youtube and look her up. She has lost 200 pounds and is incredible! You go girl!
Now you would think that as someone who dances Israeli Folk Dance and chases four young children that it would be simple to lose weight. But to be honest, I dance hard at dance class and then sit on my butt everyday on the computer, doing homework and sewing, crafting, reading, playing on facebook and reading blogs. I used to go to the gym 4 days a week when I was working. My children would go in the gym daycare and I would do body jam (love and miss you body jam!). Now that I am not working I cannot go to the gym- so you would think I would exercise at home... not so much. There is much to be said for a partner that you meet at the gym- there is some accountability there (thank you Judy). Now I see Judy once a week at Israeli Folk Dance. I miss going for body jam and feeling like I am making an effort toward fitness.
So my audience (real or imagines- mostly imagined I know since I have 10 followers and as far as I know very few hits in the past few months (my fault since I didn't post much)) it is your job to hold me accountable- I am counting on you to give me strength and determination to follow through. I know it won't be fast- I know that I didn't gain it in 1 month and I am not going to lose it in one month-, but I will keep plugging away at a safe and healthy pace. I will update this blog with my progress, as well as other projects I am working on.

Pink Ruffles and Polka Dots

Just thought I would show a beautiful baby with my pink ruffle pants:

What have I been working on?

So you might wonder where I disappeared to after promising I was going to stay current. Hahaha. Have you noticed life rarely happens like you think it will? My photography really took off in November and December of last year. You can view my work at www.teresamaureen.com/blog.

I have been busy playing with things for my photography. Here are a few pics:

The girls started ballet/tap

Big props to Lonestar Dance in Pflugerville, although they are still in the old building they will be moving this coming week (hopefully). The girls had a great time at their first class. I did discover that I will need to bring something to work on, since I will be unable to see the girls during class. Yael came out and told me they did the hokey pokey. When I tried to do the hokey pokey in my living room, she stopped me and said "No, the ballet hokey pokey" apparently I was supposed to point my toes. Who knew? lol.
Thanks Ms Blair for making my daughters first dance lesson so much fun.