WW Wednesday: 20 in 20 - Week 1

Hi there, everyone!
Let's jump right in, shall we?
Today walking in to WW I was pretty sure I didn't have a gain coming at the scale.  I honestly struggled with my eating a bit this week and I didn't get much exercise in, so I didn't think any loss I might have would be big.

I was right.  I was down 0.4 pounds this week.

That's okay, though.
I got up and ate a healthy breakfast and didn't starve myself until noon for an artificially-lower number on the scale.  That was the healthy decision and I made it.  Little steps to a big goal, right?

So, what I learned this week: life will always throw something at you, that's why you can't use it as an excuse.  Some weeks are easier and some weeks are much much harder, but end the end we decide what to do with our bodies. 

Goal for this week: Try some new meal ideas to shake things up a bit. Also, not throw away any fruit or produce because it went bad!  (I'm looking at you, Mr. Butternut Squash.)

So, how was your week?

(20 in 20 participants, please don't feel obligated to share you actual amount lost.  I am only going to share my actual during the challenge.)

Where did the time go?

Hey!  I hope everyone is having a good afternoon.  Sorry I haven't been around much lately but here's a few notes for the bored/grandparents:

BigBoy is loving Kindergarten.  He says it is the "greatest school ever" and has already lost his lunchbox.  I'd say we're in the full swing of things.

BabyCakes is getting over an ear infection and continues to terrorize the villagers, aka, BigBoy, J, Rapunzel, and myself.  Her exuberance for life is rivaled only by her cuteness.  (Two different people told me she looked like Shirley Temple today.  Let me enjoy it before she insists on only wearing basketball shorts and ratty t-shirts everywhere, m'kay?)

Rapunzel escaped her tower  aquarium in the middle of the night but was recaptured using a chocolate chip cookie.  (She's such a girl.)

I'm having another migraine-filled summer while these temps stay in the high-90's.  Like, where-is-a-guillotine-when-you-need-one, bad migraines.  Ah Fall, how I miss thee...

Okay, back to business.

Participation in the 20 in 20 Challenge will remain open for the duration of the event, but please go ahead and jump on the bandwagon if you have leanings toward doing so!

These are the people who've told me they are participating:  (If you know any of them, please encourage them when you see them!)

Cayce D. (Hi!)
Casey B.
Melissa N.
Becky T.
Daddy Bryan P.
Stacy H.
Stacey K.
Ally F.
Alesia M.
Sally P.
Molly O.
Barbara
Jane J.
Ann B.

That's right, there's 14 of us now!
Be sure and check-in in the comments section of tomorrow's WW Wed post and let us know how your week went, what worked well for you, and/or to support other participants!
Spread the word!  People can join at any stage of the challenge.  That's one of the big things that has helped me rid myself of 53 pounds so far -- you can start any time you want.  Why wait until Monday, tomorrow morning, or even your next meal?
Healthy changes can begin any time YOU decide.
If you make less-healthy choices of food or behavior, reflect on the outcome and MOVE ON.  That's all it is -- a choice.  Good or bad,  it doesn't determine who you are as a person or what your future holds for you.

See you all tomorrow!  I'll try to have my post up by noon EST.

20 in 20 Update

Good morning, all!

Nope, I take that exclamation point back. BabyCakes didn't sleep very well last night so I, in turn, didn't sleep very well either.  Usually I can handle it better but this morning notsomuch...

Good morning, all...

I'm thrilled to share that, including me, there are 8 people participating in the 20 in 20 Challenge!  (Ok, THAT I can conjure up an exclamation point for.)

It's not too late to join, and I wanted to mention that this challenge can be more than a weight-loss challenge.
- You could make a fitness plan.  Even if it is as simple as walking 3 times a week.
- Maybe you want to give up an unhealthy habit; take it one day/week at a time and let us know how you are doing.
- Or you can just drop in to the comments section and show some support for those of us working toward a goal.  When it comes to support, I believe you get what you give.

Leave a comment or drop me an email and get started.

It's a new day.  It's a new day!

WW Wednesday: 20 in 20

Today at my weigh-in I was feeling pretty confident I had a loss coming at the scale.  I ate a good amount over the weekend, but I reeled it in this week and even got some exercise in.

So anyway, stepped up to the scale, down a pound ... but I wasn't happy.

You see, I had pretty much decided I was going to try to make "goal" by my birthday in a little over 19 weeks.  My goal number is a number in the healthy weight range for my height.  Ok, ok, actually it's the highest number in that range, but who's keeping score?  It's not like I'm bird-boned or anything.

The issue is that in order to do that, I would need to have 20 (including today) weigh-ins averaging out to 1.4 pounds a week.  A bit ambitious for a gal whose prides herself on taking this weight-loss thing nice and slow, no? 

So, I took the fact that I was immediately a bit disappointed at a one-pound loss as a red flag that the original challenge wasn't quite right.

I'd still love to hit a clear goal, even if it's not my actual WW "goal," by my 30th birthday, though.

So here's what I'm thinking, I'm starting a 20 pounds in 20 weeks challenge.  

Starting today and ending at the December 7th weigh-in.

Is there anyone out there who wants to lose 5, 10, 15, or 20 pounds?  Please join me!  

Check-in in my comments section with your goal and progress every week.  You don't have to share actual numbers, but everyone participating in the challenge will get a prize at the end of the challenge, and there will be a drawing amongst those for one grand prize.  

I only have one rule:  Your goal has to be reasonable.  I recommend 20 pounds or less.  If you lose more, great!  If, not, what did it hurt?

(To my email-only readers: you can email me instead of commenting , if you like.)

Ok now, who's with me?!

Ok, maybe it was creepy after all.

Ok ok, I know I've been MIA lately, but I have good reason.  Well, not really but we're going to pretend I do.

- It's summer (as if the oven you step into when you walk out your door wasn't reminder enough--at least here in the South) but yet BigBoy is in school full-time (and LOVING it, of course), so BabyCakes and I have been having fun being busy bees girls.  

- I also have a kitchen project underway.  

Oh and we finally hung curtains in our bedroom.  And in BigBoy's room (on his closet).  

More pictures.  Soon.  Promise.

For now here's BigBoy enjoying the formerly-cat-resembling-dessert I gave him on his first day of school. 

I promise it looked cute & tasty, not what-the-heck-is-eating-creepy, in real life.

Check back tomorrow for "WW Wednesday."  I have a task I'd like your help with.

Night!

The Girl Next Door

Aw, BabyCakes looks so sweet in that photo, doesn't she?

No wait! That's not BabyCakes!
THIS is BabyCakes (from a similar viewpoint... and a few months ago):

Lil Miss Strawberry is Neighbor Emma (daughter of Melissa). She is 9 months older than BabyCakes and in real life they look a lot alike.

Yesterday Emma, her Mom, and her younger sister Sara babysat BabyCakes and I during BigBoy's first day of school.  :)
We took a long walk around a small lake, played on a playground, and then went to our little downtown and had pizza AND frozen yogurt.  (Yes, I know how blessed we are to be able to do that on a Thursday morning.)
It was fun to do something JUST with BabyCakes who, by the way, had sweet Emma cracking up for several minutes in the pizza place.

Yessir, I told you she has personality.

BigBoy goes to Kindergarten

Today was BigBoy's first day of school.
(Only three other kids were there with him all day, but it was his first day, nonetheless.)

He was, as predicted, super-excited this morning. He wore his backpack around the house for an hour in anticipation of the big event.

Kindergarten!

When we arrived at the school, I took his hand and walked him the long walk to his classroom.
His tiny little hand, still willing and eager to hold mine... it felt more like I was the one being led into the strange, new world.

About 20 feet from the door, in the shadow of his new teacher and her classroom, I knelt down and told BigBoy that his father and I love him and will always be proud of him, and hugged and kissed him.
Then I slowly stood up and took his hand for the remaining steps to our next phase of life.
Very quickly and unceremoniously BigBoy was welcomed and ushered off to new friends and activities. I managed to give him a peck on the cheek before he ran off and never looked back.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.

His teachers sent me packing just as quickly, though, probably in an attempt to prevent the separation anxiety I'm sure some children (and parents) feel in those circumstances.

I left the building and barely made it to the car before the hot tears bubbled out.
I ugly-cried for about 45 seconds, and then drove the strangely quiet drive home.

BigBoy LOVED school, of course.  He told me the same stories three times within an hour of picking him up.
The small child whose struggles with speaking in the past had his doctors questioning deafness, autism, and saying he was in the low-average range for educational development, was now telling me colorful tales of scavenger hunts and playground games.
He still has to work a little harder than others to communicate well, but never has a child been more ready for Kindergarten than BigBoy.

Monday is his first day with all his new classmates.
He's going to learn so much this year.

I think we all are.