2.3 and 37.3

Posted on April 27, 2013 by the2beths

Good morning!! It’s my favorite time of the week.

Saturday morning.
Although, I was a little nervous because it is my weigh in day, and I had a pretty good week, but last night I went out to dinner with my mom and husband, and I had cocktails. 4 of them. And pizza. Oops. I stayed in my points, but I used all of my activity points this week – which was a lot.

Anyway, I lost 2.3 lbs, for a total of 9.1 since I got back from Houston. And I calculated that I’ve walked 37.3 miles since I got back from Houston.
WOO HOO!!!

So, last weekend I did something really fun – I went to a fundraiser for the Stephanie Spielman Foundation/Breast Cancer Research put on by my bff’s aunt, who has cancer. It is a giant party/dance for women only, and it is SOOO freakin’ fun. My friends and I go every year and dance our faces off.
Here are some pictures:

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I’ve been having trouble getting my niece to face time me, and when I see her I am going to beat her butt. ha ha… Just kidding. But, here is a picture I got from a call this week.

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She is so freakin’ funny.

Well, today I am going to have lunch with my cousin, Bridget, and then we are going to go for a walk. YAY for activity points.

Have a great weekend, y’all!!!!

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Why I love Active Link.

Posted on April 18, 2013 by the2beths

Active Link is the movement monitor I wear that tracks my activity points through Weight Watchers. It doesn’t measure your heart rate, but your up and down and side to side movement and gives you activity points accordingly.
Then, it gives you a plan and a certain goal to meet that goes up over a period of twelve weeks. Right now, my goal is to get 4 activity points a day.
The active link has lights on it that show you when you get 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, and 150%. Today as I was winding down for the night, I realized I was half way between 75 and 100 per cent. So, at 9:25 at night, I got on the treadmill and walked for 15 minutes and raised my activity level to over 100% and I earned 5 activity points!! Yay.

Saturday is my next weigh in. I am hoping for a loss. Even just a little bit.

Happy Friday to all y’all tomorrow!!

Beth WA

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I might walk to Greenbow…

Posted on April 16, 2013 by the2beths

I made a goal on 3/30 to walk 26.2 miles (not all at once…a little day by day) and I finished today!

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(I was pretty unmotivated on 4/10…ha ha ha)

It feels good to be walking and doing WW points plus!

Well, off to finish the book Room! It is so good.

Xoxox,
Beth WA

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I’m baaaaaacccckkkkkk….

Posted on April 13, 2013 by the2beths

Hello, everybody!! I am back from Texas.
Well, I have been back for a while, but it has taken me so long to adjust. My sleep patterns have been terrible.
I’ve been so exhausted from not sleeping that I take a nap after school, then I can’t sleep at night, so I am exhausted, and take a nap….grrr… So, last night, I fell asleep at 8:00, and I woke up this morning at 5:22 AM BOO!

I had a really good Weight Watchers week before I went to Texas, but then I went to Texas and gained 6 lbs. But, I just weighed in this morning, and I lost the 6 lbs I gained in Texas, plus a little bit more. YAY!!
I have tried lots of new recipes this week, which I will share this week. Some have been successes, some have not been. But, it’s fun to find low point, healthy recipes that are delicious.

Well, here is my Texas recap in pictures….

This picture was taken about 5 minutes after we reunited!!

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This was a picture of her in her pink Stetson that my uncle sent her…

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She is so sassy.

I took her to the park a few times to try to get some exercise (I did walk three times for 2.5 miles while I was there, but I also ate and drank a LOT.)

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Ava and Craig colored eggs. They are so cute together, I just love their relationship.

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One of her Easter gifts was a pleather jacket that she really wanted. My mom sent it to her, and she was THRILLED. This is Ava modeling it for me.

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One of the days, I picked her up from school and we got our nails done, then went to get frozen yogurt.

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And here are some of the delicious foods my husband and I ate while we were there…

My first po’ boy.

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I LOVE hush puppies.

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This delicious lobster bisque…

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And this drink – I call it my “vacation drink.”

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It mostly tasted like a beer slushy. But, it was refreshing.

We really enjoyed our visit with my brother and his wife, and their friends, and of course, Ava. It was nice to see what their lives in Houston are like, and to see how much they like it. Of course, after seeing them, I miss them even more now! But, it’s back to face timing….

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Well, I am off to catch up on my google reader, then to walk on the treadmill.
THEN I AM GETTING MY HAIR DID!! YAYYYYYY.

xoxo,
Beth WA

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ONE MORE SLEEP!!!!

Posted on March 29, 2013 by the2beths

One more sleep – and it is not even a real sleep as I have to get up at 4:30 AM – and I get to see my best girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am beyond excited. Especially since she does not know we are coming.
I am also excited to go on a vacation with my husband. It will be nice for us to get away. We don’t get to vacation very often, as I’ve mentioned, so it will be a treat!!

Today I have a low key morning planned, and then I have a load of laundry to do, and packing, obviously. I also want to clean out the pantry and refrigerator so that we don’t have a stinky house.

Today is the last day of my Active Link assessment. This measures my activity level and helps me increase it little by little each week by setting goals for 12 weeks. I really need this because I have become quite sedentary.
In the last few years I’ve lost 20 lbs that I’ve kept off for a while. I have been stuck at the same weight for a while, and I have a lot more to lose, and I am hoping my commitment + activelink+ weight watchers is a winning combination. I have to take it day by day. And I’ve learned that doing drastic elimination diets does not work for me, as it lends itself to binge eating for me. I mean, there are foods I definitely don’t have in the house as they are trigger foods, but eliminating a certain food or food group messes with my mind. Maybe if I did it extremely gradually, in a weaning process.

For now, I am going to stick with
*tracking my points on WW online
*eating as many fruits and vegetables as possible
*being more active than I am now

My first official weigh in is tomorrow (Though, I am a daily scale hopper). I tracked all of my points this week, but went way over. I also didn’t exercise. HA HA. But, it was my assessment week, so I am trying to ease into it, as I mentioned earlier, that helps me mentally. The positive is that I didn’t snack after dinner at all this week, and every day I’ve weighed myself has been less than the day before, so that is good.
Baby steps.

I know it will be hard on vacation, but I am hoping to be able to walk outside in Houston in the mornings since the weather is so much nicer than here in Ohio right now!

Well, off to do chores.
I will leave you with a picture of our dog, Sammy. She is going to be so sad when I take out the suitcases today. Although, she is getting the best care in the world – her gramma – who spoils her rotten!

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xoxox,
Beth WA

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Frozen Grapes.

Posted on March 26, 2013 by the2beths

I will admit, that I was skeptical about frozen grapes. Especially since my teeth are super sensitive to temperature. But, it’s my first week back on Weight Watchers and I am desperate for healthy 0 point ways to quench my sweet tooth.

Especially because I can’t earn any activity points (extra points for exercising) because I am in the trial week of the Active Link, and they are assessing me, so it doesn’t allow you to add activity.

But, I’ll be honest. I haven’t exercised. HA HA.

Anyway, back to the Frozen Grapes. I’ve heard of these from so many people, and I have never tried it. Until this week. My school had a bunch of extra grapes the other day after lunch, so I took a baggie full, and stuck them in the freezer. (They were already off the vine.) And let me tell you – I have been enjoying them like crazy. It’s a great night time sweet snack. They take a long time to eat – I have to keep mine in my mouth until it is soft enough to squish between my tongue and the roof of my mouth. It is refreshing and delicious. (These are red grapes, by the way – the only kind I like.)
I can imagine these are really satisfying in the summer heat!!

Here are my frozen grapes:

YUMMMM

YUMMMM

Well, as you can imagine I am getting more and more excited about my trip to Houston to see my niece (and brother and sister in law). I face timed with my niece tonight and she told me she misses me as much as I miss her.
Well, friends, that is a LOT.

Happy Tuesday.
Only two more days of school until SPRING BREAK.

xoxo,
Beth WA

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Spring Break ’13

Posted on March 25, 2013 by the2beths

Spring break has changed a lot for me over the years, although I was never one to go on a beachy Spring Break somewhere (except once – but that story is for another day.) But, when I was young it meant road trips, partying, and sleeping in. Now, it means catching up on housework, rejuvenating for the rest of the school year, and doing school work.
Well, as I’ve mentioned, this year I am going to Houston to visit my brother and sister in law and niece. I have been missing them so much. Sometimes when I am lying in bed at night, tears just stream down my face. I am not sure when I will get used to this new normal. I know that some day I will, but it’s hard to be in the process of becoming less close with people and being painfully aware of it. Luckily, thanks to my dad, I get to see them next week, and for a week at the end of June!!!

This Spring Break vacation is the first vacation Craig and I have gone on together in a really long time. I mean, we have taken two night road trips – but not a vacation. The last one we went on was for a friend of mine’s wedding. She is not married any more if that gives you any indication as to how long ago that was.
We are so excited.

Mr. WA has looked up breweries he wants to visit, and I have only smooching my niece on my mind, and nothing much past that.

Anybody else been to Houston? Any places they would recommend to eat? Or visit? We will have our days to ourselves while my brother and his wife are at work and my niece is at school.

Well, I have a snow day today (Can you believe it??) So, I am off to do more laundry and cleaning.

This time next week we will be reunited….

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Have a great day!
Beth WA

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One More Week…

Posted on March 23, 2013 by the2beths

One more week and I get to see this sweet face in person, and smooch all over it.

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I can NOT wait.

This has been a busy few weeks, at work, at home, and just all around.

Last weekend was St. Patrick’s Day, and Saturday night I went out locally with my bff’s, and had a great time. Beth FS’s husband is very hilarious, and he was entertaining us all night.
Here is a group pic of the ladies from the night. Darn it for not getting pictures of us with our husbands. That is something I need to work on, taking more pictures of fun times!

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And here is a picture of the Jameson shots that Beth FS got us. It’s a tradition on St. Patrick’s Day in honor or her late Uncle Dan.

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On Sunday, my dad and I drove up to Cleveland (where we are from) to see his side of the family as they always celebrate St. Patrick’s day in a big way. My cousin was home from the Navy so it was nice to see him. I have lots of cousins, but here is a picture of a few of us from the celebration.

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Last night we went to my parents and I brought pizza over from the place across the street from my house that has delicious New York style pizza. We went through some old pictures (because when my dad hung his coat up in the closet, the closet broke, and the bar fell down, and it all came tumbling out….so a box pictures were discovered by me).
Here is a picture of me and my cousin, Cortney. She is my most hilarious cousin.* Truly. And she is gorgeous. She does not age, seriously.
This is us at Niagara Falls in the 70’s.

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I just thought it was the sweetest picture.

On the weight front, I have been struggling. Majorly struggling. And by struggling I mean eating like crazy and not exercising. I made the decision last week to join Weight Watchers Online, and utilize their Active Link. It is a device that you wear all the time that measures your activity, and helps you set goal to become a more active person, little by little. So, I have been preparing all week for today, the day I start WW, and I have to say I woke up this morning relieved. Relieved that I am finally doing something.
It’s a vicious cycle. Infertility depresses me. I eat. I gain weight. It increases infertility. So, I need to change my coping mechanism. And that is what I am working on. I will keep you posted.

Here is what the Active Link looks like…

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You can wear it clipped in the waist band of your underwear or bra, or in your pocket. You don’t even feel it. I am currently in the 7 day period where it gets a baseline of your activity. I am in day two. I am anxious to get it started when it is over. It will be just in time for my trip to Houston where I am hoping I get to take walks outside in the warmer weather.

Well, I am going to try to clean up my google reader, and do paperwork, then cleaning, laundry, and some work for my online class that I can NOT wait until it is over.
Have a great Saturday.

Beth WA

*Tied with you, Bridget. ; )

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Saturday morning chat

Posted on March 16, 2013 by the2beths

Good morning. It’s my favorite time of the week. My leisurely Saturday morning.
I have chores to do, and school work to do, but I am just going to enjoy the morning first. It was a go-go-go week, so it’s nice to be still for a bit.

Can we first talk about Lil’ Wayne? What the heck?
I open my facebook app and I see this last night.

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Now, Beth FS and I have a theory about TMZ. And it is this. All stories from TMZ always end up to be true.
HA HA. Right?

Now, I don’t know if you know this, but Lil’ Wayne is Catholic. And I am not sure if the fact that he got “last rites” is what made them think that he was on death’s doorstep or what. But, nowadays, that sacrament of “anointing of the sick” or “last rites” is performed more often, and not just when you are about to die.

However, when I got up this morning, I saw this…

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So, weezy is recovering. Phew.

Next, can we talk about the impending doom of Google reader???? I am on google reader every single day. It is how I read the zillion blogs I read.

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And now it is going away in July, and I have to find a replacement. I have been searching for suggestions, so if you have any, I’d be glad to hear them!!

My parents have been gone for two weeks, and I miss them. They are visiting my brother and his family, and I miss them, too. It’s been a lonely two weeks.
But, they have been having a great time. For the last three days, my parents took Ava to Galveston for a mini vacation. She got to do all the things you do on vacation with your grandparents…swim, order virgin daiquiris at dinner, and order room service.
Here is my little sweetheart by the pool. I just love her hair.

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Well, I have a few other things I wanted to write about, but this post is getting too long! I will finish up later.
Have a great Saturday…
xoxox,
Beth WA

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If you build it, they will come…

Posted on March 12, 2013 by the2beths

Everybody remembers that line from the movie Field of Dreams. Well, I am trying this philosophy or strategy (I use that term loosely), and I purchased some work out clothes from Old Navy. Hopefully, that will push me to use them. HA HA.
I had previously purchased a few things from there, a sports bra, and a shirt and jacket, and I love all of them. So, I just added a few things to the collection.
On a positive note, I have been tracking my calories the last few days, and have been feeling good about it. Yesterday I went over my count, but today, I didn’t. I am still super exhausted in the evening from the time change (Daylight Saving Time). Today I took a 30 minute snoozer at 6:15, and I feel so much better.
I got more done today than I have in a long time on a week night. I went to see my gramma at the nursing home, I went grocery shopping, and I picked up Subway. I cleaned the kitchen (this was no small feat), did several loads of laundry, cleaned some other things, and did some work.
That is always a good sign for me of my mental well being.
The other good news is my pedometer. I had originally set my goal at 10,000 steps, as they suggest that you get each day. Well, after only getting 4972 steps yesterday I was feeling bad about myself. I set a deal with myself to work up to 10000 steps by getting more steps than the day before until I get up to 10,000. As of right now I am up to 6841 for today, and I am still in the thick of laundry.

Oh, I wanted to mention that while I was at the grocery store, I bought this because I read on a blog that they are delicious with sparkling water (which I drink A LOT.)

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And let me tell you, this was a good choice. I am loving it.

I also got the pineapple coconut flavor, and am anxious to try that.

Well, I am going to watch Chelsea Handler on Katie Couric. Have a good night!!
xoxox,
Beth WA

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