I never liked fractions.......

and unfortunately I use them all the time when cooking or baking. 

Stop laughing....yes I use measuring cups. 

But this was not about cooking, baking OR measuring cups.  This was all about fractions. 

And no....believe it or not.....it wasn't even about helping with math homework. 

6/10  or .6  whichever way you wanna look at it.  Matter of fact you could even reduce 6/10 down to 3/5 if you wanted to. 

But the bottom line here??? 

.6 of a pound.  Yes, I said "of a pound". 

That was my big "payoff" at the end of a fattening-snack-deprived-stay-on-program-eat-broiled-fish-three-times week. 

.6 of a pound. 

Here's what that looks like.....

And I tried to make that look better.....but there's just something about that decimal point that screams "NOT EVEN A STINKING POUND" to me. 

And there's always the sweet friend who does her best to encourage me so I don't go storming out the door never to return to Weight Watchers. 

Fact is?  I've done this enough times to know that .6 of a pound is still a weight loss, and over the course of time, the "tenths" add up to whole pounds and in the broad scheme of things, if I lost .6 of a pound a week for a whole year, that would total 31.2 pounds for the year. 

And of course, I am glad I didn't gain .6 of a pound.....because that would add up too, over time. 

Soooooo.......I'm gonna' get an attitude adjustment.  :)

Started out by deciding that instead of listening to the boys squabble about "who" was going to "hit the grounders" for baseball practice in the backyard and "who" was going to "ground them", that I would settle that dispute once and for all and just go do the hitting myself. 

Yes I did.  And no it's not the first time in my life I have picked up a bat.  Used to play softball many moons ago, actually. 

However.....after going through not one, but two five gallon buckets full of baseballs, and feeling rather athletic after my few moments of fame in the backyard, I had even broken a sweat and came in feeling good about myself. 

You know...the ole' "get moving" thing.  Exercise doesn't have to be a chore.....just get out and move with your kids. 

And it was all fine and good until I was perched in my nest curled up on the couch after dinner and I started wondering what on earth was making me hurt so badly under my right shoulder blade.....in my back and making me quite uncomfortable. 

I even went to bed early....took a couple of ibuprofen (because we all know that fixes everything), and laid there and suddenly it hit me. 

I swung that bat repeatedly over      times.....and I haven't done that in a year. 

UGH.....seriously????  I'm that old that it starts hurting the same night??  I'm that out of shape???

Apparently the answer to those questions is a resounding, "yes". 

And that's ok, because that's gonna' change.  Even if it is just .6 of a pound at a time. 

Week one: 1.8 pound loss about 7 1/2 sticks





     



Week two:  after a whopping .6 of a pound loss I am at 2.4 pounds, which is about 9 1/2 sticks of butter

I'm just saying.



It's all about sticks of butter.....

or at least that's what Mama always said. 

And no....believe  it or not, I am not referring to cooking with it....although it IS essential when baking and gives the best flavor. 

No....what I am talking about are counting the sticks of butter.  Read on.......

You see, I'm about to share something pretty personal. 

Those of you who know me well already know this about me....but for those of you who don't....well....here goes. 

I have always struggled with my weight.  I wasn't ever severely overweight as a child, or even as a teen, although in "my eyes" I was. 

But it wasn't until after I married, moved to the deep south (and thoroughly embraced their way of cooking here), and started having babies that I really began my struggle. 

Baby number one.....gained a lot, lost a lot, but not all.  Nine months later, guess who was pregnant again??  Yep...that would be me.  Gained less, but remember that I never lost all the weight from baby number one. 

After two babies so close together, I knew I needed to do something if I ever wanted any more children....and that I did. 

I lost 90 pounds.  Mmmmhmmm......I said 90.  (If I could find a picture I would post it....but that was before digital cameras, so give me a break!)

It took me about 18 months, but I did it.

And it felt great. 

And then I found out I was pregnant again.  :)

And on came the pounds....with a vengeance.  I think my body freaked out after me having lost so much weight and then going into a gaining mode....that I gained....well....let's just say a LOT. 

You probably already know the rest of this story, don't you?  Yep....lost a part of the baby weight and guess who ended up pregnant with baby number four??? 

That would be me. 

And in fairness....I did deliver some big ole' babies, with the smallest one weighing 9lb.12oz, and the biggest weighing 10lb. 14oz!!!!!  So I did gain it honestly......and as a matter of fact....the doctor told me I was made to have babies, but unfortunately, I just gain a lot with each pregnancy. 


And I wouldn't trade any of them for the WORLD.  I feel so blessed to have had two girls AND two boys.  God's timing was perfect, the birth order was perfect and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

But when your "baby" is 10, it's probably time to stop calling it "baby weight". ;)

I'm just sayin'. 

So it's back to Weight Watchers I go.  For the five thousandth time. 

But this time?  I'm going public with it. 

And no....I am NOT going on Biggest Loser.  I have threatened my family to never nominate me!  I am definitely not brave enough to be on national television in skimpy exercise attire. 

You can thank me later.....

But I am, however, going to try to hold myself more accountable by blogging about my journey.  Because we all know it's going to be one.  I'm probably looking at having to lose 100 pounds or so....but I can only lose it one pound at a time.  And I am determined to do it this time. 

My inspiration??

Those four.  I just love 'em so much.....and it's not fair to them for me to not take better care of myself. 






It's not about "swimsuit season" because we all know "Mama ain't gettin' in no swimmin' suit!!"  My kids don't even bother to ask. 

It's about being healthier, and having more energy to do things with them. 

It's about not developing diabetes which does run in the family. 

It's about lowering blood pressure.

It's about not having to wear tennis shoes because my darn foot hurts.

It's about not being the last one huffing and puffing behind the family as we trudge up the hill going to the stadium to see the state football game.

And it's about counting sticks of butter.

You see, whenever I would get frustrated with a "1/2 pound loss"....Mama would always say, "Well....that's two sticks of butter!  Look at it that way!"

So I am.

And yesterday, I wasn't too happy when I heard the WW leader say, "You lost 1.8 pounds!" after I had nearly turned into a rabbit from all of the vegetables I had eaten the past week.  I was thinking, "SERIOUSLY???  Not quite two pounds??"

But then I remembered what Mama said, so I began counting sticks of butter.....and it didn't seem all that bad for one week.

I'm just sayin'.

He can be a pistol.......

but that boy has got a heart.

So it's that time of year again....you know...project time? Yea...I'm equally excited. Can't you hear the enthusiasm in my voice as I type??


I mean...don't get me wrong. I love to be creative, and help my kids on projects, but sometimes the expectations are just over the top.


Fortunately for me...this time it was do-able.


Jack's little "project jubilee class" (the name says it all), is studying Australia as their first unit. Easy enough....as long as I don't have to sew a darn kangaroo outfit or something ridiculous.


The first project is to create the Australian flag, and you're graded on creativity, use of unique materials, etc. Maximum size? 9 x 13.


Any of you fellow bakers out there thinking what I'm thinking?? Mmmhmmm.....you guessed it. Cake.


Sigh. Okay, okay....I cannot take credit here. I'm actually SHOCKED that it wasn't my first thought, because I tend to gravitate towards baking and goodies (not something I'm altogether proud of, but let's move on shall we?) Nope....actually it was my husband's idea. But he knows me well, and so I was on it!!


And we all know how expensive these little innocent projects can be don't we? And in your mind your thinking...aww...a cake mix is a buck...a little icing, we'll be out the door for five dollars.


Yea. Not so much. Try twelve dollars. But let me back up a little in the story.


And I just have to brag on Jack here. I think I'm allowed....it is MY blog, right? ;-)


On the way to Wal-Mart (because that's the only way I was getting out of there for less than $20), Jack says to me, "Hey mom....do you think there is something special we can make for (we'll call her Susie)? She's allergic to eggs.

Now I realize that it might not touch your heart quite like mine, but I thought it was very thoughtful of an 8 year old, typically rowdy little boy to think about the poor child who's allergic to eggs.


And this is where I was extremely thankful for my long term love/hate relationship history with Weight Watchers. Because it was during one of my many memberships over the years, that I learned that you could take a cake mix and add a can of pumpkin in place of the oil, water and eggs, and voila...you had a less fattening, yet full of fiber cake. (And yes...I know that you can also use diet soft drinks or whatever, but those methods aren't tried and true at my house, and I frankly think those kids probably needed more fiber!!!)


So that is exactly what we did. 


Aforementioned can of pumpkin





Have I ever mentioned how much I love my Kitchen Aid Mixer??




It looks different with the pumpkin minus the usual ingredients....




And it is HARD work to scrape the sides and pour it into the pan




Now for the fun part......yes...I let him do it all himself.



Oh...in case you're wondering....yes I do buy my children clothing, but all FOUR of them have preferred Darwin's old USMC t-shirts for PJ's, and they have holes in them....but apparently that makes them more comfortable.  :-)

I get the feeling this icing was hard to squeeze out!!!!  But probably not half as difficult as trying to cut giant marshmallows into stars.  Clearly....he ended up with only one marshmallow star.  Icing seemed the best option at this point.

And there you have it....the Australian flag.  And he is quite proud.  So am I....but more so over the fact that he was putting into practice something we try to teach our kids...putting others needs or wants ahead of our own. 

I think there may have been a little disappointment today when Jack took the cake to school and the sweet little girl, who was allergic to eggs, still turned down the offer for cake....but you have to hand it to her....at least she's acutely aware of her condition and how it could adversely affect her. 

And I gotta' hand it to Jack....because it's the thought that counts. 

I'm just sayin'. 

Sigh.....

Have you ever just had one of "those days"? You know....the kind that you can't wait until they're over and you sort of wish that you could forget? Yea. Me too. Like today.

Being upset at your kids for something is one thing. But being upset for your kids, is something entirely different. C'mon....all you mama bears out there know what I'm talkin' about. Don't you?

I mean, if you're a mom, then you've had it happen. The coach that doesn't see the same thing you see in your child....the bully on the school bus who thinks it's ok to call your child a Jack*** because his name is Jack, (true story...really happened) or the teacher that implies that you are incompetent as a parent, yet you've managed to raise two daughters to be responsible teenagers, (which is more than SHE can say), so you're confident that you aren't doing such a shabby job on the younger ones.

And you know....I always talk big or "think" big.....but I can never seem to execute that "big"ness when it comes right down to it. Oh I sound all rough and tough in the shower (because we have already established that that is where I ponder things, and now you know that I practice my speeches there as well), but the truth be known, I usually wind up not being as tough as I wanted to be.

And then, to add insult to injury, (not that anyone cares or really even wants to know).....but I stayed the same. The SAME. And for those of you who don't know Weight Watchers jargon.....that means....I didn't lose anything this week.

Wait.

No, that's NOT what that means. It means I didn't lose any weight this week. I have lost plenty of other things...you know, like my temper, my debit card, my keys, my train of thought....what IS it with me anyway? I lose those things all the time!!!

So yea. I thought that since I had such a difficult time just trying to get some exercise this week, that surely I would have lost a 1/2 a pound or SOMETHING. Nope. Not this time. But I'm not losing hope. I have done this before and I will do it again.

Tomorrow needs to be a better day, and next week needs to reflect my hard work as a WW. I'm just sayin'.