Birthday Festivities

This week, my beautiful little girl turned 2 years old! I can't believe it. I was driving home in heavy traffic Tuesday evening, and I took some back roads because I heard the freeway was closed. I happened to drive by the hospital where Rachel was born, and I thought how strange it felt to drive by on that particular day, almost exactly 2 years after I showed up there because my water broke. I was so scared and excited that night as we drove to the hospital -- I was more than ready to meet this little baby who had been kicking me for a while, but I had no clue what would come from the birth experience nor from becoming responsible for another person's life!

Now I can't remember what my life was like before I was Rachel's momma. I remember being slightly thinner (see below re: weight loss battle), but I know I wasn't nearly as fulfilled with my life. Rachel and I got to spend 3 days together this week, and I really wish I could stay home with her every day, because I had so much fun. We went to the Zoo (as has become tradition) for her birthday. Her cousins, Aunt Jen, and Grandma Wood joined us and even though it was scorching out, it was worth it. Then I went home and made her Foofa cake just for her birthday.

Thursday we met my friend Barb for lunch and then spent the day outside having fun. And today we have been laying low, running some errands, but overall just relaxing. Tonight I am headed to Cincinnati for a baseball game with my parents and brother, and then Sunday is Rachel's and Owen's birthday party! I have a lot to do tomorrow to get ready for that, including baking two cakes! Pray the weather holds out!!

**WEIGHT UPDATE: 151

Weight loss to go: 11 lbs

Not exactly as much as I had hoped for, but I did miss all my workouts this week, and I had cake 2 days, so I guess that is okay. Back to work next week though!**

Day at the Gym

Starting weight: 152
Week 1: 152
Weight loss to go: 12 lbs

I have decided to devote some of my blog entries to my weight loss journey. It kind of goes along with the theme of the blog -- it is life- and baby-related. I have about 10 pounds of baby weight left, and we are about a week away from Rachel's 2nd birthday, so I have run out of excuses for continuing to carry this weight. And before Duane and I start trying to have another baby, I would really like to get back to my original weight or lower, so I don't just keep adding to my weight in the end.

So one week has passed and I haven't lost any weight. I am not at all discouraged by this though, because some of the exercise I have been doing has involved weight training, and I know this adds muscle weight. My diet could be better, I suppose, but I have been incorporating more vegetables and cutting back on some of my portions.

My schedule to this point is Cardio on the elliptical Tuesdays and Thursday and AquaFit on Saturday mornings. I love AquaFit. At first, it is a bit disconcerting to be in this class, because you struggle to find a class member under the age of 65 when you look around. Then, the instructor came in. Now, I understand that you can be a less-than-fit fitness instructor and still know what you are doing. However, this particular instructor had cankles. Looking at her, I thought she was a class member -- she looked to be 60 or so...quite overweight...
And the cardio part of the class was somewhat disappointing to me in comparison to previous classes. But once we got to the resistance training, I was truly challenged. I left feeling refreshed and sore!

Walking around the gym, I see girls who are fit and trim and remember a time when I qualified as fit. This is my goal. I don't need to be skinny -- I just want to feel "in shape." I want to put on a pair of my old pants and have them be just a bit loose.

I have given myself the deadline of my birthday to lose these 12 lbs. That leaves me about 9 weeks, which is about 1.333333 lbs each week. That seems less daunting than an overall goal of 12 pounds. And ultimately, if I can fit into those size 8 jeans comfortably, I don't care if I lose 1 lb.

If I haven't reached my goal by August 23rd, I will get a trainer to force my butt to work harder. But, as frugal as I am, let's hope I can kick my own butt into shape. =)