Monthly Archives: October 2008

flashbacks of being 4

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, Dad has stepped up my racquetball lessons to include running. As I’ve also mentioned before, I don’t run. I think Dad is determined to change that about me. Here’s the problem, I think there’s a talent to running that I don’t have. One of my best friends is a runner, it comes naturally to her and she loves it. I don’t posses that same gene.

I am willing to learn though, if it’s something that can be taught. To motivate me to run, Dad had a couple of strategies. First was encouragement while he ran with me, next was tugging me by my arm and running with me, and the third was to chase me saying, “I’m gonna get you” in a voice normally reserved for the grand kids. The problem with that tactic is that I was laughing so hard my running was even worse than usual.

We’re hoping to step up the lessons to twice a week, I’m sure with time and practice my running will improve. As will my ability to hit the ball, maybe. :)

official weigh in #3

This morning (I guess it was actually yesterday morning, I just haven’t slept yet) I met Dad for another racquetball lesson (there will be more on that later…) and then we went to the Weight Watchers center to weigh in. I only lost .2 pounds, but it’s better than no loss. That puts me down 8 pounds in four weeks. I’m really hoping to lose 12 more by Thanksgiving, I need to step it up a notch.

Kroger vs Wal Mart

Unfortunately it was time to grocery shop AGAIN. With Zale and I both on Weight Watchers, Anthony having friends over three (or more) days a week, and the girls eating more and more every day, a trip to the grocery store isn’t lasting nearly as long as it use to.

I was so sick of being in Wal Mart that I decided to go to Kroger this trip. Our little town has only had a Wal- Mart since the first of the year, so I know Kroger’s layout much better than Wal Mart’s. Kroger doubles coupons, Wal Mart doesn’t. Kroger has discounts with their shopping card, Wal Mart doesn’t have a discount card.

But, as I’m shopping I’m seeing that of the things I’m purchasing, Kroger charges 10 to 30 cents more per item. Last time I shopped at Wal Mart and bought roughly the same thing I did today, I spent 20 to 30 dollars less than what I did at Kroger. Even using the coupons and discount card. I guess there’s a reason why Wal Mart doesn’t double coupons or have a discount card, they don’t have to.

Kroger does have an incentive to save 10 cents a gallon on gas, but even with that I would have saved money going to Wal Mart. Guess I know what I have to do from now on, stick with Wal Mart.

God showed up….in a huge way!

Tuesday night I went upstairs to the office to do the bills. Yuck. After I was done we had $50 left in our personal checking accounts. (Money’s been a bit tight as Zale is working his butt off to get the law office off the ground, but this is really tight.) As I was looking at our budget spreadsheet I realized that on the 18th our insurance bill would AUTOMATICALLY come out of our account. This is our homeowners, both cars, and one other small item we insure. All this totals about $180.00. We had $50, and no guarantees of any more money coming in the near future. I knew we could borrow the money from family if we had to, but I REALLY didn’t want to do that.  When I came downstairs I let Zale know of the situation and told him we should start praying hard.

We did just that, Zale took over and we prayed right then and there. While the money situation was in the back of my head, I tried hard to not let it get to me. God has showed up at the last minute, many times before, I knew deep down He would again. And boy did he!

Wednesday, Zale had a very busy day, part of this busy day was a meeting with a fellow attorney who may be retiring soon. While he was there this attorney handed him a couple of cases, that came with flat fee payments. This meant that Zale walked out of that office with two checks that equaled more than enough money to cover our immediate needs.

I continue to be in awe of how much God takes care of us and continues to provide for our every need! When Zale called with the news I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time and I couldn’t wait to share our story.

so much for my goal

In a previous post I mentioned that I wasn’t going to go back to Wal Mart for at least two weeks. I didn’t quiet make it. I’ve been to Sam’s once and Wal Mart twice. UGGGG. When I decided not to go back for awhile I forgot that fruit doesn’t last quite that long (or low fat waffles when two people are eating them every day), and then there was the need for bulk items like diapers and kitty litter.

Next time I may just send Zale so I can say I didn’t go. :)

official weigh in #2 & work out diary

My Dad is in Baltimore this weekend for Miss Vivian’s Memorial service, so he couldn’t coach me in racquetball this weekend. I had planned to go anyway, but decided to walk or do something closer to home instead. It was time for my weekly weigh in at Weight Watchers, so I did make that trip. I was surprised, and very happy that I had lost another 2.6 pounds, for a total to date of 7.8 pounds. Considering I had gained back two pounds earlier in the week, I was very glad to see those gone as well as two more!

Since Dad is out of town we have his dogs, Oz and Lilly. I wanted to get some exercise today, especially since I didn’t do my usual hour of racquetball. I decided it would make the dogs very happy, and be a bit more of a work out for me if I took them with me for a walk. My plan was to walk the dogs, instead, they walked me. We went around the neighborhood twice and walked for about 20 minutes. I thought about going around a third time, but they were panting pretty hard so I wanted to get them some water. It was a successful walk, they are both sleeping now. :)

I can tell they miss Dad, but they are doing great. Oz doesn’t seem too depressed, but he is at his usual post, laying in the living room where he can see the front door, garage door, and back door. Just in case Dad walks in. He’s such a good boy!!!

work out diary, Thursday

After writing my last post things actually fell into place for me to take a walk with the girls. I was hoping Reagan would go to sleep, but she didn’t. We walked about half an hour, I kept a pretty good pace and got a decent work out. Pushing a tandam stroller (that weighs about 25 pounds) with a 20 pound 1 year old and 30 pound 3 year old helped me work up a sweat. It’s a good day to just get out of the house and be in the fresh air!

the unexpected

I’ve had to make several trips to Wal Mart lately. Why? Because they have all this food specifically for Weight Watchers (I’m sure other places do too) that makes it easy to count the points and I can pop something in the microwave one handed. Since Reagan seems to be going through separation anxiety and wants to be surgically placed on my hip, one hand is all I have available these days.

Here’s the unexpected, I keep having to go back for more because Anthony keeps eating my diet food. Never in my life did I think he would even try it since he’s usually adverse to anything diet and complains all the time that I won’t buy regular soft drinks or hot pockets (I get the lean pockets). Not only has he been eating my food at home, but he also started taking it to school with him. (And packing a lunch for his girlfriend, so sweet)

We went back to Wal Mart yesterday to replinish the diet food stock. I have a love/hate relationship with Wal Mart. I enjoy the convience of everything being in one place, but I hate how big it is. There are times I feel that it sucks my soul out of my body while I’m there. And there are other times that I look forward to going. I know, it doesn’t make sense. But you know it’s really bad when the cashier says, “wow, you guys have been here a lot lately”. It’s now my goal to not step foot in that place for at least two weeks!

By the way, does it count as a work out when I have to carry an extra 20 pounds (Reagan) all over Wal Mart for half an hour? I’m pretty sure my heart rate was up!

Frustration

So I’ve been on this Weight Watchers thing for almost two weeks now. I was hoping to be down at least 10 pounds, but that’s not happening yet. In fact, I’ve gained a pound back. Which blows my mind because I haven’t stopped doing the program. In fact, you get 35 extra points during the week that I haven’t used either week. Guess I’ll look on their website and see if I’m doing something wrong that I don’t know about.

What really kills me is that it’s working for Zale (of course). GRRRRR.