Exercise

I could not shed a pound to save my life. I jogged and walked and went to kickboxing, step classes, yoga...I did not lose one pound.

Okay, so I'm just another mom in her forties struggling with weight. Yawn. BUT, I have lost 15 lbs. over the past 5 months because I did a little research and discovered what I was doing wrong. For so long I thought I could lose weight if I just had the right groove going. Eat a little less, lay off the ice cream, get to STEP class on Saturdays...nothing major. Yet, I continued to gain....and gain, and gain. I thought, perhaps, that my body was somehow different from others of my species. I was the one who broke all the rules...a medical anomaly!!

Then, I found out my Body Mass Index (BMI). Well, I didn't, the computer did. Then I found out about my target heart rate and my calorie needs. Due to my mid-forties metabolism, my body needs way less food than I had been enjoying..And, I had not been exercising vigorously enough or often enough. It was a sad, sad day.

A healthy BMI is 25. Mine was.....higher.

And the cardio machines were consistently showing a heart rate of between 120 - 130 beats per minute. I needed to get up to 141 and maintain it for 30 minutes!! That meant breathing hard and sweating. Yikes.

So, I started eating even less, but still leaving room for occassional favorites, and I am now on a first-name basis with the fitness staff at the Y. AND...I started going to Spinning classes. The last time I had exerted myself that much, physically? Maybe giving birth. Maybe.

I have yet to reach my goal, but I've got a plan and except for a brief holiday eating/drinking frenzy (can you say pomegranate martini three times fast??), and unsurprising setback, I have been making slow steady progress. Like my friend here.

More Winter Wonderland

Just a few more pictures of the day after the storm. Beautiful trees laden with snow, blue skies, and kids to share it with.

Snow Day

One thing I like about reading blogs is "visiting" other places. Here is a glimpse of a New England snow day. We got almost a foot of snow today, and becasue it was blowing in on a strong storm, everything is covered in white. Very winter wonderland effect. I like how it makes the trees look like cartoon drawings. The snow was too fluffy for making snowmen, but probably a mile or two closer to the ocean and that would be a different story. I like how the streets are deserted for a short time and you see your neighbors out shoveling and playing in the snow.

Here, on the left, is what our yard looked like a couple of days ago. Plenty of mud and warm enough to play outside with just a sweater on.


And here on the right is a photo of the sand box today. Here are more pictures of fun and scenes from the storm.



Snow surfingNeighbor's Car

Chasing Brothers

Snowy Tree

Monday Top Ten + 2

I like to keep the energy up in January so we don't get too bogged down in winter doldrums. The boys are better than I am about slowing down and enjoying the indoors. I get antsy to get out, so sometimes we get out of sync with each other. This list is a reminder that there is a way to savor the coziness of indoors as well as shake out the cobwebs from time to time. Since we all need extra motivation in the winter, I added two extras.


Top Ten+2 things to do on a January Monday in New England

1.Sleep late
2.Make a really good cup of coffee.
3.Get out all of those thick socks, boots and other assorted winter wear and USE IT!!
4.Go letterboxing
5.Dump all the Legos out onto the floor and have at it.
6. Bake
7.Leave paper cups filled with different things outside and see how long they take to freeze.
8.Go to the beach and find some cool driftwood. (see #3)

9.Cuddle up in the biggest bed with a pile of stuff from the library.

10.Take a moment to be grateful for warmth, food, and family.
11.Make paper snowflakes and put them on the windows.

12.Go to a coffee shop and order warm drinks and muffins.

There...I feel better already.

Playing Games

My kids do not have a gaming system, so they go on-line and play free games that they find. Most recently, they are back on Dragon Fable. It is an RPG site where they can create characters and put them through their paces with various fantasy creatures. While I know that many parents are uncomfortable with video games and "screen time," I cannot tell you how many more hours my kids spend inventing their own games and using the computer games as springboards for their imaginations.

We have an arsenal of light sabers, swords, knives, and various other homemade weapons made from Legos, Zoobs, gift-wrap tubes...you name it. They frequently dismember and destroy each other and then bounce back for more.

A common refrain is "You can't have invincible magic, that's not fair!" or my favorite "Mommmmm!!! He won't die and I've killed him like a hundred times!"

Then, out comes my own personal purple light saber to slay the stubborn foe and the deed is done...problem solved.

Super quick supper

Winter Saturday Supper

Much to my chagrin, my three growing boys need meals every day. Even Saturday. So here is a quick and easy supper for a rare night when the babysitter is coming, or when I feel like taking it easy without take-out.


Twenty Minute chili


1+ lbs. ground beef and/or gound turkey

1T cumin

1tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1-2 cloves garlic, crushed

3 16oz. jars good quality prepared salsa

1 cup water or stock

1-2 cans chili beans

shredded cheddar

tortilla chips


Brown the meat in a large saute pan. Add garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Put the seasoned cooked meat in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the salsa, water or stock, and beans. Stir and heat through. Serve in bowls with cheddar and chips.

Voila!!! Cue up the movie and call it a night.

Morning Light

My youngest boy. Chillin' on the couch with a comic book, er...graphic novel. If he went to kindergarten, he would probably be considered a non-reader. They wouldn't know what a book-lover he is. This is his favorite downstairs spot, with a blanket and a pile of books. He also carries lots of things over to that table and leaves them there; the extension cord, stuffed toys, and I believe there's glue as well. You never know what you're going to need and when. Best to keep it all close at hand.