Mmmmm...Fresh Pineapple

I have eaten so much fresh pineapple over the last few days that my mouth is literally raw. This past Monday, I began the Daniel Fast which means I have consumed nothing but fruits and vegetables for 4 days. The fast follows the verses of Daniel 10: 2-3 which read

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

It is a partial fast in which meat, dairy and synthetic products are not consumed. Typically, people who choose to participate in this fast are doing so for spiritual purposes. And, while I consider the weight loss to be spiritual, my primary goal with the fast was weight loss -- a type of cleanse if you will -- not prayer. I hope to continue with the fast for 7 days; I will finish Sunday, July 25th. For more information visit: http://danielfast.wordpress.com/daniel-fast-food-list/

In addition to the Daniel Fast, I began Jillian's 30 Day Shred last Thursday. I have managed to do it 5 out of the 7 days. It is hard but well worth the effort. Hayley Y. and Erin have done it with me a few times which makes it tons easier.

Now, for the point behind explaining what I have been doing for the last seven days. Two weeks ago I went to weigh and had only lost 0.6lbs. I was really disappointed. Anytime I get that discouraged, however, I rebound quickly and attack. Attack is the best way I can describe what I have been doing over the last two weeks. I have walked harder and father, eaten leaner and less, and sweated as much as possible. On my way to weigh this morning, I knew I was going to be really happy with whatever I had accomplished...and boy was I happy. As of today, July 22, 2010 I have lost a total of 35 pounds. Over the last two weeks I lost 10.2 pounds. I even did a little bit of a dance on the scale. I would say "how 'bout them apples?" but I feel that something along the lines of "how 'bout them PINEAPPLES?" is more appropriate.

Energy for Living

They call me...Energy Erin. (I was about to say "Tater Salad," but that is probably copyright infringement.) Okay, so I'm Erin, and I'm new here. I live in the Manchester area with my handsome husband (HH), darling daughter (1 year), and awesome son (3 years). My job is with a local school, and I love what I do. Currently, I am attending my alma mater to get my Master's degree, and I recently learned how to make coupons work for me. My hobbies are reading, singing, writing (wait a minute--do poems on the back of a receipt in the doctor's office count?), and the ambiguously titled pastime of "crafts." And, and, and....

And, I'm tired.

Energy Erin? You kiddin' me, Pancho? I'm exhausted, friends and neighbors, and I am looking for that last little bit of get-up-and-go in the fridge, the pantry, the mp3 player, the encouraging Facebook post from a friend...essentially, everywhere except the source. So, no wonder I am zapped. Somehow along the way, between thrice-weekly trips to the Pig for milk and scavenging through the clearance aisle at drug stores, I became unplugged from God and what He wants for me.

He wants peace for me. He wants stillness. He wants acknowledgement that I am not in charge of my life, or even the lives of my children and family. He wants surrender. He wants brokenness. He wants me to show him the dirty and disheveled rooms of my heart and ask Him to help me do some serious spring cleaning.

And then, when there is nothing else to say or do but praise God for all He has given me--so much!--I will have energy for living this life He blessed me with. I will have energy to screech to a halt in front of a good friend's house at 7:16 in the morning so we can walk and talk. I will have energy to fix a healthy meal for my family instead of giving in to takeout.

All I have to do is plug in to the source of it all: my loving God who just can't wait to see what hare-brained scheme I come up with next. He won't roll His eyes, like some HH's I know.

Well, He won't roll them much.

How to Put On a Sports Bra

1. Approach the sports bra with confidence, secure in the belief that you will wear it.


2. Holding the sports bra open by its bottom edge, peer into it and locate the medium-sized opening in the center of the cavity. This is your target.

3. Take a moment to ask yourself the following questions:

A. Am I naked from the waist up?
B. Have I removed my glasses?
If the answer to either is “no,” make the necessary adjustments and return to Step 1.



4. Snake your right arm through the right armhole as far as it will go. Repeat for left arm and left armhole.

5. Assume power stance: feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Hook your thumbs into the sports bra’s bottom-edge elastic and pull it out in front of you as far as possible. (Note: do not let go.)

6. In one, deft motion, pull the elastic toward you and over your head. If you have martial arts training, this would be the time to release your battle cry, or kiai.

7. You should now be standing with arms pointing skyward, the sports bra encircling you at chin level, binding your biceps to your ears.

8. Remain calm. Visualize yourself wearing the sports bra while engaged in a pleasant activity, such as not watching Jersey Shore.

9. Cross your arms in front of your face, grasp the bottom of the sports bra and begin tugging it down to your chest. This process should take 2-25 minutes and can be streamlined by the removal of one of your arms (advanced yoga practitioners only).

10. If you have followed steps 1-9 correctly, the sports bra is now strapped across the rise of your bosom, compressing the breasts downward to the point that you can see your pulse in your areolas.

11. Resume power stance (see Step 5). Holding firmly to the bottom edge of the sports bra, pull it away from your body in a downward arc until it grazes your kneecaps. Then, with a scraping motion, drag the sports bra upward along the front of your body, capturing all excess flesh in its path.

12. When the bottom elastic reaches the desired altitude on your rib cage, release it. Then, while holding the top of the sports bra away from your body with one hand, plunge the other hand into the sports bra to distribute and align its contents, which should include both of your breasts.

Note: If you are unable to locate two (2) breasts in the sports bra, do not become alarmed as they are likely nearby. Remove the sports bra (see “How to Take Off a Sports Bra”) and return to Step 1 of these instructions.

this was found here.

All by myself!

Everyone bailed on me...or so I thought. Last night, I went to bed genuinely expecting to be the only one walking this morning. Everyone else has appointments, classes, grandparents, wedding dresses, etc to tend to, so I figured I would be going it alone. To my utter surprise, I was just as determined to get up and at it this morning. We didn't even sleep late! I started on the usual rout and there was Energy Erin so I didn't have to go it alone after all. I am still really proud of myself for having the gumption to do it, as Peanut would say, "all by me self."

As a "treat" to myself, I purchased "Jillian's 30 Day Shred." Hayley Y. and I did it after our walk yesterday. Today, Erin and I did. We are doing really well. We have a lot to build up to, but it is a start!

Not Going So Well

So, things are not going so well here.  I have not been able to fit in a workout at all.  It is hard to workout with 3 toddlers and no stroller.

I totally except the M & Ms to kick my butt back into gear!  I think we should add something to our walking.

Here are my suggestions, just because I have both of them, I really enjoy them and are both great workouts!
Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, and/or Biggest Loser Workout Weight-Loss Yoga.  And because I know Hayley has the PX90, I am suggesting that as well.   

Class --- Blah

I decided at the end of the school year that I would start the process of getting gifted certified. So I'm taking the first class this week. It is all week in Grantville, which is like 45 min away. So, I'm not going to be able to walk with the MM's this week :( I haven't weighed in in a while, basically because I'm worried about how bad it will be. Hopefully this week won't kill me or set me back too much. I'll miss you guys!!!

New Member Orientation: Energy Erin

So this morning Peanut and I were walking toward Hayley's house to start the daily routine with a lag in our step. The stroller seemed heavier to push. It was way hotter than usual. It was just kind of blah! So, because I am a prayer, that is just what I did. I asked God to restore our energy -- to give us a boost of the excitement that we had when we first started. As I continued to walk, I noticed the sun shining through the trees differently. It was beautiful. Was it God responding to my prayers? Maybe so!

Peanut and I reached Hayley's house and to our surprise we had a new member drive up with her stroller, water bottle and walking shoes! Her name is Erin; she is a friend from church. She is a super fun chic! She is going to add so much energy and aspiration to our little group that we have nicknamed her "Energy Erin."

We discussed adding her to the blog and decided that she needed to meet "membership requirements." Of coarse, we had to figure out what those would be so Hayley and I made an executive decision that when any new member has walked with us for five days, they get to join. So, look forward to her posting on all kinds of lean, mean mommy stuff!

First Big Challenge

Bright & early tomorrow morning ABC & I are going to stay with my parents for about a month.  I am NOT looking forward to the long drive (suppose to be 7 hours, but we will see how long it takes us).  I love going to stay with my parents, being able to see my family & friends, having actually help with ABC.  But, I also hate going.  I hate going because it is a HUGE struggle and always a BIG setback on my weight loss.  I get out of routine there and get lazy, not working out.  I won't be able to git The Stroller, so keeping our wonderful schedule (up at 6am, walking at 7:15, back to the house by 9am) is not possible. There is a treadmill that I can use at night, but I hate the treadmill, down in the dark basement.  

I lost 3lb last week and REFUSE to gain the month at my parents.  I REFUSE.  I have been weighing on Fridays, but while gone, I won't weight at all.  My goal for the month of July is to workout at least 3 days a week, to continue to keep track of my calories, staying within my daily calorie range and to not gain.  This month is going to be a huge challenge.  I am going to miss the support and companionship of my Manchester Moms!