Dieting 2009

So, Dan and I have done it.  We have started dieting... again.  This time we have a different strategy--we are going to do it together!  What a novel concept right?  It seems like we have been on different motivation curves for most of our married lives (with the possible exception of the Atkins fad in the late 1990's).  This time we are doing it together.  No messing around!  We are couting points, we are watching portions, we are working out!  

Between the two of us we need to drop almost 200 lbs.  It is pathetic how fast we spiral out of control.  After several bouts with Weight Watchers, I thought I had a handle on portion size and how much I was eating.  Two days later and the cut in the number of calories that I am used to is making me light headed and CRANKY!  I had no idea I was so out of control.  I have been going to the gym religiously for a year with nothing to show but a 20 lb loss in the first 3 months.  I have tried dieting alone and I have tried exercise alone.  I guess there really is something about doing the two together.  This is the year!

The time of spending countless hours at the gym killing ourselves and not seeing any results because we come home and gorge ourselves on whatever junk food is withing easy reach is OVER! So help me this is going to work or it is going to kill me.

I am so hungry.

"The Orange of Destiny!"

The date stamp on the picture says that this happened on January 25th.

It was early morning and Dan was having his breakfast which consisted of... an orange.  We eat light at our house in the mornings (and only in the mornings).  William came in and asked Dan if he could have a piece.  Dan broke a section off for him.  William took the orange, looked carefully at it, and handed it back to Dan and said in a very serious voice... "Daddy, this is your orange of destiny!"

Just Like Riding a Bike...

We had an enjoyable Columbus Day.  We rarely do "family outings" but we decided to meet up with Dane's family (all their kids got bikes for Christmas) at Grammy and Papa's house and ride bikes. 

Our kids took their old sad and sorry looking scooters (we only have one "bike" and it is rusty and too small for even William).  It was pretty clear that the scooters were not going to cut it.  Jesse and Wyatt were very generous with their new bikes and Henry learned to ride.  

We started by going down the grassy hill in the "park" across the street from my folks' house.  The trick was getting to go fast enough to keep balanced and still keep the feet going on the pedals.  It didn't take too long before Henry had it.  Dad took him up and down the street a few times and he finally figured out how to get the speed he needed to stay vertical.  There were a few falls, after a bit of practice, Henry and Wyatt took off around the park.  

We finally had to put a stop to them going because Henry was taking off by himself and didn't yet have quite the control to stay far enough to the side of the road to avoid being a traffic hazard.

Arden was next and did the hill a few times.  She decided that was enough after both Daddy and Papa failed to sufficiently stop the crashes.  She decided that she would rather use Gracie's bike with the training wheels. 

William wandered around and alternated between the training wheels and the scooters and enjoyed going down the hill.

Regan slept through most of it, but joined in the fun with the help of Arden.

 

Thank you Grammy and Papa, Dane, Al, Wyatt, Jesse, and Gracie for a very fun Family Outing.