Carrageenan.....

Has anyone ever heard of "Carrageenan?" It's used in a lot of milk products.


And you are wondering why I care and I'm sharing, right? Well, my mom brought it to my attention the other day on the back my kids FAVORITE milk boxes. Yes, the Horizon milk that you can now get a Sam's and it has 6, yes SIX, Box Tops on them!!! lol

 

 

And I also found it in Nestle products (milk mixes, Carnation breakfast.....) and in Yoplait & Dannon yogurts. (one or both also has the dyes in them)


Anyway, I didn't think much of it but when I was shopping for food with no dyes in them, I noticed a lot of juice and yogurt I normally buy for my kids has it in them. I came home and did some more research. I found this blog post written by a guy named Jonanthan Bechtel..... http://blog.healthkismet.com/carrageenan-cancer-health-inflammation


If you don't want to read it, that's ok. It pretty much says that Carrageenan is bad for you...
"Because carrageenan has a long and notable history of significant correlations to different types of cancer and acute-inflammatory responses which are not good for you, to say the least."  If you want more info, read the blog. He did his own research and proves it.

That terrifies me about....all of it. And I just bought the 15 pk of the Horizon Milk with the 6 Box Tops on it at Sam's! :/

So what's an alternative? We are drinking Silk Pure Almond. It even comes in DARK CHOCOLATE.....YUM! (Thanks Mom ;)

So yeah, both of these milks are kinda expensive and it's not our choice of drink everyday with every time we are thirsty. We do drink a lot of water around here. My kids love to drink water out of refillable water bottles. They love it because I will allow those to go in their rooms lol 

SO just in case you are thinking, "Really, there's stuff in all our food that's bad for you." Yes, I know this. I'm sure the Pizza Hut pizza we had the other night has all kinds of bad things for us, but we can indulge, right? I know I can't keep my kids from all bad things, but if I can keep my kids eating & drinking mostly healthy now, I will feel better about trying to be that good mom.
 

It's been too long...

Wow. It's been 3 WEEKS since I walked last! SOO much has been keeping me from it. I feel like a complete failure in my challenge now because I'm WAY behind on my goal....BUT I did walk today!

2.2 miles on the treadmill 

91.86/300

I wasn't even on the treadmill 10 minutes & I started sweating like a pig!! I had it set to 1 incline & was only walking 3.1! I walked like that for 45 minutes.....I never know how fast I walk. I haven't used a treadmill in YEARS. I love that the Y has cardio room w/WINDOWS. I think I'll be using it a lot more now.

I JUST REGISTERED FOR ANOTHER 5K!!

Want to join me?!
https://www.tristateracer.com/RaceInfo.php?RaceID=1161
 

5K

76.55/300

I'm a week late writing this post, but better late than never, right?!

I walked my first 5K last weekend! Well, I speed walked lol  I totally walk SLOW. I'm not in as good of shape as all the other people running/walking. It really affected me. I have told myself all week that I need to step it up. But I didn't go walking AT ALL this past week.
Here's my excuses,
My week started off with my ENTIRE body in pain from Saturday. I went to my chiropractor, she helped with my back pain, but everything just kept hurting. Plus my ankle, on the leg where I broke my leg, has (STILL IS) been bothering me. It just throbs if I don't elevate it and if I'm on it for too long. Totally sucks.

I feel like a HUGE slacker this week. I literally feel HUGE too because I haven't been counting my calories either. I'm going backwards, not forward and I feel like everyone who doubted me with my challenge is saying, HAHAHA told ya she couldn't do it!! Maybe its me saying it to myself too..........

I'm not perfect. I knew that this would be a hard journey for me. I just never believed that I would feel this low about getting off track. I started blogging because I thought it would help me, but I'm still failing.
ENOUGH negative.....

Monday starts a new week. I'm going to enjoy my family this weekend and eat all the good food! I'm not going to worry about my challenge or my calories. I'm going to enjoy myself.
Hopefully I can find my ankle brace and I can go walking Monday. I need to MOVE.

Who wants to get moving with me?!

one mile

73.55/300

So I woke up this morning feeling MUCH better than yesterday. Decided to go walk at the Y. I felt fine till about 3 laps in.....it's 14 for a mile....about halfway I felt like I was going to pass out. Thankfully I remembered to grab a Gatorade this morning. It helped me finish my mile.

Yeah, major lesson learned this morning. Don't jump back into walking/exercising until you feel 100% better. I don't think I sweat so much just walking a mile before!

Last night I watched the Biggest Loser finale. I cried like a baby!! I have watched this season faithfully and Dani was my FAV since the beginning. I am SOO happy for her! She looked AMAZING! (besides her fake tan and hair...not a fan lol)
So this morning when I got up I totally felt like a failure. I thought about how awesome all the contestants did and how awful I look and feel still. That was my motivation this morning. But I should have ignored it because I'm just not over this sickness yet. Or maybe I'm just being a big baby?! idk. lol

I need ideas on some tummy exercises! I feel like my "mom belly" is just sticking out like a sore thumb these days and it's embarrassing. Esp when I walk in the room and that's what everyone looks at first instead of my face. I envy the moms that don't have this problem and can wear a regular bathing suit to the pool and wear cool designer jeans that don't have the Tummy Tuck Technology in them. SIGH

Tomorrow is another day. It will be an awesome day too!

Rough morning

+2 miles
72.55/300

Oh that was a rough 2 miles this morning. It's really hard when I forget my earbuds at home...rough, I know lol
But really, my body hates me right now.
I saw my chiropractor yesterday bc I started getting that pain down both legs...now...and my feet feel numb more often. Yes, I'm stretching! Thinking maybe my bulging disk may be bothering me again....

For those that don't know, 3 years(?) ago I had really, I mean REALLY bad lower back pain. It got to the point where I couldn't even go to bathroom alone w/o either crawling or having someone help me. It's was rough bc I couldn't even take care of my kids. Luckily my chiropractor got me in to see a dr that specializes in back pain. THANKFULLY he gave me my options and I chose the injections. THAT was Scarry but after the 3-4 of them, I felt A LOT better.
I don't want to go through all that again.

I'm thankful this morning for Lindsay being my motivation!! I got moving! Lol It wasn't as much as my normal but I did something :)

Proud of Myself

+4 miles at the Y this morning :)
70.55/300

I don't have a hard time GETTING to the Y. I don't have a hard time going in either. The first mile was....OK. But starting on mile 2 I started feeling like I wanted to stop. I did too. Only it was because I already drank a whole bottle of water and I had to go. I've got that "mom bladder" where if you don't go right then.....it's not good. lol
But that short break was pretty much what I needed though. It got me through the remaining 3 miles. Weird how that happens.

But I did it. And I'm proud of myself :)

15 pounds :)

I've been dealing with a sick baby girl and husband all weekend, but we did take a relaxing walk yesterday. We didn't go too far for fear that one of them would need the toilet, but it was nice to get out and enjoy that WARM weather we had!!!

+.73 miles takes me to 66.55/300 :)

I was sad to see our warm and dry weather leave us today. I had my morning all planned out, but Emma decided to get sick while eating breakfast. SO no walking for me today. That's ok though because after dropping Cody off at school, we can home and took a much needed nap! Then I got started on going through all of the kids clothes and toys. Planning on a rummage sale soon at my house.

SO I told myself that I wasn't going to worry about loosing weight. I just wanted to challenge myself with my 300 miles and trying to be healthier with my eating habits. Well, I've sneaked a peak a few times at my weight on the scale. I checked it Friday and................

I've lost 15 POUNDS since January 1!!!!!

How awesome is that?! So proud of myself.
I had to check it, because I kept getting comments on my weight and they way my clothes look on me now. Curiosity got the best of me. But now I'm hoping I don't obsess over it. It's not what I'm wanting to focus on right now. All other times that I have tried to loose weight, that was my main focus and it ALWAYS got me discouraged and I gave up. I didn't loose as fast as I thought I should've.
I'm not wanting to be that mom taking bikini pics and posting on facebook, I just want to be that mom that can play with her kids and not feel worn out after 5 minutes. I want to feel comfortable enough to just be me.  I haven't had that for a LONG time.
If you are truly wondering what my goal weight loss is for myself, I set it at 55 pounds. I'm 27% there :)

A little more about me :)

 I am sure you were just thinking you wished you knew more about me. So read up  and pick 2 to 5 bloggers and pass it on. I want to know more about my new friends. Starting this blog has opened up a whole new world of friendships for me and I'd love to know more :)

All you have to do is say who you received this Tag and who you’re Tagging.
 

I've been tagged by.... Cindy's Grand Adventures

Then answer the 25 questions by copying from here and pasting to your blog. 

1.    Where were you born?  West Virginia
 
2.    Were you named after someone? Not that I know of lol
 

3.    How many children do you have. I have 2, Cody and Emma

 

4.    How many pets do you have?  3, a turtle, Henry and 2 dogs, Rufus and Marki
 

 5.    Your worst injury. 7 years ago I fell and broke my right leg. I have no cool story to tell. It was just a 6 inch step and I guess I came down wrong....no fun.
 

 6.    Do you have a special talent? This one is really hard for me to answer. I honestly cannot think of any special talents I have. If you are reading this and know of any, please let me know lol
 

 7.    Favorite thing to bake? COOKIES :)
 

 8.    Favorite Fast Food. Fast Food is the DEVIL. It's the reason I have a hard time loosing weight, but I can never stay away from Dairy Queen. Chicken strips and ice cream in the same place....YUM

  

9.    Would you bungee jump? No way. if you would have asked me 7 years ago, I'd totally go for it though.
 

10. What is the first thing you notice about people? their smile/teeth lol
 

11. When was the last time you cried? Last week. It was a bad week.
 

12. Any current worries. Oh where do I start.... bills, my kids, figuring out what to wear tomorrow, paying tuition, wondering if ___ is mad at me bc she wont talk to me, where to have my sons bday party and can we afford it....I could go on....
 

13. Name 3 drinks you drink regularly. water, Pepsi Max, Moscato
 

  14. What’s your favorite book/Author? I don't have a favorite author, yet. I'm still exploring and reading anything interesting lol  My fav read so far has been the Sookie Stackhouse series.
 

 15. Would you like to be a pirate? YES. I want a parrot on my shoulder too
 

 16. Favorite smells.   Vanilla, fresh baked cookies, my husbands deodorant (seriously) lol
 

 17. Why do you blog? I blog because I want to motivate and be motivated to get myself healthy! I want to share my ups and downs and here others lifes stories
 

 18. What song do you want played at your funeral?  Goodbye by Avril Lavigne
 

19. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? my weight

 20. Favorite hobby.  I love being crafty, I just never have the time. I also love to walk and swim
 

21. Name something you’ve done, you never thought you would do? Have 2 kids, 3 pets and drive a TRUCK lol

 22. What do you look for in a friend? 
 I look for someone who makes me laugh, laughs at my stupid jokes, honest, loyal, truthful. (I liked Cindy's answer so I'm leaving it)

 23. Favorite fun things to do? crafts with my kids, play soccer, jump on the trampoline, swim, take walks, have Girls Night Out

 24. Pet peeves. Kids who are old enough to talk with pacifiers still, people who talk bad about me behind my back &/or start rumors, liars

 25. What's the last thing that made you laugh? Looking up YouTube videos to answer the question about song played at my funeral LOL

 

I AM TAGGING...

 

 

 

DeBie Hive
 

 Giggles And Screams

i am mama lola

 

9 more miles!

I walked 2x this week and I forgot to blog about them!
Tuesday I walked 4 miles with my friend Jenn. First time we've walked together! :)
Thursday I walked a mile alone and then Crystal joined in for the other 4 miles with me.

65.82/300 :)

I totally enjoy walking with my friends. It's such a stress relief to talk and just let out....stuff.

This week has not been the best for me, BUT it was better than last week. That's a positive. I just hope my weeks just keep getting better. I need some more positive. Especially with all the sickness that keeps coming in our house.

So this week my motivation has been my friends. What motivates you?

Belated Post

I walked 3 miles at the Y last week.

56.82/300

It has been a ROUGH past 6-7 days. I feel like God is testing me to see how strong I am. All I am doing is asking WHY?!?! Why is all this happening to me? Why am I being punished? As if it was for me, Father Noe's sermon was on this topic of asking Why? when things seem to be going wrong. I feel like I am being punished. But I'm not.

Like my friend Jenn reminded me,
"He always knows what we can handle! Especially when we don't know what else to do. Like Father Noe said, there's always one more move in the game of life."

To be honest, it's REALLY hard to think that right now. I'm sure when it all blows over and it all gets right, then I will look back and see it.

Throughout all this, I only walked once and it was a miserable 3 miles. I literally just could not let go of all my negative energy and emotions. I usually leave everything at the Y door but it followed me in that day. Not even some Lady GaGa could cheer me up. It was a huge let down for me and since that Tuesday, it all went downhill :( I've also been eating bad too. Not counting my calories. And I feel miserable emotionally and physically.

I'm hoping to make this next week better. It HAS to get better.

I'm thankful for my few close friends and the family that I still have who love and care about me. I'm thankful for those that let me "vent" text...lol You know who you are and I LOVE YA!

And of course I gotta give a shout out to my new "bloggy mom" friends. Thanks for cheering me up on Twitter ;)