This past week was pretty decent. I started doing one of the Scary, Hardcore Fat Busting Exercises, the jackknife crunch (um....OUCH!). I also really ran for the first time this week. I have been working my way up to running...or rather, I've been doing the run-walk: Run for 2 seconds, walk for 10 minutes...you know, baby steps. On Thursday night I went for a mybrainisoverflowingicanthandleanythinganymoreifirunfastenoughmaybeiwillfly kind of run. It felt amazing.
Walking/Running. This week (Mon-Fri) I've walked and ran a total of 8.07km. I usually do an average of two kilometers, three times a week, so unless we go hiking, this week was an exception to the rule!
Strength Training/Ab work out. Still busting out the strength training and ab exercises just about every other day. My legs and butt feel great, but I still haven't seen much improvement in my stomach. This whole getting in shape nonsense is hard work!
Food diary. This is my second chocolate free week which is amazing because I've been pmsing all week. No chocolate and no dead bodies?! I deserve a medal. :) I'm bringing my food diary on vacation with me to Poland. S-C-A-R-Y. I'm pretty sure every day will read: breakfast - Pierogies, lunch - Pierogies, dinner - Pierogies. Please don't let me gain too much weight!
Weigh in. Last week's weight loss was like my holy grail. I only hope that this week I have done well too. I had to weigh in on Friday because of our Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013. As of Friday afternoon (I know, what dope weighs themselves in the middle of the day?!?! Me.), I have LOST another 0.6 kg (1.32 lbs). I am so excited!! That brings my grand total weight loss to 3.5 kg or 7.7 lbs in 6 weeks. I could not be happier!
Healthy snacks. This week I went old school with the snacks and nibbled on granola bars and cheese and crackers. I even indulged on an UNhealthy snack: an ice cream cone with two scoops of deliciousness!
Do you have any weight loss tips or exercises that I can try? I have a touch of self-diagnosed exercise ADD so I get bored pretty quickly. What has worked for you in the past?
Monday, August 12, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013
We're getting ready to go on our first hardcore road trip with Alexa today. After weeks of stressing out about what a terrible idea this was, I finally got a grip and got excited instead. I love road trips! Michael and I always end up having so much fun on the way to our destination (We have fun when we get there too!). The most ridiculous things always end up happening to us while we attempt to take a simple, relaxing vacation.....driving through cornfields, car breaking down on the highway, almost getting hit by a bus...the stories are endless! Well, this trip should be extra fun. Not only are we driving 600km (373mi) from Austria to Poland, but we are doing this with our 5 month old who hates the car and her car seat even more and my sister in law who, I'm pretty sure doesn't cry when she gets buckled in! Welcome to Road Trip to Wroclaw 2013! (And no, I do not speak Polish, so yes, I pronounce the city name Ro-claw.)
As of Thursday we weren't sure if our road trip car was going to be my in-laws 23 year old tank - the VW (pronounced Vee-Dub), or if we would have to rent a car. Both options had positive and negative aspects. The VW - comes free, has a cool box thing on top of the car for added storage, doesn't have air conditioning, is a tank. Rental Car - is the exact opposite of free, no cool box thing for extra storage, might be a larger car, will definitely have air conditioning. We ended up with the trusty VW.
Since Alexa is all of 25 inches long, it is clear that she will need approximately 98% of all the available storage in the car for her stuff: pack n play, pack n play mattress (oh yes, my in-laws bought her a tempurpedic pack n play mattress...um can I squeeze in there too??), stroller, car seat, ginormous bag of clothes, bibs, burp clothes, baby carriers, bath stuff, food stuff, sleeping stuff, awake stuff...it pretty much never ends, plus all of her toys to maybe keep her entertained and happy in the car vs. sad, crying baby. She has so much stuff that Michael and I have to stuff our clothes into a back pack. (Just kidding!)
Anyway, I am super excited for this trip! We are going to visit the second oldest zoo in Europe and explore what looks like a really neat city in Poland. The food. Have you ever had Polish food? Oh.My.God. It's to die for. I can't wait for the food!! Plus, Alexa gets to meet her great-grandma and great-grandpa, and her great aunt and great uncle. After some family visits, we are heading out to Michael's uncle's lake house. Three glorious days, relaxing at the lake. It's going to be awesome!
So, wish us well. Michael's dad said it will take around 8 hours to get there (6 1/2 hours?!?! Google maps you lying piece of poo!), but it will more realistically take us 10-12 hours with nursing breaks, crying breaks and actual driver breaks.
Let's do this!!
What was the farthest you've ever driven with your infant/child? Where did you go? How did you keep them entertained along the way?
As of Thursday we weren't sure if our road trip car was going to be my in-laws 23 year old tank - the VW (pronounced Vee-Dub), or if we would have to rent a car. Both options had positive and negative aspects. The VW - comes free, has a cool box thing on top of the car for added storage, doesn't have air conditioning, is a tank. Rental Car - is the exact opposite of free, no cool box thing for extra storage, might be a larger car, will definitely have air conditioning. We ended up with the trusty VW.
Since Alexa is all of 25 inches long, it is clear that she will need approximately 98% of all the available storage in the car for her stuff: pack n play, pack n play mattress (oh yes, my in-laws bought her a tempurpedic pack n play mattress...um can I squeeze in there too??), stroller, car seat, ginormous bag of clothes, bibs, burp clothes, baby carriers, bath stuff, food stuff, sleeping stuff, awake stuff...it pretty much never ends, plus all of her toys to maybe keep her entertained and happy in the car vs. sad, crying baby. She has so much stuff that Michael and I have to stuff our clothes into a back pack. (Just kidding!)
Anyway, I am super excited for this trip! We are going to visit the second oldest zoo in Europe and explore what looks like a really neat city in Poland. The food. Have you ever had Polish food? Oh.My.God. It's to die for. I can't wait for the food!! Plus, Alexa gets to meet her great-grandma and great-grandpa, and her great aunt and great uncle. After some family visits, we are heading out to Michael's uncle's lake house. Three glorious days, relaxing at the lake. It's going to be awesome!
So, wish us well. Michael's dad said it will take around 8 hours to get there (6 1/2 hours?!?! Google maps you lying piece of poo!), but it will more realistically take us 10-12 hours with nursing breaks, crying breaks and actual driver breaks.
Let's do this!!
What was the farthest you've ever driven with your infant/child? Where did you go? How did you keep them entertained along the way?
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
My skin is sweating
I used to love summer. The heat. The sun. The beach. The smell of suntan lotion and that gorgeous copper color of my skin come August. Summer meant freedom, no school, no homework and best of all summer meant vacation and friends! Screeeeeech....um oops I guess that was a while ago (like 20 years). Now, as I sit here at 9:40pm, twenty years post summer lovin', I am sweating in my third set of clothes since this afternoon. Why? Because here in Austria we are having a brutal heatwave and at nearly 10pm, the thermometer on my balcony reads 31 C (87.8 F) and the thermometer in the apartment reads 28.4 C (82.4 F). Where oh where is my beloved air conditioning?? That's right, I left it in America with all those other cool things. Alas, my complaining must come to an end and I have the perfect "cool" solution...
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Yup, this is an awesome sweaty picture of me, but the delightfully delicious iced alcoholic beverage in my hand makes me not care!
Yup, this is an awesome sweaty picture of me, but the delightfully delicious iced alcoholic beverage in my hand makes me not care!
Sad, Sick Baby
Yesterday was vaccine day. I don't particularly love vaccine day, nor do I hate it. All except one of her vaccines (prior to yesterday) were oral, liquid vaccines...no big deal. In May, we had our first round of injectible vaccines. She had to have two shots and let me tell you, she did not like it at all. I mean, seriously, who likes a needle? No one. Alexa took it to a whole new level...she cried, no, screamed during the injection and continued on all the way home and didn't stop until we had been safely home for more than ten minutes. It was traumatizing! I held up fine, I am not one of those moms that crumbles to pieces when their baby gets vaccinated. I think it's because I've been through it before with the babies that I nannied for. I was sad she was upset, but what could I really do? We snuggled until she was ready to face the world and then carried on with our day. Anyhow, knowing what happened a few months ago I was prepared for the epic meltdown that was going to ensue. I brought the Baby Bjorn carrier instead of the stroller so that I'd have both hands free to really snuggle her well. I shoved any little extras we might need into my purse instead of dragging along the ninety pound diaper bag. I was prepared with lovies, extra binkies, the works! When the doctor and the nurse administered the first shot her face turned bright red, by the time the second shot was in her leg she let out a "wah, wah" and I squeaked a rubber ducky in her face. She laughed. That was it. Two little cries and then a laugh. AWESOME!!
We headed home, silly laughing baby in tow. I couldn't believe the difference. I was definitely not anticipating such a great reaction. And then we got home...
Per usual, she took an awesome post-vaccine nap. She was a little clingy when she woke up, but happily played on her own on her play mat for a little bit. She was even excited that her friend came over to play. After our play date, things went downhill very quickly. I'm not sure that I actually was able to put her down at all from dinner time until we finally passed out, in my bed, together, at 10:30pm.
She got her first fever. When the thermometer hit 38.5 C (101.3F), I knew it was going to be a long night. She was sad and just laying on me. She wasn't crying or complaining, which somehow made it even worse. We rocked, she didn't sleep, we walked, no sleeping, watched a little tv, she didn't even blink. Finally, almost two hours after I gave her medicine the fever started to break. I pulled her in bed with me and turned out the lights, praying that we would both be able to sleep. She tossed and turned and took up the entire bed all night long. She was hot, the fever was back, but it was too early to give her any more medicine so I nursed her. She slept, she nursed. I dozed here and there, but kept waking up to check on her. It was a long night. I finally passed out hardcore just after 4am. When I woke up to a babbling little cutie sucking on my arm, I knew she was feeling better! Fingers crossed the fever stays away today.
It's so hard to see her not feeling well. She's so little and she can't tell me exactly what hurts or if she's cold or hungry or just wants a snuggle. It was a rough night, not because she was a tough patient, but because I was a worried mom.
**As I took a baby play break from writing this post my little bundle of giggling joy projectile vomited all over me, herself, the couch and the floor...twice. Still no fever (thank God!), but it looks like today will be a stay at home and get better kind of day.
We headed home, silly laughing baby in tow. I couldn't believe the difference. I was definitely not anticipating such a great reaction. And then we got home...
Per usual, she took an awesome post-vaccine nap. She was a little clingy when she woke up, but happily played on her own on her play mat for a little bit. She was even excited that her friend came over to play. After our play date, things went downhill very quickly. I'm not sure that I actually was able to put her down at all from dinner time until we finally passed out, in my bed, together, at 10:30pm.
She got her first fever. When the thermometer hit 38.5 C (101.3F), I knew it was going to be a long night. She was sad and just laying on me. She wasn't crying or complaining, which somehow made it even worse. We rocked, she didn't sleep, we walked, no sleeping, watched a little tv, she didn't even blink. Finally, almost two hours after I gave her medicine the fever started to break. I pulled her in bed with me and turned out the lights, praying that we would both be able to sleep. She tossed and turned and took up the entire bed all night long. She was hot, the fever was back, but it was too early to give her any more medicine so I nursed her. She slept, she nursed. I dozed here and there, but kept waking up to check on her. It was a long night. I finally passed out hardcore just after 4am. When I woke up to a babbling little cutie sucking on my arm, I knew she was feeling better! Fingers crossed the fever stays away today.
It's so hard to see her not feeling well. She's so little and she can't tell me exactly what hurts or if she's cold or hungry or just wants a snuggle. It was a rough night, not because she was a tough patient, but because I was a worried mom.
**As I took a baby play break from writing this post my little bundle of giggling joy projectile vomited all over me, herself, the couch and the floor...twice. Still no fever (thank God!), but it looks like today will be a stay at home and get better kind of day.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Mommy Makeover - Week 5
Week 4 was awesome! I have been "thinking thin" and feeling thin all week. Michael even noticed and commented on my weight loss this weekend. Talk about a total self confidence boost! Of course, after gaining weight last week I couldn't wait to see what the scale would say on Monday...so I weighed myself on Saturday - down 1.6 kg (3.52 lbs)!! And again today...
Walking. It has been so incredibly hot this past week that I really didn't get in as much walking time as I had originally planned. However, I had an awesome run on Sunday and was so pumped after it. Holy adrenaline, Bean!
Strength Training/Ab work out. I'm really proud of how well I've been doing with both the Strength Training and the Ab work out. I also found a new round of exercises that are hardcore and terrifying looking, but I think I might give them a try this week. (Key word, might.)
Here's the link to the new exercises: Scary, Hardcore Fat Busting Exercises
(Just scroll down and then you'll see the list. Each exercise has it's own video to show you the proper way to do it.)
Food diary. I am really proud to say that I did NOT eat a single piece of chocolate this week!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah! I also have noticed an awesome new pattern emerge in my food diary. If I eat a good breakfast, a small mid-morning snack (or not), a later lunch, an afternoon snack (this definitely) and dinner, then I am not hungry after dinner. I think before I was eating so sporadically and such random sized meals that I was constantly hungry.
Chocolate. This category is outta here!!!!!
Weigh in. I was so excited about my weight loss this week! So, since I just had to see what was up (or down) I weighed myself on Saturday and was down 1.6 kg (3.52 lbs), I wonder what this mornings weigh in will bring...that's right folks, I've lost a whopping 1.9 kg (4.18 lbs) this week! Woot woot!
Healthy snacks. I have been eating an apple or a pear almost every day as my afternoon snack. It is sweet, healthy and fills me up until dinner time. If I find myself hungry enough to have a snack after dinner, I've been trying to have 1-2 rice cakes with peanut butter. Many of you probably grimaced and groaned "ewww rice cakes". I'm one of the few weirdos on the planet that actually like the taste of rice cakes. Go figure! You could probably also do peanut butter and crackers or cheese and crackers for a good night time snack.
Walking. It has been so incredibly hot this past week that I really didn't get in as much walking time as I had originally planned. However, I had an awesome run on Sunday and was so pumped after it. Holy adrenaline, Bean!
Strength Training/Ab work out. I'm really proud of how well I've been doing with both the Strength Training and the Ab work out. I also found a new round of exercises that are hardcore and terrifying looking, but I think I might give them a try this week. (Key word, might.)
Here's the link to the new exercises: Scary, Hardcore Fat Busting Exercises
(Just scroll down and then you'll see the list. Each exercise has it's own video to show you the proper way to do it.)
Food diary. I am really proud to say that I did NOT eat a single piece of chocolate this week!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah! I also have noticed an awesome new pattern emerge in my food diary. If I eat a good breakfast, a small mid-morning snack (or not), a later lunch, an afternoon snack (this definitely) and dinner, then I am not hungry after dinner. I think before I was eating so sporadically and such random sized meals that I was constantly hungry.
Chocolate. This category is outta here!!!!!
Weigh in. I was so excited about my weight loss this week! So, since I just had to see what was up (or down) I weighed myself on Saturday and was down 1.6 kg (3.52 lbs), I wonder what this mornings weigh in will bring...that's right folks, I've lost a whopping 1.9 kg (4.18 lbs) this week! Woot woot!
Healthy snacks. I have been eating an apple or a pear almost every day as my afternoon snack. It is sweet, healthy and fills me up until dinner time. If I find myself hungry enough to have a snack after dinner, I've been trying to have 1-2 rice cakes with peanut butter. Many of you probably grimaced and groaned "ewww rice cakes". I'm one of the few weirdos on the planet that actually like the taste of rice cakes. Go figure! You could probably also do peanut butter and crackers or cheese and crackers for a good night time snack.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Summer Lovin'
We went on an adventure the other day...Alexa, Tante Maja and I. We went all the way up the mountain to the Linz Zoo...the non-stroller friendly tram and way to the zoo was a workout in and of itself! Alexa slept through the majority of our adventure, but Maja and I had a blast! Then we leisurely strolled back down the death ramp back to the tram to travel back down the mountain and back into the city where we got the most delicious sorbet in Linz! Of course, Alexa woke up for ice cream and eyed my yummy homemade waffle cone until I gave her a taste. I think it's safe to say that she really liked it...
(Unfortunately I am not very skilled when it comes to messing with and changing or modifying videos on the computer, so if the picture is sideways...sorry!)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Veggie Risotto - Baby Food Recipe
Today, my little sous-chef and I set out to make a yummy new dinner: Veggie Risotto. It was really easy and Alexa had fun helping!
Ingredients: (for the Veggie Risotto)
1 tsp. butter
1/2 small onion finely chopped
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1 carrot, washed, peeled and shredded
1/2 small zucchini, washed and shredded
1/2 cup cooked peas (you might be able to use frozen peas, but ours were fresh from the garden so I boiled them beforehand)
1 cup risotto
1/4 veggie stock cube or diluted veggie/chicken broth
3 cups boiling water
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
(for the Puree)
1 1/2 cups cooked Veggie Risotto
1/2 cup diluted broth
2 Tablespoons water
Saute the onion and garlic in the butter for 2-3 minutes. Add the peas, carrots and zucchini. The shredded zucchini and carrots should equal approximately 1 cup of veggies combined, you can use whatever other veggies your little one likes. Saute the veggies for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the risotto and let cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the stock cube and boiling water. Lower the heat and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the risotto is cooked add the Parmesan cheese and stir well. As is, this risotto is perfect for older infants and toddlers. For the little ones, a puree it is!
For the Puree, I removed 1 1/2 cups of the cooked risotto and added it to my mixer (you can also use a food processor), plus 1/2 cup of diluted broth (which I forgot I had in the freezer...4 baby cubes of diluted broth = 1/2 cup) and pureed. The puree wasVERY thick, so I added an additional 2 Tablespoons of warm water and pureed again. At this point, it was still a thick puree, but Alexa likes a thicker puree. You may need to continue adding warm water until it becomes the thickness you desire. This made a full tray of baby cubes, plus two full servings and there is still enough for my husband and I to have as a side dish with dinner!
Ingredients: (for the Veggie Risotto)
1 tsp. butter
1/2 small onion finely chopped
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1 carrot, washed, peeled and shredded
1/2 small zucchini, washed and shredded
1/2 cup cooked peas (you might be able to use frozen peas, but ours were fresh from the garden so I boiled them beforehand)
1 cup risotto
1/4 veggie stock cube or diluted veggie/chicken broth
3 cups boiling water
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
(for the Puree)
1 1/2 cups cooked Veggie Risotto
1/2 cup diluted broth
2 Tablespoons water
Saute the onion and garlic in the butter for 2-3 minutes. Add the peas, carrots and zucchini. The shredded zucchini and carrots should equal approximately 1 cup of veggies combined, you can use whatever other veggies your little one likes. Saute the veggies for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the risotto and let cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the stock cube and boiling water. Lower the heat and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the risotto is cooked add the Parmesan cheese and stir well. As is, this risotto is perfect for older infants and toddlers. For the little ones, a puree it is!
For the Puree, I removed 1 1/2 cups of the cooked risotto and added it to my mixer (you can also use a food processor), plus 1/2 cup of diluted broth (which I forgot I had in the freezer...4 baby cubes of diluted broth = 1/2 cup) and pureed. The puree wasVERY thick, so I added an additional 2 Tablespoons of warm water and pureed again. At this point, it was still a thick puree, but Alexa likes a thicker puree. You may need to continue adding warm water until it becomes the thickness you desire. This made a full tray of baby cubes, plus two full servings and there is still enough for my husband and I to have as a side dish with dinner!
Guten Appetit!
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