Happy Monday! Here is our weekly challenge:

Don't eat after 8 pm. (every day you accomplish that, 10 pts. Possible 70pts)

This is challenging for me. Although, I started to get in the habit of having a cup of tea in the evening and not eating and I've seemed to have more success with weight loss. If you're like me, though, and stay up late, you may have to go to bed early to escape hunger. Eat a light snack before 8 and, if you want, try having some tea! I certainly enjoy it. Whatever works for you!

And here are our Daily Challenges, for today.

1. 30 jumping jacks (10 pts)

2. Drink 3 glasses of water (10 pts)

3. Start a dream journal. (10 pts)

If you have a journal lying around or an empty notebook, start a dream journal. You can spend as much, or as little, time as you want just writing down your hopes and dreams. If you don't have an empty notebook or journal, you can do it on the computer. Whatever works for you.

Keep in mind that if you do your regular workouts, at least 3 days this week, you get a bonus 50 pts!

Let me know what you have accomplished or keep track of your points on your own.

*I just finished my first day of the 30 day shred. I felt like I had much better endurance with it than the last time I did it, but I'm still super shaky. Holy cow. This is going to be hard.*

My mom just let me in on something my aunt said, back on Thanksgiving. Well, my aunt is 80 something years old and her memory is a little wacky. She's been pretty okay health wise, since her medications have been changed, so that's good. But, she still has memory issues. She has really good long term memory, but not so good short term memory. Anyway, on to my point...

She has her favorite subjects to talk about. In other words, that's all we hear about.

1. Overweight people. She loves to talk about fat people and bash them. And she knows most of us have a weight problem. It's really enough to make anyone rip their hair out.

2. Her lawn.

3. How she doesn't have her car.

4. How she doesn't feel apart of the family anymore.

She mentioned issue #4 and how she didn't feel she was part of the family anymore. My mom said nothing, so she asked why my mom made no comment. My mom just said, "I just don't understand why you feel that way".

Which led to her talking about how it all started 5 years ago, when she wasn't "invited" over to meet my husband, the first time he came out to meet me. For those of you who didn't know, my husband and I actually met here on Xanga. lol  Anyway, you can imagine that for my family it was hard to be meeting someone who I met offline, first, and was twice my age, second. It was a big thing. And none of us really knew what we were doing. if i could go back in time, I'd change a few things. But I can't. Anyway, my husband and I, at that time, decided to get married pretty quickly and that's when she was told about him. So, she felt left out. I'm sure most people could understand how she feels. It would be hard, right? But, she was invited to meet him the second time he came out, before we got married and since then, she's always been included. And, you know what, we had promised before we left, that we would try to move back here, so he could really get to know the family and what not. I was the impatient one. Anyway, we see how that turned out. We moved back and got completely screwed over, but whatever. I love being around my family none the less.

Anyway, she still holds a grudge about that first night she wasn't "invited" over.

The way I see it is, yeah, I could have done things differently and we definitely do feel bad about how everything went down. But, it's also been 5 YEARS. 5 whole freaking years. I've grown a ton in the last 5 years. I'm sorry for how things happened, yes, but that can't be fixed. Thankfully, every other member of our family gets that, too. They have gotten over everything in the past and are enjoying us here now. Except her. I mean, we do things together all the freaking time! we see each other a lot, but she's still complaining about that. Still.

I probably don't have a right to be angry. Forgiveness is not about who we are forgiving, it's about us. I've learned that. If you want to stay bitter, you'll be bitter. The only one who's affected by the bitterness is you. IF she wants to stay bitter and hold a grudge, she has to do that. And seeing that bitterness and negativity is really, really, super annoying. It's her choice, though. I can't change the past and I'm sorry for it, but I also can't make her forgive me or realize that. And if she wants to stay bitter till the day she dies, it's her waste. Whatever.

 Totally not worth it! LOL

1. it's not a race to see who can get in the store first. I mean, seriously?

2. Hey, creepy lady, Guess what? When in a public bathroom, don't stare at me through the crack in the door. I mean, were you trying to get me out of the stall faster by being a complete creep? Yes? Well, when it feels like you're giving birth again, one isn't going to be rushing out of the stall. Just stop staring at me. Gross. Creep.

Glad to be home and out of the madness.

God Bless all the retail workers and all those who are braving the crazy people. You have my admiration.

Well, here we go! I'm really excited for this, because I'm actually hoping to drop a big number, in the next 6 or so weeks. 10lbs. On top of these challenges, I'm doing Jillian Micheals 30 day shred DVD for a whole 30 days *gulp*. If anyone wants to jump on that wagon, go ahead. @cecilliamarie gave me that idea!

Anyway, here are the weekend challenges to work on:

*10 minute walk. (10 pts)

That won't be hard if, like me, you possibly go out shopping, today.

*Stretch  (10 pts)

http://exercise.about.com/cs/flexibility/l/bltotalstretch.htm

That's a stretching routine, if you need one.

* Have 1 meal undistracted (no tv. computer). (10 pts)

Sit down at the table and eat undistracted.

*1 minute meditation (10 pts)

If you want to post your beginning weight and your hopeful goal, go right ahead. Also, you can keep track of your points or comment what you did and I'll keep track of points.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

*Edit*

I'm also thinking of adding points for doing whatever regular workouts you all do. For me, for example, I would get points for doing 30 day shred. In order to keep it somewhat fair (in case someone only has time to workout, say, 3 days a week vs. 5), um... Lets say if you do 3 days of workouts, you get an added 50 pts for that week?  You might be wondering, what does the points mean? LOL, I'm not sure yet. I might send the person, with the highest amount of points a little gift. And I thought it would up the motivation to earn points, lol. Anyway, hopefully everyone will see this. So yeah, if you do at least 3 workouts a week, at minimum, you can add 50 points for that week!

I'm so, so tired. I decided to celebrate early by staying up late, last night and then my daughters idea of a sick joke was waking me up early.

Then around 12:30, we left to go to my sisters house and didn't get home till after 9. Boy, am I pooped. And I didn't even cook. I give my sister major props. this was her first year hosting thanksgiving and all the food was great. In fact, she did a better job than I did last year and better than my entire family ever has done! LOL. 

I was smart, too. See, I found out that one of the other guests was going to be bringing 4 different pies, so I just stuck to ONE plate of food. The only time I went back up was for cole slaw, because they didn't put it up when I was going through the line. Other than that, what I had my first serving was it. I did that so that I'd have more room for dessert.

Yes, lets talk about dessert. My sister made apple pie, we took pumpkin bars, Aunt Debbie brought french silk, pumpkin, pecan, cocunt cream and aunt kathy brough boston cream pie.

Holy cow! Oh, and there were cookies.

I'm proud of myself there, too. Even though, to heck with that, it's Thanksgiving. I was fully prepared to have as much dessert as i wanted.  But, you snooze you lose and my stomach was too full after a little slice of french silk and boston cream pie... Though I did have a slice of apple and we came home with a bag of cookies.

Sugar is not my best friend, lately. But, overall, I don't feel overly stuffed. Well, I kinda do, but... I really didn't stuff myself. I don't see how stuffing oneself is even possible. At some point, pain happens. lol

Anyway, then we played pictionary FINALLY. We had to watch a bunch of boring football first. We played pictionary Mania, which was much harder, but so much more entertaining! haha.

Anyway, like I said, I'm pooped. Time for bed.

Tomorrow is my hubs birthday. And, you know, we might actually do some shopping.  Well, not me. I have no money. But my mom wants too and I was invited to go along. We'll see.  I probably wont go, as I don't want to take a 3 year old out shopping on Black Friday, of all days, lol. Meh. She was supposed to go to the zoo tomorrow, anyway, but isn't because she's still getting over being sick. So, if she ain't going to the zoo, she aint going shopping.

Well, that's about it.

Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving.

Now, bring on the Christmas lights!

On Friday I'll post the first Weekend challenge. Until then, you all can choose your weigh in day. I, for example, will be weighing in tomorrow. Usually I weigh in on Mondays, and I did this past Monday and lost almost 2 lbs, yay! But, you can weigh in today or tomorrow or, if you're brave, Friday morning. Whenever works for you. Then, the plan is to not weigh in again till about Jan. 5th. A few days after new years, just in case, you know, you splurge on new years like I do! It's going to be a real challenge to not weigh in for about 6 weeks, when I've been used to doing it every week. *And if you want to post your weight on this post, as your starting weight, feel free too*

And I also just wanted to tell a little about how I set it up.

Every Monday, I'll post a weekly challenge. Just some thing to work on all through the week, from Monday to Sunday.

Then, I'll post daily challenges M-F.

Friday, after I post the daily challenge, I'll also post the weekend challenge. It's just a few things to work on over the weekend.

If you're used to tracking what you eat, you can keep doing that or not. Whatever works for you.

And keep up your regular fitness routine. Though I'm including an exercise challenge every day, it's nothing too hard or long. So, if you're used to going to the gym, keep up doing that. I love workout DVD's, and I'll keep up with those, and then do the exercise challenge on top of it.  

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Last night, Bri was very restless. She was up A LOT and that's not normal. I did notice she was swallowing and coughing and, so, I figured she was getting sick.

Yup.

We were up several times last night. Although, one of those times was because I had a horrible stomach ache. I should learn that I just can't have sweets before bed or for breakfast, lol. Anyway, since she was all restless, she woke up with me and had to come to the bathroom with me. Ugh.

It was just a rough night.

And today my main job was being kleenex lady. "I need a keenex, mommy!" And the poor thing is having a hard time breathing. It's hard listening to her. But she absolutely refuses to have vapor rub on her chest, lol. I can't blame her. I hate stuff like that, too. So, after she's asleep, it'll go on and, hopefully, she'll sleep better.

And I know exactly where she got it. I know we had a busy weekend and sometimes she just gets run down like this for a day, but we saw my cousins and their kids at my moms party on Saturday. Well, by Sunday, they were sick. Well, the mom and the one boy, the other kids aren't. However, the one son who is sick only ate the icing on his cupcake and my daughter, being a sweet lover like her mommy, took the opportunity to just eat up the cupcake he didn't eat, lol. Well, now, that's not so funny.  It's kind of irritating, but oh well.

And here I was looking forward to her possibly having her first sleep over on Thanksgiving. Ugh. Well, might just have to wait on that. If only we could foresee these kinds of things.

Looks like a pajama day is in our future. Well, maybe not for me. I skipped my workouts twice and probably should get back to doing that.  Don't you hate that? lol

I'm wondering if anyone would be interested in doing a "weight loss challenge" type thing over the holidays? Starting the day after thanksgiving through new years? Reason being, I don't want to just type up all the posts for it if no one is interested, lol. But, I may just do that anyway, just in case someone is interested at some point.

It's really not a weight loss challenge. It's more of having daily/weekly challenges to avoid the dreaded "average 5lb weight gain". I was able to lose 5lbs last year, so I'd like to keep that up again this year! But the reason it's not about weight loss so much, or at least that's not the main focus, is because weighing oneself won't be done, except for at the beginning and end, just to see the result. The focus is more on just simple things to help against over indulging and keeping up the motivation. A 6 week or so break from the scale! Make sense?

Anyone interested? I'm going to do it! I'm thinking of maybe seeing who can rack up the most points, by doing the challenges, and then sending that person a little gift. Probably through the mail or something, we'll see. I'd be starting this after Thanksgiving, but if you do want to do it, weigh yourself BEFORE thanksgiving, not the day after, lol. That would be a disaster, haha. Of course, I probably didn't have to mention that, lol.

This is one of my Day Zero goals, to host a "weight loss challenge". So, again, if anyone is interested... just comment.

I was trying to make plans for my sister to babysit on Friday, my husbands birthday. He was given the day off work, yay, and I was wanting to use our two free movie tickets.

Well, long story short... my sister said she might not mind taking Bri over night, on Thanksgiving. We're going to her house for Thanksgiving this year, anyway (yay for not having to cook!).

If it all works out, it will be awesome!

She'll love her first sleepover with Aunt Nie Nie and Uncle Adam. I'll enjoy a night without her in the bed.  

I'm so thankful for my sis and bro-in law.

*And I did enjoy our trip to frankenmuuth, today. Despite the fact that I feel like crap. Need. Sleep. Badly!*

Not every aspect remained a secret, but we still surprised her. And it was hilarious.

My mom knew of the plans to have pizza and cake at my sisters house. She wasn't supposed to know all who was invited. Like, her brother and his kids and families or her best friends, but we had no option but to go ahead and tell her that we invited her boyfriend.

That's where we had to come up with a new plan. The plan was, he would lie that he got sick or something. But, he did even better than that!

He called her around 3:30 and said, "Well, my dad wanted to visit some family in Toledo, so I hope to be there later, depending on how long it takes us to drive home". My mom was hoping he would show up, because she was so excited for him to meet people (I'll get to why she knew there would be more people, in a minute). He was so convincing, even I had a thought that he really was in Toledo! lol. But, he showed up promptly at 5, like we asked. My mom goes, "You still tricked me, didn't you". Hilarious! Yes, yes we did, mother, the one who said, "they can't keep a surprise from me". haha, we did. Go Omar (that's her boyfriend).

But, we did have a thought of it going up in smoke, at one point.

My aunt is a rather confused lady. We told her the "plan", but... she didn't understand that the other people coming was a surprise. So, when she was with my mom the other day, she goes, "Well, since Johanna is having her Thanksgiving dinner that night, is she going to be hungry when she comes to Stephanie's house?". My mom was like, "Well, I don't actually know anything about that". LOL. Yeah, she killed that surprise, because my mom then told her sister on the phone, "I have a feeling Omar will get to meet a lot of people, tonight". Yeah, thanks Aunt Bobbie, lol.

We went to pick up my aunt tonight and we were just casually talking about keeping everything a secret and how my mom kept asking questions. Then, my aunt says, "well, I didn't ask any question or answer any questions, so if she knows anything, she didn't hear it from me".

Lolololololol.

Totally cracked me up. I had to leave the room. I just couldn't help it.

Bahaha.

She had no clue she gave away that part of the secret.

But, we did it. And we had a great time. I got lots of pictures, which I will probably not post, lol. I think I said I would post pictures of something else I did a while ago and never did... so don't hold your breath. Not that anyone would anyway, just sayin'. lol  It was just awesome!