First impressions of EASports Active 2

Well, I just finished my first workout with EASports Active 2 for XBOX 360 and I must say, I'm impressed! It was an excellent workout for this older out of shape mom. Unlike the videos that are the market today or the tv shows that are out there, you are actually accountable for doing the reps required. No skipping a few or waiting until that part is over. Gotta do em to get to the next part.

The only time that this was a problem is when it was time for the floor exercises, namely push-ups and sit -ups. The Kinect sensor just doesn't seem to read correctly. Maybe it's just me or the way we have the Kinect positioned in my house. I'm not sure. But I think that this is something that Microsoft will need to address eventually.

I love the heart monitor too. Great for instant feedback. I'm looking forward to the next 9 weeks. If you are looking for a challenging workout and don't wanna pay for a personal trainer, do the next best thing. Buy a personal trainer in a box from EASports!

My false body image...

Normally when you hear people complain about a false body image, you think larger than they are. My problem is the opposite. In my mind's eye, I am still 19 and in great shape. NOT! I still see myself as that 114 pound wonder that I was, not the 41 year old 190 pound blob that I have become. You wouldn't think that it is much of a problem to view yourself as thinner than you are, but boy is it a problem!

I have a hard time buying clothes that flatter my shape because I don't know how to work with my shape. It's obvious that I can no longer fit into a size 6 or 8 or even 14. But when online shopping, those are the types of clothes that I gravitate towards. I have gotten better about it lately though. It helps that I've also lost 25 pounds in recent months.

I can now wear a 16 in most things. This is a big deal because most manufacturers stop at 16 with clothing lines. Then it is into plus sizes which are hard to navigate. I am really short legged which makes it hard to find bottoms that fit right. Believe it or not, capris usually fit me perfectly as long pants. Occassionally they can be just a little too short making it look like I have floodwaters on.

Petite clothing is not made short enough in the larger sizes to fit me right. They are actually too long. Why is that? I know I'm not the only 5'1 size 16 or 18 in the world!

The best solution for me? Lose some more weight. I would like to get down to a size 12 or even 10. I don't expect to get to a lower size than this. Age and body type pretty much dictates that. I just wanna look like I feel.

In my mind's eye, I am still an athlete. I used to run. Haven't tried that in 18 years now. Scared of what would actually jiggle if I did run. LOL I would love to run a 5k.. Thought about trying the couch to 5k program, but (insert lame excuse here)

To get started in returning to a healthy lifestyle, I have been eating better, and walking a lot more. I even try to take the public bus instead of jumping in a car to go places. This requires walking to and from bus stops to get where I am going.

I also purchased EASports  Active2 for XBOX 360. I'm gonna start it for the first time as soon as I finish this post. It's 9 weeks long. I'll update along the way. 

Today I am 190 pounds. I haven't measured inches in quite a while and quite frankly, I am too lazy to find the tape measure today...I will start doing that soon though. I'll update all that info weekly to keep myself honest...
Anyone else wanna join in? Make this a challenge? Work together?

Time for me to go workout...see ya tomorrow!

The last time..

I had an interesting conversation this morning.Another mom and I were lamenting our babies growing up. How we are going to miss certain things from when our children were little. It seems like as parents we are always focused on our children's firsts. The first word, the first tooth, the first time they crawl, walk,smile, go to school etc

In the day to day of life, we never stop to really think of the lasts in our children's lives. Sometimes they seem more important than the firsts. The last time you changed a diaper, do you remember? I don't... The last bottle that you held for your baby. The baby so gradually takes over holding their own bottle that you don't really notice until you haven't held that bottle for so long. 

I can't remember the last time  I swung a toddler up onto my hip to carry her. I never thought I'd miss those days, but I do. It doesn't seem like a big deal at the time, but it really was.

I know that there are so many first to look forward to, but there are also so many lasts too. I just hope to live each day with the awareness that every moment is important not just the dramatic ones. You never know when it will be a last...

Savor every moment...yes even those times that you wish that they would just grow up already. Because they will..and you will miss it.

How old is old enough?

I got one of those phone calls yesterday that every parent dreads. The school assistant principal called. My 11 year old 5th grader was in trouble. His crime? He visited an unapproved website while at school. The website in question www.google.com. He and his friends were looking up Boa Constrictors. If he was in 6th grade, he would be have been allowed to visit google. K through 5 are too young for any website other than the 3 websites that the school approves of. He received a day of in school suspension. I understand the need for this and have no complaints about it but...

This got me to thinking, how old is old enough? 

The same day that this happened, my 13 year old, 7th grader wanted to know if he could start a facebook page. My rule has always been not to allow things like this until high school. No email, no facebook, no myspace...nothing that can be identifiable to a particular child. I want to know that my child will make good choices on his own before I allow him to be in that situation.

After much discussion and thought on the matter, I finally allowed him to start a facebook page and email address. My husband assures me that 13 is an okay age for these kinds of things.  I will be vigorously monitoring all of his online activities but I'm still very torn though. Is he really old enough? Should I have made him wait? 

The hard part is the knowledge that you can't "unsee" what you saw by mistake. The internet is a great place as long as you are careful. 

When it comes to the internet, how old is old enough?

For the Love of Chocolate..

Yes It's true...I freely admit it... I LOVE Chocolate...not just a little... a whole lot...like um...don't make me chose between my blog and chocolate...oooh I know... how about a chocolate blog!


Today I wanted chocolate soo much that I had to make SOMETHING....course I didn't know what.. Cake takes too long to get that chocolate fix. No candy in the house either...soo

I made pudding...yep good ole chocolate pudding. Homemade of course

. Oh now you know why I have a bit of a weight problem.

Weight problem?

 I don't have a weight problem!.... I have a height problem!

 I am the perfect weight...if only I was 7 foot tall.... tee hee

Okay, okay.. I 'll share my recipe... just cause y'all asked so nicely...


Nancy's HomeMade Chocolate Pudding

1/2 cup  sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 tablespoons cornstarch

2 cups milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

mix together the sugar, cocoa and cornstarch until its well blended

stir in the milk until its smooth

microwave for 3 minutes

stir

microwave for 30 seconds  stir again

continue microwaving and stirring until thickened

add in the vanilla stirring well

cool and eat!

This is so much better than boxed pudding too. Quick, easy and uses things that most everyone has in the pantry. Just don't eat too much...LOL goes right to the hips ...I should know...


Of course, you can always add in some whipped topping to make it more mousse like. or add in bananas or brownie pieces or whatever you got. Yummy!


Hope you all enjoy!

I lost my hair!

On a whim, I went and got my hair cut today. I donated my dreaded ponytail to Locks of Love. 11 inches of hair gone in one quick snip of the scissors. I feel so much lighter! I look better without all that hair too. I went to Extreme Hair in Spring Hill. They just opened a week ago on 19 in the Target Plaza. I would recommend them for your hairstyling needs.

I hope to eventually get rid of the glasses too. They never seem to sit straight. Did wear contacts for a while but got too lazy about it. I need to go get new ones.

Need new clothes? Enter the giveaway over on A Taste of T's blog  She is giving away two $100 gift cards to APART STYLE

Stop on by and take a look...www.atasteoft.com

Say It Ain't So...

I don't know when it happened. I blinked and my babies grew up. Son number 2 gets his driving permit on Monday. I know he is a little older than most of the kids just getting his permit, but he is still my baby. Son number 3 is also old enough for a driving permit. I have 4 teenage sons and three elementary age children.Where did the time go?

I'm not ready to be a mom to adults! I'm not old enough. Okay, maybe I *am* old enough chronologically but I don't *feel* old enough. I still wanna be that 20 year old with no cares and worries. Oh to be young again...

I still haven't even decided what I want to be when I grow up... Is there a time limit to that kind of decision? Like shouldn't I have *some* idea by now?  Maybe by the time I'm 50, I'll know what I wanna be. In all honesty, probably not though. Did Donna Reed have these kinds of problems? Wonder what June Cleaver wanted to be when she grew up?

Oooh, can you tell I grew up watching too much tv? Wonder if Carol Brady would have any advice on teenage drivers?