60-Day Challenge Check-In Post 5/5-5/11

Comments

[WireGryphon]

I found myself on auto pilot last night, eating the salt at the bottom of the pretzel bag. D'oh!

On the upside, I didn't tell myself what a hopeless loser I am. So hooray on the positive self talk, even if I blew it on salting. And right back to it.

[pnuts mama]

thanks ladies, for all the kind words and good vibes- the worst part i think is my disappointment in myself, you know? then of course some j*ck*ss says to me today "you know it's just going to be that much harder once the second baby comes, right? i was like, "really? really!" ugh.

@caramama- have you checked the CCL to see if they have charting paper you can download? i'm not big on their theological approach to the world, but i kwym about being in touch w/ your cycle being spiritual in a way.

@chaosgirl- WTF?? who steals your stuff, especially your sex toys? i can picture myself talking to the detective taking my statement "do you know how much these things cost?" in all seriousness, i am sorry you experienced that and i hope your sense of violation diminishes rapidly.

@hedra, caramama and all the other mamas who lose it in a fit of momentary insanity- been there, apologized, moved on. i think i remember more *feelings* than actual *moments* from my childhood, and i'm banking on the fact that the pnut will grow up remembering her childhood as a warm cocoon of security and love, and forget the times when mama went off the deep end over stupid sh*t.

***
wrote a bit yesterday, am about to start today.

ate way better yesterday, saw difference in fingers- am about to have a snack of cucumbers.

overreacted like a jerk yesterday morning, apologized, have been better since then.

saw my little guy on the sono today- chubby cheeks- so sweet! anatomy looked great, and on track at 3lbs 12oz and doing well. keeping him inside as long as we can. whee!!

[&BabyMakes75]

I posted my two things just today but have been thinking about it...

Today I really succeeded! Yippee! I biked to work and resisted the urge to get a ride home b/c tired. Even though I didn't pack "enough" food, I still only ate my packed lunch instead of yucky-calorie-laden cafeteria or vending food. (The "enough" is in quotes b/c it really was enough calorie wise and such, with variety, yet this is the emotional part of my challenge: understanding that eating what would fuel my body properly is NOT depriving myself!)

[Chaosgirl]

thanks to everyone for your support re: the break-in. I'm getting a grip.

@JB - try juices with vegetable bases, like the Sunrype stuff. When I was preggo, I was an addict. Couldn't start the day without a glass. Very tasty and offers a serving of veggies and fruits in one tasty glass.

[Chaosgirl]

@pnuts mama -

I opted to *not* tell the cops for obvious reasons!! But I'm sure they put two and two together when they took photos of my rather empty looking toy drawer next to my bed.

Fortunately, the weasels left my other items and, the really good news? I had the one vibe with me that I really love, and can't replace. I refer to that one as "Mother Teresa": she's a miracle worker.

:)

I walked for an hour today and my mental health has been significantly buoyed by all you sweet people. Thank you thank you thank you!!

[Chaosgirl]

@pnuts mama -

I opted to *not* tell the cops for obvious reasons!! But I'm sure they put two and two together when they took photos of my rather empty looking toy drawer next to my bed.

Fortunately, the weasels left my other items and, the really good news? I had the one vibe with me that I really love, and can't replace. I refer to that one as "Mother Teresa": she's a miracle worker.

:)

I walked for an hour today and my mental health has been significantly buoyed by all you sweet people. Thank you thank you thank you!!

[Jan]

Yesterday I didn't really manage something active (though I did park at the far end of the parking lot at work), but this morning I took my Little Dude to parent/tot gymnastics class so I got to jump! on the trampoline!

Last night I read for a good 20 minutes before I went to sleep. And tonight I'm doing this, and then will finish up some booties I knit for the Little Dude's inside school shoes. Tomorrow night I have a sewing project in mind.

Also, I'm on the horns of a job-related dilemma. Where's the post for working those through?

[hedra]

Still no exercise (that's my second day of no, but I've got two days out of the week to not exercise, so I'm still okay - and I'm still sick).

No blogging but DID finish up some edits to the Montessori at Home presentation, which is next week. I'm counting that.

[Mommy-O]

Doing good with the physical but not the spiritual/emotional.

No journaling or reading yet. Maybe this weekend.

[epeepunk]

@caramama: You can find serving size information here: http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/index.html. I used their program to help me reset my sense of how much should be on my plate for dinner.

So far, I've kept the anger out. And I'm finding the mornings easier when I am mindfully calm.

No exercise yet - I don't fully expect that to happen until June. But there the weekends.

[BabyBrady]

Physical - Baby and I have been walking everyday. My calves are so sore from walking uphill on Tuesday. I can barely walk. I found a dvd I wanted to do, but the dvd was missing from the case! Argh. But I feel good.

Mental - I thought about what to read and actually went with something basic. Kind of. When Baby was born last June, the new Harry Potter had just been released. Typically I would have read the book in one sitting, over night, straight through. Instead I was breast feeding and attempting to get sleep in ten minute slices. So... I am trying to get through the last Harry Potter in ten minute slices. It's all for me and I feel like I deserve it.

[emsgreen]

Ran again last night, and again the time to myself was worth the wheezing and achy legs.

Watching money? Yeah, well, not so much. Do any of you have any suggestions for budgeting/getting out of debt books that actually work in the real world?

[michaela]

I'm doing ok... still no yoga/running due to trying to be cautious about overexerting myself post-pneumonia. Soon, though, soon...

But, on the reconnecting physically w/ my husband: last night we cuddled on the couch and watched a couple episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm -- long a favorite of his, which I've just gotten into. It was REALLY nice to just hang out together.

Which makes me think that my goal needs to include limiting my after-dinner computer time. It really encroaches on our couple time, and that is Not Good.

[chaser]

even tho i'm feeling like i might be getting sick, I exercised for 45 minutes, yay me! (i scaled down to power-walking, instead of running.) i am capable of more than I realize, and when i tap that potential i am energized.

dinners have been going well, keeping it to one serving, and after-dinner snacking has been on program. I have enough.

[Charisse]

Leaves for lunch AND dinner yesterday. Woo. No reading yesterday though--late evening discussion with Mouse about how the cars from Cars didn't grow in their mommy's tummies like all her friends and all the animals she knows. Could not sleep until we covered everybody.

@hedra, I think I was on a business trip the week you were sending the Montessori preso to everybody--if/when you feel ready, could you stand shooting one more out? cyd at cydharrell dot com Much obliged. (I'm a little daunted by the idea that it will be a ton of effort, but the Montessori at school sure is magic with my kid.)

[paola]

Worked out of the house today so no 'baby break', but work I count as fun as I got to talk to an adult. Came home to a million things to do, plus screaming 16 month old (either that other molar or the start of the 75-week-shitty behaviour thingo), but managed to clean the bathrooms, so got 'something that will make my life easier' done.

Amazingly, have kept sugar-fix to once a day. I would like to specify, that this does not include the sugar I have in my (one) daily coffee or naturally sweet foods like dried/fresh fruit, carrots etc.

@caramama
the Indian food episode cracked me right up. Oh, on the Billings site, you can download a fertility chart with all their symbols.

[caramama]

1. Probably 2 servings of fruits/veggies yesterday.
2. Got to take my temp this morning. Will print out charting paper now!

pnuts mama – great idea about checking online! I use charts from toni welscher’s book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I checked her website, and sure enough there is a PDF of charting paper that I can print! Thanks!

epeepunk – Thanks for the link. I will print that out too!

[hedra]

@Charisse, epeepunk has the final version with him, so I'll have to send it out later - maybe over the weekend? We're giving the presentation next week. I really think it isn't so much 'a lot of work' but 'a different way of looking at things' and 'the beginning of many small changes'.

For anyone else who wanted the final copy (or didn't ask), we had a request to incorporate some Montessori method for dealing with sibling issues into the document. So that's in there, now, too. (At least a few ideas. I had to edit for length. And y'all know how much I don't enjoy editing for length, LOL!)

[Charisse]

@hedra, no hurry! I'd be interested anytime.

[welter]

Haven't posted on this challenge yet, but monday i started t-tapp. I may ahve to get the book to really nail the form. For the veteran t tappers out there, what was the trajectory for how to progress? I mean, should i keep doing the instructional #1 until i've got it, and then do the bwo+ in perpetuity, or is there another dvd to which i would logically move on at some point? And what is the t tapp boot camp that someone posted about?

My emotional/relating goal is to try to apply the techniques and mindset of Lawrence Cohen's'*
Playful Parenting* to (recommended by hedra) how i relate to my 3.5 yo. In general marina's'recent discussion about mourning the time with firstborn once second-born arrives has been uppermost in my mind. Exacerbated by the fact that my husband is doing a lot to push me away from caring for #1, and this is hard to resist in light of #2's current needs (5.5 mo). So today in my limited time w/ #1, i invented a silly game of "snatch the balloon," wherein i repeatedly attempted and goofily failed to snatch the string to which a helium balloon is tied. Uproarious giggles, which is the desired effect.
@pnuts mama: i am at the very last stages (woohoo) of writing a dissertation that in the end will not be what it could or should be (boohoo). At the beginning of grad school, i remember reading that under 2 percent of students in the grad school of arts and sciences at my institution were married, and the percentage with children registered statistically as zero!!! Doing a phD with kid(s) is so hard that few seem to attempt it. You will need longer to finish than others in your cohort (assuming you want to finish). My therapist says that (barring health problems, errant buses, etc), i can engage in all the activities i want to in my life --Just NOT all at the same time. And biology trumps all. You can stretch out your grad career if you need to; you can't birth and nurse babies forever. So that wins for right now. That said, i've been very well served by having an adviser who raised three children "back in the day" and understands the demands of my juggling act. Any such luck for you, pnut's'mama?

[welter]

Haven't posted on this challenge yet, but monday i started t-tapp. I may ahve to get the book to really nail the form. For the veteran t tappers out there, what was the trajectory for how to progress? I mean, should i keep doing the instructional #1 until i've got it, and then do the bwo+ in perpetuity, or is there another dvd to which i would logically move on at some point? And what is the t tapp boot camp that someone posted about?

My emotional/relating goal is to try to apply the techniques and mindset of Lawrence Cohen's'*
Playful Parenting* to (recommended by hedra) how i relate to my 3.5 yo. In general marina's'recent discussion about mourning the time with firstborn once second-born arrives has been uppermost in my mind. Exacerbated by the fact that my husband is doing a lot to push me away from caring for #1, and this is hard to resist in light of #2's current needs (5.5 mo). So today in my limited time w/ #1, i invented a silly game of "snatch the balloon," wherein i repeatedly attempted and goofily failed to snatch the string to which a helium balloon is tied. Uproarious giggles, which is the desired effect.
@pnuts mama: i am at the very last stages (woohoo) of writing a dissertation that in the end will not be what it could or should be (boohoo). At the beginning of grad school, i remember reading that under 2 percent of students in the grad school of arts and sciences at my institution were married, and the percentage with children registered statistically as zero!!! Doing a phD with kid(s) is so hard that few seem to attempt it. You will need longer to finish than others in your cohort (assuming you want to finish). My therapist says that (barring health problems, errant buses, etc), i can engage in all the activities i want to in my life --Just NOT all at the same time. And biology trumps all. You can stretch out your grad career if you need to; you can't birth and nurse babies forever. So that wins for right now. That said, i've been very well served by having an adviser who raised three children "back in the day" and understands the demands of my juggling act. Any such luck for you, pnut's'mama?

[Amy]

Checking in to say I did NOT exercise, nor did I do anything today that made me feel like a good mommy. Okay, not true... I made a Chinese Pasta from my Laptop Lunch cookbook but the kids didn't like it, so I microwaved a mac n cheese for them, then burned the bejeezus out of two fingers as I pulled it out of the microwave which left me sobbing over the kitchen sink for about 15 minutes... with baby crying in the highchair and the older kids dancing around him trying to get him to laugh instead. Then let baby CIO b/c I just could NOT deal with all three kids by myself tonight and get homework done, etc all with swollen, throbbing fingers. (Husband had a work deal). So, grace under pressure I am not. Nor was this evening a stellar mothering moment. I hate days like today...

[Amy]

Ooops, should explain that it was the attempt at the Laptop Lunch recipe (with hidden veggies AND ground flax seed) that was the "good" mommying bit. All the rest was the bad mommying bit...

[Girl Jen]

I bike commuted all five days this work week! I'm planning on riding from my house to the really cool park about three miles away tomorrow. That's no longer than my commute; then again, I'll be pulling the trailer and the 24-lb. Lizard.

I still swear like a sailor at work. It's hard not to, working around a bunch of EMTs and paramedics! I have really cleaned up my mouth at home, though. I was even able to limit myself to a "Son of a gun!" when I spilled hot coffee on myself.

[Cassie]

@ paola There's a 75 week regression? That explains everything!

[paola]

@Cassie

'fraid there is. But, good news, that's the last one till 2.5 years old. Woo Hoo!!!!!

[MamaBird]

I'm hanging in. Doing fine on the one-desert-a-day plan, poorly on the no-internet-time-wasting plan.

[Suz]

Physical: Monday 1hr 10min exercise; Tuesday 1hr 10min exercise; Wednesday 30min exercise; Thursday 1hr 30min exercise; Today 30min exercise (so far, planning on going to gym after afternoon nap) That means 2hrs 10min more by Sunday evening. Pretty Good.

Writing in Journal: not done. I have not written for so long and I have so many things to say and it seems daunting to actually sit down and start. I guess I should just pick a topic and go. Maybe even give myself a limit like you can only write one page--then it won't seem so daunting. Maybe. I will do it by Sunday night though.

[Clementine]

Just signed up a few days ago:
Physical: Doing some ab exercises each day. Signing up for the challenge helps me to keep this in mind.

Mental/Spiritual: Having trouble with the being kind to self bit and acknowledging that I'm going OK with the mom/wife/work thing. Maybe it's that it's the end of the week and we still don't get much sleep. Little stuff that shouldn't bother me does and makes me feel bad.

[doublejen]

Doing great with reading. Have made time for at least 15 minutes every night before bed. Still no luck on finishing up the reading for my course, tho. I think that will have to wait for the weekend when I'm less tired.

I made a timing blunder with running, unfortunately. I had a bout of insomnia Wed. night, so decided not to run yesterday - I'll do it Friday instead! But I forgot that I'm having a mole removed from my thigh today, so no running for me for at least a week. Oh well. I should still be able to do some walking, so I'll just keep up with that til I get the okay to run again.

[MrsHaley]

Doing ok in the personal grooming department. Makeup every day this week!

Also doing well on keeping a lid on the moodiness ... but got irritated with DH last night b/c he was not doing the same. He got snippy with me about something I did not do / had no control over. Gotta remember this is MY resolution, not his.

To whomever recommended author Laurie Colwin (I know lots love her but I can't remember who brought it up) THANK YOU! I'm in the middle of "Happy All the Time" and am taking it SO SLOWLY to savor it. HILARIOUS!! I will have to ration the rest of them.

[Charisse]

OK on leaves yesterday (I think the less seeds part is going to be Phase 2 in a couple weeks)...Curse of Chalion still waiting to be started. I won't name any names, but certain people around here are very excited about the Mother's Day presents they made and cannot seem to both contain the surprise and relax for sleep at the same time. Adorably dear yet incredibly frustrating.

[Jess]

So far this week I'm sticking w/ WW, eating tons of fruit and veg and I've run twice done yoga once. Need to find a way to do yoga this afternoon.

@Chaosgirl: you're cracking me up...glad to hear your backup survived ;-)

@Mrs.haley: My fave LC novel is "A Big Storm Knocked It Over"... but I love her non-fiction "Home Cooking" and "More Home Cooking" even more. Worth checking out if you're into food/cooking.

[Catherine]

So far so good on my (admittedly modest) goals: I've been drinking water while I feed the baby, since she enjoys taking sips out of my glass, and that makes it actually sort of fun. And sex -- hey, it's even nicer than I remembered.

Also, and this is totally unrelated, but I don't really have a forum in my real life where I can talk about this (outside of therapy): as of today it has been exactly one year since I last binged and purged. And I turned in a final draft of my dissertation last Friday. And in September I'll start work as a professor, which is terrifying but also so exciting. And, best of all, after being about as miserable and guilt-ridden and unhealthy a pregnant woman as one could be, I am, to my amazement and gratitude, a happy and reasonably healthy mother to my daughter. A year ago I wouldn't have believed this was possible.

I am so proud of myself. I'm sure the feeling will ebb, so I just wanted to put it in writing somewhere.

[pnuts mama]

@welter- i am tremendously lucky to have an awesome adviser that has 3 kids- twins in hs and a girl in grammar- he totally understands and probably gives me *too* much leeway b/c of it. so we go back to the point that basically i need to just motivate myself and get to work already! thanks for the good vibes- i totally love playful parenting! except when my patience has run out and i don't. sigh.

***
did well enough with the eating, yesterday was a family event and it was tough emotionally for me, but i didn't lash out or feel my temper flare so that was good. today has been great so far, too.

wasn't even home yesterday to read or write, am trying to wrap up some little stuff so i can get to work now. but it's late already. ugh.

[pnuts mama]

@catherine- CONGRATULATIONS!!! all of those are major accomplishments that you *should* be proud of- wow!!!

[ada]

Physical - completed the 4-day T-Tapp bootcamp last night.

Mental - see above. My original goal was to start meditation. But yesterday a major family crisis came to a head (after slowing simmering on the back burner for years). And I was able to calmly help my husband deal with it (its related to his family), instead of totally freaking out. And then when we got home and got the baby to bed, I went downstairs and did T-Tapp. I did *not* drink the bottle of wine or eat the package of cookies (which is what I wanted to do.) Instead, I exercised.

Major, major, MAJOR mental breakthrough for me.

[Nina M]

PT at-home exercises not going so hot, my shoulder feels worse after going in for PT on Thursday. But I did have been doing the stretches for my hip, so that's been good.

Not so good on challenging negative thoughts; guess the end of the semester is a little more challenging than other times! It'll help when I have some more breathing room.

[Mommy-O]

Just finished my third TTapp of the week. My week is from Sun - Sat so this was my last chance. 10pm at night but "I did it".

[Holly]

Happy Mother's Day to all! I am amazed by you guys. I got 2 good walks in this week, before bad weather, other social commitments, and a bad cold stopped my momentum to reaching the goal of 4 walks. Now I am hoping the baby and the 2 year old don't catch this cold! I called an out of state friend, but missed her, then we connected by email. So, I can say I met the goal to contact an old friend every week. :) Also, I have found increased motivation and productivity in other areas of life, just by setting my 2 little goals here. Isn't that weird? But pretty neat! You all are inspiring! Now to blow my nose and continue to try to breathe!

[pnuts mama]

happy mothers day, everyone!!

doing well on all of my goals this weekend so far, am trying to get to writing while pnut naps- would also like to squeeze in a nap too...sigh...

[Girl Jen]

End of the week, w00t!

I rode my bike to work today, the first day of my work week. It was a fantastic ride, by the way.

I have gotten my husband and my trainee at work on the stop-swearing bandwagon, which is awesome peer pressure for me. I don't want to be the only pottymouth in the room, so I keep it clean when nobody else is swearing.

[Suz]

I did 6 hours and 25 minutes of exercise this week. I was going to finish up the last 35 minutes today, but it's mother's day and well, I had a few beers last night. I'm happy with what I did. I did not write at all, but I will next week. I will make time.

[Karen]

I did pretty well this week. Walked everyday, stretched after walking 5 of 7, and meditated 6 of 7. Being part of the "challenge" definitely helped, since I already feel boredom creeping in, despite walking in some lovely weather and settings. Re: my missed meditation - I've been trying to make it a habit as soon as kiddo is down for his nap, but this afternoon, Mr. Karen was home (& squeaky clean for a change!), & my thoughts were less than contemplative. (A noteworthy turn of events for a woman whose libido was on hiatus from the the middle of the 2nd trimester 'till the babe was 14 months old.)

[Madeleine]

I had a mixed week. I only did T-Tapp once. And then on Friday I wrenched my knee so no exercise this week. (I'm feeling better today than yesterday, but what hurts is putting weight on it while it's bent, and that's pretty much T-Tapp right there.)

I didn't bitch at my daughter while getting out the door all week. This was helped a bit by having my mom visiting, so I had logistic support (and an audience). I did, however, bitch at my mom to get out the door. Because she was folding laundry instead of putting on her shoes, even after I said, twice, Time To Go!

This week I'm away for work, so my husband is in charge of all Getting Out The Door. I'll send him good vibes.

My revised goals for this business trip week, since neither of my originals is relevant, are:
1) drink enough water and not toooo much coffee. Remember my supplements, which is harder to do away from home. Enjoy the chance to eat well, but don't gorge. Last night I left some food on my plate, because it was a huge serving and I was full. Yay me. (That is way more than one goal. Hmmm.)

and

2) Remain calm, but get ready for the work presentations. This means now.

[Suzie]

sex: check :-)
yoga: not so much... something to aim for this week!

[Norman]

Hoo boy. Treated the plantar wart 4 out of 7 days. Wrote in my journal once. Twice?
All in all, not too impressive a showing, but my resolve is renewed. Wart, your ass is mine tonight.

[Updasiaduts]

http://urselections.com/user/history/Mcloy78instant
No. I will not do that because that will result in a conflict and you will end up messing up with your computer. I'd rather suggest you to use a better known anti virus to protect your computer or use Linux based OS so that your computer will be relatively less prone to viruses