Sunday, September 16, 2007
Project Completion!
Here is my first landscape design that I'm getting paid for! It took forever, but it is done, and I'm much more excited for any designs in the future. (Especially now that I've done so much research on Oregon plants). This one was for $175. Doing a design is such a daunting task- I can't believe I'd crank out one of these per week at BYU. I think I'd really like to just prune people's plants, give expert care advice, and do plant identification and get paid an hourly rate. That would be much easier than having to bring a design home and mull over it for hours. I've had one other semi-serious offer, but I'm happy for now to be done. I've got my own backyard landscaping project to do before my yard gets waterlogged this winter.
First Days of Preschool
So Derek and Spencer started preschool this past week. Derek is going to Calvary Lutheran preschool, and Spencer is doing a mom-taught co-op with me and 5 other moms. Derek has been so excited to go! He goes MWF from 9-11:30. He really loves it. Spencer goes on TTH from 9-11:30. He was a little shy the first day. He did very well considering that he didn't know any of the kids or the mom teaching. He was more like himself the second day of class. He really likes their art projects and playing with the toys. It has been really nice to have just Lindsey and one of the boys during the morning. It's fun to have the one-on-one time with them. (Derek was so excited to go to the grocery story with just me and Lindsey on Tuesday that he was literally dancing down the aisles-- he would love to be an only child). Yay for school!!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Miranda's First Day in First Grade
Miranda was so excited to go to first grade this year. She practically came home singing and dancing the first day. It is fun to see her so excited for each new day. She has also really enjoyed having her friend Melissa walk home with her and stay until her big brother picks her up. She worried a little bit about getting all her chores done before school, but so far she has been ready early. She loves her lunches: peaches, go-gurt, granola bar, tootsie rolls, wheat thins, and apple juice are a typical lunch for her.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Spencer's Third Birthday
We celebrated Spencer's third birthday last Sunday with the extended family. Larry and I stayed up late the night before creating a "tower of power". It looks nothing like the tower of power from 'The Backyardigans', but it didn't matter- Spencer loved it.
Spencer enjoyed the attention and his new toys! He got a soccer goal that talks, a giant ball, dinosaur stamps, clothes, a pirate ship, a race track and other little goodies. One of his favorite gifts was a bag of dum dum suckers from Miranda. He was very nice and shared with everyone. Lindsey quickly popped one in her mouth, wrapper and all! Eventually it came off and she gobbled it up.
Another unexpected surprise was that I FINALLY found a group of moms to do a preschool with! Now Spencer will be able to have preschool twice a week. I think he'll love it.
Spencer enjoyed the attention and his new toys! He got a soccer goal that talks, a giant ball, dinosaur stamps, clothes, a pirate ship, a race track and other little goodies. One of his favorite gifts was a bag of dum dum suckers from Miranda. He was very nice and shared with everyone. Lindsey quickly popped one in her mouth, wrapper and all! Eventually it came off and she gobbled it up.
Another unexpected surprise was that I FINALLY found a group of moms to do a preschool with! Now Spencer will be able to have preschool twice a week. I think he'll love it.Larry Won!
Larry officially won the Biggest Loser contest yesterday. We figured out that he won by a long shot. He only had to get to 123, and he ended at 118. Don't worry, though, he has gained at least 10 pounds in the last 36 hours- most of it water, we assume. He is eating like he used to, but his stomach is definatly not used to it yet- he often feels sick after a meal.
Larry won a pair of season tickets to BYU football and a condo in Cancun, Mexico, that we can use anytime over the next two years!
Go, Larry!!
Larry won a pair of season tickets to BYU football and a condo in Cancun, Mexico, that we can use anytime over the next two years!
Go, Larry!!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
160lbs but started at 165 lbs
138lbs
120 lbs but got to 118lbs
Summary
I must thank Michelle (my wife, I always eat her great food from beginning to end of diet) my 4 kids, extended family and friends for the support, without that I would never had made it.
Who would have thought a non runner could run 20 miles in a day or 84 miles in a week. When I started this, I was told my blood pressure was too high from 2 doctors and my fat % was not fit which scared me because I am only 32. I worried about my value to my family so I saw the competition as a way to lose some weight while I learned to build good habits for 20 weeks. I have never intentionally lost weight before this year, or counted calories. I had no idea I would hit my goal so fast, but I new the longer went that my habits would become more solidified. So the 1st 15 weeks of the competition were about health; I got to 140 lbs. The last 4-5 weeks were all about the contest. I got competitive but I never got hurt, other than blisters and a bad hit to the chest in a basketball game- no real injuries. One question I get asked all the time is when did you find the time. I got up every morning except Sundays at 5am, worked out till 7am, and used lunch breaks at work. Even my car wreak helped the last week since I had to ride my bike every where. I ended it by losing a last pound in the last hour of competition with my wife watching ( she can tell you the details). Then we went to Applebees, got a large appetizer, large burger, and chocolate shake, and fries.
STATS
Fat% at start was 20.2% and now 4.5%
BPI dropped 25.5 to 19
Blood pressure 142/82 to today 114/75
Weight 168, though I started at 165 today 120 lbs, was at 180 last year
Cholesterol I need to get new results to know the change but I’m sure dropped a ton because it was high before
BEST HABITS I gained in the 20 weeks ( I plan on keeping)
I cut out all fast food (big help)
Playing basketball 4 times a week ( I was already doing this)Swimming 2 times a week for about 1 mile and water polo on weekend when I could ( I was already doing this one habit 3 months)
I have been running about 10-30 (4-8 at a time) miles a week though at end I was up in the 80 miles a week
Abs work since this may be the only chance to see them, which I sure do now
Extra work around house on the hunt for anything that burns calories (about 30 mins-1 hour a night cleaning)
Look for service opportunities to burn calories
Almost stop watching TV, stop playing computer games; I was addicted (maybe one of the best things out of this)
Use Non fat milk, healthy cereals, more fruit, cut out fat snacks and cut back on desserts
Use stairs always when I can (100 stairs to work) go up and down 2-3 times a day
Made healthier lunches (I use to put tons of leftovers and junk food in them) now just balanced
Drink lots of water
Use my bike to ride to work or around town when possibleBecame an early riser instead of late hermit crab
Affects:I run better and jump better than I ever remember; I don’t get drowsy at night. I am happy that I should live much longer with BP down and I am sure my cholesterol is also.
I feel confident in my self to reach other mighty goals, weight training, learning the piano, learning to cook, typing my mission journals.
I was better able to help my wife in the morning with kids going to bed at decent time and at night cleaning and we are happier.
What habits in diet I will not continue:
1. Mass running: I will tone down the running to few miles a week but will add weight training and more swimming.
2. Cutting food: I will eat more but keep to only good foods, rarely fast foods. I really only cut lots of food last few weeks
3. Watch TV: I have to watch BYU football and some Trailblazers, but will try to cut TV shows
4. Abs work started hurting my back will stop for a while
5. Hope to get to good weight of 140lb to 150lbs with weights
138lbs
120 lbs but got to 118lbs
Summary
I must thank Michelle (my wife, I always eat her great food from beginning to end of diet) my 4 kids, extended family and friends for the support, without that I would never had made it.
Who would have thought a non runner could run 20 miles in a day or 84 miles in a week. When I started this, I was told my blood pressure was too high from 2 doctors and my fat % was not fit which scared me because I am only 32. I worried about my value to my family so I saw the competition as a way to lose some weight while I learned to build good habits for 20 weeks. I have never intentionally lost weight before this year, or counted calories. I had no idea I would hit my goal so fast, but I new the longer went that my habits would become more solidified. So the 1st 15 weeks of the competition were about health; I got to 140 lbs. The last 4-5 weeks were all about the contest. I got competitive but I never got hurt, other than blisters and a bad hit to the chest in a basketball game- no real injuries. One question I get asked all the time is when did you find the time. I got up every morning except Sundays at 5am, worked out till 7am, and used lunch breaks at work. Even my car wreak helped the last week since I had to ride my bike every where. I ended it by losing a last pound in the last hour of competition with my wife watching ( she can tell you the details). Then we went to Applebees, got a large appetizer, large burger, and chocolate shake, and fries.
STATS
Fat% at start was 20.2% and now 4.5%
BPI dropped 25.5 to 19
Blood pressure 142/82 to today 114/75
Weight 168, though I started at 165 today 120 lbs, was at 180 last year
Cholesterol I need to get new results to know the change but I’m sure dropped a ton because it was high before
BEST HABITS I gained in the 20 weeks ( I plan on keeping)
I cut out all fast food (big help)
Playing basketball 4 times a week ( I was already doing this)Swimming 2 times a week for about 1 mile and water polo on weekend when I could ( I was already doing this one habit 3 months)
I have been running about 10-30 (4-8 at a time) miles a week though at end I was up in the 80 miles a week
Abs work since this may be the only chance to see them, which I sure do now
Extra work around house on the hunt for anything that burns calories (about 30 mins-1 hour a night cleaning)
Look for service opportunities to burn calories
Almost stop watching TV, stop playing computer games; I was addicted (maybe one of the best things out of this)
Use Non fat milk, healthy cereals, more fruit, cut out fat snacks and cut back on desserts
Use stairs always when I can (100 stairs to work) go up and down 2-3 times a day
Made healthier lunches (I use to put tons of leftovers and junk food in them) now just balanced
Drink lots of water
Use my bike to ride to work or around town when possibleBecame an early riser instead of late hermit crab
Affects:I run better and jump better than I ever remember; I don’t get drowsy at night. I am happy that I should live much longer with BP down and I am sure my cholesterol is also.
I feel confident in my self to reach other mighty goals, weight training, learning the piano, learning to cook, typing my mission journals.
I was better able to help my wife in the morning with kids going to bed at decent time and at night cleaning and we are happier.
What habits in diet I will not continue:
1. Mass running: I will tone down the running to few miles a week but will add weight training and more swimming.
2. Cutting food: I will eat more but keep to only good foods, rarely fast foods. I really only cut lots of food last few weeks
3. Watch TV: I have to watch BYU football and some Trailblazers, but will try to cut TV shows
4. Abs work started hurting my back will stop for a while
5. Hope to get to good weight of 140lb to 150lbs with weights
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