The Count

When I worked as a Weight Watchers leader I had a couple members who would come in with this weird band on their arm.  I asked them what it was and they looked at me like I had a third eyeball.

One of them exclaimed, "It's the BodyBugg from Biggest Loser!"

It may seem odd, but I have never watched The Biggest Loser.  So I had no idea what they were talking about.  They explained that it has a sensor that reads your body.  It tells you how many calories a day you burn so you can track your intake.  You eat less than you burn and you loose weight.

I dismissed the gadget at the time simply because of Weight Watchers.  Why would you need to spend the cash on such a thing when you can just count points? 

Then I had my 5th baby and turned 35 and gained and gained.  Regardless of my efforts I gained.  I went back to Weight Watchers for 12 weeks and fluctuated 2lbs.  Frustrated I decided to jump on the low carb band wagon.  I cut all sugar and lowered my carb intake to 20 grams a day.  I gained 7lbs!  Hello!  Wrong direction!!

In the back of my mind I remembered the BodyBugg.  I thought, "Maybe my metabolism has changed and I have no idea how many calories a day I actually burn."  I run and use my treadclimber, as well as lift weights.  I didn't think there was any way I was eating more than I burned.  I was wrong, really really wrong.

Dana M lent me her bugg for a week.  In that week I realized just how much I was over eating.  I decided to take the plunge and get my own bugg.  I actually purchased mine on Craigslist and for $45 (a ridiculous deal!  Used they typically run near $100) I was in business.  It bluetooths to my phone to a free app and I can record my intake anytime, anywhere.  I can also see how many calories I've burned.  If I'm really wanting a particular snack and I don't have the allowance for it, I do some activity until I've earned it.

It's removed the guessing game.  I no longer feel trapped into gaining all my weight back.  I also don't feel trapped by running.  If I can't work out today, no worries.  I'll just cut back my calories and I still lose.  I'm down 7lbs in 3 weeks and I have 10lbs to go to get back to my Weight Watcher's goal. 

Here are a couple of my favorite things to spend my calories on:

30 chips for 110 calories!  And they are delicious!

Taste just like Snickers ice cream bars!  But 140 cals!!

Yummy Chocolate!  80 cals plus fiber?  Yes please!

Life In a Blog Shell

-The Altic house has temporarily been renamed the Babysitter's Club.  The last 3 weeks have been full of tiny people coming and going.  We've had 4 extras most days and I have to admit it's been fun.  I haven't ever really thought of myself as a babysitter but I think it's more I had soo many babies myself.  It's not as difficult now that mine are older.  One day we had 3 one year old's and 2 three year old's and then the boys.  That was the hardest but most enjoyable day.  The babies everywhere was so much fun.  It's been a real blessing to our family both with having playmates and financially.  Several extras hit this month and we were able to just pay the man.  Gotta love that!

-I've been struggling over the last 3 weeks with illness.  First a bronchitis type illness wiped me out for over a week.  Then on Saturday afternoon I had a migraine that ended in the flu.  I finally feel human this morning.  A couple of the tiny people I've kept have been ill with fevers and such.  I can't help but wonder if there's a connection :)

-Ms. Jane and I have been up to the Fort twice this month for early morning runs.  The first was a run for the fallen (5K).  David and Katie R.  and family were all there as well.  That was a tear jerker.  We ran past the cemetery and they gave a flag to a family who had lost a son.  This last Saturday was The Great Escape (4miles).  They had a guy dressed in prison orange run out in front of us and we were to "chase" him.  Let's just say it's a good thing it wasn't real and it wasn't up to me to catch him!  It was raining cats and dogs, but it was still a beautiful run on a beautiful campus.

-We are starting school this week hopefully.  We had postponed due to the babysitting.  It was temporary and I felt too difficult to start with so many extras vying for my attention.  We are waiting impatiently for a shipment from Abeka.  We needed just a few more books, once they come we'll start full force.  Today is a planning day.  I've already organized all the books and the office so now I have to crack them open and pencil out our year.  I'm ready believe it or not.  I'm ready for a schedule and an excuse to be home with just my monkeys.

-As most of you know I have tried just about everything under the sun when it comes to weight loss and fitness.  It's not just an obsession of mine, I really enjoy it and it interests me.  I have decided to try something I haven't ever done before. 

    I'm a pioneer...this is amazing and brand new...are you ready???  I have become a calorie counter!  In all my years I've counted points, counted carbs, cut out sugar, cut out carbs (as low as 30 grams a day) and regardless of my efforts I have done nothing but gain for the last two years.  I have been to the doctor several times insisting there was something wrong with me and she just kept saying, "It's a calories in vs calories out issue."  Angry and frustrated, I left insisting with my running and lifting I was surely burning more than I ate.  I was wrong.  I'll write in more detail in another blog.  Good news is I'm 7lbs down and thrilled to see the scale going down vs up for the first time in 2 years!

Clean Up

Pinterest is slowly but surely changing my life. 

Call me crazy (maybe) but I can't help myself when it comes to all the household tips.

Well here is one of my very favorites.

We have very porous flooring in our kitchen and bathrooms upstairs.  It is difficult to clean and I typically use my Bissell steam mop.  The texture tears up the little fabric covers so I find myself hesitant to mop.  That is gross since we have 5 kids and 2 dogs.

Here is the pin that changed my flooring's life. 

1/4 cup white vinegar 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap 1/4 cup washing soda 2 gallons tap water, very warm Directions: 1 .Place all the ingredients into a bucket and mix well until sudsy. 2 Mop the area with the solution. 3 Not recommended for waxed floors--it may make the wax gunky.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/floor-grease-cutter-cleaner-393210?oc=linkback

 

My floors are shades lighter than they have been since we moved in.  One of the reasons I've been insisting they would be replaced is they are so hard to clean and I feel like they are in a constant state of ewwwww.  Not anymore!

 

They look great and smell great!  Now go, go forth and mop!

Finally Whole

I'm obsessed with this song.  I listened to it on repeat for at least half an hour yesterday.  I just love it.  There has been a lot of brokenness in my life and the line "I'm finally whole" brings tears to my eyes every time she sings it.

Thank you Lord for finding me when you did.  I'm yours forever my love.

Wrap Up

So I had an entire blog that I wrote full of wit and wisdom (I'm sure) and I clicked "close" at the top of the page instead of "preview" and it disappeared into oblivion.  GAH!

Life has been wonderfully chaotic lately.  I have been babysitting and cake decorating like a mad woman.  God always brings jobs just when we need it the most.  I love how He provides as long as we are willing to work for it.

Our sweet neighbors, who have a daughter Anneliese's age, are moving to Germany for 3 years!  Jeremy (the husband) is already gone leaving Vanessa to pack and prepare for the move with a 1 and 3 year old.  We have been helping by babysitting the girls Tues, Wed, and Thursdays.  Anneliese is in hog heaven with two little extra girls in the house.

We also have Grayson R. on M, W, F and sweet Mason on occasion.  It's been busy but fun.  I've been working in my runs believe it or not.  Jane, Katie, and I are headed to the Fort early in the AM for a run in honor of the fallen.  I'm thankful for the friends God has granted!

Gale and Cecil R. celebrated 40 years of marriage on Sunday and their girls requested I make a 4 tiered cake similar to their wedding cake.  I decided to take on making home made fondant and it was quite the experience.  I'm thankful to have it done and I will be less intimidated to do another now that I'm familiar with the process. 

Tanner helped me make all the roses by hand.  He loved the creative aspect of it and I loved his help.

Saturday night I started the process of putting all the pieces together.  All in all Jared and I figured the cake (and a sheet cake) took about 30 hours (this includes baking all the pieces and making all the icing).  I really think the more I do fondant the less time intensive it will be. 

Here was the final product and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  The big cake was gone.  Every last bite. 

Please forgive the debris in the background. I took a pic as soon as I finished to show my mom :)

We plan to start school soon.  We have some books we need to get still and as soon as they arrive we start in full swing.  I'm actually eager to get started so we have our schedule back.  I think my kids have had more than their fair share of video games over this very hot summer.

As soon as things simmer down a bit I plan to get back to the discipline of blogging regularly.  I pray your summer has been full and blessed!