Weighing in

It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of our two week spring break.  The time off has been so nice and much needed.  Although we didn't go anywhere this spring break, we did have a great time.  It is so great to spend the entire two weeks at home with my girls.
Weighing in on softball...
Last Saturday, the girls started in a local softball league.  Since the girls are so close in age, we were able to sign them up to be on the same team.  This was awesome because practice/games are twice a week and saves me from having four different practice/game schedules.  Kinsey, of course, was super excited to play.  She did very well at both fielding and batting.  Kaitlyn, on the other hand, took some convincing to want to play.  How, you may ask, did we convince her to play?  Well, we told her that softball players wear pony tails or braids every game.  After that, she was sold and couldn't wait to get out there.  Practice #1 she wore pony tails.  Practice #2 she wore two french braids. She also did very well in fielding and batting.  The only problem was that the helmet they gave her to wear was way too big and she couldn't see any of the pitches!  Somehow, she did get a few hits.

Weighing in on our progress...
Jason and I have been going strong on our lifestyle change.  Yes, lifestyle change.  We are changing our ways for good.  I've been asked often when we plan to stop counting points and watching what we eat.  I have mixed emotions about that question.  Our eating and exercise habits before we began were awful, actually I didn't even have any exercise habits.  I struggled with a mix of different health problems and overall, just felt like crap. I'm not sure why I would ever want to go back to that lifestyle.  If that means that I count points, continue to make healthy food choices, question how things are prepared whether out to eat or at friends and family, special order items at restaurants, exercise daily, and look out for the best interest of myself...then that's what I'll do if it keeps me from going back to where I was six months ago.  I'm not doing this to be able to wear a bikini, or just so I can go on vacation and look good in a bathing suit.  I'm doing this because I want to be healthy for my family and so I feel good about myself.  Those two things are what keep me going each and everyday.
So...a little update on my progress.  Since we started WW in October, I've lost a total of 74 lbs. Since my highest weight this past summer, I've lost 77 lbs.  SEVENTY-SEVENTY POUNDS!  I've been able to go down 8 pant sizes...which is ridiculous to even think about.  I've decreased two cup sizes in my brazier.  I've gone from walking a slow pace for 30 min.(about 1.5 miles) to a jog/run for 60 min.(about 4.7 miles).  I've gone from taking three different meds for blood pressure to now taking no meds at all.  I had elevated thyroid levels and now they are perfectly normal.  My doctor was starting to see signs of insulin resistance, a pre-diabetic condition, to now no issues or concerns at all with my blood sugar or insulin.
This is a lifestyle change folks.  Not a diet for some determined amount of time just to stop and go back to all of that.
I debated whether or not to post some "then and now" pictures because they absolutely disgust me.  However, if it gives others motivation to lose weight, I'm down for the cause.

THEN

NOW

A very special classroom visit

This week has been so busy!  

First, a weight loss update...As of today, I have lost a total of 60 lbs. Yesterday I put on a pair of jeans I haven't worn been able to wear since before Kinsey was born (yes, she is seven years old).  Jason has also continued his weight loss and is up to a 40 lb. weight loss.  I know it is cliche but if we can do it, seriously anyone can!  We have learned so much in the past four months about healthy eating and exercising.  It is a long process but it is so rewarding as you see results.  If you are trying to lose weight, just keep going and stay motivated!

This week was an exciting one in my classroom.  One of my biggest mentors in education, specifically in the world of reading and writing, visited my classroom.  Katherine Bomer was in town this week all the way from Texas.  I have been working with her for the past six years and am continually inspired when she comes to visit.  Her passion for teaching students and teachers truly resonates with me.  Lately, I have found myself thinking about the possibilities of other kinds of work in education.  I really want to write a book for teachers.  I have so many ideas on where to go with a book idea...just the possibilities of it excites me!  I know, again, I'm speaking in cliches but I really want to extend my passion beyond the classroom.  

Along with Katherine, I hosted about 15 other teachers from around the Indianapolis area who were learning about Critical Literacy as well.  We spent all day Friday discussing what is happening in my classroom and the work we have been doing with Critical Literacy and writing for Social Action.  My 5th grade students and I were fortunate enough to have Katherine partner with me to teach a lesson Friday morning around this kind of work. It was amazing to see my students using the foundation of Critically Literacy in their discussions with each other and with Katherine.  I could tell that they felt empowered in the work they were doing.  As they walked out of the classroom at the end of the lesson, I heard one boy say, "I feel like we were just in Washington D.C."  It was so moving for us to know that they felt like this kind of work was that important...which, by the way, it is.  

Katherin Bomer and I in my classroom

If you are interested here are some of Katherine Bomer's amazing books:

Finally updated

First, I finally updated some new recipes.  Check out the favorite recipes tab above for some tasty ideas!

Speaking of healthy recipes, I would like to update you all on our progress.  I have met some of my major health goals.  Many of my health concerns have resolved themselves.  I am BELOW the goal weight that my doctor set for me.  She actually wanted me to meet it within the next six months...I met the goal in one month.  However, I am not quite to my goal weight but I am happy to report that I am now in a healthy BMI range.  My total weight loss, as of today, is 51 pounds.  I have dropped about four pant sizes and am feeling great!  Jason has lost a total of 32 pounds and is still going strong.  Together we have lost two times what our six year old daughter weighs.  Yes, we have lost two Kaitlyn's.

Speaking of Kaitlyn...we just celebrated her 6th birthday!  All she wanted was to go to Pizza Hut for her party.   Good thing we know the big wigs there so we could shut down the entire garden room for a few hours. It was a perfect party!  I put together a butterfly craft for the kids to do.  I used my Cricut to cut out a butterfly pattern, cut two small slits in the body and put in a tootsie pop.  We bought stickers and jewels for them to decorate the  butterfly with and then got googly eyes to stick on the lollipop head.  They were very cute!  We also made cotton candy with the cotton candy maker my mom bought the girls for Christmas.  It was definitely a hit with the kids, and adults.  Maybe more with the adults than the kids.

Other than that, the past month has flown by.  We are keeping busy with work, school, exercising, and laundry as always.

Have a great week!

Rounding up to 40

They (whom ever "they" may be) tell you not to weigh yourself everyday.  You are told not to do this because #1 your weight fluctuates #2 you can be easily discouraged if you don't see the scale move which will cause you to give up.  If you have even the slightest understanding of who I am, you know that I am not a patient person in any way.  I'm sure you also know that I usually always do things my way.  Which is the exact reason why I make a conscious decision to get on the scale every.single.morning.  Up until this past week, the scale has been quite favorable to me.  However, it was this week that it happened to me.

A plateau.

Of course discouragement followed.

My doctor said it would happen.
Weight Watchers said it would happen.
Jason said it would happen.
Everyone I know said it would happen.

It was this week that I began to understand why "they" tell you not to weigh yourself everyday.  I felt like I was doing everything right.  I have been tracking everything I eat and making sure that I'm eating the right things.  I have been such an advocate for myself and Jason by asking questions (probably annoyingly...sorry family and friends) about the way things are prepared and speaking up for us when we need food cooked in a certain way or with particular ingredients.

I have exercised rigorously...despite my ill-hearted feelings for John, the man who does the horrifying ab work out with me and makes me want to punch walls because I hate it so much.  I exercised more this week than any other week and still, when I stood on that scale each day, nothing.

But finally, today, a ray of hope.  A one pound loss.  One glorious pound.  That one pound puts my total weight loss at 36 pounds.

Which is awesome because 36 is so much closer to 40 than 35 was.   And in 5th grade math, those numbers totally round up to 40.

Has it really been two months?

I can't even begin to explain where the past two months have gone.  So this is going to be a hodge podge of events that have happened.
Health:  Jason and I started our life style change back in October.  We decided it was time to drastically change our eating habits and start regular exercise (the kind that makes you sweat and stuff).  We both have big goals for overall health and weight loss.  Things are going very well. The first few weeks were really hard but now it is just routine and gets easier every day.  I have lost a total of 32 lbs and have made huge improvements in my overall health according to my lab results at my last doctors appointment.  Please pray that we can continue to make huge gains as we have so far.
Christmas Program:  Jason came to school to partake in the annual Christmas program we have at school.  Kinsey sang the twelve days of Christmas with her class (I have a video of it but it isn't very clear so I'm not posting it here...sorry!).  There were different activities for parents to do with their child and stations for them to get their pictures taken.  Kaitlyn had a singing solo and she sang, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town."  The girls absolutely love when Jason comes to school for events so it was a fun day!

    

Christmas:  Our Christmas was much more relaxed this year than it has been in years past.  We spent Christmas eve with Jason's family, Christmas morning opening gifts from Santa, mid Christmas morning at my dad's house, and Christmas evening with Jason's family.  And yes, that is much more relaxed than it has been in the past...believe it or not.  I don't have any pictures to share from Christmas.  Obviously I took the whole relaxing thing seriously.
After Christmas:  The girls have been asking me for a while now when I was going to buy their snow boots and snow pants.  I kept putting it off (knowing my dad was getting them new snow gear for Christmas) and told them it would have to wait until it snowed.  Luckily, we did not have any accumulating snow until just yesterday.  Kinsey and Kaitlyn were so excited to get all dressed up in their snow stuff and play outside.  They even tried their hand at making the snowman version of the Pfeiffer family.

Today Kinsey went to Eagle Creek nature preserve with the social worker from our school to go bird watching.  She was so excited!  Our social worker brought her granddaughter along as well.  She brought binoculars for them to use to see different kinds of birds and will teach them about the birds as well.  Kinsey has been looking forward to this trip since last summer so she was ecstatic to finally be able to go.

Other than Kaitlyn and I fighting winter sickness...that's all I've got for now.  I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!

Hello November

We finished out October in true Pfeiffer fashion...by rushing around town.  Immediately after school, we had to rush home so I could get Kinsey ready for trick-or-treating and Kaitlyn ready for gymnastics.  I took both girls with me to gymnastics and Jason met me there as soon as he got off work.  He took Kinsey trick-or-treating while I stayed and watched Kaitlyn.  As soon as she was done, we rushed home and got her ready for the last hour of trick-or-treating.  We met up with Jason and Kinsey and finished out the night around the neighborhood.  By the time we stopped at a friend's house and ate dinner, we didn't get home until almost 10.  Needless to say, the girls were extremely tired and ready for bed as soon as we got home.  Here are some pictures from the night.

Kaitlyn ready for gymnastics

Kinsey's ready for trick-or-treating

Waiting on dad to pick her up so she can get some candy

"Here's my bucket!  I'm ready."

Kaitlyn finally making it out to trick-or-treat.

I hope you had a great Halloween!  So goodbye October...and hello November.

Pumpkin crafting

It is well known to those who know me that I do not like holiday decorations at my house.  Before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify, I do thoroughly enjoy holiday decorations at other peoples houses.  In fact, I even love to drive around and look at decorations that people put on the outside of their houses also.  But for me to put up decorations....not happening.  I put up a Christmas tree every year-even though we have never spent one Christmas at our own house because we are always out of town.  That is the extent of my decorating.  Decorations are just not my thing.  Period.  

In stark contrast to that, I love making holiday crafts with my children.  Usually, we give our crafts away as gifts (I know...those lucky people) but they are made with love by the girls.  Or we make them so we can hang them on our only decoration...the Christmas tree.  

I don't usually do Halloween crafts with the girls, mainly because we never have time since we are usually in school during this time.  Now that we are on fall break, we have had plenty of time to do some crafting.  Yesterday we decided to make clay pumpkins.  My only experience with this was in elementary school when I made a pumpkin that my teacher fired in a kiln.  I do not have a kiln so that was out of the question.  I found a recipe for salt dough (super easy...just salt, flour, and water).  In typical fashion, I added red and yellow food coloring,to make them orange, and pumpkin spice to the dough to make it a prettier color and better smelling.  

After mixing the dough together, it was really hard to work with.  We had to let it set for a little while to dry out before we could begin working with the dough.  We used different kitchen tools to shape and "carve" the pumpkins.  

After the girls got done with their pumpkins, I gave them a bit of a face lift.  Even pumpkins need to look their best.  We baked them in the oven at 170° varying the openness of the oven door for about three hours and then completely closed for the fourth hour.  

They are still not completely dry yet. But when they are, I have the perfect little shelf for our very first Halloween decorations.