Kimberly's Weekly Weigh-in 9-28-09

I lost 1.8 pounds last week for a new total of 36.4 pounds lost over the past 17 weeks. I am going to be brave and post my actual weight this time. On June 1, 2009, I started out weighing 166 pounds (I am only 5 ft. tall). As of yesterday on 9-28-09 I weighed 129.6 pounds. According to the Weight Watchers "Healthy Weight Range" for my height, I should weigh between 102 and 128. I am only 1.4 pounds away from the maximum of that range. I prefer to be in the middle of that range so my goal is to weigh 115 pounds. To reach that goal I have 14.6 more pounds to go. I am hoping to be at my goal by the end of November. If that happens I am going to find a babysitter and treat myself to a day of shopping for some new clothes!

My Kitchen Facelift - 9-25-09

The next two pictures show my old counter-tops.

I stripped down the 12 year old "fruit themed" wallpaper and painted the walls "Green Tea Leaf" - Olympic Brand from Lowes.
I got new granite countertops - design is called Santa Cecilia Dark. (Installed by Millwork Supply)
I also put up new curtains in the "breakfast area". The valance is not new. I made this valance for Kelly when she lived in her old house. This matches the valance in my dining room. When I told Kelly I wish I could find some more of that fabric to make a new valance for my kitchen, she gave me hers. Thanks, Kelly! I bought those gold colored panels at Lowe's.
This new kitchen sink is a freebie that was included as a bonus with the countertop installation from Millwork Supply.
Here are a few more pictures. My sister-in-law (Julie Anne) gave me her old kitchen table when I told her I was looking for a round table to replace my old square table. Thanks, Julie!

A Hiking We Will Go...

On Friday, September 18, 2009 Chase and I went hiking with his Cub Scout Webelos II Den at Rails to Trails in Elkmont, AL. We hiked for three miles into the woods while he learned to identify different kinds of plants and trees. Also during the hike, Mr. Tim Richter (his den leader) helped the scouts memorize the 12 points of the Boy Scout Law. By the end of the hike, most of them could recite it with ease thanks to him. It had rained most of that day. But, God blessed us with beautiful weather for the afternoon hiking adventure. Chase and I both slept really good that night after that long hike. Sandra Britnell was kind enough to donate some of her pictures to me so I could make the following slideshow. Thank you, Sandra. To view each slide in the slideshow, you will have to click the brown arrow button.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Kimberly's Weeky Weigh-in Results (Sept. 21, 2009)

I lost 3.2 pounds last week for a new total of 34.6 pounds lost over the past 16 weeks. I received an incentive award at my WW meeting this morning for being on the WW Momentum Plan for 16 weeks. The award is a charm that looks like clapping hands and it has the #16 on the front. It goes on the WW key chain that I received when I lost the first 10% of my starting weight. See the picture below. I have 16.4 more pounds to go before I reach my goal and earn the next charm for my key chain.

Cure for a stinky sink

Okay, I am embarrassed to admit it. But, there was a horrible odor coming from my kitchen sink. Nothing I poured down the drain would get rid of that stinky sink. So I looked on the internet and found something to try and it worked. I no longer have a stinky sink.

Cure for a stinky sink drain:
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of warm water (to make the baking soda coat the drain). You may have to stir it up a bit to make that mixture go down the drain. Then pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain. This will cause some fizzing. About 10 minutes later, let hot water run down the drain for about five minutes. (Seem like a waste of water - but it really helps get rid of the smell).

Hunter's First Field Trip - Sept. 9, 2009

Hunter goes to pre-school at Little Tots. This slideshow contains pictures from his first field trip. He and his classmates met at the VBCC to see Elmo's Green Thumb (a Sesame Street Live Production). He and I both had a great time. Enjoy the slideshow!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hunter and Brock 9-8-09

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Kelly and Brock went with Hunter and me to Jasper on 9-8-09 to help me pick out the granite slab for my new kitchen countertops. After picking out the granite, we stopped at Chick-fil-a to eat lunch. Then, Hunter and Brock had fun in their playland while Kelly and I visited a little while. We had a good day. On the way back to Athens from Jasper, we stopped in Cullman at the cememtary and put some new fall flowers on Neanie and Papa's headstone. Look at the entry below to see those pictures.

New Fall Flowers on Neanie and Papa's Headstone 9-8-09

Kelly and I took some new fall flowers to the cemetary in Cullman for Neanie and Papa's Memorial Headstone. I found them at J&G in Athens. I think they look beautiful. They show up great from the road and I am sure they would be proud of them, too. I sure do miss them!

Hunter at Walker's Party - 09-05-09

Hunter had a blast at Walker Brand's birthday party. It was held at Jump Zone in Huntsville. There is one huge room with tons of inflatables set up. After they jumped and played on the slides for about an hour, they headed upstairs to help Walker eat his Giant birthday cookie and watch him open gifts. Hunter has not stopped talking about it since. He kept telling Walker and his parents over and over again, "I like Walker's birthday party!" Thanks, Walker for inviting Hunter. We hope you had as much fun as Hunter did! Enjoy the slideshow of the festivities!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Weekly Weigh-in Report 9-7-09

Our WW meeting was cancelled today in observance of Labor Day. However, according to my scales at home, I lost .6 pounds last week for a new total of 31.4 pounds lost over the past 14 weeks. I've got 19.6 more pounds to go!

Battle with my sister's Cream Cheese Danish

Okay, I know the title to today's entry is silly. But, that is how I felt yesterday when I went to Kelly's Premiere Jewelry Party yesterday. She made a scrumpious-looking cream cheese danish. I even helped her prepare it in between some of her other chores while she was trying to get ready for the other ladies to arrive. I mixed up the great smelling ingredients in the bowl and made the glaze. I even drizzled the glaze on the top of the danish when it was fresh out of the oven. It smelled so good!

I had a great time at her party. But, I was distracted at times by this nagging question, "How much damage could eating a piece of that cream cheese danish do to my new healthy eating lifestyle?" I know that sounds so silly. I also know that I have extra weekly WW points that I can use on things like that, too. I also knew that since today is Labor Day, my WW meeting was cancelled and I don't have to weigh in.

But, I finally decided not to eat a piece of that cream cheese danish. I know that it probably would not have hurt anything at all to eat it. I know that I would not blow up to another size overnight by eating it. However, I know my reaction to eating something so yummy - I would want to keep eating it over and over again. Because with sweets, I know I am like an alcoholic is to his drink. One taste and I am hooked and need more. I am not the type that only one little bite can satisfy.

At first, I felt a little deprived by not eating it. But, I was also proud of myself for not "giving in". Not because I thought eating it was a bad thing. It is okay to eat things like that once in a while. But, because I took control knowing how my mind and body would react to that "one little piece." Some people can eat "that one piece" and it will satisfy them and they won't even look at something sweet again for a long time. That is not the case with me.

I have twenty more pounds to lose to reach my goal and I know I will be faced with more of these silly battles in my mind over food. Right now, I feel good about myself and feel like I can win my battles over food. I'll just keep taking one day at a time...

Weight Watchers Points Formula for Foods

Here is something I found on the internet today that shows the WW formula for assigning point values to foods.

A points score is given to a variety of foods based upon the portion size, the calories that portion contains, the amount of fiber and the amount of fat contained in every serving. Generally, foods which are high in fat will have a high points score and high fiber foods will have a low points score. The daily allowance for dieters is then dependent upon things like body weight and amount of weight loss he or she wishes to achieve.

The points formula is as follows:

p = (c/50) + f/12 - (min {r,4}/5)

Where: p = Points | c = Calories | f = Fat Grams | r = Dietary fiber Grams

(Please note: in the term (min{r, 4}) no more than 4 grams of fiber are used in the calculation. For example, if the actual dietary figure is under 4 then this figure is used, however, where the figure is greater than 4 then 4 is used.)