Fitness Fridays

Cracks in my Pavement #FitnessFriday

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So I think more why am I not losing, cracks =doubt….  The truth is like to eat (hello I am over weight for a reason).  When I was diagnosed 3years ago as a diabetic I weighted 297 pounds that is right 3lb away from 300lb.  Over the last 3 years I have lost 30 lb.  The reasons is you can loose weight when you have out of control diabetes,  some is because I am trying to cut sugar and eat better.   But now I am at 267 and standing still  no real loss… So in January I started working out  I figured the work out would help and it is.

But my real problem is I cheat .. I love butter, salt, pasta, and cheese (My cracks).   I talk myself if I eat veggies with butter and salt. Pasta I cann’t stop at a cup,  I have to eat 3,  so portion control is an issue.  I stay up late and get the 12 oclock munchies.. I head for cheese of chips next thing I know I eat almost a full meal. Bad Sherry.

Every time I diet,  I get to this point.. right around 30 lb I start to play mental games with myself.  Bargaining and trading with my food saying,  oh I can have this one thing..   So what am I going to do?  I am going to hold myself accountable push through it.

As you know I am applying to be the Next Mamavation Mom from my Friday Fitness last week.  I find out this Monday  if.. I mean when.. I make the finals, then voting starts.    If I don’t,  I still plan on following along at on my own using the support of the Mamavation community.  I signed up for the Mamavation 2 week challenge it starts April 30th.

I did drink the BookieBoo/ Mamavation Juice.  Because I am too strong and tired of playing games with myself.

  • I will miss you butter, salt, 2 cup of pasta, and extra cheese.
  • I want to listen too myself when I am full, eat more often smaller meals,  and not go for the bad stuff.
  • I want to be the best I can be and be there for my family.   It starts with me.

I am going to post my weight on Monday Mamavation For the Carnival Link Up.

I ran this week I ran and worked out it is getting easier and I am going longer.

I am Strong enough I can do this!!!

Thanks for your continued support

Sherry



 

Fashion, Product Reviews

A Great Dress for a Plus Size Girl! Land End Review

Lands’ End Plus Size collection is a great. I was asked to review a piece as  part of Lands End  Show Us Your Style.   As a tall plus size women I often have a hard time finding clothes that fit me and look nice with out being a tent dress. My fit problem is that I have a small chest, larger hips, and I am tall.  My style is wearing dresses,  for the past few years I have been wearing them and they make me feel girly.   I love this Lands End Plus Size  shirt dress.  It make me look fantastic, others thought so too.  The shirtdress is so tailored wonderful, it flattered my body in all the right places. The chest was perfect enough room, and it did not pull in the front. The shirtdress is so well made with an attention to detail both inside and out,  of course I always expect the best quality from Land End.

I love the medweight fabric it is  eyelet cotton fabric.  I took my measurements and bought true to them. This dress is a Size 22.  I am 5’10” and the dress hit right to my knee so it was a great length.

The Women’s Plus Size Sleeveless Eyelet Shirtdress  is full lined and is great 2 seasons dress wonderful for spring and summer.  I wore this dress to a Moroccan restaurant this past weekend I wore it with a scarf around  my shoulder, just in case it got chilly.

  • My jewelry: a gold ring necklace, simple gold hoop earrings, and  2 gold  bracelets.
  • My Shoes: a nude wedge or great sandals would look fabulous.
  • My nails were a great bright coral color.  I love a bright color on your toes when you wear peep toe shoes
  • My Options for the future is to also get a great belt, and wear with my large sun hat.

This Lands End shirt dress is so great for travel and is a classic look that I am looking forward to wearing for seasons to come. This dress retails for $135, so an investment staple and quality for your wardrobe.  It is offered in 2 colors washed red and navy.   I can wait to try more plus dresses from the collection.  Lands End makes plus girls look great!  

My pictures were taken by my 11 year old son I want to thank him for putting up with his mom

Disclosure: I did receive this dress from Lands End as part of this promotion.  The opinions in this post of are  mine and my honest opinion of the product.

Parenting, Philadelphia

A Simple Childhood Test that Saves Lives- Guest Blogger

SimonFund?  Sudden cardiac arrest?  A simple Test that can save my kids life.. A friend told me about Darren, Phyllis, and their son Simon Sudman. I was moved by the Sudmans lives.  She asked if I would mind writing a blog post about the importance of Simon’s story.  I said of course, Then I asked her for one better,  if they could tell Simon’s story to me as a parent… So I can share it with you as a parent.  I would like to welcome my guest bloggers Darren & Phyllis Sudman two amazing parents saving others children.

Guest Blogger: Darren & Phyllis Sudman

At the time, Britax was the best car seat; Combi, the best lightweight stroller; Dr. Brown’s, the best bottles.  By best, I also mean safest.  However, none of that mattered because Simon only got to use them for 96 days.

Our son, Simon Brach Sudman was born on October 21, 2004 with near perfect Apgar scores.   He sailed through his well baby checks. He smiled for the first time in December.  He died on January 24, 2004 at three months of age.  He was napping and didn’t wake up.  All the books told us what he should be doing in utero.  They told us about car safety and gas bubbles.  They never mentioned sudden cardiac arrest.  We were prepared to protect our child . . . so we thought.

Sudden cardiac arrest takes the lives of thousands of children every year.   It can be a sleeping baby (15% of all unexplained sudden infant deaths).  It can be a recreational swimmer (unexplained drowning).  It can be a competitive athlete.  It can be a good driver (unexplained car crash).  We learned all of this after Simon died.  We want you to learn about it now, because the most important two things we learned were: sudden cardiac arrest in children is not rare; and it can be prevented close to 90% of the time with a simple, non-invasive test, an ECG/EKG. We screen our kids’ eyes and ears, but we neglect to screen their most vital organ.

We created Simon’s Fund to raise awareness about the conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in kids.  In seven years, we have conducted free screenings for over a dozen schools and checked almost 4,000 hearts.  We have helped 36 kids discover an undetected, potentially fatal heart condition.  You can learn about some of them at www.simonsfund.org. Based on our screenings and the screenings of similar organizations, one out of every 100 kids has an undetected heart condition. That’s our 1%. Please get your kids screened and pass the word along.

Want to read more about the test Please visit www.simonsfund.org.

Also I want to link up to Jessica Found the Marbles her boys recently had the test done by SimonsFund.

Fitness Fridays, LIfe

Fitness Friday Mamavation

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This week is a little different.  I noticed my family is really with my program.  Last week we went to an Easter egg hunt in the same park as the dog park.  Of course I took the dog- Lloyd need to be socialized.   After the egg hunt my son said Mom let go to the dog park.

I said “ok lets go get the car.”

He said “no mom you are trying to be healthy lets walk.”  So he made we walk down and back up the hills to the dog park.

Then tonight I said you want to go for a run her said yea sure.  I can also see changes he is aware of his choices.  My son is a competitive swimmer but season we are taking a spring off.  He said “Mom I am not eating as much because I am not swimming.  I just noticed I am not as hungry”.  I am impressed we do not discuss weight or fat in our house we talk about healthy choices.

He is my own personal trainer.

This week I joined the Fleet Feet North Whales Running Program.  It went well I showed up 3 minute late and missed the start I ran ¼ of a mile to catch up only for the group I thought I was chasing take off running.. Just when I thought they were switching to walking they ran faster.  So know I know not to be late this Saturday.

So this week I am applying to be a Mamavation mom. If I am chosen I will work with the Mamavation team in a 6 week boot camp.  Which will include nutrition  help, fitness help and just basically a good old fashion fitness kick in the pants.  I really admired Leah Segedie aka @Bookieboo  and the community of support she gives to women to help them create a healthier life.

Here is the video why I want to be a Mamavation mom.

How can you help me?  Please tweet this for me:

Hey @bookieboo! I want @Babypop  to be the next #Mamavation Mom. She has my support! http://bit.ly/aorv3Y

Then If I am chosen as finalist please vote for me.

Thanks for your continued support.

Fitness

  • Monday- walked
  • Tues- walk /run 1 mile
  • Wed- walked/run around the block
  • Thurs- walked/run around the block

Weight : 265

Parenting, Product Reviews

Dr Meg Meeker, Vicks and the Flu

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So I got to go to a lunch with Vicks and author / Dr. Meg Meeker.  It was a great learning experience, I wish she was my kids pediatrician .  Currently for the last 4 years my kids have not gotten sick but they will it is only a matter of time.  My kids were very sick little kids.  My son a daycare kid until the age of 4 was sick all the time.  Like many working parents thee is a level which a sick kid  will head to day care.. runny nose acceptable.. fever not acceptable.  Cough at night acceptable.  It is  struggle and choice every working parent fights with.

With my daughter I was home.  So was she for weeks and weeks did she miss day care when she  got the flu.   Then the Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children.  I was so tired during that rota period running a business and dealing with a nonstop laundry sheet and diaper change.

So during the lunch with Dr. Meg Meeker I learned a few things:

  • Know your kids normal temp.. track it see what it is in the morning, after noon and night
  • Having a certain level of humidity (moisture) in your house helps to avoid the flu
  • if you suspect the flu if you head to your Doctor with in the first 24 hours they can give you/kids a shot to shorten the length of the flu
  • Try a children’s Tylenol  or children’s Advil on your child to reduce fever, some fever need to run there course to help fight the infection.
  • Call your doctor for high fever over 101
  • Follow your gut Mother intuition is one of the best line of defense when dealing with a child’s illness.

Some products I learned about from vicks to make Flu Season  easier.

Try a humidifier like Vicks Germ Free Humidifier to avoid dry air in your home. The V790N Vicks® Warm Mist GermFree Humidifier kills 99.999% of germs, bacteria, and mold in the water before its warm mist ever touches the air.

The V980 Vicks® Behind Ear Gentle Touch Thermometer with Fever InSight™ Feature is gentle enough for a sleeping baby and is clinically proven accurate at detecting fever with instant one-second readings.

The Vicks  humidity monitor is awesome.  I knew the humidity in my house was too dry and the vicks monitor let me know how bad it was.  I added the Humidifier and correct the issue.  I feel so much better i know what I can control and avoid the flu.

To learn more check out behindear.com

Also Vicks will donate For each share of our “What will you share this cold and flu season?” video, Vicks will donate a Behind Ear Thermometer to Baby Buggy, a non-profit dedicated to providing U.S. families in need with essential items for their children. Here is a link to the video on our Facebook page

 

Disclosure: I did receive products from Vicks, Dr. Megs Book and Lunch at Plate. My opinions and writing in this post are all of my own.

 

 

Cooking, Parenting

Hunger Hits Home

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So Tasty Tuesday this week is a little different.  Our Kids  they have food, they know what a full belly is.  They are lucky we have food and I cook for them,  but many many children do not have a meal or food in their bellies. Our American children go hungry every day, we have the ability to end this, now by 2015

When we feed out dog $35 bag of dog food in my case it is 2 dogs… Kids go hungry.
When we spend $50 to go out to eat ..Kids Go hungry
When I spend $7 on cheese .. Kids Go Hungry

I am pledging that I will donate Going out once  a month … to those kids.. Will you join me?

Let help and lets Stop the hunger..   Please watch  Hunger Hits Home on Food Network April  14th 8/7c .. Please check out Share our Strength

Please watch and Donate..

If you want to organize a bake sale  Please Join the Great American Bake Sale  .. to donate to the kids

Bloggers I ask that you share  this on the bottom of your recipe posts.. “Let help and lets Stop the hunger..   Please watch  Hunger Hits Home on Food Network April  14th 8/7c .. Please check out Share our Strength ”

Photography, Product Reviews

Lens Friends Family Easter Pictures

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So this Easter week we took pictures. I went to Lens Friends in Huntington Valley Pa.  Lens friends is a great place to have fun and photo studio with a twist.  You take the photos.  The owner Rick and Kara are great they provide all the props and the kids bring the creativity. Kara and Rick provide a fun creative environment for you and your children to play!  My kids loved it with his cousins.

While we were at Lens Friends they had live baby chicks.. check out all the kids.

Then we got in the props the girls did the pout face.. The Boys had a great time with the props once they loosed up they really got into the pictures.

I love Lens Friends  it is a great place if the kids are also allowed to use the cameras.  Kara said  it is fun seeing a preteen or teen take hold of the camera and have a great time.   The session includes studio set up, using camera, instruction how to use camera, props, cd of picture, and 1/2 photo time for about $47.  They also provide photo editing for a small fee.  Lens friends also offers a kids birthday party for $275 and include cake / pizza.  The parties also include a cd of all the pictures .  We took about 170 pictures in the time I was there.    The kids had a great time and said they loved it.  My sister Inlaw loved the experience and could not stop raving what a fun place to take pictures.    So I cant highly recommend Lens Friends enough.

Fitness Fridays

Friday Fitness the Power of a Photo!

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So this past week I can make all sorts of excuses I ran and I walked and I walks and ran. The  She Streams conference was great,  I did not run on the beach.  I did watch what I ate. I have moved this week,  cleaning and staying some what focused.  I had much to accomplish, So I fell behind on blog posts.   I will get caught up and it is all good.(it is ok to let myself off the hook).. I know Blah Blah Blah

So this week I was feel ok…. At She Streams I fit into a skit I was saving for Blogher strictly because the skirt was too tight. Well…  last week I tried the skirt on before the conference and it fits!! (it fits like a progresso soup commercial-  me talking into a tin can..is there a women I can talk to )

So as everyone was wait to head to dinner Saturday Night. ” I said I have to change to rock the skirt that I worked to fit into.”  Everyone at The Mother Company dinner  was very supportive towards my need for fashion, and also to judge my weight loss by a skirt… .   Yea I rocked the sequin skirt!!!  check me out above!

They also took a group shot and I did not hate myself in the picture looking like the Amazon in the back.. Check out the The Mother Company Blogger Dinner Photo.

So this is a week of pictures for me. Yesterday my Mother inlaw was done and we took a picture.  The one below with me in white is last summer the other photo is me with her today.  Yea I do look different.. the Power of a photo.

BEFORE:RECENT:

For me I can see the difference.( I think I lost more boobs). It excited me to move forward.

Fitness week:

Monday: Run walk

Tues: Run walk went to kick of meeting for Fleet Feet North Wales beginner runner training program.  Formal training starts next week.

Wed walked and cleaned house.. forgot to eat

Thurs: walked all over the city plus

Weight this week 266

Please Join me on this slow and steady journey Link Up


Cooking

Sausage and Onions #TastyTuesday

Sausage and Onions  So in my family no one likes cooked green , yellow, or red peppers.  Which can make Sausage and peppers a hard meal to make, but I love the sausage flavor.  So I omit the peppers and make sausage onions without the slime peppers.  I serve it as a soup, on noodles and traditional on a roll

Sausage and Onions

  • 3 Onions- quartered and sliced
  • 1 clove of garlic sliced
  • 1 -2 lb of sausage  Links (for soup you can also use loose sausage)
  • 1 lb of mushrooms sliced
  • 1 bottle of beer
  • 1 can of whole tomatoes (I prefer red pack tomatoes)
  • 1 can of broth Chicken or vegetable
  • Add black pepper ¼ tsp
  • 2 tbls of hot sauce (I like Franks) Optional
  • Bacon slices (optional)
  1. 1 brown sausage, and bacon  in pot , remove and drain- leave dropping in pot
  2. Add to pot  chopped onions, garlic sauté, mushrooms,  till golden
  3. Add tomatoes
  4. Beer  and one can of broth, pepper and hot sauce
  5. Put in crock pot scraping all the goodness droppings off the bottom)  cook for 4 hours
  6. Now you can add more both and make it a sausage soup, of serve on noodles or rolls

Variations:

  • add the peppers back in ,
  • sausage soup add potatoes,
  • add kale at end of cooking 20 before finished

I do the soup because I don’t want the carbs from the noodles of the bread.

Here is a printable version is this recipe Sausage and Onions

Let help and lets Stop the childhood hunger in the US.   Please watch  Hunger Hits Home on Food Network April  14th 8/7c .. Please check out Share our Strength