SAHM 1/3 to 1/9

I think you should be okay with putting muffin batter into a loaf pan, just need to bump up the time in the oven. I know my banana bread has to bake for at least an hour. So I would check it after 45 minutes or so. Hope it comes out okay!

Katie ~ my hubby is in the Air Force, he really wants to move back to Texas (what he calls home) when he retires, become a Fish & Game Warden. He is a total outdoor guy so it would be his ideal job. I feel like since there isn't really anywhere I call home and he has done all these years serving his country if that is really what he wants then he should be able to do it so at the moment that seems to be where we are going. It only scares me because our oldest will only be 15 & the youngest 4 (if we don't have anymore) and there are so many things we just take for granted being military like health care that you don't have so easily on the outside. But I'm sure we will figure it all out when the time comes.
Some ideas for exercise is to do your weights on a ball - tricepts, bicepts... it uses the core to keep stable while doing your weight for arms, also good for crunches - to keep you off the floor.

Hubby leaves really early Saturday morning so one of the guys from work is going to take him since he has to take the weapon anyways. Right now 3 weeks seems like a piece of cake but it is making the fact that he is leaving for atleast 6 months very soon seem so much more real, for DS#1 too. He was telling me how he doesn't want dad to go where they are killing people, it's so hard to reasure him that most people are fine over there. I am just glad that he is the only one old enough to understand right now, he was always too young before.
One good thing about him not being here is the eatting gets easier because I can just make something the boys like for dinner and then I can eat whatever I want and not have a big meal or leftovers that have to get eatten up. I can do things like grill a bunch of chicken then we can eat that for a few days in different ways but I can just put it in salad or something, hubby would be so sick of it and want something else where the boys could care less if they even get meat half the time! That's looking on the bright side of him being gone, haha!!

I didn't really get in a good workout yesterday so I must get to the gym tonight. Usually go around 7pm so the boys are all fed and happy and can spend a little time with daddy before bed. I also did a little Wii Fit right after I put the boys down for their nap. Now I gotta get off here and go finish laundry, fun fun!!

Wow that was a lot that I missed.

Christi, Sarah, Katie any other military families~I couldn't even imagine what you and your families go through for our country. THANK YOU!!!

Christi~I got to say that for me it looks a whole lot scarier on the "inside" than on the "outside". Of course this is all I have ever known and that is all you have ever known. So I guess what I am trying to say is the unknown is scary.

Stacey~I would have to agree that you don't look like you are 39! Oh and as for the sewing machine I have a Bernina. I love my Bernina. I have sewn on other machines and really don't care for them much. Are you looking into getting a sewing machine?

Sarah Anne~I too am going to be making a denim quilt, however mine won't be a baby one. I have been saving up the kids worn out jeans for a while now. I have had some help from friends giving me theirs as well. Once I get done with my current projects of dishcloths and scarf I want to start on that. Tell me how it goes.

Christi ~ I know what you mean, life on the outside is scary!!

Stacey ~ Aw, thanks! You're too sweet! LOL And I'm sure you haven't changed that much in a year! I feel like that in my midsection as well, it's the only place I don't like on my body. And honestly, I don't think I will ever really like it unless I get a tummy tuck, there's just too much extra skin

For sewing machines, I was very lucky, my mom got a new all in one that does everything and embroidery, so she gave me her old ones. I need to sit down and read up on the embroidery machine...there's so much I want to use it on! LOL

Val ~ Good luck on your half next week!! How exciting!!!


I really need to work on my fat intake, it's horrible! I've only been back at it for 3 days, and I've been over in fat every single day! yikes!

Wow, you ladies are great at keeping the conversation going! I'm having trouble finding the time to read through everything in the few minutes my kids give me on the computer! It's nice to have such an encouraging group to share this adventure with!

I'm trying to build up the strength to cut diet pop out of my life...I find that it makes me crave the other junk that goes so well with it. Let's face it, a bag of chips or a chocolate bar go much better with a diet pepsi than an apple! Has anyone found a substitute? I was thinking maybe I would try some crystal light mixed with soda water...that way I could still enjoy the bubbles!

girls, we've been chatty this week, but other weeks are quiet.

**please don't add this to you list of to-do's--read what you can when you can. it's ok if you don't read every single post. no one's checkin' and we all understand.**

if you ask a q that's already been answered, who cares! if you tell us something you already told us, who cares! we are Mom's not cyber referees.

so take what is useful from this thread
--recipes, parenting tips, camaraderie, sewing suggestions, ways to stick to cals, ways to get your water in, etc
and don't worry about the rest.

imho, this thread should be a happy part of your life. not one of the stressors. just my 2cents. :flowerforyou:

Katie - I've always wanted 4 kids and my family thinks I'm crazy. Not sure about the hubby though, for sure want to start for a third soon. We'll negotiate after that. :P

Barb - Living with the in-laws must be tough! I love my in-laws but it would not go well if I had to live with them. :P I figure if you've gained 5 pounds or less for the holiday season you have been rockin!

Sarah - I'm turning 30 in July! Where did the time go huh? I am an avid reader but have yet to get a kindle. I've been dying for one. Is it pretty awesome to have then? Thank you so much for the awesome verse! Very encouraging for the start of the new year.

Skinnydreams - Don't be too hard on yourself! There is always a chance with each day to do better. I often am very hard on myself about every little mistake, but we are all human. All this to say, you can do it! I gained about 30 pounds with my second kiddo. The first one was easy, so I didn't put much thought into it until she came out and I was still the size of a circus tent. :P That and a trip to the doctor where all my lvls were through the roof got me off my rear and working. So I know how you feel.

Staci - I literally made a strict schedule of eating. I cut down what I ate for meals but then scheduled many snacks. I was eating every 2-3 hours so that when I got the munchies I would just tell myself I only have an hour then I get a snack. that helped a lot! But it is still the area I struggle with a lot and probably always will. I've taken to letting myself have 1 diet soda a day as well. Also, drinking water helps. I often get the munchies when I'm actually thirsty or sticking to fruit as a snack. Hope this helps!

Tamelaine - I'm running a half marathon in a week! I'm excited to see how it goes!

Haven't been running this week as we're all coming down with a cold. But I'm staying within range for my calories. Went out to eat, but got a 500 calorie or less meal from Applebee's. I wanted to get the appetizer trio, but managed to exercise some self control. Also avoided the dessert menu and didn't get the mudslide (my absolute favorite drink ever!!!!) Hubby got the hot tub up and running today so we're off to go soak and then to bed! Have a great end of your week ladies!

Thanks, Val! I think over the years, that was the smallest amount of weight gained during the holidays....mostly though, I have my kids to thank, they keep me on my toes and as if I dont' get a chance to log in everything, I'm sure I burn more calories than what I list.

Katie~this is how I make a denim quilt. Cut the 'fabric' off the jeans, so all you have is jean material, no seams, etc. Sometimes you can use pockets, if they are small enough, though. I cut 3 sizes of squares, 4 x 4, 4 x 7, and 7 x 7 (all in inches). The 4 by 4's get sewn into a 4 square patch, the long sides of 2 4 by 7s get sewn into a big square, and the big squares are just big squares. Then you can sew them into whatever pattern you want. I use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. A baby quilt only takes 42 big squares, so it comes together rather quickly. But you can make the quilts as big or as small as you like. I made one in high school that is 10 feet by 12 feet!

Also, you can make your own templates by going to a Lowes or a Home Depot and buying plexiglass and cutting it to size. Templates and a rotary cutter and mat make cutting squares SO much easier.

Sarah~Thanks for the info on the quilt and on the plexi glass. That way I don't have to borrow the squares from my mom and I don't have to go get them at craft store. I am hoping to be able to start soon. I am almost done with my current project so maybe next week I can start. That would make the hubby very happy since I have quite a bit of levi's in my craft room.

Okay I was SO bad today :embarassed:
We had Winger's for lunch and I ate a Mushroom & Onion Burger, it was soooo good and I had been craving it for atleast a week so it was ever better. I atleast said no to the fries and had a salad on the side instead (which of course cost more) so I saved over 300 calories there. But still just with lunch today I ate as many calories as I have been eatting for almost the whole day lately, yikes. I know it's not something that I normally do or will be doing again for a very long time but man when I had to enter those calories I so regretted eating it. Especially since I probably won't be going to the gym tonight, hubby leaves for his training in the morning very early so I plan on spending the evening at home with him. But I find myself thinking well I could just go I'm sure he wouldn't be mad cause I think about how I could burn off half those calories easily in about 45 minutes. Haha I think I'm going a little calorie crazy. I guess It's good that I am learning to watch them so good but at the same time I know I can't beat myself up cause tomorrow is another day and now I know how bad I am going to feel so the next time I get that urge to eat something so bad maybe I'll talk myself out of it easier. Plus now I have a stomachache so was it really worth it.

Hey Ladies, my name is Crystal. I'm a SAHM to 3 boys! I would love to have some more weight loss buddies!!!

Welcome Crystal! Wow, 3 boys? What ages?

Katie~this is how I make a denim quilt. Cut the 'fabric' off the jeans, so all you have is jean material, no seams, etc. Sometimes you can use pockets, if they are small enough, though. I cut 3 sizes of squares, 4 x 4, 4 x 7, and 7 x 7 (all in inches). The 4 by 4's get sewn into a 4 square patch, the long sides of 2 4 by 7s get sewn into a big square, and the big squares are just big squares. Then you can sew them into whatever pattern you want. I use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. A baby quilt only takes 42 big squares, so it comes together rather quickly. But you can make the quilts as big or as small as you like. I made one in high school that is 10 feet by 12 feet!

Also, you can make your own templates by going to a Lowes or a Home Depot and buying plexiglass and cutting it to size. Templates and a rotary cutter and mat make cutting squares SO much easier.

Thanks for the how-to....I may just have found a new hobbie!!!

Hi SAHM in FL here. Have a 7 y/o DD, a 3 y/o DS and a 4 m/o baby girl. My baby was born via c-section so I have to start slow at this thing. Do y'all do little challenges or just report progress here?

Would love to join, Thanks

Barb~I know I loved when I last shoveled snow then saw that throught the day doing it for 45 minutes at a time I ended up with 2 hours of snow shoveling & burned over 1200 calories, that is definately an extreme workout!! Love when you can get it in like that!

Sprite~Welcome! My youngest is 3 months too. It seems that we all just write whatever we are feeling, if we had a great workout, a bad meal, a question or just need support or a place to vent!! We are all just here to motivate and support our fellow SAHMs!!

Crystal~Hello & Welcome to the group! My boys are 10, 3, 1 1/2 and 3 months and they sure do keep me busy!! You'd think I would just have the fat melting off as much as they run me around, haha!!

Katie/Skinny~My favorite crystal lite is the Cherry Pomegranate although I haven't tried it with soda water, may have to give it a shot.

Hubby left this morning for his 3 weeks of training, will be back on the 30th so I am on my own. I am taking today off from a real workout although I did walk around for quiet awhile this morning at DS#1s scout event with the baby attached to my chest so I got a little there! I am starting the Slim in 6 dvds tomorrow so I will keep you all posted on how that goes.

Hey! If anyone wants to add me as a friend please feel free! I need some people to help keep me on track.