Going the the Dentist....SUX!!!

Okay, so does anyone know why they recommend that you have your teeth cleaned every 6 months???? Well, I do.......to avoid the need to have 10-12 cavities filled. YES, you read correctly.....I have between 10 and 12 cavities. It had been at least 3 years since I had been to the dentist. Why you ask.....well, I hate the dentist. I hate the scraping and the flossing and the gritty mess left inside my mouth. I hate it. But, after I could visibly see decay in my mouth, I decided it was time. PLUS, I want my kids to get into the habit of going, so I wanted to be a good role model. We have dental insurance, so I bit the bullet the made the appointment.

I went to John C. Patton, D.D.S. and his LOVELY hygienist, Kerry Bruce. Let's face it, you spend most of your time with the hygienist, so we hope that they are friendly to you and kind to your mouth. This woman was fabulous and we had a great conversation. PLUS, I learned a lot.

Did you know that your teeth, both baby and permanent teeth, develop in utero. So, if your mother does not drink enough water with fluoride, your teeth (namely enamel) may not develop properly. Also, during the first year of life, your teeth continue to develop, so again, fluoride fortified water is crucial to a newborn. Also, if a baby is on a lot of antibiotics during their first year, then their teeth suffer as well. We got into this discussion because I have very rough teeth and I asked why. She explained that it happened in my mother's womb and that my teeth have some enamel, but I am lacking what the normal person would have. Thus, the many cavities. I was born in Wichita and lived there during my first year. Kerry told me that Wichita does not have fluoride in their tap water. A fact that I pointed out to my MOTHER last night. However, the water in Emporia, KS is like within the 5th percentile in the nation.

I am not sure that I will ever have a beautiful mouth, like I would love. However, that won't ever keep me from smiling!!!!

Daily Tip

Disclaimer: I must first say that I am not a licensed professional. My tips and ideas should be implemented at your own risk. I cannot make you lose weight. I cannot make you eat healthier. I cannot make you exercise daily. What I can do is offer you motivation and perhaps a little bit of inspiration.



Daily Weight Loss Tip:

ALWAYS eat breakfast!!!! Okay, so this DOES NOT mean stop at the closest Krispy Kreme or drive thru McDonald's and order a #1 with a large coke!!! Nor does this give you permission to drop 75 cents in the vending machine for those 'oh so delicious' chocolate covered donut gems.

Here is my healthy tip. You need to schedule time in your morning routine to eat a healthy and filling breakfast. This is the first meal of the day and it starts your metabolism. This may mean that you have to get up 15 minutes earlier than normal. STOP HITTING THE SNOOZE BUTTON! You want to eat a balanced meal, which includes fruit, whole grains and some protein. Another great addition to this meal is to drink a cup of brewed green tea. If you want it sweet, add splenda or honey. No longer is a Diet Coke and Snickers bar the breakfast of champions!



Despite what you might think, skipping meals does not help you lose weight. I actually harms you. When you skip a meal, your body thinks that you are starving yourself and it goes into survival mode. By doing this, it stores FAT, rather than burning it.



Your body is your vehicle. You could not drive your car without putting fuel in it. You could not run your A/C without paying the electricity bill. So why would you not fuel up the most important tool in your life....your mind and body????



Here are a few suggestions that I rotate for breakfast:



Old Fashioned Oatmeal. I add in some golden raisins, brown sugar splenda, cinnamon and vanilla. It tastes like a cinnamon roll.



All Bran Cereal with Strawberries. I cut up fresh strawberries and sweeten them with a bit of splenda and then add in 1 cup of All Bran Cereal. This is filling and has tons of fiber!



Nutri-Grain Blueberry Waffle with strawberry all fruit. For an added bonus, I also add a dollop of Light Cool Whip. This is filling and also curbs my sweet cravings!!!

BACK by popular demand!!!

Okay, so one friend mentioned that they missed the blog. I go in phases and this summer has been crazy, so my blog has suffered.

Here is the UPDATE:

Currently in yet another weight loss challenge. I am working out daily and following the Fit Yummy Mummy routine. I have a SparkPeople.com page and I use those resources to track my food and exercise daily. I am also constantly running after a 5 year old and toddler, so I am busy. Here is my Spark Page link: http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=JEWELY33

On the career front, I am winding down my summer schedule. I worked part-time this summer teaching summer school, but I also enjoyed some long days and sunny afternoons with my kiddos by the ghetto pool in the backyard.

I am also a full time student myself. I started taking online classes through Colorado Technical University to complete the degree!

My other big interest is Love Letters: Random Cards of Kindness. Check out my website for that: http://lovelettersemporiaks.webs.com/

Needless to say, I am one busy momma!!!!

Karah the Kutie

Self Serve Dairy Queen - YUMO!
My daddy is making me laugh!

BUSTED....hey, Seth did it!!!!!

Just Chillin

Easter Bunny at the Olpe Easter Egg Hunt - 2008

Cooking with Mommy

Easter 2008

I disgust myself

Have any of you ever mindlessly eaten something to the point that you felt like you were going to vomit??? Yesterday, while diligently working on lesson plans, I snacked on some Mini Smart Cakes - Cheddar Flavor, by Orville Redenbacher. Let me just say....they are FABULOUS. I probably ate between 3-4 suggested servings of the delicious little treats. When I finally realized what I had done, I was miserable. To the point that the thought of ever eating again made me sick. When I got home, I had to fix supper for the family and it was physically difficult for me to cook and smell the food. I ended up sampling the chicken and the noodles, but I definitely did not eat a normal meal or even feel like eating. After supper we headed to Wal-mart. I was still miserable. Luckily, pushing the cart and walking around that huge store helped make me feel better. Plus, I picked up a carton of gorgeous strawberries and they tasted delicious. I can't wait for break time!



Lesson Learned....measure out your servings before you start snacking and STOP eating when you are full. Just because something tastes good does not mean that you have to eat the entire bag!!!!



By the way....one serving of the Mini Cakes is 10 cakes. That is 70 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, and 1 gram of fiber. That equals out to 1.5 WW points...for those who are counting.




Here is a review of the product.

http://www.iateapie.net/reviews/archives/2008/04/orville_redenb.php

This Diet is making me PHAT

I have religiously worked out at the gym or at home or both for the last 7 days. I typically do some high intensity cardio, followed up with some weight training. I have attended a PiYo class for the first time in my life and I loved it. I have also started to incorporate jogging into my cardio routine and actually ran for an entire half mile without collapsing on the ground and calling 911. I have made a conscience effort to eat healthier this entire week...drastically increasing my fruits and vegetables...along with trying to eat lower carbs and less fat. I was feeling really proud of my efforts...that was until I stepped on the scales this week and saw a GAIN of half a pound. What the F#*(#*$&@(()! Seriously....I gained weight???? How is that possible????

I was disgusted and completely threw in the towel on Thursday. I won't gross you out with my disgusting food choices, but let's just say that Starbucks, Taco Bell and fried chicken were all in the mix.

This morning (Friday) I was a good girl and hopped outta bed at 5:00 a.m. and did my workout from home. Cardio and Strength Training! I also ate a healthy breakfast and have made conscience choices about my food today. I won't let this half a pound get me down. However, I am going to worry less about my food choices and just concentrate on toning and shaping my body. Don't get me wrong...I am not going to start eating Dairy Queen Blizzards for breakfast, but I am going to be less structured with my calories and more concerned about how I burn them off.

What's New???

I have started attending a local fitness center. I signed up through my job at a discounted rate and the monthly fee comes directly out of my paycheck. It is super easy and I really like the accountability of going to the gym. I have gone for the last three days and met up with fellow sorority sisters. On Wednesday night, we went to a PiYo class. It is a combination of Pilates and Yoga. I really enjoyed this activity. It required a lot of concentration and balance. It was challenging and relaxing all at the same time. My muscles are still sore today, but I am looking forward to being in class next Wednesday. I continue to trim up and slim down my body. Bathing suit season will be here soon and I really need to get my mid-section toned up a little more. My arms are looking better every week and I should be ready for those summer tank tops when the temperatures finally reach that point. Eating healthy continues to be my hardest obstacle, as the family would much rather have sloppy joes and french fries and ice cream. Oh well, I can make them as healthy as possible, eat smaller portions and pair it up with a salad. Ice Cream will be my weekly reward as I strive to fit into those next smaller size clothing.

I have recently been reading blogs about organizing and menu planning. Check out the links in my favorites!

Happy Friday!