New Blog

For some strange reason this blog froze and I wasn't able to change 

any elements on this page!  So I created a new blog 

Villamors.blogspot.com.  

Check us out over there and if you ever need any design services give Aarean a click!!

Her button is right there to your right and will be at the bottom of the page on the new blog!  She is so amazingly awesome!

oh...and blogger has a new way of creating blogs....this new way allows you to move pictures within the post, resize your image right here, change color, change font and so much more!  wahoo!

shrinking dryer

My friend Chris posted about her weight loss journey so I decided to write about what I am doing to get me motivated to think about starting on a weight loss journey...how is that for committed? I debated about writing about it because I know if I say I am going to do something must follow through...so i guess if I write this I must follow through:)

So last weekend i pulled on a pair of pants that had obviously shrunk in the dryer...i mean they were hard to get over my hips! What else could explain this problem?

What? Maybe I am eating too much? nonsense.

Ok...probably so. I have fought this for too long, made excuses about why I can't change my eating habits...no more! Time to do something small. I weighed myself last week. It wasn't as bad as I thought thankfully. And it is actually what I weighed last year when I was training for my triathlons. And weighing didn't carry the same negative emotions that the scale use to carry for me(which is wonderful). So I decided to set a small goal of writing down everything i ate. It is very eye-opening to see just how much I put into my pie-hole. When I weighed myself this morning I was a little shocked that it was up a little...why? Because when I do write down what I eat it makes me eat less...makes me aware that I am eating mindlessly. Plus I taught so many classes last week(10!)...but that just supports the theory that more exercise doesn't equal weight loss.

So. It didn't get me down. I just started paying closer attention to my portions this week. I also calculated the calories of one of my favorite breakfasts this morning. Oatmeal with 2 T peanut butter. This morning I also had a banana and added 1/2 cup of wheat berries for extra protein... before I knew it I was up to 600 calories. What? Really. Oh well. It was filling and yummy. There is also tomorrow, right? I had taught Body Pump this morning and was teaching RPM later so I did need to give my body some good food. I am a protein-type and really need to get a lot of protein at mealtime to feel satisfied and last until the next meal/snack. So i bulk up my oats for that reason...but am going to rethink my PB oatmeal tomorrow. My body isn't digesting dairy(which includes eggs) or soy or beans so that seriously limits my protein choices!!! yuck. Which makes me want to write a nasty letter to my digestive system...but I refrain. I am very thankful for my body. It does many amazing things and will figure this whole problem soon enough!

I love to read health and fitness books and blogs to get inspired. For Christmas I ordered this book. Love it and will read it again. I also visit Trainermomma.com for great motivation...but I have to be careful not to compare myself to these women. I can get there if I can just keep that motivation past...ummmm...past the time I get out off the couch. ha. I mean what is my excuse?

it's that time of year again.....

Every winter i sit at my computer in my sweats, fuzzy socks and lap blanket searching active.com for events I would like to 'complete' in the summer. Last year I did a triathlon for the first time. I had talked about doing one in 2009 and I knew I had to quit whining about it and sign up for one in 2010....so I did. And man was it fun!

Look at all those bikes!!!

So this year I want to do another....and I really would like to complete a longer distance one. Like I said....as I sit here at my computer all cozy in my fuzzy socks this feat sounds like a fun adventure...so I really need to find my event and sign up before I back out. I have already sent a message to my buddies Jody and Susan (pictured above) that I want to do this longer one...and they are all about it. I don't want to be caught whining and regretting not doing one.

So my goals for this year are to complete at least 2 triathlons-a Sprint and Olympic distance one. Then later in the year(think November) I want to compete a 1/2 marathon...gasp! What? Really? I do? I complete these events....not compete. No expectations. Just a way to exercise with a few hundred of my soon-to-be-closest acquaintances and get a free t-shirt.

RIP friend.....

My body has been going through some changes lately. Some I do not like. at. all.

When i was 18 I developed a pretty high intolerance for milk products(no cake mixes, cheetos, anything with milk in the ingredients). That lasted for 3 years. I don't know why it went away but it did. In the past this milk allergy has come and gone. Recently it has been back for a few months and it is just getting worse. I can't have any dairy now-no eggs even- and that never happened before. Well...it isn't like I will get hives, itch and stop breathing when I eat dairy....but i do balloon up, cramp and get very very uncomfortable. Enough so that I don't even crave any dairy.at.all.

One thing my body is doing which I am having a hard time with is rejecting Diet Coke (well all carbonation but i only liked the Diet Colas;))

Why!!??!! Old friend....why does it feel like you are gnawing at my stomach lining? You have no milk in you...yet you cause so much bloating? so much discomfort?? why oh why.

oh well...sigh. this stuff is poison anyway, right? i am better off without you.

i want to eat healthier this month....and looks like my body is forcing me!

Jeopardy

Every year the cousins get together and put on a show for us during the Villamor Christmas Dinner. In years' past the show has consisted of displays of various talents to the recreating of the Christmas story. Well....this year they surprised us by putting the parents in the hot seat. They created the "How well do you know your kids" Jeopardy game.

Ok...piece of cake we all thought. All the parents got bells to chime in when we knew the answer and the game began. It didn't take us long to realize how much we didn't know about our chidren. Like....SOphia's favorite color is AQUA? Her favorite movie isn't "The LAst AIrbender"...that she LOVES but "Roxy Hunter"....WHAT?? And Nate....his favorite subject is History....hmmmm. Interesting. And his best friend....Jacob. I knew that but was so bewildered by Aqua I couldn't think. I believe the only questions we got right were the True False ones....

and that was only after the other team got the answer wrong. Surprisingly we came in 3rd! (out of 4).

THe winners recieved a hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind oragami crown! We all were asking our kids "so what's your favorite...." after this game. They did a great job!

Young Singers

Sophia sure enjoyed her first Christmas concert with the Young Singers this year! It was crazy being the backstage mom but we survived with only minor tears!

thankful 29 & 30

Last night as I was lying on the hard floor I realized I had forgotten to post for the day. I didn't get up because it hurt too much! As I was hanging up a towel at Trudy's on Sunday I felt a little "twinge" in my lower back. I knew what that would develop into!! Ugh. And I wasn't smart enough to get subs for my classes yesterday so last night I was walking funny and leaning to one side. I knew the only way to get better was to sleep on the floor with my feet propped up on the couch and do some gentle stretches...not the deep stretches I was doing previously...they made me sore in another way! ha. I also got a blessing which sure helped. So this morning I am feeling better and walking straight again. I have done the laundry and put away our clothes from the weekend! The house is starting to take shape which makes me feel so much better. After I post this I am going to lay back on the floor and stretch...and read(which really means I will take a nap;)) But I wanted to write my last post for this month. I can't believe it is December. I also can't believe SOphia is 11. I don't know why this birthday is hard for me to digest. I think it is because she is really moving into a new stage in life and she really isn't my baby anymore! At least Nate is only 9....he will be my baby for a couple more years.

Ok...enough of that! Yesterday and today I am thankful for the great weekend we had at Trudy's!

There was hiking and movie watching and dancing and eating and more eating....

and camping in the garage(we had mattresses out there thankfully) and eating

and cooking and cleaning and cleaning and cooking and eating....

it was a great time. i love my family!

thankful #28

i like to add photos to my posts...and this is what came up when I searched "schedule" in google images....weird.

I am grateful I can schedule my posts! It is midnight on Tuesday the 23rd and i was able to create posts and schedule them to be posted on a certain date! So you will think I am adding something everyday....BUT....i just wrote a bunch. ha ha ha. i guess i should have kept that a secret:)

thankful #27

i am thankful we have a comfortable car to travel in and great roads to travel on!

thankful #26

i am thankful for counsins. I am thankful that Trudy and I have made an extra effort that our children know their cousins. We didn't grow up playing with ours....didn't really know them at all and we wanted more for our childern. We love getting together and watching them build those relationships!

thankful #25

today i am thankful to be with my family and eating great food!

thankful #24

I am thankful for my computer...and for computers in general!

thankful #23

I am thankful that I have kept up with my goal of posting something everyday. good night

thankful #22

today i am thankful for my sister Trudy.

On the radio this morning I heard about a study of siblings....how 2 people can share the same parents but be totally opposite. I thought about Trudy when I heard this. We look nothing alike. She is double jointed and I am not. I have bushy hair and she has straight thin hair. We have some similiar interests but are passionate about different things. She is very creative and makes beautiful cards. I am somewhat creative and love to take her beautiful cards.

The study said siblings will have different feelings about their childhood which is largely based on the time when they came into the family. This is also true for us. We have different feelings about our parents and our upbringing. We have connected over the past couple of days over some family issues and I am seeing just how differently we were treated. I just marvel at who Trudy has become and what she has overcome. She is amazingly awesome in everything.

One of the best parts of our relationship is honesty. We can tell each other our true feelings without fear of judgement. I wish I could adequately express how I feel towards her but I have never been known for my writing!! ha. I am so excited about visiting her this week for Thanksgiving and eating the turkey she bought for $5.88 last year. Hey...we hate turkey so it won't matter what it tastes like, right?

thankful #21

Today I am thankful that we had a successful birthday party for Sophia! I mentioned before that we were doing a repeat from last year so this party was a "no brainer". The girls got off the bus and did their own thing! We ate hot dogs, pizza, carrots/apples(not many of those were taken!) and they played and ran around like little girls do!

The split into groups and created a commercial around a product.....this group was promoting Febreeze.

And this group...gatorade!

The cake was a big hit....3 cake mixes and lots of fondant!! My friend Chelsey was so nice to let Sophia help with the fondant!

What did Nate do this whole time??? he didn't know there were 9 girls running around him....he was engrossed in Sophia's new DS game "Avatar: the last Airbender". I think the house could have been on fire and he wouldn't have noticed!!

thankful #20

Today I am thankful that Sophia participated in the Candlelight Run in Warm Springs last night. She registered for the 1 mile race at 9:30pm and I for the 5k at 10pm. She wanted me to run with her and I figured it would be a good warm-up for my race(sound funny to say I was in a race...i was racing only myself! ). As we lined up at the starting line they announced there would be a trophy for the top girl and boy 12 years old and under. Once the kids heard that they all were determined to be first!

So when "go" was announced they all took off running!

pre-race photos with Anna

I was hoping she wouldn't take off too fast and get winded towards the end! The course was set up as a "down and back" so when she started back i just joined in with her. Good thing because she was getting pretty tired and wanted to walk.

I had noticed that she was going to be in 2nd place but then saw the 1st place girl stopping and holding her side....I felt bad for her but was also happy that Sophia now had a shot at 1st. Felt bad about that! Numerous times Sophia wanted to stop and walk or slow down but I kept pushing her and nudging her along....

And she did it! 8:53 was her time! Her last mile race time was over 10 minutes!!! Way to go Sophia!

And she got the biggest trophy! She was so proud...and I was too! Next year Nate and Dad said they would participate with us as well!

thankful #19

Fridays I wake up so thankful that i do not have to fix lunches for my children! It is the one day they can eat at school...why Friday? It is Pizza Pizza day!!!

thankful #18

today i am thankful that Fia doesn't mind having a recycled birthday party!

i thought this would have been a video...but it showed up as a picture instead!

thankful #17

i am always grateful for spell check!

These 3 words I am getting wrong lately....and these are the only ones I remember:

practice (i would always leave off the first 'c' - pratice )

transition (i want to spell it transistion )

opportunity ( i spell it opprotunity )