Beginnings of a pout.

Beginnings of a pout., originally uploaded by m e l t i n g mama.

Three Months (a little late.)

Sweet., originally uploaded by m e l t i n g mama.

She's grown up. It's time for her own place, I think.

1-24-07 >1000 calories

Hold me accountable, damn it.

8am - 4 oz Cottage Cheese (90 cals)

11am -4 oz Cottage Cheese (90 cals)

1pm - Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe Bar (170 cals)

2pm - Dill Pickle

4pm - 2 oz Lean Roast Beef (112 cals)

6pm - 2 oz Lean Roast Beef (112 cals) Bite "steamfresh" corn

7pm - Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe Bar (170 cals)

9pm - Wheat Thins

10pm - Sugar free Jello Pudding

1876 - a good year, not so good for losing weight.

To maintain my current weight? I have to eat 1876 calories per day. 

What have I been doing?  Maintaining or gaining on my current weight. 

Someone Obviously Needs To Cut Her Calories.  It's simple math, Beth, simple!  Math WAS never my strongest subject, I admit.  (Thanks to "From Fattie To Hottie.")

My BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) multiplied by 1.2 = 1876 calories required to maintain my current weight.

This is why it's harder to lose weight the smaller you are!  Enjoy the weight loss when you're bigger, would ya?!

Cookies and Cream obsession.

, originally uploaded by m e l t i n g mama.

For Stacey, who's on the quest to find tasty protein: Here's another Cookies and Cream Protein that's pretty damn good. I found it at the "Good Health" store locally - and I haven't seen it anywhere else. They have a big diet/bodybuilding selection of proteins, bar and supplements.

Blue Monday, delayed, and getting cheap.

I heard on the radio on Monday, that it was, "Blue Monday."  The DJ was explaining how it was extra-blue here in New England, because, well, the Patriots lost the big game. "Blue" due to how we'd all be under the influence of that in addition to the regular reasons for the seasonal depression, like mounting holiday bills, the cold and drab weather and failing at the New Years' Resolutions.  I don't typically watch sports, except when it's at the very end like Monday's game - and I found myself yelling at the damn TV, like "No, no no no no no!" (Like I had any effect on someone dropping a ball?!)  Well, the football game doesn't increase my seasonal blueness, but the weather certainly does.  I hate the cold, it sucks away my motivation, and increases my rear end. (More on THAT later.)

The "holiday bills"?  No, not really, what we spent was cash, and it's gone, forgotten, and time to do the taxes.  Finances are enough to depress you at ANY time in the year, but it's definitely THE most rough time for us, almost always.  I think it's the combination of high gas and electric bills that get tacked on to everything else.  Then, of course, things in the house that need attention, but are long ignored because "there's no money left" to fix them after bills, and you notice them more in this season of being in the house during your free time. 

I think THE biggest stressor right now is the loss of any income from me right now.  I was being paid on "short term disability" due to my anemia during pregnancy, and then for the six weeks after the Triscuits' birth.  That's long since run out, and we're feeling it now.  You don't realize how much even a little bit of extra money helps until it's gone.  We're trying to cut back as we can, with whatever is left to cut.

Things we did already - or are doing - some could help someone else out if you're scraping, too: 

-The TV, cutting back the stations to a basic package.
-Cut off the landline phone voicemail and any extras.
-No coffee runs outside of the house. (Husband now prefers to have his own at home and bring it to work, and I do Starbucks as a treat, but my MIL has been reloading a gift card for me lately
-Keeping the lights on to a minimum at night.
-Keeping the excess off during the day, no lights/no TV when it's not physically being used.
-Switching internet access to SOMETHING else?  I don't know what.  This connection is terrible.
-Grocery shopping ONLY at ____-Mart, using coupons, looking for better deals, buying SOME items in bulk for a discount, but only what we truly need in bulk, don't buy that gallon of Olive Oil "just because" it's there and "cheap!"  Buy what you NEED.
-Crockpot cooking.  El cheapo, and little energy expended.  (Today, roast beef, smells good already.)
-Little to no "drive-thru" trips. (which are a no-no anyways for my family)
-NO CREDIT CARDS, EVER. Live on cash-only, or direct-debit.  (Big thing, the only advice that I truely can give to someone else.)
-If you're like me - even NO DEBIT cards, NO personal checks on your person.  Cash only, and you can't spend.
-Don't feel obligated to spend money on fundraisers, etc.  They don't need YOUR money if you don't have it to spend.  I never buy from the school, but I can donate as I'm able, things like, "We need pencils."  Okay, then do it.
-School photographs?  THEY SUCK.  Skip 'em.  Take your own.  Find a family/friend who takes decent shots and have them help you.
-Digital photographs.  Take a bunch, print as you can afford to. (Yeah, someday.  I only have 2K waiting to print.)
-Take food to work, no lunches out on your dime.  (As much as you can help it.)
-Keeping a very limited amount of cash on you, limits the spending altogether, like, for me?  I have like $20.00 at all times, and that's it, unless we need something.
-Telling the kids "No."  They just can't get something every time, just "No."  If I have to, I give them a buck or two, to hold, and they can spend it however they want.
-No Netflix, no monthly subscriptions to anything.
-BREASTFEED YOUR BABIES.  (Formula is expensive, man. If I knew I wouldn't have stuck through at work, I never would have weaned the baby.)
-Depending on your situation, avoid day-care unless you can truly afford it.  It's $370 a week here for quality infant care in my town (the "best" rated child-care).
-Um...

I am sure there are lots of other options, and I am going to add to this as I think of things we're doing or could do - and feel free to give me more ideas, goodness knows I can use any ideas at this point.  I'm still open to suggestions, too, as to what I can do to make money short of selling drugs, and not leaving the baby with a crackhead while I work.  :)

More money saving stuff, thanks to a reader email, I remembered more, they'll keep coming:

-Do your own hair.  Get someone you know to cut it for you, if you can't (like me) go to a cheaper salon, I've done well just going to a local barber who does family haircuts, and even the $10 joints, just make sure you ask for what you want.  Skip the color, or do it yourself if you have to.  I like color, but I guess I don't need it right now if I've got nothing to hide.
-Don't drive unless you have to.  Here, we have to drive everywhere (not in a city), but... we also don't really go anywhere.  On a daily basis I make one trip out - usually to pick up the one child that doesn't have a bus that comes to the house.  If I need to do something, I work it around that trip, so it's once out, once back.  My vehicle takes $70 a tank, so it's worth it.
-Do your bills online, all of them. No postal mail = no postage.
-Do all your banking online (says the Bank Manager)
-Call your TV provider and bitch at them, they'll cut your bill by so much a month if you complain.  (It worked, we've got a $23.00 A MONTH discount for the next year if we don't cancel.)
-Buy meat on sale in bulk, the best quality you can afford, but only on sale.
-Buy short-dated on foods that you know your family will eat before they're stale (protein bars, some don't taste any different if they're dated this month, as opposed to five months from now... and if you're eating them fast, it's not going to matter.)

-No movies out, if you have to, bring your own snacks, stuffing them in your bag if you must.

What five words?

Describe YOUR marriage. (If you're married.)  I just heard this on the commercial for Oprah later today. so spill.

1. (This is hard.)
2. (I'm having trouble.)
3. (Thinking, really, I am.)
4. (Bob, you do it.)
5. (Um, I'll think on it, and post in a moment.)

She's okay.

SIL made it through fine.  We went up to visit, and waited, and waited, and waited some more, it took a long time.  I don't know details, but she's in really good spirits.  Okay, Idol is on.  :)

She's off...

My SIL is officially in - they've given her an epidural, and she's off to the land of the losers.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I guess this means it's time to be really serious again and tell the granola bars we can't have those middle of the night rendezvous.  I'm supposed to be a good example, you know.  Argh.

Good Luck Auntie!

My sister in law is having the open RNY surgery tommorrow, bright and early.  Send quick-healing vibes, okay?  She's not going to want to be laid up for long, but the doctors are doing the open procedure to avoid complications I guess.  I'll add her stats as soon as I know them.  :)

Al, Randy and Carnie.

Everybody wants to know about Al Roker today.  Lots of "Al Roker Fat Again" hits along with the "Randy Jackson Gaining Weight" and "Carnie Wilson Weight."  Is Al looking bigger recently?  I remember writing about him last year at this time - as he had been featured on the Today show doing the Jorge Cruise 3-Hour Diet.  If you didn't know, he also had weight loss surgery a few years ago, and has been struggling with his weight even after surgery.  Being a public figure, he can't escape it either.  Nor can Randy Jackson, whom also had weight loss surgery and has regained weight.  Then, of course, Carnie, who regained, I think, upwards of eighty pounds while pregnant with her daughter after weight-loss surgery. 

It's obvious we're all in this boat together, famous or not, regain happens, to a lot of us.  You have to be aware of it.  If these folks in the public eye can regain enough for others to notice, just imagine how easily someone who isn't under the media microscope could do it.  The rate of this type of "failure" is huge.  I'd love to see some real stats regarding regain after surgery if anyone has seen studies, or if there even are any legitimate ones.

kenneth and jonathan

kenneth and jonathan, originally uploaded by Rosie O'Donnell.

these boys were wonderful on tv this a.m. i especially love jonathan, he has such innocence. :)

Nofoyou.

No phone call, no j o b.  Eh.  Whatever, I'm not surprised.  (You know why.)  My husband suggested maybe he'd take something on (what?) in the early morning before his regular j o b - thinking it would be easier than doing the parent-swap if I went to work.  I don't think it would be good for HIS well-being to do so, or for his brain function during a normal day's work either, so I sort of just shook my head and said, "I'll find something."  ::::brain explodes::::

Posting yo bidness online & A Unsolicited Dear Abby From Me.

Just as an aside, that Dr. Phil quote:

"Reality check:  you can never, ever, use weight loss to solve problems that are not related to your weight.  At your goal weight or not, you still have to live with yourself and deal with your problems.  You will still have the same husband, the same job, the same kids, and the same life.  Losing weight is not a cure for life."

Now this, part of a post I just read:

"My husband and I  have been married now for 3 years. In that 3 years we have had sex mabey (sic) 20 times. I know he has a magazine (plumpers) that he has hidden in the bathroom for his morning ritual. I have tried so many different times to get him to talk to me about this. I am jealous of the magazines and yes I have told him this. Finally he says...I am too big( he does like plushy women), he feels he is not very good at it and he uses the mags for release. My feelings have been so deeply hurt.  I asked him just out of curiosity what is he going to do when  I lose my weight? His answer was "I'm going to *#!@ your brains out". I was hurt and angry over that statement. I told him...I was only 30lbs heavier than when he met me and I am still me reguardless (sic) of how big I am. He says he didn't mean to hurt my feelings, but he did. Have any of you women out there had problems with your man not desiring you before, but since your wt. loss you don't? I feel frustrated.  I'm still me somewhere inside all this bigness. I am meeting with my surgeon and should have my surgery in March."

First off, would you post this kind of thing online?  ::shiver::  Anyways, it's been done, so what now?

I wonder if this woman knows about the reality of divorce after weight loss, it happens so often. To the woman who wrote this post:

If he's not into you now, trying to make yourself more appealing with weight loss isn't going to help, in my opinion. He's just making excuses.  This man married you as a fat girl.  He knew you were a fat girl.  He said he'd be with you for better or for worse.  IF this is "for worse"?  What's he going to do if it gets worse?  Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT go through this life-altering surgery for your husbands' sake.  My unsolicited advice?  Do it, have WLS, for yourself and yourself only, and lose the weight, The Dead Male Weight In Your House, Sweetie.  (There, now I'm an unsolicited Dear Abby for WLS.)

Why Do I <3 MySpace?

Because, at random intervals, your account gets compromised and sends spam from your "space" to your friends list.  Why, just last night - I sent out "Why R U Still Single?!"  That's cool, right?  I mean, if you were a Single Non-Married Taken For Life Child-free Little MySpace Slut Like ME?!  Me?  Melting Mama.  Mother, mom, ma, madre, married, four kids, blah blah blah.  If you're going to hack somebody, please pick someone it's more likely to come from in the first place.

Venti Bloat Latte.

We were on Girl Scout Cookie duty again this morning, so before hitting the grocery store to assault the good people of the town with cookies they don't need, I took my daughter with me to get a coffee.  I had a newly recharged 'bucks card, so I sprung for a latte.  I don't get them (lattes) often anymore, but when I do, I order it with a double or triple shot and skim milk.  I don't know WHAT was actually in that cup this morning, but whatever it was, it's caused me The Bloat From Hell all day long.  My guess is whole milk, and more of it than I'm used to ingesting at any given time.  I know from experience that milk makes me feel like this, but I'm usually okay with a few ounces of skim milk in a latte, all frothed up.  I cannot eat things like cereal and milk, or I'm begging the toilet for a certain death.  Never again with the lattes, unless I'm making it myself.

Baby flips the bird for the first time!

Baby flips the bird for the first time!, originally uploaded by m e l t i n g mama.

This is from nearly a month ago, but I can't remember if I shared it.

100 Of The Worlds Healthiest Foods

This is neat, a list of the 100 Healthiest Foods.  Found at this site, I'm just looking at it all now, interesting.  This started because I was looking into the pumpkin seeds I was eating.

(To find out why some of your favorite nutritious foods are not included in our list, read The Criteria Used to Select the World's Healthiest Foods.)

• Avocados
• Beets
• Bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Collard greens
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Green beans
• Green peas
• Kale
• Leeks
• Mushrooms, crimini
• Mushrooms, shiitake
• Mustard greens
• Olives
• Onions
• Parsley
• Potatoes
• Romaine lettuce
• Sea vegetables
• Spinach
• Squash, summer
• Squash, winter
• Sweet potatoes
• Swiss chard
• Tomatoes
• Turnip greens
• Yams

Fish & Seafood

• Cod
• Halibut
• Salmon
• Scallops
• Shrimp
• Snapper
• Tuna

Fruits

• Apples
• Apricots
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Cranberries
• Figs
• Grapefruit
• Grapes
• Kiwifruit
• Lemon/Limes
• Oranges
• Papaya
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Prunes
• Raisins
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Watermelon

Low Fat Dairy

• Cheese, low-fat
• Eggs
• Milk, 2%, cow's
• Milk, goat
• Yogurt

Beans & Legumes

• Black beans
• Dried peas
• Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• Kidney beans
• Lentils
• Lima beans
• Miso
• Navy beans
• Pinto beans
• Soybeans
• Tempeh
• Tofu

Poultry & Lean Meats

• Beef, lean organic
• Calf's liver
• Chicken
• Lamb
• Turkey
• Venison

Nuts & Seeds

• Almonds
• Cashews
• Flaxseeds
• Olive oil, extra virgin
• Peanuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sesame seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Walnuts

Grains

• Barley
• Brown rice
• Buckwheat
• Corn
• Millet
• Oats
• Quinoa
• Rye
• Spelt
• Whole wheat

Spices & Herbs

• Basil
• Black pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Chili pepper, dried
• Cilantro/Coriander seeds
• Cinnamon, ground
• Cloves
• Cumin seeds
• Dill
• Ginger
• Mustard seeds
• Oregano
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme
• Turmeric

Natural Sweeteners

• Blackstrap molasses
• Cane juice
• Honey
• Maple syrup

Other

• Green tea
• Soy sauce (tamari)
• Water

Otto Titsling.

Summer come back, now.

Pure piratey happiness., originally uploaded by m e l t i n g mama.