ATTACK OF THE TEXTING MOMS

Hey…..I am far from being a perfect mom. I lose my patience, get bored reading the same stories over and over, etc.  But I must say I watch my child like a hawk at a park or a public place.  I would never forgive myself if something terrible happened to her because I was slacking on the job.

I took some time off during August to spend some quality one on one time with my wee turkey before her sibling arrives near the end of the year.  I noticed it first at Lakeview Park Oshawa.  The amount of toddlers and preschoolers running around alone at this rather large park while their mothers sit around and text the whole time was jaw dropping.  Some of them didn’t even look up from their phones as time ticked on. I wanted to poke these moms and say….hey lady…..do you even know where your kid is?  Can you see them?  Hello?  Did you know we’re steps away from Lake Ontario?

It got worse the next day when I visited McKinney Park in north Whitby for the first time.  Again, a large play area, tons of kids, busy traffic on the street, and tons of texting moms and daycare providers.  How do I know some adults were daycare providers?  I asked the kids that were clinging to me for almost an hour looking for adult attention who they were with.  As my daughter and I moved from one end of the park to another so did a group of young girls who were no older than 5.  Not once did any adult inquire who I was and what I was doing with their children.  I found that sad and disturbing.

I understand the need for adult conversation and playdates and get togethers when you’re home with the kids or taking care of a bunch of them.  But someone has to be watching.  There was a huge circle of women busy chatting and I can tell you if my daycare provider was in that circle she would have been fired that day.  No one looked up or even got up for most of our time there.  One little boy who couldn’t have been more than 18 months old was wondering around the park by himself.

So Lakeview and McKinney park moms, can you please put your phone down and watch your children?  Because next time I will spout off.

Is it a he, is it a she?

Baby #2 is on the way and will arrive a few weeks before Christmas. There’s a pregnancy flu going around here at work and I finally caught it.  Watch out ladies who remain untouched!

I saw #2 today.  Of course I’m bawling my eyes out watching this little bum bum kick it’s arms and legs around and have a grand old time in the belly.  Because I’m old I get lots of ultrasounds which is fine by me.  The technician asked me if I wanted to know the sex and I told her if she told me I would have to kill her.  She didn’t laugh….oops!  If I’m going to be in agony for 12 or more hours in labor, I need a surprise to get me though.  We didn’t find out if my daughter was a boy or a girl until she came out.  Best. Surprise.Ever!

This time around I really feel the need to pay it forward, so I’m going to be looking for you and a package of diapers…..the good kind.  Not for me, but for an organization who can give the diapers out to people who really need them.  When my daughter arrived, friends and family were so good to us.  We were blessed to get so many beautiful gifts and recieve boxes of previously enjoyed clothing and baby accessories.  I just need to plan the right event, get the right venue and invite people.

STANDING UP FOR SOUTH OSHAWA

The city of Oshawa is apparently divided into a few sections……North Oshawa, South Oshawa and downtown.  North Oshawa is the place to be we’re told……with all of the new houses going in developers use slogans in their ads repeating over and over….come home to prestigious North Oshawa or last chance to live in North Oshawa!!   The media and the real estate industry are just as bad.  I’ve only met a couple of realtors with positive things to say about South Oshawa.  I’m not saying the community is perfect.  It’s not.  But I do think people need a perception makeover.

When my husband and I were house hunting back in 2007 we were more afraid of the property taxes in the north part of Oshawa then the reputation of the dreaded South Oshawa. My in laws and a few great friends live in the south end of Oshawa.  They’ve never run into any problems.  So in the end we bought a home in South Oshawa.  We hadn’t moved in yet and the comments started.  I hired a company to move a couple of items for me and the owner stopped by to see how the move was going and he asked me why I would by a house in such a sh*tty part of town.  I will never use that moving company again.

I really got to know South Oshawa when I was on maternity leave.  While I am lucky to have a healthy daughter, she wasn’t keen on sleeping so we hit the pavement with the stroller on a daily basis.  We have great community parks, a beautiful new community centre and……it was so quiet.

Can you say mofo?

I think I have eaten myself into oblivion.

Seriously.

I wonder…where is my head?  It can’t be on my body because I really do know better.  It started off with a family dinner on Saturday night where desert was made and eaten almost entirely by yours truly and that started the ride into food hell.  The ride took me into a full large size bag of cheesies, chocolate chips, cereal and cookies.  Today I can barely do up my pants.  So much for the last 8 weeks of on again off again weight loss. I am scared to weigh in at Weight watchers because I haven’t been watching I’ve been pigging out.

Outdoor soccer is starting in less than three months…..I am staring a half marathon in the face in two months and I can’t get into the headspace of eating less. I get up at 5:30 every morning and all my good intentions are lost by 815am.  I am tired of being overweight but not too tired to do anything about it except stuff my face and make it worse.

I was complaining about how stupid I am to my husband last night.  I’m surprised he doesn’t turn around and say just shut up Vanessa and quit yer whining.  Thank god he doesn’t because I would hide in a closet and eat a full bag of cookies and cry at the same time.

Down 7.7 pounds

Slow and steady wins the race I guess. 

I’m sure I’m like every other woman out there who wants it off NOW!   I am lazy though and not willing to work at it like I want it off now…..and my actions over the past couple of days are going to bite me in the ass in the next couple of days.  I made hubby go to the corner store last night to buy me some chocolate and ice cream.  He protested at first and then thought twice about it and went.  I guess he thought I would lose it if he didn’t.  He was right!!

I should have just called the PMS hotline instead.

I haven’t written in a while…..I’ve been busy with basement  renos, falling off and getting back on the eating healthy wagon, stomach flu which I wanted to have for 14 days (a quick weight loss I was hoping for) and working out.  The jogging is going well.  I should wear a shirt that says “fat girls can run” ……running wasn’t hard to get back into.  I am up to a good 5km now….slow of course….like everything I do….but at least I can complete it upright and not in a vehicle with flashing red lights.

I IS HUNGRY

It’s a new feeling.  One I haven’t had in a while.

I am down a total of 5.5 pounds two weeks into weight watchers.  This week is proving to be really hard.  I had pizza on Saturday because it was taking too long to get a salad at a restaurant so I got up and left.  I had a piece of cake on Saturday night and I felt the muffin top grow instantly.  Last night I celebrated the fact that my daughter ate all of her supper with a piece of cheesecake. I  have the sugar sweats and I feel like a moo cow. Must be the winter blahs as well.

How’s that for being honest?

I haven’t caved today but I just wanna drown myself in a vat of chocolate.

The gym is going well although it’s amazing how much work it is to burn off 300 calories.  You would think that would stop me from stuffing my face…….yeah….ummmm…no.  The other day I went to the gym and settled on running next to an elderly man because there were no skinny fit girls there.  There was no way the old guy was going to last longer than me so I stayed on the treadmill until he left.  I almost died. Jerk!

Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.” Anonymous

On my soapbox

Bras, pads and tampons should be free.  Or we should at least be able to get money back on these items during tax time.

so….I found two skinny bitches at the gym

and ran on the treadmill between them like I said I would do.  I wanted to ask them if my running was too loud but I wasn’t sure if they would get my sense of humour.

I am a hurtin unit today.  My gut hurts and I didn’t do any sit ups.   Houston, we have a problem.

I have three and a half months before the half marathon.  I know I can run it….I just don’t want to be the last one over the finish line.

I’ve been junk free today…..doing good….doing good…..

Hey Little Turkey, mommy is 4 pounds lighter!

Friday I weighed in at Weight Watchers…….down 4 pounds in one week.  Awesome.

What do I do?

Skip my workout class on Saturday and celebrate with pizza, sweet potato fries, and a big fattening piece of cake on Saturday night.  It was good but when I got home I felt like a big loser.

I am my own worst enemy.

I have some work to do today……off to the gym this afternoon for an asskicking workout which I will impose on myself. I pick a treadmill next to the fittest person running on one and run with them.

As for Weight Watchers……I am settling into their program nicely.  It’s actually easier than the program I enrolled in last summer.  I need easy and realistic.  If it’s not easy and realistic I will revert back to my old habits.  I have to plan ahead.  If the healthy food is ready and available I will eat it and not visit “vendy”.  My vending machine downstairs at work.

So what worked for me last week?  Saturday doesn’t count.

I switched up whole eggs for egg whites. (I love eggs)

I cut out a piece of bread every day. (I love carbs)

I drank an obscene amount of water. (5-6 bottles a day)

I was accountable for every morsel of food I put in my mouth by keeping a food diary. (I was honest)

I exercised and sweat.

Since most vegetables are worth “O” points on Weight Watchers…..I ate three cups of lettuce, 1 cup of cucumber and orange pepper with lunch and dinner almost every day.  I actually measured my low fat salad dressing for portion control.

I’ve always counted calories but with Weight Watchers, you don’t.  It’s all about the point value they assign foods and recipies.  I enter my food items online and it adds up points to meet my point allowable each day.  The more you research their site, the more you learn. There are recipies to use and if you feel like being a bad eater, just plug in the item and tells you how many points the item is worth. By the way, I am an actual customer of Weight Watchers.  I am not doing it as a trade deal.  So if I am telling you that so far I am pleased with the program, I am being honest.

This week I hope to maintain the loss or lose more, get in more exercise, and feel better.

It’s not an earthquake, it’s me running!!

Ok Mississauga Marathon Here I Come!!  Because you’re definately going to hear me “pounding” the pavement. HA!! Boom Boom Boom along the route complete with a bunch of swear words.  I am not running the marathon……just the half marathon.  This is a part to “trying to lose weight part 999″. I need a goal and I’m going to have a companion this time so I have to show up whether I feel like it or not.

I am trying to come up with a creative way to go over the finish line (besides in an ambulance.)

I want to hold up a sign that says something funny.

I had a cookie meltdown at Christmas.  So, last Friday I joined Weight Watchers.  I really feel the need to surround myself with people in the same boat.  I met a guy in the weight watchers office who like myself ….can’t stop eating.  We were laughing about the fact that we both look pregnant and love junk food.  I though the chick at the WW office was going to pass out with shock at our conversation.  He was just like me……and could admit he has a problem. So far, it’s going well except for the sweet potato fries I ate last night.  The sugar sweats kill me.  After volleyball, a little voice said don’t go out with the girls…..but I did and I ate and now I am salivating!!  The program is very easy to follow.  I need that.  If it’s hard, I’ll cave. I weigh in tomorrow, so I will let you know how it goes.  I really do feel good when I eat well. 

I’ve also joined three exercise classes. I love the City of Oshawa’s recreation facilities.  The price for a family is fanstastic and the facilities are clean.  I started the classes on the weekend but refused to workout in front of the mirror.  I am happy to report that I kept up with the skinnies!!

I am going to make this my year! (Yeah right) hahahahahahahahaha

Seriously though I have to.  I am staring 40 in the face……40 eeeeeekkkkkkkkkkk.