ahhhhhh......

so here I am (with my littlest one) hiking the mountain behind our house... that would be utah valley behind me...so pretty and so motivating. There is just something about the great outdoors that makes me want to be better... more. I don't know if you feel that way, but I feel a tremendous responsibility to make myself into something great, not for others (although I do sometimes miss the prestige and instant respect I got as a business women - not so much as a mom) but I really feel a sense of responsibility to myself to be greater than I currently am. I know I am capable of more, and I feel like I owe the Lord to try harder.

A little deep for a weight-loss blog but, that's what I feel whenever I connect with nature...small. And motivated to live up to his other amazing creations. It's just plain motivating... whether you believe in diety or not :)

remorse

well I know it's been a while, and I have had a few comments made about my dissapearance. Sorry guys, it's not personal. I have just been overwhelmingly busy, and blogging (or anything internet-wise) has been low on the priority list. But I am happy to report I am still losing and working out.

Last month I started preparing for a half-marathon, and i have also been busy developing some of my talents, decorating, sewing etc. I know that I won't be making regular posts, but I still think about all you guys and am sending out possitive energy to you all. I will try to touch bases now and then.

Thanks Beej, for caring enough to ask how I was doing. It meant a lot to know I was even missed (even if it was only by you *wink/)

alright, I'm off to catch up with your blogs and see what you've been up to.

loss is universal...so is friendship

this world gives us so many challenges... the highest of highs and sometimes the lowest of lows. my heart goes out to a good friend, steve from logmyloss.com
he has just lost his father and I know our thoughts and prayers are with him.

so rather than the usual banter... I just want to take a minute to say, that relationships are the most meaningful of our experiences here on earth. Every effort we make, professional or personally is in an effort to create better connections with those around us. Whether the relationship is with ourselves or with other valued individuals, we grow as we develop these synergies. Whether you believe in an afterlife or not, you can take value from this gentle reminder of how short our life here is, and how important every moment can become. So a little thank you to you all for putting up with me on this journey, whether you say some thing or nothing, all the little 'nothings' I experience from you has made this journey all the richer.

My heart goes out to Steve and anyone else experiencing a loss. Thanks for being part of my life's tapestry.

valentine dilema

So, I want to give my sweetie a valentines he'll really like, but the man is impossible to shop for!! So I hoped you all would give ma a little advice:

I wanted to do a gift combo that hits all the "love laguages":
1. Touch
2. Personal Time
3. Service
4. Words of Affirmation and
5. Gifts

any suggestions? What would you like from your sweetie.. a gift certificate for dinner for 2? or a massage, maybe a good book?

problems with internet and spouses

errr... I hate the Internet here!!! Don't get me wrong,I adore the new house, but the Internet stinks... it is constantly down. I have just recently spoken to them about a new modem... hopefully it will help.

What can I say, when you haven't blogged for a while it's easy to think "I'll just quit, no one reads this stuff anyway, what's the point?" So despite my lazy inner dialogue, I am here - trying to stay on this path that HAS gotten me this far.

Have you ever put yourself down around someone, simply to confirm weather or not it's true? Let me illustrate, I recently made a negative comment about myself around my hubby, something I fear might true, in the hopes that he would jump to my defense, and categorically deny that I share this trait...

...he didn't.

Why do we do this to ourselves, now I'm convinced that this is true, that I am doomed and that my sweet hubby has lost some of that spark, that respect, or 'heaven forbid' his love for me. Why do we do this to ourselves? It is entirely possible that he is just unobservant and didn't catch the comment (or he was tuning me out-also possible) and yet I find myself pre-occupied with this moment. Why do we care what others think? And why do we use others to confirm whether or not we have succeeded or failed?

if it's not tasty... you won't eat it!!!

So I promised to tell you more about my lunches, I'm not sure anyone will care that much but - it really is my favorite secret so here's a peek at a healthy, no compromise lunch... kashi style :)

If you're craving mexican food... (I so often do)Grab a Mayan Harvest or Veggie Chana Masala and prepare as directed on the box

Now I use this mix to either make a killer salad or burrito. I'll add lettuce, lime juice (fresh of course) jalapenos, tomatos, black beans, chaluas hot sauce, and occasionally splurge and use a tsp. of sour cream. This is tasty enough that my kids love it, even my picky hubby thinks it's tasty. The best part is, you can use all or only some of these ingredients to stretch it out to feed two, or just top off your lunch for one.I swear it will kill your mexi cravings completely guilt free!!!

how did I lose 50 lbs?... well I'll tell you...

so... a good friend of mine (who reads my blog but doesn't have one to comment) called and asked if I would actually talk about what I DO to lose weight... so here is the regime:

Breakfast(8am) - usually kashi cereal or a cup of yogurt
snack(11am) - same as above..only I eat the opposite of whatever I had for breakfast
lunch (1-ish) - usually a kashi frozen meal(more about that tomorrow)
snack (3) - usually something sweet with a carb, either yogurt and a kashi bar, or fruit, granola, whatever's handy
dinner (6ish) - always a veggie, and a protein - sometimes a starch... but I just eat with my family, so this can be almost anything
as for exercise, right now I'm working on consistency - so 3 times a week I hit the treadmill. Usually a long 2+ mile walk on a higher incline... like 5-6...
ok - so there it is... this is what I have done to lose 50 lbs in 7 months... of course I'm not perfect at this (you'd know it if you read my blog) but I believe consistency trumps aggression. In other words... slow and steady wins the race :0)

old habits die hard

my family came over last night - why is it that family functions almost always equate to overeating? I made spaghetti, homemade sauce that cooked for hours, whole grain organic noodles and cheated last minute and tossed in frozen meatballs (ran out of time). But even with and enormous salad, I still cheated and had a serving of pasta with all the trimmings (no cheese :)I just wonder sometimes if all the work we do on ourselves gets hijaked every time we are with family, there is something so habitual, so comfortable in falling back into old natalie.... hmmm I wonder why that is.oh well onto better things... I guess :0) today I ate the salad :) of course leftovers welcome me everytime I open the fridge ;0)wink

5 more down.... about 35 more to go....

I lost 5 more pounds!!!!! So far that brings me down to an even 50lbs lost!!!! yay - I need to celebrate... not sure yet what my reward should be...something great - like a new pair of running shoes maybe?...

well my dear friend Beej (journey to sanctification) rewarded me with a challenge to list ten things that make me happy - I don't usually get into these awards much - but this one was pretty nice to think about... so here it is:

1. Marrying my best friend
2. Kids that start the day with a smile (and usually a hug)
3. My Saviors love (corny - I know...but true)
4. Spicy food .... mmmm chips 'n salsa...drool
5. Sexy Shoes (they make you feel great no matter what your size)
6. The great outdoors (running on a treadmill sucks)
7. Going to dinner with friends
8. Watching loved one's make good choices
9. Serving others (no really - it works every time)
10. Being creative - love to problem solve.. I know, I'm such a dork!

- is it bad that 2 items included food... no wonder I'm chubby

I'm baaaaack

drumroll pleeeease....... I HAVE THE INTERNET AGAIN!!!!!!! wow, talk about feeling isolated! I missed you guys!!!!!!

ok, so we are in the new home, the craziness of holiday travel is behind us, and we finally found someone to give us service up here on the side of a mountain - but man is it all worth it!!!! I have the most amazing view of the valley I live in, and the enviroment is perfect for me. There are people snowboarding, skiing, sledding all over these homemade runs up here everyday - I think I will have to find myself a winter sport :)
I can't wait till spring when I can go hiking just 2 houses away from my home is the mountain... I wish you could all come along - but I promise some pics soon :) (camera is still packed up)

I'll be brief - no reason to catch you up on ALL the details of my 2 week hiatus...but lets just say -new house, new year, new me.. working out 3 times a week and strating to cut out the daily dose of chocolate (my drug of choice)

well I'm off to catch up on all of you! I can't wait to see everything you've all been doing - thanks to all for not forgetting about me...sigh... ;)wink