August 11

I worked in-house at the clients yesterday. Curtis took Griff to PrimeTime. Griff proudly told me later that he jogged on the treadmill for 20 minutes--at 5 miles an hour! I'm thinking to require him to take a sport in high school...and maybe that will be track?

Justin and Griff were talking about Josh's football camp schedule and Justin declared he would NEVER take football and asked Griff if he would. "I don't know," was his reply. That is a good sign. Griff is actually very athletic. He would excel at any sport he put his mind to, if he would.

Josh did moan on the way to practice yesterday morning, "I like football, but this is a bit much." Well, today is Wednesday, the torture is almost over. I told him I was very proud of his commitment...I was remembering last year when his team lost the homecoming game because of a bad call of the ref in the last few seconds of the game. I was not prepared to see 6 foot tall men-childs crying, but they did. And now that I think of the hard work they put into it, well, I guess even NFL stars cry sometimes.

I did the hour Crocker Park loop in the evening. Jogged for about 10 minutes. I'm not loving that it's most convenient to exercise in the evenings. I'd rather in the morning. but I also want to make sure Griff gets his time in...so I'm willing.

Dinner

Everything is more exciting off the grill:

Popped the turkey sausages on whole.

Wrapped up a walla walla sweet onion and slow cooked it.

Corn on the cob

Accompanied by mashed potatoes (from the box this time...last minute...)

and a good canned bean medley that I've discovered, 4 kinds of legumes & salt.

August 10

Griff and Justin swam for 3+ hours at the gym again today. I rode the recumbent stationary bike and read a book. I actually felt more worked than I thought I would. The worst part was the sore butt. Still, I thought I was kind of copping out but this book had gripped me and I figured I'd be better off moving while reading. Maybe I'll go get the Twilight book afterall...2 hours a day on the bike?

The health club we belong to is a private club and in each of the respective locker rooms there is a spa with jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Clothing optional. Griff had warned Justin the first time he came with us of this atrocity--nekked men--and they vowed to NOT enjoy the jacuzzi. They are, afterall, 13 and 14 years old. But yesterday they sucked it up and did enjoy the jacuzzi. They only stayed in 10 minutes, they said, the water was plenty hot. I was quietly amused.

Laura, Justin's mom, was having surgery again this evening. More complications from her breast cancer surgery a year ago last spring. He needed to be with us for the distraction, and as soon as we got home, his brother Jimmy came over. I made them dinner. I was a little shy on entree, so I plumped dinner with sides. Sounds a little weird together, but the flavors actually worked well.

Lunch:

chicken salad sandwiches made from the left-over fajita chicken--yum!

grapes

smoothies

Dinner:

chicken broccoli stir fry

steamed rice

canned collard greens, southern style (smoky flavor)

chili beans

August 9, weigh in

As a family we are down 10 pounds!!!

This week:

Griff: down 2.5

Dea: down 2

Josh: down 1.5

Curtis: down .5 from start

I'm down 2! I'm so freaking happy! I've worked my tail off for 2 weeks and I was feeling pissy about it not being enough. Having dinner so late is really tough. tho I've been making them lighter, and I do think that helps.

Friday Josh had a bad case of the runs so did not go to football practice. I remember the first time my body did bad things. He was embarrassed and a bit horrified. Called me in, sweat running down his face, he was shaky and weak he said. Poor love.

Steve said if it went through him in the same day, it was heat exhaustion and dehydration (he played sports in school, too). if it hung on for a couple of days, then it was food poisoning. It was pretty much through his system by mid afternoon. He guzzled gatorade and ate the bland food they say to eat.

Curtis came home that day, too. Griff he and I did the Crocker Park Trail walk, that is the name of the trail that goes around the business park in our city. It starts a half-mile from our front door. We did 3 miles. Curtis was laboring for the first 20 minutes. It worried me...but he did loosen up, was breathing easier and started talking and laughing. It is a slight grade uphill on the way over, as it was made on top of the old railroad tracks. You don't really realize you are walking uphill until you get to the top, turn around, and feel how much easier it is to walk back.

Curtis had a dinner that night and I went with him....the San Mateo Union Council Awards Dinner. CTA had purchased a table, so we were "AIC" guests: Ass in chair.

Josh had football practice yesterday and he did feel well enough to go.

Lunch

Grilled salmon

pasta tossed with sour cream, salt and pepper

green beans and carrots

Dinner

chicken fajitas

red and yellow peppers, walla walla sweet onions that curtis found at Costco, broccoli, and chicken.

I know you don't usually cook broccoli with fajitas, but I didn't have any green peppers and it needed the green and my boys like broccoli, so why not?

August 7

Griff and Justin came with me to Prime Time yesterday--they swam for 2.5 hours, good for them! I did a weight circuit..oh gwad, I could hardly move. I did a 10 minute warm up on the tread mill and did 3 sets on each one of the machines, plus a couple others, for a solid hour. Yup, if'ns I do that a couple times a week I'll be getting stronger!

lunch

Josh's coach told them to not eat turkey for lunch as it makes them sleepy and they would need everything they had for the afternoon's workout.

Steamed Rice

chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces sauteed with Julienne ham and mango teriyaki sauce

Plating: bed of rice topped with a ring of canned pineapple topped with the terikaki sautee; fresh cooked spinach on the side

Dinner

copped out and got Chipotle burritos

August 6

Took Griff and Justin with me to the health club (Prime Time by name) to do weights for 1/2 hour before picking up Josh. Made the mistake of assuming they knew how to do the machines and poor Justin almost got squished. I turned and saw the look of horror on the face of the man next to me as he could see Justin pinned. So I gave them the run down on how to set them up so you don't get killed by LifeTouch. Still I felt nervous that we were going to get kicked out. I think technically kids are not suppose to be in the weight room until they have training by the staff.

Two days of less than 1- hour workout....grrrr... Meanwhile Josh is walking around the house like a robot...stiff and sore.

Breakfast

Popeye Scramble: onions and fresh spinach sauteed with eggs. my favorite

Lunch

Steamed green beans and baby carrots,

roasted baby potato medly (red, purple and white)

pork loin "steaks" ... beings that I don't know the name of things, I just slice them about an inch thick and sautee them with salt, pepper and garlic.

Dinner

Grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches

grapes

chili beans

August 5

We took Griff's friend, Justin, walking with us on Monday. We did my two favorite short loops on San Bruno Mountain, the Eucalyptus trail and the Bog trail. It was a concise hour hike. What I liked is that Justin is adventurous and did exploring kinds of things with Griff which makes it so much more fun. What made me crazy is that they didn't hustle as much as I'd prefer. I'm still a little nervous about 2 boys being by themselves on the mountain so I tried to not get too far ahead of them. Also a little concerned that Griff isn't getting the cardio he needs, but then, anything is better than not being at the computer.

Yesterday was a full day so squeeezed in a half hour intense walk with Griff around the Crocker park trail. Another thing I missed when Justin walked with us is Griff's chatter. While it's a tad annoying sometimes, it really gives him the opportunity to chat, and he does open up to me and his love exudes. Had to pound on him to get him out of the house, but once we are in the car he is so glad to be out.

Dinner

Monday after the hike I cut up a pile of vegetables; plated turkey, roast beef and 2 kinds of cheese; toasted 2 kinds of flat bread and cut in wedges; whizzed up some hummus; added blueberries and grapes; served with Whole Wheat low-fat Triskets and rice cakes and a banana, mango, strawberry smoothie. The boys thought they were in heaven. The ultimate fingerfood dinner.

Tuesday Lunch

-Spaghetti with turkey/cheddar hot dogs sliced into the sauce

-fresh cooked spinach (which the boys ohhhhh-ed...I didn't realize they liked it so much...must serve it more often!)

-garbonzos (have served them garbonzos-as-fingerfood since they were little)

-the 100-calorie fudge bars for desert

Tuesday dinner

I went to a lecture, so pre-made the boys turkey sandwiches.

Josh had to take the train home and Dee picked him up at the train station; he didn't get home until 8:15 so he really needed something light.

I skyped Curtis finally. He asked how the boys were doing on their food and exercise. It is great to see everyone engaged in this project. He promised me that his daily activities at this conference he's at involves tons of walking so he felt okay missing out on his workouts. And he said he was ordering salads all the time. It will be curious to see his results...it is a teachable week.

August 2, weigh in

Curtis left for the week to LA so we weighed in today.

Curtis is down 5.5 pounds

Josh is down 3.5 pounds

Griff and I are the same.

While it doesn't surprise me that I'm not down, it does surprise me that Griff is. I my mind his change is the greatest, having gone from no activity to 1 hour every day; and having daily midnight snacks to nothing after 8. I almost wondering if he is fooling me, just to have more dramatic results next week......He is goofy that way.

I mean, I'm posting our photos and look at the pic he did. :-)

I'm really pleased for Curtis, I hope he will make serious attempts to work out while away. It will be his challenge. Josh will be in football camp for the next 2 weeks--working out 5 hours a day, 6 days a week. He'll drop.

I added one new thing to our list; drink 6-8 cups of water a day.

I am adding one thing for me: 50 crunches every day. My back is feeling stiff, so I need to strengthen some muscles.

I told the boys they could add something if they wanted. I'm really trying to not dictate but hope they make it there own. Whenever I talk about it, Griff gets dead still and listens attentively. I really think he's bluffing about the same weight.... He immediately filled a water bottle when I said the water stuff.

I asked how it was to not eat after 8, which I thought would be a real discomfort for them since they stay up so late, but they both said, no, it was cool. We had a big meal at 5 yesterday and I was starved again by 10, it was an effort for me to NOT make a piece of toast.

Dinner:

Taco salad with home made salsa