I’ve packed up and moved to new digs.  Come join me here:  http://www.ohlssons.be/karena/

just a quick note to say I’m not quitting — I’m moving. Blog-wise, that is. My husband pointed out that if I don’t want some cutesy name, I can just piggyback off our home blog. Hopefully by Monday I’ll be up and running. Stay tuned…

When I wincingly stepped on the scale this morning, it did not groan under my feet and cease functioning. No warning lights flashed, no sirens went off.  Today’s weigh in — 170 even.  Not great, but given the abuse I’ve handed my body over recent weeks, not bad.

My plan for this week is simple — get back on track.  Get back to counting calories and watching portions.  Get back to a daily exercise regime.  No huge changes or ultimatums.  Calories in, calories out.  So far this week, I’ve logged a whopping seven miles — that’s a combination of walking and elliptical.  Not huge, but a hell of a lot more than I’ve logged in weeks, so I’m allowing myself a measure of pride.

In December we’re taking the kids to Paris and I’m going to race my husband to the top of the Eiffel Tower (well, the second stage — you can’t actually walk all the way to the top), so I’m on a mission.  It would be a lot easier to beat him if I was carrying…. say, ten pounds less up the stairs with me.  That’s my goal: 160 by December 22nd.

I’m pretty sure I’m the only person in the word seriously considering breaking up with WordPress and heading back to blogger.  Actually, I love WordPress.  I’m just not fond of some of the restrictions at this host.  And I’m too cheap to actually get my own domain and host, as we’ve done with our other blogs.  At least I think I’m too cheap…

The girls at the Sisterhood — many of them, anyway — just finished training for and running a 5K.  Great job, girls! I am so in awe of you!  And so pissed off at myself.  Their first days of talking about running the 5K were my last days around here.  I got sidetracked, I got busy, I got… caught up in the fact that I wasn’t making progress and let myself slide.  If I’d hung in there, maybe I’d be beaming at having run a 5K, too.

I’ve been beating myself up about this, pretty badly, for nearly a week now.  But no more, I say!  Enough guilt.  Enough woe is me crap.  It’s time to pull up my big-girl panties, do the work, and reap the rewards.

Tomorrow is weigh-in day at the Sisterhood.  I will show up, I will admit to the god-awful number I read on the scale tomorrow morning, and I will start anew.

So, in the past month of not blogging, I’ve gained five pounds.  How in the hell that happened I’m not sure.  Oh, wait! It probably has something to do with the two pints of Ben and Jerry’s I’ve had in the last month.  And a few too many pizzas.  Oh, and the burger I ate last night that had 35 grams of fat.  Before I put cheese and bacon on it.

Gah…..

So after a month of debauchery, I’m sick of myself.  Going to update the blog, head on over to the Sisterhood and get some tough love to get me back on track.

I don’t have time to maintain this blog right now.

I’m not shutting down, giving up, or moving on.  But I am taking a brief hiatus from this forum.  Life seems so incredibly busy right now — the few minutes I get to myself seem better spent, for now, reading a book or crocheting socks than spent blogging about weight loss that isn’t happening.

Still blogging at the homeschool site, as well as the sporadic post on our home blog.    Hopefully see you soon!

It’s time I finally got my act together and recommitted to this journey.  It’s a long road, but it’ll be a hell of a lot longer if I continue walking backwards.  So, in an effort to get back on track, here are my true confessions.

1. Last Monday morning, I officially started homeschooling my five year old.

2. Monday afternoon, I seriously contemplated sending him to the local schools.

3.  This week has been all about finding the balance of school and parenting.

4.  It has NOT been about exercise and portion control and healthy eating.

5.  I’ve had at least a glass of wine every evening.  Often more than one.

6.   My husband and I always swore we’d never get a Wii.

7.  We scoffed at people who raved about how great it was.

8.  Saturday we caved and bought one.

9.  I’ve had more fun in the last two days than I’d have thought possible.

10.  Things are looking up.

There is no way I have enough time or patience to post this all over again.  Can I please refer you here, and here, and here, and, finally, here!

We’re back, and slowly attempting to get back to normal life, whatever that is.  Scotland was…. awesome.  Incredible.  Bonny.  My husband and I spent a good portion of our time there trying to figure out if there was really, truly, a way we could stay there permanently.  We both know it’s simply not practical, but, oh!  In our hearts we desperately wish it were!  It was two weeks of relaxation, luscious surroundings, enjoying each other and the kids, and visiting with good friends.  And the bonus?  No internet.  Funny, I imagined I’d go stir crazy without it, but it was wonderful.  No constant e-mail checking, no blog updates, no mindless celebrity gossip.  I’ve actually been loathe to sit down at the computer since we returned home on Sunday.

I gained back nearly two pounds over the two weeks we were gone.  Actually, I’m rather amazed that it was only that much.  Oh, I had such high aspirations!  I took my mat, and plenty of Hilary and Elsie podcasts to keep me motivated.  But the lure of the pub, and good conversation, and freshly caught fish and chips… it was all too much.  I drank too much, ate too much, and relaxed too much.

But now… sigh… we’re back.  Jillian has been busting my ass for the last two days.  Hundreds of loads of laundry have been done.  Billing has been caught up.  Healthy food is being ingested.  There’s no way I’m ready to weigh in tomorrow, but I’m trying to get back on track.  And that’s got to count for something.