Bikini Bod

Yes, that's my goal. I want to look good, no, *great*, in a bikini by the end of April. The weight is steadily coming off, as I am being very diligent about my workouts and diet. I'm eating clean, and working my muscles every day. Yesterday, I finally got an elliptical, so now I can do cardio no matter the weather. I'm only 5 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight right now, and that's without any cardio. I'm going to "ellipticize" 4-5 times a week, so that should help. I will start measuring next week, and take pictures every four weeks for a 12-week period. I'm excited and motivated!

I don't understand all these low-carb diets. I am all for eating more protein, but only in the presence of a good, healthy carb. How else can the protein reach the muscles? Carbs are the energy that fuel your workouts, and lead the protein to build strong muscles. I don't deny that a person can lose a lot of weight on a low-carb diet. But it's not healthy. It won't re-shape your body! If you are a large pear at the beginning of a low-carb diet, you will just be a smaller pear at the end of it! I wish I could explain this to the dieting world. If you want to look fit and healthy and *lean*, you have to eat a low-fat, healthy diet of protein AND carbs!

I'm in total agreement with the rice-cake ad lady...what? bacon and fried chicken is ok, but stay away from broccoli?

By the way, I thought this was fun. I'm not as much of a loser as I thought! What about you?

Shuffling Through My Notes

I've been playing around with my blog again today. I wanted a separate site to keep detailed notes about my cross-stitching. So I've started one here. After searching for a template, I settled on this one because...well...read my last post! I don't actually have an ipod Shuffle (yet!), but any member of the ipod family is welcome in my house!

I love my Mac!

I may get flamed for this, but I simply HATE PC's! I have a Mac Powerbook that follows me through the house wherever I go. Before Christmas, the power adapter broke, and I was forced to use DH's Windoze Laptop. Blech. I don't understand why these computers are so prominent, when Macs are SOOO much easier to use! Well, now my Mac is back, with a brand new power adapter and a RAM upgrade, courtesy of Christmas and my Dad (also a fellow Mac-addict).

Apple is also the proud maker of my iPod, which I don't know how I ever lived without. Not only does it faithfully play commercial-free hours of my favorite songs, but I can also listen to books faster than I could ever read them. That means I can "read" and stitch at the same time! My two favorite hobbies combined. Right now I'm "reading" State of Fear by Michael Crichton. Ahhh....Life is good.

Dawn Awakening

I'm joining in a Dracolair SAL (Stich-a-Long, for you non-stitchers) with two other gals. We're each stitching one of the Dracolair "Days of Dragons." I've chosen Dawn Awakening. After our first weekend, my dragon has a head, but nothing else. This piece has more blends and fractional stitches than any other piece I've tackeled. Don't ask to look at the back! LOL Nevertheless, I'm enjoying the challenge, and I love love love how the colors blend so well! I'm doing it on SMF Sund Dappled Glade. Now I'm putting him away till next month, and going back to Lilly, who is coming along much faster.