Wheeler Weightloss Challenge, 2nd ed.

I propose that we officially start our challenge on Monday, Dec 4. This should give all of us time to set specific goals and finish off the icecream in the freezer.

One idea I had was to save $10 for every week we stick to the diet/exercise plan. Conversely, for every week we don't stick to our plan, we would have to contribute $10 to a group fund. (Perhaps we could set up a Paypal account for this purpose). Then at the end of 6 months, the most successful person gets the balance of the group fund and each of us can reward ourselves with the money saved from successful weeks and start the challenge over. If $10 is too hefty for some budgets, we could each choose an amount we can comfortably sacrifice.

I think the monetary commitment will help motivate us. What do ya'll think?

Additionally, I propose that we all take a before and after picture and post them to the blog. And since success isn't always measured in lbs, we could all take our body measurements at the beginning and mark our progress that way (up to you if you want that posted). Each week we can report our progress and share motivational advice, healthy recipes etc...

If you want to join in the challenge, please post a comment with a brief synopsis of your weekly goal.

The following link can help you estimate how many calories you should be eating for maintenance, weightloss, or extreme weightloss.
http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Caleb's Wish List

• Size 12M clothes--especially sweaters, sweatshirts, and the like


• Socks


• Toys, like
  • blocks
  • roll-a-rounds
  
  
  • Cars (bigger than hotwheels and with rounder edges to avoid choking and/or maiming)
  
  
  • little people
  
  
  • bath toys
  
  
  • other stuff
  
  
• Diapers--size 3


• a baby food grinder


• a quiet book kit


• whatever.

****This list in no way implies that we're seeking/expecting gifts for Caleb. Rather, it is in answer to the oft-asked question, "What does Caleb need for Christmas?"

Wheeler Weightloss Challenge

I know this isn't a very good time of year to try to start a diet, but I thought I'd at least introduce the idea to see if anyone would be interested in joining me in an effort to get healthier.

They (the evil diet people) say that it's easier to stick to an exercise and diet program if you have someone to report to. In this case, we could have a group to report to.

Because we are all at varying degrees of weight and health, it'd be hard to select one goal for everyone to meet. For example, Ben and Caleb will probably want to gain weight and I want to lose weight.

I'd love to hear any ideas that you may have. My original idea was that the most successful person would get a pre-determined and desirable reward paid for by the other members of the group.

What do ya'll think? Any ideas?

I still love work!

I love work!

If you haven't already discovered it, I made a blog for Ben and I several months ago. It hasn't been updated in a few months, but someday I might post something. It's http://ben-anna-wheeler.blogspot.com/.

Feel free to peruse both posts.

Today was the Bonneville First Ward's inaugural Finance sunday school class and it was a good one. The teacher is thinking about having a guest speaker, R Dub, give stock tips to the congregation Provo-ites who will be assembling weekly for financial discussion. Stay posted for stories to come, there are sure to be some good ones.

Caleb showed some alarmingly mashocistic signs today. He began by getting up at midnight and staying up for two hours--bad form. Later, after I'd gotten home from school, he chose to fall directly on his little face (against one of Paul's special '80s electronic devices), which resulted in a split and bloody lip--very traumatic (mostly for me. I immediately called Mom, and in the time it took to dial her number, he had calmed down and was happily smearing blood all over everything--mostly my formerly white shirt). Roughly five minutes into my conversation with Mom, he fell again and bruised his young cranium. Good heavens, child.

The funniest/most disturbing thing, though, was his discovery of his own hair. He was rubbing his little head, and then found his wee tufts of hair, so then, of course, he started yanking it and he'd cry like I was the one torturing him. It happened over and over and over again. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head: oooh! What's this stuff? *yank!* WAAAAAAHHHHHH!! [Three seconds go by.] Ooooh! What's this stuff?? *YANK!* WAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! Multiply by twenty. I tried to get him to stop by redirecting his attention, but I was mostly unsuccessful.

So, at the close of today: one fat lip, one bruise on chin, one bruise on forehead, a tender pink spot above left ear. Friday, be kind to us.

Hey! I think I've figured out how to work this thing!!! Maybe I should be the "ancient one" between the birthdays and the electronics-challenge. :) If this doesn't work, I'll go look for my hammer and chisel and a flat rock.

Even ancient ones can blog! A few weeks ago the Young Men's President in our ward referred to the new High Priest Group Leader as the ancinet one. Ancient my eye!

I would like to say, "hear! hear!" to Mother's fine show of Brazilian food. Next, I suggest we have Dad provide a meal native to his mission. Unless that means macaroni noodles with butter and garlic salt, because, well, that meal sucks. Maybe we should just skip Dad all together and move on to Zach.

In food-related news, if you're looking for a good lemon bar recipe, I suggest you turn to that yellow Mormon cookbook with the beehive on the front. It's good, people.

And in case anyone was wondering, Caleb's drive home went like this:
Stage 1: The car seat! I HATE the car seat! Waaaaaahhhhh!
Stage 2 (after sweet Mama provides various toys): A-bah. A-bah. A-bah. A-tah. Bla bla bla bla!
Stage 3 (clunking self on tender head with massage ball thing weighing approximately 15 pounds): WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! I HATE ALL OF YOU!!!
Stage 4 (comprising Redwood Road on 90th to Lindon): Mmmmm, biter biscuit. Mmmmm, smearing biter biscuit on Mama. Mmmmmm, smearing biter biscuit all over my face and hands and hair.
Once home, he fell promptly asleep.

The end to another lovely Sabbath.

Wohoo! I love posting.

I would like to begin this fine family blog by declaring the following pivotal fact: Caleb has taken one unassisted step a day for the last three days. That, my friends, is all. Come. Post. Post often.