Hallelujah.

I have been so frustrated with our auto insurance since we moved to Sacramento. I guess I could have never imagined that drivers could be so much worse in such a smaller metropolitan area than where we moved from. But they are! They are TERRIBLE DRIVERS! So our insurance went from like $600/year each to like double or something.

It has slowly been drifting down with time, but State Farm had a really good year (or 2 or 3) so issued dividend checks and lowered auto rates. We got about $130 in refunds and I JUST saw my auto renewal - $430 instead of $550 for 6 months. So so so cool! Woohoo. Dh's went from $420 (no collission) to $340 or something like that.

I was just crunching numbers, so his went down 19% and mine went down 22%.

Pretty sweet.

Considering I have a much newer, fully covered car. This is way more in line with what we were paying when we moved here 5 years ago.

Well I hope it stays that way.

There is a fight in California right now over whether insurance rates should be based on zip code or driving record. For now, zip code prevails more heavily but the government feels strongly that driving record should be more important. (I wish). State Farm announced earlier this year, to the press, they were changing to driving records over zip codes in California. They then quietly mentioned in the last newlsetter I received that "nevermind" on that. So I have no idea what is up. I geuss makes you wonder if the rate decreases are to appease the government or what. Either way the government is putting the crunch on them.

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In other news I guess I will get back on the weight loss bandwagon. I have mostly put an importance in getting back into shape and hoping the weight would follow.

In high school I Was in marching band. As well as a little in college. I ran all over campus taking stairs and all that in college as well as always going to the school gym and/or taking aerobics & yoga classes, etc. So whenever anyone talks about gaining weight in college I can't imagine. For me it was my first job. Sitting at a desk all day and working 12 hours a day, etc. isn't exactly conducive to exercise. HAving kids just destroyed me. I have tried at times to get into a free exercise routine like walking, but just haven't really had the means or time until now.

Anyway, I am excited at the prospect of getting my fit bod back.

I went to the gym Sunday and probably overdid it. I recovered Monday. Went to aerobics yesterday and starting to feel stronger I stepped it up a notch. I was so sore when I got home but the kids wanted to go to the park, so I walked. I must be crazy. On the other hand I carried LM a good chunk of the way and I do feel MUCH stronger overall. (I have been going to aerobics a little over 2 months).

I was worried that all this working out would make me hungry, and though the increased metabolism might help me a bit, that it might be hard to get my eating under control.

Instead I find the completel opposite. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Most days when I come home from aerobics I force myself to eat something because I am just not hungry. It is really weird. & I find the same. Not only am I less hungry but I crave soda less.

Dh was showing me some article about how soda was linked to certain diseases, and the researchers mentioned they weren't sure if it was a cause and effect or just a lifestyle thing (people who drink soda are less likely to lead healthier lifestyles). I think maybe there is something to it. When you treat your body good it doesn't want that crap. I don't know. IT's very bizarre. I have in round figures a goal to lose about 10 pounds by December - just to get back to where I Was. Though it is definitely less the weight (as I always gain muscle weight when I start working out) and more just fitting into clothes, etc. From there my goal may be to lose 10 pounds next year too. Would put me at 140 or probably around a size 12. Which would put me back closer to a size 6, back to my size 12 butt. LOL. I usually just gain weight nowhere else, so I have to admit I Really don't mind having a little more meat and being mroe proprtioned. I was closer to 130 when I first became pregnant, but I was also pretty out of shape then. I think a fit 140 would be about equivalent and would be my goal. Proportion is nice but I miss my waist too.

The other weird thing is though I don't feel particularly "big" is that since having LM I only gain weight around my middle. Up until arounf 150 I never ever gained weight around my middle and now it seems to be where it all goes. I guess not only does it bother me physically, but you get scared as your waist size suddenly puts you at risk for all sorts of stuff. It is getting borderline on those things.

Yeesh, I can not believe I have 20 pounds to lose... ALl this darn baby weight. I know I should feel lucky it isn't more...

Oh and the awesome news is that both kids LOVED the gym daycare yesterday when they both went together. In fact they didn't want to leave. But really good for dh - he has somewhere to take the kids and get some down time during the day. I was worried LM would need much more easing back to it after traumatizing him this weekend.

So anyway, it's on!!!! Here's to 10 pounds down in 2007.

I did it before last year without a gym membership, but I think the gym will help make it stick. Tax season is always my ruin - always gain weight. Holidays, tax season. Vicous cycle. I think the gym will help me break the cycle.

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In other news we took the kids' rockets to the park yesterday (incidentally where we first saw these) and there was a pile of kids there - quite a scene - fighting over rockets. I think we need more... LOL. Mental note - drive by park and check out crowd before bringing rockets... At least if we had more rockets we could lessen the chaos. Instead they were fighting over the few and was hard to make them wait in line in an orderly fashion. Plus I figure we are lucky some of the bigger kids didn't break them. Oh well - $5 - money WELL spent! I guess we can replace it if we have to. We probably should keep an eye out if we find them cheap again - stock up on these puppies...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0006O8Q7Y/sr=8-1/qi...