A little of this and a little bit of that…

#1

You might want to sit down for this.

I haven’t consumed a carbonated beverage since Feb. 1. Yep, this little coke lover, has avoided coke, pop, soft drinks, whatever the hell you call it for 36 days. Not like I’m counting or anything.

They said it would be easy. They said you wouldn’t miss them after a few days or weeks. WRONG. BIG FAT WRONG.

I think about Coca Cola constantly. How it would make my pizza taste better. How it would make a crappy day better. My body just wants it.

But… I haven’t given in, with the exception of a teeny tiny sip of my brother’s Big Red Slushie.

So, where do cokes and I stand? How have I been feeling?

Let’s start with the latter. I feel great. My clothes fit better. I’m not bloated. For those reasons alone, I may just give them up forever. I’d rather eat my calories anyway. I still drink tea and lemonade occasionally, but I’m also drinking a ton of water.

Will I really NEVER ever drink another beloved can of coke? Probably not. I’ve created this little contest in my head. If I can lose the last 5 pounds of baby weight, I get to celebrate with a coke. 5 more=another coke until I’m down to pre wedding weight from almost 7 years ago.

Isn’t it weird how I aspire to be that weight again? I think I want to be that weight because that’s the last time I remember not weighing myself. Just liking my size and not caring what the number said.

So, how’s that for motivation? And shorts. Most definitely, shorts!

#2

I’ve started reading again. We’ve had several snow days in the last month which in turn I get to stay at home. I have been so lazy and it’s been great. I needed to be lazy. Teaching is rough. My class is rough. We are busy. We don’t spend much time at home during the week so its been nice to be forced to be home. Actually, it’s been wonderful!

I’ve updated the READ WITH ME tab with the books I have been reading! Enjoy!

Weigh In Wednesday

No weight today, I just wanted to share something positive. We have started being active as a family and it is so fun. I usually walk the girls up and down the street for 20-30 minutes a few times a week. Kendall accompanies me doing a workout video some days, and we have started going to the park together!

Here is a pic of us Monday night.

 

We have a park that is next to the river and the floodwall has a marked path. Chris usually runs two miles and the girls and I walk one mile. Then we let Kendall burn off more energy on the playground for about 20 minutes.

I think it is so important, as a mother to young girls, that I present myself with a positive body image. I have talked about this before, but I have always struggled with my own body image. I want my girls to see me consciously making an effort to be healthy and teach them how to love their own bodies. I am also appreciative of my husband who strives to be healthy and motivates me to do the same!

Weigh in Wednesday

 

I'm happy to report I am down -3 pounds from last week! It's amazing what making smarter choices (avoiding the drive thru) and getting my body moving (fitbit) will do!

I've lost over 11 pounds in like 3 weeks and I really want to say that this isn't normal. I am exclusively breastfeeding Adley so that is a major calorie burner right there! Plus, you need to know how badly I was eating before. 

In my experience, the only way I can lose weight is to track everything I put in my mouth and exercise. I still have an occasional fast food meal or coca cola, but I cannot do that everyday! I wish I could. Right now it is willpower that I haven't opened the chocolate bars I purchased yesterday for s'mores this weekend. 

Now I have only 13 pounds to go to get to pre pregnancy weight! Woohoo! 

Follow me on MyFitnessPal (mrsryan555) if you want to see how I work in foods I love in moderation. Ha! I'm also on the fitbit network but I have no idea how to add friends. :) 

Weigh In Wednesday (on a Thursday)

I’m happy to report I’ve lost 8 pounds since my 6 week PP appointment. I’ve only got 16 more to go before I am at pre-pregnancy weight.

It’s amazing what a little movement and eating better will do. Or really, just tracking what I am eating and attempting to make better choices.

I took this picture one evening last week when Chris and I went to the floodwall to run/walk. My legs were sore for 3 days because I attempted to jog some. Ha!

I also got a fitbit and that is REALLY motivating me. I’m kind of obsessed and I only take it off to shower.

Here’s what I looked like Thursday in a dressing room. And yes, I bought the skirt. Ha!

So I will just keep doing what I’m doing. :)

Weigh In Wednesday

I think I will jump on this train again. I need to keep track of things and stay accountable. Unfortunately, my scale needs a new battery (and a nicer attitude) so I won't be weighing in this week.

I have started working out and I feel great. I'm not that consistent. I'm trying to ease back into things. Last week it was just taking a walk a few times. Very casual and with the kiddos.

Monday night I actually attempted Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred and it wasn't terrible. My tailbone(or sciatic nerve) hurt a little afterwards so I don't know if I overdid it. I'm a little sore, but not really. I kind of did my own pace but I didn't feel like it was too much. I'm going to start out doing it every other day and go from there.

I definitely feel more like myself when I exercise. Now if I could just get a grasp on this eating better deal.

I'm tracking calories on MyFitnessPal (mrsryan555 - look me up). I'm giving myself 2000 calories a day. This may seem high, but I'm also exclusively breastfeeding (supplying nourishment for a tiny, growing Adley) and that's more important than dropping weight. I read some where that breastfeeding burns 20 calories an ounce, and I pump/nurse 5-6 ounces at least 6 times a day. So that means I could be burning up to 700 calories a day feeding my babe! Thank you, Adley! Hence the 2000 calories!
Plus, as much as I'd love to drop the weight quickly, it needs to come off slowly. So it will stick. It took 9 months to gain almost 50 pounds, so I'm giving myself time to lose that last 25 pounds.

I know by continuing to exercise and by fine tuning my eating, I will get there. :)

Thyroid Update & Weigh In Wednesday

Yesterday afternoon I had my follow up appoint with my Endo since starting hormone replacement therapy in February. I am happy to report that my thyroid levels were perfect. I got the green light to do some baby making but I still feel like that's a few months off. Either way, I am happy everything is working.

I can tell a huge difference in my energy and I just feel more like myself these days. :)

I wasn’t going to link with weigh in Wednesday at first because I have been binge eating the last few days and I knew I’d gained. However, I decided I needed some accountability to get the number back down.

162 (ouch ) up like 1.6 or something from last week

I hit 160.0 this weekend and then we celebrated my brother’s birthday Sunday and I ate everything I could get my hands on Monday and Tuesday. So it could be worse. I’m back at tracking calories and exercising today in hopes to keep moving right along. I really think it is SO TRUE that the last 10-15 pounds is the hardest. Luckily, that’s really all I want to lose but it’s going to take some discipline on my part or it won’t happen.

BEFORE Pictures Eeek

I can’t believe I’m about to do this but we are all friends, right? RIGHT?

These were taken 2 weeks ago. I wouldn’t be posting them if I wasn’t on week 3 of C25K. I wouldn’t be posting these if I was going to start the Ripped in 30 program with my husband per his request that he wants to do “one of those crazy” workouts. Isn’t that cute? He wants to do it after Kendall goes to bed. Ha! Date Night!

Anyways, every one else and their mom has posted their BEFORE pictures on the internet and it seems to hold them accountable. I mean I will DELETE this blog before I post pictures where I haven’t lost any weight. Seriously.

So here it goes…

  

(excuse the hair flip motion shot)

Here are my stats as of today.

Weight 163 (-4 loss from August holla!)

Goal 145

Size 10 pants (Goal size 6-8)

Arms – 12"

Chest – 36.5 (D’s please holla!)

Waist – 31

Hips – 37.5

Thighs 23.5

These are my measurements after I did 3 weeks of the 30 day Shred. I have lost 8.5 inches and KEPT them off. I’ve also kept off 4 pounds.

I need to KEEP working. Starting with Week 3 Run 2 tonight… Laters!

Almost 30 days!

I've been doing the 30 Day Shred on and off since 8/20. I had initally started it wanting to do it every day but quickly realized that I didn't want to just do a workout for 30 days. I want to start a routine of working out on a regular basis and make it be a routine I can live with. For me that means working our 4-5 times a week. So that it what I have been doing.
I am starting to see some definition in my body which really motivates me. I have lost a total of 8.5 inches in my arms, chest, waist, hips and thighs. That motivates me too.

The scale... I'm not seeing a lot of movement there. I know I am gaining muscle and I have lost 3 pounds so that is better than 0.

In the scale's defense... I haven't been doing great with my diet. I stopped tracking last week and need to get better about that. I have skipped meals and then ate bigger, fattening meals to make up for it. And until this morning when I weighed and worked out, I hadn't worked out since Thursday morning.

So I need to step it up if I want to get those other 23 pounds off before my 27th birthday (December 22).
Here's what I'm planning to do...

• Drink MORE water... I need to drink more water. I have been only drinking a glass or two at work and then it's not until bedtime that I realize I want some more water.
• More cardio. I plan on keeping up with the Shred 4-5 times a week. I love the workout and I can really see it working. It's quick and something I can do in the mornings. BUT I think I need a little more so I downloaded the Get Running app (C25K) on my phone last night. It's 3 days a week so I can do this and the Shred.
• Eat better. I need to stay focused and not just eat what's in my calories, but what is good for me.

How are your weight loss goals going? Have you done the C25K?

Discouraged

Strike 1

I weighed myself this morning and it was 1.5 lbs higher than I was on Monday. I’ve done everything right. 1200 calories, exercised every single day and I’ve gained????

Strike 2

Fruit and cheerios for breakfast, subway for lunch… but why can’t I have a cherry coke and cookie from subway? Will I even be able to enjoy the sweet things in life again???

Strike 3

I came home in a bad mood, discouraged that I am doing everything right (I think?) and I can’t even tell a difference in my body. I fixed dinner and told Chris I wanted to take a nap.

Take another Swing!

As I was laying in bed trying to sleep while holding Kendall’s hand as she watched Little Einstein’s, it dawned on me that I was doing the exact thing I didn’t want to do anymore.  Give up.

Yes, I’m mad I’ve been doing this for over two weeks and I’m not seeing a big difference, but I have to believe I am doing the best I can and the results will come.

So I got out of bed and exercised.

I will get there.

I wake up at 4pm

Okay seriously... I get like a huge wave of energy at 4pm (when I leave work for the day). I'm so ready to go home and do something fun with Chris or something more than sit at a desk in general. Yesterday I went home and cleaned my entire house. I even dusted the light fixtures and the top of the fridge... so really cleaned, right? I lit a bunch of candles too - I love making the house smell all cozy.
So the last 2 Thursday's I've been weighing in - I really should not have done it this morning. Repeat after me. Do not weigh in on monthly visit week. You just can't trust those numbers that week. I will weigh in next Thursday for a more valid number. There is 10 days left for January so I'm giving myself until Feb 4 (a Thursday which leaves me 2 weeks) to lose -5 lbs. I can do it!!! It may get strict and ugly at home but I am determined to watch those numbers move!


Tonight I'm making a Taco Ring for dinner. I had a big lunch so I will be having a simplified wheat tortilla wrap thingy but I will eat leftovers for lunch yummy!

I already have my grocery list handy and I'm just waiting for the clock to read 4:00 so I can go on my merry way!


After dinner we may ride up to Lowes. We have been thinking about all kinds of home improvement projects we would like to try. I will list them in another post sometime! I want to look at some tile ideas for a kitchen backsplash! Here is an old picture of my kitchen from when we first got married. It honestly still looks the same. I love the paint color, counter tops and cabinet finish - now I just have to find a tile backsplash to bring it all together. Any ideas?

New Size = Shopping!

Greetings Friends!!!!

I am so excited to report that while (unnecessary) shopping today I tried on some pants - I decided to grab a size 10 instead of my usual comfortable size 12 and they fit. I am a size 10! This is the size I was wearing last year at my wedding! It's funny though because I still have about 8 lbs to go to get to my wedding weight. Oh well! I'm not complaining!

To celebrate I purchased a pair of jeans and a pair of black dress pants - in size 10. I also bought this cute scarf!!! I think it's so feminine and I LOVE scarves... And I bought these cute boots with a bow on them!

Now back to this!!!!!!!! Blah! I hate organizing stuff! Plus I need to make dinner!

Sick Day and new RED jacket

First... HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY! I just want to thank everyone who is serving or has served our Country. Everytime I see a solider I tear up because of the huge sacrifice they make for people they do not even know. God Bless You!

Sooo... yesterday I was MIA! I woke up with the worst sinus headache & sore throat. So I called up my dad (who I work for) and decided to catch up on some Zzzzz's. Honestly that did the trick I woke up around lunch feeling much better.

I was obviously well enough to go to my MK meeting and I'm glad I did! My newly earned RED jacket came courtesy of the UPS truck and I wanted to sport it at my unit meeting. I looked so hot I know!!! LOL

The other MK consultants surprised me and two other new Star Team Builders with a bunch of red gifts. Yay! My mom brought me RED roses. I love MK! The sisterhood is amazing and everyone is such an encouragement. Knowing that many people support me makes me want to work harder for my business.

I forget sometimes why I started MK. It was my last semester at UofL and I was doing an internship at their HR office. It was then I decided I wanted to work for myself like my parents do. I want to be my own boss. My dad started his company out of our living room and my mom has been in MK for 10+ years. Naturally I like the lifestyle that goes with being your own boss. It's not even about the money - it's about the quality of life. The ability to make your work - work around your schedule - not the other way around. Of course driving one of these would not be so bad either!!!

Another positive - you know how I have not been weighing myself for the last few weeks - well it really works! I was scared I had gained like 10 lbs but I have MAINTAINED! 6 lbs to go to meet my Thanksgiving challenge!!!!!

Yay! I am going to post a giveaway soon!!!