tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63065128559533964062024-03-12T20:45:34.789-07:00(Not So) Babbling BrookeBrooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-3674182084037354842014-05-14T13:35:00.000-07:002014-05-14T13:35:30.510-07:00Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad...Me...BUTI've been an awful blogger. This is my first post in exactly a month! I'm guessing this is one of the reasons why I've been on a downward spiral in my fitness journey too. This place keeps me accountable, so when I slack off here...I slack off everywhere else too!<br />
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I've read SEVERAL binge, fell off the wagon, trying to get back on track posts today so maybe it's just in the water.<br />
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Anywho...I gave up the gym membership at the end of December. I couldn't take my kid and I'd have no choice but to go at the butt crack of dawn if I wanted to get in a workout. I like sleep - it wasn't working. I figured I could do some at home stuff anytime I wanted and no need for a babysitter. Yeah...there's the couch. Bitch couch. I sat my ass there for way too long.<br />
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So, last Friday I bit the bullet and joined the YWCA. It's the only gym in our town that has childcare and I needed to do SOMETHING! It'd give the crib midget a break from me (even though he doesn't really want it yet) and I'd get a workout in. So far, so good!<br />
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I'm really hoping that this push will help get me back on track since I've pretty much done nothing since January. <br />
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I CAN DO THIS!<br />
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I'll try to be better here too :)</div>
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<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-86856620858828454672014-04-14T05:59:00.001-07:002014-04-14T05:59:48.805-07:00Clean Eating Link Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've touched on my feelings about this topic a little bit in the past, but today I'll really get to the nuts and bolts of why I feel the way I do. CLEAN EATING...it's really become a hot topic among the fitness world and you hear those words together a lot! I started on the bandwagon myself many months ago, and while it helped a little, I still was feeling gross, bloated, lethargic...something wasn't working for me. Then someone recommended the <a href="http://whole30.com/" target="_blank">Whole30 plan</a> and I spent hours pouring over the website and decided to just go for it! That was way back in November 2012 and it was great! After the initial "carb flu" period I was feeling great. I lost about 12 pounds in 30 days and I'd never felt better, more focused, or energetic. <br />
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Enter Christmas...and several more months of falling off the wagon. I'll be the first to admit that I am an emotional binge eater. I fight it every single day. I simply can't keep anything in my house that I want to avoid because I will eat it every time. During these months, I gained back every pound I lost plus a few.<br />
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Once I'd had enough of feeling like trash again, I went back to the beginning. I decided to read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/It-Starts-Food-Discover-Unexpected/dp/1936608898/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397479205&sr=8-1&keywords=it+starts+with+food" target="_blank">this book:</a><br />
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I'm not huge on science, but Dallas and Melissa Hartwig really explain the science of how certain food affects our body from the inside out in terms that I can understand. All sorts of ailments and diseases begin with what we put on our plate and we don't even realize it. Weight gain is just a symptom of all the other things that could be happening in our bodies. Scary things like diabetes, leaky gut syndrome, and even seasonal allergies. And since I am doing this for my overall health and not just to lose weight, it made sense for me to cut out the junk and follow the guidelines set by this book. <br />
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I'm not perfect and I slip up sometimes, but it's been easier to resist eating things when I remind myself how bad I feel afterwards and how these foods affect my overall health and not just my weight!<br />
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One hurdle I've really had to fight through is the idea that the normal "low-fat" American diet that most people try to lose weight with will NEVER work. Healthy fat doesn't make you fat....refined sugar and processed foods do. If you read labels you'll find out that sugar is hidden EVERYWHERE! That "healthy" yogurt...more sugar than a Snickers bar! I'm looking forward to seeing <a href="http://fedupmovie.com/" target="_blank">Fed Up</a>, a documentary about this topic!<br />
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I've rambled enough...if you've made it this far, I HIGHLY recommend checking out this book and program. It won't cost you a dime (other than buying food!) to follow the Whole30 - unlike other popular programs out there. In the long run, you'll feel better! I know I do!<br />
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Now if I can just get the exercise going...<br />
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What are your thoughts on clean eating? Link up with<a href="http://www.fleurtyandfit.com/2014/04/clean-eating-for-dummies-link-up_14.html" target="_blank"> Jasmine at Fleurty and Fit</a> and share with us!</div>
<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-3386613666270146302014-04-10T07:17:00.000-07:002014-04-10T07:17:01.390-07:00NSV Success! Finally...<div align="center">
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It's almost Friday!!! I don't know why I care...every day for a stay at home mom like me is pretty much the same. It's like living in the movie Groundhog Day. </div>
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Moving right along...today is Non-Scale Victory link up day! I actually have one to celebrate this week...yay! I don't know if I've talked about it before, but every Wednesday we go to my parent's house for family night supper. This is usually a night where I end up saying "F-it" and eating whatever the hell is laying around. Yesterday I was feeling really good after a 3 mile bike/walk and I didn't want to ruin what I had done. So while everyone else was eating Grands biscuits with their dinner and having chocolate ice cream for dessert, I had one grilled pork chop, about 1/4 cup roasted red potatoes, and a shit load of broccoli. Proof once again that I CAN resist eating crap food even when every fiber of my being wants the damn biscuit!</div>
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Now to keep that up! Hope your day is great!</div>
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Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-52580254402748511252014-04-09T05:55:00.001-07:002014-04-09T05:55:56.134-07:00A Friendly Reminder...For MyselfI can feel myself getting lazy. It's gradual and slow and then all of a sudden I'm doing nothing. So here's a little reminder of all the great reasons there are to get out there and sweat!<br />
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My favorite reasons are numbers 1, 5, 21, 46, and 48 ;) What are your favorites?</div>
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Off to put on my workout clothes! </div>
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Have a great Hump Day!</div>
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<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-63541727073566286802014-04-08T07:16:00.000-07:002014-04-08T07:16:35.772-07:00A Tool and a StoryI've been doing SO much better this past week! Other than blogging - womp womp. I spent all of last Friday at the computer planning my meals and preparing for the torture that is grocery shopping! For this undertaking, I use <a href="http://www.ziplist.com/" target="_blank">Ziplist</a>. It really has been a lifesaver when it comes to food prep. You can save recipes, plan your food using Google calendar, and create lists that sync with your smartphone. Really, really helpful! You're welcome.<div>
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So, now that is out of the way...want to hear a story? We live in a quiet little duplex/triplex community. Never ever have we had any excitement or trouble. All that changed Sunday night! We're sitting watching TV about 10:30 pm and all of a sudden we hear gunshots. Like REALLY close - so close that the hubs made us leave the living room and go to the back of the house. Talk about terrified. The adrenaline was pumping so much I couldn't stop shaking. This was me:</div>
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We stayed away from the windows even though I wanted to know what was going on. About 10 minutes later we see police lights, so we braved looking out. Turns out the shots were fired at the unit on the opposite end of ours - WAY too close for comfort. The car in the driveway had a window busted out but it doesn't appear there was any other damage. The cops hung around taking pictures until about 1 am and then they're just gone. I don't think anyone was hurt - never saw an ambulance. I didn't sleep very well that night at all! I still don't know what exactly happened. It's scary and I'm really hoping that the neighbors who were involved have received their eviction notice!</div>
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Have a great Tuesday friends! See you again soon.</div>
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Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-80541169685214526492014-03-28T05:27:00.000-07:002014-03-28T05:27:17.593-07:00A New Low and A New StartI'll put it all out there and say that I've been having a terrible time the past few days with diet and exercise. I was super motivated to hit it hard when the 90 Days 'Til Summer Challenge started, and then PMS hit me harder. It's basically been 'eat all the foods' and 'lounge on the couch' for the past week. I feel terrible!<br />
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So, thankfully, last night I had a good talk about things with my sister-in-law who is also on her own journey to lose weight. Our paths are very different, but just talking things out with her really helped me to put things back into perspective and focus on why I'm doing this.</div>
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That being said, I have recognized in myself a problem with eating. Basically if it's there, I can't help myself. I seriously can not stop thinking about whatever terrible food is in the kitchen calling my name. I eventually give in, eat way too much, and feel like shit - physically and emotionally. So today, I will be cleaning out my kitchen of all the crap foods that I don't want in my body. This will be good for my whole family! None of us need to eat gummy worms. Ever. </div>
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Here's to rebooting. May it be the last time I ever have to do it. I'm expecting success and starting today I'm going to take control of my journey again....starting weight 170.2. Yikes. That's the heaviest I've ever been in my life and it's way too much for my 5'2" frame. </div>
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Happy Friday! I hope your weekend rocks!</div>
<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-47648505250219108322014-03-26T05:57:00.000-07:002014-03-26T05:57:19.454-07:00Late, Late, Late Weekend UpdateI know it's Wednesday already, but I had a great weekend and it kind of spilled over into the beginning of the week! Never a bad thing.<br />
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We had family in town so there was a lot of family time and fun hanging out. Friday we went shopping and my cousin spoiled H with some new clothes for spring/summer and of course we can't leave without at least one toy! Then we went with the whole family to a local mexican restaurant so that meal was a big thumbs down for my 90 Days 'Til Summer Challenge. And you know what - it wasn't even that good. Wasted calories!<br />
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Saturday we had plans to celebrate our 14th anniversary, so H stayed the night with Grandmommy and Poppy. Can I just insert right here that I have the best parents on the planet? They do so much for us and H just loves them to pieces! J and I went to see Divergent and then to try a new local seafood restaurant, The Half Shell. It was so good! I had crab cakes, bacon wrapped green beans, and a few sweet potato fries. I liked it because it wasn't your typical huge plate with loads of food - they were appropriate portions of fresh seafood and I didn't feel stuffed afterwards. Which was good because - you know - we were celebrating our anniversary (bow chicka wow wow).<br />
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At the restaurant above and our first married kiss below :)</div>
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We didn't take the fam to the airport until late Monday evening, so Tuesday I spent all day doing all of the typical cleaning and catching up that I missed over the weekend. <br />
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And now it's Wednesday and here I am. It's freaking 40 degrees today which stinks because it was near 80 over the weekend. Maybe this bipolar weather will relax soon and we'll be complaining about how stinking hot it is come August!<br />
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So, back to the grind today. I gotta get back on the workout train for sure! Check y'all later!</div>
<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-41682405227013110662014-03-20T23:30:00.000-07:002014-03-20T23:30:02.790-07:00Just Stopping In Real QuickIt's Friday and I've been slack over here this week! I've got family in town from Baltimore that we don't get to see very often so I've been spending every minute I can with them.<br />
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Today officially starts the <a href="http://www.operationskinnyjeans.com/2014/03/90-days-til-summer-swimsuit-challenge.html" target="_blank">90 Days 'Til Summer Swimsuit Challenge</a>. I'm so excited to really put everything I have into this 90 days! I'm so beyond ready to see some real results. I've been eating ok leading up to today, but I'm going to hit it hard now. Officially starting Monday I'm going to begin another <a href="http://whole30.com/" target="_blank">Whole 30 program</a>. Reading '<a href="http://www.amazon.com/It-Starts-Food-Discover-Unexpected/dp/1936608898" target="_blank">It Starts With Food</a>' has really motivated me to make healthy choices in the kitchen.<br />
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Anyway, headed off to hang with the family! Happy Friday!<br />
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<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-31163021210100542152014-03-18T13:12:00.000-07:002014-03-18T13:12:54.172-07:00It Starts With FoodWe've all heard this:<br />
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I believe it. I also believe that it's hard to find the right nutrition when there's so much information out there about what's healthy, what's not and why. A lot of that information is contradictory. What's a girl to do?!</div>
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I've been toying with a Paleo/Primal diet the past few months but I didn't really know why except that people were doing it and losing weight. Then I got a hold of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/It-Starts-Food-Discover-Unexpected/dp/1936608898" target="_blank">this book</a>:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvfOkuo1pTr2yRa38tLfkvvjrS6gaSycwn4NZGZbgwiSlOkfq7m9cyiA7HlWGD-ZaW2M6uNHepmRGvebMo-lPsLIijT6wqILpVlMYlIyKtMMMkQV2jkNVPfUQmyLeQPtsvVoHybM07oc5/s1600/51pe2KIu0SL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvfOkuo1pTr2yRa38tLfkvvjrS6gaSycwn4NZGZbgwiSlOkfq7m9cyiA7HlWGD-ZaW2M6uNHepmRGvebMo-lPsLIijT6wqILpVlMYlIyKtMMMkQV2jkNVPfUQmyLeQPtsvVoHybM07oc5/s1600/51pe2KIu0SL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
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I'm only on chapter 6, but it has explained so much and it's really opened my eyes! I'm not huge on science, but Dallas & Melissa really explain the science of how certain food affect our body from the inside out in terms that I can understand. All sorts of ailments and diseases begin with what we put on our plate and we don't even realize it. Weight gain is just a symptom of all the other things that could be happening in our bodies. Scary things like diabetes, leaky gut syndrome, and even seasonal allergies. </div>
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I can't recommend this book strongly enough. If you suffer from any sort of chronic ailment or just want to lose weight, this will really open your eyes to the science of how food affects our body on the inside.</div>
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Now I've got some work to do in my cabinets cleaning out some trash "foods". </div>
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<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-41678897628945718862014-03-17T06:39:00.001-07:002014-03-17T06:39:48.653-07:00I Better Put This Out There Before I Lose My NerveI've committed to participating in the 90 Days 'Til Summer Swimsuit Challenge with <a href="http://www.fabchickgetsfit.com/" target="_blank">Val</a>, <a href="http://marcyruns4beer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Marcy</a>, and <a href="http://www.operationskinnyjeans.com/" target="_blank">Jess</a>. I wasn't going to put up my before pics just yet but I've seen so many of you gals putting yourselves out there I figured what the hell...so before I lose my nerve, here it is:<br />
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Of course H was curious as to why mama was taking pics of herself in a swimsuit while it's raining outside. :) This is a swimsuit I've had for probably two or three years. I hate shopping for suits because 1) DUH...flab and 2) Big Ass Boobs don't fit in your normal off the rack suit. Also they cost a million dollars. I've always said if I could lose the weight I would have those suckers reduced. We shall see.</div>
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A few goals...1) Lose fat - especially around the middle and in my thighs. 2) Say goodbye to the double chin. 3) Work on my Miley ass.</div>
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Now, I'm ready to make the next 90 days my bitch! At home, on a budget, I WILL see some damn results!</div>
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<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-6931184026368178672014-03-14T05:06:00.001-07:002014-03-14T05:06:23.812-07:00Cheers To The Freakin' WeekendHappy Friday everyone! So sorry I've not written in two whole days. These allergies really have gotten me down. The weather has been bipolar and there is so much pollen in the air, everything outside is coated in a layer of yellow.<br />
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My day has started out great! Woke up to find out that I'd won 2nd prize in <a href="http://www.fabchickgetsfit.com/2014/03/fab-10k-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Fab Chick Gets Fit 10K Giveaway.</a> SO excited about this! If you haven't checked her out before, please do! Her journey has been so inspiring to me and her humor is on point. </div>
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I'm pretty sure I'll be participating in her 90 Day Swimsuit Challenge - don't look for before pics though...not quite ready for all that. Maybe in 90 days!</div>
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So, I'm going to spend some time today while the munchkin is napping deciding what workout I'm going to do for 90 days and getting my meal plan all done. I'm looking forward to some good results and the motivation and accountability will be so good for me.</div>
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Hope your weekend is wonderful! I'll see you again here on Monday!</div>
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Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-65462208744090167552014-03-10T07:07:00.000-07:002014-03-10T07:07:45.708-07:00Encouragment For The JourneyI'll be honest. I've had a terribly hard time getting into and sticking with healthy eating and exercise. It's like there's been a block in my brain and my "I don't give a f*@*" switch has been stuck firmly in the on position. So it really helped me flip that switch when I got this text yesterday from my cousin:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN05q86BNu3FfVtdS6MqJn0KoRu5WMTAOPXC9f2qzX7JLd9jcW1y5TQX8SykrMlyPbAkQLkA7zknzuLsBY52kCiCz5tkLZibUZGEvOcr2WHheUlEzot563WIuqakt8My4MflFQu8Q2eGI6/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN05q86BNu3FfVtdS6MqJn0KoRu5WMTAOPXC9f2qzX7JLd9jcW1y5TQX8SykrMlyPbAkQLkA7zknzuLsBY52kCiCz5tkLZibUZGEvOcr2WHheUlEzot563WIuqakt8My4MflFQu8Q2eGI6/s1600/photo.PNG" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
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You see, she's diabetic and has been struggling with health and weight for a while. Just to know that she wanted to let me know that she's making a serious effort to get her health back is enough to flip that switch in my head back to OFF!<br />
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It's funny how just a little note from someone is enough to really change your train of thought. I'm so very glad she sent me that text! It's great to get some encouragement and a little motivation to start off a new week.Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-65903871751691172372014-03-07T06:43:00.002-08:002014-03-07T06:43:38.842-08:00Friday FunnyI hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll catch you on Monday. Until then, enjoy some funny stuff.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DO0YKh8jnRKueSA7NeUjzwd5l0YamivMl6ptFISAtg0tcUKhyWvUasMPyQlsvKXviJt4nD2mdWh2peJOXV-UoDKNad1bdfYAcczF4Gg4xs9MHtz7_1JzhMLA8JiANCCxrXZOyt53884M/s1600/6c6c9c34700bb612ad604b42a035a709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DO0YKh8jnRKueSA7NeUjzwd5l0YamivMl6ptFISAtg0tcUKhyWvUasMPyQlsvKXviJt4nD2mdWh2peJOXV-UoDKNad1bdfYAcczF4Gg4xs9MHtz7_1JzhMLA8JiANCCxrXZOyt53884M/s1600/6c6c9c34700bb612ad604b42a035a709.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
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Why, yes. Yes that would be great.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJpM1yEeY0pa6jK7vCHLvZdiIcQ6hsmoB8W0Y6ZKYlYdtucmbIouFx1zGWxbFnSY5CfPb11Vk_JTl0ZsDx-56Bl8sj9mnXgGEXWMR_DUvdNorFOr9C8lbdpwmt0YzgHFpRdx3x1S3mU0K/s1600/59ffa3aaffd0175a961825dbfc358765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJpM1yEeY0pa6jK7vCHLvZdiIcQ6hsmoB8W0Y6ZKYlYdtucmbIouFx1zGWxbFnSY5CfPb11Vk_JTl0ZsDx-56Bl8sj9mnXgGEXWMR_DUvdNorFOr9C8lbdpwmt0YzgHFpRdx3x1S3mU0K/s1600/59ffa3aaffd0175a961825dbfc358765.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
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Haha, the elusive thigh gap</div>
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My son loves this shirt, he's always pretending to be Batman.</div>
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Exactly! This is so accurate.</div>
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Happy Friday!</div>
<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-62338974309236662812014-03-05T06:26:00.001-08:002014-03-05T06:26:40.607-08:00Family Night ProblemsWednesdays are my hardest food day. Wednesday night my family all gets together at my parent's house for family night dinners. My mom is amazing and she tries to accommodate my healthier eating, but at the same time she has to feed my entire family - not all of whom care what they shove in their faces! Usually there will be dessert and carbs a plenty. I won't lie either - many times I just eat it and call it my "cheat meal" (I hate that term), but I'm an all or nothing type of person and moderation just isn't my strong suit. One little taste and I'm done. It takes me days to get my diet back on track. It's a problem. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxNAXCJgN0CmVgbEH3gk6hLw3-njKE4v9HcFMIY94jXg1aHB8Y79a0A4upZ4oeADFdyWTAXduhNjG7Zq81oJ3JgjAcsjNUARAA6pr_DMpUmd4RrNujGswuQWdx0esZnk2fty50SYuqsEt/s1600/1327614344670_3153463.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxNAXCJgN0CmVgbEH3gk6hLw3-njKE4v9HcFMIY94jXg1aHB8Y79a0A4upZ4oeADFdyWTAXduhNjG7Zq81oJ3JgjAcsjNUARAA6pr_DMpUmd4RrNujGswuQWdx0esZnk2fty50SYuqsEt/s1600/1327614344670_3153463.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's cold and rainy here today, so tonight we're having regular chili, white chicken chili, and all the fixings that go along with that. Plus there'll be some sort of dessert to tempt me to hell. So tonight, I'll do my best to avoid the carbs and the desserts, and I'll enjoy the time together with my family!<br />
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In other news, I started an <a href="http://instagram.com/not_so_babbling_brooke" target="_blank">Instagram</a> account for this blog last night, so feel free to follow along! <br />
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Happy hump day!Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-29896600150415071262014-03-04T07:21:00.000-08:002014-03-04T07:21:10.487-08:00How I Became A MommyMy mom likes to joke that I only give her 5 months to prepare for all the big life events. We had 5 months to plan my wedding after J and I were engaged. Then we had 5 months to prepare for the arrival of our son, H.<br />
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See, we weren't planning to adopt anytime soon. We were actually planning to go a few rounds of IVF first. Then one night at the church we were attending at the time, a young teenaged girl we hardly knew approached me and asked the question I dreaded the most. "Why don't y'all have any kids yet?"<br />
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As I explained to her that I couldn't have kids without medical intervention, I could see the gears turning in her head. Her next question threw me for the loop of my life. "Would you like to adopt my baby? I'm four months pregnant and I can't keep it." Wow. I told her I'd talk to J, but I already knew that the baby she was carrying was my child. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPj4EphoMJ2k8MpZ3SjC3_8qr1gly82o4gIjupDKOCZI-CM9-p1EfYi7BRg0A2mFdIbSyeSsogat2IpYNokMV9dJ_hnT3FL2nsJjgIudhVJWGdMoMXwiW-hOtLnXHS5PetAg4156jnwdyM/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPj4EphoMJ2k8MpZ3SjC3_8qr1gly82o4gIjupDKOCZI-CM9-p1EfYi7BRg0A2mFdIbSyeSsogat2IpYNokMV9dJ_hnT3FL2nsJjgIudhVJWGdMoMXwiW-hOtLnXHS5PetAg4156jnwdyM/s1600/photo-3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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For the next 5 months I went to doctor appointments with her. We were there when we found out that H was a boy, we were in the hospital room when he arrived. I was the first to hold him. He had the thickest, darkest, most beautiful hair I'd ever seen on a newborn. Ten days later the surrender papers were signed without any reservations. She knew what was best for him and I'm thankful every day that she had the strength to make that choice. He is the most amazing gift we've ever been given.<br />
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Three months later, we would sit in front of the judge and he would legally be our child forever. That was the third best day of my life!</div>
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Three and a half years later, and he's the best little guy, taylor made for our family! We are so fortunate to have been able to become his parents. We hope to adopt again one day, but until then I'm going to soak up every minute of being H's mommy!</div>
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<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-20362407008815279252014-03-03T06:02:00.000-08:002014-03-03T06:03:20.458-08:00Goals for the MonthHappy Monday blogland! I had a great weekend with my little family and it's back to business today. I spent some time over the weekend thinking about some goals for the next month or so and what I really need to do about my health and fitness. Of course I can't think about weight loss without thinking about clothes! So, after seeing the #sameshirtdifferentgirl idea from Jess at <a href="http://www.operationskinnyjeans.com/" target="_blank">Operation Skinny Jeans</a>, I dug out my favorite pair of jeans that are too small and I put them on. Yikes. Goal discovered! I want to fit back into these jeans in the next month. I'll try them on again on April 1st and check out how I've done! Here's the painfully true evidence of the work I need to do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcz-uMYT4JAkjYGAq6IM084I1zPs696KlW2jQidghd8m2Wwvwpael2AAnkxhz2zhBZgLSRiMjKBCnQC9VdHd5WX_fjqiIO7wjmZ3IUCiZ86kkVB17x5gMHlb6HmlmVSGdA5yr0Yob-Whf/s1600/2014-03-03+08.31.14-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcz-uMYT4JAkjYGAq6IM084I1zPs696KlW2jQidghd8m2Wwvwpael2AAnkxhz2zhBZgLSRiMjKBCnQC9VdHd5WX_fjqiIO7wjmZ3IUCiZ86kkVB17x5gMHlb6HmlmVSGdA5yr0Yob-Whf/s1600/2014-03-03+08.31.14-2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzA5PvFTQoLujixAKwelSrSWVGuei2KJpgAJXvTmOw0XSrx8mxWvypQPn9l_RYmoe9IAiRVBb__d5Qfji-ip5a60symwKuN1JJ9j30R4AcKNTsSr2UMNGAR8FUhBRjERPdpcusDnJWxKv6/s1600/2014-03-03+08.31.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzA5PvFTQoLujixAKwelSrSWVGuei2KJpgAJXvTmOw0XSrx8mxWvypQPn9l_RYmoe9IAiRVBb__d5Qfji-ip5a60symwKuN1JJ9j30R4AcKNTsSr2UMNGAR8FUhBRjERPdpcusDnJWxKv6/s1600/2014-03-03+08.31.33.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
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Obviously my trouble zone is my belly, so I'll be working hard to lose that! It'd be nice to put those on in April and not look like a sausage squeezed into it's casing! </div>
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Being a SAHM with no income, we are on a super tight budget around here so I can't really fit it in the budget to join some program or a gym so here's the "I'm on a budget" plan: </div>
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Clean, real, foods. No grains/very limited dairy. CUT OUT THE SUGAR (my biggest weakness). I'll basically be following a Paleo approach. I try to eat this way normally because grains upset my tummy big time anyway. I'm not perfect and I've failed many times, but I just have to take it one meal at a time and remember how crap food makes me feel.</div>
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On the exercise front, I've downloaded this <a href="http://wayofgray.com/ebooks/" target="_blank">ebook</a> from Way of Gray. They're HIIT workouts that go hard for about 30 minutes. I'll try to do these at least 5 days a week. I may do some other light walking with my mom, and of course I'll be playing with my H every day!</div>
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I'm looking forward to getting this weight off and keeping it off once and for all!</div>
<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-4680592212001284242014-02-28T06:52:00.001-08:002014-02-28T06:54:49.281-08:00Finish The Sentence LinkupSeems like a fun linkup to do, so here goes my Finish The Sentence...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EzKxZTL7yD2eNM0ELIXK3zYKuqAihLaMXPLRcWPBZSIXczeeTWSdnelQOfPWkEdvasqZHSsapvVAU_xyshSpUuH-EyHGVeB2hPCS8rkw-KB-aCAofDbpMkpIKCd6QfLI8omtskY_UXmF/s1600/jakeandhollylinkupbutton_zps08a5aeb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EzKxZTL7yD2eNM0ELIXK3zYKuqAihLaMXPLRcWPBZSIXczeeTWSdnelQOfPWkEdvasqZHSsapvVAU_xyshSpUuH-EyHGVeB2hPCS8rkw-KB-aCAofDbpMkpIKCd6QfLI8omtskY_UXmF/s1600/jakeandhollylinkupbutton_zps08a5aeb3.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
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1. I always pick...Sleep over exercise. Seriously. I chase a three year old who wakes up at 6:30 am bright eyed and ready to go. Exercise can wait until later.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5LJSTfYFoCigilIG45uc4ocFj2DMYiIHA0imdzJ_BsntPSSk_FrEQDrY7qPD-rEd-Ejeh-8kGdN2LWSkoXCxrNYCIV85Q2fhfp2SxEJLWhYYVGW5tPufhcjUUO-MinAzd92VcfjYE57i/s1600/1325825749125_1665434.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5LJSTfYFoCigilIG45uc4ocFj2DMYiIHA0imdzJ_BsntPSSk_FrEQDrY7qPD-rEd-Ejeh-8kGdN2LWSkoXCxrNYCIV85Q2fhfp2SxEJLWhYYVGW5tPufhcjUUO-MinAzd92VcfjYE57i/s1600/1325825749125_1665434.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. Look at the size of those...tatas! I swear one day I'm going to get these bitches reduced. They are ridiculous and cause me more pain than pleasure ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbEJSCKG5QVJZhncSz3L0kMKkYU2K1xo-2dblcAUXdzlGF5fccm_wKpnsvuR-SdWL0isrjoa2fLeP2aQQHCJlu4NGNXOfYJH7sxh-exmR5xCk2-sRJZMfjijnX1t67VoguqrNMDmcERut/s1600/8108c1fc7f1ae831fe6df701127bacd5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbEJSCKG5QVJZhncSz3L0kMKkYU2K1xo-2dblcAUXdzlGF5fccm_wKpnsvuR-SdWL0isrjoa2fLeP2aQQHCJlu4NGNXOfYJH7sxh-exmR5xCk2-sRJZMfjijnX1t67VoguqrNMDmcERut/s1600/8108c1fc7f1ae831fe6df701127bacd5.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
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3. I recently learned...that I love a good Cobb Salad. Bacon, blue cheese, and egg?! What's not to love. I've been making my own at home just about every day for lunch. But don't get the one from Chick-Fil-A. It's terrible.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKH_ski-MmcwhHKBkLErLwSiv3YzWARZrflBJN07pMn3_q4ad1g_CzlqviDrWoVbBLplplwCJWk4OBzJ6vnEg8wl2yUwuy4_zhngVJi4aCXQsZZ4Z6_Si7wkMWEpOhxKye4ZAqKVH3J8P/s1600/quick-cobb-salad-ay-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKH_ski-MmcwhHKBkLErLwSiv3YzWARZrflBJN07pMn3_q4ad1g_CzlqviDrWoVbBLplplwCJWk4OBzJ6vnEg8wl2yUwuy4_zhngVJi4aCXQsZZ4Z6_Si7wkMWEpOhxKye4ZAqKVH3J8P/s1600/quick-cobb-salad-ay-l.jpg" /></a></div>
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4. Only when no one is looking...do I sing out loud. I'm not terrible, but I'm not great either. Let's just say American Idol, I'm not.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xdr4BnLQfLsP-lFnWqDQVaQNPaSCp9t7LREYamjvzUadijBDb9VuA7B9Kpb9YhaY2CLZpDAeTGk-B5MXJjKuWIQQVb-uROtM3Cd03dlZJKu_KDMm6p2VwZ469Y_mdd551D-lfPdCvibY/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xdr4BnLQfLsP-lFnWqDQVaQNPaSCp9t7LREYamjvzUadijBDb9VuA7B9Kpb9YhaY2CLZpDAeTGk-B5MXJjKuWIQQVb-uROtM3Cd03dlZJKu_KDMm6p2VwZ469Y_mdd551D-lfPdCvibY/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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5. I lost my...car's keyless entry that happened to be on my key ring with my car key and all my other keys. That was almost three years ago and my husband still makes fun of me for it. Still haven't found them!</div>
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6. I was certain I'd be...a skinny bitch by now! This weight loss thing takes for. ev. er.</div>
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7. There is not enough liquor in the world for me to...ride a roller coaster. No way. Not ever. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7x2s_FwRnTZns-AD-WESnUkP7Cj5BMJ1Ee2eLUWLYqLz6tKLo2Ta15_9W1l9XVpI9ZOhTS6BSUv7-D8Z6ge2zeBlodCV2TzyNVTEZi6QLouXH_aUOTwr-lmpm7mYVmHTY7OxaD4BsXkK/s1600/roller-coasters-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7x2s_FwRnTZns-AD-WESnUkP7Cj5BMJ1Ee2eLUWLYqLz6tKLo2Ta15_9W1l9XVpI9ZOhTS6BSUv7-D8Z6ge2zeBlodCV2TzyNVTEZi6QLouXH_aUOTwr-lmpm7mYVmHTY7OxaD4BsXkK/s1600/roller-coasters-2.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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8. I just finished...wiping my kid's butt. Hey, it's the last thing I did. You asked!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0dC7mE5gKskgyHEkP3Grq4MyOzlNnMUxR2qcIWy0G-px5Gptgd_1Z_jT5KS7EcDvKQLCMpfZ36RHJx0XgqxqW25sPxf2LuNcJ3WEkZYd6LdBoPeJZ1mtGMyWO2VDM7aOJg6PcCUjhM4G/s1600/wipe_my_butt_sucker_white_short_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0dC7mE5gKskgyHEkP3Grq4MyOzlNnMUxR2qcIWy0G-px5Gptgd_1Z_jT5KS7EcDvKQLCMpfZ36RHJx0XgqxqW25sPxf2LuNcJ3WEkZYd6LdBoPeJZ1mtGMyWO2VDM7aOJg6PcCUjhM4G/s1600/wipe_my_butt_sucker_white_short_3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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9. Why does everyone have to be...so mean online? It's almost entertaining to see how low people will sink to insult total strangers that they don't even know!</div>
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10. It's very rare when I...spend time at the beach. I live at the beach and I didn't even go last year. I used to be a beach bum...times have changed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX7myxMGCR3v4s9XWq74dN-g5trXuqEyVfCYr7yvNzZDvRcpo-OWm9RO8s800cVy8Z80gRCQZyQ8oBo2FTgR4JNIPpvxE2dM4m2VzOyGj6Hg4BKTFirdw3qVV3FK7NUgGBCL2_kXxDL7W/s1600/images+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX7myxMGCR3v4s9XWq74dN-g5trXuqEyVfCYr7yvNzZDvRcpo-OWm9RO8s800cVy8Z80gRCQZyQ8oBo2FTgR4JNIPpvxE2dM4m2VzOyGj6Hg4BKTFirdw3qVV3FK7NUgGBCL2_kXxDL7W/s1600/images+(1).jpeg" /></a></div>
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11. If I were a dog...I'd do absolutely nothing all day. Like my dog.</div>
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12. I don't believe...I'll do laundry today. It's Friday, I need a day off!</div>
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<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-34681386833648181292014-02-27T07:08:00.002-08:002014-02-27T07:08:31.671-08:00Introvert Alert!I read this article yesterday that was going around Facebook called '<a href="http://thoughtcatalog.com/laitin-amanda/2014/02/10-confessions-from-an-introvert/" target="_blank">10 Confessions From An Introvert</a>' and it was perfect! I know over there -------> in my sidebar about me I claim myself as an introvert in real life. I find that a lot of people think that introverts are weird, quiet, socially awkward, antisocial people who never leave their bedrooms, and that is simply not true. I encourage you to read it if you are an introverted person, or even if you just think you may know one. It may enlighten you on the subject!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj1TDg6bCnktUzFllGUaocOBVjodBf7mRWNJedNkKvjpkkwog4M59fq7wCQg_4FfORLfIfZj8ZNB3lzC9R47J_UuT3dTqBTBaEaW7JbdFUOo2SaE-QCiOSRrQNdN9j3FbBrUlVD5ETmY7/s1600/introverts-what-we-are-really-like1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj1TDg6bCnktUzFllGUaocOBVjodBf7mRWNJedNkKvjpkkwog4M59fq7wCQg_4FfORLfIfZj8ZNB3lzC9R47J_UuT3dTqBTBaEaW7JbdFUOo2SaE-QCiOSRrQNdN9j3FbBrUlVD5ETmY7/s1600/introverts-what-we-are-really-like1.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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In other news, as a brand new blogger, I obviously don't have any kind of following - that's not what I'm looking for in the long run. If readers come, so be it. I want this to be a place that I can look back on and see what was happening in my life and with my family. I've never been big on paper journals. I always forget to write in them and they take up space and gather dust, so this seems like a great alternative. <br />
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On the other hand, I do appreciate the input and opinions of others. I like to know what's worked for others trying to lose weight, or parenting tips from moms and dads who have dealt with the dreaded Three-nager (He is alive and well and wreaking havoc in my house!). So feel free to chime in anytime! I truly would love to hear from you!<br />
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I don't know how to add all the fancy side bar things just yet, so if you'd like to find me elsewhere I'm on <a href="http://instagram.com/brookesellers" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lesliebrooke" target="_blank">Facebook</a> too. Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-61122773385341015442014-02-26T06:26:00.001-08:002014-02-26T06:26:07.379-08:00Infertility Made Me FatI'm pretty sure it's taken me a good 10-11 years to actually admit that. Even though I was never the "skinny girl", I wasn't always overweight either.<br />
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That's me dead center in front. This was my senior year in high school. Yes, I thought I was fat back then. I wish I was that "fat" now! Have you ever heard that saying "youth is wasted on the young."? In my case, it's totally true. I spent my youth "battling" my weight and I wasn't even considered overweight back then.</div>
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Fast forward three years. I married my husband in 2000 at the tender age of 20. I immediately threw out the birth control because my whole life, all I ever wanted was to have a huge family. This is us on our honeymoon in March, 2000. My how things have changed!</div>
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The next years in our reproductive history were a blur. I found out I was pregnant in the summer of 2001 - I guess it should've been a clue to me that it took so long for me to get pregnant. The very next day I miscarried our first child. I don't even remember for sure the dates of the following two miscarriages, but I'll never forget the fourth. September 2005, the doctor put me on Clomid. I got pregnant immediately that first month. About a week after finding out, I started having intense pain and after a few trips to the doctor on the same day, there in his office my fallopian tube burst from an ectopic pregnancy and I almost bled out right there. Thank God I was at his office and not at home. I was rushed to the hospital and there they removed not only the burst tube, but the other as well. Seems one of my previous miscarriages had happened in the other tube and it was worthless. For the next five years we pretty much did nothing but save money because IVF was our plan and that is expensive. We never did that, but I'll share that story later.</div>
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This is us in 2006. I NEVER wanted my full body to be photographed. As you can see my weight was out of control. I'd gained about 30-35 pounds over the course of the year since my surgery. I was eating my grief over the loss of my fertility. While, I never gained much more than that, I have battled that weight for the last 7 or 8 years. I am a yo-yo diet queen, losing and gaining it back like it's my job. Only recently did I realize the deep rooted causes of my weight gain. I hope that realizing the 'why' will help me to lose weight and keep it off this time. I hope that I can address the bad eating behavior and stop it for good. I struggle some days not to eat everything in sight. I fight the strongest cravings sometimes, but now I know WHY I'm struggling. I can start to step back and say "NO, you don't have to eat to find comfort!"</div>
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Here we are May 2013. We have our boy (I'll talk about his story later, too!) and life is more great than not. I'm working on bettering myself everyday. Maybe writing it all out here will give me another way to combat the struggle I have with food. I'm glad to have an outlet to vent and share what I'm feeling. I promise every blog won't be so heavy! </div>
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Hope your day is great!</div>
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<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306512855953396406.post-10797463076006187922014-02-25T08:00:00.000-08:002014-02-25T07:43:40.646-08:00Hi, I'm Brooke!Hello everyone! My name is Brooke. I just wanted to take a minute to tell you a little bit about myself. I'm a mom to an energetic, hilarious, entertaining three year old. My husband J and I waited what feels like a life time to start our family. After fighting infertility for years, we adopted H six months after our 10 year anniversary. He is the second best thing we've ever done. I love adoption and hope to adopt again someday!<br />
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I'm a stay at home mom and I love it! H keeps me busy and we have lots of fun hanging out together. We're looking into homeschooling for him when he reaches school age. Our area has a kick-ass homeschooling co-op and I think it'll be a positive experience for us.<br />
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I'm also working on losing a little weight that I've been carrying around for far too long, so I may some days discuss fitness and nutrition. You want stats? I'm 5'2" and I started at my heaviest I was about 172 lbs. At my lightest (in the past few years at least) I was 143. I'm somewhere in the middle of that right now. My ultimate goal is to hit about 130, or whatever is comfortable for me. I've never really been what people would call "skinny" as an adult so I'm not sure what a good number is for me. I just want to be healthy and fit and strong so I can continue to keep up with my little firecracker boy.<br />
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So, that's pretty much me in a nutshell. I don't claim to be anything more than you see! I'd love to get to know some other mom/fitness/life bloggers. Ask me anything and I'll be more than happy to talk :)<br />
<br />Brooke http://www.blogger.com/profile/15682172715258530818noreply@blogger.com0