A New Low and A New Start

I'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!

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.

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.  

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.  

Happy Friday!  I hope your weekend rocks!

Late, Late, Late Weekend Update

I 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.

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!

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).

At the restaurant above and our first married kiss below :)

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.

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!

So, back to the grind today.  I gotta get back on the workout train for sure!  Check y'all later!

Just Stopping In Real Quick

It'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.

Today officially starts the 90 Days 'Til Summer Swimsuit Challenge.  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 Whole 30 program.  Reading 'It Starts With Food' has really motivated me to make healthy choices in the kitchen.

Anyway, headed off to hang with the family!  Happy Friday!

It Starts With Food

We've all heard this:

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?!

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 this book:

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.  

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.

Now I've got some work to do in my cabinets cleaning out some trash "foods".  

I Better Put This Out There Before I Lose My Nerve

I've committed to participating in the 90 Days 'Til Summer Swimsuit Challenge with Val, Marcy, and Jess.  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:

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.

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.

Now, I'm ready to make the next 90 days my bitch!  At home, on a budget, I WILL see some damn results!

Cheers To The Freakin' Weekend

Happy 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.

My day has started out great!  Woke up to find out that I'd won 2nd prize in Fab Chick Gets Fit 10K Giveaway.  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.  

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!

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.

Hope your weekend is wonderful!  I'll see you again here on Monday!

 

Encouragment For The Journey

I'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:

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!

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.

Friday Funny

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  I'll catch you on Monday.  Until then, enjoy some funny stuff.

Why, yes.  Yes that would be great.

Haha, the elusive thigh gap

My son loves this shirt, he's always pretending to be Batman.

Exactly!  This is so accurate.

Happy Friday!

Family Night Problems

Wednesdays 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.

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!

In other news, I started an Instagram account for this blog last night, so feel free to follow along!

Happy hump day!

How I Became A Mommy

My 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.

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?"

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.

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.

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!

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!

Goals for the Month

Happy 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 Operation Skinny Jeans, 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.

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!  

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:  

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.

On the exercise front, I've downloaded this ebook 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!

I'm looking forward to getting this weight off and keeping it off once and for all!