A Bachelor's Degree in Healthy Living...

Soooo lots of people ask me how I've been losing weight....

Let me tell you first off, it's not easy.  I know you're struck speechless by that profound statement...what I mean though is that you get stuck in the mind frame of being a fat girl.

That's me Thanksgiving 2011...4 months post-partum...closely resembling Jaba the Hut.  CRAZY!

I had tried (not very hard) to lose weight during the end of October/beginning of November.  I ended up losing maybe 5lbs.  Then, I gained 10+ pounds over 2011 holiday season.  I was employed at a corporate office and made sure to sample every cookie, nut, toffee, candy that darkened our doors.  I didn't care.  I had a baby on my hip and a hubby who loved me no matter what-so why not eat to my heart's content?  Food has always been the celebration tool of choice for my family, why change?  I was so happy with my little family, or so I thought.

Valentine's banquet 2012...
Wearing a shirt I had bought for pregnant Christmas 2011...size 24/26...came from Omar the Tent maker.  This is the closest picture I have to the beginning of my weight-loss journey fully clothed.  (I started during my early journey pictures in a sports bra, not thinking about how I would not want to post those anywhere!)

This is my 'in progress' picture.  Probably late July/August 2012-January 2013...50lbs since keeping track, 60lbs since heaviest with baby.

I'm amazed at myself most days...I mean how many people can say that? I lost 50lbs in 6 months! Believe me, it was all the Good Lord giving me the strength and motivation to take care of business and get it done!

I have made my weight loss journey about becoming educated.  To be honest, nobody every taught me how to eat correctly.  I'm not blaming anyone, just stating a fact.  I read everything I can get my hands on: articles, newsletters, books.  I've learned not everything that makes you lose weight is 

                               A.) healthy 

                               B.) going to get you to your goal weight (a.k.a. keep working)

                               C.) going to work for everyone

My Instagram feed is a constant stream of positive reinforcements.  Body builders, trainers, motivational quotes, healthy cooks and others looking to get/stay fit are the majority with dear friends scattered throughout.  

I search out blogs who have similar goals or have been successful in their journey's (loves me some Mama Laughlin!). 

I have a Pinterest board that mirrors my Instagram as well as a healthy cooking board.
My facebook feed is just reinforcement of the above.

I am constantly inundated with a message of success and healthy living.  I believe my faith in God, Phil. 4:13 and surrounding myself with images and messages of success have helped propel me this far.

Well, What'cha doing to LOSE already?!?!

You're not going to like this: diet and exercise.

I use the Loseit! app and log everything I put in my mouth.

I try to drink 72oz water a day.

Most recently, I have cut my Coke Zero consumption to 1 a week maybe.

I try to hover around 1200 calories (give or take)

I supplement with protein shakes.

Currently, I train with C25K 3 days a week, cross train with Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 DVD and go for long runs on Saturday. REST on Sunday.

REST is just as important as your workouts.

Weight loss=80% diet & 20% exercise.

I started losing weight eating lean cusines but have since tried to take out more of the processed foods.

Currently, trying the Shred Revolution diet.

Cooking Light and Eating Well are two great resources.

Healthy living should be a life long pursuit we never give up on.  Even little changes here and there can start to add up quick! Quit drinking the sodas, cut out the fast food/sugar, and GET MOVING!

XXOO

Classy Cowgirl

Well...

So much for that whole blogging every day while I was preggo LOL...

Anywho-we're coming up on Sophia's first birthday!  Cory has taken a job with Priority Energy services and is gone for 14 days at a time, home for 5.  This is the end of his 2nd day being gone...I think it will be good.  I know we'll be fine, I just hate the fact that it seems like he is sacrificing being a youth minister because we've dug ourselves into a financial hole.  Funny how when you're growing up, you never think about what you would do if you lose your job...such is life!  I've really been camping out on Mandisa's song 'Stronger'.  I know that the Lord is molding me into the woman I am meant to be....but do you ever think that He doesn't put us through more/worse because we couldn't handle it?? Maybe I'm crazy, weird, both...but like for instance, I've never gone hungry-like seriously there was nothing in the house to eat hungry. Yeah I've ate leftovers for several days in a row but like I said there was always something to eat.  How would I cope in that situation? Would I get mad? Woman-up and change my situation?? What about those homeless people down town that I pass on the way to work-why am I here and not there?  Is it completely choices? Situation? Divine intervention??  Or when I gave birth to Sophia-4 good pushes and she was here-labored a little from about 11pm-5am or so-VERY easy compared to my sister-in-law who labored for close to 30 hours and finally ended up with a c-section.  Well, I guess that one can be attributed to where we were in our pregnancies and she had high blood pressure-but still, you see where I'm going with this.
     I'm not complaining, by no means am I complaining.  I am SO VERY blessed beyond measure, blessed so much more than I deserve.  Maybe its my perspective on life-some people would see what we've been through as very bleak-why would God allow a hard working husband to be without work for almost half a year and then his wife lose her job with a baby & a new home?  But like I said, God has always provided and none of us have ever went without.  Matthew 10:29-31

29Are not two sparrows sold for a pennyd? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

FINALLY!!!

I had to call repeatedly to my family doctor to get the results from my pregnancy confirmation blood work -urgh.  When I finally got the answer (which, we would of had bigger problems if it would have come back negative), the secretary told me to, "Go ahead and make an appointment with my OB." (Which my doctor had told me at the first appointment, the advantage to getting confirmation at my family dr was so they could contact my OB and get me in quicker)

Oh well-whatever.

I'm just glad that I finally have an appointment!!!  I have a sonogram on Feb 2 along with a full exam by the actual dr. on Feb 10!
*The great thing about waiting that late for my sonogram, is that if I'm as far along as I think I am, we should be able to tell the gender ;)  Here's to hoping!

Hi again!

~12 weeks~

So sorry I haven't been able to post for almost a month-Bad Blogger!

Things are going very well around here! I finally get to schedule my doctor's appointments this week (due to insurance just now kicking in) and I am SO EXCITED!

I think, although I'm really not 100% sure on this, that on Christmas day I felt 'fluttering' as it is called (also known as the baby kicking).

Happy Birthday to Me! :)

Blood sugar

~Day 58~

     Morning (fasting) blood sugar: 95.  Haven't felt super bad any except for about 45 minutes after I take my vitamins-then there is a rush of nausea.  After the flash nausea, I'm good though.  So I'm going to start taking them at night and see if that helps.  Went to Christmas party with Mom after work-had chicken and dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad with italian dressing.  2-3 hours after that I checked my blood sugar again: 125.
     So while I know that this does not mean a whole lot, I like to conclude that my nausea was contributed to the rush of vitamins into my system at one time.

Just another Monday...

~8 weeks, Day 57~

     I called and scheduled a Doctor's appointment for a week from today at 2:30pm.  Met up with Mom after work at Wal*Mart and picked up some groceries.  Also borrowed Dad's glucose meter to check my blood sugar.

I need some rest!

~Day 56~

     Sunday morning services were really good! The youth that accepted Christ walked the aisle! We also had another younger family join the church! YAY!  Also it was our 1 year anniversary of coming to the church.  After church, we took Kenny, Matt and Amber with us to go eat at Chili's. The boys went to help an elderly couple put out their Christmas decorations and I took Amber with me to get everything ready for the Youth Christmas party tonight.
     After eating well throughout the past few weeks, Chili's did not like me.  However, on busy days like today, you don't really get the option to lay out.  It was ok though-didn't last long.
     I had made Puppy Chow goodie bags for all the youth, we had a White Elephant gift exchange, I whipped up a big pot of beefy vegetable soup and another mom brought some homemade cornbread.  All in all, it was great! The kids had a blast and the adults had a blast laughing at the kids!

Pictures to follow!