So I've struggled with weight almost all of my life. When I was in eight grade, I weighed just over 200 pounds. Yeah.. not pretty.. My mom's church was participating in something called the Weigh Down Workshop where you learn to listen to your body to find out when you're actually hungry (not just wanting to munch) and when you're full. I lost 60 pounds in less than 6 months. It was awesome!!!
Now, four kids later, I'm back to where I was in middle school... :( After having my oldest, while I gained 50 pounds during pregnancy, I was able to easily lose 35 pounds of it and was ok with that weight/size. Then came babies number 2 and 3. Amazingly, I had no problems losing all of their baby weight as well, keeping me at 15 pounds more than I was before I got pregnant. But still comfortable at that weight.
The 9 months before I got pregnant with number 4, I gained 30 pounds.. yes.. 30 pounds.. and I didn't really realize it until I got pregnant and weight the EXACT SAME AMOUNT beginning that pregnancy as when I DELIVERED baby number four.. Yes, that's just crazy!
Thankfully, I was able to lose all of the last pregnancy weight, but my weight was still where it was when I delivered #3. Then came the losing of my father and oops -- I've gained 10 pounds...
So, that brings me to today. For the first time in my life, I'm actually purposefully trying to lose weight, and now that I'm closer to 30 - it's actually kind of hard!
I've started excercising at the office by walking around our 'circle' (which is one mile) at least 3 times a week. For Christmas, my mom bought me Zumba for the Wii - so I've been trying to do that as well.
As far as eating goes, I'm TRYING to not go back for seconds, and to be mindful of my body (when am I really hungry vs. being snacky). I've realized that the afternoons are the hard part for me. It's my sluggish time of the day and I feel the desire to munch. To combat this, I've scheduled my walking breaks during this time. It's helped a lot! I have a lot more energy than usual and hopefully it's helping me get to a more healthy weight.
So far I've lost 2 pounds. I have small stepping goals that lead to a larger goal. First goal was to lose 12 pounds, so I have 10 pounds to go. After that my goals are 10 pound incriments.
While I'd love to see this weight off NOW, I know that realistically I've got to make this a lasting change, so if it takes 6 months or 12 months to lose it, then that's what it will take.
I'm hoping that in my posting this here, I'll keep myself accountable and honest.. We'll see how this goes!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Bittersweet Christmas
This Christmas can be summed up in one word: change. A lot of change occurred this Christmas: I became a coffee drinker after years of only liking the smell of coffee (thanks to the wonderfully flavored coffees in the Keurig my hubby bought me), my mom joined us at my in-laws for Christmas lunch (was awesome!), I've entered the world of J-Lo earings (big hoop earnings that is), and we celebrated the first Christmas without my father.
Thinking back to the morning of October 17th when I got that call from my mother still produces a pain likened to being stabbed through the heart. Although a bit less severe, it's still just as raw as it was that dark morning.
But aside from that, we had a very good Christmas. Spent lots of time with family, relaxed, stayed up late, ate too many sweets, baked too many sweets, took lots of pictures. One day I'll share them on here, I promise.
Another interesting thing that occurred over Christmas brea is that the house we're renting is being sold. Long story short, we have amazing landlords - the best ones we've had yet, but somehow the mortgage stipulated our landlord had to reside in the house in order for it to be valid. Once she got married and moved out, she voided the terms of her mortgage. Never had a late payment, never a missed payment, but none the less after months of going back and forth with lawyers, the bank is forcing her to sell. They'll be getting about $20K less than what is still owed, but if that's how the bank wants to be fine.
We've prayerfully considered our options and feel we're being lead to move back in with my mom. We're in the process of helping her clean things out and spruce things up. The house is looking beautiful again. My only reservation is that our kids don't have any friends in that neighborhood. But, we'll just have to put ourselves out there and meet some of the neighbors (something we neglected the 7 years we lived there). There certainly are plenty of kids around.
We're getting caught back up on our home school studies, which is a huge relief for me. Math and writing fell a few weeks behind while science fell a month behind. We're mostly caught up with math and writing and are starting back into science again. It's been crazy, but the Lord has been gracious in allowing us precious time needed to refocus back on school.
Also, I finally completed my AA degree (after 11 years!). It was never easy, never a dull moment, but I'm very glad I finished it - just wish I'd finished it earlier. I'd like to get my BA degree, but only God knows what the future has in store for my life.
Hope and pray you're all doing well.
-M
Thinking back to the morning of October 17th when I got that call from my mother still produces a pain likened to being stabbed through the heart. Although a bit less severe, it's still just as raw as it was that dark morning.
But aside from that, we had a very good Christmas. Spent lots of time with family, relaxed, stayed up late, ate too many sweets, baked too many sweets, took lots of pictures. One day I'll share them on here, I promise.
Another interesting thing that occurred over Christmas brea is that the house we're renting is being sold. Long story short, we have amazing landlords - the best ones we've had yet, but somehow the mortgage stipulated our landlord had to reside in the house in order for it to be valid. Once she got married and moved out, she voided the terms of her mortgage. Never had a late payment, never a missed payment, but none the less after months of going back and forth with lawyers, the bank is forcing her to sell. They'll be getting about $20K less than what is still owed, but if that's how the bank wants to be fine.
We've prayerfully considered our options and feel we're being lead to move back in with my mom. We're in the process of helping her clean things out and spruce things up. The house is looking beautiful again. My only reservation is that our kids don't have any friends in that neighborhood. But, we'll just have to put ourselves out there and meet some of the neighbors (something we neglected the 7 years we lived there). There certainly are plenty of kids around.
We're getting caught back up on our home school studies, which is a huge relief for me. Math and writing fell a few weeks behind while science fell a month behind. We're mostly caught up with math and writing and are starting back into science again. It's been crazy, but the Lord has been gracious in allowing us precious time needed to refocus back on school.
Also, I finally completed my AA degree (after 11 years!). It was never easy, never a dull moment, but I'm very glad I finished it - just wish I'd finished it earlier. I'd like to get my BA degree, but only God knows what the future has in store for my life.
Hope and pray you're all doing well.
-M
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