A New Start-January Goals

I mentioned yesterday that I had some goals for 2012.  I hesitate to call them resolutions as I feel as if I'm setting myself up to fail.  But clearly, that's what they are.  The coming of the new year brings with it a sense of change so I'm stepping up and sharing with you some things I've been wanting to do in my own life for some time.

1.  Go to the gym/work out at least 5 X a week.  

I had a pretty good routine of 4 X per week going before Christmas hit so I'd like to bump that up a little bit to get in some more cardio.  With this goal also comes the obligatory goal of losing weight.  I put on some pounds during the holidays so I have some serious work to do.  I actually took a before shot of myself yesterday morning and intend on doing an after shot on my birthday (6/3/12) 5 months from now.  Lord, let me look better than I do right now.  It was not pretty.

2.  Read my Bible everyday.

When I was working I had the perfect set up.  I read the Word during my breaks and at lunch and finished the entire thing in a year.  But since then, I've kind of been lackluster in my reading.  And honestly, I've been lost at how to approach it.  I found a Bible I was gifted when I left my job in a different translation than my regular one so I'm excited to get into it.  It has a reading program in it so I think I will follow that for now.  My plan is to do it as soon as Natalie goes down for her first nap before something else comes up.  I started yesterday.  So far, so good!

3.  Give up pop.

I'm not a big pop drinker.  I gave up caffeine when I got pregnant and have pretty much stuck to it as I've continued with the breast feeding.  But some days I just really want one, you know?  I know water is much better for me so I'm going to try to bump up my intake of that instead.

4.  Organize recipes that are winners.

I'm a meal planner.  And probably uniquely so, I exclusively make new meals.  Okay, that's not entirely true...but for the most part I'm a one and done kind of girl.  I'm not sure why, but I just have so many recipes waiting to be tried that I have never even thought of keeping a list of those that we loved.  Kind of stupid when you think about it.  So I'm going to start a folder on my desktop to compile those I would make again.  And, you know, make them again.  Does anyone have any other easy way of keeping track of this?  The folder idea's all I've got.

5.  Finish Natalie's 1 year photo book, keep up with her baby book, and print pictures to put in albums.

I'm about half way through Natalie's photo book in Blurb, but I recently got a Shutterfly coupon code for a book so I'm not sure what to do.  Anyone made one on either of these sites?  Recommendations?  

I'm fairly good about keeping up with her baby book but I have yet to print any pictures to put in there.  I'd like to get that done.

Also, I do want to print out all of our pictures and keep them in really nice leather albums just so we have them.  Do any of you do this?  Suggestions for great albums to use?

6.  Get an Ohio driver's license.

Okay.  Confession.  I have lived in Ohio probably 6 years now and I still have an Indiana driver's license.  I know.  I'm hanging my head in shame.  I do have Ohio plates though, so that's a start!  I have lots of excuses as to why I haven't done this...such as I didn't want to do it when I was pregnant...or before I lost the weight...or I didn't want to take the lame written test.  But it's seriously, seriously time.

That's my list so far.  I want to check back every month to keep an updated list of how things are going and perhaps add some new idea that come to mind as the year progresses.  Keep me accountable, okay? 

Thursday Randoms

• It has been a long time since I wrote a bulleted post.

• I kinda miss it.

• I reminds me of when I used to blog at work.  Good times.

• Do y'all watch Big Brother?  I'm pretty much obsessed with the show.  I follow some spoiler feeds on Twitter and I try to talk to Matt about it all the time.  He could care less.

• What kind of toys to you buy for 7 month olds?  I feel like Natalie is still playing with her baby toys and some stuffed animals and she is beyond bored.  

• I'm borrowing my FIL's car for a while whilst we continue to look for a new car for me.  My Taurus is dying a slow death and is no longer safe.  So now I'm sporting around town in a serious old man car.  With two doors.  Have you ever tried to get an infant carrier out of the middle seat in the back of a two door car?  HELL.

• Because of this, I think I'm going to switch Natalie to the convertible car seat this weekend.  She's almost to the weight and height limit on her carrier anyways.  Guess this was just the push I needed.

• I got Natalie her first sippy cup yesterday and she looks so big using it.  But seriously, there are a lot of different sippy cups out there.  How the heck are you supposed to know which one to get?  

• My new favorite snack is the Fiber One 90 Calorie Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie.  So good and only 2 points!

• I've lost 35 lbs. since starting WW after Natalie was born.  I'm less than 5 lbs. away from my pre-Natalie weight!  Funny how nothing seems to look the way it did before I got pregnant though.  

• That really sucks.

• But everyday I get to spend with my sweet girl makes it totally worth it.  Plus, I'm still working on another 40 lbs. so maybe it will look better when those are gone :)

WW Update!

So...yeah.  It's been a few weeks.  You know what that means, right? 

Me too.

We went on vacation and then for some reason I really had a hard time getting back into things when we got back.  Perhaps it had something to do with the fact I was eating Twizzlers, fun size candy bars, and Starbursts for breakfast in Florida.  Not sure. 

But last week I finally got back on the horse.  I got serious at the gym and stayed within my points everyday.  So here's the update since I started...again, that was approximately 5 weeks after Natalie was born.

Weight loss since last reported:  5.5 lbs.
Total weight loss:  31 lbs.

Also, something exciting comes with this new weigh in.  I have finally reentered the world of ONE-derland!  Now, at first this was not something I was all psyched up to share.  Seeing as saying you have entered into one-derland is admitting that at one time you were actually in the TWOs.  Which no one wants to say.  But there you have it.  I was there.  Granted, I was there because I was pregnant...but I was still in it for 6 months after my sweetie was born so I can't blame her for everything now can I. 

Truth is, I've been there before.  I lost 75 lbs. before I got married and I vowed I would never be that heavy again.  I wanted to make sure I was at a healthy weight before I got pregnant so I would never have to see those numbers again.  Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way.  I gained some weight back during the first few years of our marriage (who doesn't?)...not nearly as much as I lost...but enough that when I got pregnant I knew I was going to see those dreaded numbers again.  It was frightening to see the weight come on as quickly as it did.  I found it incredibly easy to lose myself in pregnancy and not worry about what I was eating.  That is a mistake I will not make again.

I made a vow to Matt that I would not harass him about having another child until I reached my goal weight.  I have a long way to go but I feel like I'm in the groove.  I'm gonna do it.  I've done it before...and I can do it again.  And then the next time I get pregnant I won't have to lose the baby weight + all the extra fluff!  And there's motivation in another squishy little newborn :)

So how are y'all doing? 

Weekly Weight Watcher Update

Weight Loss = +0.5 lbs.
Total Loss = 26.5 lbs.

I had a really great week this week workout wise.  I went to spinning Monday and Wednesday and strength classes Tuesday and Thursday.  My in laws were in town and I had planned out meals accordingly and was sticking to everything.

Until Sunday.

Sunday involved going out to lunch for bacon cheeseburgers.  Then Matt's parents offered to stay home with Natalie so Matt and I could go out to dinner.  Enter paninis.  So explains my downfall this week.

I'm looking for a great week this week because we head to Florida on Sunday and I'd like to leave on a good note.  And come home on a good note as well.  But I'm not kidding myself so we'll see how it goes.  Traveling is always a food disaster for me.  Wish me luck!

Weekly Weight Watcher Update

Weight Loss = 3.5 lbs.
Total Loss = 27 lbs.

I made it to the gym four times this week.  My ideal schedule is to go Monday-Thursday for an hour.  I'm not a huge fan of leaving Natalie in the nursery for longer than that so it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.  I can work out longer when she's in school.  For now, I'm content with my hour.  We run errands on Fridays and I like to spend the weekend with Matt without having to worry about getting to the gym.  So four days a week it is for me.

Monday and Wednesday I did a spinning class.  They have these classes everyday of the week but I L.O.V.E. the instructor on these days.  She is incredibly motivating and pushes me to my limits every single class.  Plus, I love leaving the gym feeling all sweaty and gross.  It's like I accomplished something, you know?

Tuesday and Thursday I did strength training.  I went to a class called Butts and Guts as well as one called Body Bar and Ball.  Lots of work with weights and the fitness ball.  I figure it's a pretty well rounded schedule.

Sometimes I switch it up for scheduling reasons or because Natalie is still sleeping when a class starts in the morning.  But telling you all about my week will really help me continue to go as often as I do.

So good week!  Yeah!

Honesty About Weight Loss

I've never been skinny.

Well, that's a lie.  I was crazy thin when I was three.

Not sure what happened after that.

Oh yes I am.  I discovered sugar.

Anyways, the point is I've always had difficulty controlling my weight.  I can be super motivated one week and then completely not care the next.  It's mental for me for sure.  I was my thinnest as an adult at my wedding almost 4 years ago.  I lost just over 75 lbs. and was 6 lbs. away from my ultimate goal weight.  It's a number I have been striving for since, well, as long as I can remember.

Well, we went on a cruise for our honeymoon.  24 hour buffet.  Enough said, right?  I never hit my goal.  I didn't gain everything back, but slowly the weight started to come back on.  Here I am, 3 years later, 15 weeks pregnant with my little snuggle bug.

Let me assure you, that is not all baby belly.  There's a little bit of Mama belly in there as well.  I would venture to say I was about 30 lbs. heavier in this picture than at my wedding.  Ick.

But that was nothing compared to what I was in this picture.  38 weeks pregnant.  30 MORE lbs. later.

Yuck.

I know, I know.  Beautiful pregnant lady.  Growing a baby.  All that jazz.  But I was huge.  I felt huge and I looked huge...everywhere.  My dreams of being one of those cute pregnant ladies that were all belly were dashed.  But honestly, I didn't really care.  I was going to get my baby girl and I figured I would deal with the aftermath when she was here.

Well, my friends, she's definitely here and that time is now. 

I've been on Weight Watchers since Natalie was 5 weeks old.  They have a specific program for nursing mothers (14 extra points, hell yeah!) so I've been working that for now.  I lost 20 lbs. pretty quickly after giving birth but clearly I have some baby weight + mama weight still to lose.  In fact, I was pretty much right back to where I started so many years ago before my wedding.  A daunting task to say the least. 

Today was a great day in my fight against the bulge.  I hit my 10% goal!  I have lost 23.5 lbs. since starting WW.  It's going to be a long journey and it will probably take me longer than it takes for my daughter to celebrate her first birthday, but this time...this time I will hit my goal.  And I'm going to stay there!

I'm so happy I have this venue to stay motivated and accountable with my dear friends!  Thank you all so much for your support!  Loves!

Getting Closer...

Happy Monday friends!

We had another busy weekend filled with not so fun things like 3 hours of Junior League training...and really fun things like house hunting! We've officially found three potential houses and are just working out the kinks with our Realtor to figure out which would suit us the best. So exciting!

In other, some would argue equally exciting news, I FIT INTO A SIZE LOWER JEANS this morning! After realizing that my current pair...with a hole on each side of the crotch that just keeps growing and growing...could no longer be worn in public, I searched my drawer to see if I had anything in the next size down. I found a pair, slipped those babies on, and they freaking fit! I could not be more thrilled!

In fact, I may've done a dance. And made up a song. It is entitled, "I Fit Into a Lower Size." Clever, right? And those may be the only words to the song...but I do repeat them over and over. And the dance adds an effect you are missing not being here in person. Trust me.

Who knew working out and eating well would help you lose weight? Shocking discovery I'd say!

Hope everyone has a fabulous week! Matt will be in and out of town the entire week so it's back to leftovers and Lean Pockets for dinner for this girl...which I must admit I love :) But I do miss him terribly when he's gone. Ah my love, how you complete me...

I know. Puke.



And how much do I miss this little face!?! He has been covered in a beard and mustache since Christmas!

2010: Here I Come!

I'm not big on making New Years Resolutions. I never have been. But this year I'd like to set some goals for myself in the new year. Call them resolutions if you will. I will, however, refer to them as Jenny's List of Ways to Improve Her Life-2010.

1. Attend church every Sunday (or at least on a regular basis)
The church we currently attend is approximately 45 minutes away from our house. Although I love it and think there are so many things there for us, it's just come to be too far for me. It's so easy to not go when the weather is bad or when we're tired and know we have to get up even earlier for services just to drive there. And I am not able to get involved the way I would like to because going there during the week just isn't possible. Which brings me to my next point:

2. Find a new church in close proximity to where I live and get involved!
I was raised Catholic and Matt is a Southern Baptist so we have quite different backgrounds when it comes to church settings. Although I've made the decision to follow a different path with my religion, the structure and history of the Catholic church is something in which I find comfort. But, I also love worship songs and live music and hearing preaching directly from the Bible. Clearly I have my work cut out for me!

3. Not worry so much about what the scale says
Aside from the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I live and breathe by the scale. There was a time when I weighed myself every single day. I was down to once a week before Thanksgiving, but I began to realize just how much that little (or big!) number was reflecting my mood. I want to pay more attention to how my clothes are fitting and how I feel instead of focusing so much on the pounds. I don't expect to give up the scale completely, but I'd like to limit myself to once a month if even that.

4. Eat healthier and cut back on sweets
Although I don't want the number on the scale to dictate whether I have a good day or not, that does not mean that I don't want to lose weight. I want to live a healthier life and put food into my body that reflects that. I'm also a HUGE sugar-holic and I'd love to see the packaged snack goods disappear from my diet (and my pantry!).

5. Be a better friend
I have a tendency to complain about not having any friends or that the friends I do have suck. Well, perhaps I am not as fabulous of a friend as I think. I want to make an effort to talk to my friends back home more often. I never call. I hate the phone. But I shouldn't expect them to always call me and take the initiative. I'm setting a goal of calling my BFF once a week. Also, I want to build better relationships with the women I have met here in Cleveland. I'm going to make more of an effort to plan things for us to do without our husbands. It's time I made some girlfriends. Period.

6. Formulate a workout schedule
Between being sick and the holiday season, I haven't been to the gym in a long time. I really long time. I'd like to get to the gym at least 4 times a week.

7. Run a 5K
I battled through a running program not that long ago so I'd like to dust that program off and really concentrate on following it through to completion. Plus, I'd like it to take me less than 45 minutes to run it :)

8. Have a baby
This is the year. The year we start trying to expand our little family. Although this is a goal in which I have very little control, I'm putting it out there as my prayer to God (who reads my blog...of this I am certain) that I am beyond ready for my little miracle.

So spill it...what is your "list of ways to improve your life??"

Weight Loss Update!

It's been a while since I have talked about my exercise/weight loss routine, so I thought I would give you a little update!

I have really hit my stride in the last two weeks. I've continued doing The Couch to 5K program and am now on Week 4. I'm running faster than I ever have. (Note: this is relative. I know you speed demons go way faster...but 5.5 in my book is lightning fast!) Although the running increment increases week to week are tough at first, I gain confidence with every day I am on that treadmill. Not only am I getting my cardio in by running, but I am also throwing in some time on the elliptical and the bike doing burst training. I incorporate weights and abs 2-3 times a week as well.

Onto the subject of food. Obviously this is an area of weakness for me, but besides the wedding I attended last weekend where I indeed partook in some cake (yum!) I have stayed on track with my Weight Watchers plan for two whole weeks. I have lost 4 1/2 lbs. so far and I couldn't be more excited. 4.5 down...24.5 to go! It's a daunting task and I am aware that it will take me some time to get there...but just putting it out there really helps and makes me feel like I have a distinct goal in mind. I will try to remember to keep you guys updated on my progress at least every other week so we can motivate each other! I've also added some weight loss and running info to my side bar for additional accountability.

I have found an incredibly amazing support system here in blog land and the accountability with my workouts and food intake has been key to my success thus far. I have no desire to have to tell my friends that I ate 1/2 a pizza and downed a bag of candy corn for dinner...which I have done before. I seriously could not do this without you ladies and your unending support of a girl who starts and stops weight loss programs like it is her job. I cannot thank you enough!

So, how are you doing??

Why I Do What I Do

Do you ever get really hyped up for a diet, everything is going really well for about, oh I don't know, a day, and then you just lose steam?  Of course you do!  We're women...we've all been there.  Well, I am there right now.  Some days I am super motivated.  Take me to a cook out, I'll find the fruit.  Out to eat, no problem...grilled chicken!  But then some random day at home?  Now I feel the need to eat everything in the house.  Why?  No idea.

On my motivated days, I sometimes sit and think about all of the reasons why I want to lose weight and goals I want to set for myself along the way.  Today, I thought I'd share those with you....and ask for additions....so maybe we can all look back on this list during the tough times and remember why we are doing this in the first place and what we want to accomplish!

Why I'm doing this:

• Health.
• I want to live a long, happy, and active life with my husband and future children.
  
• Babies.
• I've read that pregnancies and labor are easier on women who are fit and healthy.  And if there's anything I can do to make labor easier, I am sure as heck going to try!
  
• Peace of  mind.
• I lost a lot of weight before my wedding and I vowed to myself I would never, ever see a 2 at the beginning of my weight again.  There...I said it.  I was in the dreaded 2's.  But I'm not anymore...and I would really love to be down low enough that even when I get pregnant, I won't have to see that number again.

Goals:

• Buy single digit jeans
  
• Run a 5K (or at least 30 minutes on the treadmill!  No walking!)
• Stop judging myself when I look in the mirror
• Be able to watch The Biggest Loser and not think, "I need to go on that show."
  
• Wear tank tops and not think my arms look fat
  
• Be able to do Downward Facing Dog in Yoga class the whole time instead of stopping to rest
• Look smoking hot when my BFF gets married possibly next summer
• Beat said BFF in our fitness contest so she has to buy ME a drink at our annual Christmas dinner and not the other way around
  

Let's remember why we are doing this..and keep our motivation alive!

Why are you trying to lose weight??  Any goals you want to share?  Tell me!  Let's help each other!