Last blog...

Wow I cant hardly believe that this is my last blog for the comp! Its June first...5 months ago I started something that I never really thought I would finish or even really care about but now I am a totally different person. I have really appreciated all the support from this comp in my healthy new me journey. Hopefully others feel the same. I will do one last final blog with before and afters and tears and stuff, but for now I will just wish everybody good luck on all your endevours but especially the final weigh in, lol!

Schools almost out!

So can you believe its almost summer? This friday is the end of the school year for my kids and almost the end of this comp! I cant believe its been 5 months already. This has been a crazy journey but I think I have learned so much! So heres a poll...What do you think is the most valuable thing you have learned during these last few months?

Vacation to Kari's!

So this week we are in Colorado this week visiting Kari! I am going to go running with Kari tonight and I am going to try and make it to a gym tomorrow, but traveling has thrown my diet for a loop! I ate some crap from McDonalds this week and I felt so crappy but I STILL ATE IT! uh...

On the upside I got to go to Karis gym and climb the rock wall. It was SOOO freaking fun! Justin also completely rocked the wall and I cant wait to keep doing this kind of new exercise at home.

Fun run and new distances

This week I ran in the susan G Komen Race for the cure! Its was so much fun and a great cause. Not to mention I had a great run and time even though there were almost 20,000 people there! It made for a fantastic morning.

For a while I have been stuck in a running rut. I have been unable to break the distance of 8miles I have tried for three week and even made it to 7 twice but never to 8. Well last night I did it! I hit the 8mi mark. It wasnt easy and I really was in pain and had to push through the last half mile but WOWZA I DID IT!!! One step closer to being ready for my half marathon thats in a month, ah how time flies...

Night before jitters!

Anybody nervous? Anybody amped? I know that I am both! Weigh in tomorrow...

strep throat

So this week has been good, I was doing my running on schedule and playing softball at work. Then bam, I woke up with a terribly sore throat yesterday morning and by last night I could even move. I still feel terrible and dont expect to feel great anytime soon, since I have no insurance and am 99% sure this is strep and and will require antibiotics for a quick recovery. We will see how this week goes but it doesn't look very bright.

6 miles!?

This past week has been a good one for me. I did have a few days of intense water retention (urg...being a girl) but as of this morning that is all gone and I am back to weight in. I also did some pretty amazing things this week on the treadmill. I ran 13 miles in one week! That is a personnal record! One of these runs was 6mi which I did with a 12min mile pace, another personal first. I think this training for the half will be really interesting. Until now I have focused on things I was good at or have done before but running is all new for me and I am learning so much about my focus and patience as well as dedication. I really am hopeful...

Then and now pics

So this month for me has really been about realizing how far I have come in life, not just weight loss, but everything. In the past 3 years I have gone from being an overweight mom of 2 and an unhappy/unhealthy, depressed, stressed person to a very Healthy happy mother of 4 gorgeous children, as well as an incredibly PROUD of who I have become and where I am going. Since this comp started I have lost 23lbs and gained more self confidence than I ever knew was possible. Today I took my kids swimming and I proudly wore a bikini! Well a tankini but still I was in a public place and wore a 2 piece suit. It was huge!

In light of that I wanted to share a little peek at the last few years and the difference this comp has made...

This is me three years ago...

This is me 7 years ago...

And this is me now...

I know these are bad pictures but I didn't really get in that many by choice and even fewer had my face so it was slim pickins'. Karilynn is creating a collage for me and that I think will show the changes over this comp much better, but I just needed to see it and share it while it was fresh and I was feeling brave. If you would have asked me last December if I thought I would actually lose weight in this comp my answer would certainly have been no but as we all know the force and motivation Karilynn brings are forces to be reckoned with!

March is OVER!!

So march is over and I reached my goal weight! Now I just have to keep it off, that will be the hard part. Yesterday I was in the car all day and salt is definitely not my friend. I love it way to much! This will be an interesting transition...maintainence...a whole new challenge! Today is a very busy day so this will be short but I will post more later.

I almost forgot!

I also got my body fat% tested this week and I was 21.8% fat!! That is so awesome. I also had my height measure for real and not with a tape measure and I am whole inch taller than I thought! I am actually 5ft 4in. officially just above midget (or at least thats what Im telling myself)

Crap!

I have been so swamped this week with school and work that I completely forgot to blog! I mean I know that I am not really in the running to win anything, but I am still bugged that I forgot to blog.

So my fun news for today...I got my new Nike plus sportband! I am way excited to get to just get to go run and not try and pre-measure runs and watch the clock for times. This little band is going to make my run more fun and less stress. I also got some KT tape which I hope will help my knees during the longer runs.

Downside is that I spent too much time in the running store and fell in love with some majorly cute and expensive running clothes and gadgets! They also helped me with a shoe fitting and I found some AMAZING fitting shoes. The Nike pegasis is what i think its called and they are 90 bucks! OUCH, this running thing could get expensive!

Pushing my limits

Yesterday I was invited to run a 5k in in June, which sounds great but...the person inviting me is running the half marathon and how cool would it be to be able to run it with her? Last year I was horribly out of shape and I still managed to finish a 5k, so why not a half when I am in so much better shape now? My only issue is that I am NOT a runner, never really have been, so I have no idea what I am doing. Any tips/training ideas would be helpful, and for anyone else who wants this challenge, I am planning on running the Utah valley half marathon on June 10th!

Rollercoasters and ferris wheels!

Have you ever felt like this weight loss journey is a theme park full of different rides? Some weeks its like you are on a ferris wheel just going up and down in circle watching the world go by in awe as you go. Other days its like a roller coaster that takes you up and down, sometimes all the way upside down! At the end you feel a thrill and drive to do it again.

This month has mostly been a ferris wheel. I am ok with that I mean althought the scale isnt changing I know that my habits are sticking and that my body is changing in amazing ways. Just yesterday talking about getting body fat testing done and making fitness not weight goals. Then today I woke up and stepped on the scale like I do everyday, and I saw a number I have never seen (128.8). This was a double edge sword, opening up all these feelings of maybe I can really loose more. Then tonight I weighed myself again because that what i do when I see new loses, and to my dismay I am up A LOT (132.6) and although yesterday I would have been accepting of this and calm, today I am PISSED! I really think I am about to start my period (1 week early) and the weight will go, but it still doesnt make gains like that feel ok. I am starting to really hate having cycles again, I havent had them in 6 years and I am NOT accustomed to this hormonal ride that is being a woman. Does anyone have any good PMS remedies that will help with the emotional and physical issues I am having? I hate feeling like I am going crazy for a week every month!

My 4th day

So today I feel like I was eating all day!! Have you ever felt like that? so this isnt broke up into meals and snack because I ate it all throughout the day. I did drink 6.5 bottles of water today and 1 diet soda, trying to not eat as much but it didnt really workout.

Today I ate:
1/3 cup oatmeal with cinnamon
1 cup coffee with creamer

6 triscuts
100 cal pack almonds

1 ham and cheese sandwhich thin
1 navel orange
1 south beach diet bar

1 pack of 100cal yogurt covered pretzels

2 helpings of taco salad with black beans, ground turkey, lettuce, salsa, cheese, and 1 half of a taco shell.

1 kashi bar

I guess its not much more than I usually eat but it sure felt like it! The biggest bummer in my day is that I didnt get to exercise, hope tomorrow I can make it happen. Kari is coming to town this weekend and I think its gonna be a blast!!

3rd day of tracking

Breakfast- 1/3 cup oatmeal with cinnamon, 1 cup coffee with creamer

Lunch- 2 egg whites, salad no dressing with salsa, 1 ham and cheese sandwhich on a sandwhich thin, and 1 bottle of water.

Snack- 3/4 cup honey bunches with oats and almonds in 1/2 cup skim milk, diet soda, and a bottle of water

Snack- 1 stick celery with peanut butter

Dinner- 4oz grilled pork, 1/3 cup quinoa, 1/2 cup steamed veggies, 1 bottle of water, and 1/3 cup ice cream

Snack-1 navel orange and another bottle of water


I think today was a great day. I had lots of water and got in 2.5 work outs! I did a turbo kick class for the first time and it was SO fun, I just wish I was more coordinated! I think having done a P90X kempo workout earlier really help me prep for the class though. I really think I will make that a regular thing, wednesday nights at the legacy center at 7pm if anyone wants to join me!

Day 2 food journal

Breakfast~ 1 cup coffee, 1 bottle water

Snack~1 kashi bar and 100cal pack of almonds

Lunch~ 2-3oz roast beef in a spinach wrap with cheese, 7 tortilla chips, and LOTS of salsa on everything + a bottle of water

snack~ 1 whole fruit bar (frozen), 100 cal bag of popcorn, 2 hard boiled egg whites, 2 bottles of water

Dinner~ 4oz turkey loaf, 1/2 cup carrots, 1 large artichoke with 1 tsp butter, and one diet soda

Snack~ 1/3 apple, 2tbsp peanut butter and celery, and 1 more water bottle.

Kinda bummed that I missed breakfast today but I got all my water in!

Food journal day 1

I am not very good at this journal thing. I always had a journal but funny things is around day three the entries just stopped. So this week will be a challenge for me but I will succeed I mean look at the amazing things I have done this comp, I mean I have even drank water, anyone who knows me know that this has been the one thing I was NEVER able to do. So I guess if I can do that I can do this too, its only for 7 days right?

So I suppose I should start with day 1:

Breakfast~ 1 cup coffee with creamer, 1/3 cup oatmeal with dried fruit and an egg white omlet (Both food items I shared with my two boys)

Snack~1 kashi mocha bar and 1 bottle water

Lunch~ a 210 cal steamer meal and 1 cup broccoli (and a diet soda)

Snack~1 south beach diet chocolate almond bar (100cal) and 1/2 bottle of water

Dinner~4 1/2 oz tri-tip, 1 cob corn w/ 1/2 tsp country crock, and 3/4 cup red beans and rice, plus a diet soda

Snack~1/2 navel orange, 100cal pack of chocolate pretzels, diet soda, and 1 bottle of water

Bedtime~1bottle of water and 2 starburst candies

That has been my day, seems like so much when you type it all out!

March madness

Wow, I knew I was feeling really good this last month about maintaining my new lifestyle even though I was now living a very different hectic life. Most people I know are talking about how when they started nursing school they GAINED and that was a really scary reality for me. But I have been able to not only survive nursing school, but thrive in it PLUS I have lost some weight. Even with all of that I never thought I had winning losses, I just wasnt that into the numbers this month, then yesterday when Kari told me I would be in the top it was like christmas.





Then I saw these and looking at the changes in my body almost made me cry!!!

How amazing is it when you can see changes like this!
















I am so almost there my goal weight is less than 5lbs away and I can feel it now...

Watch out world here I come!!

New awakenings

This week I have had a mental epiphany. You know one of those moments where you are like "AH HA!" I get this. I realized that not only do I weight less now than I did before I had ANY children, let alone 4. I weigh less now than I did on my wedding day. I am also less that 8 lbs away from my goal. I lost that in the first three weeks of this comp! I can and will totally meet that goal this month.

I am going to get there by doing a few simple things and here they are:

1) Drink my WATER!!! since karis challenge I have totally let this go and returned to my old Nasty diet pop habits.

2)Do a P90X video 4 days a week and at least 20 min of alternate exercise on the other days.

3) continue to eat mostly clean food and when at work eat SMALL portions or salads when available.

OK, now I have made my commitments to everyone and will check in weekly with my results. I would love to only have 6 lbs left to loose by Friday. Happy weigh in week!

updating...

This week has been one of LOTS of reading for exams and LOTS of strep throat. In the past this may have meant sabbotage for all I have worked for but I have managed to maintain my losses and have lost a little. Last night I realized that if I dont make it convienient for my hubby to exercise he wont, so I cleaned out my room and set it up to resume the P90X series. Last night we did ab ripper and Cardio X which together is 1hr of intense exercise. Hopefully he will continue even on the days when I cannot be home. Only 9 days left until this month is over and I am going to make them count! Good Luck everyone. I'm betting we can lose another 200lbs this month!

slow and steady, I will win this race!

This week has so far been a good one. I am realizing that because I am not putting ALL my effort into weight loss like last month my small losse mean so much more. It feels like something I could do for the rest of my life, where last month that seemed really overwhelming. Now my diet hasnt been perfect and I havent been eating clean like I would like but I have been making better choices while still accepting that right now perfect isnt an option. That acceptance is going to be key in maintaining my weight loss over the next year.


Wow 3lbs loss has never seemed so good!

Motivation

OMG...This week has been crazy! I have been working 4 days and at school all day for 3 days so that leaves...0 days. I have really settled into the nursing program this week, and realized a sad truth. People in healthcare eat some real CRAP! Sitting in the lunch room on tuesday I looked around over my spinach wrap and almonds and all I saw was microwave meals, pizza, and TONS of junk food. The next 12 months is really going to be a test of will power. The new hectic schedule hasnt been so bad BUT I have very little time to exercise so its making diet super important and challenging my commitment to myself. Because of this I thought it would be good to remind me what my motivations really are and I thought it would be nice to share them all with you. The following images are what I come home to everynight at about midnight when I finally walk through the door.

Aren't they so sweet when they're sleeping?

HOLY $#!&

OK so I dont really have time right now to post how AWESOME this is but I thought I would post my ending weight now before the weekend started. So here it is.... I am definitely very proud of myself this month!

The final days!

Wow, so here we are at the final few days of the month. I am intendiing to bring it these last few days, I mean anybody can do anything for a few days right? I am nearing the 10lbs lost and really want to hit that mark! So heres so nothin'!

Saying goodbye

So this is going to be a very short post but I just had to share that today marks a VERY big day for me. I am now officially in the 130's! I havent been in the 130s since before I had any of my babies. When I started this month I never really thought I would be at this point so soon.



Warning, this may be TMI for some of you, but on top of seeing 130s this morning I am on my period so here to loosing a few more lbs of water weight in the next few days!

My new toy!

I am so excited, this week my husband came home from the store with a brand new WII and WII FIT!!!!! My anniversary is this friday but I didnt expect anything because in our 8 year marriage he definitly hasnt been a gift giver if ya know what I mean! (This is actually the first time, shhh don't tell I put that on the internet) I am completely in love with the idea of having something active to with my family in the Utah long winters. I cannot afford to Ski or snowboard so I am kinda limited. So far we have spent hours jogging (which somehow seems more fun on a virtual island than just running in place), Boxing (which has been good marriage counseling), and tinkering around with hula hoop and balance test and all the other neat things. The best part though is that both my husband and the kids say that it is MY new toy so I hold veto power. Ah...the illusion of control.

Also I have finally began to loose a few pounds but it has been very slow and tedious. I am faithful with my exercise but food is not my friend. At home I do fine, I can control what is in the house so I only have good choices. At work on the other hand I am surrounded by peer pressure, from people who think its ok to waive indulgences in my face BECAUSE I am on a diet and meals that average 200 bad carbs! The worst part is either I eat what they serve or I go hungry for my 12 hour shifts. There was one day this week where everyone ordered cafe rio and I ate on a chicken burrito throughout the day and gained 2lbs! I have managed to re-loose those lbs (all but .4) and hopefully will continue on a downward path.

I hope to make this week a good one, I mean we gotta finish a month strong right!?!

Water, ah so nice!

So not only have I been drinking my water everyday (which is amazing to me) but i have found a new form of exercise that I LOVE. Last night I took a water aerobics class with my SIL and it was amazing! Not only do I feel like I had an awesome workout, but it was fun and I do not ache like I do after a land workout. Dont get me wrong I can feel it but Im not taking advil to get through the day. An added bonus is I saw my lowest number on the scale so far this morning. I think I might have a new addiction and this time its a healthy one!

Oh and anyone who wants to join in on the fun, its like $3 bucks a class for nonmembers at the Lehi Legacy center and they have classes everyday! I would love to have more people to exercise with!

Challenges!

I love the idea of having challenges. This week I have really hit a plateau with my weight loss, no gains, just only 0.2lbs of loss. I know it happens, it is the dreaded week two after all! But it is relieving to have another goal to focus on. So my focus this week really will be 75oz. of water per day everyday. This will be interesting...

Each New Day

Ok so after my last post I really had to decide how to approach this comp for me. I realize I am not going to be reaching my potential if I am always stressed out. So here are my goals for this week:

1) Keep track of what I am actually eating! I always have a way of making things seem worse than they are, so I will find out how bad I really am eating (or not).

2)Exercise with my hubby 4 nights this week and do 15-20 min myself on the days I can't exercise with him.

3)Not weigh myself more than once per day and less than that if I can resist.

Thats it, I am not going to set a weight loss goal for this week. I hope this small set of goals will help to make this dreaded week two not only bearable but enjoyable!

This week, uhh...

This week has been overwhelming and exhausting, and its only the first week. I have been officially accepted into my nursing program which brings tons of joy and stress. I also had a killer week at work and have not been home until after midnight. The baby isnt sleeping and now I am starting to whine...So long story short I am left looking for a way to cope. Usually I would have ordered dinner for my family and comfort ate myself. I mean who doesnt yearn for chocolate ice cream with their tears?

My next big issue is I am a closet eater, I will wait till my husband falls asleep and get up to eat what I know I shouldn't. I will destress from a long day will a 1000 cal. bad decision from one of the 7 fast food places on my way home from work. So now that I have the accountability ( which right now feels like pressure) of this comp and my husband (who is not struggling) I am just left feeling in way over my head.

My husband assures me that I cannot be the only one feeling this way but I cannot help thinking it.

I finally got it!!

Ok, so after months of wanting and weeks of trying I finally have in my hands P90X !!! I love these workouts and have been doing them at work once a week for the past three months and have seen such a change in my flexibility and strength, that I cannot wait to see what progress I make doing the program correctly! The very best part though is that my husband (Justin who is also in this comp) likes them enough to do them with me. We have tried other videos and he hated ALL of them until P90X. I think this is a great first step towards great results for us both!

Oh I almost forgot to mention the othe great part about him doing them with me, I dont have to fight for the time without him, so I may actually get to exercise without an arguement! LOVE IT!

~Here to a great first week everyone~

Official weigh in dun dun dun...

Alright its out there for the whole world to see. Now heres to hoping I never see that number again.

Pics!

Ok, all- Here they are the first round of pics... This is a huge step for me, I havent taken pics in years let alone with this little on!! Oh well, here's to a new start and to never looking like this again!!!

Getting Started

Well, Hello everyone!

I guess a good place to start this comp is to tell a little about myself. I am a 24 yr. old mother of 4 children ages 5, 4, 2, and 8 months. I also am an employee and a soon to be nursing student, because of this I have not made much time for me in the past few years. Thats what this comp means for me, a chance to take a little time and effort for myself. I am 5ft 3in and my current weight is about 150lbs. My goal weight is 125lbs, but mostly my goal is to be able to keep up with my kids this summer. I will post pics as soon as Kari posts the household item.

So as my children would say "LETS ROCK AND ROLL BABY! YEAH!~"