How to Fit it All In?

I'm feeling much better lately, although as I'm writing this I'm feeling nauseated. I'm twenty weeks and two days. It's excited to be halfway done with this pregnancy although, it seems to be taking forever. I'm guessing it has something to do with all the complications I've had.

So now my little boy is being potty trained at 23 months and is doing quite well at it. So far today he's only had one accident, although I've changed his underwear multiple times, mainly because he'll start to pee then stop himself and we head to the bathroom. I don't count these as accidents because he's stopped and has only wet himself very slightly. Needless to say I'm proud of him, although I have been bound to the house.

I'm waiting patiently to go get back in the grove of things. As of my doctor's appointment at 17 weeks, I had only gained four pounds. By twenty weeks they want you to gain about ten. When I weighed myself at home yesterday, I was up to six pounds. I'm very nervous about gaining the weight because I know how difficult it will be to lose it again. Thankfully I've been craving a lot of healthy foods and I can't seem to eat enough salads. I need to mention that Monday I did make banana bread and that's almost gone. Yesterday I made cookies and I can't stop eating them. I'm hoping the salads off set everything else. Overall, with the exception of this week I'm doing well at eating.

Exercise on the other hand isn't doing well at all. Shortly after my last exercise experiment I ended up on "bed rest" which didn't work out well with a toddler. My goal is to start again next week hopefully at the gym with a toddler who is potty trained and if not then I'll whip out the prenatal yoga video and start there. Regardless exercise is an important role in pregnancy. It will help with labor, delivery and recovery. Slowly I'm going to fit in the exercise amongst eating healthier.

My first goal is to gain less weight then my pregnancy with Bradley and if I reach that goal, it's to weigh less at the end of the pregnancy then I did with Bradley, seeing how I didn't lose all the baby weight. Until then.....drink lots of water, eat right (even though it's hard) and exercise).

Quick Update

Bleeding - stopped, baby ok
Placenta Previa - Moved, baby ok
Not enough fluid in Amniotic Sac - Fluid back up, baby ok
Unusual Cramping - Stopped, can't find a reason, baby ok
Found out it's a girl - so far, it's still a girl, baby ok

All I can say is Thank you, to my Heavenly Father for blessing me through all these difficult situations. I truly am blessed and have a beautiful little girl on the way who is just as blessed as the rest of us in this family. We can't wait to meet you Amelia!

Neglect

I have been neglecting this blog for quite some time, partly because I was angry and had nothing to say. You see the pregnancy has taken it's toll on me. Today I am fifteen weeks pregnant. At my first ultrasound, I was about six weeks then I found out I was bleeding. Due to the bleeding I had restrictions such as no sex, no exercise, no lifting more then twenty-five pounds (which ruled out my son and yes I did lift my son) and no stress. During this time we moved. Then I became very sick. I was laying on the couch and it took every ounce I had to not throw up and to feed my son. Chris at the time was still in Oswego and I was in Rome. My poor little boy was fed hot dogs and chicken nuggets on a regular basis. I felt horrible for him, knowing this was not a very good meal. The only thing I could choke down was a luncheable every now and again. Finally the Nurse Practioner prescribed me Zofran, which is an anti-nausea medication commonly given to those who were going through chemotherapy.

As for the bleeding, I had a couple weeks to see if I healed up. Turns out I did and everything was back to normal, with the exception of feelings nauseated and throwing up from time to time. I opted to have a test done at 12 weeks pregnant which included blood work for myself and another ultrasound. The baby is doing great! Turns out I have placenta previa. I am now back on all restrictions, plus some. I can not exercise at all, I can walk (but only for short periods of time) and I can swim. Everything else is out of the question. I'm hoping it heals, I'll find out sometime next week. In the meantime I'm praying I don't get put on bed rest. If I do, I'm thinking it would have to be in the hospital because there's no way I can do it here.

My goal was to blog about having a healthy pregnancy and exercise during it. Unfortunately I can't even do yoga at this point. If everything works out the way I want it to, I can hopefully do something. In the meantime I'll try to keep updating this blog. I guess I can always write about eating healthier and doing whatever I can to stay in shape. Until then....enjoy life and take a jog for me....I miss it.

Weight for the last week of March

I did weigh myself last Monday and the weight was 161.4. I'm excited about that. Here's the deal now though....I'M PREGNANT! So I'm just going to try and eat healthy and do what I can to work out. I am no longer allowed to run until further notice, so that stinks and I have to take it easy for right now....hmmmm....I'm going crazy! So no diet for me, but I can make healthy food choices and I will. This weekend (Easter), so far not so good.

So far I'm making sure I am drinking one glass of milk with my prenatal vitamins in the morning...vitamins you ask? Yes I have to take more then one right now. The newest thing in the pregnancy world of prenatal vitamins are the normal pill then another one with Folic Acid and DHA (DHA is new).

My goal is to take pictures every week (ha, let's see if I do it) of the belly. I didn't do it with Bradley and now wish I had. So that's it for now. Let's hope for a happy and healthy pregnancy. Currently it's been pretty moody. YIKES! Let's hope I can exercise soon and then release some bad moods and then get some energy back. My next doctor's appointment is April 21st. Let's hope I get the go ahead and start to work out soon. I can do yoga and I will!

Weight this Week

I weight 163.4. It sucks. I've been running and cutting out sugars, unless it's date night. I did eat cookies this weekend though. Anyway it's been decided I'm going back to the South Beach Diet, Phase One. I never completed this phase last time because I got sick and couldn't keep anything down. This time I'm bound to finish it and get on to phase two. I felt SOOOO good after the first few days of no carbs and sugars. I was feeling thin and my body was feeling healthy again. I can't wait.

Last March I had a miscarriage and before I miscarried my pre-pregnancy weight for baby number two was either 158 or 159. I'll be excited to get to those numbers. My friend who had two miscarriages said she never lost the weight for those no matter how hard she tried but she always lost the pregnancy weight for her kids (she had four kids). She thinks the body just doesn't know how to handle the weight loss, which would make sense. Anyway, wish me luck. I'm sure I'm going to be a bit grumpy this week, at least for a couple days until my body gets used to no sugars or carbs. Thank goodness it's only two weeks before you can start eating them again, the healthy ones that is. :)

Second Week of Running is a Success

Well the second week is down and it went down smoothly. I missed running yesterday, Wednesday, and felt guilty for it and the desire to go ALL day. I woke up this morning and made up for it. I completed my last day of week two running. It was perfect. My goal is to run three days a week right now and that's what I've done so far. It felt great.

The second week consisted of 90/120's. It was ninety seconds of running followed by two minutes of walking (at a brisk pace). You do this for twenty minutes (of course that's after a five minute warmup of brisk walking). By the time I did my last ninety seconds of running, I felt like the last set went by too fast. I pushed myself harder and faster and I felt TERRIFIC after doing so, but felt like I could run even longer. This is a good sign. My body is sore right now because of it, but it's worth it in the end.

After I came home, I did crunches for about a minute, literally. It was straight crunches for that time. I feel really good. I'm feeling healthier, better, happier and best of all skinnier...although it doesn't show yet, it's under there somewhere. Well keep your spirits up. I'm starting week three tomorrow.

So Far So Good

Well my running partner quit on her first day. That was before we even ran together. I'm kind of happy about it because it means I can run at my own pace. The down side is I don't have someone to run with. It's ok though, I think I'm happier running on my own.

So far, I started week two regiment which is five minutes of walking then 90 seconds of running followed by two minutes of brisk walking for twenty minutes for a total of 25 minutes (20 of which were the 90/120's). I have kept my goal this week of running three days a week. I feel great. My body is feeling great, it feels healthier and I have more energy, although sometimes not so much. I'm liking the way my body is changing, at least when I looked in the mirror this morning. Let's hope this motivation keeps up.

First Week of Running

Well I finished the first week of running. Last Wednesday I just went out and ran and knew I wanted to follow the running regimen I had last summer, which was running three times a week. Unfortunately I went and shortly afterward, I couldn't keep doing it. My body and lungs weren't close to being ready at all. After that run, I googled how to improve my run, I found a workout plan that I felt would help me get ready for the 5K Chris and I are planning for the summer.

The first week (three days a week, every other day) you do a five minute brisk walk to warm up and then do 60/90's. That is running for sixty seconds followed by brisk walking for ninety seconds. You do this for twenty minutes. We did this in the military and it did help my run time, only we did this just once a week. So last Friday I did this, then Monday and I finished on Wednesday. I will be moving onto week two starting Friday. Doing this will help you get your run pace back. Later on it will increase your run time.

Don't get me wrong, Wednesday I did not want to run AT ALL! I forced myself to do it and found out my old run route was no longer snow covered. This definitely made my day. So now I'll be able to really get back in the grove of things the way I like it. By the end of my run I was happy I was doing it a pushed myself even harder. What else is nice, I now have a running partner. My friend Rachael has asked if she can come running with me. OF COURSE! And she's only a week behind the schedule so we are just going to start he on week two. If it's too hard then we'll both go back to week one.

Anyway HAPPY RUNNING! And don't forget sometimes you have to force yourself to workout but you will appreciate it later. :)

Updated Weight

I don't have any pictures posted but my weight is currently 162.8....I know I haven't lost much but I was doing well then got sick, then went into an eating binge. Now I'm back on track...I hope. I'm running (as of last week). My body is feeling great. My muscles are thanking me and I have more energy. I'm trying to eat healthier and let's see where I end up next week. :)

Running Again

I have mentioned it on Facebook many times how I wanted to start running again. The last time I ran was August and at the time I was running about two miles every other day. I set a plan this year that I would start my running regimen again, in March.

Guess what....it's March. This morning was my first morning running. It's been seven months since I ran last. I feel like I have been doing nothing but sitting on my behind those seven months. I mentioned to my husband last night my desire to run this morning. He was all for it, found my iPod for me and that was it.

The morning came quickly but I kept my word and off I went. My usual run route, through Fort Ontario, was not plowed and the snow wasn't melted enough to try and run through. Instead of turning into the fort I went left toward the Army Reserve Center. My muscles felt great being worked on and stretched. I felt like they were wakened from a dark sleep. My energy level was up and I enjoyed the brisk air, perfect for a morning run.

Then my lungs began to hurt. The air pierced them with it coldness. I didn't run as far as I wanted and after a quick sprint to a different location, I walked the rest of the way home. I had to stop briefly, as I began dry heaving. Now I'm home, my lungs still recovering from the run. They clearly weren't as ready as I was.

My goal is three days a week. I'll only do one more day this week (Friday morning) and then start again on Monday. My husband and I are going to run together this year in a 5K. I am excited and March is when I'm starting to train for it. I cannot wait and I can't wait for my legs to start looking like I am that runner again, who clearly isn't me but I used to look similar in the height of my exercise regimen.

A Healthier Way

I have tried them, crash diets. To put it bluntly they suck. You feel hungry lose weight, then a few weeks later, gain it all back. What I have learned in previous years it comes down to the simplicity of: calories in vs. calories out. That's all it is ladies and gentlemen. There's no need for a crash diet, cutting everything out. It's about choosing correctly what to eat and what not to eat and getting in exercise.

Losing weight can be hard and frustrating. I'm frustrated. I was eating healthy and then stopped. My partner in crime went off the wagon and a few days later I followed. It's a tough up hill battle. I love food. I used to love to exercise but since having a child, I don't have the motivation to do it anymore. I have to motivate myself. I do have a few goals I am trying to reach. I AM going to run a 5K this year. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough soon to start running again. Something can always get in our way, there is always an excuse but when it comes down to it, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE TIME! That's all there is to it.

When I posted this blog my husband said, "Now you are accountable and what if you don't lose anything." My answer is simple and it still remains. I want this to be realistic. I STRUGGLE WITH LOSING WEIGHT! I always have in one way or another. If my next picture shows I put on five pounds then that's it.

To my readers, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We will go through this together and it will be tough. We need to keep each other motivated. Because my partner in crime went off the wagon, I still had the choice to stay on but I didn't. It's much harder to jump back on once you've been off it awhile, but it will be worth it. Your body will appreciate it.

Finally I'm recommending an article by netdoctor, it's entitled, "How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way." I recommend it because it's to the point, and it's about doing it the correct way, a little bit at a time. Please read it and try to keep motivated. In the meantime, try and squeeze in a workout. Oh the article mentions exercising during commercial breaks, I have done that in the past and even recently, it's worth it. A few minutes is better then nothing at all. Drink water and put in 100%. Good luck.

Water

Recently I have been drinking a lot of water. Normally I am lucky if I have a couple glasses a week, but thanks for my son, I'm drinking several 16 ounce bottles a day. Bradley has a fetish with wanting water bottles and taking them to mommy. Once I get them, I have to open them, but in order for them not to be spilled everywhere I drink most of it. He'll take a few sips then pass it back to me. Essentially I drink the entire bottle with the exception of a few big gulps at the end, which I give freely to Bradley. My little boy tends to hand me about three bottles a day and I drink them all.

Over the past week, I have noticed several changes:

1) I use the bathroom quite a bit. I have heard, but not sure if it's true, once your body is used to it, the frequency of the bathroom trips will be much less.

2) I have more desire and energy to workout.

3) I am happier. Don't get me wrong I do struggle at times with patience for those toddler years.

4) I don't snack nearly as much.

5) I lost three pounds....(I originally started at 165.8, then I was down to 160....then I got sick and was down to 157 0r 158.....then it climbed back to 164.8)....I weighed in yesterday at 161.4 and that's without working out.

6) Sweets (my biggest downfall) aren't as tempting anymore and I have a desire to eat healthier.

7) I am more alert.

8) I have a cold but it's not nearly as bad as my colds have been in the past. I know water plays a part in this because of a previous cold and drinking water toward the end of it, helped with post nasal drip...now it's helped even with the runny nose (this was a tip learned from a family friend and guess what her nursing school paid off because it works!).

I have done a little research on water. A lot of this information I knew from high school but here are the facts:

1. Water makes up 2/3 of the body weight.

2. Without water we would die in a few days.

3. The body cannot work without water.

Here are the facts I didn't know:

1. The human brain is made up of 95% of water, blood 82% and lungs 90%.

2. Losing 2% of your water can trigger signs of dehydration, which are: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen.

3. Water plays a key role in the prevention of some cancers.

I highly recommend you check out the website....it's FreeDrinkingWater.com. It's clearly informational and definitely worth the quick read. Learn what it can do for you. So far for me it's done a lot! And as the website would say....DRINK UP!

A Healthy Dessert

Desserts are my downfall! I LOVE sugar. I am addicted to it. I am not a fan of icecream, however give me cake and I'll want the flower, corner, whatever has the most frosting. I love it. For Valentine's Day I made a healthy dessert for me and the hubby....he loves chocolate covered strawberries and it's in the South Beach Diet....that's not the recipe I used, use whichever one you decide but it's healthier then cake that's for sure. In addition to that, it was easy and fun to make.

Ingredients

Strawberries

13-16 ounces of semi sweet chocolate morsels

2 tablespoons of butter/margarine or shortening (it makes it glossy and easier to dip)

Directions

1. Fill a pot, 1/3 full, of water. Bring to a boil. In a medium bowl (that will fit on but not touch the water or bottom of pan) add morsels and butter. Place on pan. Stir until melted. Dip strawberries (that were rinsed and dried), put on parchment paper or wax paper to harden chocolate. ENJOY.

I, by the way, had too much chocolate for the amount of strawberries I had, so I dipped some bananas as well. YUMMMMMM....

White Chicken Chili

This recipe tends to be a well liked recipe in my family. It serves 10 and the per servings amount are: 232 calories, 35 g protein, 12 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 4 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 80 mg cholesterol and 543 mg sodium. This recipe comes from Slow Cooker Recipe Book. Try it out and enjoy.

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

1 T Olive Oil

3 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size chunks

2 onions, chopped (we don't use this much onion, maybe half an onion, if we are lucky)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans (14 oz each) fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth

4 cans (15.5 oz each) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chile peppers

1 t salt

1 t ground cumin

3/4 t dried oregano

1/2 t chili powder

1/2 t freshly ground black pepper

1/8 t ground cloves

1/8 t cayenne pepper

1. HEAT oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken, onions, and garlic and saute until chicken is lightly browned, 5-7 minutes. Transfer chicken mixture to 4-quart or slow cooker. Add broth, beans, chili peppers (with juice), salt and remaining spices. Stir to combine.

2. COVER. Cook on low 4 to 6 hours. Uncover and cook 1 hour more, stirring occasionally, until flavors are blended.

Overweight and Trying to Conceive?

I read an interesting article on iParenting. As many people may know, my husband and I are trying to conceive again. Chris and I have one child (Bradley, 17 months) and last year at this time we were pregnant again for our second child. The pregnancy ended in a miscarriage in late March, at the very end of my first trimester we found out the baby didn't have a heart beat. At the beginning of my second trimester I physically miscarried.

Recently I have been reading article after article about conception. Chris and I have been trying for six months now. Bradley was conceived on birth control and the second baby was conceived as we breathed the words, "Let's try." Clearly this is frustrating.

Since finding out my BMI and that I am officially overweight, I have done more reading. It has been proven it can be harder to conceive while being overweight. In the same token the article on iParenting, suggested not losing weight a few months prior to try and conceive. The article also mentioned there is a higher risk for a cesarean, diabetes during (and after) pregnancy, plus an overweight fetus, which can therefore cause more problems. It is not suggested to try and lose weight while pregnant but do try and stay within the guidelines if possible. Clearly that doesn't always work, but if you at least try to be your healthiest you are that much more better off.

Chris and I will still continue to try and conceive. I will continue to try and live a healthier lifestyle and try and lose weight. I do know the more fit you are, the easier delivery is. Just another reason to workout, eat healthy and stay (or get in my case) in shape.

Week 3 Update

I definitely attribute the weight loss to being sick. Once I feel better I'm sure I'll post another picture, but right now is not the time. I have been eating crappy lately (while on vacation in Lake Placid and visiting family). Saturday Bradley vomited, and yesterday was my day, all day. So today I'm weighing in at 158.6 pounds, which brings my body fat percentage to 27.2% which is still in the overweight category but is down 1.3% from before. It's a start but again, not a good way to lose weight.

This weeks struggle is staying hydrated while sick. It's hard to do while you you are vomiting, your body loses a lot of liquid. Try to stay away from sugary drinks if possible, drink clear broth (such as chicken broth) and lots of other clear fluids like water. Overall it is most important to stay hydrated in this type of situation. It will make it easier on the body. Once you are able to eat again, try slowly, nothing heavy. Dry toast, crackers, broth, apple sauce, bananas, etc. Try and stay healthy and remember it is the flu season, don't be afraid to see your doctor.

Whew! I Made It Through the Weekend!

Sunday marked seven days completed on my diet. I am using the South Beach Diet and it's been tough. The weekends are always a little tough for me because we tend to relax on the weekend not only with chores but clearly with our food too. This of course will contribute to me being overweight and my BMI in the range it is in.

This weekend was my first weekend on the diet and to top things off we were traveling. To start out with Friday night was going well. We ate a healthy meal of salad, broccoli and tilapia. The food was great, I was feeling great and things were going well. A few hours went by

and we then had company, Uncle Brad (for whom our son is named after). Uncle Brad had not eaten dinner and I had the suggestion for him to order himself pizza. He thought that was a great idea, so didn't my partner in this diet, my husband. Who openly admitted if pizza was ordered he was eating it. Turns out the pizza was ordered. The aroma was wonderful, the smell of pineapple, melted cheese and ham filled the air. There were four of us. I let the three of them eat it and they kept tempting me with it. I wanted a bite so bad, but ate some pistachios prior to the pizza being delivered to curb my appetite of the late night snack. Turns out this was a good decision on my part. I resisted the temptation, toward the end of the night th

e smell of the pizza wasn't as delicious as before. The n

ext morning I felt great about myself and felt rewarded when I weighed in (not the official weigh in).

Saturday was a little difficult when I was craving cookies. I ended up making it through that too and finished off with a healthy dinner of chicken, broccoli and cauliflower. It wasn't too bad but I knew Sunday would be the most difficult day and it was.

Sunday, we left our home in Oswego, NY and headed to Buffalo. Normally it's only a couple hours to get there but we had to make stops along the way. Our first stop was gas. I thought getting a sandwich inside for the little man would be good. We would be finish our drive at a late lunch hour, but we had crackers and string cheese in the car for snacks (crackers only for the baby).

About an hour into the drive, we knew we had to stop in order to get something for Bradley. It was about 12:15 and we stopped. Inside I looked for something healthy for myself or Chris. Bradley I ordered chicken nuggets and there was only one salad in the entire place. I ordered it for Chris. The cost of the salad was

$5 and if I had known it was that much, I would have let my husband starve for the next hour. Turns out he did starve because the salad did not taste right. He tried a chicken nugget and that tasted bad as well. I guess we shouldn't have stopped there.

Once we got to my mom and dad's house the aroma of apple crisp baking in the oven was one of the most wonderful smells around. I was able to make it through the the entire night, eating very healthy. I had cucumbers with my steak (I didn't want the salad to go with it, I was sick of salad) and a glass of milk. I would have liked more vegetables but rice was served as a side and it is not allowed at this time in the diet. Chris later helped himself to yogurt (which isn't allowed yet) and two helpings of apple crisp. I made it through. The weekend was definitely harder then I expected but you know what....I made it through. And to top it off,

I stayed stronger on the diet then my husband, who without knowing it is in competition with me. I like knowing that I'm sticking to the rules the best way possible. Once during the week I ate one starburst but that's the only time I bent the rules. Well I did have herbal tea (which you are allowed to have on this diet and is ok if you are an LDS member) with honey (which is not supposed to be on the diet). I figured that would cover the sugar cravings and so far it has.

I am still tempted on the diet, because I am still at my mom and dad's house. We are celebrating a late Christmas with my brother who is home from Afghanistan for a couple weeks. She made everything from the turkey to the stuffing to the chocolate pie desserts. On top of all of that, there are chips, cookies, and lots of junk food. My father said he has a ton of junk food in the house and he now wishes he didn't have so much. My answer to him was, "I told you I was on a diet."

To my surprise his answer only gave me more encouragement, "I wasn't expecting you to be serious on it." I am serious on losing this weight. My jeans went on a little easier today, which is a relief and my family is already noticing a difference. They said they can see it in my face, it's thinning out to them. So for now I am resisting the temptations and feel better and better each night I do. Good luck with eating healthy. The temptations are there and hard, but it's worth it in the end, at least so far.

Postponed

Due to my brother being home for a week or two from Afghanistan (before he goes back) the next post will most likely be on Tuesday, January 12th for an update and then not again until Sunday, January 17th, after which regular posting will resume. Good luck exercising and losing some weight!

As a Child

Growing up I was very athletic, in fact I trained with the Olympic Training Team in Lake Placid, NY for figure skating. I loved the sport and at one point did it year round. I started skating when I was six years old and did it straight until I was eighteen.

I vaguely remember living in Fort Benning, GA with my parents. Figure skating was on the television and I turned to my father and said, "That's what I want to do." I must have only been five years old at the most. My father had promised me when we moved to Fort Drum, NY I would have that opportunity. He kept his promise and there my journey started. Some days I would wake up to be skating at seven in the morning. Some nights I wouldn't get home until eleven at night, practice got done at ten thirty. Of course the later hours were in the later years of my career as a skater.

While I was training with the Olympic Training Team, a couple of my coaches and I headed to the mall. Jorge Valle (a former Ice Capade and my jump coach) ordered himself an espresso. Sherry Robbins (my regular coach and a national competitor) ordered herself a bagel. Me? I came back with a taco salad from Taco Bell. I thought both of their jaws were going to not just drop but completely fall off their faces. Sherry had looked at my meal and asked if I knew how many calories were in there. I didn't know. She estimated around 1800....the actual calorie count is around 850, still a lot for one sitting. Regardless every bite I took that day I felt guilty for.

Since that time in my life food has had a real impact. Sherry I told me I should only have about 28-30 grams of fat a day. Just so you know that's about 3-4 yogurts. Since then I cut back on what I ate, tremendously. I look back and spandex looked like it was falling off me....it was crazy. At the time I thought I was fat but when I look at pictures I think at such a young age I was very skinny. Too skinny I think.

After I graduated high school I went to college and knew no one would care what I ate and didn't eat. I wasn't skating and turns out I stopped weighing myself at 180 pounds. I knew I put on some more weight. I went from one extreme to the next. So yes I know what it's like to be skinny, then obese, then overweight, then skinny again. Now I'm back to overweight, but I'm working on it. It's possible. It's possible for everyone. Right now I'm starting with changing my eating habits and a little exercise and it's working. I hope you see results in week two pictures but if not then hopefully week three pictures. Don't be afraid to give something up, it may be hard but your health is worth it. Good luck and strive to be better.

Exercise on Demand!

A friend of mine had discovered Exercise on Demand via her cable television. So I thought I would try a workout or two. It was nice because there were videos that were about ten minutes (some a little more and some a little less).

Since we don't watch TV during the day....I thought I would do the ten minute video with Bradley (my 17 month old). I did a dance one, that really didn't feel like dance at all, I thought it was boring and didn't keep my interest up. One thing it did include was about a two minute warm up (I know this because there was a count down clock in the upper left hand corner of the screen). Everything felt basic. What I didn't like was during the exercise the trainer was focusing on your legs and feet. She was showing us a steps and of course the bottom of the screen were her feet. The only problem was her feet were covered up by advertisements. Overall the workout was ok, but it wasn't dancing at all. I was bored and disappointed with that part, but it did raise my heart rate for those then minutes and Bradley tried some of the moves too.

Since this was only a ten minute video I felt as if I should try another one. I did try a Biggest Loser workout and it involved weights. I didn't have any weights so I ran to my cupboard and got some canned black beans and some other bean (not sure which one it is right now). I ended up using bean cans as my weights, until I can get some, I think I have some at my parents house. I thought the workout was pretty good. It was about twenty-two minutes long. During the workout it definitely expects you to already be warmed up, so I was glad I did the ten minute workout in the beginning. We worked on the butt, upper legs, stomach, back and arms. I felt I missed out on something because I wasn't feeling the burn. Hours later I felt the burn and still feel it a day later. I will definitely take my bean cans and try this one again.

For those who do not have cable you can try workout videos via the web. I haven't tried any of these workouts yet but think I may try them in the near future. Try going to the ExerciseTV website. You can choose from many of them and they are listed via what you want to work on to how long they are. Good luck and enjoy your workout!

Schedule of Posts....

So I've been thinking I should have a little more structure with this blog. I have decided I would kind of make schedule for it.

Sunday - Whew! I've made it through the weekend! (This will probably be how I made it through that weekend in particular, when everything tends to be a little harder)

Monday - Weekly picture, weight update, BMI update and what was a struggle this week to get through

Tuesday - Health "Article" in some sort of way (I'll do a little online/book research and tell you what I've found for that week)

Wednesday - Recipe/Health Tip (nutrition of some sort, weather a recipe, etc.)

Thursday - Me Time (a post where I focus on me to make myself feel better and hopefully inspire you to do the same)

Friday - Exercise Critique of some sort (latest exercises regimen, my opinion of the ones I've tried, etc.)

Saturday - Reflection (a quick reflection on the past, what I did well, should do again, what worked in the past, what didn't, a short story, something along those lines)

We'll see how this all works out if I post something everyday or not. It will be maybe short or long or maybe I'll switch some things around. And since today is Friday, later I'm hoping to either add to this post about an exercise or I'll post a new one. :)

Good Luck on making healthy choices today!

Bold might you say?

You probably noticed the pictures on the right hand side of this blog and in this entry (by the way if you are reading this post at a later date the pictures may be on the left then....who knows when I'll change the layout).

Anyway the pictures aren't too flattering at all. This is clearly me, belly hanging over the pants when you look at the picture from the side. My husband was in awe when he saw this picture posted on my blog. "Why? Now you really will have to follow through with it? What if you don't succeed?"

I think this is the first time I have heard him this concerned, especially because I point blank am putting myself out there. Well the reason is to see progress. I'm hoping for progress. I'm on day 4 of my diet and feel great. I've exercised today (not early in the week, but today I did which is a start).

Here are my answers....I did this because that is what this blog is about. Trust me normally I dress more modestly then this. I wore this because I was exercising in my own home, at the gym, I wear a tank top or t-shirt. I do have a tendency to sweat a lot while working out. I am putting myself out there. I want the support and encouragement to keep going. I want t

o lose those pounds and the excessive body fat. I am doing it because in a week when we take the same picture I was to see a difference. If I can't, then I can't but maybe in the week three picture I will be able to tell. What if I gain weight? Then we will all see it too.

This blog is about the struggles just as much as the accomplishments and facts about nutrition and weight loss. This is something I feel I have struggled with throughout the years. My answer to my husband was I was unsure if I would succeed but I was willing to try. We'll see what happens.

For now I'm hoping to get rid of the ugly mom belly. You can definitely tell my skin was stretched, now I have to work on getting that taken care of and be a hot mama!

BMI

Your body mass index (BMI) is very important for your health. So what exactly is a BMI? It basically bases the percentage of your body fat by comparing your weight and height. There are other sources that will also give you your BMI based on your height, weight and measurements around your body.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services I am overweight. I need to get to a weight of 145 in order to be within the healthy range. Here are the ranges according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute:

Underweight = <18.5

Normal Weight = 18.5-24.9

Overweight = 25.29.9

Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Currently I am in the overweight category. I need to lose nearly twenty pounds, which is going to be probably harder then I thought, but I'm already beginning to make the correct changes in my life, starting with my diet.

Now my husband needs to lose some weight, but he does go to the gym constantly. His BMI did show that he was obese, but he clearly is not. So take that into consideration too. If you have more muscle then fat, muscle weighs more.

I recommend checking out the following websites: Center for Disease Control and Prevention and The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Both will give you a BMI Calculator. I found the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Website gave more insight as to what you may or may not be at risk for. Regardless both are great websites to take a look at. Check your BMI out. You may either be surprised or have an eye opener. Good luck.

Pound for Pound

I am a huge fan of "The Biggest Loser." They have basically been sending a challenge out to everyone. It's called "The Pound for Pound Challenge." With this challenge every pound you lose a pound of food will go to your local food bank. I decided I should sign up for this. I have learned my local food bank is actually a few streets from my house. Since my goal is to lose fifteen pounds this year, that would be fifteen pounds toward someone in my area to help feed them. The challenge is free, well it will cost some of your time and in the long run you are healthier and therefore happier. I highly recommend this. Everyone needs to shed a pound or two. The link is www.biggestloser.com and click on the Pound for Pound Challenge. What do you have to lose other then a few pounds?

Day One of a New Diet

Today is the start of my new diet. I have given it much thought and decided I would try the South Beach Diet, which was designed by a cardiologist. The first two weeks of this diet is very strict but not that bad, at least so far. All sugars, fruits and carbs are cut out of the diet. According to the book on average, 7-13 pounds are lost in the first two weeks alone, particularly in the mid section. I would like to lose ten. Then I'll work on losing the other five. After the first phase carbs, fruits and sugars are gradually re-introduced back into your diet.

Between breakfast and lunch I did get a little hungry today, but I was able to have a snack (which was a cheese stick). I gave one to Bradley too

. He and I both enjoyed it very much. Lunch was fulfilling. It was grilled chicken on romaine lettuce and dressing (low in sugar). We also had sugar free jello for dessert which was just as nice. I don't think I normally care for jello that much, I always enjoyed the taste but something about the way it looks or jiggles gets the better of me some days. Regardless so far things are a success. Tonight for dinner we will have salmon, asparagus, salad and vanilla ricotta creme. I tried some of the creme last night while I was making it...yummy! I can't wait to try it for our dessert.

Chris has said he so far liked the diet. The fo

od was pretty good. He and I were both reluctant to eat the quiche cups for breakfast but they weren't that bad. Breakfast also included V8 juice, which I didn't like as a kid. Turns out I don't like it as an adult either, but drank it anyway. I figure I would

need the energy from it to sustain me throughout the day. Plus I may get a liking to it later on.

This morning I weighed myself. I knew I had to it and it was a scary thought. I was afraid to look at the scale and anticipated the 170-175 pounds. I knew I

had to weigh this much because I feel sluggish and know I haven't been eating healthy at all. Turns out my weight is 165.8 pounds, which is about 1.8 pounds more then what it was a few months ago when I last weighed myself. I was pretty excited

about that.

I am hoping I lose some of the weight around my mid section first like the diet said would happen. It did say after the first day your body is already healthier and levels are that much better in your blood stream. Let me be a little more specific. The diet wants you to lose weight, clearly but in a way that is heart healthy.

"Again our top priority was not weight loss for its own sake - it was to improve our patients' heart health by changing their blood chemistry. We wanted a diet that would lower triglycerides (fat carried in the blood, which are necessary, but when excessive cause serious cardiovascular damage) and LDL (low-density lipoproteins, the so-called bad cholesterol). We were looking for a decrease in LDL both as a total number and as compared to the level of HDL (high-density lipoproteins), the so called good cholesterol." ~Dr. Agatston

Basically this diet is going to reset the body clock and, according to the book, allow the body to crave the good fats, carbs, etc. Everything I have thus far read sounds good to me. I'm not starving. If I'm hungry I eat, which is the oddest thing in any diet I've come across so far and I'm hoping for some results soon. In the meantime, exercise is an option, according to the diet, although it is recommended. Me I have my personal goal of exercising for a total of two hours every week, so with that....I'm off to do something beneficial while the little man is sleeping.

The Reason and Confessions

Throughout my life I, like many people, have had an issue of weight. I am nearly five foot four inches tall and the most I have ever weighed myself at was 180 pounds. This of course was when I had stopped weighing myself for reasons of disbelief and disappointment. I was not always this big but in my early twenties, and coming from an athletic background, this was unheard of in my mind, at least for my life.

Looking back at some childhood pictures, I remember a video of myself with this cute little pot belly by the Christmas tree. Later in life that pot belly would be lost and in the world of skating I lost an extreme about of weight, most of it is from not eating at all or eating very unhealthy. I started eating more when I went through a very difficult time in my life and that's what landed me at 180 pounds plus in my early twenties. Since looking too frail in spandex as a teenager to feeling like a balloon in college I put my body through turmoil.

When I was 180 plus I did not care for the way I looked and it wasn't only the weight that got me but my face had not grown accustomed to the changes in my body either and therefore my skin was broken out and I felt hideous. I often wondered how anyone could ever love me. Now since I have lost the weight I am hiding myself behind the scars of stretch marks on my legs and acne that was once prevalent on my face.

I had lost the 180 plus through years of hard work, choosing a better diet and exercise, then it happened. After marriage I got pregnant. I was terrified of the weight. While in the doctor's office I held back tears as the doctor announced I was 195 pounds. I wanted to cry. I wanted the baby out of me and I only hoped the weight would come off. Once in the office I stood on the scale and the scale hit over 200 pounds. I started to panic and the nurse who was looking at my chart then at the scale was a little worried too, only to find out my husband had his foot on it, pressing down, trying to make the numbers climb. We laughed, mine was more a laugh of relief. Turns out that day I only gained about six pounds since my last visit.

After having my son, I lost 32 pounds in two weeks or three weeks (I can't remember anymore). I was breast feeding. Not only was it healthy for my son but I knew it would burn more calories. I was also under a lot of pressure to lose the baby weight. I was in the military and had six months since the time of his birth to lose it all. A normal woman it takes a year. My doctors were furious with this, but knew I had no choice. I did eat while breast feeding, but mainly slim fast as a snack during the day. Once a friend (much higher ranking then myself) in the military found out I lost so much weight in a short period of time, lectured me saying, "No matter who you are or what you've been through (giving birth or not) it is extremely unhealthy to do so in such a short period of time." I had only 9 pounds left to lose before I was at my pre-pregnancy weight.

Right before getting pregnant I was actively participating in ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) for the ARMY. I was running nearly every day, working out constantly. Those 154 pounds I had packed was muscle. I knew I would have to lose more weight then the nine left over. To qualify as being in shape for my height in the military I had to weigh 145 pounds. In my three years of military service I only met that goal once and it a few months before pregnancy when I again wasn't eating a healthy diet.

So this blog is dedicated to myself in order to get healthier, the correct way. My New Year's Resolution is to lose 15 pounds this year, of course that is if my husband and I don't conceive another child. I start my diet on Monday, January 4th. I have not weighed myself in months because I'm afraid to. I'm assuming I'm around 170-175 pounds right now. I also want to make sure I work out two hours a week. I know that's only a little bit right now but I look at how often I work out and it's a start. I'm hoping later in the year I can bump it up to three hours and progressively get better.

This blog will have personal pictures, I'm hoping I take once a week, of how I'm coming along and new goals, weights, etc. I will try and log how I've been eating, exercising, stresses, etc. All of these play a factor in my life. I will do research and post those findings as well. I will have to learn to hold nothing back and I'm hoping that I'm not overly obsessive about this like I was previously. Obviously I'll enjoy talking about weight, etc, but as you will later learn weight took control over my life at one point, whether I was too fat or too skinny. I am hoping that I will love myself and my body in a completely different way.

Also none of this would have been possible or I wouldn't have thought about posting it if it weren't for the example of my long lost friend, Footcrow. Even though you haven't read this yet, it is because of you and your wonderful example that I'm blogging about this. You give me the strength to be strong and take it to the next level. Of course I can't forget Aimee who is that happy example and such an encouragement and support. I am SO happy to start my weight loss with you, your husband and of course the support and dedication from my husband, as we all embark on this at the same time. I know the motivation from each other we will be looking good in 2010. :)