It's someone's birthday week!

Can you all believe that Little Pookie is going to be 4 on Saturday?!

Me either.

Some days it feels like yesterday when the ultrasound tech said "It's gonna be a boy." {And when Brooklyn said softly from the corner, "nooooooooo."}

And then when Dr. Cousins, said "Whoa, here's a BIG baby boy!"

And when Chad and I laid eyes on our 8 pounds, 12 ounce son for the first time...
And I thought to myself, "What in the WORLD am I gonna do with a boy?!"

But it only took a few hours in C-section recovery and another glance at this sweet face to realize that I was smitten.

For real.

Now, for Brooklyn it took a few days weeks. She was not keen on sharing the spotlight and really didn't know what to do with this new family member. But she came around.
Eventually.

The year was full of twists and turns and surprises and challenges. We all slept in different beds and different rooms and at different times during the day and night. We learned how to change a baby boy's diaper. We struggled with being parents to two kids with two different sets of needs. I discovered the joy that was the "baby jail" (aka pack and play).

We traveled from the mountains to the beach and back again...

...and just made it our goal to survive.

And that we did, because in the blink of an eye, Jake was 1.

And life just got better and better....with a whole new set of challenges...

Weekend Shenanigans

It was a crazy weekend but the kids were quite entertained. Friday was Jake's friend, Chelsea's, birthday at The Little Gym. Jake and Brooklyn both had a blast.































Saturday was a neighborhood festival/Oktoberfest at our friend's house. (No pics but a good time with some very yummy food.)

Then, Sunday, the band played at our city's CROP walk for hunger. Good times and great crowd for an awesome cause.













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You've gotta set goals....Trust me.

Ok- so, we've talked about exercise, and we've gotten real about the diet. What else is there to consider when you want to make a better "you?"

Goals.

You have to have goals when you are doing anything in life. And losing weight/getting healthier is no different.

In my profession with the Girl Scouts, we teach the girls all about goal setting in many aspects...focusing a lot on our fantastic cookie program and how setting goals is not only a great life skill to learn but also a fool-proof way to increase your chances for success.

So, when I started this journey three years ago, I luckily practiced what I preached.

But, when I started setting goals, did I say "I would like to wear a bikini in three summers."?

Nope.

I started small and attainable and in a shorter time frame. Because setting long term goals is great, but you need benchmarks to get you there.

In August 2010, I joined my office's Biggest Loser Challenge. I weighed 188.0 pounds. (Now, don't focus so much on my weight here because you just can't compare apples to apples with people. We are all different body types and compositions, but for the sake of comparing and tracking my progress, I'll use my weights.)

For a 5'3" gal, 188 pounds is not good. In fact, I should have listened to my Wii fit when I would get on it and it actually groaned.

And then said "That's obese."

Jerk.

I think you need some visual aids for the sake of comparison, as well. And for the sake of entertainment value. So, I went on my Facebook profile and used only pictures under the album "Photos of You" because those, my friends, tell the real story. These are the pics where you are tagged whether you like it or not, and that all the internet can see. They show the good, the bad, and the chubby.


This was July 2010.

And just another one from that summer for good measure....and Heidi looks super cute here.

My 1st goal, by the end of the 15 weeks of the work Biggest Loser challenge, was to be to my pre-Jake weight- 173 pounds (after all, he was a year old by then). Within the first few weeks of the challenge, I started seeing great results, and by Week 7 at the halfway mark, I was 171 pounds (2 pounds under the pre-Jake goal).

So, instead of saying "yippee. done. did it. check that off," I quickly set a 2nd goal for the end of the challenge...pre-Brooklyn weight. This was 160 pounds and I just thought, oh my goodness, that would be a miracle, but I gotta try!

By the end of the 15 weeks, I weighed 158.5 pounds. Crushed that 2nd goal, lost a total of 29.5 pounds, and won the challenge.

Well, then I thought, hmmmm....

Wedding weight (from 2002) was not confirmed but if I had to guess, it was around 145.0.
13.5 pounds? Sure! So, Goal #3 was set.

I continued with My Fitness Pal, introduced running, and eventually started Zumba classes. My weight went down and it went up. It was a roller coaster and a pretty difficult 18 months or so of trying to figure out what the "magic formula" was. I had hit a wall and didn't know what to do.

I realize that my mistake was not setting a time frame for my goal. I didn't have an end- a "be 145.0 by this date."

And then I didn't have a plan for maintenance. So when I would creep towards the 145 goal sometimes I would land there briefly, but then slide back up again.

But I felt good, I was happier than I was at 188, and life went on.

But then the weight creeped up more...and I slide back up into the 150's.

And I knew I needed something more. I needed a professional. I needed that accountability.(Insert Heart in Sol Love Story here)

So, I started working with that oh, so wonderful professional and the first thing he had me do was write down my goals.

I'm not sure what he thought when I wrote on my paper "I want to have Heather Locklear's arms and shoulders."

But he humored me, and off we went on this crazy journey the last 7 months that's taken me to where I am today. I weighed in with him in March 2013 at 151/152 pounds. My goal was to get to my optimal BMI- somewhere in the 125-135 range.

I achieved that goal, and as of today, I am happily sitting in the 120's. I've lost over 64 pounds and went from an Old Navy size 16 jean to an Old Navy size 4 jean.

It's not about the number. It's how you feel. BUT, I had spent so much time saying "My clothes still feel fine/I feel OK/It's not that bad" that I began to really just push out reality and ignore the truths.

I'm where I need to be. I'm done losing weight, but the maintenance journey has only just begun. My new goal in life is to continue to live healthy, teach my children to live and eat healthy, and make sure physical activity (both light and heavy) is a part of our daily/weekly lives. My weight loss goal has been accomplished, but I have been entrusted with two small lives that need to learn the right way how they should live. Before it's too late.

And maybe now that I have Heather Locklear arms, I can start working on my Fergie abs.

Next month.

Some interesting stats...

So, the Blogger public is speaking loud and clear to me. I did a quick run of my latest stats on the blog, and it's crazy the interest in my fatness and not-so-fatness.

Here are the stats over the entire history of the blog.

The top two are Slow Cooker Sunday recipes....the Sweet Baby Ray Ribs and the Shrimp & Grits. Both excellent choices, might I add.

Next up, is the post where I basically reveal the fact that I was not meant to be a stay at home mom.
And you all kinda found that entertaining.

After that, there are the last three posts I made about my lifestyle as it is right now....and my undying love for all things Heart in Sol.

Interesting to me....maybe not to you....but it does tell me that for some strange reason, you all like to know more of what I'm eating for dinner and my failures as a mom and less of what we did on our annual family beach vacation.

And one final interesting note....

Shout out to all the blog readers in Russia, Sweden, China, South Korea, the UK, Ukraine, Germany, India, and France. I am sure some of my casual language does not transfer well overseas but nonetheless, thanks for reading. :-)

I do appreciate you all reading. This blog is not only a place where I journal about the kids for the family scrapbooks and the grandparents but also a place where I can share my feelings, my challenges, my successes, and just my life as it is right now. I always hope it gives one of you out there the feeling of "yes, she feels the same way I do."

I'm always looking for more material and prompts, so if you have any requests over what you would like to know my opinion on, please feel free to leave a comment. No question is (probably) too personal.

After all, better to vent here than on Facebook.

"Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym."

Back in August, I gave y'all my Eat This, Not That words of advice. It really entertained me probably more than it educated you, but nonetheless, it showed you a little bit into my "world."

I've had a few people ask me over the last several months what I am doing about my diet. Honestly, I didn't have much to say to them. I knew all the "right" things to say, but I had really used exercise as such a crutch to eat whatever I wanted (within reason) and still maintain/even lose weight. I was talking the talk....just not 100% walking the walk.

But we all know where that got me now, don't we?

But, I was jerked back in line, and in the last three and a half weeks, I have had to be really careful about what I was eating....because smallest pants have been bought and rings have been resized. There is no option to go backwards. So, I went back to the basics.

I will say it again and again that My Fitness Pal and I are BFF's. It helps keep me accountable and educates me on everything that I am putting in my body.

Because, I don't know if you all know this, but...

It's true. You could work out all day everyday, but if you are continuing to eat c.r.a.p. then you are doing yourself NO GOOD.

We've revamped the way we eat in our house. I used to be able to grocery shop once a week (Fridays) and be good for the whole week. Why? Because we were eating a bunch of processed, boxed, canned, packaged, EASY foods. And because we probably snuck in a few dinners out here and there, too.

Now, I have discovered (the expensive way, might I add) that fruits and veggies go bad. Quick. Dinners have to be planned well and we have to stick to the plan. Jake and I usually make a Harris Teeter run mid-week for more produce. I try and use Pinterest for meal planning (and just try to ignore my yummy "Sweet Treats" board that has sit there untouched for a looooong time).

So....what do we eat?

Breakfast- I love the Muller yogurts with fruit and the Chobani flip cups. I also like a good Quaker oatmeal but those are high calorie so I try to eat those on the days when I know I am getting cardio later that day. I shoot for a sugar free flavored creamer and two Equals in my one cup of coffee, so that my breakfast lands around 200 calories.

Morning Snack- Fruit- banana, grapes, apple, etc; Or I even get something from my lunch box like baked chips and salsa. I try to keep this snack around 100 calories.

Lunch- Leftover dinner (if it was reasonable); We are eating a lot of salads. I have found at Sam's the Olive Garden dressing and croutons. If you use 2 cups of tossed salad, 6 croutons, 6 black olives, and one tablespoon of dressing, it is around 150 calories and tastes JUST like you were at the OG. Holla! Sometimes I will have a yogurt for lunch if I did oatmeal for breakfast. Lunch usually runs me anywhere from 400-600 calories. I shoot for the lower but sometimes end with the higher (depending on what leftover dinner I ate).

Afternoon Snack- More fruit; Maybe a granola bar because I am usually craving something sweet but they are so high calorie, so sometimes I just opt for two mini Kit-Kat's and end up around 90 calories. Winner! :-)

Dinner- See my Pinterest Boards titled "Coming to a Kitchen Near You" or "Stick a Fork in it." All excellent choices. I try to eat about 600-800 calories for dinner and eat as early as we can. If its a higher calorie meal, then I just eat less and walk away after the first portion and start cleaning the kitchen and pack lunch for the next day. We've tried to replace our boxed rices with sweet potatoes and the canned veggies with steamed or roasted vegetables. Lots more boneless, skinless chicken and pork and less ground beef. Cabbage has become pretty fun, too.

Water- Water intake is soooo important. My boyfriend, Chris Powell, says you should drink half your weight in ounces. So, a 150 pound person should drink 75 ounces of water. I wanted to make water drinking fun, so we all got different colored Camelbak water bottles at Target. Ok, it's not like "OMG, this is the funnest thing ever," but more like "I feel very accomplished when I drink my three required bottles."

Other Drinks- There are none. Sorry to burst your bubble, but besides my cup of coffee, I really only drink water. I should be better about milk. But no juice, no soda, no diet drinks, no tea......I mean, in rare cases I will have one, but I can probably count on one hand over a 2-3 week time the "other drinks" that I may have. I gave up alcohol a long time ago because I would much rather chew empty calories than drink them (see Kit-Kat reference above).

All in all, I shoot for 1200-1400 calories each day. That should keep me on track weight-wise, regardless of my exercise for the day.

I hope this helps some of you.

I am by no means a nutritionist, a trainer, or a dietician.

But I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm a working mom that has seen success. I've learned some things and I have made some mistakes. I've seen great results, but a lot of it has to do with having a pretty awesome support system that keeps me in check. And a smart phone.

I've found things that work for us in the "real world."

But I am always learning.

And as I keep on learning, I'll keep on sharing.

Stream of Consciousness Friday

And some iPhotos from the last week dumped in here, too.

You know, just for fun.

1. John Legend is one fine man. There I said it. I could listen to him sing (Ok, listen AND watch him sing) any day. Ok, I'm glad to get that off my chest.

2. I've started walking longer distances in my rehabilitation. Mostly 2-3 miles. It makes it easy when I get to go with people because it makes me happier and more entertained. Thanks to Patrick, Emily, Silas, and this cutie, Bella, for all the walks this week.

3. Ribs make me happy. However, eating ribs when one does not have the ability to churn out a pretty hearty workout afterwards causes one to gain a pound or four in a week. But the ribs have been eaten and it will be awhile before I do that again. Now, I am just dealing with the rib-sequences.

And there may have also been cheesecake involved.

4. Pictures that are as cute as these don't come the first time around.
You always have one like this that came before...

5. Is anyone else having some anxiety about next week's Glee? I may need a box of tissues and some emotional support. This isn't going to be easy.

6. So, Jake loves this pumpkin he got last weekend. He calls it "Little Guy" and it may or may not also sleep in his room. For those of you on Facebook who suggest I get him a dog, thank you, and I will be happy to buy him a dog and it will live at YOUR house.

7. Singing makes me happy. And it was nice to get my phone back on Sunday to see that Brooklyn snapped some pics of me doing something I love. 


8. It's National Recruitment Week for the Girl Scouts. If you are bored and want to help me out, visit www.girlscouts.org, type in your zip code, which will direct you to our local site, and we are entered for a chance to win $5,000 as a council. No obligation for you, BUT if you really want to volunteer with the Girl Scouts, even better. Shoot me an email. :-) Here's a pic I posted on Instagram and Facebook showing my sweet little Girl Scout. She's growing up so fast!

9. This was my cart at Sam's this morning. Pretty much staples in our house now.

10. And finally, a quick update on me. Nope, this was not today. This was taken awhile ago, but it's been my inspiration today and I will be back in the saddle weight bench soon. Currently, I am doing walking, stretching, and very minimal weights...followed by lots and lots of ice and rest and blogging and Facebooking and writing annual performance reviews for staff. You know, all those things done on the couch. I feel minimal pain and just a bit of soreness after activity. Nothing crazy happening but I am trying to be extra cautious. I'm bored and stubborn and frustrated. But I'm not stupid. I attended my first zumba class yesterday in two weeks and rocked some modified moves and listened to my body (which at times said, nah....not a good idea). I felt good today and I am just gonna take the weekend to rest. 

And maybe listen to some John Legend.

I may not be Superwoman...

...but I am One Tough Cookie.

If we are friends on Facebook, then many of you may have heard about my unfortunate run-in with my mortality last weekend.

That's a bit dramatic, I know. But saying it like that is much better than the truth.

Which is that I am kind of an idiot and my body said, to quote my trainer, "Slow your roll."

And that it did when I injured my back in Zumba last Saturday morning.

It took me a few days to put the pieces together as to why exactly I hurt myself doing something I've done a million times before.

But that's just it. I've done it a million times before. And many days in a row. And without rest.

To recap: Friday, I ran 9 miles on the treadmill. (The weather was iffy. And I got excited thinking about watching TWO episodes of Melrose Place that afternoon so I didn't mind.) That night, I found myself in a random push up/plank contest with my parents and Chad. And then Saturday morning I went to Zumba. A lot of exercise with not a lot of rest in between. So, something happened when I twisted, I felt a strain, and thus found myself at the doctor Monday with a slight bulging disc and on 10-14 days of restriction.

So, I've had a lot of time to think. You know, being laid out on ice on my back and all.

I started my thinking and processing with looking back at my activity level the past 5 weeks. It was quite shocking actually. Since August 19, I had only one day that I did not work out. One. There have been many weeks this summer where I worked out 7 days a week. And at the very least, 5-6 days. But honestly, I didn't even realize it. I would weight train two days a week and Zumba two days a week. And then run 2-3 days a week. Different stuff all the time, but pretty high impact stuff. And stuff I truly enjoy doing, so it didn't seem like "work." Or exercise.

But, even with exercise, there is definite truth of "too much of a good thing."

A week ago, I would have swore up and down that I wasn't "obsessed" with fitness. I had goals to reach, I reached them, and now, by God, I have to maintain them. I was just working hard. No biggie. I mean, I was eating well. And even sometimes eating not so well, so you couldn't accuse me of having any sort of diet complex.

But, y'all, looking back, I had an exercise complex. I was obsessed. And if I am being honest with myself, I still am obsessed. Because right now I am having withdrawals. I was depressed all weekend being inside when I would have loved to have been running outside. Or even just playing outside with the kids. I've gone longer bouts than this without Zumba (vacations, holidays, etc) but just the fact that I am not ALLOWED to go to class while it goes on without me makes me sad. And angry. And then depressed again.

But I'm here to say that I am so grateful that I appear to be on the mend. I walked two times this week (with doctor's blessing) but otherwise, I am taking this very slow. I am right on track to be back in the saddle next week slowly easing back into activities. I know things could have gone very different. And based on all the (much appreciated) personal stories on Facebook shared with me, I know I am very lucky.

And I'm not stupid anymore. I know this was a wake up call. I needed to slow down. I needed to rest. And I needed to get myself back on track.....not fitness-wise, but priority-wise.

God sent me a message this week.

I need to shift my priorities. I need to take time for myself, yes. But I can't use exercise as an excuse to eat cake. Or Sweet Frogs fro-yo. Every day.

I need to have balance. A good diet, a moderate exercise routine, time with my family, and time with Him. I need to refocus in general. Not only do I always squeeze in exercise, but I am always moving, in general. I can't sit down at home...there's always dishes to wash, laundry to fold, closets to clean, light bulbs to replace. But this week, I laid on the couch. I had conversation with my husband. I helped Brooklyn with her homework. And I snuggled Jake.

I ate responsibly since I didn't have the "crutch" of exercise. I drank 64 ounces of water everyday. I tried to look positively at my situation. And I didn't try to be Superwoman.

As of last week, I had reached a lot of my fitness goals (which I'll talk more about in a future post), but obviously I still have a lot to learn.

But I am a willing student and listener.

Because this was the wake up call I needed.

I'm just glad I picked up the phone.

Wordless Wednesday

Doesn't every 3 year old know Zac Brown Band songs?

Just a little country music to kick off your Sunday morning...

Oh, Summer! We are in denial...

Last weekend, we spent some time soaking up the sunshine...



...and sadly closed up Pappy's Paradise for the year. What an awesome summer it's been having unlimited pool access!!

Goodbye, tan! It's been nice!

But then again, I guess there is one of us who is ready for cooler weather...

 

And Speaking of Surprises...

We were just full of surprises last week!

Last Saturday, my sister in law, Molly, planned a surprise 30th birthday party for Chad's brother, Drew.

It was a great afternoon/evening with beautiful weather, delicious hot dogs, and a yummy cake!

Happy birthday, (Uncle) Drew! We love you!

Oh, and what's a party with family without a little Aunt Jaclyn snuggling time.
I LOVE these moments so much....and it's just enough of a baby fix for me. :-)

Love this gorgeous baby girl SO MUCH.

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