Iron Bowl

As you can tell I am outnumbered in our family...I'm the lone Auburn fan:)

I love you to God and back...

I take Hayden to school every morning and Ken takes Kayla.  He works close to her school so we just divide and conquer.  We try to go on breakfast dates with our kids a couple of times a month for some special one on one time.  This morning Ken took Kayla to Ihop and Hayden wanted to go to McDonalds for a McGriddle.  (I had an egg mcmuffin...still semi-healthy.)  Anyway, Hayden said Momma, I love you so much...I said..I love you more...too the moon and back...He said..I love you to God and back:)  Too sweet...I love this little guy and he is growing up WAY too fast!  I can't believe he is almost halfway through Kindergarten.  I feel like he was just born!

Huntsville Half Marathon

3rd half marathon is in the books...PR'd by over 32 minutes...2:02:56 baby!  Average pace of 9:18 per mile...whoot!!! 

Half Marathon Week!

My 3rd half marathon is this coming Saturday.  Praying that these legs and feet will carry me through.  As you may recall my last half in February was a disaster.  I developed runners knee and shouldn't have ran the race but did anyway and my knee locked up after 5 miles and I had to walk/run the next 8 miles while dragging my right leg.  It was awful and devastating.  I feel strong and ready for Saturday...praying for a great race:)

Ugh...it's never ending:(

These pics are from Aug, Sept and today...my ab muscles are more defined but I look thinner in the first pic...I don't like this and I'm not too sure what to do about it.  The last thing I want is to look bigger:(

October Days in pictures

 Lunch with Hayden @ school

 Early morning breakfast date @ Jacks before school

 Me and Kayla @ Hayden's fall festival

 Kiddos hula-hooping at fall festival

 Kayla's training runs for her 2nd 5k

Cutie pie on Hat Day @ his school 

I pray I never see the before again!

I LOVE Advocare

I am SO glad I was introduced to Advocare products.  I LOVE them!  I am extremely picky about what goes into my body and knowing a huge scientific and medical board is behind these products gives me a huge piece of mind taking them.  I am also extremely sensitive to supplements.  Most others I have tried make me jittery, nauseated or just plain feel funny...these don't:)  These products are my favorites for my exercise regimen:)

Rehydrate gels for long runs, O2 Gold for easier breathing while I run, Catalyst for muscle toning and recovery and Rehydrate for electrolyte replacement after a run:)  If you are interested in learning more check out my website.

https://www.advocare.com/120811847/MemberHome.aspx

Guess what I registered for today??!!

My 3rd half marathon...SO excited...cannot wait!  November 10th here I come:)

Lost???

I'm sitting here in front of my computer once again...it seems to be where I spend a lot of time lately....wasting time.  This is the first year that both of my kids are in school.  I feel...well...lost.  Sure, there is laundry to do, a dishwasher to load and unload, floors to mop, etc but is that my purpose in this world right now...day after day?  I'm struggling with trying to find my place now.  I teach aerobics 2 days a week and that is the highlight of my daytime hours while my kids are in school....adult interaction.  Sitting at home alone day after day is SO lonely and boring.  I miss my babies...I don't really like this phase but I know I will adjust.  Ideally I will find something part time a few days a week that gives me some fun $.  I did apply to Target a couple of months ago but they responded that they didn't choose me....I guess they are wondering what someone with a Master's degree wants with being a cashier...it is called adult interaction people;)  I wanted to document this for myself so thanks for letting me:)

The Fair

Last Thursday night we loaded up and went to the local fair.  It always comes to town in September and I have gone almost every year since I was a child.  It brings back great memories for me because I remember getting excited for it to come every year near my birthday.  We skipped Kayla's soccer practice because Thursday was the least expensive night to go.  It was $30 per carload and this got your admission and armbands.  Normally armbands alone are $20 per person.  We couldn't miss this opportunity and honestly this is probably the night we will go to the fair from now on.  We got there about 6:00 and left about 8:20ish. To my surprise it wasn't overly crowded.  

Slipping

I have to be honest....the past 2 weeks I have been slipping on my eating habits.  I am not necessarily eating horrible foods but I am eating too many calories a day.  I'm struggling and if I think about it too much I get terrified of gaining all of my weight back.  I have been MAJORLY stressed out lately and when I am stressed I want carbs....bad carbs....like chocolate chip cookies, sweet cereal, pizza, etc.  I was doing GREAT and now I feel like I am doing horrible.  I tried to do better today but still failed...ugh:(  

Why is it?

Why is it that when I eat junk food I feel like I need to go into confession mode and tell everyone.  I mean really, who cares that I ate a bowl of Frosted Flakes this morning rather than my protein shake.  Do you really care?  Does it change how you feel about me?  Do you think less of me?  No....you really don't care so why do I?

"6"

Hayden turned 6 yesterday and he had a skating party this afternoon:)

Battle

I feel like this "weight thing" is a constant battle...every...single...day.  I honestly HATE it!  I wish I could go through one day and not think about what I am putting in my mouth and just consciously put healthy things in and be fine.  You see, I can't.  I want unhealthy items but have to make a choice to put the healthy things in.  I am struggling today...79 pounds gone forever and at 128 pounds (I have been here for several days) and I want to throw in the towel and just EAT but then I would get on the scale and hate myself tomorrow.  (I do eat enough calories each day and sometimes go over...it just isn't foods I truly want.) Why am I telling you this?  Because I want to be honest...this is HARD for me.  I am terrified of gaining the weight back...I did lose 40 before and gain it right back and I know that I could easily gain the 79 I have lost this time back and you know...it wouldn't take long.  I wish this didn't control my life but honestly it does.  It is constantly on my mind.  It makes me sad but I know if it isn't an obsession then I can't control it and will eat myself into oblivion...sounds pitiful and ridiculous...yes...but it is the truth:(

and since we all look at blogs for the pictures...here is one of my sweet babies last Saturday...they are growing up too fast!

Hello 120's!

As of this morning I weigh 129..hallelujah...I didn't think I would EVER see that number on the scale:)  My abs are tightening up even more and I see hope that maybe I will have some abs after all of this afterall:)  78 pounds gone forever!

Getting there....

Most of the people who ever came to my blog in the first place came to follow my weight loss journey so for those who have followed for so long...here I am today.  I took these this morning...still at 75 pounds lost.  I weigh 132 and am mostly a size 4 now...still some 6's.  My stomach has come a LONG way!  I am trying to eat clean and tone up my midsection as much as I can.  I am actually on day 3 of the Advocare 24 day challenge.  I can't wait to see what my abs look like on day 24:)

(Keep in mind I had 2 c-sections...that is possibly why my stomach hangs like it does.)

Here is where I came from...

Dec2007-March 2008-March 2011-January 2012

I PROMISE if I can do this then YOU can do this!!!!   Take it one day at a time and don't look for quick fixes...they don't work!

What I did today

I barely have anything left in my closet to wear.  I really should be happy about losing all this weight but this is the downfall.  Anyone know where I can find a money tree so I can buy a new wardrobe?  This momma is broke;)

Today's FB post

This was my status on facebook today and thought it might be worth posting here:)

I've struggled with whether or not to mention this but for some reason keep getting the feeling I need to share what happened to me today. I took Kayla to her pediatrician who happens to have been my pediatrician and has known me for almost 33 years. After we discussed Kayla (she should be back at school tomorrow) he looks at me and says "Are you eating enough?" and then starts to discuss anore

xia. Now, to be honest I was completely shocked that someone would look at me...someone who was once obese and ask that question. He went as far as to ask if I was still menstrating, discussed calcium needs for my bones, etc. He used the term anorexia over and over. He is the sweetest man and said "I hope I'm not intruding in your business and overstepping my boundaries but I have known you your entire life and felt like I needed to ask". Honestly, I'm glad he asked because so many doctors wouldn't have the courage to say anything to someone who might actually be suffering from an eating disorder. I do not have one and do eat a LOT!

I say all of that to say this (I have a point in sharing this, lol). I know I talk a lot about exercise and eating. Overall health and wellness has become a passion of mine and you tend to talk about what you love. I did struggle for several years with weight and not being healthy. For me it wasn't just about the weight...I struggled with depression as well. I was miserable all around and it was because I wasn't taking care of myself. I am in NO way ever promoting that you don't eat or that you exercise hours upon hours a day. Yes, I do wish that people would care about their health because when you do then you feel better inside and out. I have lost my weight the correct way. Slowly...steady and with diet, exercise and some added nutritional supplements here the past few months. I feel better than I have probably ever felt in my life. I have the energy to do things I didn't do before and I'm not laying around on the couch tired all the time. I am the Mom that I want to be...not the exhausted Mom who doesn't want to do anything but lay around all the time which I was a few years ago.

I hope I didn't bore you and that this reaches someone who might need to hear it. If you personally are struggling with an eating disorder PLEASE tell someone and get the help you need.

Let's just call it a brain dump

Wow, is it really almost the end of August already?  Where did the summer go?  I remember thinking in May that we had a long summer and it just flew by.  Today was the 3rd day of the school year.  I can't believe Kayla is in 4th grade and Hayden is in Kindergarten.  We have said so many times over his almost 6 years of life that "when Hayden gets to Kindergarten...this or that will happen".  It seemed so far away at the time and now it is here.  Both of my kids are in school.  The plan was that when that happened I would look for a full-time job.  The thought of it just hurts my stomach.  I love my babies so much and the thought of having to miss any school function because of work makes me want to cry.  I have been there for EVERYTHING!  Every first smile, babble, crawl, step, first days of preschool, first days of school, first field trips, first class plays, parties, etc.  I know that once I get a real job I will have to juggle things and I will have to miss so many little things.  Not to mention school holidays and summer break.  I am trying to prolong getting a "real" job as long as I can.  I am still teaching aerobics at my church and that helps a little.

On the weight loss front I am still down 75 pounds...praise God!  It amazes me that I have surpassed goal weight by 5 pounds...crazy!  I find clothes almost every single day in my closet that are too big that fit a couple of weeks ago.  Since a lot of you ask me what I am doing/have done I wanted to mention that for the past few months I have been using Advocare products.  I absolutely love Spark- it is an energy drink that is packed full of vitamins and nutrients and gives me the energy to get through busy days with 2 kids.  It tastes GREAT too.  I actually became a distributor of it because I love the product so much.  If you are interested in trying Spark or more info let me know I will be happy to mail you a sample:)

I hope everyone is doing well!

First day of school 2012

Yesterday was the first day of school for this year.  Hayden is in Kindergarten and Kayla is in 4th grade.  It was also Kayla's 9th birthday!  Both kids had a GREAT first day and we look forward to an awesome year:)

Saturday at the Park

We had a birthday party to attend Saturday afternoon.  After, we decided to take the kids to a nearby park to run around and play.  The weather was perfect.  I can feel fall in the air.  I ran 4 miles last night and loved every minute of it in the cooler breeze.  Ahh....I LOVE fall and cannot wait.  I am excited for skinny pumpkin spice latte's too:)

75 pounds gone FOREVER!

Home from Ecuador

I was on my first mission trip from July 27-Aug 4 in Ecuador.  It was an amazing and life changing trip.  I am not going to post any pictures of the orphans because of their privacy.  

 One of my dear friends and I in the mall in Quito,Ecuador.  We went there to pick up KFC chicken for the children at one of the orphanages.

 Me at Maria de Campi

 The hand of the child I would adopt in a heartbeat if he was available for adoption.

 At the market

 Farewell party on the mountain in Quito
(For those who have followed my weight loss journey...those were a pair of size 2 jeans!...I now weigh 132 pounds...5 pounds under goal!)

Plane ride from ATL to HSV...exhausted and ready to be home after being up for over 24 hours.

My babies when I got to the airport! ( I know it is sideways...my computer won't let me upload the correct one..ugh!)

Beach Trip

Here are a few phone pics from our beach trip last week.

134:)

Sorry for the lack of posts. My computer crashed and I guess you can't upload pics from an iPad. As of yesterday I weigh 134...3 pounds under goal:). My new goal is to be in the 120's. I found out I did have a tiny frame under all the fat for so many years. I am still teaching fitness classes at my church and loving it. We went to our lake house and then to the beach over the 4th and I wish I could post pictures but I guess I will have to wait until we figure out the computer situation. I hope everyone is doing well. Only 17 more days until I leave for my mission trip to Ecuador...I am nervous and excited.

GOAL WEIGHT

Hello, 137...nice to see you:)
70 pounds gone FOREVER!

1 more pound

Just popping in to say that as of Wednesday I am 1 pound from goal weight...one pound from losing 70 pounds:). Come on scale...show me 137! I am mostly a size 6 with some 8's and the occasional 10 in jeans in the mix. I am loving being a group fitness instructor...teaching is so much fun!