On The Way To A New Me

I don't know that anyone reads this anymore, but I need to write this for myself to document the next 3 months.

Today is the end of our first week of the Body For Life.  And, I actually did it! 

I want to go back to September.  I don't know if there was an event, per se, that made me want to make a change, but something in me snapped.  I was tired of looking in the mirror and seeing all the extra fat on my hips, thighs, and arms.  I'm tired of buying size 8 or higher pants...and then them still being tight.  I want to wear skinny jeans and look good.  I found my old leather skirt in my closet one day.  It's a size 4.  I thought we got rid of it because I didn't think there was anyway I could ever wear it again.  But maybe I can.

All these things made me want to make a change.  I had been going to the gym sporadically for the last year.  I took the summer off, but had been trying to get there again in September after the kids went back to school.  Still, I knew it wasn't enough.  I decided that now was the time to really do something about it. 

When Chris and I met, he was in the middle of doing the BFL.  I don't remember him being overweight at the beginning (all I can really remember is his huge chest :)  ), but I do remember the end result.  I was there with his as he got his "after" photos.  He was cut!  I know the program works.  I've worked the program before.  I've never done the whole thing, but I've done the workouts.  To be honest, I like the program because it's relatively easy.  Never more than and hour in the gym??  Sign me up! 

So, I made the decision to start October 1st.  I was hoping that I could dedicate myself in the gym and see some good results.  That first month I did pretty good in my eating, though I wasn't doing the BFL eating plan.  After that first month, though, it wasn't so great.  I went back to my old habits.  I did, however, continue at the gym.  I went 12 weeks, even through the holidays, missing only a handful of days.  Unfortunately, though, I didn't see the results that I was hoping for.  While I didn't lose much, I do know that I gained some muscle tone, and more than that, a good habit. 

As December, and the holidays, was coming to a close, Chris and I decided that with the New Year we would start the 12 weeks over again, this time doing the eating right, too.  The eating part is obviously not my strong point.  I don't necessarily eat horribly bad food.  My problem is more that I don't eat.  My normal schedule was to have some sort of granola bar before heading to the gym, maybe have a protein shake when I got home from the gym (if I remembered), skip lunch and then eat dinner.  There were a lot of times that I forgot to eat anything until dinner.  For me, this has been my pattern since I was young.  My body doesn't always get hungry.  I trained it not to do that a long time ago.  I was hoping that since my body is used to the lack of food, putting the exercise in to the routine would just melt those pounds off.  Twas not to be. 

January 7, 2013 was our starting day.  Sunday night I tried to put together a menu plan for the next two weeks.  I was searching all over the web trying to find BFL recipes that I could use.  I wasn't getting very far.  I was trying to make things to hard.  Finally it dawned on me that I didn't have to have all new recipes.  Most of what I make for dinner is very healthy.  I don't make things out of a box.  I just don't think they taste good.  I make things with fresh ingredients most of the time.  I just had to realize that we needed a protein, a carb, and some veggies.  A majority of our dinners already have that.  I just need to watch my portions and make sure I don't get carried away with what actually goes into my mouth.  So that took care of dinner.  The other two main meals were just as difficult, though, only because I just don't usually eat them.  I've had to wake up and make myself breakfast instead of just making the kids' lunches and getting them off to school.  Luckily, eggs are easy to make and it doesn't take too long.  For lunch, I've been a little more creative.  I've been eating a lot of cottage cheese even though I don't like it.  Right now, a little pain is worth the final goal.

Monday was a great start at the gym.  I had a great lower body workout (even though I was supposed to start with upper body, oops!).  I ate great.  Then came Tuesday.  I woke up feeling like I had a vice grip around my head and was definitely coming down with something.  I felt like crap.  I took something for the headache and ate something, though it was a little later than I had planned.  I felt better and before the morning was over, I made it to the gym to get my 20 minute aerobic workout in.  I was so happy I did it, despite feeling sick.  I came home and vegged for the rest of the day, but I didn't miss my workout and I kept up with my meals.  The next couple of days followed the same way.  I was sick, but I didn't let it stop this new beginning.

Today was our first free day and we made it count.  Fattening muffins for breakfast, pizza and drinks for lunch, and premium ice cream for dinner.  It's nice to know that one day we can indulge in those cravings, though I didn't really have any throughout the week.  I have to admit, though, I don't feel as good at the end of the day with all that less than healthy food in my body. 

So, tomorrow, it starts again.  I'm excited for the next 11 weeks and what's in store at the end.  I used to think that after having 5 kids, I'd never have my hips back to the way they once were.  But now, I think maybe I can.  Yes, maybe they've widened a little bit, but getting rid of the fat that's hanging on to them will make a huge difference.  I'm sure I won't ever be the same size I was when I was first married, but that's ok.  I am realistic about this.  I just want to shed the fat and not be embarrassed to wear a swim suit this summer.

Cool giveaways

I saw Give Away Today on Good Things Utah today. They have a ton of great giveaways. Check them out here.

PS I'll do some real posts soon.

Chaetun's Kindergarten Program

Chaetun had his Kindergarten program this week. It was very cute and very well put together. It looked like his teach, Mrs. Kimber, may have had a lot to do with it as I watched her lead the kids. She did a GREAT job!! They sang lots of songs, many of them with sign language. I took one little section out because I thought it was so funny. I wish you could see the whole thing, but I'm sure you all don't want to sit around for the next half hour :)

Xadun's Birthday

We let Xadun decide what he wanted to do for his birthday. He decided he wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese since there's now one near by (if you call Layton nearby to Willard). The boys loved it and didn't want to leave. Xadun had a great birthday. He was even so excited that he got the same gifts as his brother (just in different colors). I'm taking advantage of that now because I know as they get older they won't want anything like the other.

Chaetun's Birthday

Chaetun turned 6 this year. He's getting so big! This is the first year we've had a friend party for him. He decided that he wanted to go bowling again for his birthday, so that's what we did. I think everyone had a lot of fun. A couple of the moms told me how excited the boys were when they got home because they got to go "real bowling". I decided to make the cake myself. I realize that the transformer isn't usually sky blue, but I kept trying to make the frosting darker, but it was late, and honestly, I didn't want to try anymore. Regardless, I was pretty proud of the cake considering I'm no Martha in the kitchen.

RSV strikes again

We were almost out of this cold winter season that often brings respiratory illnesses to our home without much more than a cold. But, alas, we couldn't escape. I think all the boys had RSV, their bodies could just deal with it. Kilun's still young lungs couldn't fight it off as well. He started with a nasty cough and I knew it was more than just a cough. I watched him, knowing it would likely develop into wheezing. After 4 or 5 days the wheezing started. Luckily my doctor knows that I know the signs and was able to get me in right away. He got us a nebulizer and told me about the new RSV clinic they're doing this year. They haven't had this for any of the other boys, so it was new. It was really nice! I only took him twice, but it definitely made a difference. Had I known about it earlier in his illness, I'm sure I would have taken him more, but since he was already 4 or 5 days in, he seemed to be on the end of the illness. He's still got snot and a nasty cough, but it's not as bad. He's able to breathe through his nose and the wheezing is gone. I'm grateful for medical advances that can help us through these rough sick seasons!! We couldn't escape the RSV, but at least we were able to treat it pretty quickly!!

This cleaned out the stuff that was right in the nose. There was some powerful, constant sucking so it worked much better than the bulb sucker.

This was like a g-tube that they stuck a little further down into the sinuses to get the thicker stuff. The nurse and I commented that this is something they should send home with all new moms. It would be a lot easier than the bulb!

Getting a nebulizer treatment.

Chaetun & Xadun say...

I've seen lots of people do this and wondered what the boys' responses would be, so we did it today.

Chaetun says...

1. What is something mom always says to you?
"Come read" or the first one "Don't hold Kilun" haha

2. What makes mom happy?
"When we clean up stuff."

3. What makes mom sad?
"When I don't want to be in this family anymore." He told me he wanted a new family once. I cried. It made an impact :)

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
"I don't know"

5. What was your mom like as a child?
"having kids" ???

6. How old is your mom?
"29"

7. How tall is your mom?
raises his hand above his head

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
"Help people at the gym"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
"Calls me"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
"doing tricks"

11. What is your mom really good at?
"The drums on Rock Band"

12. What is your mom not very good at?
"Boxing" do you see a Wii trend?

13. What does your mom do for her job?
"The gym"

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
"Taco, when we go to Taco Del Mar"

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
"Helping me"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
"I don't know."

17. What do you and your mom do together?
"Play games"

18. How are you and your mom the same?
"Being white on our body" haha

19. How are you and your mom different?
"We have different hair. Yours is brown, mine is gray."

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
"Because you like me to do good things.

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
"At a eating place"

22. What was your mom response to most of these questions?
"Some things"

Xadun says...

1. What is something mom always says to you?
"Don't touch your things"

2. What makes mom happy?
"Cleaning up"

3. What makes mom sad?
"Going to the police car at jail" not that I've ever done that haha

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
"I don't know"

5. What was your mom like as a child?
"?"

6. How old is your mom?
"31'

7. How tall is your mom?
raised his hand

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
"like to play with me"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
"be sad"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
shrug shoulders

11. What is your mom really good at?
"Boxing" Apparently he sees things differently than Chaetun

12. What is your mom not very good at?
"Breaking the stool"

13. What does your mom do for his job?
"nothing. Help people

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
"Burger"

15. What makes you proud of your Mom?
"I don't know"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
"Mad girl" lol

17. What do you and your mom do together?
"Play"

18. How are you and your mom the same?
"I look like you"

19. How are you and your mom different?
"Exercising" I'm not sure what that one means.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
"Because you like me to be here

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
"A eating place

22. What was your mom's response to most of these questions?
"Nothing"