Update!

So it's October, I am not where I hoped I'd be...I had hoped to be in my dress this month and heading to a park to get some beautiful pictures done. I still want to do some beautiful pictures..But I don't' think it's going to happen in my wedding dress...Maybe in the sweet little dress I bought for a wedding we're going to tomorrow. We'll see.

But I wanted to update.
This was me last November, 4 sweet months after my little girly was born.



My Week One (December 17ish, 2009)
Measurements were:
waist: 36.5"
Hips: 47.5
Thighs: 26.5
Bust 47.5
Arms: 13
Weight: 195 (in this pic I was probably more like 201-204 :0/)
Size: 16

October 15, 2010
Measurements:
waist 33.5"
hips 41"
thighs: 23.5"
Bust: 38"
arms: 11.5
weight 172.
Size: 12! Skinny jeans!

After a very rough week, and when I broke the 175 milestone (of getting below it that is) I thought "I'm going to spend some money on myself!". I decided to do some thing daring, skinny jeans. I have never tried them before. I thought they would make me look dumpy and waaay too curvy (in a bad way). I think they actually work for me! I love them, they are the most comfortable jeans I ever worn (I found the right cut, I think I've been buying the wrong cut for my body...I've learned so much about that stuff this year!)




It' a little blurry but it shows a profile pic.

Yay for me! I'm still running- ran 5 miles (in one shot) this past week. Planning on running in a local cities "Christmas 5miler" on December 11th.
I'm still limiting sugar (though I think I need to be more strict) have been limiting refined carbohydrates and trying to cut back on my gluten intake. I know I will hit my goal of 150 with time (and hopefully before I get pregnant again! :0) Slow and steady.

I think I will continue my journey on here, even though I didn't "hit my goal", I accomplished SO much. I have learned so much about myself and my body this year. I think it all really started with my VBAC. Not to chalk natural birth up to every thing, because it isn't. But I met a new part of myself the day I met my second born.
I met strengths I didn't know I had. I learned things with my firstborn too, I was born as a Mother the day she was born. I grew in Patience's, grace, and humility in more ways than I could say with my firstborn- it was life changing in a different way.

But facing my fears with my second, and overcoming: has changed a different part of me, deepened a different part of me. I wonder if that's what happens with every child? They shape you in different ways. Either way, I'm so thankful for this journey. I can't believe how strong I feel and amazing.

Thanks to every one for your encouragement, and support along the way!!! I'm going to continue! It's been a lot of fun! See you in the next post!

Ultimate goal?


Waist 32"
Bust: 36"
Hips: 36"
thighs: 24
Arms 12"
weight: 150

Going to get there! Have surpassed it in some ways!!!

I stopped eating Sugar almost 2 weeks ago... I've lost 7lbs since then!

Also every thing that doe shave sugar in it: now tastes TOO sweet and makes me feel gross. I'm so happy that I decided to stop eating it, I feel so much better!

Still Going...

Hmm...Wondering if I'll make it to my goal by Octobers end?

I've been in a holding pattern. Lost another inch of my thighs (seriously?! they are so disproportionate to my hips! Trying on shorts is hilarious, sigh) and another half inch of my waist and arms.

Progress.

I have started the Maker's Diet, I'm not being super strict (I'm breastfeeding and trying to just cut out sugar and refined carbs... Limiting sugary fruits and only allowing a tsp or two of honey a day) sticking to organic stuff as much as possible. I am loving it so far. Actually okay, I feel a bit lousy. But though I'm craving bad carbs in the late afternoon...And feeling weak and empty (in the late afternoon- even though I just ate some almonds and yogurt or some thing else filling and good). It's not been too hard.

I haven't gotten on the scale to see if I've broken 180 (ah holding holding holding)...But that's not really important. I WOULD like to fit into my pre-Amity jeans ASAP. She'll be 1 on Sunday (sigh). But seriously, I wonder if that will happen the way my hips are wider. I have been wondering if my VBAC has some thing to do with that? I'm very happy and proud of my VBAC wouldn't trade it for any length in 14 (instead of 11/12)...But I wonder if it's the reason jeans aren't fitting me? Jeans that fit at this weight after Riley (my c/s baby). Just thinking "out loud".

haven't been running as hard or as much since my 5k. I can't wait for the summer heat to go away and I can run mid-day... After the girls naps. I either have to get up early and run alone, or wait until after nap time because they fall asleep during the run any other time and it throws the whole day off.

Also big changes happening. More on that later perhaps!

My first 5k!!!

I made being active and getting exercise a big (5 or 6 days a week) part of my life about 6 years ago. I really enjoy working out: mainly walking 3-5 miles a day outside or work out DVD's/running on the elipticle in the winter. I guess it's safe to say I wasn't "new" to exercise when I decided to dive in and start training for a 5k. But running was some thing I never really tried, it always left me discouraged.

Well as I've been losing the baby weight over the past several months I needed to kick it up a notch. Walking wasn't cutting it any more: it was boring/not challenging me. So I thought a 5k would would be a fun and interesting goal to shoot for. My hope was to be able to at least complete the 5k at The Ben Event . My family has for (many years) been close friends with the family behind this wonderful foundation. And when I heard they were doing a 5k (which I had already decided to run in one) I was so excited to be able to show my support.

All that to say I was nervous, new to exercise, no. But I am not exactly athletic. I HATE team sports and really don't have a competitive bone in my body. But I went into this determined to run the whole thing, and to have fun. I accomplished both goals!

My Mom joined me in training - she hasn't run in 30+ years but decided to dive back in. She did awesome even beat my time by 2 minutes!!!!!

Been there...Ran that, Got the Tshirt! :0)

I'm really really excited and proud of meeting this goal. It was fun! I'm already planning on signing up for another local 5k this fall (running in the July heat= hard on a nursing mama!). I was a tiny bit disappointed at how events unfolded this week. Extended family visiting: lots of extremely busy days, late nights, topped off with bad sleep (thank you Amity for cutting 2 new teeth ;0). I was hoping to finish in 30-35minutes as I have several times in training. But I finished in 38 minutes. In the end, all that matters is that I ran the whole way and had fun= goal accomplished there!

My favorite Lunch

Lost 2 more inches!!! I wonder why the weight won't drop but the inches do? Could I STILL be building up muscle mass?

Anyway I wanted to add a recipe of my favorite lunch right now

Sweet and Sour Cabbage 'N Pork(or chicken) "Egg Roll"

For dinner:

1 green cabbage

4 or 5 small sweet peppers (or a large one)

1 medium onion

a bit of sliced pork or chicken (1/4-1/2lb don't need much)

1/4 cup sweet and sour sauce

In large frying pan brown up pork (or chicken)

add some Extra virgin olive oil

add onions and sweet peppers let them soften/brown a bit

throw in well chopped (or shredded?) cabbage (about 1/2-3/4's of a head) cover for a few minutes and then uncover stir, recover until it's all cooked down still crunchy but chewable.

Add sweet and sour sauce.

Serve over rice

For Lunches (leftovers!):

reheat cabbage/ pork mix and put in a whole wheat (or not) tortilla (burrito size works best) enjoy! Deeeelish!

any recommendations? I made this revipe up and curious for some embelishments

Update!

Sheesh it's been over a month since I've updated. Life has been busy...I measured myself and I've lost another inch or two and dropped another pound. So the weight is coming off sooo slooooowly, it is what it is. BUT I'm getting stronger and stronger. I love how my body feels (broken record much?)

I am up to running a full 2 miles with out stopping WITH the stroller (which comes to about 70lbs of resistance on hills). AWESOME. I ran a full 5k about 2 weeks ago (wiht out the stroller- man that thing really ups my endurance!). Getting ready for the race in July. Now that vacations and travelling and all that have past I think I'll really make some headway in the weight loss department...It IS coming off, I haven't been gaining, just in a holding pattern, lose 2 lbs, holding pattern...

Measurements:
End of Week 13
waist: 35.5 in
hips: 42 in
bust: 41in
thighs: 24.5in
arms 12in

Current Measurements:
waist: 34in
hips 42 (ergh)
bust 40
thighs 24in
arms 12 in
so another 3 inches off the bod! I'd reall ylike to start seeing (now that my body is really getting in good toned shape) some actual poundage disappearing.
weight: 181lbs and total inches lost: 16.5inches since December and 14lbs...WOW!

I haven't forgotten you! I am still hoping to fit into my wedding dress by October, that's my goal! But the important thing is to keep going no matter how slowly the weight drops.

My mini goals every day are to eat my fruits and veggies and drink tea instead of snacking... I like it!

Now off to do 30day shred level 3 with 5lb weights: another accomplishment- the 3lbs weren't doing it any more. :0D And 2 mile run with the kiddos, it's a gorgeous day!

Oh and I've also changed how I'm eating quite a bit...An idea of my daily intake.

breakfast: oatmeal with raisins and tea
snack: avacado pudding (home made with a leetle honey) and a few blueberries

lunch : chicken wrap (with sweet peppers and onions and a bit of bbq sauce over a big heap of organic spinach and other greens).

snack: small blue berry pancake and tea.

dinner: beef stirfry with lots sugar snap peas and carrots served on a bit of rice.

dessert: freeze pop 25 calories.

Down to 182! :0) Sticking with it. Walking 5 miles a day: well that's my goal some days its' only 4...Also running 1.5-2 miles of that 5!!! Yay!