MIA & Week 3 Weigh-In

Breakfast: yogurt and granola
Lunch: 6 inch turkey and ham sub on wheat w/spinach, lettuce, black olives, and sweet onion sauce from Subway
Snack: cutie clementine; 2 yogurts
Dinner: 2 turkey patties w/cheese on wheat bread w/sweet potato fries

First off, let me just say I'm sorry I've been MIA the past week! I never anticipated I'd be this busy starting the new internship! Once I get the swing of things with my new kiddos, I should be able to get back to regular posting, though. I don't know about keeping up with following everyone, unfortunately. I don't get back from class Monday-Wednesday until about 7-7:30 and then I have to work in dinner, showering, sometimes working out, and occasionally seeing my husband and pooches. Not that I am complaining in the least. I am absolutely loving this internship--In fact, I recently got the approval to stay there the entire semester, instead of just the normal 8-week rotation length. I am incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to be there and am loving all the experience, laughs, and long hours... I know everything will be worth while, in the end!

All the busy-ness hasn't stopped/hindered me from staying on track. Here are my stats for Week 3 weigh-in:

Starting Weight for 2012: 262.2
Previous Weight: 250.2
Current Weight: 247.2

Proud to be down 3 more pounds, bringing me to a total of 15 lbs lost since January 2nd! Pretty happy about that. Only 20 lbs from my goal of 30 lbs down by April 13 (my next ob/gyn appointment)!! Seeing the numbers come off again is bittersweet. I'm so happy that they're coming off and coming off so quickly! At the same time, it's bittersweet because this is the second time I'm seeing these exact numbers go down, just like they did last year. I so badly want to be rid of these numbers, once and for all! I just pray God gives me the strength once this is said and done to maintain my progress. I know He is faithful, it's my willingness to call for His help that wavers.

Hope you all are doing well! 

'Night y'all!

My Aunt Finally Came!

Breakfast: none (slept in)
Snack: yogurt
Lunch: chicken and mixed veggies; baked potato w/1 tbsp light butter spread and 1/8 cup fat free cheddar; 1 12 oz. can regular Coca-Cola
Snack: apple
Dinner: lavash wrap w/fat free honey ham, fat free American cheese, grape tomatoes, and homemade pesto.

Hooray for modern medicine! 

Aunt Flo finally came around to visit me! Last night I was experiencing some cramping, but considering I've had one period in the past two years, I wasn't sure if it was really cramps or if I just had gas or something (amazing how one forgets...). Anyways, I woke up around 4 AM to go to the bathroom, as usual, and lo and behold... There it was!

Let me tell you, I had forgotten what it was like to menstruate, and I'm just bein' honest. I'd forgotten how often I'm supposed to change "things", how to deal with cramps, and I'm going to have to learn to keep tampons with me again (I haven't carried any with me in years). Thank goodness my MIL gave us a rice heating pad this Christmas (couldn't have been better timing) because I've had it on all day. The cramps aren't as horrible as I would expect after not having a period in so long, but they've been consistent since last night. I'm still expecting a flood of pain to set in anytime, because I just expected this first one to be horrible and heavy, which it hasn't been. Here's to hoping for the best?

I'm just so happy it's here, which is so strange to say (and admit to the world, ha). I know I've been sharing way too much information on here lately, but I guess I figure if it's too much then don't read it? I want to remember every part of our journey to parenthood... The good, the bad, and the bloody (har-har-har).

_____________________________________________________

On a completely different note, if you noticed, I used homemade pesto sauce in my wrap tonight. It was beyond delicious and totally healthy, so I will now share the recipe with you... Found here.

• 2 cups packed basil leaves, 2-3 bunches (I bought a package from Walmart and just broke the big leaves off. Don't know that it was exactly 2 cups, I just used the whole thing)
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces, toasted in oven at 350 degrees for ~5-7 minutes (I used pecans)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 large clove garlic, quartered (I used ~5 tsp minced garlic)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

I was inspired to make pesto sauce because my favorite sandwich from Quizno's (admittedly the only sandwich I've ever gotten) is the pesto turkey bullet. My mouth waters just thinkin' about it. But, I'm not gonna lie, my pesto tasted pretty darn close to theirs. Might have just had a little bit more of a basil kick than theirs, but it was delicious either way! This recipe yields about a cup of pesto, and the site said a serving is 2 tablespoons, but I used a single tablespoon for my wrap and it was MORE than plenty. 1 tablespoon of this sauce is 51 calories, according to myfitnesspal. Heck, I'll just show you the ingredients I used!

I didn't know the exact brand of basil I used, so I just did generic, but the rest are the exact ingredients and measurements I used. I set it to 16 servings because there are 16 tablespoons in a cup and I use 1 tablespoon as a serving.

Oh, I remembered that the 17 Day Diet has a whole chapter on what to eat while you're on your period (which I've never had to learn about until now) and basically it means I get to go straight to the 3rd cycle (eating good carbs and starches). So we bought some bread and lavash today to make sandwiches and wraps, which makes preparing lunches for the week ahead of time a breeze, ha. 

You know, guys... I'm really happy. And that's all I have to say. 

'Night y'all!

Couch to 5k Begins

Breakfast: yogurt and apple
Lunch: 1 turkey patties w/cheese and mixed veggies
Exercise: 25 minute walk/jog (day 1 couch to 5k), 20 minute upper body workout, 5 minute rowing machine
Snack: 4 cutie clementines
Dinner: taco salad (shredded lettuce, tomato, ground turkey cooked w/onion and taco seasoning, and hot 'n' sweet relish
Dessert: yogurt and Weight Watchers 100 calorie giant chocolate fudge bar

I had heard a lot of people mention the Couch to 5k plan in the past 6 months or so but never took the initiative to look it up until tonight. I feel like it will point me in the right direction to become a better runner. I still need to get myself to the athletic shoe store and be fitted for shoes, but right now we just can't afford it so these Champion shoes will just have to cut it.

Anyways, today was day 1 of week 1 on the program so I did a five minute brisk walk for warming up, then alternated between 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes. I was a little skeptical that I'd be able to stay consistent the whole 20 minutes because what I've been doing is jogging 3-4 times for 60 seconds in a 30 minute run and going consistently every 90 seconds for 20 minutes was pushing me further than I've been going. But I was pleasantly shocked and surprised to find that I did it, no problem. I was able to recover my breath in between jogs enough to keep going, and it really didn't put as much strain on my shins and feet as I thought it would. They still hurt really badly, but I'm sure that will be alleviated once I can afford to buy better shoes. The point is, I did it and didn't feel like dying afterward, which I was sure I would.

Which may sound strange to some of you more advanced runners, but everytime I've tried to jog in the past, it's always been outside. I'm finding more and more how different running on a treadmill is from running outside on the sidewalk. I'm not saying either way is better, because they both have their advantages, I'm sure. But while I'm building up my stamina and endurance, I think I will stick to using the treadmill. My neighborhood is relatively hilly (compared to most places in this part of OK) and the sidewalks aren't in good condition in a lot of places, meaning I'm constantly having to watch my feet to make sure I don't trip on broken pavement or grass growing through the cracks. Not to mention having to stop for cars going by at intersections. Altogether, running on the treadmill, right now, gives me consistency and the ability to, like I said, build up some stamina. I'm sure once I'm further along in my abilities, I can test it out "on the open road" and the hills will provide an added challenge for me which will be good, but right now I'm enjoying the treadmill.

And that's all I have to say about that!

Today I focused on getting a good workout, eating well, and getting my house in order so that tomorrow I can focus on studying. I will still go to the gym, but otherwise, I'm going to be hunkered down at my dining room table going over all my notes and tests from previous classes in preparation for my upcoming certification tests. Hopefully I'll be able to get a good start on that studying process (which will take weeks) and won't get distracted by the computer/TV.

That being said, I'm going to get back to watching all the shows I've been missing all week so I don't have them to distract me tomorrow!

'Night y'all!

Week 2 Weigh-In

Breakfast: 4 egg whites w/onion; yogurt
Lunch: chicken and mixed veggies w/2 cutie clementines
Snack: baby carrots
Dinner: turkey and black bean chili
Exercise: 30 minutes treadmill, 15 minutes upper/lower body Cybex machines, 5 minutes rowing machine, 15 minutes stationary bike
Snack: TBA (I'm thinking a yogurt and then later an apple w/PB2 would be nice)

What a week! Sorry I've been slouching on posting lately. Starting back to school/interning this week didn't leave me with much energy or inspiration by the time I sat down at the computer at night. I kept up with myfitnesspal, for sure, so the diet's still good (no worries there!). I would like to think that the weeks to come will prove to be a little easier to keep up with posting every day, but no promises yet! I will try to at least post my meals everyday, like I have been, but I'm not sure how much actual content I'll be able to get down. Sorry!

Overall, this week has been amazing! I am in love with the place I'm interning at -- the people, the kids, the environment, the experience I'm getting there, the independence (and yet support) I'm given -- It's truly been a great experience so far, and it's only been four days! Really hopeful that within the next 7 weeks I will have grown that much more into the professional I hope to be someday. And that's not to say my other rotations haven't been great, by the way, I just have been looking forward to this rotation since undergrad and was worried that the reality of being there wouldn't live up to all the expectations I had built up over the past two years... Worry eliminated! It's great!

But enough about that, I'm also in a fantastic mood because weigh-in was today and I was happy with the number on the scale (how often can you say that?). My goal was to have lost at least 10 pounds since I started this journey (again) on January 2nd.

Starting weight: 262.2
Previous weight: 254
Current weight: 250.2

So I lost 3.8 since last week, bringing my total up to 12 pounds lost so far this year! I met my goal of 10+ pounds lost and feel great! I've been telling myself all week that regardless of the number on the scale, I will be happy because the entire week I've felt lighter and have been noticing changes about the way I feel in my skin. I don't know if this makes sense to anyone, but it's been a long time since I've been able to "suck in" my stomach. Not that I can completely, now, but I can feel those muscles working that I haven't felt in such a long time. That's such a non-scale victory for me! I love feeling all these changes within me because they give me motivation to continue, whether or not I get a good number on Fridays.

Another thing that really keeps me determined when I'm feeling discouraged about my actual weight is a list of questions I read a few months back in Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst:

- Did I overeat this week on any day? 
- Did I move more and exercise regularly?
- Do I feel lighter than I did at this time last week? 
- Did I eat in secret or out of anger or frustration?
- Did I feel that, at any time, I ran to food instead of to God?
- Before I hopped on the scale, did I think I'd had a successful, God-pleasing week?

Hope these can help inspire and motivate you to continue like they have for me.

Wearing the "Big Loser" shirt my mom bought me the other day. Underneath the logo it says "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. --Matthew 10:39"

Hope you have a great weekend! 

'Night y'all!

BYOC -- Bring Your Own Crazy

BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy!  (from Draz)  5 little questions we answer to give our blogging brains a break and to get to know each other better.  Copy and paste to your own blog and enjoy!

1.  If money and time wasn't a problem - name a place you'd go on vacation and for how long?

This is so incredibly hard... I want to go everywhere!! I guess in this moment, the place I really am wanting to go is Costa Rica. We have been entering this contest everyday for the past month or so to try to win a week-long expenses-paid (aka FREE) trip to Costa Rica and I pray each time I click "Enter" that we get it. I've never in my life wanted to go to a beach, but Braylen's love for islands has worn off on me and made me want to go lay out and forget about everything for a little while. With a strawberry daiquiri in one hand and BDR's hand in the other.

2.  This week I had a discussion with some friends about names our children or other people we know call the "nether regions".  Don't hate - it's funny.  So let's share them for a laugh.  Any creative words for hoohaa and tallywhacker you think we haven't heard yet?

We were never very creative. When I was a kid, all nether regions were referred to as "bottom". I wanna say my grandma had a name for girls parts, but I can't for the life of me think of what it was. "Hoo haa" actually sounds right to me, but maybe that's because it was in the question. "hoo hoo", maybe? I don't know.

3.  Take a picture of your nails right now!  Bossy, aren't I?  I just had my nails done - I can't help it.  I neeeed to show someone!

Sorry ya'll have to see my nasty nails/nail beds. I obviously don't pay much attention/care to my manicure. But look at how pretty my ring and Pandora bracelet look! =]

4.  Tell me about the weather right now where you are!

It is a windy 36 degrees, but I really can't complain. It really has not even felt like winter this year at all. I keep expecting it to hit and then we get another wave of 60-70 degree weather. Gotta love Oklahoma's unpredictable weather!

5.  Repeat question.  Summarize your week in real life and blog land.

Blog land was a little off this week for me, with school and my internship starting up. By the end of the day I just didn't have much energy (or material) to post. Please forgive and know I'm not going anywhere!  

Real life was fantastic! Although I didn't get to go to the gym as much as I'd like, I didn't let that discourage or guilt me into back-peddling. I had a lot on my plate this week with trying to figure out and get used to a new schedule and environment, so getting to the gym had to take the back burner, for the most part. Thanks to preparing my meals ahead of time, my diet was on point and I maintained a good attitude overall. Not to mention I am in love with the place I'm interning right now and have enjoyed each day getting to be there and experience new things! It was a great first week back! =]

01/19/2012

Breakfast: 4 egg whites w/onion; yogurt
Lunch: mixed green salad w/mushrooms, tomato, cucumber, grilled chicken and raspberry vinaigrette
Exercise: walking at a quick pace for 20 minutes
Dinner: baby green and spinach salad w/tomato, feta, and raspberry vinaigrette
Dessert: 2 yogurts

Sorry for another day of not updating. I had time to update earlier tonight, but BDR is off work and we spent that time putting a puzzle together. Now I can barely keep my eyes open so I'm heading to bed.

Weighing-in in the morning! Wish me luck! Definitely will be updating tomorrow!

'Night y'all!

One of Them Days

Breakfast: 4 egg whites w/onion; yogurt
Exercise: 15 minute walk
Lunch: Mediterranean chopped salad from Elephant Bar (minus the cheese and dressing, add honey dijon dressing)
Dinner: spaghetti squash w/turkey meatballs
Dessert: raspberry lemonade yogurt

Made a silly mistake with my schedule today which messed up my time at my internship. I was pretty embarrassed and disappointed with myself, but tomorrow's a new day.

Sorry I don't have much of an update. Maybe tomorrow!

'Night y'all!

I Am a 2-Year Old

Breakfast: eggs w/onion, 1 turkey sausage link, yogurt
Lunch: veggies & couscous; 2 cutie clementines
Snack: baby carrots
Dinner: turkey and black bean chili
Dessert: yogurt
Exercise: 30 minutes pilates

Today was my last first day of class/clinic FOREVER!! It was an exciting and busy day, leaving me without much time to post, eat, workout, and veg on the couch like I like to do at the end of the day. As soon as I got home from class (at 7:30 PM) I heated up my dinner. Then I sorted through checks that came in the mail for Biggest Loser (I'm "treasurer" this time around) and figured out other BL stuff (since I'm creating the nutrition challenges and tallying up who completes them during the week). I just finished with that a minute ago and it's already 8:30! I know that's not late, but I like to be winding down for the night around this time, and I feel like I've got more to do still! I wanted to work out because I took yesterday as a day off, but I'm finding every excuse in the world not to.

Sigh, what's the theme this season for the TV show Biggest Loser? Oh yeah, NO EXCUSES. I need to stop making excuses and just do it. Okay, I promise once I'm finished this blog post I will do my 30 minute pilates DVD. Promise promise. Even though I'm going to pout and not enjoy myself the whole time. Because I'm a 2-year old.

I haven't even mentioned yet that I haven't gotten to watch my new episodes of Real Housewives, Cake Boss: Next Great Baker, Intervention, Switched at Birth, OR Biggest Loser yet. But I digress. TV shows, this semester, will have to take the back burner, I'm afraid. Probably going to be a weekend luxury. So sad.

And now I will stop whining, get my @ss in some yoga pants and start pilate-ing.

Oh, who am I kidding... I'm already in yoga pants.

'Night y'all!

**********EDIT***********

I did the pilates, y'all. I keep my promises. (And my thighs are definitely still sore from yesterday's pilates workout... Yowza!)

Food Prep & Week 1 Weigh-In

Breakfast: none
Lunch: none
Snack: yogurt
Dinner: shredded iceberg lettuce w/ground turkey and onions (cooked in taco seasoning), tomato, cheese, and hot n sweet relish
Dessert: yogurt

Had a late start to the day today because I had some trouble getting to sleep last night. So seeing as how I didn't get up until noon, I didn't have breakfast and ended up skipping lunch because I just wasn't hungry (crazy concept, I know... It's a new thing for me). We desperately needed groceries so I made a list and headed out to my favorite grocery store (30 minutes north of here). Stocked up on everything I'll need for the next two weeks. Then decided on the way home that I was going to cook a lot tonight to have meals ready for this week. So as soon as I got home, I put the groceries away and cleaned the kitchen. My mom stopped by with a friend of hers to visit on their way home from OKC. Once they left, I got busy in the kitchen. I'm pretty proud of myself by how much I managed to make in a relatively short period of time:

4 servings of the meat/onion mixture for taco salad (one of which I ate tonight for dinner)
5 big servings of black bean turkey chili
2 servings of chicken and vegetables
2 servings of chicken and couscous

I was going to make more vegetables and some turkey burgers, but I thought I made enough for one night. I just wanted to get meals ready because I'm not sure how much free time (or energy) I'll have this week with school/internship starting back up. Better to be prepared than go without a meal (or resort to unhealthy fast food options).

Oh, and to update on how weigh-in went! I keep forgetting to do that, huh? Last weigh-in, on Friday, January 6th, my starting weight was 257.4 lbs. This past Friday, January 13th I was:

254 lbs! So I lost 3.4, which I'm pretty happy with. I knew I did well on my diet and put in 250 minutes of exercise that week, so even if the number wouldn't have been as good as it turned out to be, I can't be unhappy with myself. This time around, I really want to strive to focus on good choices and health versus achieving high numbers each week. Yes, I have to maintain some kind of focus on the number because I am in a weight loss competition and I need to lose weight and body fat to be more healthy. But I don't want that to define my mood each day/week. This needs to be about more than a number on the scale. 

Have a blessed week! 

'Night y'all!

The Appointment Post

Friday, January 13, 2012

Breakfast: yogurt
Lunch: 2 turkey burgers w/fat free American cheese and reduced sugar ketchup; mixed veggies
Dinner: garden salad w/balsamic vinaigrette, steamed broccoli, and wild rice pilaf from Red Lobster
Snack: popcorn

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Breakfast: 4 egg whites w/onion and hot 'n' sweet relish; 1 turkey sausage link; 2 strips turkey bacon; yogurt
Lunch: turkey chili
Exercise: 30 minutes on treadmill, 30 minute upper and lower body workout with Cybex weight-lifting machines; 30 minutes on stationary bike
Dinner: grilled chicken Caribbean salad and steamed broccoli from Chili's
Snack: popcorn

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Breakfast: none
Lunch: 2 turkey burgers w/fat free American cheese and reduced sugar ketchup; mixed veggies
Snack: 2 cutie clementines; 1 cameo apple w/PB2 powdered peanut butter
Dinner: grilled chicken w/mixed veggies
Snack: Kefir smoothie w/frozen peaches
Exercise: 15 minutes cardio DVD; 30 minutes pilates

I know it's been a while.. Friday and Saturday BDR was off work so we spent time with family and friends, and I haven't had the concentration to sit down and write a post. But a couple of you have asked how Friday's appointment went so here it goes!

(Any male readers, I'm going to invite you beg you to discontinue reading this particular post)

Basically, it was a pretty great appointment. Braylen and I sat down with the ob/gyn and talked with her about my lack of menstruation, trying to start a family, issues with my weight, etc. After several minutes of talking, we came to a consensus that first priority for us is for me to lose more weight. She was happy to hear about how much I've lost so far, but to put me at a lower risk of complication during pregnancy/childbirth, she would like me to be below 200 lbs.

After we kicked Husband out of the office, she did the breast exam and pap test. Then, as an added measure, she did a vaginal ultrasound. I had never heard of such a thing, but really it was pretty darn cool. We looked at my ovaries, uterus, cervix, and all that other great stuff you see pictures of in anatomy books but can't really imagine inside your own body.

(Side note: When I told Husband later about the ultrasound and seeing my uterus, he asked "Did it have a Room for Rent sign on it?" Hardy-har-har. He's so funny!)

Now what I'm going to try to explain is just my understanding of what she told me. I do not claim to be an expert on anything having to do with the reproductive system.

Upon administration of the ultrasound, she pointed out to me that there are several follicles (otherwise known as "cysts") lining each of my ovaries. Follicles are where a woman's eggs mature and ultimately are released during menstruation. This build-up of follicles could be indicative of more than one scenario. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the worst-case scenario. The way the doctor explained PCOS to me is that a woman must meet 2 out of 3 criteria: 1) irregular or missed periods, 2) polycystic-appearing ovaries, and/or 3) elevated androgens (male hormones that females also produce). Since I currently am experiencing #'s 1 and 2, PCOS is a possibility for me. However, since my birth control eliminated my menstruation cycle (as it was supposed to) and my body hasn't started the cycle over again yet, the build-up of follicles on my ovaries may be due to my lack of menstruation (which was a side effect of my birth control). Due to a consistent menstruation cycle prior to my starting birth control, she expressed confidence in the follicle build-up sloughing off once I begin to have regular cycles again.

She gave me a prescription to a medication I will take for 10 days. At the end of the 10 days, my period should start. If it doesn't after 10-14 more days, I need to contact her because this could indicate another problem. If my period does start, I will begin taking birth control on the third day of menstruation.

Ultimately, we decided that, first and foremost, I need to get my body to where it needs to be. Despite feeling mentally ready to have children, my body is most definitely not. By my next appointment with her in 3 months, our goal is for me to have lost 30 pounds (hello, motivation!). We will look at my ovaries again in the hopes that they will no longer be polycystic (therefore ruling out PCOS).

One of the things she said that really made me feel hopeful is that although having multiple follicles could be a negative thing (in the case of PCOS), if the problem is solely due to my long spell of no menstruation, then I am likely very fertile! That really made my day to hear that because I've been worrying for so long that I might not be.

What's funny is that I had put off making an appointment with an ob/gyn for so long because I was afraid they would confirm what I already knew: That I need to lose weight before trying to have children. It turns out, that confirmation uplifted my spirits and has given me a new goal to work towards, altogether! The doctor was so helpful, supportive, and informative and she really put my mind at ease about the whole thing, which is likely why her telling me I need to lose weight first lit a fire under me to work harder, as opposed to put me on the defensive. And let me clarify, she was supportive of us trying to have a family now also. She only expressed concerns about pregnancy/childbirth while I'm at this weight once I expressed them first. I love that she was willing to work with whatever decision we chose.

All in all, the appointment really lifted my spirits completely. I feel so much better than I did before because now we have a better understanding as to what's happening with my body.

Thank you all for praying and cheering for us! We will not be having a baby anytime soon (at least not in the next few months) but truthfully, I feel at peace about that. Like I said, I feel mentally ready to be a mother, but knowing my body isn't yet prepared really puts things into perspective. We want to create the healthiest and safest environment for our children to hang out before they're born, and this body I've got goin' on just doesn't make the cut! Losing the weight will be good for me, for our children, and for the future I have with them, Braylen, and my family. I couldn't be happier to wait just a little bit longer and work on getting this body in gear.

I hear childbirth and motherhood are pretty darn tasking.. I better get in shape first!

'Night y'all!

P.S. Tomorrow I'll fill you in on how Friday's weigh-in went. =]

BYOC -- Bring Your Own Crazy

It has been a heck of a long time since I've done one of these. I missed it last week because I was out of town and away from my computer, but not this week! 

(copied from It's just Me, Drazil, & Sheniqua, who you should go and read because she's hilarious!)

It’s Friiiiidddaayyy! That means it’s time for BYOC – Bring Your Own Crazy! A little ditty you can participate in on Fridays to get to know your fellow blogger better and to give your blogging brain a break. Copy and paste to your own blog and ENJOY!!

1. Do you have a favorite traditional “birthday meal”? If yes – what is it and what is the meaning behind it?
No, I don't really have a traditional meal on my birthday, though it is tradition in my family that the birthday girl/guy gets to pick the meal (obviously). Whether it be home-made or we go out. I do have favorite birthday desserts though... Growing up my Oma (grandmother) always made me cheesecake because it's my favorite. Since I'm not usually home anymore for my birthday, I settle for store-bought ice cream cake. Mm all this talk of desserts is making my stomach growl...

2. If you’ve lost weight, has your style changed since you lost weight? Or what's your dream purchase when you do lose weight/hit goal?
I think my style has evolved, but I'm not sure if it's because of weight loss. I haven't lost enough to constitute a whole new wardrobe yet (everything mostly still fits) so I still wear all of my old clothing. I think I've gotten better at layering as the years have progressed (due to my gain of weight) so maybe once I lose weight I won't have to do that so much (although I have to say I like that look anyways, so we'll see..).

3. Pick one question of the following two to answer: Who is your favorite Muppet and why? Or who is your favorite Smurf and why?
Umm I never watched the Muppets and although I watched the Smurfs I don't remember loving any of them. Although, as a child if there was ever a female in a show/movie, they were always my favorite by default because boys suck and I knew this, even at a young age. So whoever the girl smurf was, she was my favorite.

4. When you buy a lotion or after bath spray or body spray or candle (not perfume) – what’s the “flavor” you always find yourself loving the most?
For candles (or in my case Scentsy), I tend to go for fruity/tropical smells, but I also like some warm cinnamon-y or sugary smells. As far as perfume goes, I don't have a particular genre. I use about 5-6 different scents and just rotate based on my mood. Husband's favorite is "Pure Seduction" by Victoria's Secret so I wear that when we go on dates. For all other occasions, I rotate between "Velvet Tuberose", "Twilight Woods" (both by Bath & Body Works), and "Wild Scarlet" and "Endless Love" (both by Victoria's Secret).

5. Repeat question. Summarize your week in real life and in blogland.
Real life is amazing. I did great on the diet/exercise this week and lost another 3.4 lbs (down a total of 8.2 from January 2). I had a great appointment with my new ob/gyn yesterday (which I'll post about ASAP) and things are finally starting to fall into place in the baby-making aspect (again, more to come soon!). I got to hang out with my BIL and future SIL last night and get to see my best friend and her boyfriend tonight. I'm just trying to make the most of the last weekend before school starts. I feel like I'm in a good place to get started again!

Blogland has been equally amazing. I cut out A LOT of blogs from my list, so now it doesn't seem so overwhelming and I can keep up with the ones I actually enjoy and want to keep up with. It's so nice to sit back and read up on everyone again. I was missing that for a long time, and it just feels good to have it back. Oh, and I got one new follower today, so that's always exciting!

A Day in Leia's Life

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: Wha's 'at? 

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: Bone? 

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: Um... Brudder? 

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: Tha' looks soooooo good. 

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: Hm... 

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: ... M-m-maybe if I jus' scoot in a wittle cwoser... 

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: M-m-maybe jus' a wittle touch?

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: Mmm.. I can smell it on ya bref!

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: I can taste it on ya teef! 

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: Can I has one, momma?

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: BOOOOOONE!

Luke: *chew, chew, chew*

Leia: *chew, chew, chew*

 

And they lived happily ever after.

The Upcoming Events Post

Breakfast: 4 egg whites w/onion; yogurt
Lunch: chicken w/leeks, onions, mushrooms, and roasted red bell peppers
Exercise: 30 minutes on treadmill, 10 minutes on stationary bike, 25 minute upper and lower body workout w/Cybex weight-lifting machines
Dinner: 2 turkey burgers w/fat free American cheese, 1 tbsp reduced sugar ketchup, and 3/4 tbsp fat free mayo; broccoli stir fry
Snack: TBA

Just so ya know, this is what I'm dealing with:

A ridiculously cute (and malicious) canine whose only goal in life is to distract me from all things productive (like writing a post, cleaning my house, updating my resume, or studying for upcoming certification tests).

Oh wait... 

There's two of them!! 

I don't know how anything gets done around here, to be honest. 

_____________________________________________________________

I apologize, I got slightly distracted.

Weigh-in for week 1 of Biggest Loser is tomorrow! I'm really excited, even though I know it's going to be a tough week for me to see a big number, after having already lost close to 5 lbs last week. At this point, I'm grateful for any downward movement, after having only seen the numbers go up for the past several months (by my own fault, of course). I could have gone to the gym more this week (I didn't go yesterday or the day before), which will probably come back to haunt me. It's so weird... I enjoy and push myself once I'm there, but getting there is the problem. My DVR list seems so much more enticing, to be honest. But I have to shake that mentality.. Especially with school starting up again next week. I'm going to have to use every spare minute between studying, interning, and traveling to/from classes to focus on my health. Which should be a given, right? Ha! 

Ah! I knew there was something else coming up I wanted to talk about! I recently shared here and here about Husband and I trying to have a baby and not having success so far due to my lack of menstruation/ovulation. Shortly after writing the second post I made an appointment with a new ob/gyn to hopefully figure out what the issue is. The appointment is tomorrow afternoon. If it is solely due to not having a cycle (which was birth control-induced) then there's a possibility I can get a prescription to jumpstart that again. If it's something else, well, we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get there. I'm hoping menstruation is the issue and some medications will fix it and we can be on our merry procreating way, but if not, I know that God will help us through whatever it is. 

I'll keep y'all updating as we learn more. Pray for us tomorrow, please! 

'Night y'all!

The Get Real Post

Breakfast: None
Lunch: chicken w/onion, leeks, roasted red pepper, and mushrooms
Snack: 2 cutie clementines and a cameo apple w/PB2 powdered peanut butter
Dinner:chicken w/onion, leeks, roasted red pepper, and mushrooms; side salad w/tomatoes, dried cranberries, feta, and raspberry vinaigrette
Exercise: taking down all inside Christmas decorations and cleaning house

Okay, so now it's time to get real.

I posted pictures every 50 days last year to show my progress. Many of you called me brave for doing so, but now that I look back... I wasn't really being truthful. Even wearing shorts and a sports bra, things can be covered. Not only that, but I mistakenly only took pictures from two angles, which doesn't show everything.

I've decided that this year, I'm going to be 100% forthcoming. I'm not going to hold anything back or try to sugar coat where I'm at. It only hurts me, in the end, because I'm not being honest with myself in return. I took two pictures to illustrate my point. This is what today's picture would be if I was still hiding the problem:

Oh, and anybody spot my fitbit? It's the black strip on my bra =]

Not good but not too horribly bad, right?

Well, that's because I'm covering up what needs to be lost. This year, I'm not doing that anymore. It's not pretty, and I apologize if you don't like seeing fat. But this is what it is:

Hello, belly.

 

Well, now that that's done, I don't know much else to say. I think I should feel disgusted, but really I feel relief. Of course I'm unhappy with where I'm at.. But I'm so much closer to being healthy today than I was yesterday, and how can I be unhappy with that?

At this point, I'm just excited to see where I'm at the next time I take these pictures. And then the next time. And the next. This year I want to take pictures each month. Hopefully each month will be better than the last. 

The First Measurements Post

Breakfast: 4 egg whites w/onion and mushrooms; two strips turkey bacon; yogurt
Lunch: eggplant parmesan
Snack: 3 cutie clementines
Dinner: 6 oz crusted honey mustard chicken and side salad w/raspberry vinaigrette
Snack: cameo apple w/PB2 powdered peanut butter

Our first nutrition challenge for Biggest Loser this round is to take our body measurements so we can compare later at the end of the competition and see how far we've come. I did mine today:

Bust: 46
Chest: 40
Waist: 40.5
Hips: 53
Thighs: 31.5
Calves: 18.75
Upper arm: 15.75
Forearm: 12.5

I probably should have feelings one way or another about those numbers, but I don't know what's considered "normal" so I can't get a grasp on how far off I am. ha. Don't know if that's good or bad, but I am excited to see how many inches I lose in the next 8 weeks!

I start back to school a week from today, and I have to admit that I don't know how I feel about it. On the one hand, I am so ready to start my LAST semester of school (ever. EVEREVEREVER). But on the other hand, this break has been very nice and I finally feel like I'm relaxing after kind of eventful holidays. BUT I think the excitement of almost being finished is definitely going to win this time. I'm just a little anxious about all the projects and tests ahead... I hope this semester isn't as hard as I'm imagining it to be.

Tomorrow I'll be posting my "Before" pictures from Biggest Loser, along with some other shots. I plan on taking photos each month (as opposed to every 50 days like I did last year) to show progress. I will explain more tomorrow about what to expect from the pictures. Kind of nervous about posting them, because they're a little bit more "revealing" than last year's (and I don't mean less clothes). But it needs to be done. Come back tomorrow to see what I mean. =]

'Night y'all!

The Starting Weight Post

The first weigh-in for Biggest Loser was this past Friday. As I posted before, my starting weight on Monday, January 2nd (when we started the diet) was 262.2 lbs. By Friday, when I weighed in with BL, I had dropped 4.8 lbs, bringing me to 257.4!

I was really excited to make such great progress in only a few days. I'm even more excited to see where I'll be this coming Friday! I worked out at the gym three times last week and stayed active for most of this weekend getting ready for and cleaning up after the shower. I did not put pressure on myself to go to extra mile (pun intended) and do workouts there because I'd done so well at the gym during the week. I took that time to enjoy with my family and friends, and it was wonderful. I fought temptations to eat cake and ice cream on Saturday at the shower and again fought temptation to eat pie and ice cream on Sunday after lunch. I was really proud of that, and hope to continue making those good choices. I know one day I will be able to have a slice of pie or a piece of cake, but right now I'm just not ready for that.

Although I will admit that Husband and I did enjoy splitting a piece of Christmas chocolate when I got home. It was delicious and I enjoyed every bit of that single bite of chocolate. Of course I wanted more, but that's just not an option right now, and I need to learn to live with that! Slowly but surely!

I'm ready to experience more small victories in the weeks and months ahead!

Soon, I will be posting my body measurements and also my week one pictures. I'm going to try to take better pictures this year. Hold me accountable, friends!

'Night y'all!

The Unexpected Fortune Post

Breakfast: 4 egg whites w/onion, mushrooms, turkey, and sweet 'n' hot relish; turkey sausage link; yogurt
Lunch: chicken and vegetables
Snack: orange
Exercise: TBA (We're going to the YMCA after I'm finished this post)
Dinner: TBA (We're going out to eat tonight... I will make good choices, I promise)
Snack: popcorn

I had a great weekend! I left on Thursday night to go back to my hometown. My mom and I hosted a baby shower for a close friend of our family's on Saturday and it went great!

Zoey, Stacy, and Carol (three generations!) ... Oh, and baby Jaxon's in there, too =]

 

I'd post more pictures, but my mom and I took 50-60 pictures total, and I can't choose between the rest. This was by far the best picture, anyway. So much love right there! It was a great party with wonderful women. Jaxon is blessed already by so much love and we haven't even gotten to meet him yet! Can't wait to meet the little fella (my pick for the baby pool was January 11th... So only two more days, Jax!). 

While I was home, I also got to visit with a good friend from high school and her family. Gosh, it's crazy how grown we are! I know we still have our whole lives ahead of us, but spending time with her made me realize how long we have been friends. I didn't realize I had old friends. Most of mine I've only had 4-5 years. Heck, I've only known Braylen for 3-4 years! Nikki (the friend I visited with yesterday) and I have been friends since the 7th grade. I've known her since elementary school, but we really didn't start hanging out and being inseparable until junior high. Her house was like my home away from home in junior high. Her family felt like my family and vise versa. I was there when her now-husband asked her to be his girlfriend (or rather, when I asked her for him, ha). 7+ years and 2 babies later, they're still so much in love. It was incredible to get to meet, play with, and love on her two little ones yesterday. They are so precious. 

Holding up her oldest, who happens to also be named Braylen, as he sits on my dad's horse

I am so happy with this time in my life. I may not have reached all (or even most) of my goals, but right now I have incredible friends and family, amazing opportunities through school, two of the sweetest pooches in Oklahoma, a husband who treats me so well I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming, and I'm finally living my life as healthy as possible. God has blessed Braylen and me with so much, and I'm so thankful. 

Just another reminder why I named this blog "Unexpected Fortune". When I least expect it, God shows me just how fortunate and blessed I truly am.

Away From Desk (or lap, rather)

Breakfast: yogurt, 4 egg whites w/onion, mushrooms, turkey, muenster cheese, and sweet 'n' hot relish
Lunch: 2 turkey patties w/fat free American cheese; sauteed mixed veggies
Exercise: 30 minutes of cardio (stair stepper, elliptical, and treadmill) and upper body workout on Cybex weight-lifting machines
Snack: cameo apple
Dinner: no idea yet (I'll be at my parents' house)

My mom and I are throwing a baby shower for a very close family friend of ours on Saturday, so I am heading back to my hometown this evening to help prepare. I won't likely be able to keep up with blogging, but my mom got a new iPad for Christmas, so maybe I can sneak onto it when she goes to bed and update... We'll see!

I'm really hoping I can stick with the diet aspect while I'm away, because I know I won't be able to work out like I have been (we only got the local membership to the Y, so we can't go to YMCAs in other areas). Maybe I can convince my momma to go walking with me. I think I might take some of my own food down, just in case. I'm going to attempt to keep up with my calories on myfitnesspal.com, so if you're not following me there already, add me! Username = kayciechristine

It didn't dawn on me until last night that I won't be home for my first weigh-in with Biggest Loser (which is tomorrow morning, by the way), so I'm going to have to take my scale with me. I'm excited to see how much I've lost in the past 4 days!

I'm hoping to at least get online tomorrow to post weigh-in results, so until then, have a blessed Thursday and Friday!

Just Saying...

Just saying... I just read through several new posts about some of your weight loss journeys... And y'all are so inspirational! I was having kind of a weird-mood kinda night, and reading about your strength really uplifted my spirit. I am so happy to be back in the blog world and so blessed to have stumbled across each and every one of your blogs. I am so blessed by your words and I just wanted to thank you for opening up to myself and the whole blogosphere.

You are some truly phenomenal women! Thanks for being in my life, however indirectly it may be!

Goodnight and God bless!

The Not-So-Bad Dog Post

Breakfast: strawberry yogurt
Lunch: turkey chili
Exercise: 45 minutes cardio (treadmill, arc trainer, and bike machine); lower body workout on Cybex weight lifting machines; 20 minutes playing racquetball
Dinner: Weight Watchers crusted honey mustard chicken and sauteed mixed vegetables
Snack: popcorn

Find the recipe here

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Another fantastic day at home with Husband. It's few and far between that we both have nothing to do on his days off, so I've got to say I've really enjoyed doing nothing on his days off. We've been able to sleep in both days, work out together both days, eat dinner together both days, and go to bed together both days (which we never get to do since he works night shifts). 

I pretty much love that man o'mine. <3

On an opposite note, what I don't love, is how twice in the past three days our neighbor has made a point to tell us that Luke, our lab, has been aggressively barking at his 4 year old granddaughter while they've been playing outside. Apparently, "she gets kind of scared" when he does that. Except when she stopped me as we were walking to the house today she said "Wuke was talking to me today" and did not sound scared in the slightest. She's never been scared of him. She's loved him from day one and always asks about him anytime I see her. According to our neighbor though, Luke's barking is "annoying". Well, sir. He's a dog. They bark. And he's been the exact same dog with the exact same amount of barking (which is not excessive... he only barks when someone passes the house, which isn't often, especially now that it's cold out) since we got him... In June of 2010. It's not like we just got a new dog and there's all the sudden something new to complain about. It's the same dog doing the same things in the same yard. So why the commotion?

Sorry for the vent. It just puts me in a really uncomfortable position because he's otherwise been a great neighbor to us (he mowed our lawn for us 3-4 times last year when our mower broke) and I want to make them comfortable, but there's no way I can keep my 90+ pound dog indoors at all times because 1) his barking is annoying and 2) he's barking "aggressively". Which is another thing, because Luke is not aggressive. If I thought our dog was a threat to anyone, he would not be left unattended. But anyone who knows him knows that Luke and aggression just don't go together. The only reason why he is barking at them is because they never (ever, ever, ever) are in their backyard, and now all the sudden they are... So he's confused about it and he's being protective of our house. Literally, they've never been outside the entire almost two years we've lived here... And now they've been out several times in the past week. That is a new behavior introduced to Luke, so of course he's not used to it. 

I'm just saying, there's nothin' wrong with my dog. 

But I didn't mean to vent that much. 

Whoops. Sorry! 

Now I'm gonna go pet my dog, because he's really sweet and I feel like somehow his feelings are hurting. 

Or maybe that's just me. 

'Night y'all!

The Good Day Post

Breakfast: yogurt; eggs w/onion and sweet 'n' hot relish
Snack: cameo apple
Lunch: turkey tenderloin w/cabbage, carrots, and onion (all cooked in crock pot for 12+ hours)
Exercise: 30 minute interval treadmill walk; upper-body workout on Cybex strength machines; 10 minutes of racquetball
Dinner: eggplant parmesan
Dessert: yogurt

What a good day! I forgot how much I enjoy cooking! It's a pain in the butt in our kitchen because it's a mess all the time and really hard to keep clean, but I like making good food. The eggplant is in the oven now and I can already smell it. =]

We had our first day working out at the YMCA today and I'm really excited about going back! There were a lot of people in the area with the treadmills and ellipticals and I admit I got slightly intimidated so I didn't do as much there as I will try to next time. I'd like to do the elliptical, rowing machine, and the arc trainer. Husband outdid himself in the free weights room and wasn't able to last as long after for racquetball, so we had to cut that short.. I think I could probably stay in the racquetball room the whole time and be happy. I love it!

Anyways, I'd call day one of working out at the Y a success. I could have stayed much longer, but BDR wanted to get home before it got dark and cold because we walked there and he didn't want me to get sick again walking home. Now he's passed out on the couch waiting for dinner. Poor guy. I hear his wife never feeds him...

At least he's got the cat to comfort him.

The next round of Biggest Loser starts on Friday... Wish me luck! I'm really looking forward to it this time. My cousin and also my best friend are joining me this time around and I'm so excited to share the experience with them. I think this will be a great 8 weeks!

'Night y'all!

The Day One 2012 Post

DAY ONE

Breakfast: yogurt; eggs w/onion
Lunch: romaine and spinach salad w/grape tomatoes and raspberry vinaigrette
Snack: ~12 baby carrots
Dinner: turkey chili and a romaine/spinach salad w/grape tomatoes, dried cranberries, feta cheese, and raspberry vinaigrette
Snack: TBA

Alright, folks. Today's day one of 2012's journey to health. I feel excellent about how I did today. I didn't do an official "workout", but my fitbit says I've walked approximately 2 miles throughout the day, so that's something. I can't trust its count of my steps or the amount of floors I've climbed on days I drive because the movement of the car messes with the count and puts it down as steps, which isn't accurate.

The past couple of days have been geared toward getting my mind (and house) ready to start the new year. I cleaned out my refrigerator today, as well as restocked it with the foods I will need for the next week. I've cleared out blogs I don't want/need to follow anymore and have caught up reading the ones I do want to follow, which was a huge relief. I've missed reading them so much and it's great to get back to it without feeling so overwhelmed by the amount listed on my feed. Tomorrow we're signing up for a membership at the YMCA, which I've already talked about more than once here because I'm so stinkin' excited about it. I'm ready to get in there and get to work! Last year I mostly tried to do workout DVDs and stuff here at home and although that is good some of the time, I really want to try something else.

Tomorrow is one year from when we started this journey. I will take a picture, even though I'm disappointed with how much I've gained back. On January 3, 2011, I weighed in at 290 lbs. Over the span of the year I lost approximately 55 lbs. However, in the past two months I've gained more than half of it back.

I've always told myself this blog would be where I leave everything out on the table, so despite my shame at gaining back the weight, I can't sugar coat it to make it seem okay. This afternoon when I weighed in, I was back up to 262.2 lbs. Only 27.8 lbs lighter than my original weight. This doesn't discourage me from continuing, because I know that I can lose it again. I am only disappointed in myself that I let my addiction return with such a vengeance. But I can't change the past. It's a new year and a new day and I can make good choices today. From day 1 of last year to day 365, I am 30 lbs lighter. It was and should have been much more than 30, but 30 lbs lost is better than none, so I have to see that as a victory. As my husband always reminds me when I'm feeling unaccomplished, "It's a marathon, not a sprint."

'Night y'all!

The Resolution 2012 Post

Happy New Year!!

Hope you all had a fun and safe NYE!

Husband had to work (like last year) so he just came home on his lunch break and we brought in the new year with some sparkling grape juice and Domino's pizza, ha. It was nice to see him, but I look forward to the time when he's home at night instead of working. One day... !

I'm going to the grocery store today to buy healthy foods to begin our diet tomorrow. Hoping it's not crowded and I can be in/out in no time. I've been sick for a week no with a sinus infection/cold kinda thing and would really love to start the diet out right with a clean bill of health. We'll see. I'm coughing/sneezing a lot today which, for me, usually means I'm on the way to recovery. Let's hope! I really don't want anything to be an excuse for not putting forth 100% this time. Even though I'm sick today, I'd really like to try to meet my walking goal each day (at least 5 miles). I cannot wait to get our membership started at the YMCA! I haven't been on a treadmill in ages and it'll feel good to walk solid miles on even terrain for a change. I appreciate the added calorie burn gained from walking through a neighborhood instead of on a treadmill, but every once in a while.. It'd be nice to not have to worry about watching my feet on every step for fear of tripping on uneven pavement, branches, or patches of grass. Not to mention I want to start using the other gym machines also and play some racquetball! I'm just ready to get started!

Husband and I talked about "resolutions" for 2012 last night. I think our main goal, at this point, is to see us both graduate. Beyond that, we both want good, stable jobs that make us happy. Another of my goals, personally, is to become healthy once more. I think I will try to avoid setting my goal on "losing weight" (although I can't ignore it completely, since I'm still participating in Biggest Loser competitions) and be more focused on "getting healthy". If I'm eating healthier and staying active, then I am doing a good job. I can't base my success off of a number on the scale, at this point, because my health is more important. And if I'm taking those steps to create a healthier body for myself, then the numbers will come off with time. I just feel like focusing on health rather than weight will motivate me more to continue.

What are your resolutions for 2012? What steps will you take to achieve those goals?