Again. Again? {again}!!!!

Official day 1 weigh in: 

211.6 

5/12/14 

Never give up! 

The only way you fail, is if you stop trying. 

The only way I won't lose weight, is if I give up. 

Before you judge, just read :) 

Kim Bensen author of Finally Thin, started dozens of times trying to lose weight. Finally, she tried one more time, and it stuck. She lost over 200lbs, and has kept it off for 10 years. Wow. What if she said, "Forget it. I can't start again. What will people think of me." 

I'm not even sure HOW to explain what I feel right now. Excited, hopeful, refreshed, new. 

 Today I started again. I Resumed. I Picked myself back up. I've had some epiphanies. Is it different this time? Will it stick? Yes. I really believe so. Phil 4:6 

But I also get scared that maybe it's not. I didn't want to tell anyone that it's day 1 again. Again. But deep down I KNOW, I'm gonna do this. 

Having a blog is hard sometimes because you admit to anyone reading, that you either succeed or you fail. But you know what I finally realized?! WHO CARES! 

Wow, freedom. :) 

I recently came across a blogger that lost 100 pounds, then got pregnant and gained a lot of it back. I didn't think she was a loser. I thought she was awesome! She's Working on it AGAIN! 

We ALLLLLL will have multiple "Due overs". I'm not saying everyone will gain weight back, but we will have good days and bad days. Some bad months maybe. It's not a reason to get ashamed and quit.  So "again" really means, resume. It means, get back up. Continue on the journey. 

But, I do think everyone has a "beginning" and today is mine. 

Will just turned 6 months old. That's always a key time in my body for weight loss. He's eating some baby solid foods now. I can leave him with daddy for a while, and we are finally settled in to our new home. Also with recently trying Paleo, and just counting calories, I've found what works for me right now, and that's Weight Watchers, and the gym. I feel like I know what to do now. And I'm gonna do it. 

Last week I joined the Y. I'm really excited about it!!! I've been doing a lot of thinking about 2010-2011, how far I came, how fit I got, and how much I loved the gym. 

Today was my first gym workout in a long time. I tried Zumba. Haha. It was funny :) I thought I as doing good until I saw myself in the Mirror. Lol! 

Planning on step class tomorrow at 5:45am. Yikes! 

Another epiphany, I've realized, to DO this, I have to make it a lifestyle. (Duh..easier said than done!) I have to love it. So that's why I joined the gym. And I am excited to find what I LOVE again. And maybe it's not Zumba ;) 

Have you noticed the new blog design? I was tired of my blog. I had blogger ADD there for a while and I want it to be just about weight loss and fitness again.  At least for now, I do reserve the right to change my mind ;-) 

So here's to another day 1. And to never giving up. The scale is put away, but Weigh in is Friday. :) 

 

Me this weekend 😜❤️ 

Let's be real.

Let's be real for a sec. Mkay?

I'm sorry in advanced if you hope my blog is another "I'm a natural mama with all the answers" type blog. For real, I'm still learning {and I share what I learn and what's worked for me} and I'm so far from what I want to be.

For real, I'm an overweight mama to 4 little boys who feels like I barley have enough time to shower let alone grind my own wheat. Although I want to. {I may have spent all morning looking on Amazon for a wheat grinder that doesn't cost a fortune. But then I said, "Who you kidding! You're not gonna grind wheat!" But then I said, "Self, I just may grind wheat if I had a wheat grinder!"}

If I was being real I'd tell you I'm not doing good on the weight loss wagon. 

If I was being real I'd tell you I'm a bit, (ok a lot), stressed out. 

If I was being real I'd tell you, I feel like crud from eating junk. Headaches, stomach aches, nausea, fatigue, my teeth bothering me and more. It's not just me. My husband has been getting regular migraines. He has had a cold for weeks as well as the three older boys and myself. 

If I was being real I'd tell you I'm so sick of telling myself "It's ok. You'll eat right tomorrow." 

If I was being real I'd tell you, I'm so overwhelmed with information of what we should and shouldn't be eating it makes me want to cry. Should I cut gluten again? Should I cut sugar? Should I just cook everything from scratch? Should I just count calories? Should I eat Paleo?? 

"Grains kill your brain" "Dairy is for baby cows" "Raw milk grows healthy families" "You must eat fermented foods" "grains are ok of you soak them" "Nuts have phytaste" "Soy is from the devil" "you should only eat organic" "grass fed meats only". Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! 

I'm being real. I KNOW what my body is screaming. It's telling me to STOP eating processed foods. 

I know the power of nutrition. I do! I mean, I healed a cavity. Hello. 

But REAListically, I want to eat whole real foods. It's a HUGE burden on me, what I feed my family. But I have a very small grocery budget. Realistically, it's really REALLY hard to get grass fed, organic foods. 

But you know what? God is NOT the author of confusion. 1 Cor 14:33 

He is peace.  He wants us to eat real, whole foods. He owns the cattle on 1,000 hills! I think he could provide some of that grass fed beef for His children!! ;) He created us! He knows what our body needs and He never meant it to be a secret. 

I have to STOP stressing because I'm listening to the enemy whisper "You can't afford to eat right, so why try? Your family is fine. You can eat whatever you want." 

If Satan can't have our souls then he wants to ruin our lives so we can't serve Him. 

Well I choose LIFE. Not just mediocre life, but ABUNDANT life. 

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, And that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 

I will never be perfect at eating. Or running. Or being a homemaker or a mom or a wife or a Christian.  

But if I lose weight, or do anything good, it'll be because of Him. My flesh is weak but my spirit is willing.  

"Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:9-11 

Free Printable Weight Loss Chart

Free Printable Weight Loss Chart 

  

Don't you just love a new year?! A brand new start. At whatever your heart fancies.  2014 is going to be a great year.  I've got BIG dreams for this year.  Let's all dream big no matter our past failures! OK? 

I made this pretty Free printable weight loss chart for you!! {Isn't it cute?} Click here to download!!!  Print it, put it in a pocket protector with a pen somewhere near your scale and USE it!

The Weight Loss Diaries

First of all...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Late, I know I'm sorry. The days leading up to Christmas were crazy busy with fellowships, outings, parties, church, ministry, SHOPPING...and more! You know how it is. :) 

New Years is quickly approaching and I'm planning and preparing to get FIT and finally reach my goal weight in 2014!!! 

Even though I lost 80lbs before getting pregnant w boy 4...I'm nervous. I know I can do it. But I've gotten lazy. And comfortable.  Dangerous place to be. You know... Like the, "I look in the mirror and just don't care" type of attitude? DANGER. 

So what am I going to do about it? 

PRAY. 

And TRY. I'm not going to expect perfection. I'm exclusively breastfeeding and my body holds fat like it's going out of style when I'm nursing. But I'm gonna try. I'm gonna start running again, maybe even sign up for another half marathon, and I'm gonna work on getting stronger. 

I got a Wii Fit {Merry Christmas to me}. Can't wait to use that too! I've been working on a meal plan with calorie counts that I will be sharing soon! 

Also...I've added a tab under weight loss up there ^^ called "The Weight Loss Diaries". I'll be updating my progress weekly of course with weigh ins and periodic progress photos. EXCITING! Right? Gulp. 

I'll be posting again soon with more details. Another goal is I WILL be posting at least 3 times a week. I need accountability! Not just in weight loss but homemaking, wifing (is that a word?) and mothering. 

"Mama, you're kinda like Santa because you're..you're.." 

"I'm what???!! Big?" 

Boy 1 gulps. "I didn't say it. You did." 

If that ain't motivation.. Than what is?! 

#letsdoThis 

Weight Loss Journal

I have been desperately trying to distract myself from the fact that I'm still pregnant. And probably will be for at least another week. Sigh. 

So, I made a new weight loss journal for after the baby comes. 

I love it. It's pretty and it's full of blank pages that I can't wait to fill in! 

I got the Smash book on sale. Score. I am IN LOVE with the "Weekly weigh in" section i made. That alone was worth the buy. I am such a sucker for journals, notebooks, scrapbooks, calendars, and planners. Seriously I have so many. :-) 

I am not planning on starting trying to lose weight until a week or two postpartum. We will see how I feel. And even then I am starting really slow, counting calories. My goal is 2,000 a day because of breastfeeding. But more than that, I NEED to stay up on my fruits/veggies, protein, and water to ensure a good milk supply.  

I did get a postpartum stomach wrap. I researched them and they are really suppose to help your stomach shrink down. I didn't buy an expensive one. Just a cheap one with good reviews off amazon. Ill post pics of before and after I wear it. I think I'll start that when I get home from the hospital. 

For me, losing weight while breastfeeding is veeeerrrrryyyy slow.  I'm accepting that. But I know me, and if I don't try* then ill go in the opposite direction. 

I'm excited to start walking/running again too when I am physically able!!! 

So. I updated my weight tracker. Sad face. I updated it, and it looks like I've gained 55 back, but remember my lowest weight was after I lost 9 lbs while super sick in the first trimester.  So I actually have gained about 44 pounds (I was down 2 yesterday!) either way...I'm back to needing to lose 75lbs or so to reach my goal weight of 144. 

I have good feelings. It's gonna happen. This is MY year. These next several months are going to be including some very busy, very exciting changes in our family. Not just adding a 4th boy, but other BIG things as well. And reaching my goal while I'm 28 will be one! 

I have a prenatal appointment tonight. Opting out from being checked. I have been 1cm the last two weeks. Did I tell you all about my horrible awful doctors appointment last week??  If not ill save it for next post. It's long. But let's just say I saw the rudest dr. He said awful things, and if he's on call when I go in labor I'm driving down to LA to deliver. Praying that doesn't happen! 

I'm so done being pregnant. I can't sleep, i pee ALL the time...my stomach is HUGE....my muscles are all tweaking out!! My sciatica, my groin, my round ligament, my calfs and my jaw. All super tight and will cramp up randomly!! Also. I can't get up. Seriously. If I lay down it takes me at least 30 seconds to get up. I'm a turtle on my back. 

I've been using my magnesium oil to help my muscles.. And stretching. Here's to praying the baby comes soon! 

Love, The Curvy Housewife 

Pssssst.

I have a secret.

No, it's not that I've gained 4 pounds since last Friday.....

It's not that my couch is covered in laundry while I write this post.....

It's not that I wear a tummy tucker to church. every. single. Sunday.....{shhhhh}

It's not that I can't handle chocolate chips in my house....or Easter candy...{what Easter candy?}

It's not that I hardly ever make my bed....

It's not that I'm on my 3rd cup of coffee for the day....

It's not that I am worried about this half marathon coming up.....

It's not that I'm worried about telling this secret, that I may not follow through with it....

It's that I have a new goal. A goal that to some people may seem silly....but to me seems awesome. I want to become a Weight Watchers Life Time member!!! Why??? Because it's a life style. NOT a diet. You become a life time member when you reach w/in 2lbs of your goal weight.

I'm not naive enough to think I won't need to keep the healthy habits I've developed while getting to goal weight. What better way than to attend meetings for free? You may think it's silly, but like I said in the last post, I'm all in. I am COMMITTED. So to me, its brilliant.


What's a goal you have??

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Committed

Committed.

That is a BIG word. Wow. With commitment I could get a lot done!! Other than being a wife and mom, me committing to something is VERY difficult. I hate to go back on my word or to not follow through with something. So I don't commit to begin with.

Since I have been losing .4 - 1 lb a week for the last month, I frustratingly wanted to figure out why. I read/heard/ or came up with several reasons: 1. you aren't eating enough since you are breastfeeding 2. you are eating too much 3. muscle weighs more than fat 4. just a bad week... ect.

You all KNOW I love My Fitness Pal. I am a hardcore advocate for it. It works. In fact, counting calories and Weight Watchers have been the only success I've ever had!!!

Since I am breastfeeding and do not plan on quitting that any time soon, I needed to come up with something that is bfing friendly, where I can see success. I've been thinking, praying and pondering this since weigh in on Friday. Luckily my hubby said he supports me in what ever I want to do, as long as I'm COMMITTED.

I was/am committed to My Fitness Pal. I was doing really well with tracking and staying with in my calories. And in NO WAY is it My Fitness Pal's fault the scale wasn't moving.
My friend suggested I try the Zig Zag diet (staggering your caloric intake so you are not eating the same amount every day). I think it does work, it makes since, especially when you hit a plateau. I may try it one day.

Sadly the last four days have reaped a hard consequence. I am up 4 pounds. O. M. Goodness. That's basically a months of hard work. Hoping it goes away soon.. you know bloat and what not. {I wish}.

So I've decided to COMMIT to something. Something I know works, that is Breastfeeding friendly, that has a great supportive community, that has a reputation for success. WEIGHT WATCHERS. Kelly and I have been at this at the same time for a while and she is currently doing AMAZING. She's been doing WW the whole time.
So, I paid for a monthly pass and got the second month free. Last time I did WW I was the exact starting weight I am now, and I lost 14 pounds, and it's what got me into Onderland. Some ridiculously annoying name for a number we all want to see on the scale..somewhere I want to be again. 9 pounds to go for me until I see that number.

I'm all in. I am committed. I will keep going, even if it is only a pound a week. I am already in the grove of it since I was doing My Fitness Pal. Which by the way I will still do to track my progress and workouts. I'm anxious, a little frustrated that I have to re-learn everything, nervous it won't work, but mostly EXCITED. My weigh in's will be Saturday's now since I can only for sure go to the 7:30 am meetings.

Stay tuned for some kick butt.

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Attack-My plan to get off the 190 fence.

I've been going back and forth and back and forth from 189.6 to 192. I know. It's my fault. I admit it. There are plenty of reasons why I have not gone below 189. I won't bore you with them since they all have to do with being inconsistent. In December I made a weigh in chart, starting with January. Each week I lose I get a sticker. Jan 15 I was 189, then 191.6 than 189 for two straight weeks, and today I weighed in, at 192. Maybe because I am currently entertaining a guest named Aunt Flow.

Bottom line. This relationship with 190's has got to end. It's like 189 keeps going back to her ex that knows he's so bad for her. But she's so comfortable with him, so it's so easy to go back. Well, 189 has gotten T I R E D of mister 190's. She's ready to move onto a healthier relationship, even though that means being uncomfortable for a little while.

My plan, is to be healthy about this plan. At first I thought, "I have to do something drastic, like eat 600 calories tomorrow." Immediately I knew that's not right. That is what crazy yo-yo dieter/bingers do. That is not going to be me! So I've decided to forgo this weigh in on Saturday seeing as I weighed today and it's that time of the month anyways. Then I am going to eat my normal caloric goal of 1,200 calories a day through Sunday to just stabilize my metabolism, and my mind, and still be under my BMI (1,600). Monday when I am not as sore, and can work out, I will eat 1,000 for a kick in the pants. Then Tuesday through Saturday (weigh in day) I will eat the normal 1,200 calories a day again. Hope this will help get me past this dreaded number, and not be unmanageable.

OH. And...GULP. I commit....to NOT....weigh my self until a week from this Saturday. Oh my. I can't believe I typed that out loud. It may drive me crazy, but I think it's necessary.

I read over at Real Fat this post about a recent weight gain on her weigh in day (found her blog on Sara's blog list, and love it). She is a godly example of how to lose weight. She came to terms that a 1.5 gain is what it is and no big deal. I was surprised to read that from her because to me she is super successful! Check out her before and afters.

So now I don't feel as bad. I'm not the only one that struggles or gets stuck. But I am ready to move on from this "plateau" [self induced plateau that is].

I really want to say no to temptation, and to be consistent for a good length of time and see what happens. I don't deprive myself. If I want a brownie I eat it. Sometimes that is a good thing I think. I have not binged in a really long time. What was the cause of binging? The idea that I would NEVER be able to eat a brownie again. I know now that is so far from the truth. I will eat lots of brownies in my life. So no need to eat the whole pan today.

But there is a line here. If I give in to one brownie, it's not a big deal. But my mind gets crazy...I think, "There goes the whole day." Again, not true! That is why a brownie can get me in trouble. So even though I won't go eat the whole tray of brownies after having one
or two... I will stop tracking my calories for the day and go over them, even if it is with healthy food. I have lots of learning to do still. I need a Jillian moment. I'm close to a brake through, I can feel it.

And ya know, I can see how my ups and downs could be really annoying, but this is a REAL weight loss journey. I am a Mom to two small boys, a wife to a husband that does need me, and a busy homemaker. Life happens, and it is what it is. I am moving forward. [This is a pep talk to myself. Thanks for listening].

The photos from Surf City Half Marathon are in! You can see mine here. There are some really good ones! I think it's very unreasonable to charge so much for the photos as they do. It's really a bummer. I just want to download a few and I can't with out downloading all for $60. Bummer. Check them out if you want!

Gotta job jump on the laundry and take care of my little buckaroos. Here's too being consistent for 9 straight days.

Love, The Curvy Housewife

Weigh in & countdown to Surf City Half Marathon- 8 Days

I am getting nervous. Why did I decide to pay $100 to run 13.1 miles? Oh yeah, for an awesome medal.

Okay so that's only part of the reason. I know it's so much more than a medal. It's proving to myself that I can do it. And, after this, I know that the marathon and 1/2 Ironman are possible. I am getting worried though because my longest run in a few weeks was 7 miles the other day. I walked/ran that. The furthest I have ran is 10 miles. It's time to start tapering, so I shouldn't go run 12 miles. The stud muffin husband is working a side job this morning so I might try to run 5-6 when he gets home, than 2 on Monday. My knees are very sensitive right now too. I can't get hurt.

I am not looking at this race as a race. I just want to F I N I S H. I know I have said that before, but this time I will most likely be the last person across the finish. Do I care? Nope. Okay so maybe a little...
There will be a day and a time for racing. It's not this time. After reading this post from Healthy Ashley about how she feels being last or close to cut off times during her extreme races (Ironman, 50 mile Ultra Marathon, 50K's, now planning a 100 mile ultra) I have a different outlook. Today, to me, is just to finish. Next race, may be to compete.

Weigh in today: 189.6 Not happy about it. I was 189 two weeks ago! I am glad I lost the 2 lbs I gained while away, but I was desperately wanting to see 188! Which brings me to this topic.....

Calorie Staggering. Have you ever heard of it or tried it? I have a friend that does it and it works for her. It's something like, 1200 one day, 14oo the next, 1200 again, then 1600. Supposedly helps your body to not get use to the amount of calories you are eating. Hmmm. I may try it.

And here's another topic I want to get back to... B I T E S. Yes I did an experiment and added them up, and it equaled about 500 calories!! Whoa. Definitely more aware now.

I did have an awesome Non Scale Victory this week though. We did some spring cleaning and I found 3 big garbage bags of clothes from college and when I was first married that I have not been able to wear in a long time. Guess what..two of the three bags just about everything fit!! Size L skirts and shirts! Best part is, it's cute stuff too. Whoo hoo!

I got these photos from See Jane Run in my email from the photographer. I thought I'd share. I always wear this shirt during races, it reminds me to JUST DO IT! Just finish. I'm happy that I am about 10-15 pounds lighter now than in these photos. Whoot!

Have a great weekend!
Love, The Curvy Housewife

Ten Miles

I ran my personal furthest today. 1 0 M I L E S!

Yup. This still 50 pound [maybe less ;)] overweight curvy housewife can run for 10 straight miles.

At the end of mile 9 I was hurting. My knees and hips were in pain. When I walked inside I went straight to the freezer. I iced my knees for almost an hour.

My awesome husband was home to watch the boys. I got up at 6:30 so I would hopefully be done right as they were all waking up. After 2 laps I had to pee [like always] and they were all already up :( it was only 7 something. Poor hubby. They were ok though. They all made a picnic on the floor and watched Batman on Netflix. I had already made a big pot of Oatmeal so they had breakfast.

My legs feel better after icing and stretching. But from now on, on my long runs, I am going to walk some. Last week I walked more during the 9 miles and I felt better. I don't want to injure myself, especially right before the half marathon {only 3 weeks away!}.

My husband came home last night unexpectedly so we have a 4 day weekend together (yay!). I wanted to totally take advantage of him being home, but getting my workouts done early so I'm not gone for several hours during the day. Last night I decided to run the 10 this morning, and I decided I would run around my neighborhood. It's been awhile. I get so bored on long runs. So I looked up on my iTunes Christian talk Radio and found a free podcast and they had several guests that had lost weight and how the Lord helped them to do it [so awesome!]. It was a big encouragement and kept my mind busy for the first hour.

One lady on there said, "I never like to tell people how fast I lost my weight, because it's my journey and their journey is different." I thought about that and thought about how I
compare myself to someone that lost a lot of weight in the amount of time I've lost 55 pounds. Then I thought, sometimes people can look at you as competition. Whether in weight loss or in a race, and I am not naturally very competitive so I get bothered by this. I can say now, that I can just brush that off if it may happen and realize, it's MY journey and I am going to enjoy it!

Weigh in tomorrow!

With Skinny dreams tonight,
The Curvy Housewife