New Outfit

In my post about Orlando I mentioned that I bought a new outfit. I thought you might want to see it. I am not sure why but for some reason we do not have a Macy's in Knoxville. There is one in Nashville and one in Atlanta but none in Knoxville. In the past I have never really cared but since losing weight I am starting to learn to love clothes again. I have this brand at Macy's that I really like. I can almost try on anything in the section and want to get it.

While in Orlando, the girls made a quick stop and I quickly pulled 10 items off the racks to try on. Dresses, shirts with capris, etc. Man...everything I tried on...I liked. I have really been into dresses lately and I tried on some really cute ones. My favorite was all white and I talked myself out of it since I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old. It was bound to be ruined. Then I spotted another outfit I liked. The capris were not on sale but I liked them and they went perfect with the shirt. They had some embroidery stitching on them and were a little fancier than just what you'd wear day to day.

My friend Amanda was with me. At first I decided the pants were too expensive so I would only try on the shirt but then I asked Amanda to grab the size 12 and size 14 pants just so I could see how it looked. She brought them to me and I put them in the dressing room and then I told her..."Here are the 14s back, if the 12s fit, I deserve these pants; if they don't I'm not getting them"...but here they are in this picture, so you know what that means, right? The 12s fit! I was pretty excited. Now I just can't wait for a size 10 to fit! I'll be keeping you posted. I am actually regretting that I didn't try on a size medium shirt. I would of never guessed that it would have fit but as I write this and my straps are trying to fall off, I am thinking it probably would have fit and that makes me happy :) I know...that was a bad run-on sentence.

We got back on Wednesday and I went and worked out with Tammye on Thursday. I could really tell that I took a week off. I am still sore. It felt good to be back though. I am still trying to work on incorporating my cardio intervals into my week at home. Today I am meeting up with some of my workout girls and seeing the movie "Bridesmaids". My childhood best friend told me that it is a must see. I decided to put on the new outfit and take a quick pic so you all could see. I also flipped my hair instead of wearing it under. What do you think? Should I stick with it just under or can I pull of the flip. I am still undecided.

Poor Sissy got a Boo Boo

I know this has nothing to do with weight loss but I figured it better be noted. I think I still have a little bit of post traumatic stress from the whole event.

We came home from Orlando and it was still super hot here so we decided it would be fun to quickly clean up from our trip and head to the mountains for a little camp out. We packed up our pop up trailer for the first time this year and headed to the hills.

As we were setting up the camper we noticed that the small bungee cord that holds the canvas to the beds and stretched from time and was no longer holding the canvas tight. Didn't really think too much about it just thought that we would be careful and have the baby sleep between us cause the worst thing that could happen is that she would roll of the edge and even though the canvas was secure, since it wasn't tight she might slip right through. We all went to bed and Hudson asked to be snuggled so Travis went into his bed and accidentally fell asleep. The baby and I on the other side also were asleep. I was sleeping on edge as I usually have to get up and go to the bathroom so the baby was in the middle but Travis was not there to block her from rolling. I didn't know though that Travis wasn't in bed with us since I fell asleep before him.

All night sissy snuggled very close to me and I felt like she was safe. The sad thing is that I predicted this whole thing and that is why I think I feel so guilty. At around 7AM, the baby moved so that her feet were up by my head now and her head was below. At this time I thought about the potential for her to fall through but she was still close by so I grabbed her foot and thought I'd take in another 30 minutes of sleep.

That is when the worst thing in the world happened. While I was still asleep, all of a sudden I heard the baby screaming. I immediately knew what had happened! Oh no. She had rolled from the bed onto the asphalt. I looked quickly and saw her laying on the ground bleeding from her head. I yelled for Travis to go get her. Thankfully I am a first aid instructor and had brought a kit. I held some pressure till the bleeding stopped, attempted to ice (she hated it) and then cleaned it out and stuck a butterfly bandage on it. We quickly broke down camp and decided we better take her to the doctor just to make sure it didn't need stitched.

The baby really took it better than me. I was in a state of "fight or flight" mode and felt very anxious and I felt very guilty. How could this of happened...just minutes before we would of all woke up. Damn it! The doctor said that it was on the fence and may not need to be stitched but since it was on her face, for cosmetic reasons we may want to stitch it. Two stitches later and we are all better. She had no signs of a concussion. Really she was laughing within a few minutes of it happening and really didn't cry for long. Even at the doctors office she was posing for the camera and playing peek-a-boo.

Accidents happen but this was preventable and never should have. I feel really bad but I am just glad that she is okay. It could have been so much worse. She is a trooper. I think I definitely could of used some chocolate or something yesterday. I felt stressed and exhausted all day. Last night I couldn't barely sleep cause the event just kept replaying in my mind and I could just see her laying outside the trailer on the pavement. When I was a kid, I ran into the corner of a wall and had to get five stitches down the middle of my forehead....I guess we will be twins. At least hers is smaller and higher but I am sure she will have a little scar. Darn it!

Vacation to Orlando

We had a great time in Orlando. It was fun seeing Trav's parents and my friend Amanda. It was a fun filled, packed trip...no rest for the weary. It was hot, hot, hot but we all had a ball. Just wish we had a few more days as it went so, so fast. Here was the itinerary:

June 3rd: Arrived at 2PM, got our rental car, found our hotel and then went swimming with kids and adventured down our 80 ft hotel water slide at least 100 times. Hudson was so brave! You were supposed to be 48 inches to go down, he is 38...but he wanted to so bad and no one said anything. He even went down it backwards a couple times with grandpa Clair.

June 4th: Disney World Magic Kingdom, got there at 8AM stayed till 2:15 went back to hotel for a rest, returned to Disney at 5:15PM and stayed till 11:30. This day was packed! We went thru our two day itinerary in almost one day. We did several rides (Dumbo, Peter Pan, Small World, Winnie the Pooh, Pirates of the Carribean, Alladin Magic Carpet, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Jungle Cruise, Astro Orbiters, Buzz Lightyear and more), we met characters (Pinocchio, Cinderellas evil step mother, donald duck, and goofy just to name a few), saw the afternoon parade, the electrial parade, the new magic and memories light show and the fireworks. I think we walked 5 miles this day and sweat 5 gallons. It was so hot!

June 5th: Return to Magic Kingdom. This time we slept in and didnt get there until 10:15. Went to meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse and the princesses. Cinderella had a little crush on Hudson and he had a little crush on Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Rode a few of our favorite rides and a few that we had missed the first day. Bought some souveniers and got done around 5. It was a much easier day and we were about Disney'd out. Came back to the hotel for more swimming and more water sliding! Enjoyed a bucket of crab at Joe's Crab Shack.

June 6th: Went to eat lunch at this crazy Dinosaur restaurant in Downtown Disney and visited the Lego store. The sculptures were amazing! Me and the girls hit Macy's and I bought a new outfit. Felt great to slide on a pair of 12 capris and a large shirt. I could of bought 10 things but my wallet only allowed for me to buy one outfit but it was fun trying stuff on! Back to the pool for more swimming and sliding and then enjoyed some yummy mexican food at Chevys.

June 7th: Got to Universal Studio's Island Adventure Park bright and early right when it opened. Visited Dr. Suess land and the kids loved it. We got to meet the characters and ride some rides. Off to Harry Potter World. It was amazing, the castle, the stores, rides, etc. Hudson got to ride his first roller coaster called the Flight of Hippogriff. He screamed but loved it and asked to go again. Then off to Jurrasic Park where we saw dinosaurs and go to ride on a ride where we were flying dinosaurs, Hudson loved this one too. We visited toon town for lunch and let the kids play at the play ground while Trav and I got drenched on a water ride. Comic Place was next where we met spiderman, wolverine, cyclopse and rode the Hulk coaster. Hudson loved the storm ride that was like the tea cups. We rode a few more coasters and the kids were out. We wore them out! They loved it though. Another day of walking about 5 miles and sweating 5 gallons.

June 8th: Came home...we needed one more day but it was a good trip.

I definitely didn't eat on plan. We were on vacation but I did try to make better choices with out totally over indulging. We walked a lot and I did do the stairs several times up to the 6th floor. Lots of treading water in the pool, so I do feel like I got some exercise. A little scared to jump on the scale tomorrow but I feel good about the way I am looking and my clothes are still fitting so I am not going to let myself get too down. On the way home I read about the 20 best diets. The number #1 is Weight Watchers. It is what worked for me the best this past year and I am still a member, so I am going back to counting my points every day. We are talking about a possible trip to Idaho for Labor Day and I want to be 20 pounds thinner by the time we get there. That is about 12.5 weeks from now so I have given myself a small cushion but trying to lose about 2 pounds a week. I know I can do it. I am excited that it is now summer and we have lots of fresh veggies and fruit and it just seems easier to exercise in the summer too as you are outside more often and can do more physical activity.

Hard Week

All week I have kind of been down in the dumps ever since taking those pictures. All my friends think I'm crazy and swear there is a big difference but it is still hard for me to see. Gaining those 2 pounds has been hard and I still haven't lost them. I think I am just disappointed because I am going to Florida next week and I am going to see a good friend and my in-laws. I was kind of hoping that their reaction would be "oh my freakin gosh!" and I know that it won't be. I really don't look that different compared to when my in-laws saw me at Thanksgiving. This week I am just working on losing the 2 pounds. Don't get me wrong...I am proud of my accomplishments but I am ready to see the 160s and to never look back. I really just want to be in a normal weight. I have to weigh 145 to just have a BMI that is considered "not overweight". That is a long ways from where I am at.

I am trying not to get discouraged. I just printed off some food log sheets and I am going to be very strict about filling them out. I am going to post them as a picture on the blog every day until I leave for Florida. I am also trying to already come up with a game plan for FL. My friend Amanda is coming and she is staying in a condo with a kitchen. I have offered to pay for the groceries if she will do the labor of making our lunches everyday. I know we will do lots of walking on this trip so the biggest thing to not gaining will be what I eat. I'm sure I will get plenty of exercise each day.

Well...here is to my last week before vacation. Now lets get off those 2 pounds!

One Year

I can't lie...I am not happy with these pictures. Travis swears there is a big difference but I just don't see it. This was about a year ago and 40 pounds ago. I feel like I look almost exactly the same! I tried to mimic the same pose. They are different pants but the same shirt. Just in case you can't tell the pics on left are before, pics on right are after.

I have got to get this figured out. My pants are 2 sizes smaller my shirts are smaller but I just feel like I look the same!!! Diet...Diet...Diet. Why do I love to eat so much? I just love yummy food and it all has so many calories in it. Feeling discouraged right now.

I really didn't want to post these pics but I felt like I had to. Maybe this is just what I needed.

Easy Exercises to do at Home: Part 3

Here are three moves that you can try at home:

1) Combat Pushups

They are not really a pushup because you lay on the floor in between but you lift up and do a knee to chest lift, lay flat, pushup and do a knee to chest lift with the other leg, lay flat, roll over and repeat. Try to do 10 total and to go as fast as you can.

2) 1 Leg lunge w/ dumbbell curls

Put one leg on an elevated surface and then squat lunge while doing dumbbell curls. Switch legs and do the other side. Try to do 15 on each side.

3) Jack Jumps

Do four jumping jacks, then do a squat jump while you do a squat jump with a one quarter turn, then do a squat jump with a half turn. Repeat. Do 5 on each side. (this video is cheesy..sorry. It also made me realize that I need a new sports bra, haha)

Wedding Dress

So last night we were in the basement about to watch a movie and while Trav was popping some popcorn I decided to go in the guest room closet and see if there was a light blanket in there. I am weird like that; I'd rather the house be a little on the cold side and get a blanket than to be too hot.

As I opened the closet door the very first thing that I saw was my wedding dress hanging up. I am not sure what got into me but I just decided to try it on and see how far I had to go. Since it was an a-line dress it slid right on but I have about 1-2 inches that need to be lost before it will zip all the way up. I think another 20 pounds and it should fit like a glove. I'll be sure to try it on and take a pic once it fits again.

I definitely was not skinny at my wedding. I think I weighed around 155. I had just gained about 30 pounds after my freshman year of college and after taking the depo-provera birth control shot for the past couple months. That thing was the devil! I gained weight as soon as I took it. It totally screwed with my head too. I was insecure, moody and cried at everything. I later went back to the doctor and they confirmed that all my hormone levels were totally screwed up and my endocrine system out of control. I quit taking it but I had gained 30 pounds in what literally seemed like 60 days.

I have since read about the effects that this has on some women. While most people only gain about 5 pounds there are several occurrences where women have gained a lot of weight. I also recently read a study that pointed out that women that gained weight from the Depo provera shot had a harder time getting it off. The feminists women's health group in Washington DC state that over 70% of women gain weight while using Depo as their form of birth control. This definitely is not the only reason that I gained all my weight but it DEFINITELY started the snow ball effect.

I can't believe that in July, Travis and I will have been married for 13 years. The funny thing is, Travis almost looks exactly the same as he did in this picture. Maybe I can lose the weight, put on the dress and we can recreate this picture. How funny would that be? I am hoping to be able to fit into that dress soon. I wish I could do it by our anniversary but I know that is unrealistic. I'll be keeping you posted. Maybe I need to put it in a place that I will see more often to remind me of my goal!