Way too long...

Ok, so you probably think I fell of the face of the earth. I can't believe it has been 3 weeks since my last blog post!

It has been a crazy few weeks in my defense though. I have been having pain in my back for sometime now and have gone to the chiropractor several times for it. Well a few weeks ago the pain got much worse and I almost called the chiropractor again, but instead decided to go the the Emergency Room. I found out that I need to have my gall bladder out. They are also checking my appendix to see if I need that out. A common cause of the Gall Bladder going bad is rapid weight loss, so maybe that is why I have been having the pain?? Either way, I am glad I got it checked out. The surgery is scheduled for August 18th so please keep me in your prayers, I HATE going under general anesthesia. I don't like being "put to sleep" and mostly I don't like the way I feel after. So please pray for my safety and comfort.

Ok, so you are probably wondering about the weight loss. About 10 days ago, I switched from "phase 1" to "phase 2" of my diet. During phase 1 I had to be a lot more strict with the things I could eat, it was sorta like Atkins. I know however that on a diet like Atkins, as soon as you go back to eating somewhat normal again, you can gain your weight back. So on the diet I am on, the first 8 weeks are really strict, kinda like a detox, giving your liver a chance to rest from all the white flour and sugar. Phase 2 teaches you how to eat healthy carbs for the rest of your life....so I am working on that. Because I started phase 2, I hadn't weighed myself in 10 days and I am happy to report that I have lost another 2.8lbs for a total of 23.8lbs lost!! It feels so good to put on a pair of pants or a shirt and it be loose!!

So I think that is it for now, thanks again for your support and prayers!

Been awhile...

Hello! Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. It feels like everytime I would go to post, something came up...2 kids, 2 dogs, family in town, a house to keep clean! Anyways I am back to give you an update!

I am doing really well on my diet, it feels so good to be losing weight. I have lost a total of 18.7lbs in 7 weeks. It is so nice to put on clothes and have them be just a little bit looser! I know I have a long way to go but I try to focus on smaller goals, like loosing 25lbs is my first goal.

The one thing that I am really struggling with is exercise. For awhile there I was excited to go for a nice long walk or to get on the elliptical but now its like torture for me to want to do it. Maybe cuz it's July and its so hot out, I don't know but I gotta get back to it cuz I feel a million times better when I am regularly exercising.

On a brighter note...Jason's brother and his family are here from TX this week. Their kids are 2 and 4, it is so nice to have all the cousins together. Yesterday we spent several hours at the zoo then went to my in laws for a picnic. I just love spending time with family. It stinks that we don't all live closer together but I guess it makes the times we are together more special! We are planning a trip to Waldameer on Sunday. This will be Logan's first experience with it. I have a feeling he will be a bit cautious....We shall see!

Thanks again everyone for your support, I really appreciate it...It truly does keep me going!

What a weekend!

We had the BEST weekend. I just love being outside. Saturday we went to a picnic at my sisters house and it was so much fun. When we got home the neighbor was setting of really awesome fireworks, Logan was in his glory watching them. Then today we were at my parents all afternoon. We were in the pool some and just enjoyed eachothers company and being outside. We then went to Jason's parents house, it was quite relaxing sitting outside and enjoying the beautiful evening. I don't want this weekend to end, it was just perfect!

One thing that was not perfect was my diet. I will just say that I totally veered off of my diet this weekend. I certainly could have been much worse though. I didn't go back to the way I used to eat, I just ate some stuff I shouldn't have (like a brownie today!). I promise that I also have not have the motivation to exercise this week either. I love going on walks usually but for some reason this weekend I just didn't want to do it.

I don't know why I do this to myself. It only gets me down on myself. I will not let it get me down though. I am going to use it as motivation to keep going strong. Either way, I will weigh myself on Friday and let ya know where I stand.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend also, I praise God for our independence!!

Checking in

I have been feeling kinda down in the dumps the past week or so. I can't really pinpoint anything that is making me feel down which is frustrating. I am trying to focus on all the positives in my life and that usually lifts my spirits. I look into the eyes of Logan and Emma and see their smiling faces and I can't help but smile myself. I also have not been as excited to do devotions. For awhile there I was so anxious to see what I was gonna learn about next in my book but now I feel like I am just reading to read, like my heart really in it. I guess we all go through ups and downs, this too shall pass.

So being on a lower carb type diet makes it difficult to figure out what to fix for dinner. I don't know why but I always feel like I need a protein, starch and a veggie. I am trying to change that about the way I cook in that I don't always need to have a starch. So yesterday for instance, I had zucchini and broccoli so I decided to just make that into a side dish. I steamed them then put them in a saute pan with seasonings and I must say....I didn't miss the starch at all! However, there are times when I want to use a starch and I have found my diet saver, Dreamfield noodles. If you have never heard of them, they are a line of pasta that has only 5 digestible carbs per serving, and they don't taste bad! I have also learned to use cauliflower like a potato or pasta, the other day I made "mac and cheese" with cauliflower instead of noodles and it was so yummy.

Ok, well I gotta get the kids to bed, just wanted to check in!

1 month down...

So I have officially been on my diet for 1 month now and I have to say that it has actually gone pretty fast. I am actually enjoying eating better. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments when all I want is to binge on chocolate but for the most part I know how much better I feel when I am doing well.

So I weighed in today and I wasn't very hopeful because I had cheated last weekend, eating some desserts on Sunday. Well, I lost another 6 lbs...for a total of 12.2 lbs. I know that that is a good number and I am really happy although I still struggle with that feeling of how far I have to go. To say I am impatient would be an understatement. I want instant gratification. However, as a dear friend reminded me of the Confucius saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a simple step".

Back on track

Ok, so I will admit it. I made 2 mistakes this past weekend. First, I didn't do devotions one time while we were out of town. Second, I cheated on my diet on Sunday....

I had every intention on doing devotions, I took my devotional book but well, I have not excuse, I just didn't do it. I hate going 4 days without intimate time with the Lord, it always makes me feel bad and gives satan a foothold in my life. I will get back on track today though!

So, I was good for the first 3 days of vacation but the desserts on Sunday at Jason's grandma's house did me in. At lunch I had a pork chop but had some vanilla pudding/mandarin orange salad thing and a few bits of cheesecake. Then as if I didn't learn my lesson, after dinner I snuck a couple bites of Jason's dessert. I felt so guilty and like I had blown my 3 weeks of hard work. However, I will not let those feelings derail me. In the past everytime I cheat on a diet, I let it destroy me and I yo-yo.

I am not perfect and I have to remind myself that I will make mistakes but not to let those mistakes take me down. I am learning. So forward I move.

On the bright side, here are a few of my favorite pics from our weekend away....

Out to lunch

Ok, so we are out of town and my diet is going well so far. When we got here I went to the local grocery store and bought some cucumbers and some low fat cheese that I could snack on. We had meatloaf and mashed potatoes last night for dinner, I skipped the potatoes and just had some meatloaf and ate some cucumbers on the side.

We are going out to lunch today with Jason's sister. This is the first time I will be going to a restaurant since I started my diet. Well, I have been to McDonalds once but I don't consider that a restaurant! Anyhow, we are going to Chili's. I took some time last night to look up their menu and the nutrition info so I was prepared. What i saw just amazed me, 195 carbs in some of their dishes. I am just blown away that I used to eat like that, it almost makes me sick. So I decided I will get the grilled salmon with a side of roasted veggies. To my surprise, this is the ONLY healthy thing on the menu....#crazy!

I know I have a long way to go but I am learning new things about myself everyday. One thing I will tell you is that I am a very emotional eater. When I am happy, sad, bored, tired, anxious, It doesn't matter, I eat. I have learned to say a little prayer or just find something else to do instead of snacking all day long. One of the biggest thing I have learned is that I feel so much better that I am accomplishing something than the "good feeling" food gave me before. I look at food in a completely different way. I am learning to eat to live, not live to eat!