A Requested Post

I've been asked several times by several different people how I've lost weight. I'm not really one who likes to talk about myself. I have an extremely low self esteem plus I would never want to sound like I was bragging about myself.

Ever since I had my first child, weight has been a constant battle for me. Growing up I never had a problem and had the misconception that I never would. Boy was I wrong. I gained about 60 pounds with my first. A huge amount. Then I think I probably only lost about 20 of that before I got pregnant again. The weight just kept coming on. I had all four of my kids in 4 1/2 years, so my body took a big hit. I wasn't one of the lucky ones who lost weight when they nursed either. In fact, I did just the opposite. I gained and gained. Finally I was sick of it and wanted to do something about it. So I did weight watchers and lost a little. Then of course I had another set back. I was having medical problems and ended up having to have a hysterectomy at the age of 27. For some lame reason I gained after that and had a really hard time losing. I guess it's just my luck.

Well, last year I had had enough. I was tired of looking the way I did. Tired of feeling so depressed and self conscious. Tired of being fat and ugly. So I decided it was time to get serious. Besides all those lovely things working against me, I LOVE food. I love chocolate, sweets, breads. I love to eat and will be the first to admit it. I knew I had some changes I needed to make if I was ever going to reach my goal. So I started really watching my portions. I started weight watchers again, but was SO tired of counting points. I kind of just did things on my own. I tried to stay away from all that fattening stuff that I love. I started to exercise again. That I believe has been the key. At first I wasn't exercising and I was losing, but then I was just at a stand still and knew that I needed an extra push. It's not always easy to stay motivated to exercise, especially when I don't have a gym membership and I just have to do it on my own. I have weeks when I'm really really good, and then some when I'm not so good. It's the same with eating.

I think, for me, as a mom it's been hard to diet because I'm cooking for my family and I want to be able to eat with them. I don't want them to remember mom always being on a diet or not being able to eat what they were. I don't want the focus to be on weight all the time. There is so much pressure for young kids from their friends and from the media, they don't need to be hearing about all that at home too. So, I've tried to tell them that I'm eating this way to be healthy so that I can play with them, hike with them, and have a long healthy life.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't deprive myself by any means. If we are at a family dinner and there is cheesecake, you bet I'm going to have at least one piece. If I have a sudden urge for a Twix, I'll go buy it just as long as I don't do it every day. I still want to live my life and have fun. I still want to enjoy. So, when there is a special occasion, that is what I do. I enjoy. When I'm at home every day doing my every day stuff, that's when I really focus on eating well and watching portions. You've got to find a balance that works for you and stick to it.

Things have FINALLY started to click in my body. I started in July and have lost 50 pounds since!! The weight is coming off slowly, so I really have to be patient and not get discouraged. I still want to lose at least 17 pounds. That is my goal. That would put me at the high end of healthy for my age, height, etc. If I can lose more, I will. But, if I can get those last 17 pounds off I will be thrilled. I really need to work on getting things more toned too. I'm kind of lacking in that area, but I guess persistence is the key. I will get there!

I really wish it was easier than this to lose. But, at least for me, it isn't. I know this will be something that I have to be mindful of forever. But, I will be happier and healthier because of it when all is said and done.

I don't know if this was helpful or if this is even what people were looking for. But, there you have it. That is my journey.

Dance

Dance Lessons: $90/month

Warm Ups: $80

Costumes: $150

Make-Up: $40

Competition Fee: $135

This Face: Priceless

I know it's a pricey thing to do but I'd rather spend the money and know what my kids are doing than have them be doing things that they shouldn't. M had her first dance competition on Saturday. She was SO excited. They did very well. She has really been enjoying dance and is very good at it. I'm glad that she's found something that she loves to do. She tried soccer and it just wasn't her thing. Then she started dance and loves it.

Out of 100 points they scored in the 90's. They got 3rd place in both of her dances. They were so cute and did so well. The only frustrating part was that some of the teams should've entered under a different category. Our girls are beginners and I know that some of the other teams definitly weren't. I think it's sad that people feel the need to stack the odds in their favor. Oh well. The girls still had a blast!

Tag

MSL tagged me for a meme. I haven't done one for a while, so here goes:

What I was doing 10 years ago:
~I had just had my first child, a beautiful big boy!
~We were living in Idaho.
~I had just graduated with my Associates from Ricks College.
~I was trying to learn how to be a mom and was loving every minute of it!

5 things on my "to do" list today:
~finish the laundry
~go to the mall and try to find some decent clothes to wear so I don't look so homely
~do homework with the kids
~take M to dance
~have an Enrichment meeting

Snacks Ienjoy:
~chocolate
~ice cream
~fresh fruit
~chex mix

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
~save for college for the kids
~buy a new house, and get out of debt
~take the whole family on a very fun, very long vacation
~help family members
~give to a good cause
~shop, of course
~save

3 of my bad habits:
~procrastinating
~worrying too much about how clean the house is
~playing Bubble Shooter on the computer way too late into the night

5 places I have lived:
~Lancaster, CA
~Provo, UT
~Rexburg, ID
~UT, where I am now
~UT, around the corner from where I am now

5 jobs I have had:
~dance teacher and assistant
~secretary (gopher) at a car dealership
~Artco doing phone orders for wedding invitations and supplies
~Daycare teacher
~Last, but not least, and definitly the best: A MOM!


5 people I want to know more about (a nice way of saying "TAG")
~Chel from Happiness is Everything
~Tori from My Life Just Pretend You're Interested
~Kelsi from In the Wake of Jake
~Sweet Pea from Sweet Pea
~Misty from Starting From Scratch

Enjoy!!

A Pain In The Neck (literally)

I know this is an odd picture, but it's the best view I could get. A couple of weeks ago my throat started hurting. It was that hurt that you get when you start getting sick. I didn't pay any attention to it and just figured I was getting a cold or something. Well, after about 2 weeks and waking up Saturday morning with a huge lump in my neck, I kind of started to freak out. I went to the doctor Monday morning, hoping for some help and maybe an answer. What I got was: it's not strep, it's not my tonsils, it's not mono, it's not an ear infection, we don't know what it is. GREAT. Why did I even go? They put me on some antibiotics and said if it wasn't gone in ten days to come back. Fine. Tuesday I woke up sicker than a dog. I had a fever, the chills, my body ached, had a headache, no appetite. I felt crappy. Wednesday was no better. Thursday I went back to the doctor because instead of getting better I was getting worse. They repeated the tests from Monday, nothing. That evening they did an ultrasound. Turns out it's a huge swollen lymph node, which the tech told me was the biggest one she ever saw. Not only that but I also had at least 15 smaller swollen lymph nodes surrounding the big one. Yeah for me. The doctor switched my antibiotic to a stronger one and once again said that if it wasn't gone in ten more days to come back in for a biopsy. He was concerned because he doesn't know why I have it. Luckily this medicine is working. I feel much much better. I can turn my head again, lay on that side, and eat. It's not gone, but it is getting smaller. I've got until Tuesday, so hopefully it will be gone. I'm thinking having a needle stuck into my neck won't be too fun.

Fake Curtains

I'm not great at sewing and I couldn't find any curtains I liked for my dining/kitchen areas. Then I was at this great store and found some cute tea towels that I loved. I bought a bunch and got some little knobs to hang them on. This was the end result. I love them. No sewing required! I just got a rubberband and wrapped the towel around the knob, and there you have it!

A Fun Treat

My wonderful sister had these fun little treats sent to me for my birthday. They are little miniature pieces of cake. Last year she sent me some cute frog chocolates. Don't I have a great sister?!

More Birthday Celebrations

Not only did we eat cake a day late, we also celebrated a day late. T has been begging and begging for a BB gun. So, we finally decided that he was old enough for one. We gave it to him late at night so he didn't have time to shoot that night. But, he was up first thing Saturday morning and spent hours outside shooting. He came in for a short break and then headed back outside. He was grinning from ear to ear.

When DH got home from we headed to The Mayan for dinner. It was T's choice. The plan was to go eat and then go see a movie. When we got there, there was a 1 1/2 hour wait. We told T we wouldn't be able to do both, and let him choose what he wanted to do. He decided to stay and eat. We finally were seated around 8:00 and didn't get our food until about 8:30 or 8:45. The kids did pretty good with the wait, but were starving. Poor S, he tried so hard. He stayed awake long enough to get his food, have a bite or two and then he was out of it. He put his head on the table and was sound asleep.

T enjoyed his meal. The diving show was very cool. The kids love watching it. It's changed a little from the last time we came. It's much more involved this time and was a lot more enjoyable to watch. The only bummer about the night was that T didn't get sung to. We told our waitress several times that it was his birthday. She kept forgetting. Finally they brought him an ice cream sundae, but that was all. I know he was a little disappointed because he really wanted a birthday song like his sister had gotten a few years ago. But, all in all it was a great night!

Smores Cake

Every year I let the kids pick what kind of cake they want me to make them for their birthday. I try my best to do what they ask for. This year T wanted a smores cake. I found one in a cook book and tried my best to copy it. Here is what the finished product looked like. T was happy with it so that is what matters most.

Friday, the actual day of T's birthday was such a busy day. While the kids had school, I babysat, went to the grocery store, the bank, bought dance shoes and tights for M, and started the cake. Once the kids got home we cleaned up and some friends came over. Then M had to get ready for dress rehersal. I picked up her friend, dropped T and S off at the school to wait for some other kids I had to babysit, took the girls to dress rehersal, went back to pick up the boys and the kids. One of the boys had a cut on their hand, I didn't have anything in the car except for a diaper, so he wrapped his hand in the diaper and I took him home. Then we went back to the dress rehersal for a little bit. Next I had a meeting for 4H, which I teach after school. So I loaded up the troops once again, and we were off to the meeting. When I got there Corbin (the little boy I watch) had had a huge blowout in his diaper. So I stripped him down, finished the meeting, went home to dress him, and then dropped him off at his house. Then we went to pick M up, and finally were able to go home. Once the other three kids that I watch were gone, it was like 7:30 or 8:00. DH would be home soon, I didn't have dinner ready, so we decided to wait and go grab so pizza when he got back. By the time we got home S was asleep, J went straight to bed, and the other two were close behind. We asked T if he wanted his cake, he could barely answer. So we took that as a no.

Point of the story: Friday was so busy we had no time for cake. So, we had cake in the morning.

Guess Who's Ten?

When did this happen?

When was I old enough to have a ten year old?

I can't believe he's 10!

Happy Birthday T, I love you!!!

Bear Scout

We went to the Blue and Gold Banquet for Scouts last week. T got his Bear badge, a gold arrow, and five sliver arrows. He barely made it, since his birthday is tomorrow. He was very excited to receive this award. Our scouting program is slowly starting to get better which I'm grateful for because the boys really enjoy going. I think it's so important to have good leaders who are motivated to help the boys succeed in scouts. I now know why the mom gets a pin when the boy gets his badge, and that's because it's a lot of work. I'm happy to help and I enjoy it, but it's a lot to do. Now we've got to start working on the next goal!

Flooded Cellar

Last Wednesday I was getting ready to get in the shower and I turned the water on as usual. We have to let the water run for a minute or two because of the placement of our water heater. Well after about five minutes and no hot water, I told hubby that something was wrong. He told me to try the kitchen. I did. Still no hot water. So, we went into the cellar where the water heater is, and found a flood. Our immediate thought was that the water heater was broken. Great.

I called our home warranty people to report a claim. They told me that someone would be in contact with me to set an appt. between Wed. morning and Thurs. evening. So, that meant I could possibly be without hot water for at least 3 days. Yeah for us.

DH couldn't find someone to go in and work for him so he had to go in for a little. Which left me to haul out all the stuff we had stored down there and to clean up the water. Luckily my friend came over to help me. It was such a pain. I had some food storage that got ruined, and my wedding dress got wet. Hopefully I can get the dress cleaned and it won't be ruined. It's not like I'm going to wear it again, but it does have sentimental value. There was about 55-60 gallons of water down there.

I had another friend come over who used to work for a plumbing company. He said he couldn't see any problem with the water heater. The flood put out the pilot light which was why we had no hot water. But we couldn't figure out where the heck the water was coming from. Then, there was a new puddle forming. We saw that it was coming from a crack where the floor meets the wall. But, was it from a broken pipe? From the high water table? From the drain off from the house? We didn't know, and still don't. We just know that we've got to seal off the cracks or put in a pump so that we don't have another flood.

So fun for us!

Sweet Niblets

My kids are big Hannah Montana fans. They love to watch it, even J. The other day I saw her drop something, and then she said, "Oh Nipples!". I looked at her and asked her what she said. She repeated herself, and I asked her where she heard that. She said "You know, from Hannah Montana.". DH realized that she was actually meaning to say "Sweet Niblets", which is a common phrase on the show. But, instead we got "Oh Nipples!". It was hilarious! Every now and then she still says that instead of the right thing and we just want to bust out laughing.