Weight Loss Journey Update March 2016

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I remember starting this journey in 2011. I wanted to feel good and be healthy. I tried various weight loss techniques that included watching what I ate and exercise. I was diligently training for a 5k at the time. It took me a whole year to lose 25lbs. I could not understand why I wasn't closer to where I wanted to be considering all the time and effort I was putting in. I was diagnosed with PCOS later that year, which explained a lot. My body was working against me, not for me.

My weight loss came to a halt when we became pregnant in 2012. After struggling with infertility, this was a welcomed surprise. I jumped on the "get healthy" wagon again soon after G was born. Once again, the progress was SO SLOW! It took me about a year to lose and maintain the loss of 20lbs. We faced our infertility issues once again and we were hopeful that the weight loss would help. It didn't but we at least knew where to start and I became pregnant in the fall of 2014.

All of that brings me to this. It's time to really get healthy and to find a lifestyle change that truly works for me. With my PCOS diagnosis, it's no surprise that weight loss is even more of a challenge. I've never known how to really work my diet outside of exercise, calorie counting and portion control...until now. I've read multiple articles and various medical findings that suggest a low carb way of eating. A few weeks ago a friend of mine suggested that I give it a go. She has lost substantial weight with this type of eating. I was slightly skeptical so I looked into it.

Some people tend to go a little overboard in my opinion and I'm in awe of the ability to eat so few carbs that some people have. My friend currently allows herself 20 carbs a day, along with no sweets. Whoa. I'm still amazed. I've also learned that by only focusing on carbs, you can quickly become over saturated with sodium. I for one have to watch my sodium intake, so while bacon has little to no carbs, I can't eat it repeatedly for the sake of my sodium levels. It's all about finding a happy medium.

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I have decided to learn how to eat low carb. I chose to lower my carb intake to 100g or less a day. I feel comfortable with this level and it is often the level used in clinical studies (like this one) for PCOS patients participating in a low carb/high fat way of eating. The exciting news is that a lot of women with PCOS discover that their symptoms lessen or even go away completely...including infertility issues. For me, this is a win-win all the way around, even if it does not result in fewer infertility issues.

So, here I am. I began this new way of eating on February 29th. One month later I have seen some exciting changes.

I have lost 10.2 pounds.

My wedding rings are looser.

I moved one notch on my belt.

I was told that my face looked thinner by someone who is unaware of my attempts at weight loss.

I've met my first two mini goals!
I'm still trying to decide on a reward for hitting 10lbs but I got this beautiful bead for my pandora bracelet. The color represents PCOS Awareness and it is a reminder that I can overcome the challenges of my diagnosis.

This type of change in diet is not for the faint of heart. To those who said I would not miss pasta or bread...I'm calling your bluff. I do miss those things but I'm working on ways to substitute them. For the record, I am not the 'no carb police'. I allow myself a cookie now and then or a taco shell. However, I do include those things in my count. Those types of things have truly become treats.

Needless to say, the first two weeks were certainly the hardest. Things have become easier as I go along. I consider this a life style change and I refuse to live my life hungry. It's been a lot of trial and error as I try to discover what will meet my dietary needs as well as make and keep me full. I am determined to do this. I'm actually looking forward to meeting with my doctor this summer. I hope she's pleased with my progress.

If you have been doing LCWOE, I'd love to hear any suggestions in the way of snacks and recipes that you love for Low Carb eating. I believe I'm in this for the long haul.

Linking up for Mommy Moments

Five on Friday

There are so many wonderful things about this Friday...here I go!

1. Good Friday

As a Christian, Good Friday is a monumental event in history. My Savior was crucified to pay the debt that my sin renders. He took the burdens of this world to the cross so that I may freely live and someday enter the Kingdom. I praise God for the sacrifice and yet mourn the tourcherous events that had to occur to make this possible. Without His sacrifice there would be no reason to hope.

Good Friday is arguably the saddest day in the life of Christ, but hold on, Sunday is coming! 

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2. Momma is coming to town...to stay!

For several years I have been certain that my mom was meant to move near us. The Lord has honored my requests and I'm thrilled to say that she will be here today! My hubby and his friend have been in GA since Wednesday getting her ready to go. By this time tonight, she'll be here to stay! No more 500 mile road trips. No more goodbyes with months in between them.

3. Easter

I love this time of year. It's filled with so many wonderful things. We celebrate oodles of birthdays and of course, Easter. We focus our energies primarily on recognizing the death and resurrection of our Savior, but we do enjoy other festivities. The kids will have an egg hunt and we'll have Easter lunch as a family. It will be N's first Easter...I hope it's warm enough to put him in his cute outfit.

4. Low Carb

I'm finishing up my third week of low carb eating. I'm not super strict but I've found a way to make it work for me. I can't wait to share my monthly update!

This is one of my favorite low carb meals to date!

5. SPRING BREAK!

Praise the Lord! The time has come for me to be able to enjoy my family, forget about grading papers, get rehydrated and use the bathroom whenever I want!

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Happy Friday everyone!

Linking up for Oh Hey Friday and Five on Friday 

10 Mommy-Daughter Dates

There are few things that I enjoy more than spending time with my kids...in fact, I really don't know of anything I would rather do. I jump at the chance to spend some quality time with both my daughter and son. For my son, who will soon be 9 months old, our time consists of lots of snuggles, rocking in the chair, playing outside, and working towards new milestones. I love every second.

My daughter, who will be three in April, is a whole new kind of fun. I adore my mini me more than words can say. I'm continually amazed by how much she picks up on, how her interests change, and how big her personality has become. We have the best time!

Since before N was born, I have made an intentional effort to spend one-on-one time with G. As she gets older, our outings become that much more fun. I thought I'd share a few of our favorite Mommy-Daughter dates.

The Park

Free is always good. We have a couple of local parks near us, but their playground equipment is limited. We have to venture a little further into town to get to the "good" playgrounds and I must say, they are totally worth it. During the summer, we take full advantage of early morning romps and a light lunch under the shade of the trees.

Plays

G has finally become old enough that she can sit through and enjoy movies. I decided to take advantage of this new milestone and took her to a play. Recently, our local high school presented The Little Mermaid. The students did an AMAZING job. They captivated her for almost the entire length of the play. I definitely look forward to taking her to more in the future.

Educational Centers

We have a local educational center geared towards children. I would be a full time member if I was a SAHM. It would be well worth the money. I've taken her up there a few times and her favorite parts of the center are the paint room and the farm area. My girl loves some art and animals.

Zoos and Aquariums

These outings almost always include the whole family. We all LOVE animals and these trips are some of my favorites. We make amazing memories as she learns about new animals and we are able to share God's creation with her in such a fun way.

The Spray Park

On the grounds of one of the "good" parks, there is a Spray Park. It is awesome and free. She gets to sport her cute bathing suit while playing with other children in various sprinklers and waterfalls. It is a blast. We typically pack a lunch and make a full morning of it.

The Movies

Before our dollar theater closed down, it was the place to go. We had no problem waiting for new releases to become a little older so that we could pay $1.50 to watch them. In fact, it was at that theater that G had her first movie watching experience. Unfortunately, we only have the "high dollar" theaters left so our movie outings are very few and in between. They do make for a fun treat though.

The Library

During the summer, our library usually hosts various kid centered activities. If you are able to make things work, they also have weekly programs for babies and toddlers. Unfortunately, the morning hours that these are held do not work with my schedule. All that aside, we love taking trips to the library. We venture out early, grab something fresh, and homemade from the local bakery and then head over. She has the best time picking her selections and playing with the sensory bins. We both love reading so it is a definite win.

Homebound

Every now and then my hubby will take N out for the day. This allows some down time at home. She and I enjoy doing little crafts, making hot chocolate or cookies, and watching whatever Disney movie is currently her favorite. We may get a good little nap in together before heading out to play with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

Playdates

G is at the perfect age for playdates. We love getting together with her little friends and their moms for an afternoon of play. I enjoy the adult conversation and seeing G interact with other children her age.

Frozen Yogurt

G has acquired my love of ice cream. We have a few sweet spots that we love. However, one of her favorites is our local frozen yogurt shop. She gets a kick out of picking her flavors and then adding toppings.

These dates are simple and generally inexpensive. The most important thing is that quality time is spent together. I want her memories to be filled with good things. I want her to feel loved and invested in. She is a precious gift and it is such an honor to be her mom.

What types of places do you enjoy taking your littles ones to?

Linking up with September Farm

and

Mommy Moments

Low Carb Spiced Parmesan Pork Chops

I'm new to the world of low carb and quite honestly, it has been super hard. I never realized how many carbs I potentially eat in a day. I love bread. I love pasta. I love rice. Nothing about these three loves is low carb. I've been doing some research and I know that drastically cutting these down in my diet will not only help lose weight, but it has the potential to reverse or ease a variety of my PCOS symptoms. It's a win-win if I can get myself fully on board.

I've been working hard to find filling low carb meals that all of us can enjoy. I came up with a recipe that fits the bill. It will definitely be made again.

Spiced Parmesan Pork Chops

6 lean, pork tenderloin chops

1/4 c grated parmesan cheese

1 tbsp of 6 Pepper Spice seasoning (we got this from Sam's)

Preheat own to 400.

Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick spray. 

In a gallon size bag, combine the cheese and seasoning. Add 2 chops at a time and shake them in the seasoning to coat.

Place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until meat is tender and no longer pink.

Serve with your choice of side. 

Each chop is 1 carb, 24g  protein, 125 calories and 3.5g fat. 

Yum!

Linking up with Mommy Momments 

10 Things I Want my Students to Know

I am so excited to join Karli for her 10 Things on Tuesday Link-up!

I decided I'd focus on 10 things I really want my students to know.

1. I am for you, NOT against you. I will always advocate for your best as your teacher. As my student, rest assured that I've got your future in mind and I will always strive to ensure that I'm guiding you in the right direction. 

2. I don't live at school. I know you know I have a family, but I'm always tickled when you assume I bunk up in the classroom. I do agree that it seems like I'm always at school. Haha.

3. When in doubt, or not, choose chocolate. I appreciate every gift you give, but I'm running out of room for holiday themed mugs.

4. My boundaries don't mean I'm mean. They mean I care. I care enough about you to help build character and reinforce your moral fiber while I have you in my class. Afterall, you are the future. 

5. Teachers are not rich. I'm grateful for my job and I work hard. I may get an end of the month paycheck but it only goes so far. Try and remember that the next time you insist on wanting an iPad in the prize box.

6. I didn’t just choose teaching. The Lord called me to this profession. I will strive to honor Him in all I do.

7. Teachers get sick too. When I'm absent, it's for a good reason. I know you believe I should share all aspects of my life, but I promise it's not necessary. 

8. I love to laugh and have fun. The powers that be are quickly killing everyone's love of learning by implementing unrealistic standards and ignorant expectations on both students and teachers alike. I promise you this: if you work hard we will play hard. I do my best to keep learning fun so hang in there.

9. I am a safe place. You can always come to me and I hope you will.

10. I don't want perfection. I simply want you to try your best.

FOF: Weight Loss Edition

It's been a while since I've linked up for a Five on Friday but it's been a while since I've done a lot of things. One of those things is taking better care of myself. Since the birth of Baby N, I've not felt like I've had the time or energy I need to focus on myself. Now that I've got the majority of my health things in order, it's time to get back on track.

1. Stop making excuses

I've had multiple medical issues since my delivery in July. Some birth/pregnancy related and some not. I've been working on getting these matters addressed and now that most of them are resolved, it's time to stop making excuses. I am a full-time working mom so I'll always be some degree of tired. I have a treadmill so the weather can't be a factor. Even 20-30 minutes is better than nothing...no more excuses.

2. Love

I have to love myself enough to do this. I have to love my children enough to want to live a long, active, and healthy life with them. I want to love myself enough to be the person my husband sees me as. I need to love my God enough to adequately care for this body He designed just for me.

3. Water

As a teacher it's really difficult to get in enough water each day. I can't just use the bathroom anytime I want. I've been trying to get in more at lunch and when I get home. It's just a little tricky.

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4. Portion Control

I'm back to being concious about serving size. This is a big deal when you consider how many calories/fat/sodium are in one serving of certain foods (I do love cookies lol). Focusing on serving size helps me maintain portion control. It also helps me weed out what I consider worth eating. I want to be full, happy, and healthy. This leads me to #5...

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5. Eat more of the right things

Some habits, especially food habits, are hard to break. I've dealt with emotional eating in the past and I know how easy it is to fall into that mindset. Keeping the right kinds of foods, including snacks, in the house make eating right so much easier. 

I'll be getting back to posting weight loss updates soon...I'm currently down 3lbs for March!

Five on Friday
Mommy Moments

Baby N: 8 Months

I know I sound like a broken record when I say that I don't know where the time goes, but seriously! How is it that our sweet boy is already 8 months old?! You'll be a year old in 4 months! I'm not ready.

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Weight: 19+lbs

Height: TBD

Clothes: 6-9m

 Eat: 7oz of formula every 4 hours, 2oz of baby food at breakfast and lunch and 4oz of baby food at dinner. You take a 6oz bottle at bedtime.
You continue to enjoy different foods. We tried a rice rusk but you were not a fan. You can sort of hold your bottle on your own, but most of the time you refuse. You place your little hands behind your perfect little head and chill.

Sleep: You have been consistently sleeping through the night (7pm to 5-5:30am). We are so grateful that you are sleeping so well. We definitely consider ourselves blessed. Rarely do you wake in the night any more. We've only run into it a couple times as you teethe.

Play: You are dying to be on the move. You are slowly working yourself into an army crawl. I don't mind that you are taking these milestones a little slowly. I am not ready to have you up and running just quite yet. You LOVE your bouncer. Seriously. You get bouncing so hard these days that you will bounce your little self across the room. It's really entertaining to watch. You also enjoy your exersaucer.

Your big sister is still your best friend. She just has a way with you. I pray your love for each other continues this way. We've been spending some time outside on the days that the weather cooperates. We've had a few Spring like days and we've all been loving it. 

Odds and Ends: You have popped your first tooth! You have a second one already on the way. We're just waiting for it to break through.

You have such a contagious laugh. Anything and everything we can do is done to hear that sweet sound. Your sister still gets the best giggles out of you. You are truly one of the happiest, most chill babies ever. You have such a calm disposition and I'm in awe of how easy going you are at such a young age.

 

You "talk" all the time. You have been heard saying "ma-ma" and "da-da". I'm interested to see which one sticks as your real first word. You also get a kick out of shaking your head "no".

Your Granna came to visit. You had such a great time with her. We're all looking forward to her return.

You also celebrated your first Valentine's Day and your Daddy's birthday. It was a good month.

This next month will prove to be very exciting and I look forward to sharing details. Until then, keep growing strong little man. We love you to pieces.

Watch him grow...