Hi There!

So I've been really busy... school has wrapped up for the kids and for me as well.  I finished my two classes for summer time... with A's!  And now I am off until fall semester starts in September.  Woo hoo!  So happy to have downtime.  Of course, I still have to work but I'm okay with that --- plus I will be able to focus more on work.  I applied for a new position, I've been with my company for 6 years and in my position for almost 5 years.  I'm ready for new learning opportunities.  ** crosses fingers **

As for weight wise in the past month... I hit another stall, which is fine.  A lot of people started asking if I lost even more weight, I guess even though the scale wasn't moving... my body was transforming.  And then bam! The scale started to move again - even if a little.  Add in that I've been sick with the stomach bug the last two days.  I'm all for some weight loss with the illnesses because it usually stays off.

Thats another thing... I feel like I've caught bugs and flu's and illnesses more in the past year than I have ever caught.  What is going on?  Its like my immune system is not up to par.  I hate that.

I also want to note about my measurements... I've been good overall about taking them at least monthly but stopped in February.  Just got busy.  So I took new measurements tonight and seeing them compared to when I first started... I'm like wow, even seeing them compared to February --- now makes sense why people thought I was losing weight, even though my scale wasn't reflecting it.  I like seeing numbers... this makes me feel better overall when the scale is not acting right.  Lol.

10/21/2014:
Neck - 15 inches
Left Arm - 16 3/4 inches
Right Arm - 16 1/2 inches
Chest - 47 inches
Waist - 43 inches
Hips - 52 1/2 inches
Left Thigh - 29 3/4 inches
Right Thigh - 29 1/2 inches
Left Calf - 18 inches
Right Calf -18 inches

02/09/2015:
Neck - 14 inches
Left Arm - 14 1/4 inches
Right Arm - 14 1/4 inches
Chest - 43 1/2 inches
Waist - 37 3/4 inches
Hips - 47 1/2 inches
Left Thigh - 26 inches
Right Thigh - 26 1/2 inches
Left Calf - 16 inches
Right Calf -16 inches

06/11/2015:
Neck - 13 3/4 inches
Left Arm - 13 3/4 inches
Right Arm - 13 3/4 inches
Chest - 41 1/4 inches
Waist - 36 1/4 inches
Hips - 44 1/2 inches
Left Thigh - 24 3/4 inches
Right Thigh - 24 3/4 inches
Left Calf - 15 3/4 inches
Right Calf -15 3/4 inches

So summer time is here... it seems weird to say that.  I never expected this school year to go by so fast.  My youngest graduated kindergarten and is now officially a 1st grader.  And then my daughter graduated from 5th grade and will be entering middle school next year.  :(  Makes me feel sad and old at the same time.  Lol.

In other good news is my oldest... this has been the roughest school year I've had with him.  He's really good about grades but this year being his freshman year in high school was so stressful for me.  Somehow, he managed to pass all of his classes, even with just a 70.  He got his credits and that is all that matters.  No summer school or credit recovery classes for next year.  I just hope he learns from this past year and does better in his sophomore year.  I could use less stress since I plan on taking more classes in the fall to keep on track for my graduation in May 2017.

So yeah, thats about it in my life... now that I have more down time, it means more time to go walking and actually get some exercise in.  I feel the motivation now.  Oh, and we got a new dog... Gumbeaux, he's 10 weeks old and he's making sure I get my daily exercise of walking in.  I think I tire him out more.  Lol.

A little reflection

So I've had about (blank) number of stalls since surgery with regard to losing this weight.  And when going through these stalls, I realize I get really down and negative.  I don't tell others often how I feel, especially when its negative.  I just smile... and say a positive thing and keeping pushing.  But I realize that is also not good because then I'm not being accountable for some of my own decisions.

Weighed in last Sunday... I also have random weigh-ins lately.  If I don't like the number on the scale, I'm like... weigh tomorrow.
Just works for me.  Lol.  So I weighed and I'm at 178.4 lbs.  But you know how the scale goes... up and down a few depending on the time of the day.  I am a scale whore... I hate it but I can't help it.  Its so addicting.

So with that... I chose to go back over my numbers and see where I was 6 months ago, considering I am 6 months out from my surgery and I got to have my 6 month check up with my surgeon.

In total... I have lost 64 lbs. since re-starting my weight loss journey and the process of getting surgery back in September 2014.  Since surgery, I have lost 46 lbs.  My doctor said I've lost about 55% of my weight.  Its good considering I'm a revision.  However, if it was my first surgery, he would have wanted me to lose about 20 lbs more (so 84 lbs.) at the 6 month mark.  I wish I would have too.  Lol.  The good news is I have lost consistently.  He feels overall, I'm doing well.  However, I seem to be harder on myself than he is.  I chose to have my metabolism tested... since it seems I only lose if I'm eating less than 700 calories a day --- that was my theory.  However my metabolism is normal.  But the doctor agrees, if I really want to get to my ultimate goal of 157 lbs (which he set for me originally) then I need to really get out there and exercise but also drop my calories to 700 a day for about 5 days, then up them to no higher than 1100 for 3 days and start it all over again.  I go back to see him in mid-July.  I really want to be down to that 157 lbs. or lower --- not for him, but me.  Thats about 21 lbs.  I think its possible, I just have to get back to basics and truly exercise --- but making time for it is where I'm running into the problem.  I'm tired always --- and exercising doesn't help me.  Lol.  But I know my body is craving it.  Focus is what I need.

So I can do this!  But again... looking back, I realized I have gone from a size 22 in jeans to a size 14.  I have gone from a size 2xl in shirts to a large.  I even realized I have gone from a ring size of 8 to a size 6.  I feel better overall, I'm sure I'd be more tired if I was carrying all that weight around on me.  But looking at the numbers and doing that in 8 months of time... losing weight and changing some habits... because I have changed a lot of eating habits - but I do have cheats.  Lol.  I am proud of me.

I'm realizing... even with the stalls, my body is still putting in work and changing --- especially with how things fit.  These are things I've told others, but I need reminders too.  People tell me... your shrinking all the time... but my mind is not keeping up with it.  Some days I feel it and others I'm like... OMG, your so fat.  Ugh.  I hate how my brain is wired when it comes to my self image at times.  Loving yourself is hard work.

Life Happens

First, let me show off my three kiddos.  I got some spring pictures done of them in the Bluebonnets here in Texas.  Its a Texas tradition I guess.  Lol.

Where have I been... I've been out of it lately.  Just super busy, back in the groove of school again - luckily its only about 4 more weeks and done for the summer.  The classes don't seem too bad.  I'm taking Quality in Healthcare Management (for my major) and Intro to Christian Ethics.  Interesting stuff.  After finishing these two classes, I will be officially classified as a Junior in college.  Kind of crazy to me.  I do want to know... I got straight A's this past semester, which has brought my overall GPA back up to 3.62.  That college algebra class last summer really dropped my GPA when I got a C in it.  I dread the thought of taking Intro. to Statistics and Micro/Macro Economics.  Hopefully I will do well when I sign up for them next year.

Personally, I was wrestling with the idea of renting a house... buying a house... what to do with our living situation.  Its so hard being a grown up.  We have lived in our four bedroom apartment for the past 5 years.  The kids are getting bigger and it seems like the space is getting smaller.  I mean, technically, our apartment is the size of a small house.  Its 1398 square feet.  But I need a house.  We really considered renting but I was too scared to pay up to $500 more a month in rent.  And in reality, why do that if we can save that money... and buy a house.  So we are currently in the process of getting into this program to get our credit scores where they need to be to qualify for a home mortgage.  Exciting times... I have prayed on this long and hard, we will buy our own home.  Even if its in the next year or two.  But I will make it happen.

As for the weight loss stuff... I'm in this weird stall thing.  I hit 179.8 --- and then my weight has been going up and down within 1-2 lbs.  I know I can do better with the eating and I know I should exercise seriously... but I'm constantly running out of time in the day.  I'm working a lot... more than 40 hours a week.  Class twice a week, then Naty has softball practice and games at least 3 times a week.  Then Aries... he's had doctor appointments lately for his shoulder.  I am always trying to squeeze things in.  Hopefully after school lets out for the kids, I can really get to walking and exercising.  I did realize when I was going back to my car one evening, after one of Naty's games... I jogged/ran to it... I wasn't out of breath and it wasn't so bad.  So I've actually had the urge to want to get moving.  Amazing how losing 62 lbs can change things in terms of working out.  I just need to push through this month...

Our family also just acquired a new pet... his name is Gumbeaux (like the mascot for the New Orleans Saints)... he's a cocker spaniel and such a cutie pie!  Maybe taking him for a walk will help me.  :)  Once I can take him out.  Lol.  He's almost 6 weeks old and needs his vaccinations before I can take him out.  So after next week, I take him to the vet then to get his first set of shots.

I'm sure he will keep my running around.  In fact he's already changed my routine... I wake automatically at 6am to get him out of his crate to potty in his pin on his puppy pads.  That might actually be a good time to do some work outs - at home? I dunno... I'm so lazy.  Lets be real, I hate exercising... how do others do it?  I wish I had the motivation, but I really don't.  If I could just do it at least 3 times a week, I'd be good.

Add in, I've been tired a lot lately... just running, running and more running.  Taking my vitamins, not helping.  I need a weekend of pure sleep.

So yeah... thats a little update.  I am hoping to really get into the 170's one day soon...... and keep pushing toward my ultimate goal of 157 lbs.  I gotta get my mind back into this.  Its such a hard fight.  And when life takes hold, its so much harder.

Hi!

So I've been pretty busy with work - I've been putting in more hours for overtime, really need the money!  Also, I'm finishing up my last two classes this semester... so happy to be done this coming week.  It wasn't too bad, the classes but I'm kind like ugh.  I start my summer semester two weeks after the spring semester ends, but thats only for five weeks too... and then I'm done for the summer!

In other news here is a photo from my induction into the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society this past Saturday.  I am so excited to not only show off my cute outfit... and the fact that I'm wearing my size medium skirt... but also how well I'm doing in college classes.  Something to add to my gown when graduating.  :)

Recently, I really wanted to plan a trip for our family... like end of summer trip, but not sure that will happen.  Low funds = sad face :(  The other thing is we are considering moving into a house this summer from our apartment that we've lived in for five years.  If we do, that will take extra money so we have to make decisions.  Its just frustrating because I've always had this urge to travel and I want to travel now!  One day, I'd like to take my whole family out for like a 2-week cross-country trip... check out different states, etc.  I also want to plan a cruise for my husband and myself - since we've never done one before.  And even a family trip to Destin, FL.  One day we will go to all of those places but I know its more important to get things right on the home front.

Thank you to those who offered the condolences on my grandfather passing away.  I really do appreciate it and I'm okay.  He was suffering from lung cancer and I'm happy to know he is no longer in pain and with my grandmother.

Alright... as for my weight, I weighed in this past weekend at 180.6 lbs.  I'm almost in the 170's.  I also decided to buy new shorts for summer use... and I'm wearing a size 14.  How did that happen?  Lol.  I ended up canceling the YMCA membership that I never used.  Ugh, I knew I'd waste the money... never fails.  I gotta get my priorities in check when it comes to exercising.  I know exercising is key and a good thing overall.

The good news is I'm doing well with my vitamins, my logging... could improve on water intake but I do only drink water or G2's at this point.  As for food intake... some times I feel like I can eat way more than usual and other times the pouch is super tight.  Its so strange.  Then I see my husband and he can barely eat anything at all STILL.  So weird.

Alright... so that is all for now.  Until laters!

Short Update

So my stall I was experiencing finally broke... I knew for a moment I was eating anywhere from 1100 - 1300 calories but went back to tracking, there were some days somehow I went over that.  Snacking and grazing, ugh.

So I went back to seriously watching things and the scale really wasn't moving either.  I think with my next follow-up appointment I am going to ask that my nutritionist/doctor test my metabolism.  Apparently they were supposed to do this when I had my first appointment but the machine was down the day I came in and it was never done.  And the only reason I'm thinking of it now is because I wonder if my body has this super low metabolism or something... like does it mean I can't eat over a certain number of calories if I want to lose.  And it makes me wonder if I do since I know I didn't eat much in the past week... and dropped like 4 lbs or something.  So since the last time I updated here, I am down 4.2 lbs.

Add in... I had to drive to Reno, NV from Austin, TX, last Tuesday to see my grandpa.  He was on hospice since last September when he was diagnosed again with lung cancer.  He eventually passed away on Friday night.  I am happy I was able to make it up there in time to see him.  I also was able to see other family I haven't seen in almost 18 years.  I lived in Reno from eighth grade until my Junior year in high school and I haven't seen my certain family or friends since leaving.  So it was nice to see others.  It was definitely a long, longggg drive.  But I didn't eat much, add in I lost my count on MyFitnessPal for the days of logging in.  Lol.  But it makes me think the lower calorie count may have made the difference.

Still not working out........ why? No real reason other than, I don't make myself go.  Ugh.  Going to cancel the membership with the YMCA.  I have work out videos and things at home and well the weather is warming up, I can always go walking around the neighborhood... in the meantime, I'd rather save the money.