5 Pounds!

I have had this post ready to go for awhile, but I just had to wait to celebrate! I have lost 5 pounds. That doesn't seem like a lot, but it represents about 6 months of gains! Since bringing home the kiddos, I have gained an average of 5 pounds every 6 months.

I really feel like my eating habits are under much better control, so now I need to focus on getting moving. Walking the dog, jumping on the trampoline with the kids, walking with friends, and bike riding are all good ways to include the family. If I need some down time, I can exercise in my room where I have made a space, in the family room with the Xbox, or on the elliptical. There really are no good excuses! I have the tools, now I need to use them. My husband and I agreed that at 10 pounds, I can order an activity tracker, so that is another incentive!

I need to remember that focusing on my health and wellness benefits my whole family as well. Nearly every parenting book for foster parents, biological parents, and/or adoptive parents includes a section dedicated to reminding the parents to take care of themselves.

Week 3 - Finding the Right Foods

Three weeks down! I have lost 4.4 pounds!

I think I have been more successful than in the past for several reasons: 

1) I am very motivated to make a change because I want to be able to wear all of my clothes and button all of my pants. 

2) I am more realistic than I have been in the past. I know that I can't kick caffeine completely right now or stay under my calorie goal every day. What I can do is limit my caffeine and set aside a cheat meal so I have something to look forward to if I have followed the rules the rest of the days. I don't feel deprived! 

3) I have been more successful at finding the right foods for me. In the past, I have tried tons of ingestible options to help me lose weight: supplements, meal replacement shakes, diet pills, no carbs, and so on. This time, I am focusing on finding the right foods for me. Those are foods that are high in protein and flavor, but they are still "real food." Let me explain. I can't make it if I have to live on shakes and diet food. Gross! I also have to have foods that work with my teacher schedule and keep me going all day. 

Here is a sample of what I eat in a day with my 1300 calories I am allowed (more if I exercise): 

Breakfast (about 300 calories) 

Key Lime greek yogurt (4.5 grams of fat, but tons of protein and flavor) 

Homemade protein bars, breakfast bars, or nuts (more protein) 

Morning Snack (about 100 calories) 

Fruit (Something sweet and around 100 calories - frozen grapes, frozen cherries, strawberries, banana)

Lunch (about 200 calories) 

Tamales (my favorite food in the world!) 

Diet Dr. Pepper (I just have to have something sweet) 

PM Snack (about 100 calories) 

Something salty such as air-popped popcorn, cheesestick, cottage cheese

Supper (about 600 calories) 

A nice home cooked meal with protein and veggies, maybe even a grain or starch. 

If I still have points, I will indulge in a glass of white or maybe a small bite of chocolate-covered fruit for dessert. 

This type of eating works the best for me because I don't feel deprived of sweet things and foods I love like my lime yogurt, Diet DP, tamales, and cheese! I know I need to add in some more veggies and fruits, and I plan on checking out some smoothie recipes to help out with that. I hate having to eat something different than my family, so, even though I am eating my biggest meal at the wrong time, I can eat what everyone else is eating. I love cooking too, so this works out great. 

Mommy Takes a Vacation

I took a vacation - alone. For the last few months, things have been pretty hard. Let's face it, things have been hard for a few years. I think it finally caught up with me. My family is my pride and joy, my reason for everything I do, but it is hard - a lot. About a month ago, my husband and I decided I needed a vacation without my family. So I went on a "retreat" to stay with a friend. I asked if I could hole up in her apartment for a few days with no commitments, no cooking, no laundry, no cleaning, and no expectations other than finishing a few projects.

Why not just have a night out with friends? Since December 24th of 2012, I have not had one day to myself. Seriously. By allowing my "bucket" to be so drained, I needed to take intense action to fill it back up. Everyone has an invisible bucket that is either being filled up by positive experiences or being dipped into when negative things occur. My bucket was nearly empty.

It wasn't easy. I had to leave my kids. I know that was kind of the point, but it was still hard. I have been the only person in their lives in the last year that they have seen every day. I even cried for the first three miles, deciding whether or not I should just cancel the trip and stay home with my family...but I forced myself to keep driving.

Was it worth it? Not only did I finish my projects, I had a great time with a friend and ventured to a movie. I ate popcorn until my stomach hurt and slept on a couch like I was in college. I feel rejuvenated and the best I have felt in several years. I will not let my bucket get so low again!