Weigh In --- Slowly but surely

Ugh I am so ready to start my cleanse in August and start seeing some results faster!!  This weight is coming off SO SLOW!!!

Weight on Monday: 165.6 lbs (-4.4 lbs total; -1.2 lbs since last week)

I did pretty good last week as far as exercise went.  I ran my first week (3 days) of the couch to 5K (C25K).  It was a 5 minute walk then alternating 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking 8 times, then a 5 minute cool down walk.  It doesn't sound that hard, but speeding up and slowing down is actually harder on your heart and will increase my stamina.  It about killed me, but I did it!  I'm working towards doing a "mud run" with my bestie in October!  I also did some ab and arm workouts last week.

My eating was OK last week.  I did pretty good during the week and managed to only drink 1 coffee and more water.  Last weekend, however, was just plain bad.  I ate hamburgers with gluten-free bread Friday and Chinese with the best on Saturday.  On Sunday hubby and I went with Sarah and Rico to a new restarurant (to me), Georgia Blue, and I got to discover another gluten-free friendly place!  They had an appetizer and a few entrees to choose from!  I could have done worse here, but I did manage to get some grilled chicken (topped with cheese and ham), sweet potato, and steamed veggies.  It is so hard to eat healthy when you travel!

I am starting this week off right though!!  Yesterday morning I ran week 2 day 1 of C25K (5 min walk; alternate 90 sec run 2 min walk for 6 times; 5 min walk).  Then, yesterday after work I did my first Zumba class (you read that right, 2 workouts in 1 day!).  I also ate a salad yesterday.  Today after work I plan to run week 2 day 2 and then to a yoga/pilates class.  I am DETERMINED to feel good about myself again!

Weigh-in and Gluten Free Recipe

So, I am very disappointed in myself for the past couple of weeks.  I only went to the gym 2-3 days each week, and I definitely did not stick to my diet!  I did not go back to my old habits of Starbucks in the morning and Reese's for my snack everyday.  But, I did eat cereal a few times for dinner.  Then, my mom really messed me up by buying me 4 DELICIOUS gluten-free cupcakes!!  I mean, they were like $15, so it would have been rude not to eat them!  I did share 2 of them and accidentally let the last one get stale and only ate half of it.  It could have been worse! 

Somehow, despite my cereal and cupcakes and baked potatoes (did I mention McAllister's deli? oops), I still managed to not gain any weight.  My weigh-in on Monday was 166.8 lbs (down 3.2 lbs from my start).  I'm not happy about it, but that is more motivation to do better this week!!

So far this week, I have done really good!!  I started the C25K, so I can try to run a mud-run with my bestie in October!  I went to the gym Monday and Tuesday.  I have also eaten pretty good so far.  Sunday night I made a FABULOUS Turkey Ragu over baked Butternut Squash (see recipe further down).  Monday night we had baked chicken and salads.  I am eating these gluten free healthy frozen meals for lunch (similar to lean cuisines) because I have been too lazy to make my tuna.  I miss my tuna though and plan to start that back up!  Tonight I am going to make some quinoa and chickpeas that I'm pretty excited about!!

Turkey Ragu over Butternut Squash

Ingredients:
--1 lb ground turkey meat
--1 yellow onion
--3 green onions
--1 package of baby bella mushrooms
--1 tsp minced garlic
--1 can diced tomatoes
--1/2 tsp cumin
--1/2 tsp paprika
--1 butternut squash
--dash olive oil

Directions:
--Peel and dice butternut squash and toss in a bit of olive oil.  Cook in oven at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes or until squash is soft.
--While squash is cooking, brown ground turkey in a big skillet.  Add diced onion, cut green onions, mushrooms, garlic, and spices and cook on medium heat (measurments are just an estimate, I really just add a little then taste then add some more).  Once onions and mushrooms are a little softer I add the tomatoes (next time I plan to add a small can of tomato paste) and turn down to medium-low heat.  Cover and let cook until squash is finished.
--Serve the Ragu on top of the squash.  Enjoy!!  This is pretty healthy and YUMMY!!  If you have never had butternut squash, it taste like a mix of pumpkin and sweet potato to me.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures :(. 

Challenge!

So, it's official. I SUCK at this diet thing. I did really good the first week and loss 2 pounds. Then, I started slacking and giving in to holiday temptations (those ribs were fantastic)! I only lost 1 pound (no clue how I even managed that). I need more motivation (apparently my belly shaking like a bowl full of jelly is not enough).

This brings me to the challenge. The advocare 24 day challenge, to be exact. This is a cleanse/diet that I REALLY want to do! So, I'm gonna do it!! I haven't gotten the ok from Michael yet, but he is happy when momma's happy, right? ;)

I want to start in August. This will be great, because Michael will be out of state, and I'll be tempted to binge eat in my loneliness! It does cost a good bit, but you get SO much more than any other diet I have seen. It helps to clean your gut of all the yucky sticky stuff we eat, so it will be ready to absorb all the nutrients you will eat after the cleanse portion! While you eat all the healthy nutrients, your body is getting everything it needs and starts shedding all the fat it stored up for the winter! You see, the way I have been eating lately, my body thinks I must be trying to store up for a very long hibernation and has been holding on to all this fat. Hello body!! It is summer time and swimsuit season!!

My challenge for you?! I really want an accountability partner to do this with! I'm scared I will back-slide! Who is in it with me? We can talk everyday about our meals/exercise and make sure we stay on track!

By the way: I'm definitely not an expert on this product! This is just my understanding of it! But I can point you in the direction of somebody who knows a lot more about it if you are interested!

4 Months Old!!

I don't plan to do a full monthly update on Grayson.  I mean, not much changes every month.  And, I don't want to bore y'all (I know how interesting ALL of my other posts have been).

But, I just can't help bragging on my cutie!!

Grayson is officially 4 MONTHS OLD!!!

Accomplishments:
----Screaming (not like a mad scream, but the sweetest happiest scream you will ever hear)
----He is officially the loudest baby at daycare (I think it is adorable now, but I have a feeling I will not be so proud of this one day)
----He can sit in the tripod position really well without his helmet (sitting with the support of his hands)
----He can say mama (only it sounds a lot more like aayhhhgggaaahhmmeeaah; I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that can understand him) hehe
----He is teething (I'm not sure I would call this an accomplishment so much as evilness; he is drooling and pooping and chewing a TON)
----He is still sleeping through the night!! (Ok, I talk about this way too much, but it really is the best thing ever; Mommy NEEDS her sleep!!)

This little boy is my whole world, and I wouldn't change a THING about him!!  Everything we have been through has just made us appreciate and love him that much more.  He is my little warrior!!!

This is the scream I was speaking of!

They really do love each other!

I have a confession to make...

I have been bad.  Very bad. 

Anybody who is friends with me on Facebook or has read my blog knows that I gave birth to my little miracle on March 1, 2013.  As much as I am absolutely in love with this precious boy, my life has not gotten easier since then.  He had surgery on May 6, 2013, and now he has a helmet to wear for a year.  And, on top of all that, I believe he is currently teething.  So, needless to say, I have been stressed lately.

What do I do to handle my stress?  I eat.  I eat a lot.  So, for the past few weeks I have been going to Starbucks on the way to work and drinking a very delicious, sugar filled, coffee drink almost every day.  I have been eating sodium filled, gluten-free, frozen meals for lunches.  I have had a candy bar for a snack almost everyday.  And, I usually ate a huge bowl of cereal for dinner.  Not only have I eaten tons of unhealthy food.  But, I have also willingly had some gluten-laden items.  It can be hard to turn down free, delicious food (my gut has been VERY upset with me about this)! This is all on top of a very sedentary lifestyle.

This is bad y'all.

So, I have decided to change!!!

Step 1:

I joined a very good gym about 3 weeks ago.  So far, I have been going everyday that I get off work and don't have other errands to run.  I plan to go at least 4 times a week.  After 2 weeks of the gym my weight had not changed (actually, I lost 1 pound and then gained it back).  I was weighing in at a steady 170lbs.  I was 151 lbs before baby. 

I was still having too many of these!!

So, on to step 2...

Step 2:

I am making a complete lifestyle change in my eating habits!!!  Today is actually my 3rd day.  I am cutting out all sweets and eating a diet full of lean protein and fresh veges and fruit!  And obviously, NO MORE GLUTEN!  The types of healthy meals I have been eating so far: plain oatmeal with fresh blueberries or strawberries, tuna salad (with pickles, mustard, and avocado instead of mayo), fresh fruit mixed in low-fat Greek yogurt, salads (spinach, lean turkey, grapes, blue cheese, pistachios, tomatoes, dressing). 

I know my diet isn't perfect, but it is SO much better than it has been!  Since eating healthy, I have already lost 2 lbs!! I really want to keep this up and feel better about myself!  I would really love for my friends to help encourage me to continue on this path! Also, any ideas on variety of healthy meals would be appreciated.

My Stats:

Weight: Started at 170 lbs.  Currently 168 lbs.

Height: 5'9"

Pant size: Started at a size 12 pants.  Currently can wear some size 10 and some size 12.

Shirt size: Started and currently at a size M shirt.

My Goal:

Weight: 150 lbs

Pant size: 6

Shirt size: S or M (I think shoulder width really dictates shirt size a lot of the time)

A happy, healthier me!!

3 Months Old

I know it has been a while.  It is hard for me to get used to this whole mom and work routine!  I feel like I am constantly on the go and always behind!  I'm starting to get a good schedule though:

5:00 AM: Wake-up, shower, get pretty for work (try my best anway)
6:00 AM: Wake-up and feed baby
7:00 AM: Take baby to daycare and go to work
7:30-4:30ish: Work
4:30 PM: Gym (I skip this step way too often)
5:30 PM: Pick up baby
6:00 PM: Feed baby
7:00 PM: Chore time while baby naps (wash bottles, laundry, feed dogs, maybe get in a little TV time)
8:30 PM: Wake baby up for bath-time and bottle
9:30 PM: Get baby to sleep then go to bed

Of course, many times Grayson has his own ideas about the schedule... But, he has done very good the past few days!! I'm also so lucky to have Michael.  If Grayson does wake up to eat in the middle of the night, Michael almost always feeds him.  And, Michael helps me if Grayson is having a bad day.  I honestly don't know how Michael does it.  This is what his schedule looks like (to me):

6:45 AM: Wake up and get ready for clinical
7:45-5:00 (or later): Clinical
The rest of the time: STUDY STUDY STUDY (and help me with baby)
Midnight (or later): Sleep

Grayson is 3 MONTHS OLD (well, was 3 months old on June 1st)

He Loves:
--Eating
--Standing up (with support)
--Being tickled by my hair
--Pulling out my hair
--Laughing and smiling
--Mirrors
--Tummy time matt (but on his back)
--Wubba Nubb (we are screwed if we lose this)
--Being naked
--Bath time

He Hates:
--Pooping
--Laying on his tummy
--Getting dressed
--Having his helmet messed with
--Booger sucker-outers
--Bed-time

He really is SUCH a good baby!! He has been a little fussy this past week, but I think it is because he is out-growing his helmet.  It has been so much harder to get on and off, and it does not come nearly as far down on his head.  He is even having more growth where his helmet ends because there is not enough room in his helmet.  We are seeing the helmet lady today!  So, hopefully she will scan him for a new one! 

Speaking of the helmet, it really is not nearly as big of a deal as I thought it would be.  Most of the time, he doesn't even seem to know he is there.  He is the favorite baby at daycare because of his cute helmet.  I have even heard older kids point out his "cool hat."  I have had a few children ask me what it was for, and that did not bother me in the least.  In fact, I would much rather somebody as me about the helmet then blatantly stare at it. 

I'm getting so accoustomed to the helmet that Grayson looks strange with it off.  I just think it fits his little personality perfectly. I might even miss it a little after the year is finished. Weird?  I know...

Sleeping Through the Night!!

I have had a couple of people ask me about how we got Grayson to sleep through the night.  I thought not sleeping through the night until 3 months was a long time, but apparently that was good?  Basically, our secret is ROUTINE!!  We have a very routine schedule for him at home.  Daycare kind of lets him dictate his own schedule (which I'm not a fan of), but he sticks to our feeding/sleeping schedule at home.  We feed him at 6 everyday (no matter when his last bottle was at daycare).  Then, I bathe him at 8:30 everynight and let him play in the tub for about 30 minutes.  Then, I feed him at 9:00 and do his bedtime routine.  His routine consists of reading him a book (Goodnight Moon), singing him a song a couple of times (Jesus Loves Me), and rocking him for about 10-15 minutes.  Usually I can put him down even if he is a little awake and he will fall asleep.  Some days, however, I do have to rock him completely to sleep.  The first couple of night trying this he would wake up around 3 and we would have to rock him back to sleep.  Since this routine he has gone through a growth spurt and still needed a middle of the night feeding for a few days.

The Big Day

So, Grayson's surgery has come and gone. My little man was such a champ!!

On May 5 we drove to New Orleans to be there bright and early the next day for Grayson's surgery. Michael and I got almost no sleep that night trying to time Gray's feedings. He could only have clear liquids after midnight and nothing to eat after 3am.

On May 6 we had to be at the hospital at 5am. Thankfully, our hotel was attached to the hospital, and we just had to walk right over. Gray was SO good that morning. He had to be starving, but he just slept in mine and Michael's arms. So many doctors came in and out explaining all the risks of the surgery. It suddenly became real when the first risk on the consent form was DEATH. I had the hardest time signing that form. Thankfully, our plastic surgeon, Dr. St Hilaire came after this and eased my worries. When anesthesia came to take him to his surgery, everybody said their 'see ya later's. I was so mad because I wanted to hug him one more time, but they took him from Michael before I had the chance. Next, came the wait.

Once I sat in the waiting room, I cried for the first time that day. I was so scared! It was comforting that so much of our family was there. After about 2 hours, a nurse told us that they started the procedure (they had to start all his lines and draw his labs before). The actual surgery only lasted about 1 hour. When I saw Dr. St Hilaire and Dr. Bui walking towards us, I knew it was good news. They were both smiling. They said that everything went perfect and he was being woken up.

We had to wait a bit longer on them to wake him, and for him to get settled in the PICU. He did end up having to get 1 blood transfusion during this time.

The first time I saw him in the PICU was a big shock. I had looked at so many pictures of other babies that went through the surgery, but nothing can prepare you to see your son like that. He didn't look or sound like himself. He was already swollen, had so much hair shaved, and was so hoarse from being intubated. My poor man was in so much pain. Thankfully, we had awesome nurses that called the doctor several times to give him extra pain medicine.

I remember being so mad that they shaved so much hair. I know it seems silly. Why be mad about something as minuscule as hair? Especially when it will grow back. With everything that was going on and all the stress of the day, that was just 1 unexpected thing that took me over the edge. They don't ever shave so much hair, and I was not prepared for that.

Anyway, Grayson's 2 day was So much better! He even started cooing for the first time ever! One of the workers brought him a mobile for his crib, and he would spend so much time looking at it and talking to it! He just amazed! Since then, he has only amazed me more.

The first 2 pictures are from the day of his surgery, the second 2 are the next day: