Mamavation Monday--Two Week Challenge Part Deux

Hey everyone! I hope your holidays were fabulous! Things have been really crazy over here, for starters my Grandma-In-Law and one of my primary babysitters for the baby was diagnosed with colon cancer, then my husband's former step-dad and brother-in-law's father had a stroke. The baby puked all over the place on New Years Day, getting me sick afterwards. And my pregnancy was a false alarm, I had a chemical pregnancy (the technical term for an early miscarriage) and am no longer pregnant.

Happily the one thing that has stayed consistant in my life has been my quest to shed the extra pounds. Since my last post, I lost 2.8 lbs the week before last, and last week I lost another 1.6, for a grand total of of -4.4 lbs the past two weeks and down 21 since I joined Mamavation. This morning I even went from the fifth notch, to the sixth notch on my belt! Woot Woot! This week, my goal is to break the 170 lb barrier that I've been beating my head up against for the past 11 months. I'll see you on the other side next week!

I'm excited for the this two week challenge, doing the one before Christmas put me in a good spot for the holidays, and I'm ready to be in an even better place to start the new year! Here are my starting stats:

Weight: 170.4 lbs.
Waist: 36.75 inches
Hips: 41.75 inches
Legs: 24.25 inches
And just for giggles, Arms: 13.5 inches

Good Luck to all of my fellow challengers!
But enough about me, It's time for the Mamavation Question of the Week!

This week's blogging carnival and MamavationTV is sponsored by Budhi Skin Care. They ask:

What do you find most challenging in skin care?

The thing I find most challenging about skin care is finding the right product for my skin type. I have skin that can't make up it's mind. And last time I checked NOT ONE bottle of product is labeled for "indicisive skin". Let me explain, one day I'm oily, the next day I'm dry, then I have acne and blackheads, and on top of all that I have rosecea so I can be sensitive, sending me right back to oily, dry, or acne.

Vicious, annoying, cycle.

So finding a product(s) that will balence my skin, that ends the vicious cycle is the most troublesome, and hard to do

Wishing you all a wonderful week of losses!
~Lisa

Mamavation Monday--Let's Get This Challenge Started!

So the damage from Thanksgiving wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. I gained less than a pound, 0.8. I'm TOTALLY counting this as a victory after my
F-O-U-R desserts, multiple bread rolls, and multiple helpings.

This past week I've been on  oral steroids, so I'm really expecting a gain come Thursday (official weigh in day), but I've been extremely dilligent about what I've been eating, and I've been working out, even though I'm not really supposed to because of my ear. Oops. I've been careful though!

The next step of "Ear Drama 2011" is a trip to the ENT, to see about gettting my tonsils out. Joy! So that will be interesting.

As for today, I'm starting the #Mamavation #2WeekChallenge! Woot, Woot!

My starting weight is: 171.2
My waist measures: 37in
My hips measure: 42 in
My thighs measure: 24.5 in each

But now it's time for The Mamavation Question of the Week, Sponsored by Reflect It Apparel!

When it comes to holiday shopping, how do you make sure you stick to your budget ?

When it comes to sticking to my holiday budget, the first thing I do is have a list of who to buy for and what I intend on getting them, or what they want, and how much the items total. My goal is to complete my list while spending AT LEAST a $100 dollars LESS than what my original total was. My gifts never total more than $500, I REFUSE to spend more than that on gifts.

Then I start shopping early, pricing the items, and using the internet to find coupons and the best deals. I also haunt black friday ads online for weeks beforehand to make sure I'm getting the best deal. I also sign up for e-mails from the companies, and get notices in my inbox when the items I'm looking for go on sale, or a new coupon code is released. Typically, if it's not at least 50% off, or I don't have a coupon or coupon code, I won't buy it. I'll wait, go somewhere else, or if all else fails opt for a similar product, at a lower price.

That's my secret! What's yours?

This post is sponsored by Reflect It Apparel and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women