Mamavation Monday--Shout Out!

Happy Mamavation Monday All! Now that Easter has passed, how'd you do? We're you able to stay on track? I half stayed on track. Saturday was the first of two Easter dinners, AND my birthday. I did extremely well. My portions were all under control, and I had ONE cupcake. Which, has been next to an impossibility in the past.

Then, dun dun dun, Sunday I had Easter at my mother in law's. And I just could not stop eating. I probably ate enough for the whole week. However, she knew that I was watching what I was eating and made mostly healthy options. So even though I overate, it was healthy. I had 2x the portion of prime rib that I should have, and took a second helping of cheesy potatos (both were of a restricted portion size), and ate 2 pieces of angel food cake instead of one. But--I am back on track today. And that's the most important thing, I fell of the wagon, and hopped right back on. That's becoming the most valuble lesson I am learning on my weight loss journey, that just because I screwed up once, doesn't mean I'm screwed forever. Just get back to it.

That said, this week I lost 3.1 lbs! I wasn't expecting to lose that much after such a huge loss last week, but nevertheless, it was a pleasent suprise! Looks like all my working out is starting to pay off!

But I have to admit, I couldn't do this without my husband. He is my biggest supporter. He helps me make smarter choices, and doesn't complain about my huge grocery bills with tons of fruits and veggies. He understands that I need "special" treats hidden from me, so the cookies on the countertop don't sit there mocking me until I have to devour the whole package. No to mention, he takes care of our son so that I can get a workout in--or we'll workout as a family and go for a nice long walk to wind down for the day. He gives me high fives and hugs when I've had a good week, and asks me questions when I've had a bad one--to help me evaluate where I went wrong and how I can get back on track. He's the greatest.

Wishing you all a wonderful week, with lots of calorie burning to get those Easter dinners off our bums!

**Note: I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win My Trainer Fitness 100 Calorie+ Workout featuring MizFitOnline from Mamavation.” at the end of your post if you enter the blogging carnival.**

Lady Luck

I've never thought that I was lucky. It seems that I was always on the "poopy" end of the stick, up a crick without a paddle, you name the euphemism and that was me. I was a glass half empty kind of gal, I never saw the good that was around me. And I felt as unlucky as they came.

I focused on the things that shaped me. I lost my mother at age 8. Which lead me to a life of rebellion, because god knows, that I was screwed, and nothing was ever going to change that, so I might as well make my life into a non-stop party. I dated the bad boys, which lead to smoking, drinking, drugs, and sex. All by the ripe old age of 13. And I got away with it, while I know my dad cared about me, I think he turned a blind eye because I was the "All-American" teenager on the outside. I got good grades, participated in extra curricular activities, and was responsible despite the life I was hiding. I had, and still do have, the most immense desire to please people.

Most of my teenage years are a blur. School in the morning, parties on the weekends. I had a really good time, at the expense of my self esteem. My partying got more and more raucous and love blinded me from the emotional turned physical abuse of my then fiance. Yes, I was engaged to this guy and that lifestyle by the age of 18.

Once I moved to college, I developed the notion that since I was paying for my schooling, I should probably take things more seriously. I studied profusely, as I was in Nursing school, yet I still partied on the weekends. This lead to laziness, skipping classes, and passing classes by the skin of my teeth. I moved back home, and left school.

Once home, I landed a little library job as a Circulation Clerk at my local library. I was working with my best friend, and made several new friends. Friends that were not part of the group I was running with. However, within the first week, I called into work sick.

That fiance of mine and I got into a fight. A bad fight. A fight in the middle of the street from 12-3am. The kind of fight that wakes up the neighborhood. It was bad.

While I was at home, nursing the emotional wounds of the early morning (it didn't get physical). I got a phone call from my best friend. It turns out that a guy that I worked with (the security guard nevertheless), that I barely knew, was really concerned about me. After getting permission from my BFF, he got in contact with me just to make sure everything was alright, and offered to help in any way he could.

It was the first time that I felt that kind of kindness from a stranger. And it changed my life--my luck had changed in a moment. I let that guy into my life. He became my friend. I quit my "wild ways" and most importantly, I broke up with my fiance. Yet, I still didn't know that this "stranger" who entered my life would increase my luck infinitely.

That stranger, Phil Vanstone, became my husband October 11, 2008. And on March 25, 2010 we welcomed our first child, our son into this world. The love I receive from both of these blessings is a high that my previous life can never compare to. I can definitely say that I am the luckiest lady in the world to have both of them in my life.

Phil and My Wedding Day

Our First Family Photo

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. With the love and support of my husband, I made it back to school and got my Bachelor's Degree. Not in Nursing, but in my real passion, English, with Honors. :)

"I wrote this blog post while participating in the Bookieboo and "Earthies Wants You to Feel Lucky" blogging program, making me eligible to win a pair of Earthies shoes and American Express Gift Cards. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Now That's What I Call Progress!

I'm making progress. LOTS of progress. Today I started week 3 of TurboFire. So two down, ten to go (It's a 12 week program). And I've lost 9.4lbs! I can't believe how fast and easy this weight is melting off. It's unlike any other weight loss experience I've ever had. I'm used to 2 lbs a week, if I'm lucky, let alone 4! Amazing! I've got energy to burn and I'm starting to get my pre-baby body back. I can see hips coming through where my muffin top used to be. My lower abs are going back to where they should be after my c-section. I don't like to work out, but holy moly, as Chalene Johnson says in the DVDs "I've found my soulmate workout"! I can't wait to see what kind of transformation the next few weeks hold. I've even got my hunny in on the action. He's doing P90X and counting his calories now. It's definately a family affair. I'll keep ya posted!

Getting my burn on--with the FIRE!

Last Monday, I committed. I am going to put all of my energy into getting back down to a healthy pre-baby weight (before I was lucky if I was putting in 50%). I gained almost 60 lbs while I was pregnant with my son. 40 of that sixty I had JUST lost before getting pregnant! Ugh! But like I said, I committed to a new and improved healthier lifestyle.

Since then, I have followed the TurboFire workout schedule to a T. And I have been doing my best to eat clean while keeping my calories in check. I've been using myfitnesspal.com to log all of my food, for me it is easier than writing it down and having to calculate everything out. AND thier database is HUGE!

And I must say all of my work has paid off! I am down 4.6 pounds this week! Ow Ow! But more importantly I feel phenomenal!

My little commital to my cause of loosing weight also inspired my husband to jump on the bandwagon with me. He has re-started P90X. Sometimes he gripes about how challenging it is and the pain he is in the next day. I also can be known the gripe about the burn I feel from TF. But he and I both know that that kind of "pain" is the best kind of pain.

Though losing weight and feeling better about ourselves is awesome, I think the best part is that we're in it together!