Sorry it's been so long

Hey guys! Sorry, I know it's been a while. After my surgery, it took me a long time to recover well enough to get back on the treadmill. Once I got over my physical pain enough to get back to it, I found that it seemed to really help me deal with my emotional pain. Emotionally, I am doing much better, but it's still a work in progress. I think I will always miss the baby that never was and I'm okay with that.

Now for some good news: We found out that we are expecting again. I'm about 9 1/2 weeks along and everything looks great this time! It was really worrisome at first but I'm starting to relax and enjoy the pregnancy.

I will be sure to keep you all posted.

Much love,

Megan

Sad news

Two weeks ago, my husband and I found out that we lost our baby. It was an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. I had to have surgery and have been recovering from that, dealing with the emotional loss and catching up on schoolwork.

I have been taking short walks around the house (just a few minutes at a time) to make sure that I don't get completely out of shape. Somehow, I managed to lose 12 pounds in 2 weeks--dont' ask me how I did it, because I haven't the faintest idea.

I will be sure to keep everyone updated on how things are going. Healthy eating is still a priority. I will be adding in more exercise as I feel up to it.

My Ah-ha Moment

One thing that I have found interesting since finding out that I am pregnant: Suddenly, it is acceptable for me to be overweight, eat whatever I want to, and not be active.

Now this isn't saying that this is what I want to do. However, it's suddenly okay in the eyes of others for me to have an unhealthy snack. "The baby wants it." Hello! If it's not healthy for me, then it's certainly not healthy for my unborn child. Also, every time I try to do anything, people tell me that I shouldn't be doing that. What's wrong with being active? As long as I have my doctor's approval, I can do everything that I was doing before I got pregnant.

I think that I will really have to watch myself and make sure that people with the best of intentions don't derail me from my lifestyle changes. I've worked too hard to give up now.

Mystery Solved!

The past few months have been quite the emotional rollercoaster for me. We have been trying to conceive for a really long time now. Every month that it didn't happen, I was heartbroken. We went to the doctor and discovered that I hadn't been ovulating every month, so I started a regimine of meds to try to help us out. Still no luck.

Then I noticed that I have just been exhausted and I chalked it up to stress. I had tested a few days before and wasn't not pregnant. My doctor was going to up my dosage and at my Mom's suggestion, I retested. I was looking for confirmation that I wasn't pregnant, so that I could safely take the medication. Boy, was I shocked, when I found out that I am indeed pregnant!

So how will this effect my lifestyle change? I don't see how it will. I will still continue healthy eating (maybe even more so now) and I will still continue to do my exercises.

I already know that I am going to have a wonderful Christmas and I hope that everyone else has a wonderful Christmas as well!

Much love,

Megan

Post-Thanksgiving

Well, I did, in fact survive Thanskgiving. I followed all of my steps and was really glad that I had planned accordingly. I even got in a 3 mile walk when we got home in the evening (even though I really just wanted to sit and veg in front of the t.v.)

How I am Going to Survive Thanksgiving...

10. I am going to use a small plate.
9. I am only going to have one serving of dinner.
8. I am only going to have a small slice of my Grandma's pumpkin pie.
7. I am going to start my meal off with a salad.
6. I am going to remind myself how hard I have worked to get to this point--I'm not going to give up now!
5. I am going to remember my one pair of fat pants that is stored away in my closet, never to be used again.
4. I started off the day with a power shopping morning (Who knew Thanksgiving day would be the best time to hit the discount stores--noone was there, except employees and last minute food shoppers!)
3. When I get home, I'm going to get in a 3 mile walk.
2. I won't use the tryptophan in the turkey excuse to get out of exercising.
1. I'm wearing the tightest jeans that I could find (not stretch jeans either!) to help remind myself that my stomach isn't as big as my eyes.

And with that, I'm heading off to my parent's house to have dinner with my family. I hope that everyone is having a wonderful turkey-day!

I thought this was cute...

I'm still considering entering a 5k next year, but it just depends on what direction life takes me. I will definately keep you updated.

Happy Halloween!

So how are you going to avoid the tempting holiday treats this year?

My plan is to avoid the kids Halloween buckets like the plague. In addition, we didn't buy any candy to give out to trick or treaters this year. We bought a whole bunch of fun and goofy party favors--pencils, spiders, bugs, princess tiaras ect... I won't gain weight from having those sitting around the house long after Halloween has come and gone. Plus, I can still use any leftovers next year!

This is only the first of many holidays that cause myself and many fellow dieters/lifestyle-changers much distress. Next will be Thanksgiving and all of the yummy food to go along with it. Then it will be Christmas and all of the sweet cookies and other goodies. Then, let's not forget New Year's Eve and all of the empty-calorie filled drinks that we will consume and the snacks that go along with it.

But I actually feel ready for the holidays this year. They don't feel daunting anymore. They are what they are. I will have to be prepared to turn down things I might not have turned down in the past. I might have to jog a little longer on the treadmill to make up for a transgression. But I'm really heading in the right direction and feel confident about the upcoming holiday season.

I lost HOW many inches?!!!

My jaw dropped this morning when I looked at my measuring tape! I measured myself around my waist and discovered that I have lost 7 inches! 7! 7 whole inches... Just the other day, I was telling my husband that I thought my butt was getting smaller. He confirmed that I'm getting smaller all over, although it's most noticeable in my face. I guess I was right! Woo-hoo!

In related news, I put on a jacket today that has always fit--it was just a little on the snug side the last time that I wore it (in the Spring). However, today, it fit perfectly--with room to spare. Although I will never be needing the extra room again!

A New Start

I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on different things. I think that I was too focused on what I was eating. While I agree that planning can be a good thing, I feel as if I was obsessing about my points or calories. I started the day eating as little as possible; After all, I need to save my points, right? Then I would end up overeating at dinner. So I have been trying to eat a larger breakfast and since then, I have noticed that I have automatically decreased the amount of food that I was eating for lunch and dinner, without consciously making the effort to do so. My husband, Karl, and I have invested in a treadmill for our home. I think this was the best decision that we have made in a while. It gives us another option if we can't get to the gym and gives us something to do on the days that we don't go to the gym. Who wants to go to the gym everyday? Not me. My time is very precious to me.

I have also made some other small changes. I joined www.runnerplus.com and have entered into different challenges. They have been keeping me motivated to get on the treadmill, even when I don't feel up to it.

I haven't been good about getting to weight watchers, although I need to. I have been keeping track of my weight at home and am going to do something that I have never done before. I'm going to tell my weight! Gasp! At my highest, I was between 235-240 pounds (I wasn't exactly getting on the scale at that point, so who knows how much I really weighed. I was in total denial at that point.) When I told my husband that I wanted to join weight watchers, I weighed 225. When I joined weight watchers, I weighed 220.

I now weigh 193 pounds. Despite all of my setbacks, I'm back on track again. I'm making healthy choices and still allowing myself the occassional treat. I'm not journaling what I'm eating, but I'm very conscious of my portion sizes and what I'm taking in each day. I have been getting on the treadmill anywhere from 4 to 5 times a week and pushing myself.

It feels like a brand new start for me.

I'm still here...

Well, I have been really bad and had fallen off of the wagon, but am back on track now. Life has been so crazy that going to the gym has been impossible. We bought a treadmill that sits proudly in our family room, so that we can use it when we can't get to the gym or on days when we aren't going to the gym. Going to the gym six or seven days a week just isn't possible.

Good news though: I haven't gained any weight back. I'm still toning up. My wedding rings are falling off more often. But I don't want to get them resized more than once, so I am waiting until I am closer to my goal weight.

I need to clearly state my goals. If I tell them to someone, than that will make them more real and I will be more likely to follow through. I will be posting those in the next couple of days, so check back soon!

Nicole Richie's Weight

Okay. I admit it: My guilty pleasure is following what the celebrities are up to. I don't waste my money on the magazines, but I do follow certain websites like The Smoking Gun, People, & x17 Online. I was very surprised at some information that was revealed due to her recent stint in jail. At 5 months pregnant, she is five feet, one inch tall & weighs a shockingly low 105 pounds! Now for a non-pregnant woman with a small frame, her weight range should be between 106-118 pounds! And when you compare her mug shots from her jail stint to her original arrest, they really aren't that different. (unless you count hair color)

I just think that it's sad how many young girls look up to these celebrities & want to look like them! How sad! I hope after serving hard time for a whopping 38 minutes, that she will be able to turn her life around & eat a cheeseburger for cryin' out loud!

Things are crazy!

So I still haven't had time to get to the gym, since Karl's release from the hospital. All of my time seems to go towards driving to different appointments, the kids, family time, pets, basic housecleaning, cooking & studying. I'm hoping things will settle down soon & I will be able to completely catch up on my reading & then will be able to devote more time to fitness.

So where do you fit in your workouts? What
kinds of exercises do you like to do while on the run?

I take the stairs whenever I can. (sometimes while carrying one or both boys... that's about 50 extra pounds of weight!) I do heel raises while doing dishes & fit in a little stretching whenever possible. We have a tri-level & I will often take several trips up & down. I figure anything is better than nothing.

Post Secret Video

I always look forward to each & every Sunday, when Post Secret posts their new secrets. Some are funny. Some are weird. Some are very touching. It takes a very brave person to bare his or her soul & admit their faults, their secrets, especially to the world.

Hello again

Okay, so things didn't go exactly as planned. My husband is finally home, after spending 2 weeks in the hospital.

I was dreading getting on the scale after 2 weeks of eating on the run, virtually no exercise & often times, forgetting to eat. But I stayed consistent. During that time, I lost 5 pounds (unofficially--I haven't gone to my ww meeting yet). I was really proud of myself. I took the stairs up & down whenever I came & went. Karl was on the 2nd floor, so that was a lot of stairs every day.

Now, I am just trying to re-adjust back to "normal life".

FYI: I had midterm exams last week & aced them, which felt like such a HUGE accomplishment, with everything that's been going on.

5 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

I came across this article on yahoo & thought I would share with everyone. And afterall, we can all probably use some tips for boosting our metabolism!

Joy's Healthy Bite

Provided by

Five Ways to Rev Your Metabolism!
Posted by Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
on Thu, Aug 02, 2007, 5:18 pm PDT

While it's true your metabolism naturally slows down by about 2 to 5% per decade after age 40, there are plenty of things you can do to fight back.
Exercise is key for immediate - and lasting - benefits.

Engage in aerobic exercise 4 to 5 days a week: It's obvious that aerobic activities like running, brisk walking, swimming, and bike riding burn calories and increase metabolism while you're working out. But interestingly enough, several studies show that aerobic activities cause your metabolism to stay increased for a period of time after exercising.

Work your muscles:Lifting weights and/or other strengthening activities like push-ups and crunches on a regular basis (at least 2 to 3 times each week) will boost your resting metabolism 24/7. That's because these activities build muscle, and muscle burns more calories than body fat. In fact, if you have more muscle, you burn more calories - even sitting still.

When it comes to food, keep your metabolism revved with these 3 tips:

Eat enough food - at least 1,000 calories: Your body and metabolism thrive on food, so when you fast, crash-diet, or restrict calories below 1,000, your metabolism will slow down in a response to conserve energy.

Eat every 4 to 5 hours: Because our bodies work hard to digest and absorb the foods we eat, your metabolism revs in response. This is called the thermic effect of food. Take full advantage and schedule meals and snacks every 4 to 5 hours.

Incorporate lean protein with every meal: Eating any food creates a thermic effect and boosts metabolism after consumption. However, the consumption of protein has the absolute greatest metabolic boost when compared to carbohydrate and fat. Plus, eating the appropriate amount of protein will ensure you're able to maintain and build muscle mass (the more muscle mass you have, the greater your metabolism). The Daily Protein Requirements in grams for the average healthy person is approximately 50% of your weight in pounds (for example, if you weigh 140 pounds, you'll need 70 grams protein each day). Some of the best protein sources include: fish, chicken, turkey, lean sirloin steak, skim milk, nonfat yogurt, eggs and egg substitutes, tofu, lentils, and beans.

Update

My husband is going under the knife on Monday July 23rd for his bypass surgery. I will have to try to be very careful about what I am eating at the hospital. It can be very easy to just grab something from the vending machine on the run or go a local fast food joint. I will plan ahead. Maybe pack a lunch. I also have to watch emotional eating, because I know that I am prone to that when I get stressed.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone is interested, I updated our family blog.

Splenda is not so bad, afterall

So I tried splenda in my coffee a couple of times & was so disgusted. But then I finally made the switch to diet sodas. So last weekend, I tried some splenda in my coffee again. Guess what? I liked it. I just didn't put in as much as I would sugar. And it tasted great.

I think as long as I make all of these little changes, one at a time, it's much easier to stick with them. I'm not sure what goal to try to conquer next. Maybe drinking more water?

Bye, Bye Fat Clothes!

Here are 2 large boxes that contain clothes that no longer fit me anymore. If I had other clothes to replace them, the pile would have been even bigger. I donated them to Goodwill & it felt great to see them go!

Guess it's time to go shopping again!

And Let Them Eat Cake!

My 26th birthday was a couple of days ago. So of course, I had a little bit of dessert. And before my parents left for vacation, they threw a birthday party for me (complete with a chocolate ice cream cake from DQ!) My oldest son, Dalton will be turning 4 in a week, so I will probably bake some sort of cupcakes for the occassion. And when my parents return from their vacation, they want to throw Dalton a birthday party, so they can celebrate with him also. I'm assuming cake will be on the menu.

The bad news? I feel bad for having so many sweets.

The good news? I have really been watching my portions.

When I do have cake & ice cream, I only have a very small amount. My delicious ice cream cake, was shared with my Mom's dog (she said I could give it to her). I always prefer to bake cupcakes over cake whenever possible, because I only eat one cupcake, where as with cake, it's easy to be tempted to eat a serving that is more than needed. And I always choose Edy's (or Dryer's, depending on what part of the country you live in) slow-churned ice cream (The sugar-free mint chocolate chip is de-lish!)

All this sweet-talk makes me want to hit the gym!

Dalton helped me blow out the candles on my birthday cake!

Shopping

I forgot what it was like to go shopping for fun. Boy, as I lose weight, I think our bank account will be hurting. Okay, not really. I'm too frugal for that to happen.

So here's the story: Currently, I have 4 pairs of shorts. 1 fits GREAT & the other 3, I thought were just a little big. 2 of the shorts were dirty. So I tried on the other 2 & I was swimming in both. I had been putting off buying shorts, because hopefully next summer, I will be in much smaller shorts.

So I gave in & decided to go shopping for a pair of shorts. For the last 3 years, I have only shopped at Lane Bryant (or Motherhood Maternity during my pregnancy days). But I thought, "You know... It might be fun to see if clothes will fit me well at JC Penny's." And guess what?!! They did! I found 2 pairs of shorts that are really cute.

And then, just for fun, I tried on some shirts & it was great to look at myself in the mirror & say "Cute shirt, but it needs to be a little more fitted." When was the last time I went in search of a fitted item of clothing? I don't remember, to be honest with you. But it sure felt good to be able to think that.

And despite being completely swamped by schoolwork, kids, husband, pets, housework & yardwork, I feel like I'm doing really well. I am staying on points. I am getting to the gym or if I don't get to the gym, then I am doing something around the house to earn activity points.

I am even trying to work ahead in my classes, so that if I fall behind, while Karl has his bypass surgery, I really won't be behind. I can't wait until I can actually take a break & breath. I will do my best to continue posting on my progress.

I'm even considering posting my starting weight & my current weight (something I have never done before). No one knows my real weight, except for the people who weigh me at ww meetings. Not even my drivers license has my real weight on it.

And life goes on...

So I had another weigh in last night. I didn't stay for the meeting. I didn't want poor Karl to have to deal with the boys for too long, since he is still recovering. But I am happy to report that I am down another 2+ pounds (I don't remember the exact number). I have less than half a pound to go & then I will have lost a total of 20 pounds. I'm feeling great, other than the fact that I have picked up this horrible cold & have been crazy-busy on top of that. But I have more energy. I love that I can run around & play with the kids. I'm anxious to lose even more & feel even more energetic.

Thanks again, to everyone who has been so supportive & left such sweet comments for me. And I'm so very happy to say that Karl is doing really well. He gets tired much more easier than he did, but hopefully, after his bypass surgery, he will be right back to his normal active self!

100th Post!

And confetti falls from the sky! Okay, not really.

I wish that I had some better news to report. My husband had a heart attack last Saturday. He had a couple of stents put in & was released from the hospital on Monday afternoon. However, he will be back in the hospital in about a month to have bypass surgery.

The good news? We have been doing everything right. So we really don't have to change our diet. And this will definately keep me from "cheating" on occassion.

This just goes to show how strong that family history gene is! That & his years of living the single life & living off of frozen dinners, ramen noodles & pizza.

NSV

When I went to the airport to pick up Karl the other day, I was SO proud of myself! I took the stairs every chance I had (even though we had temperatures in the 90s outside!)

Plus, I was trying to work off the Mocha Frappechino made with skim milk that I had right before I got there!

10 Ways to Outwit Your Appetite

I found this article on yahoo & thought it was interesting. I'm always interested in reading articles about food, dieting, exercise & weight loss. It's always great to get another person's perspective & ideas about these topics.


10 Ways to Outwit Your Appetite
Posted Mon, Jun 04, 2007, 8:28 pm PDT

You don't have to be smarter than a quiz show fifth-grader to learn how to control the urge to eat. Just follow these ingenious tips:

1. Feed it protein for breakfast. You'll be less hungry later on and end up eating 267 fewer calories during the day. At least that's what happened on days when St. Louis University researchers gave overweight women two scrambled eggs and two slices of jelly-topped toast for breakfast rather than about half that protein.

2. Make it climb a flight of stairs. At home, store the foods that tempt you most way out of reach. For instance, Cornell University food psychologist Brian Wansink, PhD, keeps his favorite soda in a basement fridge. "Half the time I'm too lazy to run down there to get it, so I drink the water in the kitchen."

3. Sleep on it. People who don't get their eight hours of zzz's experience hormonal fluctuations that increase appetite, report researchers.

4. Give it something else to think about. When scientists scanned the brains of people eating different foods, they found that the brain reacts to fat in the mouth in much the same way that the nose responds to a pleasant aroma. So if you feel a craving coming on, apply your favorite scent.

5. Never let it see a heaping plate. The more food that's in front of you, the more you'll eat. So at a restaurant, ask your waiter to pack up half of your meal before serving it to you, then eat the extras for lunch the next day.

6. Put it under the lights. You consume fewer calories at a well-lit restaurant table than you do
dining in a dark corner. "In the light, you're more self-conscious and worry that other patrons are watching what you eat," explains Wansink.

7. Talk it down. Entertaining friends with a great story doesn't give you much time to eat up, so you'll probably still have food on your plate when they're done. Once they're finished, call it quits too.

8. Offer it a seat. If you sit down to snack -- and use utensils and a plate -- you'll eat fewer calories at subsequent meals.

9. Satisfy it with soup. Start lunch with about 130 calories worth of vegetable soup and you'll eat 20 percent fewer calories during lunch overall, say Penn State experts.

10. Give it little choice. Packages that contain assorted varieties of cookies, candy, dips, cheese, etc., make you want to try all the flavors. The effect is so powerful, says Wansink, that when people are given 10 colors of M&Ms to munch on, not seven, they eat 30 percent more!
Oh, and one more thing: Feeding your appetite a diverse diet that is low in calories and high in nutrients can make your RealAge as much as four years younger. Sweet.