tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76021662024992254052024-03-13T20:16:27.769-07:00Winning my life back. My battle against PCOS.I was diagnosed with PCOS in May of 2009. These are my ups and downs.Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-17077528495122226052018-07-10T20:33:00.000-07:002018-07-10T20:33:14.963-07:00I'm my own worst enemy Last week marked the week I decided to get my life back...again. I went to the grocery store Monday morning and bought some oatmeal, tuna, yogurt, and vegetables. I started off strong. Then came the 4th of July. I had a couple of beers and grazed all day. Thursday I had Chinese for lunch. Did I let myself down? How do I get back on track? Should I just give up? You know the thoughts that creep in. I logged onto the Lose It app 3 times last week. It's kinda hard to log when you're on the run and can't find an exact match to your meal. Sunday came. I thought about all the bad choices I made the prior week. I felt defeated.<br />
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I reminded myself why I started this journey and that I made a commitment to do better. I reminded myself it is a journey, not a race. In that, I reflected on what I had changed in that week. I made a mental list:<br />
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1. I did not stop at McDonalds <u>every</u> morning for a sausage, egg and cheese Mcmuffin meal with a Coke. Infact, I stopped once and had a side of sausage and eggs...baby steps.<br />
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2. I had 2 sodas in an entire week instead of 2-3 per day.<br />
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3. When I did graze all day on the 4th, most of it was on vegetables.<br />
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4. When I chose to eat out, I stuck to chicken and brocolli, shrimp stir fry and white rice instead of fried. <br />
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5. When we stopped at the gas station before church, I didn't grab a donut, I grabbed a protein pack with fruit and cheese.<br />
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I set a goal to lose 2 pounds per week in a healthy way. I got on the scale on Monday. I was down 2 pounds. I did it! I was strong and made changes. I am human. Food is good. I just need to find the balance between a healthy relationship with food and an unhealthy one. My goal for week 2 is to remember I am strong, capable, and ready to make a change no matter how hard it may be. I will not let my negative thoughts stand in the way.<br />
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Stay hungry for a better you! 😉<br />
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<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-63236499796495954612018-07-01T18:06:00.000-07:002018-07-01T18:06:53.971-07:00Where do I start?Life happens. That is what has been the case for the last 7 years since my last post. So much has happened, changed, gotten better, gotten worse. Below are some of my changes:<br />
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<b>2012</b>- the day I found out I was pregnant <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv06Fk5VTzpTc48yNimBgt3-VHGTi-FodjuqVt2c72hblpGfCuZBoJfrRvWp3Y-oxX4HVyUWQo5PMV2Cx1rlE1GTaOK8mG8t-fNsH9Jxqueic8hHOxxYpjslcRkakmBmfpgOfroClX-YU/s1600/IMG_20120815_123306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv06Fk5VTzpTc48yNimBgt3-VHGTi-FodjuqVt2c72hblpGfCuZBoJfrRvWp3Y-oxX4HVyUWQo5PMV2Cx1rlE1GTaOK8mG8t-fNsH9Jxqueic8hHOxxYpjslcRkakmBmfpgOfroClX-YU/s320/IMG_20120815_123306.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>2013</b>-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbRQ8CDw25RpGDDtKID83A_2c2IvRG1EjJvV6dYQqpZK-ZBEemlA3MSKu5odx_LMCwNjmHZJ-gxunStb1hP7rYW4Em_Q56LqRl4vSswua9yomF54CeE5t2KQ1xkZdfUOSz9SIha-qT8A/s1600/IMAG0967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbRQ8CDw25RpGDDtKID83A_2c2IvRG1EjJvV6dYQqpZK-ZBEemlA3MSKu5odx_LMCwNjmHZJ-gxunStb1hP7rYW4Em_Q56LqRl4vSswua9yomF54CeE5t2KQ1xkZdfUOSz9SIha-qT8A/s320/IMAG0967.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
Baby #2, Elise Renee arrived. Never thought this would be possible. Blessed beyond measure.<br />
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<b>November 2013-</b> job promotion to Assistant Manager. Required travel of 2 hours a day on road. Better money for family and great opportunity for me. Started eating out consistently and gained 30 pounds in a few months. Family life was wonderful.<br />
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<b>August 2014</b>- I take on a branch of my own as Manager. I don't have time to eat healthy, right? Sad thing is I worked with some very fit women who were always encouraging me. I couldn't get out of my own way. Gained another 25 pounds.<br />
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<b>October 2016</b>- I came back to my home branch of 13 years as the manager. Closer to home. Great steps in my career. Still not losing weight. Diagnosed with diabetis.<br />
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<b>Present day- </b> work is great. Family is beautiful. Life is wonderful. I'm not healthy. I am confident in who I am, what I stand for, and even how I look to a degree. What others think doesn't really bother me. I am a beautiful woman because of who I am. I need to be healthy for myself and my family. It's time to make some changes. I need to feel better. I have read some old blogs to motivate me and make me remember why I started this journey to begin with. I need to be healthy. That is number 1. Anything else that comes with it is a plus. I am going to recommit to a new lifestyle. I will be posting updates and new things I find out about healthy ways to battle PCOS. I owe it to myself. I welcome you on this journey. I do not like the thought of people reading my journey. It's private. It's raw. It's the only way I know to hold myself accountable. So, here goes. <br />
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<b>Before pic June 2018-</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh804JyFHii8Mcp734U9JJiR-yNw_weufWg4UBULnL4IrDyjekxBqrGUMz9GAXNZnQldGRmNjQRWerVdzzaNdo73dn21hEIdwZfkceLGjnf9yvvwy9X0WrRfoY-RObiZdwxJWrpPV4b4aY/s1600/20180628_103352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh804JyFHii8Mcp734U9JJiR-yNw_weufWg4UBULnL4IrDyjekxBqrGUMz9GAXNZnQldGRmNjQRWerVdzzaNdo73dn21hEIdwZfkceLGjnf9yvvwy9X0WrRfoY-RObiZdwxJWrpPV4b4aY/s320/20180628_103352.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></div>
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<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-19873932979489058502011-06-21T18:11:00.000-07:002011-06-21T18:11:56.400-07:00MOTIVATIONI know I am not nearly as diligent as I was in the beginning about keeping up with my blog posts. Perhaps this is because it is summer time, I have been too tired after work, lack of motivation, etc. All of that is an excuse though. I have gotten back on the exercise wagon. I still don't work out as often as I should, but I have been doing water aerobics two times a week for a couple of weeks now. I go with 3 other girls from work. There are only 7 of us in the office, and 4 of us go. It is fun to be able to do something together outside of work. Although Jen teases the heck out of me, I enjoy the time to do something for myself with my buddies. I have still managed to lose weight. I am trying to stick to the gluten free and sugar free diet like I have been since October, but find it to be much more tempting to cheat now that I have shed so much weight. It is like the little "diet devil" sitting on one shoulder saying, "One little bite won't kill you...neither will ten." <br />
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A lot of my time has been spent on another new found hobby. I have started couponing. It is nothing extreme. I just buy two papers a week and try to shop according to the sales. It also helps that my co-workers are doing this too. We all look out for each other. We have managed to save so much money it isn't even funny. That is great with Charles' job situation being so hit or miss. On that front, he did get hired on at a new company. Hopefully he will still be called back to the other commercial company soon, but we are not complaining. A union job is a union job, which means we will hopefully be able to get benefits again. <br />
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Life has been treating us good. I try not to think about my PCOS as much as I did. I feel healthy, am more active now, so I try to focus on the good that God has brought to my life. Jacob is so full of energy. He is still my little snuggle bug. I do have to admit that I still feel a huge tug at my heart strings when I see a baby. I hope to one day be able to give Jacob a sibling. I thought I would never consider fertility again, but have found out that I will no longer have to take the Metformin with the fertility. This was the main reason I was so sick last time. The doc said that with my weight and health where it should be, there is no reason for the Met. So............I am going to try the Clomid again starting in August for three rounds. Hopefully it doesn't take three. If I have no luck then, we will just have to see where this journey takes us.<br />
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Signing off,<br />
<br />
JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-19375843307262547952011-05-16T20:20:00.000-07:002011-05-16T20:20:52.626-07:00LONG TIME NO BLOG!!WOW!! It has been a while since I have done this! Excuse me if I am a little rusty at putting my thoughts down on paper (or puter). Things have been crazy the past couple of weeks (about 4 to be exact). I left off on the last blog touching on the tick bite and Charles' layoff. Since then, the tick bite has gotten much better! The infection is gone, but the wound is still very itchy. Charles is still laid off, but we have been fortunate with blessings. Jacob has gone into this allergy season with a LOT of issues. He is very allergic to almost everything. His eyes were the first sign. He had such bad allergies that they almost swelled shut. Then came the infection. He was put on Singulair, Clariton, nose spray and eye drops. After the eyes started to get better, the breathing got worse. He ended up in the ER, and had to do three rounds of steroid treatments. He then was put on more medication. Things got a little better, then on Mother's Day during a day trip, he came down with a fever. He was diagnosed with bronchitis on Monday. He is on yet another medication. The good news is that he gets in with an allergist on June 1st. <br />
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A long first paragraph brings me to the point of the whole blog. I have definitely neglected the exercise portion of my lifestyle. I did manage to surpass my goal weight of 170 last month. I was very excited about this. Despite the fact that I had not been exercising, I was still eating right. I had a very good excuse for not exercising for a couple of weeks, but the next couple of weeks after that was just lack of motivation. I really didn't want to go Zumba tonight. My back was hurting, and I would rather have stayed home to coupon instead. Couponing has been another lifestyle change I am trying to embrace. With the economy the way it is, Charles being out of work, and the price of gas, I felt this was a must. Back to the point... I did go to Zumba tonight. I was surprised at how out of shape your body can get in one month. I hung in there though. I also felt better after I worked out. I realized that my back was no longer hurting. I needed to stretch the muscles that had not been used for so long. <br />
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This whole journey has definitely had its trying moments. I have an easier time with the diet than the exercise. I do, however, have a great support system that keeps me going. I have so much to be thankful for.<br />
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Good luck to each of you reading on your own personal journeys. We all hit bumps in the road, but can get back on track!<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
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~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-88317018083358681542011-04-11T14:06:00.000-07:002011-04-11T17:53:17.855-07:00B.U.T.T., cellulitis, and layoffsOK, so it has been a while since my last posting, so what you are about to read is a list of ramblings that have been going through my mind for the past week. <br />
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1. B.U.T.T.- My life is full of acronyms, so I created one that makes sense for women going through the same things as me. Every woman has insecurities. Most of them can be narrowed down into this four letter acronym. (Butt, udders, tummy and thighs). I was looking in the mirror last week and was thinking about the changes my body has gone through with the recent weight loss. Obviously, I am liking my appearance a lot more than I used to. However, I have come to realize that there will always be parts of a woman that they are never quite satisfied with. I read on a friend's blog a couple of weeks ago about her battle with "chub rub", you know, when the tops of your thighs rub together creating holes in all of your favorite pants, or giving you the chafing that burns like something from the pit of hades. The first thing that I did was laugh out loud. I totally have chub rub! <em> </em>I have bird legs as my sister would call them, but after I had Jacob, the very tops of my thighs started rubbing. No amount of exercise or dieting seems to get rid of this nuisance. I have also come to realize that gravity plays mean tricks on women who lose weight. Everything seems to go south! I guess my whole point to this is that it is really not that big of a deal in the whole scheme of things. So what if you have a flat butt, big butt, saggy udders, a pooch, or chub-rub. Put on a pair of spanx and enjoy the day. I have come to realize in my journey that it is much more about being healthy than what the outside shows. I do enjoy the way I am looking now, but does it make anyone around me love me more? NO! They love me for who I am, not what I look like. They do want me around longer, which is why I have chosen the healthy approach. No one is perfect! Love yourself for who you are!<br />
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2. Cellulitis. Not cellulite! Cellulitis! Cellulitis stinks! It is a mean bacterial skin infection that causes inflammation in the muscles and can be dangerous if let go. Just ask my mom. She was all over my case this past week. I got a tick bite last Sunday (a week ago). By Wednesday, the infection was bad. My whole body has been aching since then. One trip to the ER and one to the Urgent Care were necessary. I had vacation planned for Thursday, Friday and into the weekend. We had already decided to cancel the trip due to Charles being temporarily laid off, but I had much better plans than recovering from a serious tick bite. That being said, it was nice catching up on some Netflix movies! <br />
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3. Layoff. Charles has been laid off for a week. It is OK though. It is only temporary. He is not one to sit still. He has been helping his mom with house and yard work, as well as a few others. He is a busy bee, so I am not too worried.<br />
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With all of this stuff going on, I have so much to be thankful for: <br />
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*A job with benefits and vacation time.<br />
*A wonderful husband who supports us through everything<br />
*Antibiotics to prevent Lyme disease<br />
*Faith that everything is going to be OK.<br />
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Hope you all have a great week! Keep smiling!<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
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~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-41901616729237263702011-03-29T04:51:00.000-07:002011-03-29T04:51:42.364-07:00I'M BACK!!I realize how I have been neglecting my blogly duties. There has been a LOT of personal things that my family has been dealing with the past month. I wanted to say thank you for all of my friends and families prayers. I feel that God has once again shown us that HE is in charge, and that we need nothing more than to lean on HIM in times of trouble and turmoil.<br />
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That being said, I am happy to say that I did not rely on food as my crutch through the past several weeks. In the past, I would have plumped up a good 10 pounds just from shoving every comfort food within reach directly into my pie hole. Amazingly enough, I even lost 2 pounds. No, mama, I did not starve myself either. I did fall away from exercise regularity for a while. I still exercised, but not as often, and didn't go to Zumba at all last week. I felt it necessary to spend as much time as possible with my guys. <br />
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Speaking of Zumba, I really did not want to go last night! I was in a mood, and just wanted to be lazy. I, with some encouragement from my hubby, reluctantly joined the "Crusade against Fat". Annie kicked my butt again last night. I was never so happy for a hot shower afterwards. Not only did I work out, but I was able to work some of my aggressions out as well. That was the best part. It was the release I needed to end the day. Ironically, yesterday was a great day. I just came home and got crabby. I can't explain it, it just happened. Charles told me he would go somewhere if I didn't. We weren't even arguing. I guess I was just a total bear to be around.<br />
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I hope you all have a very good week ahead of you. Spring is just around the corner! Forget about the yucky snow in the forecast today. Dress for the weather you want; just make sure to wear a coat over the outfit!<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
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~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-72391766224751945432011-03-14T19:47:00.000-07:002011-03-14T19:47:18.242-07:00Shake that thang girl!If it were possible to shake off all your fat in one night, tonight would've been the night! Ms. Annie kicked my booty hard core tonight. It probably didn't help that I had Mexican directly before Zumba! I have to say that I did allow myself a cheat this evening, but have been very good all week. I know it is only Monday, but I am talking about 7 days, not the work week.<br />
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I got to watch my sissy shake her groove thang too! It is hard not to giggle at one another. We feed off of each other. I am curious to see what I weigh in at tomorrow. A lot has been going on lately. While I haven't had anything bad to eat, there has been a lot of eating on the run. My routine has been off.<br />
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Here's to hoping the rest of this week gets back to the normal routine of things. <br />
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~Signing off for now,<br />
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JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-55705629843750124922011-03-09T14:58:00.000-08:002011-03-09T14:58:15.712-08:00Then and Now...PROGRESS PICS!<div class="mobile-photo" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTvxxSv6Xg3eK0f09v-rvYGAQlR2DReIo26QS7YQGOYMmWNAG5B7trBcjSt5mGtYbqlfPpL2iwvTF_fW5A4w9EsW3eCyzvF0zHYRrRaFS023J4do0rRqtSQUoGIW-NTrtxarCQt2XzJY/s1600/DSCI1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTvxxSv6Xg3eK0f09v-rvYGAQlR2DReIo26QS7YQGOYMmWNAG5B7trBcjSt5mGtYbqlfPpL2iwvTF_fW5A4w9EsW3eCyzvF0zHYRrRaFS023J4do0rRqtSQUoGIW-NTrtxarCQt2XzJY/s320/DSCI1035.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JULY 2010 (208 LBS)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4hpV67mt3C1nMIFhBiscty8MgxquJ_lsMPly5WSgfQE-1CUGSuWSckgupV0j4T62yHEVWpu6heawVpiN5hqGOok6o2xzIyga8Hi-Q0EwIP2SkLQvMJtrjTC5giJ3Y6fB5UNed6V39ec/s1600/charlesnme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4hpV67mt3C1nMIFhBiscty8MgxquJ_lsMPly5WSgfQE-1CUGSuWSckgupV0j4T62yHEVWpu6heawVpiN5hqGOok6o2xzIyga8Hi-Q0EwIP2SkLQvMJtrjTC5giJ3Y6fB5UNed6V39ec/s320/charlesnme.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DEC 2010 (191 LBS)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU70dOpsbqMcRdu8sBDTO-yXyls55XO3LG8YwRB6koPtJvYbIR3ddm1i8CkUBFlisbnJF6D0N16KthZVyPtjpLuJPS3UCvxXwDdOyT8fHtGM95eNbp1OkkslNyzNQpZL7nXZiUS5ALrXw/s1600/photo-702773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU70dOpsbqMcRdu8sBDTO-yXyls55XO3LG8YwRB6koPtJvYbIR3ddm1i8CkUBFlisbnJF6D0N16KthZVyPtjpLuJPS3UCvxXwDdOyT8fHtGM95eNbp1OkkslNyzNQpZL7nXZiUS5ALrXw/s320/photo-702773.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MARCH 2011 (175 LBS)<br />
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5 MORE POUNDS UNTIL I REACH MY INITIAL GOAL!!<br />
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1 MORE POUND UNTIL I REACH A "HEALTHY" BMI!!<br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-1431841095213869832011-03-07T20:27:00.000-08:002011-03-07T20:27:45.587-08:00Love one anotherI watched a show tonight about how kids bully one another. There were several different scenarios thrown about. There was the "overweight girl" who was taunted by the so called "pretty girls". There was the "tom boy" who didn't quite fit in. Then there were the boys; one boy who was not so athletic thrown into the mix with some very athletic peers. Although the individuals bullying and being bullied were just actors, the bystanders didn't know, and the scenarios were very realistic.<br />
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I was bullied as a child. It wasn't so much in grade school, but by the time I hit 7th grade, it was in full force. I was not overweight then. I was actually very thin. I was not athletic at all. I excelled in academics. I was not wealthy. I didn't wear the "coolest" clothes. The list goes on. If someone could pick on me for something, they did. I went to a different school district during high school. The experience there was quite different. I was accepted for who I was. I had more friends than I new what to do with. I truly came out of my shell. In fact, I probably had a little too much fun at times. That is another story.<br />
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The point to my story is that everyone struggles with something in their lives. You never know what a person's story is. You can make assumptions about who they are without even getting to know them. I know I have done this. The one thing I hope I have never done is to make someone feel that they are unworthy of respect. I don't care if you have the same religious beliefs, sexuality, race, or any other difference. Everyone is deserving of respect and compassion. I don't necessarily have to agree with some one's lifestyle or religion, but I do owe them the love that was shown to us by Jesus.<br />
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I hope that I continue to learn and grow on this journey God has laid before me. I hope Jacob learns what it means to respect and love others. I do have to go off subject for one moment. When I asked Jacob what he would do if he saw someone being mean to one of his friends, his response was, "I would call the cops." I thought that was hilarious. Anyways, that is my food for thought tonight.<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-43323416501008135152011-03-04T20:16:00.000-08:002011-03-04T20:16:18.250-08:00Results are in!I spoke with my doctor's office. The news from my recent blood panels was great. I have lowered my cholesterol about 100 points, my glucose levels were normal, and my triglycerides were also normal. I lowered my triglycerides by almost 200 points. The doc was very pleased. He said I didn't need to have anymore blood work ran for a year. I do need to raise my good cholesterol, but couldn't have really been happier with the results. I finally feel like my hard work is paying off. The outside appearance was an obvious change, but you never really know what is taking place in your body. To see those numbers on paper really put things into perspective. I feel like I have no choice but to maintain this lifestyle now. The proof is definitely in the numbers. That was a true blessing from God. I have been praying about this for 5 months along with family and church family. I feel like God has laid a new path before me. It is my choice to stay on that path.<br />
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There are never successes without trials, though. Without getting too into detail, this week has been a trying one for more than one reason. I have struggled in a few areas personally, and there are a few individuals close to me who are in need of prayer for various health reasons. I worry about those I love. I forget to lean on God sometimes. Please pray that I have the will power to hand over my burdens, and lean on Jesus for comfort.<br />
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Thank you so much for those of you who have supported me with words of encouragement on this journey. Words cannot express my gratitude.<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-54759722616269907002011-03-01T19:42:00.000-08:002011-03-01T19:42:22.607-08:00Stick em'I went to the doctor's office first thing this morning to have my follow-up blood work done. This is the follow up that was scheduled 4 months ago at the beginning of my journey. This was a very nerve racking morning for me. I tried to put on a brave face, but the unknown is getting to me. I hate surprises! Several things raced through my mind as I waited to get stuck. I reflected on the last 4.5 months. I am very proud of the lifestyle changes I have made. I have lost 30 pounds, eat healthy, and even exercise regularly now. One would think my numbers would have no choice but to improve. Then there is the memory of the doctor saying that my cholesterol could still be high even with diet and regular exercise. I knew this going into my journey, but have the hope that I will not have to be medicated. The side effects of cholesterol meds really concern me.<br />
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The results should be in within the next two days. I am really anxious to see how things pan out. I feel like I am back in school preparing for the exam of my life. I am so happy with the progress I have made. I was actually able to run a couple of laps around the house with Jacob tonight. That was after we raced back and forth to the mailbox twice. As embarrassed as I am to say this, I used to try and race him to the neighbor's house and had to stop half way there because I was so out of breath. I guess what I am taking out of this is the fact that even if my numbers are not where I would like them to be, I am leading Jacob by example. He will know what it means to eat healthy and be active.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-35758780307250888902011-02-21T20:04:00.000-08:002011-02-21T20:04:00.859-08:00Can I get a 30?30 lbs down as of Saturday!!!!!! I couldn't have been more excited! Every time<span style="background-color: white;"> I feel like goofing off or swaying in the tiniest way, I remember how far I have come. I also know I don't want to go back to the place I was. I wasn't myself for over a year. I had no drive to get out and do things. Everything seemed like a chore. I wasn't even the mom or wife I know God intended me to be. Don't get me wrong. I was and still am a devoted wife and mother. However, I am much more active with my family now. I want Jacob to see me making healthy choices so it is not something he has to learn. It will just be something that comes natural to him.</span><br />
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Speaking of the little man...we celebrated his 4th Birthday with a party yesterday. There were 35 people in my house. It was great to have all of my family and friends in one place. I think everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. I was beat after all was said and done. All I wanted to do this morning was sleep in. That is impossible with Jacob for a son. He is such the morning person. He was up before 5. Charles got rained out at work today, so we were able to spend the afternoon together as a family. We went to see "Gnomeo and Juliet 3-D". It was cute, but not the best animated film I have seen. I don't really get the hype about 3-D. It is not that great. The price is outrageous. A trip to the movies cost us $48. I couldn't imagine taking more than one kid!<br />
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Below are some of the photos from yesterday's festivities. Hope you enjoy viewing...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5xjCYD_QyZLcb7LH8N1uqNwBaOMpMRFG57X-v8vjCJNXNSdvmO4kqPtJ6fOnUuUac9V8MhLFoiFPsZLnEGjFL7C6qRqtDO5NxtGW_94WP6pQpEKE3_hNc5Jp-XuX2jsyNpydxJJXMb4/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5xjCYD_QyZLcb7LH8N1uqNwBaOMpMRFG57X-v8vjCJNXNSdvmO4kqPtJ6fOnUuUac9V8MhLFoiFPsZLnEGjFL7C6qRqtDO5NxtGW_94WP6pQpEKE3_hNc5Jp-XuX2jsyNpydxJJXMb4/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkx-XgdHwEFmNri2SD9OZVQfeh-vEq9xsYefQNVbjm4oJ73L8ncgGSaHdtzuRFotsiqSJwxPu26wmH2Chyphenhyphenb5yY9LkDIRrj2l8K8rp7EMMv9MjvBf_htv2piqc0HjsAYlXyGMTRijYwSM/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkx-XgdHwEFmNri2SD9OZVQfeh-vEq9xsYefQNVbjm4oJ73L8ncgGSaHdtzuRFotsiqSJwxPu26wmH2Chyphenhyphenb5yY9LkDIRrj2l8K8rp7EMMv9MjvBf_htv2piqc0HjsAYlXyGMTRijYwSM/s320/065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Signing off for now,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-22659706672061133072011-02-16T19:37:00.000-08:002011-02-16T19:37:52.457-08:00No room for excuses!So...my back was hurting last week, so I didn't do my miles. I did the two Zumba sessions, but that is it. I skipped Monday for Jacob's birthday. I really did not want to go tonight. It would have been much easier to sit down and watch the Biggest Loser people sweat instead of sweating myself. So....I....went to Zumba! There is no room for excuses at this point in the game. As soon as I let the old ways creep back in, there is no telling what kind of down-ward spiral will ensue. <br />
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I was happy to find that I have lost a total of 28 pounds now. I just have one pound to go until I am out of the 180's. I am almost back to the weight I was when I said my vows!! Yay for me. It wouldn't be as much of a journey without the friends who are on this journey with me. I am literally watching people I have known for years melt away before my very eyes. There isn't even magic involved. It's just good old fashioned nasty sweat and pain. I guess the saying, "No pain, no gain" is true. However, I could do without the "gain" part at this point in time...<br />
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I have less than two weeks before I have to go back to the doc for my blood panels to be redone. It will have been 4 months by then. I really hope that my cholesterol and triglycerides have dropped significantly. At least I know I have given it my all.<br />
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To all who are reading: thanks so much for the support and encouragement. I couldn't have gotten this far without all the moral support!<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-55417437772253134242011-02-14T18:41:00.000-08:002011-02-14T18:41:30.009-08:00Happy 4th Birthday to my miracle Valentine baby!I cannot believe it was four years ago today that my little man was welcomed into my arms. He was worth every minute of doubt, pain, and all of the tears shed. I thank God every day for the blessing that it is to be his mommy! We spent the day having lunch with Papa, went to see my friend Leslie's new Valentine baby (also a miracle baby), and then daddy made us lobster tail and shrimp for dinner. Does it get any better? Obviously, I skipped Zumba tonight...<br />
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I even managed to file our taxes which was the worst part of my day. All in all, it was a great day to spend with my little angel. <br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-22216433665111952532011-02-09T19:33:00.000-08:002011-02-09T19:33:22.409-08:00OUCH!!Ok....step 1. NEVER DO ZUMBA IN SHAPE UPS!!!<-----Unless you are very coordinated. I did this last Thursday, and paid dearly for it. I was sore until Monday. I had the day off and did a ton of laundry. <em> </em>I decided that every time I would go upstairs to get a new load, I would do lunges. I then followed up with Zumba in the evening. There was one new routine, but it substituted another song, so I thought I would be just fine.<br />
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I woke up Tuesday morning feeling awful. I had really hurt my back with the shoes, and didn't rest like I should have over the weekend. I went to see the chiropractor yesterday. I felt so good this morning when I woke up that I wore my heeled boots to work today. I know...what was I thinking? I followed that up with Zumba again this evening. <br />
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I am not sure if I am putting more effort into it, or not drinking enough water, or pushing myself too hard at home, or what, BUT I am sore tonight. My calves are on fire! I know that was one very long run-on sentence. Forgive me. Also forgive my grammar in my last post. I wrote it from my Iphone and it didn't pick up all the errors.<br />
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I can't say that I am sorry that I am feeling the burn. I know this means that I am really working out and burning calories. I did, however, learn a few lessons. Shape-ups are only made for walking in my opinion. I will not do lunges before Zumba. I am really out of shape....still!<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-45773471912914011002011-02-08T09:28:00.000-08:002011-02-08T09:28:44.204-08:00Skinny to fat to me...It is funny to me how the society views "skinny" or "thin". Everyone wants to look perfect in a bathing suit, but are never satisfied when they put it on. I went to Florida with one of my best friends when we were 19. I weighed 160 pounds. I thought I was huge! I got plenty of stares, but I managed to convince myself that they were looking at my fat butt and pale skin instead of the fact that they may have been admiring the scenery.<br />
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I got married a month before my 23rd birthday. I weighed 172 pounds. I was so bummed that I couldn't lose he weight before the big day. I did love my dress though!<br />
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When I got pregnant with Jacob, I weighed 180 pounds. I had reached an all time high at that point. I thought I was lucky to have lost 12 lbs in the beginning of my pregnancy. How stupid is that? I was losing weight because I was sick and on bedrest, but felt good about the drop in pounds.<br />
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Why is it that we are never happy with who we are? Why is I that at any given point in time we can tell you how much we weighed and what size we wore based on th songs playing on the radio? <br />
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This time around, I am losing weight to be healthy. My goal is to be able to appreciate myself and my body for what they are instead of who society thinks it should be.Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-39318447576605908842011-02-03T19:32:00.000-08:002011-02-03T19:32:40.948-08:00Snow won't get me down!I could have used the fact that I didn't have to work yesterday, and only had a half day on Tuesday as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted and not exercise. It would have been really easy considering Zumba was canceled. I am proud to say that I didn't do that. I walked 2 miles Monday, 2 miles Tuesday, played on my Auntie's Wii Fit Wednesday (after bowling), and did some Zumba tonight. Hopefully all of this hard work is paying off. I was excited to find out this morning that I am down another half a pound. I believe that makes a pound and a half in the last three weeks. That is ok. I realize I have hit somewhat of a plateau. In the past, this would have been about the time that I would say, "Well, obviously it is not worth it. I give up!" I keep reminding myself of why I started this journey. It isn't just to better my health. It is to be a better wife and mother to the family I have been blessed with. <br />
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I remind myself that I have been doing this for 4 months now. That is the longest I have ever stuck with any type of weight loss mission. Those months have flown by. I don't look at this as a curse or diet any longer. I truly do look at is as a lifestyle change. I feel that the benefits far outweigh the cravings. Don't get me wrong...I still crave nachos every now and then. I just know to eat them in moderation and get my butt back to working out to burn the extra calories.<br />
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Another thing I have come to grips with is the fact that I am a woman now. I have had a child. I have stretch marks. I will never again have the body I had when I was a teenager. I can learn to appreciate the body I have now though. I can work with what I have got. I am curvy, and there is nothing wrong with that! I think most men would agree. I can tone and build muscle. Stretch marks fade. The stretch marks used to bother me more than anything. I don't mind them so much now. I am not saying that I like the way they look, but I have learned to accept who I am. Those stretch marks are a constant reminder of the little boy who has brought immense joy to my life. They remind me of where I have been, and where I am going. <br />
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I wound up taking this post somewhere different than I had originally planned, but just wrote what was on my heart. I did want to say a special thank you to everyone who has encouraged me through emails or comments. It is so much nicer to do something like this when you know you are not alone. I also want to thank all my Zumba team-mates. There are some very strong women who work out beside me on a weekly basis. I am learning so much about what makes a real woman. I hope everyone has a great weekend ahead.<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-84757292846643668082011-02-01T20:45:00.000-08:002011-02-01T20:45:45.178-08:00Remembering you...I was on the last sentence of a very long blog entry when I somehow hit delete. Without typing everything over again, I will sum it up. <br />
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Today marks the 6 month anniversary of my Papa's death. It is also what would have been his 77th Birthday. I miss him very much each day. I want nothing more than to make him proud. <br />
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I will continue this journey each day remembering what you taught me growing up; that I can do anything I put my mind to. I will not give up.<br />
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I love you very much. Until we meet again...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5epBqlnPm815RylweziIzHUi9qYoq8v2gGDtoRR2gH9Y2E_DSge-YzHAQbGlsRVapPAJoQnBriD7sHhUBLz3Lcr4PPd3oVZnS0vuO3g_uwpdqbSXi8B80tQjsQKuP486kShMUsa6O_A/s1600/Photo185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5epBqlnPm815RylweziIzHUi9qYoq8v2gGDtoRR2gH9Y2E_DSge-YzHAQbGlsRVapPAJoQnBriD7sHhUBLz3Lcr4PPd3oVZnS0vuO3g_uwpdqbSXi8B80tQjsQKuP486kShMUsa6O_A/s320/Photo185.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-16534341122195969682011-01-31T18:39:00.000-08:002011-01-31T18:39:49.065-08:002 miles it is!Bummed there was no Zumba tonight, but came home and did 2 miles of my walking video. I had some Imos lunch buffet today, so felt it necessary to still work out this evening. I was very excited this morning to see that I did actually shed a pound. That makes the first pound lost in three weeks! 26 lbs down and counting. I am going to kick this PCOS in the butt! <br />
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My initial goal is to lose 38 pounds. That will put me just under what I was when I got married. The next part of my goal is to get into a slinky black dress I have yet to buy. The plan for that dress is to wear it to my 10 year high school reunion. I don't necessarily want to look the way I did in high school. That is unrealistic. I would, however, like to hear someone say, "Wow. You look great!". <br />
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Don't let this weather be an excuse to not exercise! Get up and move!<br />
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Signing of for now,<br />
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~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-91812023706399019522011-01-30T19:18:00.000-08:002011-01-30T19:18:10.270-08:00Oh no...snow!I honestly cannot figure out if people are just freaking out for no reason, or if we are actually likely to get over a foot of snow with an inch of ice. We don't have a generator, and the thought of no electricity is not at all appealing. I just hope that we can get to where we need to be safely, and home safely. <br />
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Is it sad that I am concerned that Zumba will be cancelled? I guess it shows how much I actually enjoy it! I didn't do the mile I promised myself today, but it is because I was not feeling the best. I got a ton of rest and finished the night with our small group. It was a very insightful evening.<br />
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I hope all of you who are traveling in the next few days take it slowly. Please be careful. I am praying that we all remain safe and warm.<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-32716707376256506982011-01-29T18:32:00.000-08:002011-01-29T18:32:03.559-08:00Drop it like it's hotAs I posted on facebook, I was a little disappointed that I have not lost any weight in the last three weeks. I did, however, do my measurements for the second time on Thursday. The last measurements were taken two weeks ago Thursday. Even though I have not lost anymore weight, I was down 4.5 inches. I was very excited about this. I needed to see some progress, and felt like that was quite an accomplishment. It kinda made me wish I had taken my measurements back in October when this journey began. I have done pretty well with the diet this week. I did have 2 slices of pizza on Thursday, but limited my caloric intake to under 1500. I picked Jacob up from a Birthday party at preschool, and the mother of the Birthday girl was not going to take no for an answer to her offering me pizza. I knew I wouldn't have time to stop anywhere once I dropped him off at the babysitters, so I went ahead and had a free lunch. I have not been able to work out since Wednesday at Zumba. I am going to do a mile or two tomorrow. Last week I was able to work out Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. That is a huge accomplishment for me. I literally went from no physical activity at all a month ago.<br />
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I went to the movies with my mom and sister today. I had a small popcorn that I split with my sister while I was there. She was concerned that I was blowing my diet with the popcorn. I did feel a little guilty, but I had only had Cheerios and fresh fruit in the morning. I made sure I didn't order a soda to go with it. Instead, I had a bottled water. That was my splurge for the day. I am not so sure I love popcorn the way I used to. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but not the way I remembered. I am excited to get back on target with things on Monday. I enjoy Zumba, and feel that it is important to have some "me" time. Wish me luck with shedding the rest of my 13 pounds to reach my initial goal. Hopefully I will keep losing inches as well. <br />
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I wanted to give a special shout out to one of my best friends, Angela!! She just had her second baby in September, and is down all the baby weight, and still losing. She is so much fun to Zumba with. Talk about having someone hold you accountable! <br />
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Hope you all have a restful Sunday.<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
<br />
~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-25924395691507764642011-01-26T13:49:00.000-08:002011-01-26T13:49:37.015-08:00New do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxF2A0npuH_kkKtLhUzYKLa3xdTFqbERyYe6h-WfcErONvQ_4ZHKK5uAHrmm9ckNfTLmOL8EwxAcVZfZUbEeshQTp1dFIOXAgLs-O2p2-1T-MKOn7LjJmMEZurGya2uIcvpxNzEOf4sE/s1600/new+do.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxF2A0npuH_kkKtLhUzYKLa3xdTFqbERyYe6h-WfcErONvQ_4ZHKK5uAHrmm9ckNfTLmOL8EwxAcVZfZUbEeshQTp1dFIOXAgLs-O2p2-1T-MKOn7LjJmMEZurGya2uIcvpxNzEOf4sE/s320/new+do.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> New hair. I got a coupon in the mail, and decided to go crazy! Going for a complete make-over...lol.Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-51913061623153900132011-01-26T07:17:00.000-08:002011-01-26T07:17:48.051-08:00It fits! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBePhtYZ8HMPN41eIW8Hsozrox9MxLyW8BES_yEdFo6YZHT_WbCwPs9imZr061CV1ounz0idusgLHA0Oa4T8WXxLW9yrRlUtKjT_T2timkyAA7KIm8qoJRU-Jys6kVTAaHo2FUXcrDFk/s1600/photo-756973.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566509792470432514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBePhtYZ8HMPN41eIW8Hsozrox9MxLyW8BES_yEdFo6YZHT_WbCwPs9imZr061CV1ounz0idusgLHA0Oa4T8WXxLW9yrRlUtKjT_T2timkyAA7KIm8qoJRU-Jys6kVTAaHo2FUXcrDFk/s200/photo-756973.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a waist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Although I don't think this is the most flattering picture I have ever taken, I felt it necessary to share it, because there is a story behind it. I got this shirt for Christmas from my dad and bonus mom 2 years ago. I loved it when I pulled it out of the box, but knew right away it would not fit. It was very tight looking. Although it stated that it was an XL, which is the size I have worn in shirts since I was 19, it looked more like a medium. I thought about giving it to one of my sisters or friends, but it was a gift, so I held onto it. It stayed in my closet with the tags on until October 2010 when I got sick of looking at things I couldn't wear. I took everything that didn't fit to friends or donation bins. This shirt went to my boss. She brought it in on Monday, along with another shirt I gave her. She told me it would fit now, and that she wanted me to have it back. I disagreed. I knew it would not fit. I tried it on so she would stop bugging me. To my surprise, it did fit. It fit really well. It even showed that I have somewhat of a waist now. It hugged all the right areas instead of all the wrong. The pants are pants that my Grandma Bette bought me right after I had Jacob. I was actually at a smaller weight then than I am now by about 5 pounds. I hadn't been able to wear these pants comfortably for over 2 years. Now, they are falling off of me. The shirt actually seemed to hold them up. You can see how bunched they are if you look closely. I almost think the pants make me look bigger than I actually am because they give me the "poopy pants" appearance. Guess it is time to hit up the resale shops for some clothes that may fit. I am not going to spend a fortune at this point in time, because I still plan on losing another 13 pounds to hit my first goal. From there, I will talk to the doc to see what else he suggests. I hope the inches start melting away with Zumba!! <br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
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~Jess<br />
<div class="mobile-photo" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-84433784063170752922011-01-24T20:20:00.000-08:002011-01-24T20:20:21.863-08:00Anonymous blessingsI got a call from the Zumba instructor today. She was calling to let me know that I had someone donate some classes for me. I really tried to figure out who did it. I called 2 people in particular. I still am not certain who donated the classes. I guess it really doesn't matter. It was a blessing, so I will accept it. I am very thankful to the person who did this for me. I feel like I have a great jump start on the fitness path, and now I have no excuse to give up. I have to stick with it. I hope I make whoever it was proud.<br />
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I had a good day today. I feel better than I have felt in years. I realized that I ran through the snow with Jacob, and wasn't out of breath. It wasn't that far of a run, but I would normally be gasping for air with very little effort. <br />
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I will keep this posting short and sweet. My thought for today is to pay it forward. If someone has blessed you in some way, be a blessing to someone else.<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
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~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7602166202499225405.post-70948283408568721382011-01-23T19:32:00.000-08:002011-01-23T19:32:38.384-08:00Back in the saddle againIt's been a few days since I posted. Life has been very busy, but good. I got to spend a lot of time with the family this weekend. I also got to catch up with a friend I had not seen in a while. Spending a day with my in-laws always has a way of reminding me how quickly time flies. Every time we see them, they comment on how fast Jacob is growing. He will be four next month. I cannot believe how grown up he is getting. Not a day goes by that I let pass without telling him what a treasure he is. I know what a blessing he is. It was so hard to get him here, but completely worth the wait. Anytime I feel sad about not getting a positive pregnancy test result, I just take a look at my little boy. He will always be my baby.<br />
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He reminds me of why I am on this journey towards a healthy life. I have so much to live for. There are definitely challenges that present themselves. I was told that once someone loses a significant amount of weight, they naturally ease up on the amount of effort put into keeping the weight off. I hope that is not the case with me. I did cheat yesterday. I had two slices of pizza, which is definitely not gluten free. I also had a beer. I beat myself up all day today over the choices I made yesterday. I decided to count the calories I ingested yesterday to see how badly I actually messed up. I only consumed 1234 total. I was shocked. I thought that I had definitely consumed more than that. I only saw the bad and ignored all the good choices I made throughout the rest of the day. I learned a lesson from this; it is ok to have what Sid the Science Kid would call a "sometimes food". It is just that--sometimes. As long as I do not make a habit of making bad choices, it is ok to make exceptions from time to time. I am only human. <br />
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I do not know if I have lost any weight this week or not. The last I checked, I had only lost 1 pound in the last two weeks. I looked at this as a disappointment for a few days, but realized that my body is getting used to the healthy habits I have introduced to it. I just have to keep up with the exercise now. I hope to continue the 1 hour of Zumba twice a week. I have not been since Wednesday, but did walk a mile in 15 minutes tonight. Jacob did the video with me. It was so cute.<br />
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I guess my lesson for today, or even this whole week is to take each day for what it teaches me on this journey. I will hit speed bumps along the way. It is my responsibility to remain on the path.<br />
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Signing off for now,<br />
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~JessJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18145253835787644620noreply@blogger.com0