Week 3 and 4 weigh in

I have to be honest. I am not really doing weight watchers anymore. I did start out researching everything i ate, and counting my points. After a week of tracking I pretty much gave up. I am using more of an estimation system, eating better, less of it, and working out. Basically just a common sense diet. I had a major issue with portions. Just cutting my portions down has helped a lot. You would not believe how much I ate before.

Honestly as far as tips go, the best advice I have are things I hear all the time. Use a smaller plate!!! I used to hear that all the time and thought it was stupid, but it works. Also use a knife and fork whenever you can. It helps you eat slower and feel full sooner. It has also been a lot easier than I thought to try to cut down on the snacking. I used to eat a whole bowl of goldfish. A good snack for me now is one wedge of the garlic and herb laughing cow cheese with whole wheat ritz crackers. Also pay attention to the portion/serving size on the nutritional information. It doesn't matter if baked doritos only have 200 (total guess) calories a serving if you eat 4 servings. If the serving size is 15 chips, count 15 chips. It's plenty I promise.

Now down to the good stuff. Weight and measurements.

Start weight 184
Second week 180
Third week 177
Fourth week 173
I have lost 11 pounds in 3 1/2 weeks (I did week 4 early)

As far as measurements go I am really thrilled with the results
Second week in inches
Bust -1.5
Waiste -1
Belly -.5
Hips -3
Thigh -2
Bicep -.5
Total= -8.5

Third week in inches
Bust -1.5
Waist -1.5
Belly -2.5
Hips -0
Thigh -0
Bicep -0
Total= -5.5

In 3 weeks I lost a total of 14 inches!!

Week 2 Weigh In

This past week I thought I worked really hard. I worked out 4 days, and thought I did well on my points. We did go to Mexican food again, and I did has Silver Mine subs twice. But I made good choices at all three places. I even skipped a much needed alcoholic beverage at dinner because I didn't want to drink my calories.

SO I started at 184
Last week down to 180
This week I am between 177-178
Down 2-3 pounds this week. The reason I am not sure is because I have a very cheap scale and it keeps going back and forth.

There is a blog I read called Don't Stop Beleivin I am getting a lot of inspiration from Katie, and she has some great Weigh Watcher tips. 

Week 1 Weigh In

For now I have chosen Mondays as my weigh in day. i have a feeling I will change that pretty soon because my cheat day will most likely be on the weekend.

I know I was crazy to start right before the holiday of eating, but I felt like I needed to start right away, I couldn't hold off because I am so unhappy with myself. I am actually considering pictures, and if I decide yes, I will just edit this post and add them. I haven't been happy with my weight since I had Jayden, I am not comfortable in my clothes, and sure as hell am not comfortable out of my clothes. The first couple days on this diet were not that bad, I did really well Mon-Wed. I knew I was going to let Thursday be a free day, and I did. The part that is hard for me is going to restaurants. Husband and I like to go out to eat. We went to Mexican food and I got Chicken Fajitas, those are a pretty good choice but..... they were so good I ate way too much.

Over all I have mixed feelings about my first week. I think I did good considering the holiday weekend, but I didn't need that chocolate cake at the base party, and I didn't need to eat so many chips at Guadalajara. But I did resist candy for our movie Saturday night, and I also lost even though it was a holiday weekend centered around eating.

So here it goes...........

Starting weight on Nov. 22nd: 184
Weigh in on November 29th: 180

Down four pounds my first week! Oh and by the way my short term goal is 15 pounds, long term is 30.

What am I thankful for?

There is so much I could put on this list. First and Foremost I am thankful for my daughter....

I love this picture because I just see her personality radiating here. She is so silly and happy. She loves to dance and even tries to sing. She is so independent and loves to read. Books are probably her favorite thing, well besides Violet. She is so social, not shy at all. I am just so thankful for every second I get to be with her.

I am also Thankful for the rest of my family. A great husband who is able to provide so I can stay home with my daughter. 2 sets of wonderful grandparents for my little girl. Wonderful friends who keep in touch and new friends to keep me sane. Thanksgiving with friends, and Christmas with family.

And most of all I am Thankful for my health and the health of my friends and family. I can only hope to have another year with as many blessings.
 

Here we go again

I'm doing this weight loss thing again. I want to say that this time is different, and this time I'm going to change my lifestyle. But the truth is I have zero faith in myself for this. So I have decided to take this one day at a time. And hopefully I wont get too overwhelmed.

I plan on doing weight watchers and working out at least 3 times a week. I would like to lose 15 pounds and would love to lose 30. We shall see.

Shutterly Rocks!

I have been saving up my pampers points in hopes of getting our Christmas cards this year from Shutterfly. Last year we got them at the local drug store and I wasn't impressed. The quality wasn't very good, and they were off center. But I keep swooning over their site wishing I could get a calender and a photo book. But Shutterfly just made my decision a lot easier! All I have to do is mention them on my blog, and they are giving away 50 free photo cards from their Holiday Collection. 

We will be getting family pictures done this weekend, hopefully we will get at least one good picture of the three of us. And there are a ton of Jayden that I love already. These photo cards are a great way for us to keep our family updated on how big Jayden is getting since we live so far away.


Now I just have to decide which one I want...

 

Decisions, decisions.........

which one do you like?

I need help

I literally cannot think of one thing to write about. That's why I haven't posted anything recently. If anyone still reads this, (I will be amazed) please ask me something, anything, or give me an idea. I can't think of anything!

Awww

Our house, is a very very very fine house =)

I saw a lot of Bloggers doing home tours awhile back and decided to jump on the bandwagon, I am going to do it a little different and include before and after pictures of how the previous owners had it and how we have it. So... come on in!

This is the outside (obviously) which looks about the same besides some lighting fixtures.

 
 This is a before picture of our kitchen

After

This is a before picture of the basement, man was it a doosie =)

After and I will show you the project we are currently working on. (getting rid of the fireplace)

And last is our upstairs living room

After (before we put anything on the walls)

Right now we are working on getting rid of the fireplace. I just pretty much hate it. I think it's so ugly and takes up a bunch of space and it's dangerous for Jayden. So here are the pictures.

And here is where it is now, Hubs did all that in one day, I'm hoping we can finish it this weekend!

Yessssssssssssssssssss

My laptop is fixed. Finally i will stop neglecting you all =)

Help a sister out

I entered Jayden in a Gerber contest to try to win her a college scholarship. So if yall could be so kind and just pop on over there and vote for my baby I would so appreciate it! It is super quick! CLICK ME
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MIA

Wow, I did not realize that it was a whole month since my last post. Here is a quick overview of the last month. The husband had to go to Kentucky for work for a little over 3 weeks on July 10th. So my parents came here for a week, and very last minute I decided to go back to AZ with them and spend the duration of Jeremy's trip with them. Let me tell you, it is HARD to travel with a baby by yourself. My parents drove, but I couldn't put any of us through a 14 hour drive with Jayden, so Jayden and I flew. The way there was hell. She would not sit still at all, and she kept trying to pull the lady's hair in front of me. The way back was much easier because she slept 3/4ths of the time. It is also extremely hard to be in a un-childproofed home. Lets just say I had a great time but it was very difficult.

Now we are back home and all of a sudden motherhood doesn't seem as hard. Sometimes when you are in your daily routine you forget how hard it is to take care of a baby. Jayden is finally sleeping better! Thank god! She sleeps through the night here and there, and if not she wakes up once for a bottle. That, I can live with. I am not complaining about that one bottle because atleast it isn't 4 or 5. Jayden turned 10 months on the 3rd and started officially walking on the 5th. I think it's great! She was already getting into everything as it was, walking doesn't make a difference. Now climbing on the other hand. i am not looking forward to that. Well that's about it. I swear when we get this laptop fixed I will write more.

Bathtime

Jayden LOVES baths! She has 3 rubber duckies, and she spends the whole time trying to figure out how to hold all three at the same time. A couple of times she has achieved this by putting one in each hand and one in her mouth.

oy vey

I try not to complain about sleep too much because anything has to be better than before, right? When Jayden was a newborn till about 5 1/2 months, sleep for us was awful! Anyone I told could not believe she slept that bad. Lets not explain it all to you again, but lets just say, I don't think I could have handled much more.

When I was still living in Tucson and working as a nanny for the most adorable kids ever (besides my own of course) I used to take the 18 month old to story time at the library every Tuesday. There was a mom of a 9 month old that I would chit chat with. One day she came in and looked pretty tired. I said to her "are you ok" and she looked at my and shrugged her shoulders and said "I'm just so tired, he wont sleep through the night still and I just need a good nights sleep" I offered her my apologies and I remember thinking to myself. that will never be me, I'll just let them cry and they will fall asleep. Oh how naive I was! If I could go back and meet myself back then, I would have slapped myself in the face. I just had no clue, none.

Fast forward to now, Jayden is 9 months. Since we did a version of Ferber at 5 1/2 months, she has slept through the night a handful of times, and has slept through except for one wake-up fairly often. But for the past couple of weeks it has been hell. She has started to cry before bed again. She wakes up literally EVERY SINGLE 3 HOURS. So, 10 pm, 1am, 4 am, and then up for the day at 7. Now this is not exact, I would like to say give or take a wake-up. But that would not be accurate to say "take." Only "give."

I guess I assume that it is teething, she has her top and bottom 2 teeth, so 4 total. And she is currently getting 2 more on the top atleast. But what am I supposed to do? I give her teething tablets and oragel. But I am terrified of giving her Motrin too often. How much is normal. I feel like it's crazy to give it to her every day, but she is in pain. Help me ladies!

Happy Father's Day

 Happy Father's Day to my Dad, mostly for being a great man! He has shown me the love and respect that every daughter should be shown. He has always been there for me, and never wavered. I Love You Daddy!

And also to my amazing husband. Thank you for being such a great father to our little girl. I so look forward to watching your relationship grow. I know she's already a daddy's girl.

Fathers Day Gift

Life is good

I am officially back home with my baby where I belong. I don't usually consider myself a quitter, but after a week and a half of working I knew it wasn't for me. I just knew I would regret not spending this time with my monkey, and since I quit, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. And on my second day home, Jayden pulled to stand (which she has been doing for a month) and then let go of me and stood on her own for almost 15 seconds! It was amazing. I was so thrilled I got to witness that. I can't believe she is almost standing without holding onto anything. She just turned 8 months yesterday. Now she is crawling, clapping, pulling to stand, and about to stand on her own. I'm a proud momma.

Today we walked to a nearby park for a mom's group thing, it was a beautiful day, and great company, and Jayden had a blast. Here are a few pics.

Being a working mom...

...Sucks! I seriously HATE being away from my baby. After 3 days of work, I told them that it wasn't working out. I said I like the job (insurance and investments) but that I missed my baby too much, so unless I can work part time I can't stay. We are going to have a meeting about it on Tuesday and see if part time is an option. I understand that every one is different. Some moms need that time away to re-group. And I totally get that. But I just can't do it. I hate that someone else is with my baby more than me. Anyway I decided to follow my heart. I will never regret being with my baby. So... anyway what's new with y'all? Here's a pic of my baby and her Dad at the park.