So...how far do I go back? Warning: This will have all kinds of grammatical errors and typos. I have no mental energy right now because it's been a long day. But if you can get out of it what you need, then I have done my job. :0)
During Jr. High and High School I was one active chic. Between playing softball and cheerleading, I was very busy. I could eat the same amount my dad ate and not worry about gaining one pound. Well, until my senior year when that all slowed down. I went from a size 10 to a size 12. By the time I graduated, I was in a solid size 14.
College was another story. I went from being crazy active in high school to hanging out with Chad anytime I was not in school. He took me out to eat all the time...fast food...nice restaurants...you name it...I was EATING GOOD!!! I had NO activity going on...nodda....I was taking big afternoon naps...living the good life. I put on 15 pounds at least and went to a size 16...easy!
By the time we were married, I was in a Size 18. I didn't really know how to make changes but was not happy with myself or what had happened to my body.
Then about two years into our marriage, Chad and decided to try to get pregnant. Well, that took a while...and after lots of meds and not taking care of myself because I was depressed, I was up to a size 20. Even at 5'7 a size 20 doesn't carry well on my frame. By age 24, I was struggling with IBS and then found out I had high blood pressure. I was 25 when I decided I was going to make a change. I joined Fitness Lady and began working out with guidance from the GREAT ladies at the gym. I lost 25 lbs from mainly just working out not really changing the way I ate. At that time my friend, Jody Byrd was such an inspiration to me. I wanted to do what she was doing! I was down to about 175 and feeling good. Then....I was surprised with Hannah. I had a horrible pregnancy, was miserable, gained all my weight back and then some. I struggled with my BP and diabetes.
I was nursing Hannah but went back to the gym when Hannah was about 6 months old. I couldn't lose the weight. I gave up after a few months...but then found out when Hannah was 9 months old that I was pregnant with Mikayla. That pretty much halted any fitness or good nutrition. Then my BP was fine but the diabetes got worse. I was on insulin from the middle of that pg.
After I had Mikayla, I started back to the gym and lost about 25 pounds and was feeling great again. Right after Mikayla turned one, I had a breast reduction because I was miserable. After nursing 2 babies...it was killing me to stand up straight.
I kept working out...not changing my eating habits too much. Then we had the opportunity to move back to Florida. I struggled for a while to stay in shape but the emotional changes were too much for me and I gained all the weight back after I stopped working out.
We lived in Florida for about three years and it was a tough three years. Our family went through some really hard times. During this time, I was a member at several gyms. But what I didn't know then, was the BP meds I was on from my pregnancies was a Betablocker and wouldn't let me get my heartrate up enough. I was running in circles...working out diligently with no results. I think I lost 10 pounds in 6 months. It was frustrating and I gave up! During that time, (because of the difficult things we were going through), I was also on Prozac. Now, I know that it pretty much will HALT your metabolism.
God opened the way for us to move back to Mississippi. During that transition, we found out we were pregnant with Autumn (SURPRISE!).
I immediately was put on insulin and monitored for my BP. She was the only one of my babies that made it to 36 weeks and 3 days. I was doing great!
My OB told me if I wasn't careful the diabetes would come back (it would disappear after each pregnancy). Well, he was absolutely right. I wasn't careful and last year, 2010, after I went to MEA because of a horrible headache, found out I had full blown diabetes. I was started on Metformin.
I had a really hard time on the meds at first. I referred myself to a Diabetes Specialist. They helped me really get my eating under control. I was having to check my sugar 2-3 times a day. But I knew, I didn't want to have to go the insulin route again...I knew I had to make changes I could live with always.
The beginning of this part of the journey....
My sweet friends prayed for me. Knowing I didn't like a big array of foods, they literally prayed for my palate to change. Slowly it happened. I began introducing things like spinach to my diet....garlic...choosing better things...choosing whole grains instead of white breads....
The first 20lbs: (August-mid October)
I started at 205 at the end of July. I had my last pig out at Fernando's the last week of July. This was a pivoting week for me. I looked at my girls. I thought about all I had lost in the past few years. (Parent's divorcing, my step-mom having kidney cancer for only 3 months before passing away), losing my real mom when she was just 29 to Leukemia. I thought about how my sweet sisters was suffering so much physically with Fibro and migraines. I knew I HAD to do something. I knew Chad had to do something. What legacy were we leaving for our children...? I WANTED to be here for them....and I decided as much as it is up to me...I will do what I need to do to be healthy.
The first 20 pounds came off from the major diet change. I started making sure every meal had a even ratio of protein:veggies:carbs. This was the hardest change to make. I LOVED rice crispies with a pile of sugar. I LOVED sweet tea! I gave it up! Drinking only water helped so much! During that time to make the transition I used Splenda. Since then I've dropped that. I loved PIZZA (still eat it on occasion-but feel awful afterwards).
My breakfast:
Omelet: 2 eggs, pepper, cheese, flax seed, spinach cooked in Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (since then, we've changed to cold pressed, organic coconut oil-I use this for EVERYTHING!!!-We use Nutiva).
or Shredded Wheat, granola, flax seed, mixed together with banana (if we had them and 1%milk).
Lunch: sandwich (on wheat bread)- instead of mayo-I'd use hummus. I might have a big salad with grilled chicken (left over), with salsa, cheese, and greek plain yogurt. This is crazy filling.
Supper: Chad is my awesome cook...
Something like hamburgers (on flat bread buns-whole wheat), sweet potato-lots of fiber fries...(YUMMMO) (baked in the oven-tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper, and seasoning). We would just make sure I was eating the equal portions. Salad or green of some sort.
Dessert: Yogurt and homemade granola, Popsicle, fudgesicles, something yummy sweet. Graham Crackers and Milk,
I also started making some easy switches. Instead of Sour Cream, I'd use plain Greek Yogurt....Pretty soon I couldn't even tell the difference.
I started making homemade dressing...with greek yogurt...yummmo.
We switched from margarine to real butter. Don't be scared...I'm proof you can have real butter and lose weight and get healthy.
I started avoiding MSG as much as possible (because my friend has a son that is allergic to MSG. So I researched this a little more and it has things in it that make you hungry...make you come back for more. Look it up and all the names that it has. You will be SURPRISED!
I try if at all possible to avoid using anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup. Its the same thing...it makes you want more of it. You'd be surprised how many things have all this in it. It's crazy.
If you really want to go crazy and you have Netflix....check out Food, Inc...it will change the way you buy food FOREVER.
We are literally looking for land to buy so we can have our own cow, chickens and maybe goats for milk. TOTAL lifestyle change. We have NO idea how hard this is going to be but we feel like this is what we need to do for us all!
Back to business:
The last 25 pounds: (Octoberish)
I started working out again. I knew I could work out in the beginning but I had to learn how to eat right first. I knew working out would make me hungry. I had to find some balance. So I started with the hardest thing first.
I started using my old Taebo DVD's. It was hard...I was out of shape. I could barely make it 20 min. But slowly I gained more endurance. The weight was still coming off. I also started walking. In November I decided to try out running. I started with about 6 or 7 mailboxes on each road. (NOW after the C25K program, I'm running 6 or 7 streets instead of mailboxes). I also started using my old POWER 90 DVDs. And mixing that up with Julian Micheals-shred DVD.
I'm a little ADD...so I need variety. I really do think that is the key. The new thing is really the new thing...it keeps my body guessing. The balance of weight training and cardio really works. I weight train 2 x a week at most and try to do cardio 3 x a week. No more than about 40 min each day.
I also do my best on most days to do it before I eat in the morning. I'm not promoting that but I have found that it works best for me. And why fix what ain't broke. ***Edited to add: I do eat within 20 min of working out to give my body the necessary proteins to rebuild muscle and give me good nutrients!
Since March or so...we've transitioned into eating Organic as much as possible. We've had to give up eating too many organic things because we just can't afford it.
I really believe in Coconut Oil...We use it in everything. Research it. I've heard Tropical traditions is the best but its too pricey for me. So we use Nutiva from Amazon. I've also tried something called hemp hearts. It is suppose to keep you fuller longer. Research that if you are interested.
Oh...I love protein shakes. This is my FAVORITE recipe: Spinach (don't knock it til you try it), blueberries, strawberries, rasberries, blackberries, flax seed, hemp hearts, plain greek yogurt, some milk, 2 scoops of protein powder....yummy. I also like p'butter and cocoa, protein powder, bananna and milk...yummy! You may have to play with it a few times to see if you can get it right.
I get Chad to grill as much as possible. We don't fry anything.
Speggetti...I made an easy change from white to whole grain.
Mexican-corn tortillas or low carb whole wheat tortillas.
I've found the less refined carbs I have the better off my body is. I can't go low carb because I struggle with kidney stones...so I have to keep a good balance. But there are plenty of carbs in fruits and veggies.
I've also learned to love cauliflower garlic mashed potatoes.
My friends have thrown great recipes our way...I've googled alternative ways to cook my favorite foods.
My favorite books I've used are: South Beach Diet, EAT This not That, COOK THIS NOT THAT. If you have a library...check them out!!!
When I need a quick on the go food...I try Lara bars (an aquired taste-but only a few ingredients...the less ingredients in a food the better!), or Luna protein bars.
I've struggled on weekends that we are out of town because even though I try to eat right, I still gain a few pounds. But it isn't long before I work them back off. I've come to just expect it but still be wise in my choices. I've had months were I stayed at the same weight the entire month then the next week lose 2 pounds then the next 1 pound.
Watching Biggest Loser has had no negative affect on me. I love it and its so inspiring to watch!
I've gone from a tight size 16 to a size 10...crazy! I still have saggy tummy but I have my three beautiful girls to thank for that (and the beautiful-I'll never wear a bikini again-stretch marks) but they just remind me of how BLESSED I am!
I've had beautiful friends pray for me, encourage me, and help me along on this journey. Most of all God has been leading the way. He has taught me so much through this journey and that is exactly what it is-a journey. I'm not too proud to know that I can go back to who I was but I want to keep holding on to Jesus and He will keep me focused on the real prize...HIM!!!
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