I'm not doing so well with keeping up with my blog...my last post was August 1st! EEEKKK!
A lot has happened since then - school has started; summer baseball ended; fall ball and fall soccer has started; I lost and found my motivation for my journey to getting healthy; I've moved offices at work; taken on a new crafting project; and lots of other things. Let's just say, even though I didn't keep up with my blog, life keeps going on!
First things first - school. We're nearly done with the first quarter already! I have a FIFTH grader, and my "baby" is in SECOND grade! Both absolutely love their teachers, and I'm fairly certain they've been matched up with the best possible teachers they could have been.
Caden has a funny and out going homeroom teacher who makes learning fun and plays to their strengths. His reading and English teacher makes reading and writing fun - Caden LOVES reading, and she has encouraged him to try out new books he might not choose on his own!
Jillian's teacher is quiet, sweet, and makes them feel like they're the most important person in the room. Jillian is my quiet child, and her teacher has helped her find her voice. She was just recognized as the student in her class who best demonstrated their "8th Habit" - Find Your Voice!
July and August were filled with summer baseball for both Caden and Jillian, and swimming lessons. Bobby coached Caden's team, and Jillian played on a team for 1st and 2nd graders with the boys. She was the only girl on her team, and one of 6 in the league. I think she decided to play baseball instead of softball because she likes for everyone to know who she is - LOL! Both did great, and we had to divide and conquer a lot because both kiddos played on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at different ball parks.
We had a three week break after summer baseball ended, and then Fall Ball started for Caden & Bobby, and Jillian started Fall Soccer. Can you tell that Caden LOVES baseball????
I love that Bobby coaches for our kids when he can. Our kids enjoy it, and so do I. I love watching how the kids take to him. He keeps practices fun, finds the strengths within each player, and has sooo much patience! Parents also seem to love him. And it's fun to see each kid improve during the season!
It's not easy being a coach. Whether you're dealing with drama from parents, players, or other coaches, it really does take a lot out of you, Bobby handles it with grace, and as silly as it sounds, when he's in his element, I am reminded of the reasons I fell in love with him. I have to say, we have gotten really lucky this year - the parents on both of our teams have been awesome, and so we haven't had to deal with a lot of drama from them. Most of the drama has come from other coaches. Speaking of coach of a husband - I have become the team mom, team secretary, and official scorekeeper. I have learned so much about baseball in the last 4 months, and I've also never paid such close attention to a baseball game. I do enjoy it!
Jillian has played on a soccer team twice before this season, and she likes variety. So when baseball ended, I gave her a choice between basketball and soccer. She chose soccer, and I have to say, I think it's safe to say that she has found her sport! I've received several compliments on her skills, and watching her with the other kids, she really is pretty good!
In my first post, and my August 1st post, I mentioned that I was going to focus on losing weight and getting healthy again. While I never gave up that "want," I never fully committed to it either. Fast forward to September 8th. I was about to be 34.5 years old. That's right - I was 6 months and 2 days away from being 35. I was really having a BLAH day. I'm not sure why it was so blah, but it was just that - nothing special. I was just going through the motions. Then I got home, and was going through the mail, and I there was a letter from Slim4Life. It was a sign. I sat there on my couch reading the letter and then just stared at it.
You see, Slim4Life is the way I lost my weight in 2012. I swore I'd never do it again because I didn't want to rely on anyone else to help me succeed, nor buy any supplements. But the there it was - the truth staring back at me in the form of a letter. I had tried unsuccessfully for the last 2.5 years to lose the weight I had gained back. I needed the structure. I needed someone to hold me accountable. And, I knew the program worked.
So, with that letter in hand, I told Bobby that I wanted to rejoin, and he was supportive of my decision, On Saturday, September 10th, exactly 6 months before my 35th birthday, I rejoined Slim4Life. I weighed in at my highest weight ever. EVEN more than when I was pregnant with either of my kids. 249.2 was the number staring back at me on the scale. That was a hard number to swallow, but it was real. My goal is 140 pounds.
109.2 pounds to lose - this is a LOFTY goal, and is very intimidating. But, I decided to approach it differently this time. I decided to focus on 10 pounds at a time. Something clicked this time, and I was ready.
My program officially started on Monday, September 12th, and it was a prep week with a nutrition class. Prep week is basically a cleanse week where you eat only green raw vegetables and protein. 5 days of meat and raw veggies eliminating sugars and carbs from your system. You're supposed to eat 2-3 pounds of protein per day focusing on red meat, and all of the green raw veggies you want. Let's just say that by Thursday morning, I was done with red meat. I was gagging at the thought of beef, the smell of beef, and the sight of beef. Oh, and raw broccoli and spinach. It was tempting to throw in the towel, but instead, I ate a whole rotisserie chicken that Thursday for lunch, and switched to cucumbers and celery for my veggies. I had a hamburger for dinner that night, and chicken during the day on Friday finishing the week with hamburger steak. I cannot tell you how proud I was completing that week of prep when I was literally gagging at the thought of eating.
Making it through prep week lit a fire in me. I started my weight-loss weeks on the following Saturday, 9/17, with a fierce determination that I hadn't seen in myself in a long time. I was excited! This past Saturday marked the start of my third week of weight-loss, and I was down 12.2 pounds. After weighing in tonight, I'm now down 13.8 pounds and 9 inches. I have had many temptations, and even made it through my period week without a single cheat. Zero. I cannot tell you what a sense of pride that gives me! My goal is to stay focused and on plan until Thanksgiving, and then I will have my first cheat meal, but in moderation meaning I will eat whatever I want, but it must fit on my plate the first time through the line. No second plates. Then it's back on plan until Christmas dinner, and then my birthday.
I know this may sound extreme to some, and like I'm depriving myself. People may not agree with a weight-loss program that relies on "approved foods" from a "list" or supplements, but what works for some doesn't work for everyone. Everyone must choose what will work best for them, and right now, structure is what I need. I am a binge eater, and a stress eater. I am currently on day 22 without binge or stress eating, and I am feeling empowered.
So while I know many will judge what path I choose for this, there will be some that are inspired, and some that are on the same path or one very similar. This is my story, and only mine.
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