Just Heather
10
Mamavation Monday: Support Team Edition
Jun 27, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

I was a little nervous about Week 7 in the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge because I was flying out in the middle of the week. Never fear, Ford offered plenty of healthy options during the Forward with Ford trends conference.

The Living Green lunch menu was especially cool—featuring organic, sustainable foods themed around the renewable materials Ford is using in their vehicles. They totally working with corn, carrots, rice and coconut for use in vehicle materials!

(Ford researchers also experimenting with dandelion root, thus the dandelion salad—that I couldn’t bring myself to taste.)

Lunch was followed by my favorite session of the conference—Living Green with Ed Begley Jr. He’s always been a bit of a green living hero to me—my family loved Living with Ed on Planet green. I had several conversations with him, including an interview on green living that will be up on Inexpensively later this week. My time with Ed was beyond awesome and would have totally been worth any weight gain this week—so glad I managed to lose 2 pounds instead, though!

I did manage to balance some healthy habits throughout the week, even if I wasn’t as active as I should be. I knew there would be a bit of walking, through the conference, but I did pack some workout gear to fit in a little exercise. I have already taken to slacking off the training circuits, and I didn’t want to fall further behind. Of course, as I feared, there really wasn’t much time for extras. I did fit in an ab circuit the first night, but not much else.

I never got around to running all week, either. The Couch to 5K program fell by the wayside in week 2, so we’re starting over this week. I’m also tackling Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred (yes, again!), after scoring a great deal on Amazon.

This time, I know I’ll stick with it because I have people counting on me. I bought my DVD the same day as my friend Chris, and we’re starting together on Monday. Michelle & Cherie have also committed to joining our 30 day adventure. We’ll be working together to complete this challenge.

It’s always easier to tackle something like this when you know others are there with you. Not only is it more fun to know my friends will be cursing Jillian along with me each day, but I’ll push myself because I know they’re counting on me. We’re all looking to each other to step up, motivate one another and lead the way to an awesome body.

It’s just like when we all completed a 5K together—I knew I had to push myself because the rest of the group was looking to me to finish what I convinced us all to start. I’ll be stepping up my game, pushing through Jillian’s torture and earning some amazing abs—for all four of us!

Halfway Point Measurements

Bust: 34.5″ (-2″)
Waist: 31″ (-6″)
Hips: 39″ (-3″)
Thigh: 21.5″ (-2″ each)
Arm: 11.5″ (-1″ each)

Inches Lost with Knockout the Fat: 5
Total Inches Lost with Mamavation: 17

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 176 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 2 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 19 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 11.5 pounds
BMI: 25.15

Sistahood Question: How have you recently stepped up to support someone in your life?

This post is sponsored by EatSmart Products, and I’m writing this to be entered into a EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knockout the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge.

I was invited to participate in the conference by Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Forward with Ford conference. I was not compensated in any other manner for my time.

All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

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7
Mamavation Monday: Every Calorie Counts
Jun 20, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

Brenia playing softball
The sixth week of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge was a busy one at our house! Between VBS, a county softball tournament and track practices, I’ve barely had time to breath—much less workout & plan proper meals. I am pretty proud of how well I managed dinner, under the circumstances.

We had to leave for Brenia’s softball games by 4:45 every night and didn’t return until 8pm. That usually means eating way off schedule, crappy concession stand food or grabbing fast food along the way. None of those were really an option for our lifestyle or budget. So, I planned a full week of sandwiches.

We had deli meats, grilled chicken, peanut butter and BLTs—that was my favorite since it was my first in many years. I used turkey bacon on gluten free bread, piled high with red lettuce & tomatoes. Each afternoon, I prepared sandwiches and packed fruit, veggies & water for everyone. Brenia ate in the care on the way to the out-of-town field. The rest of us ate on the bleachers while the team warmed up for the game.

Brenia with her softball cupcakeIt aligned perfectly with the exchanges Alysa gave me for my meal plan—I’m pretty proud of my creativity. What I noticed this week, though, is how much I eat without ever counting it. The bits of meat that drop while I’m preparing dinner. The icing I “taste” while baking cupcakes. The peanut butter I lick off the spreader while serving the girls breakfast.

It was just really noticeable this week. And, it’s a tough habit to break! One thing I need to get back to is hanging my meal plan on the fridge. For the first few weeks of the program, I printed the meal plan Alysa sent—and nothing went in my mouth without checking the list first. When I’m on schedule, I do just fine. When my routine gets thrown off, it’s easy to slide.

It’s easy to grab a handful of chips off the refreshment table at church. It’s easy to eat ice cream with the softball team, even when I already had a cupcake. It’s easy to eat more than I should, just because circumstances allow. I had a lot of extra calories last week, but I am proud that I handled dinner well. I’m also proud that I managed to turn down the ice cream at Friday’s end of season party!

In the end, I did better than I thought. I was a little nervous about this morning’s weigh-in, but I managed to lose another pound. If I had kept up my workout routines, I could have done even better. This week, I want to continue the Couch to 5K program that Stacia and I started last week and get in a bit more of Jillian’s torture & Stephanie’s circuits.

My goal for next week is to have activity levels to brag about!

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 178 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 1 pound
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 17 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 10 pounds
BMI: 25.5

Sistahood Question: BRAG. What accomplishment have you done recently that brings a smile to your face?

This post is sponsored by Joggermom, and I’m writing this to be entered into a yoga mat giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

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5
Mamavation Monday: Portion Control Edition
Jun 13, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

I’ve been averaging 2 pounds per week, since beginning the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge. This week? I only lost a single pound. That could have something to do with the fact that my poor George Foreman grill went out on me, and I’m waiting on a replacement. It truly drains an amazing amount of meat from our meals! As for the rest of my nutrition, I had a pretty decent week.

I’m continuing to use the nutrition plan Alysa mapped out at the beginning of the challenge. It’s helpful that it follows a format my family is used to. I’ve always kind of balanced carbs, proteins and vegetables for dinner—I just didn’t know the right portions to keep it healthy. We eat together every evening, so I don’t want my meal to be different from theirs. With this plan, I just work our favorites into the meal plan each evening.

There were a few ice cream treats this week, but I made appropriate changes to the day’s menu to balance it out. I also made smarter choices than I usually do—smaller sizes, for one. Hello, portion control! Nice to finally get to know you. My hope for the rest of this challenge is to really make portion control my friend—I think that’s what will help maintain my weight, once I finally reach my goal.

My fitness levels were pretty spotty this week, with some lazy days and some decent days. But, no real good days. I started to tackle the 30 Day Shred DVD but forgot to take it with me when we made a spur of the moment trip to my parents’ house. I did swim some laps at my Mom’s pool, rather than just spending our lazy day lounging around it. But, I only ran twice the whole week.

I squeezed in a mile on Saturday, which just felt pretty awful. When I saw my time, I realized I’d been pushing myself harder than I usually do. It was my 2nd fastest pace so far, which made me feel a little better about it. Last night, I began the Couch to 5K program with my teen—we set out together on the Day 1 workout.

Sometimes, we’ll go together. Others, we may each take a run on our own. I think this is going to be a good thing for a lot of reasons. Not only will we be working towards running a full 5K, but we have the chance for some bonding time. With the hubby running, too, it’s becoming a real family affair. It’s nice to have something active to do with my family, other than taking turns at the Wii Fit now & then.

Plus, I’ve officially decided on the Wine at the Line 5K—and this time, I want to run the whole thing!

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 179 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 1 pound
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 16 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 9 pounds
BMI: 25.6

Sistahood Question: How often do you and your family eat meals together and get active together?

This post is sponsored by Together Counts and I’m writing this to be entered into a Qlip Any-where Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

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6
Mamavation Monday: First 5K Edition
Jun 06, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

Showing off my Sparkle

I ran my first ever 5K this weekend—and, I’m still a little surprised by that sentence. It isn’t like that was ever a 40×40“>life goal or anything. You’ll notice a lack of fitness goals on my 40×40 list. The only reason it was in my sights is because completing a 5K is part of the Mamavation Mom contract.

I registered for Outrun the Sun the same week I applied—because I wanted to lock myself into something, in case I wasn’t selected. So, even though I wasn’t contractually obligated to participate in a training program, exercise daily or complete a 5K, that’s exactly what I did.

Originally, I just wanted to finish it. I thought I’d walk 5K and call it a day. Then, I decided I should set a goal for myself and wanted to walk it in under an hour. Somewhere along the way, though, I made the choice to start running—okay, jogging—a bit. So, I thought I might try to finish in under 45 minutes.

I never quite got there in my training, not that I knew what I was doing with all that anyway, but I came pretty close & hoped race day adrenaline would give me a little extra boost. And, then I saw the massive pack I had to work through to even start running. Not to mention the hills. Holy crap, the hills!

I honestly thought I’d be lucky to finish in under an hour, even with the running. I run intervals, actually, with a whole lot of walking breaks in between. I did learn to pick up the pace on my walking from pre-walks with my long-legged friend, Michelle. And, I have worked on running more & more of the distance. Plus, Angie & Emily really pushed me to run more than I had planned.

With My Indy Mamavation Support Team: Chris @punkinmama, Angie @katydid6, Emily @designhermomma, Michelle @gotchababy, Julie @fairytalemom

It really helped to have friends long for the journey. When I first mentioned the 5K requirement, Michelle volunteered to walk with me for support. Then, Julie jumped on board for a walk—always the supportive friend, though I think she’s cursing me after those hills.

Finish line pics by Angie's hubby

They walked together while I ran ahead with Chris for a bit, though I wish we would have had more time to enjoy the evening together. Alas, Outrun the Sun became Outrun the Storm, and everyone rushed home. I definitely enjoyed our “training” chats walks. We’ll have to keep those up. Especially since many of us have decided to make this a regular thing.

We’re eying 5Ks throughout the year—Greek Festival, Wine at the Line and the Underground Railroad are the current front runners. I can’t say I’m in love with running, but it’s such a fast, easy way to burn lots of calories—which is how I lost 2.5 pounds this week, even though my nutrition could have been better.

I definitely made better choices than last week. Weekdays go pretty well, but there were a few moments of weakness over the weekend. Yesterday’s turtle pecan cluster blizzard definitely ranks at the top of that list. You know, because I totally earned it after finishing my first 5K in 44:11!

I’m living off salads & veggie filled sandwiches for lunch and George Foreman grilled dinners at night. Although, I did cave and make myself a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch once. They’ve been so hard to make since going gluten free—the bread is crumbly & difficult to flip. So, I’ve resorted to cooking them in my toaster oven. It is just not the same.

George Foreman Grilled Cheese

Since the George Foreman grill cooks both sides at once, I can easily make yummy, gluten free grilled cheese sandwiches—hooray! I’m going to really miss my GF this week. I’ve used it daily since it arrived 4 weeks ago, and the other day it just went out. They’re sending a new one, I believe, but I really hope this was a fluke.

Because cooking my dinner in half the usual time and watching the fat drain right off has really kinda grown on me.

I’m all set with what to cook—Alysa has armed me us with the right tools & knowledge to plan healthy, balanced meals. It’s the random treats along the way that really throw me off.

I’m totally not willing to give them up altogether. It’s simply not realistic. I just need to get better about exchanging and planning around the extras. ‘m going to watch my exchanges a little better this week, so when I hit the sweets it will be within my meal plan.

I’m also going to start the Couch to 5K program. Yes, I know, I just finished a 5K, but I want to build up to running one. I think. Either way, the training should help knock off the rest of my 40 pounds.

I’ve lost 15 so far, and I’d love to pickup the pace on the other 25.

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 180 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 2.5 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 15 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 8 pounds
BMI: 25.8

Mamavation Topic: What gaps in your nutrition knowledge do you want to fill?

This post is sponsored by Omron Healthcare, and I’m writing this to be entered into a Omron Go Smart Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

Read the comments.
7
Mamavation Monday: Bad Nutrition Edition
May 30, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

We have just finished Week 3 of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge, and I’m gaining weight. I have the tools, I have the knowledge—I just need to stick to the plan! I kept up with my workouts, walked a few times with friends and ran a couple times on my own. But, I had a pretty lousy food week, proving you just can’t outrun bad nutrition.

I went out a few times and indulged in cravings a bit more than I should. By the weekend, I was making better choices and being more careful about balancing my indulgences. I just should have been paying more attention to what I was doing all week. At least, I stuck with water every time!

This week will be better because I do not want to see those numbers on the scale going up again. I have full confidence that I can do this—I know I’ll have the full 40 pounds off by the end of the year. And, confidence isn’t usually my strong suit. This time, though, it comes from the success I’ve had so far (2nd place in the MiLi challenge!) and the support I need to continue.

When I need an extra shot of confidence, I just don my favorite purple high heels. They make me feel powerful and sexy. Of course, running into people you haven’t seen in months who tell you how awesome you look doesn’t hurt either. I like when people notice and ask about my weight loss.

Because 12 pounds doesn’t sound like a lot to me, but if people can see it, I know I’m doing something right. The key is to keep doing it! I slacked a bit this last week. I had a meal plan, but I didn’t always stick to it. I had an exercise plan, but I didn’t finish all of it. This week I’m determined to follow through—especially since it’s race week!

The 5K I signed up for right after applying for Mamavation is coming up on Saturday. Originally, I just wanted to finish it. Then, I decided I’d like to finish in under an hour. And, somewhere along the way, I decided to try running some of it. I’ve been building up to it, and I’m ready for this.

I’ve even got my purple sparkle skirt to give me a little extra confidence—you know, since I can’t run in heels.

If you want to offer a little extra support for my race, I’d love if you could donate to the cause! I’m running a night race for melanoma. Outrun the Sun raises funds for skin cancer research & education, and any support you have to offer can make a difference!

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 182.5 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: -1.5 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 12.5 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 5.5 pounds
BMI: 26.1

Mamavation Topic: What are your go-to tricks for when you need a confidence boost?

This post is sponsored by Your Best Face and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Your Best Face.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

Read the comments.
7
Mamavation Monday: MiLi Final Weigh-In Edition
May 23, 2011 | Filed Under: Living Large

Today is the end of the Move It, Lose It challenge—it’s been an interesting few months. I’ve built some good fitness habits, planned healthier menus and even started running regularly. I’ve lost 14 pounds so far, 12 total inches and worn things in public that haven’t seen the light of day in years.

But, I’m not finished yet! I am well on my way to the ultimate goal and looking forward to the next few months. Especially because today also begins Week 3 of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge. After two weeks of amazing meal plans from Inspired RD, we’ve been unleashed. I created this weeks meal plan on my own, based on the exchanges Alysa laid out for me.

As we move forward on this challenge, I will be continue creating my own meal plans, circuit training and running—and working to increase that. I currently run only part of the mile or two I set out on each day. Sometimes, I head out at night alone. Sometimes, the hubby and I will take a walk together. And, lately, I’ve been walking to a playground with Lorelai to run laps while she plays.

Kabobs & Corn = Dinner on a Stick for the ball diamond

It increases my distance, gives her something fun to do and motivates me to get out there when I would otherwise have the excuse of caring for kids to keep me home. With our last week of school ahead of us, I’m planning our summer activities. This will be a large part of weekly schedule.

I am, however, cutting back on the daily exercises just a bit. After twelve weeks of twice daily exercise, something just has to give. I’m behind at work, and the house is falling apart. I am stepping back to one set of circuits each day, since I’m planning to increase my walks & runs.

As long as I continue on the healthy meal plan Alysa has created, I think I’ll be satisfied with my continued weight loss, even when it slows a bit. This week will be a bit of a challenge for that—we have several on-the-go days ahead of us. The key is to plan ahead and pack healthy meals & snacks to get us through.

Loving my George Foreman Healthy Cooking Grill!

Clementines are a current favorite—they come in their own packaging and are small & easy to handle on the go. Nuts are another favorite snack—the girls especially like to make their own, healthy versions of trail mix.

If I run out of time to pack healthy treats or don’t think ahead to what’s going on, we’ll find ourselves in trouble. I get in my own way a lot, too—sometimes the only thing stopping me from snacking healthy is that I really, really want chips.

Or candy. Or, ice cream—twice last week. Once was in taking our daughter out for a Frosty to celebrate her elementary graduation. The other was on a rare afternoon with my mom—no where to be, no family dinner to get to—just my mom, the girls and I out for shopping & milkshakes.

Grilled Chicken & Veggies

I tweeted that sometimes an experience is worth going off plan, and Alysa chimed in with whole-hearted agreement. She is adamant that this is not a diet. It’s a plan for healthy living, and occasional treats do have their place in it. The second I start feeling deprived or disappointed at missing out, I realize I’m treating it as a diet. Which will inevitably fail.

A healthy meal plan that works into our lifestyle, with allowances for special occasions or the occasional treat, is long term. This is something I will stick with, even once I hit my 40 pounds. Especially since the food is so yummy anyway! And, finding a plan I want to stick with means I’ll get to keep the weight off!

So, I can officially cross it off the 40×40 list.

And, now, since we are at the end of my Mamavation Move It, Lose It journey, it’s time for another swimsuit edition! I honestly didn’t expect to see this many noticeable changes in the 8 weeks between pictures. I feel different, but I am blown away that my body has changed shape so rapidly. I’ve lost 14 pounds in 12 weeks and am down 12 inches so far, including 5 inches in my waist.

I’ll definitely be taking pics at the end of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge, too!

And, in case you’ve forgotten what I looked like a few months ago:

MiLi Final Measurements

Bust: 36″ (-.5″)
Waist: 32″ (-5″)
Hips: 40″ (-2″)
Thigh: 22″ (-1.5″ each)
Arm: 12″ (-.5″ each)

Total Inches Lost: 12″

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 181 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 2.5 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 14 pounds
BMI: 25.9

Mamavation Topic: What keeps you from having healthy snacks on
hand when you are out of the house?

This post is sponsored by Grunt Style and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Grunt Style.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

Read the comments.
7
Mamavation Monday: Lazy Week Edition
May 09, 2011 | Filed Under: Living Large

Today is Day 1 of the George Foreman Knock Out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge, and I couldn’t be more excited! It’s a lot like Mamavation, for me, in that I’ll be receiving the same support I was seeking. Leah from Bookie Boo is there to lead the way, Stephanie from Fit Mom in Training will be kicking my rear with an exercise plan and Alysa from Inspired Results has created a meal plan just for me—featuring healthy recipes I can cook on the George Foreman grill I’ll receive.

I started the morning with Elvis oatmeal—peanut butter with bananas, of course. It’s made from scratch, incredibly healthy and fits into the dietary exchanges laid out for me by Alysa. I am loving this type of menu plan because I can make simple swaps if I don’t like something, need to use up what’s already on hand or want to buy less expensive items at the store. I definitely had to trade the watermelon Mom & Dad brought me for some of the fruit she had listed. Yum!

Today, it’s time to get back in the game and tackle Stephanie’s circuits. I slacked off a bit a few weeks ago, then had trouble getting back into it. I think I slid back so much during my mini-break that the exercises got a little out of my league. Then, I had my eye thing and took most of last week off to baby my body. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t want to get sweaty when I couldn’t take a proper shower. (What? You try to shower without getting your eyes wet!)

Sometimes, it’s just necessary to just take a step back to regroup, recover or relax. The key is not to take it quite so far. A few relaxing walks, rather than naps, would have done me some good during last week’s fitness hiatus.

I’m glad Stephanie is starting us a little slow, for those who haven’t already been participating in a fitness program. It will be easier for me to get back into it. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been a total loss—I managed to lose another 1.5 pounds this week! I’m still making healthier food choices and staying more active than ever before. I just wasn’t as active as I should have been for the last few terrible, horrible, no good, very bad weeks.

But, I’m ready to get started now!

George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge Starting Weigh-In: 187.5 pounds
Before Pictures:

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 187.5 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 1.5 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 7.5 pounds
BMI: 26.9

This Week’s Mamavation Topic: Do you know when to back off of your efforts? When is the last time you took a step back in the name of gentle kindness to yourself?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win a Jillian Moriarity workout DVD from Jillian Moriarity.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

Read the comments.
8
Mamavation Monday: Pirate Edition
May 02, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

Last week’s Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Week is bleeding right into this one. It started over Easter weekend, as we noticed our old, paralyzed dog deteriorating even further. On Monday, we had to say goodbye to Indy. He’s been with us for 14 years.

On Tuesday, the hubby had a doctor’s appointment—just a routine checkup, but he also needed to share some recent, ongoing symptoms. Which, resulted in an MRI on Wednesday to see if he had a brain tumor. (He doesn’t, but that was a scary few days, especially on the heels of our loss.)

On Thursday, the doc called—but not with the results of his MRI. Just to let him know he has high cholesterol. So, he’s now on cholesterol meds, and we’re making dietary changes. Luckily, we started that process months ago, at the beginning of Mamavation. Still, there are a few not-too-unhealthy foods he uses as lunchtime standbys that will have to go.

The weekend wasn’t too bad, really—with my Tiny Prints 4 Mom party being a major highlight! There was also a school picnic on Sunday. Both of these events generally equal indulgent dining, though I did my best to make wise choices. I’m a comfort eater, though, which means the week was filled with dessert and chocolate. I just love me some Easter candy!

But, today it became clear our rough patch is not over. I had a followup visit with the retinal specialist, to be sure my eye is remaining stable. Turns out, it’s not. The bleeding is back, and I required another shot in the eye. Yes, in my eyeball. The eyepatch is back for the week, and I’m hoping for an easier recovery this time.

I am, after all, much healthier than I was last year. I just wish my eyeballs would get on board with that plan. I tried to show them who’s boss by heading out for a salad after my appointment, instead of grabbing fast food. I even skipped the Reese’s egg I really wanted to chase it with. Though, I did snag a small handful of Easter candy corn later in the day.

With our crazy, awful week, I have over-indulged quite a bit. You know, because I deserved it! I still managed to lose a couple pounds, mostly because I tried to lose myself in exercise all week. Turns out, getting sweaty is a good stress reliever. Who knew?

I’ve got to find non-food ways to reward myself, though. I’m celebrating my weight loss with a new swimsuit this year. Corrin pointed out a few weeks ago that I deserve a good one. I’ve never felt that way before, but I have one picked out at SwimSpot.com, courtesy of an Eversave deal. I just want to wait another month or so to see where my size is.

I think for this particular journey, clothes will be my reward. So far, I have only bought a belt. I had to do something to keep my pants up, but perhaps it’s time to setup a specific reward system that fits with my goals. Of course, I had such an awesome time with Saturday’s pampering (Tiny Prints & Clever Girls really know how to throw a party!) that I’m starting to think along those lines.

A well-deserved massage. An earned mani-pedi. A special bubble bath. Granted, I take a bubble bath every, single night, but I just use whatever suds are on hand. I think I’ll start treating myself to my favorite scents or finally buy myself a bath bomb when I reach a goal.

Because I’m worth it.

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 189 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 2.2 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 6 pounds

This Week’s Mamavation Topic: How do you reward yourself after you have worked hard towards a goal? Do you have any pampering rewards thought out for future goals?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win a Eco Ethical Skincare Basket from Tilvee.

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