Pregnancy: My Best Diet Secret!

I'm getting really excited about the new diet plan I'm going to be starting soon.  I'm about to explain why I'm so excited and show you some pictures.  I'm going to tell you about my pregnancy with Alex. 

I've been heavy for a long time.  I started putting on weight around my 17th Birthday (more about that another day) and with each broken marriage....it just got worse.  When I left my second husband...I weighed 245 pounds.  My heaviest!

I left him and my old life, moved to Denver and joined 24 Hour Fitness.  In a few short months, I lost 25 pounds and fell in love with being active! Over two years time....I got down to 184 pounds.  My lightest in 12 years.

Then I started dating again.  When I met my current (and last) husband...I was down to 198 pounds, after getting back up to 206. I had just started running and watching what I ate when he came into my life.  I managed to keep my weight down until I suffered a miscarriage and fed my grief with food. 

When I got pregnant with Alex...I weighed 220 pounds.

I got pregnant in July 2005 and I didn't really have morning sickness...I just didn't feel like eating.  I didn't want sweets at all and I really didn't want soda.  I craved French Dip Sandwiches and Fries.  Wendy's Fries. 

In the first 8 weeks, I lost 8 pounds.  And I began to notice that my face was thinning out.

September 2005

December 2005

February 2006

 

April 20, 2006

3 weeks after I gave birth, I weighed 202 pounds! I jokingly told my husband that being pregnant was the best diet I've ever been on!  Not only did I come out of it weighing 18 pounds less than when I started but I felt great the whole time.

It's possible that's why I found myself pregnant again a few weeks later.  I'm a weight loss junkie! 3 weeks after having Mallory....I weighed 202.  And I looked pretty good.

The weight has crept back on over the last 2.5 years.  My recent high was 218 at the beginning of the year.  Losing weight is really difficult for me and I always having trouble with my knees because there is too much weight on them. 

A few weeks ago, Bobbi came home and said the doctor she works for is going to start offering this new diet program called The hCG Diet.  My ears perked up because that is the diet I've had the most sucess with! LOL!

I asked her to talk to him about letting me be a patient and blogging about my success.  He agreed!  So...in a few weeks when they are ready to get started.....I will be going on the hCG Diet.

A little info:

The hCG weight loss protocol consists of a very low calorie diet (VLCD) accompanied by treatments of hCG, rather oral or injected.  The average hCG dieter experiences rapid weight loss averaging 1 to 3 pounds per day.  In addition to loss of unwanted fat, the true benefit of the hCG protocol is its ability to help modify the dieter's relationship with food and eating, resulting in easily maintained, long-term weight loss.

hCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a hormone present in both men and women, but which is produced in great amounts in pregnant females.  During pregnancy, the substance almost completely controls the woman's metabolic functions.  In non-pregnant persons, research suggests hCG similarly increases the metabolism similar to a pregnant female.  Thousands of calories in stored fat are released, and are used by the body or expelled.

Info from hcgdietinfo.com

Surviving Thanksgiving

I'm not doing a friday fashion post today.  I think I have a food hangover! The good news is that I am STILL the same weight as when I arrived.  YAY! 

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  I have to tell you....I'm disenchanted with the holidays this year.  As a person that is trying to lose weight and lead a more healthy life....it seems like holidays are just reasons to eat.  A lot!

I ate small portions, eating more turkey and cranberries than anything and then had two very small pieces of pie (one pumpkin, one pecan) that really was too much sugar for me to handle.  I should have just had a couple bites of each...I know I would have been satisfied.

We went around the table and talked about what we're Thankful for.  My son is thankful for trains and my daughter; pink bicycles.  My hubby said that he was with his family.

I was last to speak and I knew exactly what I was going to say and I knew that no one else at the table would have the same answer as I.

I'm thankful that we are all *somewhat* healthy.  They laughed about my *somewhat* but it's true.  Everyone has some issue.  Hubby is diabetic, as are my BIL and MIL.  We are ALL overweight and my in laws are on numerous pills.  I'm so thankful that my skin cancer was not serious!

I told them that my WISH for 2010 is that everyone (including my aging in-laws) becomes more active!  My wish is for my husband and I to join Golds Gym and figure out a schedule where we consistently go to the gym.  I told him I wanted us to watch less TV and exercise more.

I watched The Biggest Loser: Where are they now the other night and based on that show and my many seasons of the show...I've come to a conclusion.  An Oprah A-HA moment!

You have to exercise to lose and maintain weight loss!

It's ground breaking right?  There's no way around it and I've always said that one of my goals is for my kids to be active and NOT learn to be couch potatoes from me.  The only way to meet this goal is for me AND MY HUBBY to get our asses moving. I think I almost have him convinced.

I'm also getting excited for something that's coming up soon that I can't wait to share with you.  Something that has a great chance of jump starting my weight loss!  Stay Tuned!

I'm on Vacation

I'm on vacation in Denver this week.  It's really hard for me to watch what I'm eating while I'm here because this is one of my favorite cities and there is so much great food here.

I've been weighting myself every morning on the scale that my in-laws have in their guest bathroom and it hasn't changed.  So I feel pretty good that I'm doing okay.   What worries me...is that it's all going to catch up with me when I get home....like Jet Leg.

And friends...I've been eating very well.  I went out for a fabulous brunch with my brother in law on Sunday and my hubby and I snuck off for some Christmas shopping and Sushi yesterday.  Can't wait for Thanksgiving!

Which brings me to what I'm Thankful for this year.  I'm thankful that even though I am overweight...I'm healthy.  I'm thankful that my skin cancer wasn't the bad kind and that I will have a little scar to remind me to use my sunscreen.  And I'm thankful for my healthy family...and I hope changes I'm making will make them healthier.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Friday Fashion Motivation: Tight Sweater

I got an email from New York and Company with this sweater on the front. I love it. But I know I can't wear it right now. It's too short and I"m sure too tight....it would show every. single. roll.

I'd get this beautiful sweater in red.....Antique-Button Ruffle Cardigan from New York and Company

$10 a pound

My husband just took my kids to get the oil changed in my SUV because we are leaving for a week long vacation to Denver tomorrow.  I have a dozen things left on my to-do list that I should be doing but I'm here instead.

I gained three pounds this week.

I know exactly how it happened.  Saturday happened to me.  I was like one of those before video's from The Biggest Loser.  It all started at Wendy's with a Double Stack and fries.  My husband also got a Rootbeer float and a ice cream dessert thing.  We shared the ice cream drinks but....I didn't need them.

And then I had a Girls Night Out with The Real Housewives of Utah and I ate badly.  Pasta with prime rib chunks and a cheese sauce and then half of a Creme Brulee.  In my defense, I didn't finish my dessert but it was mainly because I had eaten so much I was afraid I was going to throw up.  And I might have....if I hadn't just paid my $30 bill.

That's $10 a pound.

$30 that could have went through the gym membership that my husband said NO to.

I don't know if I can afford not to join.  My life may soon depend on it......

In other news, I just heard that Oprah's pulling the plug on her show. I want to go to her show soooo badly!  It's a dream of mine.  I'm sure the chances of getting tickets to her show and my husband taking me to Chicago just hit the slim to none category.

Friday Fashion Motivation: Work It Out

I almost forgot it was Friday!  This week has been a little hard....due to my 3 year old hitting the defiant stage.  If I hear the word NO one more time....

Anyway, I don't know how he knows but every time I start working on my fitness...he starts having sleeping problems.  Every time I need to get up early...he wakes up in the night and I don't get my sleep.  I'm so frustrated!

For this week's fashion motivation....I was thinking about the adorable work out clothes that I've always wanted.  But I want to look cute in them...you know.

I love this little number from JC Penney.  I love the color and since I have long legs, the crop pants will always be the right lenght!   If you like it you can find it HERE.

What's motivating you this week?

10 Reasons Exercise makes you Skinny!

 I've made a decision to exercise (and shower) in the mornings before my husband leaves for work.  It's gonna be a tight schedule but I can do it.  I felt so good after I did it this morning.  And this article got me motivated.

This information is from  Fitness Magazine's website.  10 reasons why Exercise will make me SKINNY!


1. Exercise zaps belly fat.
It's the easiest way to beat the bulge, period. "Regular moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercise has the greatest impact on reducing ab fat -- the dangerous fat that ups your risk of diabetes and heart disease,"  Exercise is the ultimate middle manager because it lowers levels of cortisol, a hormone that has been linked to ab fat.

2. Exercise controls calories.
"It's pretty simple: You need to burn more calories than you consume in order to lose weight," says Nancy Snyderman, MD, a FITNESS advisory board member, editor-in-chief of BeWell.com, and chief medical editor for NBC news. Regular exercise blasts excess calories that would otherwise be stored as fat. "Plus, you continue to burn calories even in the hours following your workout,"

3. Exercise keeps lost pounds MIA.
"Ninety percent of people who have successfully lost weight and kept it off for a year do about an hour of physical activity a day,"

4. Exercise boosts metabolism.
Yes, you'll lose fat when you diet without exercising, but you'll also lose muscle, which means you'll burn fewer calories. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism and the more calories you'll torch.

5. Exercise trims inches.
The number on the scale doesn't tell the whole truth, says FITNESS advisory board member Jari Love, a certified personal trainer and fitness DVD star: "When you shed fat and gain muscle you may lose inches and drop sizes without losing actual pounds." For instance, if you gain 3 pounds of lean muscle and lose 4 pounds of fat, you've actually experienced a 7-pound improvement in your body condition, despite the scale only showing 1 pound of weight loss.

6. Exercise curbs emotional eating.
"Working out has been proven time and time again to help regulate mood, which has a direct effect on people who eat when they're stressed or upset," says Robert E. Thayer, PhD, a professor of psychology at California State University, Long Beach. Translation: When you're already in your happy place you don't need Ben & Jerry to lead the way.

7. Exercise creates a healthy chain reaction.
There's a reason you find juice bars at the gym: "Healthy habits tend to cluster together," says Boston-based psychologist Eric Endlich, PhD. "When people make positive changes, like getting more exercise, they tend to work on other health improvements as well, such as eating better." The result? Weight loss.

8. Exercise brings on the fun.
Let's face it: Rock-climbing is way more exciting than eating a celery stick. That's why it's easier to be active to stay slim than to maintain a strict diet. "If you look at people who incorporate exercise successfully in their lives, they've found something they truly enjoy,"

9. Exercise stops hunger.
People who exercise and diet are actually less hungry than those who only diet, according to a study in the journal Obesity. Bonus: Your self-restraint is higher, too.

10. Exercise ups energy.
Regular physical activity increases stamina by boosting the body's production of energy-promoting neurotransmitters, studies show. That pep gives you even more motivation to get moving and shed pounds. When was the last time diet alone did all that?

So, the bottom line is....I just have to DO IT!

Baby Steps

It's Wednesday! Time to weigh in....

Last week: 205 pounds

This week: 204.5 pounds

LOST: .5 pounds

WOOT!  I don't know what I did to deserve this because I didn't start my exercise program like I wanted to.  I'm struggling and I'm not sure why.  I know I'm tired and the change in weather tends to bring this on for me but I the weather has been *nice* here...it hasn't been cold yet and it's been sunny.


I sometimes feel like I need a therapist to help me figure out what my problem is.  Why can't I stay motivated to exercise?  Is it too late to change my ways?  Is it because I wasn't raised being active?  Why can't I eat better?  Why do I slide back into these old habits? 


I keep thinking about the gym membership that I wanted.  I want to be active.  I want to lose weight.  I want to be strong and a good example for my kids.  I want them to be happy, healthy and more active than I was growing up. 


The only way any of this is going to happen....is if I FORCE myself to do it.  What is it going to take?


I watch The Biggest Loser every week and I want what they have.  But I don't want to eat excessively healthy all the time.  I want Kit Kat's and cake, cookies, soda and wine.  I know that I can't have both. 

What is it going to take?

In an effort to get myself back on track...I'm taking baby steps.  Since Monday....I've been taking a shower and putting on REAL clothes and make-up as soon as I wake up in the morning.  Three days in a row so far.  This is helping me feel so much better during the day and I think I have more energy since I'm dressed!!

Next week....going to bed earlier....so that I can start getting up earlier to work out.

Friday Fashion Motivation: Boots

For this week's Friday Fashion Motivation.....I'm going to talk about something that I've wanted for a very long time.  I think this fashion item looks amazing with so many different outfits and would make me look taller, thinner and like a rockin Momma!

Look how awesome these tall black boots from Nine West are! They are a little pricey...but I think they would last for a long time.

Here is my only problem. Most boots don't accommodate my LARGE calves.  This is my motivation this week.....What is your's? 

I Survived Halloween!

All morning....I've know I was forgetting something.  It just occurred to me that I weighed in this morning.  LOL!

Last week: 206 pounds

This week: 205 pounds

LOST: 1 pound

WOOT!   I'm amazed...because of the CANDY situation.  But I was sick over the weekend and didn't eat much.  I get my stitches out again today and then I'm planning to get back on the working out wagon.

You want to know what really motivated me?  Seeing TRACEY all skinny last night on The Biggest Loser.  WOW...what a transformation.  If she can do it....then so can I, right?

I didn't end up joining the gym.  I really wanted to...but I just couldn't find the money in my budget right now.  Maybe in the spring I can revisit that idea.  It did give me a lot to think about and I was remembering the first time I joined a gym and what a positive experience it was for me.  I'm hoping to blog about it later this week.

Until then....have a great week and come back FRIDAY to see what my motivation for the weekend will be.