1 week down!

Well...I feel Acomplished! I made it through the first week of school! Kenley did too I might add! 

That's 6 days of a 4 month old and a 7 year old and a husband working out of town. That's 6 mornings of hair and bottles and making it on time! That's 1 spelling test, memory work, and 1 homework packet. I feel like super mom. Throw in a work meeting the night before the first day of school and running my business and I'm on top of the world! 

Was I nervous? YES! Garrett is an active part of the functioning of this house. He feeds the dogs. Not anymore, I do. He takes out the trash, not anymore...that's all me! He usually does all the cooking, well...guess what? That's on me now! Nobody is starving, the trash is taken out,  the poop is scooped, my clients are happy. I'm room mother, I've attended PTL meetings Jax and I have been to 4 hours of cheer practice. I've been to the dentist twice, the eye doctor, gotten my car worked on and Kenley and I have gotten FLU shots! What a week! 

Kenley loves her teacher and is having a great time at school! She is thriving in her new room, taking her showers in her new bathroom...which means she moved out of my bathroom. Kind of sad, but helpful all the same. It allows me to get Jax ready while she is getting ready either in the morning or in the evenings. 

On to week number two!

Jax also made it to his first Texans Game!!

The question...How are you doing it?

Everybody is asking me how have I done it? How have you lost all this weight? I am going to attempt to tell you how it started, where it is now. Have I gone and checked with the doctor and gotten exact numbers? No! But, I pretty much know. I believe that around the time Kenley was 3 I weighed approximately 250 pounds and got up  to 260 at some point. I am 5'8 so people were probably always a little shocked when they found out the number. Maybe, they just acted shocked...and I believed them. Also, it's not like I went around blasting the number around.

I began about 2 years ago to lose weight. I first started by logging my food in the app on my phone "My Fitness Pal" I logged everything I ate for a few days. I didn't change anything for those first few days. I logged honestly. I discovered that I was putting so many calories in my mouth! I immediately decided to change some things. I think I originally cut out Starbucks Lattes and Banana Nut Bread! I also pretty much eliminated Soda. About this time, if not before I moved into an office with my Dad. I started eating lunch every day with him. We cooked and ate fresh fruits and vegetables. Thanks to my lovely step-mom. I don't remember too much about my dinner choices at this time. Weight started to slowly decrease, but nothing that anybody would notice.

After this, I continued to change my eating habits in general. I completely changed my portion sizes. I ate "kids meals" I ate salad. I didn't drink Soda. The usual things. Nothing extreme or drastic, the weight continued to drop. I weighed 209 when I got pregnant with Jax...or when I was 6 weeks pregnant. I had a 23 pound weight gain with Jaxon. The day I got home, 4 days after my C-Section, I weighed what I weighed at 6 weeks pregnant. One week later, I weighed 10 pounds lighter. On July 10 I weighed 181 pounds. After Jaxon was born I started using DoTerra Essential oils. I use Lemon Oil in my water, which boosts metabolism, clears toxins and dissolves body fat. I add drops to my water and I drink 80 oz. or more of water each day. I also take 1-2 capsules of Grapefruit oil per day, it helps prevent fluid prevention, bloating, and can help melt body fat. There is an element, limonene,  in grapefruit that helps discharge fatty acids into the blood stream where they are broken down and used as energy instead of being stored as fat in the body. It is also a powerful appetite suppressant. Peppermint is also a huge appetite suppressant and can be taken in capsules 1-3 times per day. There is a blend, Slim and Sassy, that I take 1-3 times per day that is specifically blended for weight loss. I also take Mito Max 2, it is an energy supplement from DoTerra. It is marketed to get you off Energy Drinks. I use to drink 2 Monsters a day!!! Not anymore!! (note: I always drank the Sugar Free, Calorie Free, Carb Free...ones).
When I hit 185, after much discussion with a cousin of mine I decided to join Quick Weight Loss. She is super fit and lost 20 pounds on their program. I joined 4 weeks ago. I have lost 12 pounds. I have a goal of 155, so that is 18 pounds away. I am still using all my Essential Oils and plan to do that for my life. I am using their supplements also at this point. Their program is essentially 2 proteins (from a list), 2 vegetables (from a list), 2 fruits (from a list), 2 starches (small list), 2 fats (1 tbsp light mayo or 1 tbsp butter) and 3 snacks per day. No dairy (with the exception of the butter), no salt when preparing your food. You have to consume 1 tbsp of Morton's Light Salt...to balance your potassium each day.

I really need to start working out. My body is changing in so many ways! Sometimes it is really scary! Currently NONE of my clothes fit. At first it was jeans...I went through and got rid of them. Kept the really expensive ones and have every intention of having them altered after I am completely done. Now it is shirts. Yesterday, I went through about 5 to find one that was okay to wear. I am not going to do anything at this point...just make it work. I did have to break down and by new bras. I lost 2 complete cup sizes. As far as exercise so far...I have been walking. That is the next big goal, 18 pounds and an exercise program!

Honesty is the best policy

Well... Great Wolf Lodge was Fun!! But...I'm currently using this blog as a slight forum for my diet, and that just went to heck in a hand basket! Guess what? There is NO ground turkey, there is NO vegetables, there really isn't any fruit! And Water is insanely priced! My canteen stayed pretty much empty, one day I got in 80oz. I also ain't an ice cream cone? What in the good Lords name?? 

My body is hurting!!! It felt every bite of dairy I consumed! I mostly ate salad, but I also ate chips! I also ate this ridiculous Corn on the cob that Somer had that was covered in I don't know what that was amazing!! I also ate Spinach Artichoke dip twice! I did feel guilty! But, I'm over it! I am not going to beat myself up. Because I enjoyed every second that I was on that trip with Kenley and her friends! I enjoyed eating that ice cream cone with my God-Daughter Blakely! I enjoyed her taking joyous licks of that yummy Rocky Road!! We made memories! We covered her swimsuit in chocolate and I won't regret it and I'll never forget it! We won't forget eating pizza in that hotel room with 4 joyous girls jumping on beds! Did I gain 50 pounds while I was there? NO! Did I maybe out on 1 or 2?? YES! Will it be gone in a matter if days? YES! Will I be back to protein and eggs and health tomorrow? Absolutely! Did I just work out with my daughter this evening? She did her flying workout for cheer? And I do a pretty serious "booty" workout? YES? I'll be on a 3 mile walk in the morning with protein and fresh fruits and veggies flowing through my veins!! Do my clothes still fall off when I piggy back her through the parking lot because she got her toe ran over with the rent a stroller? YES! So am I successful? YES! And I'm not guilty! We all make choices and we live with them! 

I made super memories with Kenley and her 2 friends and her Blakely and I made some with my best friend and my God-Daughter! I missed my son, but he wrote on the hearts of his Grand-Parents! We all love deeply and we all live the life we are given! 

School starts Wednesday! Kenley is moving rooms! So we are painting her new room this weekend! Work is screaming at me! Hair trims are waiting! Meet the teacher is Friday!! Homework is due the First Day!! Summer has been a blast and we have a new brother to share! A new adventure, without a Daddy at home 7 days a week! Is Mommy a little nervous? Of course? But hey, I'm super Mommy! I have a village! And the cheer god shined down! Practice is cancelled tomorrow!!! Wahoo! The first time in the 4 years I have been here! 

Here are photos from our trip to Great Wolf Lodge, Lego Land, The Aquarium, and Montana Round 2!