Water, Weight Loss, Water, Oh and More Water

One week into my newest challenge with my sister-in-law and I'm down 5 pounds. Sounds great, right? Well the reality of it all is that when we weighed in a week ago, it was in the middle of the day after we'd eaten. Plus I was coming off my Thanksgiving binge. I'm back down to where I was when my brother and I finished our weight loss challenge so if you look at it from that perspective, it's not that impressive. But really, all that matters is that I've lost weight.

My personal challenge for December has been to drink half my body weight of water every day (in ounces). 6 days in and I've managed to do it every single day. And let me tell you, it's hard. I have absolutely no problem drinking water at work but at home, especially over the weekend, it's difficult because you get distracted by kids and housework.

I have noticed a few things though.

1. My lips aren't dry and cracked like usual.
2. I pee about 12 twelve times a day and I can tell my system is being flushed.
3. The skin on my hand that was once chapped is almost gone.
4. I don't feel bloated like I usually do.

I'm interested to see where I'm at by the end of the month. I know water can be a big contributor to weight loss so I'm crossing my fingers! Kate and I are competing until mid-January and I'd love to be able to pull 15 pounds out of this challenge. Plus I could really use another manicure. Send positive thoughts, people!

Pre-Turkey Day Weigh In Results

Turkey day is almost here and with it, the end of the competition between me and my brother. Now I don't know about him but I'm certainly not going to complain about the results because it means he has to take my kids for a weekend!!!

Nathan lost 2.88% of his body weight and I lost 4.43%. I'm incredibly proud of both of us. We both stuck to our guns and managed to pull off an incredible weight loss over the last 6 weeks. And we're not done yet!

I'm officially down 18 pounds since the end of August. That is such an incredible feeling especially because it means I'm down a pants size. I've still got a long ways to go but I'm definitely happy with how far I've come in three months.

Tomorrow brings family, good food, and a lot of be thankful for, including my wonderful family and friends. And for just one day, I'm going to eat whatever I want! Saturday kicks off yet another competition with my sister-in-law. She's going on a cruise in January and is trying to fit into the dress she wore at our wedding. Me...I'm just looking for an excuse to be able to buy clothes in a smaller size. Hopefully we both get what we want!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Progress: One Day At A Time

Apparently complaining about hitting a plateau was enough to kick start me up again. All I'll say is I'm pleased with where I'm at. I'd like to leave my brother in suspense for the next week. *insert smiley face here*

I didn't get up and work out this morning. I just didn't have the energy. But I'm not beating myself up. I'm trying really hard to live by the philosophy of taking it one day at a time. I will have good days and bad days and everything else in between. There will be days where I won't see any progress and will want to do nothing more than give up (read: last week) but I won't. And there will be those days where everything goes right and I go to bed feeling fabulous. Those days? They're the best days and the ones that make this journey worthwhile. Today wasn't one of those days but it was a step in the right direction.

Plateaus Are The Worst!

Why does losing weight have to be so hard? I did so awesome during my challenge with my sister-in-law but this current challenge is harder for some reason. I'm down a little over 4 pounds, which is nothing to scoff at but it seems like no matter how hard I work out or how much I watch my calories, the weight just doesn't want to come off.

I'm trying to tell myself that I'm actually building some muscle, and maybe part of that is true, but I'm not sure that's it. I've done fairly well with getting up in the morning to work out (not 100% mind you) but I've been pretty consistent. I get at least 30 minutes in at a time. And I've been pretty good about sticking to my calorie count. I'm not doing anything different than I did during my first challenge. If anything, I've stepped it up. So why is it that when I step on the scale, the number doesn't move? It's so frustrating!

I'm sure stress doesn't help and I've had more than my fair share of it these past few weeks between work and children with ear infections and bad attitudes. Don't get me wrong...I'm happy with the fact that I've lost over 14 pounds since the end of August. I'm just feeling a little defeated, particularly this last week.

I've got two more weeks in my challenge with my brother and I need to get past this plateau. If anyone has any tips or tricks to get my body kick started again, I would love to hear them. I can't let him win!

Wednesday = Whining, Workouts, and Wine

Today has been a bit of a challenge. Getting up this morning about killed me. I was snuggled in all cozy in a super deep sleep when my stupid alarm clock chimed in to remind me, "oh yeah, you vowed to get up early to work out". I just read that in my head with a super whiny/bitchy tone. It accurately describes how I was feeling.

Then, my workout was interrupted twice. Once because the dog didn't come when I called him. Nor did he come the next 10 times that I called him. I discovered him still snuggled in bed. What an ass! Then I had to go potty. I gave up my workout after 25 minutes. Today, that will have to be good enough.

The kicker was getting a call at 10:30 this morning to tell me that Keegan was running a fever of 102. I tried to call Glenn as I had a full schedule but to no avail. Cancel said meetings, get him a doctor's appointment, and lo and behold, ear infection! Poor little guy. He's holding up pretty well despite everything but I can tell he's miserable. He actually snuggled with me before he fell asleep. That's pretty rare these days as he only does one thing and that's move...fast. Hopefully some antibiotics and a good night's sleep will make everything all better. If not, mommy's always got wine!

Mornings Will Never Be My Friend

I managed to drag my butt out of bed for my first workout this morning. It was not pretty. I don't think my eyes cleared until well into my workout. Perhaps the sweat dripping down into them helped.

I did Tae Bo. It was exhausting. But as I sit here in my sweaty clothes drinking a big glass of water, I'm reminded that I did it. I got up, got my butt downstairs, and completed a 30 minute workout. And now I'm done for the day. I can come home from work and enjoy my evening with my family.

Mornings may not be my friend but they will definitely make my nights more enjoyable.

New Me November

November is here and bringing a few challenges (all positive!) with it. But I'll get to that in a minute.

My baby celebrated his first Halloween, which prompted me to realize that 21 days from today, he will turn 1. I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. Last Halloween I was running up and down the stairs handing out candy. I was 9 months pregnant. This year was much better!

 

 

My other baby decided to be a ninja turtle this year. Specifically, the red one. He made it almost an hour trick or treating before the cold got the best of him. He spent the rest of the night helping me hand out candy. Glenn Jackson believes in giving out handfuls so luckily we don't have much left. I'd be a goner if we need.

 



I, for one, am looking forward to what November will bring. As you know, I'm in a competition with my brother to see who can lose the most amount of weight by November 26. I've heard rumors that he's exercising (what???), which means I'm kickin'er down starting now. Starting Monday, I am committing to waking up at 5:30/5:45 every weekday morning to get my work out in. If you know me, you'd know that this challenge might kill me. I loves me some sleep.

Glenn and I are also committed to meal planning, which should hopefully help us from making 12 trips to Target in a week. Today we planned out what we're eating for the next two weeks, made our grocery list, and actually stuck to it. I was so impressed with myself! I also made pita chips, roasted three batches of pumpkin seeds, and made some chocolate chip cookies. Rowan insisted on the cookies as he felt he needed to also "cook".

Only 27 days to Thanksgiving, which means only 28 days to Black Friday shopping. Ahh, my favorite shopping day of the year! I can't wait!

Oh Happy Day!

It is indeed a happy day. I stepped on my scale this morning and lo and behold, I am officially under 200 pounds! I haven't been here since December 2012. I. Am. Ecstatic!

I am now two weeks into my competition with my brother and I'm down 4 pounds. Six more pounds in the next four weeks seems like a lot of pull off but I'm going to do my very best. I just need to give away the 12 pounds of candy we have sitting in a bucket ready for the trick or treaters and I'll be good. Why is Halloween candy so tempting?!?!

Friday I'm allowing myself a cheat day. Glenn and I both took the day off work and are going to do a day date. We can barely remember the last time we went to a movie that a) wasn't a kid movie and b) we went to together. I'll definitely take an app and tap and a movie over work!

Next week I hope to report that another one to two pounds have hit the bricks. Wish me luck!

Operation: Beat the Brother Has Commenced

Last Wednesday evening my brother and I kicked off our official weight-loss competition. We are competing for 6 weeks with the final weigh in taking place the night before Thanksgiving. We figured that way we could enjoy the holiday and all of the glorious offerings it will bring. Like pie. And cheesecake. Maybe a little ham. And more pie.

So far I'm down 1.2 pounds from my starting weight. Ideally I would like to lose another 10 pounds from where I was following my competition with my sister-in-law but I'll take whatever I can get. I just need to lose enough to beat my brother. The loser of the competition has to take the other person's kids for a weekend. I would love to take Noah and Emma for a weekend but I would love it even more if Rowan and Keegan got to spend some time in Iowa. My sister-in-law is on my side as she really wants my kids for a weekend. Either way, it will be fun.

I've kicked started my workouts and am back to counting calories. I gave myself a bit of a break between competitions and not once did I feel guilty about it. Despite not keeping track, I didn't gain any weight back, which is awesome. The farther I go, the more I learn about my body. For instance, I am very dependent on protein but am not real good about getting my daily allowance. You'd think I would for all of the chicken I consume. Thank goodness for orange crème protein powder, the breakfast of champions.

Just over 5 weeks to go before my brother must bow down to the weight loss champ. Wish me luck!

Competition Results Are In!

The day has finally arrived. My final weigh in with my sister-in-law. I wasn't nervous because I know I've been making progress but I still wanted to pull out a good number. And a good number it was!

In seven weeks, Kate lost 1.3% of her body weight and I lost 4.1%. I lost 9 pounds, according to my mother-in-law's scale. And that makes me the official winner of our competition! Woot woot!!

Now if you go by my scale and what I weighed yesterday when I was sans clothes, I'm actually down 11 pounds. It's amazing how much clothes weigh. But 9 or 11 pounds, it doesn't really matter. What matters is that I lost weight and I feel amazing.

I am proud of both of us. We went into this competition with the intent of dropping some pounds (check!), but I'm leaving with more energy, a lot of pride, and a huge sense of accomplishment. A huge thank you to Kate for pushing me to do this!

I'm on a roll and not stopping anytime soon. October 15 starts my competition with my brother. Whoever loses the highest percentage of weight loss by November 26 is declared the winner. We're purposely weighing in before Thanksgiving so we can enjoy the day. Loser has to take the other person's kids for a weekend. In actuality, it's a win for either one of us. Our kids love spending time together. I think Rowan is hoping I lose so that Noah can come to his house.

Through my sister-in-law, I've heard that my brother hopes I like my niece and nephew's company. Well of course I do. And to him I say "Bring it". I don't think he realizes what he's gotten himself into.

The End Is Near: 5 Days Until The Final Weigh In

Five more days until my final weigh-in with my sister-in-law and I couldn't be happier. Not that our competition is over, but for the progress I've made. I finally feel as though I've hit my groove. Now, granted, the last two weeks haven't been great on the workout front due to our hectic schedule but that still hasn't stopped me from dropping some lbs. I'm not ready to say how many but it's a good number, at least in my mind.

I'm not even done with this challenge and I'm already thinking about my next one. I believe I will be competing with my brother for about 6 weeks with our final weigh in taking place on the beloved turkey day. Glenn and I are trying to figure out our plan of attack. He wants to lose at least 20 pounds by Christmas so this will force me keep on my path through the end of the year. After that, the world is my oyster!

Stay tuned on Sunday to find out whether or not I crushed this competition!

The Scale Doesn't Lie...And That's a Good Thing!

My post today comes to you live from lovely Phoenix, AZ. I'm in charge of programming for a new conference in January so we're checking out the resort for planning purposes. So given that, I did my weekly weigh in this morning and was surprised by what I saw.

We were at my brother and sister-in-law's this weekend and I wasn't great about watching what I ate. I didn't overindulge but I certainly wasn't counting calories. And even still, I lost a couple of pounds. I am officially down 7.4 pounds in the last 5 weeks. Can I get a woot woot?!?!

I've got a little less than 2 weeks until my final weigh in. I would love to step on that scale and see a 10 pound weight loss but I'll take what I can get. It's definitely hard traveling for work. I'm trying to make good choices and walking around the property in this 101 degree heat certainly helps sweat it out but you don't always get to control what you get to eat. I've been implementing the "it's ok to not clean your plate" rule while I'm here. I just hope I don't see a weight loss gain when I get back.

On a different note, we took in a kick ass concert over the weekend. Nothing More, Hellyeah, Volbeat, and Five Finger Death Punch played the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. And let me tell you...Volbeat. Was. Awesome!! I would definitely go see them again. Too bad you missed it Jared!

Workout Challenge: Complete!

I didn't realize it until today but yesterday was the end of my 30 day workout challenge. I fulfilled all but one of those days but I consider this a huge win in my book!

What's so awesome is that the past month hasn't felt at all like a lot of extra work. Yes there have been times where the last thing I wanted to do was work out but I did it anyway. I'm still slightly in shock that I actually made it! 

Because this went much better than I expected, I'm pushing myself to another thirty days. Plus I'm adding to it. For the next thirty days, I'm going to actually measure my food rather than saying "yup, that looks like 3 ounces". I've only got three more weeks to beat my sister-in-law and earn myself that pedicure!

On a completely separate note, I'm considering selling Thirty One mostly to get out of the house at least once a month and earn a little extra money for funsies. Would anyone book a party if I did that? It's just an idea but one I'm strongly considering. 

You Inspire Me

Last night at my thirty-one party, the consultant had everyone go around the room and introduce themselves and then say one positive or encouraging thing about me. I heard that I'm friendly, I'm fun, I have a great sense of humor, I'm always willing to lend an ear, and they like having me as part of their lives. But the one that stuck with me the most was hearing one of my friends say that I motivated her. I loved every single one of the comments I heard but to have someone tell me that I motivate them gave me an overwhelming sense of pride. And also made me want to cry a little.

I've had people tell me before that I've motivated them for one thing or another but never when it comes to weight loss. My friend and I have similar struggles when it comes to our bodies so it was refreshing to hear that I, an overweight person, inspire her. And truth be told, she's an inspiration to me as well. It's comforting to have someone else that that can challenge you and remind you that you don't have to feel guilty if you miss a workout.

I have many friends (and family) who inspire and motivate me and I want to take a moment to say "Thank you". I haven't given up yet and it's mostly because of you. There have been a few days where I wanted to quit but I thought about what I promised myself and all of you and I kept going. Every day I get closer to my goal of losing weight and becoming a healthier, happier me. So thank you for being there for me, even if you didn't know you were.

Ain't No Stopping Me Now

Three weeks into my weight loss challenge with my sister-in-law and I'm down 5 pounds. Sing it with me..."Ain't no stoppin' me now"!

I've got more energy.

I feel stronger.

I. Feel. Amazing.

This weekend we went camping with my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids and I allowed myself to have a "cheat" weekend. I still worked out (with the exception of last night) and kind of kept track of my calories but still allowed myself to eat what I wanted. And while the bliss of drinking multiple beers and eating powdered donuts for breakfast was fun, I felt absolutely awful afterwards. Not in the sense of guilt but my stomach hated me for it.

Allowing myself to cheat on food confirmed that I was on the right path with this weight loss challenge. I'm certainly not a clean food eater but I'm definitely not where I was a month ago. That's definitely got to count for something!

Seventeen Days In and I Refuse To Sink

Two days ago I stepped on the scale and the number hadn't changed much. I immediately felt frustrated. I kept within my calorie count. I worked out. So why hadn't it gone down?

I had to take a step back and remind myself that seeing that .2 change was actually a good thing considering I weigh myself every morning. Some of you may not agree with that. The whole weighing in each day thing, I mean. I've heard mixed feelings about it. Some people say you shouldn't do it because it just leads to frustration and tears when you don't see progress. Others say it helps keep you on track. That's the way I'm choosing to look at it. If the number is up, I look at what I ate the day before and how much I worked out. Clearly something didn't work, which forces me to change how I approach that particular day.

This morning I saw a good half-pound loss, which, when added to the .2 from yesterday and the .2 from the day before, means I'm actually down .9 pounds. It's amazing how different that number looks when you do some simple addition.

I'm also walking like an old lady. Two nights ago we did a killer deck of cards workout that almost took my legs out of commission. Last night...Tae Bo. I introduced Glenn Jackson to the boot camp version, which involves a lot of squats, kicking, and quad work. I loved every minute of it. What I didn't love was the fact that it now hurts a lot to sit down and go potty.

I'm on track and feeling fabulous. A month ago I couldn't even imagine myself saying that but something clicked with this workout and weight loss challenge. I can't even tell you what it was that made me get in gear but this time, I'm not giving up.

Repeat After Me: Donuts Do Not Control My Life

I resisted temptation today. If you know me, then you know I'm a fan of sweets. Cake, cookies, anything that involves sugar or frosting...I'm game. This morning I stopped at the gas station to fill up and grab a diet coke and there staring longingly at me were...dum dum dum...donuts.

I may have drooled just a tiny bit but I walked passed them, grabbed a bel-vita breakfast bar, and didn't look back. It doesn't seem like much but the fact that I walked away is huge in my book. THAT is progress.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I'm becoming senile. It took until 3 pm to realize that I put my underwear on inside out this morning. They're actually quite comfortable this way. If anyone asks, I'm starting a new trend.

Tonight's workout was killer. Push-ups, lunges, crunches, and jumping jacks. "Let's make the Aces be 14 instead of one", I say. My arms and legs say "Screw you". My butt's not as mad as the rest of my body but it's still pretty pissed. Eventually I will have a great return on investment.

Birthdays and Bachelorettes Are The Bomb

Day 12: workout complete

We did Deck of Cards again tonight. We did a combo of scissor kicks, reverse crunches, squats, and push-ups. I did all of the push-ups. On my knees like a girl. But that's ok because I am a girl. And now my abs are screaming at me "reverse crunches AND scissor kicks tonight? Really?" It felt awesome. I needed to kick my ass after yesterday.

Yesterday was the bachelorette party for an very dear friend of mine. I've known her since we were in preschool and was so excited to be invited to be part of her fun day. We spent the day on a party bus touring wineries in Red Wing and Cannon Falls. I got to hang out with many old friends who I haven't seen in awhile plus meet some great new people. It was an absolute blast!

Oh, and yesterday was also my birthday. The big 35. Based on the math, I am indeed only 5 years away from turning 40. I'm surprisingly ok with that. Everyone says 40 is the new 30 so if that's the case, it's like I'm really only 25. That's chick math in case you couldn't tell.

I was up a couple of pounds this morning but that's ok. I'm back on track today and that's what matters.

I'm Hangry But It's Worth It

Day 4 of my weight loss challenge and I'm officially down 4 pounds. Woot woot! I stepped off my scale this morning feeling like a million bucks. 4 pounds isn't a lot considering how far I have to go and I'm starving all the time (see below) but it's something. I'm seeing progress. I'm seeing the number on the scale move down as opposed to up. It's something!

I'm also one week into my exercise challenge and haven't slipped up once. God, between that and the weight loss, I think I should get a gold star. I haven't been this disciplined in a long time. 6 more pounds and mama gets a new pair of shoes!

And in case you're wondering, the boys started at their new daycare on Monday. The verdict? They absolutely love it. Rowan no longer fights going to bed at night or waking up in the morning because he's so excited to play with his friends. He told me last night that he really likes Lynn, his new daycare mom. Hearing those words come out of his mouth is a huge weight off my shoulders. It makes me feel a little guilty that I didn't step up and make a change sooner. I knew he wasn't happy at his old daycare but I thought it was just a phase he was going through.

Baby Keegs is loving life, too. He gets to play outside, he's got new people to talk to, etc. Glenn picked him up one day and he was hanging outside in an exersaucer eating cheerios and having a blast. I cannot say enough good things about this new daycare!

Five Days Down, 25 More To Go

Five days ago I challenged myself to do 30 days of exercise. So far I've kept up with it. Yesterday's attempt at exercise was lame but it was something. We ended up walking around at least half the day for Goodview Days. I know it was exercise but it didn't feel quite as good consider I ate some pizza halfway through.

For tonight's exercise, Glenn made me do something called the deck of cards. It's exactly what it sounds like. We assigned an exercise to each card type (hearts were push-up's, spades were jumping jacks, etc.) and then went through the deck. Three quarters of the way through the deck, I was struggling to hold myself up with my arms and I wanted to throw up. It was actually a really good workout. And what's nice is you can change up what you do. 

I am also starting a new challenge. My sister-in-law and I are in a biggest loser style weight loss competition. Whoever has the highest percentage of weight loss is declared the winner. Loser has to pay for pedicures. So between now and October 4, I have to get my butt in gear and kick my own ass. I've got a pedicure calling my name!

A Challenge To Myself

They say it takes 30 days to form a habit. That seems like a really long time but in the grand scheme of things, it's really not. I think of how quick it is to put on a few pounds. It certainly doesn't take me a month to do that. It seems like minutes versus days!

I look at myself in the mirror and think, where have the past few months gone? The ones where you said you were going to do something about your weight. Where you were going to commit to run. To become a new person on the outside. Those days are gone, one fading into the next. And I'm still the same as I was before. But that's about to change.

I'm challenging myself to become that person. 30 days of exercise = one step closer to becoming the woman I want to be. It doesn't matter what I do as long as I get some form of exercise in for the day. My reward? Satisfaction in knowing I challenged myself and I survived. And with any luck, a fabulous new pair of shoes! You can't go wrong with shoes...right?

The Day My Baby Got "Fired": A True Story

A few of you have been privy to our recent debacle with daycare but for those of you who haven't heard, we got a two week notice last Friday. Our current provider said that she didn't think Keegan liked going there and would be better suited with a different daycare mom. Plus, he's too fussy for her. WTF! Are you kidding me?!?!

When she handed me the letter saying we had to be gone by August 15, I was completely floored. We got no warning that this was coming. She would ask me questions every few weeks like whether or not he sat and played with toys at home, how well he took naps, or if there was something we do at home to help with crankiness but not once did she say that if it didn't get better, we had to find new daycare.

Keegan is definitely fussy but he's no fussier than any other baby I've been around. He's 8 months old and teething so yeah, he's bound to be cranky. I think he just didn't meet her expectations of what a baby should be like so he got the boot.

Now, if you're like anyone else I've told this story to, you're baffled, annoyed, or Hulk-like angry over this. To be fair, the contract we signed does state that at any point she can give us a two week notice. But to "fire" an infant because he's too "fussy"? That's just cold-hearted and mean.

I spent most of last weekend in about 3 moods: angry because of the whole situation, sad because she thinks so poorly of my son, and panicking because it took me forever to find someone to watch him in the first place. Nobody has infant openings around here. I made several calls to home daycares in our area, to no avail. But then the angels must have heard my plea because we managed to find a new daycare on Monday!

We met our new daycare provider on Wednesday and I instantly felt at ease with her. She's got a kick-ass backyard, is so unbelievably nice, and genuinely appreciates kids for who they are. Plus, my best friend's kids go there (hence, how I found her) so Rowan and Keegan will at least know two of the kids.

What turned into an incredibly crappy situation has since turned around for the better. I don't dislike our current provider but I've never fully felt at ease with her so this has definitely been a blessing in disguise. Thank you to those of you who put the APB out and got us in touch with friends or acquaintances who would have been willing to watch our boys. It's so amazing knowing that I have friends out there who will drop what they're doing to help me out. I hope you know I'd do the same for you in a heartbeat.

Encouragement is Everything

I have to say, I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of positive thoughts, encouragement, and suggestions that have been sent my way since my blog post the other night. I truly have amazing friends and family and I couldn't be more grateful. I think getting the news that my blood pressure medication isn't working made me just a tad upset. I mean, you take a pill, you think it will instantly make things better but apparently blood pressure doesn't work that way. Who knew.

I was reminded of several things that really hit home with me. Taking things one day at a time can make all the difference. And it's ok if you screw up. You get back on track the next day and keep moving forward. And that getting mad at myself doesn't make things better. All it does it prolong the negativity. Most of all, I am reminded that I am not alone. While my head tells me I am an island of one, you realize there are five others out there who are in the same boat. Everyone has their struggles.

But struggling doesn't mean you're failing, which is something I need to remember. Tomorrow begins my journey. I'm not going to promise that I won't slip up. I am human after all. But I do promise to do my very best each and every day, even if my best is just getting out the front door in the morning! 

Why I'm Mad at Me

News flash: I'm a fatty. It's ok...it's true and I accept that. I hate that I'm overweight and I honestly don't know what to do about it. Why is it so hard to find the motivation to lose weight and get myself back on track? It's super easy to put the weight on, that's for sure.

I was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and had to go on medication. Part of the cause is me being as heavy as I am. You would think that would be motivation enough but you'd be wrong. I for the life of me can't figure out why. High blood pressure is a serious thing. I have lost a few pounds over the last couple of weeks just by cutting back on the crap and running but it's not enough.

I hate everything about this. I hate looking at myself in the mirror. I hate that none of my clothes from a couple of summers ago (pre pregnancy) no longer fit. I hate that I have no willpower. Most of all, I hate that I let myself get to this point. I'm so unbelievably unhappy right now.

Let me be clear...I love my husband and my kids and our life together. That's not at all why I'm unhappy. I'm unhappy because I'm on a downward spiral that doesn't seem to end. I want to be around to watch my kids grow up and someday have grandkids of my own. But if I don't get my act together, this life I'm looking forward to may not be as long as I'm anticipating.

This is my cry for help. Motivate me. Yell at me. Take the damn cookie out of my hand if you have to. Be there for me as I try and figure this out. It may not seem like much but it's more than you realize.

Get Excited People...I'm Back!!

That's right people...I'm back! I took a brief hiatus from the blog and by brief, I mean a few months. We've been dealing with a touch of crazy at our house from having a baby to it being that crazy time of year at work to dealing with the renters from hell. You know...the usual stuff.

So you probably know that one of my goals for 2014 is to run a half-marathon. That will become a reality as I did sign up for the Mankato half-marathon in mid-October. 218 days to go! Glenn Jackson is being a love and running it with me. That means at some point over the summer I will grow to hate him as he continues to do things like make me eat my vegetables and actually make me run. Ugh, the nerve.

In all honesty, though, I'm really excited about this. So excited, in fact, that I actually got off my ass last night and went for a run. Woot woot! I haven't ran since the 10-miler a year and a half ago. Let me tell you, it wasn't pretty. I ended up walking a little bit, everything hurt, and I'm pretty sure I looked like one of those dogs with big jowls and loose skin that flops up and down when they run.

I am dying laughing as I type this

It was a completely pathetic run but the point is, I did it. I felt so awesome afterward. I know I need to get back on track but this run just solidified everything my mind has been telling me these past couple of months.

Forewarning, I will now become one of those annoying people who fills you in on their training and whether or not it was a good day or a bad day. Don't worry, though, I've got plenty of other crap to fill you in on so stay tuned.

I will now leave you with a couple of pics of my boys just because they are so damn cute!

Lessons I Learned in 2013

Like many others, I've sat back and reflected on the past year. 2013 was a busy year for us...new house, new baby, and everything in between. It was also full of a lot of lessons.

I learned that building a house can be a complete pain in the ass. We fought more this past year than we have in our entire marriage because of one stupid house. I can say now that I don't regret doing it but there were many times where I might have said differently.

 

I learned that second pregnancies are very different. So much that I didn't even know who I was anymore thanks to the numerous amounts of hormones. I struggled every day and there were times where I thought I was going to go insane but somehow you make it through. Because it's completely worth it in the end.

I learned that no matter how much life throws at you, you'll always be able to get back up. Every day is a new day.

I learned that being diagnosed with gestational diabetes was not a death sentence. I CAN watch what I eat without starving. I CAN poke myself in the finger with a needle 4 times a day. And I can completely appreciate the fact that people have to do that every day of their lives because they have no choice. You guys are rockstars!

I have been reminded that life is short. Many friends have dealt with heartbreak and loss, especially recently, and it's served as a reminder that life is precious and you need to live, laugh, and love every single day of your life.

I've learned that two kids are harder than one. Especially when the older one is 3 1/2. But I've also learned that you can love two kids equally. I wouldn't trade being a mom for anything in the world.

I learned so much in 2013, more than I've shared. I had more than my share of bad times but I also had plenty of good. And the good always outweighs the bad.

2014 is going to be a challenging year for me but not in a bad way. I'm setting lofty goals for myself. I'll have my usual goal of getting in shape (I know, you've heard it before) but this time is different. Getting gestational diabetes was a huge eye opener for me. If I don't get my weight under control, there's a good chance I'll end up with diabetes later in life and I'm going to make damn sure that's not an option for me.

I'm also going to try and accessorize more. Sounds stupid, I'm sure but I have a boatload of jewelry and belts and scarves that sit in my closet and do nothing. What's the point of having this stuff if I'm not going to wear it?

Glenn and I have a combined goal of creating a budget and sticking to it. We always talk about doing it and several times have in fact started one but we never stick to it. With two kids in daycare, it's something we definitely need to do.

My biggest goal is to run a half-marathon. I figure if I can survive the TC 10-miler, what's another 3 miles. It may not sound like a lofty goal but considering I haven't ran since the 10-miler (which was in October 2012), it's a big deal to me! I'm shooting to do one in the fall so expect to hear about the trials and tribulations of training throughout the next several months. I promise you'll enjoy it!

I hope 2014 brings you everything you're hoping for, wishing for, or aiming for. I'm definitely going to make the best of this new year and I hope you do, too.