Milestone: My weight loss journey.

Here I am...20 POUNDS LIGHTER!!!!!

This is a huge milestone for me! I have been on a 1400 calorie diet with an appetite suppressant for 2 months. The first month weigh in I lost 13 pounds and today I went for my second. I lost 7 more pounds for a total of 20 pounds!

I am focusing on the total number because I was a little disappointed to have only lost 7 lbs when I lost 13 the first month. However losing this weight has caused my BMI to go down 2 points and my blood pressure went from 154/104 (with medication) down to 120/84!!!



The things that have helped me the most? My faith in God. Yes, I pray about my weight loss! I know that God is good, All the time and He will help me with anything! My favorite verse is Philippians 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" This verse has helped me through out my life, with my marriage, my children, jobs, decisions, you name it, it applies!

When someone just randomly comes up to me and says "you are looking skinny" or "wow! you look great!". Those comments have been such a positive motivator for me! However, I had to remind myself that if someone didn't say anything (like my family at Thanksgiving) that it shouldn't hurt my feelings because I am not doing this for them. I am doing this for me!

Another motivator for me is my clothes! When I first started to notice that my jeans were loose, that was awesome! Now I have jeans that I just can't wear anymore because even with a belt I was constantly pulling up my pants! This morning as I was trying to choose the lightest outfit to wear to my dr's appointment, I got another surprise! I chose a lightweight long sweater with a belt and leggings (of course I took off my shoes to weigh!). I had to get a different belt because the one that goes with this sweater, on the last notch, was 2 inches too big! Plus my leggings are baggy through my legs! I can't tell you how great it feels to have pretty much lost 10% of my body weight!


Things I have been eating... Well, I was not willing to give up my morning coffee, and no one else wants me to give that up either! I measure my creamer every time. I know exactly where on my coffee cup is 2 tablespoons! I tend to eat the same foods for breakfast and lunch, mostly because I am to lazy to find out calories on something new everyday. Yes I know that is sad, but its just easier when you're in a hurry to grab the 250 calorie oatmeal packet for breakfast and I can take a low cal waffle with a tsp of peanut butter with me in the car. I like apples and carrots a lot so I use those as my go to snack if I am feeling hungry. For dinner, I just eat what my family eats. I didn't change my cooking when I started this change because I knew that if I did it wouldn't last. I have some very picky eaters with sensory issues and 3 with food allergies. The allergies already make our grocery bill higher than I would like so I knew that if I started trying to buy special foods just for me, it would last about a week! I just started measuring out everything I ate. When I would finish my dinner, I would wait a while before I got seconds. Most of the time, I wouldn't really be hungry. I have had calories left over everyday!

All this without exercise! If you remember from my first post, I have problems with my feet which keeps me from really exercising. I have plantar fasciitis in both my feet. I had surgery last year on my right foot to extend the tendon, but my body likes to create scar tissue and a lot of it. So, I had surgery to remove the scar tissue about the same time as I started this diet. My right foot is so much better now! I go back in a few days for my podiatrist to evaluate my left foot to determine if it will need surgery as well. With all this foot pain I can barely walk some days so exercise is just not an option right now. I know this is part of the reason I started packing on the weight in the first place. My husband and I used to walk a lot, but for the past 2 years I haven't been able to join him. (just imagine how much more I would be losing if I could exercise!!!)

Just to remind you what I looked like 20 pounds heavier... Yuck!

Good luck to those of you that are joining me on this weight loss journey! I would love to hear your successes and tips!

Look for less of me in the future!

Blessing to all! Christy

Stress, Diet, Surgery and Faith

How do all those things connect....Stress, Diet, Surgery and Faith?  Well for me this is how it goes...
A couple weeks ago, I went to the doctor to get some help with my ever increasing weight.  With my foot issues, I have not been able to exercise at all.  So my doctor put me on a 1400 calorie diet and gave me a appetite suppressant.  I have done well with staying within the 1400 calories without any cravings.  However, as my stress level has been rising, the urge to eat grows stronger.  Yes, I am one of those people who eat their emotions!  Plus I am a huge sweets eater, I would rather eat cake once a day and not eat the rest of the day! But I don't. :-)  
We all know that STRESSED backwards is DESSERTS!  So obviously God wants me to eat desserts right?  yea, I know....that's stretching it a bit...  

But who can deny that this doesn't look scrumptious?????  Add a little caramel sauce and I would be in heaven!!!!

So, why am I so stressed?  Well, here is what my ADD brain is currently wrapped up in....  5 days ago I had surgery on my right foot. ( I have plantar fasciitis in both my feet. I had surgery to lengthen the tendon last year, but my body develops a lot of scar tissue, so I have to have all the scar tissue removed. )  I have stitches, so I can't get it wet...its my right foot so I have to remove my walking boot and put on a driving shoe to drive, so it takes me twice as long to get into and out of the car, to take a shower, to walk pretty much anywhere.  So by itself, would be no problem...  But add in the fact that winter is coming very quickly, and my van, which is falling apart before our very eyes, still doesn't have any heat.  It has some electrical issues, which makes only one of the sliding doors work, the locks work only when they feel like it, and some of the windows have just given up on opening...oh yea, and no heat.  My husband was also giving our newly 16 yr old a driving lesson...he did great, until he pulled into our driveway.  He slightly connected my van with my husbands car....now the passenger door makes a horrible noise and will barely open.  Good thing it was our two cars and not some unsuspecting driver!

Does a cookie sound good?  Why yes it does! Good thing I am at therapy with my two asperger kids, so I can't get one!  

3 of my kids need tennis shoes, 2 of them have out grown pretty much all their winter clothes from last year, and I think all of them are in need of new socks and underwear. I miss my husband horribly right now.  He works two jobs and the only times we see him is Wednesday nights (which we teach a 7th grade religion class together) and Saturday and Sunday. 

On to the Faith portion....

Sunday was our 18 year anniversary. Although we didn't really get to celebrate (b/c I  just have foot surgery) I am so thankful that God brought my husband into my life and just the right time.   I am thankful that God has given me 5 energetic, crazy, funny children.  Some times I wonder what He was thinking giving me 2 kids with aspergers, 3 with food allergies, various other medical issues but really I could not imagine my life without any one of them.  Yes, my husband works two jobs and we hardly ever see him, but that allows me to stay at home and teach my kids and take care of them the way God intended me to. Yes, we have a ton of car issues, but I know that somehow we will make it through. God will provide us the transportation we need to get to the important things in life.  Yes, we definitely have a lot of health issues, and needs that could be met a lot easier if we had a little more money a month.  But, I know that somehow we will make it. 

I trust in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I know that He will take care of us.  How do I know this?  Because the bible says so.  He says so.  I don't know how He will do it, but I don't think I am meant to know.  I think God just wants us to trust in Him with all our hearts.  Put no other god before Him.  All glory, honor and praise to the Lord.  

So, yes my human body really wants a cookie..... but my faith knows I really don't need that cookie.  All I need is Him.

Peace be with you, 

Christy 

    

This is the first day of the healthier me!!!

My daughter took this picture of me this morning.

Not too flattering huh?

So yesterday was actually the first day of my healthier me, but I didn't get a chance to write about it.  Let me start at the beginning.

I have never been a thin person...maybe once or twice when I was in my late teens and early 20's.  However it never lasted for longer then about a year.  I am curvy.  I have a large bust (even when I was thin) and I have curvy hips/thighs.  Mostly I have been ok with that since I got married almost 18 years ago.  My husband loves me and still tells me how beautiful and hot I am!  (yes I know he is crazy but he is my crazy!!!) Then one day I was flipping through photos on my phone. My daughter loves to take my phone and make videos and snap all kinds of pictures.  I never know what I will find!  This is what I found....

This is a picture of my friend and I visiting on our loveseat.  When I saw this picture I thought to myself "Holy Cow! Look how much of the loveseat I take up!!!"  This was a slap in the face into reality.  I never saw myself in the mirror like this.  I guess I had rose colored glasses on!  So, to tell you how I got this big.....no I don't eat bon bons all day..   About 2-3 years ago, I started jogging, I actually started to lose weight.  The kind that people notice!  However, my body did not like me doing that.  I hated every step too!  I have inherited problems with my feet.  My mom has had the same problems I am having for quite some time, so when I told her about my foot pains, she knew exactly what it was.  She was correct!  I went to her foot doctor and he confirmed that I have plantar fasciitis.  I actually have a pretty severe case of it.  I have had one foot surgery and will be having another in the next week.  Having these problems have really effected my ability to be active.  We have always been a hiking, taking walks, active kind of a family.  However, this foot pain has pretty much taken me out of all of that.  So I went to my general doctor and asked if he could help me.  I am currently at the heaviest I have ever been while not pregnant.  I have 5 children and was basically pregnant or nursing from 1998 until 2006!  I have tried programs without success.  So my Dr. put me on a 1400 calorie diet and prescribed me an appetite suppressant.  Since I still can not exercise, the 1400 calorie diet should help me loose weight.  

I have no delusions that I will be a size 2, but I do have the desire to be able to hike with my family again, to have the energy to keep up with my kids, to be able to take a walk with my husband! ( plus I want to feel sexy again!) 

So, Why am I telling you all this??  Simple.  I need you to pray for me, to encourage me, and to keep me accountable. 

 If you are walking through this kind of journey, I would love to hear what has worked for you! I am excited about this new adventure, I have high hopes!  

Many blessings to you all!

Christy

My children have fallen prey to the invasion of the body snatchers!!

What is it about dirty dishes that send my children off the deep end??  Seriously?!  It's not like they have to carry them down to the creek and scrub them with sand!  We have a dishwasher that most every thing can go in.  Plus, they are only required to do the dishes once a week....yes only ONCE A WEEK!  There are seven people in our home, so we each have a designated dishes day.  I remember having do to the dishes almost everyday, and if I acted the way my children do, I would have gotten beaten!!

I have to admit that doing dishes are not my favorite chore, but if you just do them then its over relatively quick.   Here is what happens when I remind my boys it is their dishes day.  

Me: (insert boys name here), don't forget it's your dishes day.  You need to get started on them before its so late.

Any one of my 3 boys:  UUGGHHH! Do I really have to do the dishes???  

Me: yes.

Boy: But its so far to the kitchen.

Me: Well then you better start walking now.

Boy: But I don't want to do them.

Me: No one wants to do dishes, its just a fact of life.

Boy: grumble, grumble, grumble...

Then after a couple more reminders they usually at least start, complaining most of the time.

Now, my girls, this is a totally different story!  My normally sweet, well behaved girls....ok,  they aren't always well behaved and they aren't always very sweet to each other, but you know what I mean....  my girls turn into these horrible yellow fanged, crazy purple haired monsters that I know I didn't give birth to!  Here is what it looks like on the girls days.

Me: (insert girl #1 here), don't forget it's your dishes day.  You need to get started on them before its so late.

Girl #1:  WHAT??!!!  It's not MY dishes day!!!

Me: yes it is, its Thursday.

Girl #1:  Whaling begins here...   IT'S NOT FAIR!  I ALWAYS HAVE TO THE THE DISHES!!  NO ONE ELSE EVER DOES THE DISHES BUT ME!!!

Me: Yes we do, everyone has their own day, we all do dishes. 

Girl #1: Throws herself down on the ground and cries for at least 5 minutes.

Me: Are you done? Because your dishes are still in there waiting on you.

Girl #1: *still crying*  I can't believe how MEAN you are to me!   

Me: Yes, I am mean.  If you would rather wait until tomorrow to do them, you may.  However, you are responsible for all the dishes up until then.
Girl #1: *enraged* I AM NOT DOING SOMEONE ELSE'S DISHES!!
Me: It's your choice.
Girl #1:  *very dramatically*  Ugh!  My life is sooo horrible!!!
Me: Yes, apparently it is, as you tell me that every week.  (at this point, my patience is pretty much gone)
*as calmly as I can muster*  Just get up and go do the dishes.
Girl #1: still whimpering she gets up  and stomps off to get her ipod and starts her dishes.  And slowly she turns back into my child...slowly her yellow fangs shrink and her purple crazy hair lays back down and the color returns to normal..

Ok, now for Girl #2.

Me: (insert girl #2 here), don't forget it's your dishes day.  You need to get started on them before its so late.
Girl #2: *very matter of fact*  No it isn't.  (this is where she changes from my sweet little girl to the head strong, stubborn crazy purple haired monster)
Me: Yes it is.
Girl #2: *still very matter of fact* Well I am not doing them.
Me: Yes you are, you are 9 years old and its your dishes day.
Girl #2: UGH!  I am still not doing them.
repeat the above at least 3 more times
Me:  to my husband....Would you please help me with her!!!  (at this point I have totally lost all patience and I leave the room)

My husband works his magic or doesn't...  He sometimes compromises with her and just has her unload the dishwasher or stand there behind her as she begrudgingly rinses dishes or he just does them himself. (please no judging...we have to pick our battles with this one...)

As I am typing out all the drama we have with our offspring, I am thinking this is just really sad.  We need to be reminded everyday that we are so blessed!  We have a roof over our head, food on our table, a dishwasher to clean these dirty dishes!, we have each other to enjoy our meals with, and so many more blessing!!!

So here is what I am going to do.  Instead of repeating the above over and over again, I am going to post this sign where everyone can see it while they are doing their dishes...including me!

If your children fall prey to the 'invasion of the body snatchers' when it's their turn to do the dishes (or if you fall prey yourself!) try posting the above sign over your sink or in a prominent place in your kitchen.  

I will pray for you to like washing dishes if you will pray for me!! 

God is Good, All the Time, All the Time, God is Good!

Happy Washing!!!
Blessings!
Christy

Homeschooling taught by the overwhelmed!

Let me just start off by saying, today was a good day in our home school adventure!  This is what this morning looked like:

All sitting nicely around the table in our newly created school area. (notice how I have nothing on the walls yet!)  They were all getting along, no one was touching anyone else, and math was being calculated by all!  I was a proud momma!  If it were this easy, everyone would home school! Ha!

Most days are a little more rowdy than today.  You see, home schooling is a choice my husband and I made, even though I felt very unqualified.  However, God put this desire in my heart, and if God has ever done this to you, you know you can't refuse!  I have many reasons I school at home.  Probably the number one reason I home school is because I have 2 children with Aspergers.  I have a 14 yr old son and a 9 yr old daughter on the spectrum.  My daughter also struggles with ADHD as well.  These two by themselves make me crazy, frustrated and exhausted.  But, they also bring me such joy!  When I am able to help them understand something they have struggled with, when the light shines through them, you can not duplicate that happiness!
My number two reason is I want my children to learn and know the most important thing in life, to know and have a relationship with God.
No matter how much math, science, english or history you know, if you don't know and believe in Jesus then life is just not worth living.  I love taking my children to daily Mass and teaching them more about our Catholic faith.  That does not mean I don't teach them all the subjects, I just don't freak out if my 9 yr old daughter isn't able to do multiplication yet or my 14 yr old only does 15 math problems instead of all 30.  I let them work at their own pace, some things they excel in and have no trouble breezing through higher levels, and on the subjects they have more difficulty with, we take a little more time.  That way they are exactly where they should be, not where everyone else must be.  
We take time to enjoy the weather outside on nice days.  We take breaks to jump on the trampoline, and just be goofy!  

Even our dog, Marley, likes to get smart!!!  (And yest that is a winter/christmas blanket...)

So really, even though I feel so overwhelmed and scattered at times, the rest out weights it all!  So, if you are thinking about home schooling, just make sure you have the best intentions for your children and make sure that God in the decision process!  Pray, pray often, and don't worry, He is with you always!

Happy Home Schooling!
Christy

Starting over.....AGAIN!!!!

So, it has been almost a year since my last post...  The kids have gotten a LOT taller, and I think my hair has gotten more gray (although you would never know it!!!) and my desire to be a blogger has stirred up again!

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and my two girls and I went to see Mom's Night Out.                http://momsnightoutmovie.com/

 I read the book, given to me by a fellow blogger (a real one!). http://perfectisboring.blogspot.com/.  She is a friend I met through my daughter....such a sweet family!!!  Anyway, back to the book/movie! (Yes I am a little ADHD)  If you have not read or seen Mom's Night Out, I highly recommend it!!    The main character, Allyson, played by Sarah Drew, is a very stressed out mommy, who would like to be a mommy blogger.  This hilarious story will bring tears of laughter, understanding and joy!  Along with a lot of moments that I totally related to, this movie brought back my desire to blog again!

So, I invite you to follow my blog and definitely go see Moms Night Out!