2017 Edition

I remember the exact weekend I allowed the first few pounds to creep back on.  It was February of 2013 ... the weekend I first told someone outside of my family of our impending move to CA.  That was the beginning of the end of my weight loss journey, and the beginning of packing it all back on.   This year is going to be a little different this time.  THIS year, I AM making "resolutions".  THIS year, I am holding myself accountable.

Beginning tomorrow, it's back to July of 2012.  Back to that random day when I decided it was time to stop being fat.  ALL that needs to be done is exercise/move EVERY day, and watch my calories.  I don't want to "do" low carb, or paleo, or Atkins, or, or, or.  I JUST want to make good choices and keep myself below a certain threshold.  At the end of the day, that's all there is to it!

I understand how purging sugar out of your life can make things SO much easier, but when you cut something out 100%, you (I) feel deprived.  Sugar in SMALL doses will still be allowed, calories permitting, but never as a "reward".  I want to reward myself with things OTHER than food; I went ahead and "pre-rewarded" myself for losing 20 pounds.  I haven't done that yet; in fact, I'm pretty sure I've gained weight since the pics I took of me in my blue shirt.  But I thought maybe if I just go ahead and do something nice for myself, I can manage to meet my goal.

On Friday the 23rd, I got my foot surgery (FINALLY).  Also on Friday the 23rd, I got my nose pierced.  I've been wanting to do it for awhile now, and I kept telling myself it would be my reward for losing 20 pounds, but sometime around Thanksgiving, I decided to throw in the towel all together and just binge until Dec 31st.  Well, that is EXACTLY what I have done.  Zero exercise, lots of (Panera Bread's FREE ones) bagels, lots of chocolate, full sugar sodas here and there, sweet tea at dinner, and fried chicken rather than grilled on my Zaxby's salads.  Frowny face.  Tomorrow begins a new day, and even a new year.

2017 is going to be my BEST year yet.  I'm HOPING to reconnect with some old friends, make some new ones, and steadily drop the pounds back off.  I have some AMAZING unspoken goals I am claiming for the new year, and I resolve to look on life with an uplifting and positive attitude.  I strive to improve and move up at work, I strive to raise another son to be as awesome and amazing as the first one, and I strive to be a loving and supportive wife to my husband.



2016 can bite the dust, 2017 is here to be THE year!!

"Home" for Christmas

When we moved to California, that was "home".  I refused to refer to Georgia as "home", because we didn't live there any more.  We spent 3 years with just the 3 of us celebrating Christmas as a small little family.  This year, we have our little guy celebrating his first, and our extended family is finally together after 3 long years.  My in-laws would argue that we're finally back "home" since we're here in the south; I know it does feel good!  Excited to be off work for a few days and to be able to spend time just relaxing.

Sadly, I am spending my first day off getting surgery!  I have had a mass on the bottom of my right foot for about 5 or 6 years now, and it has been finally bothering me this year.  I decided to bite the bullet and just get it looked at and of COURSE the doctor told me the only thing to do w/ it is to remove it.  I knew that was going to be the case all along which is why I never bothered to have it looked at years ago.  SO!  If you're the praying type, I'd appreciate a few prayers for me in the morning!  I've had 2 C-sections, but I've never been put under general anesthesia, and to be honest, I'm a little bit nervous about it.  I will be non weight bearing for 3 weeks; can't even have a walking boot.  Should be an
interesting challenge w/ an 8 month old baby.



Also sadly, I have not managed to lose a single pound.  In fact, I think I've probably gained a few pounds.  I decided to say SCREW IT for the rest of 2016, and join the rest of the world with starting "fresh" in 2017.  I will be starting by not being able to exercise at all, but my inability to work out does not have any effect on what I eat.  I've struggled to get back to making my weekly meal plan/shopping list, and we've ended up eating WAY too much fast food.  Pretty much the same boat I was in 4 years ago when I changed my lifestyle the first time.  It's frustrating to have fallen back into old habits, but I changed them once and I CAN change them again.  I've always in a way "looked down" on alcohol and drug addicts, thinking WHY can't they just say "no"?  Can't they SEE how they're destroying their family and their own lives??  Well, how is food any different?  I am finding that I virtually can't say "no" to the siren's call of sugar and fat.  Again and again I make excuses and justify bad choices, and I realize I'm no different than the people I look down on.

ANYWAY!  Life is good, we are so, so blessed.  I'm thankful for my darling almost NINE MONTH old that is now beginning to crawl and get into things, and my fabulous teenager that is finally applying himself and getting all A's and B's in high school.  He's loving being in ROTC and is really shining in the drill team aspect of it.  I love watching him do it, it's HARD!  The rifle is 9 pounds and about 3 feet tall.  Love my job and my "work wives", we have an awesome team.

I have a 'thing' in the works; possibly going to try and make some YouTube videos pertaining to club foot.  God has really put it on my heart that he wants me to reach out in that way somehow, and I think the videos may reach more people than the blog posts.  I will have a little time on my hands, what with sitting around on my rear w/ my foot propped up for a few days ;)

Going to pick a 5k to enter.  The Hot Chocolate 5K is going to be in Nashville in February; It's going to be the middle of January before I can get off my crutches, so I'm not sure how realistic it's going to be to shoot for a run then.  I may try to do the Smoky Mountain one in the mountains, but I'm not sure when that one is.  Oh well, it's all about goals!  I'll figure it out :)  God bless y'all, hope everyone has a beautiful Christmas holiday!!!