My 600lb life...

I have been watching a show called my 600 lb and am amazed by how big the human body can get.  

The more amazing part is that it can happen to just about anybody.  You start by eating an extra helping here and there and before you know it you have gained an extra 10, 15 20, 50 , 100, 200, 400 lbs!!!

After having my daughter I was on track to lose all the weight I had gained during pregnancy.  Since I was breastfeeding I was able to eat more calories that usual and not gain weight.  After 12 glorious months of being at home with my baby it was time for me to get back to work.  

That meant I would eat out for lunch, sometimes burgers sometimes my mom would cook amazing mexican fatty foods.  They were delicious, but not good for me.  Because of that extra eating, and less breastfeeding, I gained weight.  In fact, I now weigh TEN pounds more than when I was about to give birth to my daughter.

It is hard a lot of days to get up and go for a walk.  Or take 5-10 minutes for some light weight exercising.  But I have to do it.  Diabetes runs in my family as does high blood pressure.  I do not want to be a victim of those diseases.  I want to play with my daughter pick her up run with her.  I have to lose at least 50 lbs.  That is more than healthy for me.  200lbs on my 5'3 frame is not healthy.

I have to motivate myself to do this for me and my family.  But it is HARD, HARD, HARD.

 A lot of days I just feel like going out and buying more clothes to fit my bigger body, but that will make me complacent.  

I have to do this.  There is no option to fail.

None.

It starts NOW!

There comes a day in each one of us when we have had ENOUGH!  It is different for each of us, but it happens.  What we choose to do after it happens is what can set us apart.  In my case it was a picture.  

It was the fourth of July and I had on some jeggings (because I don't have jeans that fit anymore) and a red shirt with a white tank underneath.  In my minds eye I looked cute and the outfit was "slimming." I decided to go outside and blow some bubbles with my toddler.  Seeing my daughter and I enjoy ourselves, my husband decided to snap a few picture with our camera.  When I went back to review the pictures, what I saw surprised the heck out of me.  

Was that really me? Had I really let myself go that bad?  I was, AM, fat!  It was not just that I had gained a few (40!!) pounds.  I was now the same weight I was when I was 9 months pregnant.  After looking at those pictures, I realized looked pregnant too.  I wanted to cry.  I was angry at myself and sad.  I see what happens in my family: weight gain = heart problems and diabetes.  I do not want to be like that.  I want to be, not skinny, healthy.  For my family and for my daughter.  

The changes will have to come slowly.  I have added a green smoothie a day to my daily routine.  I am trying to drink 8 glasses of water a day. I am working out 5 days a week.  I had a little set back this last week, I got a cold.  That was rare for me too.  I used to very rarely get sick.  I will change my lifestyle.  I will be healthier.  I know that means I will shed some fat.  That is what needs to happen.  200 lbs is too much for my 5'3 frame.  

My goal is to lose 50 lbs. in one year.  I could probably lose it sooner, maybe in 6 months.  I have seen other people lose the weight that fast, and gain it right back.  I don't want to be like that.  After following some new people that have lost 50+ lbs on instagram I realized that those who made small changes were in a completely different place a year, two and three years later.  Those small changes led equaled a big overhaul a year down the line.  

I have also seen people lose a lot of weight fast, but too soon they gain it all back.  I don't want to yo-yo anymore.  I WILL NOT!!

I am using this blog to keep myself accountable.  It is for me.  If anyone stumbles across this and wants some support, a buddy to keep them accountable on their journey to change the way they live for the better, I am here.


The goal I have set is to lose 1-2lbs a week.  Some weeks it may even be more, but on average 1-2lbs a week is very doable. Once I find my tape measure, I will take some basic measurements too.
 I will workout a minimum of 5 days a week.  I will make small changes to get closer to my goal.

I can do this, you can too!

Will you join me?


-D

The pain of living with the in-laws

First off, don't get me wrong, I live my in laws.

Now having said that, my mother in law can drive me crazy! I know this is just the way things go, and she is vey set in her ways.  So every day I pray to God to give me strength and patience to be able to make it through the day.


The thing is, my husband and I are both out of work and without a steady stream of income coming in we really have no chcoice but to stay here until we can get back on our feet.  But what should be simple things, like coming up with a menu for the week, can be very trying in both my husband and and I while my mother in law puts her two cents in.  She wants to use canned mushrooms, gross, over fresh ones.  She is afraid peas in the risotto will be hard and tough to chew. Really? Who ever heard of hard peas? Are they still frozen?? 

Gosh, I think I need to take a moment and pray again....

An end and a new beginning

Another move in the near future for us.  
My husband and I have decided to move...again.  This it's different.  This time we made the choice to move and where to move to. It isn't a move for work.  
This time we are moving to Charlotte NC and I am excited and very nervous.
Nervous because it is the first time we move and BOTH of us don't have jobs lined up.  It is a very scary prospect to not have a source of income coming in, but at the same time it is a chance to start over.  Do what I want and even be my own boss if I wanted.  

The trouble with being my own boss is that I am not sure what my business should be.  Should I sell Avon or Herbalife?  Should I sell insurance or go into real estate? I guess I could also star at my own you tube channel?

I guess I could start extreme coupling to save and maybe even make some money.  

I will start to document the process, maybe someone out there can help and motivate me.

I am open to motivation and looking for a mentor!!

I have a couple weeks to figure this out.  

Wish me luck!