Getting Healthy

Five babies can really do a number on your body. Especially when you love unhealthy food. I have used food as a crutch most of my life, but I didn't like what it was doing to my body, self image, and confidence. So when a good friend became a coach for Take Shape For Life and asked me to try it out in December, I took a leap of faith to change my relationship with food.

The first month I did the Medifast 5-1 program to jump start myself and teach myself portion control. I couldn't justify the cost for more than a month so I made the most of it and lost around 8 lbs the first month.  I continued to lose, but a slower pace from there- even hitting plateaus as I started to gain muscle from my daily morning workouts.  I found the Daily Burn program and alternating them with  my treadmill runs.  I had my ups and downs- cheating days and perfect ones, but I kept my goal in sight.

Almost five months later and I am down 21 lbs and four pant sizes- I'm wearing a size that I have NEVER worn before!  I eat better- not just better- I am no longer controlled by my appetite or cravings.  I make things like zucchini boats and cauliflower pizza (both delicious). I went to an activity with the girls the other night and totally ignored the dessert platters.  I get up a 6:15am, 6 days a week and work out- something I couldn't imagine a year ago.   And it feels great.

So here is the proof in the pictures.  My health journey :)

Violet's Finished Room

Only took me a year... The other rooms should be done this week too. 😊

Memorial Day Water Fun

Water games for our day off. It's great to have some family time!

Jokes By Liliana

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To die and go to heaven.

(shaking my head)

Do All Things Come in Threes?

Because if they do, we're waiting for one more injury.

#1- Yesterday Luca got a head cut glued after Daddy didn't check for cealing clearance before happily throwing the boy in the air when he arrived home from work. (He still feels awful.)

#2- Violet fell (jumped?) off the couch into the glass front of the curio cabinet. Just a few cuts, but the sound was awful. (I'm not upset about the cabinet - it was a hand me down that was getting pretty worn, and didn't fit with my new furniture. Great excuse to get rid of it, actually. )

#3- TBD...

Self Punishment

Put myself in time-out out on the front porch after putting the kids to bed tonight. At least the view is amazing.

Absolute Adorableness

How to Stop a Grumpy, Continually Moving Hurricane??

Put him outside in a chair with a snack. Didn't move for an HOUR AND A HALF!!!!

End of the Year Field Trips

I got brave this year and signed up for 2 field trips in one week- The Pittsburgh Children's Museum with Moira and Pricketts Fort with Liliana. 

I got to ride the bus with Moira (and left the kids with a sitter) which was fun- the PTO actually got us charter buses, which I figured made sense with a bunch of kindergartners who might need to use the bathroom on a 1.5 hr ride. The museum itself was great with tons of hands-on exhibits. We might make a trip up there during the summer.

The littles and I met Liliana at Pricketts Fort, which is only 10 or so minutes from our house.  I would have enjoyed this more without the said littles, since Luca got bored fairly quickly during the historical lessons (which I was interested in, oh well). It was a beautiful day though, and Liliana loved having us there. Wish I had taken more pictures.

It's nice to do more of these things now that Luca is older.  Imagine what I'll be doing when he goes to school! :O

Think Before You Promise Money

So, if you ever promise your kids money for picking all the dandelions in your .75 acre yard, you might want to make some estimates in your head first.  Because the might pick over 1,500 of them and you might owe them each $15.00.

Won't happen again, but at least they worked hard!