If you don't read this entire thing, just read the last 2 lines!

It's been a long time. I'd like to pretend like I've been uber busy and preoccupied; you know, say that's why I've been gone, but that would be a lie. I haven't been doing anything. Just sitting around, napping, playing with Baby S, munching on junk, and moping...

Making the necessary changes

Hey everyone! Well, it's that time again... time to reveal the horrifying number on the scale from this morning's weigh-in {since I failed to do it last Friday}. I knew it wouldn't be pretty; I was hoping I was wrong, but I KNEW I was right.

Not giving up

  I am still challenged everyday by the decisions I make. Should I eat this or that? One bite won't "count," right? I've done pretty good... I could indulge today. So on so forth. I have made a lot of good choices, but I have slipped up and made some not-so-good choices too. Samuel and I have eaten out 4 times since January 10th. I have gone out an additional time, without Sam. Two times at Subway {good choices!}, once at Chili's, {I got salad that wasn't exactly a "healthy" salad...} and chinese food {I don't even have to say what I got, because it's obvious that it was a bad choice}. Yesterday my in-laws took me out for lunch and we had Olive Garden. I decided to stick with the "lighter" menu. I ordered their garlic rosemary chicken. It was okay. I really missed eating my "regular" shrimp mezzaluna. I struggled with only getting one helping of the salad {since I knew the dressing was fattening}; I tried to avoid the breadsticks, but they were just STARING at me. I mean, right? They were STARING! Ugh. So I had two. *Sigh*

Weigh in!

  I realized I have not done an update about how my weight loss is going. I forgot to weigh in this morning. {I always weigh first thing in the morning, after using the restroom, completely naked and before doing anything- like eating or showering.} 

It happens e.v.e.r.y t.i.m.e!

   

Sorry I've been slacking with my posts this week! Who has two thumbs and has been super sick? 

I'm fairly positive that I don't have the flu, but I've got whatever comes right under that. Yes, that is a self-diagnosis. No, I haven't gone to the Dr. No, I don't have any plans on going. Today is the first day that getting out of bed has been halfway doable. Maybe it's because I actually have to get out of bed today to take care of my child!? HA! Mommy problems! 

{Side note: Huge THANK YOU to my dear mother in law who is always willing to take Baby S for the day to help me out in any way. And she does so HAPPILY. #Blessed}

Anyway,

What's your plan?

Today, I've been going around the house, picking up, cleaning, scrubbing, cooking...

Usually after several minutes, I'm so tired and over it that I stop. Today has been different, it's kind of strange. I'm tired, but not fatigued. I'm hungry, but I'm not scavenging around the kitchen. I'm cleaning like a mad woman; I know it needs to be done, so I'm just doing it! How's that for motivation? Pretty good...

Also, as I mentioned, I'm cooking. I've got a pork loin in the crock pot. I love my slow cooker! Do you have one? What are your favorite recipes? At Skinny Taste, she has some slow cooker recipes that are WW friendly. The recipe I'm cooking today is from her site! Thanks Skinny Taste!!

Okay, so I've gotten together with some of my girlfriends that have gym memberships, and we decided today we're going to go tonight {before The Bachelor is on, of course}! I hope we stick to it! I can't go unless they do, which is why this isn't going to be my reliable source of "movement." As this weight has crept up, I've become so sedentary. It's really sad. It shows you just how important movement is! Standing burns more calories that sitting. Something so simple. When I was working, before I had the baby, I was standing, moving, (almost felt like I was running) around the pharmacy for about 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. This has been a drastic change in my lifestyle. I know I was easily taking 10,000 steps a day and I want to get back to that. It's the least I can do to stay moving. I need to find my pedometer! When the weather gets nicer outside, I'm going to start taking Baby S outside and walk to get my 10,000 steps in! I need to start using my treadmill. No more excuses!

What are some ways you are moving through out your day? It seems a lot harder to get these moments of movement when it's cold and icky out. I can't wait for Spring and Summer {My favorite times of the year}!

Share your WW recipes or ways you get movement in you day with below in my comments! Also, follow and share my blog! (If you don't know how, you can follow via email, share on Facebook or Twitter or follow me on your own blog.) If you have blogger and don't know how to follow me; Go on your dashboard: go to the left side of the screen where it says "add" and click it. Add my website to the blank: www.Laurenlosinglbs.blogspot.com then click "Follow." Thanks so much!

"Point-less" Meals: Pumpkin Heath Caramel Cake

"Point-less" Meals: Pumpkin Heath Caramel Cake: 

This original recipe comes from "somethingswanky.com" . Pointless meals is the blog I got this recipe link from and she changed it a bit and calculated points . It looks yummy! Let me know if you try it!

Getting started, where to begin?

  

  Welcome to my journey. I'm just starting, so if you'd like to follow a long and join me, I'd love the support! If you've stumbled upon my blog here, I have a feeling my story isn't much different than yours. Here is my background...

 New mother of a 7 month old (8 months on the 22nd!) and wife to an amazing husband who supports me and loves his family so much. To no surprise, my weight gain, this time around, came during my pregnancy. In August 2012, I got a positive on my pregnancy test and was so thrilled! I had started losing weight earlier that year; dedicated to losing weight to have a baby and I met my goal. 150 lbs! Yay me! Unfortunately, I felt I could take a break from my strict lifestyle and have a carefree pregnancy. I gained all of my weight back plus some, during those short 9 months.  I have a lot of weight to lose, but this isn't the first time I've struggled with weight...

Let me back it up further.

 In high school I played volleyball and it kept me in great shape. I weighed about 150-160 and I was solid muscle. After I graduated (in 2006) I weighed in at about 165-175. I immediately started gaining weight, since I was no longer active. I was also struggling with a lot of dysfunction in my family that was causing severe depression. Over the course of several years I was getting larger and larger. I was already dating my husband in high school and we married in 2008. We both blew up the scale and realized something had to give. My husband yo-yo's a lot. I tried fad diets and of course it never stuck. My heaviest in December of 2011, was 220 lbs. I knew that I could not go on living this lifestyle. I found Take Shape For Life {TSFL} and used Medifast products starting in April of 2012 (after doing WW for a few months and losing an initial 20 lbs. then plateauing) and it was my life saver! I began the program and knew that if I could meet my goal, then I could finally allow myself to start trying for a family. So if you're keeping track- From April 2012 to August 2012- I lost about 50 lbs. YES. That is no lie.  TSFL helped me drop that weight in a snap. During my pregnancy I gained about 60-65lbs. Yikes!! What did I do? Well, I just knew for sure that whatever weight I gained during my pregnancy would come right off with breastfeeding and going back on program, with TSFL, right??? WRONG. Breastfeeding helped for the first few weeks and I was down from 227 to 207. Awesome! Yeah, except, I was soo much hungrier breastfeeding then what I ever was pregnant. After the breastfeeding stopped helping me lose, the pounds started sneaking back up. 

 Now we are up to date, to today, right now. As I sit here and type, I'm officially at my heaviest ever and I feel fat, gross and hopeless. The worst set of numbers in consecutive order that I have ever seen... 2.3.7. In any other circumstance, those numbers mean nothing to me, but put together in that order = utter disgust and failure. What have I done to myself?

 Well you may be thinking "if TSFL worked so well, why are you not just going back on it as planned?" Unfortunately due to me quitting my job to stay home with my son, I cannot afford to go back on the TSFL program. We are on a very tight budget, but it's worth me being home to raise our son. So, that is why. For anyone interested in the program, I will link my health coach's website here and you can contact them with any questions. Seriously, if you can afford it, then do it!! So, moving on, what does this mean for me?

 Today is day one. No, I haven't actually started any fancy program and I cannot afford the gym either, but my mindset is focusing on what I'm going to accomplish in 2014. If your New Year's Resolution is to "lose weight" then please give up on that right now!! Let me explain.. How many times has that been your resolution? How many years do you fail? Exactly! This year will be different! This year is about a revolution! Let's make a change in ourselves. Let's  make a lifestyle change! I don't want to lose this weight, because I have no hopes or plans for ever finding it! I want it gone and a part of my past that will better me in my future. I want something that will change me for the better, forever! How about you? Are you wanting to make a lifestyle change this year? Let's do this! Follow me on my journey and help me succeed! Encouragement, strength, comfort; All the things I find in my faith, and with God on my side, with the support from my friends and family and encouragement from fellow journey-takers,  I can do this. 1/8/14. It begins...

My goals (in no particular order):

• Lose about 80 lbs.
• Lose the weight be the end of the year
• Be able to run around with my son (or just chase after him) without being tired easily
• Be comfortable in my own skin
• Gain back my confidence
• Be a better wife, physically, mentally and emotionally
• Be a good example for my son
• Be an inspiration for other mothers

What are your goals for this New Year?