Maintaining

So, you might have read my blog weight loss in August.  I don't think I've commented on my weight since then, but here's where I'm at.  If you take my highest weight from last spring and deducted my lowest from about November I lost about 27 lbs.  I was very, very excited.  Saw a big enough change that I had to buy some new clothes.  A very good problem to have.  I can't believe I actually caught myself complaining about it a couple of times.  But you might have noticed that I said November.  I was headed right into the holiday season.  And I want to say that I didn't tack all of that right back on, but I did definitely let my guard down.  The problem is, you can splurge a little and not see any differences in your clothes or weight... right away anyway : )  I gained about 10 lbs from my lowest between Christmas and March because of my new holiday eating habits, but have been making a major effort in the last week to regain some control.

Having said that, I've never been here before.  The last time I actually liked the weight I was at was in high school and college.  And to be honest, I really had no idea what that weight was.  I was really into fitness and I had a great metabolism and I really just didn't have to worry about it.  Don't get me wrong, I was working my tail off (huh, literally) - I rode my bike to and from classes or walked and I attended kickboxing classes sometimes five days a week.  I even taught from time to time.  I just didn't weigh myself.  Then...  I got a 40 hour a week desk job and had 4 kids (in 6 years).  So here I am.  I've heard about yo-yo dieting and I definitely don't want to do that.  So I'm just going to have to learn to maintain.  I'll be honest I have no idea what that's going to look like for me.  I know what I eat when I'm losing and I know what I eat when I'm gaining : )  So, I guess I'm going to just have to figure out how to splurge from time to time or holiday to holiday without letting it take over for, literally, 3 months!

I wrote this blog planning to share what I eat when I'm losing.  Please don't judge me.  This is what works for me and I believe it's pretty healthy.  I'm learning people.  And this is one of the things I've learned.  If I have a few options that I've planned ahead for and that I can choose between it helps.  Because if I consider something outside of those options I can just say to myself, 'That's a dinner option' and move on.  It's also been good for me to not have too many options.  Less overwhelming and more cost effecient. 
These are my breakfast options:
3 scrambled eggs, sometimes with a little cheese or a slice of ham thrown in (this option is nice when I've had a muscle building morning)
1 egg on toast
1 Greek yogurt with granola or granola cereal sprinkled on top
a slimfast shake (vanilla with banana, avocado, frozen strawberry, frozen blueberry, or frozen pineapple is really good - or chocolate with banana) - I try not to do these 2 days in a row

These are my lunch options:
salad (alllllll different kinds - I got really burnt out on salads and had to come up with other options, but this is how I started losing weight)
slimfast shake (see above)
popcorn with a couple Tbsps of butter and lots of salt : )
tuna and mustard on crackers
Greek yogurt with granola or a piece of fruit

I always allow myself an apple for a snack if I'm hungry.  Sometimes almonds, chocolate yogurt covered raisins (these are dangerous for me) or a mozzarella stick too.  Dinner is whatever we're eating that night, but not in outrageous portions!  Plus, when I've done the work at breakfast and lunch I really don't want to pitch it out the window when I get to dinner!  I'm telling you, my husband is 6 ft 190 lbs and I can keep up with him, no prob.  I'm 5'4''!  Right now dessert is a special occasion only type thing.  And then, we're talking just a few bites.  But I'll let you know as I learn!  Maintaining is my next goal and I have a feeling it may be a lifelong lesson...

 

Basagna

Lola likes to help me cook.  And yesterday she was helping me make lasagna.  Or basagna as she kept saying.  Kind of reminds me of bazinga : )

This boy!!

We said the same thing about Powell.  And it was completely true of him too, but you two are already so different, too.  You are such a boy.  You are ALL BOY.  That's the phrase I hear again and again.  Wow, he's all boy isn't he?  Yes he is.  Yes he is.

Well, just look at this face.  And those cheeks.  And the hair!  Oh, that hair.  I consider it a monumental failure of mine that I have not 'blogged' about your hair.  I believe the 'Be Still My Heart' post was taken immediately following your first official haircut that was a couple of weeks before your first birthday.  A couple of months later your hair was beginning to get too long again.  Over your ears and in your eyes...  so I tried to cut it with the clippers like I do Powell's and just use the longest settings so it wasn't too short.  It was too short.  I couldn't even finish.  I called your dad at work and was near tears.  He had to do the sides and back when he got home.  I was not ready for the way that it changed your baby face.  Now it's grown out (Again!  Seriously boy!) and needs a little attention again.  I'm reluctant to touch it again.  I'm afraid you'll just look older every time, I think.  You may have to bring back long hair : )

Your personality just can't be contained anymore.  You are so expressive these days.  You have a few basic words...  night, night (ni-ni), more (mah), bath (bah), milk (muh), dog (dah), and, of course, mommy and daddy (mah, dah-dah) and even Nana, Powell and Lola.  You sign please by rubbing your tummy (usually when you want food), with all of the intensity of someone that's starving!  You stand in front of a window or the tv and make gutteral noises and gasping noises to communicate and make us respond.  It is so cute and so boyish!!!  There's lots of wrestling going on these days.  Especially when your teeth make you fussy.  When I'm trying to clean up the kitchen you follow me around and fuss and grab my legs.  So, Daddy lays in the floor and you come running.

Oh, and something else, you have a full mouth of teeth.  It makes you look so cute with your crazy hair and chubby cheeks.  You LOVE your older sisters and brother.  Now that the gate is down you follow them all over the house sometimes playing with their toys nicely and quietly, other times trashing their rooms and making them scream.  You love to make them laugh.  Whatever brings a laugh you will grin and do again and again.  Sometimes when I tell you 'no' you stare me down with a grin on your face to see if I mean business.  You are SO irresistible.