My Weight-Loss Journey

Most people in America struggle with their weight at some point in their lives. For me, college, getting married, and then later having a baby were my triggers. I've heard that you must be most careful about your calorie intake when you are happiest, which seems to hold true for me.

This is me at high school graduation:

I slowly started packing on pounds in college. Most people do. Just a few pounds every six months or so. I got married the day after graduating college.

After getting married, I really ballooned. I was happy, had the money to eat out as often as I wanted (for the first time ever), and I just couldn't contain my happiness. When I started working at SCU, they offered free lunch for their employees. Think "all you can eat buffet." Sure, there were lots of healthy options, but did I eat those? Nope. I soon found myself heavier than I had ever been, and about 20 lbs over "healthy weight."

That is when I found Weight Watchers Online. I had tried lots of other diets first (HCG, Atkins, Calorie Counting, Diet Pills, etc.), but nothing seemed to work. If it did work, I couldn't stick with it (I NEED pasta and an occasional ice cream). Weight Watchers online worked perfectly for me. I was able to track everything on my phone, never have to go to meetings or buy special food, and could eat as much as I wanted (as long as it was a fruit or vegetable). I lost about 25 pounds before finding out that I was pregnant.

Pregnancy was one of the happiest times of my life. I quit weight watchers (it's not allowed for or geared towards pregnant women). I gained way more than was healthy (50 lbs total). When I came home from the hospital, I was the heaviest I had ever been.

I gave myself a month of recovery time and went back on Weight Watchers online. I got to my healthy weight (I lost about 40 pounds from pregnancy), and stopped for awhile. I maintained most of that weight loss, but I still wanted to lose more. I wanted to get back to the weight I had been in high school (still well-within my healthy range).

On January 1, 2014 I made a New Years resolution to lose the weight I had been struggling with for so long. That last 15-18 pounds that I just couldn't shed. I'm happy to say that I reached my goal in March, and have since maintained for two months now!

Sorry if this sounds like an advertisement for WW, but I really believe in the program. It has worked wonders for me, and is way more healthy than anything else I have tried! If you want more information on Weight Watchers Online, PM me! Super easy to follow, healthy, and you WILL lose weight!

Ears and Tears

Another month has come and gone. We have been very busy this last month!

For those of you who missed my last post, Zoe's sleep has dramatically improved. For the most part, she sleeps through the night and comforts herself on the occasion that she DOES wake. Everyone is happier, and much more well-rested. The schedule is a bit difficult to keep up with though. I'm ready for her morning nap to take a hike, but unfortunately, she still needs it.


The night waking has decreased overall, but we have had some rough nights over the last few weeks with lots of tears and whining. Z has been sick with ear infections since the second week of March. They come and go, but she has been on antibiotics now for almost a solid month. It is super frustrating, because the doctor has already started suggesting tubes. I REALLY don't want to have to put her through that, but at the same time I don't want her to be on antibiotics 24-7. The doc is blaming allergies, so I'm hoping children's Zyrtec may help!


I'm hoping Z gets to feeling better soon, because the next few weeks will be VERY busy. My birthday was this last week, and I'm getting a new kitchen for my present! Over my birthday weekend, we deconstructed the counter tops and floors, and laid new tile. While waiting on our new countertops to come in, I have started working on refinishing the cabinets. It's time-consuming and not a kid-friendly task, so it's going slow! I'll be writing a separate post when it's all complete!

Also this next month, I get to watch on of my bestie's get married in Austin, TX! I'm super excited for the wedding and all the festivities coming up! I get lots of time with my girls! Between the wedding, all of the clients who have booked photo sessions, and my garage sale coming up at the end of April, I have something going on every weekend until the end of May! eek!

Here is what is new with Z this month:

Favorite Thing to Do: Now that we have had some nice days, she has really enjoyed playing outside when she isn't sick.
Favorite Food: She tried Pho and Greek recently, and loved them both!
New This Month: When you say "what" she lifts up her hands and says it too. It's so cute!
Growth: All 12 month clothes. She seems kind of long in the midsection, because some of her shirts are too short, but 18 month shirts swallow her.
Sleep: MUCH BETTER!
Speaking: She speaks a whole lot of gibberish still. Sometimes I can understand her, but most people can't. She has a few words like hi, bye, and dadda (& daddy) that she is super good at saying.
Movement: She still really likes to test her physical abilities. She is a pretty good dancer and climber!
Behavior: She has been very clingy and whiny because of the ear infections.