It's my own fault, really. I'm just not as mentally dedicated as I have been in the past. I'm not eating terrible, but I'm definitely not sticking to the plan. And exercise has been non existent for the past week.
I keep finding myself in situations where I don't have any healthy snacks or food, and end up being faced with either going hungry or eating something that's not 21 Day Fix approved. I can't NOT eat. I make just enough milk for my little guy and I can't chance losing that. So, I'm doing my best. Sometimes my best is making hot dogs in the microwave for dinner so that we have time to get everything done in a day. Most of the time I'm eating healthy, though.
I think I just need to accept that the weight will come off slowly for the next 6-7 months. Then, once I'm no longer breast feeding, I can reduce my calories to the level my body needs to drop some lbs.
Side note: At James's 4 month appt this week, the doctor suggested we start (slowly) with some solids. She said that the amount he's eating a day might indicate he's ready for a little more. Apparently 30-40 oz a day is a lot. Makes me feel better about barely being able to keep up.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Jumping in...21 Day Fix
Okay....I'm all in this week. Yesterday was day one of the 21 day fix. As I mentioned in a previous post, I had great results with it last year, so I'm ready to try it again. If I have any issues with my breast milk supply, I will just eat more veggies and protein. I haven't taken my measurements yet, but I will tonight and I'll post them here along with a "before" pic. Hopefully after 21 days I'll have one of those great before/after shots to share!
I think the hardest part of this will be getting my workout in each day. With a 3 yr old and a 4 month old, it's pretty hard to find 30 minutes when both are not wanting my attention. Last night, after picking up the kids from school, we got home around 5:30. Normally I wouldn't need to feed the baby right away, but he slept through his late afternoon bottle at school so I had to feed him as soon as we got home. Then I started washing bottles, nipples, and breast pump parts. Then, we cooked dinner (eggs, turkey bacon, and wheat toast...breakfast for dinner!). By the time we ate and I had the dishes done, it was after 7pm. My husband had the late shift yesterday so he didn't get home until almost 7:30. Get the kids ready for bed and shower and by then it's time for us to go to bed. So, no workout on day 1. I will try to double up today. My husband get's off at 5 today, so I should be able to get in a little bit of time.
I think the hardest part of this will be getting my workout in each day. With a 3 yr old and a 4 month old, it's pretty hard to find 30 minutes when both are not wanting my attention. Last night, after picking up the kids from school, we got home around 5:30. Normally I wouldn't need to feed the baby right away, but he slept through his late afternoon bottle at school so I had to feed him as soon as we got home. Then I started washing bottles, nipples, and breast pump parts. Then, we cooked dinner (eggs, turkey bacon, and wheat toast...breakfast for dinner!). By the time we ate and I had the dishes done, it was after 7pm. My husband had the late shift yesterday so he didn't get home until almost 7:30. Get the kids ready for bed and shower and by then it's time for us to go to bed. So, no workout on day 1. I will try to double up today. My husband get's off at 5 today, so I should be able to get in a little bit of time.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Flat Iron Update
After writing my previous post about wanting a new flat iron that would curl my hair better, I discovered an even better reason to buy a new one. Apparently, my brain has decided that it will no longer remember to turn off my flat iron, and old trusty doesn't have auto shut off. Just the other day I left it on for about 24 hrs. Eeeeek!! Thankfully, the hubby and kids didn't find out the hard way.
My sister, the hair stylist, recommended the brand Babyliss and said I should get titanium plates. However, after hours of Googling, I found that Babyliss does not make a flat iron with auto shut off, which is now a must for me. Several more hours of Googling and review reading later, I decided to go with the Hot Tools Radiant Blue flat iron with titanium plates. It's on sale right now for $59.99, down from $69.99.
My sister, the hair stylist, recommended the brand Babyliss and said I should get titanium plates. However, after hours of Googling, I found that Babyliss does not make a flat iron with auto shut off, which is now a must for me. Several more hours of Googling and review reading later, I decided to go with the Hot Tools Radiant Blue flat iron with titanium plates. It's on sale right now for $59.99, down from $69.99.
It has great reviews on Ulta.com, and after using it twice now, I think I agree with all of those reviews. It heats up super fast and stays hot while using it. With my old one, I would have to wait a few seconds to let it "reheat" after doing a section. This one is light weight and glides smoothly over my hair. It did seem to pull a couple of strands here and there, but I think that might be more of a user error since it didn't do this consistently.
All in all, I believe this was money well spent. Now I just have to figure out how to curl with it!
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
My Postnatal Pudge
First, let me start by saying that I am in no way ashamed of my post baby body. My extra 20 lbs, stretch marks, and weird spots are all a beautiful reminder of my two wonderful children.
That said, I am unhappy. I've always struggled with my weight. I can look at a cheeseburger and gain 5 lbs, but it'll take 6 weeks of damn near starving myself and exercising to the point of exhaustion each day to lose 2 lbs. I am most comfortable between 150 and 155. I'm 5'7" and have a heavier build than most women. I've been holding steady at about 173 since I had my son in June and I'm really just starting to feel miserable. My pants are too tight and shirts don't fit the way they should. I don't feel good in my own skin and it's got to change.
Last Feb/March, I did a program called 21 Day Fix and had AMAZING results with it. I really want to do this program again, but I'm so worried that with the calorie restrictions my breast milk supply will drop. My son is a little chunker and is taking 20-25 oz a day by bottle, with at least 5 additional feedings at the breast. I struggled breastfeeding my daughter and ultimately ended up supplementing with formula starting at 4 months. I am determined to make it at least 6 months with my son...hopefully longer.
So how do you balance the two? Both are important...one for my baby's health and the other for mine. I think I may start the 21 Day Fix and just take it one day at a time. There has to be a balance and way to take in enough healthy calories, but still lose weight. At the very least, convert fat to muscle and lose inches.
If anyone reads this and has experience or advice, I'm all ears (eyes)!
That said, I am unhappy. I've always struggled with my weight. I can look at a cheeseburger and gain 5 lbs, but it'll take 6 weeks of damn near starving myself and exercising to the point of exhaustion each day to lose 2 lbs. I am most comfortable between 150 and 155. I'm 5'7" and have a heavier build than most women. I've been holding steady at about 173 since I had my son in June and I'm really just starting to feel miserable. My pants are too tight and shirts don't fit the way they should. I don't feel good in my own skin and it's got to change.
Last Feb/March, I did a program called 21 Day Fix and had AMAZING results with it. I really want to do this program again, but I'm so worried that with the calorie restrictions my breast milk supply will drop. My son is a little chunker and is taking 20-25 oz a day by bottle, with at least 5 additional feedings at the breast. I struggled breastfeeding my daughter and ultimately ended up supplementing with formula starting at 4 months. I am determined to make it at least 6 months with my son...hopefully longer.
So how do you balance the two? Both are important...one for my baby's health and the other for mine. I think I may start the 21 Day Fix and just take it one day at a time. There has to be a balance and way to take in enough healthy calories, but still lose weight. At the very least, convert fat to muscle and lose inches.
If anyone reads this and has experience or advice, I'm all ears (eyes)!
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Le Tote
I am seriously challenged with all things related to fashion...I have been all my life. I'll have brief moments when I buy and wear somewhat trendy items, but I always go back to my jeans, t-shirts, yoga pants, and work attire that's just dressy enough to get by. After having my son and still carrying a fair amount of baby weight, I've recently become borderline obsessed with overhauling my closet. I think partly because I'm not happy with my body, and partly because it's one of the few things I feel like I have control of these days. With two young kids and two working parents, you kind of just have to go with the flow of things. I've spent a fair amount of time looking at outfits online, trying to learn how to pieces and colors.
Most of my clothes come from Target, Kohls, and Old Navy. They are all within 5 minutes of my house and are budget friendly. The problem is that I rarely. ..RARELY have time to actually shop. Sure I can grab a top here and there when I run in to buy diapers, but that's about it. If I actually try to shop for myself, I will spend more time telling my daughter to stop touching things and to quit hiding in the racks of clothes than I will looking at anything. IF she decides to cooperate, that's when my son decides he's had enough and starts fussing.
When you become a parent you temporarily give up certain things (you gain so much more). Shopping is one of those things. I digress.
While scrolling through Facebook one day, I passed over an ad for something called Le Tote. Curiosity won and I clicked on it. For $50 a month, Le Tote will send me 5 items at a time. Shirts, skirts, pants, jackets, jewelry and even handbags. All I have to do is fill out a style profile and add items to my closet. You can browse all of the available items and "like" them to add to your closet. A stylist will hand pick 5 items for you, and then you approve and switch out anything you don't like. They send it to you, you wear it, and then send it back. They send another tote. Wash, rinse, repeat. As many times as can in a month. You also have the option to keep and purchase any of the items if you like them that much (I'll talk more about this further down). So, I threw caution (and $50) to the wind and signed up.
The style profile was pretty thorough, but I still felt like it didn't capture "my style" or lack thereof. Thankfully, you can add as many items as you want to your closet, so I figured this would give the stylist a good idea of what I like. I mean, technically they could just send me items from my closet and things should be on point, right?
Sadly, that was not the case with my first tote. I was SOOOO excited to get my first tote. When I got home from work and saw the box at the front door, I ran inside, settled my kids and immediately opened it. My first thought? "What the hell is that smell?" I know they dry clean all the clothing, but there was some chemical that just smelled awful. If I had worn any of the pieces, they would have needed to be washed first.
I wish I had documented my totes with photos, but here is a shot from the website:
I'll start with the jewelry. I liked both the necklace and the earings. In fact, I ended up paying the $16 for the earrings and keeping them. The necklace was cute, but the bar kept tilting off center and that annoyed me. Also, it's $54 and that's a little steep for me (as are most of the Le Tote prices).
The first shirt pictured is a wrap back top from Octavia and the Le Tote purchase price is $54. I liked this top, but the wrap back was too open for me.
Next, is a fleece cardigan. I REALLY wanted to like this when I saw it on the website, but it was so big and frumpy. In the website pic, it almost looks like a casual blazer. It was also very heave...way to heavy for Florida in Sept/Oct.
Last, is a tunic top that I also REALLY wanted to like. This is a style I buy often, but the actual shirt was way too large and too heavy. The fit was also strange in that it was loose at the top and more fitted through the hips.
All in all, I hated my first tote. By noon the next day I had it all packed up in the postage paid envelope and dropped at my local USPS station, and then I went to the site to review my items. Kudos to Le Tote for emailing me almost immediately afterward. It was a bit of a generic email, but I replied and gave more specifics on why I was unhappy. They responded in less than 24 hours addressing each of my concerns. Thumbs up on customer service! They also included an extra item in my next tote, which was ready to approve less than 24 hours after dropping my previous tote in the mail.
Number 2 was much better:
The only item I didn't like from my 2nd tote was the blazer. It had shoulder pads and those are a big no-no for my broad shoulders. The grey tunic went really well with my red Old Navy pixie pants. I wore the black shirt with some jeans, and the blue sleeveless with a pair of khaki shorts. I liked the wristlet, and thought about keeping it, but it just wasn't big enough for all that I needed to stuff in it. I did keep the necklace since I have a very limited jewelry collection. Tote #2...success! After wearing the three tops, I packed up all but the necklace and stuffed it in the mail to return, then started checking my email every hour hoping to see that my next tote was ready to be approved.
As with the 2nd tote, less than 24 hours after returning the last one, my next one was ready to approve. This is when the real disappointment hit. Only one of the 5 items was from my closet, and it was an item that I had actually removed from my closet after realizing the style was not something I would wear. There were TWO bangle bracelet things that were hideous, in my opinion. One of the shirts was a basic t-shirt. I don't even remember what the last item was. Thankfully, they will let you swap out the items if you do not like them. Unfortunately, when I went to swap out all 5 items, there was almost nothing available. The only other jewelry items available were earrings, and my only other clothing options were a few shirts. So I swapped out for three shirts and two pair of earrings that I don't really like. I'm hopeful that at least one of the shirts will work for a girls night out I have this weekend.
My last complaint about tote #3 is the shipping. I put #2 in the mail on Saturday and they still have not sent my new tote. Assuming they send it later this afternoon, I still won't receive it until Thursday afternoon at the earliest. So this week is a complete loss.
I really like the idea of Le Tote. Being able to constantly wear new/different things is really cool. And the company has great customer service. That said, I do believe I'll be cancelling after my 3rd tote. It's just not for me. I feel like the prices for the items are too high considering that these are technically used items. I'm also way too nervous about one of my kids turning into Captain Distructo and spilling something or spitting up on a shirt that I don't own. I have been unable to find out much about the brands they offer, and the quality for most of what I have received does not seem to match the price. If I had decided to purchase all of tote #2, it would have been $275!! And, the aqua colored shirt had a tiny hole in it.
Also, they should consider offering a jewelry/accessory only option. Maybe in another 6-12 months I will try them again.
The style profile was pretty thorough, but I still felt like it didn't capture "my style" or lack thereof. Thankfully, you can add as many items as you want to your closet, so I figured this would give the stylist a good idea of what I like. I mean, technically they could just send me items from my closet and things should be on point, right?
Sadly, that was not the case with my first tote. I was SOOOO excited to get my first tote. When I got home from work and saw the box at the front door, I ran inside, settled my kids and immediately opened it. My first thought? "What the hell is that smell?" I know they dry clean all the clothing, but there was some chemical that just smelled awful. If I had worn any of the pieces, they would have needed to be washed first.
I wish I had documented my totes with photos, but here is a shot from the website:
The first shirt pictured is a wrap back top from Octavia and the Le Tote purchase price is $54. I liked this top, but the wrap back was too open for me.
Next, is a fleece cardigan. I REALLY wanted to like this when I saw it on the website, but it was so big and frumpy. In the website pic, it almost looks like a casual blazer. It was also very heave...way to heavy for Florida in Sept/Oct.
Last, is a tunic top that I also REALLY wanted to like. This is a style I buy often, but the actual shirt was way too large and too heavy. The fit was also strange in that it was loose at the top and more fitted through the hips.
All in all, I hated my first tote. By noon the next day I had it all packed up in the postage paid envelope and dropped at my local USPS station, and then I went to the site to review my items. Kudos to Le Tote for emailing me almost immediately afterward. It was a bit of a generic email, but I replied and gave more specifics on why I was unhappy. They responded in less than 24 hours addressing each of my concerns. Thumbs up on customer service! They also included an extra item in my next tote, which was ready to approve less than 24 hours after dropping my previous tote in the mail.
Number 2 was much better:
As with the 2nd tote, less than 24 hours after returning the last one, my next one was ready to approve. This is when the real disappointment hit. Only one of the 5 items was from my closet, and it was an item that I had actually removed from my closet after realizing the style was not something I would wear. There were TWO bangle bracelet things that were hideous, in my opinion. One of the shirts was a basic t-shirt. I don't even remember what the last item was. Thankfully, they will let you swap out the items if you do not like them. Unfortunately, when I went to swap out all 5 items, there was almost nothing available. The only other jewelry items available were earrings, and my only other clothing options were a few shirts. So I swapped out for three shirts and two pair of earrings that I don't really like. I'm hopeful that at least one of the shirts will work for a girls night out I have this weekend.
My last complaint about tote #3 is the shipping. I put #2 in the mail on Saturday and they still have not sent my new tote. Assuming they send it later this afternoon, I still won't receive it until Thursday afternoon at the earliest. So this week is a complete loss.
I really like the idea of Le Tote. Being able to constantly wear new/different things is really cool. And the company has great customer service. That said, I do believe I'll be cancelling after my 3rd tote. It's just not for me. I feel like the prices for the items are too high considering that these are technically used items. I'm also way too nervous about one of my kids turning into Captain Distructo and spilling something or spitting up on a shirt that I don't own. I have been unable to find out much about the brands they offer, and the quality for most of what I have received does not seem to match the price. If I had decided to purchase all of tote #2, it would have been $275!! And, the aqua colored shirt had a tiny hole in it.
Also, they should consider offering a jewelry/accessory only option. Maybe in another 6-12 months I will try them again.
Monday, October 12, 2015
10 Years with the same...
Flat iron.
I realized today that I've had the same flat iron for 10 years. My hair stylist sister gave it to me as a birthday present oh so long ago and I've never once thought about abandoning it for another. Until today. It still works perfectly, but thanks to Pinterest, I have this hair-brained (pun intended) idea that I can give myself curls/waves with a flat iron. As you can see from the pic in my first blog post, I'm currently rocking a bob. I cut my hair this short hoping it would look like all those adorable pictures where the ladies have medium-ish hair with gentle waves. Sadly, I have no skills with hair and end up taking the flat iron to it daily just so I don't look as tired as I really am.
Thanks to the hour and a half I spend pumping milk for my son each day, I have a lot of time to Pinterest. This morning I found a video of a lady who was kind enough to demonstrate how to "curl" your hair with a flat iron. She suggested a flat iron with curved edges and, of course, mine does not have curved edges. So, naturally, I now feel the need to run out to Ulta and buy a new one with curved edges. Should I go with a CHI? I love their hair product line (this means I love the smell). Maybe I should try my current flat iron first and see if it works. Then again, maybe 10 years is as long as this relationship needs to be.
I realized today that I've had the same flat iron for 10 years. My hair stylist sister gave it to me as a birthday present oh so long ago and I've never once thought about abandoning it for another. Until today. It still works perfectly, but thanks to Pinterest, I have this hair-brained (pun intended) idea that I can give myself curls/waves with a flat iron. As you can see from the pic in my first blog post, I'm currently rocking a bob. I cut my hair this short hoping it would look like all those adorable pictures where the ladies have medium-ish hair with gentle waves. Sadly, I have no skills with hair and end up taking the flat iron to it daily just so I don't look as tired as I really am.
Thanks to the hour and a half I spend pumping milk for my son each day, I have a lot of time to Pinterest. This morning I found a video of a lady who was kind enough to demonstrate how to "curl" your hair with a flat iron. She suggested a flat iron with curved edges and, of course, mine does not have curved edges. So, naturally, I now feel the need to run out to Ulta and buy a new one with curved edges. Should I go with a CHI? I love their hair product line (this means I love the smell). Maybe I should try my current flat iron first and see if it works. Then again, maybe 10 years is as long as this relationship needs to be.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
So You Think You Can Blog
No, I don't really, but here's my best shot!
Who am I? I'm a 35 year old mother of two (3 yrs and 3 mos), married for 6 years, living in the biggest little town in Florida...Jacksonville. I'm originally from Texas, and claim to be a native Texan, despite having lived more than half my life in Florida. I watch football and baseball while drinking beer and eating chicken wings, but also enjoy quiet evenings with a glass of wine. I'm 20 lbs overweight and fashion-challenged, but have dreams of being skinny and trendy.
Why am I blogging? One thing I've learned since becoming a mother is that there is always something new to learn. I can't tell you how many times I've Googled to get advice. Twenty years ago we would just call up our mother or grandmother and ask how we should deal with Jr.'s cough, but now we turn to Google. Even though my mother claims that she "rubbed whiskey" on my gums while I was teething, I just can't bring myself to let my little ones hit the sauce at such a young age. There are also things I do as a working mom/wife/woman that I think of on my own and want to share. And hopefully, in turn, I will learn from others...assuming others read my ramblings.
I suspect that my posts will have no rhyme or reason. If they are anything like my life, they will be random. Some funny, some serious. All with good intentions.
Who am I? I'm a 35 year old mother of two (3 yrs and 3 mos), married for 6 years, living in the biggest little town in Florida...Jacksonville. I'm originally from Texas, and claim to be a native Texan, despite having lived more than half my life in Florida. I watch football and baseball while drinking beer and eating chicken wings, but also enjoy quiet evenings with a glass of wine. I'm 20 lbs overweight and fashion-challenged, but have dreams of being skinny and trendy.
Why am I blogging? One thing I've learned since becoming a mother is that there is always something new to learn. I can't tell you how many times I've Googled to get advice. Twenty years ago we would just call up our mother or grandmother and ask how we should deal with Jr.'s cough, but now we turn to Google. Even though my mother claims that she "rubbed whiskey" on my gums while I was teething, I just can't bring myself to let my little ones hit the sauce at such a young age. There are also things I do as a working mom/wife/woman that I think of on my own and want to share. And hopefully, in turn, I will learn from others...assuming others read my ramblings.
I suspect that my posts will have no rhyme or reason. If they are anything like my life, they will be random. Some funny, some serious. All with good intentions.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)