A Mommy Project

I accomplished my goal of losing 5 pounds during the month of July. I began the month weighing 163 and I now weigh between 157-158, the scale can't decide which one it will be. Although I must say that I really wasn't consistent with working out this month. Most of the weight loss was attributed to the reduction of carbs in my diet. It has helped a lot that I have cut down on juice, sweets, and starches. I have been doing Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred which has three levels. I am still on level 1, however as I have been losing weight, I am able to do all the fitness routines as they should be done, therefore getting a much better workout. When I began this program it was really hard for me to lift my 170 pound body to do any jumping exercise, but now I can jump without any strain or pain. By continuously workout and eating well, I hope to lose up to 10 pounds this month. It is really rewarding and satisfying when you see results and know that you are closer and closer...

We just began a new month and I am happy to announce that I have lost 3 pounds in 3 weeks, I missed one week because of other obligations. I began the month if June weighing in at 165 lbs. After much thought, I decided that the ideal weight for me is 135 lbs instead of 130. Prior to getting married and having kids I weigh 125 lbs, but based on my height, I should have been somewhere around 133-144lbs. Though I know that realistically I cannot and will not ever be a size 4 again, I will be extremely happy in a 6 or an 8, preferably a 6. This past week my husband went to the doctor and was told he needs to reduce his carb intake in order to lose weight. So, I too have begun counting my carb intake and reduced that amount of breads, pastas, and flour products I consume. My goal for the month of July is to lose 5 pounds or more.

As I look back on my life, I would have never guessed that one day I would love to cook! I learned to cook as a newlywed because I had to. As time passed I perfected the dishes I tried and really began to enjoy cooking. It wasn't just a chore or an obligation, it became a form of expressing my creative talent. I really enjoy everything that goes into cooking, from planning and preparation, to creating the final product. And the best part, consuming the delicious fruits of labor. Last summer I decided to get some gourmet recipes and indulge in a week of fine gourmet foods. One of the meals I prepared was a French cuisine complete with appetizers, flavorful main course, and dessert. It took me a good three hours to make and in just 20 minutes it was gone. But like I said, part of the fun for me is the preparation of the meal. Another major and important part of cooking is the presentation. It's important that the food not only taste good but look good. One day I made my...

I began my fitness routine once again at the beginning of the month. This is pretty much a do over as I had to stop working out. I started the month of June weighing 165 lbs. My ideal weight goal is 130 lbs. but I will very happy at 135 lbs. One of the things that I took from my friend's fitness routine was consistency and number of workout days. She works out 7 days a week, but I will be working out 5 days, Monday through Friday. I found the trick for me to be consistent, I've been working out early in the morning right after my husband leaves for work and before my kids get up. By doing this I get my exercise in early and I have more energy throughout the day. I found that when I would put off exercising for later in the day, I would find some excuse to not do it and in turn didn't exercise for that day. Originally at the beginning of the year I began working out with a goal to lose 35lbs by July 18th, however the summer wedding I was going to be attending was moved...

When I was single I was thin, fashionable, and diluted enough to think that the day that I became a mom I would look the same way. From my own mom to other stay at home moms that I knew, they all seemed to not care about their appearance. With all the time they spent at home, why couldn't they take the time to look good and care about themselves. "When I become a mom I am not going to let my self look like that." Well, I have become that stay at home mom that I criticized. I look at myself now and think why should I bother getting dressed up, doing in my hair and putting on makeup? I'm over weight and my clothes don't fit. Now this is not a pity party for me, I've allowed myself to get like this and I have to do something about it. But I think I now understand why stay at home moms don't look their best, it's hard. It's hard to get up in the morning and have the motivation to get yourself all dolled up, for who and why? You are around your kids all...

I have hit a bump on the road to fitness. In March I began to get discouraged about the fact that I had not lost any weight. Is the video not working, am I doing something wrong? I reduced my food portions and cut down on sweets, so what was the problem? The video does work, my friend Diana started working out just a couple days after me and when I last talked to her back at the beginning of April she had already lost 21 pounds. Both Diana and my husband helped me realize that it's about consistency and working out more days. I was not going to see results working out 3-4 days a week, especially with all the weight I have on. The week after Valentine's Day I got sick and I wasn't working out on a regular basis. It took me almost a month to get better as I was diagnosed with bronchitis and it took about a week after that for the antibiotics to make me better. I was going to begin working out 5-6 days a week after Easter weekend. Then after my husband's birthday party, th...

This year my husband celebrates his 30th year of life. On April 18th I threw him an 80's themed party, fit for a man born and raised in the 80's. The hall was decorated in neon colors and balloons. I made posters that represented the 80's, Movies, Songs, Iconic Things, and a Pac Man Happy Birthday sign. The hall was sectioned into 4 areas. The first was a mini movie theater where you could catch the classic film Back to the Future . The second was the arcade, I had two old televisions set up with Pac Man and Atari. Third was the gaming area, where you could challenge a player to a game of Ping Pong or Foosball. Last was the food court, serving nachos, cheese puffs and of course fruit punch Kool-Aid. At the center on each table was a boom box and 80's candy such as fun dips, pixie stix, and blow pops. I had an 80's cake made with my husband's picture on it of when he was 5 years old. Around the cake table I had 80's toys that my husband and I still ha...