My Weight Loss Journey!

It was exactly this time ago last year that I was having some health problems. I had gone to the doctor a bunch of times to figure out what the heck was going on and that is when he told me I was pre-diabetic. I was only weeks maybe months away from being sent to the diabetic clinic and most likely starting insulin. I asked him if there was anything I could do and that is when my health Journey began.

I made a drastic change in my diet and started working out regularly. At first it was really hard to get used to my new routines and eating habits but I slowly started to change.

On my first weigh in day I weighed 182lbs ( GASP.... I know). I had no clue how out of control my weight was. I promised myself that by my 30th birthday I would loose at least 30 pounds.

Over the last year I have really learnt a lot and have worked incredibly hard to get where I am today. The first lesson I had to learn was that it was okay to take time for myself. I always felt like I was being a bad mom or wife for taking time away from my family to work out. But I know it has helped me become a better wife and mother. I have more energy to do things and we are always on the go!!

I started going to the gym 3 nights a week and had the amazing support of a workout group my sister Ash had created on facebook. It really motivated me to check in regularly and that is when my competitive side kicked in. Anyone that knows me knows I am extremely competitive lol!! This group has helped me a lot!! It is so much easier to loose the weight with a support system!


For the last year I have done multiple workout programs. Anywhere from Jillian Michaels, T25, PiYo and my favorite program of all that I did was Body Boss!! I have also done multiple races this year! I love to run!! My favorite race was a mudhero that I did with Ash!!

My food is still not 100% but I am human!!! I am going to have a chocolate bar and chips every once in awhile and I am most definitely having a delicious piece of birthday cake!!  But I have made a HUGE change in my diet and eat way better than I ever have. I feel so much better!!

I really struggle with my water intake but I do my best!! Every health book I have read has told me to give up the diet coke but anyone that knows me knows this will never happen!! I figure if that is the worst thing I do than I am okay!!

Everyone has their struggles but I have gotten into a great routine and actually crave my workouts instead of dread them!!

My 30th birthday is on Wednesday and I promised myself I would post my results and hold myself accountable which is way way way out of my comfort zone but I am doing it!! I weighed in this morning and I weigh 142lbs. I have lost 40lbs in a year!!

 I have set a couple more fitness goals and look forward to what the next year brings!! I am starting a cool new program called Fit Girl tomorrow and am going to rock the next 12 weeks!! Time to start working on that muscle definition!!

The last year has been one of the hardest years I have faced yet and I really used that to fuel my weight loss!! Hard work pays off and I am so glad I didn't quit every time I wanted to!!

February Madness

I feel like if I write once a month I am doing really well. So let's recap the last little while. Life is busy and most days I feel like I am doing a horrible job raising my children but I have come to the realization that most mothers feel the same way. Life as a mother seems to be quite repetitive and some times I feel like I might snap if I don't get a break but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. 

Dexter is loving Kindergarten. He is learning so much and does really well in school! He just turned 6.... Ya I am freaking out just a little bit that my first born has somehow sprouted into a rather tall child! I can't believe he is 6, time just seems to be flying by. Anyways I did his birthday questionnaire with him this year and these where his answers.

1. What is your favorite color? Red

2. What is your favorite toy? Guns

3. What is your favorite fruit? Apples

4. What is your favorite tv show? Larva

5. What is your favorite movie? Big Hero 6

6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Sweatpants

7. What is your favorite animal? Elephant

8. What is your favorite song? Turn Down for What

9. What is your favorite book? Curious George

10. Who is your best friend? Thomas Northcott

11. What is your favorite snack? Cheese Crackers

12. What is your favorite drink? Fresca and Water

13. What is your favorite breakfast? Fruit Loops

14. What is your favorite lunch? Grilled Cheese and Noodles

15. What is your favorite dinner? Fried Chicken

16. What is your favorite game? Anything on the XBOX

17. What is your favorite thing to play outside? Trampoline

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. What do you sleep with at night? Iron Man Stuffie and My Blankie

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Fire Fighter, Police Man  and an Astronaut

Knox.... What do I say about Knox lol!! Knox keeps us on our toes at all times. He is the type of child that if  you tell him not to do something as soon as you turn your back or look away even for a second he is doing whatever you told him not too. He is constantly making messes, when I ask him why he does it he always responds, "Because I like making messes Mom... OKAY". Somehow he thinks because it's fun and he enjoys it that it should be okay and not time outs are required lol!! Oh that child... but I wouldn't trade it for the world. He is so funny!! He is constantly being silly and cracking jokes and I just love his little voice. I could just sit and listen to him talk all day. 

Lexie Bean. Lexie is crawling.... (tear) I can't believe my baby girl is growing up so incredibly fast. She is such a good baby I can't believe we got so lucky, even though I feel like we deserved an angel child after our first two lol!! She brings so much joy into all our lives and we love her to bits. The poor little thing had her first ER visit... Dex was playing around with her and dislocated her arm. Thank goodness it was a quick fix and she was back to her happy self in no time. 

Nick and I are doing great. Sometimes I don't know what I did to deserve such a great guy! I definitely lucked out in the hubby and father department. He is such an amazing dad and I just love watching him with our kids. We actually got to go out on a early Valentine's date this year. It was so nice to hang out on our own even though we mostly talked about our kids lol!! I am so glad we have each other to lean on. One of the biggest things I love about Nick is how much he supports me with whatever I want to do. He truly is my rock and I would be lost without him!! I love you babe!

My parents came up for Dexter and Hallie's birthday's and it was so nice to see them. I miss them so much everyday. I have amazing parents! I have always felt so much love from them both and I am so grateful for everything they have taught me. I just love my family so much! My sisters are my very best friends who knew that one day we would like each other so much lol!!  I love having my sister Hallie live up here, not just for the free babysitting but we have really gotten to know each other over this past year and I don't know what I am going to do when she leaves me this summer. She makes being away from home easier! People keep telling us we are starting to sound too much alike because we spend so much time together lol!! Happy Birthday Hal Welcome to your 20's, I love you!!

A New Year and Committing to Become a Better Me!!

2016.... Another year has begun and I can't help but stop and think about a few new years resolutions I want to make this year.

1st is Getting into shape. This is on my list every year but I really do want to live a healthy lifestyle so I can be the best wife and mother I can be. Does this mean that I won't have that piece of cake from my child's birthday party that took me 10 hours to make, or my favorite banzai burger from Red Robin or that handful of chocolate chips I steal out of the bag at least once a day when I go into the cupboard.... Nope not happening..... I am going to make better and conscious food choices and definitely get my butt in gear and get back into a workout routine but it is also important for me to indulge in those sweet things that I love so much. I find every time I limit myself from these things I end up binge eating and binging hard lol!! I just want to feel good in my own skin and never want my weight to  hold me back from doing anything.

2nd is being the best mom I can be. All of you that know me know that I have two very rambunctious boys. Some days I feel as if I may end up in the loony bin and that bedtime cannot come soon enough. I need to do better at keeping them engaged and helping them turn all that energy into something positive. I think as mom's sometimes we get into a funk or what I like to call "survival mode" where I feel like I am on auto pilot just coasting through the day. Some days are good and some days I feel like locking myself in my room with Lexie and giving myself a timeout.  I love my kids but they want to do a new activity every 5 minutes.... I think it is important to play with your children but I also think it is important to let them play on there own. Kids can't be over stimulated and you both need your down time. I am still in awe that Dex will be 6 in February and that he will be in school full-time next year. Time goes by way too fast and I want my kids to know even though they exhaust me, frustrate me and know how to push all my buttons that I love them more than anything in this world. Who cares if the dishes sit in the sink til 8pm and the house looks like a bomb went off. I just really need to work on letting go and have fun making memories with them.

3rd is taking time for myself to develop some of my own talents. I really want to take some cooking classes and become a better cook. I feel like I cook the same 25 dishes and really want to mix things up a bit. You tube is a great resource but I really want to get to a point where I can create my own recipes and be more confident in the kitchen.

4th my last goal, is to limit the amount of social media in my life. This comment is not intended for anyone specific but I absolutely hate socializing, EVERYONE IS ALWAYS ON THEIR PHONES. I mean I am guilty of this too but it is really starting to bother me. We don't communicate with each other anymore. I am constantly looking on facebook, instagram, etc to see how many people have liked my picture or commented on what  I just posted. I have become so obsessed with everyone else's lives and what they are doing and neglect my own. Don't get me wrong I LOVE being able to communicate with my family and friend through social media. I just want to limit the amount of time that I am on it. I am also guilty of wasting hours of my time on pinterest. I have actually started making a lot of the recipes I have pinned or the crafts I want to make and bought the supplies just so I don't feel guilty for being on it all the time lol!! And it is a great resource.

Really all I want for 2016 is to enjoy my life and the people in it! I have an amazing husband, 3 beautiful children and great family and friends. There are times when I get incredibly homesick and I wish and pray that we could move to Southern Alberta. I don't know why I think if we move there my life will suddenly have no problems and everything will just be perfect.... Like that's a real thing lol!! But I am going to stop looking at the bad and embrace the good this year. I know that if I put myself out there more and nurture the relationships I already have that I will be much happier!!

Bring it on 2016!!