Mommy, will you play with me?

I would like to start this post off with kind of a quirk about myself. We have this regular wind up clock in the kitchen and for half a year you have had to add an hour to the time shown on the clock to arrive at the correct time. Let me explain. It is high up on the wall. After you finally get it down you have to unscrew a seemingly insane amount of tiny screws to get at the roller that changes the time. So, I have left it an hour behind this whole time. Now I have to get used to NOT adding an extra hour. It now reads the correct time. :) Heaven forbid if the batteries go out. We will just have a useless clock on the wall. Yep, you all can laugh at me right now.

Another thing happened today, which was really amazing for me. I have always been athletic, and then I gained weight and had no inclination towards moving my butt unless absolutely necessary. Today my girls and I walked to the park. My oldest daughter (4) asked, "Mommy, will you play with me? I want to play tag with you." First of all, it was kind of sweet to have her choose me to play with her out of all the other little kids running around. She usually is content with me watching idly by as she plays with the other kids. Secondly, I played. I ran around and played tag with my little girls. She then wanted to up the stakes: hide n' seek. I agreeably joined in on the idea. I grabbed up my youngest (1) and ran with her in my arms to different hiding places. I had fun. I loved my time this afternoon with my two precious little girls playing. I loved the fact that I could actually move without huffing and puffing or feeling pain and embarrassment. But, the kicker was what another mom said to her friend as I passed by. Her friend said, "Oh, that looks fun." The woman replied, "Yeah, but there is no way I would do that. I am way too out of shape."

I used to be that woman. Not willing or really even completely able to freely play with my child because of that little thing (or big thing) called fat. It truly is amazing what a release of pounds will do for a person in not only the grand ways, but also including all the simple everyday aspects of life.

Come Fly With Me
by James Flynn

Profile picture and red hair

This post is to address a comment made on a previous post suggesting I change my profile picture. I completely agree, and I made the change! My original profile picture was taken about a year ago. My husband took it of us girls while we were setting up to take a family Christmas picture (see below). I always liked it because I was in all black, my kids were hiding me and therefore no one could really ascertain my weight (I was 180.), and I was smiling regardless of having braces on my teeth (which are gone now and my smile looks great, but that is a subject of another post).

Aren't my little girls so adorable! My little baby has changed so much though, well both of them for that fact. They grow up so quickly.


On the subject of my hair. I did put a semi-permanent color in my hair to brighten and add more color. I am a natural redhead, however, a strawberry-blond to be more accurate. Both of my little girls have red hair, too. How did my husband get so lucky? ;) Poor guy, I am surprised he hasn't headed for the hills yet. Watch the following youtube video to get what I mean if you don't already know about people with red hair. ;) I think it is pretty hilarious!

Good Riddance, Girdles!

Today I wore a vest and jeans I wore continually last fall, because I loved and still do (I can zip it up now- that's a wonderful feeling) the brown vest which I thought covered up some of my problem areas. However, I wore a Kimora girdle without fail almost everyday. I HATE GIRDLES! My husband hates them even more.

So, I just want to say GOOD RIDDANCE to those terrible, awfully uncomfortable girdles! What torture I put myself through because I felt so poorly about my appearance. And, my husband used to say, "I don't know why you wear that thing? I am sorry, but I can't really tell a difference anyway." It used to make me mad, but the truth hurts, right?! :) Well, those days are gone, regardless of not being to my goal weight yet.

This is a picture of me and my girls last fall in the brown vest and jeans I am referring to in the above paragraphs, and let me tell you I got darn good at hiding myself in a picture. Oh and Photoshop helps too! :) It is amazing what lighting and clone stamp tools magically do to a person. What a cheater I am! Anyway, in the following picture I have that stupid girdle on, my kids are hiding me and I found if you sit with your butt down (like in a wagon) your legs will appear smaller. So, this picture is really basically a farce when it comes to my actual body. But, oh well I still LOVE it! My girls are so adorable!

I think I am going to have a girdle burning party someday in the future. haha! :) I also, wanted to mention I actually almost forgot about that constricting girdle until today when I put on these clothes. It thought it was going to get away unscathed. Not so
fast! :)

Thank you again for humoring my ramblings!
Goodnight my wonderful readers and fellow bloggers.

Second Round Here I Come!

Ready or not!

I found out you don't have to wait 6 weeks, but rather only 3 weeks! I was reading from the manuscript and I assume the 6 weeks is for people on injection form? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Yesterday, I ordered my second bottle of HCG from DIYHCG. It will be here early next week. To tell you the truth, I am a little nervous! This is going to be my big push to my goal. I will probably have to go 30 days. If I start out at around 160 pounds after gorge. It is going to take a good 25-30 pounds to get down to 130 or so pounds. I don't think it is realistic for me to try to get down around 120 pounds. I have always had a muscular frame and I truly think a weight of 130-135 pounds will be perfect for me. I guess, I will reevaluate after I am at 135 pounds and see how I feel. I hope it is not too difficult as you get closer and closer to your ideal weight.

These next couple of days I am just going to prepare myself for the next 30 days. I don't want to have the same little hiccup I did in my previous round (I wasn't eating all of my 500 calories and it set me back a few days and a few pounds). I can do this, and I am anxious to see how it will feel when I am done. If I feel so great now, I can't imagine how it will be when I am a slender 130 pounds!

I also want to send out a congratulations to a couple of people in my life using HCG and experiencing huge success. I love you guys, and we all can do this!

Wish me luck! :)

My girls and me at Lake Marie last weekend.

I love these two! You know, I was thinking what a wonderful thing it has been to learn about and experience HCG, because of one major factor. I will be able to help either girls later on in life- if they want to heed their mother's advice and encouragement. :) I hope they both don't have any weight issues to deal with, but you never know in this day and age. Our insufficient food and the constant temptation of fatty foods never helps.

Still holding steady...

So far, so good. I am still maintaining my weight. During our visit to Colorado Springs I did get up to 160! I ate a little, tiny bit of cake and ice cream and I was already up to 158 that day, so it just bumped me up. I was a bit nervous, but I did a steak day and went back down to 157.4. It works! I am very happy that maintenance is proving quite manageable.

Additionally, I forgot to post that I have been able to fit into two of the garments I took photos of in one of my first posts. I fit into the dress, and had to have my mother-in-law pin it, because it was too big. But, what I am most excited about is the jacket. I fit into it! I love it! It is still a little snug, but it still looks cute. I will take a picture later on.

I can't wait to do my second round, but I am just going to enjoy this month and start at the beginning of October. Time flies, and it will be no time at all. Exercise is also proving very enjoyable! Riding my bike is no longer hard and slightly embarrassing, and I have been working in the yard the past 3 days and I feel great.

Tomorrow is Amelia's birthday! She is going to be 4! I am so excited, and we are going to throw a big party on Saturday. It ought to be pretty fun, if I can keep it all organized- lots of kids coming. :)

Lastly, thanks to those of you who voted and shared your story. It was great!

Steak Day & A Beautiful Dress!

This morning I was up 2.8 pounds, so I am taking a steak day. It is mid-afternoon and I have not felt hungry. I am looking forward to a big steak tonight! :) It really is simple enough: if you gain more than 2 pounds do a steak day!

But more interestingly I had a wonderful experience this morning. My mother-in-law, whom I get along famously with and who I love dearly and the girls and I went downtown to do a little shopping. We went into a bridal shop (Mountain Valley Bridal), because I saw a beautiful jade green dress in the window a couple days earlier. Well, Mom convinced me to try it on. The size was a 12, but the very helpful and pleasant woman who helped me said they run small. Thank you for your help and it was really nice talking with you! I was terribly worried, but I went in, tried it on and fell in love with the dress! I looked quite good, if I say so myself! Something like this would have never happened before. I would never have even considered trying on a strapless dress like that, and if I did I would be whining and would have ended up coming out of the store feeling completely awful. I wanted to buy the dress right there and then! My husband and I may have a five year vow renewal next year since we didn't have a "real" wedding. I don't want to wear white or ivory and this green would be just stunning with all the red hair that will be present (both my girls and me ;)). What a fun time! Does anyone else have a story like this? For me this is such a big benefit of shedding some extra pounds: to really enjoy shopping for yourself!

Here is the link to a picture of the dress: Jasmine Bridal.