Getting the show on the road...

Today I spent the entire day packing. The amount of things I packed in somewhat ridiculous, and I feel like I could pack more if I had more room! Over the next two days I will be driving from Florida to Maine with my husband and kids. I LOVE Maine. You should too. There are so many great things about summer in Maine. It's not nearly as miserable as summer in Florida. Even without air conditioning, the heat is not uncomfortable. We don't have a set plan, but over the next 7 weeks we will spend our time relaxing, reading, swimming, exploring, hiking, and again, relaxing. My mom and three of my sisters live in Maine so it is a wonderful thing to be able to go and stay for such an extended visit. I haven't seen them in 2 years, and miss them like crazy, so I cannot WAIT to get there!

That's me and the kids two years ago. It's crazy how much bigger they all are now!

I weighed in today and I have not lost of gained any weight since the end of my mamavation campaign. I am not surprised, I have continued eating healthy food everyday and making sure I am getting my exchanges in, but I have slacked a bit when it comes to my workouts. Instead of getting 6 in per week I've been getting in 3. With the kids home from school and getting ready for our trip I am not disappointed by this at all. I'm just glad I did not see a gain! I expect that while we are away I will lose a couple pounds as that has always happened in the past, we tend to be very active outside and not stuck indoors like we are here. Although, I will say, if we were not going to Maine this summer I think I would have been better about making an effort to get outdoors more this summer, I'm not pregnant, and no one is a baby anymore! So the only excuse I have is I don't like the heat, and that's pretty lame!  My goal for this next week is just to arrive safely, unpack, and get settled and enjoy my family!

What is a Runner?

I struggle with this question often. Am I a runner?

I love to run. I run to relieve stress. I run to lose weight. I run to make my body stronger. Am I a runner?

For a long time, I ran in whatever fit. Gym shorts, loose t-shirts, sneakers. I knew running shoes mattered, but I was not a brand savvy girl. I used to work at Sport's Authority during high school and college, so I had an idea of what running shoes were popular. But still, I stuck to the clearance racks because thrifty is in my soul!

As time went on I started picking up more running specific items. Moisture wicking clothing, a running belt, compression socks, Bondi Bands, headphones, Ipod, and running shoes that make it feel like I am running on pillows. Seriously! So now I look the part when I run. Am I a runner?

I joined a local running group called Moms Run This Town. They are wonderful. Look them up, there may be a chapter near you. It's free to join and you may never have to run alone (unless you want to) again! And if there is not a local chapter, you can start one! Ours is pretty active and we get together every so often to do group events. It's nice to have others to run with, discuss technique, aches and pains, etc. But being a group member doesn't really make a runner does it?

Many of my friends have been running 5K's, half- and full-marathons. So far I have not done a "real" race. Just virtual races, such as the Mamavation 5K I completed just yesterday. I did finally sign up for a 5K, a "real" one. But I decided at the last minute not to go. I had been told told 1700 had registered for the race and I chickened out. I was planning to run the race with my three oldest children running alongside me, while pushing my two youngest in the jogging stroller. Clearly I was not running for a PR. But I chickened out, and then was so disappointed in myself. I should have just gone! Only about 700 people actually showed up for the race! If I have never run a "real" race, am I a runner?

What is a runner? Who decides? I run because I can. I run because I love the way my hair feels with the wind brushing through it. I run because I love the taste of salty sweat on my lips. I run because of the adrenaline rush that grows stronger with each mile. I run to get out of my head. I run to stay healthy.

 I run. I run. I run.

 I am a runner.

This post is sponsored by Lifesize Portions and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway.

The Results are In!

So last week was my final weigh-in of the Mamavation Boot Camp. I was so thrilled with my results and I've been meaning to share them here all week, but it has been so hectic, I've had hardly anytime to sit down to the computer. So first, let's look back at my pre-Mamavation picture. This was me in December. This was my highest weight (not counting pregnancy) ever. Sadly, it was only 8 lbs less than my highest pregnancy weight. Ugh.

Then I found out about Mamavation. I applied for campaign 15, and though I didn't get chosen that time, I did participate in the hazing and found many amazing, inspirational, and supportive women. I slowly began to lose the weight, and felt super motivated. I still felt like I was struggling. I was working out a ridiculous amount, running a lot more than before, and though I was losing weight, it was very slow. I began to plateau and before I knew it campaign 15 had ended and it was time to apply again! When I applied I was 158.6 lbs, down 13.4 lbs from my original starting point in January.

By the time I was chosen for the campaign I was really beginning to become discouraged. I had lost and gained the same 5 lbs a couple times. The campaign changed that. Using the workout plan and nutrition plan provided I started making small changes to my lifestyle. One major change that was very important was drinking water. Trying to drink 100 oz a day was hard at first, but quickly became the easiest part of my day! The meal planning turned out to be a bit more difficult, mostly because my diet is a bit restrictive. I am a vegetarian and also dairy free. Once I began to get the hang of planning my meals using a system of exchanges it was not as much of a struggle to eat the right foods and more a struggle to plan them properly so that I got enough calories in each day. Yes I said enough, I was eating too few. One week during the boot camp, I ate too few calories all week long and actually gained! If you are not eating enough calories you can put your body into starvation mode and stall weight loss. And contrary to popular belief, losing weight in a healthy way does not mean starving yourself! Just look at some of the great meals I made.

By week seven of the campaign I was down 15 lbs and had lost a total of 14.5 inches! I am down 2 sizes in my clothing, and I have had countless people let me know they can see I've lost weight. I'm not gonna lie, it feels good, and keeps me pushing towards my goal. But the best part was not the compliments, it was knowing that seeing my progress has inspired anyone else to begin/continue their own journey when they felt like giving up! I'm so thankful to the Mamavation community for all the support along the way. I am truly grateful for the new friendships I have formed along the way, and this opportunity to change my life, and the life of my family! So here are my after pictures! I am down a total of 28.4 lbs since January!! That's a toddler people!!!!

And if you are interested at all in trying out to be one of the next Mamavation Moms, just go right here and apply! The next campaign is going to be even more amazing because not only will the moms chosen be losing weight, but they will be detoxifying their homes! There are some amazing opportunities available during the next campaign, so be sure to check it out!

Mamavation Monday: Feeling the Burn

So today is the first day post-campaign. Today it is up to me to workout. I have no pre-determined plan, I have no required food journal or weigh ins. Yet I find myself still measuring out the peanut butter for my morning smoothie and planning my afternoon workout around my sons' nap schedule. The campaign might have ended, but I'm still feeling the burn. I am on fire! I have been enjoying the workouts and meal plan that I adopted during the Mamavation campaign, and as a result I've been enjoying the weight loss and shrinking waistline! I'm not going to reveal my total weight loss today, but check back in tomorrow and I will share with you my before and after pics, and the numbers! You can also look here to see my results as of LAST week. I'm pretty happy with my results and even closer to my ultimate goal. I hope that you will keep on following me in this journey as I get into the best shape ever!

“This post is sponsored by Radiantly You and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway”

Take Time to Live

Sometimes I think we all get caught up int he excitement of all that is at our fingertips. We all have smartphones now, so instantly we can share with family and friends all those awesome moments of our children being ridiculously cute, of our pets acting silly, our husbands being thoughtful, or plate of dinner. I'm not here to point fingers, if that were the case I'd be pointing at myself! I do think, though, that sometimes we are so eager to share the moment that we forget to live it. Instead of letting a wash of emotion run over me as I watch my daughter take my youngest son by the hand and walk him to the playground, I feel an overwhelming urge to share this picture perfect moment via Instagram. RIGHT THAT MINUTE. What is wrong with me! I can still great that great shot. And I can still share it. But I can live in the moment first, and enjoy it.

Right now I am in week five of a 7 week boot camp aimed at learning to live a healthier lifestyle, as well as losing weight. Due to some of the duties associated with the campaign, I've had to give up some of my "spare" time. Anyone who knows me, and knows I have 5 children (9, 8, 6, 4, and almost 3) knows that the word "spare" is used very loosely. In fact it's really more of a joke! Ha, spare time, what is that? I digress. My point is, I had to rearrange some of how I do things each day. And while I have felt as though I am busier than normal, I have still been able to perform my normal duties as mom and wife extraordinaire. One thing I did notice though, with the added pressure, I find myself soaking in each moment a little bit more, appreciating it more. 

Today, Gray was up before the sun. By the time ten o'clock had rolled around he was trying hard to stay awake and losing the battle. I laid him in bed and kissed him goodnight, wishing him a good nap. But within minutes he was crying out for me. This is not normal Gray behavior. He's always been a very willing napper. Today was likely a case of being overtired and fighting it. After nearly an hour of him continuing to fuss and request I cover him with a blanket, find his toy, give him a sip of water etc etc etc..I finally just laid my head on his pillow and rested beside him. He reached immediately for my hair (he's obsessed with it), and soothed himself to sleep within  minutes. Of course the minute I could hear that change in breathing, assuring me he was out, I felt the urge to hop up and get back to my housework. I stopped myself  instead, I continued to lay there, for just a few minutes more. How long will I have moments like this? A sweet child unable to relax and give in to sleep without the comfort of mommy nearby. It's already a very rare thing in this house as it is. I lay there listening to the rhythm of his breaths and feeling the weight of his small hand on my ponytail. For just a bit today, I lived in that moment, letting it leave a permanent impression on my memory of my youngest baby.

Mamavation Monday

How do you stay motivated? Today is Monday. Probably the busiest day of my week. It's always a day of catch up, phone calls, laundry from the weekend, etc. I also have ASL class online Monday nights, and later on in the evening I have Mamavation TV. Some weeks I feel like I accomplish SO MUCH on Monday alone. And then Tuesday arrives and I'm usually like blah, what to do. I have decided I need a routine again. I have so much going on lately, and somehow I have fallen out of old routines and I just feel frazzled. So a new routine is in order. I'm going to spend some time tomorrow working on a written out routine of tasks to do each day, to help me stay focused. Some things I am hoping to accomplish: purge all rooms of the house, have a yard sale, paint my kitchen and dining room, reorganize my laundry/storage room, plan my trip to Maine.

The kids have just 7 days left of school and then they are on summer vacation. I think we are all counting down the days. For the remainder of May and most of June we will stay here in Florida. We'll enjoy the beach and parks nearby. But mostly we will stay close to home, keeping busy each day as much as possible. Then the last week of June we will head out! The kids and I will drive from Florida to Maine, where we will spend the month of July staying at my mom's house and visiting family.  I always feel like it's the best place in the world to just decompress. The kids can actually play outside. We can go on hikes and picnics, swim at the lake, and make day trips to  the various points in Maine. I cannot wait for our adventures! What are your plans for the week, for the summer?

So excited!

See that new badge on the side bar to the right?? See it?!?! Isn't it freaking AWESOME! I'm just a wee bit excited....