BMI23

   I can't think of a very fancy name for this post right now, plus sometimes when I go back and try to find other health posts, I don't know where they are because they have such random titles. I'll link those at the end. This first photo is from 2012 I am assuming, maybe 2011. Sometime after graduating from Full Sail when we got the Canon, while we were still living at Millenia.

   For the second time in two years I have let my weight creep back up to the skyline. Alternate blog post titles: Skyline and Creep.. *Downloads and plays version of "Creep" from Glee Season 4.* The Skyline is the super top weight I will allow myself to be (130 as of now) being interfering and telling myself, "Dang, I really need to eat healthy again!" I have been at that point since November probably, but still looked nice in holiday photos. But on Tuesday I hit that wall. Michael has been eating healthy for a few weeks since he and Brian decided that they want to re-vamp their Two Tubes/ Benthic & Edrio Star Wars costumes for MegaCon in May this year and realized that their tunics don't fit the way they did for the Star Wars convention in May 2017. I don't think Michael likes being on a diet while I am still eating pizza and donuts, hence this cranky looking photo. But the veggie omelets he has been making lately look really good!

   I have been extra up and down the past three years and I don't like it. Except the first time, when I was pregnant with Emma!! That's the only time it was really allowed. ;) I started at 112 when I found out I was pregnant with her (in October 2016). I got up to 135 for Emma (in June 2017) which was totally fine and good because then she weighed a whopping 3 pounds, 3oz when she was born- she has dwarfism, but you can read all about that on her blog. Plus everyone loves showing off their growing belly when human life is has been created inside of it!! ;)
   After my C-section was healed enough, about 2 months later, towards the end of August, I began exercising again. Since pregnancy weight comes off faster, like I lost 9 pounds in the first week, plus I was pumping my milk which burns more calories, I was able to be a lovely looking 113 just two months later in mid October 2017. (See Typhoon Lagoon & Baby Dorothy photos.)

   However, between being in Michigan for Emma's big 3D airway splint surgery during the winter - a great trip overall, but I didn't get much exercise in with all the snow and cold temperatures, plus all the food we were eating - and then the stress of Emma sort of struggling with some things and being on so many medicines, I got up to 129 in May 2018, shortly after she came home from the hospital. By the beginning of September 2018 I got back down to 112. I never take enough "After/ success" pictures, but here are some that I found on my phone. Not many of me to search through since 90% of my phone is filled with pictures and videos of just Emmylou! ♡ ♡ ♡ :D

Daytona Beach ~ 9/9/18 ~ 112 pounds

Sept 15 & 17, 2018

10/5/18

10/6/18 ~ 118 pounds, but still looking pretty nice! 

1/23/18 ~ 130 pounds.. & Emma is 15 pounds! :)

   Now we'll go back a few more years and look at pictures from "The Glory Days", which I really shouldn't call because having Emma is super amazing! And I do remind myself often that I'd rather stay in the 120's forever with her, than be 105 pounds without her now. So instead.. To the younger, skinny days!! *cheers*

Honeymoon in the Bahamas ~ 5/10/11 ~ 104 pounds

California 10/14/13 ~ 102 pounds!! (Apparently I'm a Hufflepuff now?)

"Premiering" ☆ 12/26/15 ~ 105 pounds

   I think it's a little bit funny that at some points a few years ago, I saw a picture of myself at 113 pounds and thought, "Yikes, I gotta do some exercise videos, stat!" But this past Christmas at 127 I'm like, "Eh, I still look nice in most pictures with my clothes on and my hair done." I guess that is good growth, feeling more comfortable at different weights, however, I only got there because of mostly eating chips & queso, pizza, and ice cream. I eat pretty good at work most of the time: yogurt and granola, bananas or an apple, green smoothies, Triscuts and deli meat, frozen meals with chicken and broccoli.. so I guess that's how I don't weigh 165 right now.
   This morning I was talking to my friend, Danielle, who is constantly trying to lose weight as well. We know that we both need to find balance. I tend to get tired of eating salads and suddenly the only things that sounds good is salty, fatty foods and anything from a restaurant. Or at least according to my last journal from September. I remember in 2016, after the cruise with my parents, when I stayed 105 from mid December to mid February, the thing that "ruined me" was Girl Scout season! I ordered four boxes (because I only had a $20 in my purse) and don't remember sharing many with Michael. So I was telling Danielle, and also myself, that when we get to the weight that makes us feel happy and strong and healthy and glorious, we stay on top of it! I want my rollercoaster "diet" to have very small ups and downs, no more super inclines with gradual drops and loops and corkscrews. They can physically make me sick. We also talked about how much water our bodies need. I should be drinking 65oz a day! That is four water bottles worth (16.9oz size), but today I only made it to two.

   Side note- I am conducting an experiment (that started on Monday night) to see if I wear my old glasses (the ones I wore for 4 years until the end of December- to see if it really was the stronger prescription that was giving me bad headaches/migraines a few times a week. My headaches haven't been higher than a 2 since Tuesday!
   But back to the balance.. That's what the two young fitness instructors that I follow on Instagram do (Gina and Karli). They go to a party once in a while, have some drinks with friends, eat some chips and guac, enjoy a few tacos, and the next morning ~ BAM! They are right back into their yoga and workouts and they look awesome all the time! And they post their strong pictures every day. They do follow routines more than I believe I have dedication for, but it's nice having them as motivation.

   Right now a few more reasons why I really do need to lose weight for actual health reasons is because I have been getting so out of breath just by walking around on a flat surface while talking on the phone to Mia!! That is really sad, and my arm gets sore from brushing my teeth. Definitely need to build up those little muscles again. I feel noticeably heavier in the whole chest/stomach/thigh area when I walk around, and my size 8 work pants don't fit properly so I always have to leave the top unhooked. And there has been a lot of talk at work lately about carbs, sugars, and diabetes, which worries me. I am curious to see what all my health levels (cholesterol, blood sugar, etc) are right now vs how they are when I've been in health mode for a few months. I have some questions for myself, like:
     How many weeks before..

> my teeth don't feel sore from wearing my retainers? I also wear my retainers at night and sometimes use whitening strips when I'm being healthy. Oral care is important too!
> my thighs don't touch when I'm standing? Obviously this is most noticeable in the shower, but I really dislike the feeling.
> I no longer look pregnant with a "food baby"?
> I no longer have "hate handles"?
> my skin clears up, mainly on my face?
> my work uniform pants fit again?
> I no longer get out of breath when I am walking and talking on the phone?
& how much do I weigh on my birthday?!

   I am estimating each week to be about 1.2 pounds lost on average since last time (May 22 to Sept 8) I was able to lose 17 pounds in 14 weeks. So since I started this on Wednesday, and guessing that I weigh 130- Michael hid the scale- I have estimated that I could/should/WILL weigh between 112 & 106. I might push that back a week because last time the first week was easing into the healthier foods and eating the rest of the junk in the house. Right now it's sugar Chex from a Christmas treat that I never ended up making. One downfall of having a baby with a lot of medical issues (Emma has a trach, ventilator, and G-tube) is that I can't leave the house with her by myself. I need Michael to help me take her anywhere. There is too much to do that could be a problem, so I already know that I won't be able to walk outside as much as I used to.
   I got an $89 treadmill last month after crying at work (nobody noticed) about my weight, but it's on an incline which I  didn't realize- I like walking flat- so it's killer on my legs and I can only stand a couple minutes at a time. But NO! This is an excuse- I have a load of exercise DVDs that I have never watched, which I can do at home. Have you seen that one guy who is a body builder and he doesn't have any legs?! It's just my preference to walk outside. I like going the distance knowing I have to walk all the way back, rather than jumping off a treadmill after two minutes. Plus the fresh air is important for my sanity! Another thing, I hate the early/ winter Daylight Savings, like tonight.  Michael just texted me saying he probably won't be home until 6pm and it gets dark around 6:15pm now (I don't feel safe walking around at night). So that's like one loop around the neighborhood, less than 1/2 mile. I am trying to get at least 8,000 steps per day and the only way I have to track it is on my phone with the Health app, but I don't keep it in my back pocket while I'm walking around the house so my numbers will be really low on days I am not at work and can walk on my breaks.
   Wow, this is getting whiney.. Ugh, stressing!! This is probably part of why I haven't cared about losing weight until now, ha! Just another "challenge" to overcome! I have this weekend off so I'll walk as much as I can tomorrow and Sunday. The good Daylight Savings switches over on March 10th.. start the countdown!! (Update: I did walk outside in the dark for about 20 minutes. It was 52 degrees!)

Hilton Head ~ May 2014 ~ about 104 pounds

   So here are some of my favorite blog links that I have written about me losing weight, being healthy/ exercising, and feeling strong, which is the best part and then I worry less about being kidnapped..

The Best Me I Can Be ~ August 2013 (while in California)

Benefits of a Lifestyle Change ~ (Sept 2013)

Blue Freckles ~ October 2013

   >> I really need a "Shred" post with all of my weight loss chronical photos from Cali too!!

Cow Hugger ~ July 2016

Good Vibes ~ also July 2016

Veeg-itarian ~ September 2016/ Twin pictures with Mia

Healthy on a Budget ~ October 2016

Hot Mom Diaries, Part 1 ~August 2017

Hot Mom Diaries, Part 2 ~ September 2017

Health & Hurricanes ~ Sept 2017

Tru Nature ~ September 2017