More Frozen

Apparently this is what happens when I take three little girls to Kroger with me.  Because everyone needs Collector's Edition Frozen cereal, right?

Sew Fun

Jordanna loves wearing her nightgowns that were sewn by Grammy!

Trim Healthy Mama

Before I tell you about Trim Healthy Mama, rewind to summer 2013 when I was rather frustrated that I hadn't lost the weight I had gained from pregnancy with Sierra (who was 1.5 at the time, but remember that she was quite possibly the grumpiest baby ever).  I joined the gym and worked out regularly and lost exactly 0 pounds.  Or maybe 1.  When school started back, I canceled my gym membership because life was just too busy to have time for it.  And it wasn't really working anyway.

Fast forward to March 2014. I had actually gained several pounds since the previous summer.  In fact, I weighed what I weighed at 40 weeks pregnant with Caleb.  I had heard about Trim Healthy Mama, and in desperation one day, I bought the e-book so that I could read it immediately.  In fact, I read it while drinking a large Coke from Chickfila.  The last one I would drink for about 8 weeks.  It's a 600 page book, but I read fast, and I finished it in a matter of days.  The book really resonated with me, probably because it is written by two busy, homeschooling moms.  They clearly explain how a mom's dietary needs are different from her children's and how to make meals for the whole family (rather than two separate meals) that will meet everyone's needs.  I went to the grocery store the night I first got the book and bought a few ingredients, and I jumped in with both feet, not really sure it would work, but really hoping it would.  I lost 7 pounds the first week, which was just the encouragement that I needed to keep going.  And, I felt better than I had in a long time.  I continued to plug along, thrilled that I was losing weight, while eating 5-6 times a day.  And I could still have bacon, chocolate, and alcohol.  This was an eating plan (not just a diet) that was sustainable for the long term.

Fast forward to today.  I have lost about 40 pounds since March, going from a size Large and 12/14 to a size Medium and 6/8 (BTW, Dave has also lost about 20 pounds by making several small changes in his diet even though he does not follow the plan exactly).  I have way more energy and am less tired.  My knees don't creak when I walk up stairs. My headaches have lessened.  And like I said before, I just feel better, healthier, and more energetic.  I'm not exactly at my goal weight, but I never expected to wear a size 6 again in my life, so even if I don't lose any more weight, I'm content with where I am.  I still eat on plan the vast majority of the time and I plan to indefinitely.  I know exactly what I need to do to maintain my weight loss, and I also appreciate all the other health benefits from eating on plan.  I've also introduced this plan to four friends who are also following it with me.  We are able to share recipes and encourage one another along the way.

It would be easy to look at the things, I can't (or don't) eat or the things I have given up: white flour, white rice, regular pasta, sugar, Coke, Chickfila sandwiches, fries, regular bread, typical snacky food (chips, pretzels, crackers, etc.).  But I prefer to look at the things I can eat: bacon and eggs, oatmeal, muffins, chocolate, burgers (bunless), a glass of wine, chicken fingers (breaded in almond flour), broccoli cheese soup, pizza (coconut flour crust), sandwiches, salads, fruits, vegetables, sprouted bread, and more.  There is an on plan alternative for almost everything.  And I prefer to look at what I have gained: a trim figure and health and strength with which to serve the Lord as I serve my family and my church and my students.

Before - November 2012

After - November 2014

One Trim Healthy Dinner - Homemade broccoli cheese soup with homemade bread topped with aged gouda (in the interest of full disclosure this is called a crossover and is better eaten when at goal weight not when still trying to lose weight)

Books, Books, Books

All of us love getting new books for Christmas!  I always buy each of the kids a book or two, and Grammy and Uncle Phillip bought each of them books as well.   We are enjoying having new things to read.

 Some of Sierra's new books.  I have read each of these approximately 1000 times each, and Dave has, too.

Even Jordanna reads to Sierra (because she has the book memorized).

Some of Caleb's new books.  He especially likes the one full of facts to annoy your teacher.

Alexa got a few new readers in addition to her Frozen books.

Jordanna got these and a Pinkalicious Christmas book.

Dave got his annual bathroom reader.  I usually read this as well.

And he got two of the Maze Runner series and bought the rest with his Christmas money.

I didn't get any books this year, but I still did a lot of reading over break.  I think I finished four books.

New Jammies

My favorite Sierra in the adorable new owl jammies she got for Christmas.  Isn't she cute?

After Christmas Presents

My mom did some after Christmas shopping, and my parents dropped by to bring the kids two more presents.  They got Sierra some squishy sand (not pictured) and the big kids this Discovery Kids Construction Fort set.  You can use the pieces to build a fort or castle or igloo then cover it with blankets to play in.

Or if you are a nine year old boy, you can build a weapon out of the pieces.

Thanks, Grammy and Gramps!

D is for Dora

While Dora was definitely overshadowed by Frozen this year, we still managed to acquire 4 Dora dolls (one of which we already had, but Jordanna loves it so much and wouldn't let me return it)

and 2 Dora cell phones for Christmas.

The girls love their new toys!  Mommy, on the other hand, remembers when Caleb liked Dora when he was little and has watched approximately 11 billion episodes since then.  I have say, I won't be sad when everyone in our house finally outgrows Dora, but for now we have plenty of Dora toys to last us for awhile.