"Healthy Me" Update - Month 1

Hey ya'll, hey.

I am holding myself accountable and posting my "Healthier Me" updates from month one. I think the end of January is where most New Year's Resolutions typically go to die, but I am hoping I keep my momentum going because it's paying off!

Diet: I'm not on a "diet" but I have been limiting carbs to only complex carbs found in vegetables, and trying to save my whole grain carbs like quinoa or pasta for one meal a day. So, since I only ate meats and veggies for lunch yesterday, I had pasta for dinner. Not super scientific stuff here. I also cut out most sugar except coffee creamer and what is naturally found in foods. Though I did cheat the other day and had half a doughnut AND a cupcake on our non-snow day, because, reasons.

I am having ALOT of fun experimenting with new veggie/meat recipes. I've had this spaghetti squash recipe 3 times already, and it's so yummy and filling. I also signed up for the Six O'Clock Scramble meal planning system and it has been awesome. The recipes are healthy, can be substituted if I don't like a suggested meal, and it gives me a grocery list with everything I need. This system is perfect for a working mom who wants to streamline the dinner process. I love that each recipe has reviews too. I pretty much just love everything about it. And no, they didn't pay me to say that, I'm just a huge fan!

Body: Amazingly, I am down 7lbs, and now weigh the least I've weighed since 2010. I'm not gonna lie, I am thrilled/shocked with these results and hope to stick to it to lose about 10 more. I know they say most of weight loss comes from the beginning stages, but it sure is a good motivator. Maybe once I get the courage, I'll share some before and after photos so that you can all barf.

I've lost 1.5 inches in my waist, 1 inch off my hips, and .5 inches of my thighs. Clearly I am a pear-shaped person, so it will take awhile for the inches to balance out, but inches are inches, yo.

Most importantly, I feel better in clothes. The biggest difference I've noticed with eating fewer carbs is that I never feel bloated. And with 3 pregnancies in 3 years, it's hard to believe your stomach can ever look/feel flat again, but it's really working. I feel more confident, and even if the changes are imperceptible to others, I notice and that is by far the most important thing.

Exercise: My favorite part of my healthier me initiative. I believe it was Elle Woods who said, quote 'Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands. They just don't." So, lucky for Jon, I have all kinds of endorphins now. I've been doing the Tone It Up Love Your Body Challenge, and I've realized that variety and flexibility is the key to making me stick with working out. I can't do the same things every day otherwise I get bored. This challenge has made me try new things, work out different muscle groups, and has given me so much more energy. Sometimes it's hard to squeeze in a workout after the girls go to bed, but I always try to find time to do something. If it's a night where Emerson goes to bed a little later than usual, instead of going to the gym, I'll do a HIIT workout from YouTube. HIIT is awesome and super efficient, which is perfect for me because with two kids and a full-time job, everything requires efficiency. Well, at least from Monday to Friday. Weekends are a whole 'nother story.

Mentally:  Emerson is as happy as ever, and Anna is developing by leaps and bounds every day, so my parental anxiety has gone down significantly since the fall. Plus, with three vacations planned for this year, I have zero to complain about. Everyone is happy and healthy, and so now I have some free time to dedicate to keeping myself happy and healthy as well.

Just a random mommy/daughter weekend selfie.

 So.... so far, so good I guess? Bring it on, February! 5 months till bathing suit season, and I WILL be ready.