Progress!

It's been almost a month since I last wrote about how motivated I am to lose weight. It's been a bit of a challenge to stick to my diet and exercise plans, especially with all the birthday celebrations that usually happen around this time of the year, but luckily, I am seeing some progress.

 

I've been surfing the web and talking to many of my health conscious friends and realized that a lot of my past choices were hindering my weight loss efforts instead of helping them (i.e. lean cuisines, oatmeal packets, energy bars). One of my excuses for not losing weight is that I am always on the go, and my food choices are made based off of convenience and unfortunately, these choices haven't had much nutritional value. So, for the past month, I've really focused on making fresher, more natural food choices and I've really started to notice a difference.

 

 

For example, I've traded my oatmeal packets for real steel cut oats with no sugar added. I've also upped my fruit and vegetable intake by sneaking them into my meals to add flavor (like blueberries for my oatmeal). I've also cut down on carbs (no more white rice) and have completely eliminated fried foods. I still treat myself to a good hamburger maybe once a week, but sub the fries out for a salad or soup instead.

 

With a combination of those restrictions and an added 5 days of exercise a week, I've lost 4 pounds so far. My first weight in I was about 128.6 pounds. This morning I was 124.2 pounds. I've also lost about an inch off of my waistline and butt. My arms and thighs have lost almost half an inch. My clothes definitely feel loose, but not enough to go out and by myself smaller sizes!

I started this plan off doing Insanity, but I found myself being really exhausted and hating life. I don't think my body was quite ready for that kind of intensity yet, so I switched Insanity out for Zumba and I love it. I feel like it's just the right amount of cardio for me and it really works out my core which is my main problem area. Probably after another few weeks of this and jogging, I will try my luck with Insanity again to help myself tone up.

 

There are also a bunch of supplements and extra vitamins that I feel have sped up my weight loss ever since I started taking them but since this post is getting kind of long, you can contact me if you're interested in knowing more about that.

 

I am 9 pounds away from my goal and I know that those will be the hardest to lose. I just HAVE to keep going so I can say I did it and finally be happy with myself! I have exactly 100 days until my May 5 deadline....

 

WISH ME LUCK!

Time to revamp!!

I've spent a good amount of time talking about how much I want to lose this baby weight. Well, it's been one year now and here I am, still 10 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. I've been in a workout and diet rut ever since my birthday back on Oct. 28 and it's been so hard to really get focused on losing weight and getting healthy again.

As more and more time goes by and I spend more time being stuck in a chair and not watching what I eat, the pounds continue to pack on. I have been so disgusted with myself lately and I've digressed so much from where I want to be. It's been really hard lately to not beat myself up about how I look. It's starting to annoy me (and my husband haha) how much time I spend in front of the mirror scrutinzing myself.

New years is always a great reminder that you only have so much time to keep telling yourself that you're going to lose weight before actually doing it. Because before you know it, it'll be 2013 and you'll have the same ol' goal of losing weight and the discontentment just never goes away.

So, as of yesterday, I've gotten back on the weight loss path and I am SO determined to stay on it. I am currently 128 lbs and my goal is to reach at least 115 by May 5th. Here's my plan: 6 out of 7 days of the week, I am going to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity and not eat more than 1300 GOOD calories a day. I'll probably get back into doing the Insanity workout, jogging, and doing my mom's Zumba videos. I know it's going to be hard, but I've really got to keep my eyes on the weight loss prize. I'll blog about it every now and then and hopefully we'll all be able to see some progress.

Here are some before and after pictures that have helped motivate me, so for all you wishful weight losers, I hope it motivates you too.

Snooki

Raven Simone

Hilary Duff

Jennifer Hudson

Jerry Ferrara

Kendra Wilkinson

Jonah Hill

Nicole Richie

Bye Bye, Year One!

As this year comes to a close, I can't help but look back and smile at how this year as unfolded. This time last year I was enjoying my first week on maternity leave, writing off my constant contractions as Braxton Hicks, and indulging in the last days of my sweet slumber!

One year ago..

The first few months of Rosalie's life were a blur. I was barely sleeping, I was still in pain from recovery, and breastfeeding for the first time was difficult. I never realized how tough having a baby was and it took a lot of strength and patience to accept the reality of caring for a newborn. It also took some adjusting for me to get used to being stuck in the house at least 22 hours a day and never having time for myself anymore.

As the months went by, she grew while I learned. I learned every aspect of her personality, breastfeeding became a breeze, and leaving the house was now more difficult than staying home. I feel like I've evolved more this year than I ever have in my entire life. The process wasn't easy, but I feel like the ugly little caterpillar that had to endure months in a cocoon to finally emerge as a beautiful butterly.

This has been one of the best and most fulfilling years of my life. I said goodbye to partying and late nights and welcomed the world of early mornings and busy days with baby in tow.There are some mothers who are ready for the challenge right off the bat, and there are some, like me, who need some time to soak it all in. It might've taken me a few months, but I am happier now than I have ever been. I look back on her days as a tiny little thing, not able to move or speak and realize how much she needed me then. Looking at her now, it makes me so happy and proud to see a bustling baby girl who is healthy and smart and becoming more and more independent. It's like..Wow. Not only did Anthony and I make her out of nothing, but she grew into something quite special because of us and I'm deeply in love.

From her birth to her baptism and now her first birthday, I'm so thankful for the people who have always supported and loved us. I couldn't have done any of it without all the encouragement and help that I received from everyone. From the largest gifts to the smallest gestures, you've helped more than you'll ever know. To our loving family and friends who have been there for us from day one, THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart, I send you my love and gratitude.

It's kind of cool that Rosalie's birthday marks the start of a brand new year...it's the perfect way to welcome another 365 days of surprises! So here's to the beginning of 2012 and whatever challenges may come...Cheers!

Dear 16 Year Old Me

I saw a video on YouTube that had this title, and I thought it would be interesting. It turned out to be a PSA about cancer...Basically saying "live your life to the fullest because one day a miserable disease will take it all away". Touching, but not exactly what I thought it was going to be. Anyways, I've been wanting to do a post about it ever since..but in a funner, light-hearted way. Here goes.

Dear Ria,

You are completely and utterly too obsessed with yourself and what other people think. Stop worrying about such petty things. If you spent a quarter of the time thinking about how you can help others instead of yourself, your level of contentment and self worth would expand exponentially. You'll see.

Follow your dreams. Things might not work out as you imagine them to, and it will surprise the heck out of you, but don't panic. Everything will be okay. Always remember that things work themselves out in the end. Don't ever give up. Throwing in the towel seems like a viable option at times, but believe me, keep on chugging and you'll see how fast the rain clears up. You'll find that your life has more meaning than you ever imagined it could.

As for your friends, value them. Hold on to the great times that you have. Don't be sad, but people will come and go. It's normal. You'll think that you have found gold at times because you have so much fun with them, but it's the people who know the very core of your soul, all the good and the bad, that will always love you. The value of these friends is priceless...You'll sort through many just to find that the ones who never leave you are the ones worth fighting for. Every personality you meet will represent a thread in the fabric of your life, but some spools will be shorter than others...and that's ok.

Don't stress about boys. (Spoiler alert) You will eventually meet the love of your life and marrying him will be the easiest decision you will ever make. Just listen to your gut. True love exists...and not in the way you think it does. Don't get too caught up in searching for this man cause he will, quite literally, pop out of nowhere!

You are so blessed and these blessings will keep coming. Don't ever forget where they're coming from. There's so much more that I could say that would help, but I wouldn't want to ruin all the surprises for you.

It's all quite simple. Enjoy being young. Be daring. Take risks. Tell your parents every day that you love them. Laugh. Smile. Take care of your body! It will definitely take care of you when you need it the most.
And most importantly, if you have any questions or doubts, pray about it. You'll almost always get an answer.

Love,
You. Me. Us.

What 25 means to me

Funny story. This is my 2nd attempt to write an entry on this topic. I had an entire post all typed up and ready to go but as I read through it one last time, I realized how much I hated it. It just wasn't honest enough.

So here we go. Round 2. What does turning 25 mean to me?

With every year comes new challenges and more surprises. I think back to my 18th birthday when my troubles were so simple and all I had to worry about was dealing with being homesick and getting through my first year of college. 21 meant that I was finally legal and all I had to worry about was graduating college and balancing all my extracirricular activities. When I turned 23 I had a  wedding to plan. 24 meant 2 more months til baby. So what about 25?

I already did college. I already did the wedding and the baby. What now? What does 25 hold for me? What adventures will my 26 year old self be reflecting on next year?

It makes me a little sad because it seems like every year I had something to look forward to. If I know one thing about myself, it is that I don't like NOT having a plan. Since I was in my early teens I knew exactly what I wanted and how I was going to get it. I knew what school I was going to go to. I knew I wanted to have a family by 26. I knew what my wedding colors would be. I kind of feel like 25  threw a wrench in my gears because for the first time, I really don't know what to expect.

Anthony and I on the night of my birthday

I want to buy a house. I want to be debt free. I want to advance in my career. I want my family to grow. These are all things that I want for myself but I don't know when or really how I will accomplish them. The only thing I do know is that I now have a daughter to raise and a family to think about. As I type this entry, I'm coming realize that my life really isn't about me anymore. It's no longer a straight line that is predictable. Turning 25 means to me that I've had to grow up a lot quicker than I expected, and honestly..I'm okay with that.

The things I worry about are a lot more serious now. My priorities require a lot more maturity out of me. But I guess that's what growing up really means. I made the decision to invest a big part of myself into this family, and as with any other investment in this world, you can only get as much as you are willing to put in.

With my sacrifices have come great rewards. I spent the last 25 years investing in my myself and my relationships. I now have the confidence and the strength to be a mom and pass on the valuable things I've learned to my daughter. I have spent enough time learning about my friends and sharing myself with them that I am content with the people that are in my life, and I know that I have a handful of lifelong friendships to cherish. I probably couldn't have said that a couple birthdays ago.

I am not trying to say that I am done investing in these other things, but really, that the time has come to focus my attention elsewhere. It is now my job as a mother, no matter what age I am, to step up to the plate and give this family all I've got. I've spent 25 years preparing myself for this life and now that I have it, I will do what I can to ensure that I don't fall short. It's like I've been gathering up my my life savings to finally spend it all on the greatest investment yet. There are always risks, but in the end, the rewards are priceless. I'm nervous and excited for what's to come, and I kind of like that I don't know what to expect. I've never really been into surprises, but I'm sure there will be some great ones to come.

So bring it on, 25! I'm ready for you.