Living, Uncategorized, Weigh In Wednesday

Weigh In Wednesday #3

January 16, 2013 Megan Alton 4 Comments

You know what they say about a plan? The only reason to have one is in case something better doesn’t happen. As we all know, my plan is to lose 100 pounds. In my perfect world, I’d lose 2 pounds a week at a steady pace and achieve my goal easily by the end of this year.

Low and behold, this week something better happened. I pretty much stayed the same, gaining 1/2 pound and losing 1/2″. A solid BM will get me back to where I ended last week, and I’m trying really hard not to get bummed after last weeks triumphant beginning. This journey is a long one and everything isn’t going to go as planned.

Reasons I think the weight didn’t come off this week:

I stopped going to sleep by 10:30 and resumed some previously bad habits. Along with a little help from my sleep companions, the ZZZ’s flailed.
Not eating enough food. After going on a sushi bender on Saturday I freaked out and stopped snacking. Bad idea.
Didn’t drink enough water. Last week I was really good about sipping on water all day long and this week I slacked.
Birthdays and weight loss are not good friends. Porter’s 2nd birthday was a blast, but I’m glad it won’t happen for another year.

Now, here are the things I learned this week, which turn out to be just as important as losing pounds and inches:

I have enough energy to POWER through dance class. This has been the hardest for me since I started dancing again late last year and I’m ecstatic to finally have enjoyed a class again.
I wouldn’t have come to this conclusion without a little help from my friend Chelsea. She said, awhile back, that when she eats sugar she becomes less nice and more irritable. This was exactly the case for me. My patience, listening skills and temper have been much better and more pleasant since I stopped eating sugar and refined foods. My two year old doesn’t know it yet, but it’s made his life a lot happier too.
Because of the last point, I’m having a great time being a mom. I have more energy to play, patience to read books, better attitude in the early AM, will power to resist the television and more love in general. I’m feeling like a good mom, which you may or may not understand, and that’s a big deal.
I get what can best be described as a cramp in my foot when I don’t eat right, always have. It has now left my body.
I’m still optimistic. I know what needs to be done and I’m not going to be flung off course by a week that didn’t go as planned.

And now for the numbers:

	Last Week	This Week	Difference
Weight (lbs)	252.5	253	+0.5
Left Leg (in.)	31.5	Same	0
Hips (in.)	53	Same	0
Waist (in.)	46	Same	0
Chest (in.)	47	46.5	-0.5
Left Arm (in.)	17	Same	0
Neck (in.)	15.5	same	0

TOTALS: Gain 0.5 lb lost 0.5 inch

***

This is why the humidifier runs almost constantly.

Family, Recipes, Uncategorized

Play Dough Party! & Recipe

January 14, 2013 Megan Alton 2 Comments

Last weekend we celebrated Porter’s second birthday with friends and play dough. It was a whole lot of fun and I’ve even got the DIY play dough recipe at the bottom of this post. Now get ready for the cuteness, cause it’s about to smack you in the face.

The following video is everyone singing Happy Birthday to Porter. Keep in mind we did this on his actual birthday and he asked us to sing it multiple times and then blew the candles out 3 times. The “NO!” you hear is him fleeing into Aunt Anna’s arms. He then refused ice cream and cookies. Last year he refused the cake. Maybe next year? He did recover and had the party continued in merriment.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkASFGJvXls]

Aunt Bug racing a car through the Lucy/Porter tunnels.

***

This is my recipe for DIY play dough. I use the cheap ingredients to save $$$ and considering it’ll be tossed in the trash, or composted outdoors maybe? I usually make it by hand, but I think it would work well in a stand up mixer with a dough hook. It has a perfectly soft texture and you can mix and match the colors. This recipe makes 4 snowball sized rounds. I divide and store them in plastic bags and use them over a week. It’s totally edible, but I wouldn’t eat it unless in was having a Bear Grills moment.

Ingredients

3 3/4 c. flour, reserve 1 3/4 cups on side
1/2 c. salt
1 Tbsp Alum or Cream of Tartar
2 c. hot water
3 Tbsp oil
food coloring

Mix 2 cups flour, salt and Alum in large bowl.

In separate bowl, mix hot water, oil and food coloring.

Pour wet into dry and mix with a spoon or hands until combined. It will be very sticky.

Add the reserved 1 3/4 cups flour and knead with your hands until smooth and play-able.

Divide and store in bags or plastic wrap and commence playing!

Family, Uncategorized

Porter Turns 2

January 10, 2013 Megan Alton 6 Comments

Two years ago, at this very moment, we were a brand new family spending our first night at home. Porter had been born less than 24 hours previously and I’m pretty sure I was an elated wreck. My how far we’ve come!

In the very very beginning. We were very very tired.

***

A year later…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGZj6C5CMhY]

***

Today…

Tonight Aunt Anna came over and made Porter’s birthday cake, and while visiting she asked Porter the age-old birthday question, “Do you feel older and wiser?” I don’t know about Porter, but I’ve never felt as old and wise as I do today.

My parents asked me earlier in the day what I knew now that I didn’t two years ago. Of course the list is endless, but my response to them was, “I never knew I could be so tired.” The most unromantic response, ever. So I’ve been thinking about my good response to that question, and it sounds like this.

Until the past two years I never knew life could be so vivid. I feel the most unconditional love I’ve ever felt, since I was my own parents baby. The highs are higher and the lows are lower. Life has never been so very real, and there is no way in my past that I could have ever imagined the life I have now.

To really, intimately, watch a person become a person is the most profound human experience I’ve ever had. And to simultaneously be so proud of my child and so in awe of the pure power that he exudes, is breath-taking and inspiring. I’m still getting to know him more everyday, and everyday I’m more in love with him than before.

Porter is his own person now, and learning to respect that and help him grow into himself is the most challenging, exhausting and rewarding bit of life I’ve ever lived. He is a thriving, outgoing, energetic, curious and persistent fellow. I only hope I can do him and his spirit justice while he’s in my care.

In celebration of Porters 2nd birthday, all of Boise took a snow day! Or maybe it’s because of the unrelenting snow that just keeps falling. Either way it was a great day for fun. I did my best to document it in photos. If I was two, I’d think it was a very happy birthday.

Porter woke up to his first of two presents. An adjustable basketball hoop. It was a smashing success.

This is what Big Kitty thought of bouncing balls in the house.

After breakfast we went outside to shovel snow. As I was putting out snow melt I noticed small snow flakes. I thought it was so clever that it came out in the shape of flakes. Then I realized these were actual snowflakes from the sky. So cool!

"Look mama! Spider!" 2 is a truly awesome age. — “Look mama! Spider!” 2 is a truly awesome age.

The captain of the plane, pressing buttons on his control panel.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3v0_B65eak]

We watched a squirrel on the fence, jump down and unearth his hidden nut. Porter assumed the appropriate crouched and quiet observing position. He was captivated the whole time.

We came in to warm up with a tea party and Bear.

He also made everyone sing Happy Birthday as many times as we could stand.

My kid is the only one I know who is satisfied with 3 bites of cake. He left the rest in the bowl. My hero!

The second birthday gift was a fishing ship for bath time.

My sweet pea. The best inspiration of my whole life.

Living, Uncategorized, Weigh In Wednesday

Weigh In Wednesday #2

January 9, 2013 Megan Alton 5 Comments

If you haven’t read my New Year’s Resolution, do that first.

Ahh. The first week of a new diet. It can be simultaneously the hardest and easiest week of the whole darn thing. Hard because kicking any bad habits, like sugar, can result in withdrawal and crankiness. Thankfully, it wasn’t bad at all, that is to say I’ve had worse sugar withdrawals. Before I started this I was slightly afraid for Porter’s safety, but we both made it through the week with flying colors. It is also the easiest week because it’s brand new and I’ve got nowhere to go but down. I’m going to get to my numbers, but I want to remind you that the first week of dieting can yield abnormal results due to, in my opinion, water loss. Yes I’ve done this before, and it’s been pretty much the same every time. I know that my losses for this week are unrealistic in the long term and not very healthy either.

For breakfast I ate my usual 2 eggs and Canadian bacon. I grabbed a snack whenever I got hungry and they included nuts, celery and apples with peanut butter, cheese, and 1 cappuccino per day. Lunch was always a hearty salad with dark green lettuce, broccoli, peas, cucumber, carrot, sunflower seeds, bacon bits, hard-boiled egg, beets, olives and ranch dressing. For dinner I made family friendly meals and substituted vegetables where my boys had noodles or bread. On Friday night I had Thai curry with rice, and it was more enjoyable than ever. The week was delightful, and the only time I felt hungry was when I didn’t plan my day correctly and ended up eating like a chipmunk. Otherwise, I feel great and am ready for week 2. Here are the numbers:

————->Week 1 Week 2 Difference

Weight (lbs): 261.0 252.5 8.5 lbs

Left leg (in.): 32.5 31.5 1″

Hips (in.): 54 53 1″

Waist (in.): 51 46 5″

Chest (in.) 47.5 47 0.5″

Left arm (in.): 17 17 0″

Neck (in.): 16 15 1″

TOTALS OVERALL:

Lost: 8.5 lbs and 8″

Homemade Cappucino — Homemade cappuccino

Snow Kitty is now an artic seal cub. — Snow Kitty is now an arctic seal cub.

It's, like, really winter here. — It’s, like, really winter here.

Spaghetti sauce with grass fed local beef, shitake mushrooms and onion, served over spinich. All organic. My new favorite! — Spaghetti sauce with grass-fed local beef, shiitake mushrooms and onion, served over spinach. All organic. My new favorite!

Examining worms from our Urban Worm vermi-composting house.

Dried beans and some kitchen utensils... — Dried beans and some kitchen utensils…

...pure joy for 45 minutes. — …pure joy for 45 minutes.

This mornings eggs were like opening a present, I found a rainbow inside. Jillian at Green Goat Dairy is the very best.

I've been working on making a slicing bread that could take the place of store bought bread. Today I finally did it! It's the America's Test Kitchen Sandwich Bread recipe, using 1/2 sprouted organic spelt flour and 1/2 organic Einkorn flour. I did try a bite of every loaf, but managed to sustain myself at that. I'm really glad Luke and Porter enjoy it so much. — I’ve been working on making a slicing bread that could take the place of store bought bread. Today I finally did it! It’s the America’s Test Kitchen Sandwich Bread recipe, using 1/2 sprouted organic spelt flour and 1/2 organic Einkorn flour. I did try a bite of every loaf, but managed to sustain myself at that. I’m really glad Luke and Porter enjoy it so much.

Uncategorized

Steve’s Poem

January 8, 2013 Megan Alton 2 Comments

In December of 2002 my brother gave me a poem for Christmas. He wrote it in black ink on a transparent paper and framed it. Over the last 10 years it’s been slowly fading, even though I keep it away from sunlight. It’s a beautiful poem and deserves to be preserved and shared. Every time I read it I find new meaning, and it continues to be pertinent even today in an entirely new way. Thank you Steve.

A Crumbling Tower Clung To An Ancient Cliff

A crumbling tower clung to an ancient cliff
Whose feet plunged to the depths of the ocean
Where fish glowed and the water was syrupy cold.

One day, a piece of timber came to bob alongside the cliff.
Captain set the ship to sail itself and leaped at the rocky face.
As luck would have it, there were footholds and hand holds
That Captain used to scale the rocky wall.

Captain reached the cracked and precarious tower
And found a tunnelish opening from which
Poured a soft purple smell. And Captain
Entered the tunnel and was surrounded by
A beautifully perfumed haze. Captain continued.

Up, up a memory of a staircase, through
The purple fog. But Captain’s resolve hardened
And the scent and fog became just a background.
Captain saw only the stairs straight ahead
And the chamber at the top of the sloping spiral.
Captain reached the roofless room and found a globe of Earth.

The globe spun west and much too fast.
The oceans bubbled and glaciers melted.
The forests scorched and green sizzled to ash.
Captain knew something was wrong and laid
Soft careful hands upon the sad globe to stay its faulty turn.
Captain took a deep breath and blew so softly
As she removed her hands, and the globe began to spin east.

The tower bent its head to the ground,
With enormous snapping and creaking of
A spine that had not flexed for centuries,
And set Captain down upon the dewy lawn.
From above, a spiraling storm took shape
And came down on the tower, no longer crumbling
Or decrepit, but strong. Captain ran and
Flung herself off the cliff, looking up at the sky and whirling storm.

As she fell, the tower did battle with the storm
And met bolts of fire with a rocky arm
And what do you know but the storm faded,
Cowered from the strength of the tower,
Cradle of the righted globe. And after the battle was won
The tower stood forever as strong and when Captain left it.
And she fell and fell, and closed her eyes
Just to open them again at dawn of a new day as
She heard the pitter patter of the last drops of rain.

~Written by Steve Wilson

Midwifery, Parenting, Uncategorized

5 Reasons To Ditch Your Prenatal Care Provider

January 7, 2013 Megan Alton 6 Comments

If you’ve been following my writing for any period of time, you know that I’m a doula and an advocate for out of hospital birth attended by midwives. While I was a doula for families that chose to give birth in hospitals I encountered a similar situation time and again. Let me paint a picture for you.

While talking with your friend about how excited you are to be pregnant she asks you who your doctor is. Oh, you reply, I found a great doctor. He (I’m going with male since that has been my overwhelming experience) is really friendly, has a family of his own and I feel really comfortable at my prenatal visits (which last 15 minutes, maybe 30 for your initial meeting).

All through your pregnancy you go to your doctor and everything goes smoothly. It’s finally time to have this baby and you go to the hospital chipper, ok maybe not chipper but indeed ready to have this baby, and you get checked into your suite by the nice nurse. She hooks you up to an IV, straps two monitors on you, and asks if there is anything you need. She assures you that you’ll have this baby soon enough and then leaves to perform other job duties.Maybe, if you’re lucky, you’re in a small hospital and there’s no one else having a baby and the nurse gets to give all her attention to you. Maybe not. Hopefully you have a doula.

On and on it goes, this labor thing. Maybe you have pitocin and/or epidural, maybe not. Oh look, shift change! It’s time for your nurse to go home to her family and for the next nice nurse to take over. Hopefully you jive with this new person.

Keep in mind, if you’ve seen your doctor at all it was for a brief moment where he looked at the monitors and issuing tapes, he then taps your shoulder looks at your partner and says everything’s swell. See you when it’s time to push the baby out. Finally, it’s time to push. The doctor that you’ve spent the last 6 months getting to know and lending all your confidence to will pretty much only be there when your baby is descending down the birth canal and out into the world.

You are instructed to push, have people counting at you, and are instructed to “get this baby out”. Whoosh! Baby’s born and, hopefully, placed on your belly where the cord is clamped and you bond. If not then baby is taken to a warming table where pediatric doctors, respiratory therapists and nurses do whatever they need to do to help your baby get this life started right.

Doctor delivers your placenta and checks out your lady parts. Maybe you need a couple stitches, maybe not. Doctor congratulates you and your partner and heads out the door to deliver another baby. Yay!

On the other hand, if you have a doctor that isn’t on call for your birth maybe you just get whoever is actually on call. A complete stranger, who may or may not have the same vision of birth as the doctor you’ve been trusting and getting to know. You would be shocked at how many times I’ve seen this last part play out.

Guess what? I know how to guarantee that you get the best prenatal, birth and post natal care. What…you already know what I’m going to say? You’ve been paying attention, 20 points for you! That’s right, take your time, money and health to a MIDWIFE. She will be at your birth, and that’s a promise. If you see a group of midwives, you’ll get to know them all (they tend to be small practices) and the trust you have in that small team will be rewarded with:

prenatal meetings that last as long as you need them to
honesty and education about the choices you get to make about your body, baby and birth
post natal care for you and your baby for the next 6-8 weeks
RESPECT for your choices, body and birth

I called my midwives countless times in the week after Porter was born. They were always kind and didn’t even sound like they were rolling their eyes when I asked the most redundant new mom questions.

Following is my top 5 reasons to switch care providers. Whether it be doctors or midwives. You have a choice. Just because you’re 35 weeks pregnant and have been seeing the same doctor since before baby was conceived, you can change providers. It’s ok.

If someone wasn’t giving you good customer service at a store, you wouldn’t continue to shop there. If your vet didn’t treat your pet right, you would find another. If your hair dresser gives you many bad haircuts in a row…you get the picture. If you’re interested in having a birth that your provider isn’t interested in providing go interview other’s. Shh, you don’t even have to tell your current doctor. Keep in mind, I’m not a care provider of any sort. Just an educated consumer, with a few opinions. Back to the list!

Top 5 Reasons You Should Change Doctors/Midwives

1. Talk of your baby being too big or your pelvis being too small. From my personal experience, I had an 11 pound baby who was 23.5″ long. That’s a big baby. I’m 5’6″. He came out perfectly and with no damage to his or my parts.

2. Talk about hard and fast deadlines or protocols. If you won’t be allowed to go past 40 weeks, eat food during labor or leave your bed/monitors…go, now. Porter pushed even the limits of Idaho law, waiting until 42.5 weeks to be born. 43 weeks and I would have had to go to the hospital or have my husband deliver at home. Yeah, we considered that.

3. They won’t tell you their cesarean rate, or don’t know it.

4. You aren’t encouraged to educate yourself and/or are placated with words like “don’t worry about it” when you ask questions. You should be able to have a real adult conversation about any of the procedures being done to you and/or your baby. Your care provider should treat you as an equal and give you every bit of knowledge that they feel is pertinent to your decision making. In return, you are expected to DO YOUR RESEARCH and TAKE RESPONSiBILITY. Find out facts on your own and share them with your provider. Ask them questions and get answers that make sense to you. Yes, they’ve delivered more babies than you, and maybe they were there for your first babies, but they have never delivered THIS baby before.

5. Your intuition tells you that you’re not comfortable with this care provider. Don’t ignore that nagging feeling. If you feel trapped or uncomfortable with your care, go find someone else who you feel comfortable with. If you don’t know where to start, ask your doula (or any doula) for referrals. Or look for midwives online. Then interview them and continue to listen to your intuition. It’s good practice for parenthood too.

This post has been shared on Thank Your Body Thursday.

***

And in totally unrelated new, here’s a cute video of my son practicing his large motor skill, jumping. He’s been working on it for months.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McXOawomkoU&list=UUp_SXQgbNYStJevrI9VrE1w&index=1]

This post featured on Party Wave Wednesday

Parenting, Uncategorized

Parenting A Newborn, Whoa

January 4, 2013 Megan Alton 10 Comments

It's impossible to spoil newborns with enough cuddles. — It’s impossible to spoil newborns with enough cuddles.

So no one actually said being a parent is a walk in the park. In fact, most people have told me it’s the hardest job in the world. But nothing can prepare you for having a child. Nothing. I recently got an email from an old friend (thank you very much Facebook) who had a baby less than two months ago. She wrote to ask me advice and I thought I’d share her letter. Names have been changed.

Although I am loving being a mom it’s a lot more different than I thought. I thought I’d throw baby over my shoulder and hit the roads…b-boping around town. Boy, was I wrong! I am lucky if I can brush my teeth, eat and shower by 3pm. I don’t know if its me not being efficient or if the baby is really eating all my time.
Baby is 7 weeks now and has been a good baby until about 2 weeks ago where baby now cries/screams uncontrollably. I guess this is colic. It’s bad and stressful for myself, husband and baby. Do you have any insight on this? Is it baby is in pain, or just a crying baby for no reason?

Sigh…new motherhood. Let me say, first, that I’m actually really glad that I’ll never be first time mom again. At least to a newborn. I remember waking up at every mew and sound Porter made, just to check his breathing. I’m still attached to the freakin’ baby monitor when he sleeps, and he’ll be two next week. While I’m not a doctor or therapist, I wanted to answer my friend’s questions openly as another parent and to offer my own suggestions. Surely, if you’re a parent too, you might have some helpful ideas for my friend. Please feel free leave them in the comments below.

In terms of time management. With a newborn, I think you’re doing great if you get teeth, shower AND food in by 3pm. It’s not a proud moment for me to admit, but there were days when I wasn’t sure when I had last washed my hair. And for the first two months I LIVED on the lactation cookies that my friend Chelsea baked me. Luke even took up baking in those early days. Newborns are definitely pro’s at making the most simple task infinitely harder. This passes in time as your baby gets older and more manageable. Eventually they can even be helpful. But for now, do your best and don’t feel bad if it takes awhile before there’s any b-bopping going on. Other than the b-bopping to put baby to sleep that is.

To address the colic. I obviously can’t say if your baby has colic or not, but I can say that it was perfectly normal for my baby to go through attitude changes (he still does). For a small baby, less than 4 months I would highly recommend The Happiest Baby On The Block, book or DVD. It is geared mostly for sleeping and worked like a charm for us. When Porter was awake, and didn’t want to be on his tummy or on the blanket (which looked a lot like crying and screaming uncontrollably) I would put him in a carrier. I preferred a sling or the Moby wrap (see image above). Sometimes he would hang in there for a long time, and other times he only wanted to be cuddled briefly. If that didn’t work then I tried feeding him. I breastfed him so it was really easy to whip out the food. I don’t know how it is with formula and overfeeding (ask your nurse/doctor, don’t be afraid to call and ask for help, it’s why they exist), but in my worst case scenario there was spit up. Then again, spit up was also my best case scenario.

There are two more pieces of advice that I have for new parents. The first was a serious lifesaver for me. First, find a Baby and Me group in your area. I did a post on it here that you can read about. They are often offered through hospitals and birth centers and are specifically for brand new parents. There’s always La Leche League too. Don’t be embarrassed. At the group I attended the only requirement was that you show up before it was over. It’s okay to be late, wearing pajamas, without makeup and in tears. Find a group and just make it there, it will sooth your tired soul.

The second bit is advice that I got from going to Baby and Me, and that is for the first 3-4 months all you have to do is survive. There were days where I watched a lot of television while holding Porter in my arms, trying to get to a relaxed place. Then I would think about the first week we were home alone with him and realize that in a month we’ve already come so far. Just make it through this time and I promise life will become easier. Baby will start to hold their head up, smiling and laughing become regular, night-time sleeping starts lasting longer, the newness of it all wears off. Just do what you have to do to make it through. Rely on your partner (and family/friends if they’re around) in this time. Hopefully you made some sort of commitment to get through the hard times together, and for most, a new baby constitutes a hard time. If you can just make it through I promise you will be moving onto new milestones and parental worries. Just survive, and try to laugh a little too.

Eventually, quite quickly actually, they grow far beyond the newborn stage and turn into toddlers, with minds of their own. Or at least so they think. My toddler and I had a lovely day playing outside in the absolutely freezing temperatures and then took a trip to the library. He did say “No” to every suggestion I made, but eventually enjoyed all of it. It was then a big fat “No” when it was time to end said activities. I was told tonight by some close friends with an older child that this is indeed the hardest part and it will pass. So I guess the moral of this story is that eventually it will all pass, and then you’re left with the memories. So the best we can do as any parents is to try and make those memories good.

This was the failed attempt at a snowman. More like snow-sand.

Yes, he's playing with an empty garbage can. He was grunting and heaving like a strong man to get it up. Too funny. — Yes, he’s playing with an empty garbage can. He was grunting and heaving like a strong man to get it up. Too funny.

Then we had to literally take it for a walk down the street.

He OWNS the library, and he loved this train book. Wouldn't put it down. — He OWNS the library, and he loved this train book. Wouldn’t put it down.

This post featured on HolisticSquid.com Party Wave Wedndesday

Living, Weigh In Wednesday

2013 New Year’s Resolution: What have I got to lose?

January 3, 2013 Megan Alton 16 Comments

100 pounds. That’s right. According to this website, I have chosen the #1 new years resolution, which will have a success rate of 8%. Oh joy, I just love a good challenge. But Megan, you say, that’s so much and so dramatic. What could have compelled you to consider such a freakishly (small human sized) amount? And I will rattle off all the many reasons I have decided this is the year to complete such a task:

Except for when I was pregnant with Porter, I have never weighed this much in my life.
I don’t enjoy wearing my nice clothes.
There are 4 numbers, which I plan on finding out in the next couple weeks, that I’m scared of knowing. They are my cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and body mass index. These, surely, need to go down.
Frankly, I just don’t feel that healthy. I get winded easily and hearing myself breathing on the videos I take is NOT appealing.
I’ve got this crazy fascination with the number 154.
If I’m constantly waxing on about my authentic self, but not looking/feeling in a way that matches my mental happiness then I’m nothing but a hypocrite.
Porter deserves a better example than eating chocolate croissants in the car and sneaking bites of candy in between meals and drinking root beer. Although they were all really nicely made quality treats.
Porter and Luke need me to be healthy and active.
I can’t remember the last time I felt comfortable in my body. I take that back, I feel great when I’m dancing (although that’s been harder lately) and when I was in 3rd/4th grade. After that, I pretty much know I could be better.
And the main reason for losing 100 pounds is…in a year I plan on getting pregnant again. I don’t know about other ladies, I think many will feel the same, but after having my first baby all the reserves of good health are gone. If I want to have a home birth and then a newborn again, I’m gonna need all the health and stamina I can get.

So, now you’re wondering what crazy fad diet I’m going to do to shed these pounds? No fad diet, no counting calories, no portion control, no points. What I’m going to do is cut out grains and high starch foods. What I will be able to eat is Real Foods: vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds, meats, fish, cheese, eggs, a little bit of dairy, Real Salt, oils/fats, kombucha. If you look at that list of items and then consider the endless possibilities, there will be plenty for me to eat. I’ve tried all the diets before and I know this works for me, so don’t feel too bad that I’m missing out on baked goods and ice cream. I’ve eaten enough of those to last a lifetime already. We do have a tradition of eating out on Friday nights that I’m going to maintain. I’m not a total party pooper. I already do yoga, dance and water aerobics at the gym and will keep that up. Plus I have a toddler, period.

And so, here’s the part that is really terrifying. I’m going to use you guys as my accountability. If there’s anything I learned from last years resolutions of 30 day challenges, it’s that when I promise to post regularly and with hard facts, I will follow through. Every Wednesday on Waking Up Happy for the next year has been dubbed “Weigh In Wednesday”. This means I’ll post my current weight and measurements and the occasional photo to document this journey.

The reason this is terrifying is because I’m a big gal. I have 100 pounds to lose. And while anyone can see me walking down the street and know that, I’m still scared of being judged and ridiculed in all assortment of ways. But I figure, if this blogger (who I follow and is great) can come out of the closet to his LDS family, after 2 divorces, a son, and having considered driving off a cliff near his home in Utah…I can at least be honest about my weight. Especially if it’s going to help me reach my goal and hopefully inspire others. So, here goes. Weigh In Wednesday has begun!

Height: 5’6″

Weight: 261 pounds

Left leg: 32.5″

Hips: 54″

Waist: 57″

Chest: 47.5″

Left arm: 17″

Neck: 16″

The black background was a poor choice. It’ll be clearer in the future.

I’ve got a long way to go. I know I can achieve this, in my heart of hearts. What I’m not sure of yet is how I’ll maintain when I reach my destination. Luckily, I’ve got a year to figure it out and great friends and family to love and support me on the way.

Check my latest Weigh In Wednesday results.

What are your New Year’s resolutions? Comments please.

Boise Childbirth Preparation & Women's Gatherings