{30 thoughts} what I have gained while losing

I always say I've lost 79 pounds but truly, that is the only thing I have truly lost on this journey.

Here's a small list of what I feel I've gained...

~ The ability to know I can try anything
~ A love for myself
~ The knowledge of what to put in my body
~ A new lease on life
~ Hopefully the ability to get pregnant
~ New friends {barre3, PCOS groups}
~ Happiness
~ A calmer mind
~ A new body
~ My life
~ A desire to help others find their own journey

Fingers crossed {that I gain many more opportunities}...

{30 thoughts} live on the radio

6 days ago I was LIVE on the radio and it was surreal and it all happened thanks to Instagram!

Last Tuesday I posted this picture on IG with the hashtag #transformationtuesday

A woman named Jenny Hutt somehow found my picture on IG and sent me this message...

can you say SQUEAL!!!

Of course, I had to IG the comments! Heehee

Here is Jenny's IG

Me. Waiting to chat with Jenny!

{no makeup & wet hair}

 

All of this happened because I was willing to share my story. I WISH I could figure out how to get the sound byte/recording on to blogger so people can listen!! I am so thankful that I asked for the recording because I couldn't remember anything I had talked about. On the show I talked about weight loss, weight & food emotions, barre3 {duh}, and PCOS. I tried to not to say UM a lot, tried to talk slow, and I think I did a pretty good job!!! It was so fun to have someone who is a celebrity in her field congratulating, inspiring, and willing to talk to little ole me!

I emailed it to a lot of my friends & family and I got so many awesome responses - which I loved!

Fingers crossed {that good things keep happening}!!!

{30 thoughts} barre3 fall challenge starts today

Today marks the start of the barre3 fall challenge!!!

This is the good peer pressure {is there such a thing?} kind of challenge where there is a GIANT board of names with stickers to put on when you go to class! The goal is to go to 5 studio classes per week, for 4 weeks. For now we aren't putting our own stickers on {small hallway} but I'm hoping that changes soon! It's so rewarding to put that sticker on. Maybe I need to make one for my home! Heehee.

This challenge couldn't fall at a better time. It is October 14th - November 10th. We just got home from a 3 day week in Pullman and in 30 days we are going to Vegas {3 days after the challenge ends}! Now...if only my shoulder would cooperate!

I don't feel as prepared as I would like since we were out of town and my normal Sunday shopping & prepping didn't get done but Jason reminded me that all we have to do is eat whole foods and we will be okay. The world isn't going to end if we don't eat the exact recipies that are given to us. In fact, some we likely won't try. But some we will and that is okay. Even though it is a challenge we still have to make it work for us! The best part of this challenge is Jason has agreed to do the food portion with me. That makes it SO much easier and today he actually go me up and going and prepping for tomorrow nights dinner!

Tuesday's dinner getting ready on Monday!

 

It’s also worth a mention that you can download the new barre3 app for your phone FREE until tonight (10/15 until 11:59 p.m. ) After that the cost goes up to $4.99. It’s amazing and gives you access to tons of recipes, 10-minute workouts, an easy-to-organize grocery list and health tips of the day. {Line stolen from Katie who is a barre3 instructor in Columbus, OH}

 

Fingers crossed {we make it through the challenge}!!!

{30 thoughts} full of frustration

A few weeks ago I tweaked my shoulder at work. I can't go into any more detail than that but let's just say I am not happy about it. For a week I kind of ignored it and thought it would get better. Yes, I did go see my PT but I didn't go see my surgeon. I already had my 4 month appointment with him so I figured I'd just wait until then. That appointment happened 13 days after the injury.

not happy tears at my 4 month check up

My surgeon is pretty certain I didn't injure what I just had surgery on {labrum} but there is some question as to if I injured something else. Only time will tell. I now am back to two times per week PT and we are giving it a month and if it isn't getting we are going back in for an MRI. I doubt I will make it to a month without the MRI...but we will see. I NEED to know. Even if it feels kind of better in the next month I want an MRI.

At this moment in time frustration does not begin to cover my thought process. I do not know what I will do if I have to have another shoulder surgery. The first time I was rather blissful before the recovery but now I know exactly what it entails. OKAY...I cannot think that this. I must hope and envision and dream of a healed shoulder. I must do my exercises. I slacked off when I got hurt because I was just in a terrible mood. I must go to barre3 {with major modifications} because it is the best thing for my soul. Though, it is SO frustrating that before the incident I was doing full barre3 with absolutely no modifications. SIGH.

Regardless of what happens life will go on. Barre3 will be there, my husband will be supportive, and I will get through this obstacle.

Fingers crossed {that I do NOT need another surgery}!!!

{30 thoughts} I love my husband!

I guess it should go without saying that I love my husband...but I want to shout it from the rooftops! He truly is the best husband for me.

He is my biggest supporter, confidant, friend, and is one of the only people who can really get me to stop, listen & think {the other is my Mom...more on her later}!!!

What I am most proud of is how he has come along on this journey with me. He's lost 40 pounds himself!! He will get up at 4:30 AM (yes, in the morning) to go to the gym before work. I can't even get up at 5:30 AM to go to barre3 and I L.O.V.E. barre3. We were both very overweight, unhappy with ourselves, and our marriage was down {but most certainly not out}!

Jason is my complete opposite and my better half. For those of you who are lucky enough to know him, he is a man of few words. But when he does have something to say...you better listen. So, I did just that. Here's some questions I asked Jason while we were sitting around at home one evening.

Why do you like that I like barre3?
Because you are more happy than you've ever been since I've ever known you. When you have a bad day you go here and come out happy. And then you come home happy and I like that.

What changes or choices have you made that you are most proud of?
Just the overall choices of what I eat. Now when I go get lunch I rarely eat a burger and fries and instead I get a salad.

Our salads at Buffalo Wild Wings

What is one thing about me on this journey that has most surprised you that I've done?
Stick with it. Not that I thought you couldn't do it but you used to get so frustrated at everything and give up. You don't do that anymore.

Do you miss anything about our "old" lifestyle?
No. We're happier, healthier. No. What's there to miss. Do I miss fried food? No. I tried fried food a few weeks ago and it tasted terrible so now I don't miss it anymore.

Looking at the future - where do you think we are going?
Up. To the top of Mt St Helens next year - for a start.
{FOR A START...WHAT'S HE THINKING?!?!}

Anything else to add?
At first he said no then 5 minutes later he said...
We just keep inspiring people. People at my work talk to me about making good choices or going to the gym.

I definitely started crying during some of his answers. I just love how much happier we are and I love how much happier he is with me. Not just my body {but he isn't complaining about that, that I assure you} but me as a person.

I love my husband. Yes I do!

 

Fingers crossed {to a wonderful next 50+ years}...

{30 thoughts} why 30 thoughts?

I realized that I never directly shared why I am doing the 30 thoughts. I wanted to share 30 of my {sometimes very random} thoughts on my journey. I have learned a lot about food, myself, my relationships, and my body during these last 23.5 months - hopefully some of which someone finds helpful!

end of year picture ~ 2013

ps. No real reason this picture is here. I just like it.

So whether you found this blog though a friend, my Facebook, Jenny Hutt, Pinterest, or barre3....WELCOME!

I'd love it if you could take a minute to comment on a post you found inspiring...it's nice to get validation that my Mom isn't the only one reading this.

Fingers crossed {that my Mom is still reading this}...

{30 thoughts} food for thought...

Tomorrow morning we are heading back to Jason's alma mater and the place where we met, Washington State University.

2004 ~ our first picture together

As we were starting to plan our journey I came to the realization that everything I wanted to do revolved around food. The bean dip at Casa Lopez, ice cream & cheese at Ferdinan's, breadsticks at Sella's, beer at My Office & The Coug, and last {but the most important}, wine at Camas Prairie Winery.

And then as I started to think about where I wanted to go...I started to think about what I was going to eat. I know what the old me would eat...but should the new me eat that? Does the new me want to eat that? Will I feel deprived if I don't eat certain items I used to love? Will I feel cheated because we don't go back to Pullman often {this is the first time in 5 years we've been back}.

2008

Food is such an emotional item. It can remind us of good and bad times. Happy memories with fun people or memories we'd wish to forget. Looking back now it seems as though almost all of our memories are centered around food {and alcohol}!

Here is my plan. Friday go to Casa and have chips & bean dip {OMHell the bean dip is the best ever on the planet} and have the taco salad instead of the quesadilla. The quesadilla there isn't my "favorite" {that's at Chevy's} therefore I don't need to have it. Have one scoop of ice cream at Ferdinan's because it truly is the best ice cream ever {chocolate peanut butter}. I'm going to try to eat slowly, savor the flavors, and focus on the company we are with.

One of the best things about going back to Pullman is our friends. We are staying with a friend of mine who I met while teaching in Idaho and she is wonderful. I went to visit her last summer and even then she catered to my food needs. She called the other day to ask what I liked for breakfast! How amazing is that?!?! We are seeing Jason's old boss {who I used to babysit for} and she asked me what we could have for Friday night dessert! I feel so fortunate to have people who love me enough to ask what I need. How lucky am I?!?!

2008

I am so looking forward to a weekend away without my husband's work phone!! Since he is taking a vacation day tomorrow he gets to turn it off! WHOOP!

Here's to great friends, good food, and taking the time to enjoy them both.

Fingers crossed {for NO rain}!!!