Put the damn fork down!

Wow!  Has it really been since January that I've posted a blog?!?  What can I say, I'm busy... With teaching at GMS and taking care of CSC and having a long-distance marriage and trying to sell a house and trying to find a job and trying to run my Premier business and everything else in between, the last thing I had time for was to update my blog.  Quite frankly, there wasn't anything to update.  In my head, I had only slacked off minimally with my paleo lifestyle, but the truth was beginning to stare me in the face as I was trying to button pants that were loose not too long ago.  Not to mention that my face has puffed up again, and those lovely back fat rolls have popped back up....gotta love those.  What the hell!  How did this happen? AGAIN!

Let's review:

I started doing paleo with Dr. Schafer and it worked really well.  It was tough at first, but after a while it became easier to do.  I was losing weight, but even better, I FELT better and looked better.  I honestly don't care what the scale says since I base everything off of how my clothes fit and how I look in the mirror.  Well, all it took was for my visits to run out and Christmas to come and off the wagon I fell again. (Why do I bother trying to get on a wagon when I keep falling off?)

I should have known something was up when people stopped complementing me on how great I looked, how much weight I'd lost, etc.  I also could have put the friggin' donut down, but there's no sense in dwelling in the past.  Oh wait, the past is hanging out in the form of FAT ON MY ASS!

It's funny because you always think that your good friends will tell you to put the damn fork down, right, but here's the deal.  They love you too much to hurt your feelings.  I thought about it by putting myself in my friends' shoes: I figured that they already assumed that I saw for myself what was happening and didn't need someone else reminding me by shoving it in my face.  I know that there's not a person on the planet who I'd say, "Hey there, think maybe you should put that fork down since your ass barely fits on the chair?" or perhaps "Do you honestly think you need that donut/piece of cake/extra slice of pizza/3rd trip to the buffet?" Granted, not many are as blunt as I am, but I'm sure you can think of a variation that is kinder, but still gets the meaning across.

So when did reality hit you, Aimee?

It happened over Easter weekend, actually.  I was at my parents' Delaware Mansion when I decided to step on my mom's scale.  I don't have one in my house and the Wii is in DC with TJ, so there went any source of weight gain knowledge I had.  Imagine my reaction when I stepped on the scale and saw I was almost the weight I was 2 WEEKS AFTER BIRTHING MY DAUGHTER!  What.The.Fuck.  I was expecting a gain, but not this.  I went to the living room and just sat on the couch staring into space in utter depression.  Of course, my mom came over and asked what was wrong, and the tears start rolling.  I didn't want to waste my youth being "the fat mom who let herself go".  What kind of a role model is that for my daughter?  My well-meaning mom said all the right/wrong things that kept me crying because I already knew them.  "You need to buckle down." "You have to really want it and commit to losing weight." "You've done it before, you can do it again."  It's not that I DON'T want to lose weight, or that I DON'T want to put forth any effort.  It's so damn frustrating when it seems like it takes not time at all to put on the weight and it takes FOREVER to take it off.  It's not very motivating when my effort yields little results.  This is the reason why I occasionally turn to the "lose weight quick" diets to jump start me.  When I see that I drop weight pretty well, it keeps me going to want to maintain it.

Since I'm a Pinterest addict (who isn't really), I try to look for all sorts of pins for my "Thinspiration" board, and I stumbled across one that gave me some great resources for starting over.  I know the paleo thing works, but I have to be honest, it'll work better when TJ and I are back under one roof doing it together.  When I have to try to cook something for just me and CSC, it usually boils down to me just feeding her something super simple, but I'm honestly not hungry enough to cook myself dinner.  I'll just have a bowl of cereal or something.  I decided to start using the FREE app "Lose it"

"Lose It" app

to start counting my calories.  It worked for the chick in the blog, and she lost the same amount I'm hoping to lose. (Right now I'm her "before" pic) I've been using it since the day before Easter, and I've lost 5 lbs. so far! I fully accept that it could very much be water weight, but I don't care. The bottom line is it's weight that isn't on my body anymore and there's more to come off. What I like about it is that you can scan the bar code of whatever food you are eating - whether or not it's name brand or store brand - and it'll tell you how many calories it is for the serving since.  Don't get me wrong, I still like WW tracking app, but unless it's a name brand, the scanner doesn't recognize the food.  I keep my WW subscription because they do have great resources, especially for recipes.

That's my update for now.  My next step is to start making exercise a routine, but first I need to make sure this new food tracking stays a routine.  I think it's 21 days before something becomes habit?  I may start adding exercise before then, but it's easy for me to say that considering I'm on my spring break this week.  Stay tuned!

Drunk Mom New Year's Eve 2012 - Part 1

It all started last year - the first year TJ and I didn't spend New Year's Eve together since we've known each other because he moved to DC. So I did what any normal girl would do...I called the BFF and asked her to come over for what would be an epic night that would forever after be known as Drunk Mom NewYear's Eve ©. This year, we did a little something extra besides the drink of the night (Pomosas - pomegranate juice and champagne), drinking game for MTV, and gorging on junk food.  We decided to film the evening AND watch Magic Mike while commentating! Now, we get more hilarious as the evening progresses and becomes full blown Drunk Mom New Year's Eve © - at least we thought we were funny and that's all that matters.  Being the cinematographer that I am, I have put together a series of videos chronicling our evening.  Hope you laugh, but if you don't, well, then I have nothing for you. ;)

*Disclaimer: if you are offended by cussing, some rude behavior, playing on societal stereotypes, and general frivolity, then this video is not for you.  Everything we do is all in fun and not meant to be offensive or hurtful in any way.  Also, none of our children were involved in the evening and were well taken care of as we are good mothers who just needed to blow off some mom steam.*

Enjoy!

Here we are doing our Magic Mike drinking game with commentary!

T.G.I.F.

Ok, so you're probably thinking to yourself, "Aimee, what is up with the title of this post?  Is the blonde dye for  your highlights going to your brain; it's not Friday, it's Sunday."  I'm fully aware of the date, and that is exactly why I'm posting what I am with the title that I did.  To most, "T.G.I.F." stands for "Thank God it's Friday".  For me, it stands for Thank God it's Fall.  Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite season is, I always have to think long and hard.  I automatically write off Summer as a no because I can't stand the heat that comes with that time of year.  If it wasn't for the time off of school, I could do without Summer.  Yes, I like going to the beach and the pool when they are available, but if Summer was gone forever, I wouldn't cry.  I adore Winter, but when the weather gets to the point where everything is frozen and it takes 30 minutes to defrost your car, I'm over it.  But ask any teacher and he/she will tell you that with Winter comes the opportunity for snow days, and NO ONE looks forward to snow days more than teachers.  Sorry, kiddos, but it's a fact!

So, that brings us to Spring and Fall - both of which I really enjoy.  That first change in the weather from what you've been used to.  Those first few days when wearing jeans and a short sleeved t-shirt is the perfect outfit.  How you can have the windows down in your car, and it's not too hot or too cold.  After thinking about it, I remembered how every Spring, my allergies come back with a vengeance and that sucks - ask anyone who would cut a bitch for a Claritin.  And that leaves me with Fall.  I LOVE Fall.  I love how the air becomes more crisp.  I love the smell in the air that comes from people lighting fires at night.  I love all that comes with it, and I thought I'd break it down.  In no particular order:

1) Football Season!
Now there might be some fellow wives/moms who are thinking I'm a traitor to our group, but hear me out.  For those of you who have never sat down and truly watched a game of football, learned the rules, understood how the game works, you are missing out!  There was a time when I could not have cared less about football.  There was a time, before the Pro Bowl came before the Superbowl when my birthday would occasionally fall on my birthday and I was completely forgotten about.  And if you know me and how much of a Diva I am, that attitude did NOT fly.  I would go to Superbowl parties in college and decide which team I was going to cheer for based on their mascot, or what color their uniforms were, or where they were from.  It was never a choice based on loyalty.  After college, I would watch games from time to time and go with whatever team the guy I was dating supported.  Now, my dad is a die hard Chicago Bears fan.  That team was always on my radar, but since I wasn't into football yet, I didn't give it much thought until about 6 or so years ago.  The Bears were getting ready to play the Colts in the Superbowl and my attention was grabbed.  I pulled out my Urlacher jersey from the closet and went with TJ to the local Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the game.  From that point, I was hooked.  I actually spent the time to watch the game and learn aspects about it I didn't realize.  Now, I look forward to Sunday afternoons and am teaching Catherine the importance of loving the Chicago Bears and the game of football from an early age.

2) Fall festivals and activities
There is nothing like a good Fall festival.  Games, food, good times with great people.  When I was growing up, we had the Denville Harvest Festival.  It was awesome!  There were tons of rides and games, great food, and something everyone looked forward to every year.  And let's not forget the super fun activities reserved only for the Fall season: pumpkin picking, Oktoberfest, trick-or-treating, Halloween costumes, drinking hot apple cider, hayrides, chilling around a fire pit with great friends and family, sleeping with the windows open and needed that one extra blanket. - Think the opening of Sex and the City - "I heart NY" episode

3) Sweaters, jeans, and Uggs
I used to HATE Uggs because I thought they were ugly.  But then I drank the Kool-aid and fell in love.  I love when I can check the weather and see it's going to be a little chilly that day.  Not cold enough to bust out the winter coat, but just enough to dress in layers and know that slipping into those comfortable Uggs will be nice and cozy and perfect.

4) New episodes of my favorite TV shows

Not that I have a ton of time to watch TV.  I usually just let my DVR record the episodes and when Catherine goes to bed on a Friday or Saturday night, I'll catch up on what I missed.  My heart is broken that there will be no House this season, but I'm psyched about Parenthood and the new NBC and Fox shows that are coming.  

5) That Fall smell in the air

I don't know what it is, but there is a distinct, familiar, crisp smell that comes into the air as soon as the calendar indicates Summer has turned into Fall.  It's the smell of bonfires at night, cooler temperatures, falling leaves.  That smell can bring a smile to my face every time.

6) Pumpkin Picking
It's the best when you find that perfect pumpkin sitting in the patch.  The perfect size for carving or decorating.  It's also interesting to see what other people consider to be the perfect pumpkin.  Thanks to Pinterest, this year I'm hoping to have a super cute pumpkin display for my porch.

7) Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

'Nuff said.

On a weight loss/heath note...I'm still doing Paleo and feeling better overall.  I'm doing a pants size and a half, and I notice that, even without any sort of regular exercise, I'm trimming down in areas I didn't think possible without major exercise.  It also feels good knowing that I'm eating more natural foods, staying away from sugars (which new research is showing a link to many preventable diseases, not just diabetes), and not eating as much chemically processed food.