Whoops

Hello my lovelies! Welcome to another Saturday edition of From King Size to Queen Size. Today has been a lazy day and boy was it much needed. The past week kicked my butt. I had to complete progress reports, get ready for an observation by my assistant principal not to mention fit in a doctor's appointment and a WW meeting in there somewhere. I usually like to keep my weekdays low key. Such is life.

I wound up with a pound weight gain from the week of Thanksgiving. I figured as much. I planned ahead for my three Thanksgiving dinners but there were a few surprises on the way. Since my aunt didn't make it down in time for Thanksgiving with my side of the family, I was able to visit my grandma instead. I hadn't initially planned on eating a pumpkin dessert, but one of my aunts brought a pumpkin roll over. I caved. It was okay though because I still had my weekly points.

Friday's Thanksgiving with my hubs' family went well. I planned it out and stuck to my plan. What got me was Friend's Thanksgiving that my hubs and I hosted last Saturday. There was lots of wine, stuffing and homemade pumpkin pie cheese cake. My hubs' friend said he was making a pumpkin pie from scratch and I had my doubts; but darn if that pie wasn't yummy!

I can live with a pound weight gain because I'm sure gained more than that last year. It's easier to lose a pound than five or seven. So I got back on track this week and it's going well. Also, I was able to get more activity in since I had kickball last night. My team finally won our first game! It rocked. I made a few plays myself on the kicking end of it. My body feels like a truck ran over it today, however. I really gave it my all last night.

I foresee the rest of the week being hard when I try to get activity in. I'm currently weening myself off Paxil (that's an antidepressant and yes, I have no shame in admitting that I was diagnosed as clinically depressed. No one is perfect and there is nothing wrong with depression). Just this evening I researched some withdrawal symptoms and I was blown away by the many support pages and information pertaining to Paxil withdrawal. Seems to be a nasty antidepressant to ween off of. My major symptom is dizziness. Hopefully I won't fall flat on my butt when I go for a walk or a jog.

It's tough getting healthy so you are ready to have a baby. I will be successful because I am motivated. If I can prevent my future children from any health issues, I will do everything in my power to do so and that means making it through this Paxil withdrawal.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their Saturday evening. I have to make room for our Christmas tree. We are getting it tomorrow and I am so flipping excited. Christmas tree smell is the best! I'll have to post pictures once it's decorated.

Five Is My Lucky Number

Hello my lovelies! Do any of you have a lucky number? I've always had a fascination with lucky numbers since I was a wee tot. Growing up my lucky number was 11. Everything had to be connected to the number 11. I remember that my very first softball jersey for the good ole Bagels on a Hill was number 11. And yes, my team's name was Bagels on a Hill. We sported awesome grape shade jerseys and matching hats. My parents were married in November, which is the eleventh month of the year. See a pattern going on here?

Then during our move to the Sunshine State whenever I looked at the clock in our beat up station wagon,  and actually noticed the time, it was always 5:11 a.m. or 5:11 p.m. From then on the numbers 5 and 11 became my lucky numbers. They have been in every part of my important life events or decisions. Call me crazy ,my hubs already does; but those numbers always meant success in my world. So when I started Weight Watchers again for the fifth time I knew my first week was going to be successful. I was ecstatic when the  scale read FIVE POUNDS less last Wednesday. That's right - I lost 5.4 lbs in one week. HIP HIP HOORAY!

That number has been the driving force for the past week. When I want to go over my points I think about those five pounds. I really wanted to go the lazy route last night, but I thought about those five pounds and made myself exercise. I never want to see those five pounds again. My motivation is back in full force.

I could kick myself in the butt. I knew Weight Watchers worked when I went to meetings. The first time I started resulted in great success. Why was I so stubborn for the past four years? I thought I was above it all. If I didn't need help from someone or something  and if I stayed in control all by myself, I believed I didn't have a food and weight problem. My thinking was wrong. Since I was so stubborn I gained 100 lbs in the span of four years. Pitiful. It's simply pitiful. Now I have to work twice as hard and I was putting something that I want so badly at risk - the chance to be a mother.

My doctor's voice rang loud and clear when he gently told me that my weight could be an issue with conceiving. I already knew this and decided to do something about it by joining Weight Watchers again, but to hear my doctor tell me was like a slap upside the head. So those five pounds are still sticking with me, but not on my body. They are my motivator, my lucky number in this weight loss game. Whenever I want that last bite or I 'd rather sit instead of walk I will think about the family I want and the number five. My lucky number won't be just about lucky anymore. It will mean so much more, like hard work and making a dream come true.

Maybe the Fifth Time's A Charm

Happy Saturday my lovelies. Today has been filled with the hollies and the jollies of Christmas and Twilight. I had one of those days where a girl has to acknowledge she's blessed. I had a lunch date with my bestie and then we had fun figuring out what Christmas decorations we wanted decking our halls this year. You'd think the fun would end then, but no. My hubs, as amazing as he is, wanted a dinner and a movie night. It was Chinese take-out and Breaking Dawn Part 1 for the two of us. He suggested it! I'm floored myself, ladies.

 Tomorrow we are going to see part 2. I. CAN'T. WAIT. Honest to goodness, the movies got better as they went along. I gave up all hope after the second movie. I didn't think they did the books justice. I take it back for Breaking Dawn.

So, I joined Weight Watchers again...for the fifth time. I'm feeling really good about this round though. My past success with Weight Watchers had to do with my motivation and I had motivation because I went to the meetings. My meeting leader was the best, the funniest, and the most encouraging lady I had met. I wanted to have a great weigh-in for me and for her because she really believed in me. Life got busy, meetings were impossible to go to and so I tried the online version. Three times. Unsuccessfully.

Suddenly a light bulb went off. I am no longer a college student. Now a days I am a professional. My job allows me to leave work by 3:15 p.m. Holy cow, I can go back to Weight Watchers meetings again! Well, that's just what I did. Wednesday was my first meeting and it felt like going home. My favorite meeting leader is still doing the 6 p.m. meetings and I am once again excited to get healthy. The past two days have been no problem! I can't wait for next Wednesday's meeting.

I'm going to keep tracking those points and keep getting that activity in. In just two days I've already earned 18 Fitness Points (more on tha tlater). Like last night at my kickball game. I kicked the ball, gone onto base AND even caught the ball when the other team kicked it.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I have the next week off for our Fall Break and I plan on enjoying every moment of it.

And Oh It Hurts

Hello lovelies. I'm going to try to not be Debbie Downer, but it's kind of difficult. This is a non-weight/health related topic, but I needed to write about it since this blog has become very therapeutic for me.

November 10th is quickly approaching and for those of you who know me well, this coming Saturday was my original wedding date. Since life never works out the way you want it to, my husband and I were married by the Justice of the Peace last December.

 It was thrilling to get married in the spur of the moment. I have never been one for spontaneity when it comes to big life decisions. My hubs and I were wracking our brains this time last year trying to figure out how we would pay for our wedding. The universe was working against us. Nothing was going the way it should have. Clearly seeing how distressed I was my husband suggested we get married without all the bells and whistles and just focus on us. Oh, and he thought we should get married that December. At that moment all that mattered to me was being married to my best friend. So on December 15, 2011 we became husband and wife.

While that moment will be forever one of my sweetest memories I still feel awful about not having the wedding I dreamed of. My wedding dress is still hanging in my grandmother's closet waiting to be worn. I won't lie. I cry when I think of all of the things I didn't get to experience. I didn't have a bridal shower. I didn't have a bachelorette party with my closest gal pals. I never had that first dance with my father.We didn't have a honeymoon. Thinking about it hurts. Pockets of sweet memories to made and kept that I had looked forward to since I was a little girl were just gone in a flash.

In four years my hubs and I plan on having a vow renewal to celebrate our five year wedding anniversary (this December we will be  celebrating our first anniversary). We will celebrate that special anniversary with our closest friends and family. Who knows, maybe a little me or a little hubs will join us on that day. I'll get to take my hubs' breath away when he sees me in my gorgeous dress. I'll get to grin like a simpering little girl seeing him all dressed up in a tux.

We will have that special day. Until then, it still hurts like a dull pain. It won't be the same thing as preparing for the actual day that you get married, but it will still be wonderful. I just hope I can make it happen and that planning the event doesn't fall apart at the seams like it did last year.

This Saturday will be a busy day to keep my mind off of what was supposed to be. I didn't think it would be this bad to face that day, but I was wrong. Hopefully some medieval merriment and friends are the cure.

Kickin' It

Good evening my lovelies. I hope ya'll are enjoying a great weekend. Mine has been delightful so far. It's been full of therapeutic house cleaning and a lunch and movie date with my hubs. We finally took the time out of our busy schedules to rent Sherlock Holmes 2. If you haven't seen it  go do that now. The movie was worth the wait. Gotta love that Robert Downey, Jr.

So I've been in a funk lately with watching my diet and work outs. I got sick last Saturday (ewe, I'll never wish a stomach virus on my worst enemy) and it put me out of commission. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things with a November fitness challenge. Three days of November have come and so far so good.

Guess who didn't have problem with Halloween candy this year? This girl! Instead of sitting around at home with a big bowl of candy for trick or treaters that never show, the hubs and I went to a book signing instead. One of my favorite authors, ever, the fantastical Karen Marie Moning, came to my area to meet and great her readers. Her newest book, Iced, was released October 30th and of course I had to meet her she could sign my copy of Iced. There was no candy involved and it was the best Halloween I have had in a long time.

It's two Karens! 

Ending a pretty great week (I also got my hair cut and colored. What girl doesn't love that?) I played my first kickball game with my fellow school pals. Our team name is the Kickin' Nuggets. Hilarious?  I think so. Personally, I love it; but I'm a nerd like that. To say I was nervous is an understatement. Up until last night I hadn't played kickball since my freshman year of high school.

 I've been programmed to believe that I stink at organized sports cheer leading is a sport!!. My father called me Missy No-Hit when I was growing up and used to play softball. My brother was the sports person. Not me. Imagine my surprise when I realized I was having fun! Every time I went to kick the ball, I did. Truly, I thought I was going to fall flat on my face! Oh and to run to the base was so much fun. I always loved sprinting. And to run without having a stitch in my side or to huff and puff? Priceless. I'm ready for the next game.

A new month and a new experience was all I needed to get back on the health train again. "Slimmer by December" is my motto. Now if I can figure out how to properly meal plan....

Have a great rest of the weekend lovelies. Hugs and love to you all. Mwah!

Feeling Right

Good afternoon my lovelies! It is such a beautiful Sunday here in Florida and I am hoping it is the same for ya'll too. I've got my windows open with tons of natural sunlight pouring in. I'll need it if I am going to power through getting report cards situated so I have minimum headaches tomorrow.

You are all now permitted to give me a virtual slap upside the head. It has been far too long since I've posted. When I go to bed at night I mentally "type" up all of the things I want to share with you but then it doesn't happen because I drift off to sleep. Anyway....

Wow I've been busy lately...with getting healthy! Right now I am jumping up and down like a little girl at a Justin Beiber concert. You see, I've been participating in this little thing called 30 Day Shred made by the one and only (and my new favorite person ever) Jillian Michaels. I'm only on day six of 30 and I'm seeing amazing results. Today I was able to put on a pair of jeans that I haven't worn in months because they were too snug. Heck yes!

This smile could not be found after any other workout. 

The benefits of working out pretty much everyday for about 20 minutes are priceless. I have a lot more energy, I avoided getting a cold because I worked out, and because I am seeing results; I have been really good with MFP. I've been watching EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth. Really, blown away is what I am.

Now silly me didn't get measurements before I started 30DS, but I am going to get them tonight. I know I've lost inches in only 6 days. Proof is in the pants and in my nightgown. Not as much belly bulge showing in my favorite nightie. Oh, and I'm down 3.5lbs.

Working out has been my saving grace lately. Work has been stressful, but I know that I can melt it all away with a good workout and a cup of coffee after. That, folks, is priceless. And because I've felt so good about myself I joined a kick ball team with some co-workers. Ya'll are probably screaming "What?!" at the computer screen and I don't blame you.  I can't wait to fill you in on those adventures.

Ta-ta my lovelies. Have fantastic fall day. Mwah!

Finally!

I have a weight loss announcement. My scale read 245.2 Friday morning. That's a whopping 1lb weight loss this week. HAPPY DANCE TIME. It has felt like forever since I've been able to say I've lost weight.

What did I do to make this happen? Had shakes for breakfast and a few for lunch. I'm having a hard time drinking them at school still. It's seeing all of that food around me. Also I was really, really hungry later on in the day. When I stay at school late I push back dinner time and then I eat everything in sight once I get home. I'll figure it out.

I also tracked everything I put in my mouth on My Fitness Pal. Love it! It's not working tonight though. I'm miffed. Tracking and sharing my tracking with others makes me feel empowered. If I share my food diary for the day I don't want to look like I'm Jabba the Hut.

One more thing led to my success- stairs. My new school has stairs and I am located on the second floor. I refuse to use the elevator (unless I am carrying something very heavy. Then I may decide to use it). I walk up and down the stairs at least 7 times. I'm getting a bit better. Not as winded anymore. It's amazing what a week will change.

And just because I'm nuts, I do believe I will start the Jillian Micheal 30 Day Shred. All my ladies on the awesome FB group I am part of are cheering me on.

Time to find my sleepy place. Last Sunday I didn't sleep at all and it ruined me for the rest of the week. People forget that lack of sleep with mess up your weight loss goals. It's not healthy either.

Sweet dreams my lovelies!