Battle of the Baby Bulge - Checking In

I had major minor set back at the beach a couple of weeks ago. Ice Cream and Cocktails (see link) daily. Way too much fun!! But now I'm back to business. 

I'm in a good place now.  Instead of arm wrestling with the cupcakes and rocky road, I'm preparing healthy foods ahead of time so that I'm not scrounging and eating whatever is around to satisfy my hunger. I have a cookie every now and again, but I've convinced myself that I dont need FIVE.

Oh and Zone Boot Camp. I've been kicking butt on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (weather permitting) at 5:45 AM with some AWESOME and ENCOURAGING folks! Building stamina, and strength, and patience. Its an awesome start to the day (me time before anyone else is even awake!!). Makes me feel like I've already kicked the days patooty (Bring It!) and the rest will be a piece of cake.  The trainers are AMAZING. I missed today because of the monsoon yesterday. They are hard core and I wasn't up for rolling around in the mud early this morning. I took the kids out for a jog with the double stroller in lieu of. Looking forward to hitting it hard on Monday.

In the mean time:

What things are looking like over here:

Breakfast: A banana, turkey sausage, coffee, water....
Snack: Half of an avocado on wheat toast (a dash of sea salt). SO DOG GONE YUMMY!
Lunch: Tuna on Romaine or just tuna salad with light mayo, onion, fresh herbs and hard boiled egg.
Snack: Berry Smoothie (see link for recipe)
Dinner: Roasted chicken, cabbage, and sweet potatoes

Starting Weight: 143 (see link)
Current Weight: 132

The narcissist in me really wants to be in the low 120's but I'd be satisfied with 125.  I'm only 5'2 (and three fourths!) so that would make me happy. Is this too much information? Just trying to keep it real.

Only Crazy People Pose For Pics Like This?

(Cover Up: Ann Mashburn, Sunglasses: Target)

Whatcha got up for the weekend? Any tips for keeping it tight?

xx,
Bunnie

p.s. the husband found out he inadvertently loss 15 pounds (with out even noticing or trying). i could scratch him:-)

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Not the skinny friend anymore {Battle of the Baby Bulge}...

I used to be the skinny friend. How about you?

I think I just ate 67 points worth of Weight Watchers points... A Gnocchi with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and a Creamy Tomato Sauce I made for Sunday dinner was the culprit. Gah!! I have one month until I am to be wearing a swimsuit on the beach and I would really like to not look like I need to be shooting water out of the top of my bun (I know a bit extreme). I was just looking through some of our spring break photos (I'm working on sharing the presentable ones) and I look a hot, frumpy mess:-( My posture  is awful (I'm sure carrying an extra 22 1/2 pounds strapped to my chest doesnt help). And This Santa Clause belly is really starting to get on my nerves. H took a lot of pictures from behind.. And lets just say Bootyliscious is not the word I'd use to describe what i saw:-/ Its a good thing I lost those 5 initial pounds or I'd only have about 3 things I could fit into..

Okay.. I'll stop beating myself up now.

My New Plan: (I think this is plan #3).  In my defense, everything doesnt work for everyone, right? You have to find a plan that works for your specific needs and lifestyle. Okay so, plenty of water (which I've been doing an awful job at over the last couple of weeks), healthy diet, and exercise.. I KNOW!


30 Day Countdown until Beach or Bust. And then I will eat all the ice cream I want.

Battle of the {Baby} Bulge - Chocolate Peanuts

 good smile. bad angle. 

much better angle. a dash of color for spring. 

its still a little cool down here although today was nice and sunny...

Checking in.

I have a confession. I've been hiding. I'm hungry and I'm cheating and its not working.  In my little journey to not be the chubby mom on the beach (or at the pool) this summer, I think I got a little ahead of myself with my little 5 pounds from a few weeks ago. Its been a struggle just to maintain. I gained a pound and a half. then loss two. Then gained a half pound. ARRGGH!! Madness. 

We try to do a date night at least every other week. And H decided we should go back to Float Away Cafe. Where he proceeded to order some cheese cake, orange gelato, raspberry gorgeousness. And I ate it like someone was going to take it away if I even stopped to chew.... Gah!! It was all down hill after that.

So yes, I walked into the bathroom in the Barnes and Nobles yesterday and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror from behind and almost passed out. Whose back side was this?! My jeans were falling down... Not because they were too big, but because I couldnt pull them all the way up:-(

Extreme situations cause for extreme measures (Well not THAT extreme.). 

I joined Weight Watchers!! I saw a mom on the playground yesterday whose son is a couple of months younger than little h. And I asked her why her legs were looking so slim these days.. 

Weight Watchers. 

I mean really, If Jennifer Hudson and Jessica Simpson can do it!!  

So this  week went something like this:

Breakfast turkey sausage or a cup of Cascadian Farms Hearty Morning Fiber Cereal with half water/half whole milk. Or a couple of spoonfuls of the munchkins oatmeal
Lunch: smoothies or a salad or turkey burger without the bun or cereal.
Dinner: Chicken, baked sweet potato.

I made it all up..

My cheats: Too many to name. Lets just say, I have chocolate peanuts in the fridge and they call out to me in the middle of the night...

And the Results:
Height: 5' 2 3/4" (yes I said and three fourths!!)
Weight Last Weigh In: 138 - holding on for dear life!
Current Weight: 138
New BMI: 24.4
Pounds Lost: ZILCH

I'm going o have to sprinkle in some cardio to combat my cheats (or stop cheating!!) In my defense i wasnt feeling well last week  so cut me some slack I needed a little comforting..

Back at it! Wish me luck!

xx,
Bunnie

Easy {Flavorful} Sautéed Kale - Bunnie's Recipe Box

The munchkin agreed this was very lovely, but she much preferred a fruit salad. I obliged her. But for the rest of us, this (plus roasted chicken and sweet potatoes) was SUPER YUM.

Kale is all the rage now. In salads, smoothies.. I think some people are even smearing it on their faces?!  If you are trying to get it into your diet regularly, or give it a try for the first time, this is quick and easy, and super flavorful.

Some people like to remove the stems, but I prefer them.

Add this one to your 30 mins or less recipe file.

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds young kale, stems and leaves coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 cup vegetable stock or water
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Handful of diced roma tomatoes

Directions
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft, but not colored. Raise heat to high, add the stock and kale and toss to combine. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove cover toss in diced tomatoes and continue to cook, stirring until all the liquid has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add vinegar.

Any quick, easy, and flavorful side dishes you can share?

xx,
Bunnie

Battle of the Baby Bulge {Hello March}

Hello March!

Although it is SUPER COLD outside (around 40 degrees) here in Atlanta this weekend, I'm inside with a little space heater on my toesies (out of wood), day dreaming about this little lovely. This darling Marc and Camilla print is a bit pricey but it may be just the reward I need to continue to motivate me in this battle to shed some of this extra leftover (chub) from little h.  I can totally see myself lounging on the beaches of South Walton with the kiddies on a blanket in the sand and me rocking this Hilo Maillot swimsuit with these and this.

I made progress this week! So I'm feeling extra encouraged and motivated.

I started every day with a cup of warm lemon water instead of my regular Tazo Organic Chai Latte (with whole milk and honey). It did not make me happy. People will tell you that its a nice relaxing little thing - the lemon water. I tried just pretending it was my creamy steamy latte.

So the week went something like this:

Breakfast: Eggs (either scrambled or hard boiled) and turkey sausage or a cup of Cascadian Farms Hearty Morning Fiber Cereal with half water/half whole milk.
Lunch: Leftover white bean and turkey chili (recipe: here) or Kashi Thin Crust Mushroom and Spinach Pizza.
Dinner: Creative salads (recipes: try this or this)  with roasted chicken or cereal.

My cheats: Two swigs of root beer and home made popcorn (blame Season 2 of Game of Thrones.) Oh and 3 Oreos I stuffed in my mouth like Cookie Monster one morning while making the munchkins lunch (don't judge me) for preschool.

And the Results:
Height: 5' 2 3/4"
Weight Last Weigh In: 143
Current Weight: 138
New BMI: 24.4
Pounds Lost: 5 pounds!!


I rewarded myself with a glass of red wine with a pal at our monthly First Friday Night Meet Up.

Goal for next week: 2 pounds

That 5 pounds is a really big motivator not to turn back. I'll be honest I was pretty starving a lot of times. I snacked on apple slices and sunbutter or hummus and carrots instead of cookies or something sweet and salty and my body was really craving it and angry at me for pulling the switcheroo.  I think the weight loss was a direct result of me cutting out alot of the bad sugar I was consuming on a daily basis. 

Okay this little person is yelling at me, so I have to run, but see where I started here.

And feel free to join in and share your story. I'd love to swap stories and keep each other motivated.
I hope you have a great rest of your weekend.

xx,
Bunnie