Post-Pregnancy Transformation

Note: I write this post with complete honesty, hoping it will help someone on their road to be healthier and happier. If you have any questions for me, or would like to start eating healthy, or exercising, don't hesitate to ask! I am here to help! 

I have always struggled with weight. I'm a living example of a weight loss/weight gain roller coaster. This whole journey started when I was a young adolescent and apparently "overweight." I didn't think it at the time, but I look back on pictures and have to laugh. I was overweight.

One day when I was in my early teens (8th grade), my mom and I were pulling into the Harmon's parking lot and she broke the news to me that she wanted me to go to a doctor. Not just any doctor though, a weight loss and nutrition specialist. I was so mad, hurt and angry all at the same time. My kind, loving and "fit" mom wanted ME to go see a doctor to LOSE WEIGHT. Of course as any woman then assumes about themselves is that they are fat, overweight, and not good enough. She explained to me that it wasn't just to lose weight, she was worried about my overall health.

I can't remember how she got me there, but before I knew it I was in Dr. Coleen Andruss's office on Mall Drive.

Fast forward 3ish years and 70lbs later. Yes, it took me 2 years to lose 70 lbs. But I looked great and felt great! My Junior year of high school was when I was definitely at my prime. I was running Cross Country at Pine View High school, along with swimming on the swim team. I almost wish I would have ran XC my senior year, because I was in such great shape. 

This takes me to my first year of college. Boy oh boy. I gained a lot of weight. I don't know exactly how much, but it was enough to completely be uncomfortable with myself.

My second year of college, wow I was thin, working out like crazy and eating strict paleo.

Notice the trend here? Michael and I started dating in between my 3rd and 4th semester and BYU-Idaho, at this point I was skinny. Then the stresses of planning a wedding and our whole future took over and that's when I started to gain weight again.

My first year of marriage I started to care less and less about myself. Michael liked me the way I was so I didn't really try. 9 months into being married I got pregnant. In my head I thought "this is a perfect time to REALLY stop caring and eat what I want." So I did just that. I gained a whopping 50lbs while I was pregnant.

I didn't think I was that big while I was pregnant. I didn't feel big. Well I felt pregnant big, but not fat big. Very deceiving.

Once I lost all the pregnancy weight, I still had 20lbs to lose before I got to my "pre-pregnancy" weight. So the end of the summer, I decided to start working out and eating healthy. I bought the Beachbody T25 workout DVD's because they were VERY convenient to have especially after Michael moved, and with a new baby. 25 minute workouts while Addi was sleeping was very do-able. Plus they are butt-kickers. Not just your average 25 minute home workout.

Here I am today, 3 months after starting T25 workouts (6 months post-pregnancy), going to the gym every day, and eating lean meat, fruits, veggies and nuts. 25lbs lighter, (5 lbs lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight), I've lost 3 inches in my hips and 5 inches on my waist, and I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER.

I honestly hope I can keep up this trend of losing weight, and then stay there. I've got about 20lbs more to go til I'm at my ideal weight, and I know the last of the lbs you want to lose are always the toughest, but I am staying strong and continuing to do what makes me feel better, happier and obviously look better.

September 2014 - Family Photos

Alyssa Ence took our family pictures that we surprised my grandma with for her birthday. We haven't taken them since Ellsie was a baby, so close to 8 years. Although Addi didn't take a nap the whole day of pictures, she was still awake and actually looked at the camera. We didn't get any of her smiling though, silly little girl!

A Crazy, Beautiful Life

After Addi was born, life seemed to get extra crazy. Not only because we had a new baby, but because Michael was finishing his Masters program at the University of Utah, and in the process of finding a job to start his career in Special Education.

The week after Addi was born, while I was recovering from gallbladder surgery, Michael had a job interview for a teaching position at Pahranagat Valley High School in Alamo, Nevada. Luckily, they were able to do it all over the phone so he didn't have to leave me as I helplessly laid in the hospital bed. It obviously went well, because a few days after he was offered the job and accepted it.

Now the real fun began, we were trying to qualify for a home loan all while Michael was jobless, and in the middle of his Masters program. He finished his Master's program the end of the summer and moved to Alamo, Nevada to start off the school year while Addi and I stayed in St. George. He was able to live with his parents until we were able to find a place of our own.

We immediately found a house that we loved and had our eyes on. (Note: there really is no housing market in Alamo since the population is about 1,000 so we got really lucky finding such a nice house at the perfect time.) The problem was, we had good credit, but not much credit history so it took a long time to get a loan to go through. The first one got denied, and we were kind of sad and mad about it because according to our loan officer we were "qualified" for it. Our loan finally went through and we were able to close on our house on October 7th, one month ago today.

With the help of Michael and his parents, we were able to get the house ready to move in by painting Addi's pepto-bismal pink room, as well as getting new carpet. We moved in the following Monday and have loved the house so far! It is nice to have a place that is ours, that feels like home. I do miss St. George, and I will visit often, but this is my home now.

We are so grateful and blessed to own a home in a great place, with wonderful people and a wonderful ward! We've already got a calling as 17-18 year old Sunday School teachers and the first week was great! Michael is around these youth on a daily basis as a teacher and a coach.

Here are a few pictures of our new home! :)

Addi's Newborn Pictures (taken 5.30.14)

Why we waited so long to take her newborn pictures I don't know..the day of her newborns she was exactly a month old and would not go to sleep the whole time. She was asleep for maybe 30 minutes of the 4 hour shoot. I felt so bad for the photographers but they did an AMAZING job given the circumstances. Here are a few of my absolute favorites! The rest are on Facebook. ENJOY!