Summer Health Challenge

I started a summer health challenge. It will last around 10 weeks. I'd love you to join! 

I recorded a podcast about it!

•  Listen to this episode here 

10-week Challenge:

• Weigh/track/measure foods
• Stop eating after dinner
• Complete 50 workouts *
• Sleep at least 7 hours a night *
• Drink at least 40 oz water + electrolytes *

* Adapt these to your level of fitness, current needs 
Start: 5/20 
End: 7/29 

Freebies:

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My Vegan/Vegetarian Starter Kit

Every now and then I eat like a vegetarian/vegan for 3 weeks. Sometimes it’s due to a Biblical Fast (Daniel Fast), sometimes the reason is to improve my vegetable intake. When I need a veggie makeover, I often go to my Vegan Vegetarian Starter Kit to know what to eat. The items in this Kit allow me to eat well and not dread the whole experience. Here are my items:

Rice

Beans

Almond Milk

Oatmeal

Bananas

Sweet Potatoes

Kale

Bell peppers

Broccoli Slaw

Salad

Potato sticks

Coconut Milk

Garlic

Onions

Olive Oil

Fruits

Dried fruits

Nuts

Green juice

Peanut Butter

Chia Seeds

Tofu

Cauliflower

My goal is not to complicate my family meals. If I make meat for everyone, I simply add items from this list as side dishes. So a Dinner would look like this:

Meat

Rice

Beans

Sweet Potatoes

Kale

Broccoli slaw Salad

Our go to Breakfast is always:

Oats

Bananas

Almond Milk

Chia Seeds

Peanut Butter

For Lunch I often eat leftovers.

I realize that I shouldn't reinvent the wheel so I use items from this list to increase our vegetable intake.

This time around I bought a few new items so I will be trying new recipes. I bought Tahini and changed the way I make Hummus. I bought avocado oil and red curry paste as well. I'm eager to try these new things!

I’m going to try not to bake a lot because every time I bake I go pastry crazy (as in, I eat everything almost immediately). I have learned to give away most baked goods but still, I’m trying to cut down on baking just so I won’t overeat. I bought Almond flour for the first time and I baked Pumpkin Chocolate Paleo Muffins with it. It was decadent! I mostly try to stick with fruits and nuts for Dessert and the occasional dark chocolate.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you found some inspiration to increase your vegetable/grain/fruit intake! Be healthy, one meal at a time my friend!

Recipe: Vegan Banana Muffin

Previously Vegan: Vegan for 23 days

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100 days of Food Journaling

The decisions I make today can and will influence the person I will be in 100 days. This week I launched a personal challenge to journal my food for 100 days. I followed the guideline that usually works for me:

1. have a goal - I wrote down measurable and specific goals for these 100 days.
2. share it with people - for accountability's sake I need to let someone know. I told my husband and now I am telling you.
3. do the goal - unless I do what I set out to do, this project will be a dream.
4. measure your progress - I am after progress and improvement. I can't manage what I won't measure.
5. treat your faithfulness - I need to make a list of healthy, non-food treats. I heard a podcast yesterday challenging me not to reward myself for doing what I'm supposed to do but to introduce regular treats to my plan. A great treat for me, in this season of life, would be 30 minutes of uninterrupted reading. It's great, it is refreshing and I think it will actually help me reach my goal. These are the types of 'treats' I need to include in my weekly schedule. Another good one would be an extra 30 minutes to exercise.
6. encourage someone else - I am sharing my journey with my Facebook Health Support Group. If you want to join the group and share your own journey, leave me a comment so I can add you. I started the group because I noticed several friends who are by themselves in their health journey and I thought we could encourage each other. I launched a 12-week health challenge earlier this year and now I'm launching the 100-day challenge. Join us for extra support and encouragement!
7. readjust approach as needed - notice I said readjust the 'approach' not the 'goal.' I find that sometimes, readjusting my approach to my goals really help. Taking a new class and changing up my vegetable selection a bit really helps me reach my goal in a more exciting way. Eating the same foods for 100 days is just not my idea of fun.

One of my most popular posts here on the blog is the Food Journal How To. Read it if you want a couple of tips on how to successfully start a Food Journal. Whether you write it in paper or go high tech, journaling your food will really help you be in control of the person you will be 100 days from now.

* Check out my new Running Page for post of all my races thus far.
Previously in this Series:
• Day 11: Change Begins in the Kitchen 

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HOPE: Health Support Group

There is hope for every person who wants to improve their health. Today I want to tell you about my latest project, a private (for now), Health Support Group. HOPE stands for "Her Oasis Paradigm Everyday." This is an accountability group for women who want to better manage their weight, increase their fitness and manage their stress. 

We will meet once a month for conversation on Google Hangouts. I'll provide the group with a topic for the week as well as an Action Item. It is the goal of this group to bring an oasis (fertility) to an area of life where success and failure cohabit. I purposely invited people who are succeeding in their journey of health and who also can use the support of friends to continue to achieve their goals. 

There are no formulas, requirements or products sold. We are all unique so it's wise to do what's best for us. The only thing I will ask is that we  think outside of the box so that we can to improve our journey.

• Are you in your journey of health by yourself? What would make your journey more successful?

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5 Things you Can't see in this Before and After Photo

1 • Jesus has been the foundation of my transformation. It all started when my mind was transformed (Romans 12:2) and I was able to see what the will of God was for my life. 7 years ago my health was suffering and I made the choice of involving God in my journey.

2 • I read the book "You are not what you Weigh" by Lisa Bevere. This book really helped me transform my mind when it came to my health journey. Other than the Bible, I can say Lisa's book was highly influential in my health change. I highly recommend it.

3 • I can't give credit to one method. People think that I lost weight because of running but that couldn't be farther from the truth. I have tried different methods that help me find balance in nutrition and exercise. I haven't really 'dieted' in these past years and it has been revolutionary. To know that God, who created me, holds the key to my health has been the reason why I don't need to diet any more. I prayed and God told me what to do in order to remain healthy and that has been a blessing. I believe that God can do the same thing for you if you ask for His guidance.

4 • I was blessed with 3 wonderful children. Pastor Karen Morgan from N.C. helped me so much when she told me that in the life cycle women, our weight goes up and down. Pregnancy is one of those times when the weight goes up. Because God changed my mindset, it was easier to get back to a healthy weight after each pregnancy. I can also say that each time my weight went up it was a learning opportunity.

5 • I have a loving husband who is my greatest supporter and encourager. Zeke has been there for me and I am so thankful. He didn't have to motivate me daily or make me do what it took to be healthy. He was simply a constant source of courage, joy and affirmation. I appreciate him for listening to all the new things I learned. I am aware that he is the primary beneficiary from my change. I thank God for Zeke and I thankful that he has been blessed in his own health journey. 

I love to encourage others to seek God and find the ultimate solution for their health. God is a very present help and I am a witness that He will lead you and guide you in the way you should go. I hope that you go to God today and ask Him for His guidance. Do leave me a comment and let me know how this will work for you. Have an abundantly blessed day!

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When NOT to start your health change

You read it right: there are times when you should not start trying to eat better and exercise. Why? The probability that you will fail is very high. Here are a few examples of such times and seasons in life: 

New baby goodness in 2009

• Major Family Changes - having a baby changes everything. When they first come home the adaptation to a new bundle of joy as well as the recovery from giving birth takes up all of your time. Putting yourself on a strict diet or exercise regimen during that time will only make you miserable. Waiting until the fog lifts is wise. Try to start taking baby steps when things are more stable as far as your schedule. I heard friends of mine who adopted their kids say that they too go through a stressful period. Once things get settled get started on your health changes, one baby step at the time.  

Got Deadline?

• Extreme Stress - the deadline for that work project is near and you are nowhere close to the end. You are putting extra effort into something that is causing you extreme stress. Instead of adding more stress into your plate in the form of a new exercise program, wait until you finished your work project. The hope is the next time you are under a tremendous amount of stress, you will be able to lessen it by exercising. There is no point in being sore and stressed at the same time. Take small steps when your work flow is back to normal. The key here is to finish that big project and then start taking small steps towards your health change. 

Grief is strange

• Grief - grief is such a strange, strange land. It comes in different ways to different people. I learned that trying to start a new lifestyle change when I'm grieving is a recipe for failure. I have heard people say that they enjoy eating and grieving for a while but then they get back to better eating and exercise. Once that first shock wave passes, try to slowly start taking better care of your health. I understand not everyone enjoys eating while they grieve. If you are not given to eating while grieving, try to slowly get back to healthy eating after a while. Always seek your doctors for advice on how to better take care of your body. 

• Sickness - Being sick sucks. I don't know about you but I feel yucky and my mind immediately decides to jump into some kind of health change so that I can recover quickly. The issue for me is not the healthy eating but the strictness of the program I may be trying to follow. The extra stress will not help me recover from sickness. A couple of weeks before the Houston Marathon I got sick and I decided to take it easy for a couple of days. My doctor gave me some meds and told me not to run outside for a couple of days. I told myself not to try to be so strict with my eating and after I got better I was able to resume my health change. When you are sick, you need to focus on recovering, not breaking records. 

I heart to travel!

• Travel - I've learned that when I travel it is challenging to start (or maintain) my health change. It can be challenging to get out and exercise as usual because I may not be familiar with that certain location. I hate it but not every hotel has a treadmill and you may be so tired you can't fit one more thing in our schedule. Travel is the best season to try out new things such as new exciting foods. We tend to give ourselves more of a food allowance when we travel. Following a strict health change can be tricky when you travel. Make a deal with yourself to enjoy new foods while taking steps towards feeling great while you travel. A smart way to feel great is to make sure you drink plenty water daily. 

There's a time and a season for everything. If life isn't stable it might not be the time to start a major life change. Do remember that stability will come and you will be able to successfully start your journey to better health.

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Chicago Marathon Training Podcast Week 1

Today I want to share my first of many Podcasts about marathon training. I hope you enjoy it!

So glad we made it through our hot run!

In this Podcast you will hear:
• my "heat" epiphany;
• how I prepared off season to train for my Fall marathon (Chicago);
• my plan for training out of town;
• how to be Consistent about your fitness;
If you can't see the player, listen to the Podcast here
 QUESTION: How did you learn how to be consistent in  your fitness journey?
Other Posts in this Series:
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7
• Week 8
• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11

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Marathon Success: Week 22

It's hard to put last week's training in one word. My beloved maternal grandmother went to heaven, I thought I was being followed by a ninja during my short run (it was my Asian neighbor practicing martial arts) and I had a winning long run with my running group on Saturday.

My biggest challenge was to track all my food intake so that I could get back on the weight loss track. Thank God I was able to lose 2.8 lbs so I'm back on track to reach my goal of a normal BMI.

I was looking at some pictures of myself and decided to make a comparison:

If I can do it, so can you. Keep working my friend, we'll get there!

The first thing I noticed is that I really don't go to the gym to look fashionable (or to match). All jokes aside, it seems that sticking to my goal has worked. As I stay committed to my health journey I will continue to see changes from the inside out. Back to training:

• Warm Up Series - I haven't been able to be part of the Houston Marathon Warm up Series yet but before the series is over I have faith that I will be able to compete. Next week several people in my running group are competing in the 25K but those who don't, usually meet for runs. I'm planning on running with my friends and adding one extra mile to the 15.

•  New Shoes - I was blessed with new running shoes so I'm starting to break them in this week. My 'old' shoes are great but the update feels even nicer.

• Grieving - The loss of both my grandmothers have been very difficult but I am also feeling comforted. Running takes some edge of the stress of grieving but at the same time it can be overwhelming. Last Saturday as I was finishing the 13-miler I was thinking about my grandma and talking about her. I never had asthma but if felt like my breathing was turning quite asthmatic. I took some deep breaths and started thinking about something else (such as paying attention to traffic!) so my breathing went back to normal. Right there I learned that the whole 'dedicate each mile to a person you love' thing is NOT for me. I much rather think about the bagel and the americano I'm gonna eat the end of the run. Big smile!!!

• I'm in the build up phase of marathon training and there's no turning back. It seems that my biggest decision right now is: "what will I eat when I cross the finish line" because training is non-negotiable. 

Have an amazing week and continue to pray for my family and I friends. 

Previously in this Series:
• Week 21
• Weeks 14-20
• Weeks 1-10
• Marathon Training Basics (Video)

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Honey Stinger Products Review

Honey Stringer Products

I'm always looking for great products and I think *I found something really good I want to share with you! Honey Singer makes great energy and protein bars, waffles, gels and chews that are all-natural. Last week I tried four of their products and here's what I really thought of them: 

Organic Waffles - I'm gonna be honest: I didn't have a lot of faith in these waffles until I ate them.  The lemon waffles are delicious! They are super moist, they are organic and they are a great snack if you're on the go. I had them as a snack during MomCon and they gave me some immediate energy to keep up with the busy schedule ahead of me. 

Organic Energy Chews - I took the Honey Stringer Organic Chews on two training runs and they worked great for me. I like their size: not to big, not too small. I like the taste but more importantly: there was no significant after taste! I blame it on the fact that these products are organic and I actually recognize the natural ingredients. 

Protein Bars - I love chocolate and I love cherries. More importantly, I love to be able to have a good source of protein available in the middle of the day when my energy is low and my kids' is very high. I purposely used the 10 grams of protein in these bars in a challenging part of my day to see if I got what it took to finish my day strong. It did help me a lot. I also ate a bar on the way to the airport because I had no time for breakfast. The 10 grams of protein in this bar gave me fantastic energy and they also passed the taste test. 

Energy Bars - I enjoy the fact that I know a lot of the ingredients that went into the Blueberry Buzz energy bar. They taste amazing because of the light and crisp texture supported by the yogurt coated bottom. I honestly could have these daily! They are that delicious. 

This protein bar saved my afternoon!

Whether you are an athlete or if your kids are the only ones giving you a run for your money, I highly recommend Honey Stringer products. Everyone needs energy, no matter how active they are. These products have great quality in nutrition and taste exquisitely good.

• To connect with with Honey Stringer online and for more information, please Like their Facebook Page, Follow them on Twitter and go to their Website to find out where you can buy their products.

* Thanks Honey Stringer for sending me your products for review. You have a lifelong customer now!

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Simplify your Health

There are 9 weeks until Christmas! Get a health plan of action and reap the benefits of feeling great during the holidays. 

Next week: Simplify your Decorations!

Previously in this Series:
• Simplify Family Gatherings
• Simplify your Budget
• Simplify Christmas Intro

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Marathon Success Week 5

The desire to win is important but the determination to prepare to win is fundamental. I am realizing more and more that a marathon is not ran in one day, it takes months to prepare and this week is as important as any week. 

I decided to add a little excitement to my routine by running with a friend. It was so awesome, we're doing it again next week. We ran a little under 6 miles in her neighborhood which is a runner's mecca. I was also excited about starting much earlier than I normally do. Running with friends is so much fun!

The cross training continues. I've been going to the gym at least twice a week to work on strength training. I noticed the place has been really empty, the summer rush came and went I guess. I can say that I am stronger than before. I'm not breaking any records but I am doing more core and upper body work than usual. 

I tried a new flavor of gels during my long run. Mocha makes me really happy! I bought a few more to try in the next couple of months. Here's a quick update:

These things taste great!

1 • Nutrition - I changed things a bit this week as far as tracking food. I'm still losing weight, which helps me in so many ways. Less weight means more speed and greater health. I am still making sure I eat the right amount of food that will help me thrive in running and life.
2 • Non-food Rewards - here's a quick list: manicure, pedicure, facial, new magazine, teeth whitening, makeup, nail polish, facial scrub cream, running clothes.
3 • 30 K sign up - not yet.
4 • Hydration • I'm finding out that if I don't take care of it before running, a few sips of water during won't make much of a difference. It's a challenge to get a lot of water in during the day but it's really worth it. I also found out that if I drink enough water I don't have time or the desire to do any unnecessary eating.

I still have one more run to complete this week as well as cross training. I am running 3 miles in honor of my daughter's 3rd birthday this weekend and I'm excited about that! Of course I'm gonna add a few miles to that run because of the training. Here's a photo of me after my 9-miler today. I had makeup on from last night but I was so thankful to God for the opportunity to finish another long run. I hear they prepare your body and your mind for the real thing. 26.2 is my goal and I'm determined to prepare to win!

Finishing a long run is a blessing.

Marathon Success Series:
• Week 4
• Week 3
• Week 2
• Week 1

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Education and Weight Loss

Education has positively influenced my nutritional choices through the years and greatly improved my health. The Bible says that the lack of knowledge causes people to be destroyed (Hosea 4:6) and I lived through that. I once did not possess the knowledge to make better choices for myself so fitness and nutrition education has laid a foundation for better health. 

According to a Food and Nutrition Service report, effective nutrition education facilitates skill building to facilitate positive behavior change. It helps you select and consume healthy and enjoyable foods by improving awareness, skills, and motivation to take action at home, school and work.

A Food Journal page

I was once part of a program called Real Life Weight Loss which was really a class on nutrition and behavior change. I was taught what my body needed to function when it came to the amount of Protein, Vegetables, Fruits, Grains, Dairy, healthy oils, Sugar/Fats and Water. Knowing what I needed stopped my need to jump in the latest weight loss craze. Once my mind was renewed, I was able to focus on educating myself on the best choices for me. I remember learning about topics from the density of foods   to how to make better food choices in stressful times. Education was the key to my health success.
Once I'm done losing weight, I will still need to be educated about nutrition. In order to have a body that gives me the best results as far as wellness, I need to continue to make the best choices in nutrition and exercise.

I can truly say that thanks to God, I am able to make healthy choices in most places I go to. Education has a lot to do with that. I learned to look at my choices, think about what my body needs and eat just that. For example, in the beginning of the day, after a hard workout, I know I need to replace a bunch of things my body just used while working out. Through education I know that oatmeal with blueberries with a little bit of peanut butter is a great choice for me.
My challenge and encouragement for the day is that you become your own fitness and nutrition expert through education.

Previously in this Series:
• Mind Renewal and Weight Loss
• Behavior Modification and Weight Loss
• My Weight Loss in 60 Seconds (Video Series)

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3 Reasons Why I Gained Weight Last Week and a Plan to Lose it!

 I often tell you about my victories in this blog but I find as important to tell you the truth about the weight loss journey: sometimes I gain weight instead of losing. I gave it some thought and came up with 3 reasons why I gained 1.3 lbs last week.

#1 Reason: Lack of Boundaries. I always associate weight gain with my failure of writing on my food journal. My journal reminds me of my boundaries. I can eat most foods I like, just not excessively.   My food journal reminds me of what happened during the day so I can make better choices of myself later. Journals are instant accountability, a way to also look back and see how my choices can affect the way I feel.

#2 Reason: Poor Stress Management. Although I covered 19 miles last week, my stress management was poor. I use exercise to manage stress but I am not willing to exercise to the detriment of my joints. I need to come up with a list of things that help with stress management when exercise is not an option. One thing that helps is reading. I have a couple of books I'd love to finish. Reading in the silence is divine. I will come up with a list of things that will help me manage stress more effectively.

#3 Reason: Poor choice of foods. I haven't prepared my foods for the week in a while. We have been eating very well (my mom is here!) I just have been making poor choices. For example, one of my favorite snacks is an apple with peanut butter and raisins, I call it "my sweet." There were several days I ate 2 or 3 apples per day. I also went crazy on the peanut butter. Again, there's no problem with the food choice, is the excess that does not help me.

Here is the plan to regain control of my journey:
1 • Reestablish my Boundaries - I plan on writing on my food journal for 21 days. I am now on day 2 of 21.
2 • Manage Stress Better - I will come up with a list of 10 things I can do to manage stress when exercise is not an option. Reading, manicures and pedicures will be there.
3 • Make Smart Food Choices - I have cut down on "my sweet," prepared my vegetable soup for the week and decided to substitute my after dinner snacking with Peppermint Tea.

I am determined to finish my weight loss journey strong. I have decided to learn from my mistakes and diligently press towards my goal of having a normal BMI.

Action Item: Identify the 3 reasons why you gained weight and come up with a 3-step plan to lose it. 

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My Weight Loss in 60 Seconds: Rearview Mirror

Previously in this Series:
• Prepare

• 40 Weeks

• Bouncing Back 

• 3 Words

• The Beginning

• Exercise 

• 2012 Archives

Related Posts:
• Health Journey: Halfway Point

• How I took control of my weight (Video)
Disclaimer: This journey is a process, not an event. Weight loss is not my full-time job. I'm a wife and mother first. Still, I am working on being a healthier wife and mother. In this journey I make many mistakes and learn from them. I am humbled by God's grace which empowers me to succeed. My hope is that you find encouragement to take small steps towards being a healthier you. There's only One who's perfect so I pressed towards the calling I have in God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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3 Ways to get Kids to Eat Vegetables

Creativity might be the way to end my concern about how many vegetables my kids eat. They are great fruit eaters, it's the vegetables they don't completely trust. Here's the plan to introduce them to a greater variety of vegetables: 

• Set a Good Example -  If more is caught than taught, my kids better catch me eating a lot of vegetables. I gladly do just that. We eat the same things for breakfast most days and we enjoy the same fruits. I am hoping that they will become more willing to try new vegetables. Some intentionality is needed on my part. I need to plan on introducing new vegetables and repeat it a couple of times until they pick up on the new habit.

• Little Hands-On - The image of black beans spread on the kitchen table is forever sealed in my mind. I grew up being involved in the process of food preparation and I hope to pass on the same tradition to my children. The other day they helped me prepare black beans and cauliflower. They had fun but were not convinced they should eat those foods themselves. My long-term goal is to teach them how I cook these food so they will also attain healthy cooking skills.

Toddlers helping with beans. The baby actually likes her food,
she was just wondering why I take so many pictures.

• Try a New Tactic: I read an interesting article online on how to introduce more vegetables to children's diets. The new tactic is to ask the kids to describe the new food: 

"Encourage your child to describe how any new vegetable or food tastes with descriptive words like slippery, crunchy, mushy, chewy, sweet, sour. Discourage other descriptive words like yucky, gross and other non-printable words. Make a game of seeing who can come up with the most descriptive words. Does it seem that your child prefers mushy textures? Then more mushy vegetables it is!" Roy Benaroch, MD I never thought of that! I will give it a try for sure

Some of the produce that quickly disappear from our household. 

My hope is to expose my children to a great variety of fruits and vegetables. I want my children to try natural foods from an early age so they can make educated choices in the future.
QUESTION: How do you introduce new vegetables to your children? Leave a comment with your best tips!

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Vision Boards, an Evolution

My health coach encouraged me to keep an account of everything that went into my mouth. I used to write it in this pretty journal:

Food Journal 2007

I also used to keep up with this little thing. I marked how many fruits, veggies, dairy, protein, etc I had for the day.

Food Journal 2007

Between pregnancies I tried to keep my writing habit going but it was really challenging. I used to post it on my refrigerator so I'd see it often. Notice the (ancient) photo of us with one kid only!

Food Journal 2009

When I joined Weight Watchers I also kept great notes on what I ate. They went a little further and encouraged me to dream a little higher. I was thinking beyond a number in the scale. 

Weight Watchers form from 2011

When I left Weight Watchers I decided to stick with what works for me. I slowly but surely lost the habit of writing down EVERYTHING I ate but I kept losing weight for the most part. I decided to have Vision Board but I enhanced mine a bit. I try to include my goal and how I am going to get there. I also include my weekly weight so that I can get encouraged with my progress:

Vision Board 2012

This year I decided to add my rewards for the year. It will be fun to have something to look forward to as I lose weight. Thus far my reward has been to fit in pre-pregnancy clothes.

Vision Board 2013

I believe that everyone's Vision Board should be special and taylor made. What motivates you do not motivate me, that's one of the reason's why everyone's boards should be different. I called this post an "evolution" because I moved from a strickt form to a freer approach to weight loss. Yes, I could write down every single thing I eat on my diary but I decided to do without an extra stress in my life. I have also decided that I will not write down everything I eat for the rest of my life, I will learn how much I'm supposed to eat in order to live a healthy life. I learned a lot from writing things down in the past but currently I feel like writing down my exercise, having a vision board and eating a healthy diet is all I can afford and is giving me results. That's the magic word my friends, results. Vision Boards are worthless if the board's owner is not doing the work that gets results.
It started in my mind. It had to be renewed. All the other fun and glittery stuff just makes my journey prettier. The essential thing was to renew my mind. That my friends was my first step to a healthier journey.
QUESTION • Do you have a Vision Board? Have you thought about the relationship between the renewed mind and a healthier lifestyle? What are your thoughts on that?

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My Weight Loss in 60 Seconds: Shortcuts

Previously in this series:
• My Weight Loss in 60 Seconds: Rewards
• My Weight Loss in 60 Seconds: Goals
• My Weight Loss in 60 Seconds: Setbacks
• My Weight Loss in 60 Seconds: Fit Mom
• My Weight Loss in 60 Seconds
• Weight Loss after Baby: Part 1
Disclaimer: This journey is a process, not an event. Weight loss is not my full-time job. I'm a wife and mother first. Still, I am working on being a healthier wife and mother. In this journey I make many mistakes and learn from them. I am humbled by God's grace which empowers me to succeed. My hope is that you find encouragement to take small steps towards being a healthier you. There's only One who's perfect so I pressed towards the calling I have in God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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Weight Loss after Baby: Part 1

Every time I have a wonderful kid I get to the point where I need to put some effort into losing weight. This often happens when there is stability at home and the scale keeps moving down. I know it is up to me to eat well, exercise and manage stress well so the weight comes off for good. Here are my precious stats, posts and the current number with a video for you:

First baby (April 2009):

Starting weight: 145 lbs

@ 9 months: 195 lbs

Second baby (July 2010):

Starting weight: 190 lbs

@ 9 months: 216 lbs

Final Weight: 156 lbs

• See my Weight Loss series (photo of my progression)

Third baby (June 2012):

Starting Weight: 165 lbs

@ 9 months: 194 lbs

Current Weight: 170.8 lbs

Disclaimer: This journey is a process, not an event. Weight loss is not my full-time job. I'm a wife and mother first. Still, I am working on being a healthier wife and mother. In this journey I make many mistakes and learn from them. I am humbled by God's grace which empowers me to succeed. My hope is that you find encouragement to take small steps towards being a healthier you. There's only One who's perfect so I pressed towards the calling I have in God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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