The End Is Here!

We have officially finished our 2nd cycle, or 1st FULL cycle, and boy is it nice to have 3 days off. I started off my morning with 2 bowls of cereal (1 healthy Quaker Oat Squares, 1 not so healthy Kellogg's Cinnabon cereal) and a few Oreos. After that, I was pretty much over my sweet binge. Part of me was disappointed because I had fantasized about eating so much more, but at the same time I was proud of myself for knowing when enough was enough!
First thing this morning, I weighed in. My official ending weight for this cycle is 180 lbs. That is 10 lbs down from day 1 of the cycle, which is great. I can't help thinking that I'd be in the 170s right now had I not gone overboard during the 2 weeks off we had because of the birthdays and holidays. This time, I'm only having a 3 day break, and I don't plan on over doing it these next 3 days. I cannot wait to be in the 170s! 10 lbs a cycle, 2 cycles a month, 20 lbs a month, and 2.25 months, will bring me down to my goal wait of 130. Just in time to enjoy the last few weeks of summer, and to go shopping for FALL!!! (my absolute FAVORITE season in terms of fashion)....Bring on the coats, boots and cute jeans!

So here are my photos. Each one is being compared to where I started

   

The difference is slowly beginning to be obvious, which is nice. I'm sure by the end of the next round, There will be much more of a difference! I waited so long, it seems like, for these cheat days to arrive. Now, I am looking forward to Monday to get here (despite the not so great meal plans I've set for this cycle) so that my weight-loss can continue! This diet is starting to build my discipline in terms of eating; that was the first thing I noticed this morning. Let's go Monday!

Hair, Hair, Hair......Color

As I continue my weight-loss journey, I am thinking about what I want to do to add to my post-prego transformation. Mike and I were recently talking about different hairstyles/colors that I could do, and I am seriously thinking about dying my hair. Now I've only dyed my hair once before, and that was just to straight black (My hair is naturally brown). This time, however, I'm looking for something a little more dramatic. Not crazy dramatic. Just something noticeably different. I'm still deciding on what I want to do with hairstyle, but I probably won't do anything too crazy with that. I'm still letting it grow back from the major chop off I did about a year and a half ago. Color will be the key to my change. I looked online for different hair colors, and so far have found a few that I may (or may not..still not sure) consider. They are

1

2

3

4

5

I know, not very "dramatic"..but I'm getting there.. I don't think I really need like a major dramatic change. So far #1 is my favorite. I love the combination of dark and light high/low lights in her hair. I've already loved her versatility, and how well she pulls off different styles and hair colors. My 2nd favorite is #5. I would definitely not cut my hair that short, but I love the color. It is still very dark but has a burgundy tint to it that gives it a real kick! #4 is going more along the red/maroon lines..which would be the biggest change for me. But I'm willing to try it out. #2 follows behind #4 but in a more subtle way. And then #3 is also a top favorite, following after Tyra's highlights, except that this model has more blonde highlights in comparison to Tyra's more honey highlights. Actually #s 1 & 3 would suit me best in my opinion, but who knows. I still have a couple (estimated) months to decide, so I will continue looking.

I would love to read outside opinions, so feel free to comment on which one you think would look better!

The Dreaded Day 8 Has Arrived!

Day 8 has arrived. Now, although I titled it "dreaded" day 8, I have a feeling it will not be as bad! I haven't been looking forward to this day because it will consist of eating only salads and vegetables all day long...Also, the last time we started the cycle, this was as far as I made it.

I made the mistake of doing an intense Insanity workout with only a couple of tomato slices and cucumber slices to fuel me. That was not good. I ended up getting sick and felt so weak. So Mike ended up giving me "real" food to bring me back to health haha.

I must say though. I am also partially happy that this day has arrived. The quicker it comes, the quicker it goes; and the closer we get to ending this first cycle and going into our cheat days! I am soo excited for that!

I pretty much have my meals for those 3 days all planned out, and most of them aren't the healthiest, but that is why it is called a "cheat day", right? LOL.

So as of this morning, I am at 181.5, and I think today's veggie only meal plan will make a significant difference tomorrow. Eh, maybe not, but I am happy to say I am very close to the 170s! It's been almost a year since I've been down in that range! (I think I was about 6/7 months prego with Andrew )


Ah, what a great day it will be when I no longer need to do this! (then my workouts will kick in lol).

Happy Monday!

Quick Cycle 2 update

As of this morning, I am currently 183.0 ..which is great. 5 days down, and 5 more to go (not including today)..then my cheat days! I cannot wait. Mike brought some packages of oreos that he was given at work from the nabisco vendor that gets work done on his vehicle. Whenever that guy gets work done, Mike comes home with boxes and boxes of cookies, graham crackers, etc...This time I wasn't so happy about that though lol. He got them for our cheat days...but I cannot walk into the kitchen without seeing the bag of oreos and oreo dunksters calling out to me....Oh Friday..please come quickly...LOL

But the scale does give me a little more will power, I will admit. I cannot wait to meet my goal weight..which I am estimating to be around August.

Will continue to update.and at the end of day 11 I will be posting photos and measurements!

Strike a Pose!

I am so happy to say that when I've reached my goal physically, I will be returning to modeling! Since I was a little girl, I've always wanted to be a model. I look back on so many pictures as a little girl, where I would have my "model stance" whenever photos were taken. As an adult, I began to embark on that journey, and was doing pretty well by some standards. I was a working model. I did not have an agent for the most part (I did get managed by a couple small companies, but mostly for dance). I was starting to make a "name" for myself in the Import industry. I enjoyed what I was doing, and I was getting paid for it. But as opportunities were starting to roll in more, I quit.
My husband and I re-dedicated our lives to Christ, and the import, swimsuit, etc modeling I was doing just wasn't acceptable in God's eyes.

But my love for modeling has not changed. The makeup, the hair, dressing up, taking photos, and making beautiful photos; I love it all.  I miss it all.

I recently started looking at one of the booking sources I used before for modeling jobs, and realized that I can still do it! I don't need to wear bikinis or provocative outfits; there are still many opportunities for models like me! I can do lifestyle, commercial, artistic, fashion, hair, makeup, jewelry,etc modeling without compromising myself!
Best of all, my husband supports me with this, which makes me even more excited. He always supported me back then too, although he was not always completely comfortable with what I may have been wearing (and we were still dating then).

So now I have even more motivation to continue my weightloss and toning journey! My goal is to start this coming fall (Sept/Oct). What's even greater about this is that it will still be considered a hobby, but I will be contributing income! Now, it definitely may not be like before; back then I was modeling basically full-time and was paying my bills and lived comfortably. I probably won't be making as much as I did then, but I'm doing it because I love it (and can make a little spending money while doing so!)

This fall is going to be great!

Motherhood: One of the GREATEST gifts from God.

See this precious little boy? He was given to Mike and I 7 months ago. Monday, October 4th 2010, at 1:19 pm,  Andrew Alan was born, and we were in love. I've always said I wanted a family, and I remember always saying as a young girl that I want as many children as God wants to give me. However, I could not have ever, EVER, imagined the feeling of being a mother. Now, during my high school years, and early college days, I had goals and plans for my life. Then, I realized that life did not turn out so much as I would have expected; but -as I'm watching my beautiful little boy sleep peacefully- I wouldn't have it any other way.

Before I became pregnant, I thought about myself . I had JUST been married for a short period of time. I was still getting used to the whole idea of becoming "domesticated"...something I had no real interest for in the past. I can actually remember thinking at one point in my life that, since I planned on having a career, I'd probably have a cook and a maid because I was not going to do either haha. But life, God, my husband, and my child have changed my views. I  serve them all whole heartedly, and could not imagine life any other way. Seeing my little munchkin  hit different milestones and his cognitive progress is worth so much more than any job or career. Being there for my husband when he comes home for lunch, and to greet him when he's arrives at the end of the day make me so happy. God knew what he was doing when he created marriage and gave woman motherhood. It truly is a rewarding and fulfilling role, that I feel so blessed to take on.

This past Mother's Day was my first as a mommy ( I was pregnant last mother's day but I don't count that), and I am so happy about that! I look forward to all the other little munchkins the Lord blesses us with in the future!

I know now I could never have imagined how it feels to be a mother; the excitement, the emotions, the fears and worries that start to set in. I am not just barely starting to realize why my mother worried the way she did with me and my sisters (and he's still a baby so I'm only scratching the surface!). I know that right now, the Lord is watching over him, and I am going to do my best to watch over him too. No act of carelessness is worth allowing.

I am also so thankful to have my amazing husband. It hurts my heart to see so many single mothers struggling without that extra support. I admire those that have and continue to push through, raising children on their own. I am blessed to have a man who loves the Lord, who loves and respects me, and who adores his son.

I can do anything, but there's nothing I'd want to do more than to be exactly where I am, at home taking care of my little munchkin!

Cycle 2; Day 2

We started 2nd cycle of our diet yesterday, and it started off great! However, day 2 is not going so great..but then again, that was the worst day for me last cycle so I already knew it was coming. Eating nothing but fruits has me feeling nauseous..not to mention, I have a huge headache. 2 more meals to go and dinner will a sandwich, so I cannot wait!
This time around I am not taking any breaks with the diet. I will continue on with it until I hit my goal weight of 135. After that, I don't think I ever want to do this diet again LOL.
It is all worth it in the end, though. I will lose all the weight and gain myself back!
I had a crazy 2 weeks; with Mother's day, my birthday, Easter..many many opportunities to eat, and eat we did! Add a couple pounds of water weight (I am bad at staying hydrated and I learned not drinking enough water will make you retain more water!), and you get my starting weight for this cycle (which I checked yesterday morning) of 190. This morning I weighed 188. So I will continue logging my progress, and this time I won't be doing any crazy exercising!