So I lost almost 20 pounds..

..by getting pregnant. Ugh. I don't recommend that method AT ALL- I can't imagine being bulimic, throwing up is no fun!

So as you can guess, I won't be trying to lose any weight soon. I have been focusing lately on maintaining weight with healthy meals and snacks though (now that I'm not throwing up 12 times a day). It probably helps that I just can't stomach any meat products and I'm not craving sweets or salty snacks really. I know, it's not fair huh? Why don't I just shut the heck up already... lol.

I do need to get out of the house and walk or.. anything! With the complications of my pregnancy, I haven't been doing much. For a while I couldn't even get off the couch. Fortunately, the doctors have pinned down the issue and with the medicine I started taking a few weeks ago, I've been feeling better as each day goes by. I even grocery shopped all by my self yesterday and didn't have to sit down somewhere to recover halfway through- a BIG change from a month ago! I still get tired easier than I'm used to, but it's so much better than before.

If no one minds, I'll keep posting here (I know it's been a long time, but I hadn't even posted on my personal blog since August, which I started doing again as well). Part of Our Journey is how to keep healthy during pregnancy, right? Afterwards I can get back on the weight loss wagon with the rest of you gorgeous ladies.

Going Green

I've recently discovered green smoothies, and I am smitten! Rather than giving a lengthy explanation, here's a great video telling you all you need to know..

And here's the smoothie I made for myself this morning with spinach, frozen tropical fruit, a banana and unsweetened coconut milk:

Good eats!!

Where I Was and Where I Am

I thought it would be fair to show you a pic of me at my heaviest (eep!) I don't have a good full-on photo like my July one, but here are a few to give you an idea of what we're dealing with here:

February 2009 at a friends baby shower.

(too blurry to enlarge much)

These last two are from a family event in November 2009 (yes, that's my nephew I'm holding but let's leave his cuteness out of this).

So that's where I really started. By July when Julia started this blog (again, thank you!!) I had already lost about 20 pounds. Yay me!

A few things about Where I Was:

1. Rarely exercising
2. Not eating "right"
3. Eating too much
4. Not getting out of the house to get fresh air
5. Not drinking enough water
6. Snacking too much
7. Not staying away from sugar like I should

I should admit that in between then and now I had a bit of a yo-yo. I went from being employed full time to getting laid off. No worries on the job front because I have my business to fall back on- but unfortunately, I also fell back on some bad habits that resulted in a bit of a gain. The good news is I didn't let that discourage me and that brings us to now..

Where I Am:

1. Exercising more- still lots of room for improvement, but every bit helps
2. Eating much better. I've cut out most animal products and am staying on a mostly plant-based diet (not because of moral objections to meat-eating, but for health and environmental reasons). I also pretty much stay away from dairy (some cheese but no milk- I use coconut milk, yummy!)
3. I'm possibly eating as much as before, but it's mostly fruit and veggies, so no problem there
4. It's very hot right now in AZ, so this will be better in a month than it is now
5. I get plenty of water now, including quite a bit from the produce I'm eating
6. With all the fruit I'm getting at all my meals, I don't feel the need to snack
7. I get a little bit of sugar in my morning coffee, but not really anything else for the rest of the day

I started reading Eat to Live (Dr. Fuhrman) recently; it's about eating a vegetarian diet (though there are meat options discussed in the book as well). There's a 6-week plan that I decided to start yesterday. So far so good (not too different from what I was doing already- just adding much more beans and really paying attention to what you're eating) So far so good, but we'll see how it goes won't we? So far, no hunger pains and I have really good energy.

As for the goal that was posted (going to bed earlier): I wasn't doing very well on this until last night. Previously I just couldn't fall asleep- I'd just lay there.. thinking, and it just threw off my sleep schedule. But the night before last I only got about 3 hours of sleep so last night I went to sleep at 9pm (so early!) and slept mostly through the night (one bathroom dash, no biggie). Hopefully this signals a trend. I really have to get on a regular sleep schedule because school starts on the 23rd. Cross your fingers for me!!

Julia will post our weights tomorrow (no, not actual numbers!!.. ok, ok, guess I have to fess up to them, huh?) o_0

Emily

Emily's Intro & Before Photo

Well hello! This is my opportunity to introduce myself to all of you and to tell you how excited I am to be here! My name is Emily G., I am 29 years old and live in Phoenix, AZ. I have been married for 10 years now and DH and I have a miniature pinscher named Milo that we spoil. My blog is withoutcontext.blogspot.com. Julia has been awesome enough to me invite to participate in this journey and I think this is a great idea-I've known Julia for literally her entire life (we grew up next door to each other), so that doesn't surprise me!

Here is my "Before" photo, all fancified with picnick.com (DO check that site out!):

Thanks for including me- I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with you!