Thursday, December 26, 2013

17 Week Pregnancy Update and Baby Bump Photos

Hey, everyone!
 
I'm a day late in posting this blog. I was busy with family yesterday. I hope everyone had a great Christmas with your loved ones! Brad, Oopsie and I are heading back to TN tomorrow morning (we've been in Gulfport, MS visiting family since last Friday).
 
I'm 17 weeks and 1 day today. Hooray! That kind of rhymed. Haha! My bean is now the size of an onion and is about 5.1 inches long and weighs about 5.9 ounces. Everything is still going wonderfully! Praise God!
 
I did have quite a scare on Saturday and Sunday though. My dad always takes Brad and I out to eat at a buffet when we visit and I got a bad case of food poisoning afterward. It hit me about 3 AM on Sunday. I got up and was vomiting, had the runs and was sweating; then getting cold chills. The puking and runs lasted until my last round at 11:45 AM. I couldn't even keep water down; it was awful.
 
Then, I still felt bad and was battling being really hot and getting chills, so I took my temperature and it was 100.7. I Googled and everyone said to drink lots of cold water (I was keeping it down by this point) and take a Tylenol. My temperature was back to normal by 10:00 PM. Thank God.
 
Fear was hitting me pretty badly about all of this affecting the baby but I had to reject it and continue to put my faith in God. He didn't bless me with this miracle baby for nothing. I know my bean is in His hands and that I will have a healthy baby with no side-effects from being sick. AMEN! :-D
 
I'm loving going to my midwife appointments each month and hearing my bean. This month my bean was jumping while we were listening to him/her. It was so sweet!
 
Speaking of him/her ... we find out the bean's gender on the 13th! I can't wait! Brad and I are like 90% certain that it's a boy and everyone we've asked, with the exception of my stepdad (Bud) and best friend (Emily), thinks it's a boy.
 
So, what do you all think it's going to be? I'd love to know!
 
In other news, we changed our girl name from Emma Lee Moyers to Emilee Grace Moyers. Brad and a few other family members weren't crazy about the name Emma. We went though every girl name out there (we're not a huge fan of girl names) and couldn't find one that we both liked more than Emily but it's so popular and I really wanted my middle name Lee involved and I didn't think Emily Lee sounded right. So, we decided on Emilee Grace (because it's by the grace of God I'm pregnant) and I absolutely love it! If it's a boy, we're still naming him Brady Scott (a play on his daddy's name, Bradley Scott).
 
My pregnancy this month: I still don't feel pregnant. My only symptom continues to be burping. I've noticed this past week that I have started sweating much easier though, which I read yesterday hits a lot of women around this time. My nose is also getting stuffy a lot more.  Oh, I've also been experiencing round ligament pain sometimes. My belly is growing but I still feel like I could go either way to people ... fat or pregnant. I'm hoping by the end of next month I'll for sure look pregnant. I know I keep saying that but it has to happen one of these months. *Crosses fingers*
 
I'm supposed to be able to feel the baby any time now. I've read and heard that it feels like butterfly wings, gas bubbles, twitching or rolling. I've had quite a few moments the past few days where I thought, Is that the baby?! but I still can't be certain. I'm waiting for the moment where I know without a doubt that it is the baby; I'm so excited for that moment!
 
Cravings: Still carbs and fruit.
 
Here are my baby bump pictures this month.
 

 
Warm winter blessings,

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

13 Week Pregnancy Update and Baby Bump Photos

Hey, guys!
 
Today I'm 13 weeks pregnant! I'm kind of confused whether I'm in the first or second trimester. Some websites say I'm in my first and some say I'm in my second. Regardless, I'll definitely be in my second by Wednesday of next week. It's crazy to think that I'm already 1/3 through with my pregnancy. My little bean is now the size of a peach and is about 2.9 inches long and weighs about 0.81 ounces.
 
I got to hear my little love's heartbeat on the 15th; it was beautiful! I blogged about it in my last post and uploaded the audio, in case you missed it and want to hear it.
 
To sum up my pregnancy this month: The nausea and extreme hunger have subsided for the most part. I still burp all the time. No more cramping. I'm still very tired, although I don't think it's nearly as bad as it was. I was a very tired person before becoming pregnant so I think I may just be back to my normal pre-pregnancy self. I'm still finding that I get out of breath very easily. I've been getting headaches a lot but I'm not sure if that's due to my pregnancy since I got them a lot before becoming pregnant. I'm not running to the bathroom as much, which is nice. My breasts haven't really been sore at all anymore. I haven't had any more acid reflux. I'm continuing to drink a lot of lemon water and am still walking a lot and eating well.
 
Cravings: I'm still craving carbs (I've never been much of a baked potato person but they have hit the spot for me a couple of times this month). Strawberries with some Truvia sprinkled on them. Popsicles or anything cold (I've really been into Edy's Outshine fruit bars). My biggest craving this month has been seaweed salad, which I had once but it wasn't enough to hit the spot. I really need to find some MSG-free seaweed salad. Anyone know where I could buy some?
 
Here are my baby bump pictures this month. You can totally see that my belly is growing if you compare it to my pre-pregnancy pictures. I'm still in the awkward stage. Hopefully by next month I will actually look pregnant and not just overweight. All of my clothes I bought pre-pregnancy fit me perfectly and I didn't give myself any room to really grow at all in them (for good reason). Therefore, my pants are all now too tight to wear. I've been wearing full-panel maternity jeans which are way too big on my belly and slide down when I wear them. And, because they are maternity jeans, I can't wear my regular shirts with them because the panel will show because my regular shirts aren't long enough. So, I'm now wearing maternity tops, too. All of that being said, I wouldn't change this awkward stage for anything. :) PS: Why are pregnancy clothes SO expensive?! Yikes.
 

 
Oh, and I got my hair cut this month. It really needed it; it feels so much healthier now. In case we're not friends on Facebook, here's a picture from the front.
 
 
Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! I hope you have a blessed day with your loved ones! <3
 
 
 
Gobble-gobble,

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Monthly Healthy Recipes

Hello, food lovers!

Here are this month's healthy recipes that I tried. I won't be posting a healthy recipes blog next month because I won't be home much. I'm going on a cruise with my dear friend, Emily (SO EXCITED!). Then Brad, Oopsie and I are going to visit my family in Gulfport for Christmas. Anyways, on to the recipes!
 
Broccoli Slaw - I just made the broccoli slaw and mixed in some Prego and veggie meatballs. Then topped with parmesan cheese.
 
Good eats!

 

Friday, November 15, 2013

Baby's Heartbeat

Hey, everyone!
 
This morning I got to hear my baby's heartbeat for the first time. It was strong and healthy in the 150s. Praise God!  It was the most beautiful sound ever! I'm so in love with my little miracle already. <3 I had Brad record it on his phone so I could share it with you all. Click here to download and listen to it.
 
Until next time,

 
 
PS: A lot of you have been asking me about an ultrasound. I don't get an ultrasound until the middle of January (20 weeks) when I find out the gender. :)

 
 


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

9 Week Pregnancy Update and Baby Bump Photos

Hey, Loves!
 
I can't believe my blog has turned into a Watch Me Grow blog, instead of a Watch Me Lose blog. God is so awesome, isn't He?!  Blogging about my pregnancy each month will be a nice way to keep my family and friends updated but also for me to have to look back on and remember my pregnancy. :)
 
That being said, I can't believe I'm 9 weeks pregnant already! Time is flying by so fast! My baby is now the size of a green olive and is about 0.9 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 0.07 ounces. 
 
I had my first appointment with my midwife on the 25th and she checked me out and said everything looked great and that my uterus felt just the right size for how far along I am. I get to hear the baby's heartbeat on the 15th. I can hardly wait! <3
 
I prayed that I wouldn't vomit and God definitely answered that. I haven't vomited at all, which I am so thankful for. I have, however, been nauseous (not awful but enough to be uncomfortable). I've found that the nausea hits me more when I'm hungry, so I have been eating more often to keep it in check. Speaking of hungry, I'm hungry pretty much all the time now. I wake up in the middle of the night STARVING and have to force myself to go back to sleep. Since I have been eating more often, I have to really watch what I'm eating. I'm still eating healthy and walking a lot. I'm going to get back into the gym next month but take it much easier than I was.
 
As for symptoms, besides the nausea and hunger, I've been noticing that I get out of breath a lot faster. I've been burping all the time (literally, I burp all through the day). I didn't realize that burping was a symptom of pregnancy (I hardly ever burped before becoming pregnant) and I told Brad a couple of days after conceiving that I didn't understand why I was burping all the time. I almost always have two burps back-to-back, too. Lol. In the beginning, I was cramping a lot. I thought for sure my period was going to start at any second for two to three weeks. I mean, it felt JUST LIKE period cramps. I hardly ever cramp now. I'm always tired. I have been sleeping for up to 12 hours sometimes at night and still wake up exhausted. I've even found myself going to bed around 8:00 because I can't keep my eyes open.  I'm always thirsty for water, especially lemon water; I drink a ton of it. I've always urinated a lot because I drink a lot but now it's even worse. I average waking up in the middle of the night about 5-9 times right now to urinate. My breasts have been really sore since the beginning, although I've noticed the past few days that they aren't as sore as they were. I've also had some breast changes (which I don't need to go into). I've had acid reflux a handful of times. Other than that, I haven't really had any other pregnancy symptoms.
 
As for cravings, I've been craving noodles and rice (I have to keep that in check, though), fruit (especially grapes) and salads. Nothing crazy like laundry detergent or anything. Haha.
 
Here are my baby bump pictures for the month. You can't see a bump or anything but you can definitely tell I'm bloated from last month's pictures. I'm in that awkward stage of being bloated but not looking pregnant. My pants still fit but are getting pretty tight. I bought a BeBand at Target but haven't had to wear it yet. I can't wait to start seeing an actual bump instead of bloat. :)
 
Oopsie wanted to be in the picture and say hi to everyone! :-D

 
Love,
 
 
 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Monthly Healthy Recipes - All Things Pumpkin!

Hey, everyone!
 
As most of you who have followed my blog for awhile know, Fall is my favorite season and I am obsessed with all things pumpkin. So, all of the new healthy recipes I tried this month have pumpkin in them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! :)
 
Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse - I used regular butterscotch pudding (sugar-free stuff is awful for you) and low-fat cottage cheese.
Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes with Dark Chocolate Chips - I used regular flour because I don't have whole wheat. Still really healthy.
Reese's Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups - I omitted the first three and melted chocolate chips.
Pumpkin Nut Butter - I used natural peanut butter.

Here's a recipe I made up. I call it "Fall Yogurt":

Vanilla fat free greek yogurt, 3 tbsp pumpkin puree, 1 tsp natural pb (optional), 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp each of cinnamon and nutmeg (1 tsp mini semi-sweet chocolate chips optional). You can add more or less or all ingedients to suit your tastes. :)
 
PS: The pregnancy is going great so far. I'm loving every second of knowing a precious little miracle is growing inside of me. I decided to stop with the monthly weight-loss blogs that I was going to do the next couple of months and focus instead of continuing to eat healthy (not on losing weight ... being pregnant is not the time to try to do that ... I don't know what I was thinking). Anyway, so my monthly weight-loss blog will be replaced with a monthly pregnancy update and baby bump photos blog instead. :-D

Until next time,

 

Monday, September 30, 2013

Monthly Weight Loss and Pictures and BIG Announcement!

Hey, everyone!
 
This morning I weighed-in at 159. I lost 0.8 lbs this month and lost half an inch overall. I didn't lose as much as I would have liked to, but I'm happy to see the number on the scale going down.
 
I didn't do that great eating-wise at the beginning of the month (I had a few too many 'reward' meals -- I'm not perfect, it happens sometimes) but I got back on track and ate awesome the last half of the month. I even went vegetarian, sugarless and no-carbs for a week; it felt good. I totally believe in reward meals/snacks but I need to try to limit them to one day a week instead of just whenever because it adds up. 

 
 
In other news, after 7-1/2 years of lots of crying, praying and hoping ... I'm PREGNANT! I'm a little over a month pregnant and the due date is early June. (My birthday month! -- Speaking of birthdays, Brad's 36th birthday is tomorrow and he couldn't ask for a better birthday present. Happy birthday, Babe!) Words cannot even begin to express how happy we are! We're still in shock. We just found out yesterday evening. I took three pregnancy tests and I'm still having trouble convincing myself. I know a lot of people wait to announce they're pregnant but I just couldn't wait; I've waited years to announce this!  I have so many things going through my head from excitement to fears but I know my child and my pregnancy are in God's hands and that He is sovereign. All I need to do is trust Him and rest in that.
 
My trouble conceiving  wasn't something I felt comfortable blogging about or even talking with many people about; it was a very sensitive subject. The main reason for me losing all this weight was in hopes of becoming pregnant because I thought my weight was playing a big part in my not getting pregnant; plus, I didn't want to be unhealthy and pregnant. A couple of months ago, I made an appointment to find out what was going on and then a day before my appointment, Brad and I had a talk and really felt led to continue to leave it in God's hands, knowing that He is the One Who opens and closes the womb and that He would bless me with a child in His perfect timing. He is SO faithful! Oh, and because I've been waiting for so long I've had names picked out for a long time. If it's a girl her name will be Emma Lee and if it's a boy his name will be Brady Scott (play on Bradley Scott). <3
 
My skin surgeries that I had planned for early next year are out the window. I'm gladly taking the trade-off! My best friend told me last night that I shouldn't gain any weight my first three months, so hopefully I can reach my goal of 155 before then. I'm not going to be one of those moms who use being pregnant as an excuse to eat tons of crap. I've worked way too hard to lose this weight. She also told me I shouldn't gain more than 30 lbs, which would put me at 190 at the end of my pregnancy. I definitely never want to see 200 again!
 
Please pray that I have a healthy pregnancy. Thank you!

 
 
 
Much love,
 
 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Healthy Recipes

Hey, peeps!
 
Here are some new healthy recipes I tried out this month:
 
Lemon Chicken Breasts - I used skinless chicken breasts.
Pizzadillas - I made mine with low-carb tortillas, pizza sauce (I just put some in the tortilla), low-fat mozzarella, mushrooms and thinly-sliced deli pepperoni.
Avocado Salsa - I almost always use more cilantro than recipes call for because I love it so much.
Crockpot Honey Apple Pork Loin - I did as she suggested in the note on the bottom and poked holes in the pork loin and let it marinate in the honey and cinnamon overnight (I added a dash of salt as well). Then I put it in the crockpot the next morning with the sliced apples and cooked it on low for 7 hours. The apples become mushy but if you mash them up with some of the juices from the loin and put them over it, it works.
Sweet and Sour Green Beans
Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Peanut Butter Granola - I used natural PB. I added it to vanilla Greek yogurt with some mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
 
Enjoy!
 
 

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Oh, Deer ...

Today, this happened ...

 
 
Brad and I were on the highway on our way back from a potluck at church. We're talking and I'm checking Facebook and such on my phone when I hear Brad say, "Oh my gosh!" and then within a second I see a HUGE doe running toward our car from an open field and BAM! It sounded like an explosion. Glass shattered EVERYWHERE (and I mean EVERYWHERE ... even down Brad's shirt). The deer's head went straight through the rear passenger window and its body flipped over the roof of our car. We're guessing the deer snapped its neck and died instantly. I don't think I'll ever get that image out of my head. Even though I know that we'll have to pay a bunch of money to get our car fixed (we are only covered for liability), I'm still more upset about the deer, being the animal lover that I am.
 
I'm still in shock and am so thankful to God for protecting us. He is SO awesome! If Brad hadn't swerved when he did, that would have been my window and I probably wouldn't be sitting here writing this right now. The officer said that he has never seen anything like this before. As you can see from the pictures, our rear passenger windows are completely gone, our window frame is bent pretty badly and our car is covered (literally, everywhere) in glass. We also have a couple of dents and scratches but we're alive and very blessed.
 
God is so good at reminding us that He's in control and to never take our life for granted. This life is but a vapor and we need to make sure we're living it right and for Him because we never know when our time is up.
 
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. (James 4:14)
 
God bless,

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Monthly Weight Loss and Pictures

Hey, Loves!
 
This month I weighed-in at 159.8. I lost exactly 1 lb and lost 0.75 inches overall. I'M IN THE 150s! *Jumps for joy!*
 
I know one pound doesn't seem like much but I know how hard I worked for it so I'll take it happily! I worked my tail off at the gym this month and ate perfectly 90% (I allow myself a couple of cheat meals and sweet treats each month -- always have) of the time, especially the last couple of weeks. I even went ahead and did the very low carb thing again in a desperate attempt to lose more this month. I seriously think my body is telling me it's pretty much where it wants to be (hence me being stuck in the 160s for what seemed like forever). Even still, I've decided to make my final goal 150-155. I'll be happy anywhere between those numbers and will continue working hard and eating right to get there. I'm so close I can almost taste it! I pray that I only go down from here.
 
I talked with some friends and loved ones this month about my frustration with being stuck in the 160s for so long and they told me how great I look and to look how far I've come. Most of them tell me they also don't think I need to lose anymore weight. I love hearing that but also struggle with it because I look at myself in the mirror and still am not thrilled with what I see. Honestly, I don't know if that will ever change or if I have a self-image problem. Will I ever look in the mirror and be happy with what I see and think that I've lost enough? Don't get me wrong, I am SO thankful to God for getting me to where I am now. I just want to be able to look in the mirror and be happy with what I see (and yes, I'm aware that my body will never be perfect). I mean, looking at old pictures of myself compared to me today, I am very happy but looking at much thinner girls with tight bodies makes me feel very insecure about my body. I know I shouldn't compare myself with others but sometimes it's hard not to. I'm human. However,  with all of that said, I CHOOSE to be thankful for my body, imperfections and all. Like I've said before, I'm perfectly imperfect. :)
 
I haven't blogged about it yet (I will blog about it more when I make my surgery appointment) but skin is an issue. I have extra skin on my arms, thighs, stomach and backside. I went in for a consultation with the top plastic surgeon in Knoxville and he told me I am a great candidate for surgery and that he doesn't think that I need to lose anymore weight and, if I do, not to lose anymore than 5 or 10 lbs at the extreme most (which would put me at my goal weight of 150-155). He told me that I have a lot of muscle and that when all of the excess skin is gone that I will look great (minus the scars, of course) and that if I got much smaller, after the skin surgery, I would look too thin. I only have enough money right now for my arms and thighs to get done. The lower body lift costs more than the arms and thighs combined. It's not just a cosmetic thing for me; this skin really causes me issues and I want it gone. I don't know when I'll be able to afford the lower body lift but hopefully, Lord willing, one day in the not too distant future.


 
Thanks, as always, for all of your love, prayers and support.
 
Love,
 
 
 

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Healthy Recipes

Hey, gals and guys!
 
Here are the new healthy recipes I tried out this month:
 
Hamburger Steaks with Brown Gravy - I used ground chuck and low-sodium beef stock.
Red Beans and Rice - I used skinless turkey sausage and fat-free, low-sodium chicken stock.
Tuna Casserole - I used fat-free cream cheese.
Avocado Feta Dip - I used reduced-fat feta and omitted the jalapeno. I'd recommend less lime juice and add water unless you like really sour things. I ate this with organic blue corn tortilla chips.
California Sandwich - I used Greek yogurt and went heavier on the chives (I love them). I used cilantro. No stores around here are carrying alfalfa sprouts right now so I used fresh spinach leaves. To make my life easier, instead of chopping up everything, I just sliced the cucumber, avocado and tomato right onto my sandwich.
 
I also made this (there was no link to a recipe):
 
Season asparagus with olive oil, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese; bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes. Should be a little bit firm after cooking.
 
Bon Appétit!
 
 

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Monthly Weight Loss and Pictures

Hey, everyone.
 
This month I weighed-in at 160.8, which means I only lost 0.2 lbs but I gained 1.5 inches.
 
My 'monthly visitor' decided to stop by yesterday for a visit, which she often inconveniently does the day before or day of my weigh-in. I know I would have lost something and not been so bloated if it wasn't for her. I'm just thankful I didn't gain weight due to water retention.
 
However, I know that this month wasn't the greatest for me. It was partly me not getting to the gym as much due to how I'm feeling sometimes and partly because I'm eating the same as I was when I was working out all the time.
 
I've learned that I can't continue to eat exactly the same if I'm not able to workout as much. Not the mention, like I've said before, even if I was able to workout the same, it's still getting harder and harder for me to lose in this last phase.
 
I'm trying not to get discouraged. I know that God has brought me this far and that He will finish the good work He started in me.
 
This next month I'm going to try to work on my diet. I know that diet is the biggest part of losing weight (I've heard it's at least 70%), so even if I'm not getting to the gym as much as I'd like, I can still lose if I'm eating better.
 
Please continue to pray for me and my journey. I REALLY want to be in the 150s next month.
 
 
 
Blessings,
 
 
 

Friday, July 26, 2013

NFC Commercial (Director's Cut)

Hey, everyone!
 
Yesterday afternoon we shot my NFC commercial. We were on location at Seven Island's Wildlife Refuge outside of Knoxville. It took about 2-1/2 hours but was super fun because of the awesome people that I was working with. (Shout-out to Jacob, Shelby and Caitlyn ... as well as my wonderful husband, Brad!)

Here is the Director's Cut. The final version may change a little but I am too excited to wait. :-D

When you watch it, click the HD button and also make it full screen. :)
 

The only decent picture Brad got of me from yesterday. He forgot to take pictures during the shoot. It must have been the excitement. Lol.


Here are a couple of pictures of me with the crew.

 
 
 
Have a great weekend!



 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Healthy Recipes

Hey, guys!
 
Here are the new healthy recipes that I tried out this month and liked.
 
Creamy Zucchini Boats - You have to really like basil; it's very strong in this recipe.
Spinach and Sun-dried Tomato Stuffed Chicken - I used low fat mozzarella and low sodium chicken stock.
Mediterranean Tortilla Pizza - I added grilled chicken to mine.
Low Fat Zucchini Bread - I used normal flour. This recipe is so much healthier than most zucchini bread recipes that are filled with tons of butter, sugar and oil. It's super-duper moist, too. I had to cook mine longer than the recipe said.
 
I'm semi-obsessed with Greek yogurt. I came up with this and love it. It's so refreshing and tastes like key lime pie (in my opinion) but is totally guilt-free.
 
Oikos Key Lime Greek Yogurt
2 Low Fat Honey Gram Cracker Sheets
 
Just break up the sheets into the yogurt and enjoy. Yum!
 
Here's another healthy salad that I ate at a restaurant and loved and now make at home:
 
Grilled chicken (I use Tyson pre-cooked grilled chicken)
Sliced strawberries
Blueberries
Blue cheese crumbles
Glazed pecans
Spring mix lettuce
Strawberry vinaigrette dressing (I found some at Walmart)
 
Add everything to taste, mix and enjoy!
 
Good eats,



 

Saturday, July 13, 2013

NFC Video Testimonal and Commercial Work

Hiya, friends!
 
Yesterday I re-shot my National Fitness Center testimonial. If you read about my last experience, then you know how awful I am in front of a camera. This time was no different. Seriously, I'm a mess. Lol. Thankfully, the people I was working with laughed with me instead of getting frustrated. :) The video editor said she would make me look great; she has some work on her hands. :-P We'll see how it turns out. Of course, I'll share it with you all when I get it.
 
I also found out I'll be shooting my 'Nike-style' commercial on the 25th. Thankfully, it was a voiceover and I don't have to memorize anything or try to talk in front of a camera again. I recorded the voiceovers in the studio and that went pretty flawlessly. They might use them on the radio as well as in the commercial. When the commercial is all done and ready, I'll also share it with you all. I'm sure I'll write a blog about the commercial shoot, too.
 
Here are a few pictures Brad took on his cell yesterday (I look like a ghost because those lights are SO bright):




 
Have a great weekend!
 
Much love,

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Monthly Weight Loss and Pictures

Hey, guys!
 
This morning I weighed-in at 161. I gained 1.2 lbs this month but lost 1.25 inches overall. My weight has been fluctuating a ton the last couple of weeks. Mostly because I've been eating so much watermelon (I'm addicted!) and drinking a lot of water because of the heat. I can seriously gain or lose 2+ lbs in a day. Hopefully I'll be in the 150s again next month.
 
I never got to workout until the 17th of this month because we were in Ohio visiting family and then I wasn't feeling that great. My body has been seriously fighting against me but I'm a fighter and I've been fighting through it the last couple of weeks at the gym. I know that because of how I've been feeling, even though I'm working out really hard, that it's not always as hard as I used to workout but I'm doing the best I can. I'm trying to live one day at a time knowing that God's grace is sufficient for today and that His power is made perfect in my weakness. Thank you to everyone who has been keeping me in their prayers, by the way; I really appreciate it.
 
 
 
In other news, yesterday was my 26th birthday! :-D I can't believe that I'm over halfway through my 20s; life goes by so quickly! I'm so thankful to God for having blessed me with another year of life. We had stuff we had to do yesterday and so we celebrated my birthday today. We went to The Cheesecake Factory. It just opened days ago in Knoxville. I LOVE this restaurant! I have wanted them to open one here ever since I went to one in Florida. Then we went to see World World Z; Brad and I REALLY liked it! Brad bought me some daisies, a balloon, a sweet card and a gift certificate for $20 worth of cupcakes, cookies or whatever I want at a local bakery. He told me I'd love my gift but hate it at the same time and now I understand why. :-P
 
 
 
Blessings,
 
 

Friday, June 21, 2013

My Favorite Healthy Grab-and-Eat Snacks

Hey, Loves!
 
I don't have any new healthy recipes to share with you guys since I haven't made any new ones this month. So, I decided to share my favorite healthy grab-and-eat snacks with you. :)
 
Emerald Sweet & Salty Mixed Nut Blend (PB&J flavor)
 
Dried Roasted Seaweed Snacks (You can find them in different flavors. I really like the cheddar and honey dijon kind that I buy at Walmart.)
 
Flavored Greek Yogurt
 
Mini Babybel Cheese
 
Pretzel Crisps

Different flavors of hummus with fresh veggies

Wheat Thins (The honey roasted are amazing!)
 
Baked White Cheddar Cheetos
 
Baked Regular Cheetos

SunChips
 
Sugar Snap Peas (They're great if you're craving something crunchy or sweet.)
 
Organic Blue Corn Chips with Salsa

Annie's Organic White Cheddar Bunnies

Wasabi Peas

Honey Maid Low-Fat Honey Grahams

Orville Redenbacher's Smartpop Butter Single Serve Bags with Kernel Season's Popcorn Spritzer Butter and Kernel Season's White Cheddar Popcorn Seasoning. (They have other flavors if you don't like white cheddar.)
 
Also, this time of year I eat a ton of watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple, peaches, plums, strawberries, etc. You can't go wrong snacking on fresh fruits and veggies!
 
Until next time,
 
 
 
PS: Happy first day of summer!  :-D
 

Friday, May 31, 2013

Monthly Weight Loss and Pictures

Hey, everyone.
 
This morning I weighed in at 159.8. I lost 3.4 lbs this month and 2.75 inches overall. I'm excited to finally be in the 150s!
 
The last couple of weeks I haven't been able to workout because of some health issues. I don't feel comfortable talking about them on here right now, especially since I'm not even sure exactly what's going on yet. I even had to quit my job. Needless to say, what I'm going through right now is really scary and I could really use your prayers. I don't know when I'll be able to go to the gym again; I pray it's soon.
 
Brad, Oopsie and I are going to Ohio to visit family June 3rd-10th. Even though I'm not feeling well he thinks it's best for me to go to try to get my mind off of things.
 
Thanks in advance for your prayers.
 

 
God bless,