I hit my first 30 lbs today so I figured it was time for a Hip hip hooray.

It is so crazy. I had really started to slack off again and things went downhill quickly. I gained all of my weight back and I mean all of it to the same high I was a year ago and said I would never hit again. I really didn't like myself at all and crawled back into my shell of none existence. I stopped calling friends again, I became the unhappy mom, my girls really suffered from this down fall but then Boyd made the stupidest comment and it totally hit home. I think I have always felt like I fail at everything because I never finish things. (Ok, so this is not entirely true but we only see the worst in ourselves.) I know I have set myself up for failure every single time I have tried to get rid of these dreaded pounds since I got married. I am not ready to share all the facts, once I hit my goal it will be a huge accomplishment but until then let's just say I had put on way too much weight. I refused to put on a size 20 though I really had to stuff myself into a size 18 pant. This was not something I would have ever thought possible as a thin teen. I really had it easy then but I think that that was a curse because I never had to learn how to eat healthy and take care of myself physically. I ate what I wanted and didn't gain a pound. Then PCOS hit me with a bang and I gained 50 pounds right after I got married and the weight continued to creep on.

Anyway back to my excitement of what I have accomplished. In the last month I have worked my fanny off and lost 30 pounds and have dropped to a pants size 12 or 14 depending on the brand but the 12's are becoming more of a regular thing. And all of this because Boyd told me that I have finished a lot of books. I know, I know not much of a statement but you have to realize that I was at an all time low and not really thinking clearly. The very next day I started taking TAIslim again, started doing the South Beach diet since this is what my OB said was the way I should eat for the rest of my life with PCOS, and started working out every day. I can now run 3 miles and have shaved 5 minutes off of my mile. I started at 15 minute miles but this is after being in such bad shape that I hadn't been able to make a half mile run without walking in between.

I think the best part of this whole experience is that I know that I am well on the way to finishing the race. (as well as being a good mom once again.) I now allow myself bad days, even bad weeks, but I get right back on and go strong. I have also realized that sugar makes me really sick so although I do allow days of indulgence I pay the price the next so it is becoming much easier to just not have things I shouldn't. I have begun doing research on line for new recipes and like always enjoy trying new things. You learn to get very creative. My new favorite breakfast is scrambled eggs with cottage cheese mixed in. I know it sounds gross but it is really satisfying.

Now, I don't have to ask if "these jeans make my butt look fat?" because well, they are really starting to make it look cute. And just you wait until the end. It is funny how weight works. Last year when I lost 40 pounds I felt great, was 10 pounds less than now, but I couldn't fit into the two pair of goal pants that I had hanging in my closet as a constant reminder.... I can now wear both pair, I wore one a pair of board shorts to the pool today and the other a really cute pair of capris that Cindy gave me a few days ago to work. What a sense of accomplishment. I guess I need to go get another pair to keep working toward. This time I will get my ultimate goal size an 8 and keep those in site.

Have an amazing evening, I am going to go enjoy some time with the fam since I don't have to work tonight and Boyd should be walking in the door any second.

Happy Days are on the Way

It is amazing how things change. I have been so stressed out with finances and everything else in the last few months and now all of a sudden things are looking up. Boyd is finally getting a raise that is fair and I am working so we will finally be able to get our priceless but very expensive daughter paid off. Heck, isn't it normal to still be paying for your seven year old? I started working on Saturday and though it is a change and will be tough at times it is a great change. I have been feeling like I am not contributing to the family. Ok, bad words for a mom that works 24/7, but sometimes you just feel so complacent and like things are just on a stand still. I am so grateful that I have been able to stay home with the girls for the last seven years and wouldn't change a thing but I think it will be a sense of pride to be able to say that I am doing something to help out with the finances and with my own growth. I will be working four days a week at night and it is fortunate that Boyd works for such a small dealership because I will be able to drop the girls off for an hour twice a week and he is off one of the times so Saturdays are the only day that he will not be with them. I was asking Aspen if she is glad that I work at nights and she said yes because she likes having that special time with her daddy. It will be interesting though over the next week and a half because Aspen will be starting school on Monday and Boyd will be the one getting the girls ready for the nighttime routine. Aspen and Emma will go to opening ceremonies Monday and then the kindergartners will be testing at some point next week. Emma will then start school on the 31st. I also was fortunate enough to finally find a preschool for Dylan she will be going to school three days a week. What am I going to do when all three of my girls are in school. It is so crazy to see how much things have changed. I have been home almost all day with three girls with minor breaks (am kindergarten and two days of preschool) to Aspen in school all day, Emma in am k, and Dylan in three days of preschool.

I guess there are absolutely no excuses for not getting my workouts in. I actually have only had three days off in the last four weeks and most of those have included some form of activity. Man, my lifestyle has really taken a change since moving to Bountiful. I finally have realized that the headaches I have suffered from for the last oh.... let's not say years and age myself.... since I was five are brought on by sugar. WHO'd HAVE THUNK? My dad, he told me to limit them several times over the years. I don't have the sever headaches when I don't have sugar and when I take a break and do I pay the price for the next few days. I have learned to make some pretty interesting food options. I have found a pretty good recipe for egg buns. Ok, so it taste nothing like real bread but when you don't get a headache from them it is worth it. I made the best burger with onions and mushrooms on one the other day and as long as you haven't had bread for several days it is heavenly.

Well, I have been really taking care of myself and am gradually getting to my weight goals. I am hoping to reach it by my 35th (there it is:)) birthday so I have about three months to reach it. I want to have this year be the start of the best years of my life...

I had better go I have a lot to get done and have to get to the gym before too late. Boyd will be walking in the door any minute and if we want to do a family activity before I leave for work at 5 then I had better get on the ball.

Have an amazing day.

Wow It's Been A While

Well, I finally have internet for the first time in two months and it is great. A lot has happened since then. We moved to Bountiful, I got a job, and am now working hard again on getting into top shape. I have lost 25 lbs and am on my way to my goal. I hope to make it by my 35th birthday. I want to be older and wiser and in the best shape of my life. Things are turning around for the better in the Halvorsen household. I have lots to do but wanted to say hi once again as I am starting to get things up and running again.

TGIFriday... I am so ready

Well, things just keep getting crazier and crazier in the Halvorsen household. I am waiting for details on when we are going to move but in the meantime I am working on getting things going with Pampered Chef, my workout sessions, and life in general. I feel so much better about myself these days and am so ready to move on to bigger and better things.

Aspen will be finished with Kindergarten next week and I am so ready for it to be over with. She is suffering from Summer Fever and just doesn't want to cooperate in the mornings. Granted I don't blame her. I am just ready to have a bit of a break from getting her to school. It is just not worth the struggle anymore. We will miss her school next year though. Bluff Ridge has been amazing and I have loved Mrs. Henderson. I, however, cannot wait to move into our new house, get organized at last, and just move on to our new life. I am really liking the positive changes I am making but just want to be settled in not in the state of utter caous that I feel like I am living in with moving boxes surrounding me and the endless stacks of stuff.... My goodness where did it all come from.

I better go get my workout in before more boxes come my way so that I can get more packed. Eek. Will the stuff ever disappear. Have an amazing weekend.

Happy Wednesday

Good Morning. I decided that I would take the time to get on and type a message today since it has been much too long. With move approaching me at the speed of light and everything else involved with being a mom I just haven't had the me time I would like to do things like this. Plus, I have started selling Pampered Chef again because well, I love the stuff and it was a great outlet for me. My adorable lil' Sis Heidi is hosting a party for me tomorrow and I am sooo excited. It is going to be so much fun. We are doing a Power Cooking party which allows the hose to have two freezer meals at the end of the night and possibly three depending on if there are leftovers after the guests leave. It is going to be a blast and I can't wait to get together with her and enjoy a day of catching up.

I have been working out hard again and have lost 4 1/2 pounds this week. It feels great and I am determined to not slack off again. I need to put my needs at the top of the priority list again. Here we are finishing up the school year and everything else so it is a great time to make the changes I need to make.

A Beautiful Day for Walking

Today I met my awesome friend Donna at the Legacy Parkway Trail and we walked 4 miles without kids. This was a lot of fun and a great break. I have been so extremely busy getting ready for my move that I just forget to get on here and don't have time for enjoying things like this very often these days.

Donna has started using TAIslim and loves how it makes her feel. It is crazy how much better something so simple can make you feel. She looks awesome already but all of us see the flaws in ourselves so if she can make the positive changes that make her feel the way she wants then what more can you ask for.

Well, I had better get back to work. I can't wait to be in my new house and have my life back. Hope everyone is well.

Hello Again... One day I will be back for real

Life in the Halvorsen home has been insane. Our move has changed which gives me more time to get ready but it is sad to think that I still have to wait another 8 weeks. I just can't wait to get into my new pretty house up on the mountain side. I might just have to sing "The Hills are Alive...."

I have been working on getting ready for a yard sale and today was the big day.... the big day for rain that is. I got up at 3, got everything ready to go on my lawn and driveway and just as I thought I was ontop of it.... the rains came tumbling down in full force. It didn't end so at 8:30 shivering as I was I decided to pack it up and postpone until next weekend.

Now I look outside and it has finally stopped raining but you know what it is just not worth the trouble, besides the serious shoppers would be done by now anyway.

I think that my cute little Dylan is finally healthy again. Man, it has been a tough month. She just couldn't get over the crummy stuff that had attacked her at full force. She has put her weight back on and is starting to be her little independent self again.

I ran a couple of times this week, but really need to get on the ball if I am going to do the race in August. I need to make the time for myself but with Boyd working so many hours it is hard to get that time in there. I guess if I wanted to go running at 9:30 at night it would work out just fine but after a full day of dealing with my great little troublemakers I just don't always want to leave the house that late at night.

I am trying to think of what recipe to offer tonight..... hmmm. I got it let me see if I can find it and if so you are in for a pleasant taste of the South.

Darn, I will have to look some more and if I can get back on here today I will add it. It is a favorite of mine. It makes my lips water just thinking about it.... No, I will not give away the secret.

Gotta run, literally, I am going to go get my workout in now before I get too tired after my lack of sleep from last night. Have a great one and I will come back to you soon. Hopefully tomorrow but no later than Monday. I will do my best to find my recipe for Yum Yum Ribs (ok, so I can't remember the real name, but as long as you use ribs without much fat, these are not very high in calories.)

Adios, Amigos and Amigas.....