Weight Loss Woes

As many of you know, my weight has been a yo-yo through the years.
Growing up, I was always thin, thanks to a little-know disease called Celiac Sprue. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 19. Although, I loved being thin, I hated the side effects it brought from eating the wrong foods, nausea, vomiting, diarrea, sweats, shaking, stomach bloating, fatigue..the list goes on an on. I realized the other day, that I did just the best that I could with the situation. Sure people thought it was all in my head, or I had a nervous stomach, but they were wrong.
Did it interrupt my life? Most certainly. Not being able to travel, missing days of work, making plans with friends, and having to cancel. It was just SO frustrating. Fast forward 20 years, a gluten-free lifestyle, and here I am healthier, but heavier also. I love to bake. it is so calming to me. The smell wafting from the oven...my snacks were my little Saviors.
About October I started to see that I needed to make some changes in my life. One of which was to stop drinking Cokes. I'm not gonna lie, it was hard. Doing that one little thing helped me to start looking at what all that sugar was doing to me...making me more hungry! It took about 2 weeks for the headaches to stop also. I was a grouch! I started eliminating a few things out of my diet, higher fat snacks like potato chips and cheese. Starting eating healthier things like fruit, oatmeal for breakfast, and eating almonds for snack. I tried to exercise, but that has just never been my thing. Since October, I have lost 20 pounds, but now I am at a stalemate. I must lose 20 more pounds. I have to go back to the gym. This is the hard part. Although I love how I feel after a workout, I do not enjoy the soreness the next day. Being married to a Physical Therapist really helps though. Derek makes me stretch on the ball, and works out the kinks with massage, when I need him too. He is such a blessing.
Im curious, those of you that actually read my blog, what has been the most successful thing you have done, to help you to become a healthier person?

Hugs...Amy

Time Marches on...

I just can't seem to keep up with everything...I am shocked to see it has been 2 months since my last post! I am so happy it is March. Such a great time of renewal. Some of my bulbs are already popping through the ground here in Utah. Don't worry, a late snowstorm will come and kill evey blooming thing! lol...that's why I dont plant my garden until after May 15th.

Derek and I have been busy on house projects. We have repainted our bedroom to a light grey color called Wordly Grey(SW),set up the front room as an office, instead of a playroom, and have solved the mystery of the vanishing hot water, by finally fixing out hot water heater. We also cleaned out and organized the basement. Guess these were all things we could do in the dead of winter, but I am so looking forward to getting the garden area tilled up again, and starting our seeds inside, at the end of this month.

My mom and Dad are coming for a visit mid-May, and she will help me plant the front beds for the summer months ahead. Can I say how much I love having a Master Gardner for a Mother?

As far as life in general, Derek is still working at IHC, but I am taking a much needed break from work. I have been watching children in my home, but a good friend of mine was needing some income, so we worked it out. She is now watching the children I had before. I also took Jake out of Preschool(the last two months were mostly fluff(field trips and stuff). Figured I could save myself some money, and just take all my kids to see the really cool stuff! Looks like tomorrow we may be heading up to Salt Lake to go to the Hogle Zoo, and see the This is the Place monument.
There are so many family things to do here in Utah. We are kinda spoiled!

In April we have Derek's annual mission reunion up in Idaho...can't wait to see all my buds again.

Happy Spring!