Well, THAT Didn't Happen

I knew losing 40 pounds by my 40th birthday was a LOFTY goal. But I figured I needed something to reach for, and 40 by 40 had a nice ring to it.

My 40th birthday was last fall and although I didn't make it to my lofty 148 pound goal, I'm okay with that and still plugging along.

I'm currently 162 pounds and moving more and eating less with most passing weeks. 

Do you have any goals you didn't reach, but haven't given up on?

Alan snapped this picture after dinner the other night, so much going on in this kitchen that makes me smile.

To see where this journey started in January 2011 click here. And for the June 2011 update click here.

40 by 40, an update!

Back in January I told you guys how much I weigh.  And how I plan to lose 40 pounds before I turn 40 in September.  Actually, I told you I wanted to do it but didn't really tell you about my plan.


Because I DIDN"T HAVE ONE!  Other than giving Chloe piggy back rides, nursing Rachel and giggling with Noah, I had no plan.

I have been shuffling along making small changes in my eating.  For instance, I have a new rule.  No eating food off the kids' plates during clean up unless it's a fruit or a vegetable.  Embarrassing, I know.  Who needs a rule for such things?

This month I have started walking.  No more excuses. When I get the least amount of motivation I grab the kids and we go around the big block.  We call the walk out our neighborhood and down to the corner and back around to the other entrance "the big block."  I think it's just under a mile.  And it's totally doable without excuses like:  I'm not wearing socks, I need a jog bra, it's too hot, etc.  I can think up lots more excuses but this walk takes 15 or 20 minutes TOPS and that's with two little kids on bikes with training wheels and me pushing the jogger (which works great for herding little ones across the street.)

This morning I did a 5k, the same one I walked last year and finished 5 minutes faster.  Yeah me!  My friend Kathy ran and finished even faster :)

I started off at 188 and I am thrilled to tell you I am down to 172! 

I have also started following the #SexyBack11 health challenge on Twitter and they are full of motivation and tips.  Loving this community!

Baby Weight

Here's the thing.  With very few breaks, I have been pregnant or nursing since August 2005.  Wow.

Noah was born in 2006, Chloe in 2008 and Rachel in 2010.

What I'm tryin' to tell you is, I've got a few pounds to lose.  (By the way, Rachel is asleep in my arms as I type this and she just sleep laughed and it was the sweetest little thing.)

I get big, really big when I'm pregnant.  Like, a fat roll on the back of my neck big.  Like, my fingers look like hot dogs big.  Like, people constantly ask me if I'm having twins big. Here, I'll prove it:

I was just 33 weeks along in this picture.  That's Myra from My Blessed Life AND also from her beautiful new blog The Casabella Project. This was the last night of The Relevant Conference and we were taking pictures like it was the last day of school.
 
With each pregnancy I gained 45 pounds.  And I didn't care because I was making a baby and I was so excited to be a Mama.

So far, I have lost 22 pounds without trying.  I am already down to a svelte 188 lbs, and my baby is just 6 weeks old.  Yes, people you can do the math and see that I was 210 lbs when I gave birth.  And it wasn't much weight from said baby:

This fall I am turning 40 and we are thinking about taking our very first cruise.  I would love to be in ship shape {hardy, har, har} for both of those events!

So, I tell you what I'm gonna do.  I'm gonna lose 40 lbs by the time I turn 40.

And I hate to exercise and I love to eat.  Let's do this thing!