30 Day Shred

day 9. 
As exercise 1 continues to get easier I continue to see a difference in the way I look and feel. I hate working out. I hate getting sweaty and I hate the way I jiggle when I do jumping jacks. I hate the jiggle the most. Therefore I will continue to workout and and sweat until the only things on my body that jiggle are the ta-tas (sorry mom).

 

I did something awesome yesterday. I made it through all the cardio circuits without having to stop and catch my breath. I'm pretty sure my text to Brady read something like this, "Dude. I am so freakin skinny. And awesome. Mostly awesome." In real life I stripped down to my sports bra, closed my eyes, and uttered "I'm gonna die" about 3456247542 times from the floor.

 

The floor is my new bff. I spend lots of time there.

 

Then Avey started fussing so I got off the floor and we did this:

 
Last night Brady asks, "Is that a photo of you nursing?"
Brit: Yeah-huh.
Brady: Why?
Brit: Because it's a beautiful thing and I don't want to forget it so I took a picture.

Yup. Pretty sure he thinks I'm nuts. Honestly 4 months ago I would have thought the same but we worked hard for that. Breastfeeding is NOT easy when you have a baby that was bottle fed straight out of the womb. There were many tears shed and I want to remember what we achieved. I can't really explain it. I used to think breastfeeding (lets count how many times I mention boobs in this post) was kinda icky. I used to wish that there were laws that prevented women from being able to do it in public. Now I realize just how silly I was. It is so far from icky.

It's kinda awesome.


pizza.
I'm really enjoying "skinny" food. I really haven't had many problems with temptation because I spoil myself with things like:

Greek Pizza!







Recipe
1 pizza crust (homemade or store boughtyou can have whatever you like)
2 big handfuls of spinach
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
salt and pepper
nutmeg, to taste
1 cup feta cheese crumbles
1/2 of a tomato
oregano

1. In a large skillet saute the garlic and onions until tender. About 3-4 minutes. 
2. Add spinach to the garlic and onions and wilt. 
3. Season with salt, pepper, and a little bit of nutmeg.
4. Top the pizza crust with the spinach mixture then top that with the feta. 
5. Place pizza in oven and bake according to the directions on crust. 
6. When the pizza comes out of the oven top with tomatoes, oregano, and black pepper. 

I Love It Already

hot.

There was no winter. I think we experienced about a week of Spring and now Texas is running at a toddler sprint-- face first-- into summer. I'm dreading it already. Texas summers are the pits. 

This weekend we donned our bathing suits and took a trip (5 minutes) over to my parents house. We lathered up good, blew up Aveys floaty, and marched out to the swimming pool ready for a refreshing dip. I had the camera all ready to take glorious pictures of Aveys first swim.

The water was frigid. Ice bath frigid. Arctic ocean frigid. Too cold for momma=too cold for baby. We dipped her feet in and her eyes started to water and her chin started to quiver and that bottom lip came out. Back inside we went. 

Avey sure did like licking the sunscreen off her hands. Yum!

blue ridge.
Yesterday was inspection day. Brady got off work and we took a trip out to Blue Ridge to meet the inspectors and to get a report on what we're getting ourselves into with the piece of property we want to purchase.







Everything checked out! There were a couple little things here and there but nothing that isn't typical for a 9 year old home. We feel confident in moving forward.

Reader meet our (probably/maybe/hopefully)soon-to-be new home!

We will be living in unit b (the side without the truck). 

After doing a walk through I convinced Brady to take me on a tour of the town. There were 4 churches on the same street and little boys running around without their t-shirts on--perfect.



There is a little park around the corner from the house and baseball fields right behind it.

The grocery store is also within walking distance. Oh the benefits of a small town!

Fire Department.

The only place to get food besides the grocery.

Brady is going to kiss me here someday.

Where I'll go to get my hair did.

City Hall.

I love it already.

30 Day Shred

day 8.
Since Sunday is our sabbath I decided to take a day of rest so this is my 8th day of the shred.



The day I started the shred I sat down and wrote out a couple goals--

1. I want to lose at least 3 lbs a week.
2. I want to lose at least 50 lbs by July 20th (Kyle and Sarahs Wedding).
3. I want to lose 85-100 lbs total.
4. I want to complete the 30 Day Shred.

Thus far I am doing swimmingly. I've lost 8.4 lbs in 8 days.

The day that I finish the shred I am going to go with my sister to get fitted for our bridesmaids dresses. I figured that was good incentive.

In my 38th week of pregnancy I weighed 260 lbs. That is the absolute heaviest I've ever been and ever want to be. I dropped 40 lbs real quick-- over a couple weeks after I gave birth. I was stuck at 220-- until last Sunday-- for months.

I am excited to say that I weighed in at 211.4 this morning.

I am doing the shred and I am watching my calories. A great way to track meals, exercise, and progress  is myfitnesspal.com. I am a believer. 

Everyday the shred gets a little easier and I see improvements in my endurance. I have never stuck with a diet/exercise program for over a week.

Pathetic, right?

I've always wanted to cheat because the limits I put on myself were unrealistic. Fad diets don't work for me. Real life, real food, and healthy choices work for me. The shred kicks my butt. I don't want to undo the hard work I just put in for a midnight snack or a bag of cheetos. Nuh-uh. The exercise program keeps me motivated to continue to make the healthy choices.

But if I feel like I need something... I have it. In moderation and an amount that is modest and appropriate. I ate ice cream three times this week. A tiny scoop in a tiny condiment dish but that is all I needed.

This isn't a diet. It is a lifestyle change. 80/20. As long as I eat right 80% of the time the other 20% covers the cheats and my need to make sopapilla cheesecake, salted chocolate pretzel toffee and black bottom cupcakes.

Though I didn't make anything like that this week.

Progress.

Grow Together Or Apart

There is something sacred about the darkness, the stillness, and the silence that comes with night time. Brady and I lay together as close as we can get in the quite-- whispering things about our day, our dreams--tomorrow. I always want to have this time with him. Night time.



I will purpose my days to give him my nights.



I thought I was in love when we got married but if that was love than this is so so much more than love.



There is no piece of me that is hidden from him. He has seen it all. More than I was comfortable with at times but all nonetheless. The most affirming experience of my life was when he vowed to take the bad--the ugly--the not nice stuff--not just so he could get the good-- but because he wanted it. He was jealous for it. Because it was a part of me.



And any part of me to him is exquisitely good.



He is the strongest, kindest, gentlest human being I've ever known. No one compares. There is no competition. There is no doubt in my mind that every piece of him was made for every piece of me. He complements my madness. He thinks I'm hilarious. He likes what I look like without makeup. He likes to pepper kisses all over my face.



He gives me so much more than I deserve. Brady lays down his life for me like Christ laid down his life for the church. He continually sacrifices his wants and needs to serve me, to please me, to show me love in the most tangible and intangible ways.



It is my deepest hope that one day he can say that I've given him just as much life as he's given me.



One of my darkest moments was the day Avey was born. Getting wheeled in for a c-section after having meticulously planned an all natural birth and finding out that our baby was sick. That we weren't going to be able to take her home with us-- she wasn't even allowed to stay in the same room as us-- we had to leave and she had to stay.



He was there for the ugly tears. He was there for the showers that I was too weak to take by myself. He was there to wedge himself into a twin size hospital bed with me because I needed to be held. He was there to help me get to the bathroom because I couldn't do it by myself. He wheeled me to and from the nicu a million times. He reminded me to eat. He made a breast pumping schedule and cleaned all the little pieces after every use. Massaged tired muscles, refilled my water cup 1235983209581 times, held my hand, delivered milk to the nicu at 2am, and told me that everything was going to be okay--until I believed him.



We had the choice to grow together or grow apart. He didn't hesitate and neither did I.



The way he loved me during that time was so healing.

I am excited for our future and where we're heading. I know that no matter what comes my way I'll be able to face it with him by my side. God blessed me with such an incredible gift and I am so thankful.

Zebra Day

today.
There is something about Saturday that makes me want to pack my bags, run out the door and do something crazy. This morning I begged Brady to travel with me to the ocean but he said it was too far.



We looked for a lake but it's just not the same. I told him we should jump in the car and drive to Oklahoma. Surprise his Mom. See his Dad. He didn't think it was the best idea.





All day long I dreamed about all the things I would be doing if I lived near the ocean or the mountains or anywhere that wasn't an apartment complex, really.



I can't wait to close on our new home in Blue Ridge. It's going to be so nice to have a yard to work in and a porch to sit on. I can't wait to paint the walls and make pizza in a kitchen that has a counter big enough to turn out dough.





I really don't require much. I'm super low maintenance, I go with the flow, there isn't much that I need to be happy. Guitar? Check! Social networking? Check! Wonderful husband and baby? Check! I'm pretty content. Except for Saturdays. On Saturday I want more.



The more I wanted today was eventually satisfied with a trip to Palio's.

It's the little things that keep me going.





My sister was waiting and she gave us a sweet discount (thanks Bethany!).



A sweet discount and free ice cream.



Brady thought it was the best day ever.



I thought it was pretty great too.