Monthly Archives: September 2017

Today we decided to hit up a local thrift store. It’s slowly becoming my new shopping wonderland. But that’s not the point of this post.

I just realized something amazing today. I can shop anywhere. I don’t have to worry if they carry plus sizes, I don’t have to worry that my size will be picked over. Because I can shop anywhere.

Another thing I realized this year is that Halloween is going to be fun. You see when your bigger your costume choices are limited at best but I walked into the thrift store and realized I can try on 90% of these costumes and they will fit! I can be whatever I want to be this year while trick or treating with the kids I don’t have to be limited to the few costumes that will fit me. The kids and I got a little excited in the thrift store and decided we needed to think our costume choices over before deciding what we will be. So in a few weeks I look forward to showing you all what I’ve chosen.

Oh by the way I didn’t leave the store without anything. I ended up finding an amazing jacket which is a good thing cause my old one doesn’t fit anymore.  I was also very very excited to find a pair of rain pants so I can take the kids to the park during our raining months and join in on the fun this year instead of staying indoors.

Some days I am amazed at how much I didn’t realize what I was missing at my heaviest weight. I mean I knew I was missing out on things but I no longer take anything for granted from being able to hike and play in the rain with the kids to finding clothing I like instead of what fits. I am now living my life to the full!

Why is it that after a long weekend the first day back to reality is crazy packed! Tomorrow we are officially back to homeschooling. I have some appointments and we have an annual not back to school picnic we might be attending and or a playdate. Oh and did I mention yet that we are having a heat wave? But don’t worry I’m not letting that derail my healthy eating plans. Instead I took about 20 minutes today and got myself organized. For breakfast we will be eating some savoury breakfast cookies. For lunch I boiled some ham,cut and packed some cheese, packed the kids some crackers and myself some sliced peppers. I also knew that since we will basically be gone all day tomorrow I won’t want to make supper so I’ve defrosted some leftover meatballs that I will serve with some veggies. It took me 20 minutes to get all organized that’s it. Snacks are going to be some yogurts and fruit, hummus and veggies. I even packed some extra tuna packs and crackers in case the kids or I am extra hungry. I say it took me 20 minutes but it probably didn’t even take me that long. The thing that took the longest to do was cooking the ham and I did the dishes while boiling it so I was pulling double duty 🙂

As far as working out I think I will be doing enough running around that I won’t even need to worry about it. If I get a workout in then I will take it if not no big deal.

If you’ve been following me for a while you know I’ve had weight loss surgery. The gastric sleeve to be exact. One of the many phrases I heard when I was thinking about having surgery was your taking the easy way out. Well I am here to tell you that 20 months post surgery it is definitely not the easy way out. Nor is it the solution to having that perfect weight.

Now let me explain myself before I upset anyone. I would do the surgery again in a heartbeat I have zero regrets about having surgery. I’ve had my ups and downs dealing with some acid reflux issues and some vitamin issues, but I love the skin I’m in and that is priceless. What I mean when I say it’s not the easy way out or the solution to the perfect weight is this. Your surgery is a tool, you have to use it wisely. In the honeymoon phase after surgery you never think of food or have cravings. At about the one year mark you start to be able to eat more and you have to deal with those emotions, trust me you will have thoughts and emotions on this. Am I eating too much?  What should my calorie goal be? Am I eating enough protein? Have I stretched my pouch? All these questions will cross your mind. Now listen to me carefully when these questions and thoughts come to you reach out to a fellow weight loss surgery buddy, your medical team or join an online or in person support group. I have seen men and women let these thoughts derail their progress and brought them back to old habits resulting in weight gain.

Also this tool does not guarantee that the weight will stay off forever. It’s can’t slap the food out of your hand. You need to stay in tune with your body and recognize your hunger vs your thirst or your full vs it’s really good. Some say you can’t stretch your pouch and others swear you can. Since I’m not a medical professional I can’t comment on if it can be stretched. I can however say that What I could eat before surgery, after surgery and now are all very different. I can no longer eat the quantities of food prior to surgery but I can graze which can cause weight gain.

I will forever be food journalling and working out. I will never be able to outrun my fork but I will forever be grateful for the tools my medical team and surgeon has given me.

Here’s some picture of my progress

Before surgery

Me last august

Me this summer 🙂

So I have been challenging myself to empty the freezer, but I am calling it quits. Why? Well because apparently this frugal mama can’t walk away from good sales on proteins. Last week I purchased 10lbs of butcher quality lean ground beef, chicken drumsticks and ground sausages that were all on sale. You see I have always been the type of person to stock up while the budget is good for weeks when the budget isn’t so great.

After buying all that meat you would think I would be done shopping right? Wrong I then went down to the states ( Hello Bellingham, WA) and I couldn’t resist a few deals there either I mean cottage cheese for 1,77$, cream cheese for 1,77$, milk for 1,99$ all these things we go thru regularly!

So what now to continue talking about my weight loss journey? Well I’m going to still share with you some recipes I’m making for my family as well as my workout routine and my daily life as a homeschooling mama.

So with that I am off to get some rest and enjoy what’s left of my holiday long weekend 🙂