About Moi

About Moi
My Name is Brittany, and I'm 23yrs old. I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was 15, and then diagnosed with RA, when I was 18. I also got married when I was 18, and I'm enjoying my happily ever after with my hubby! When I got married, I was slim and trim...But not for long. After getting married, I started to gain a LOT of weight! In 1yr, I gained 50lbs! Finally, I went to the Doctor, where I discovered I have low thyroid. After being put on medicine, my weight gain slowed down, although over the next 3yrs, I gained an additional 26lbs. When I was 20yrs old, I got yet another diagnoses of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. That's 4 diagnoses in a 5yr period, if you lost count. They all effect my weight, in one way or another. Add on top of that, my love affair with food, and every 1 of those 76lbs gained was accounted for. Being 76lbs over weight is unhealthy for anyone, but it was especially unhealthy for me, and my health issues. Since starting this blog, in Jan-2010, I have lost 40lbs! I'm a new, slimmer, and healthier me! Before losing weight, I was told I needed knee replacements. Losing weight was the ONLY tool I had to help me hold off on that life changing surgery. Since losing 40lbs, my knees have never felt better! My husband and I are also trying to start a family, but my PCOS was not going to make it as easy as 1,2,3, as I didn't have periods on my own. My doctor had told me if I wanted a baby, I HAD to lose weight. Since losing 40lbs, I've had regular cycles for the first time in my life! Which is very important when trying to have a baby ;) This journey of mine is more than me simply wanting to wear skinny jeans. It has been a quest to becoming :Deliciously Healthy, so ALL of my dreams can come true! I'm almost half way there! With each new day, I get closer and closer to my goal of 120lbs, and becoming :Deliciously Healthy!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

My exciting new YOUTUBE adventure!

It's been 6 months since my last blog post???!
I could have lost 60 pounds in that amount of time.

This is how I calculate time in my life. By pounds.

This little blog had such a huge impact on my life when I first started it. More then I thought it would. Your support, and getting to know people from all over, with my same goals, motivated and inspired me. Not to mention held me accountable. Which was huge. But somewhere along the way, I felt less and less creative with this little blog of mine. But I held on to it by a thread, because my blog holds a special place in my heart ;)

I've wanted to start a YOUTUBE channel for a couple of years now, but I just thought it was something I couldn't do. Until I heard a quote that pretty much changed ma whole life. "If your dreams don't scare you, you're not dreaming big enough." Couple that with YOLO, and I decided to take the leap, and stop letting fear be road block in my life.

It's been a couple months, and I have been having so much fun with it! It's also reignited my love and excitement for this weight loss blog of mine. I'm hoping to give it a nice little overhaul, to bring it up to date to where I'm at in my life, right now. Just as soon as I figure out how to do so ;)

Here are some of my recent uploads:
Weight loss/life update:

Spring Makeup Tutorial:

What's In My Bag- Travel:


Sephora Haul:

One word to describe how I feel in my life right now:
EXCITED

All caps. And in bold.


Exciting things are coming!

See you soon!

Follow my YOUTUBE channel HERE (CLICKABLE LINK)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

It's Not All About The Numbers


Tomorrow is weigh in day, and I'm actually kind of nervous. Although it's been a stellar week, it's also been one of those weeks, if ya know what I mean. I've settled nicely into my :Deliciously healthy groove again, and I am soo proud of that. It has been a long time. A really long time. I was worried not seeing a decent loss tomorrow (do to TOM) would ruin this groove I'm in. It's so hard to not let bad weigh ins get you down, especially when you've done everything right.

Then I was thinking to myself; It's not the weigh ins that I'm particularly proud of. It's my everyday decisions. Every time I pass up a temptation, eat a healthy meal, work out, drink water, take my vitamins... I feel a sense of pride. I think to myself, "I'm doing this!" Those decisions are what's making me a healthier person. Those choices are what's getting me to my goal. I feel more joy when I'm making a healthy decision, then I do when I see a 1lb loss on the scale. So why let the 'numbers' get to me? Unfortunately the scale doesn't always show all of the healthy choices you've made during the week, but you're not doing it for the scale. You're doing this for you, and
YOU are changing

So In preparation for tomorrows weigh in, I decided to write down some of the healthy decisions I've made over the past week. I'm proud of those moments, and if the scale isn't going to acknowledge them, I'm just going to have to get all up in it's business, and shove those little victories of mine, in it's face ;) 

1. "Went on a walk twice a day, every day this week" They're usually about a half hour walk, so that's an hour of walking a day! It definitely helps my knees to break it up into two separate walks.

2."Didn't go to McD's when dinner was an epic fail" Butternut squash mac and cheese? No thank you! It's hard to not run for fast food when you've slaved over a healthy dinner, and it's gross, and you're starving. But I did it!

3. "Have stayed away from Halloween candy!!" That's partially because it's on top of the fridge, and I'm short, but whatever works.

4."Stayed away from all the yummy food at the church activity" And there was pasta salad y'all. Something to be proud of.

5. "Haven't eaten passed 7:30pm" A small miracle for this late night eater.

6. "Ate healthy snacks while watching a movie"

7. "Passed up all the yummy pastries at Panera Bread, and got a salad" Who am I??

8. "Haven't gone off the deep end with 'TOM' cravings" I've curbed my cravings with :Deliciously Healthy versions of comfort food, and sweets, and have been portion controlling like a boss.

9. "Started getting compliments that I look skinnier" Yay. Mostly from the hubs ;)

10. "I can see a hint of my old jawline" It's been a while.

11. "Stayed within my calories every. Single. Day!" Major pat on the back during 'TOM'. I usually eat everything in sight, and I'm not kidding. 

12. "Didn't go out to eat while I was busy running errands" It's hard to not grab a burger when you're busy and in your car all day, but I planned ahead and packed healthy snacks in my purse!

13. "Didn't dive into comfort food during stressful moments" Stressful moment + hormonal? Double whammy! But I did it!

Bring on the weigh in! I'm focusing on the positive, and I know I've got this ;)

Reaching my goal, one meal at a time.
XO

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Making Progress With The Help of A Friend- Weigh-In Day!

Last week, my friend and I decided to team up with our weight loss efforts, since we both have similar goals. Having a weight loss buddy has helped so much! I like that it's low key, yet perfectly motivating at the same time. We text each other everyday to check in, give inspiration, share meals, and whatever else we feel like talking about :) It was just the kick in the butt I needed! It helps to be held accountable, and to have someone to talk to, and get inspiration from when you're not having the best day. She has helped me stay on my diet several times.

This past Wednesday was our weigh-in day! The funny thing is that we both lost 4.6 pounds! We really did do this together, haha ;)
 Last week's weight: 204.5
This week's weight: 199.9
-4.6 pounds

My heaviest, a few months ago, was 209.9. That brings me to a grand total of 10 pounds lost so far, although it took months to get there.  I am finally back in my weight loss groove, and it's not going to take me months to lose another 10 pounds. My friend and I set a goal to lose 15 pounds by Christmas. Losing 2 pounds a week, will get me to that goal, and I know I can do it!

High 5 Moment of The Week:
(I like high 5's, k?;)

Tonight the hubs ordered pizza. I had no idea it was coming, I just walked down the stairs, and BAM, there was one fine looking pizza on the table. I wish I could say I didn't have any, but I did. Although it wasn't one of those times where I lost all control and ate half a pizza before I even realized what was happening. On Saturday, I was going to go on a date with my wonderful, pizza ordering hubby of mine, so I was saving my one off meal for the week, for that. So when the pizza came I thought about whether I wanted to use this as my off meal, or wait for Saturday. I decided eating pizza while cuddling on the sofa, and catching up on Modern Family, was the perfect kind of date. But that's not what I'm proud of... Off meals haven't always worked for me. I usually start with an off meal, and then a dessert, and then a snack, and then a whole other meal, and it continues through the next day. Before I know it, that off meal has turned into an off week! I didn't know how to shut it off. Until tonight that is. I had 2 slices of pizza, with water, and didn't have anything else for the rest of the night. Even with Halloween candy in the house! AND THEN I hoped on the treadmill and did a 20min fat burning workout! Who's awesome? Oh yes, that's me ;)

Do you have a weight loss buddy?
What's your, "High 5 Moment" this week?

Monday, November 4, 2013

It's MY Time

I seriously CANNOT believe it's November!

The past few months have been so busy, they just completely flew by.
I don't like it when time does that. It makes me feel like I'm just going to snap my fingers, and boom, I'm 60. Not that being 60 is a bad thing, but I want every day to count. I don't want them to just pass by in a blur of time. I will never get this day back again. Nor will I always be 26 years old. I need to enjoy this time in my life, right now. I need to stop saying, "Someday I'll do This...." Or "I'll be happy when..." 
 My someday is today. I will be happy and grateful with where I am in my life today, while working towards my goals and dreams for the future.

Life is too short to be slowly killing myself, with a not so healthy lifestyle. I'm in my 20's. I should feel youthful and confidant. Not tired and in baggy clothes, trying to hide my lovely lady lumps. I'm not going to spend this day making excuses, and only giving life 50%. This day is going to count.

I'm going to stop whining about the days past, and yesterday's mistakes. You can't move forward while looking in the past. I'm going to stop feeling anxious about time, and how long it's going to take to get to my goals. This is MY time. I'll greet each new day with gratitude, as I strive to do my best. 
I will get to the finish line, when I get there :)
Where are you going to be 1 month today? You can be closer to your goal, or exactly where you are now. It's completely up to you. The time is going to pass anyway, so make it count!
THIS IS YOUR TIME!!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Back From NYC


We had an amazing trip to NYC.
View from our hotel (Mandarin Oriental):

Grand Central Station:

Sailing on a 120 year old sailboat:

Getting ready in the hotel room:

Date at serendipity for frozen hot chocolate. We sat at the same table as in the movie!

Last night in NYC. My hubby took me on a very romantic date:

And then he surprised me with an in room couples massage. He's so ramantical:

 We ate lots of deliciously unhealthy food. Not even gonna lie. But I am ready and excited to get back to my goals!

Have you ever been to NYC?
What's your fav thing to do there?

Monday, July 22, 2013

There Are No Shortcuts

I've spent the last couple weeks learning this good old lesson the hard way. Why do I always choose that route?

It all started when we decided to go to NYC for our anniversary. We kept trying to think of where we wanted to go, and finally we thought, "Why go anywhere, when you can go to NYC?" So we decided that was our 8th year anniversary destination... even though we went there for our 7th anniversary ;)

So of course, I thought, "I want to be skinny for NYC!" Last time we went, I was 196. I felt fat the entire time, and I promised myself that next time we went to NYC, I'd be thinner. It was pretty frustrating knowing that I'd be going pretty much the same weight I was last time.

This is where I let the mind games start. I thought since my diet was going so well, I could kick it up a notch, and lose some serious weight before our trip. So I tried juicing for all of my meals, and when that didn't work, I tried the 17 day diet again. Even though I swore I would never, ever, ever get sucked into that silly diet. Of course, I couldn't stick to it, so I would try again the next day... but not before going to grab some grub first. It ended up being two weeks of preparing to go on a silly diet, and eating unhealthy crap in the meantime. 

DIETS DON'T WORK.
I know that. Why can't I just remember it?

Good news is, I only tried to stick to a crazy diet for 2 weeks, and only gained 2 pounds back. Unlike last time, where I tried for 6-12 months, and gained all of my weight back. 

Lesson learned. For good this time.

I'm back to living my deliciously healthy lifestyle, with a goal of losing 2 pounds a week. Slow and steady wins the race, and I'm finally okay with that. My patience will pay off when I am 160 on Christmas morning. I can't wait! I just need to focus on my goals, and stop letting silly things like trying to get skinny for a vacation, get me all flustered  and off track ;)

Monday, July 8, 2013

Sometimes, It Just Clicks

Last weeks weight: 202.5
This weeks weight: 200.2
-2.3 pounds
Goal: 2 pounds a week.
Total loss so far: 3.8 pounds

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!

We traveled to southern Colorado to visit my Cuz, and spend the holiday with her charming family.
I wasn't as good as I wanted to be on my diet, but I didn't do horribly either. We were there for 2 days, so luckily it didn't mess up my week of healthy living too much. I was doing great on my diet before we left, and I got right back on track as soon as we got home.

That's weird. I never do that.

I always laugh at myself, because I usually do the best on my diet, right before a vaca. Probably because I'm trying to lose weight for that specific trip. And then I do horribly when I get back from vacation. Example: That NYC trip we took back in September? Yeah that screwed me up until now. It's okay, you can laugh. So you understand my amazement at how quickly I got back into the groove when we got back from this trip.

For whatever reason, it's just clicking this time around. Don't get me wrong, it is HARD sometimes. Straight up. Like on Saturday when my hubby ordered a pizza (he's supportive, I promise;). I wanted to do dirty things to that pizza. But instead, I found the two most delicious looking ends (the tip of the pizza is the best, no?), and savored them. With my eyes closed. 
Then I proceeded on my diet.

There are easy times, and hard times, but luckily my willpower has gone through a makeover, and is the most fab it's ever been.

Knock on wood ;)

Do you find it hard to get back on track after a vacation?