Let's get real

So I start my class tomorrow, I go back to work a week from Friday, and Morgan starts Preschool on Monday.  Stuff is about to get real around here at the Hooper house.  This summer has (of course) flown by and I have only done a fraction of what I originally planned to do.  Maybe next summer, instead of planning to organize and decorate my entire house, work out daily, lose 20 lbs, and make gourmet meals everyday, I should just plan on playing with my munchkin and going with the flow.  Don't get me wrong, I have had a ton of quality time with my baby (yes, she is a BABY), but there is some guilt that I carry with me for not accomplishing some other chores this summer.

Morgan is amazing.  That is all there is to it.  She literally says a new word everyday now.  Today it was "beer."  No, I did not let her drink any, but she was infatuated by Mommy's drink and was quite proud of herself for being able to say its name.  She is so stinkin smart.  I don't know if I am extremely biased because she is my child, or if she is truly gifted.  She is demonstrating higher level thinking, understands almost everything we say, and loves to talk.  One of her favorite hobbies is to find a phone and walk around the house giggling and talking as if she is chatting it up with one of her playgroup friends.  HA larious.  She is a little sweetie too.  My favorite thing is when she kisses my leg while I cook dinner, as if to say "You're doing a good job, Mom!"  She melts my heart and I am so blessed to be her mother.

Obviously I haven't posted in a while about my weight loss progress, and it's because I have been SO busy working out, making healthy smoothies, and taking in all of my clothes.  Okay, that's a lie.  Every bit of it.  I haven't posted about my progress because there hasn't been any.  It all started with my birthday celebration and has snowballed from there.  For about 2-3 weeks I have not been tracking my food or working out.  Fortunately I have only gained a pound (whew!), but I know I can't keep this up without ruining all the progress I have made.  Today I decided to get "back on track", but ended up drinking 2 beers (not even lite beer), and had a McFlurry.  FAIL.  I did track my calories though, which makes me feel slightly better.  Tomorrow is a new day, and I hope that I don't let my slip ups discourage me.  I think what I need is a highly motivating goal, like a wedding, so that I have something to work towards.  Since all of my closest family members are married, I have no plans to be a bridesmaid any time soon, and swimsuit season is ending, I am having a hard time finding that motivation.  Here is a crazy thought ... I set a date and REQUIRE myself to do a progress picture and weigh in, and SHARE it on my blog.  Not sure if anyone really cares that much, but knowing that the information is out there for the world to see just might be enough to motivate me.  Okay, so here it goes...

(keep in mind I am down 10 lbs now from my start weight)

September 18th - Goal (-15lbs total)

October 30th - Goal (-20lbs total)

Doable?  Yes.  Realistic? Yes.  Can I do it?  Yes.  Will I do it?  We'll see, I mean, YES!

Wish me luck ;)

New hair, new me?

Happy Saturday everyone!  Today was a special day at the Hooper household.  I hosted a baby shower for my good friend, Amy.  We had a great turnout and everyone seemed to have a good time.  Here are some pics...

You'll notice that I am missing something.  I chopped 9" of hair off yesterday after weeks of contemplating and pinning hairstyles.  I was physically nauseated yesterday morning before my hair appointment and I realized that I was developing an unhealthy attachment to my hair.  It was hard, but I am glad it's gone and I am learning to love my shorter locks.

My brother's wedding was last weekend and was so much fun.  My brother and his new wife were so adorable together and Morgan did a fabulous job walking down the aisle as flower girl.  I was one proud Mommy!

Well with the wedding last weekend and the shower this weekend, I have had multiple excuses to cheat on my diet.  "It's my brother's wedding!"  "It's wedding cake.  I never eat wedding cake." "I am stressed about the shower so I am going to eat."  "I am at the shower that I worked so hard for so I am going to eat everything I bought."  You know the routine.  Needless to say I feel like I am slowly drifting off track.  I haven't worked out in a couple of weeks and I am finding it harder and harder to stick to my 1200 calories.  I am pretty sure this is what happens every time I try to lose weight.  I set a goal (this time it was 20 lbs), get about halfway there, get comfortable and bored, stay at my new weight for a few months, then slowly inch my way back to where I was to begin with.  Am I crazy or does this happen to other people too?  It is such a vicious cycle.  I am going to try to make this time different and push past what I guess is a "plateau."  Maybe the new hair cut can represent a new me (sorry for being so cheesy).  On the plus side, I was down another pound this morning, which I am convinced is due to my hair cut.  

Enough ramblings for today.  Time to get back on track, starting NOW!