Summer Slide

Reading and Math practice has been a priority for my kids this summer. We have been doing timed math, 30 minutes of free reading and they have been doing reading and comprehension work that I found on-line.

They think I am a “mean mom” and that is okay. I want them to be confident and ready to start third and second grade.

There is a lot of debate among parents about forcing kids to do school work over the summer. Many feel like it is summer and they shouldn’t have to do anything for school and it is bringing them down.

I am on the other side of this debate. I think there is plenty of time for fun in the summer…believe me, we have fun pretty much all day everyday. But I also know that school is difficult for my kids (and for me!) and the more they can work their skills in the summer the more confident they will be come back to school time.

Today they wrote a letter to their teacher telling her about their summer. It is part of a “BINGO” board reading activity. If they complete the board and the summer reading packet then they get a special treat (a lunch out with our librarian) when school is back in session. My kids LOVE incentives and the want to fill in the board.

I am not ashamed to be a “mean mom” by any means. Success in school means success in life. What I do know is kids who work hard in school are much more likely to make good, moral choices in other areas of their lives. So why not give my littles an advantage now?

Before we have “fun” for the day we do academics (and chores…but that is another blog post for another day). And guess what? It has become such a habit now they know to just do it right when they get up. No debate, no deals, no putting it off. They just do it. And they are better for it.

Reality

I am two years (wow, that goes fast!) past VSG. It has been a major ride and one that I have zero regrets. I can honestly say two years out that this was absolutely positively the best health decision I have ever made in my life.

Sorry this picture is so small, but this is the day before my surgery, June 24, 2016.

And both of the above pictures represent where I stood weight-wise for about the last 10 years prior to surgery. I was always in a “dieting state” as I would call it. Always on a diet, always starting the next diet, always struggling.

I would say I was about 60% consistent with exercising through the past ten years. I always enjoyed being active, but it really depended on where my life and mentality was as to how much and when I worked out.

My only regret is that I did not take bare-boned pictures of myself prior to surgery. I have no undies and sports bra pictures because I had so much shame and I never wanted to see those pictures. I also didn’t really believe I would be successful and I didn’t want to picture proof of it.

At two years out I am down 95 pounds. Last summer I was down 105 pounds.

This is the reality.

It is still a struggle and I still have to work hard to be where I want to be. The fact is I want to lose between 25-30 pounds more. The only way this is going to happen is to keep myself in the bootie a bit. It was 15-20 pounds but this 10 pounds has brought it back up.

I have no excuses. I have been pushing the limits on eating and I need to reign it in. I need to push myself in the work-outs and I need to change things up a bit.

I didn’t go through everything to “almost” reach my goal. I have always had a number in mind and will not be happy until I see it. The number is realistic and something I could get to with work and dedication.

So, I am changing things up. I decided to give Beach Body a try. I have seen so many good results with the program. Not only weight loss but toning which is really the next phase of my journey. I am doing a two week trial and will most likely make the year long commitment after I finish it.

So far so good. I am going the traditional route with the 21 Day Fix . I started with the “Total Body Cardio Fix” last night (it was somewhat Hellish…I am talking to you, Surrenders) and I really liked the way I felt doing the program and afterwards. This morning I tried the “Upper Body Fix” (a little easier, IMO) and it was good. I like being able to do it in my home, that there is an order to each program, and the 30 minutes is a nice break from the 60-90 I have been doing. With that said, I am also going to try and walk/jog during the 21 days.

Yesterday i weighed myself and I took a few “before” pictures…not really to show those yet. At some point I will show them.

But not today.

So there it is. I am hoping to do a weekly progress monitoring on the blog. Hopefully I will see some progress soon.

My short term goal is to be 10 pounds down by the time school starts in Late August. I think that is doable.

Anyone want to join me?

Why I’ve Lost my Blogging Mojo

Hello.

Anyone out there still?

I have seem to have lost my ability to blog. With so much happening in our lives I want to write about it but I seem to have no time. But that is living life.

Summer has been quick and fun. We are making the most of it. My kids are having the summer I always dreamed of (and had) as a kid. Lots of outside time, pool time, friend time, family time, sports time, camp time, amusement park time. It has been awesome.

Somewhere in the middle of it all my baby turned 4. What the what? Not possible. I’m totally denial.

Tyler made the All Start baseball team.

Megan finished up a great softball season.

And now we are on to everything else. Slow down summer.

Seriously, slow down.

I am still working hard at my fitness and eating. It is still a daily struggle but one that I always kind of enjoy the challenge of. Since the hubby went to day shift it was hard to get the gym in the early morning and I am feeling a bit soft. Exercise has been a priority this summer for sure.

I don’t know when I will be back, but to all of you out there, have a great and active summer!