Another Day, Another Diet

Well, here we go again.

When I got pregnant with Emily, I was already "X" pounds over weight.  Then I gained an additional "X" pounds after she was born.  Then I gained some more.  Then I gained some more.  Now I weight "X." 

X = An embarrassing number that I will keep to myself, thank you very much.

In the past three years, I have tried at least 10 different diets.  Weight Watchers, Liver Cleanse, Low Sugar, Low Fat, Slim Fast, Biggest Loser, etc.  Several times I tried to just count calories and exercise regularly.  I've tried doing it completely on my own and I've tried announcing it on Facebook (hoping that the pressure would motivate me.) Every time I started something, I would lose a few pounds and stay motivated for 1-2 weeks.  Then I would settle back into my comfortable life of never moving and eating nothing but junk.

And I'm getting really tired of it. 

For a long time I was so stressed out, I tried really hard to just accept the fact that this is what I weigh now.  This is how I look.  This is "me."  And for a while, I was perfectly fine with that.  But after some time, I realized a startling truth.  If I'm not constantly trying new diets, I gain weight faster that I ever thought possible.  So this "me" that I know now would soon become someone that the "future-even-fatter-me" wishes I could be again.  And THAT is a very sobering thought. 

So I'm back to trying to lose weight.  At this point, I would be happy with any weight loss at all.  But my main goal remains to prevent myself from putting on even one more pound. 

I have a new plan, too.  My 30th birthday is coming up in May.  I want to do something fun to celebrate said birthday, whether its going on a vacation or doing something fun with my sisters.  Not sure yet.  But something.  And because it will be a fun event, I want to take pictures to remember it.  But since I refuse to be in any pictures/videos at this weight, I have renewed motivation to change the way I look and feel.

So I want to watch what I eat.  Maybe do Weight Watchers or Slim Fast or a combination of several ideas.  But my main goal is to do some form of exercise EVERY SINGLE DAY before my birthday.  (And I made the chart pictured above to help track my accomplishments.)  Doesn't matter if its a five minute walk around the block.  Something that gets me off my butt.  Something that will shed even a few small pounds.  Something that will help me look more my age, so that when I turn 30, people actually think I'm 30.  Instead of 40, which is what I am continually mistaken to be.   (Nothing against you 40-year-olds.  I just want to look my own age for once!) 

So wish me luck!  I need continued motivation.  So if I fail this after one week, hopefully I can at least make a new goal.  Here's to the last few months of my twenties!

Thursday Thirteen #20 - Nicknames

Thirteen Nicknames That James Has Made Up

1. Pemberton = Emily

2. Skyliz  = My nephew, Skyler

3. Gizzy = Katie (when she was in Mommy's tummy)

4. The Grand Chawhee = James' brother, Charles

5. Captain Jansu = Himself

6. T-Bone = My nephew, Trevor

7. Kottie Babs = Katie

8. Saint Woofington the Third = Emily/Katie when they smell.

9. Tiny Tooners = Emily

10. Bossa = Katie

11. Baskin = James' brother, Basil

12. Liz Laz Laronimo = Skyler

13. Wipey = Me


I could attempt to explain where these came from.  But I'm not sure that would help any of us understand what is going on in James' mind.  He certainly keeps us all entertained!

Big Brother

I have three older brothers.  Out of the eight kids in our family, they fall in line at 1, 2 and 7 respectively.  Although I care about each of my siblings very much, I wanted to take a minute to write about #7 in our family.  With our older brothers out of the house before we could blink, Ryan spent the majority of his growing up with just sisters.  It went like this: girl, girl, girl, girl, Ryan, girl.  Yikes.  Poor guy.

Growing up, the only things we had in common were that we had the same parents and we lived under the same roof.  Most of my childhood memories of him consist of endless amounts of teasing, purposefully getting him into trouble so I could use his Nintendo, and eventually an unspoken agreement to ignore the other person's existence.  We were even lucky enough to go on two big vacations together.  But whether at Disneyland or exploring a castle in Wales, I think we barely said two words to each other the entire time.  Looking back, that seems so strange!

After lots of letter exchanges throughout his mission to Australia, we started to become friends while living in Provo.  I think it was our mutual obsession with all things Michael Jackson that finally brought us together. (And a few inside jokes, Dr. Punjab.)  Fast forward through the next ten years.  We both got married in the Salt Lake Temple.  Our first babies (both girls) were born within six months of each other.  Then our second set of babies (again, both girls) were born ten days apart.   It will be so much fun watching our girls grow up together!  If only we lived closer together!  And if only there was a way to coordinate the gender and timing of our next kids!  

We have a running joke in our family that Ryan is the "Golden Child" or favorite of both my parents.  He was a super cute kid when he was little.  He was always neat and well-behaved throughout high school.  He went on a mission.  He graduated from BYU and went on to become an optometrist.  He married in the temple and has raised his kids in the church.  He has always been actively involved in our family and makes us all laugh.  Once I was talking to James about this phenomenon, how Ryan seems to do no wrong in our parents' eyes.  James then said that he thought its not just my parents, but that everyone in my family thinks of Ryan that way.  He teased, "Nah, I don't want to go.  Oh Ryan will be there?  OKAY!"   LOL!

(Quick sidebar: Ryan is probably blogs the most out of anyone in my family.  I love that!)

Since our dad's stroke in March 2011, we have experienced heartbreak and healing together as a family.  And I have been amazed and grateful for my brother every step of the way.  Right after it happened, Ryan quickly and quietly assumed the role as head of our family in spiritual and emotional matters.  Us girls spent night and day worrying about, taking care of and crying over our Dad as he slowly started the recovery process.  Ryan was there just as much to do his share, all the while being the emotional support for our mom and the rest of us.  We should have all chipped in to pay him a hefty therapist fee during that time!  And even now, after life has gone on and the help is fewer and further between, Ryan is usually one of the first ones there.  He's earned the "Golden Child" title well, I think. 

Thanks, Ryan, for being such a great leader and example to our family!  And thanks for having girls!  (Oh, and thanks for playing a kids' Xbox Kinect game with me the other day, even though our kids weren't even present.)

 

Click here to see Ryan's blog.  Click here to see Ryan's business website.

Photo Challenge Day Ten: Something I Made

 

Recently, I opened a shop on Etsy.com.  Its a website for people that are selling items that they have made.  My items are all digitally created artwork and things like that.  This picture is an example of one of the things I've made.  I haven't had very many sales yet, but its still fun for me to do in my spare time!

Check out my Etsy.com shop here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/PembertonPrints.  

P.S. "Pemberton" is a name that James made up for Emily when she was a baby.  It was original and cute enough that I decided to use it for my shop name.  Thanks, James!

Photo Challenge Day Nine: Faceless Self Portrait

 

I thought about this one for a while.  I knew I didn't want any part of me in the picture, if possible.   So I tried to think of things that might represent things about me.  Then I looked at my desk and realized that the entire thing was full of items that I could use.  Confused?  Let me break it down for you.

 

1. Desk: I wanted this IKEA desk for a very long time and James gave it to me this past Christmas.  It is very "me."  Its simple and classic looking, but has lots of desk and storage space.  It looks awesome in our living room, which is where I prefer to get work done, so I can hang out with my kiddos while I do it.

2. Family Photos:  My family is mucho important to me and I spend a lot of time and energy talking to, worrying about, and laughing with them.  (Not sure if you can tell, but on my computer I have three instant message windows open.  All members of my fam, which is pretty typical!)

3. Figurines from England: My mom bought one for me when we went to England together.  I liked it so much, that I bought one for myself, too.  I always have these out so I can see them.

4. Headphones: I love to listen to music while I work on stuff.  And sometimes I use them to block out James and the girls when they are being extra noisy.  (Too far?)

5. Girls' Photo and Artwork:  Love my girlies more than anything.  And I am in love with their latest crazy, which is making art and notes for me all day long!

6. Phone: I'm usually texting or talking on the phone with someone in my family almost all the time!

7. Diet Dr. Pepper: Yum. I drive to Chick-Fil-A and get one every morning after I take Katie to school.  It is perfection in a styrofoam cup.

8. Computer: I am on it a lot during the day.  Yes, I might waste a lot of time.  But I promise that I'm productive, too!  I usually have several projects that I am working on, either for my side businesses, for family members or for my callings.  Dual monitors rock the hiz-ouse! 

9.  Chair Cushion: One of my favorite Christmas gifts from James.  It was my solution to wanting a comfy desk chair without getting a big, bulky office chair.  

10.  Stuff on the Floor:  You might think this is odd to point out.  But the fact that I cleaned around my desk before taking the picture and didn't even notice the cord until after I already started labeling the picture is a good addition to this "self portrait."  I am generally pretty organized and clean... but I definitely did not inherit the attention-to-detail gene.    Ah well, can't win them all! 

Photo Challenge Day Eight: Technology

I have had a smartphone for about 18 months now.  James gave me this Samsung Epic 4G on our wedding anniversary in 2010.   And its not an understatement to say that it changed my life!  Well, its more accurate to say that it drastically changed the way I go about my day.

The things I enjoy the most about my phone are:
- Texting feels more like a conversation than it did with my old phone.
- Facebook is now accessible from anywhere and I LOVE it.
- Everyone knows that I love games and there are endless games to choose from on this.
- Note-taking and scheduling is a cinch.
- Going for a walk or to the store is now much more fun, thanks to Pandora and the MP3 player.
- One word: Netflix.
- My girls are endlessly entertained by the dozens of kids' apps that I have downloaded.
- I now have a digital camera and camcorder with me 24/7.  I never miss a moment with my girls!

Oh yeah, and I like all of the actual phone features.  :)

Baby Steps

Here's another "non" blog update.  I changed my blog background.  Woot! 

Baby steps. 

Who Needs a Blog...

when we have Facebook? 

Yes, its true.  Facebook has taken over my life. 

Wasn't it just a year or two ago that I was a blog stalker and updated my blog several times a week?   And sure, I checked Facebook a couple times a day, but nothing like now. 

I take a picture?  I upload it to Facebook.

The girls say something funny?  I share it on Facebook.

I want to discuss current events and pop culture?  Facebook.

I want to see what everyone else is up to?  I skim through Facebook.

I think its time for a Facebook fast.  Or a diet, at least.  Maybe then, I'll actually start updating this blog.

Baby steps.

Photo Challenge Day Seven: Something New

My girls have a new obsession with the Disney Princesses.  Their babysitter, Melissa, generously gave our family Disney On Ice tickets last week for an early Christmas present.  And as part of the present, I got these little Disney Princess toys for them.

For a week straight now, these are the only toys they have played with.   They spend hours undressing and dresing them, building block castles for them and making up stories.  I LOVE how much they love them, because I grew up being obsessed with Ariel, Jasmine and Belle.  So going to Disney On Ice and watching all the movies is just as much of a treat for me!  

Shhhh.....

We are just going to pretend that I didn't skip a month in the middle of my photo challenge.  So.... move along and we'll just act like nothing happened.