Positive Post: Surviving Crumminess

I am going to share one of my trade secrets for surviving crummy situations with a smile. As you know from many previous posts I am working the 2nd shift. Yeah still not happy about that despite some of the pros. I used to exercise in the morning but with my shift being what it is I prefer to sleep in and don't really find time during the rest of the day to accomplish this. Last week I decided I would still get my exercise in by playing two games while at work. 

1) Everytime I had to go to the bathroom, which is a lot because I drink 100 ounces a day, I have to skip, hop, or sprint to the bathroom. The bathroom is way down the hall. This alone pretty much provided me with my daily workout. 

2) The funnier thing to do when you are working alone, or with people, really up to you, is toooooooo DANCE!!!!!!

Often times I jam out to the radio and a few stations I listen too mostly rotate through the same dozen songs. Each night I pick one song and whenever that song is played I have to stop whatever work I am doing and "get down with it." 

True story. You know what, it is sooooo much fun. SO much fun that I have even choreographed one song that I LOVE. Now anytime I hear this song, no matter where I am, I bust out dancing. I am not going to share the entire song with you because I am no a hip hop dancer. But I will share this fun part with you. 

Moral of the story. 

Try to make any crummy situation you are in fun by dancing. It will make you smile from laughing at your lame dance moves or you remember how AWESOME you are. Even I have a smile at the end of the video. Is dancing the end all to your crummy problems. NO! But is sure rocks! :)

P.S. Throwing paper in the air while dancing is optional but encouraged. 

It's What I Do

I think I have been vague about what I do. Naw, I have said on here I make copies for a living. But today I want to give you an in depth look at what I do. To me it is so much more than making copies. 

I am super sure that when I was an angel in heaven I helped God make the following:

Grass 

(love the smell of grass, love mowing it, don't like weeding it but everything else about grass is awesome. Including eating Harry Potter grass jelly beans.)

Clouds

(because they are awesome looking and everyone sees something different)

& 

Paper

I have always loved to copy and print things. I cannot tell you why exactly. Daredevils get a rush from sky diving or cliff jumping but I get my rush from working 3+ printers at once, taking a print job that is impossible and doing it, or fixing a copier/printer to do something at my command that it was not made to do. 

I work for a company that provides copy, print, & customer services to large and small corporations. I am not sure how detailed I can get with who our clients our but I will say some of them are pretty huge. To name a few, national chain grocery store that all of you have been in at least once, large bank that has been around since the pioneer days ;), large state medical provider, and a prestigious law firm that has been around as long as the said bank. 

In my position I get to visit each site and fill in for other employees when they are out sick or on vacation. On top of that I do special projects at the main office or assist in any other overflow activity. I like to think I am good at what I do and enjoy it. Everyday can be different and there is always something new to learn. I started at a Mom and Pop print shop and have been in this industry for over 8 years and have mainly worked for 2 companies. 

The location I have been working for the last 3 weeks is one of my favorites. 

Look at it

It is huge and there are probably over 100 different types of paper to print on depending on the job. This site has the most variety, most machines (high end color and black and white), has the most shifts, and is almost always busy. While here I manage any incoming print jobs, which during my shift is mostly booklets and sometimes overflow projects from the day shift. I have to keep the machines going the entire time so we can meet our deadline. When I am not dancing around between each machine, refilling them with paper, or boxing up books, I am restocking paper on the shelves, cleaning, or entering job tickets into the system. Sounds so boring to most people but I love it. Especially when I have multiple jobs going at once. 

Often times I have to fix machines and if they won't work how they are supposed to I make them work another way. We have a long machine that prints and stacks each book and then pushes it through another machine that binds, folds, and trims the book and then spits it out onto a tray with a belt that gathers all the books. Then all I would need to do is scoop up the books into a marked box and POOF, job done! Today, the tray to the machine that spits the book out was not working. I had to make a few fun adjustments to get it to do what I wanted. This video below was the end result. 

So there you have it. That is what I do and what I love about it. 

What do you do?

Good Day

Today was a good day to be a Mom. 

Let me clarify. Everyday is a good day to be a Mom. But today I felt like I was a good Mom. 

Yesterday I was busy doing a lot of stuff that I didn't pay as much attention to Roan as I would have liked. I was pretty critical of myself on my way to work as I reflected on our day together. This happens often as I am sure it does with many many women and men. I love how Roan is growing so fast but sometimes I miss the swaddled up Roan. So today I decided to play with Roan how he would like to play instead of having him fit my criteria. Something I am going to try and do more often. 

We had a blast. We played with his new washable crayons (only way to go when it comes to crayons and toddlers). We created a "boy cave" out of a large moving box. 

We had a picnic in our newly mowed back yard. 

Then we played in front of the mirror and tried on hats. 

All the while Roan was kissable, cuddly, silly and energetic. 

He really knows how to show a Mom a good time. 

Here is to more days like today!

Postive Post: Positive Clicks!!

My friend Rebecca sent me this and I love it! I signed up as soon as I read it. Basically this lady did an experiment where she got a clicker and kept track of all her negative thoughts for a week. By the end of the week she was so depressed and blue from all the negativity. So she decided to do the opposite and keep track of all her happy or positive thoughts. She was much happier by the end of that week and dealt with any negativity around her in a more upbeat way. Only because she had the mindset to focus on the positive in any situation. You don't need a clicker to do this, even though I think having to physically keep track of something makes you more conscious of your thoughts and actions. Since she created this website many people, groups, families, schools, and corporations have joined in on the clicking to make a difference. And a big difference it does make!!

I started working this 2nd shift with a bad attitude. I was pretty cranky and still am a little bit. I decided to click my positive thoughts while at work this week. While I worked I started doing fun things rather than sitting out being grumpy. For example, each night I created a fun physical challenge to keep my spirits up throughout the shift. I laughed at all the silly yet positive things that came out of this experiment. Week 2 was way better than week 1. I lasted longer and actually enjoyed myself.

I challenge all you readers out there to participate in the "click". You will see a huge difference in your life. THINK. CLICK. BE
 

Nap Time Spy

Yesterday, after Roan woke from his nap I could hear him chanting and playing. I decided to spy on him and record all the action.

Taking Shape For Life

I read this in January. At this time I was plotting a big change in my life but I didn't want to really tell anyone because I was unsure of the outcome. I, like most everyone else, am vulnerable, and sharing something big can be rough. Especially when it is something most everyone has an opinion about. This was something I put a lot of thought, research, and prayer into. I am so glad I took the chance on myself and I am going to share it with you now.

As many of you know I had a baby and all most of that baby weight did not come off, even with breastfeeding. I really had a strong desire to get back in shape for many reasons. My family history has some various health problems I would like to avoid, I would love to be able to keep up with my kids and grand kids, I want to feel better about myself, help fight depression, and get my body ready for more kids. Those are just a few reasons to name. I decided to take up running. At first I was loosing a little weight but then I got hurt and everything came right back. Honestly, even though I was loosing some weight I still had horrible eating habits. I would eat junk food like no tomorrow. I could never stop at three donuts. My relationship with food was tied to my emotions too much. I felt like getting in shape was always going to be a battle with lost cause. I needed a change that was going to be positive and long lasting. But I hate diets, I hate them more than pyramid schemes. I didn't want a diet. I wanted a change and not just a one time event. I knew something like that would be a process but I was ready to commit and make it happen. I wanted something that was going to really help me reboot my thinking on food and get me to where I wanted to be, not just for a while but forever. The questions was where I would I find something like that.

 I ran into my cousin a while later and she looked really good. She told me how she did it and also got me in touch with her health couch. She was nice but the program seemed way too good to be true. So I shrugged it off as a fad diet that will not last. A while later my friend in Mississippi posted a before and after picture of herself on FB and she looked AMAZING. She also used the same program. I got together with her and she answered more of my questions. I thought about the program for weeks, talked to Lars, talked to her again, and read about it over and over again about the long term success. Finally, I prayed about it and decided I should take a leap and just do it. I really had nothing to lose and why shouldn't I gamble on myself.

The program is called Take Shape For Life. What appealed to me the most was that it is more of a lifestyle change than a diet. I needed something with the structure and support to help me reboot my eating, exercise, sleeping, and daily habits that effect my goal to be healthy.

Here is how it works. I set a weight goal. Until I reach that goal I will eat 5 of their high protein, low carb meals and then a meal I make that consists of 1 lean protein and 1.5 cups of low carb vegetables.  I can have a certain amount of condiments, snacks, and healthy fats in addition to that. While doing this I am reading Dr A's Habits of Heath and utilizing a workbook, this part feels like High School but the information is really cool and I am learning so much. I am losing weight and reaching a healthier BMI (body mass index) but most importantly I am figuring out what my triggers are and creating better habits for my health all around so going forward the weight will stay off. After I reach my goal weight I will begin a transition phase and slowly stop eating their food and replace it with other healthy foods. After starting the program I didn't exercise, but now I have incorporated light exercises, weights, and cardio. It is an amazing feeling to do physically things that I couldn't do before.I have a free health coach and an amazing support group on facebook that consist of other people who have/may join the program. Some of them are local some of them are across the country. We have free access to weekly calls, doctors, nurses and nutritionist.  Plus this is not just a one size fits all program. They have alterations for nursing women, diabetics, vegetarians, gluten free, and if you don't have a large budget you can do a modified version where you eat 4 of their meals and 2 lean and green meals you make. 

I bought the books and I buy their food monthly but the rest is free. Buying their food sounded so scary at first. I was worried it would be super expensive but honestly we are not spending anymore than we were before on our monthly grocery bill. In fact, we are saving money. We aren't buying junk food and we aren't going out to eat as often. I can still go out to eat but it is funnier and easier to just plan and cook at home. Making time to make lean and green meals is way easier than I thought. Sure, I have busy days and don't feel like cooking but with some slight planning I am able to get a healthy meal made up in 15 minutes.When I do go out to eat I get my meal protein style. Lars is not on this program and I still plan and cook his (and Roan's) other meals. I usually eat my lean and green meal for dinner and he eats what I cook. So far he has loved almost everything and has even been loosing some weight himself by association. ;) The program food really isn't too bad either. I don't have to just eat it plain, I can dress it up with various recipes I have found (I have two pinterest boards, Lean and Green and Medifast Meals).   I have learned some really cool and delicious lean and green recipes too. Did you know you can make just about anything with cauliflower? I have made, rice, breadsticks, Alfredo sauce, and pizza crust to name a few. Plus you can use vegetables as noodles like this, and this. Can't eat bread, try revolution rolls. All this stuff is good for you and taste great.

The first few days were tough because I was so hungry, but I was more determined to make this work and didn't give up. I didn't exercise much the first few weeks. Now I do 15-20 minute strength exercises 5 days a week. I usually rotate between upper, lower body, and core with my Skimble Workout Trainer ap that is free. I also try to walk 20+ minutes on my lunch break. On the weekends Roan and I try to walk to the park at least once. That is it. So easy. I could work out more, if I do I need to adjust my meal plan and eat more protein. I still have temptations and there are days when I am stressed or sad and want to drown my sorrows in junk food. But I ask myself, "Is this going to get me to my ultimate goal? No, then it is not worth it." I thought the program was too good to be true and I keep waiting for it to get hard. But it is the best and I know that it is easy because all I am doing is making better habits. No starving yourself or eating food that taste like saw dust. Just new instilling new habits. Don't get me wrong sometimes it is not a walk in the park, but it is way easier than everything else I have seen out there. 

Only Lars and a few other people I associate with daily knew about this. Eventually people started to notice. A few of my coworkers noticed my clothes were starting to hang on me and asked me what I was up to. I didn't go into as much detail as in this blog, unless they really ask, but I give a little run down. I love and appreciate the compliments. I love that when I moved into my house I tried on all my clothes and threw out a lot of clothes that were too big for me and was able to fit, like a glove, into my pre-preggo clothes that I had kept for so long.

For me, this program has been amazing. Not just because it made me look like this (see below), it makes me feel great. I used to get exhausted by 2 pm, now I have consistent energy throughout the entire day.  It simplified things as I go until I really learned what foods are better than others. I will still be able to eat chocolate if I want to, I just know how to balance it better because of what I learned from this process.  It gave me the structure and support I needed and honestly it worked. Now could I have gotten the same results counting calories or doing something...maybe. But this is what worked for ME. It gave me the reboot I needed so I can move forward being focused on moderation rather than do's or don'ts. It was hard at first but I made up my mind I wanted a positive change and I really don't miss the stuff I ate before. I will have some of those things again, like a beef n' cheddar, and moose tracks, but not right now. I am having too much fun looking and feel great!!!

I am not bringing it up here so you can join and I can make money off of you. I am not becoming a health coach (not yet anyway) or selling a product. I was just really shy about sharing this. I don't like to be singled out too often and in this case I can still live my life normal, just healthier I guess, but in the beginning it was hard to explain.  I know no matter how I look I am awesome. Everyone has a way of doing things and this worked for me and that is okay. It might not work for you and that is okay too. But I have a good thing here and it is hard not to share it. SO my vulnerable feelings aside this program is wonderful and I am so so glad that I am apart of it. This is a great option if you are looking for a change. If you are not looking for change then good for you. Just admire my change and congratulate me or give me a virtual high five! Because I feel amazing and healthy, my energy is consistently up, I love what I am putting into my body, I love my new fitness performance level, I just love what this has done for me all around. I haven't been this fit and slim for many many many years. I didn't think it could ever happen but it did and I am going to keep it up  :) Everybody is different and this worked for ME. If you would like to know more call me or check out their website.

Now that I told you all about it, let me show you all about it.

Start Weight: 191.6 lbs

Start BMI: 28

6 weeks weight into program: 165 lbs

6 weeks BMI into program: 24

I lost
26.6 pounds
7 inches off my waist

3 inches off my hips

2 inches of my upper arms

3 inches off my upper thighs.

By week 3 I had to wear a belt with all my current clothes and all my work shirts hung on me. I got to my pre-preggo weight by week 5.

Here are photos of the progress. I love that the weight loss is healthy and not happening all at once in the wrong places. It is melting off of me at the right times and in the right places.

Goal Weight: 145 lbs
(my 10 year anniversary is in August, I would love to get to my pre-wedding weight by then)

Goal BMI: 21
I still want to get more toned which is why I am lifting weights. I have a little ways to go to reach my goal but I am so happy and proud of the progress I have made so far.
Special thanks for the love and support from my health coach Thia and the TSFL groups on FB!!!!

UPDATE: I am becoming a health coach. My website is this. https://stephaniejoy.tsfl.com/   or    http://stephaniejoy.tsfl.com/explore Please call me if you would like to know more. :)

West Side

I have some sad news everyone.

This cute little boy....

.....has joined the West Side Gang!

He thinks he is so tough throwing out gang signs and passing around fist bumps! His west side robot shirt wearing gang has nothing on me. 

Is this what I get for trying to make play dough out of flour and failing miserable? At least I know how to cook and give hugs. This kid is easy to persuade, I bought him some washable crayons (so glad they are washable and so is my cedar chest) and now he has returned to the fold :).

A stump we have in our backyard that was made into a chair. 

Those are squeaky shoes he is wearing too.

I thought he was so cute in this shirt. I love dressing kids. Oh man I cannot wait to have a girl. :)