New Year--New Mommy---Days 4 and 5

-5.4 pounds

That is what I have lost in 5 days. AND I FEEL GREAT.

I am doing the Advocare 24 day challenge. Today was day 5.
It has gotten SO MUCH easier. I am currently doing the cleanse or as I like to call it "detoxing". That just sounds so much nicer and more pleasant to me.

I have lived on coffee (lots of coffee) and sugar. I love sweets. LOVE them.
I know that holidays are the best time for Reese's peanut butter cups. The shapes like trees, pumpkins, and eggs are SO MUCH better than the regular ones. The peanut butter to chocolate ratio is so much greater. Making them so much better. See---I have a problem :)

Tonight I went to CVS to get J's medicine and walked past the Reese's hearts. I walked past them. Part of me wanted one (or 2) and the other part of me was afraid of the consequences of eating it.
And I remembered this dress that I want to wear to our auction on St John the 2nd weekend in March. It has been 3 years (pre-surgery) since this dress fit.

New Mommy chose the dress over the Reese's heart. Somebody should probably pinch me.
(I will reward myself with a heart when I lose 15 pounds).

More than the weight loss that I have seen, I feel great. Bootcamp was easier tonight. SPARK helps me get through my afternoon transitioning from Kindergarten teacher to Mommy. I have enough energy to keep up with my kiddos---Jackson and the puppy Beau.

New Year---New Attitude---New Mommy :)

Advocare 24 day challenge Days 1-3

On Thursday I traded these....

For this...

The perfect time to begin my

Advocare 24 day challenge. Since my ability to do cardio and bootcamp like I had been will be hindered for a couple weeks. (I went to BOOTCAMP in my BOOT Friday night. Let's just say I didn't know I could go that many push ups and ab exercises. I sneezed yesterday and IT HURT)

I will be the first to admit---the Herbal Cleanse for the first 10 days scared me. So much so that I had to talk to 2 different people and check out several blogs before I was sure that I could handle it.

(TMI---I have not been running to the bathroom like I was afraid I was going to)

I hope this blog (and the ones that follow) will be motivation for me and others. I hope at the end of 24 days I will have a success story like no other.

DAY 1

Fiber drink first thing in the morning (OMG---I told D it was like runny applesauce with grass and bark mixed in. It didn't taste bad it was just the texture that was hard for me to handle) Lesson learned---drink it fast

2 Omega Plex

1/2 of a whole wheat bagel with a tbsp of cream cheese (at this point I didn't realize NO DAIRY)

For lunch we ate at Genghis Grill---I had the veggies and brown rice and a tbsp of sauce

2 Omega Plex

Dinner

Low Fat Chicken Lasagna recipe from Runner's World (still haven't realized NO DAIRY)

Herbal Cleanse tabs before bed

Water (24 oz per cup) 7 cups

DAY 2

Fiber Drink (OMG again. I poured the last little bit out. I just couldn't do it)

2 Omega Plex

banana

Lunch: 1/2 cup of left over chicken lasagna

2 Omega Plex

Fruit punch Spark late afternoon (I have been very tired today)

Dinner---chicken breast, 1/4 cup chicken broth, can of no salt added corn, can of low sodium black beans, and a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles---cooked in my crock pot.

You are supposed to eat this like a taco with cheese and sour cream.

I opted out of that and just had it plain.

HEADACHE....I tried more water and an apple with some peanut butter.(for the sugar) My body is going through detox. I live off of coffee and sugar. No wonder I have a headache.

Herbal Cleanse tabs before bed.

Water---6 (24 oz) cups

Day 3----I woke up feeling better

Fiber Drink (OH HAPPY DAY....I drank it all because I don't have to drink one again for a couple days)

Omega Plex

Banana

Spark (on the way to BOOT camp---again more push ups and abs. You know it is bad when you trainer says "oh, this is going to suck for you today with these modifications")

Lunch:

Vanilla Meal Replacement shake (YUMMO!!!)

2 Omega Plex

New Year....New Motivation...New Meares Mommy :)

New year, new motivation, new mommy

This post has been 3 days in the works. I have debated on whether or not I really wanted to write about this personal journey that I am on. I got on Facebook this morning and my friend Wendy from Texas posted about her success on the Advocare program and asked us to share our success stories. That was all the motivation I needed.

A little history (feel free to skip this part)---

In June of 2009 I had a total hysterectomy at the age of 31. This was a hard decision to make but as far as my health, it was the best decision for me and my body. I WAS NOT going to be a statistic. I WAS NOT going to gain 20 pounds. I WAS NOT going to gain weight in places that I had never gained weight before. LITTLE DID I KNOW.

After 2 1/2 years of diets and running and gyms and Wii fit games and clothes not fitting and tears before benefit auctions and feeling sorry for myself and not liking myself or the way I look.....

I decided to change my outlook.

I have decided that I need to be the best that I can be. Stop making excuses and stop feeling sorry for myself. Stop focusing on a dress size and start focusing on feeling great.

At the end of October, I joined the Upstate Women's Bootcamp at QSA. I know I am crazy. The first 2 weeks I was ready to quit. I pushed through.

I have become stronger and my ability to push myself is incredible. Jason is a work horse and pushes to our limits. But he is always there with a smile, a yell, or a word of encouragement.

In January I decided to take this crazy notion of improving myself to a new level. Darron has been using Advocare products for months. Our friend Wendy from Texas is an Advocare rep and had posts on her Facebook page about the 24 day challenge. Something crazy told me---"hey, you can do that. You read all the blogs. Not only do these people lose weight but they fell better. Have more energy....yada yada yada."

3 days ago my Advocare journey began. I am going to write about my journey as motivation and accountability for myself.

No more feeling sorry for myself, no more tears when it is time to find a dress to wear to an auction, NO MORE.

It is a new year. I have new motivation. It is time to be the best Meares Mommy that I can be.

Thankful Ramblings

Thanksgiving Thursday---these are thankful ramblings and I am not sure if they will all make sense---but this is the way my brain works at 7:30am sitting on the back porch waiting on Beau to do his business so I can go back inside.

I am thankful for Darron and Jackson and the fact that they are snuggled in our warm bed while I am up. I have the most incredible and loving hubby and son in the world.
I am thankful for the warm house that we live in. And that Darron and I are able to provide for our son.
I am thankful for coffee from my Keurig. More importantly I am thankful that Darron bought it for me at a benefit auction. I am thankful for all of the groups that he works with to support the efforts of so many worthy causes.
I am thankful for Beau---even if he is a still a puppy and we are still learning. He has brought joy to our house. And I am thankful that Jackson accepts him and loves him as his "brother".
I am thankful for my family. Without them, I would not be who I am today.
I am thankful for my friends. Those I see daily, weekly, and every now and then. For my friends on Facebook who I have reconnected with. I love each of you.
I am thankful for Washington Baptist Church. And Palmetto Elementary.
I am thankful for my Weight Watchers group and my QSA Bootcamp leaders and ladies. I am going to need you after I eat 2 meals today. And tailgate on Saturday.
I am thankful for my Savior---for his unconditional love and forgiveness that I need daily.

Wow---it is nice to ramble and reflect on how blessed I am.
What are you thankful for this year?

I am wearing purple....

November 17 is Prematurity Awareness Day. Those of you who know us personally know why this day holds a special place in our lives.

The short version of Jackson's Journey:

My pregnancy was never supposed to happen (without fertility treatments at best). We got a HUGE surprise in June of 2004. This was the beginning of what would be a high-risk pregnancy. I had visits to my OBGYN every other week that included an ultrasound at every visit until 28 weeks. At this point everything was better than anyone could have hoped for.

4 short weeks later---at 32 weeks---we learned that baby Jackson had stopped growing. After many tests, 3D and 4D ultrasounds, a maternal fetal specialist (who had no beside manner)....we learned that Jackson's body was shutting down and we were slowly losing him.

It was decided that the doctors could take care of him outside of the womb better than me trying to carry him for any longer. After 3 long days at GHS, 2 rounds of steroid shots, and constant monitoring.....

Jackson Brice Meares was born on December 15, 2004. He weighed 2 lbs 11 oz and was 15 inches long. He spent 32 days in the NICU, including his first Christmas. Darron and I did not get to hold or touch him with a protective gown and gloves for 29 days. We brought him home on January 16, 2005. He weighed barely over 4 lbs, had a heart monitor, and supplemental oxygen.

Jackson is a healthy, spunky, almost 7 year old due to the grace of God, excellent medical care, and the efforts of the March of Dimes.

I am wearing purple tomorrow in honor of my Jackson and personal friends who have been affected by prematurity. (Brice C., Abby C., Bryce and Blake W., Ellis T.). I am wearing purple for all the children I have taught who were born premature. I am wearing purple for all my friends who are pregnant or will be pregnant in hopes that they are not affected by the things we were. I am wearing purple for all babies who born too small, too soon.

bringing home a baby puppy dog...

This week we decided to add an addition to our Trio.
A gray standard poodle puppy.

A little background.....
Jackson has been talking about a sibling. All of his friends have siblings, he is lonely, a sibling could be his friend, etc.
Those of you who know our family on a personal level, know our (my) story. I was never supposed to get pregnant, Jackson was a preemie and weighed 2lbs 11oz at birth, and I had a hysterectomy 2 and half years ago at age 30. There is more to our story but I will save the details for a later post. Needless to say...a sibling is out of the realm of reality for us.

So we decided to get the next best thing...a boy's best friend...a puppy.

We knew we wanted a poodle because of Jackson's allergies and the fact that they don't shed all of the place. And we knew we wanted a big dog. Our 120lb lab, Buck, passed away almost 2 years ago. We are finally ready to start looking for a puppy.

I called a breeder my parents have gotten their Bichons from and guess what....
she had puppies that are 1 week from being ready for their new homes.

Without a second thought, we drove an hour to JUST LOOK.
"Jackson, we are JUST LOOKING at puppies. WE ARE NOT bringing one home. They may not have anything that we like. DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO A PUPPY."

Hehehehe....30 mins later, a deposit paid, and an appointment to come next weekend and pick him up.....

We are in love with our new baby "Beau".
Registered name will be "Jackson's Bowtie Buddy"

My mother told me I spelled Beau wrong----the teacher in me knows that, but the Southern Belle in me doesn't care. His name is "BEAU".

I promise to post lots of pictures of Jackson and Beau next weekend.

Now for the work ahead----cleaning and puppy proofing our house so we can
bring home a baby puppy dog!

Never Forget or Always Remember?

I will ALWAYS REMEMBER where I was on September 11, 2001.
Not just on the 10 year anniversary...I think about it whenever someone mentions the Events of 9-11.

It was our planning period at Sue Cleveland Elementary. My grade partner and friend Amanda always listened to her radio during planning time. She heard about the first plan crashing into the World Trade Center and thought it was a joke. She came next door to my room to tell me and we turned on the TV to figure out what was going on. The first image we saw was the plane going through the second tower. Images began to replay on the screen. The only thing I remember is being confused. And numb. And fear.

Then reality set in. Our classes of 4th graders would return to our rooms in a matter of minutes. As a teacher our job is to teach but also to protect. In my confusion and disbelief and fear.... life went on in the safe little bubble of my classroom. My students had NO IDEA that the world had changed.
Parents began to pick up students. No recess that day. Everyone had bus and car duty. No adults talked about what was going on. Our job was to protect the children in our care until 3:00. I really don't know what I would have said to my students that day. I didn't understand the magnitude of what occurred.

It wasn't until I left school and heard the radio and TV reports---did I KNOW what had happened. I had no idea that a third plane had crashed. That all the airports were shut down. That my brother had been sent to the International Airport in Miami to cover the story. That I needed to go get gas in my car because prices were rising and it was being rationed. I had been in my bubble all day long. I almost think it was better that way. I could digest it all at once and try to understand the big picture instead of taking small bites through out the day. Darron was ready to turn off the TV and I was glued to it. Asking him a ton of questions----I am sure my students were at home asking their parents the same things.

Darron and I were startled awake by the sound of military helicopters and F-16 jets flying over our house in route to the Oconee Nuclear Station. (We would not find out until the morning where they were going and why). The sound of jets zooming over head is a distinct sound. One that brought fear and a sleepless night.

I prayed for the families who lost loved ones, I prayed for victims, I prayed for the ones who had not been found, I prayed for the leaders of our country, I prayed for the emergency workers in NYC, I prayed and prayed and prayed.

One of my favorite books is titled September 12. It was written by a group of elementary students and won the Scholastic contest and was published. The children wrote about how on September 12 they knew it would all be ok. (they had homework, and recess, and 2+2 was still 4). I read it every year about this time because...

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER.