Author: Laura

Fitness + Health

vacation weight loss challenge: week 8

LauraLeave a comment

vacation weight loss challenge (2)
Over the past few weeks my mindset has shifted from “lose weight” to “get healthy”. I’ve been struggling a lot with some mental health stuff that’s taking its’ toll on all aspects of daily life – my relationships, my functionality, my ability to mom and, yes, my weight loss goals. And then the cycle starts; mental health decline > non functionality > weight loss self sabotage (i.e, binge eating) > more mental health decline > less functionality > more weight loss self sabotage….and on and on and on.

It has to stop somewhere and I know that getting my mental health in check is the best way to not only meet my weight loss goals but to get back to being a functional mother, wife and person.

Let’s check in.
read the post

Home + Life

happy, healthy and honest: letting go of perfectionism

Laura2 Comments

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
In the five minutes I have been sitting here staring at my screen searching for a place to start I’ve re positioned my keyboard, mouse and wrist rest multiple times, I’ve sipped my coffee and I’ve glanced over and over at the baby monitor almost praying Elias will wake up so I don’t have to write this right now.

That’s how uncomfortable imperfection (and talking about it) makes me.

I have always been an over achiever with perfectionist tendencies. My family knows it, my teachers used to comment on it and it has brought me to some really great places and some REALLY shitty places. (Scouts’ honor, there is absolutely no other way to describe those places.)

Most people don’t really understand the negative effects of perfectionism – because most people who have perfectionism are really good at hiding them. Struggles + failure = imperfection. And no self respecting perfectionist would EVER let those secrets see the light of day.

Lucky for you, I have no self respect. 😉 Kidding. Totally kidding. But let’s chat anyway.
read the post

Fitness + Health

vacation weight loss challenge: week 6

LauraLeave a comment

vacation weight loss challenge (2)
Weight loss and fitness is such a funny thing. You think you’re doing great and – BAM – the scale is up two pounds then you go on a late night doughnut eating binge and – WHOOSH – you have miraculously lost 3 pounds overnight on the Krispy Kreme diet. 😉

My problem right now is my period; I managed to be five days late this go around so I’m still sitting around with my fingers crossed for my water retention to release. I’ve also been eating almost nothing but broccoli salad for three days so I’m sure there’s some other weight sitting around in there too… 😮

I’ve also started to notice some other changes not related to numbers on a scale. My confidence is up, I have more muscle definition and even though my weight has not changed much I am still losing inches and my clothes are fitting better (and I’m able to fit into a smaller size now than I previously would have at this weight). As much as my husband would just LOVE to say “I told you so”, he doesn’t read my blog so he won’t know that I give the credit to finally caving in to him pressuring me into lifting weights. 😉 Not huge weights or a lot of time devoted to it but it IS definitely changing my body for the better.
read the post

Fitness + Health

vacation weight loss challenge: week 4

LauraLeave a comment

vacation weight loss challenge (2)

Talk about a stressful week. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a TGIF outlook (about 10 years now!) and I guess under quarantine all the days sort of feel like Friday but…THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY because I am 120001% OVER this week.

I should be excited that it’s 4th of July weekend but I’m just not – the fact that I have only put up front porch decorations is a tell tale sign that I have achieved IDGAF status and I’m ready to hit the reset button Sunday night and move on. It is so beyond normal for me that I’m having a hard time recognizing myself. 😐

My July update post is coming and I’ll let you in on all of that in a hot minute but today we’re here to weigh in. Somebody pray for me. read the post

Food

recipe roundup

LauraLeave a comment

IMG_20200516_073753161-2

clearly, Elias’ birthday breakfast did NOT make the round up (even though it WAS tasty 🙂 )

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a recipe roundup so let’s go for it. In case you haven’t been around before (or have forgotten since its’ been awhile 😉 ) recipe roundups are just a compilation of all the best recipes I have made in the past month…or three. Whoops!

read the post

Fitness + Health

vacation weight loss challenge: week 3

LauraLeave a comment

vacation weight loss challenge (2)Virginia is heading into Phase 3 on July 1st so “normal” life has started to pick back up. I’ve been working on Elias’ party that is scheduled to go on in mid July so that’s kept me busy from mindless daytime eating but I’ve STILL been struggling with night time eating – I have GOT to figure out why I’m waking up EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

Mom is still chugging along with her on and off low carb days and she has started incorporating exercise other than just walking. My sister is currently in OBX on vacation and surprised us all when she weighed in yesterday telling us that she was doing a great job staying with her way of eating (and getting up every morning and walking like I have been trying to get her to do with me FOR YEARS!) while she has been away – she even packed her scale and measuring tape so she could keep accountable. Kudos to her. 🙂

So let’s see how we’re all doing. 🙂
read the post

Home + Life

toddler tuesdays: adventures in potty training

LauraLeave a comment

VID_20200519_093327097_exported_41409_1592878305046 (3)-2

Potty trained: having been taught to use the toilet. That is straight from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Seems simple enough, yes?

Wrong.

We were newly married when a lot of our friends and family started having babies. We were then newly pregnant when a lot of those babies grew into toddlers. We were rookie parents when those toddlers started potty training. Having a newborn in diapers while watching other parents struggle with toddler toilets and floor pooping was a double edged sword – we were thankful we were not there yet (because we would have had absolutely NO idea what to do) but we were also well aware that our turn would come soon enough.

I’m willing to risk some backlash here because, let’s face it, I’m a mom and I will ALWAYS get some sort of backlash for some decision I make having to do with child rearing. (Let’s also have a reminder here that the moment you get pregnant, EVERYONE knows what to do better than you for ANYTHING having to do with pregnancy, child birth and being a parent.) Trust me, I’ve been there, I’ve heard it, I’ve dealt with it and at the end of the day I really don’t care. My child is healthy, happy, thriving and loved – that is ALL that truly matters.

Rant over. Back to potty training.
read the post