A Daily Dose of Del Signore

What Happens?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:30:00 +0000

So, what happens when you spend a year and a half working towards something and finally pass your goal weight?

Well, duh!

You go shopping!!!!

On Saturday my supportive, amazing husband agreed to take me to my favorite outlet malls to finally spend all that birthday money I've been holding on to! I've waited and waited for this moment!

Ryan's cousin agreed to be my shopping buddy for the day. I've always loved Old Navy's stuff so we absolutely had to stop there first!

Until this weekend, there has never been a time in my life that I've walked into a dressing room with piles of clothes and loved every single piece I tried on.

When I was bigger, I'd find these cute clothes and try to shove my butt into the latest fashions. Most of the time I walked away empty handed and depressed. That totally didn't happen this time.

After a little break, we set out again. It's been so long since I have actually enjoyed clothes shopping that I was really kinda lost. I don't really know what kind of things I love anymore. We stopped by Gap and I realized I still really love anything they have!

We've got a beach trip coming up so I had to have some cute options for vacation.

When we finally got done, we were all kinda like this:

I got so much for my money by going to outlet stores. I ended up saving over $160 on all of my clothes.

I have plenty of options, right??

Now, that's how you celebrate losing 28% of your body weight!

Motivation Monday #6.... And Some Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Good Monday morning!!!! I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend 'cause we're about to shake things up around here. The absolutely stunning CeCe who has co-hosted Motivation Mondays found out she's having a baby! While we're going to miss seeing her around in the weight loss area, we are so excited to watch her grow! So if you want to see a super cute woman get even cuter with a belly, hop on over to her blog and tell her congratulations of her news!

I started thinking about co-host possibilities. I sent out an email to all the ladies I love reading and who have linked up here in the past. I asked if anyone would want to join me and I was blown away by the staggering response. I originally thought that I'd have maybe one or two who would pity me enough to offer. Instead of picking just one of these inspiring ladies to co-host, I just plain chose them all!

When I was kinda new at this whole blogging thing, I desperately applied to co-host with some big blogs. Time would slowly tick by and these wonderful bloggers would then announce their "chosen ones". Each and every time I was heartbroken. Now I simply refuse to chose. And you all will totally benefit from it!

So without further ado, let me introduce to you my new lovely co-hosts for Motivation Monday!!!!!

Morgan at Fat To Fit Confessions

Tiff at The Fit Train

Alisha at Coily Locks

Katie at The Carb Monster!

Veronica at V Watts' Thoughts

Gwen at Sky n Surf

I am so very excited to share these bloggers with you! No where online can you find this many weight loss bloggers joining together to help you reach your fitness and weight loss goals. We all do it a little differently so if one technique or tip doesn't work for you, there are tons of others to check out. I'm also creating a Pinterest board for all of our tips so you can find it all in one big place. Follow us here and there for every piece of advice we're got. Don't forget to link up your own too so that we can put the featured ones on here too!

Now we can get to the link up....

Goal Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:11:00 +0000

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you may have noticed something.... As of yesterday morning, I passed my goal weight! I have officially lost 61.7 pounds since November 2011. If you actually want to count back to the day I walked out of the hospital after having my son in November of 2009, I've actually lost 72.2 pounds.

That's just unreal! When I started trying to lose weight, I thought that maybe I'd get down to 180 pounds and be content. When I set my original goal, I really didn't think I'd actually get to that weight. I hadn't been my goal weight in 6 years, plus I had a kid and just didn't have the time to devote to going to the gym every single day. When I got into the 170's a while back, I started thinking maybe this was possible.

Okay, so let's talk official results...

From November 12, 2011 until June 15, 2013 I have lost 61.7 pounds!

That's a 28% change in my entire body.

I was in a tight size 16 pants size, probably should have been a comfortable 18.

I am now a very comfortable (getting baggy) size 10, fitting into some 8's.

My shirt size went from an XL everything to mostly Mediums and now some Smalls!

I had heartburn and acid reflux every single day prior to losing weight. I have now had mild heartburn three times over the past year.

I have three compressed discs in my lower back. I suffered from chronic back pain and was treated with steroids every three months prior to losing weight. I (thankfully) have not had a back issue in over a year.

I once took multiple antidepressants prior to losing weight.

I have not been on any medications (other than antibiotics) for a year and a half.

I outweigh my 3.5 year old son by only 108 pounds!

In my waist alone, I have lost 12 inches.

These are only the real, measurable results. I wish I could fully explain to you what losing this weight has actually done for me. I have my life back. I feel absolutely amazing now. My energy levels are so much higher now! I've gained confidence, found happiness, and discovered that I actually do fit in with my family now. There's nothing like being able to actually participate in my son's life instead of sitting around watching him.

Unless you've actually been through something like this, it's so difficult to grasp how amazing this day feels. For those of you who have followed along while I've done this, I am just so grateful for your kindness and support. I never imagined anyone would actually care to read about my struggles. Some of you have sent the most encouraging emails and comments along the way. It made all the difference in the world for me. There were days I was so aggravated with the lack of progress. I'd get angry when I'd try something that just plain didn't work well for me. But, then y'all chimed in during those times and really just helped me so very much. I was afraid to stop then since I didn't want to let anyone down. So I kept trying things so that when I did find something that worked, I could pass it on.

Okay, so now that I'm here....

I'm gonna keep it going! I never thought this weight was possible to begin with, so I may as well see what I actually can do. I'm going to continue to eat clean, do Zumba, and see where I go from here. I'm just not ready to stop yet and I am excited about new possibilities.

60, Baby!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Ahhhh.....that ever elusive (never imagined attainable) 60 pounds lost mark.

Yep, you read that right if you happened to look at my little progress ticker. I passed it!!!

I mean today it's like....

Amen!

Hallelujah!

Thank you, Jesus!

Amen!

I'm still kinda sick, so when I saw that number show up on the scale this morning I had to weigh myself three times. I swear you can't trust all those sinus medications sometimes. I honestly thought I was seeing things!

I climbed back into bed and told Ryan to ask me how much I weigh.

I was grinning like an idiot, red nose and all.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that man thinks I'm crazy. Honestly don't care today though!

I'm allowed to act like a fool.

'Cause I'm only .8 of a pound away from that goal weight, baby!!!

If you think I'm unbearable at this point, y'all just wait. When I hit that goal weight, everyone's gonna hear about it.

If you've stumbled across the blog today and want to know more about how I'm losing all this weight, please check out my weight loss progress tab at the top. The biggest help here lately has been cleaning up my eating. I'm not putting processed food into my body and I have seen all that pay off big time on the scale. If you'd like to know more, stick around! If you struggle with your weight, please know you are not alone. I have been there and I have fought this amazing battle. There have been plenty of tears and prayers along the way. It hasn't been easy for me, but it has been more than worth every single struggle!

Healthy Spaghetti

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:30:00 +0000

I'm slowly getting there!!! Only 1.6 pounds to go!!! Instead of the yo-yo that I have been through the past year and a half with my weight, things have finally kept creeping down. It's all because of the clean eating. One hundred percent!

Eating every couple of hours has helped in so many ways. I don't get crazy junk food cravings anymore. I'm hardly ever really hungry now which helps me not overeat. I'm also more likely to eat healthier if I'm not starving.

But, I think the whole food prep has been really successful. My evenings are so much less stressful when dinner is ready. That's always a plus when you've got a hungry, whining child under your feet! We have saved a ton of money just this past week. I know exactly what is going into our food and what isn't.

I have been fighting an ugly sinus infection this week. Things are so bad Ryan sang "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer" to me and my coworkers couldn't keep a straight face every time I was around. Yeah, I don't do the whole sick thing very well...

I was craving comfort food, but there was absolutely no way I was letting my eating get out of hand. It feels like I am so close and I just don't want to give in at this point. So I came up with some healthy spaghetti.

Here's the breakdown....

Take a pound of ground turkey and brown it in a skillet.

I diced one large tomato. I then pureed three large tomatoes and added it to my meat.

I sprinkled oregano and garlic in the sauce and let it cook down while I cooked my whole wheat noodles.

From start to finish, it took about thirty minutes.

It was worth every second! It tasted better than slow cooked, homemade regular spaghetti.

If I made it again, I would add some sliced mushrooms.

I did have leftover sauce mixture and I plan to use it in stuffed bell peppers tonight.

Work Family Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:45:00 +0000

My work family is pretty amazing. I am so blessed to work with my dad, brother, and husband. But, I also work with some great people that I consider part of my family. One of my coworkers retired yesterday and we threw him a party.

I have known Gary for twenty years and have worked with him for 13. That man worked on part of the 1973 VW Superbeetle my Dad restored for me. He's watched me grow up, get married and raise my child. I've always known him as my Uncle Gary.

I am so happy that he gets to retire, but a selfish part of me is so sad to see him go.

Caleb and Zoey got to come eat pizza and cake with Uncle Gary.

I couldn't get all of us together for a picture at one time....

These two have worked together for 20 years. They've been through a lot together.

I do really bad with seeing people go, but he so deserves this.

A Touch of Whimsey

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:16:00 +0000

I want to introduce you to one of my newest blog sponsors today!

A Touch of Whimsey is the creation of two sisters, Kathy and Sharon and began in Smithton, Missouri, a small town east of Sedalia, Missouri on Highway 50.

After a period of time, A Touch of Whimsey decided to move to the bigger town of Sedalia and opened their doors on historic Main Street. After a year or so, the decision was made to move a little bit ‘up’ town to a location on Ohio Street, where the shop was popular and building a client list.

Tragedy struck in the early morning hours on a fall day in 2012, when the adjoining building caught fire. The fire quickly spread to A Touch of Whimsey’s and everything was lost.

Creativity can’t be squelched though, and the sisters continued creating and following separate paths. Sharon now brings her own Touch of Whimsey creations to her new e-Commerce website ATouchofWhimseys.com. You can also find A Touch of Whimsey’s on Etsy or Facebook, or contact Sharon by email.

Fuzzy Flip Flops

Baby Boy Cuddle Blanket

Burp Cloth Set

I just absolutely adore their Etsy store.

I'm around a bunch of pregnant ladies and A Touch of Whimsey has unique gifts for that special baby!

They also have scented dead sea salts. These are perfect to use in a detox soak. Just add them to your bath along with some baking soda and watch your body detox naturally.

I totally need these flip flops!

And swim suit cover ups! This would be perfect on the boat.

Can you tell I've absolutely fallen in love with A Touch of Whimsey??

Thrown Together

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0000

I am absolutely loving this whole eating clean thing!

In the summer I love crisp, fresh veggies thrown together so I started chopping at random.

Diced tomatoes...

Cucumber...

Green pepper....

Red Onion...

And fresh Cilantro!

I let it sit in the fridge for an hour and it was perfect with grilled chicken.

Breakfast has gotten dressed up too!

I made oatmeal and added frozen blueberries.

No sweeteners needed at all!

Considering I am not a big breakfast person, I loved this.

Weekend Wrap Up

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:30:00 +0000

On Saturday mornings, Ryan and Caleb can be found watching their favorite car shows.

We surprised Caleb with Sweet Frog! It was actually our first time, but I could see all of us getting super addicted to it. This was the only thing I've had that doesn't fit the whole clean eating thing since Thursday, but it was honestly worth every bite!

Caleb loved picking everything out for his frozen yogurt!

No weekend would be complete without a trip to Lowe's.

We enjoyed having a slowed paced weekend for a change!

Motivation Monday #5

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:23:00 +0000

As another Monday rolls around, let's all link up our motivation and successes for the week. So many of you linked up last week and I was just amazed!

I'm still hanging in there with the whole clean eating thing. For over a week, everything I did could not stop the scale from inching higher and higher. I was so very frustrated that I gained 6 whole pounds. I had just fought so very hard and I couldn't figure out what to do. I can officially say that since I started eating clean last Thursday, I have taken those six pounds back off!

I have stuck with eating every two to three hours and the weight has just peeled back off! So if you're struggling this week, give it a shot. Eating every couple of hours keeps your metabolism up and you burn more calories.

It was so very difficult to pick someone this week! Y'all shared some amazing posts and stories with us.

I found Mel at 4 Kottez Runs It and she is training for a faster 5K! Go over and cheer her on HERE!

Want some real motivation? Check out here before and after pictures:

Isn't she fabulous? You'll love her blog as much as I do!

You know the drill by now... Link it up!

Clean Eating... Asked and Answered

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:30:00 +0000

I want to say a big thank you to everyone supporting me as I try this whole clean eating thing. Y'all are so amazing!

Someone asked yesterday if we had any issues with our salads wilting when we prep them in advance.

When you rinse all your veggies for the salad, take the time to make sure it's dry before packaging it for the week. We used a salad spinner to make sure the lettuce dried.

We also did not add any salad dressings at the time. I keep my salad dressings at work with me so that I can just pour it before I eat. So....no soggy salads!

I also got asked what was in the bag....

My husband and I are fortunate enough to work together. I packed my extra large Thirty-one tote with enough food to get us through the day. My husband is actually trying the whole eating clean thing with me for the next week or so. I have somehow convinced him that he will get more muscle definition this way.

Our whole day looked like this:

7:00 am - Caleb and I ate a mini bagel with one tablespoon of natural peanut butter topped with raisins. Ryan had two.

9:30 am - I ate an apple and one string cheese.

12:00 pm - Ryan and I ate a salad, couscous and baked chicken.

4:00 pm - I ate another apple. Ryan ate oranges and bananas.

At 6:00 my behind was in a Zumba class. We had a couple of guest instructors that led some new songs. I have honestly never sweated that much in my entire life! I looked around and every lady was working their butt off. I had such an adrenaline high when I got home!

Around 8:30 pm we got Caleb to bed and sat down to eat a quick dinner. We had a premade salad with carrots and dried cranberries, 1 cup of cottage cheese and I made a roll up with one wheat tortilla. I spread a little peanut butter on it and sliced banana. It was so good!

Over the past week, I have really battled with my weight. It seemed to just creep up and nothing I did could bring it back down. I have just really struggled lately. Yesterday morning, I weighed and had gained about 6 pounds in the past week or so. When I weighed this morning, I dropped down 3.8 pounds!

I honestly believe yesterday's diet, eating every couple of hours, and the combination of foods made a difference. Plus that crazy Zumba class sure didn't hurt!

Did I get hungry throughout the day?

Not at all. My stomach growled about 10 minutes before lunchtime and that was it!

I felt satisfied and energetic the entire day.

Some people asked where I got my recipes and facts.

I scoured Pinterest for all of my ideas. Just search for clean eating and you have so many recipes pop up. I'm really looking forward to trying some.

If you're still skeptical about the whole lettuce and produce thing, just buy a week at a time. My fridge is really cold on the top shelf and it preserves everything really well. It almost freezes things on the top shelf, but not completely. I did put my second week's worth of chicken, eggs and turkey in the freezer. I didn't want it to go bad. I'll just bring it to the fridge as I need it.

Eat Clean.... The Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:31:00 +0000

Before I get into the details, I want to throw this out there: I have so many wonderful fitness and health readers here. I could use all the help I can get with this clean eating thing. I wanted to share my start with you and hopefully y'all will correct me if I'm not getting it right. So comment away, okay?

When I first began researching how to eat clean, I was just simply amazed. My weight loss has been stalled for quite a while now and I have discovered that I'm not eating a very balanced diet. I have pretty much cut out all carbs and fat. While that idea works for a while, our bodies are not designed to run without it. I have made the decision to use all of the food groups in a balanced, healthy way.

I went to Aldi to buy the majority of my food. I spent a little over $107.00 at Aldi and around $10.00 at Walmart to get enough food to feed my family for around 2 weeks.

I think one reason we hold back from eating healthier is that there's an assumption that it costs a lot more money. If you use your freezer properly and prepare your meals in advance, you can save a ton of money!

My family loves to eat out. I've showed you over the past year how to take control of your eating while dining out, but now I want to show you how to make it work better at home. My husband and I are saving up for something special and we can save a ton of money by eating meals from home. My husband also tends to really overeat and put junk into his body more if we eat out as well. I want to take care of my family better and this is one way I can do that.

Eggs are a great source of protein. If you hardboil them in advance, you can use them on salads, over rice, or for breakfast. I prepared about two and a half dozen for the week since my husband and son love them.

While my eggs were cooking, I preheated my oven to 350 degrees. I bought frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts and tenderloins. After they thawed, I put them in my casserole dishes. I sprinkled Mrs.Dash on them. It adds tons of flavor and variety without adding any sodium.

As my chicken baked in the oven, I began prepping salads for the week. It helps if you set out all of your containers and keep a garbage can beside you. You can fly through this!

I also premixed a larger salad for us to eat on through the week.

I tried to use different types of greens and toppings to give us variety.

For some of our lunch meals, I cooked some couscous.

And topped it with the baked chicken. This can be paired with the salads and give a very balanced, filling meal.

After one hour of shopping and two hours a baking/prepping, I have everything ready for my family to eat during the week. I went ahead and cooked up my ground turkey. I plan to use that in my Skinny Stuffed Peppers.

Breakfast is so much easier to pull off now. I used whole wheat mini-bagels topped with all natural peanut butter and raisins. My family loved it!

There's no more running around trying to figure out what to bring for lunch as we head out the door. We just grab our premade containers and run.

I've thrown two weeks of protein into the fridge and freezer. Everything is pretty much all laid out with plenty of variety. As I go, I will share how I've made my dinners.

Instead of spending $150.00 per week on groceries, then eating out some nights because we're too exhausted to cook or the food has already spoiled, and putting junk into our bodies....

I have breakfasts, snacks, lunches, and dinners for two weeks, all stored properly....with less than $60.00 per week spent and everything prepared in three hours.

No more cooking for an hour at home while my son whines at my feet and my husband tries to distract him. No more running out to eat, spending so much money on it, and having no time to do anything else in the evenings. No more feeling sluggish with putting junk into our bodies.

As I learn along the way, I will share what works for us and what doesn't. I know that I'm going to have to be creative with our meals so my family doesn't get bored with the same stuff day after day. There are so many ways to change things up and I'll show you how!

Tweaking

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:55:00 +0000

I am really fascinated with the whole clean eating thing. I've started researching ways to tweak my diet and find healthier alternatives for my eating. Bear with me as I take a blogging break today. I promise I'll come back with something special...

If you're curious about what I'm working on.... Join me on Pinterest!

Guest Room Overhaul

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:30:00 +0000

This is probably going to be a multiple post kinda project. I've got so many little details crammed into this room and I can't wait to share it with you.

Two years ago, I painted and redecorated our guest room. To be completely honest, the moment I put the paint on the walls I knew that I was anything but thrilled. I honestly thought I would love the darker grey, but it just wasn't my thing. I hoped it would grow on me. Nope...

So we switched out bedroom furniture. We took the bedroom suit from our master bedroom when we got our new one, but I still didn't love it. It was just too big and overpowering. Finally I just gave up.

I sold the large bedroom suit and started from scratch.

I chose Glidden's Antique Beige paint for the walls. I am head over heels in love with this pretty shade!

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I honestly thought it was going to take a lot of paint to cover the gray walls because they were so dark, but I only used a little over one gallon of paint! I was so shocked! This paint covered so well.

I've got two coats on all the walls and I get to begin painting the trim a fresh, crisp white.

Painting walls burns about 320 calories per hour!

As I've gotten older, I have found that I am in love with neutrals with lots of bold, cheerful accents. I love clean, simple designs with beautiful colors. My husband and I both love decluttered rooms and I am looking forward to showing you how this room progresses. My stepchildren use this room a month and a half out of the year. The rest of the time, I'd like to create a relaxing area for guests when they visit. By using neutrals, I can switch up colors as trends and my moods change.

Then and Now

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:37:00 +0000

Oh what a journey...

Sometimes this feels so unbelievable.

Looking back I wonder so many times how I didn't see things were so out of control. Now that I'm getting closer to my goal weight, I wonder why I didn't do something sooner. I feel like I lost so much time. I lost so many opportunities with my husband and child. All the times that I didn't jump in the floor to play with Caleb. All the times I passed up on my husband because I was hurting, or tired, or didn't feel pretty enough for him.

I know so many of you reading are feeling that same way. I wish there was something I could say to explain how much better and more free I feel now. Taking control of my life...my eating...my weight has been the most amazing thing I have ever done. If by sharing my story I have helped just one person gain back their health, happiness and confidence, it has been worth every struggle.

If you're wanting to start your journey, please know it is worth every single second of it. I know how difficult it can be to get started. I know how addicted you can get to food. I've been there. I've eaten a whole box of white cheddar Cheez It's in an attempt to just feel better. I completely understand how devastating it feels. And I want nothing more than to see you do well! You absolutely can do this!

If you have questions or want someone to hear your struggles, I am here.

Please do not hesitate emailing me at dailydoseofdelsignore@gmail.com!

I want to cheer you on!

Motivation Monday #4

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:48:00 +0000

Good morning!!!

There are plenty of ways you can fit extra activities into your day that help you burn calories even if you can't make it to the gym.

Deep cleaning the house burns about 222 calories every hour!
Thirty minutes of dancing with your husband, boyfriend of friends can burn 410 calories an hour.
Roller skating with the kids can burn 516 calories an hour.
Fishing while sitting down can burn 184 calories an hour, but if you trout fish while wading the river (which my whole family enjoys) you can burn 443 calories an hour.
If you work in your garden for an hour you can burn 295 calories.
Just swimming in the pool can burn 443 calories an hour.

You don't have to spend a ton of money for a gym membership or all of your time working out to burn calories. Everything you do burns calories throughout the day. There are plenty of opportunities to burn a little extra doing the every day parts of life.

This morning I want to share Morgan at Fat to Fit Confessions! She linked up with us last week and shared her amazing progress. This mother of three itty bitties is looking amazing! She had lost 77 pounds!!

Jump over to her blog to follow her progress as she loses a total of 150 pounds!

I'm sure you will love her blog as much as I do.

So let's link up all of our inspirational progress and fitness goals!

Sunburnt Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:30:00 +0000

Saturday morning, I woke up ready to work. I've got a project going right now and I decided to paint. I am absolutely loving it so far and I can't wait to share it with you.

Caleb was absolutely wild on Saturday so I decided to let him wear himself out at the pool. He had a blast for about four hours!

I sat and watched him interact with all of the kids. I was in awe at his ability to make instant friends. He's the complete opposite of Ryan and myself at this age. We were fairly shy children, but Caleb doesn't have a problem talking to anyone or shamelessly flirting with ladies in their 30's and 40's....Heaven help his mama!

Caleb seems to fit in with older kids for some reason. He's so funny that they just kinda take him under their wing. I think his vocabulary helps him there. He's in this stage where he's testing out different sayings. Here lately I get so tickled hearing him say "For crying out loud" and "Holy Cow!" He totally gets those phrases from his mama.

I got myself burnt by the pool unfortunately. The stomach that is finally seeing the light of day for the first time in 6 years is pretty red and sore. All I really want to do is stay in my super soft pajama top all day, but unfortunately that isn't gonna happen. From what I can tell so far, my vitiligo has not spread this year. Last year, the spots bothered me. Somehow I've learned to just embrace this new, unique part of my life and stop caring about how it looks. I'm much happier for it.

While Caleb and I made friends at the pool, Ryan got our engine in the boat running! We did a complete engine swap and it's finally running. She sounds fabulous!!! I am just beyond happy to hear the loud roar of our Chris Craft. We have just a few more things to do before she's going out!

Goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 17:55:00 +0000

I have finally said goodbye to the maternity swimsuit. Yeah, the one I got while I was pregnant with Caleb and then wore until he was almost three. I cried the moment I put it in the garbage. Throwing it away is part of throwing away my old lifestyle and embracing my new one.

I was thrilled to have pictures of Caleb's first trip to the beach....until I saw how big I had gotten.

There's nothing like the sadness that washes over you when you're embarrassed to do things with your family. There's nothing like looking at your beautiful family and feeling like you just don't fit in. And there's never going to be another "first" trip to the beach with Caleb.

These beach pictures were taken 8 hours after I found myself with excruciating heartburn (again) at 2 am in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere. As I sat on the cold bathroom floor vomiting blood, I knew that I had reached my absolute breaking point. I cried silently, scared to death I was dying, and trying my best not to wake Ryan and the kids. In that moment I knew I could either let my extra weight kill me or I could do something about it.

I refuse to feel that way anymore. Even if I don't lose another pound, I am so much happier and healthier than I was.

I have shed the old life that was slowly killing me. Now I've left the maternity swimsuit behind too.

2.6

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:30:00 +0000

I have just 2.6 pounds to go until I reach my original goal. Most days it seems as though I can work so hard and eat just right, but the scale just simply will not move. Talk about frustrating!

I'm at the point that I realize something absolutely has to change if I want to see any more progress. I've gotten into the habit of eating healthy and I'm going to Zumba twice a week, but that's just not going to be enough for me at this point. Yes, it has worked for a while and I have made quite a bit of progress. But I'm honestly just stuck and I'm sick of being stuck.

I feel as though I'm about to go fifty kinds of crazy if I don't make that scale move soon.

My husband has looked at me like I'm losing my mind this week. I can see that goal just right in front of my face and for the life of me I cannot seem to get there. I've got the sweetest friends checking in on me...expecting me to shout from the rooftops that I've reached my goal. And then there's just nothing. I actually threatened to binge on doughnuts (which I despise anyways) this morning. This is just getting ridiculous.

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Once I set my mind to do something, I'll do whatever it takes to reach the goal. So here I am putting everything I've got into losing less than three tiny pounds. And I just can't seem to do it. My dad's idea of starvation to lose those last couple of pounds just isn't going to work for me either....So things are going to have to change now.

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I'm going to step out on a scary limb now....I'm going to adjust my calorie intake. There's a very good chance that I'm not eating enough at this point. That is absolutely terrifying. I've spent a year and a half getting my emotional overeating under control. Now that I feel like I'm in a really good place with it, I have to eat more. The only thing running through my head at this point is the potential to gain weight instead.

I'm also going to start doing more Zumba at home. I have the game for Wii and I can shake my booty in the privacy of my own home thankyouverymuch.

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If you've never tried Zumba, it's a blast! I'm the most uncoordinated, ungraceful person with absolutely no rhythm! I promise if I can get out there and attempt it, anyone can! Want to try it out at home?

Check out these free Zumba videos....HERE!

Anyone else just plain stuck this week?

Confidence After Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Thu, 30 May 2013 18:00:00 +0000

I must have hit on a fairly tough subject here with my Love and Fat post. There are so many of us that struggle with our self esteem, worth and image. We have linked our confidence (of lack of it) with our weight and body image.

I've been on both sides of this story.

I understand the deep hurt and desperation that comes when we step on the scale just to cringe at the number that creeps higher and higher. I understand the doubt that comes along the moment we view ourselves as anything but worthy. I know the pain of being criticized and critiqued. I've felt the embarrassment of not being able to do something fun because you are too large to participate. I've cried when my smaller friends have been able to enjoy shopping for cute clothes, wear their two piece swim suits on the boat, and eat just about anything they wanted.

I have battled for every inch, every single pound lost. I have struggled to make healthy habits and completely change my life. I may not be exactly where I hope to be, but I have truly gained so very much through this journey!

I still struggle with the whole confidence thing. You can reach your weight loss goals, but that doesn't mean the internal healing comes along at the same time. It takes time to gain the confidence you've lacked for so long. I struggle with this even now that I feel so much better.

I am a child of God. He does not make mistakes and He certainly didn't start with you or me!
No matter how rough you feel, cling to those "Before" pictures. You have fought a battle and those are your trophies!
Be proud of the story you have. Not everyone can win this battle.
Go out and share your story. There are more people out there that would love to cheer you on and support you along the way. You will be so surprised!
Fake it 'til you make it! Some days you'll feel down about your progress, but remember it will pass. Stay positive and you'll make it through!
Learn to accept compliments. (I struggle with this. I never really know what to say when someone compliments my weight loss efforts or how I look now.) Smile and say "Thank you!" because you have earned it!
Accept that you'll never be perfect and love yourself even though you aren't!
Reward yourself when you accomplish a goal. You've worked hard and you deserve it!
Discover what really makes you happy and go after it. Don't chase the things that stress or upset you.
Take the time to appreciate what you've been through and how it has shaped you.
Fix your make up, hair and dress nicely. It does wonders for your confidence!

Y'all, I am by no means an expert at any of this because I truly struggle with it too. These are a few things I've picked up along the way to help build back the confidence I lost. It takes time, patience and lots of practice.

Summer Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:24:00 +0000

I'm linking up with Where We Can Live Like Jack and Sally for their 2013 Summer Bucket List link up!

Seat Repairs

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Wed, 29 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Ryan and I have been so blessed to know some really wonderful people. We have had so much help with our Chris Craft project and the kindness continues....

The seams on our seats were coming apart! We had a quote of $100 to repair these seats.

One of our talented friends stepped forward with the right equipment and materials and fixed them for us!

The pictures aren't fantastic because I took them super quick.

One minute we had busted up seats. The next thing I know Ryan is ripping them off the boat and giving them to our friend to repair!

They need a good cleaning, but I am thrilled with how beautiful they are now!!!

We are so very thankful for everyone's help and advice along the way as we restore this beautiful boat. She needed a ton of time and money and we are slowly bringing her back to life.

KR Creative Graphic Design

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Mon, 27 May 2013 18:52:00 +0000

You may have noticed the facelift my blog got recently!

I am so very excited to introduce my newest blog sponsor....

KR Creative Graphic Design outfitted my blog with a brand new, custom designed header, navigation bar, and graphics along the sidebar.

Not only does KR Creative produce gorgeous, one of a kind blog designs, you can get custom brochures, invitations, and cards. If you're looking for beautiful decals, letterhead, or flyers, look no further than KR Creative Graphic Design.

If you need a new company or blog logo, they can help you with that as well.

The blog design process with KR Creative was so easy! I dreaded trying to convey what kind of "look" I wanted the blog to have. I listed a few of my favorite colors and explained that I wanted clean, simple lines and they absolutely did it. It was everything I hoped for and more!

They were absolutely wonderful to work with and I would recommend them to any blogger, big or small.

If you're in desperate need of a new, exciting look, check out KR Creative Graphic Design.

Weekend Wrap Up

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Mon, 27 May 2013 13:27:00 +0000

I hope y'all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Caleb is at such a fun age now! He has inherited his parents' love of boating and we are so blessed to be able to spend our summer on the water.

Caleb was all about going fast on the little boat this year!

I actually enjoyed sitting on our bigger boat better.

We had lunch on the Chris Craft.

I found the cutest Mickey Mouse fruit and cheese tray for Caleb.

Someone simply would not nap on Saturday!

He watched a movie on the boat while I got some sun.

It has been years since I could just relax and get a tan.

I've been too ashamed of my body for the past six years and have kept myself covered up.

My poor legs finally saw the light of day!

Loved every second of it and I didn't burn!

Always a good thing!

Caleb hung out with Daddy all day and loved it!

From driving the boat to hanging off the swim platform, they were stuck like glue.

Caleb begged us for 10 minutes to jump in the water. We tried to warn him that it was going to be really cold.

We got the "Please, Mom, I'll do anything" face.

We took a long ride down to the dam.

He loved every second of it!

So, Ryan and I finally let Caleb jump in....

And he realized it was freakin' cold! It took his breath and he went nuts!

Ryan had to pull him back in, but I think he'll listen to us a little more next time.

After he got dried off, he was all smiles again!

We had dinner at our favorite restaurant on the lake before going home to finally crash!

So, how did you spend the weekend?

Motivation Monday #3

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Del Signore) — Mon, 27 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend!

Stay safe out there and try not to be too harsh on your bodies you've worked so hard for!

My tips today are completely summer holiday related!

Lay off the greasy foods! Your body will thank you for it!
Don't forget to stay hydrated! Drink your water!
Be extra careful with the alcohol. Don't drink all your calories!
Snack on some healthy protein and drink a glass of water before heading out to a big cookout!
Don't be afraid to bring a veggie tray and some fruit with you when you hang out with friends and family.
Have fun! Get active and play. You'll burn calories whether you play out in the yard, ski behind a boat, or dance with your friends!

This week I want to feature the lovely Laurie of Lulu and Daisy! Last week she linked up with us and I just really found her post encouraging.

Laurie wrote:

"As humans trying to become healthy, lose weight, whatever, we never give ourselves enough credit when we do something positive. We tend to focus on the fact that we only made it to the gym once this week, or that we ate a huge brownie for dessert last night. Everything we do to better ourselves counts. Every slip-up makes us human. We forget that life happens. Life gets in the way. We do the very best we can to put our health and well-being first, but the fact is, life happens. Don't beat yourself up over the small stuff. The important thing is to keep going and not give up. No one ever said anything worth having would be easy.

I think the reason people quit is because they beat themselves up over having a bad day or a bad week. I think the greatest thing that I have learned THIS time is that it's okay to not be perfect. My relationship with food has changed and so have I. I didn't gain 60 pounds in a few months....it took years. I can't expect it to drop off by July 4th, and I know that it won't."

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For some reason, the whole "it's okay to not be perfect" just really got me. I think so many women do get discouraged when they have an off day.

Let's see what everyone else does to stay motivated this week!