Free

Sorry for the lack of posting. I have been one uninspired blogger these days. I've actually been quite uninspired about..well..everything for quite some time.
Until..

I put in my 2 week's notice on Monday!!

Who knew that telling your unappreciative, inpersonal boss that you are packin' up would be so..liberating..so freeing? It was a good feeling. Now, I know the grass may not always be greener on the other side (obviously I don't know since I haven't started my new position yet), but I'm just happy for a change. I've been chained to this cubicle 4 years too long. I start my new position at the hospital on October 7th in the business office. I'm thrilled for a change of scenery and atmosphere.

Also, my new hours are lovely. 7:30am to 4pm. Can you say..hello gym?! since I have been working from 8:30-6pm and then going to class right after, I haven't been working out. I know, no excuses, but that's mine and I'm stickin' to it.

So, needless to say, I'm excited for this new experience because I have been unhappy at my place of employment for some time now. I will keep you posted on all of that!

:)

Look back

Sometimes when I'm really down in the dumps about what the scale says or how my pants are fitting it is always nice to reflect. By reflecting I mean dig up the most unflattering pictures of myself out of pure shame to see where I've come from, lol.
Maybe it makes me feel a teensy bit better to see where I started, where I am now and where I want to be. I am still on this journey!

Former fat Bride (240lbs)

Bridal shower blegh

At my aunt's wedding..I remember this top feeling sooo tight on my arms!

It was on this trip I knew I needed to make a change. I went into Victoria's Secret and felt like the girls working there were laughing at me! I joined Weight Watchers 2 weeks later.

 

Oh look, I was a fat bridesmaid too. Good grief!

All of these pictures are part of the journey! Every day I get a little bit better on this..I learn something new everyday..I DON'T need Dr.Pepper in the morning..I DON'T need sour gummy worms in order to study..I CAN run a 5k (maybe ;) And everything's okay because here's today:

Happy Tuesday :)

My solution:

Low and behold: The Crockpot!

Remember when I was stumped as to what to eat between work and going straight to school? I work Monday-Thursday 8:30am-6pm and go to school Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7pm-9:45pm. I pack my lunch everyday so I figured..might as well pack my dinner as well.

Jordan and I have started cooking with the crockpot quite a bit in the last week. Since it is just me and him, the crockpot is perfect for leftovers. Last week I made a taco soup and tonight Jordan made a Venison Pot Roast:

Yum!

And perfectly healthy for lunches/dinners.

Please share with me your favorite healthy/easy crockpot recipes!!  

Weigh in 9-9-11

Let's try these weigh in posts again, shall we? This week I lost -2.2lbs. It's the first time I've seen the scale move in nearly 4 weeks! What a relief.

Oh, btw, sorry for the terrible picture. My husband is my "photographer" and HATES..I mean hates..taking my picture! It is a constant battle! It's not like I'm a perfectionist or anything... ;)

Anyway, this week I tracked everyday on myfitnesspal. I have the app and it is so easy to track all the calories. I am allotted 1410 calories a day. Sometimes I go a little over, sometimes I am a little under, but usually right in that ballpark. I worked out once {eek} and started taking a pre-natal vitamin (not preg) again and I B12 vitamin in that afternoon. I'm not sure if they've made a difference though.

My goal for this week is to keep tracking, fit some more workouts in although it is getting hard with my work/school schedule. It is just going to take a bit more of planning though. That reminds me...I need to leave a workout bag in my car. I also want to up my water intake. Currently I'm only drinking maybe 40oz of water a day. My goal is to increase that to at least 60oz a day.

What are your goals for this week?

Infertility Timeline

This post may be a little long..but I've received a few emails from readers asking about how far along I've been with my pregnancies/what I've been tested for/what medicines I've taken/etc so I think it'd be easiest to just make a little long timeline.

March 2009: Pregnant! Wow, out of the blue. Jordan and I just moved into our house and-oops- weren't married yet.
April 2009: Had first OB appointment at 8 weeks and everything was perfect..sono measuring exactly where it needed to be, heartbeat. We were THRILLED. I was SICK as a dog (whatever that means).
May 2009: 5/3/09 woke up with terrible back pains. Worst pain ever..Jordan called my OB's office and they suggested going to the ER. Went to get checked out, sono showed heartbeat and growing baby, however, my cervix was open and I had a UTI. Dr. was RUDE and ordered me anti-biotics and sent me home. I was in intense pain 10, on a scale of 1-10. I even told the nurse I was scared to go home. I miscarried an hour later at home at 11 weeks. 5/5/09 I had a D&C by far, the worst experience of my life.
August 2009: It has been 8 weeks and Dr. said we could try again so that we did!
September 2009: BFP on 9/2/09!! Miscarried 9/11/09 at 6 weeks, sono showed no heartbeat, also I have absolutely ZERO symptoms. Dr. ordered labs and diagnosed me with Hypothyroidism. Started Synthroid.
October-December 2009: Nothing.
January 2010: Decide to forego TTC, but do not got on any birth control..just trying to be "safer." I start Weight Watchers and lose 50lbs. My thyroid levels are where they need to be. We pay off a lot of debt, Jordan is continuing school and we are HAPPY, but something is still "missing."
April 2011: I go for my annual well woman exam and express that we are ready to start TTC'ing again. She suggests Clomid and progesterone. We decide to start actively trying to conceive in May.
May 2011: BFP 5/13/11!! Sososo HAPPY. Confirmed pregnancy at PCP, was seen by OB very next week. 5/19/11 beta: 582, 5/24/11 beta: 2400, 5/26/11 beta: 3281. Not quite doubling every 48 hours, but sono showed heartbeat at 6weeks so we were thrilled.
June 2011: 6/4/11 ended up miscarrying at 8weeks. I had slight pregnancy symptoms: exhaustion, sore chest, strong sense of smell.
July 2011: My cousin tells me about a Reproductive Endocrinologist who she felt was a God send to her family. We submit an application to be seen and finally hear back that we've been approved.
August 2011: Start seeing the RE. Transvaginal sono showed "beautiful" uterus, ovaries, lining. Dr orders an HSG test and genetic testing. Insurance approved HSG test first=perfect clear tubes and uterus. RE is concerned about auto immune disorders especially Hashimoto's Disease. Insurance finally approves genetic testing.
September 2011: Tomorrow we are going for genetic testing at 8am. We are anxious and optimistic. We should have results in 4-6 weeks.

I never knew how strong I was until I was faced with infertility.

Questions/suggestions? Email me: amarshall627 @ gmail.com

The jeans.

These jeans?

oh..you know..have been hanging on my closet door for..oh..2 months.

They are size 14 GAP Curvy-fit low rise jeans from 2008 that do not fit.

They used to be my favorite pair, but sadly, I have not worn said jeans in oh..3 years.

Pathetic.

The goal?

To fit into these jeans by October 1st. I do realize that is only roughly 4 weeks. The "good" thing is..I can pull them up, but they will not button at this present time! My goal is for them to fit comfortably by the first of October. And hey, if I meet that goal, I think it's time to get some new favorite jeans..circa 2011 :)

What is your current goal?

High School eating vs. College

I was pondering this during my History of Western Music class tonight (which is totally boring btw!)...why, all of a sudden, do I think I can eat the way I did in High School now that I started taking some college classes? Maybe it's the thrill of being in class and feeling younger or maybe it's because I feel like I'm on the go all.the.freaking.time? I don't know, but I really need to get out of this mind frame..

When I was in High School, I was pretty average..I remember going to my routine physical for freshman basketball and my weight being 127...I thought I was huge.

{2004}

I worked as a waitress about 30 hours a week and was always on the go. I was always out with friends, but I had a terrible diet. My favorite meal was a McChicken from Mcdonalds with buffalo sauce. Nice, huh? I drank tonssss of Dr. Pepper and Wendy's chicken nuggets. Yet I always stayed pretty slim.

So, why am I reverting to that lifestyle? I ate a McChicken today...with..guess what? Buffalo Sauce and oh guess what...a Dr. Pepper! How did I feel  afterwards? Disgusting. So what did I do when my class go out an hour early?

Work out!!

I plan on coming up with some kind of plan in regards with what to eat between work and class because fast food is the worst thing for me. Oh, and I need to cut that Dr. Pepper crap out..I quit drink regular pop a long time ago..why start again?!

Sigh. Every day battle, huh?!