randtbrown's LCing and motherhood journey

[randtbrown]

I thought I would start a journal of my own. When my son Kyle (now 3.5 months) was in the womb I started writing. I wrote every hour I was in labor (both times- I had a failed induction). I wrote when he came home for the first 3 weeks. And since then, NOTHING! So, perhaps I'll do better writing here, as I'm on this site so much anyway!

I'm a 27 year old Texan, married to my high school sweetheart (Ron and I have been together since we were 16 and just celebrated our 7 year anniversary last night). Ron spent 8 years in the Marine Corps and has been out just a year now. We lived 4 years in Hawaii before moving back to Texas a year ago. After a long battle with infertility and many doctors telling us it may never happen due to endometriosos, Kyle was born big and healthy at the end of January.

I lived much of my life battling my weight. I was at my heaviest in Hawaii and didn't want to live like that anymore. One day I just gave up carbs. I didn't look back- 4.5 months later I was down over 60lbs and kept it off for 6 months. I actually made goal a couple days before I found out I was pregnant.

My pregnacy started off good and healthy- no gain in first trimester. Then at week 17 I started having complications and was put on bed rest. I stayed on some type of bed rest (from limited activity to total bed rest where I couldn't even sit up to eat) for the rest of my pregnancy. I gained over 70lbs.

After delivery I suffered from depression badly for 12 weeks. I actually gained weight during this time. My parents (mom and step dad whom I'm very close to) announced their plans for a divorce in my 8th month and it has been a bitter battle since then, which didn't help my depression at all. At week 12 I snapped out of it finally and took control. The middle of March I turned back to LCing- not a WOE but a WOL for me. I'm down almost 20lbs since then.

I do not cheat, not even a bite. Never. I do watch my fat and calories these days. I do not exercise. I should, but I don't (except a stroll with the family when it isn't 110 degrees here in south texas).

So that's me! I hope to be able to write here at least once a day! That is my personal goal- to have some record of my crazy life!

[AlexTucker]

Good Job on getting back on this WOL. I lost 74 pounds my first time LCing and then had my first child. Gained most of it back. I lost about 50 pounds and then had my 2nd child. Got to goal and then my divorce happened. I have been divorced now for 7 years and I just started LCing again. I have lost 8 pounds in the last month. I live in North Texas, but it's just as HOT HOT HOT here! I bought a used treadmill so I have started walking in the mornings before I have to take the boys to school.

Good Luck with your Journal! I write in mine everday...keeps me from exploding!

[little t-rex]

Good luck

D x

[ddog27]

You are doing great!

[randtbrown]

Thanks guys!

Today I've eaten 320 calories worth of salt and vinager pork rinds. That's all. I never eat junk like that.......strange.

I took Kyle to the sitter this morning and went to the office for a few hours. My mom owns a large florist and I am her book keeper/account manager. I use to work 60+ hours a week, but after the baby came I backed down a lot. I'm now down to 2 days a week and mostly from home in between diapers and bottles. This isn't exactly what I thought I'd be doing with my very expensive graduate degree, but being a mommy comes first. We are making a huge financial sacrifice for me to stay at home with him, but it is worth it.

Kyle is starting to miss me when I am gone and seems to know when I'm leaving. Is that even possible? I'm taking him to the doctor tomorrow to change his medication, he has acid reflux and it is driving our house crazy! He burps, chokes, and then the milk comes out of his nose. I wouldn't like that very much!

I got on the scale this morning at it was 192- one up from yesterday, but I did have that fried fish on Sunday (breading taken off) and a high calorie dinner last night for our anniversary- so it is expected. I'm sure the pork rinds aren't going to help that! I'll have a piece of steamed fish for dinner and call it a night- lots of extra water.

[randtbrown]

Well, I'm back for day two here! Two days in a row- doin' good!

I had such a weird/off eating day yesterday. Nothing off a typical LC plan, just off MY typical LC plan. Started with the pork rinds, continued with a high fat salad (cheese, ranch dressing, pepporoni) and continued with 1/2 cup of peanuts. Then I went to bed! Today will be better- no LC junk. I never eat like that- my mom said my body must have been needing some fat.....does that even happen? (I have enough fat for my body to live off of a while- pretty sure it doesn't NEED it!) May have something to do with being 3 days into TOM. Who knows- I'm not going to beat myself up over it- just move on!

I'm taking Kyle to the doc today AGAIN for the reflux. They are going to change his meds. He is sneezing milk out of his nose still. Scarey! I can't wait to see how much he weighs- probably close to 16lbs- which is really a lot for a 3.5 month old I think! He is such a big big big boy! I'm a little scared about that- don't want him to be fat. BUT everyone tells me they slim down when they get mobile. If he is anything like his daddy he'll be a bean pole in no time!

It is a beautiful day here in S.East Texas. Blue skies, below normal temps for this time of year. I think the high is 85. I still wish we didn't live here (I miss the mountains very much and want to move to Colorado. We may think about that next year- or at very least Austin which is the TX hill country- not a mountain per se, but closer to it than East Texas!

[randtbrown]

Today I've been super good following my odd day yesterday.

I've had 1 6oz salmon filet with 1.5 cups of salad and 1 tbs ranch dressing. then 2 wedges of light laughing cow cheese (30 cals) and 2 stalks of celery. Mom is taking us out for steak tonight. Can't pass that up....

Kyle was very good at the doctor today. He had a choking fit in front of the nurse so she got to see what I'm worried about finally and agreed it was scarey. She is changing his meds for a week and then maybe his formula as well. He weighs 16lbs 11oz! Very healthy it seems.

[randtbrown]

Just got back from dinner- yummy steak with salad. I ate too much of it and I'm full- but calorie wise I'm still low for the day- didn't eat much of anything else b/c I knew I'd be eating the fatty steak!

Just to note- because I wonder now what weight I was at what size before when I was losing- I weight 192 and I am a size 14ish/large. I do have some 12's, but I think that is a fluke! I was an 8 or 10 before baby- would love to be a 10 again- an 8 may be a little small for me to shoot for- but who knows! Right now I just would love to be a solid 12- you know- I can grab anything in a size 12 and know it would at least button up! I have awesome clothes starting at that size left from before. Even better for a 10, but good at a 12! I have great jeans starting in a 14- but a gap 14 seems to not fit go great. I can get them on but wouldn't wear them in public. I have those same gap jeans in a 14, 12, and 10. I have AE jeans in 12 and 10. I remember I bought my first pair of 14's and was SOOO excieted (first pair of simi-nice jeans). Then 2 weeks later I had to buy the 12's. Then ONE week later I had to buy the 10's! DH said my weight loss cost him a ton of money! lol. That's okay!

[randtbrown]

Waiting for the monster to wake up. Today will be his first morning eating part of his breakfast from a spoon. I thought I had some baby spoons but realized last night when I tried spoon feeding him that they must be for older babies because they are really big! It will have to work for today then I'll get some new ones! His new medication is a powder so I have to put it in some cereal and feed it to him as a solid. I have given him 1 tsp of cereal twice now to just start getting him use to the spoon and he eats it like a champ!

I'm not going to get on the scale today because of my steak dinner last night. Never a good think a night after beef dinner- it works itself out though in a day or two!

[TXLoser]

[COLOR=DarkGreen]Glad to see you back on plan...

It was from you quite some time ago when you posted about the fact you started tucking your shirts in...from that I learned that I didn't always have to wear my shirt out to cover up my flab and started tucking mine in as well. I think of you often when I do that because was it not that post I never would have thought I could get away with it...so I thank you

Keep up the good work....[/COLOR]

[randtbrown]

Originally Posted by TXLoser

[COLOR=DarkGreen]Glad to see you back on plan...

It was from you quite some time ago when you posted about the fact you started tucking your shirts in...from that I learned that I didn't always have to wear my shirt out to cover up my flab and started tucking mine in as well. I think of you often when I do that because was it not that post I never would have thought I could get away with it...so I thank you

Keep up the good work....[/COLOR]

Wow that was a long time ago! I miss tucking in my shirts! Hopefully soon I'll be back there again! I grew big hips during my pregnancy- something I didn't have before, so finding something that fits good to tuck my shirt INTO is the problem these days! LOL

WHere in Texas are you?

[randtbrown]

I'm super tired but my little man isn't apparently willing to take a nap!

He ate his solid cereal this morning just fine and then the bottle (actually he eats the cereal off the spoon, "chews" it for a minute then starts crying- doesn't get the swollow part yet). So, got all the meds down him, gave him a bottle and then 10 minutes later he threw it up. Nice.

So, we'll try again tomorrow. He is awefully cranky today

[TXLoser]

[COLOR=Navy]I am in the DFW area, but I remember driving through the Woodlands area on the way to Houston to visit family...

You WILL be back there before ya know it...
take care of that little guy!!![/COLOR]

[AlexTucker]

TXloser...I am about an hour north of DFW...Bowie, Texas.

[randtbrown]

I love Ft. Worth- the stock yards. My dad spends a lot of time there (in a bar called Pearls). Just a great feeling place!

Think I'm going to have salmon for dinner. I made Ron enchiladas. I love to cook, and he loves to eat, so I still cook normal for him a few times a week. He use to be perfectly fit, but he gained about 30lbs last year (he blames it on my pregnancy) but I blame it on leaving the marine corps and stopping all exercise AND my pregnancy! But I keep telling him I'm working to get the weight off before the next baby- he isn't!

[TXLoser]

Originally Posted by AlexTucker

TXloser...I am about an hour north of DFW...Bowie, Texas.

I am about 20/30 minutes from you.. I am actually in the Haslet/Rhome area...

We have been spending more time at the Stockyards, well mostly at Risky's because they have AYCE ribs which DH likes!!!

Tarrah - I used to cook separate meals for DH, but finally stopped because it was getting too much.. He is now lcing as well so it is much easier...of course he weight is coming off easier too which I find a bit frustrating....but I am happy for him..but still

[randtbrown]

Originally Posted by TXLoser

I am about 20/30 minutes from you.. I am actually in the Haslet/Rhome area...

We have been spending more time at the Stockyards, well mostly at Risky's because they have AYCE ribs which DH likes!!!

Tarrah - I used to cook separate meals for DH, but finally stopped because it was getting too much.. He is now lcing as well so it is much easier...of course he weight is coming off easier too which I find a bit frustrating....but I am happy for him..but still

I know- that is irritating. If Ron would just go back to running 3 times a week he'd lose it and eat anything he wants. He tried lowcarbing for awhile to support me, but it it too expensive actually- he eats a TONNNN of meat and salad if there is no starch to fill him up on (I don't think he eats low carb when he wasn't with me, so no ketosis hunger suppression for him!) I don't mind- I love to cook so it works out.

[randtbrown]

Today was a good day

Got up early with ron to help him study for his BTWW test. (he made a 95!). Then went back to bed. Got up, fed the baby- medication stayed down! Worked for a bit. Went to lunch with mom (chicken ceaser salad). Went to the office shortly. Got a new Tshirt (astros). Came home and fed the baby- took a nap, now getting ready for a date with my sweet hubby!

[vwchick]

Hi Tarrah!

Glad to see you journaling! It's so cool to hear about your adventures with Kyle. Makes me excited to be a mom.

Have fun on your date tonight!

[randtbrown]

Originally Posted by vwchick

Hi Tarrah!

Glad to see you journaling! It's so cool to hear about your adventures with Kyle. Makes me excited to be a mom.

Have fun on your date tonight!

HI BON!

Being a mom is an adventure for sure! I'm getting the hang of it though!

[randtbrown]

Well, our date was wonderful last night . We went to Tommy Bahama's and just had appitizers (chicken skewers and goat cheese). Just relaxed together and came home and enjoyed each other more !

I'm sitting on the floor in the living room watching a rerun of Oprah and watching Kyle try to wiggle out of his chair. He is getting so mobile! Won't stay in one place for a second! He rolled over again today- doesn't do it all the time, but from his tummy to his back he has done several times (only in front of me). We put him in HIS crib last night and he slept until 3am, had a bottle, back to bed at 4am and then awake at 7:30am. (this is NOT good as he normally sleeps from 9pm-8am through the night in his bassonet in our room). We are really ready for him to be in his room so we can have our room back- but I just don't know if I can get up with him at 3am every day! Surely he will get use to it and sleep through the night? ERRRRR

We are going to Mandy and John's (friends) tonight to grill. That should be fun.

So today I had:

2 cups coffee
1 egg patty/2 pcs bacon
1 cup spinach, 5 thin slices london broil
Steak and salad

I was 191 this am! My mini goal for this week is to be 187 by Friday.

[randtbrown]

Okay, more pics. (Yep, I'm shameless with pictures of my baby!)

This is his first time to eat off a spoon!


This is our family on our 7year wedding anniversary (5/15)


Me and baby


He is so happy all the time!

[TXLoser]

[COLOR=DarkGreen]Tarrah -
Don't forget to update your profile with your new weight!!!

That baby boy is ADORABLE!!!!!! How can you not help but smile when you see that last picture..

Thanks for sharing...

Menu looks good..have fun at the bbq[/COLOR]

[AlexTucker]

The baby is adorable!! Very beautiful family!!

[randtbrown]

Hanging out with Mandy and John was fun! Mandy is my oldest friend, we lived down the street from each other starting at age 4 and we are both only children so we were more like sisters. We lost touch over the years but met back up when I moved home. It is strange to be raising children together after growing up together! Our two boys remind me of me and mandy- her's is very blonde, thin and tall. Mine is dark haired and chubby. Just like we were. I can't wait until Kyle is a little older and can play with Henry (who is one yr old)!

The steak was good and I brought a good salad. Yummy. EXCEPT we stayed until 3am! Ron and John went to the lake to fish and didn't get home until then- we are NEVER out that late!

I drank too much Dt. coke yesterday and no water so I'm very puffy. Not getting on the scale today. I don't want to change my siggy until 191 sticks. If that is the weight tomorrow I'll change it!

Today we are doing NOTHING! We are going to late church and then the grocery store. (We went to the grocery store on Friday and left the grocery's in the car over night so all the meat/milk/cheese was lost )

We may grab some lunch out and I'm grilling chicken for dinner!

[AlexTucker]

The boys and I went to the movie rental place and we were joking around when we left....we get home and all three of us said at the same time...I thought you got the movie??? I understand leaving something behind!!

[vwchick]

Awww! Great pictures! I love that last one. You have a beautiful family!

[LunaAshling]

Just wanted to wish you good luck and tell you what a cutie pie you have!!!!!!!!!!!!

[randtbrown]

Originally Posted by AlexTucker

The boys and I went to the movie rental place and we were joking around when we left....we get home and all three of us said at the same time...I thought you got the movie??? I understand leaving something behind!!

I'VE DONE THAT! But I was by myself! (and pregnant- so a little of an excuse!) I even CALLED blockbuster ahead, had them hold the movie because it was the only one they had left and I told them I was on my way. Got there, paid for it, then walked out without it. Didn't even realize it- they called me to tell me they were renting it out to somone else and crediting my account!

We watched Rumer Has It (new one with Jennifer Anniston and Kevin Costner) last night- pretty good- funny. Jennifer is getting old and Kevin is as hot as ever- why does that happen? Women get old and men get better?

[randtbrown]

Originally Posted by vwchick

Awww! Great pictures! I love that last one. You have a beautiful family!

Thanks Bonnie! When are you going to slow down and start a family????? I know you are busy bee- they really slow you down. Ron tells people all the time I'm the most educated stay at home mom he knows! I never even STARTED a career after grad school- too bad I still have to pay for it! I wish I could just tell them- "uh- I decided not to use it, can I stop paying for it now?" lol