Many changes...

Last week I started training at Jetblue, joined a biggest loser competition and stopped eating chocolate..OMGoodness! Working after 6 years of being a stay at home mom was a HUGE change for me and my family. I miss, miss, miss my kids/hubby so, so, so much! I sit and think at certain times of the night what they are doing, eating, who is watching who and how is my working affecting their lives. I work from 4pm-midnight which is straining just thinking about it...lol. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to teach my children that life isn't easy and that we have to make some sacrifices in order to endure to the end. I pray that they will understand that this is only temporary, because the lovely thing about Jetblue is that after training I get to work from home! Yes, bonus for all of us.
The biggest loser competition is such a great motivator for me. I eat only 1700 calories or less a day. The interesting thing is that I don't EVER feel hungry. I know that working and prioritizing my time plays a big part in my eating. I am so busy that I don't even really think about food as often as I used to. I do think about what I'm putting into my body though, before I eat and if I don't make a good choice, I let myself feel the consequences and move on. I don't dwell on it and continue beating myself up over it like I used to.
The choice to cut out chocolate was a smart move on my part...lol. Chocolate is my BIGGEST WEAKNESS! I absolutely love chocolate. I had to have it everyday or I thought my head was gonna explode. In training we get chocolate all the time. Every day I come home with at least 3 mini candy bars and Gabby knows just where to find them in my bag. I told myself before training that I would not eat chocolate and it's been a 6 days today, and guess what??? NO CHOCOLATE.
These changes have been a sacrifice, but a great blessing. I am helping my family financially and physically. I have leaned on the Lord throughout these past few weeks for strength and He has continually blessed me. I am in a happy place and I LOVE it!!

My motivator...

This past Saturday I joined Sinai's biggest loser competition with my friend Lashell, who is our ward YW Pres. We have both been trying to lose weight for a while now. She has lost 50lbs, but gained some of it back. And I've only lost 6lbs in 2 months. I had a lack of motivation and have been trying to figure out how to find my mojo...lol. Well my husband joined a biggest loser competition with a group of friends and came in 2nd place. He lost 30 lbs!! Isn't that great. He was so focused and determined to not only lose the weight, but to make it a lifestyle change. He basically cut rice out of his daily routine and cut down his portion sizes. Instead of eating 3 plates of food...seriously, he ate 2 and eventually got it down to 1. He learned to love salad, and became creative with how he fixed dinner. He also joined a basketball team to make exercising FUN!
I am so excited that he has made this change and is continuing to lose another 30 lbs, because he is not in the best health. He has realized that in order to live a long life, you need to be healthy and put yourself first.
He has been by greatest cheerleader since I've started trying to lose weight. Sometimes he gets on my nerves with his motivation, but I have to learn to love it, even though I secretly HATE it. I mean who likes someone telling them, "um are you sure you want to eat that?" Ugghh shut it! LOL It is for the best, I understand that now. I'm grateful to have him by my side cheering me on. Here we go....see you at the finish line!!!
PS. He won't let me take a picture of him so that you can see his before and after...lol.

12 years!

I cannot believe that 12 years ago today I had my Serena Angelaite Lealao. That day changed my life FOREVER! She has not once ceased to amaze me from her beauty to her nosey questions...LOL. Serena has grown into a beautiful young woman. I am so honored to call her my daughter. Serena likes list. So for her birthday blog, I'm going to list 12 qualities I admire about her:

1-She knows and loves the Lord with all her heart.
2-She has taught me more about being a mother than any of my children. (obviously)
3-She loves her family (aunts, uncles, cousins included) unconditionally!
4-She is an amazing missionary. (don't talk down about the Church around her)
5-She is not afraid to speak her mind when she feels you are wrong.
6-She is very modest and would let you know when you are not...LOL.
7-She is one of the most gorgeous nerds I know. haha
8-She has been waiting patiently for this day to come, because she will be a YW!
9-She has learned to fight through her fear of basketball.
10-She is my biggest cheerleader.
11-She loves to read and read and read and question and question and question.
12-She is just like me...lol!

I love you Serena so very much. You are my oldest because you proved to the Lord that you have the gift of responsibility, will protect your siblings like a soldier, and love mommy and daddy unconditionally! I'm so grateful to have you in my life Serena. HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY, my beautiful young woman.

A work in progress...

Wow, I didn't realize that I hadn't posted for over a month. Well I'm still working at it. I slipped a couple of times though. I have the working out for 30mins a day, 5days a week down. But the changing of my eating habits will be a tough one. Starting May will be the beginning of my new life. I need to STOP lying to myself about food and just know that it will always be there, but I can't have it for a while. I will stop eating white foods (rice, bread and pasta) and chocolate I will only eat in moderation. I need to slap myself for being weak and losing control of my life, seriously. Hey it's better now than never, right??! Just keep moving....

Overcoming Emotional Eating

(FYI, I was pregnant in this picture)
I AM AN EMOTIONAL EATER! I have somewhat known that, but was in denial. Bob Greene's book has taught me how to figure out what my triggers are and how to overcome them. I've learned that sleep is a very important part of my health and that the loss of it causes weight gain and overeating. I've learned that writing down everything I eat will help me to take responsibility for what goes and out of my body. I am learning something new about my body daily and it's kind of fascinating. There are a lot of steps to understanding emotional eating and I pray that I can eventually overcome it.

S.O.R.E.

I am sooooooo SORE! I am told that after you workout and you're sore, it's a good thing. Ummm, are you serious? I've never been this SORE before, yet I've never been this determined either. Right now, I need a spa massage, a couple of hours in a jacuzzi and a looonnnggg nap. My "pretend personal trainer" off of the EA Active is so hard on me...LOL! But the workout is very fun, so it doesn't feel as if I'm working out, it's more of a competition, which I LOVE. I've lost another 2 pounds...yay! My goal is becoming more and more real. Bob Greene is slowly helping me to break down my barriers. It's all in the mind, literally. Once you have made up your mind, like seriously made up your mind, nothing can stop you. Unfortunately my mind hasn't stopped my chocolate cravings. That is my biggest barrier..ugghh and it totally annoys me that I can't JUST SAY NO! Please pray for me or send me ways that I could get past this addiction. Thank you!! :) Here's to 100+ more days of being SORE...wish me luck!

Just keep moving...

Yes! I lost 2 pounds last week, just from working out. Imagine if I ate better, how much I would've lost...LOL! But I am proud of myself and I'm on track with my life change. Today I started EA Active 2 with the WII and it's pretty intense. At first I was like, okay this is nothing and then they had me jumping rope, playing basketball while lunging and dirt bike racing and I was the bike. There are pros and cons working out with the WII, but I can't deny that it was a workout indeed! I am also more and more aware of what I put in my mouth and how it affects my body. Which is one of Bob Greene's challenges. It makes me think twice sometimes before I eat. I'm liking the beginning stages of the new me. A plus to my working out, is that Sol has joined a "Biggest Loser" competition with a group of his friends. He lost 8 pounds in a week,(so unfair) and is a great example/motivator for me. I'm grateful that we are changing our lives for the best. Our children need us and we need us. As long as I keep moving daily, my life will become what I want it to be!!

As a side note: Juniors team took 2nd place in his All-County league tournament and Jasmines, Jazzy Girls team, took the Championship in their PARA league basketball tournament! I am so proud of my kids and for their dedication to their love of basketball. Serena and Jas took 2ND in their school science fairs. And Jasmine took 3rd in the district. So now off to State! Ebony won a principals award in reading. I'm so proud of my lil children!! Wooowhooo!!