Sugar free update...

Well, it's been 6 days and I have not touched, looked at, or even thought of (well, maybe a couple inappropriate thoughts) about sugar!!!

I feel...

• Energized
• Thin
• Focused
• Motivated
• Accomplished

I forgot to mention in my original post, that along with the 30 day sugar challenge, Nick and I, along with my in-laws, are doing a challenge from the chamber of commerce. It is a 5 week fitness challenge called "Fit for Five". The way it works is you get 5 team members, to commit to eating 5 fruits and veggies a day (CHECK), exercise 30 minutes a day for a minimum of 5 days a week (CHECK), and we get a 5 week pass to Fuse gym.

Now, I already have a gym membership at World's Gym, but let me tell you...I am HOOKED on Fuse! I love the equipment, the classes and the amenities. Did I mention I have been getting up between 5 and 5:30 and going to the gym EVERY morning (except the weekend)?

Today, I did my first spin class and I am in LOVE!!! I felt so great afterwords!

Back to the sugar free challenge...

My favorite eats right now are:

• Peanut butter dipped in splenda
• low carb wraps with chive cream cheese, turkey, and spinach
• eggs with pepper jack cheese and turkey bacon
• Chicken and apple sausages
• blackberries

I'm not sure how much I've lost yet, because I am holding off on weighing in until the 5 week challenge is over. I want it to be a big surprise (or let down) when the Fuse people weigh me in at the end of this 5 weeks. Until then, I'm going to keep telling myself that it is working, because I can ALREADY see a difference in my body shape and tone, and my clothes are fitting better now.

I love it when she falls asleep on the couch

My favorite part about these pictures is the half eaten apple. Those are not a rarity in our house. In fact more times than not, if you grab an apple out of our fruit bowl, there will be a bite taken out of it. Another one of the many reminders of why I love my special Peyton. She wants to make sure the apples taste good before everyone else has them. :)

Notice the red on her diaper? Yeah...that's duct tape. Without it, we have a serious exhibitionist on our hands.

I'm taking the challenge

I am always up for a good challenge.

I have been doing weight watchers on and off for 3 years now and love it. The only problem is, I "fall off the wagon" very easily. With summer around the corner, I have several reasons why I want to get down to my pre-married weight.

1.) We are going to Utah for our cousin, Jenn's wedding.
2.) Bathing suit season.
3.) Mine and Nicks 5 year anniversary...what better gift to myself than to feel more confident in my own body!

So, after reading a friend's blog, I have taken her challenge and am going sugar free/low carb for the next 30 days. I am also continuing counting my weight watchers points along with her challenge, to ensure that I'm not eating too much throughout the day. Between being sugar free/low carb, and the WW, I am hoping to reach my goal of 125 lbs by June 1st.

Today was my first day on the challenge. I did quite well, with the exception of the banana I ate earlier. I did not realize how packed full of sugar bananas are. For breakfast, I had a string cheese (not a healthy breakfast, but I was on the run). For lunch, I had a turkey brat with cheddar cheese, and a salad. Snack was a carrot, a Wasa Fiber cracker with cream cheese. Dinner was chicken and shrimp fajitas. I had a yummy dessert too...berry smoothie with light whipped cream (less than 1g sugar!)

So far, today, I am feeling really great and motivated. I did the Wii Biggest Loser game, which is an awesome work out, but I know I will be feeling it in the morning!

Have you ever gone sugar free? If so, what were your favorite foods? Recipes? Motivational tricks?

She is so photogenic

Like Father, Like Son

Ever since Nick got his iPhone, it has been the most coveted item in the house. Mommy uses it...Daddy uses it...Brody uses it...even Peyton uses it. It amazes me how smart my kids are. Both kids are capable of unlocking the phone, and navigating to the "games page" and picking out the game they want. Brody is also learning how to send text messages (although, they typically are sent to whoever is last in Nick's text log). I love this picture, because it is such a reminder of how much my little boy and my big boy are alike. I love those two!

Easter

I am so thankful this Easter season for Jesus Christ. I am thankful for His atoning sacrifices, and all that he has done for me. I'm thankful that through him, we can live again. I'm thankful for my sweet children, and the spirit that they have. They both have such a strong desire to be like Jesus and to speak often to our Heavenly Father through prayer.

These pictures were taken Easter day and the evening before. Our Easter Sunday was not just filled with candy and bubbles though...we had a wonderful day watching General Conference and hearing the voices of Prophets and Apostles. What a wonderful day it was!

somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed. :(

still sad :(

What? We get candy??

Brody found his basket!

I love that smile!

Girly basket!

This was actually the night before Easter

Brody has found his calling in life...

Brody loves taking pictures! The other day, he told me he was going outside to take pictures of wild animals. This is what he came up with:










I think he truly captured the essence of all of the wildlife around him. :) Now the question arises...should I buy him his own camera for his birthday so he doesn't use mine all the time?