We are so excited!! Go on over to Sew Sweetness and enter our Jacks and Roxanne giveaway!! Sweet Sara from Chicago has a great blog and we are thrilled to be on it!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Isagenix Cleanse & Before and After
As I have mentioned I participated in an Isagenix Cleanse case study. My cleanse case study will be up on this site soon, but I will also share a lot of the details here.
Back in April, when Officer and I started Cross Fit, we decided to go big or go home. Its our style, so we started doing Paleo 6 days a week with a few modifications, and a cheat day on Saturdays. After two months of this, and 2 months of Cross Fit we both went down a size, lost noticeable weight and were noticeably more toned. Who wouldn't love that?
In June we started the Whole30 challenge with our Cross Fit gym. It included a point system and a victory prize for the most intense participant. Officer and I decided to keep up with our points but not enter for the prize. You would get your money back if you made it to a certain place. This seemed a little intimidating for us so we decided to do points but no cash. The first few days were horrific. I gave up diet coke for the first time in 3 years and had to drink coffee with NO sugar in it, just unsweetened almond or coconut milk...this was devastating at first. I took a road trip the first weekend on this diet and it literally sucked the fun out of the whole trip.
After week 2 when I felt like I had a handle on the cravings, I decided to do the Isagenix 9 day cleanse. Why?
1. I had never done a cleanse and some of my friends who have told me they are life changing.
2. A year ago I was talking with an older friend and I asked her what I had to do to look and feel the way she did at her age. She said, do the isagenix cleanse once a year, it will change your life.
3. I had plateaued a little bit and I knew I could make some more changes but didn't know where, so this was a good jump start.
Phase two: Drink 2 meals in shakes of Isalean and then one approved meal with sugar wafer snacks and the approved list. (Days 3-7)
Phase three: Drink cleanse for life liquid and water every 4 hours, back on their sugar wafers or a list of approved snacks. (Days 8-9)
So with all that, I started the cleanse. I started the cleanse at 138 pounds. The first 2 days were almost unbearable. Nothing to drink but water, not even black coffee for 9 days? This was a very mentally hard time, but also great to work on this discipline. I lost 4 pounds the first day so I went to the next phase from there so I would not lose too much weight. I was after all doing cross fit during this and wanting to tone more than drop pounds. I completed 5 days of cross fit while doing the cleanse, some days were harder than others but over all my energy went up. I consumed more of the approved cleanse snacks than most people who have done the cleanse did, and I think that was mainly due to the high activity work outs I was doing. I lost 4 pounds during this cleanse, and most people who have done it lose even more than that but it was life changing.
1. I have now substituted my morning coffee for decaf most days so I am not dependant on caffeine
2. I have an Isagenix shake every morning. I love it. It is 23 grams of protein and packed full of vitamins.
3. I have cleansed which is indeed a dedicated period of time. That is all I am going to say on that. :)
4. I experienced a few leg cramps and pain during this period of time that helped me determine serious vitamins I am lacking.
5. I learned as I brought food back that sweets are a major problem for me.
Back in April, when Officer and I started Cross Fit, we decided to go big or go home. Its our style, so we started doing Paleo 6 days a week with a few modifications, and a cheat day on Saturdays. After two months of this, and 2 months of Cross Fit we both went down a size, lost noticeable weight and were noticeably more toned. Who wouldn't love that?
In June we started the Whole30 challenge with our Cross Fit gym. It included a point system and a victory prize for the most intense participant. Officer and I decided to keep up with our points but not enter for the prize. You would get your money back if you made it to a certain place. This seemed a little intimidating for us so we decided to do points but no cash. The first few days were horrific. I gave up diet coke for the first time in 3 years and had to drink coffee with NO sugar in it, just unsweetened almond or coconut milk...this was devastating at first. I took a road trip the first weekend on this diet and it literally sucked the fun out of the whole trip.
After week 2 when I felt like I had a handle on the cravings, I decided to do the Isagenix 9 day cleanse. Why?
1. I had never done a cleanse and some of my friends who have told me they are life changing.
2. A year ago I was talking with an older friend and I asked her what I had to do to look and feel the way she did at her age. She said, do the isagenix cleanse once a year, it will change your life.
3. I had plateaued a little bit and I knew I could make some more changes but didn't know where, so this was a good jump start.
The cleanse looks like this:
Phase one: drink cleanse for life liquid and water every 4 hours, snack on their sugar wafers or a list of approved snacks. (Days 1-2)Phase two: Drink 2 meals in shakes of Isalean and then one approved meal with sugar wafer snacks and the approved list. (Days 3-7)
Phase three: Drink cleanse for life liquid and water every 4 hours, back on their sugar wafers or a list of approved snacks. (Days 8-9)
So with all that, I started the cleanse. I started the cleanse at 138 pounds. The first 2 days were almost unbearable. Nothing to drink but water, not even black coffee for 9 days? This was a very mentally hard time, but also great to work on this discipline. I lost 4 pounds the first day so I went to the next phase from there so I would not lose too much weight. I was after all doing cross fit during this and wanting to tone more than drop pounds. I completed 5 days of cross fit while doing the cleanse, some days were harder than others but over all my energy went up. I consumed more of the approved cleanse snacks than most people who have done the cleanse did, and I think that was mainly due to the high activity work outs I was doing. I lost 4 pounds during this cleanse, and most people who have done it lose even more than that but it was life changing.
1. I have now substituted my morning coffee for decaf most days so I am not dependant on caffeine
2. I have an Isagenix shake every morning. I love it. It is 23 grams of protein and packed full of vitamins.
3. I have cleansed which is indeed a dedicated period of time. That is all I am going to say on that. :)
4. I experienced a few leg cramps and pain during this period of time that helped me determine serious vitamins I am lacking.
5. I learned as I brought food back that sweets are a major problem for me.
What did all this healthy change reveal to Officer and I? Our insanely unhealthy relationship with food. Yikes. We started seeing so many red flags. For one, Officer lost an additional 10 pounds for cutting dairy from his diet even on cheat day (he kept his cheat day through the first month of June). We learned how these unhealthy habits were associated to acne break out, stomach aches, weight gain, bloating, fatigue, and our need for caffeine.
This was March 2012 before we started Cross Fit, Paleo, and the Cleanse
This is June 2012 right after finishing the cleanse.
These do not show the difference that well, but hopefully you can see that it was definitely noticeable! When I look at these pictures of me. My mind is blown, when I see the Officer its double blown. He has lost 18 pounds. EighTEEN. We have made changes that make our life look totally different and I don't think we could ever go back. We LOVE Cross Fit. We drink a big glass of the cross fit koolaid so if you have any questions about it, let me know! We love talking about it.
Some people have also asked about the amount of meat we eat and wondered how we don't gain weight from that. I think different diets are cut out for different bodies and different genetics. Some people can't eat a lot of meat and some people can. It has been so great for us. I don't think its for everyone but we learned how we are both greatly affected by even small amounts of sugar, dairy and carbs...so paleo is ideal for us. We now do 6 days a week paleo with occasional splurges.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
What's in Fox bag?
This is one of my favorite posts to read from fellow bloggers. Whether the bag belongs to a mom, a fashionista, a baby, a runner, or an athlete of some kind, I LOVE to know what products and things people like. This is why I LOVE amazon!! We are prime members and utilize it 100%. I do not know if I would have used it near as often pre-baby but now that I have one, its AWESOME. It has so many reviews you can read and decide what is the best for you.
So if Fox were to get away for the weekend this is what would be in her bag. Keep in mind she is 11 months old.
So if Fox were to get away for the weekend this is what would be in her bag. Keep in mind she is 11 months old.
Her sound machine - $21.99
This is not the one I originally ordered but the reason I went with this one is because:
a. I never found a mobile I loved and have been looking for something (I know 11 months might be a little later) and this includes a ceiling projector with 3 different themes. It rotates through safari, ocean, and jungle animals with a timer to turn it off. This has really helped Fox stay laying down instead of crawling like a mad woman all over her crib.
b. I wanted white noise for her while she sleeps but I wanted a timer so it wouldn't be on all night and I wanted other sound options for when we are just playing in her room. We live in an apartment so blocking out noise has recently become pretty important.
c. It has an optional night light also with the timer option for when that time comes. I totally recommend this product!
Her summer sleep sack - $19.95
I usually buy everything neutral so that it can always be used. Fox definitely has a lot of pink but for things like this we get neutral so we got the monkey print and it is so soft and just the right amount of warmth for her in our Texas heat. She is currently sleeping in a medium and even though its 6-12 months I think she will be in it for quite a while longer. I have found these to run big for us. She slept in her 0-6mon sack until 10 months.
Her full body bib - $8.95
Again I went neutral and I picked this one based on the price. I think they change so you can flip through the different patterns for the best price or pick the one you like best. This has been huge for a messy, independent, and rebellious eater like Fox. She has always been fickle and messy. I do not know why I waited until 11 months to purchase this. Its machine washable and also wipes off really well.
Her baby food book - $15.81
Because I read this blog almost every day. I saw this book recommended quite often. I love it. It helps you know exactly how much your baby should be eating at each age and it gives you foods that maximize the vitamins your baby needs. Since we are deciding whether to be dairy free or gluten free, this book has helped me see you get so much more calcium and iron from foods that I had no idea had calcium and iron.
Her reads- so Fox loves books but she only likes to read about 3...over and over and over. This one is her absolute favorite, along with this one and this one.
I decided to purchase a few news ones for her birthday after visiting a friend who had some different books. I love books and do not like buying them used because I like to have them nice for our family collection. I still have my favorites from my childhood.
Cows that Type - $9.99
*Most of these items we got through amazon or as a gift. We have free 2 day shipping so it saves me the trouble of going to the store with Fox and we get it quick! Big fans!!
~an Officer and a Mrs.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
An 11 month letter to my fox...
Dear fox,
Yesterday I put you in this...
Yesterday I put you in this...
I thought. Haha. Mom wins! For weeks you have been thrashing and spitting. Ripping bibs, breaking the clasp and smearing food ALL over. I was victorious. I put you in this and handed you your blueberries and peas....
Then, you looked at me with those beautiful blues. Gave me a grin and dumped your juicy blueberries on the floor...and smiled back at me.
I laughed. I think I would have done the same thing.
I am getting fabric to make our splash mat today. :)
Love,
momma
~an Officer and a Mrs.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Thoughts on the Colorado shooting
Man. My heart has been heavy. So sad. So many reasons. Death has been on my thoughts so much this week. I recently read another blog about a girl that was killed on her lunch break in the middle of the day about a year ago. So much fear has filled my heart.
As our pastor read a blogpost from a woman who was in the Colorado shooting, survived, and believed in Jesus, I finally broke. I wept.
I wept because, quite often I get sad that this is the world my baby girl has been born into. I wept because life is only the present, and because it was a horrible crime.
I also wept because I can't imagine life without hope in Christ.
I wept because for me, it was God's sweet grace to get to read a Christ followers hope after surviving such a horrific thing.
I wept praying that I would feel closest to God in the midst of fear like that and I wept because I often think about these situations.
I am married to an officer. This you know.
What does this mean?
1. We go over any and all situations like this. So I have though scary scenarios before.
2. Officer has high protective instincts. He would make a really good secret service agent. We have always discussed this.
3. Officer is the hero type. Not in an obnoxious way. In an amazing selfless way. He would always try to help people who can't help themselves.
So I often think about these things, these scenarios. It may seem super morbid, but if you have an officer you know, its wise.
I know that if this ever happened to us, Officer would make sure I am as safe as I could be and then go after the bad guy and helping other people. I know it. No doubt. It is a responsibility he takes very serious from the day he became an Officer.
I am comforted as I read through Psalm 23 this morning. Because the Lord is my shepherd through this scary, broken world.
I hope you too find comfort in this...
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
As our pastor read a blogpost from a woman who was in the Colorado shooting, survived, and believed in Jesus, I finally broke. I wept.
I wept because, quite often I get sad that this is the world my baby girl has been born into. I wept because life is only the present, and because it was a horrible crime.
I also wept because I can't imagine life without hope in Christ.
I wept because for me, it was God's sweet grace to get to read a Christ followers hope after surviving such a horrific thing.
I wept praying that I would feel closest to God in the midst of fear like that and I wept because I often think about these situations.
I am married to an officer. This you know.
What does this mean?
1. We go over any and all situations like this. So I have though scary scenarios before.
2. Officer has high protective instincts. He would make a really good secret service agent. We have always discussed this.
3. Officer is the hero type. Not in an obnoxious way. In an amazing selfless way. He would always try to help people who can't help themselves.
So I often think about these things, these scenarios. It may seem super morbid, but if you have an officer you know, its wise.
I know that if this ever happened to us, Officer would make sure I am as safe as I could be and then go after the bad guy and helping other people. I know it. No doubt. It is a responsibility he takes very serious from the day he became an Officer.
I am comforted as I read through Psalm 23 this morning. Because the Lord is my shepherd through this scary, broken world.
I hope you too find comfort in this...
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
School of Rox - 11 months
Um hello my little grown up fox!!
This month was HUGE. I feel like you are a person and not a "pre-toddler".
Words:
Momma
Dadda
Baby
Cheese
Yes
No
Moo
Bauck
Aww
Phrases:
I see! (from your fav book- brown bear brown bear)
Where he?
You hum along to songs, constantly read to yourself, talk to the books, or hug and kiss your animals. Your tent is your favorite place and you think I can't see you in there. It's precious!
Fox, dolly, piggy and lamby are your favorite but you give them all kisses.
This month was HUGE. I feel like you are a person and not a "pre-toddler".
Words:
Momma
Dadda
Baby
Cheese
Yes
No
Moo
Bauck
Aww
Phrases:
I see! (from your fav book- brown bear brown bear)
Where he?
You hum along to songs, constantly read to yourself, talk to the books, or hug and kiss your animals. Your tent is your favorite place and you think I can't see you in there. It's precious!
Fox, dolly, piggy and lamby are your favorite but you give them all kisses.
You LOVE with all your heart to swim. Dive in, head under, dare devil style. You do not have a fear in the world when it comes to the water. Mommy and daddy love to swim so this has been fun!
You LOVE oranges, drinking out of mommy's water, peas, turkey meat and staying on the MOVE. You are a HARD baby to feed because you want to do it yourself and can't yet and you are so busy I often have to use tricks to get you to eat the bare minimum. We will get there I know it.
You have no desire to walk yet, crawling is faster and more efficient and I get that so I really do not protest. You will do it when you are ready. I think you might swim on your own before you walk. You are finally enjoying independent play and blanket time...this took some time but now you love it.
You are starting to keep shoes on your feet and you like them. Your feet are tiny. 3-6 month size tiny. I am just happy we found some shoes that fit. So happy I splurged on a few...please stay at this size for a few months k?
Fox- we celebrate your one year birthday in a MONTH and I can't handle it. You are growing so fast. We are planning a Rox Star theme. More on your party to come.
What a ride its been little one. We love you soo much!
Mom and Dad
~an Officer and a Mrs.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
11 months looks like this...
At the end of the day...I clean up the toilet paper rox unrolled and tore up, find all the alphabet magnets, pick up all the lost spoons and thank the Lord for this bundle of joy. Man she blesses us.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Friday FAVS
Whoosh. What a whirl wind this week has been. I feel like it was Friday 3 days ago and Sunday 2 days ago and Monday yesterday. I guess that is what a holiday on hump day will do to your mind.
Being the big picture thinker that I am, it made me see when Christmas falls this year...a Tuesday. Then I started planning what that would look like. Then I saw the heaping pile of dishes and laundry and thought, "oh yea" ....but Christmas planning is way more important. #iknowimcrazy.
With that being said. Here is what we have been loving this week!!!
These backpacks are on sale at Pottery Barn so we may have purchased one for Fox for her upcoming birthday and the fact that she starts "school" in August.
This is where I have camped out on the computer getting amazing ideas for Fox's 1st birthday party!!
Stop by here and see new items in our shop!! We have been working through the holiday and new items will be coming up all weekend! We just upgraded to an awesome new dye brand. We love it!
Getting ready to start train for this with my bestie...going for a personal best means must start training early.
Going here tomorrow for some major wedding planning. Gu is getting married in less than a month!!!!
I'm not always a big pinner but this week...lots of it happened.
Thats are week! Hope y'all had a great 4th. So grateful to live in America.
~an Officer and a Mrs.
Being the big picture thinker that I am, it made me see when Christmas falls this year...a Tuesday. Then I started planning what that would look like. Then I saw the heaping pile of dishes and laundry and thought, "oh yea" ....but Christmas planning is way more important. #iknowimcrazy.
With that being said. Here is what we have been loving this week!!!
These backpacks are on sale at Pottery Barn so we may have purchased one for Fox for her upcoming birthday and the fact that she starts "school" in August.
This is where I have camped out on the computer getting amazing ideas for Fox's 1st birthday party!!
Stop by here and see new items in our shop!! We have been working through the holiday and new items will be coming up all weekend! We just upgraded to an awesome new dye brand. We love it!
Getting ready to start train for this with my bestie...going for a personal best means must start training early.
Going here tomorrow for some major wedding planning. Gu is getting married in less than a month!!!!
I'm not always a big pinner but this week...lots of it happened.
Thats are week! Hope y'all had a great 4th. So grateful to live in America.
~an Officer and a Mrs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)