Sit Down, Strap in, Hang On Tight,

Its gonna be a bumpy ride.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen here we go again.. Its the beginning of the http://www.mamavation.com/ Campaign 9. I am a finalist and will find out about 10pm EST tomorrow if I am going to be one of the next Mamavation Moms or not. Either way, I have my seat belt buckled and I am going to hang on tight because its gonna be a bumpy ride to battling my weight. But its gonna happen.

This is my 3rd campaign with Mamavation and my 3rd time being a finalist. But if I am not voted in this time. I will survive, I will continue to lose weight but I am so happy and proud to be finalists with the girls that are with me. I have enjoyed learning lots about them and proud to say we are all friends. Whoever is the 2 voted in will do an amazing job as Mamavation Mom and the others will do an amazing Job in the MiLi Challenge.

Shannon is a fellow NC mom who is an amazing strong military wife. Her and I share a common bond of being in NC, Autism, She is such a great positive person who I can't wait til we can get together in real life. I know she will meet all her goals and I am proud to call her my friend.

Rachel where do I even begin? Her and I just instantly connected on twitter. She always makes me laugh her and I have a common bond of friends and Autism. She is such a wonderful Mother, Friend and is a great cheerleader for me. I can't wait til we get together soon in MI with Laura and Katie that state wont know what hit it. It will be an amazing cray time.

Tricia another fellow mother of a wonderful amazing exceptional daughter. She is an exceptional mother who is always on the go. She is always so positive and i know she will do great in her journey.

Stacie is a very busy wonderful mother. I know she will do an amazing job in her journey. With her being on Vacation in Cali I haven't gotten to know her as well as the other girls but I know soon I will know her much better.

Shelly (@momma_oz) has agreed to be one of my fit friends. I am very excited. Most of the other Sistahs have agreed to be our fit friends as well :)

Yep if you have noticed I am trying to delay posting these pics and numbers, But I am declaring that this is not going to be me for long. I will not go back to these pictures. The Finalists and I have all agreed to take pictures in our sports bra and shorts we are stepping out of our comfort zone and putting it all out their for you all The good the bad and the ugly.

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Measurements 7/10/11


• 
  
  Bust 52


• 
  
  Waist 49.5


• 
  
  Hips 60


• 
  
  Thigh 30.5


• 
  
  Arm 15.5


• 
  
  Calf 20.5


• 
  
  Weight 308.4

Finalists Announced..

Well Its been a week... Its a been a good week with some stressful events but hey, That's life especially when you live in one with Special Needs children.. But lets get business taken care of first...

3.8 lbs down and I lost inches in the GruntStyle Challenge

I finished the challenge and was very proud of myself. I am also very thankful for all the support and cheerleading I got especially from Mark, Shelly, Leah, Greta and Daniel. I enjoyed Mamavation TV Monday with our Guest host Shelly who did an awesome job. I have really enjoyed the last few weeks of getting to know my fellow applicants. They are all wonderful special women and I know that with or without being Mamavation Mom they will all succeed in their weight loss and fitness goals that they have made for themselves.

This week was great to get back to the norm around here. Really getting track on the eating habits for the whole family. As my middle son has told me so many times this week. I am the role model for our family, and as Mothers we really are. Its my job to teach them these tools now so that later on they won't have to struggle with being active and healthy. I was very proud of myself for not caving in this week with sweets and doughnuts. I did have 1 drink this week, Im human and I slip up. But I fessed up and did my Penance (4 60 sec Planks.. and I DESPISE planks which is why Leah made me do it, but I didn't complain I did it)

Our Blogging Carnival is Hosted by www.Eco-FoilPans.com

How did well did you manage to eat healthy over the holiday weekend (4th of July & Canada Day)? Any tips for the rest of the summer?

We I think have done really well this holiday weekend. We loaded up on our year supply of charcoal *home depot had a GREAT sale* So we have grilled out our main meal for the past few nights and its been so darn hot we've been eating very light foods and veggies.

"This post is sponsored by Eco Foil Pans and I'm writing this to be entered into a Eco Foil Prize Pack giveaway hosted by Mamavation."

Good Luck Tonight to all the Finalists and the Applicants.. Remember if you aren't a Finalist Rock the MiLi Challenge and reapply next time! Love you All..

Summer Family Fun Time

Well first things first. In the last month I have lost

12.5lbs and 4lbs this week

I am very excited about this weight loss. After my wake up call appointment at the DR she wanted me to lose 10 lbs so I did and more :) Its been an awesome week workout wise for me still doing the @GruntStyle 2 week challenge and its been great to have the support and accountability with Leah, Mark, Shelly, Greta and Daniel. Its almost done and will do my measurements again. Unfortunately with my parents being here my nutrition hasn't been great this week we've gone out to eat more than we normally do around here but the great thing is its a new week and I can start fresh. :)

Also its time again for the Campaign to become the next Mamavation Mom. I have applied and will find out soon if Im a finalist then be prepared because its gonna be voting time. Every vote counts and I would really appreciate your support. This would be an awesome experience for myself and my family. Can't wait to have my booty kicked into shape by the awesome Mamavation Coaches and Sistahood.

How have you recently stepped up to support someone in your life?

Well I think the mamavation community gives us all the platform and opportunity to step up and support each other. I know I have found a lot of support in there. I also have a good friend Allison who Ive been working on getting her more active and healthy for her kids. Also My LillyBear who is a young lady at my church who has severe special needs who has a special place in my heart. I have stepped up to make sure she has a great experience at church so that she can make the most out of her time there. I love her to death and happy to say she has been able to move up out of the preschool and into the k1 room next up is upstairs to the 2-5 room.

Well its about that time need to get my workout in and head to church. I will see you all at Mamavation TV I'll be the sweaty girl on camera with big boobs lol...

"This post is sponsored by EatSmart Products and I'm writing this to be entered into a EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale giveaway hosted by Mamavation."

Grunting The Whole way...

This has been an interesting week for us and a very abnormal week. We started out by going on a quick mini~vacation to the beach with my parents. We stayed 3 days and 2 nights so eating and working out wasn't exactly up to par and trust me my energy level and stomach both knew something was up. On Tuesday night Hubs and I went on a Party Boat and had a few drinks. It was 2 hours with none of our kids which was very strange and took a few drinks to help me relax and turn the mommy brain off some, which lead me to the conclusion that I need to get away a little more often for Me time or Us time because it was a very strange to be alone just us.

I didn't gain or lose any weight this week which is good. Im sure I gained some on Vacation and lost it when I got back.

Now on to my workouts... Which is something I am bragging about. I accepted @GruntStyle the newest personal trainer for Mamavation.com who we all have come to love having around. Has a 2 week challenge and I decided to accept it. So I'm on day 4 which is rest day and trust me you need it! All his workouts are named perfectly. But with the support of Daniel, Leah, Mark, Greta and the other Mamavation Sistas I have made it and Grunted all the way. I told Hubs when I complete the 2 week challenge he is ordering me a Grunt Style Shirt. If you are wanting a challenge and are brave enough to accept it. http://www.joggermom.com/ is this weeks sponsor..

I've also applied to be Mamavation Mom again for this next campaign and would love some support if I am chosen for a finalist I would love the help in receiving Votes so I can become the next Mamavation Mom. It would be a life changing experience for me and my family. So please stay tuned for more information on it.

Well I am going to go relax in a hot shower and then off to bed. Sweat Monster is the workout for tomorrow and I think we are going to take the dogs on a walk with my parents... Til Next Time..

"This post is sponsored by Joggermom and I'm writing this to be entered into a yogo mat giveaway hosted by mamavation."

Back on the Right path...

Very happy to report that I am back on the right track. I received my wake up call and decided to answer it.

5.8lbs down this week

I have been spending most of this week really focusing on nutrition which is one of the areas that really are the hardest for me. Sometimes I think that is one of the down falls to being a stay at home mom its easy to hit the kitchen and snack. But I have really focused on portion control and what I was putting in my body.

I've been using a lot of my fellow mamavation sistas this week for support which they are always so very awesome! At the end of the week all the family which I am sure attributed to my weight loss this week as well. But I am happy to report we all seem to be on the mend. We are also heading to the beach for a couple of days with my parents so there will be lots of swimming and walking I am sure.

How often do you and your family eat meals together and get active together?

We normally eat our night time meal together, and if they are home at lunch we will eat then together but we try to get at least 1 meal a day together. Even if my husband and I aren't eating at the moment we will still sit with the kids typically while they are eating. We strive to get more active together but we right now a few times a week go outside and play or we will get out the wii. We are hoping to do a lot more family outings. The boys love going to amusement parks and museums. We all also enjoy going for walks down trails.

"This post is sponsored by Sportsline and I'm writing this to be entered into a Qlip Any-where Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation."

Well until next week, I am hoping to be able to catch everyone on mamavation tv tomorrow night if the hotel has good Internet..

*Ring Ring Ring*

Hello? Hello? Anyone there? This is your

WAKE UP CALL

Yes this week I had a MAJOR wake up call. I went to the doctor a few weeks ago because I was just feeling yuck and I wasn't losing weight and I wanted to get checked out to make sure there wasn't a medical reason for it. Well blood work came back and I am PreDiabetic and Low Iron and I am 7points from being considered Diabetic. I totally freaked out. As some of you guys know me from past campagins and from Mamavation TV my mom is Diabetic and has lost 2 of her toes from complications of her sugar levels and not being able to fight off infection. This is very much a wake up call for me to get healthy and beat this battle with my weight. I will be applying for Mamavation Mom again.

But for whoever is reading this, I need to ask a favor from you guys. Please Tweet, FB, Text, Email, Comment, Skype whatever you want to help me stay on track and keep me accountable. That is the hardest part for me is I need to make sure I keep accounted what I am doing because I have to do this for myself and my kids.

The boys are out for the summer and don't go back until late July and my parents are in for the month to visit which is nice since we only spend time with them once a year. We are hoping to spend lots of time at the pool this summer and being as active as we can.

I have made a Chart that I hung in the Kitchen to track my weightloss something that I can see everyday I hung it in the kitchen since that is the area that can really mess you up on your lifestyle change.

ReStart....

I have decided its time to restart my engines.... I took a couple of weeks off to get my head on straight and things in order in my life because CHAOS was surrounding me and I was going INSANE.

I spent time today reflecting on the last 26 years of my life. I use this term a lot it really has been a roller coaster ride. I've always done things very quickly but this is the one battle that I am not going to solve quickly and I am learning how to come to terms with this. I mean I started having kids very young. *I don't advocate Teen Parenting but I was a Teen Parent twice 16 and 18* So I grew up very quickly. When I met my husband our relationship moved very quickly. We met in September, moved in together in October and married beginning on December preg with number 3 in Feb. When our youngest was dx'd with Autism and multiple other issues I dove in head first and researched whatever I could find on it and became able to provide therapies to our sons as quick as I could. But it took many years to gain this weight and keep this weight on, why is it so hard to understand that its going to make time to take it off?

But I have decided that this is going to happen. I will become healthy and get to do the things that I want to do and to be able to be the mom my kids deserve. Its more than just losing weight, I need to work on learning how to handle stress and figure out a way to get Me time. So that I can keep my head on straight and everything in my life in order. I don't want my kids to have to worry about my health and my weight. I want them to grow up being active and healthy and being the best them they can be. I always get weird looks from the IEP Team when we go to do the boys annual reviews at school and they always ask What do I want for the Future for my child. The answer is always the same I want them to be happy healthy successful man. In whatever life they do so choose to live. That's what I want to provide them I want them to see that I didn't give up or take the easy way out in my weight loss journey.

Who in your world deserves a "shout out" this week for pushing you to better yourself? What did they do?
I have a few people that come to mind. First being Laura and Katie and Lori and Angela who are all Mamavation Sista's. I have really enjoyed spending time with them each day just being girls. They always motivate me and push me and make me laugh and keep me from going insane. Lori gives me great book advice and helped me ignite my passion for RPattz... These girls and the other mamavation moms really help me keep going.
*I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win My Trainer Fitness 100 Calorie+ Workout featuring MizFitOnline from Mamavation.com*