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*

Mamavation Monday...

WoW This has been a very busy week...

Its the final night we will find out who will be Mamavation Mom tonight...

The boys have been in intersession for the past 2 weeks. We found out Logan our service dog was ready for testing. Its just been CRAZY... Which is how our life typically runs around here.

I really don't know what to even write about its been so crazy... But tonight is the party, so we will see what happens. This is my Mamavation Monday post.. My first MiLi or Mamavation Mom will be next post.

With scale pic, before pics etc

At the Top of the hill....

Right now I feel like I am slowly creeping up the big hill on a roller coaster ride I remember this very well.. The same feeling I had about a few months ago. Within the next 24 hours Leah will announce the finalists for Campaign 8. Then you have the week of voting then the dreading stressful Twitter Launch. Which don't get me wrong its an AMAZING Time with AMAZING Women but when your a finalist the minutes no SECONDS tick by so very very slowly. But this time around its another feeling. I'm full of anticipation but I know even if I'm not selected as a finalist or Mamavation Mom I will still join in on this ride because I am going to ride this ride and beat the battle of my obesity "5 lbs at a time" as a wise woman once told me. I will admit that I back slid some after the end of campaign 7 a few days but I know that's its alright to do that because every failure is a chance to restart and relaunch. I can't beat myself up I have to "shut the duck up" and move forward. Which is what I did. I was so excited last week when we were getting ready to go to the zoo and I put on pants that were 2 sizes smaller than I was wearing in Jan.

Where will your feet take you this year? Any plans for a big hike, race, or just alot of hiking?

I am hoping to sign up for the Orange County Special Education PTA's 5K this year. It raises money for our Exceptional Children's department. But I am planning on doing alot of walking would love to take the boys to some of the trails we have around the area.

Well I guess I will talk to you guys later... After we find out if I'm a finalist or not..

Either way I'll be back next week...

Monday, Monday Monday...

Well I missed last weeks Mamavation Monday post and Mamavation TV due to some computer problems. But I think I got the bugs all worked out.

This week was a very busy, stressful and emotional week for me. We just finished Campaign 7 and I for some dumb reason decided to not really pay attention to my healthy eating and working out as strictly. I am so glad I don't have to post a scale pic this week because the number is back up a little but the great news is I lost

2 Pant Sizes!!

We took Jakers to the zoo yesterday and had a great time with him and his service dog Logan I was so proud of myself I was one of the only ones that went that wasn't complaining about the walking or the hills, everyone else who is at a healthier weight and in better shape were complaining so I am very excited about that.

Are you a sweet or savory snacker? What do you look for in a healthy snack?

I am a random snacker, It really depends on what mood I am in but typically I either want salty or sweet and definitely something that requires chewing. I usually look for things that are going to give me the most quantity for smaller calories. For example if I can have a bowl of something or a handful I'm gonna go with the bowl.

Mamavation Monday

This past week was just a typical week at the Carter Acres. Busy with appointments, meetings, homework, stress, drama more stress, church, Fusion at church, stress and stress.. Which is really just a normal week for us. Oh not to mention Friday evening I had a wedding to shoot and ended up doing that, and getting the bride ready but I really enjoyed it, I LOVE LOVE LOVE taking pictures.



I didn't really do anything special this week except I got to start working out again which is AWESOME I was so glad to be released from PT and allowed to get my back my Wii and treadmill :) I was a very happy Mommy.

What are your strategies to fit everything into your busy life? Any areas you need to work on?

Well I don't get enough sleep which is one of the areas I struggle in. I stay up late getting things together. I also need to become more organized so that we can be less hectic. I try to multitask to fit as much into my life as possible. Which is an area I need to work on as well because I create more stress with that.

This post is sponsored by Earth Footwear and Im writing this to be entered into a giveaway

Blogger flipped my picture over, and I can't figure out how to re flip it.

280.8 (-6lbs this week)

30.8 lb total loss for Campaign 7

I wasn't expecting any weight loss at all this week, I only change has been being able to get back on my wii and working out, and I've been having a lot of hot dates with my treadmill in the evenings...

Anatomy of a 20 pound loss...

Everyone has been asking for my secrets and or more details on my weight loss for this past week. I can only tell you what I have done and what I think happened. I am not an expert on this. But I talked to my PT and he gave me ideas on what he thought was the reason. I also spoke to my kids PE teacher at school who is also a Personal Trainer a few weeks ago when I was down in the slumps with my NO weight loss, he expected this to happen and wasn't shocked when I told him about it. So heres the story.

When I found www.mamavation.com I was 311lbs the most I've ever weighed in my life. I was ready for a change. I applied for Campaign 7 and started competing in the MiLi challenge. I didn't lose weight for a few weeks and started getting depressed about it. Then lost a few pounds, and then a few more, then gained some back, then had the big number... Well Coach and I talked because I couldn't understand I have so much weight to lose why isn't it just shredding off me?? Coach said he figures that my body completely froze up like "Fight or Flight" and was holding on to everything because I had made too many changes at once. He wasn't concerned and told me that I should keep up and that I would see a drastic drop that more than likely I will see a pattern of No weight loss for weeks and then a BIG number. He also said that since I stopped my workouts I was doing and changed them up do to PT it sent my body another shock and is what helped the loss. I went from doing EAS Active to doing my PT exercises every hour for 25min and then walking aswell. Last week was also a very Emotional Week and I made sure what I ate was extremely healthy because I was so stressed out, it was alot of veggies more than anything... But that is my thoughts...

Mavation Monday Im so BACK!!!!

20.8lbs & 2.5in Loss this week

24.8lbs & 16in total Loss!!!

I weighed my self like 3 times and yelled for my husband to come in the room just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. I even moved the scale to a different room because I was sure that this was a mistake. But it only changed less than a pound when I would reweigh.. I have been flying on cloud 9 all day. I tried to figure out what did I do so differently this week? The only thing was Monday & Tuesday I had a major pity party for myself its been a stressful last few weeks, more so than usual. But I decided I would allow myself to have a pity party and cry and be all mad but I didn't allow myself to EMO Eat.. I refused to let myself do it. Because I knew I wouldn't be able to control my intake. I was also bitten by the Twilight Saga this week. It gave me something to do. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down, I was so hooked but it was a great release and let me relax. It was something for me and by the way if you haven't been following on Twitter. I am Team

and that is the only Team there is really.... But even my Sistas that are Team Dog I mean Team Jacob I still Loves ya, but Doood seriouslly Team Edward is the only one for me. But after I thought about it today, I realized I've always had a weak spot in me for Vampires and I can thank my Aunt RaRa and Karla for that, But I do think I need to find different ways to handle stress and reading might be a good one for me.

I know that next week I am extremely busy. I have atleast one meeting each day next week. I have PT 3x and school meetings, Im also going on a field trip with my middle one to go see Suessical the Musical; which we are both excited about. As of right now I am planning to attend Fitcation11 I am extremely excited because I will meet so many of my wonderful supportive Mamavation Sistas and have a girls Fitness Weekend. I've been a mother for almost 11 years and never had a weekend away, and I've never been to TX so its alot of firsts for me there. I can't believe that we are almost at the end of this Campaign. I am so thankful that I have stuck to it and I am making positive lifestyle changes for life! I know that I will meet my goals!

Wow Its time for measurements again... This is the last set for this campaign...

Bust: 51 (0)

Wasit: 45 (-.5)

Hips: 58 (-1)

Thigh: 26 (0)

Calf:19.5 (-.5)

Arm: 14.5 (.5)

How do you encourage your children to contribute to your family's healthy lifestyle?

Well we try our best to keep encouraging them to be active. We also have a garden so we ask the boys what veggies they want to help plant and care for. They also have Fruit Trees and Fruit Bushes. We let them pick places for new walks and going to the zoo. We want them to grow up with the concept that being active is healthy for them.

This post is sponsored by Mamavation and Im writing this to be entered into a give away.