Weight Loss - Before and After

This morning, I stepped on my scale, and I'm proud to say that I have lost a total of 50 pounds since giving birth to Owen. At that moment, I was proud of myself, but nothing could have prepared me for what I am about to share with you - my before and after photos (which I promised to share when I reached my weight loss goal):

I never thought to take a photo of myself RIGHT AFTER pregnancy, so the photos on the left were taken 11 weeks postpartum, which was when I was cleared for all types of exercises.

Throughout my entire life, I have struggled with my image, so sharing something like this so openly is an emotional thing for me. Why am I sharing this in the first place? I'm not too sure. Maybe it's a reminder to myself that (as cheesy as it sounds) I can accomplish anything with hard work and dedication, or maybe I hope it inspires new moms (or anyone, really) to take that first step into their weight loss journey.

It may have taken me more than a year, and there may have been one or two setbacks, but I am so happy with where I'm at. I'm still not at my "ideal" weight for being 5'0", but any more pounds lost after today is honestly just a bonus for me.

I plan on continuing the lifestyle that I have now, which consists of healthy eating, exercising several times a week, and, of course, the occasional cheat meal(s). I hope to never be as unhealthy and sedentary as I was a year ago because I owe it to, not just myself, but to Owen, Ralph, and my future children (God-willing).

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged and pushed me to reach this goal. Couldn't have done it without you.

Happy bébé Bibs!

There is no such thing as "too many bibs". From newborn to now, I have used bibs for Owen to clean his spit-up, his drool, and, now, his attempts of feeding himself with a spoon and a fork. When choosing bibs, I look for longevity, absorbency, comfort, and, of course, style!

Happy bébé is a new family-owned company that produces some of THE cutest bibs I have ever seen. Not only are they stylish, but they are also the softest (made with 100% organic cotton!) and most durable bibs Owen has ever worn.

4-pack set! 

Like most toddlers, Owen prefers less items of clothing. The kid would run around our home naked if he had the choice. Not once, though, has he taken off these bibs, nor has he pushed my hands away whenever I'd put them on. They are super soft yet durable enough to withstand multiple trips to the washer. He wears them EVERYWHERE.

If you or a loved one are interested in owning some of these great bibs, head on over to Amazon (http://bit.ly/myhappyproducts) and use promo code MYBEBE10 to get 10% off all Happy bébé products! (And yes, they're eligible for Amazon Prime!)

Weight Loss Update

Just a quick update here...

I lost 2.2 lbs last month (not as much as I should have, but I'm happy that I lost anything)! Our trip to Disneyworld is just around the corner, and I still have 3.6 lbs to lose before then. Unfortunately, I have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis AND achilles tendonitis in my right foot, so those last few pounds will be a little harder to shed.

A couple of months ago, I said I would do a 30-day abs challenge to try and get rid of my gut. The results are in - I lost a couple of inches around my waist but didn't get the 6-pack that I was hoping for (lol, just kidding). I'll probably do the challenge one more time before our Disney trip (I got time!), so let's hope I lose a few more inches...though I don't think I'll ever get rid of the "mom pooch". Ugh.

I have been asked how I lost the weight, and the answer is no secret - you must eat right and exercise often. In the past, I used to exercise every single day and embark on crash diets, which would cause me to lose weight quickly; unfortunately, the weight wouldn't STAY off. So this time around, I decided to have a lifestyle change - I have to eat healthy and exercise 4 to 5 times a week. This isn't a temporary thing just so I could lose weight - this is for life. I owe it to myself, Ralph, Owen, and future children to be as healthy as I can be.

I got about 5 weeks to lose 3.6 lbs. LET'S DO IT!!!