a new "phaze"

Firstly, I've never concerned myself with losing weight until after I birthed a child. I've spent the majority of my life being content with my body. I've always had a poochy belly and cottage-cheesy upper thighs, but no one was looking and being tall and having nicely turned calves made up for any hidden flab. In fact, I was generally more concerned with finding pants that didn't look like floods than knowing what size they were.

Secondly, I've never been athletic or even remotely interested in moving my body, which my uncoordinated body was generally fine with. But, over the last 5 years, age and inactivity have combined to bite me in the maternal butt. Mine is a familiar story: 128 in high school, 138 in college, 145 as a newlywed, 165 after the first born, and finally 185 after the second born. Now I'm a size sixteen(?!) who's still accustomed to looking at size tens and is perfectly okay with never again being a size six.

I think the biggest shocker was topping 200 lbs. toward the end of my 2nd pregnancy - yikes! What was that about?! I knew my body needed to be healthier, but I was still dealing with bouts of depression and well... depression and weight gain are forever friends - or maybe forever frenemies - and pregnancy is a GREAT excuse for gaining weight. I was not quite ready for a new phaze yet.

Well, time passed. My moods lightened and my baby turned one. My thoughts started turning to the planning of another pregnancy. Oi! let me tell you, the thought of being overweight and pregnant paired with the thought of permanently gaining another 20 lbs and ENDING UP at 205 lbs. assured me of the need for some change. I was very nearly ready for a new phaze, but was unsure of what measures to take.

I could do WeightWatchers again. It was definitely working before I got pregnant and had to stop, but I didn't think I was up to counting points. I could be good and start walking more, but ugh! it was so stinkin' cold! I could bust out the exercise videos, but that route has yet to work for me - sorry Mr. Simmons.

Then I came across a flyer for Phazes Fitness and I checked out their blog. It was located here in town, it had an interesting mission statement, and wasn't very expensive. So while I was out and about on a walk with Hazel (see, I was already being a little bit good) I decided to peruse the antique store and afterward found myself checking out Phazes. Well, it wasn't what I thought it'd be, that's for sure, but after a few trial visits I signed up. The new phaze had finally begun and this phaze would see the digits decreasing.

That was early last month and I just took my second fitness evaluation this morning. So, what were the results? HOT DOG! I lost one inch from my waist, two inches from my hips, and 4 pounds from the all-in-all. This is all quite satisfying considering that this occurred in spite of the holidays and my spotty attendance (it's been an icky, sicky month.) I have also been quite a slacker when it comes to watching what I eat, drinking enough water, and exercising on off-days. So, if I were being very good all-around... oh the possibilities!

It's all SO EXCITING! And, quite frankly, a little unbelievable. It seems so odd that just doing half an hour of equipmentless exercise, a few exercises at a time, twice a week could make such a difference. But I can definitely feel the difference. I've already improved from getting light headed and all sorts of sore to being able to get through the workout without any side effects. My resting heart rate has improved from poor to excellent and I've turned my two girly push-ups into twenty.

It's also exciting to watch more and more people join because I see them start and know how happy and successful they are going to be. Another perk is that my kids see me exercising and are now part of an exercising culture. Their dad has always been good about being active, but now they see both parents trying to be fit. It's been highly amusing to watch as they each do their own version of jumping jacks, push-ups, and crunches.

So this is my new phaze. I've turned a new leaf. The dawning of my third decade finds me redefining Saddie in order to find myself again and today is proof positive that I'm headed in the right direction to being a smashing new version of my fabulous old me.

True Love

True love is a man who stands outside in the freezing, windy rain (yes, the thermometer in the background says 30 F) cutting tile with a wet-saw to finish this backsplash

to coordinate with this (filthy, but that's a project for another day) shower surround after having already tiled this identity challenged ex-laundry room (that as of this week stopped being his personal office space and became my pantry) that he had previously vowed to NEVER tile

- all without a moments complaint and all to please this fastidious female.

I am one very lucky girl - who is, by the way, in love with the cute guy in the garbage bag and his freshly tiled floor and backsplash. I'm also in love with the fact that all my beautiful tile was less than a buck a square foot and that the potty chair seen in picture #2 is now regularly used by a certain little boy who successfully wore his big-boy underwear to school today.



PS Is it fundamentally wrong to enjoy the blatant use of run-on sentences? I think it must be, but enjoy it I did.

More of the Same

Dad: Our prophet is Thomas S. Monson. Can you say Monson?
Tomas: Monson.
Dad: Do you like Thomas S. Monson.
Tomas: No, me like Thomas Train.

Sounds Like ...

Me: Our prophet today is Thomas S. Monson.

Tomas: No, me no like mons'ers!

Me: You don't like monsters?

Tomas: No, it's scary.

Keeping Christmas With You All Through the New Year

Happy New Years! I meant to send these pictures out as Christmas cards, but this procrastinating female never made that happened. So, we send everyone love and Christmas cheer for the New Year.

"Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."

"Joseph her husband, being a just man... did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him..."

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy..."

"...behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem...and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh"