Starting our Healthy Eating Journey...

When I was pregnant with my third child it became very stressful with 2 young children running around, morning sickness, and military husband at work or gone too often! I discovered that sipping soda throughout the day made me feel better... in the moment... until I NEEDED another sip or chug about a half hour later! It has been more than a year after my baby was born, and I discovered that I gained more than baby weight while pregnant and CANNOT seem to lose it.

I grew up doing gymnastics and dance classes and even later teaching gymnastics and dance classes and continuing in dance performance. I always was active and strong and never had to worry about what I was eating or doing extra exercise. 

Now I am a stay at home mommy of three little kids (4, 3, 1). I don't have much time or energy to do anything I really enjoy doing (other than playing with my kids of course!). I am usually cleaning and picking up toys, or making food or running errands or eating and watching tv to try to escape for a few minutes. I do not get one moment to myself to think for myself or about myself... it is always where are the kids and what are they doing? I am not able to pamper myself or make myself beautiful. My husband is gone a lot in the military (either at work or TDY), and is currently working on his masters degree so when he is home he is not fully home. Yes, these are my excuses and reasons for not taking better care of myself. But I really shouldn't be making excuses.

I sometimes get inspired and remember what it was like to not have any chub, to be strong and have muscles, and be really happy! I remember and I want. I want to do it, I need to do it, I'm going to do it! I am going to get myself back into shape... eating better and feeding my family better! I sometimes feel bad to what it has come to... my kids eating frozen foods for lunch because it is faster and easier and less stressful for ME! I also realized that I wasn't running, jumping or playing with my kids as much as I used to. I wasn't really enjoying my kids and my time like I Should be... like I deserve... like our heavenly father wants us to be living! He wants us to be happy... to enjoy our life... to do things we love to do, and to love everything we are doing (yes, even chores and cooking and running around like a crazy person sometimes). I need to be happy doing things I wouldn't normally be happy doing, and also teach my kids to be happy doing things they don't consider to be "fun", but still enjoying WHO they are with, and even seeing the good and joy in WHAT they are doing!

I hope to share recipes and food I am eating and cooking, What I did to exercise, and hopefully what changes I have been making to make my life happier!

I am excited to start this.... let's do it!

-Stefanie