Loving Your Pregnant Body

One of the hardest things to really be happy about during a pregnancy is the ever changing and growing body. It is against our natural way of thinking as a woman's that "IT IS OK TO GAIN WEIGHT!" Especially for a plus size lady who has spent a majority of my life keeping the scale going in one direction. DOWN. And going up can be so hard to mentally deal with. The body changes so fast, and in the one area that most women are insecure about our bellies!

This was the first time in my first pregnancy that I actually saw myself as a beautiful pregnant momma to be. And this was taken at 30 weeks. Before that I saw myself as FAT and only getting FATTER! I couldn't really accept mentally what I was going through and the number on the scale only made it more difficult for me. I gained a total of 55 pounds that pregnancy.

There are going to be times in your pregnancy that you will look at your body and say, "do I look pregnant or fat?" YOU ARE PREGNANT! It doesn't matter what your starting weight is, what your ending weight it. You are pregnant and beautiful and creating a life. Too many times I hear, "I don't have a pregnant belly." "I wish I had a typical pregnant belly like so and so." The great thing about pregnancy is that EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. All of our bodies are different. We are different shapes and sizes and our uterus grown differently too. My sweet sister in law, had the biggest belly I have ever seen on a woman of such a small stature. She gained 55-70 pounds with all of her pregnancies. It didn't matter what she ate she gained it and she was ALL BELLY!  I love her, and she looked miserable while pregnant, and she was! By the way she had 5 babies. Her belly was bigger than mine is at the end because of how she carried. And she started in the 125-130 range. That is why being pregnant is so amazing. We all carry differently and that is ok! 

How do you learn love your Pregnant Body? 

1) NO MORE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

No more saying, "I don't look pregnant, I look fat!" Sweetie you are pregnant! Do I have a perfect little belly shape? Do I have fat that you can see? What about my stretch marks? Yep got those too. But for the first time in my life, I finally love what I see. I see me, strong, empowered, and making a baby! You flaunt that belly when and how you want. You wanna wear a bikini to the beach, wear it! I personally start wearing form fitting shirts around 12 weeks (since that is about the time we announce) And yeah, I have extra stuff on my belly but hey, I don't care. I am pregnant. FLAUNT YOUR BELLIES! 

2) ACCEPT THAT YOUR BODY IS GOING TO BE CHANGING

I will say, that these are some of the scariest images I have ever posted of myself before, ON SOCIAL MEDIA no less. I have never bared my belly like this before (out of fear in the past). But I am proud of my body and what I am creating. I know that I don't have the perfect body. I know that a lot of people will find these pictures repulsive but you know what. I AM WORKING SO HARD TO BE HEALTHY, and it can be done for a plus size woman to be healthy while pregnant. And the fact that I am trying to stay healthy for me and the baby only makes it that much more amazing to me.  Be you! Be true to yourself! And once you do that and recognize the beauty in yourself you will shine like the sun in the sky! 

3) YOU CAN LOSE THE WEIGHT AGAIN! 

Everyone always says it, you gained it you can lose it, but know that IT IS HARD WORK! I still hadn't lost all the weight from my last miscarriage when I got pregnant. I was down 20 pounds, yes, but I still had more I wanted to lose. It took a lot of hard work in controlling my eating by following a specific plan that made sense to me, the 21 Day Fix Program along with Shakeology. Want to know more about the 21 Day Fix? CLICK HERE! Plus adding in the right kind of daily exercise using the same program. I have NEVER lost the weight through breastfeeding alone and I exclusively breastfeed for 6 months. No supplementing with formula, and no pumping. All food for my babies came straight from my boobs. I am envious of women who do because it never happened for me. So know that you might not be able to lose the weight through breastfeeding. That it might take hard work and dedication to lose the weight, but IT CAN BE DONE! 

4) ENJOY THE PROCESS

It is so exciting being pregnant, and the fact that this could be the last time I am pregnant is not lost on me. We don't know if we are going to have any more kids. We don't know if we can even have any more kids since I have a 50/50 chance anyways. So I am soaking up this experience. I am in no rush to have this baby, most because I remember what life is like with a newborn, but I also want to cherish this moment for as long as possible. I dreamed of being pregnant for years and years, and each time I have accepted that it could be my last chance. Take your weekly pictures. Read up on all the things happening to you each week, again, even if it is your third pregnancy. Just enjoy it! When they say, having a baby is a miracle, it really is. Again, I have been pregnant 6 times in the last 6 years, and this is my third pregnancy that has lasted this long. It is a miracle! 

5) BE YOU! 

Don't forget who you are in this whole process. It is easy to forget that you still like to be pampered or go on dates, or wear cute clothing. Go out and get some tops or a dress that reflect who you are so you aren't lost in the process. Your body is changing, doesn't mean that you have to hide who you are because your body is growing in the belly! BE YOU! LOVE YOU! Enjoy the process and know that in just a few short months, your beautiful baby will be in your arms and in your life forever! Congrats momma! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

You Are What You Eat

Not going to lie, this weekend was ROUGH on me! Single mom for 2 weeks right now with Matt doing his military duty and we still have one more week left. I literally had a breakdown, in public yesterday, with all the stress I was feeling because my kids were not acting as well behaved as other kids were and I was outnumbered and hormonal. It was embarrassing and humbling at the same time because people came to my rescue. And I needed that!

On another spectrum of my last two weeks...My eating has been CRAP. I do pretty well with breakfast, ok with lunch and by dinner I just have no energy or will to do anything special to make anything healthy. I just want something fast, easy and takes little to no effort to make. Honestly, we have eaten out more in the last 2 weeks that I probably have in the last 2 years. BAD!!! And I am feeling it!

Eating crap, makes you feel like CRAP! It just isn't worth it. Now I kind of understand why Matt says the food I make is better than a restaurant and enjoys it more, because it often tastes better. I made pancakes for him recently and he said they were better than what we get at restaurants.

But why do we choose to eat out instead of making homemade foods? Ease and convenience. But eating out, you have no idea what they are putting in their foods. Really putting in their foods. But when you are at home you can control how much salt goes in, seasoning, oil, cream. You name it. Anything you can buy in a jar or a frozen box you can make at home. Thankfully we have google now to search amazing homemade recipes. All it takes is a little time to plan out your meals for the week, then if you can pre-make some of the food to make it easier on you.

Having some chicken in a recipe this week? You can pre-make it, store it in the fridge and then just add the seasoning to it as you are making the rest of the meal. It really is easy, and saves you time at night. And I have already done that this week. I am feeling on top of things right now and will not let this week take me down!

This week I am so looking forward to: Healthy Hawaiian Haystacks! With brown rice, extra veggies and extra pineapple! Pre-making the chicken so I don't have to worry about that step and we just heat up on the stove and assemble! Easy, and good for you!

So...what meal are you looking forward to making this week? Comment below!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Eat Right And Exercise

This is all it takes to take control of your life back! I have done so many different diets in my life. I tried Jenny Craig, paleo, Atkins food products, and different high protein no carbs style diets, Even forked out the bucks to do HCG, Slimfast, and even when I was a kid I just avoided eating completely. Yeah, I lost weight but I never truly learned to take care of my body of feed it what it really needed. I always gained the weight back plus extra weight and it made me feel worse about myself.

See this picture of me? This is when I was doing 2 hours of cardio a day on the elliptical and was following the slimfast plan. Eating maybe 1200 calories, and burning 1500 a day. I was starving my body. Yeah, I was down to 200 pounds and was "skinny" but I felt sluggish, tired and just not right. I barely ate anything. Two slimfast shakes a day and a "healthy" dinner of chicken and veggies maybe rice. I really don't remember what I ate but I barely ate anything! That was it! 

This picture, I actually learned how to eat for my body. Losing weight and feeling great. Not at 200 pounds but I was getting there and I know exactly what to do to get there, healthy this time! 

To change your life. You have to change your lifestyle. Dieting is not a healthy lifestyle. You have to learn to eat the right foods, not deprive your body of what it needs. We need carbs, we need fats we need veggies and fruits for our bodies to function properly.

I have finally learned how to eat for my body and how much to eat and I am satisfied. I am losing weight and I am truly learning to take care of me. Inside and out. If you are looking to change your lifestyle to one that you are in control of and not letting some "diet" dictate for you. LET'S CHAT! Next exclusive group begins July 5! and I want you in there if you are ready to learn to eat the foods you love and want to eat and that your family will enjoy.

But you have to let me know! If you want to know what has helped me lose 20 lbs in just 5 months, stay fit and healthy during my pregnancy and only gain 15 pounds so far at 27 weeks or you don't know where to start? EMAIL ME! Let's chat! Or check out and even order if you are ready, the 21 Day Fix here. My go to workout program that no only teaches you how to eat for your body made simple, a 30 day supply of your daily dose of superfoods nutrition that cuts cravings, and you also get 7 different 30 minute workouts that actually WORK! You can finally lose the weight by being smarter not working harder! Plus you get me as your motivator, supporter, cheerleader, and friend and get access to my free group and my EXCLUSIVE group! Let's do this together and you will succeed!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

All Weight Loss Journeys Start Somewhere

Have you been following me for awhile on my weight loss/health and fitness journey? Wanna know where it all started? I have been in an up and down cycle of learning this whole how to lose weight and take care of my body thing for years now! It all started back in 2009. And each time I "tried" to lose weight I learned something new about myself. Just because you have tried in the past doesn't mean you can give up. That it will never work. IT WILL WORK! You just have to keep trying, keep believing and keep doing. Never give up on what you want because it will all be worth it in the end. Even and ESPECIALLY if you have to keep started from scratch each time. You walk away stronger, more empowered, and more determined to kick butt the next go around.

Check out my video on my journey so far! If I can do this, I KNOW you can!

I know you can do this. You just have to start! If you are ready to start let's get you started! Next exclusive group begins JULY 5! I WANT YOU IN THE GROUP If you are ready to begin the next step in your journey to a healthier and fit lifestyle.

You get access to: 
~my exclusive tools that have help me lose weight prior to getting pregnant and actually control my weight gain while I have been pregnant
~have daily support and motivation
~one on one accountability
~Daily dose of superfood nutrition that cuts those pesky cravings for sweets and treats
~Easy to follow nutrition plan to finally eat and feel satisfied and still lose weight!
~30 minute workouts that are perfect for any level

I WANT YOU AND I AM READY TO HELP YOU! EMAIL ME OR FILL OUT THIS CONTACT REQUEST TO LET ME KNOW YOU ARE READY! The first step to change is letting me know you are ready!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Kids Countdown Jars

Mason has 3 really exciting things happening in the next few months. He is turning 5, he starts his first day of kindergarten and of course the arrival of his baby sister Elyse! Mason has a hard time understanding the concept of time at this point, which is normal for kids his age. Think about it, when you were younger, summer break was soooooo long! As you got older, summer break felt shorter and shorter and shorter! How Mason confuses it is when I say this week, he thinks I am meaning today. Or maybe he just isn't very patient. Anyways, my mom came up with the brilliant idea to make Countdown jars to these important dates coming up.


Every day Mason will get a chocolate from each jar until the jar runs out! He is so super excited. Not only did it teach him lots of counting to a) count how many days it was until each important date, but b) I made him count each and every m&m that went in the jar. By the end counting up to 90 seemed easier! He loves the idea and so far he loves to point out which jar has the least amount M&M's and the most M&M. And it is just a few candies everyday. Use whatever candy or treats your kids will love and they too will look forward to counting down every single day.

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!