Life With The Stanfords

The Clean Diet

Like most mothers, I've let the weight keep creeping up on me until it's no longer tolerable. Shockingly, what everyone has been saying all these years is true:  "All that eating's going to catch up with you one day." and "When I turned 40, my metabolism just quit!" It's so discouraging to know that I can no longer eat half of a large pizza without consequences. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "I LOVE food so much!"

My day of reckoning has come. It's time to take care of myself. I am trying to make two permanent changes in my life:

1. Eat clean.
2. Exercise at least five days a week for at least 45 minutes.

I should've posted this three weeks ago because that's when I started all of this. Anyway, this is my starting post and I need to show my current status.

Alright (GULP), here's me swallowing my pride:

 
 
Big Mama! This was taken about a week ago. I haven't taken any measurements yet. I really should have, too, because I think I might be losing some inches. Anyway, here's where I'm starting from. Here's the (GULP) side view:

 
Ack! The pink tank top is actually a maternity tank top that I still wear because it fits. The jeans are a size 14. People are made differently, and so for some, size 14 is great. For me, though, I look best when I'm in a size 8. I have a looong way to go.

I guess the main thing I want to change is my shape. I would really love to have a waist again and be attractive in a tucked-in shirt. Also, I would like to reduce the size of my hips so that they're not big enough to sit potted plants on. I want to feel better, too!

My current weight is 163 pounds. I have lost two pounds so far. I won't post every day about my "diet", but I would like to post once a week on my progress. Next time, I'll talk a little bit about the Clean Diet and some of the results I've noticed in the last three weeks.

February

I don't have long to blog. Civilization as we know it is falling apart right outside my door. I'm so glad it's February. February is a big motivating, encouraging month for me. February is not long -- and I have a short attention span. If I can make it through a measly 28 days, then I'm already in March, and we all know that's practically Summer! Oh Summer, how I miss you. I like Valentines Day, too...a lot.

I thought I'd give you a short peek inside my work environment. My environment is one of the reasons blogging has fallen off drastically. I've been trying to ignore my children less often, so I often bring them to work with me. Here they are expressing their gratitude for having a mother who wants to blog. Evelyn is saying, "You go, Mom. I'm just going to sit here and poke Phin's eyes out while you type. Take all the time you need." Phin concurs. "She's so right, Mom. And when I grow up without having had any attention at all, I'm just going to remember all the clever things you said in your blog."

 

 
Ethan steps in to add, "I can't really figure out the math problem I'm working on right now. Why don't you tell me to use the brain God gave me. I'll either become really self-motivated and be a great learner OR I might go to jail because I end up not learning anything and have no marketable skills, and then I'll have to rob a Circle K. Love you, Mom. Love your blog."

 
Hmmm, trash can't really talk, but if it could it would say, "Yo! Jenn, w'sup?" We love the classy accommodations you've given us on your desk. Swuh-eet! Most of our friends get thrown away, but you let us hang here for ages." Doesn't everyone hang on to the leftover fairy birthday cupcake picks because they're just too cute to throw away? Doesn't everyone keep their iPhone 4 box (Why? Because it reminds me that I GOT an iPhone 4 and it's a really neat box, and it has numbers on it that I probably need for something)? Notice the Girl Scout order form. I'm going to be spending a lot of my "free time" delivering cookies. It's going to be a shame to cancel all my lunch dates and pedicures to deliver cookies.

 
The Financial Peace University boxes are taunting me a second time. I can't repeat what they're saying. Jade and I are heading up another class. Don't ask how I'm doing on my budget, my envelope system, and emailing my class.

 
In spite of all the above, lots of really great and hopeful things are in my life. God is really good. Enjoy this month's playlist. My favorite song is Regina Spektor's "Real Love". I think it's a remake of a John Lennon song. "I'M COMING! GEEZ! IT'S ONLY 6:45 P.M. GIVE ME A BREAK!"