A time for REAL CELEBRATION!!!

Most of you reading this blog know me personally but I'm sure there are a few of you who don't. For those of you who don't know me, welcome, thank you for visiting my blog and reading about all of my crazy crafting adventures!

Since many of you know me, you know that I have struggled with my weight pretty much all of my life. I constantly go up and down but mainly stay on the up part much longer than the down. =( I even went for an interview in Los Angeles with my best friend to be contestants on the show The Biggest Loser!! (NO JOKE!!) September 15Th was a huge turning point in my life when my best friend and I started on a journey of losing weight together and keeping this weight off forever! Yesterday I hit a major milestone in my weight loss when my scale registered that I had lost 50 pounds! Yes, I have lost 50 pounds in 3 months (almost exactly to the day! just one day early!) Woo Hoo! I feel like the hugest load has been lifted off my back (well, actually more from my tummy, hips, and thighs!) and I am so proud that I did it the right way through diet and exercise. My husband and I often joke that I have lost a whole Maddie as she weighs almost 40 pounds. But now I'm close to losing a Maddie and a Peyton! LOL.

In celebration of our huge accomplishments, my best friend (she's lost about 40 pounds!) and I spent almost all day together shopping, going to this awesome up and coming fashion designer show here in San Diego, talking, and treating ourselves to an amazing lunch at the Cheesecake Factory! I pretty much took all day off from crafting (except for about an hour when I got home), being a mommy, and feeling all of the Holiday stress I have been feeling for this past month! I had the best time yesterday and realize just how much time off away from the kids is vital to my mental well being. Since having the girls I've never focused much on 'mommy time' or even taking much care of myself (hence the many many pounds I packed on after Peyton's birth). Finally realizing that when I take care of my self both mentally as well as physically, I am a much better mommy to my girls and wife to my husband. I'm much happier, I can do more things as I don't have as much weight holding me back, and all of the stress of the Holidays doesn't make me mean and grouchy like in the past, it just feels like a challenge that I am ready to conquer.

Since this Thrifty 50 challenge started, I have been in 3 craft shows (one of which I actually organize), had a few migraines, doctored my whole family and myself who all got the flu and Peyton now with a cold, crafted, tried to grow my mommy business, and am now preparing for 2 Christmas celebrations at my house (Christmas this Saturday with my husband's dad and brother, and Christmas Eve with my whole family). So, stress and tension have been very high this year (hence the migraines!) To top it all off, I can add losing 50 pounds to the list of accomplishments this Christmas season!

Of all the gifts I could give to my family at Christmas, I think that the gift of my health and continuing weight loss will be the best gift I can give to them. Setting the example for my girls of living a healthy lifestyle in both diet and exercise will be a lifelong gift I can give to them. I know that due to this weight loss I have added many more years to my life and hopefully avoided many diseases that come with obesity. I am thankful that I have never suffered from any ill effects or conditions from being overweight and am making it my goal to keep it this way.

If I have inspired just one person to lose weight this Holiday season or upcoming year than I will feel that it has been worthwhile to share my story with you all. Losing weight and maintaining that weight loss is not easy, and will be a battle I shall fight the rest of my life. Choosing to live healthy is worth all of the struggle and pain that I have gone through and will continue to go through. Hopefully my girls are too young to remember 'fat' mommy and will only have memories of me as I am now and will be soon in the future......healthy and happy!

Thank you to all of you who have supported me through my many weight loss endeavors. You all know who you are and that I couldn't have done it without you. I love you all!!! Thanks too to my special weight loss buddy! May we always keep each other accountable and stay fit and healthy for life!