EXTREME MAKEOVER - Me Edition

Ok, so here goes....
Not sure if you have seen this yet or not, but {ae Filkins}
Hosts a post every week dedicated to helping busy ladies like myself step up to the plate and realize that we are worth the time and effort to take care of ourselves...

This is a group of mostly women, {but everyone is welcome} who are on a mission to get healthy. To make themselves a priority. To take care of themselves, as well as taking care of everyone else. I fit into the mold perfectly. I never make myself a priority, and I am always taking care of everyone and everything else. I have been following this for weeks, trying to grasp the motivation to make it happen and I finally reached down deep inside today and found a small glimmer of hope in there :)

Let me give you my story.... I didn't gain baby weight.... in fact I actually lost weight with both my pregnancies. I had HUGE babies with massive amounts of morning sickness. I actually left the hospital both times weighing less than when I started... Both babies left my skin very stretched out, and not all of us are lucky enough to get a free tummy tuck like Kate Gosselin....

Instead most of us have the jelly belly.

Some go away some don't. Mine didn't. I must lack that ELASTICITY gene that God blessed some of my friends with. Now, while God didn't bless me with a Tummy Tuck or Elastic skin, he did bless me with a wonderful man (unlike Kate) who loves me unconditionally, jelly belly and all :) For that, I am thankful.

My "baby" weight came after I stopped nursing both my kids. The milk stopped and my diet didn't change (because I was still starving) and so I gained weight. I then fell prey to the mommy hood disease of not taking care of myself.

Last week I was looking at myself thinking - EW. What have I done....? My skin has gone down hill, my hair is recovering from a spur of the moment bottle of black hair dye and my wardrobe sucks. Something needs to change.

So I went to the store and bought MYSELF (that never happens) two new kinds of face wash, a facial exfoliant and some new moisturizer.... I came home and dove in and I already feel and look better. The texture of my face has improved and I just feel better.... I also got my hair completely CHOPPED off.... Working on getting that blond back. :)

Now in order to change my wardrobe something else needs to change. I need to lose weight.

Honestly- I don't know how much and don't care to get on the scale, I just know it needs to happen. Setting a numerical goal may very well push me to the point of hysterics :)

So this is how it's going to work. I am going to set small goals for ME. I am going to make time for ME and do things that are good for ME :) Think it can happen??

I am a very busy mom and two girls (4 if you count my 2 furry kids Sully and Zoey they are just as much work and get the same treatment :) ) I work as an infant photographer by day and I also have my own Custom Photography Business Snapped With Love Photography . My husband works two jobs as well. Last year our second daughter made a HUGE debut into the world and landed herself a very expensive bed in the NICU in Downtown Houston and ran up some serious medical Bills.... after I returned to work after being on bed rest and then having the baby and then getting her well, I lost my job. Since then it has been a constant roller coaster trying to stay afloat. My husband is always gone at one job or another so when I am home I am editing photos, cleaning, doing the laundry, mowing, taking the cars in for their maintenance etc.... I play both roles while he busts his bum to make ends meet. We are PRAYING this comes to an end soon.... who knows....

All that being said.... IS IT POSSIBLE to take care of me?? Right now I live on fast food, and munch off the girl's plates.... I rarely take time to prepare a healthy meal for me or to sit down and eat. I usually eat in the car between point A and B. I never take the time to fill my water jug and drink enough water each day- this leaves me dehydrated and feeling icky. I also average 3-4 hours of sleep every night because I stay up editing or trying to catch up on keeping the house clean as a whistle.

I am going to have to work this makeover into my schedule in baby steps.... I have to learn to care for ME while doing everything else because it can't change. I still have to keep the house up, mow, do laundry, Work during the day, and at night and on weekends, edit all the pictures, and play and care for my girls.... I just have to:

• mix in my full water jug
• eat/cook healthy meals
• get more exercise
• get more sleep

SOUNDS SIMPLE RIGHT??? HA!

Starting right now, I am going to start monitoring my water.... The rest will ease in with my conscious mind... I hope.

Every week We are supposed to answer a question for the other gals in this group....This week it is:

What's been inspiring you??

I have actually been inspired by Lerin. A good friend of mine who is a similar boat as mine. She has 4 kids....Hers are all of the human variety, no furry kids like 2 of mine :) and she does photography as well... She is crazy busy and still finds time to take care of herself. If she can do it, I can too and that's was inspires me...

So I leave this with a couple of things in mind. I am going to ease this in and take small steps. I am going to weigh in every week and post pounds lost. I am hoping you will join in my crusade and help me along.... Your praise and comments mean something so please feel free to hold my hand.

Until Next week..... :)