Tubby Tuesday

OK....I always told myself that I was NEVER going to post about my weight on my blog but since very few read this is I thought, What the Hell! There have been recent talks about starting a family..... NO MOM...not anytime soon but in March I found out I have PCOS and being overweight will make trying to conceive even harder then it will already be. So becoming healthy not only for myself but for my future children is what has become my motivation. Oh and plus I'M HUGE!!!

A blog I love to check into has tracked her weight loss with "McFatty Mondays" so I opted for "Tubby Tuesdays!" A way to just post about my weekly ups and downs and my progress during this journey.

I was looking through my blog and realized I had a blog post titled "Fat to Fit" I started on last Summer and I guess you could say this is were it all began.

5/27/10

Now that summer is here I have realized I can’t fit into my Honeymoon bikinis that I worked so hard to get into. (Probably shouldn’t have worn one anyways but no one knew me in Mexico!) Brian and I sure have put on the post wedding weight. It seemed like it took so long to lose so I could fit into my wedding dress and with an All-Inclusive vacation and some weekly Chinese for dinner I had put it right back.

With Jordan back we decided that since we are both in upcoming weddings we will lose weight for theirs since we didn’t lose that much weight for mine!! For the last 2 weeks he has been coming over at 6:45am to work out. We started going to the gym to run and lift weights and sometimes switched it up with some Pilates. Then I was flipping through channels on the TV and discovered all the different videos on Exercise TV. I had heard things about Jillian Michaels-Trainer on the Biggest Loser’s 30 day Shred video. I would see people post status on Facebook about how they had started and how hard it was. They were right!

Fastforward.....8/23/11

So a year later the workouts with Jordan have stopped but the weekly Chinese food did not! I have always been a big girl. I never remember being a size 2 or having a flat tummy. Maybe age 6? LoL I have never had issues with my body but when I stop taking pictures of myself because I hate the way I look, there is a problem. Mainly because I just love looking back at pictures and this past year there isn't many because I don't even recognize myself!

Around March last year is when I hit in all time high on the scale. I almost fainted. What has happened to me. It takes me 5 months to lose 25lbs for my wedding and it takes just 2 months if that to put it all back on plus more. WHY...Do I do this to myself???

In the last year I don't know how many fad diets I did. With the usual big result but then by Day 3 I'm miserbale and hit up the McDonalds. I continued with no changes in my eating or getting off my ass but just kept telling myself by Christmas I will loose 20lbs..NOPE by Graduation I will be back to my wedding weight...NOPE by Heather's wedding I will be back in my wedding dress size...HELL NO!! That sure was a horrible experience having to exchange it 3 times because I was so FAT! After seeing myself in pictures from her wedding I yelled out HOLY COW. Literally I looked like a big fat cow! Sorry Heather for being the "fat" bridesmaid.

After her wedding I signed right up for Weight Watchers. Not online but to the meetings where I get motivation and ideas along with working hard to see the results on the scale. Weight Watchers is what worked in the first place but it takes the longest time. Ahhh!

But I'm excited to share my results in the past 3 weeks!

July 25th My Journey Begins! Weigh In at the meeting and almost break the scale!
Week 1- Down 4.4
Week 2- Down 2.4 YAY! Earned my 5lb Star!
Week 3- Down .2 Boo! Didn't track my points very well!!

Total Weight Loss= 7lbs

We went swimming on Sunday and my sweet brother asked if I had lost weight. Well yes I have! But until I see it in pictures no I haven't!

Weigh-In Day hasn't arrived this week. My work schedule varies so I go when I can. I would like to go Thursday but I have a Date with Evan and I doubt he would like to sit through the meeting!

Sundays and Thursday are my workout days with my new neighbor Julianna. She is my highschool friend who moved in across the street. She is skinny as a stick which keeps me motivated. We tried out water aerobics Sunday..... very entertaining and walking/running the the park planned for Thursday plus bowling! Hey everything counts!

I'm on the right track and just have to keep on moving. My goal for the the first month was to track points! Goal for the second month exercise atleast 3x/week!

I leave you with my inspiration picture circa 2005. Haha Please ignore the bottle of alcohol! The ability to wear a low cut shirt with no mountain of cleavage, in that size and no double chin is right where I'm headed!

Welcome to Room 109

Today marks my Mom’s first day back in the classroom in over 28 years! All of us kids were lucky enough to have her stay at home with us when we were growing up. Once Logan headed off to Kindergarten she headed back into the schools as a Para and then a secretary. In May she graduated with her Master’s and accepted a job as the 2nd grade teacher at Highland Park Central.

I headed back to Topeka 2 weeks ago along with my Aunt Amy and Aunt Margie to help get her classroom set up. I wish I would have taken before pictures but this is what we had done when we left. And I’m sure it is looking way different now! (Sorry these are off my phone!)




I’m so proud of you Mom and I hope you have a great first day of school!

Good Company!

We had 2 special little boys come and visit us this weekend! Evan and Jayden along with Matt, Kate and Julia came over this afternoon to swim. It was exciting to see how much they have changed since last year when we went swimming. They were jumping in, blowing bubbles, heads were going under, they were having a blast. We didn’t stay at the pool too long and headed back to have some dinner!

Ohh I just love the sight of this!!!

I’m a HUGE procrastinator and have been working more to change it. So Saturday I had all the food made so today we were able to lounge around until our company came. I hope I can keep it up because not having the stress was kind of nice. I think Brian would agree! On the menu was Sloppy Joes, Strawberry Jell-O, veggies, fruit, chips and Dirt Pudding for dessert! It was funny how the boys were so excited to eat worms for dessert!

Look at these sweet faces!

These boys have LOTS of energy. I asked Brian if he was ready for a baby! He laughed! I guess we know what it would be like to have twin boys!

Evan was able to show us his baseball moves and then they hit the patio for some after dinner conversation!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well!!!

Fiesta Recipes

Ohhh how I love a good Mexican Fiesta. When we have anything to celebrate or just get together with the family it calls for a fiesta! Even my couple’s shower was a Fiesta! And where did we honeymoon…Mexico! I’m glad I married someone who shares the same love for Mexican Food or I don’t know what I would do!

Yesterday I had a house warming party to go to which I made my guacamole recipe. Thanks to those years of serving at On the Border because this recipe is always a hit. The girls were asking for the recipe so I thought I would post it along with a salsa recipe I found!

Guacamole Live

·2 fresh avocados
·1 lime wedge
·1/2 tsp. Salt (I use garlic salt)
·2 Tbs. diced tomato
·1 1/2 Tbs. fresh jalapenos, diced fine
·1 Tbs. red onion, diced fine
·1 tsp. chopped cilantro

Mix all ingredients together and Enjoy!
*For the party or a family get together I triple the recipe!

I found this Blog and can't find one thing I wouldn’t make! And plus I love the name! I made these Brownies which my aunt said were too rich but to someone who loves chocolate and Peanut Butter nothing is ever too rich! Lol

I have been eyeing this Salsa recipe as I would rather have something homemade then out of the jar and I think I may have found it! Since I had most of the same ingredients leftover from making guacamole I made this for the first Chiefs football game tonight! Ohh did I have one happy husband! We decided a little more onion and leave out a few of the jalapeno seeds. I guess we are wimps and can’t handle the heat! Haha!

Homemade Restaurant Style Salsa

28-oz can whole tomatoes (peeled with juice)
2 cans Rotel
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 jalapeno, quartered and sliced thin
1/2 cup cilantro
Juice from 1/2 a lime
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp ground cumin

Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender. This makes a TON so I had to make it in 2 separate batches.

Don't forget the lime!

Blend....Refrigerate for at least an hour.

And... ENJOY!!!

Good News in our house....

Well I'm truly just not good at this whole blogging thing. I sure have been MIA from blogworld for a whole year since I have posted anything. Sorry!!! I started to think there isn't much going on in our house besides us both working and me going to school. But I'm happy to say this is something I want to blog about......

I GRADUATED and I GOT A JOB!!!!! I graduated on May 8th and thank you to everyone for all the love and support through nursing school. When I felt like I couldn't do it anymore you all were there to push me to keep going!!! And I'm so very thankful for that!

I interviewed on my current unit at the beginning of April. A big thank you to my Aunt Amy & Aunt Margie on an early graduation present as I was the best dressed applicant in my tan ruffle suit! After what seemed like forever I got the phone call offering me a day position as an RN on the Pediatric Unit at KU Med!!! I couldn't ask to work at a better hospital or with a better group of girls!!! And working with kids I have to say I have the best job ever!!!

As I have stated in prior posts I just love having family in town. Seeing my Aunts, Uncles, cousins, or brother is a weekly thing in our house. So when I got the job everyone met up at Aunt Cyndi's for a Fiesta and lots of celebrating!

If we hadn't celebrated enough already Brian was promoted to a bigger branch in Midtown. I tell everyone it's the Plaza location but it's really the hood. We both work in the hood and couldn't be happier! LoL This location cuts his drive by 10mins so his total drive to work is 20min. We still can't believe he use to drive an hour and a half one way to Sedalia, MO. Pure dedication I must say!!

Well Spring has come and gone and Summer can go ahead and leave. These 100 degree days are just miserable. Stay tuned for more graduation details, a wedding, Year 2 of our float trip adventure and just the day to day (boring) details of the Married McNeils!

Joel Patrick is here!

On July 2, 2010 at 2:36 pm Joel Patrick Brown entered this world weighing 7lbs. 60z and was 20 in. long.

Brian and Joel's Daddy Adam have been friends since college where they were house boys together! Adam was also one of the groomsmen at our wedding. Our wedding is where we learned that Adam and Jennifer were pregnant and it was captured in this photo!

Congrats Adam and Jen! We are so excited for you both and can't wait to meet that beautiful baby boy!!

Happy BD Sparky!

Today is my hubby's 28th birthday!!! Our 5th birthday spent together but our 1st as husband and wife!!! We talked about getting married on this date but 1. I couldn't wait that long and 2. It is just Too Dang Hot!!!!!

We celebrated on Sunday with Brian's family since we are heading out on a float trip in a few hours today. We met his family at Stix a Japaneese restaurant at the Legends. We enjoyed a yummy lunch and then headed back to our house for cake and homemade Butterfinger Ice Cream!

Here is the birthday boy opening lots of wonderful gifts! He was spoiled this year!

Later that evening I headed to the Tim McGraw concert with my bestie Emily!

Here we are in our cowgirl boots ready to hit the town!

And of course a picture with my love!

We enjoyed dinner and drinks down at Power & Light before heading to the show! If I had a bucket list seeing Tim McGraw in concert would be on it!!! He does not disappoint. Either did Lady Antebellum who opened for him! It was such an awesome show! And our seats were amazing! We had a great girls night out!

And I can't end without a picture of SEXY (yes SEXY) Timmy! Oo la la!

Wishing my handsome husband a wonderful birthday and a Happy 4th to all of you!!