I just need to VENT!

Okay, so most of you know that I joined in on the Cedar City Biggest Loser. Before I even committed to do this I sat down with Wayne for a couple days a discussed how much weight I wanted to lose and if it was even possible. We went though what I should be eating, how many calories, what my exercise plan was and how much I should be doing and for what amount of time I should be doing it for. I felt (and so did Wayne) that my goal to lose 15 lbs. was doable.

I started off strong losing 3 lbs. in the first week. Then an additional 2 lbs. in the second week. I was feeling great. I was right were I wanted to be. When week three came around I was becoming very discouraged when I gained 2 lbs back. Then week 4 was here and I wasn't losing a dang thing despite my efforts. I talked to every person I could think of that might be able to help me get through this blasted plateau that was stealing my motivation from me. I am a very competitive person and it was just killing me to read every Sunday that my friends were still doing great and I was stuck not moving an inch let a lone a pound. Week 5 (with the help of others) I decided to drop weights out of my routine and focus strictly on cardio. I started doing high impact during the day and low impact at night hoping that I could catch up. I dropped the two pounds I gained and in week 6 dropped two more, but according to the scale I gained four from my trip to Disneyland. Which really ticks me off cause I was choosing healthy foods for the most part. I did eat at Olive Garden one day and had a few small frozen snacks during the day, but I was walking fast enough through out the day that my heart rate was up. I was doing a low impact cardio for 13 hrs straight two days in row. It was extremely madding when I came back showing a 4 lb gain and I didn't even pig out like I wanted to. So now I am back up to what I was before I had my lovely plateau and with only 2 weeks to go I knew I need to do something drastic to get off those four pounds quick. I did the lemonade diet for two days and dropped two of those 4 pounds. So now that we are in the final week I am frustrated and confused. I feel like I am really on the biggest loser and I know that I should be proud of the weight I have lost, but feel totally frustrated that I have worked my butt off like I never have before and that I have almost nothing to show for it. I have one day left before weigh in and I really don't want to go. I see the change in my friends (competition) and know that most have met their goals. I think for the first time in my life I will be totally embarrassed by what the scale says, and it isn't even for the lack of trying. If I didn't try I wouldn't care, but I have never in my life tried so hard for something and feel like I failed.

*I didn't write this to get sympathy from any one I just needed to get it out. It is sometimes easier for me to write down what I am feeling then to say it out loud. Thank for letting my vent.

My Birthday Surprise!!!

Let me start at the beginning. My mom has started a tradition of celebrating each one of her kids 29th birthdays to the extream. This year was my year. I was told that we were going to spend 2 days is Las Vegas. The only thing she told me was that we were staying at the Mandalay Bay hotel. I was super excited. I love the shopping and thought we were going to see a show and maybe go to the spa. Well since my sister was having her missionary farewell on Sunday (my actual b-day) my mom and I decided to celebrate it Wednesday-Friday and then we would be back in time to get things together for Karri's farewell. The kids and I left on Monday and headed to Santaquin. On Tuesday we went to my nephews birthday party and after that I dropped the kids off at Wayne's parents house and I was officially "free".
Wednesday morning I woke up at 4:30 a.m. to get ready for the long drive to Vegas. Before we headed out my mom said that she wanted to give me my birthday gift. I thought okay and she handed me a stack of papers. The first one was a reservation of a hotel...it wasn't for Mandalay Bay. The second one showed a reservation of a car rental...which was weird cause I thought we were driving, but flying was good to. The last one was our tickets to DISNEYLAND!!! It took me a minute for it to process. I wasn't going to Vegas I was going to Disneyland. I haven't been to Disneyland since I was eight (that's 20 years). Then my mom handed me an envelope with a card in it. I was from Wayne and he had put $260.00 dollars in it for spending money. I just started boo whooing and my dad got some really "nice" pictures of that.

On the way to the airport I was still in shock. Nothing like this has ever happened to me and I just couldn't comprehend what was going on. When we arrived in Anaheim the weather was great. Sunny, not a cloud in the sky and in the 70's. We took our shuttle to the car rental place and they gave us a silver Seibring convertible...it was sweet! It took us a little while to find our hotel and we checked in and then walked to Disneyland.

As soon as we entered all the memories came flooding back. I told my mom how seeing Disneyland through 28 year old eyes was so much different then seeing it for the first time as an eight year old. Everything seemed smaller. I only remembered certain rides like Space Mtn. and it's a Small World, The Haunted Mansion. We decided to go on the Star Tours ride first. The lines were great. I think the longest we were in line was for Splash Mtn and the was for 45 min. Other then that we spent 20 min or less in line. We then headed for Space Mtn. I would say that for most of the first day we power walked the distance from Santaquin to Salt Lake. We hit every ride two or three times. By the end of the day there was only one other ride that I wanted to go on and the was the Tower of Terror. We made it right before the park closed. It was the perfect ending the a perfect day.

Day two we decided to go to California Adventures first. Our first ride of the day was Soaring over California. Then decided to go on the river ride next. My mom is so funny. She did not want to get wet. For this ride that was something that would have been a miracle. She thought that the safest place would be in the middle, so I sat on the edge. She ended up getting soaked and I made it out just slightly damp. It was great! We then went on a ride that shoots you up in to the air. It was fun, but not as fun and I thought it would be. After that we on this roller coaster that goes 0-80 in 6 seconds. That was the best roller coaster ride I have ever been on! We made it to the Tower of Terror again and took some pictures with some Disney characters.
We decided to take a break from the park and went in search for a mall. I found a really cute dress that was priced at $87.00 and bought it or $11.00 ( I just love a good deal). We had lunch at the Olive Garden which I think gave us our second wind. We headed back to Disneyland and hit all the rides we didn't get to the day before.

The next day we turned our car back in and went to the airport. It was sad to say goodbye, but it was the break I needed. I can't wait for my kids to experience Disneyland for the first time. I have a renewed excitment to get them there in the next couple of years. I am soooo thankful for my parents and for Wayne. I am thankful for Wayne's parents for taking my kids so that I could do this. It is a birthday that I will never forget. Thanks Mom!

Five things I am addicted to

#5...
I am addicted to blogging. It has pretty much taken over my scrapbook habit. Don't get me wrong I still like to scrapbook, but with Ty around it is nearly impossible to do. Blogging gives me instant gratification. I love reading all my friends and families blogs. It makes me feel like I am a part of their everyday lives.

#4...
I am addicted to exercise. I never thought that those words would come out of my mouth, but I love the way I feel after a good 30-60 min workout. I have so much more energy and I have a much better attitude during the day.

#3...
Any one who knows me knows that I am addicted to couponing. It has surpassed the hobby stage and is now a full blown addiction. I get excited to see what coupons are in the paper every week and what the new sales are. It totally feeds my shopping habit for less. I love watching the price at the register go down down down. It's like the best natural high ever.

#2...
My kids are my second addiction. They are my world. I love hearing about their days at school and watching them play pretend. I love hearing all the new words that Ty comes up with, and waiting to see what the next funny thing Kaitlyn will do. I love watching Megan show me the newest thing she can do over and over again. They are my life and I feel so blessed that they picked me to be there mother.

#1...
Wayne is my #1 addiction. He may dispute this, but I think about him constantly. I love hearing him laugh, it is so infectious. I love that if I want to start something that will better myself he will do the same to better himself. I love that he is hard working and is doing everything he can to better our situation. I love his blue eyes and soft kisses. I miss having him next to me every night. I love that he has a passion for physical fitness whether it be though dirt bike racing, lifting weights, riding his mountain bike or hiking. I love that he loves his kids and misses them like crazy when he has only been gone for an hour or two. I appreciate all of his hard work and his sacrifice for his family. His determination to keep me home with the kids (not that I haven't suggested that I go back to work). He never puts himself first and is always thinking about how I am doing or if I need something. He truly is my #1 addiction, he consumes my thoughts all the time. I love him more then anything and am so thankful that he picked me.

Now I am tagging Kelly, Sarah, Amanda, Rachelle, and Heidi