What I can control

At my weight watchers meeting last night, the leader asked why weight watchers works. Many people said stuff like, "it's flexible", "etools", "lots of options", "easy to follow" etc. I thought about why it has been the ONLY successful plan for my weight loss and I realized that it's about control. In my life there are so few things I can control (and rightly so). I can't control my husband or my daughter (although I try on both accounts), I can't control my students or my job, I can't control bills and the economy, I can't control if my car will break down or whether my daughter will sleep through the night. I CAN control what I put into my body though. I can control what I eat and drink, the vitamins I take, and how much I work out. Even when I feel out of control, the reality is that I am the only one who can control that (with God's help of course). I love love love weight watchers because their plan allows me to control my weight loss goals and success. The plan works regardless of what anyone says but you have to work it.

I thought about part of the serenity prayer: God grant me the courageous to change the things I can. That's why weight watchers works!

There Could Never Be a More Beautiful You!

Something ironic occurred to me today. Almost 12 weeks ago I accomplished, achieved, did (whatever action verb you'd like to insert here) the most miraculous event a human can do (in my opinion). I gave birth to my daughter. What is more incredible than God enabling women to provide the perfect incubator for new life? The intricacies and detail that go into knitting together a baby astound me and I had the honor and blessing to participate. The irony is that not one day has gone by where I haven't despised the look and condition of my body as a result of the pregnancy. I scrutinize, criticize, complain about, cry over, and put down every saggy, stretched, larger, and overall changed part of my body. The same body that carried and brought my angel into the world is the same body I detest now. How is that possible????

A while back a friend of mine told me that people frequently talk about the sacrifices you make when you have a baby: time, finances, freedom. Rarely do people talk about the physical sacrifice. Some women love being pregnant and some don't but regardless of how you feel about it or while you are pregnant, it is a sacrifice. I have such a negative view of this sacrifice though. Did Jesus not make a sacrifice on the cross? God made me for the purpose of manifesting His glory and one way I am supposed to do that is through child-bearing. I'm not opposed to the need to get my body back in shape but I do seriously need an attitude adjustment.

While driving home, the song "More Beautiful You" by Jonny Diaz came on Klove. I hear this song all the time but today the lyrics to the chorus spoke to my heart.

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through 
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you 

I was not more beautiful when I was thinner. I was not more beautiful when I was pregnant. I am just as beautiful now. I know I'm not the only mom who struggles with this. I hope other women continue to find the same hope and motivation that God is showing me. 

S.M.A.R.T. goals

In my last post I mentioned that I do not usually write New Year's resolutions because when I have, they are usually forgotten as resolutions often are. Fortunately, my goal to get back on my weight watchers track happens to coincide with a new year. Mike and I are hoping to get pregnant again in 2013 (I have to take a least a year to recover from the c-section), which means that I have at least a year if not more to work on getting back to where I started pre-pregnancy and be back in shape for the next pregnancy. My friend Amber reminded me that achievable goals have steps and a plan.

My overall goals are:
1. lose at least 45 pounds by Dec 31st
2. join and attend a gym

Losing the weight is self-explanatory (or the need to do it) but unlike last time where I did it with dieting alone (Weight Watchers), my OB is highly encouraging me to start being active. She specifically said to hit the gym. I am battling some post-partum depression and she thinks the working will help weight loss and my emotions.

Steps for goals:
1. I will eat the assigned number of points per day as designated by WW and save the weekly bonus points for a treat rather than exceeding my point daily or never using them. I will start by drinking 3 glasses of water a day (I did great at that when I was pregnant). Always keep fruit on hand at work and home for snacks. I will track track track!
2. By the end of the week I am going to choose and join a gym. I will plan to attend the gym two evenings and work out for 30 minutes and do 1 weekend workout for 45 minutes.

Well...it's a start

2012 resolutions? Bucket List?

So I don't do resolutions nor have I ever written a bucket list because I have never once kept a resolution and I find that I'm so unambitious that writing a bucket list seemed pointless. However, after the major events that happened in 2011, I definitely want to set some goals for 2012 and somehow writing them down for others to see makes them more concrete. I sincerely hope there are a couple people along the way who might be willing to help me and hold me accountable.

Big news of 2011:
1. started a new job- teaching parttime at Madison Traditional Academy. LOVE IT!
2. Became pregnant- February
3. Gave birth to my first child- Oct. 14th
4. Almost reached goal weight (6 lbs to go) before realizing I was pregnant

Very short list but big things happened. I don't anticipate the same huge events (afterall what can top having a baby?) but there are a few things I'd like to accomplish this year while I am not pregnant

Goals for 2012:
1. loss of some pounds and inches. Last year I lost about 45 pounds so my goal is to lose that by December 31st (because I know I can). I also plan to lose the following inches in certain body parts:
              waist: 12 inches
              hips: 6 inches
2. finish my master's and graduate (dates for walking and finishing classes are set)
3. drifting school- there is a place in Phoenix where you can learn to drift. I will do it since I won't be pregnant this year (at least not planned).
4. complete at least one project from pinterest (possibly Kenzie's first birthday party).

I may add more items to the list but I think these 4 items will take the all of or at least the majority of the year to reach. I guess the next step is to figure out how to make these goals happen.

New Year... new job... new things to come

In Aug. 8th I officially start my 6th year teaching. I can't believe that, how time flies!!! I am working at a new school in my district this year and am really excited about the opportunity to try something new although my heart is broken to leave my students behind. I will be teaching only middle school this year so it be interesting to see if I miss my little guys terribly or fully embrace the older students.

Mike and I only have about 14 weeks left before our newest family member comes home. I feel like I've been pregnant forever but at the same time I can't believe I am almost in my third trimester and about to be a mom. I can still vividly remember the day I moved away to college.

I am also plugging along on my master's degree and am excited to work with my new principal mentor. I have 5 classes left including the two classes that consist basically of my principal internship next fall. This next year should be quite a ride.

A new blog for a while

I have not posted anything on According to Leah for a while because I've been busy posting on a new temporary blog "The Fertile Myrtle Journal" as I am going to be a mommy and am excitedly write about the new experiences along the way.

Follow my new blog at Fertile Myrtle Journal

I'm sure I'll post here again :)

Universal Truths as learned from 13 year olds

After returning from my second leadership conference but first time planning the trip out-of-state I realize that I've learned some important truths about teenagers and trips:

1. If you put 4 13 year olds in one room and 3 12 year olds in another and those rooms are conjoining, they WILL consider the two rooms ONE large bedroom.

2. 4 girls will share a bed with  no problem, 4 boys will not. They will opt for the floor, the closet, or the bathtub

3.  4 cell phone alarms being set will ultimately equal none of them going off on time.

4. if hotel staff leaves an extra roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, that is automatically interpreted as wrapping for a person.

5. if you ask students to save seats, one should specify that those seats should be saved for the rest of your group.

6. No matter how many times you ask students to hold on to their room keys, they will start disappearing mysteriously throughout the weekend.

7. If you challenge students to rise to a standard and set an example for others, they will do it.

8. It is sometimes more beneficial to choose to NOT ask questions.

 Interestingly these are the same truths that myself and all my classmates taught our teachers when we were 13 years old but apparently I forgot until I was the one learning the lessons. I gladly repeat this weekend again!