A little bit of this and a little bit of that

Talking about the randomness that is going on in my brain right now!

 

Currently on our Netflix List is:

 

 

 

We LOVE this show, it's so captivating. I hope they come out with a Season 2. Also, Tony has been enthralled playing GTA V and I enthralled watching along while he plays because I find it really entertaining.

 

 

Food 

I've also been Crockpotting away quite beautifully. I've made Rolled Chicken Taquitos with Green Avocado Sauce, Chicken Enchiladas and Pork Chile Verde.

Tuesday I made this recipe by Pioneer Woman!
 

Pioneer Woman's Spicy Dr. Pepper Pork

 

...As we speak the pork is cooling in my crockpot for later. When I get home from work I will remove the by then hardened fat layer on top, shred the meat, add BBQ sauce and serve on warm toasty bread for Pulled Pork Sandwiches. Yum!

 

And I can't wait to try this recipe...

 

Pioneer Woman's Croissant French Toast

 

 

 

Family:

I posted this pic on Instagram yesterday. My baby sister is starting Middle School and it's hard to imagine that she was just a baby not so long ago. She was the most beautiful, well behaved, charming baby I've ever known. She will also make a solid Auntie to my babies one day. Kari loves anything babies or animals, Starbucks (who knows who she got that from), making questionable fashion choices, Panda Express, Taylor Swift (me too) and she's also a Momma's girl. She has a feisty personality and is very sensitive and caring. My hope for her is that she can grow up to be a confident, kind and goal orientated girl. Although most people would agree she can be a demanding, entitled brat she has had to mature too early for her age.

 

 

Fitness:

I have resorted to waking up at 5:45 each morning to go work out BEFORE work. And you know what's crazy? I love it! Tony likes to go work out at 7 PM and me joining him was just not happening. I hated getting home at 5:30ish and relaxing for an hour and then having to switch into "go, go, go" mode and go work out. It just was not happening, his work out time was not working for me! I didn't have enough time to do anything at home because arriving at the gym at 7:30 meant we would get home at 10 PM and pretty much go straight to sleep. Now that I go work out before work, I have so much more energy at work. The best part is that I get my coffee after my work out and that cup of coffee tastes just THAT much sweeter and well deserved after some solid cardio. As a bonus I get to have the TV and Netflix all to myself while Tony goes to the gym in the evenings. Sweet Joy :)

 

Having said that, working out early has helped me move more toward my goal of becoming a morning person. Yes, I want to be one of those 60 year olds that wakes up at 5 AM everyday just because. It's going to happen.

 

 

And that concludes the randomness!

 

~Mely

 

 

 

24

I just turned 24 two days ago on February 17th and I truly feel like I get better with age! My sleeve has helped me start enjoying life and savoring things and experiences I didn't before.

I have maintained a slow but steady weight loss of about 5 pounds per month. I know that most people expect bariatric patients to lose like crazy but it's just not that way when you are a year out. I have learned that I will always be a curvy girl but I will be healthy! I can run on a treadmill now and do stairmaster and lift weights and feel strong!

I also eat what I want in moderation. I still indulge in things like good bread, chocolate, croissants (Gasp!), steak, full fat dairy and cheese but I am mindful of keeping my intake of the following foods high: lean protein, water, fruits, veggies and other sources of protein and fiber such as oatmeal, eggs, cheese, and whole grain sandwich thins! One of the things I have learned on my dieting/surgery journey is that it's important to still eat whole foods that you love and make you feel satisfied and not nasty. For that reason I stay away from processed foods, fast food (although I am a sucker for Taco Bell, always will be) and soda.

My birthday celebration was wonderful. I am so lucky to have the amazing people in my life that I do. I have an incredibly supportive family that is there for me at all times. I have a strong (emotionally as well as physically) boyfriend that loves me the way I am even when I am being a complete weirdo and saying random things as well as being a little overly enthusiastic and easily amused. I love him because he is so different than me and really balances me out yet at the same time is so much like me and shares my same values and ideals. I also have an incredible set of friends who I know I will be friends with for years and years to come.

The Sunday before my birthday I had a nice little celebration with friends and family at my house... I didn't get as many pics as I wanted of that but here am I with the boyfriend (Can you tell I was having a good time, it was fun!)

Then the actual Monday of my birthday we went to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. WOW! That place is so amazing! Here are some pics of that...

 

 

 

I've, also taken up juicing... Did you know Beets are such an all around beneficial super food?!

I have been trying to work out at least 4 times a week and do high intensity cardio and running. Here I am post-bike workout at the gym.

Now if I could just get stay away from my Kryptonite food I could finish losing those last 30!

Until next time,

Mely