Weight loss update!

I posted the other day how I have lost 40lbs well here is my pictures. The before picture was May 7th at my daughters 2nd birthday party and I started ACE June 12th, the second picture is today Nov 28th.

Puppies!

Confidence is beautiful. Look up when you walk, smile at a stranger, speak loud an clear! You are not just a mom, you are a woman and you are beautiful!

Hope you are having a Terrific Tuesday! These winter hours have completely thrown off my schedule. With it being dark around 5:30 each evening it makes for a long night. It does however give me more time to do my workouts at night since Kenna is still staying up as late as she did before, only now she is complaining about how it is cold and can't play outside. I had already planned on getting her a puppy for her birthday (which is not until May), but on Sunday a lady came into the store where I work with puppies. Of course I had to bring them home since I knew how much she would love playing with the puppies, so they became more of an early Christmas present then what I had planned. We have spent most of our time with the puppies, they are currently nameless though. Kenna just calls them puppies, so they may never get a name. They are 8 weeks old, one is a male and the other a female, they are brother and sister. It is entertaining watching them play and Kenna trying to play with them. It is so cute to see her so excited to have a friend, well 2 friends really. If it was up to her we would stay in the garage with the puppies all day long. Of course though with the chill in the air these days that is just not possible. I do plan to get the puppies a crate though, but until I get my next paycheck it is just not possible. So for now I have a box for them to sleep in and we spend several hours in the garage threw out the day letting them out of the box to play and run around.

Just when I thought my little family was complete, we fell in love with the puppies! 

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A little info on ACE

ACE is NOT a "diet" pill, it is a natural Appetite Control & Energy Dietary Supplement.
ACE is for men & women, both have great success with it's use.
ACE is often taken for the energy it provides, even if no weight loss is desired.
ACE is a awesome addition to workouts, strength training and any athletic event.
ACE is natural Herbs, so it is save and yes, it's legal.
ACE will not interfere with a drug screening.
ACE has a natural source of caffeine, and Cocoa plant, this is where Dark Chocolate comes from.
ACE can be taken with any medications, but should be taken at least 1 1/2-2 hours apart.
ACE is safe to take with any illness or condition, if any concerns, take a list of ingredients to your Doctor.
ACE has many health benefits not listed on package insert.
ACE is reported to relieve and help with symptoms or Arthritis, MS, Fibromyalgia, MD, Depression, E.D., and many other ailments.
ACE is very affordable, at just $1.00/capsule it costs less then a soft drink or cup of coffee.
ACE is a all around "feel good" supplement, enlightening the moods and senses.
So what are you waiting for, you wanna feel better don't you? Try it, what have you got to lose?
Get started today and become a FACE of ACE!

Ramblings on life

Seems like as we get older most of what we do is work, sleep, and try to fit in eating and having a life in the middle somewhere. How do you manage your life outside of working?
Before Kenna I worked in a factory full time. It was nothing unusual for me to work 6 or 7 nights a week, yep I was a 3rd shifter and I loved it. My normal day would start around 4 PM each day. I would be up around 4 go to class (yes I was going to school full time too! Was working on a Bachelors in Business Administration degree.), if I did not have class that night I would work on the internet class work I had. My work schedule was 10 PM - 6:40 AM Monday threw Friday, Saturday was 10 PM - whenever we got done, and Sunday's was 8 PM -4:40 AM. After work I would sometimes go to breakfast with coworkers and then go home and go to bed. I loved my job, it was an easy job with great pay. However things never last forever.
Since having Kenna I spent most of my time raising her, trying to find a job, and since struggling with no income I decided to craft. I loved to sew, but with her it was hard to sew as she got bigger she became more clingy which made it extremely difficult to sew on the machine to create my crafts. I began making hairbows for Kenna after buying from a few local girls, I felt like I was wasting my money. I would order hairbows for Kenna's outfits if they bow was even made (which by the way most of the time it was not) if I bought from their games to get bows that was already made the majority of the time my order was messed up. It got tiresome to pay for something but never get it. After hearing from my mom that I could make bows just as pretty or prettier then what I was buying I decided to give it a try. It took a while to get them they way that I liked them best, but after months of practice I finally loved the bows that I made and so did Kenna (as long as she didn't have to wear them for long). I made it so that with my hairbow sales I was having some income for Kenna and I, since she was always needing the basic  items (diapers, wipes, lotion, shampoo, clothes, etc) I made it work best I could with what I had. I have a page on facebook if you are interested in checking it out  http://www.facebook.com/SmallTownCrafts   and also a store threw Etsy  it is   http://smalltowncraftsbtq.etsy.com  Please feel free to visit each page! In May I began following a few pages that was advertising ACE on facebook, it took me until June to finally try it though since I was working on limited funds, I was worried that it would only be a waste of money since nothing else I had tried was working. In July a friend of mine posted in a secret group that I am in that she was selling ACE, I began asking questions. After hearing how that if I signed up 4 people with in a certain time (which is the rest of the month you sign up and the following month) I would get a $100 bonus check from the company I knew it would be worth at least trying to sell ACE. I knew that I need the money and loved how I felt taking ACE so how hard could it be to show others this great product. I created a page on facebook for my ACE as well  it is http://www.facebook.com/ACEtasticLife 
With all of this going on I finally found a job close to home. It is not the greatest job, but it is a steady paycheck which is all that matters right now. The adjustment for Kenna staying with my parents is sometimes difficult though, she gets mad and takes longer to get ready if she knows I am going to work and her to Mamaw and Papaws. Not that she doesn't love them just doesn't want Mommy to leave her, I understand it it just makes it hard to leave her knowing how much it hurts her sometimes.
On the way home from work last night I got to thinking, although its a short drive only 15 minutes from work to pick up Kenna then another 5 minutes to home, I was trying to remember what I did for fun before having Kenna? I mean honestly I couldn't think of one thing that I did that I actually had as much fun as I do spending time with my girl! I used to party some, but after thinking about it it just just wasn't even close to the enjoyment I get out of spending my day listening and playing with this silly, happy, exciting 2 year old. I love the eagerness she has to learn and grow each day, I feel like I am the luckiest woman in the world all because she calls me "Momma! Mommy!" If it was not for her what would I be doing now?
I love my life and as I know I have it harder then some and easier then others, I wouldn't change my life for anything! The only thing I hope is that some day I will meet a great guy to share my life with and that he will love life as much as I do!

Movement Melts Away Stress

DID YOU KNOW:
Movement Melts Away Stress

As much as it may stress you out just to think about exercising, once you actually start working out, you'll experience less stress in every part of your life.

"Exercise produces a relaxation response that serves as a positive distraction," says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. He says it also helps elevate your mood and keep depression at bay.

You're not the only person who will benefit from more happiness and less stress in your life. When you're less stressed, you're less irritable and that could improve relationships with your partner, kids, and co-workers.

Overweight Children

DID YOU KNOW: Currently, more than one in five children between ages 6 and 17 are overweight.

Children who are overweight or obese can benefit from healthy eating and regular physical activity (exercise). It is important to develop healthy patterns in childhood to prevent weight or health problems later in life. Professional advice from a doctor or dietitian can help your child reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Overweight children can face many difficulties. They may feel different from other children, which can affect their confidence. They can also be subjected to bullying from other children. This may make parents feel worried about their child taking part in everyday activity such as school sports. Unfortunately, this cycle can make weight control more difficult. 

Although health problems are less common in childhood, children who continue to be overweight into adulthood are at greater risk of developing:

* High blood fats and heart disease

* Type 2 diabetes

* High blood pressure

* Stroke

* Joint problems

* Breathing problems

It is rare for a medical condition to cause a child to become overweight, but always check with your doctor if you are concerned. 

How to help your overweight child:

If your child is overweight, it is important to seek the advice of a health professional. Young children should not be on diets that severely limit food intake. You may be advised to make permanent changes to your family’s lifestyle and eating patterns. Everyone at home should be involved in these changes, regardless of body weight, so that no child feels singled out. Making the right changes will protect your children from developing eating and dieting problems later in life.

It may take a number of attempts before children are happy to change their food choices or become more active. This can be frustrating for parents who have their children’s best interests at heart. Don’t give up. Remember to stay positive. Children who are overweight need to know that they are loved and important, regardless of their weight. 

How to make healthy food choices:

A healthy diet is not only the type of food your child eats but also the amount of food they eat. All children should eat regularly, including healthy snacks. 

Good nutrition starts early in life. Wherever possible try to:

*Breastfeed.

*Introduce solids at around six months.

*Encourage a wide variety of nutritious foods. No particular food should be forced or overly restricted.

*Consider using reduced fat dairy products after two years of age.

*Offer mostly cereals, grains and breads, vegetables and fruits with moderate amounts of meat products and dairy foods.

*Use added fats (such as oil, margarine and butter) in small amounts.

*Offer fresh vegetables and fruit instead of processed snack foods.

*Include small amounts of treats such as cakes, chips or takeaway foods occasionally (once or twice per week). Enjoy them as a family.

*Offer children water when they are thirsty. Sweet drinks including juice, cordial and soft drinks are not necessary and can contribute to tooth decay.

Ways to encourage healthy changes to your child’s eating:

Suggestions include:

* Buy, prepare and offer the foods you would like your child to eat. Allow them to choose what and how much of these foods they will eat.

* Keep offering healthy foods even if they are refused at first.

* Include your child’s food choices in the family menu sometimes.

* Act as a role model. Make sure your child sees you eating healthy foods.

* Involve children in simple food preparation such as making a salad.

* Let your child decide if they have had enough, even if food is left on their plate. This encourages children to better understand feelings of hunger and fullness. These habits may help to control appetite and prevent overeating as they grow.

* Encourage slow eating if yours is a family of fast eaters. Put your knife and fork down between mouthfuls. Offer crunchy foods that need lots of chewing.

* Help your child recognize if he or she eats when bored, sad or lonely. Try to suggest another activity to help distract them.

* Try not to punish, reward or cheer your child up with food. It can be tempting to use food this way sometimes, but it establishes an unhealthy relationship with food.

Fun family activity:

An active lifestyle is important for the whole family, regardless of their age or weight. Physical activity helps to build skills, makes you feel better and helps to protect you from many lifestyle diseases. 

Activity should be fun, without focusing only on competition or skills. To keep children active as they get older, they may need help from their parents to include physical activity in the family routine.

Tips to increase everyday activity at home:

Suggestions include:

* Be active together. Let your child see you being active too.

* Encourage lots of free playtime outside.

* Try to use the car less. Walk or cycle to school, the shops or to a friend’s house.

* Help your child find a balance between organised sport, fun activities and individual sports like swimming and dancing.

* Find an activity that your child enjoys and that is fun, readily available, affordable and matches your child’s age and skill level. Ask your child’s physical education teacher, childcare worker, community centre or other parents about options.

* Be supportive and encouraging. Some children feel embarrassed and uncomfortable about their physical skills or appearance.

* Motivate your children to be active – even though it’s not always easy. Remember, if your child gets hot, puffed and sweaty when active, this is generally a good sign that they are working their bodies and getting some benefit from the exercise.

Television and screen viewing:

 Watching too much television is linked closely with overweight in children. When children watch TV, they are not being active. They are also more likely to see food advertisements that encourage them to eat, whether they are hungry or not.

Suggestions include:

* Limit sedentary activity like TV viewing, watching videos, playing personal screen games and using computers. These activities should total no more than two hours a day for children five years and older and, no more than one hour per day for children aged two to five years.

* Avoid eating while the TV is on. This may be a distraction from family time together.

Getting started:

* Start slowly. It is best to manage one or two small changes before moving on to the next change.

* Find out what works for your family – everyone is different. Small setbacks may happen, but try to be patient and reward your child’s effort and progress with treats like books, stickers or special outings. 

Where to get help:

* Your doctor

* School nurse

* Maternal and child health nurse

* Dietitians Association of Australia Tel. 1800 812 942

* Physical education teacher

* Childcare worker

* Local community centre

Things to remember:

* Involve the whole family in healthy eating and activity.

* Encourage active play and sport.

* Limit sedentary activities such as TV, screen games and computers to no more than one hour a day.

5 Ways to Help Your Overweight Child

 From Jennifer R. Scott, former About.com Guide

If your child is overweight, it's important to make small changes that are easy to adjust to rather than take drastic measures. Here are a few ways you can help your child eat healthier and make better choices.

1. Do Not Solely Focus on the Overweight Child

Don't single out the overweight child; instead, create an environment of support and change. Have the whole family eat the same healthful foods and cut back on fast food. Nothing is worse than being forced to eat a diet meal while everyone else at the table enjoys your favorite foods. Rather than providing your overweight child with special food, make the point that everyone is trying something new tonight. Consider keeping serving dishes away from the table and downsizing your dinner plates, two changes that can prevent both kids and adults from overeating.

2. Teach Your Kids About Better Choices, Portion Size and Food Labels

Take your children grocery shopping and talk to them about making smart choices among the many varieties of foods that are available at the store. Make a point to teach your kids how to read food labels and to pay special attention to serving sizes and total number of servings on the packaging of their favorite foods. Let them pick out a new fruit or vegetable to try at least once a week. Better still, let them help you prepare the new food (or watch you do so, if they're still a bit too young) so they can learn healthy cooking techniques that will serve them well in the future.

3. Talk to Your Kids About Emotional Eating and the Sense of Hunger

Many of us tend to give in to emotional eating, and kids may eat in response to feelings such as sadness and anxiety, too. It's important to help your child avoid eating for these reasons because emotional eating is a tough habit to break. Talk to your children about whether or not they're really hungry when they want a snack; you may find they'll admit they're not if asked outright. Discuss why eating as a result of boredom or anxiety isn't a good habit. If your child does eat emotionally, it's even more important that you choose the snacks you keep on hand carefully and limit or eliminate highly-processed, high-calorie foods such as candy, cookies, and snack cakes. Remember, if it's not in the house, your kids can't eat it.

4. Cut Back on Beverages That Provide Empty Calories

Kids drink a lot of empty calories, meaning they drink beverages that provide few if any actual nutrients, but plenty of calories, such as juice, sport drinks, and soda pop. The best way to prevent weight gain from drinking too many calories is to make water the main beverage for the entire family. Most of us don't drink enough water, and even mild dehydration can lead to problems such as headaches or feeling groggy. Besides, drinks such as soda and coffee actually contribute to dehydration. (Tip: Try adding a little fruit juice to some seltzer water when the kids want a special drink.)

5. Trim TV Time

Research has shown that the more TV kids watch, the more likely they are to be overweight. One of the best ways to get your kids to watch less TV is to make sure the family sits down for dinner together with the TV turned off. It's not unusual for kids today to skip meals to watch TV, or even eat while they're playing video games. The family meal will bring everyone closer and provide the opportunity for them to learn by example as they observe your eating habits. Limit everyone's TV time (even your own), and replace it with activities that get the whole family moving or doing something together, such as playing tag or board games.