What this blog is for...

Graceybug is what I call my little girl and is the title of my blog b/c my story and journey all began with her! The moment I met G I wanted the absolute best for her, which is what spurred my interest in health. Since it was just me and her at home all day I had a lot of time to do my own research and decide how I wanted to feed her. Something in me just knew that what mainstream doctors and most other moms were telling me wasn't right....it just didn't make sense to me. Every decision I've made hasn't been perfect, but I've always been at peace with them. I've asked a lot of questions and done a lot of research and reading during this journey I've been on. I truly feel like I have a responsibility to share what I know with other moms. Face it, moms are busy and never really get any time to themselves....when are they going to find the time to research every single thing they are eating or feeding their kids (it is really overwhelming and can get very frustrating). I really think most people just don't know the truth about what they are eating or feeding their kids. So, that is why I decided to do this blog....I want it to be a place moms can come to with questions and hopefully get answers. I promise that if I don't know an answer I will do my best to get it! I truly have a passion for health and I want to know what I'm eating and what I'm giving my kids and I want other moms to benefit from my research as well. We are raising the next generation and I want to do my part to make sure they are a healthy one!! So, HERE WE GO!!!

My Weight Battle...

I was only 22 and newly married when I found out I was pregnant with G. I had been a college athlete and was coaching middle school at the time and was in very good shape. I was the epitome of active. However, I knew very little about real health. I continued to eat how I always had eaten and ended up gaining 70 lbs by the time G was born. I was so ready to get back to working out, it was one of the first questions I asked the doctor. A few weeks later I got mastitis (I won't go into what it is, let's just say it is very painful) and I battled it for 14 very long months. Every attempt to get back in shape led to another case of mastitis.....I was very frustrated! I continued to nurse G till she was 27 months old and am so glad I pushed through those very trying times....the last year was amazing! Finally, I had been working out for a few months regularly and after my body realized it wasn't feeding another human being anymore, it finally started to drop the weight...yay!! I finally only had about 30 lbs left to lose and I found out I was pregnant again. I was so excited, but a little upset that I hadn't lost all of my baby weight yet. I actually continued to lose a little bit of weight the first few months due to nauseousness. I was determined to do this pregnancy right and not gain 70 lbs again. Well, I didn't gain 70 lbs, but I did gain 40, which put me at the exact weight I was when G was born. Talk about deja vu!! When my little man was born I was again so ready to work out. Little did I know how much less time I would have to myself this time around. G was 4 (almost 5) and I was homeschooling her and my little man wouldn't sleep for anything.....I was so tired and...nursing again! Well, now G is 6 1/2 and little man is almost 2 and I still have 45 lbs to lose. I am still nursing, but will be done in a few more months and looking forward to the weight coming off again. I'm hoping to journal the 45 lb weight loss on here as well!! So there you have it....it's been the biggest struggle for me and I hope to figure out how to beat it and share with you how I did it! Wish me luck!