Health & Happiness from the Kitchen.

almostgreenmommy: These are horrible pictures, but its the best...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:12:45 -0700

These are horrible pictures, but its the best I could do.

There are very few things that scream baby more then a baby swing.

It’s crazy how tumblr has changed my life. Like meeting a friend who ends up being one of the most supportive people during my pregnancy!

Karen got us the baby swing off our registry (which was way too generous) and took time out of her busy schedule to hang out with me for hours at the beginning of my pregnancy when I really needed it.

I’m so grateful to have her in my life. And so is my baby!

Thank you again. So much. I love you bunches and I’ll see you July 3rd :)

Tumblrs are the loves of my life. (Next to husband & baby of course)

So. A funny thing happened. I randomly decided to measure my...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:03:01 -0700

So. A funny thing happened.

I randomly decided to measure my 7 1/2 month pregnant belly.

But before I get into that, let us address the girl on the left.

This is from October 2009. So, ya know, almost 4 years ago.

My waist at the time was 44” and my gut/at my belly button was 54” (which you can’t see in this picture, but unsurprisingly I don’t have many pictures from that time.)

Anyway. Back to my 7 1/2 month pregnant belly.

At my belly button it’s measuring 45”.

Which means that at 7 1/2 months pregnant (30 weeks on Saturday.) my belly—which is quite the belly!—is measuring an inch bigger then my waist when I was 280 lbs and NINE INCHES smaller than my gut.

It’s kinda shocking. I was a little upset with myself that I’ve already gained 28 lbs (average/normal/healthy/whatever is 25-40 for women who started with a healthy BMI, which I did), but with the never ending nausea/morning sickness I haven’t been able to work out. Plus it is a billion degrees here so I’m probably retaining a lot of water weight, especially since I’m not even eating badly (or excessively). And the extra skin that I have bothers me sometimes.

But looking at myself, especially with a comparison, I’m so much smaller everywhere, even my pregnancy belly, then I was back then. Left Sarah still has 70-something pounds on Right Sarah.

I can still fit, even though I’m living in maternity maxi dresses, into most pre-pregnancy clothes (belly becomes an issue with button jeans & length of shirts, etc.). So the rest of my body hasn’t changed much, except for losing muscle tone & well, a baby bump.

It’s weird. Very cool. But weird.

almostgreenmommy: These are ONE week apart. (28 vs. 29...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:05:56 -0700

almostgreenmommy:

These are ONE week apart. (28 vs. 29 weeks)

What in the holy hell happened this week?!?!?!?!?

On a side note, this was definitely a WHAT THE HOLY FRACK moment. I’ve gained like 4 lbs in a week too, deeeeeefinitely not eating anywhere near enough to gain that sort of weight.

Holy baby batman!

Also, starting Saturday….less than 10 weeks to go. I’m freakin out.

How can I stop hating myself and wanting to be dead? The only thing that has helped me in the past was antidepressants, but when I tried to take them again recently, I discovered I'm now allergic to the one that used to be great. Now they won't give me ANY SSRIs. When people say "exercise is therapy," I want to break their faces open. If running relieves your "depression," you were NOT depressed. Spareunderthemattt is telling ppl bipolar is caused by Vitamin D deficiency. What a dumb fuck.

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 06:52:00 -0700

Honestly, I don’t know.

I know I did it, but it was just this mental switch that flicked on, I don’t really know how. I accepted that I was 250 lbs and that didn’t make me any less of a human being.

I was also on depression medication for like a year (a few years ago) but we had to keep switching around the cocktail and I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I do think that being on it for that period of time created a bridge that needed to be connected in my brain.

I don’t think anyone has the right to say “this causes this” because honestly if thousands of tests can’t pin-point causes then a single person shouldn’t give out that as advice.

Can Vitamin D make you feel better? Absolutely. Can a running high make you feel better? Sure. Can lifting weights til you want to barf make you feel like a strong ass mutha? Damn right.

But will they fix you? No, not in my experience.

Again, not a fix, but changing my diet made me feel different. Like, in my brain. Not eating the preservatives and eating real food did make me feel more…..I dunno… stable?

But did it cure me? No.

A combination of saying “Fuck the world, I’m a human being and this is what I look like and that doesn’t make me any less of a person nor should it make me feel like I need to hide away,” eating better, yoga, meditation, working out, and spending long periods of time during those work outs and meditation thinking things through trying to figure out why I would binge eat, why I thought I needed to look a certain way, why I was so angry at the world. That helped.

Sometimes the smallest change can help (like eating or even something a little bit bigger like realizing a friend is toxic). Sometimes it’s just a little self-realization. Sometimes it’s a combination of every. single. thing I’ve said with a combination of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication that will help.

I think the biggest piece of advice I can offer is, don’t give up on yourself.

Keep trying things, keep talking to people.

Just don’t give up.

And feel free to message me any time (that is, if my response didn’t cause you to want to break my face open. If it did, I am sincerely sorry, this is the best, most personal, advice I can give.)

almostgreenmommy: 20 weeks vs 28 weeks. Man. This belly is...

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:33:00 -0700

almostgreenmommy:

20 weeks vs 28 weeks.

Man. This belly is growing!

How big am I going to be in another 10 weeks?!

Hi my fitblr loves!

My belly is ever growing! Baby is already a fitblr, btw. This little munchkin-face can kick and squirm like it’s NO body’s business.

I miss you guys.

My baby-Q is July 3rd, I wish you all could come :-/

Nostalgic Sarah is nostalgic.

almostgreenmommy: Super unflattering picture of Sarah, but I’ve...

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:22:17 -0700

almostgreenmommy:

Super unflattering picture of Sarah, but I’ve been meaning to do this for a day and a half. Oops.

Anyway!

BABY BATH! FROM A TUMBLR PERSON!!!! BABY IS GETTING SO REAL YOU GUYS!

Thank you soooo much Cindy (only20seconds!). Sorry to ruin your street cred.

I’m totally in love with this bath. Do you know how hard it is to find a baby bath that ISN’T plastic?! And we got it! Cause Tumblrs AH-mazing!

I can’t even express how much it means to us that tumblr has actually gotten us baby things! And since I have very low hopes for my baby shower, at least I’ve gotten a few bad ass gifts from tumblr! <3

She also made (again, sorry for ruining street cred) this amazing 3D star and laundry detergent. So amazing.

Love love love you so much!!!!

<3 Sarah, Pete & Baby!

I cannot say enough how amazing tumblr is. My whole weight loss experience and now pregnant experience has been and is just…amazing!

OMG! Our first baby related thing! AND IT’S FROM A TUMBLR...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:05:00 -0700

OMG!

Our first baby related thing! AND IT’S FROM A TUMBLR PERSON!!!!

Thank you soooo much Holli (xfitlibrarian!)

It’s soooooo soft! Pete keeps swooning (in the manly-est way possible of course) over how tiny it is. While I laugh about how it’s an “XL” and still shorter/smaller than his torso.

Tumblr is amazing. And bought us our first baby thing ever!

Love love love you so much!!!!

<3 Sarah, Pete & Baby!

P.S. I will write you a proper thank you note, but I didn’t expect anything yet and don’t have any yet….oops. Sorry!

Oops!

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:20:23 -0700

Was informed that the link to my registry doesn’t work when you’re on your phone.

So my registry is on amazon.com/babyregistry under Dilks (in Tucson). If it works this time hazzah, if not at least I gave enough info this time? Hahaha

I love you guys. I have a magical life.

Heyyyyy my original tumblr loves! I’ve gotten a couple of...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:34:00 -0700

Heyyyyy my original tumblr loves!

I’ve gotten a couple of messages from people asking how I’m doing and about my registry.

I’m 5 1/2 months now (HOLY SHHHHHHH), still nauseous and this baby kicks like the honorary fitblr that it is (soccer or swimmer me thinks!)!

If anyone is interested, my registry is through amazon.com cause I’m cool like that (and had issues finding stuff I would actually use at some of the other baby registries).

I miss you guys and love you much!

PLLLLLLLEASSSSEEEE keep in touch, either through the email here or my other blog (almostgreenmommy).

I will leave you with an incredibly awkward belly pic taken in a Target dressing room.

Hey everyone. This will probably be my last post as...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 07:38:17 -0700

Hey everyone. This will probably be my last post as smaller-n-smaller (at least for a while). I won’t be checking this blog really anymore either. So here is an adorable picture of Sophie.

I’m trying to make my new blog feel like home.

I just wanted to thank all of you for the love & support that I have received on this blog during my journey. I will never be the same because of all of you.

If you need me, I’ll be over at almostgreenmommy.tumblr.com

New Blog.

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:34:22 -0700

We had a misunderstanding. I never thought that I COULDN’T post about pregnancy on this blog.

I simply didn’t want to. This blog is my weight loss journey. I’m not on that anymore. It’s time for a new chapter.

I also REALLY don’t feel comfortable blogging about my pregnancy with the LARGE mass of followers I have. If you legitimately want to follow my new journey, I will be thrilled to have you.

http://almostgreenmommy.tumblr.com/

I don't know if this is something you talk openly about but I was wondering if you have stretch marks or saggy skin and how you deal with that if you? Thanks.

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:12:38 -0700

Pregnancy aside.

I do have stretch marks. A lot of stretch marks. I gained 80 lbs and then I lost 100 lbs. It’s par for the course.

I also have extra skin. Granted that’s now being used for the baby. But I did have it. Not a ton, but enough to be noticeable. Again. I lost 100 lbs and even though I did it slowly, it’s just want happens.

I’m the wrong person to ask about either of these things though.

I don’t understand what’s so horrible about stretch marks. Their like battle scars. They show what you’ve been through.

I don’t understand what’s horrible about extra skin either.

It’s your body. Accept it.

So I haven’t been able to eat greens. Tonight I made...

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 19:05:13 -0700

So I haven’t been able to eat greens. Tonight I made myself a faux-Caesar salad.

It was so delicious I made a second one. I got less than half way through.

My baby crushed tummy was not as big as my eyes.

Boo.

The bomb butternut squash (not actually day-glo) mac &...

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:32:19 -0700

The bomb butternut squash (not actually day-glo) mac & cheese I made last night. (Which my cat is currently stalking…)

Nausea wanted to win. But it didn’t. So it’s being a little biz today.

I’m 4 months tomorrow! And my cousins wife just offered me a TON of baby stuff!

The world is now trying to make up for my entirely craptastic morning.

Food

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:05:17 -0700

So I’ve touched on this a few times in my blog, but it’s unfortunately relevant again.

Between my junior & senior year of high school, my band director died. I dealt with the pain by barely eating.

My freshman year of college a friend from middle school commit suicide. I dealt with the pain by binge eating.

My grandpa died 2 days after Christmas, and because I’m pregnant and this isn’t just about me. I feel the pain. I can’t starve myself and I can’t binge because I know how bad that would be for the baby.

So I just feel sad. And sometimes it’s overwhelming. And I don’t like feeling the grief, but I know that hyper controlling my food won’t make me feel better. I know that I need to go through this process.

I just wish I didn’t have pregnancy hormones to deal with on top of it all.

It’s a little much.

You Know What My New Favorite Thing is?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:11:38 -0700

People finding out I’m pregnant (especially if they know I lost 100 lbs) and saying something along the lines of “awww you just lost all that weight and now baby…”

Seriously? SERIOUSLY?!

How about next time you ask me why I lost the weight. My answer: TO HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY.

P.S. PLANNED BABY.

#pregnancyhostility

afunnyfeminist: cherrispryte: Fred McFeely Rogers (March 20,...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:09:48 -0700

afunnyfeminist:

cherrispryte:

Fred McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003)

Oh. Sobbing. Okay.

I need to teach this to every child.

And this is why Mr. Rogers Neighborhood is on my baby amazon wish list.

My baby needs this in his/her life.

DOG ON A MOTORCYCLE WEARING GOGGLES!!

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:26:22 -0700

DOG ON A MOTORCYCLE WEARING GOGGLES!!

PSA

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:16:57 -0700

Honey almond butter on mini (whole wheat) oatmeal chocolate chip cookies is the best thing ever.

Closely followed by scrambled eggs on a whole wheat tortilla that has been smeared with cream cheese (and avocado if you’re feelin’ nasty.)

This has been a pregnant girl public service announcement.

Yes. Yes this is Tucson. It’s snowing. Legit snowing. And...

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:22:38 -0700

Yes. Yes this is Tucson.

It’s snowing. Legit snowing.

And there is nothing prettier than a saguaro with snow on it. (Not pictured.)

Teeeeeechnically babies first snow.