the2beths

This is hard to believe. -72.5 lbs. I can’t even wrap my head around it.

Anyway, where did I leave off? I think it was my Notre Dame work trip. I got home from that on a Wednesday and on Saturday Craig and I dropped Henry off at my in-laws for the night and went to Cleveland for a “cousins’ night” at a Cleveland bar. It was SO fun!

During the week following this Henry had Vacation Bible School and LOVED it. He’s my little religious boy and I love it.

His Uncle Chris and cousin Andrew were in town for his final performance.

Also, Ava and I went to Kings Island, an amusement park, and I fit on all the rides!!!

We had so much fun.

The next weekend my mom and i went to Cleveland for my cousin’s 50th birthday. It was a really fun party with the theme of Yacht Rock.

Tomorrow Henry and I are flying to Houston to visit my brother. It will be Henry’s first flight. I’m anxious to see how he does. 💕

Xoxoxo,

Beth WA

Man, alive! June flew by in a flurry of activities. It was super fun. Weirdly, it’s the first June I had to work, but it’s the June I’ve done the most fun stuff. This just goes with my theory that working is good for my mental health. I function best with a schedule. However I can’t get my butt on a regular working out schedule. Dammit!! I am still working on it.

So… June started out with Henry attending a camp called Trailer Tots through our National Trails and he really loved it. It was 9-11:30 each day and he came exhausted each day.

That was my first week as a summer worker. It was low key and basically me getting used to an office and sitting there thinking, “Is this really happening?”

Then on Sunday we went to a Columbus Clippers game with my in-laws. It’s a AAA baseball team and we had so much fun. It was Henry’s first baseball game at a stadium.

Next, Henry attended Superhero camp at a local private school. It was an hour and a half a day and he loved it.

My cute little super hero!! ❤️❤️❤️

Then Henry got a new big boy haircut!

Next, Uncle Jimmy came in town! And cousin Ava and Aunt Georgina.

Next, I went to a work conference at the University of Notre Dame. It was so good and so fun with my boss, Shannon.

Then I got my nails done. I chose a light pink. I just felt like having neutral nails prepping for my 4th of July RED.

Something else worth mentioning that happened during this time is I became obsessed with watermelon with this on it:

Okay. This entry is getting too long. I’ll finish later with part two of my June.

I am at almost 70 lbs down and trying to figure out an eating schedule that works for me. I’m also still trying to convince myself to get up in the morning and work out. 😔

I’m going to set some July goals today and hopefully stick to them, that include:

1. Getting my step goal.

2. Doing 30 minutes of exercise at least 5X a week.

3. Not having unplanned snacks after dinner.

I *need* to figure out this working out and make it a habit.

Okay, i am off to enjoy the 4th. Hope you all have a great holiday!

Xoxox

Beth

I’ve always gotten my hair done. I’ve gone to the same person for almost 20 years. It’s a form of self care I’ve never stopped. However, I’m not good at anything else that involves taking care of myself.

Until recently. I, obviously, had surgery. And that is a huge exercise in self care. I’ve meal planned and tracked every single thing I’ve eaten since February 12th.

Recently I started getting my nails done. I just went for my first fill. I get acrylics from a lady in town that works at a salon. I made my next three appointments tonight. It’s so nice to look down at my nails and smile.

I also invested in some Beauty Counter items to help me keep my skin moisturized, and in better shape than it has been. I also bought their basic make up- fab in five set.

And Monday I am starting back to working out, come hell or high water!! I’m planning on getting up at 7, doing my workout, then getting ready and going to work.

It’s been long enough. It’s time.

Hope you are all doing well. I’m off to bed. I haven’t slept well at all this week due to my 4 year old not sleeping well. He’s lucky he is so cute!! He lost two teeth this week.

Have a great rest of the week!

Xoxoxo,

Beth WA

One year ago today I went to my surgeon’s office for my first appointment in this journey. I was going to California the next day on a trip and I had to purchase a seat belt extender. I was at a real low point in mental health, and a high point on the scale.

I took these pictures that day.

It’s hard to look at these pictures. I had gotten so big, it’s hard to believe I took up that much space. I was so uncomfortable in my own skin. I wasn’t living my best life. I was getting larger in size and trying to disappear at the same time.

Today I took these same pictures, and this is what they look like.

It’s nice to see a tangible difference in pictures. It’s also nice to know that there are many changes in my life that have brought about good things. More to share later on that… for now I am about to have a popsicle.

Xoxox,

Beth WA

I can’t believe it. I hit -60 lbs. I am 10 lbs away from the weight I was when I met Craig. We went out for his birthday last Saturday and it was a fun time. We went to two breweries in Columbus.

That morning we had the Carly Faye 5K that I was on the committee to plan. It was an amazing day and we surpassed our stretch goal of raising 10,000 bucks! We netted over 11,000!!

Here are some photos. Henry ran the fun run and I had a total senior moment where I thought I was recording him cross the finish line but I was not. However it’s embedded in my brain forever. This boy lives in the moment and ran his heart out!

It’s been a super busy week. I was so tired by last night I was practically falling asleep at dinner. I went to bed at 9 and got up with H at 6:30. Then back to bed from 8-11 and another nap at 630-8!! Tired much??

Henry and I also signed our family up for a pool membership. It’s our first one. We had a great time with my friend Heather!!

I’m hoping this is one of the best summers yet!!

Xoxoxo,

Beth WA

We have a busy Mother’s Day weekend. It started yesterday at Henry’s Pre-school. They have a Mother’s Day party. Being a mother is something I try to never take for granted. I fought hard to become a mom, and while it was painful, emotional and something I wouldn’t wish on anybody, I believe it has made me so grateful for all of the moments. I had to keep my emotions in check as I drove to his school, feeling so blessed that I am his mom. The kids sang songs to us moms, then they served us a cookie and punch. They also have us presents.

After, we took this picture with one of my besties, and her son, who is Henry’s bestie.

My friend is thin and in shape and when I saw this picture I didn’t hate it. That never happens. For the first time in a long time I didn’t look twice the size of the friend I was standing next to. I promise I am not being self deprecating or self hating. I am just being honest.

I love this picture. And I love the friendships between her and me, and between our sons.

Tonight one of my other besties, Beth (the other Beth of thetwobeths) and our moms are going to see P!nk and we are so excited!! She puts on a great concert and it will be a fun night with our Mom’s for Mother’s Day weekend.

Tomorrow we will go to my Mother In Law’s house and then home to chill.

My May is pretty crazy until about the 21st. Then it starts to be a little less crazy. That’s the day of 8th grade graduation.

I hope you all have a good Mother’s Day weekend. I know it’s not always an easy day for everyone. My heart is with those of you who have a difficult day.

Xoxoxo.

Beth WA

One of my good friends from high school posted a picture of a mini reunion get together we had at a bar over Thanksgiving Break. And it caught me off guard. I look unrecognizable to myself. I immediately wanted to hate on myself and the picture.

But, then I took myself to a place of gratitude.

I am not in that place any more. And right now I am using my new tool in the best way I know how. I’m eating protein rich, nutrient dense foods. I’m eating meals and snacks and not grazing. I’m logging every single thing I eat. I’m getting about 10,000 steps a day, sometimes a little less. I gave up hot coffee and my beloved chemical coffee cream for at least 5-6 days a week.

There are a few things I could be doing better but I’m working on it.

I can tell you it was great to go to a concert tonight and just be in my seat and not spill over to the person next to me. It was great just to get up with ease and dance to the music, not worried about my clothes being too tight and how I looked from the back.

I know this rapid weight loss won’t be forever but I am enjoying the journey and taking in the lessons and creating new healthy habits to replace my old self sabotaging ones.

Crazy to me the difference. I feel sad looking at that first picture.

Anyway…

I hope you are all having a good week!

Xoxox,

Beth WA

I have never in my life lost more than 30-35 pounds. This is so exciting. I have been the same weight for about 15 days and today the scale finally moved.

I don’t have many pictures. I need to take more pictures!! But here is one from lunch with my friends last week.

I’m still trying to start a morning exercise routine. I started reading a book called “Rewired” in an effort to learn how to be more disciplined. The good news is, brain science says I can do this. The bad news is brain science says in order to do it, I just need to do it. 🤪

Over and over again.

Then a new connection will be made.

It’s the last weekend of my Spring Break and then starts the roller coaster of the end of the school year. My May is so crazy it gives me anxiety to think about. But I just have to take it one day at a time.

I hope all is well with you!

Xoxox,

Beth WA

Update: pictures from today

So, yesterday my mom called me while I was at a retirement party at school to tell me Henry had a 102 fever and she was going to give him a Tylenol. I was a little alarmed because Henry hasn’t ever had a really high fever.

Then my mom called me an hour later, after the Tylenol, his temperature was now 103. So, I called the doctor’s office and went to my mom’s to find him like this.

He was so lethargic and sad looking. They got him in at the doctor’s office right away. He was so brave at the appointment and insisted on sitting up.

His fever was 102.9 at the office, so they gave him a dose of Motrin. Within the hour I could tell his fever was reducing. He was talkative again and so much less lethargic. They tested him for strep and it was positive. She said it came up positive almost immediately.

So… we are drinking the pink medicine for 10 days, two times a day.

He looks a lot better today, but still has sick eyes.

I am having a slow morning but I have lots of plans of cleaning stuff out today and getting rid of clutter.

I already put my 8 bags of too big clothes in my trunk to take to Goodwill.

Xoxoxo,

Beth WA

Yesterday was a weird food day, nothing tasted good or settled right. I think it was the hot coffee and chemical creamer I started the day with.

But then I went through my spring clothes and it was so emotional. I was so happy to be able to get rid of so many clothes that don’t look right any more and so happy to fit into some clothes, especially dresses, that I’ve never been able to wear before.

Here are some of my bags… I still have to tackle my winter clothes.

***If anybody has an interest in these just let me know! I’ll be taking them to Goodwill or St. Vincent in two weeks during my spring break. (They are sizes 2X and some 3X and pants size 22-26. Mostly 22’s though.)

Here were some of my happy moments.

The first is a dress that fit me like a sausage and I’ve never worn before.

The second one is a bathing suit cover up that never fit either.

Below was my go to jean Capri for the last few summers. They were the only ones that fit.

Today I’m gonna tackle the fall/winter clothes.

Have a good Sunday!

Xoxox,

Beth WA