I'm Finally Learning at age 32-

That I can't have Hostess Ding Dongs for Breakfast.

Well I guess I can but I shouldn't.

Lame.

And it's hard because sugar used to be the only thing helping me jump out of bed in the mornings-

A piece of chocolate cake and Pepsi for breakfast! Yes Please. Totally on board. 

In my past (before 5th child) life I could eat whatever I wanted and still maintain a healthy "looking" weight as long as I worked out at least three times a week.

But, three months after my sweet baby girl was born I still weighed as much as I did before I gave birth.  I was twenty pounds over my initial before prego weight and eating whatever I wanted wasn't working so well. Heart-breaker for sure. 

It turns out another one of my mother's pieces of advice that I should have listened to a Loooonnngg time ago was signing up for Weight Watchers.

Around February last year I became a member and after participating for approximately 6 months I shed all of the baby weight, losing over 20 lbs. 

Now, I'm not one to push healthy eating. In fact I'm the mom who tried to make Little C take a 24 pack of Dr. Pepper to his school party because I get so sick of hearing about "healthy snacks". Who wants a healthy snack at a freaking party? Isn't that just called a regular-not-at-a-celebration-everyday-snack?

P.S. My good, mature kid wouldn't take in the pop. Boo. :)

Anyway, the great thing I learned from Weight Watchers was paying attention to what I am putting into my body. Tis all. I eat more fruits and veggies now and I am conscious about how many cookies I eat. I promise I'll always say yes to a cookie - but just one. Not seven.

Oh and the pop.  We were close. Still are. But I only try to have one a day instead of 57. I haven't been strong enough to say farewell forever yet. One day.

I think the major change was my water intake. I drink a ton of water and it makes this body feel so great.

I also walk.

Who knew this could make such a difference? Well I'm sure many people knew - but I always assumed I had to do some huge magnificent work out to get meaningful exercise and see results. 

This body responds to walking. 

So... there you have it. Success in being healthy is not a secret diet or some new pill or extreme work out. It's eating healthy and regular exercise - exactly what most people have been telling me all along.

 It's kind of disappointing . :)

Here's the KitKat  M&M cake.that about threw me over the edge. It was beautiful. I almost ate if for breakfast many times. :)

A couple times a month we exercise as a family.

We call it Family Size.

A few nights ago we embarked on the extreme (I know - I just said extreme is not necessary. This was for fun) Insanity workout.

Warming Up.

Shirts comin' off. :)

Good times.

And to end, 

I'll share a weird, funny thing we do.

Anytime a screen is paused in our house everyone in the room has to make the same face as the one showing on the TV. Then we look around at each, holding the expression, and laugh.

Here are our impressions of Shaun T.

I couldn't hold the face long enough for a picture without laughing.