Operation Engagement Jeans

So... I did Weight Watchers in college and lost about 22 pounds. (This was about the same amount I gained during my freshman and sophomore years, yikes!)  I loved doing Weight Watchers and found it realistic to follow. I also became an avid runner and ran 3 miles, 3 days a week.

This was right before my birthday my senior year of college.

This picture was at my engagement party that my sweet sorority sisters surprised me with. I post to reminisce about the jeans that I have on in this picture. I don't think that I could even wear these jeans on my arms today. Ha!

After we became engaged I made it my goal to have really toned back and arms for my wedding day. I actually stopped running and instead walked 4 days a week on a treadmill at a 7% incline. I burned more calories than running and my legs became less bulky and more toned.  I started lifting 5 lb weights 3 days a week and just did about 4 different exercises with lots of reps of each. I lost another 10 pounds between getting engaged in April and getting married in January.

Mission accomplished! I was in great shape on my wedding day... the best I've ever been in. Sure, there is that pressure to look your best, but honestly I ate what I wanted for the most part but I exercised a LOT. So what happened?? Two things. 1) I married the most wonderful person on the planet. I wanted to cook yummy meals for him including our favorite dishes- crescent chicken and chocolate chip cake on a regular basis. 2) I stopped exercising. 2 years later, my wedding dress won't zip by almost 2 inches!!! (I tried in on for fun after the Christmas holidays, an excellent time to try it on, right?)
So, I write all of this to document my 2011 goal to work to becoming in shape again. I have a goal weight in mind, but ultimately I just want to feel energized and be HEALTHY. We think we might want to start our family in the next year or so, and I know pregnancy will be so much more enjoyable if I am in shape first.  I started Weight Watchers 2 weeks ago. Since I have experience with it and know it works, I hope that will remind me that I CAN do this since I did it before.

My only hang up is Weight Watchers has changed! They have revamped the entire system that now only calculates points by taking the fat, carbs, protein, and fiber from the food. Before, calories played a huge part and carbs did not. Calories don't play in any more. I realize that this is probably a healthier way to "diet," but I am skeptical. The #1 rule about dieting is CALORIES IN< CALORIES OUT= WEIGHT LOSS
Also, the point values are higher now. It seems harder to stay under the allotted number of points because things are so high in points.  For example:

Yesterday I ate lunch at Panera and had 1/2 veggie sandwich and 1/2 black bean soup. The sandwich was 8 points and the soup was 5! Together they were 13 points! With only 29 points in a day, this consumed nearly half of my points in one meal! This was as many points that I would have used at the Mexican restaurant to enjoy a delicious enchilada and some chips and salsa! I have definitely learned that you have to be VERY careful at places like Panera. You would not believe the unhealthiness of most of their menu. Many of their meals are laden with calories and fat. Even the veggie black bean soup had more fat calories than I would have expected.

I did lose 3 pounds last week. I have chose to write about this not so the 2 of you will read it (ha!) but so I can create some accountability for myself. Lucky for me, 2 of my friends are also doing Weight Watchers online (FYI you can join for free right now) and 2 of my other friends and I have formed a "running club" where we try to run together 2-3 times per week.

Weight is a number. It's also something that most women and a lot of men stress about. The truth is, I just want to be healthy and feel good about the way I look in my clothes. I am never going to be a size 4, but I am motivated to be back in those jeans I wore on April 18th when Adam Fite asked me to be his wife! :)

Super Fun Weekend

This past week we had our first "real" snow in Northwest Arkansas for the year. We had about 5 inches and it was beautiful! The snow was enough to get all of my friends out of school/work for the day... but working from home does not allow for missed work because inability to get to work! Ha! Don't get me wrong- I am so thankful for my opportunity to work from home. It is such a luxury that I am so blessed to have. But let me tell you I was wanting a day to play, BAD!

Here is our back yard... so pretty!

Gussy getting ready to come in after he played. He LOVED the snow!

First snow in our new home!

(this was later that afternoon when most of it had already melted.)

After work I went across the street to Sarah's house. Sarah and Ally had the day off and spent it doing fun snow day things like crafting and baking! I went over just in time to help them finish this...

And by helped I mean cheered them on while they decorated! I also offered to eat some to make sure it was fit to eat.  I love these sweet girls. Our husbands all work together at Acumen. We cooked dinner together and it was ready just in time when the boys got home. Our other friend's Tiffany and Neil came over and we enjoyed dinner together and then a mad round of NERTS, our favorite card game.

On Saturday we slept in and I cooked a big ole' breakfast including our fave, chocolate chip pancakes. (I had a VERY small one due to my Weight Watchers commitment, UGH! That's a whole other post!) Adam went to the library ALL day to work on school while I cleaned the house like a mad woman. THEN, just when I thought we were going to have a boring night in... my mom called and said that she and my dad were on their way to visit! I was so happy since we hadn't seen them in a month and probably won't see them for a while due to them visiting my brother at college most weekends this semester to watch him play baseball. I love my parents so very much. They are a ton of fun! We were also glad they got to visit our new church that we helped to plant.

 My sweet mom and dad and their 14 year old doggy, Molly!

 Me and Pops.

 Daddy, me and his only grandchild!

 We also have a new family member, Fifi. My dad pretends he doesn't like cats but really he does.

 My hot mama.

I taught mom how to pose with her hand on her hip and how it makes you look thinner. Dad said he didn't agree.



We had a great weekend. I get sad every time they leave. Sometimes I hate we live so far away from them, but I'm sure glad we are able to see both of our parents as often as we do.

Show Us Your Life... Show Us Your Singles!

Kelly over at Kelly's Korner is having "Show Us Your Life... Show Us Your Singles!" Kelly is a wonderful Christian lady that lives in Northwest Arkansas. I do not know Kelly personally but we have several mutual friends. Kelly hosted this "blog event" this past summer and 3 couples have been created as a result! 2 of the 3 couples are engaged! With those odds I begged asked 3 of my bestest friends to let me have some fun and post them! I did a separate post about each one below for linking purposes.

Each of these girls are PERFECT and I pray for each of them and several other friends often that God would bring them the perfect mate. This is just something fun (probably more for me than them, ha!) and if nothing comes of it- no harm done! BUT, each of them will soon be signing a binding agreement that I will get a personal shout out at the wedding should one occur as result of my little bloggy game!

Brit, Jessica, and Bec... thanks for letting me have a little fun! xoxo

Beautiful Becca!

Becca is a sweet friend of mine from college. We attended the University of Central Arkansas together and Becca received her degree in Business Technology/Education. She is a first year teacher in Batesville AR and LOVES her job. Becca is originally from Monticello AR but attended high school in South Carolina.

Becca is seriously beautiful. She is the middle of 3 sisters. Becca is very family oriented and her 2 nephews are the loves of her life. Becca loves Jesus with all of her heart and she is looking for a man to live life and worship Jesus with her.

Becca is the one on the RIGHT. Please email me, Heather, her bestest friend at heather.richardson@live.com and I will tell you more about Becca!

Jessica, Pharm D ~ My Sweet Friend

Jessica is my sweet friend from college at the University of Central Arkansas. She is now attending UAMS and in her 3rd year of Pharmacy School. The love of Jessica's life is her sweet doggy, Ellie. She is an only child and originally is from Fort Smith/Greenwood Arkansas. 

Jessica loves to run and is currently training for her second half marathon!  She has an amazing sense of humor and while she is serious about succeeding in life, she never takes it too seriously.

Jessica is 24 and currently lives in Little Rock AR.

If you would like to know more about Jessica, please email me at heather.richardson@live.com

My friend Brittany

I am linking up this week to Kelly's Korner and she is doing a super fun "post your single friends" day. Kelly did this this summer and 3 couples ended up getting together and 2 are engaged! I wanted to post about my best friend from high school, Brittany then- and just didnt get the chance. But now is that chance!

Brittany is a sweet, passionate, beautiful girl in her mid 20's. She lives in Central Arkansas (20 minutes from Little Rock). She loves Jesus, her sweet 2 year old niece, volunteering in her church and community, Razorbacks, and nights out with the girls. Brittany comes from a large family and is the second of 4 children.

Brittany attended college at Arkansas Tech and got her degree in Early Childhood Education. She loves her job as a Child Development Specialist for Civitan.

For more information email Heather, her very best friend at heather.richardson@live.com

Happy New Year!

We had a great time ringing in the New Year with some of our closest friends in Fayetteville. We had dinner at a yummy place called Bordinos, then played games until we rang in the New Year at a friend's house.

 Kelly, me, Sarah, Ally

 Ally, Sarah, me

 All the girls- Ally, me, Kelly, Sarah, Rae Marie, and Jennifer

 The boys- Ryan, Josh, Dalton, Adam, Brett

All the couples

Adam and I are so thankful for the wonderful friends that we have made in Fayetteville. We've lived here for a year and a half now and at first I thought it would be impossible to meet wonderful friends like we had in Conway. While I miss them, I am so thankful for God's gift of good friends. It sure makes it easy when our families are so far away.

The New Year also means mine and Adam's wedding anniversary. This year we celebrated 2 years of marriage on January 3rd. It really is amazing how fast time flies. We didn't do anything too elaborate since we are going skiing next month, but did enjoy a nice relaxing night at home eating a yummy dinner and watching a movie. Honestly, that is one of our favorite things to do together so it was a perfect way to celebrate. We also have made a tradition of looking at our wedding pictures and honeymoon pictures and watching the video from our wedding. 

 I love this pic- this is when we saw each other for the first time! Such a sweet time!

 We were supposed to walk through sparklers to get to our carriage, there was a small explosion (ok large) and after the fire was finally put out we boarded our carriage. Needless to say most people remember our wedding reception!

 The most beautiful bridesmaids and my best friends since middle school. We are thick as thieves!

 I love this pic from our honeymoon in Mexico! It was such a blast!

We played with dolphins one day! Something I have always wanted to do!

Our wedding day was PERFECT. It was the most beautiful wedding (I am probably biased. :) ) I am so glad to have married Adam, and I love him so much. We are having so much fun being married- we joke about not wanting kids for a long time because we don't want our lives to change just yet- ha!

I don't believe in New Years resolutions- so I always start my new year "goals" a little after everyone else to avoid all of the hype. This year, one of my goals is to blog. I could care less if anyone reads (I kind of hope they don't!) but I want a way to look back and remember all of the fun we are having. I think Ill try and blog at least once per week and occasionally blog about something we've done during the first two years of marriage when I wasn't blogging. We have so many fun vacations and not so fun times that God has brought us through that I never want to forget!