Back From Miami!!!

Departing from Cincinnati

I know I've been AWOL for quite some time but things at work leading up to our trip were insane and then of course I was away for the better part of a week so I wasn't able to post then either.

The trip to Miami was just what the Dr. ordered. Lots of sun and relaxation and a few nights of crazy good-ness.  We arrived back in Ohio today at 11:30 after dragging our over-tired buns out of bed at 4am for our 6:30 departure. Needless to say; I haven't done much besides eat and sleep since I got home- and my lord let me tell you - nothing feels as good as your own bed when you've been sleeping in hotel beds!

I haven't uploaded my actual pics yet but here are a few taken from my phone and uploaded to Facebook- kind of teeny but you'll get the idea!

Dinner at Maya

Jess at Maya

The Beach Outside Our Hotel Early in the Morning 

Taken in the afternoon of day 2

Emily and My Shoes and wine glasses at Fountainbleau Lounge 

Sitting in the Sun

Crab Leg Dinner

Real pictures to come soon!!!

Much Love Always!!!

Mrs. Amber Lane

No More New Orleans

That's right... today, I cancelled the reservation for our hotel in the french quarter for next month.

) :

But before you feel too terrible for me ....

Instead of spending a long weekend in Louisiana.... I will now be spending 6 days here:

That's right ya'll..... Mrs. Amber Lane will be spending 6 days in Sunny Miami Florida!!!

Plane tickets are already booked- reservations made...February 16th I am on my way!

Oh and did I mention this is now just a ladies trip?!?!

There's a whole story there- that's been in the making for a week - but its not a Wednesday night kind of story.

For now, just be envious of my sweet vacay and I'll fill you in later!

Much Love Always,

Mrs. Amber Lane

You Asked For It

So sporadically since I've started sharing my weight loss with you all, I've been asked to reveal my secrets and tricks for shedding 60 lbs in under a year and I think its high time that I oblige.
Only thing is ... there aren't really any secrets ... or tricks either for that matter. Honestly my success is based upon an honest-to-God lifestyle change that sometimes even I am impressed with.
I look at myself and my current habits and wonder how in the world  this girl was ever closing in on 200 lbs - she's so active, so dedicated, so knowledgeable when it comes to foods - but I suppose I wasn't always the way I am now and there were some key changes that I made on my way. These changes are what I'm going to share with you now.

Things I said to myself and the changes that follwed:

1.NO MORE FAST FOOD FOR WORK LUNCHES: I was eating fast food for lunch almost every single day. McDonalds, Chipotle, Taco Bell, McAllisters, Wendy's, Moe's bleh! It was getting ridiculous! I started packing my lunches and snacks everyday : starting simply at first with Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones - then moving on to more lean meats, fruits and veggies  that packed more nutrients once I became more hip to the importance of these things. Today a typical packed lunch for me might be: home made Hungry Girl chicken salad ( made with minced chicken breast, red grapes, apple chunks, cucumber, f f. free miracle whip,. f. free plain yogurt, lemon spice seasoning and a packet of Splenda) on whole grain crackers with a side of baby carrots. For a snack at work I may have some dried edamame or a small apple. If I'm in a rush I do still have Lean Cuisine meals on hand but I am really trying to stay further away from pre-packaged meals these days due to artificial ingredients and preservatives. After I started really looking at the nutritional facts of the fast food chains I had previously frequented- it was no wonder I had put on so much weight - even some of the most innocent seeming things (like half a sammy from panera) were loaded with fat and calories - I am a major advocate of restaurants being required to disclose ALL nutritional values to their customers.

2. GET YOUR ASS ON THE SCALE: I used to say that I didn't weigh myself because it was simply a number that I didn't feel I should base my self worth upon. OK..true, my entire self esteem should not teeter upon a number- but I was in full fledged DENIAL! If I didn't know the number I didn't have to hold myself accountable and ladies - I didn't. I estimated my weight (always lower than actual) and that was that. Imagine my horror when I finally did have to come face to face with my number at a dr. appointment and it was about 20 lbs heavier than I had thought at first! I now weigh myself weekly - sometimes a few times a week - but I think thats mostly because I'm still working on losing and I get anxious to see if I am or not.

3. READ FOOD LABELS: Plain and simple - not all foods are created equal. You can look at two similar products and see that their fat and calories are almost equal so they must be nutritionally about the same - nope. What about serving size?  what about dietary fiber and protein? Poly saturated fats vrs. mono ... how much added sodium and sugar? All of these things are very important when considering which foods to buy. Honestly, I am a strong believer in staying to t he outskirts of super markets and only going for the pre-packaged items when absolutely necessary. I also swear by the idea that the fewer artificial ingredients- the better - but I'm not a complete convert.

4. DON'T DEPRIVE YOURSELF: If you really want something- have it....in moderation. This is life after all- what fun would it be if we didn't splurge every once in awhile. Moderation is key- one cookie- not the whole bag. And for God's sake don't punish yourself after you eat it by exercising for 4 hours extra - make plans for your little splurges and move on -no one is perfect- and making lifestyle changes is hard- learn to forgive yourself.

5. PLAN AHEAD: Planning lunches and menus has been a life saver for me. I look at my calendar for the week and plan for the times that a meal out is inevitable or that temptations will be strong. If I have a big family dinner planned for Wed. night at Outback - I plan for that. I will eat a lower point (calories and fat) lunch and plan a healthy snack to curb major hungers so that I can indulge a bit more at dinner but also so that I'm not ravenous when I get there. Oh yes, and I definitely visit a restaurant's website before ever setting foot in the place- that way I already have something picked out before being tempted with yummy smells!

6. MOVE YOUR BOOTY: Until the past month I had not set foot inside a gym or in an organized exercise class. I just found ways to get my butt in gear that I enjoyed and that didn't feel like tedious exercise. I walked , then I started jogging, I did exercise DVDs, and discovered Exercise TV on Demand. I shoveled our sidewalks when it snowed, I raked leaves, I swam, I danced my ass off at the bar on a Saturday night. Even now when I am stressed beyond belief and my house is a wreck and all I want to do is get my life in order - I clean for all its worth- scrub on hands and knees, reach high to dust ceiling fans, go up and down the stairs for laundry...I just move! As I said in my last post though... I have started Zumba and that's a blast- but as I'm in the home stretch to reaching my "Ultimate Numbers Goal" I want to start targeting certain trouble areas for tone and I'm thinking of investing in a personal training package. Sometimes you do need the help of a pro and thats ok too.

7. KNOW THAT THERE IS NO QUICK FIX & NO ONE GETS CART BLANCHE: Diet pills, prepackaged foods, cleanses - they may all work for the right here, right now results that you want but the problem is not just that a person has extra lbs. - the problem is that there is  some kind of under-lying behavior that caused the extra lbs. to be there in the first place. A sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits, thyroid problems , a new baby - a combo of one or more of those things - its my belief that once the underlying issue has been addressed and curbed the results can be reached and maintained. If you eat only pre-packaged foods for 6 months and lose 20 lbs but in the meantime don't learn how to eat better on your own- once you quit using the pre-packaged system - its all coming back.Also don't get discouraged by the size 0, toothpick girl that you sit next to in the break room eating a Big Mac and drinking a Mountain Dew- just because she's not wearing her poor eating habits on her body right now- doesn't mean she isn't doing harm to her body that will eventually catch up with her down the road; be it in weight gain or high cholesterol. Fatty foods are just as bad for skinny minnie as they are for you!

I hope this gives you some insight into the changes that I made for those of you who are curious. I am by no means a weight loss expert but I must be doing something kind of right.

Now I'm going to do something that I wasn't sure I was ever going to do when I began this journey... share my actual numbers with you - my blogger friends.

When I stepped on the scale at the Doc's office in September 2009 I almost fell over when I saw the number the nurse wrote on my chart: 199 lbs!!!

I didn't get mad or sad - kicked myself a little and moved on. Didn't even change anything right away- just though on it and finally it was thinking about my seniors at work that really got me moving. I thought about how this is they only body that I'll ever have, and this is the youngest I'll ever be again, and that I owe it to myself to treat it the best that I can now and get it in the best shape that I can now so that hopefully it will be there for me later.

Here are a few pics of me around the time of my highest weight ever:

My 25th Birthday August 2009

Round 1 of Our Engagement Pics: Sept 2009

Megan's Bachelorette Party October 2009

You all know the story from there - here are a few gratuitous pictures of late just for vanity:

Christmas 2010

                                    

NYE 2010

This week I have weighed in at my lowest adult weight ever : 138 lbs!!!

Blurry pic from a fitting room but I love it because I think I look TINY!

I'm not going to lie to you though girls- I'm in that yucky place where you weigh in one week and you're down  several lbs and the next week your up a couple and the next week your back down again - but I'm super happy to not be actually gaining or going at all above 141. 

My ultimate number goal is 135- so I'm so close I can almost taste it! 

Thank you to those who have encouraged me on my journey thus far- you've been an inspiration and I'm glad to "know" you. I hope my little "pearls" of wisdom helped in some capacity. As always I welcome your thoughts and comments!

For now, I must start thinking about bed!

Much Love Always!

Mrs. Amber Lane 

So Friggin' Bored

January has been soooo dreadfully boring in my world. Its lame.

I have literally done nothing exciting since NYE.

First of all my PIC swore off alcohol for the ENTIRE month of January to jump-start her weight loss and de-tox..therefore by proxy I have also not had so much as a glass of wine since the wee hours of January 1st Which means no late night dance marathons or slobbery karaoke sessions or anything that makes me feel remotely like the bomb-ass chick that I really am. I say this all tongue in cheek of course. Wine does not rule my world but I do enjoy it as the universal lubricant and I sure miss the fun weekend nights its helped to create!

No, this is not my only friend but my other friends either live out of town, have children, or are in the process of growing them as we speak - so I'm kind of floating our here alone right now.

Especially since Ben and my work schedules are still not in sync. Basically we are two ships passing in the night who occasionally go to brunch or hit the grocery store together. Otherwise he's working, I'm at Zumba. I have a late meeting he's working on the computer. I'm blogging and he's been in bed for a half an hour already -yada, yade. I'm so bored!

And I don't know what its like in your end of the world but winter seems to be lasting an excruciatingly long time in southern Ohio this year. I think we've had accumulating snow every week since before Christmas- which for these parts is almost unheard of- another storm is due to hit this Thursday and I'm dying a little just thinking of it!

Oy.

So in my boring life what HAVE I been up to?

1. Zumba. Like 3 times a week. So much fun! Thinking of adding a boot camp class in there too. Zumba is the one place I do get to see my January non-drinking friend right now!

2. Baby Shower. Throwing one for my childhood bff. Finally booked a venue today which takes a huge load off. Hard to believe its coming up so fast- before we know it baby Shelby will be here!

3. New Orleans. Headed there in less than 30 days to kick of the Mardi Gras season with Bennyboo and some friends!!! So friggin' excited. Though I went twice back in the fall this will be the longest amount of time I've actually got to spend there!

4. Work, Going through another management transition and it sucks. I think it will be for the greater good but that doesn't make it suck less. Also some of the front-line team....suck. No details. Just suffice to say.

5. Working my butt off to be in my best shape yet for my trip - but not starving myself or abusing myself just want to be hot in Nola and for this summer...

6. How come finding an awesome bathing suit is so friggin hard? I found the one I want at Vicky C's ...decided that this year I wasn't going to get something cutesy, polka dotted, ruffled or pink (like I usually do) and picked a killer two piece in red with underwire support for my girls on top and strings on the bottom - the top for the tatas is actually in stock (though it seems the bigger top sizes go quick...hint hint Vicky C's) but like the only color the string bottom doesn't come in is red....why?!?!? So complicated!

7. Sick of snow, sick of cold, sick of not going out.....

Really that's all. Hopefully I'll have more exciting things to post soon. In the meantime I'm going to wash my face and go to bed!

Much Love Always!!!

Mrs. Amber Lane

PS If you use the words: precious, sweet, and amazing in a single blog post more than 10 times each - you're getting a little out of hand: we get it..your marriage,baby, job, life, etc. is perfect....now grow a vocabulary. Don't hate me...I'm just saying.

OH and....

Do you know that if you google image search blonde muppet one of my pictures shows up after a page or two?!?! Oh lord.

That's what I get for calling my eyes big ole muppet baby eyes.

Oy.

Ok really going to bed now.

A Blonde Bride & Her Boo Chapter 2

Yep, the name has changed. I figured now that we're almost 7 months post wedding it was time for a change.

Three Notable Changes:

1. My Blog Title:please adjust accordingly
2. My Blog Design : my life is no longer centered around one huge party, nor should my blog be
3. MISS Amber Lane is a thing of the past .. MRS.Amber Lane will be the new signature.

Minor details - but I feel refreshed.

Big snow storm coming to the Nati tonight.

) :

I hate winter.

Ok gals...its bedtime!

See you soon!

Much Love Always!

Mrs. Amber Lane

2010: A Year In Review

Hey Everyone!

As I revamp for 2011 I thought we would stroll back over 2010 to refresh everyone as to what this year was all about for me!

I GIVE WARNING!!!

This post is picture heavy!!! Since my busy year has left my blogging sporadic at best I thought I would hit you with some of the wedding-related pics I skimped on before.... Enjoy!

January:

NYE 2009

Realized that we were only 6 months out from our June 25th wedding and snapped into high-gear in regards to making those plans and putting together DIY projects.

Created a list of 2010 goals: Including the one where I decided I was going to start journaling my food and also cut out most complex carbs and full fat dairy. I also decided to start following some Weight Watchers guidelines from home and see where that got me.

Spent the night at work one night due to snow:



We paid off my car a year early and opened our joint checking account!


February:

Turns out that goal got me pretty far - by mid February I had lost 18 lbs! A spark was ignited and I stuck with my new eating habits and began adding in lots of cardio and walks and eventually some sow paced runs!

Ben and I celebrated our 6 year dating anniversary and 1 year engagement anniversary. We also hit Ben's 1 year of being laid off - with still no job on the horizon ) :



March:

My work life went crazy-go-nuts when my boss announced she was leaving and my assistant went out on maternity leave at approximately the same time.

I was really beginning to stress about wedding things, with just 3 months left until the big show!

Weight loss was continuing steadily and I was beginning to see the difference in pictures and the way my clothes fit:I posted my very first before and after pictures on this post.

My friend Lindsey tied the knot!

April:

I began dress fittings and the wedding gown that I bought two sizes too small was now too big! Thus began a series of dress fittings that lasted up until the week of the wedding as my dress kept needing to be taken in - I was so proud!

I hit my initial goal of 35 lbs lost in just 4 short months and set another 15 lb goal for my self to hit.

Ben was up for a new job at his old company and we were really excited about it - he did not get the job but a fire was lit in him and within a week of his rejection he had lined up a position with a new company!!! We went out for Mexican with his family to celebrate!

My sisters threw my first wedding shower!

Over- all was beginning to feel pretty sassy as I lost the weight!

May:

Wedding planning craziness: invitations went out, diy project nights with sisters and bridesmaids were a regular occurring event, wedding bands were purchased, our couples shower was had. It was a wedding crazy time!

That was about it for May!

June:

The month of the wedding!!!

The planning and prepping continued!

I had my crazy night of bachelorette fun in downtown Cincinnati!

Ben was a holy terror from quitting smoking- he eventually picked it back up again ) :

Ben started his new job - 2 weeks from the wedding- cancelling any honeymoon plans that we had. I resolved to take time off anyway- I needed it!

We had our do-over engagement pictures taken 6 days before the wedding..we loved them!

June 24, 2010: Rehearsal Day. My bridesmaids and I had lunch at Panera then we had our nails done before heading to our venue to put all my DIY projects to  action finally! I was very proud with how it all turned out!

After we had dinner at a local pizza parlor and I went to sleep for the last time as a single girl!

June 25, 2010 We became Mr, & Mrs. Ben Smith!!!!

The weather was beautiful- sky blue, and dotted with puffy white clouds. The humidity was low even though it was seasonably warm.

The day started off with a light breakfast with my sisters as the bridesmaids arrived (my sisters and I spent the night together at one of their homes). Then we caravaned to the hair salon and the day took off from there! I think everything went together beautifully and it was a great day:

I will probably always remember the very most from that day: our cake cutting/smashing. Ben took off an eyelash strip from me and one whole side of my face needed to be touched up and Ben inhaled cake and spent 5 minutes choking it back in a private room - while I cried thinking he was going to die. We have pictures of the smashing framed at our house!

It all got cleaned up however, and we went on to enjoy our reception: 

Ben went back to work Monday following our wedding and I vacationed into

July:

Emily got arrested for Public Intoxication at a lake pretty near to us while I was on my honeymoon - nightmare!

Ben and I spent one night away from home being on a honeymoon- it was nice- but way to short!

We camped and kayaked with friends.

Found out my bff was pregnant!

We also realized that though  we had already been together 6 years and lived together for 3 - marriage was going to take some adjustment!

August:

Started fielding the "so when are you going to have a baby" questions

Celebrated my 26th birthday at a co-ed strip club

Got low-lights

Ben and I realized how much our wedding actually cost us and started a plan to recover from it (still on the road to recovery btw)

Posted more before and after pics here.

September:

Flew by myself for the first time ever to Baton Rouge for my friend Rachel's bachlorette party weekend!

Traveled to New Orleans for the party and had a blast!

October:

Back to Baton Rouge - driving this time with my mom for the wedding. Visited Houmas plantation house and back to New Orleans again. Was a smashing bridesmaid for my girl who made a lovely bride!

Got my Droid Incredible - which I still love!

Was Medusa for Halloween

Found out my property at work was being sold to another company- sparking a transition - I prepared for the change until I got a call from the woman with the same job as me at a property that was not being sold - giving me a heads up that she was leaving her position. I interviewed and in....

November:

I was offered the job that was much closer to home and family and I accepted. Just like that I was giving my 2 week notice and I was out of there by the 17th.

On the 18th I started at the new location.

My bro-in-law had his hunting accident- scaring us all - but he has since made a complete recovery

Had a quiet Thanksgiving.

Then a Saturday night out to celebrate Emily's 28th birthday.

December:

Quickly moved into the busiest time of the year for an Activity professional and being in a new building made it that much more hectic!

Dreaded working Christmas day for the 3rd year in a row but made the best of it.

Found out that my new property is being sold- meaning I'm about to go through ANOTHER transition.

Had a mostly quiet Christmas due to the in-laws being in NYC and my having to work Christmas day and the day after.

Spent Christmas Eve just Ben and Me opening presents and enjoying our first married Christmas:

Main Christmas Tree

Our First Christmas, Christmas ornament 

Presents from Ben 

Our bedroom Christmas Decor

Christmas day was work for me so the evening was spent with my family:

Rang in the New Year with husband and a few friends at a local bar.

Oh and did I mention that on New Years Day I weighed in at my lowest weight yet???

Remember the NYE 2009 Pic from the beginning of this post???

Let me refresh you:

picture of a picture...sorry!

             * BAM! 2010! *

 Bringing me to 60 lbs lost in 2010!!!! My whole lifestyle changed in just 1 short year- but I'll get into that more later! Hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane!

And hope everyone's 2011 has started out awesome!

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane