water fun and in the dog house

We are getting a new puppy in two weeks so for our day off Rich and I built a dog house from scratch, no help, no kits, no plans, just did it and it turned out really good.

Roxy also decided to build her own dog house for her puppys.

This is the dog house almost complete.  We are going to paint it and put on shingles.

Name Change

We have decided to call the new puppy Goldy.  Which is confusing because Roxy has already started calling all of her stuffed puppies Sandy.  Oh, well.  We will post more pictures when we pick up Goldy.

bad weekend

Okay so this was Richs bday weekend.  I was not good.  I was okay but Rich wanted me to make him cream cheese sopapillas for his bday.  In order to make these you need 2 rolls of cresent rolls, 2 packages of cream cheese, 1.5 cups sugar and 1 stick of butter.  I have eaten nearly the entire thing by ourselves.  I have been going to the gym and I don't weigh till tomorrow.  I hope monday through friday can counteract saturday.

The Hamms are getting a Dog

Rich turned 30 yesterday and got thing he has been asking for for months , a puppy.  My sister in laws (Hillary) brother lives here in Houston and my other sister told me that Hillarys brothers dog had just had puppy. So I jumped on the oppurtunity to get one of their puppies.  So yesterday I surprised Rich by going out to there house and letting him have his pick of the litter.  We decided on the little beauty below.

She is the lightest in color of them all.  The were four yellow ones and three black ones.  but from the start Rich loved the light one the best.  She is only 6 weeks so we are going to pick her up in two weeks.  We think that we are going to call her Sandy.  I know no R, what is Rich thinking?

YEAH

Yeah, I lost 3 pounds last week. I gotta say that having this forum to talk though really did help me lose weight.  Whenever there was a time that I wanted to cheat really bad I had to think about how embarrassing it would be to have to tell everyone her that i had gained weight.   I did not want to have to write the words.  So thank you for making comments.

Weight loss is a funny thing

So every Monday morning i weigh myself as soon as a get up, right after I pee (don't want that extra weight).  Last week I went to the gym 6 times.  I took 3 spin classes, in weight training classes and ran collectivly about 10 miles.  So when I went to weigh myself on MOnday I was really expecting a good number and was PISSED WHEN I HAD GAINED A POUND.  SO then I start going through the week in my head thinking about how good I was and them remember that we went to Taco Bell on Friday, oh and Dennys on Saturday for breakfast.  But that was it, how can I be good all and only indulge twi...wait I forgot Chipotle on Sunday and also stopping and getting queso and chips and getting box stress box of hohos and Lindor truffles.  But I was really stressed, I have a really big test on Saturday!!!  But yeah, this is always how it goes.  I do great at eating till Thursday, and I love going to the gym.  But the weekends KILL me, there is always a holiday/birthday/stress event/party/people over for dinner reason to not stick to the diet.  Any ideas?

roxys funny face

Brace yourself

When I was 20 I lost a bit of weight through diet and exercise recommended by my doctor because of Acid reflux.  I later had surgery because of the said reflux.  The surgery that the did acted almost like I had my stomach stapled.  I began losing weight like crazy and I joined a gym and started eating great and lost 65 lbs in 5 months. I was at my lowest weight ever at 149 lbs.  It was awesome.  I had never been thin before and I loved it.  I was active and happy and I met Rich and was going to the gym everyday and running.  I was even running up to 10 miles. My weight would vary as every woman does.  And I had gained a little when I married settling in at about 160 Lb. THEN I GOT PREGNANT.  

I had kept off the weight for 6 years and thought that there was no way that I was going to gain it back when I got pregnant.  I was dead wrong.  I gained 70lbs when I was pregnant with Roxanne.  I would gain 5 lbs in a week.  I topped out at 230 Lbs.  I weighed more than my husband.  WHAT.  After I had Roxy I made attempts at losing weight, joining weight watchers, but could never find time to go to the gym.  I got down to about 185,  when I got pregnant with Roscoe.

I did not gain as much weight with Roscoe, but I started off much higher than with Roxy and topped out at about 220.  I am now down to 195 as of last Monday.  

Now you may be wondering, what in the world is Rachel doing telling the free world her weight.  I can not lose this weight by myself.  I have been trying since Roscoe was born to lose weight and have consistently stayed between 193-197, no matter what i do or eat or how far I run, or how many hours I log into spinning class, this weight is not going any where.  I friend from my ward started blogging about her weight and says that it really helped her to lose weight.  Nobody wants to talk about their weight but you know what, it is just not me to not be very blunt.  Plus I hope that it will give me the extrinsic motivation to post when I have lost weight.

I think that is part of the problem, no knows when I gain or lose, now everyone will.  How embarrassing I know, but only people who love and care about me read this blog.  So please be nice, send advice, encouragement, good recipe, work out tips EVERYTHING.  I appreciate your support and hope that you don't send people links to my blog to see my weight, but who cares.  I need to lose this weight.

My goal is to be down to 175 by the time I go on vacation this summer to Disneyland.  That means I have 10 weeks to lose about 20 lbs. Impossible?  No way. not when I have all of you to now support me and send me tips.  I will keep you posted on my progress.

NEW BABY IN TOWN

My little sister Mary had her first baby boy yesterday.  HIs name is Michael Oliver Storz, and I have not seen him yet so there are not any pictures.  Mary had a really hard time having the baby.  She had preeclampsia which made her have to have the baby before her body was ready to.  But mom and baby are great and get to go home tomorrow.  Pictures will follow

My 29th Birthday

My birthday was totally fun this year.  I got to celebrate over about 2 weeks because of scheduling conflicts.  We went out on the 15th because Rich was going to be out of town on my birthday.  We went to Outback with his mom and step dad who were in town.

As you can see my children have impecable restraunt manners.

Then the Sat after my birthday Rich planned bowling with my friends at Main Event.  It was so much fun.  It is the first time I have had my birthday at a place like that, they even had my name on the marquee in the front.  

As you can see I am beating Rich