New Beginnings...

I'm sure by now your all pretty sick of hearing my tell my tale of spending December to June in and out of the hospital. Tell you the truth, I'm pretty sick of hearing it myself. I have to be honest though, I think since I left the hospital I have been using it as a crutch and an excuse to really get away with whatever I pleased. Especially when it came to eating and exercising. You know what I mean, I "can't" work out today.....I just got out of the hospital (even though it's been six weeks since I was discharged). Another favorite of mine lately is the....I can eat that entire pint of Chunky Monkey because after what I went through in the hospital I DESERVE it. ( Sure, I also deserve the cellulite that is spreading across my thighs too!). Well my dear Mamavation sistas, this has to stop to-day! This is a new beginning for me. I know it's not going to go perfectly, especially when you have a family that adores cheese, chocolate, and ice cream, but I realized how much I truly want good health and how much I really need good health. I grew up in an Italian household and food always equaled love and happiness. I ended up being a heavy child and that continued into becoming a heavy adult. Only when I was diagnosed as chronically ill did the weight begun to come off. That was all well and good, but I learned nothing in the process. Nothing about good health, nutrition and exercise. Food was still something that I cherished, it just wasn't making me gain weight at that time. Well that time has passed and that food is now going straight to my hips and I have developed as many of as have, a love/hate relationship that I need to take control of. Just today I was craving Mexican food and knew if I had it the guilt would ensue in my mind about how unhealthy it was. This time though I made a conscious decision that this would not happen so I reached out for help on our beloved twitter. Thanks to our own Leah (bookieboo) giving me some great tips and suggestions I enjoyed guilt free chicken fajitas for the very first time! This is definitely a new beginning for me. I am claiming right now my good health back! Gone are the excuses....I know that some days I may falter, but I also know I can't dwell on this. With a true heartfelt commitment and the great support and knowledge from my Mamavation family there is no way I can fail. Hugs for now, Juli XOXO


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Food, Old Memories, and Re Evaluating Things

I started this blog especially for Mamavation Mondays. It is meant to be between myself and my Mamavation sisters about how important our families are to each of us. So important in fact, that we strive to be fit and healthy moms, wives, and friends. Not so easy for any of us, but we pull support off each other through the good days and bad days. Recently though, I have been thinking of how important something else is to me as well. That being food and cooking. It is definitely my passion in this world. I come from a 100% Italian family and married into the same kind of family. My earliest memories are sitting on my nana's lap as a three year old. My nana was confined to a wheelchair, blind, and had both her legs removed because of diabetes. Yes, a sad existence but this lady had a smile that could light up a room. As I sat on her lap at the kitchen table, my mom was there too rolling out ravioli dough on her grandmothers rolling board and using her rolling pin as well.( both of which I still proudly own). My nana would put the rolled dough between her fingers and then tell my mom to "keep rolling Rosie!" until it was perfect. Every time she would feel the rolled dough she would make me feel it as well, so I would know the difference too. Being three and wanting to go play with my dolls, I was not a happy camper at the time. Now decades later with both nana and my mom gone, I cherish those moments. Thanks to those moments I can now make the best homemade raviolis without a recipe! Those kind of memories began at three and continued throughout my life. If it wasn't for my health, I would have loved to have been a female Mario Batali or Rocco Dispirito. Growing up, I was also so privileged to have lived only 45 minutes from New York City. We used to take trips there all the time. Not for the museums or broadway shows, but for the food! My mom's only rule was I had to try something once before deciding I didn't like it. Thanks to that rule I have been eating everything from raw oysters, octopus, sushi, sweetbreads, tripe, and brains ever since I could barely see above a counter. You may be wondering why am I so sentimental about food today? Before I tell you why I want to share something that very few people know about me. I actually made it to the top 24 contestants that they were considering on season six of the show "The Next Food Network Star." I ended up in the hospital and that disqualified me from being considered for the twelve that were chosen for the show. One of the worst times of my life. So I guess I am reevaluating my life. Time goes so fast, I really want to accomplish something in this world....something I'm passionate about. Since we moved from New York to South Carolina five years ago, I really wanted to promote a brand that encompasses the two cultures. I bought the domain name pizzaandgrits.com ages ago and have done absolutely nothing with it. Maybe it's time I start moving in a positive direction with that. When my health took such a hit earlier this year, I was far from positive about anything. I think that because I have begun blogging again, getting involved in Mamavation again, worrying about health and fitness, and planning my future, things are looking up in so many ways. Time to start putting everything into motion....starting with some low fat mushroom risotto for dinner tonight! Thanks to all of my Mamavation sistas for just allowing me to have this blog and vent to y'all. It's wonderful not to have to worry about how great my blog post is, if my grammar and spelling are perfect, with you guys I just open up my heart and write! Till we meet again next Monday, hugs, Juli XOXO


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Full Circle :)

Yes, it's been months. Months of not posting, months of problems, months of worries. The last time I posted here I was in the hospital coming home on Easter Sunday. I did return home that Easter Sunday but unfortunately had a few more hospital stays after that. I have now been out of the hospital almost a full month! Yippee! I'm on a roll I guess. You may be wondering as to why if I have been home a month, I haven't gotten back to blogging. Honestly, I can't answer that question as simple as it may sound. I mean I never stopped thinking about my wonderful Mamavation sistas. I have even started tweeting with them once again. I just couldn't get my blogging mojo back. Is it back now? Lord I hope so, but I don't want to promise so bare with me okay? I think the best thing to do it just take things one day at a time. I have always attempted to live my life that way yet I have not always been so successful at it. If you read my last post you already know that I want(ed) to go to nursing school. It has always been my dream yet something has always gotten in the way. Most of the time it's been health related, yet other times I think it stems from my lack of self esteem. The part of me that says "I can't do it, because of my health." That part seems to get in the way a lot as well. Same thing with exercise and being healthy. There are times that I truly can't do it because I'm sick. Then there are other times that the activity looks too daunting and in my head I hear "someone with your health record shouldn't be doing that, you'll get hurt!" and I give up. I am still trying to combat that demon. It is not that I'm weak by any means. Hey, I beat cancer 4X and have Multiple Sclerosis to boot. Gotta be somewhat strong to deal with that on a daily basis, yet I want to be so much more. It is definitely something that I need to work on. I can't give up because it truly means so much to me. Please forgive me if I am rambling a bit....my thoughts are coming fast and furious since I haven't blogged in so long and there is so much that had happened to me physically, emotionally, and mentally in my absence from the blogging world. My hope with this post is to let everyone know that I am working on my health, but I am working on me as well. I want to accomplish so much, to leave some sort of legacy for those that I love. I know it's going to be a roller coaster of a journey, but I have to keep my chin up and keep plugging along. Hopefully the more I post, the more I commit to this blog and getting myself as healthy as I can be, the easier that journey will be. I do know that since I began this blog I have come full circle, right back to the beginning....to that first step. Hopefully I can put the hospital behind me and start on the journey to be the person I truly want to be...someone I can be proud of. Thanks for listening. Love you all, ~Juli XOXOXO


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I'm baaccckkkk!!!

I know, I know, you were probably wondering what the heck happened to me? No worries dear friends, I am back blogging again, but not without a few stories to tell my readers.
First of all, I was and still am in the hospital. The Sunday after I posted last I woke up with severe pains in both legs. I was diagnosed with onset Multiple
Sclerosis five years ago and it's not unusual for me to have joint pain. Hubby took me to the ER, and they gave me some pain meds and sent me on my way. That evening I fell asleep early because of the pain medication. The next morning I woke up with pains in my stomach that were so bad I couldn't stand up straight. Yup, you guessed it....back to the ER. This time the doctor told me it was not related to my MS, but to a blockage in my small intestines. I was immediately admitted, upgraded to a pain pump, and told that if I did not pass it naturally, I would be having surgery. After two weeks in the hospital, I finally passed it naturally.Though I am still in the hospital, the doctor was here not fifteen minutes ago. He promised that I would be released tomorrow....Easter Sunday! I am making plans to celebrate Easter Sunday with cooking ( yes I know I will only be released a few hours, but I am cooking dinner myself!), and to see my church family who I love dearly.I am honestly not sure if I could get through all the recent trials and tribulations without all those dear people! I can't wait to hug each and every one of them! Tomorrow is shaping up to be a super day! The Lord is making sure of that fact!
Unfortunately though, being in the hospital the last two weeks forced me to be disqualified for the Move it or Lose it Challenge :( The rules state that you must keep up with your progress every week. I was really upset about it, but then I realized something. So what if I am not eligible for a cash prize? I can still get my health in check and become a more fit me! That is definitely a prize in itself right? Because of this, starting on Monday....I will be posting as if I am still a participant! I was doing so awesome, I truly believe that being in the hospital should not deter me in the least bit. It will include everything that was mandatory in the challenge...including scale pictures as well! Watch out for that post on Monday :)
The last revelation I had while being hospitalized is in regards to the future. As this blog progresses, you will hear more and more about my health struggles. Briefly....I have a genetic disorder that has resulted in cancer 4X, Anemia, and many surgical procedures. I have been through a lot in my life, but I have always wanted to become a registered nurse. Many of those in the medical profession have told me that there is no way I could do this because of my stamina which is always extremely low. Honestly though, who are they to say what I can and can not do right? I do not want to live a life of "what if's" and wondering "what could have been", so I am going to apply to Midlands Technical School's registered nurse program here in South Carolina! Hopefully I can begin for their summer term. If that doesn't go as planned I will start in the fall. My hubby is all for it too! I have been asking the nurses that are taking care of me about the program and they say it's pretty tough book wise. I believe that 99% of all the people that complete the program pass their state boards on the very first try! Am I scared? Of course I'm scared, but hey I beat cancer four times....this should be a piece of cake ;)
Well, that's the update! More soon!

Hugs and Blessings!

Juli XOXO

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Move it or Lose it Challenge Begins!!

Well, the day is here....the start of the Move it or Lose it Challenge sponsored by Mamavation and Earth Footwear. I have been really trying lately to step out of my comfort zone and try some new things, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. Believe me, 6 months ago I would never have posted pics of myself bald and in a bikini. By the way if your wondering why I am sans hair, last Saturday I took part in St. Baldricks Day. This is a non profit organization to promote awareness for childhood cancer. About 80 men and women shaved their heads in an attempt to send a message that the hair is not what is important it will grow back. It is what inside that counts. This is my 4th year in a row getting shaved and I have to admit it is one of the most freeing experiences as a woman and former cancer survivor. If you ever have the opportunity to participate, I highly suggest it. Okay, back to Move it or Lose it. I am interested in losing about twenty five pounds and toning up. Each week until the challenge is over on May 23rd, we have to post an update to our weight and use our blog to let everyone know how the challenge is going. I will be incorporating the challenge with good ole Weight Watchers online to hopefully achieve the best results. The head Mamavation mom, Leah a.k.a Bookieboo graciously announced that she will give $100 to anyone who finishes this challenge and $500 to the one with the best results. Earth Footwear www.earthfootwear.com also graciously will give the winner a choice of their wonderful footwear as well. With that being said, here are my beginning pictures and starting statistics!

Well there you are....pretty scary huh? LOL I should have at least gotten a pedi! I am trying to focus on how great the "after" pics will look since these are so pitiful.Almost forgot to post my measurements! How could I forget to do that ;)
Bust 38.5
Waist 30.0
Hips 39.5 (Hey I'm Italian! it's expected of us! LOL)
Thigh 21.0
Calf  15.5
Bicep 12.0

More later...Love and Hugs, Juli XOXO

I need more!!

Yes it's true. Less than three posts ago I said that this blog was started specifically for Mamavation purposes, and at the time it was. Lately though as time goes on I find myself counting the days down to Monday when I can post my next Mamavation Monday post. Well today being Friday, let's just say I have had enough of that tradition. Now not to say that I am throwing Mamavation out the window. That is actually the farthest from the truth. My sistas are quickly becoming a more and more important part of my daily existence. It is just that I got to seriously thinking about the name of this blog.....Family, Faith, and Fitness. Three very important parts of my life. Three parts of my life that I want to blog about. Three parts of my life that I want to share with others. Due to this.....we are expanding. Monday of course will be devoted to Mamavation, but I want to be able to open my heart and my life up to my readers the other six days of the week as well. Whether it be about my husband, my kids, my dog, a particular Bible verse, or even the lady who cut me off in the parking lot at the Piggly Wiggly, I want to be able to share that with whoever is willing to take the time out of their busy day to read it. My Christian heart has told me that even though I am a novice blogger, maybe I can connect with someone out there. Maybe even make a difference in some small but meaningful way. Who knows? Only time will tell right? More to come....soon! Love and hugs! Juli

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hi there! Me again:)

It has definitely been an eventful week. Last Thursday I became a bonafide, card carrying member of the Mamavation sistahood! Very excited about that. Like I expressed to my fellow sistas, I am an only child, can't stand the sister in law that I do have, so I have never been blessed with any true sisters. Without sounding too Hallmark cardie...you can't get any truer with these wonderful women. Proud to be one of them and will do my best to support them as they are supporting me.
Now you would think that having this happen would be the highlight of my week right? Well believe it or not it wasn't. Shortly after being made a sista, I went way out of my comfort zone and entered to become a Mamavation mom! I had hubby take a video of me explaining why I want to be the next Mamavation mom and what I can do to motivate other moms to have a healthy lifestyle. You may be wondering why I haven't posted the video here, on this blog. Plain and simple, I thought the video stunk! It was made quickly and on the last day of entries. Goofy me I got all the dates of the campaign messed up and had to do a last minute job. Though I would absolutely love to be chosen, I am not holding much hope. I needed to give the video more time, more thought. I have had cancer four times in my life and at one point weighed over 250lbs. I truly believe I could do a great job at motivating others, but didn't feel as if I conveyed that in my video. I will keep y'all posted but don't hold your breathe...lol...If I don't succeed this time I will just have to apply and apply over and over until they choose me!
The wonderful thing is that I tried and that I intend to keep trying right? No pain no gain as my mom often said. Applying for sistahood and becoming a Mamavation mom had me thinking a lot as the weekdays progressed. So much so I decided to make a few commitments. Funny enough, when I was pondering what commitments to make I received an email from the head Mamavation mom aka Bookieboo! In the email she posed a challenge to all her sistas! This is the "Move It and Lose It" challenge. To take part in this challenge she wanted our next blog post to give a shout out about "where will our feet take us this year?" While reading that infamous email, a lightbulb appeared over my head. I had obviously wanted to make more commitments and follow these commitments through, I am a Breast Cancer survivor, and Bookieboo was inquiring about my size 5 feet. What do you get when you put those three things together? The 3 day walk for Breast Cancer happening in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2011! So with that being said, I would like to announce that I will be walking that walk! That is where my feet will be taking me! The only thing that concerns me is my feet (yes, more feet talk). I will DEFINITELY be needing a good pair of footwear to get through that three day, 65 mile walk. One of the best manufacturers in exercise footwear and a favorite of everyone over at Mamavation is the Earth Footwear company. I will definitely be shopping there before the big walk! Unless they would like to give me a pair? (hint, hint!) Need some fab footwear for you or someone you love? Check out http://www.earthfootwear.com pronto!

More soon...Juli XOXO

Location:New Sistahood, New Commitments, Walking for a Cure....

Welcome!

Though the jury is still out on if you should make your first post on a brand new blog an introductory post or not, in this case I thought it was the way to go. Reason being, this blog has a very special intent and purpose that I think my readers should know about. This reason has made a positive difference in my life and I thought by making this a specific blog, it may help change someone else's life as well.
Let me explain. I have always loved Social Media. Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. My favorite though has always been twitter. Just something about reading someones thoughts, opinions, suggestions, comments, seconds after they were written is just so totally addicting. It is there I came across all the ladies at Mamavation. This is a group of moms who support each other in countless ways, but at the top of that list is living a healthy lifestyle. Once myself weighing over 250lbs, I was completely drawn to this "sistahood". I have always had a personal passion for living a healthy lifestyle and helping others do exactly the same. I am not perfect and these ladies understand this. We all make mistakes, and I will be the first to admit I am not as slim as I once was after losing the initial 125lbs nine years ago. I am though committed to getting right back there. This time it is all about a lifestyle change, not a diet. To begin my journey I have started this simple yet serious blog. It will allow me to be accountable for however long this may take. The second step in my journey is to announce that I want to be a card carrying member of the Mamavation sistahood....I hope they will accept me. More to come soon. Hugs and Blessings, Juli XOXOXO

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad