It's not in my contract

Primarily, this blog was supposed to be about saving money and finding deals. But as I see my mom, my friends, and people use blogs to heal from stuff happening in their lives or has happened in their lives, it's hard not to share some stuff my personal life.

I have had a hard time with my weight most of my life. There was a time where I was healthy, fit, and felt sexy. But I fell in love and the weight started to pack on. On top of the weight, I found out in my early 20's that I had a condition. It's called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS. What is PCOS?
The PCOS Support website states it as this:

"Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder, affecting approximately 5%-10% of all females. PCOS is a hormonal disorder that involves multiple tissues and organ systems within the body, and is believed to be fundamentally caused by insensitivity to the hormone insulin. It can be diagnosed in all phases of life - in girls as young as 8-9 years of age, up through post-menopause. Although PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility, the reproductive aspects of the disorder are secondary. PCOS is not limited to women of reproductive age or potential."


My mom had female problems ever since she could remember and several surgeries because of it. When I got diagnosed, we realized that's what she had. And it is hereditary, so I was bound to get it. The only way to get PCOS under control is to lose weight, but if you have PCOS it makes it hard to lose weight. It's a catch 22. This made it so much harder to get rid of the bulge I packed on.

I started to do daily double workouts. Once in the morning before work for about an hour, and then in the evening for 1 to 2 hours. Running, weights, bike, swimming. I also started counting calories and keeping a food diary. I was eating about 1500 - 1700 calories a day. Eating a bag of salad daily. For a year I did this and did not lose one dang pound! Talk about frustrating. I went to a dietitian and she told me hopefully my body will catch up with what I was doing.

At my annual exam I spoke to my gynecologist about it. She said I needed to get on Metformin, a diabetic medicine. Not because I was diabetic but because with PCOS you have insulin resistance. This would help me to ovulate and then hopefully get pregnant. I also found a book called "A Patient's Guide to PCOS". This helped me a lot with how to eat to lose the weight. I was eating about 1200 - 1300 calories a day.

Fast forward to present day, mom of a healthy 4 year old boy. SO yes, with proper diet and exercise in combination with the metformin, it worked and I got pregnant. First I lost weight, then I got pregnant. Of course, when I just started to lose weight and get excited to buy new clothes, I was with baby. But that was my ultimate goal so I was happy.

Of course I had pregnant weight that needed to get off. Then I came back to the plato weight that had trouble with. I've read magazines, seen cool stuff on Pinterest about how you have to rock hard abs, subscribed to some workouts, and have been seeing lots of fad diets. Again, at my annual check up with my gynecologist, we spoke about my weight. She suggested something that I probably never wanted to even think about. Gastric Bypass surgery. She said with my weight and age I could probably be a good candidate for it.

No, not an option for me. I know others that are very successful with it. But for myself I don't think I want to do it. And honestly I don't think that I have tried my all to lose weight. I've known some people who have had that surgery and unfortunately sometimes they gain some weight back. So to me, its not fixing what goes in but how you think.

I really got thinking, I need to change my thinking. I need to write down all the stuff I need to focus on and the stuff I need to not think about. Stuff I need to avoid eating and the healthy stuff I need to fuel my body.

What did I do? I wrote out a contract. A contract between me and myself. A contract to keep me accountable. Something to remind me I am worth working out every day. Put in specific foods that I should avoid. And I've just wrote this Tuesday and already I have a sense of accountability. It's helped me. I've lost 10 pounds since Monday. I'm sure it's mostly water weight from de-bloating and such. But it's a good start.

My favorite thing about it, when I have a temptation of food, I love to say "It's not in my contract". It sounds so legit and official.

So before investing in stuff that are fads or stuff that is a quick fix. I would say, first re-evaluate your thinking and see where you are at. It's helped me and I'm off to a good start. The neat thing is I only have to answer to me.

If the Bra fits...

Sooo...what size are you? A? B? C? DD? H?!?!?!

I don't know what the statistics are but just in my personal experience I think a lot of us ladies are probably in the wrong size bra. There are a couple of well known underwear shops at the mall that advertise bra fittings, but my experience with them is that they don't know a D cup from a coffee cup.

I saw this show on Lifetime Network called "Double Divas". They are two ladies that own a lingerie and custom bra shop in Georgia called Livi Rae. I love their southern charm and their own bra talk. They crack me up. But what I was impressed with was how the right fitting bra changes the confidence and how the woman they fit feel. It's not just women with D's but women with G's, H's, I's. They said that they carry a 50N.

My thought is, if all of us beautiful woman come in all shapes and sizes, why do most stores only carry up to DD?

My mother is a beautiful curvy plus size woman. She has been blessed in the breast area. Watching "Double Divas" I wanted them to help my mom because I know she was wearing the wrong size. But with them being in Georgia, there is no way we could go to see them any time soon.

Thank goodness for Google! I started my search on a good place to do a bra fitting in my area. I thought, there has to be one in San Fransisco or something. I looked at places and their reviews. (Again, thank you Internet and Yelp) I looked at some and it didn't say anything about bigger cups. I know my mom was past a D cup so I was looking for women saying stuff about "I never thought I was a F or G cup".

That's when I found Besos in Los Gatos. Her reviews were great on Yelp. Gail is the owner and was called the "Bra Whisperer". I called and wanted to see if I needed an appointment for or can we just walk in. We could just walk in and she will help us.

My mom's birthday was coming up and I thought what a great birthday present, let's get her fitted. I called ahead of time to make sure Gail was there and she said she would be waiting for us. What an experience! A++++, 5 stars, 4 thumbs up, 20 out of 10!

She just didn't tell us our size, she showed us how a bra should fit correctly. The right way to put on one, yes there is a correct way, and how to shop for a bra. She fitted my mom and of course, like we suspected, she was TOTALLY in the wrong size. As I was waiting for my mom, she also fitted me. And to my surprise I am bigger in the cup than I thought! I was shocked! But now I know the correct size and how a bra is supposed to fit.

THANK YOU GAIL!!!!!!!! Our boobs, back, shoulders thank you.

Now, my blog is thrifty momma. Her bras are reasonably priced, but they are not Walmart or Target prices. BUT, knowing and investing in good bras is being smart with your money. And buying bras that fit you right is huge!

She did also tell us to always hand wash your bras to make them last longer and hang dry. This will help you keep you bras in the best shape.

I would like every one woman I know to go see Gail and get fitted for the right size bra. And you will be just as excited about the right bra as I am!

Happy boobs, Happy momma!

Grocery Outlet, Bargain Market

To me, it's like everyone should know about Grocery Outlet. I've been shopping there since it first opened up in our neighborhood with my mom. But then I thought, maybe not everyone knows about Grocery Outlet.

Here is a company overview directly from their website:

"Grocery Outlet has been a tradition for bargain-seeking customers since 1946. The company’s reputation as a deep-discount store began when the late Jim Read began purchasing military surplus back in the 1940s and sold it at huge discounts.

Today, Grocery Outlet is a third-generation family run business, recognized as the nation’s largest grocery extreme-value retailer. Headquartered in Berkeley, California, Grocery Outlet currently encompasses 185+ independently operated stores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Pennsylvania. Grocery Outlets are located in cities large and small and serve all kinds of neighborhoods. Most stores are independently operated by locally-based families. We are truly a family business.

The premise is simple: We offer brand name products at up to 50% off conventional retail prices. Our offering is wide: groceries, frozen, deli & refrigerated, produce, fresh meat, general merchandise — seasonal products, housewares, toys, and gifts — health & beauty, and a most impressive inventory of beer & wine. Our buyers shop the nation and the world by traveling thousands of miles each year just so we can offer the best brand-named products for less than you would pay conventionally. We love to save you money."

I know ours in our city is family ran. You see the same faces, lots of young adults get hired as their first job. They want to make sure that you know your business is important.

I did try couponing for a little bit, but when I compared, for the stuff I need, it made more sense for me to go to Grocery Outlet.

I feel like I won over the big guys when I find the same product at Grocery Outlet for $1.00, when it might be almost $4.00 some where else. I always thought just our locals shopped here, but when I saw people I knew from the more well off cities shopping in our little Grocery Outlet, I thought, "Oh! the secrets out!" But then some people come just for the wine and liquor selection.

So if you haven't checked on out, go in and browse around. Ours was just newly renovated and there is a new one going up in the neighboring city. You know I will be checking that out.

Happy saving all!

Free Bath & Body Works Lotion!

Do you like free as much as I do? Yes! FREE 2oz lotion from Bath & Body Works. I got the offer from them on Facebook this morning. And since I'm going to be out that way, I thought, what the heck. A new lotion for my purse is always good. :)

Make sure to LIKE Bath & Body Works Facebook page and the offer is in a post on their wall. You can print it out or show them from your smart phone. OH! and you get a choice from 3 different lotions!

Enjoy!

Returning for 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

Yes, it's been over a year. A lot has happened in my personal life and 2012 was a hard year from me and my family. But God is good, and has seen us through it all.

Of course I have still found good deal and saved money all the while. I've even said to myself, "Self, you need to blog about this good finding!"

I am here to share with some of my daily deals that I use or have heard about!

Gas

Yes, I have gas, I need gas. We all need gas. The kind that make your car go vroom vroom. We just had a Shell Gas Station open up in my town. And one of the helpful attendants informed me about a good savings. If I buy a  gift card, I would get 5 cents off per gallon. I went in with a $30 cash and bought at $25 gift card and got 5 cents off per gallon. Which brought it to lowest in town. I've been going there ever since and just buying gift cards. Plus, mu husband is convinced that Shell gas burns slower. They come in $25, $50, and $100. I looked at Shell's website to see if that is at ever Shell or just the one in my town. But I did hear from someone who lived else where, that she does the same. But wouldn't hurt to ask if you're unsure.

Refill for 50 cents at Starbucks

Yes, for a refill whatever size you had for your coffee or tea! I had no idea until my friend, who is a barista, told me about the policy. Since whatever your ordered is on your cup, it's what you just had. So no new drink, but if you need that extra cup of Joe, you can for 50 cents at Starbucks. The policy does say within the same visit at the same store. But still, where can you get a cup of coffee for 50 cents?

Well, it's Saturday morning and I'm sure my little sidekick will be waking up and looking for something to eat soon. But I am back to blogging and will put up the savings and deals when I find them. Have a great weekend all!