The Potts Family

False Alarm

2010-06-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

Turns out my last post was just evidence of stress. I stopped taking medicine a few months ago and life has been blissful and happy. School is over so Alan and I are just enjoying our summer and running around crazy trying to work and have fun and vacation. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful support and awesome loving husband. I am currently in Arizona for a week helping my sister move as she has just purchased a new home. This is the longest I have ever been away from Alan and I miss him terribly. However, being gone has just affirmed my belief that I am the luckiest girl in the world. Thank you all for your love and concern. Have a great day!!!

SORRY!!!

2010-04-18T19:45:00.001-07:00

I realize that it has been a really long time and I am so sorry between the internet crashing, and 12 hour clinicals it has been a little crazy around here. So I apologize. I am happy to announce that I have finally broken the 180 barrier and am now in the 170's also I lost three inches cumulatively so that is also really good news to me. haha!

This week I am going to do kickboxing three days and the wave two. I also really enjoyed going for a stroll on Sunday afternoon especially because the weather was in the 70's today YAHOO!! It is supposed to rain all this week but that just means green grass next week. I am so excited.

School is almost over, I am pushing through the last few weeks and couldn't be happier for this semester to end. Let the job hunt begin. If anyone has ideas please send them my way.

Sorry this is short but I have laundry to fold and a hungry husband to feed but I will write again next week.

Thanks again for all of the support. I really don't think I could do this without you.

The Update

2010-03-15T10:37:00.001-07:00

So, I have loved doing kickboxing...and I find that I don't get so frustrated with not being able to run 10 miles right away. I also, have decided to not look at the scale so frequently because I get really frustrated if I don't see immediate results. The ironic thing is that I feel immediate results they just aren't manifested in what the scale says. Two possible reasons for this are: PCOS causes me to gain back whatever I just lost because it continues to grab and store fat especially when I have just lost some. Lovely I know!! Also, physiologically speaking...fat does not turn into muscle so for a period of time you have both. Everyone knows that muscle weighs more than fat so you see a decrease in weight followed by an increase. Also Lovely!
On a more positive note, my skinny jeans are loose, I have more energy, when I can get to sleep I sleep better and more soundly. I still feel that it is a success.
Now I was wondering if any of you have good recommendations for workout music. I don't like the real hard rock but I do love anything with a beat. I even like the modern techo. I thought it would be fun, if you have time, to interact with you though the blog. If you don't have time, I completely understand.
As always, thank you so much for all of your support!

2010-03-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

I will upload photos soon and hope to include measurements and other little things but we don't have internet at our new place yet so I will try to do it after Monday.

Week 1

2010-03-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you that responded. I am so lucky to have such a great support system. This really has made all the difference. I am happy to report that week one was an absolute success. I got up every morning did yoga, and did cardio every afternoon. I was so much more energized and a lot more productive. This week as many of you know was really long. I had 8 tests 8 days in a row and we moved over the weekend etc. But my motivation was so great that we moved without any problem, I passed and did better on my exams this week than I have done all semester, and my house is all put together I have it entirely unpacked. That has to be a record of some kind. I have to say that life as a whole is better. I feel better about myself, I look better, Alan and I have gotten along famously. I really believe that everything is better and the sun shines brighter when you are active.

I am also happy to report that I lost three pounds this week and as dumb as it is, I can really feel it. My pants literally fell off today (granted they were already the loosest ones I own but falling off is falling off).

Currently I am running about a mile and sometimes a half comfortably. Also I did kickboxing this afternoon and I forgot how much I love it. I was sweating so bad that it was dripping off my face (gross but wonderful haha). I think that I am going to alter my plan just a little by running two or three days and incorporate kickboxing and other cardio activities. I will get bored if all I do is run.

I got my hair cut today as a reward for working so hard this last week. Funny how things that need to be done anyway become more fun or more special when you consider them a reward.

I seriously want to thank you!!! I was really worried about making this public but it is the best thing I have done. I feel accountability from all of you because I feel that if I didn't succeed I would be letting you down and that is great motivation. So thank you, thank you, thank you!

Weight Loss

2010-02-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

I have struggled my whole life with my self-perception. Those of you who know me well know that there is no easy end to this struggle. I was recently diagnosed with polycystical ovarian syndrome (PCOS). If you are not familiar with this particular diagnosis, it means that my body produces too much testosterone. As a steroid, it is made out of fatty tissue. Which means that my body hangs on to more fat than in most people making it really difficult to lose weight. The problem is that it doesn't get better (go away) unless you lose weight, diet, exercise, sleep adequate amounts, etc. I am a nursing student and as such, I don't have a lot of time. It is hard enough to fulfil all of the demands in a regular day much less find extra energy to exercise. It has been quite a struggle. I, up until this point have allowed my body to beat me. I have become a shlub, I don't get ready more than one day a week and I don't even shower very often. As gross as this is, my poor husband has been so supportive and loving. Unfortunately, I think that he is tired of seeing me in my sweats. My solution to this precarious problem has many dimensions and I am calling upon any of you for motivation and help.
I have allowed myself to be at an all-time high weight. I do however, acknowledge that weight is not the most important aspect of wellness but it is emotionally damaging so it needs to change as well.
I hate to divulge this but...I have soared to 188.7 lbs. at a size 14 and it is out of control. I am scared to death that one month I will be pregnant and my weight will spiral out of control and I will be at severe risk of heart disease at a very young age. My ideal goal is to weigh 140-145 and be able to wear any size 9 pair of pants I grab off the rack.
All this being said, here is my plan...it is based on a system of goals and rewards.
1) I will do yoga in the morning for a half hour and then cardio or resistance training in the afternoon/evening. I want to do cardio 3-4 times a week and do resistance training 2 times a week.
2) I will measure success in a series of goals: various races, weight loss, loss of inches, and smaller dress size.
3) For each goal that is completed, there will be an associated reward. In the weeks that there are longer periods between goals, I will integrate a few smaller rewards to maintain motivation.
4) Alan is going to try to workout at the gym with me to help encourage me to go and also to help him to maintain his separate fitness goals.

Goals:
Maintain projected regimen for 2 weeks
Be able to run 2.5 miles easily
Run a 5k
Begin a 10k workout
Run 10k
Run 10 miles
Half marathon

Rewards:
I-tunes songs
New workout pants
New running shoes
I-tunes songs
New purse
Workout outfit
New clothes (cause hopefully my old ones wont fit)

As I go through, I will probably have to make more goals to make it an easier transition from one to the next but I will keep you updated as I go.

My hope is that I will lose 2 lbs. a week which is doable but difficult. If I can maintain this pace and continue making progress the whole "transformation" should happen in a period of 23 weeks. Making the deadline August 9th. As the greatest reward, on a conditional basis, our vacation for the summer will be Alan and I taking a trip somewhere warm away from Pocatello, to show of our new bodies.

What I was hoping to receive from all of you is suggestions or ways to continue motivation. I just need support. I don't know why but this is especially difficult for me and I know that I cannot do it alone. I will try to post at least once a week on progress. Hopefully with pictures.
Thank you to all of you for your love and support. We love you!!!

General Confrence

2009-05-31T15:21:00.000-07:00

We went to my parent's house for this last General Confrence. My parents do confrence very differently than Alan and I do. Where my parents are so far from town, and don't have satelite, we listened to it on the radio with little kids all around. It is so hard to concentrate these pictures are what we did during confrence. Short attention spans run strong in our family. Finally for the last session Alan and I went into the basement and pulled up confrence on the computer. Within five minutes of it starting, Kaden, Kyle, and Zoie all migrated down and jumped into the bed with us. In the next five or ten minutes they were all asleep and we were the only ones awake surrounded by little sweaty bodies. Got to love family!

Spring Break

2009-05-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

Spring Break for us was really busy. We started by going to Provo, UT and seeing old friends from school we got the "gang" all together and we went to Cafe Rio for dinner. It was so fun to see old friends and to catch up. We were blessed with such great friends. Alan's old roommates are awesome we loved hanging out with them and being around them. Sometimes we sit around the table and just reminiscing about all of the fun times we have had and the luck that we have received pertaining particularly to friends. Jason and Jessica Longhurst are some of the most amazing people we know and we are so lucky to have such great friends as them. They are actually living in our old apartment and have done a fabulous job with it. Macsen, Andrew and Brad are some the the funniest most likable people and we are truly blessed and undeserving of such great people to have as friends.

After Provo, we met up with my parents and drove all the way to Phoenix, Arizona. When we finally got there we had an absolute ball. Unfortunately Alan got a bad case of the flu and was constantly tired. In spite of that we had a great time. The first day we were there, we went to the car auction that was an experience to remember the spark in my dad's eye when he saw a good deal. We practically had to drag him off the lot so we could go home. Right after the auction we met the rest of the family for a spring training Professional Baseball Game the Indians and the Angels. There were four home runs in the 6-9th innings.

The next day we played baseball for hours. Batting and throwing soft toss and catch it was such a great time we all came home battered and blistered. We stayed at Haylie's house and it is beautiful they live in such a great community with parks all around and great friends. We played Guesstures with two of the families from their ward. Alan was the star of the night. Despite his sickness, he somehow found a burst of energy while preforming. For example...Alan's word was tornado and his first impulse was to spin himself around. So, without thinking he while standing on the carpet barefoot, mind you, did a double (720 degrees). I have never seen so much energy from one person turn on and turn off so quickly.

Before we left, we had one stop that could not be ignored...the restaurant: In and Out. This is my dad's favorite restaurant of all time hence the pictures.

All in all we had a fabulous time.

Our Pocatello Apartment

2009-05-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

Disregarding the fact that we have lived in Pocatello for over four months we are posting the pictures of our apartment. We live in what is called Grove Apartments. When you first walk in, the kitchen is on your left and looking forward there is our great room (dining room and family room) we have two bedrooms one is just for everything that we don't have a home for yet. so ignore the mess. We absolutely love our little bare home. It has been so fun to have our own things and to decorate or in our case not decorate much.

Valentines Day

2009-04-30T14:09:00.001-07:00

I know this was a really long time ago but in case you care here are some of the festivities. Alan had to work late so I made a fancy dinner, went to the dollar store and purchased some of the essential romantic tools: rose petals, champange glasses, sparkling cider, candle sticks, table cloth (very important). I ran home to get meat because Alan wanted steak in the mean time, I had my little brothers and sisters cut out hearts out of colored construction paper. When I got home, I wrote little sayings on each of the hearts and the kids tied them up with thread. I got home and hung them up from the celing and had everything ready for Alan to come home. He was shocked. It was really cheezy but on a budget you have to be creative. We loved it Alan kept the hearts up for weeks so I think it was a success.

Crazy couple of months

2009-04-30T14:07:00.001-07:00

We have been running for a while now it seems like life never stops and gives us a chance to catch our breath but this is a brief update of all the things that have been happening lately.

2009-03-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

I know I am the world's biggest slacker and that everyone is worried that we have fallen off the face of the earth but really life has gone on since last October. Over Christmas, Alan and I moved to Pocatello, ID to finish school (hopefully). We have loved it here and our ward has been awesome. We feel truly blessed to have such wonderful opportunities here. Our apartment is so cute and homey and yes pictures are on their way I again apologize for the delay. I am applying to the nursing program at the end of this semester and will find out in September if I made it in. Alan is pursuing seminary teaching and will continue taking the classes in the fall. He has however decided to major in Pre-Med and is hoping to be a pediatrician when this is all over. We are contemplating what to do for the summer but are not having a difficult time deciding not from a lack of options but because we have so many to choose from. I just wanted to give a thank you shout out to all those that love us and have supported us through the thick and the thin. We really appreciate it and are happy to announce that the last posting that was somewhat gloomy has not come to pass. We are very happy here and are having incredible success and loving every minute of every day! I promise to post pictures and am resolving now to change and keep all of you in the loop via blogging. Thank you for being so patient I will post again soon!

The Road

2008-10-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

Life has thrown me a few curve balls that I am unable to hit. For the last two years I have hit one road block and then the other. When I applied to BYU I almost didn't go because I thought I was getting married. I had the hardest summer of my life and headed to BYU blindly without any friends. When I got to BYU I encountered one disappointment after another and I struggled in school the first class I ever failed was after I had been in school for three years and was consecutively on the honor roll. School has never been easy for me and I have had to work harder and study longer than anyone I have ever met. It was not uncommon to study 50 hours for a test and walk out with a 65% I still have yet to understand what is different about BYU to BYU-I but I have never been so frustrated. I have changed my major seven times and still am searching. Today was a interesting hard day my mom called and told me that my acceptance letter came and I didn't get into the Nursing Program. I was so hurt because we have put everything on the line to move to Pocatello and I felt that a major reason we were going was for me because I am not succeeding at BYU. Then, when I don't get into ISU I was heartbroken. I feel so bad because Alan is so smart and can survive anywhere but he is paired with me I just don't want to let him down or hold him back. I know that I was supposed to come to BYU to meet him but I am quickly being convinced that, that is the only reason that I am here. If you look at the big picture though, I would choose him over a stellar GPA any day. I love him with all of my heart and I just hope that he is still able to reach his very highest potential. So as for the new game plan, stay tuned because hopefully it will be revealed shortly.

The Annual Halloween Party

2008-10-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

Martha has this fabulous Halloween party every year and this was the first year that I fit the family criteria and could come. We had such a great time. We arrived late because our car broke down and our unexpected homework finally got finished. We were still carving our pumpkin while everyone else's were being judged and given prizes. We got the "best work in progress" award. But I have to admit that our pumpkin turned out so well it was incredibly ornate we did the headless horseman and it was so fun. Growing up carving pumpkins was with a little steak knife and crazy simple faces. We used an actual pumpkin carving kit and I can't believe how much of a differnce it makes it was so easy. Martha made the best soup I think I have ever had and bread bowls in the shape and color of pumpkins it was so cute. It is always so fun to get together with family and catch up. Martha has such wonderful eye for decoration her house was so cute and Halloween-esk. We just love her!!!

Dinner with Alison

2008-10-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

So, we love Alison, she made this facebook group called "dinner with Alison" and she got all of the Sacramento clan together and took us all out for dinner. We are so grateful for such good friends we really are surrounded. Alan has a group of about five moms back home that watch us like hawks they are so eager to help out at any sign of trouble. We love coming home and seeing everyone but we especially love it when they come to see us. We really feel so blessed and so loved aways. Thank you to the "Sacramento Five".

The First End of the Crazy

2008-10-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

We have had the most crazy week Alan had four tests in four days and I had two. It has been so stressful and hard to keep up in chool and keep our chins up! I have to admit that I took it really hard. Alan is so good to study and being a boy he is very focused on only one thing at a time that one thing was school. I have a really hard time and have felt really lonely in my own house solely becasue my husband is a good student. I don't know if it is the birth control or what but I just struggle. I want so badly to be supportive but I need time. I took the love language test and my number one is time. So, after a long hard weekend, we finally had a date night. It was simply perfect. We went up Provo Canyon and took a walk. It was so fun to just get outside and enjoy the fresh air. We took fun pictures these here and we went out to dinner. I finally got my husband back it was so nice just to be!

Future

2008-10-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

We are transferring to ISU in the winter semester and are looking for homes possibly to buy with the market how it is, the chances are high. I applied to the Nursing program and Alan is going to teach with CES (Church Education System). We are so excited for all of this change and have loved learning and growing together. We have so much to learn and so far to go that it seems almost impossible but we are learning everyday life definitely keeps us on our toes. We have yet to have even one uneventful day. It has been so fun to see how life has changed in just the four months that we have been married. It is also fun to look back at all of the challenges we have faced and to reflect on their impact on our life. I don't know what life will bring or even where we will end up but I know that everything will work out for our benefit. I have been sitting here alone today while Alan is at work and I can't help but think about how blessed we are. Every night we find it hard to ask for things in our prayers because our list of thank yous is so long. We are so grateful for all of the good fortune we have had and the love and support we feel from our friends and family. I know that we will really never be alone. We are so happy and have everything we need. We are truly looked over. THANK YOU!!

The Wedding

2008-10-11T20:37:00.000-07:00

Our wedding was perfect. It was so beautiful and very low stress thanks to my mom, my older sister and some of the wonderful people from the ward that were so willing to drop everything to help us. I got everything I wanted and had the chance to be the princess. I had the most beautiful dress, the photographer took beautiful pictures, and I had my string quartet. That truly was the best day of my life. Not only did I get doted on but I married my best friend, the love of my life. I got so lucky. Alan is the best person I have ever met and treats me like a queen everyday even when I am not wearing a big white dress. I love him with all my heart I don't know what I would do without him. Since we have been married, I hear more and more from my friends and family that I look so happy, I really am happier than I have ever been before. Alan is so patient and very quick to skip over my faults. He is my source of the greatest joy I have ever had.

Honeymoon

2008-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't done this for a long time so there is a lot to catch up on. our Honeymoon was spent in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. We had such a great time and did everything from playing with monkeys, going out to dinner, taking a boat to a private island, canoeing in the ocean, swinging from zip-line to zip-line though the heart of the jungle, shuffleboard, and even watching the rain fall. It truly was a wonderful time for us. The weather was perfect: hot and humid just how we like it. It was exotic but yet very Americanized. We stayed just down the street from Walmart and there was a Costco. If you can believe it they had everything from Outback Steak House to Pizza Hut to Sherwin Williams. Okay so it was just like America and maybe even like the slums of California but we loved every minute of it.

The Dance

2008-10-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Alan and I were part of BYUSA and as such we planned the winter formals for BYU we had two dances to do and it was so much work. I couldn't believe all the unnecessary stress. BYUSA was less than helpful but none the less, we were able to get everything done on time. The venue for one of the dances was called "North Hampton" and it was a beautiful reception center with spiral staircases and chandeliers with roses all over the walls. We hired a "big band swing" band and also a DJ. We expected about five-hundred people but because the advertising didn't come out until a few days before, there were only about thirty to fifty people. The second dance was in the WILK and we hung tulle and lights and ivy from the ceiling we had all kinds of chocolate fountains and goodies. all and all it was a good experience but I don't think we will ever volunteer for anything that involved again.

One of our Many Date Nights

2008-10-11T13:13:00.001-07:00

We had a great group date Alan and I put together a picture scavanger hunt and we had a huge competition it was based on three different criterias:

1. Number of items off the list

2. Creativity

3. How many people you got in the picture

I think we won here are some of our cool pictures. You can be the judge.

Our First Apartment

2008-10-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

We hunted for a place to live for days and days one time while surfing craigslist, we found the perfect apartment it had only been listed for five minutes before we called. When we went to look at it, we simply fell in love with it. It has been so fun to have my own house to decorate and my kitchen to make it whatever we wanted. It is now fully furnished and so cute. We were truly blessed.

THE POTTS FAMILY

2008-08-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Alan and I were married June 6, 2008. Our happily ever after has been wonderful we have a cute little apartment that we absolutely adore. We are quickly adapting to married life and continue to learn and grow together. We have been so blessed by all of our friends and family. Because of their generosity, we have everything we need. We want to thank all of you for your support and love.
Thank You!