The past few weeks have been incredibly hectic with end of the year, senior stuff going on, in addition to the normal busyness of life, so it has been a real challenge to my eating and staying on track. I have to admit, I actually gained a couple of pounds but fortunately, am back to losing again. As of today, I have lost a total of 29.4 lbs. (I keep getting so close to 30 but just haven’t made it yet!) I have also lost a little more in inches, but will remeasure next week and post those. Hopefully with school coming to end in a few days, I can stay on track and get back to losing the rest of the weight I need to lose.

As I look at the pictures we took of my son’s Baccalaureate ceremony on Sunday, I still have to do a double take at how different I look from this time last year. It definitely makes me smile instead of cringe, like I sometimes did when looking at pictures of myself.

Congratulations, Noah! We are so proud of you!

What about you? Do you cringe at your pictures? Have you been struggling with your weight or having health problems because of it? Want to lose weight and get healthy? Join Nutrisystem today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog today!

FTC Disclosure: I was selected to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program which includes receiving meals, support, and program materials related to the Women’s Nutrisystem Success program in exchange for my honest reviews and opinions about the program through blog posts, videos, and social media posts. I have received no compensation and am under no obligation to provide favorable reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you’ve followed MomRN, listened to the Ask MomRN Show, or connected with me through social media, you might know that I am a below-knee amputee, due to a birth defect. My right leg was amputated at the ankle when I was 10 weeks old and I wear a prosthetic leg from the knee down. So what’s the problem caused by losing so much weight? My leg no longer fits! Why is that a good problem? Because my leg wasn’t fitting well at all before I lost the weight. It was tight, uncomfortable, and I was becoming worried about the very real possibility of it causing blood clots in my residual limb. It was getting scary and I really dreaded having to go get it re-fitted because I was afraid they would tell me it couldn’t be done and I’d need to have a new leg made. Considering this leg is only a few years old, costs as much as a car, and it’s extremely difficult to get insurance to pay for them, I knew a new leg was out of the question. This was was a major factor in prompting me to check out weight loss options and a big reason why I’ve been so grateful to be a part of the Nutrisystem Nation.

Now I’m facing the need to get my leg re-fitted for the opposite reason – it’s way too big now! I’m having to double up on “stump socks” and liners to keep it on. I’m kicking myself (pun intended) for not measuring the circumference of my stump (residual limb) when I started Nutrisystem so I could know how many inches I’ve lost because it has been drastic! Don’t know why I didn’t think about it at the time. I knew it would shrink some as I lost weight and I was hoping it would be just enough for my leg to fit properly again, but I’ve probably lost more inches there than I have on any other one area of my body. It’s been a huge change. The saving grace is getting it re-fitted for this reason should be easier and (hopefully!) less expensive than if it had been re-fitted to accommodate all the excess weight I’d been carrying. I have been putting off going to my prosthetist for as long as possible and just doubling up on socks/liners as much as I can to make the leg fit as I try to get closer to my goal weight. Not sure how much longer I’ll be able to wait though so I probably won’t be able to wait until I reach my goal weight before having it worked on. But I’m not complaining!

Your turn – have you lost a significant amount of weight and had either an unexpected benefit or an unforseen downside as a result of it? Or do you need/want to lose weight and get healthy? If you do, check out Nutrisystem. You can even do a 5 day trial run by getting a Nutrisystem 5-Day Weight Loss Kit at Walmart to jumpstart your weight loss and find out if Nutrisystem is for you. Join Nutrisystem today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog today!

FTC Disclosure: I was selected to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program which includes receiving meals, support, and program materials related to the Women’s Nutrisystem Success program in exchange for my honest reviews and opinions about the program through blog posts, videos, and social media posts. I have received no compensation and am under no obligation to provide favorable reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Trying to pick out something to wear for today gave me another reminder of just how much weight I’ve lost over the past several months. Clothes that fit me at the beginning of winter are now too big to wear and will have to be replaced next winter. I did buy a few items here and there over the winter, but very little and mostly dress clothes that I can wear for business and for television segments. Pretty much every pair of jeans I own are now too big and have to be held up by a belt or a clip that cinches in the back of the waist. Many of my shirts and blouses and sweaters are too loose too. So I guess it is time to do another closet purge and see what it is left over. A few months ago, before the weather turned cold, I purged most of my spring and summer clothing that I knew would not fit me this year. Now it is time to do that for the winter clothes – if winter ever decides to end that is! Seriously, did someone forget to tell Mother Nature that May is supposed to be Spring???

Looking at the clothes I used to wear really makes it hit home how big of a difference losing almost 30 pounds has made in my life. I will forever be grateful to Nutrisystem for allowing me to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program and for the positive impact it has had on my life. I’m thinner, but more importantly, I am much healthier!

The fun thing about cleaning out the closet and purging the clothes that no longer fit is getting to replace them with newer clothes in smaller sizes! Of course, that can be hard on the pocketbook so I recommend buying a little at a time as you are losing weight. Also, I love to shop consignment boutiques because you can often find gently worn, even new looking great clothes at a bargain price. I went shopping at one of my favorite local consignment shops recently and found this beautiful outfit (cardigan, camisole, and slacks) and only paid $20 for the 3 pieces combined! They all looked brand new and were from Ann Taylor and Talbots (two of the stores whose clothes I love but can’t always afford brand new). Why pay retail every time when you can get fabulous clothes at a steep discount?

Your turn – do you have any money saving tricks for replacing your wardrobe while losing weight? Have you lost a significant amount of weight on your diet and had to replace most or all of your clothes? Or are you wanting to lose weight and get healthy? If so, check into Nutrisystem and their variety of plans to find one that’s right for you. Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog today!

FTC Disclosure: I was selected to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program which includes receiving meals, support, and program materials related to the Women’s Nutrisystem Success program in exchange for my honest reviews and opinions about the program through blog posts, videos, and social media posts. I have received no compensation and am under no obligation to provide favorable reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Want to lose weight and get healthy too? Check into Nutrisystem and their variety of plans to find one that’s right for you. Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog today!

FTC Disclosure: I was selected to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program which includes receiving meals, support, and program materials related to the Women’s Nutrisystem Success program in exchange for my honest reviews and opinions about the program through blog posts, videos, and social media posts. I have received no compensation and am under no obligation to provide favorable reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn’t lose any pounds this week, which doesn’t surprise me, but since I last measured a month ago, I have lost another 0.5 inch off my chest, another 0.5 inch off my waist, and another 0.5 inch off my thigh, so that’s another 1.5 inches lost overall, which means 24.9 inches lost since August! Plus, I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before, but since I’ve only been measuring on one side of my body for my limbs, I haven’t taken into account the other side. Silly me! So I’ve lost even more, but in the interest of staying consistent, I’ll stick with what I’ve been doing. I do wish, however, that I had measured my stump (my residual limb – I’m a below-knee amputee) all along because it has shrunk considerably. I’ve definitely lost a few inches on it alone, but just didn’t think to measure it. I have to double up now on my stump socks and will have to go soon to get the socket of my prosthesis re-fitted. I’m trying to wait as long as possible because I’d love to get to my goal weight before having to do that, but I’m not sure I’m going to be able to wait that long. It’s exciting to have this problem though, since at the start of my Nutrisystem Nation journey I was having the opposite problem. My leg barely fit and I was going to have to have the socket enlarged. I was also very worried about the possibility of blood clots because of circulation issues that come from a leg that fits too tightly, but thankfully, Nutrisystem saved me from that!

Want to lose weight and get healthy too? Check into Nutrisystem and their variety of plans to find one that’s right for you. Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog today!

Times like this week also serve as a reminder that we never know how long we have with the ones we love. Tomorrow is not promised so we must make the most of each day. For that reason, even when we don’t feel like it, we do still need to take care of our health and do what we can to improve and maintain our health. How do you take care of your health in times of high stress? What do you do to calm down when you are upset by events beyond your control? For me personally, it helps to pray, rest, and do something I enjoy like listening to music, watching a comedy or reading. Sometimes we have to turn off the news and step away from social media and the internet and clear our minds. Too much news overload, especially when it is bad news filled with horrific images of bombings, explosions, tornadoes, etc., is just as harmful to our health as gorging ourselves on tons of junk food and fattening comfort foods. Take a break, take a walk, talk with a loved one or friend, watch or read something funny or listen to music that is uplifting and be kind to yourself. It also helps me to focus on the good in the world and what I can do to help others. Good will triumph over evil, every time, if we don’t let evil keep us hiding in fear. Let’s show the world there is still goodness and light in the midst of this darkness. May God be with you and all of us!

FTC Disclosure: I was selected to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program which includes receiving meals, support, and program materials related to the Women’s Nutrisystem Success program in exchange for my honest reviews and opinions about the program through blog posts, videos, and social media posts. I have received no compensation and am under no obligation to provide favorable reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of the most anticipated movies of the year is Disney’s The Lone Ranger starring Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp. Today at 1pm PST, both stars will be answering questions about the movie during a live stream Q&A session on Yahoo! You can watch it below or on Yahoo! at

http://movies.yahoo.com/lone-ranger-live/

They will also be debuting the official movie trailer! Come back here later to watch the trailer!

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes.  Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

I can’t wait to see this movie, can you?

Here’s all the details:

The show airs at 1pm Eastern/ 12pm Central/ 10am Pacific. If you can’t catch the live show, you can listen to the archive on demand and download the podcast at your convenience at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flylady/2013/04/15/ask-mom-rn-show–tamara-walker-rn

In celebration of our 5th anniversary on BlogTalkRadio, Ask MomRN Show host, Tamara Walker, welcomes singer Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, musician Phil Keaggy, & producer David Harris to share Micky’s new CD, Remember. This latest solo album is a musical scrapbook of songs that have special significance in Micky’s life and have been re-imagined and covered in Micky’s unique style. Micky shares stories behind some of the songs and how the album was made.

David Harris is the producer and musical genius behind many of the arrangements on the album and shares how he talked Micky into making the new solo album and stories of working with Micky. Phil Keaggy, widely known as one of the world’s greatest guitarists, plays on the album and shares what it was like to work on it long-distance from his home in Nashville while Micky and David recorded in L.A.

Join us for a very fun, highly entertaining chat with 3 incredible artists and enjoy songs from the new CD!

Whether you are a brand new parent or have teenagers leaving the nest in a few short years, MomRN has advice, support, and encouragement to help you on your journey through parenthood. Her expertise has helped thousands of parents as they strive to be the best parents they can be. Join MomRN and her expert guests each week for practical advice for raising a happy, healthy family.

Here I am at the start of my Nutrisystem journey. I’d already lost several lbs. when this was taken!

And here I am now:

Can you see why I LOVE Nutrisystem?

Want to lose weight and get healthy too? Check into Nutrisystem and their variety of plans to find one that’s right for you. Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog today!

FTC Disclosure: I was selected to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program which includes receiving meals, support, and program materials related to the Women’s Nutrisystem Success program in exchange for my honest reviews and opinions about the program through blog posts, videos, and social media posts. I have received no compensation and am under no obligation to provide favorable reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This spaceship-like air purifier looks cool!

I love Spring! The warmer days, the beautiful flowers and trees in bloom, and the cute baby animals in the fields. But there is one thing I HATE about Spring. One thing that makes me, and many others, suffer miserably. Yes, you guessed it – seasonal allergies!

It’s that time of year for sniffling, sneezing, watery eyes, dripping noses, sinus infections, ear infections, and dark circles under your eyes that make you look like you haven’t slept in weeks. It’s enough to make me want to hide under the covers and not come out until summer. But since that is impractical and probably wouldn’t work anyway, I’ve been checking into air purifiers for our house instead. Many fellow allergy sufferers swear by them for reducing the allergens in their homes and many doctors recommend them. While we can’t do much to reduce the outside allergens; indoor allergens, including dust mites, pet dander, mold and mildew can be decreased with an air purifier.

One thing that prevented me from buying an air purifier system in the past was the cost. So I was pleasantly surprised to find some inexpensive options while searching on Best Buy’s air purification page. There are several different sizes and styles available, ranging from small systems for one room to larger systems for the entire house. They also offer a variety of features to combat not only allergens, but also issues such as odor, germs, and humidity. Best Buy also carries a wide variety of replacement filters so you can replace them as needed. Don’t forget to replace your air conditioning/heating filters too. Clean filters work much better than dirty ones and can drastically improve the air quality in your home.

Do you use any type of air purifier in your home? If so, I’d love to hear your recommendations! Do you have a one-room system or whole house system? What features do you recommend? Or are you like me and considering buying one this Spring? If you are thinking of purchasing an air purifier or if you need replacement filters or parts for your existing purifier, you can save 20% by using this Family & Friends Best Buy coupon offer, good on all air purification products they sell.

So, who wants to go shopping?

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This week Nutrisystem announced their newest spokesperson and it is none other than Melissa Joan Hart! Congratulations to Melissa, who started the program after the birth of her 3rd child and has already lost 20 lbs.! I remember watching Melissa on Clarissa Explains it All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch when my kids were growing up. Now she’s a busy mom of 3, starring in Melissa & Joey, and like many of us, wants to get healthy and lose excess weight. Sounds like she’s off to a great start! Welcome to the Nutrisystem Nation, Melissa!

In addition to congratulating Melissa, I also want to congratulate Nutrisystem on being named the Best Convenience Diet by The Best Diet & Fitness Tips, a new USA TODAY publication featuring some of the best advice from USA TODAY, Shape and Men’s Fitness.

“Convenience is an important factor when it comes to adherence and it’s terrific to see notable experts acknowledging our efforts to make Nutrisystem a diet that uniquely recognizes the importance of a delivering a plan that fits within the busy lives we all lead and drives real weight loss results,” commented Meghan Nichols, R.D., a registered dietitian and member of Nutrisystem’s Research & Development team.

Speaking from my experience over the past several months, Nutrisystem has been very convenient and easily fits into my busy schedule. It’s awesome not have to worry about counting calories, weighing foods, measuring portions, cooking special foods, taking scary “what’s really in these things?” diet pills, and all that other stuff that goes into some diet and weight loss programs. With Nutrisystem, I know I’m losing weight in a healthy, safe way and that’s very important to me. I’ve lost over 27 pounds since starting the program and it’s been much easier than I ever dreamed!

Is your health important to you too? Want a convenient way to lose weight and get healthy? Join me, Melissa Joan Hart, and all the other happy Nutrisystem clients by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog today!

FTC Disclosure: I was selected to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program which includes receiving meals, support, and program materials related to the Women’s Nutrisystem Success program in exchange for my honest reviews and opinions about the program through blog posts, videos, and social media posts. I have received no compensation and am under no obligation to provide favorable reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.