New Journey

Well guys sorry for not posting in awhile but my life has been very crazy lately. Things are still good and we are all doing fine. On a side note my dad may be going back into the hospital because the lungs are filling up fast again and the meds are not working. He is in some what of good spirits but no word yet when he is going.

Ok so since the 6th I have had a wonderful guest in my house and have been having a blast. My friend Neri from Australia came out and is staying with us. She came out to train a bit, visit with my dear family and attended the Tae Bo certification camp. Well camp is over and she will be heading home on friday. I have learned so much from her being here and I am so grateful.

This is Neri with Billy Blanks at the cert camp. We have had fun training with Billy, shellie his daughter and some of his instuctors. I have learned so much and have grown alot.

Now for the new journey I bet you are wondering about. Well since she has been here I have been able to talk with Billy and Shellie alot and and do alot of praying and I have been blessed with a gift and realized God has a new journey for me. I have been given the wonderful priviledge to attend the Novembers Tae Bo certification camp to become a certified Tae Bo instructor. After talking with Billy and Shellie I was so blessed by this but I also new I wanted to do what God wanted and not go against His will. I prayed that if it was His will that doors would be open so I could go, and they have been. So far things are falling into place and I am so excited to be going. I also know that if things change before camp then it was'nt His will.

I am so excited to be able to take my love and devotion for the Lord and serving Him and my love for Tae Bo and helping people and putting them together. I feel that with teaching i can make it my ministry to reach others for the Lord. I can teach and get to know my students and then lay the foundations for the Lord to work and open doors so I can share the gospel with them. By helping them to loose weight and be an example to them and letting the Holy Spirit work through me I pray seeds can be planted and harvested too. I can make this my ministry and the one thing I can talk to poeple about to open doors for the most important thing, their salvation.

I know this may sound silly to some, a waste of time, or may sound like I am taking time away from my family. In no way do I feel like this. We all are different in how we reach others and talk to them about the Lord. I am a very shy person and this will help me be outgoing and open doors. I will be a better mother and wife by taking care of myself. I will have to pray sooooo much more for the Lord to help me get though a class to always be aware that others are watching me and looking to me. That I pray for every student that comes my way so I can talk to them about the Lord. So I will be closer to the Lord and leaning on Him so much.

I am very serious about health and taking care of yourself. If your body is not working right and you are not taking care of it then your mind starts to go too. I feel I am not taking care of what God has given to me and being a temple for the Lord. My father has really bad health and doesnt take his health seriously. In turn because of that he does'nt go to church or serve God at all. I know you can be in bad health and serve God but for me if I am in good health I can serve Him better.

Now when I do start to teach Ian will be in school at our churchs school and Alex will be with me depending on where I can get to teach. Alex will also be in school sooner then I would liek to admit. So i wont take away from my kids because I just wont do that. All my classes will be during the day and really not that many a week. If I should have to teach at night it will never be on a church night or during a time there is something at the church I would go to.

I know God will work this all out and help me to know what to do. From now and until Nove 7,8,9th I have training to do to get ready for cert camp and I ask for your prayers. This is going to be very physically and mentally challenging until camp and I need all the suport I can get.

Thank you for letting me ramble on about this and I will keep you updated as I get closer to cert cmp. Take care all and know you are always in my heart and prayers.

Weightloss testimony/biography!!!!!

First I want to say sorry for this being a bit of a long read but I did'nt know how to just add it as a link. I am constantly adding and updating this so please overlook its mistakes.That being said I hope you learn just a little bit of this long journey and I hope I can inspire or help you in anyway.
I also have to make one thing clear also. The ONLY way I am where I am today is completly by Gods love and grace. He is the reason I am still alive and I have come so far. If it ever sounds like I give credit to anyone or anything please forgive me now and I plan to rewrite it soon. I cry every day in how God never gives up on me and loves me and still gives me a second chance even witht the zillion mistakes I make everyday. I can never say thank you or I love you enough to God and I pray I can grow and become closer to Him daily.

My Name is Jennifer Page, I am 31 years old and a stay at home mom of 2 boys.

I have always had a problem with my weight from going up then down and up again like a roller coaster. I had a low self esteem and my confidence was always low and I would talk bad about myself. When my husband Ryan and I got married in 2003 I had lost a lot of weight and was doing great but eating was not the best. Well 3 months after we were married I found out I was pregnant and that’s when my depression started. I was scared I was going to gain a lot of weight and to top it all off my husband was deployed to Iraq. Well I did gain a lot of weight and I ate what ever I wanted I didn’t care. A year after my son Ian was born I finally started to loose weight by exercising and trying to eat right. I did well and was proud of how I was doing but never lost all the weight. I still had a problem with food and sticking to a plan.

Then in July 2005 after my husband came back from Iraq the second time we moved to Okinawa Japan and by DEC I found out I was pregnant AGAIN. I was happy yes to be having another baby but not to gain weight again. And yes I gained a lot again and the depression kicked in too. But this time I knew what I did wrong the last time and I was NOT going to make that mistake again. So SEP 7th 2006 I delivered my son Alex and that’s where my true journey of my transformation began. I had to make this journey because I was tired of how I was living my life or lack there of. My father has bad health, you name it he has it and I did not want to end up like that. I wanted to live a life that I could teach my children how to live life to its fullest and the right way. I did not want them to hear me try to teach them things but myself not doing what I was saying. I wanted to be a walking testimony, knowing I do make mistakes but I learn from them, move on and grow. I had to do this mainly for me.


This journey was hard to begin but I took it slow, one day at a time. The first thing I did was change how I was eating. I started to really watch what I ate, when I ate, how much I ate and how often. I started to cut back on how much I was eating and ate smaller meals 5-6 times a day and nothing past 7pm. I am eating very clean and a lot of fresh foods and really limiting the processed foods. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies, whole grains, low in fat, limit my sugar, and only drink water or un-sweeten tea. I no longer eat sweets of any kind, drink sodas, limit fried foods to once a month, and eating out. All this I have kept up since SEP 7th 2006 and still eat very clean but I do treat myself once every few weeks with one meal. I love how I feel in control of food and food not controlling me. Food to me was a drug and I was an addict.

The second thing I did was to workout 5-6 times a week. I went back to my first love, Tae Bo, which I do 4-5 times a week. I walk/run 4.5 miles 2-3 times a week and mix it up with other cardio also. I count my steps and get a minimum of 10,000 a day. I also have a strength routine I follow 4 times a week. I also add in conditioning exercises to the mix. So all in all I workout 5-6 times a week with 1-2 rest days and I feel amazing and great, better then I ever have. I first focused on my eating and then later my workouts came into play. I would take care of my inside and if I could get a small workout in or a walk that was great. I would get some crunches and jumping jacks in here and there. I also would go over the basic tae bo moves getting the technique down, really focusing on them going slow and hard. I would do this a little all day and boy that was a workout in its self. As my new born got older I was able to get more workouts in. It was not until he turned 1 that I had a really good regular workout routine.

I feel amazing and strong and my confidence is better then it ever has. I know I had to do this for me and no one else. I had to learn to love myself no matter what I looked like. I had to tap into energy I never knew I had and lean on my faith to get me through. The most amazing thing is since SEP 7th 2006, I have lost a total of 117 lbs and a lot of inches and have gone down from a size 22/24 to now getting into a size 8/10 depending on the make of the brand. I had to change how I was thinking and what I was telling myself. I stopped saying I will try to do something to I WILL DO IT, I CAN DO IT. The word try or cant was no longer in my vocabulary.

My self esteem is better then it has ever been and I have confidence in myself, and in what I can do. I love to talk to people now and to help them if I can. I live my life to be an inspiration to others that they too can make a change in their lives and loose the weight also. Tae Bo has been one of the most amazing things in my life and for making me who I am , after God of course. Billy Blanks is an amazing inspiring person to teach you, train you and help you to become the person you have always wanted. He gives you the tools and info you need and then you make the stand for the change. He can not force you to change but once you workout you realize you can do it and you begin to see the changes from the outside to the inside.

You are the only thing to stop yourself from doing what you want. If you listen to what you are telling yourself you will begin to believe it. So if you are feeding yourself negative talk that’s all you will believe and see. Think positive, stay strong, and give yourself time. Train and change your mind and know you are stronger then you give yourself credit, dig deep and let out that amazing person hiding inside. Reach out to friends and family and find a support buddy, someone you two can keep accountable too. Lean on your faith and never let go of who you are, do this for yourself and no one else. Love yourself no matter if you never change. Please remember my new saying that I learned from Billy Blanks, “ Live the Triple T’s “, Trust Truth and Time. Trust in yourself and what you are doing will show results. Listen to the Truth and not the negative talk and what you think you see but what is actually there. And most of all, give your self Time to change and transform, it takes time to put on and it takes time to come off. I have learned that if you race through life you will miss so much and never have time for anything or yourself. If you take your time on this journey you can see so many wonderful things and can enjoy it. Yes life may be a race but enjoy that race. Look to the future and not behind you or you may run into something, but always learn from your mistakes and use it to grow and improve from.

I know this is a lifetime commitment and I am willing to make it. I feel the best I have ever felt. I still have 30 lbs or so to go for my ultimate goal but I am looking forward to the journey. I may be in a platue right now but we all have times in our workout journey that we have to evaluate what we are doing and learn and grow from it. I am looking at what I can change and do different and find fun new things to challenge my body. I’m always wanting to challenge myself from the small things to the big things. Keep the spice in your life, marriage, kids, and of course your workouts.
As of today we have moved back to the states to another base in CA. Since we have been back I have had the most amazing opportunity to be apart of the new T3 tae bo videos. I was able to go to Santa Clarita for the filming and had the time of my life. That time was so life changing and I learned and grew so much. I was able to be in the transformation, empowerment, target abs, target legs and one of the funk videos. My new goal is to tone up and loose weight more to be in next years videos and hopefully be a testimony also. I am in the works of trying to get a personal trainer to help me reach my goal weight and help build my muscle tone and endurance. I know having a trainer will help me reach this goal and show me things I never new and to educate me more. By getting to my goal I want to be able to walk into a store and not be afraid to go clothes shopping and know I can fit into a lot of the things in it. I feel I am on the right track. The Marine Corp ball is coming up in November and I want to be able to fit into a descent sexy red dress to go with my husbands dress blues and to look good in the pictures. I also want to be able to have fun on the cruise that my husband has been wanting to take us on next year since we never had a honeymoon. My husband is the most supportive person to me and helps me in any way he can. We eat healthy together and try to do activities or workout together as a family so we can teach our kids. He is the most amazing husband, father, friend and Marine I know. I am truly blessed. And my journey still continues…

Haircuts & Pjs

Well it is another crazy week and always so much going on so it took me a bit to post again. Praise God it has been the normal day to day life and nothing serious. Sometimes I think I get not depressed but I guess blue that it is same thing different day and nothing exciting. Well that is such a blessing to know that things are good in my life and we are truely blessed with SO many things.

Then the boys remind me that having boys it is never boring. Like the time they went fishing in the toilet with their gold fish crackers. Well water was everywhere and I asked why, their response, it was storming. Then how about the time they found a permenant marker and had to write their name on their stuff. Or the time they want to paint the table with their bananas and ketchup from lunch. Or how they like for one to sit under the toy bucket and the other will be on top until they scream to get out. Then there was a time when they had their sidewalk chalk and started to give me pictures on the side of the house. then of course they love to get into their dads boxing gloves stuff and fight each other. Theres the constant running in circles chasing each other laughing and screaming the whole time but when they do that when I am working out and they come running across the exercise step I am using is hard. I go up on it then down they come running across, I go up then down they come running across, very hard to get a workout in. I laugh so much when they come out dressed in their dads clothes and try to be like him, not when they some how find my underwear to put on their heads and hold a sword to fight like a pirate.

There are so many things they do and alot of the time I forget to grab the camera. Life is never boring with these two and I thank them for the reminder. I think the things I love most more then them being crazy, silly, creative and everything else is the sweet hugs they give me each day. I love how sometimes they wake up before me and then come to my bed and want to climb in and lay there and cuddle for a bit. Or the times when I am having a hard day and they stop what they are doing to come up and give me a hug and a kiss and tell me they love me or Ian tells me, Mommy your my best girl. It melts my heart every time he says that. I love that they both argue in who gets to pray before we eat. So we let them each have a turn. I love how Ian loves to pray and how his brother copies him and wants to pray too.

So even though I think satan trys to get me to think my life is boring and nothing exciting happens I then remember I am blessed and my life is never boring or w/o excitment.

Now I am sure you are wondering where the haircuts and Pjs comes in. Well here are a few pictures of the boys after their haircuts Ryan took them to get ( yes at the barbers on base )and sporting their new summer Pjs. Since it is sooo hot and we have no A/C and we still have'nt bought fans yet we had to get them their haircuts. Well with all that hair it was making them hot and they needed some thinner Pjs to wear to keep them cool.

Trying to get these two to stand still for a picture is hard since they love to make funny faces and act silly for the camera. You can tell by their expressions and how in one Alex ran to me in taking a picture of them both.

I hope you enjoy and remember life is never boring when are Heavenly Father is in control.

Being Creative

Hey guys sorry for not posting in a while but things have been busy and crazy around here.

I wanted to post a few pictures of a cake I made for a friend at my church. Saturday we had a going away luncheon for her since her hubby is being restationed and sunday was her last one. So since she was moving I was given the opportunity to make a cake. I have been wanting to try and make this cake for awhile now and I finally had an excuse to make it.

I made this cake from scratch and even the icing. It had two layers and each layer was split in two to make it four layers of cake and icing. The only problem I had was it is very hot in my house since we dont have AC here so the icing was soft and things went sliding at one point. I decided to put it in the fridge for awhile for it to set and it finally held. If you click on the picture you may see more detailing of the cake. If you cant see it the icing has a wavy pattern all over it. Not my best work but I learned for next time. It was alot of work but it was so much fun and I liked making it all from scratch and cant wait for the next time.

Just a few pics

Ok so I figured I would post a few pictures of the boys and Ryan. Sorry I am always the one taking them so none of me, hehehehe.

These are my 2 goofballs in their new outfits gram sent them.

Like father like son and this one decided to join in too.

These 2 are the best of buds.

Here is one of Ryan and Ian when we went to Legoland.

Ok so here are 2 from Jane Wayne day at hubbys new duty station.

Well I hope you enjoyed them and I will post more another time.

Stepping out

Welcome to my blog and to my first post. I would like to start that I am very nervous stepping out of my comfort zone and sharing my life to others. I ask for you to over look my grammer and spelling mistakes because trust me I make many, no brain left after having to boys.

If you read my profile you know I am a stay at home mother of 2 wonderful, creative and sneaky boys, hehehe. They are 21 months and 4 and their b-days are coming soon, where does the time go. I am the wife to the most amazing Marine and we are currently stationed at Camp Pendelton, CA. We just moved back from Okinawa Japan 6 months ago and are STILL trying to get into a good routine. We currently attend and are members of West coast baptist church in vista, ca. God has truely blessed us with fnding a new church home. As some of you know being in the military you are always moving and having to start all over again all the time. By Gods grace and mercy I always find the place He wants me to learn and grow from and serve. Along this journey with so many moves I also always find Godly people to help me along the way and learn and grow from. Some of those people are here in my trusted blogger friends, dont have everyone. So please stop by their blogs and soak up a wealth of knowledge from these wonderful and amazing women.
Ok so a little bit about what has been going on since we moved. Ryan (my husband) is now working at SOI and goes through cycles with the new Marines and sometimes we wont see him during the week days but is usually home on the weekends. This new position is not so bad because we go up some times to see him and eat lunch or a dinner with him. So we are not complaining because he never leaves the base unlike last time when he was always gone. All I can say is God helped us to learn to lean on Him, draw closer to Him and grow. I thank Him daily for not giving up on me and always giving me the zillion try again.
The boys and I have been busy doing the normal stuff around the house and unpacking, going for walks and playing at the park ( when the weather allows). The boys are growing up on me to fast and amaze me of the things they pick up and learn everyday. Sometimes I wish I could just push the snooze button so it all stands stil so I would have more time with them and they couldnt grow up. But that will not happen and I just have to enjoy every moment I have with them and pray God can use them in a mighty way as they grow.
Alex, my younges,t is doing much better after having his curcumsion done almost 2 wks ago and is a trooper. While this was going on he got in his top eye teeth and is currently getting the bottom ones in. Ian, my oldest, is doing wonderful and growing smarter everyday. He is so excited to be starting school after the summer break. My big prayer is for Gods guidance in to home school or not. Money is the issue right now with gas prices rising and I ask if you could keep it in your prayers.
On another prayer request, my Father Henry is in the hospital again and it is not good. There is so much going on , the worst case the doctors dont want it to get to is lung transplant. He doesnt smoke and never has but his pulmonary ademia ( ALOT of fluid around the lungs and heart) is so bad it has ruined his lungs and cant ge enough air even being on O2. So I ask for his prayers and my motherwho has to take care of him, my grandfather who lives with them and she works.

Well I think that is enough for a start for today. I have other ideas of what I would like to share one being my weightloss testimony and what I am doing and what I did to loose 116 lbs. So be on the look out for that.