Hormones or Experience? Or Both?

For some reason this morning I watched The E! True Hollywood Story of Giuliana Rancic. For those that don't know who she is, she is the anchor of E! News and had a reality show with her husband, Bill. Again, I don't know why I watched the special because I don't watch E! News or their reality show. But I did know however, that they dealt with infertility so maybe that is why I watched. They decided to feature their journey with infertility on the show rather than hide it like many other celebrities tend to do. Which goes to show you that infertility affects people of all shapes, sizes, age, background, etc. I don't know if it was the hormones surging through my body. Her describing the feelings she was going through which were the same feelings I felt (failure, jealousy, frustration). The clips of her getting the shots needed to prep for IVF which reminded me that I could have been in that same situation. Or what? But I just started crying. I don't even know this woman, let alone follow her on tv or in magazines but I'm crying along with her because we experienced the same thing. Wanting something that a lot of people take for granted.

I'm grateful that we beat my PCOS and I'm 13 weeks along with a baby that is giving me a relatively easy pregnancy and has what my doctor described as a perfect heartbeat. Our journey only took a year to get pregnant and people will probably think "Oh, that's not that long." But when you are in our situation and go back to before we got pregnant, the uncertainty you deal with makes you feel like you will be trying for forever.

By the way, after surviving breast cancer, Giuliana and Bill are now awaiting the birth of their first child by gestational carrier at the end of the summer.

Until Next Time Infertility!

I have been meaning to write this for a while now so better late than never.

As many of our family and friends already know, we are pregnant!! I will be 11 weeks tomorrow. I (and Lee) still can't believe it. I honestly thought it was going to take longer than it did. We tried for a year exactly which would have been around the time my doctor said we would start the next step dealing with infertility. Fertility drugs.

So let me back up a few weeks that led up to this discovery (some might be TMI but that's a part of baby stuff). A week before we went on vacation, I noticed some cramping but these cramps felt different and weren't around the usual time of my monthly cramping. While on vacation, I had some spotting off and on which I wasn't sure was due to a little embryo implanting or my body deciding to skip a cycle yet again. When I started spotting for the third time in a few days, I got so tired it and just started crying. I was internally yelling at my uterus and telling it to make up its effin' mind. Because yelling at a body part makes total sense!

After our week away and still nothing, I bought a test. Well the 3 pack. Have to go with a deal! If you haven't taken a pregnancy test before, you really should wait until your first morning bathroom visit but after 3 hrs of having the test, I couldn't wait anymore. Took the test and set it aside to finish, um well, peeing. I just happened to look over and there it was...the coveted two pink lines! So there I was, peeing and pregnant. I never thought I would ever cry on a toilet.

Lee was over at the neighbor's house so I had to come up with a way to get him home. "Something is wrong with the computer" guaranteed a no questions asked return home. I put the test by the computer and waited. He came in, stood in the hallway and just asked "What is wrong with it?" I told him to go look at the computer. Lee saw the test and asked "two lines means you're pregnant right?" When I told him a blubbering yes. He hugged me and lifted me off the ground. I swear he was a little misty eyed.

So here we are. Having our occasional "Oh #%@! we are having a baby" moments. After two ultrasounds so far, everything is going well. The baby was moving around quite a bit during the last one. Nausea hasn't been bad and is pretty much gone despite a few occurrences here and there. Even if it did last longer, I am thankful for it because it means we got what we were fighting for.

I'm still on the metformin until the end of my first trimester. I remember hearing that it helps me keep the baby. So now we know for the next one because I'm sure the PCOS will play a factor. Unless I lose even more weight and PCOS might not be a problem anymore.

One thing I am really thankful for is finding an Infertility Awareness Facebook page. It was nice to know that there were other people out there that were dealing with the same thing we were. It may not have been as long of a journey as other's but it was still our journey.

Boobs Begone!

Ugh! I have missed my last two posts. Probably because I have just been bored the last couple of weeks with working out and counting calories. I would probably only work out two times a week when my usual is five. I would do fine during the week with my calorie counting but the weekends weren't the greatest on counting or food choices. But I'm back! With some new motivation because I gained a pound or two :-/ But with some working out I'm below the weight of my last weigh in. I have decided to pick up my workouts a bit. I used to only burn 500 calories so I'm going to push myself a bit further up to 800 calories.

I'm posting a few days earlier than usual because I will be going on vacation this weekend up to Toronto and Niagara Falls. I'm going to try to be good. Big emphasis on try. I'll probably try to have two good meals and one splurge meal. What is in my favor is that by being in the city, we are going to be walking a lot!

So the numbers. Still the same in my waist and hips. What is great is that I have gone down a cup size! Good thing I didin't throw away some old barely worn bras!

Waist: 44 inches
Hips: 44 inches
Bust: 49 inches
Band: 40 inches

Infertility - 2, Lee&Whit - 0

I heard back from my doctor's office about Lee's test results. Low motility. Lazy lil bastards! Not only do we have to deal with womanly infertility but now we possibly have to deal with manly infertility too. My doctor wants him to retake the test in a couple of weeks to confirm the results. If the results are the same, he has to go to a urologist to get checked out.

After I hung up the phone, I went numb. I wanted to fall apart. I used to hate crying but now I guess you can say I have embraced it. It relieves my stress, lets me get out some frustration and it doesn't mean I'm weak at all. The last thing I need is to have another anxiety attack. That one a couple of months ago was my first and my last! I will gladly cry then deal with that mess. I was at work though and I didn't want to have an awkward moment with my boss so I managed to hold it back. 

I told Lee the results when I got home and as usual he was calm about it. Surprised but calm. When I told him  that I almost broke down at work. He told me we still have to retest so I shouldn't get worked up about it. Sometimes I want him to be as worried as much as I am. I guess because I feel like if he worries like I do, he wants a baby really bad. But then that would leave two nervous people and we don't need that! And how he reacts to stress is no indication his desire to have a baby by any means. I'm thankful for his calm demeanor because it keeps me grounded with this whole situation and my usually laid back self needs that.  

Yeah this possible situation sucks but then I got to thinking. Before we found this out, if I wasn't pregnant by May (that marks the 1 year of trying to conceive which means infertility), I would have been put on fertility drugs for who knows how long. But now with possible lazy swimmers, what is the point of trying the "natural" way with fertility drugs if they can't reach the egg in the first place. Does that mean we can just bypass the "natural" way and go straight to in vitro fertilization (IVF)? That cuts out who knows how many months of trying!

The specific procedure that would be done is called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICPS). During regular IVF, a woman's eggs (after she has taken some drugs to cause her to produce many eggs) are removed from her ovaries and put into a petri dish. The sperm is add to the petri dish to fertilize the eggs outside the body (in vitro). The strongest looking fertilized egg is transplanted back into the woman in hopes that the result will be a successful pregnancy. In the case of ICPS, a single sperm is injected into the egg instead of allowing the sperm to do it themselves. That is your health lesson for the day :)

Maybe there is a silver lining in all of this (possible) male infertility...

Weigh In: 3/15 Mini Goal #2 Met

I have met one of my goals! I am under 220 pounds. That brings my total weight loss to 37 pounds!! Only 43 pounds until my goal. I tried on my summer clothes and out of 12 pairs of capris/shorts, I only kept 3 pairs and 2 of those were for yard work. I went through other pants and I'm getting rid of 18 other pairs of pants. Wow that is a lot of pants! I should have given them away a long time ago. But some of them I was saving so I could fit into them when I lost weight. Surprise! Surprise! When I tried them on and they were too big! Since I don't have anymore summer stuff, I'm going to go shopping this weekend. I'm only going to buy a few basic things since I plan on losing more. Maybe if I like something enough, I will buy the smaller size. When I reach my goal, I plan on going all out with shopping!

Weight - 219 pounds
Waist - 44 inches
Hips - 44 inches
Bust - 50 inches
Band - 41 inches

Happiness Despite the Malfunctioning Ovaries

Lately on my commute into work, I have noticed that I have this sense of calming happiness. Despite dealing with the emotional roller coaster ride of infertility, I am truly happy. How can I not be though? I have an amazing, supportive husband. I have a great family, both immediate and all of my in-laws. And I have to say, I lucked out in the in-law department after hearing some of the stories from friends about theirs. I have a job that I enjoy with a company that really looks after its employees. I have friends that after hearing about my infertility, are sympathetic to my situation and want to know more about infertility. The bonds between some of my current friends have grown stronger and I have reconnected with some old friends that have gone through similar situations. I am losing weight and getting healthy. I feel awesome. I'm loving the way I look. Then I can't forget my two pups. They always seem to know the exact time I need some cuddles.

I guess this happiness is the reason why I want to participate and/or donate to some charities lately. I started a Relay For Life team to raise cancer awareness for the June 1st relay event. My mom and my grandmother are cancer survivors so I wanted to help raise awareness. I am going to start using my couponing skills to get some items really cheap so I can donate them to a local domestic violence charity. I'm even considering volunteering for their after school tutoring program. It was very important to me to better myself so I didn't have to depend on my husband/boyfriend and feel trapped in a bad relationship (in the event I was ever in one) because I had nowhere to go. I wanted to pay it forward and help victims and their children start over.

All in All. I'm pretty happy. Now if only the ovaries would get in gear..

3/1 Weigh In

I have officially lost 30 pounds! Just 50 more to go until my goal weight. Friends and I are having a little weight loss competition so we can all get skinny for the cruise we are going on. I have to lose 35 pounds by August 31st. That's six months to lose 15% of my current body weight. It's only 10 pounds away from my final goal. When I reach that, I will have lost 30% of my starting body weight :)

Here are the numbers. I'm starting to think I should measured my true waist and not just around my stomach. Oh well.
Weight - 225 pounds
Waist - 45 inches
Hips - 44 inches
Bust - 50.5 inches
Band 41 inches

Infertility: An Emotional Roller Coaster

I have wanted to write a post about the emotions you deal with while trying to get pregnant and dealing with infertility for a while but I hate being whiny. This weekend I think I experienced some mini anxeity from being upset about the personhood bill that passed the Virginia House of Delegates and the consequences it could have on infertility treatments. After the anxeity episode i had last time, I knew I had to deal with my feelings better so screw being worried about coming off as whiny.

And a quick update on my situation. Doctor said that the metformin is working based on the horrible cramps I had last month. She told me after a year of trying which will be in May, we would start what she called the infertility work up to ensure that I am having problems with infertility. After some tests and ovulation monitoring, I would go on clomid which is a fertility drug which promotes ovulation. If that doesn't work after going up to a certain dosage, I would go to the Jones Institute for further treatment.

As much as I try to be positive about dealing with PCOS and trying to get pregnant, the emotions do catch up with me. Usually it happens when it's just me and my thoughts. I try to keep it in the back of my mind but from time to time, infertility rears its ugly head. Sometimes I just tear up and can usually stop myself. Sometimes it's a few tears. Sometimes it's out right bawling. This doesn't happen often. But last night, it happened in front of Lee. I can't remember what brought it on. Probably something about all that I'm doing to get pregnant. Taking 3 pills a day, losing weight (which I'm not complaining about, it's nice seeing the results of my hard work), and giving up alcohol. Not that I am a lush :) Giving it up has gotten rid of drinking empty calories. No matter what brought it on, it happened. I tried to hold it back but I think in doing so I realized I had never really expressed my feelings to him about the whole thing. I just let it go. Lee did what any good husband could do. He held me and listened. Below is a combination of what I told him inbetween sobs and what I have already felt.

I told him how it has just been hard. It's hard to push infertility into the back of your mind when pregnancy and babies are everywhere. You are truly, truly, genuinely happy for those that are pregnant. How can anyone not be?! But then you start to think about your situation and ask "when will it be my turn?" It even leads to some resentment.  It is horrible to say that but I have to be honest with myself and also so people know what it is like to deal with infertility.  But then you feel bad about being resentful. Emotional. Roller. Coaster.

Lee tried to reassure me that it will happen us but in the back of my mind I can't help but think "What if it doesn't?" There is a lot of waiting when dealing with infertility and it's hard not to be impatient. To wait all that time and to put so much effort into something, only not to get the result you want. Yes, we are open to adoption but that is even more waiting. I try not to think about all this but it is always there. It's easier to say it than to do it.

Last Friday, I heard news coverage of the personhood legislation and an excerpt of a statement from a woman experiencing infertility. When I tried to find the full excerpt online, I came across the woman's blog. In short, her and her husband have been trying for six years. They have tried IVF six times, five resulted in pregnancy but all miscarried. They have decided to try suragacy. While reading her blog I came across her post What You Say, What I Hear in which she wrote "I have to protect myself.  So, if I don’t seem happy for you, it’s not that–I’m just trying to keep myself sane." This is very true. I am very happy for you if you are pregnant so don't worry about telling me you are. I'm not trying to take away from your great news, try to get sympathy and make it about me. Just know that if I seem kind of off about it, I'm just dealing with myself.

Weight In 2/15

Quick post since I don't have time to talk about my appointment today. I will post about that later. Total weight loss is at 29 lbs. Not too bad.

Weight:  227.2 lbs
Waist:  46
Hips:  46
Band  41.5
Bust  50.5

1/30 Weigh In: Downsized

Mini goal #1 met! I have broken 230 lbs! That's a 22 lb weight loss from when I first started back in September. I wonder how much I would have lost if I was more diligent when I first started. Oh well, I'm doing it now. I have now lost an inch in my waist and 1.5 inches in my bust. I have definitely noticed these changes because my shirts are looking too big on me lately and my bras feel a tiny bit bigger. Then today I tried on a smaller jean size and they fit! How excited was I in the dressing room. But I couldn't buy them because they were too long. Story of my life ha!

Weight:  229.8
Waist:  46
Hips:  46
Band  41.5
Bust  50.5

What Not To Say and What To Say To Someone Going Through Infertility

I am reposting this from another blog about a woman who has dealt with fertility issues. You can see the original post from Baroness von Barrenness here. But to make it easy so you won't have to read her blog then come back to my page to read my comments, I will just copy and paste certain things and add my comments in italics if I have them.


What Not To Say To Someone Dealing With Infertility


"...The insensitive things said to us, usually by people who mean well and are actually trying to be helpful, is astounding. But too often when these things are said to us, we don't know how to react or what to say in response. Too often we don't say anything because we don't want to offend the offender. All too often we know that the person will become defensive and won't hear what we're trying to say. And so the person never even learns that they've hurt our feelings or made things worse."


The first paragraph of her post explains it all so well so that is why I'm passing this along to help in the event that you meet someone not as nice as me and you get your head chewed off. Yes these things are said with good intentions but it doesn't mean they are taken that way by a person going through an emotional roller coaster.


1. "You just need to relax," or "Take a vacation."
This is probably the most frequent "advice" given to a friend, daughter or sister who says she's having trouble getting pregnant, but it's a falsehood. Infertility, even unexplained infertility, is a medical condition. Just like a lump in the breast, it will not go away on its own by trying to ignore it. A romantic getaway to Hawaii will not improve a husband's sperm count. A relaxing massage will not heal endometrial scar tissue in a uterus or fallopian tubes. Trying not to think about getting pregnant will not miraculously restore a hormone imbalance. By learning about how her body is supposed to work, charting cycles and/or seeing an OB/GYN or reproductive endocrinologist, a woman can diagnose the cause of the infertility and get treatment for it. This is much more useful in overcoming infertility than attempting to ignore it.


I have gotten this one quite a few times. And when it is said to me, it makes me feel like I am doing something wrong. But I'm not. I am doing every possible thing I can do right. I'm watching what I eat, I'm exercising, I'm taking medication 3 times a day to balance my hormones to help with ovulation, and we are paying off debt militantly. I had PCOS before I was trying to get pregnant and I was probably more relaxed then than I am now so that argument doesn't hold water. Stress in regards to infertility isn't the cause, it is the effect. 


2. "Don't worry. It'll happen." 
This is almost the same as #1, but with the added bonus of trying to reassure the woman that she will achieve pregnancy someday. But the sad truth is that it might NOT happen. There's no such promise or guarantee, and the woman already knows that.


What also can be added here is "Don't worry, <insert names> had infertility problems and they got pregnant." Every couple's situation is different so people can't be compared.


3. "Have you considered adopting?" (May or may not be coupled with "There are a lot of children out there who need good homes.")
If a woman confides in you that she is struggling with infertility, trust me that she has already considered ALL options available, including adoption. If she doesn't say explicitly that she's considering it, then she has probably already ruled it out as an option for her personally - at least for now. She doesn't need you to point out all the options available to her.
As for suggesting she adopt because there are lots of kids out there who need good homes, consider for a moment whether or not you yourself have considered adoption or whether you prefer to have children of your own. Infertile women resent the suggestion that because they may not have the option of having biological children, that the responsibility for finding homes for orphans should fall on them.


4. "As soon as [insert couple's names here] adopted, they got pregnant."
First, consider how many adoptive parents out there HAVEN'T gotten pregnant on their own. Again there's no guarantee that anything will help someone get pregnant.
Second, what you are suggesting is that adoption should be used as a means to achieve the end of having one's own biological children. How fair is that to the adopted child? Shouldn't adoption be a means for creating a family, to the benefit of the adoptee(s) as well as the adoptive parents?


5. "God has another plan for you."
This is a really tough one, because you're likely trying to be reassuring. But first consider that the woman you're trying to help may not believe in God or may not have the same beliefs that you do. (And religious beliefs are a conversation to be had completely separate from the one this woman wants to have with you about her infertility.) In that case she's likely to dismiss this suggestion, which makes it not a very helpful suggestion, so don't bother.Second, a woman who is confiding in you because she is STRUGGLING with infertility obviously really WANTS to have a child of her own. She doesn't want to hear that her desire isn't a valid one or she somehow doesn't deserve to have her desires and dreams fulfilled. That's not very reassuring.


6. "This is God's way of saying you're not supposed to be a parent."
Congratulations, you've just insulted the friend or daughter who's come to you for help. (Yes, people who think they're trying to be helpful really say this with shocking frequency.) Do not EVER say this to a woman who's confiding in you about her infertility, or be prepared to defend yourself against a punch in the nose.


7. "I hope it's worth it."
I wanted to add this one. I have never had this said to me and I hope I never will. I have been very polite to people if they have said any of the things above (luckily it has only been #1 and #4) but I think this will be the one that will push me other the edge. I will probably either lash out completely or break down and cry when explaining why everything I'm going through is worth it. Obviously, if I want a baby, I'm going to go through anything possible. Ask any parent whether their children were worth it. 

What SHOULD you say to a woman struggling with infertility?

1. "I'm so sorry you're going through this."

Or any variation of  "You are doing everything you possible" Or "I hope everything works out."  This last statment may contradict a bit for the above #2 but to me this is comforting.


2. "May I ask what your options are?"
Instead of making suggestions like the ones said above. Simply ask what the couple is doing to help them address their infertility issues.

3. "I'm here for you whenever you need to talk about it. Let me know if you want me to ever check on how you're doing and bring it up, or if you would rather bring it up yourself."
Your friend wants to know that she can turn to you, but there will be bad days when you might catch her off-guard and she won't want to talk about it.

4. "What can I do for you?"
Your friend might just want to know whether or not she can talk to you when she's feeling frustrated or when she learns anything new about her condition. She may even need your help to drive her to or from appointments.


The blogger posted this at the end of her post "I didn't want this post to come off as a preachy lecture. But I've heard of some truly insulting and insensitive things said to infertile women and hope that this will help prevent even a few occasions of that happening." Like the blogger posted at the beginning, if I don't say anything then it will just keep happening if not to me then to another person. Why should I be sensitive to them if they can't be sensitive to me even if they don't know it. I will try to say my response in the most politest way possible and by telling them they can be sensitive to me next time.


I know some of these infertility posts can come off as whiny. If you feel that way, don't read them. I need an outlet and posting is the best way I can get it out there without me feeling like I am complaining to my friends too much. After the anxiety episode I had two weeks ago, I realized I wasn't managing my stress well enough. I wasn't relaying my feelings like I should have and was rather internalizing them. Here is a place to spill it out all out. 


And another thing I should add that I have noticed while reading other people's infertility blogs or posts, are friends being worried about talking about their kids or pregnancies. I will just say don't be. I'm happy for you and my situation shouldn't impact you sharing your joy.

Fad Diet? No, Thanks. Lifestyle Change? Yes, Please!

I knew when I started this weight loss I didn't want to do any special fad kind of diet. I needed a lifestyle change. I needed to change how I ate, how much I ate, and needed to exercise. I knew if I restricted myself to only certain foods, it wasn't going to last. If I was going to rely on packaged meals, shakes, bars, etc., it wasn't going to last. I needed to eat the foods I regularly eat if I was going to keep this up. I read this one weight loss book called "The Skinny" that was about how to diet without going hungry. Much what the author said made sense. Especially if you limit yourself and/or have a cheat day then you will begin to idealize food and will start to crave it and possibly binge. With that in mind, I decided I wasn't going to limit myself and feel bad if I had an occasional candy bar or hamburger here or there. I would know that I was good on my weekly calories (I don't count daily calories, counting weekly makes it easier to stay motivated) so the occasional indulgence will be fine but I won't have a specific cheat/treat day.

I'm Not Going To Be Pregnant Fat

One of the greatest things that has come out of this pregnancy problem is my weight loss. I knew I wanted to lose some weight before I got pregnant but I couldn't kick start it. Finally I was fed up with it. Having to pay extra for bigger clothes. My boobs being so damn big and not being able to wear cute bras. Then  there are all the health problems that come along with being overweight. I knew I wanted to be pregnant and for people to know it. Not for people to be afraid to ask if I was pregnant or not. Not to be pregnant fat but just pregnant.

When it came to time to go off birth control, I knew I wasn't at the weight I wanted to be. I worried about gestational diabetes. If giving birth was going to be harder. It sucks that I'm not pregnant yet but at least it gives me time to lose some pounds.

I'm a day late on the post. Oh well. Lost two pounds, lost 1/2 inch in my waist, and 1 inch in my bust. Not much on the weight loss. But there was XMAS, New Years and the anxiety episode but at least its a loss.

Weight: 234.6
Waist: 46.5
Hip: 46
Band: 42
Bust: 51

Me? Anxious? No Way! Umm...Apparently So.

So apparently even I, one of the most laid backed people you will probably know, gets anxiety.

For the past couple of days, I have had this weird breathing where I can't seem to catch a breath every so often. I have had this in the past but it never lasted that long. Only about a night. I feel like I have to yawn to get a full breath in. I was worried that I was having a reaction to the metformin because one of the RARE side effects is lactose acidosis where lactose builds up in my blood. The metformin I guess messes up the function of my liver where it can't get rid of the lactose.  This has been going on for about four days. Instead of calling my doctor. I ignored it. Why! Why would I do this!!

Finally, today while driving to work, I couldn't take it anymore. I turned around, went home and waited until I could call my doctor. In the mean time, I googled my breathing symptom because it didn't quite match up to the lactose acidosis symptom. This calmed me down some. The nurse confirmed that it sounded like anxiety since I had this before. She also said you can be anxious without even knowing it.

I guess I'm more stressed out about this PCOS than I thought. I just need to relax...but not in order to get pregnant. I need to relax for my own mental health. This is my own thing I am going through and I need to realize that one month of metformin won't cause me to get pregnant. I just have to wait for it to take effect. Relaxing meanings, I need to realize that I'm not in control. I can't will my hormones to level out. No amount of relaxing will change my hormones enough to make me ovulate. Only time and medication will do that. When my hormones aren't out of wack, then maybe I'll get pregnant.

Infertility is a disease. Try telling a cancer patient they should just relax. If you have said "Just relax" before, don't feel bad. You didn't know. And frankly, if you haven't really TRIED to get pregnant (and also had problems trying), you don't what it's like. Try waiting each month, hoping you don't get a certain visit because you have been waiting, hoping, to be pregnant because it's something you want. Something you didn't think you wanted.

I just have to calm down to control the anxiety, let go of the pressure I am putting on myself and let go of control of my uterus. Oh and maybe call my doctor sooner when I have a problem!

How I Coupon

After recently seeing comments on a friend's facebook page and my own asking how we got things for so cheap on our recent grocery trip and realizing that I only touched on certain points on coupons here and there, I decided to write a "how to" post for couponing to consolidate everything to gether. I'll focus primarily on Harris Teeter and Farm Fresh because those are the stores I primarily shop.

1. The absolutely most important thing you need to know about couponing is to not use your coupon on an item until it goes on SALE!! Now if you absolutely need the item now or you waited until close to the expiration date and it hasn't gone on sale and you still need the item, sure go ahead and use it. But if you can hold off, wait until the item goes on sale. You will maximize your savings.

2. The second most important thing is to know your store policy. Here are Harris Teeter's and Farm Fresh's policies. These will let you know what kind of coupons they do and do not accept. How many coupons can be doubled in a transaction. Stuff like that.

3. Now where to find the time. I don't spend that much time because I use coupon match up websites to match up the store sales to coupons. These sites will have links to any internet coupons for that item. Just do a Google search for the store and the date the sale started. I use the Coupon Consultant for Harris Teeter and Farm Fresh.

4. Look at your receipt and see how your items ring up especially the Buy One Get One Free items (B1G1). Does the second item ring up zero or do both items ring up half price? If they ring up half price, you can use two identical coupons if the coupon is for one item. Again you will maximize savings.

5.  Sign up for the store loyalty card. What's an extra card in your wallet? I'll admit Harris Teeter can be expensive (why I use coupons) but they have some really good deals. Lots of B1G1 and even B2G3! I have gotten pasta sauce, pasta, nuts, 12 pack soda cans and even chicken breasts for B2G3.  Combine these kind of deals with coupons and you can get items for dirt cheap. When they have these kind of sales I usually stock up.

6. Harris Teeter has another loyalty program called e-VIC. You sign up to get 6 special unadvertised deals that come out on Fridays. These items are usually pretty cheap. They also have electronic coupons that you can load onto your VIC card and combine with manufacturers coupons. For other stores with electronic coupons, make sure to check the coupon policy to see if you can combine electronic and manufacturers coupons. I know Kroger doesn't allow you.

7.  Go to a store that doubles coupons. Harris Teeter and Farm Fresh both double coupons. Harris Teeter doubles coupons up to 99 cents every day. Farm Fresh doubles coupons up to $1 on Wednesday and up to 99 cents the other days. Kroger also doubles coupons but they only double coupons up to 50 cents and will round any coupons more than 50 cents up to $1.

8. Subscribe to the Sunday newspaper to get coupons. From what I have heard, coupons are no longer put in the papers at the stores, etc. It works out to be the same amount of money anyway.

9. Print internet coupons. Coupons.com, Coupon Network, Red Plum and Smart Source are good places for internet coupons. Like your favorite products on Facebook or visit your favorite product's website. They usually will have coupons posted or post them every so often.

10. Save every coupon! There are a lot of items that I won't buy because they were too expensive. But I buy them when the sale and the coupon gets them low enough. I use a binder to keep them all organized into categories. It will take you a couple of weeks to accumulate coupons to start getting good savings.

11. It's called Extreme Couponing for a reason. Don't expect to get the savings the people on the show do with your one paper a week and internet coupons. These people use many coupons to get an overage that allows them to get $1500 worth of stuff for $100. It seems like these people get these overages by buying crap. So unless you want to have 1500 mini boxes of cereal, you can do this too.

Think Twice About Joking On Coupons

The next time someone jokes on coupons, they will be hearing from me "I got $199 worth of groceries for 68 effin dollars at Harris effin Teeter! Where you do shop?!" Well, I really got $225.64 for $87.04 because I bought some fresh veggies and fruit. And depending on the person I'm talking to, I'll probably leave out the effin.

This week until Tuesday, Harris Teeter is having their Super Double Coupon event where they double coupons up to $1.98. HT doubles up to $0.99 but usually every quarter, they double coupons up to $1.98 or triple coupons up to $0.99. So if you are shopping at Harris Teeter this week and the line is taking longer than usual, it's because someone is probably using coupons. Complain all you want but just know that person is spending a LOT less money than you.

Maybe the savings below will entice you to coupon. It's not that hard and I don't spend that much time on it. Any random spare time I have I do a quick search for internet coupons. I clip my Sunday coupons during morning coffee.  Then when the store circulars come out, I check coupon blogs that match up coupons to the circulars to get the best deals. That easy.

I bought these 100 Calorie Right Bites which I usually don't buy because I refuse to pay the price for them even with regular coupons but I figured I'd try them. But since trying the chocolate covered pretzels, I'm probably not going to buy them again. I have been pretty good with portion control and I tend to have snacks that are more filling for the same amount of calories (I love veggies and hummus) so I won't be needing prepackaged portions. Good thing I didn't spend a lot of money! I have reduced my diet soda intake so the sodas are really for my husband who I haven't convinced to cut back yet. I told myself I wasn't going to buy anymore shampoo but when you see the price you know why I couldn't pass it up!

--4 Kotex Pantiliners - reg $1.39 x 4 - $3 coupons = $0.64 each
--2 Slim Fast shakes - reg $6.99, sale $5.49 - $1.5 coupon x 2 -  BOGO coupon = $1.25 each
--1 Herbal Essence shampoo - reg $3.99, sale $2.99 - $1 coupon x 2 = $0.99
--1 Edge shave gel - reg $3.45, sale $2.07 - $0.55 x 2 = $0.97
--1 Tampax Pearl - reg $4.99, sale $3.99 - $2 coupon - $2 evic coupon = FREE
--2 Pantene shampoo - reg $4.35, sale $3.50 - $3 coupon -$3 evic coupon = $0.50 each!
--1 Always Infinity - reg $5.19 - $2 coupon - $2 evic coupon = $1.19
--1 Oral B floss - reg $3.99, sale $2.99 - $1 coupon x 2 - $1 evic coupon  = FREE
--2 Oral B toothbrush - reg $1.89, sale $1.69 x 2 - $0.75 x 2 coupon - $0.75 evic coupon = $0.57 each
--4 Armour turkey meatballs - reg $3.99, sale $2.47 - 2 $1 coupons x 2 = $1.47 each
--3 boneless chicken breast - reg $9.23, Buy 1 Get 2 Free sale = $3.07 each
--4 Campbells Chunky soup - reg $2.35, sale $1.52 x 4 - $1 coupon x 2 = $1.02 each
--5 Pepsi 12 pack cans - reg $6.29, Buy 2 Get 3 Free = $2.51 each
--1 Downy Unstopables - reg $6.99, sale $5.99 - $1 coupon x 2 - $1 evic coupon = $2.99
--2 100 Calorie Right Bite - reg $3.39, sale $2.50 x 2 - $1 coupon x 2 = $1.50 each
--2 Ristorante Pizza - reg $5.99, sale $2.99 x 2 - $1 coupon x 2 = $1.99 each
--1 Gorton Grilled Salmon - reg $4.39, sale $2.19 - $0.50 coupon x 2 = $1.19
--2 Sargento cheese stick - reg $4.39, sale $3.50 x  2 - $1 coupon x 2 = $2.50 each
--2 Special K crackers - reg $4, sale $2.50 x 2 - $1 coupon x 2 = $1.50 each
--1 Cooked Perfect Meatballs - reg $8.49, sale $5.99 - $1 coupon x 2 = $3.99

Whole Grains for $1.24

I went to Kroger today and of course I got some deals. For all in the picture below, I spent $26.91 for $60.66 worth of groceries. Kroger was having a deal where if you buy 4 particular items then you instantly saved $4. Combine that with coupons and you get some savings of course! I usually don't buy cereal since we go through it like it's crack. But with my new sense of measuring everything and calorie counting, I figured I'd give it a try since Kashi cereal has whole grains, no high fructose corn syrup and a lot of protein.

2 Activia yogurts - sale $2 - $1 coupon = S1 each
Always infinity - reg price $8.22, sale $7.49, deal $6.49 - $2 e-coupon = $4.49
Tampax - reg price $8.19, sale $7.49, deal $6.49 - $2 e-coupon = $4.49
2 softsoap - reg price $1.57, sale $0.88 each
Dawn soap - reg price $3.29, sale $2.99, deal $1.99 - $0.25 coupon x 2 = $1.50
Febreeze air effects- reg price $2.99, sale $2.49, deal $1.49 - $1 e-coupon = $0.50
Downy fabric softener - reg price $5.47, sale $4.99, deal $3.99 - $1 coupon = $2.99
4 Kashi Cereal - reg price $3.43, sale $2.99, deal $2.24 - $1 coupon = $1.24 each
2 Old Spice deodorant - reg price $2.29, sale $1.99, deal $0.99 - $0.50 coupon = $0.49 each
Duracell D batteries - reg price $5.49, sale $4, deal $3 - $1.50 coupon = $1.50

Rite Aid deal
2 Nivea lip balms - reg price $2.99, sale $2.50 - $1.50 coupon = $1 each

Walgreens deal
2 Theraflu - reg price ~$7.00,  sale $5 - $3 coupon = $2 each (spent less on 2 with coupons than I would for 1 on sale)