Understanding More

Part of this whole weight loss journey is about understanding yourself more. I have had a couple of off days....meaning I turned my internal good decision maker off when it comes to food. I have eaten just about every type of bad food you can think of...chips, processed, sweets.....and while none of these done in moderation would have hurt me "too" bad, I am not one who does very many things half-heartedly...so sometimes moderation gets tossed to the side.

Here's what I learned:

1. When I have a busy week, if I am not organized from the get go...no matter what's in my pantry, I will opt for ease. Sometimes that means fast food, a handful of gold fish or 7 twizzlers. I don't give a hill of beans that I could have used the same energy to have made a salad or made a turkey sandwich...it took too much energy. So in essence when it comes to food....I'm lazy.

2. When my house is disorderly, I cannot function. Period.

These two things are VERY important to me in the scheme of understanding why I eat the way I have and in understanding the things that need to happen so that I don't fall into these same traps again. So over the next 48 hours I will be making a plan for the next week that will hopefully set me up for better eating. One thing I've already learned is that for me, I need to focus more on order...I'm not talking about the over the top OCD focus...goodness knows that won't be me...ever. But, since I know that I begin to sweat when things get out of control around my home, I need to set myself up for a better success rate....which means the reinstatement of the chore charts, weekly goals and laundry schedule (can you hear my family groaning already?)

So...there it is....my first major setback for the year. I'm surprised it took this long honestly...and glad that I am not giving up just because it happened. That's what I've done in the past. This time..I am identifying, thanking God for showing me and setting up a plan to not fall in this trap again. If you know me at all then you know this is progress. God is changing me.

Mandisa

God knows exactly what we need. His timing is perfect. 

This is a lesson that I was reminded of during our trip to Georgia. When my brand new step-sister Stacy said that she had a couple of extra tickets to see American Idol's Mandisa and Women of Faith funny lady Anita Renfroe I couldn't say YES fast enough! I was mostly looking forward to laughing so hard I would need to wear a diaper (if you know what I mean) but quickly remembered Mandisa's incredible weightloss and was secretly hoping I would hear something inspiring from her.

So here I am with Mom and sister in law Jan ....yes we are giddy....there is no denying it!

We enjoyed the concert so much. Anita was hysterically funny....she did the Momsense Song, All the Wrinkled Ladies, The Spoof on Love Story and so many other things that truly only women "get". If you've been living under a rock the last 10 years or so and haven't a clue who she is....two words...You Tube. Check her out!

Mandisa did not disappoint. With her new album due to release in a few days she of course was promoting it. Only thing is....those songs were written out of a time of desperation for her. During her darkest moments she got real with herself and started realizing why she had treated her body with such abuse over the years. She talked about Idol and the impact of the negative words that were said about her while she was on the show and ultimately she talked about forgiveness and healing. Giving 100% credit to the work God is doing in her life, she attributed 5 things to her success. 

1. Scripture memorization

2. Prayer

3. Christian Counseling

4. Eating Right

5. Zumba

One this that she kept reiterating was that God was stronger than the strongholds of food addictions that we binding her and literally weighing her down. I LOVE THIS. It's something that He is teaching me, and in a moment when I needed to hear it again....God spoke loudly. I'm thankful for each step of this journey and the lessons that I am learning ever so slowly. I've known many of them for years....in my head...but we've seen where that has gotten me. It's the heart makeover that makes the eternal difference.

Check out this video:

Staying on Mission

Tonight basically starts an 8 day fest of feasting with missionaries during our missions conference. There will be eating out, potlucks, and large quantity cooking, which usually means pastas or potatoes, right? I'm looking forward to the fellowship....but the food has me a little nervous.

So, I need to make a plan....and stick to it. Here goes...

1. Drink only water....and drink a large glass before the meals.

2. Exercise daily for one hour. This will burn approximately 500 calories...which is the equivalent of my breakfast and most of my lunch on a normal day. So, if I watch portions and bulk up on the salad and veggies I should be OK...meaning I won't gain. (I am taking my own Salad Dressing!)

3. 1 spoonful of dessert. I know....I could tell you I am NOT going to eat dessert...but who am I kiddin'. Instead....I am just going to eat one small serving one time a day. I'm talking tablespoon size.

4. Stop eating when I am full. And....yes, that might even mean before dessert!!!

5. Read my Bible every day.

6. If I feel like this isn't working after day one, then I will bring my own meal and eat it there.

So there's the plan to staying on mission. I'm excited for this challenge because this is the real world and I need to face these food challenges head on. In the real world it's me who has to monitor portion control and caloric intake. It's not all measured out for me with the calorie count on a nutritional information label right next to the pan of lasagna. I've got to be the one to have lots of self-control....or maybe, I should say GOD control.

Well hello....

Do you see it? Yep that's it....my chin. 

It's been years since I saw it...well at least by itself....usually there were at least 2 of them.

Unlikely Worship Part 2

I loaded the Pandora App to my iphone yesterday. My world is a better place for it. I added a few channels to my already established account and was anticipating enjoying them the next time I went to the gym.

So at 6:40 this morning...when the alarm went off (yes...it is SATURDAY!) I got ready and hit the treadmill at the gym. The treadmills are right in front of the tinted glass window at the fitness center and since I've never been at the gym at 6:40 I wasn't prepared for what I saw.

I had just put the ear buds in and cranked the Matt Papa channel (if you haven't discovered Matt Papa...you must...he has a free download every month on his site....go now!) when I happened to glance outside and witness what I do believe to be one of the most beautiful sunrises ever! Maybe it's the fact that it's been blistering cold and cloudy here for a while but it was by far a moment to be remembered. As I worked out for the next few minutes I got to watch God show His handiwork off. The slow rise of glorious yellow light illuminated the sky and as God's painting filled the sky I was overwhelmed with the thought.... if God can place this earth in His Hand and the sun and moon and stars and planets in place....then I really do believe He can transform this physical body to be what it needs to be to glorify Him. His creation ought to bring Him glory....the sun was doing its part this morning...and in a small way...as I worked out...I think I might have been doing mine.

After a few bad days of no workout and less than perfect eating, I needed to be nudged in this direction.

Meal Plan Monday

One of the things that I know will help me stay on track with my health goals and my financial goals this year will be to meal plan. So, I've spent a little time today looking up recipes, surveying family favorites and looking at nutritional guidelines...this ended up being a bigger task than I anticipated. But, I think I have 15 pretty easy meals for my family to partake of that won't send me up the scale....but rather down!

Daily: Cereal/Skim Milk (for me it will be Special K with Berries)
Lunch: Pepperidge Farms Deli Flat Bread with Turkey, mustard, pickles, spinach and tomatoes, and Sunchips or pretzels or three bean salad
Snacks: Apples, Oranges, Canned Pinnaple in it's own juice, whole grain pretzels, popcorn

Dinners:

Monday Night: Fam is eating Honey BBQ chicken, I am going out and will be eating a grilled chicken salad
Tuesday Night: Speghetti (whole grain pasta with lean ground beef, rinsed), Salad
Wednesday Night: Subway (veggie sub for me)
Thursday Night: Grilled chicken, green beans, cauliflower, baked sweet potatoes
Friday Night: I will be at a marriage conference and already know there will be Chicken Express there. I am planning on eating there, but will monitor portions.
Saturday: Pork Chops with Pinnapple, brown rice, broccoli and carrots
Sunday: Eat out....monitor portions and selections. Drink plenty of water!

What's for dinner at your house this week?

Successes

To give account for one of my goals for the year, I'm reporting in with a few successes for this past week:

1. I made an appointment for a checkup. Since I pretty much hate going to the dr. for any reason...this was an amazing success. Now I just have to show up (sure hope I don't stub my toe or need to wash my hair or something else really important that might cause me cancel....JK :)

2. I ate chicken instead of beef three times this week.

3. I purchased Shred and did the workout on Saturday....and lived to tell about it on Sunday.

4. I turned down donuts, pound cake and extra pizza.

5. Knowing it was a pizza dinner on Saturday night, I made myself a good size salad and filled up on that before the pizza was served. Ended up eating only 2 very small pieces of pizza.

How are you doing on your goals for the year? It's crunch time for sure....that time when those who are serious have to buckle down and those who aren't drop out. It's hard work...no matter what your goals are, but completely possible when your heart is set on God's goal for you!

Help!

In a matter of minutes I will attempt to do this:

and there is a large possibility that after I do this I will not be able to move for a few weeks. I'm not sure it's even advisable for a woman of my "stature" to be doing this but after a very motivational day spent with my friend and her recommendation that this is an excellent workout....I'm doing it.

I hadn't planned on buying the DVD, but last night as I walked through Target, there it was on an endcap...$9...staring at me....daring me to buy it. So, ten minutes later I was standing in the check-out with Shred and ...wait for it......a couple of weights. WHAT AM I THINKING????

Anyway...we will see how it goes....I'm ready for the suffering....but if you don't hear from me in a few hours....you might want to call a few area hospitals!!!

Temptation Diverted!

A couple successes this week in the temptation department:

1. I did not eat the donut that was offered to me at school this week.

2. I ate my granola and banana for breakfast every day...even though one morning I do think there was a little vomit in my mouth (I don't like breakfast).

3. I drove through the drive thru at Mcd's for Tucker to get some nuggets and instead of ordering my usual #2, I settled on a diet coke and came home and fixed myself a turkey sandwich. It was the closest thing I've had to an out of body experience I'm pretty sure! :)

4. I drank water at Bruce's birthday lunch....and got a refill.

5. I worked out on Thursday...and sometime today I'm going again.

If you know me...you know these are no small successes. God is the driving force behind this....and a few of my sweet friends who are my cheerleaders are right behind Him. I'm thankful for this week that my successes outweigh my failures in the food department.

Cravings...

I've been making some changes in the way I eat this week....and boy has it been hard. Here's a sampling of what I've eaten...the good, the bad and the ugly...

Granola
Bananas
Popcorn
Coffee with Fat Free Creamer (can you say NEVER AGAIN???)
1 Diet Coke
1 Diet DP
Sobe Water
Water
Unsweet Tea
Jambalaya
Green Beans
Corn
Salad
Turkey Sandwich- mustard, pickles
Pretzels
Cottage Cheese and Pineapple
3 Chocolate covered cherries...(yes, I know, this wasn't suppose to be on the list)

As you can see, I've eaten plenty. But it's all the food that I haven't eaten that is screaming at me....EAT ME! EAT ME! I'm craving things like potato chips, dips, peanut butter balls and the list could go on and on.

The thing is, I know these cravings for food will change to something else..candy bars, ice cream, doritos....they can never be satisfied. One week it will be something salty, the next sugary, chocolately or spicy. You get it...there will always be something!

They represent the cravings I have for other things in my life that are bad for me...self gratification, praise, being right, being heard (and many more). You see, these aren't appropriate for the Christian life. They don't belong there....but just like the physical cravings a dieter feels, they must be managed. They have to be told "NO", "Go AWAY!", and "STAY AWAY!". Thankfully God's Word is available to grab onto like a lifesaving blow up tube. His Word rebukes the enemy, smashes the cravings and fills me with things that satisfy. Only Jesus. None but Jesus. He can satisfy my soul.

Out with the Old...In with the New...

So, in order to make room for some healthier food choices for myself, I had to do a little cleaning out of the pantry and fridge. Now, I realize if I was completely self-controlled, that there's a good possibility that I could eat regular food, in the right portion sizes and be healthy. But....I am NOT there. So, here are a few recent finds that are yummy to my tummy....and maybe yours too. Let me know if you try them. Tell me what you think.

Today for lunch I tried the Creamy Tomato Basil....and it was better than any tomato soup I have ever had in my life...and I'd like to think I am an expert tomato soup tester...because I do like it...A LOT!

Lipton Tea with a Hint of Peach has been the saving grace to my recent Diet Coke death.

I do not sweeten it.

Yes, it has caffeine, so if that bothers you...don't drink it.

What it doesn't have is whatever was making me retain water and swell.

For those of you who like salty and sweet...this is the answer.....and of course while I would enjoy it more if it was covered in, oh, I don't know...say...chocolate, it certainly satisfies those sweet and salty cravings.

Pounds Down Week 2

2 pounds this week

6 pounds last week

-----------------------------------

8 pounds total weight loss since January 4

That's 8 Boxes of Butter...thank you very much!

Pounds Down

Down 6 pounds after my first week of taking better care of my body.

Yes...that's 6 boxes of butter.

I apologize if this is TMI.

I'm Not Saying....

I haven't been talking about it. If I actually say the words "I'm dieting", then I am surely setting myself up for failure! What I am really trying to do is eat a little more healthy, make better choices and not eat impulsively. If I lose a few pounds in the process then GREAT!


I've discovered a few things. Lipton Diet Citrus Green Tea is a great replacement for my Diet Coke on most days. I am trying very hard to only drink 2 diet cokes a week, but since I'm already on #3, we probably shouldn't talk about it for long. The green tea is yummy and I really like it! The other thing I discovered this week was v8 soups. Campbell's has partnered with v8 and is making a variety of soups. I tried the butternut squash and the tomato herb this week and they were very very good!
I also found Smucker's red raspberry sugar free jam. Partner that with some whole grain bread and a tablespoon of peanut butter....and it is heavenly!

I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow...share your favorite low cal snack or meal with me so I don't fall off the wagon!!!!