As you go to leave my house, if you look on the left wall beside the door, you will see a sign that says:
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Life the life you have imagined."
I wonder Henry David Thoreau had any idea how long after he was gone that people would still quote him? I digress.
When I put that saying there I really liked it because theoretically you would see that as you were going from the house and maybe remember that on the way out. Well, for that to work for us, I guess I should have posted it in the laundry room leading out to the garage, since that is how we leave most of the time. =)
This blog might just affirm that I have undiagnosed ADD.
Anyways, after making a commitment to run a full marathon, I decided to break it up into more manageable race goals. For instance, a 5k coming up, a 15k in February, a half marathon in San Diego in June, and then the full Marine Corps Marathon in October 2013. I contacted my friend out in San Diego and decided to plan to get out there for the half.
Well, a couple of weeks back, she sends an innocent enough looking post on my Facebook and asks if instead of the half, I would do the Tough Mudder. Now, I'm not sure if you have seen the Tough Mudder website, but it is intense. It is a 10-12 mile run with obstacle course. Obviously, in the mud. I immediately felt sick. Like physically ill at the thought of someone like me trying to complete the course. I was counting myself out before I even began. I thought about it and then responded back that I would do it. I don't know what got into me. I was absolutely terrified. What terrified me the most is that this is best as a team event, so I would be on a team with some of their friends who I'm sure, like them, are super fit. Terrified.
I woke up the next morning, and decided to stop counting myself out. I believe that we become who we think we are and if I believe I am nonathletic and not capable - then I become that. Well, from now on - I am not saying that to myself again. There are areas of my life that I would never even consider telling myself I am not capable, but in this area, I have told that to myself my entire life. I have decided to not only go confidently, but go boldly in the direction of my dreams.
This is a beautiful life. One that I will live boldly.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Back Again...
Well, after a great start to the year, and really blogging consistently about my weight loss journey, I fell off the blogging band wagon. Truthfully, that is not the only band wagon I fell off.
Since February, a lot of things - some great, some not so great - have transpired around here. In April, JD went to a state competition in Orlando and advanced to World Finals, which in turn meant we went to Iowa for a week in May. Not only did I spend the month between Orlando and Iowa stressing out over what would eventually be an amazing financial blessing from God, I spent that month pretty much eating how I wanted - when I wanted. June came, with a complete lack of motivation and feeling down on myself, but determined to get in back together come July. Well....July started with the death of a co-worker - completely unexpected and utterly devastating to me as this person decided to take his own life, and then a few days later, another employee was killed on the job. Needless to say, it seemed as if July went by in a whirlwind of funerals and sadness. However, come August, I knew it was time to crack back down. Not only had I sadly gained back the weight I lost, but I was completely in a rut. Not just physically, but spiritually as well.
One Sunday, I decided to do something drastic. I made a plan to train and run my first marathon. That's right, on Sunday August 12, 2012, I committed to training and running a full marathon in October of 2013. Now some of you might think that this is crazy. However, I completed the half marathon and I know that if I put the time in, I will complete the full. Yet, this commitment isn't just to running. It is about reminding myself who I am. I am not a failure. I am not someone who will struggle with weight loss for the rest of her life. I am someone who is taking control. I know that to complete the marathon and do it in a healthy way, I will have to lose some of this weight I am carrying around. Well, I am looking at it as not only losing some physical weight, but losing some emotional weight, too. I have realized that I am not overweight because of a medical issue, or because of a lack of knowledge; I am overweight because of a heart issue.
I find that I struggle with admitting out loud - or at least in written word - when I am down or feeling defeated. I think I struggle with that because I know how blessed I am, so when I do feel down I then start to feel guilty. Yes, it is a vicious cycle. Yet, I have decided to blog here and just be completely honest with where I am. I also think that I sometimes feel like others have bigger things they are going through and it is selfish of me to want something different when I know how absolutely great I do have it.
So, I'm back...and determined to allow God to work in all areas of my life - not just the easy ones.
This really is a beautiful life.
Since February, a lot of things - some great, some not so great - have transpired around here. In April, JD went to a state competition in Orlando and advanced to World Finals, which in turn meant we went to Iowa for a week in May. Not only did I spend the month between Orlando and Iowa stressing out over what would eventually be an amazing financial blessing from God, I spent that month pretty much eating how I wanted - when I wanted. June came, with a complete lack of motivation and feeling down on myself, but determined to get in back together come July. Well....July started with the death of a co-worker - completely unexpected and utterly devastating to me as this person decided to take his own life, and then a few days later, another employee was killed on the job. Needless to say, it seemed as if July went by in a whirlwind of funerals and sadness. However, come August, I knew it was time to crack back down. Not only had I sadly gained back the weight I lost, but I was completely in a rut. Not just physically, but spiritually as well.
One Sunday, I decided to do something drastic. I made a plan to train and run my first marathon. That's right, on Sunday August 12, 2012, I committed to training and running a full marathon in October of 2013. Now some of you might think that this is crazy. However, I completed the half marathon and I know that if I put the time in, I will complete the full. Yet, this commitment isn't just to running. It is about reminding myself who I am. I am not a failure. I am not someone who will struggle with weight loss for the rest of her life. I am someone who is taking control. I know that to complete the marathon and do it in a healthy way, I will have to lose some of this weight I am carrying around. Well, I am looking at it as not only losing some physical weight, but losing some emotional weight, too. I have realized that I am not overweight because of a medical issue, or because of a lack of knowledge; I am overweight because of a heart issue.
I find that I struggle with admitting out loud - or at least in written word - when I am down or feeling defeated. I think I struggle with that because I know how blessed I am, so when I do feel down I then start to feel guilty. Yes, it is a vicious cycle. Yet, I have decided to blog here and just be completely honest with where I am. I also think that I sometimes feel like others have bigger things they are going through and it is selfish of me to want something different when I know how absolutely great I do have it.
So, I'm back...and determined to allow God to work in all areas of my life - not just the easy ones.
This really is a beautiful life.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
And Really Bad Eggs...Weigh In Wednesdays 6 and 7
I realized that I had taken a little hiatus on my blogging about my weight loss. Honestly, not much has been happening, except that I have been staying on my plan and the scale has been hanging on to the exact same pounds. I would say that it has been frustrating, but actually, it hasn't been as frustrating as you would imagine. The reason for that has got to be the fact that when I go to bed at night, I know that I know that I know that I'm staying on my plan. I'm not doing anything that would make me rethink if the scale is going to actually drop one day or not.
I got up this morning - after turning down both pizza and pasta last night - and low and behold - the scale FINALLY MOVED SOUTH. After over three weeks of only dropping .6 of a pound, I finally dropped 1.6 in a week. YEAH! I got off the scale and danced a jig. No, really. Please don't picture it, but it happened.
As of today, here are the stats:
13.2 pounds down
11.8 to go to reach my first 25 pound goal (by April 18)
36.8 to go for the year
Today was going great. First I had my weigh-in, then I had my year end review, and I was feeling pretty darn good. Then it hit me. No, I mean really really really hit me. You see, I've been scrambling eggs early in the week - like on Sunday - and eating them all week long and well - I must have got a hold of some bad eggs. Really bad eggs. I had to come home because those eggs were really really bad to me. Needless to say, the scale should be down tomorrow, too. haha!
This is a beautiful life.
I got up this morning - after turning down both pizza and pasta last night - and low and behold - the scale FINALLY MOVED SOUTH. After over three weeks of only dropping .6 of a pound, I finally dropped 1.6 in a week. YEAH! I got off the scale and danced a jig. No, really. Please don't picture it, but it happened.
As of today, here are the stats:
13.2 pounds down
11.8 to go to reach my first 25 pound goal (by April 18)
36.8 to go for the year
Today was going great. First I had my weigh-in, then I had my year end review, and I was feeling pretty darn good. Then it hit me. No, I mean really really really hit me. You see, I've been scrambling eggs early in the week - like on Sunday - and eating them all week long and well - I must have got a hold of some bad eggs. Really bad eggs. I had to come home because those eggs were really really bad to me. Needless to say, the scale should be down tomorrow, too. haha!
This is a beautiful life.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Hormones and Migraines
For about the last year and a half, I have been taking something every night to help with my migraines. It actually is a prescription medication that does two things - helps block migraines and helps a person sleep. The only problem with this, is that after doing some research, this medication also decreases muscle tone and makes it harder to build muscle. Now, I'm not trying to be muscle bound, but we all need to be able to build lean muscle in order to burn more fat. This news was kind of discouraging.
On the other side, I've also been back on the pill for 9 months, and I am just not a huge fan of the pill or what it does to my body. When I went back on it several years ago, I gained 40 pounds in 4 months. Although I didn't gain weight this last time, I was also training for a half marathon and running like a crazy woman. I feel like being on the pill is making this process harder, too.
Since I know that my migraines have the potential to be reduced based on diet changes, and the reason I'm on the pill can sometimes be remedied with weight loss, I've decided to come off both of the medications. I am VERY nervous about this, but I would like to try it for a month and see what happens. If my migraines come back, or I absolutely just can't sleep, then maybe I will go back on it. However, I would like to see how I feel without anything in my system.
This is a beautiful life.
On the other side, I've also been back on the pill for 9 months, and I am just not a huge fan of the pill or what it does to my body. When I went back on it several years ago, I gained 40 pounds in 4 months. Although I didn't gain weight this last time, I was also training for a half marathon and running like a crazy woman. I feel like being on the pill is making this process harder, too.
Since I know that my migraines have the potential to be reduced based on diet changes, and the reason I'm on the pill can sometimes be remedied with weight loss, I've decided to come off both of the medications. I am VERY nervous about this, but I would like to try it for a month and see what happens. If my migraines come back, or I absolutely just can't sleep, then maybe I will go back on it. However, I would like to see how I feel without anything in my system.
This is a beautiful life.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Cinnamon, Be My Friendamon
Okay, so that title doesn't make any sense, but it did make me smile. =)
I'm sitting on the couch tonight, a little sleepy, and already finished with dinner, when that feeling comes over me. The feeling of wanting something sweet. I've mentioned it before, but I think it is hugely ironic that I am craving sweets every now and then, when I've never been a huge sweet fan. I start doing a mental check off in my head - we're out of cottage cheese - I took the strawberries to work - oh boy, this could be a long night.
Then...out of the blue....this small voice in the back of my head says - "Didn't you purchase a lot of Emerald Almonds back when Publix had them on a buy one get one sale?" Um, yes, yes, I did. I find a container of cinnamon almonds, eat just a few, and boy oh boy, that did the trick. Yep, I'm pleased. =) Just a few almonds went a long way. I'll have to remember that for the future.
This is a beautiful life!!
I'm sitting on the couch tonight, a little sleepy, and already finished with dinner, when that feeling comes over me. The feeling of wanting something sweet. I've mentioned it before, but I think it is hugely ironic that I am craving sweets every now and then, when I've never been a huge sweet fan. I start doing a mental check off in my head - we're out of cottage cheese - I took the strawberries to work - oh boy, this could be a long night.
Then...out of the blue....this small voice in the back of my head says - "Didn't you purchase a lot of Emerald Almonds back when Publix had them on a buy one get one sale?" Um, yes, yes, I did. I find a container of cinnamon almonds, eat just a few, and boy oh boy, that did the trick. Yep, I'm pleased. =) Just a few almonds went a long way. I'll have to remember that for the future.
This is a beautiful life!!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Weigh-In Wednesday Week 5 - Monthly Meaure Up February
Well, it's weigh-in Wednesday and the scale says the EXACT same thing as last week. Yes, I know I bought a new scale, and YES, I know the new scale is weighing about a pound heavier than the old scale, but psychologically it does something to you to see the same numbers for two weeks in a row. Am I at a plateau? I have no idea. Everything I've read says I've got to go at least four weeks without a loss in weight or measurements, and I'm only two weeks in.
In good news....I took my measurements since while it's Weigh-In Wednesday, it is also the first day of the month - so here are my results for the month of January
11.2 pounds lost
11 3/4 inches lost overall - with 2 of those inches being off my hips, this does seem to raise my spirits a little about the scale. =)
It's on February...Let's do this! I'm going to once again crush it in February and hopefully my March 1st results will be something to be proud of, too.
This is a beautiful life!
In good news....I took my measurements since while it's Weigh-In Wednesday, it is also the first day of the month - so here are my results for the month of January
11.2 pounds lost
11 3/4 inches lost overall - with 2 of those inches being off my hips, this does seem to raise my spirits a little about the scale. =)
It's on February...Let's do this! I'm going to once again crush it in February and hopefully my March 1st results will be something to be proud of, too.
This is a beautiful life!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
This Year I Promise To....
Try very very hard not to check my work email after hours and on the weekends. I have a tendency to find myself checking work email when I'm not at work. This year, in order to help myself relax some (which is part of my plan for honoring my temple in 2012), I will make a very strong effort to quit that practice. I love my job, but I believe it is very important to have a work/life balance.
Even the Cats are Going Organic
Disclaimer: Anything I say here is going to make me sound like a cat lady. I've accepted that - now, let's move on. Have y'all seen Cheese and Crackers? No, not the kind you eat, the two that live in my house. They are HUGE. I mean, one looks like a mini lion, and one looks like a mini mountain lion. So, I've been doing some research, and the cats are going organic. I went to Petco today and bought food that has absolutely no carbohydrate fillers. It is all natural ingredients. Yeah, it might sound crazy, but I'm going to see if this helps them become healthier in 2012, too. Yeah, I'm sure they are about to love me.
Cheese and Crackers - Doing what they do
Cheese - Doing his next favorite thing - taking a nap
Crackers
Spring Mix, Strawberries, and Shallots, Oh My....
I made my FAVORITE salad for dinner tonight. Sometimes I add chicken, but tonight, I just wanted to yummy veggies and fruit. I've made it in the past, and of course, it is even tastier with sunflower seeds and walnuts in it, too.
So here it is:
organic spring mix
cauliflower (most people don't like the extra veggies, but I do)
strawberries
a few Mandarin orange slices
green onions
shredded cheese
cucumbers
cherry tomatoes
just a drizzle of Ken's Light Raspberry Vinaigrette
also yummy - grilled chicken, walnuts, and sunflower seeds
It's a nice Spring/Summer salad, and even though it is January, sometimes you need a little early Spring. =)
Okay, so obviously, the above picture was taken with my phone, so it is not amazing, but you get the point. I also love my super cute pink and white bowl - perfect for a Spring salad.
It's a beautiful life!
So here it is:
organic spring mix
cauliflower (most people don't like the extra veggies, but I do)
strawberries
a few Mandarin orange slices
green onions
shredded cheese
cucumbers
cherry tomatoes
just a drizzle of Ken's Light Raspberry Vinaigrette
also yummy - grilled chicken, walnuts, and sunflower seeds
It's a nice Spring/Summer salad, and even though it is January, sometimes you need a little early Spring. =)
Okay, so obviously, the above picture was taken with my phone, so it is not amazing, but you get the point. I also love my super cute pink and white bowl - perfect for a Spring salad.
It's a beautiful life!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Weigh-In Wednesday Week 4
It happened. Oh, you know...the dreaded "step on the scale and nothing has happened" happened. Even worse, the even more dreaded "step on the scale and it went up" happened. For the first time in my history of dieting, I did not have a major set back when I saw that my official weigh-in weight was up - yes, only .2 of a pound - but when you've been as good as I've been about tracking everything, to gain at all can be disheartening. Not really this time though. You know why? Well, simple. The reason I'm not letting it get me down is because I absolutely without a single solitary doubt have no questions about what I ate or could have done differently. I've pretty much been laying it all out there every single day. So, I believe that it might not be this week....it might not be next week...but eventually, the weight will have to drop on the scale.
Another note on the scale... I think my scale died on me. The past few days, I've noticed that the scale won't give you the same weight - even when you step off and step back on. Or, it will show me the same thing I weighed in the morning, when it's time for bed. Tonight, it didn't show me anything at all. So, I went to Amazon and ordered myself a brand new shiny bathroom scale. It is supposed to be here Friday. I shall weigh and see what it says. It was rated a 5 star product, and considering there are almost 3,000 reviews, I'm going to believe I'm getting a great product. I'm sure I'll blog about it. =)
So - as of now - I am down 11.2 pounds....and still going. =)
This is a beautiful life!
Another note on the scale... I think my scale died on me. The past few days, I've noticed that the scale won't give you the same weight - even when you step off and step back on. Or, it will show me the same thing I weighed in the morning, when it's time for bed. Tonight, it didn't show me anything at all. So, I went to Amazon and ordered myself a brand new shiny bathroom scale. It is supposed to be here Friday. I shall weigh and see what it says. It was rated a 5 star product, and considering there are almost 3,000 reviews, I'm going to believe I'm getting a great product. I'm sure I'll blog about it. =)
So - as of now - I am down 11.2 pounds....and still going. =)
This is a beautiful life!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Question of the Day....
Can a person get the shakes from the smell of fried food? Well, let me just say, I felt like an addict who hadn't had their fix in too long today at work. We had food at work today and the choices were - fried pork chops, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli salad (loaded with mayo), fresh rolls, and several types of pies. Yeah, read that again: fried pork chops, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli salad (loaded with mayo), fresh rolls, and several types of pies. I seriously felt like I was cast into the lion's den of food choices. I walked away and made my grilled chicken salad. Once I was full, I felt better, but it was a no joke hard situation.
I think what made it harder was the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm going to weigh in the morning and be up in weight on my official weigh-in day. Yes, seriously. I'm not discouraged because I know that I know that I know that I've done EXACTLY what I was supposed to be doing. I figure if I'm not down this week then I absolutely have to be down next week...or the week after that...or eventually the scale is going to have to budge downwards. I will say it is psychological harder when you've been losing pretty nicely and yet, the scale isn't moving at all - except maybe up a pound - and you are doing the exact same thing as before. I figure my body is probably in shock that I've had almost a month of extremely clean eating and it wondering if it can get me to binge again and get back to the old normal. ha! Well, this time, I'm not going there. I will hold strong.
Well, I've got to finish up some homework.
This is a beautiful life!
I think what made it harder was the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm going to weigh in the morning and be up in weight on my official weigh-in day. Yes, seriously. I'm not discouraged because I know that I know that I know that I've done EXACTLY what I was supposed to be doing. I figure if I'm not down this week then I absolutely have to be down next week...or the week after that...or eventually the scale is going to have to budge downwards. I will say it is psychological harder when you've been losing pretty nicely and yet, the scale isn't moving at all - except maybe up a pound - and you are doing the exact same thing as before. I figure my body is probably in shock that I've had almost a month of extremely clean eating and it wondering if it can get me to binge again and get back to the old normal. ha! Well, this time, I'm not going there. I will hold strong.
Well, I've got to finish up some homework.
This is a beautiful life!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Around Here...
About 6:00, I look over at my kid and notice his eyes starting to close. Yep, he was trying hard to go to sleep. I wouldn't quite let him. We had already finished up dinner and were settling in to watch our nightly DVR marathon of NCIS, and we hung in there - well, at least for one whole episode and part of a second. Next thing I know - I come to, after sleeping for about 20 minutes, and he's out. Needless to say, I had to wake him up because we will never sleep tonight. So, here we sit at 8:15 trying to hold out for about 30 more minutes before we give up and go to bed. I'm starting to think that tonight I'm honoring my temple by going to bed early. That sounds like a great plan to me.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
You Know It's the Devil When....
I'm having a sudden craving for Cheez-Its. You know, the bright orange square bits of unhealthy in a box? Let me clarify something real quick...I do not now nor have I EVER liked Cheez-Its....or Goldfish...or any other kind of "cheesy" cracker thing like that. So, the fact that I suddenly find myself wanting some definitely means it is time to wash my face, brush my teeth, swish the mouth wash for an extra minute or two just to get that idea out of my head, and get myself to bed.
Quote of the Week...
I guess since Sunday is actually the start of a new week, it would technically be the quote of last week, but still...
Friday night, after my extremely long week, my younger sister calls me, and says "Are you feeling like having a drink by now?". I immediately replied "Well, if I were a drinker, probably, but considering how many carbs are in alcohol, I think I'd just take a piece of bread". hahaha... She laughed, and we agreed. I don't need alcohol, I really wanted to self medicate with Cole's garlic toast. I didn't, but I think it dawned on me again how much I have substituted food for other things in my life. Not anymore. =)
This is a beautiful life.
Friday night, after my extremely long week, my younger sister calls me, and says "Are you feeling like having a drink by now?". I immediately replied "Well, if I were a drinker, probably, but considering how many carbs are in alcohol, I think I'd just take a piece of bread". hahaha... She laughed, and we agreed. I don't need alcohol, I really wanted to self medicate with Cole's garlic toast. I didn't, but I think it dawned on me again how much I have substituted food for other things in my life. Not anymore. =)
This is a beautiful life.
Why I Love DVR
You know why I love DVR? Well easy...because I can fast forward through all of the food commercials. =)
I am still doing great on my plan - even though last week was a weird week for me. I was unexpectedly out of the office, and unable to bring my own lunches or anything. I still stayed on track. I was very pleased with that. However, I was unable to drink water throughout the day, and I noticed I was up a little on the scale. I'm chalking the small fluctuation in weight up to that. I'm on my water now, and we'll see what happens come time for my official weigh-in on Wednesday. You know what though? Even if I'm up a little on Wednesday, I can step on the scale knowing that I did exactly what I was supposed to do for the whole week. I will just continue trucking on towards my goals.
Well, it's Sunday night, and I think I'm going to go put some chicken in the crock pot for dinner tomorrow night. I kind of like to have something cooking in the crock pot so I am not tempted to pick something up on the way home.
It's a beautiful life. =)
I am still doing great on my plan - even though last week was a weird week for me. I was unexpectedly out of the office, and unable to bring my own lunches or anything. I still stayed on track. I was very pleased with that. However, I was unable to drink water throughout the day, and I noticed I was up a little on the scale. I'm chalking the small fluctuation in weight up to that. I'm on my water now, and we'll see what happens come time for my official weigh-in on Wednesday. You know what though? Even if I'm up a little on Wednesday, I can step on the scale knowing that I did exactly what I was supposed to do for the whole week. I will just continue trucking on towards my goals.
Well, it's Sunday night, and I think I'm going to go put some chicken in the crock pot for dinner tomorrow night. I kind of like to have something cooking in the crock pot so I am not tempted to pick something up on the way home.
It's a beautiful life. =)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Weigh-In Wednesday Week 3
Got up this morning - stepped on the scale - and I'm down another 3.4 pounds. So here is the breakdown:
3.4 pounds this week
11.4 pounds overall
13.6 pounds until my first 25 pound goal (by April 18th - 13 weeks until then)
I'm well on the way! Yeah!
3.4 pounds this week
11.4 pounds overall
13.6 pounds until my first 25 pound goal (by April 18th - 13 weeks until then)
I'm well on the way! Yeah!
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Last Season
I was putting away some laundry this morning, and had an encouraging thought - this is the last season I will wear these clothes. There have been times in the past where I have bought clothes and thought that I would only wear them one season, but I never had a plan for getting there. So, you know what that means? That was a hope without a plan - therefore that was a failure before it even got started. Not anymore. This is the LAST season for these clothes. That is an amazing feeling. It great to know that even if there are hard days, there is a real plan to get where I want to be. After all, this is a change in heart, not just a change in lifestyle. This isn't just about getting my body healthier, but not making excuses - even subconsciously - for why I continue down the same path as usual. This is a journey - a marathon, if you will - but one that the pay off will be greater than anything I've done for myself.
This is a beautiful life.
This is a beautiful life.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Promise Ring
Today we celebrated my friend's birthday. For her birthday we love going to Outback Steakhouse - actually, for my birthday, I love going to Outback, too. It is my favorite chain restaurant. Usually, when we go, JD and I share the large ribeye, both order salads, and the loaded mashed potatoes. On top of that, we usually order the loaded cheese fries or the Blooming Onion - or both - for the table to share. Well, this is the year to honor my temple, so I prepared myself, pulled up the nutrition guide, and selected in advance what I was going to eat; the 6 oz special sirloin with the grilled asparagus, and fresh seasonal vegetables. I would still have my steak, but cut out the stuff that I need to cut out.
However, I chose to do something else, too. While I was getting dressed, I looked in my jewelry box and pulled out the butterfly ring that JD bought me for my 27th birthday. I used to wear it everyday - wore it so much that the bottom of the ring is flat from wear - but sometime over the last little while, the ring got a little too tight. Not any more. =) Even the few pounds I've lost have made the ring comfortable again. I slipped the ring on my finger and decided to wear it as a promise to me and to him that I would make the right choices at lunch. After all, although losing this weight is going to directly impact me - it also impacts JD. I'm doing this for him, too, and I will remember that. So, the butterfly ring became my promise ring.
Well, good news...I went to lunch, ordered my steak, sides, and water with lemon, passed on the Blooming Onion, and bread for the table, and walked away a stronger person for it.
I think I'll wear my ring each time I think I might need a little extra encouragement. Just a little reminder of what is important.
This is a beautiful life.
However, I chose to do something else, too. While I was getting dressed, I looked in my jewelry box and pulled out the butterfly ring that JD bought me for my 27th birthday. I used to wear it everyday - wore it so much that the bottom of the ring is flat from wear - but sometime over the last little while, the ring got a little too tight. Not any more. =) Even the few pounds I've lost have made the ring comfortable again. I slipped the ring on my finger and decided to wear it as a promise to me and to him that I would make the right choices at lunch. After all, although losing this weight is going to directly impact me - it also impacts JD. I'm doing this for him, too, and I will remember that. So, the butterfly ring became my promise ring.
Well, good news...I went to lunch, ordered my steak, sides, and water with lemon, passed on the Blooming Onion, and bread for the table, and walked away a stronger person for it.
I think I'll wear my ring each time I think I might need a little extra encouragement. Just a little reminder of what is important.
This is a beautiful life.
The Best of Intentions
Strangely enough, I woke up in the middle of the night and thought "I forgot to blog last night before bed". Yes, that really happened. I promptly decided that I might would just have to do two blogs today. =) We'll see about that. Somewhere between going to church, finishing up some homework, and watching the Broncos vs Patriots football game, I completely forgot that I had wanted to post something.
Anyways, I went to church last night. Since September, my church has offered a Saturday evening service, and although I've thought about attending several times, I hadn't until last night. I love it when I go to church and hear something that I know I needed to hear. In the middle of the message, our pastor reminded me of a saying that I hadn't heard in a while:
The more you sweat in preparation, the less you bleed in battle.
Now, I know he wasn't talking about weight loss, but actually he was talking about preparing yourself for things to come in your life - and right now, I'm focusing on honoring my temple by losing weight. Lord knows for this is happen, I have got to be prepared. Let me give you an example...
JD and have not eaten out in over two weeks, and for those of you who know me, you are going to understand how amazing that is. =) However, yesterday morning, JD and I got up and I decided that we would go have breakfast at Denny's and then run to Sam's to pick up some stuff I needed for lunches - and more eggs, since I'm very sure the reason I was even open to eating out is because we ran out of eggs Friday morning. Before we left to go to Denny's, I pulled up their menu online and checked out the nutritional value on what I normally order - the veggie and cheese omelet. It looked decent, especially since I knew I was just going to be ordering the omelet without the toast or hash browns....and maybe a side of bacon. I went in all ready to order. The waitress comes up - I order my veggie/cheese omelet add mushrooms with a side of bacon and a water with lemon to drink. About five minutes later, the waitress comes up and says that they are all out of spinach, mushrooms, and several other vegetables. WHAT?? Completely out of veggies???? Now, I'm sitting here, faced with a decision, but thankfully, I had planned ahead. That's right. While I was looking at the nutrition guide for what I thought I might order, I checked out a couple of other options just in case I changed my mind and mentally made a note of what would be the 2nd and 3rd best choice. I went with choice two and felt like I walked away with the win.
Let me say this, had I not done my research, the next thing I would have naturally ordered, would have done me in for the day. There are a surprising number of calories, fat, and carbs, in the other menu items. I was shocked at how many actually. So, even though I went with the best of intentions, had I not prepared myself in advance, I could have really thrown myself off.
See the thing is not that I'm going to give up eating out, but that I will do it with intention. I will make the decision beforehand, look up what I think I want to eat, and make an informed decision - not just go somewhere on the way home because I'm too tired to cook, and give in to eating something unhealthy.
Like Friday night....Friday night was a rough one for me. I felt hungry (as I posted), but more than that, I had convinced myself I was hungry for anything but what I had planned on eating. You know what? I stuck with the plan, and was satisfied. I was not hungry. I went to bed that night and really realized how we can talk ourselves into believing all kinds of things when it comes to food. If I'm hungry, then a healthy protein and veggies will fill me up just as nicely as a corn dog and some chili cheese tator tots - only it won't leave me craving more junk or feeling defeated by the choice I made. It might be a little harder in the moment you are feeling the battle to say no, but once you do, the pay off is worth it.
This is a beautiful healthier life - being lived with intention.
Anyways, I went to church last night. Since September, my church has offered a Saturday evening service, and although I've thought about attending several times, I hadn't until last night. I love it when I go to church and hear something that I know I needed to hear. In the middle of the message, our pastor reminded me of a saying that I hadn't heard in a while:
The more you sweat in preparation, the less you bleed in battle.
Now, I know he wasn't talking about weight loss, but actually he was talking about preparing yourself for things to come in your life - and right now, I'm focusing on honoring my temple by losing weight. Lord knows for this is happen, I have got to be prepared. Let me give you an example...
JD and have not eaten out in over two weeks, and for those of you who know me, you are going to understand how amazing that is. =) However, yesterday morning, JD and I got up and I decided that we would go have breakfast at Denny's and then run to Sam's to pick up some stuff I needed for lunches - and more eggs, since I'm very sure the reason I was even open to eating out is because we ran out of eggs Friday morning. Before we left to go to Denny's, I pulled up their menu online and checked out the nutritional value on what I normally order - the veggie and cheese omelet. It looked decent, especially since I knew I was just going to be ordering the omelet without the toast or hash browns....and maybe a side of bacon. I went in all ready to order. The waitress comes up - I order my veggie/cheese omelet add mushrooms with a side of bacon and a water with lemon to drink. About five minutes later, the waitress comes up and says that they are all out of spinach, mushrooms, and several other vegetables. WHAT?? Completely out of veggies???? Now, I'm sitting here, faced with a decision, but thankfully, I had planned ahead. That's right. While I was looking at the nutrition guide for what I thought I might order, I checked out a couple of other options just in case I changed my mind and mentally made a note of what would be the 2nd and 3rd best choice. I went with choice two and felt like I walked away with the win.
Let me say this, had I not done my research, the next thing I would have naturally ordered, would have done me in for the day. There are a surprising number of calories, fat, and carbs, in the other menu items. I was shocked at how many actually. So, even though I went with the best of intentions, had I not prepared myself in advance, I could have really thrown myself off.
See the thing is not that I'm going to give up eating out, but that I will do it with intention. I will make the decision beforehand, look up what I think I want to eat, and make an informed decision - not just go somewhere on the way home because I'm too tired to cook, and give in to eating something unhealthy.
Like Friday night....Friday night was a rough one for me. I felt hungry (as I posted), but more than that, I had convinced myself I was hungry for anything but what I had planned on eating. You know what? I stuck with the plan, and was satisfied. I was not hungry. I went to bed that night and really realized how we can talk ourselves into believing all kinds of things when it comes to food. If I'm hungry, then a healthy protein and veggies will fill me up just as nicely as a corn dog and some chili cheese tator tots - only it won't leave me craving more junk or feeling defeated by the choice I made. It might be a little harder in the moment you are feeling the battle to say no, but once you do, the pay off is worth it.
This is a beautiful healthier life - being lived with intention.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Fighting for it Friday....
When I get done writing this blog, I might just have to go back and read some of my posts from earlier this week and last week, when I was feeling strong. Tonight...not so much. I feel so hungry!!!! I mean HUNGRY!!! I don't know what my problem is - I'm eating the same as I have been. Yet, for some reason, I have felt hungry the whole day. I ate what I was on the plan for today, and now I'm slowly eating my dinner, but tonight has been a bit of a struggle. I have had to go to some of my internal scripts of why I am not going to make poor choices, and how making the healthy ones will leave me feeling confident and satisfied in more ways than a DT Double from Wendy's will.
Okay, that is it for tonight. I'm going to finish up dinner, and then try to get warm - since it is absolutely freezing outside. Maybe that is why I'm hungry...my body is getting ready for winter. hahaha!
This is a beautiful healthier life.
Okay, that is it for tonight. I'm going to finish up dinner, and then try to get warm - since it is absolutely freezing outside. Maybe that is why I'm hungry...my body is getting ready for winter. hahaha!
This is a beautiful healthier life.
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