It's Friday - I cooked - Shake and Bake w/ Ranch seasoning for JD and baked chicken with Mrs. Dash for me with steamed broccoli. I even put chicken in the crock pot for tomorrow.
Yeah, it's Friday, my most likely day to eat out and I cooked. I'm walking away with the win today.
It's a beautiful - healthier - life!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Best Dessert Ever?
Okay, so it is not a secret that sweets are not my downfall. Lasagna? Yes. Cheeseburgers? Yes. Sweets...not so much. However, what I find interesting is that when I start to get serious about watching what I'm eating - especially my refined carbs - it's like I suddenly develop a sweet tooth. Some might call it weird...I just plain out call it the devil. ha!
Well, that last few nights, I've found the perfect thing to put that to rest: one half cup of cottage cheese. Seriously. I measure it out and eat it out of the measuring cup so that I don't cheat. Yes, seriously. Now, I realize that some of you might not like cottage cheese and well, I'm sorry for that, because it is doing the trick for me.
Today - on this 5th day of the year - I am still feeling encouraged. I really do think that your mindset goes a long way towards reaching your goals. I'm going to savor the moments of strength in preparation for days that may be harder in the future. Yeah, I know I'm only five days in, but I haven't seriously considered "cheating" at all in those 5 days, and that says a lot. I think I've realized this time that the only person being cheated is me when I continue to make poor choices.
This is a healthier beautiful life.
Well, that last few nights, I've found the perfect thing to put that to rest: one half cup of cottage cheese. Seriously. I measure it out and eat it out of the measuring cup so that I don't cheat. Yes, seriously. Now, I realize that some of you might not like cottage cheese and well, I'm sorry for that, because it is doing the trick for me.
Today - on this 5th day of the year - I am still feeling encouraged. I really do think that your mindset goes a long way towards reaching your goals. I'm going to savor the moments of strength in preparation for days that may be harder in the future. Yeah, I know I'm only five days in, but I haven't seriously considered "cheating" at all in those 5 days, and that says a lot. I think I've realized this time that the only person being cheated is me when I continue to make poor choices.
This is a healthier beautiful life.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Weigh-In Wednesday...
Today was my first official Wednesday Weigh-In of 2012. I weigh and write it down everyday. Yes, I know they say that you should only weigh once a week, but it helps keep me in check to weigh. I don't get discouraged or encouraged, just like to see where I am. However, Wednesday is my official day - the one that counts. So, this morning, I bravely stepped up on the scale. It was what I thought it would be. I'm looking forward to each week - and what the results will be from here on out. =)
Another step I took today was to do something pretty radical for me. I talked to four friends and decided to tell them exactly what I weigh, and I will report to them each Wednesday what my new weight is. I will also email one of them what I've eaten during the day for extra accountability. You see, when JD is with his dad, and it is just me, it is easy to just pick something up on the way home or sit around and eat something convenient. I mean, after all, it's just me - who is going to know, right? Well, not any more, because they are going to know. In my note to my friends I told them that this is the year I lose the weight, because I am worth more than the struggle to lose weight...more than this making resolutions and going back on them. I am just worth more.
Today has been a pretty good day, as far as hunger and motivation go. Yesterday was a little rough, so it is nice that today was better. I know that there will be easier days and then some pretty tough days, too, but this time I feel different about the decision to be healthier. I feel like I did when I made the commitment to run the half marathon - like my mind is made up - now, I will just continue to follow through.
This is a beautiful life!
Another step I took today was to do something pretty radical for me. I talked to four friends and decided to tell them exactly what I weigh, and I will report to them each Wednesday what my new weight is. I will also email one of them what I've eaten during the day for extra accountability. You see, when JD is with his dad, and it is just me, it is easy to just pick something up on the way home or sit around and eat something convenient. I mean, after all, it's just me - who is going to know, right? Well, not any more, because they are going to know. In my note to my friends I told them that this is the year I lose the weight, because I am worth more than the struggle to lose weight...more than this making resolutions and going back on them. I am just worth more.
Today has been a pretty good day, as far as hunger and motivation go. Yesterday was a little rough, so it is nice that today was better. I know that there will be easier days and then some pretty tough days, too, but this time I feel different about the decision to be healthier. I feel like I did when I made the commitment to run the half marathon - like my mind is made up - now, I will just continue to follow through.
This is a beautiful life!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Refocusing my Priorities...
Part of honoring my temple in 2012 is about me being able to refocus my priorities. It is about me focusing on doing some things for myself and my health in order to accomplish what I really desire to accomplish. Today, I had a situation where I was once again reminded what I do and what I don't want out of life...what I'm not willing to settle for.
So - this is me - reaffirming that God knows the true desires of my heart, and I believe that He has a plan, greater than I can imagine.
So - this is me - reaffirming that God knows the true desires of my heart, and I believe that He has a plan, greater than I can imagine.
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Hard Truth
The hard truth of the journey to honor my temple in 2012 is that the weight loss part is definitely going to be the hardest. There is something that wells up in me when I think about having to deny myself. There I said it. It is almost like a rebellious attitude that says "I can do what I want - I'm a grown woman". The fact that I feel super lame even typing that shows me how lame that idea is. Why would I want something that is detrimental to my success? Why would I want to continue the same way I have been? Why?
Today, I had to be honest with myself.
The hard truth is that I have done things in the past to sabotage my success in this area. I've exercised hard - only to go get Whataburger or pizza - only to feel that sense of failure after eating. Yet, I continued to find myself repeating that cycle. Watch what I eat....exercise....fall off the wagon.
When I was growing up, there were times that as punishment, we would have to run. Until doing the half marathon last year, I would have told you that I absolutely hated running - or exercise in general. Each time I went out to run, this feeling would hit me and I would absolutely HATE having to exercise. I would just want to quit.
Well - this is the year. This is the year that I will tell myself the hard truths. I will admit why I make the decisions to sabotage myself and I will stop allowing myself to undermine my success. Honestly, I imagine that I will be praying myself through this, too. I will pray for God to help me because I am not strong enough on my own. If I were, I would have already conquered this. I will start being honest with myself about what I'm eating and how much exercise I'm doing.
So - here it goes. I will decide each day to make the best decisions for my health. I will quit hiding from relationships by sabotaging my weight (yeah, I do that - and that stops today). This is for me. This is my year. I will stop choosing unhealthy choices above myself.
Today, I had to be honest with myself.
The hard truth is that I have done things in the past to sabotage my success in this area. I've exercised hard - only to go get Whataburger or pizza - only to feel that sense of failure after eating. Yet, I continued to find myself repeating that cycle. Watch what I eat....exercise....fall off the wagon.
When I was growing up, there were times that as punishment, we would have to run. Until doing the half marathon last year, I would have told you that I absolutely hated running - or exercise in general. Each time I went out to run, this feeling would hit me and I would absolutely HATE having to exercise. I would just want to quit.
Well - this is the year. This is the year that I will tell myself the hard truths. I will admit why I make the decisions to sabotage myself and I will stop allowing myself to undermine my success. Honestly, I imagine that I will be praying myself through this, too. I will pray for God to help me because I am not strong enough on my own. If I were, I would have already conquered this. I will start being honest with myself about what I'm eating and how much exercise I'm doing.
So - here it goes. I will decide each day to make the best decisions for my health. I will quit hiding from relationships by sabotaging my weight (yeah, I do that - and that stops today). This is for me. This is my year. I will stop choosing unhealthy choices above myself.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
365 Days...12 Months....Err...Maybe, One Day At a Time or Even 10 Minutes
1/1/2012 - January 1, 2012 - 1 Jan 2012
Any way you choose to write it - it is the first day of the new year. If I have a bunch of typos or seem like I'm having random thoughts, do not be alarmed, I have just been suffering from a nice migraine all day long. They say that what you do on the first day of the year, you'll be doing the rest of the year. Well, going to church and hanging out with my kid; I hope so. Lying on the couch, trying to pretend that my eye doesn't feel like it's going to explode; I hope not.
I would like to say that I'm going to blog everyday about my journey to honor my temple in 2012, but let's face it - I'm not. So, what I will say, is that I will blog along the way so that I can remember this journey - the ups and downs - the things I will learn along the way. I learned during the half marathon training that having a goal for each day got me to where I want to be, so that is what I'm doing with this. I will have a goal each day...written down in advance so I don't have to make something up on the spur of the moment.
Over Thanksgiving, my sister mentioned that she had purchased the 10-Minute Trainer dvds. For those of you unfamiliar with this set of workout dvds, they are a set of dvds broken up into 10 minute increments, by Tony Horton. You know, Tony Horton, the creator of P90X. Now, I tried P90X before and let me just say, you will definitely see results, but I was not nearly coordinated or in good enough shape to stick with an hour long dvd - six days a week. Okay, maybe those were excuses, too, but it was still very difficult. However, over the last year or so, I've been interested in the 10-Minute Trainer version. So, when I heard my sister talking about how she had it, I figured that would be a great way to give it a shot. I called her this morning and asked if I could borrow it and guess what....she hadn't even opened it, yet. Now, I'm armed with the dvds and a schedule. I plan on incorporating it into my work out plan for the next month to see if I like the plan.
Here's the schedule:
Monday - 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Tuesday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Wednesday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Thursday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Friday - 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Saturday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Sunday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
I would normally have Monday and Friday as rest days, but the program calls for 30 minutes of exercise each day of the week, so I'm going to commit to it. We'll see how it goes. =)
Okay, that's all for now. I'm going to go jump in the shower, and see if that helps my head. Goodness, I sure hope so.
This is a beautiful life.
Any way you choose to write it - it is the first day of the new year. If I have a bunch of typos or seem like I'm having random thoughts, do not be alarmed, I have just been suffering from a nice migraine all day long. They say that what you do on the first day of the year, you'll be doing the rest of the year. Well, going to church and hanging out with my kid; I hope so. Lying on the couch, trying to pretend that my eye doesn't feel like it's going to explode; I hope not.
I would like to say that I'm going to blog everyday about my journey to honor my temple in 2012, but let's face it - I'm not. So, what I will say, is that I will blog along the way so that I can remember this journey - the ups and downs - the things I will learn along the way. I learned during the half marathon training that having a goal for each day got me to where I want to be, so that is what I'm doing with this. I will have a goal each day...written down in advance so I don't have to make something up on the spur of the moment.
Over Thanksgiving, my sister mentioned that she had purchased the 10-Minute Trainer dvds. For those of you unfamiliar with this set of workout dvds, they are a set of dvds broken up into 10 minute increments, by Tony Horton. You know, Tony Horton, the creator of P90X. Now, I tried P90X before and let me just say, you will definitely see results, but I was not nearly coordinated or in good enough shape to stick with an hour long dvd - six days a week. Okay, maybe those were excuses, too, but it was still very difficult. However, over the last year or so, I've been interested in the 10-Minute Trainer version. So, when I heard my sister talking about how she had it, I figured that would be a great way to give it a shot. I called her this morning and asked if I could borrow it and guess what....she hadn't even opened it, yet. Now, I'm armed with the dvds and a schedule. I plan on incorporating it into my work out plan for the next month to see if I like the plan.
Here's the schedule:
Monday - 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Tuesday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Wednesday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Thursday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Friday - 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Saturday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
Sunday - 30 minutes treadmill + 10-Minute Trainer DVD (3 workouts)
I would normally have Monday and Friday as rest days, but the program calls for 30 minutes of exercise each day of the week, so I'm going to commit to it. We'll see how it goes. =)
Okay, that's all for now. I'm going to go jump in the shower, and see if that helps my head. Goodness, I sure hope so.
This is a beautiful life.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Taking Care of my Temple in 2012
So, it's New Year's Eve Eve and I'm ahead of myself here. I mean, normally, I'm at least a day or two into the new year before I sit down and type out what my goals are for the year. I'm good at procrastinating. I've almost got it down to an art form. I think I remember a quote - which I'm about to completely jack up - that says something like "When I wait until the last minute to do something, it's amazing what I can do in that minute".
The last little while - since the Friday after Thanksgiving - I can actually remember the moment - I've been thinking about my "temple", aka, my body. I decided to look up the actual definition of the word "temple" and here are the ones I like the best:
1. Something regarded as having a divine presence dwelling within it
2. A building reserved for a highly valued function
Yep, I think those pretty much describe me. Conceited? Maybe. However, there is even a scripture in the Bible which talks about how our body is a temple - 1 Corinthians 6:19.
Well, let's take a moment to be real honest here, if my body is my temple - Sweet Lord, I've done an amazing job at making excuses for neglecting it. For once, I'm not just talking about diet and exercise - I'm talking about in all kinds of ways. I cancelled my dentist appointment five times this past year. I wouldn't dream of missing my yearly exam, but cancelling on the dentist has happened more times than I care to admit. I am not in a good routine with my skin care. So far, I've been blessed with nice skin, but I need to start taking care of what I've been given. Oh goodness, do we even need to talk about my sleeping patterns? Or should I say - my lack of sleeping patterns? That's probably more like it.
Soooooo, that being said. 2012 is the year I am going to focus on my temple. I am actually going to set weight loss and size goals - and I am going to meet them. After all, I ran a flipping half marathon in 2011. I can set some goals for myself for goodness sakes. I asked myself this a little while ago, but the question is "Why was it easier for me to set and achieve the goal of a half marathon than it is for me to put down on paper that I am going to drop 5 pounds?". You know why that was? Well, I figured out two reasons - 1. I was doing that for my friend. 2. I made an Excel spreadsheet with mini goals on it and I achieved those goals. Well, come on Excel spreadsheet. I made myself a spreadsheet with weight loss goals on it.
Weight Loss Goal #1 - Down 25 pounds by my birthday (April 18th). I'm already down about 4 of those pounds.
Weight Loss Goal #2 - Down 25 more pounds by the end of the year. Total of 50 pounds for the year - or 42 pounds left - which is less than a pound a week.
Now, before y'all get all "You should focus on how your clothes feel", let me just say - I can make my jeans feel baggier the more I wear them without drying them. Just throwing that out there. ha ha! I do not need to give myself that excuse as to why the scale isn't going down. I need to see results in both areas - and I will accomplish that in a healthy way.
Skin Care Goal #1 - I will make sure to wash, moisturize, and revitalize my face and take care of what I have been given.
I will stick to a skin care routine. As a matter of fact, I went and dropped money on some (supposedly) good products yesterday and have washed and moisturized my face twice since then. Why do I not have a good skin care routine already? I have no clue, but those days are behind me.
Exercise Goal #1 - I will put my exercise spreadsheet back on the fridge, and stay on it.
This year, I am focusing less on a distance goal, and more on the consistency goal. Five days a week, two rest days. Will I miss a day here and there? Yeah, probably, but the point is to keep at it. To beat the treadmill more days than it beats me. To own where I am today and have a plan for where I want to be.
Sleep (Relaxation) Goal #1 - Okay, so this one is just to get more sleep.
Sleep (Relaxation) Goal #2 - I will gift myself with at least two massages next year.
I'm not very sure how I can accomplish the sleeping goal, but I can tell you how I am going to start. I am going to buy myself a new bed. When I went to Disney and slept better on a hotel bed than my own, I realized, yeah, it's time to get on with the new bed. I want a king sized bed (yes, I know it's just me, but I won't justify buying another one for a long time, so king sized it is), and I will invest in good linens. I love my sheets now and will look for some just like them. I'm thinking new pillows are on the horizon, too. If y'all have any suggestions on good beds, please feel free to pass them on. JD has a super comfy bed, so I might be looking for one like that. I'm also going to get consistent about a bedtime routine. Which means, a regular bed time and no staying up late reading or watching crap on TV in bed.
Dentist Goal #1 - I will make and KEEP both my dentist appointments this year. Honestly, it's a bit ridiculous that I cancel. I'm going to try a new dentist and hopefully will love him.
Last, but not least:
Vanity Goals - That's right - I said "vanity" goals. ha ha! Although, these goals are not super important, like it or not, how we look is important. For me, at least, when I leave the house looking bad, it kind of sets the tone. No, I am not afraid to go out without my make-up - that is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about looking on the outside the way I feel about myself on the inside - put together and confident. Now, will y'all see me in WalMart wearing yoga pants, my Smith & Wesson sweatshirt, with my hair in a pony tail, and flip flops on my feet. Yeah, I'm sure you will. However, I will make an effort to get my hair done more than twice next year (at least 3-4 times), wear clothes that flatter me on a regular basis, pluck or wax my brows, and generally put more of an effort into my appearance.
I fully believe that these goals are not just important for me, but for JD as well. After all, he learns how to take care of himself the way his family takes care of themselves. Each time I make the decision to pick up pizza for dinner because I'm "too tired" to make a healthy choice, that is a decision that impacts him, too. Each time I choose to sit on the couch instead of exercising, that teaches him that exercise is not important. Every time I neglect my health - for whatever excuses I can come up with - I am passing those things onto my child. As parents, we aren't just tasked with teaching our children to read, write, be good citizens, etc, but we are also tasked with teaching our children how to be healthy. Like JD's dad said not too long ago - like it or not, JD has parents who will always have to watch what they eat, and how they exercise. However, by passing along healthy habits to my child, I am hoping that he never has to be on a "diet", but that healthy living will be a lifestyle for him.
So, there you go. Those are some pretty specific goals for 2012. It's time to live with intention.
This is a beautiful life.
The last little while - since the Friday after Thanksgiving - I can actually remember the moment - I've been thinking about my "temple", aka, my body. I decided to look up the actual definition of the word "temple" and here are the ones I like the best:
1. Something regarded as having a divine presence dwelling within it
2. A building reserved for a highly valued function
Yep, I think those pretty much describe me. Conceited? Maybe. However, there is even a scripture in the Bible which talks about how our body is a temple - 1 Corinthians 6:19.
Well, let's take a moment to be real honest here, if my body is my temple - Sweet Lord, I've done an amazing job at making excuses for neglecting it. For once, I'm not just talking about diet and exercise - I'm talking about in all kinds of ways. I cancelled my dentist appointment five times this past year. I wouldn't dream of missing my yearly exam, but cancelling on the dentist has happened more times than I care to admit. I am not in a good routine with my skin care. So far, I've been blessed with nice skin, but I need to start taking care of what I've been given. Oh goodness, do we even need to talk about my sleeping patterns? Or should I say - my lack of sleeping patterns? That's probably more like it.
Soooooo, that being said. 2012 is the year I am going to focus on my temple. I am actually going to set weight loss and size goals - and I am going to meet them. After all, I ran a flipping half marathon in 2011. I can set some goals for myself for goodness sakes. I asked myself this a little while ago, but the question is "Why was it easier for me to set and achieve the goal of a half marathon than it is for me to put down on paper that I am going to drop 5 pounds?". You know why that was? Well, I figured out two reasons - 1. I was doing that for my friend. 2. I made an Excel spreadsheet with mini goals on it and I achieved those goals. Well, come on Excel spreadsheet. I made myself a spreadsheet with weight loss goals on it.
Weight Loss Goal #1 - Down 25 pounds by my birthday (April 18th). I'm already down about 4 of those pounds.
Weight Loss Goal #2 - Down 25 more pounds by the end of the year. Total of 50 pounds for the year - or 42 pounds left - which is less than a pound a week.
Now, before y'all get all "You should focus on how your clothes feel", let me just say - I can make my jeans feel baggier the more I wear them without drying them. Just throwing that out there. ha ha! I do not need to give myself that excuse as to why the scale isn't going down. I need to see results in both areas - and I will accomplish that in a healthy way.
Skin Care Goal #1 - I will make sure to wash, moisturize, and revitalize my face and take care of what I have been given.
I will stick to a skin care routine. As a matter of fact, I went and dropped money on some (supposedly) good products yesterday and have washed and moisturized my face twice since then. Why do I not have a good skin care routine already? I have no clue, but those days are behind me.
Exercise Goal #1 - I will put my exercise spreadsheet back on the fridge, and stay on it.
This year, I am focusing less on a distance goal, and more on the consistency goal. Five days a week, two rest days. Will I miss a day here and there? Yeah, probably, but the point is to keep at it. To beat the treadmill more days than it beats me. To own where I am today and have a plan for where I want to be.
Sleep (Relaxation) Goal #1 - Okay, so this one is just to get more sleep.
Sleep (Relaxation) Goal #2 - I will gift myself with at least two massages next year.
I'm not very sure how I can accomplish the sleeping goal, but I can tell you how I am going to start. I am going to buy myself a new bed. When I went to Disney and slept better on a hotel bed than my own, I realized, yeah, it's time to get on with the new bed. I want a king sized bed (yes, I know it's just me, but I won't justify buying another one for a long time, so king sized it is), and I will invest in good linens. I love my sheets now and will look for some just like them. I'm thinking new pillows are on the horizon, too. If y'all have any suggestions on good beds, please feel free to pass them on. JD has a super comfy bed, so I might be looking for one like that. I'm also going to get consistent about a bedtime routine. Which means, a regular bed time and no staying up late reading or watching crap on TV in bed.
Dentist Goal #1 - I will make and KEEP both my dentist appointments this year. Honestly, it's a bit ridiculous that I cancel. I'm going to try a new dentist and hopefully will love him.
Last, but not least:
Vanity Goals - That's right - I said "vanity" goals. ha ha! Although, these goals are not super important, like it or not, how we look is important. For me, at least, when I leave the house looking bad, it kind of sets the tone. No, I am not afraid to go out without my make-up - that is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about looking on the outside the way I feel about myself on the inside - put together and confident. Now, will y'all see me in WalMart wearing yoga pants, my Smith & Wesson sweatshirt, with my hair in a pony tail, and flip flops on my feet. Yeah, I'm sure you will. However, I will make an effort to get my hair done more than twice next year (at least 3-4 times), wear clothes that flatter me on a regular basis, pluck or wax my brows, and generally put more of an effort into my appearance.
I fully believe that these goals are not just important for me, but for JD as well. After all, he learns how to take care of himself the way his family takes care of themselves. Each time I make the decision to pick up pizza for dinner because I'm "too tired" to make a healthy choice, that is a decision that impacts him, too. Each time I choose to sit on the couch instead of exercising, that teaches him that exercise is not important. Every time I neglect my health - for whatever excuses I can come up with - I am passing those things onto my child. As parents, we aren't just tasked with teaching our children to read, write, be good citizens, etc, but we are also tasked with teaching our children how to be healthy. Like JD's dad said not too long ago - like it or not, JD has parents who will always have to watch what they eat, and how they exercise. However, by passing along healthy habits to my child, I am hoping that he never has to be on a "diet", but that healthy living will be a lifestyle for him.
So, there you go. Those are some pretty specific goals for 2012. It's time to live with intention.
This is a beautiful life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)