Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Holding Steady

I've had a bit of a blogging block. No doubt this has something to do with my focus being split in many directions at the moment. We're going out of town for the weekend and I have no doubt I will feel able to sort of catch you all up on what God's been doing in my life. I just need a little more time to process at the moment. As far as the physical remodeling goes - I'm holding steady at the 15 pounds lost mark. Again, after the trip this weekend I plan to do what I can to propel that forward, including putting physical exercise as a higher priority than watching my soap or blabbing on the phone. I appreciate those of you who reminded me that it's jsut a decision and I'm the only one who can make it. So, enjoy your week and weekend, I'll be back to posting after my trip.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Hep Peese

Or at least that's how Tripp says it. What I'm really trying to say is: Help Please! So here's my delimma............I'm really struggling with the exercise component of getting this temple in tip top shape. I've had some succes loosing weight with just the dietary change and taking good vitamins/supplements. Since starting this blog I've lost 12.5 pounds. It's not a lot, but it's been slow and steady and as the tortoise (sp?) knows, that wins the race. I do feel like I could pick up my pace a bit if I could get the exercise consitent and more frequent. So, I'm asking for tips, recommendation, ideas, anything...........Here's what I have to work with:

3 children (two can ride in a a stroller, 1 can ride a bike - that's how we do walking at the park)
Exerball w/ 2 videos (one abs and the other pilates)
2 aerobic workout videos
Rubber tubing to do resistance exercises and the book that explains them all

I desire to work out in some fashion M-F. I usually walk with friends on M & F, but I know that when the fall semester rolls around that will not work anymore. I will be starting a new part-time job working at church and will most likely be keeping some kids in my home on Mondays. So, I'm looking to find a routine that's consistent, but still flexible. I mean, if I dedicate Fridays to walking outdoors but wind up with a sick kid I should change that day to aerobics in the living room or something.

Really what I find happening is that the days I'm not commited to meeting my girlfriends to walk I wind up not working out at all. I get to the "rest time" part of the day and with all 3 kids squared away I find myself reading or watching the 1 soap I still keep up with (thanks to the magic of DVR), or chatting on the phone with friends.

I guess the real problem isn't finding the time or having the tools, it's finding the motivation. So maybe you guys out there in blog land can help me come up with a reward system for myself. Obviously, it can't be food. It also needs to not cost more than like a buck a week (read: it needs to be free because there is little to no wiggle room in the budget). Maybe it could be weekly dependent on working out each day. Or maybe I need to restrict something I already do like computer time or TV time until after I've done it. I don't know - I'm asking for suggestions. I think maybe a combination of restricting activities and rewarding consistency would be best, I just haven't a clue how to really set that up. So, those of you who know me well, be brave and call me out here. And those of you who don't know me well - you can call me out too. Chastisement and tips (and encouragement) are welcome at this point.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Not Dead

Hello out there! I just wanted to let you know that I'm not dead, but my interent was for about 10 days. So, here's a breif catch up. God is good. 'Nuff said.

But since I'm never good at letting a few words ays what a lot of words could..............I'm doing OK. My eating has stayed pretty good. I'm getting in more quiet times than I was. I'm still struggling with the exercise part - my walking days are allways great, but the rest of the days it seems to fall to the bottom of the list and I never get to it. Mainly, I can tell you that God is really working on me. He's providing for me. He's reminding me that I must be humble. He's also reminding me that amazing things are ahead. Thank you all for your prayers. I should get back in the groove of frequent posting now that my internet is functional again!

Friday, July 6, 2007

Treading Water

So, I'm not sinking, but I certainly don't feel like I'm making forward motion these days. This week has been as crazy as last. Swim lessons finished today so I can at least get hooked back up with my walking buddies next week and return to my "normal" structure. I think that will help some. I've been beating myself up a bit because I feel like I've been eating a lot of junk. The funny part is that what I'm now considering junk is still WAY healthier than my normal food was three months ago. Things like the yummy dessert my mom taught me how to make with sugar free fudge-pops, sf cool whip, and natural pb. Like I said, WAY healthier than cookies, but to me it now seems like junk food. I've been thinking about why the last two weeks have seemed so challenging to me and here's what I've come up with...............

I walk in circles. I think we all do actually. I think the particular circle I got caught in this time is this: I try hard to loose weight, I try programs & groups & systems, I realize I need God's help, He provides me with help, I start to do well, I think I don't need help anymore, I struggle, I regress, I try hard to lose weight.

I'm currently in the I struggle part - I think I've actually shifted my circle a bit because I've realized what is happening and am making every effort to not start over but instead go straight back to the Source of all help and all good things. I do think Satan has been captivating my thoughts lately and as scripture tells me I need to take those very thoughts captive once again. Those thoughts are for God and by letting Satan have a party in my brain I'm short-circuiting the whole system. I guess the good news is that I don't really feel like I'm having to push reset this time. Instead it's more like I've been on pause and all I have to do is push play and I can continue on the journey without having to go back to the beginning. So, how do I push play? I think I have to ask God to push it for me. Daily, on my knees, I need to ask God to be my remote control - the beautiful part is that He isn't so "remote"! My God is a very hands-on dude. Just ask my friend Kara - her example has inspired the last few weeks as she had stepped out on faith and let God truly lead her life in any direction He sees fit. I know she and her family will be blessed by her faith.

I guess that's it for now. That was probably too many mixed metaphors for one post, but that's just how my brain is working right now. If you think my thoughts are hard to read and follow, you should try living with them!

Pray for me sweet friends, I need God's strength and courage to propel me forward in more than one area of my life right now. I know all to well that if your tread water for too long you eventually get tired and start to drown. I want to swim ahead and reach the other side where I can live in joyful obedience to a Father I know has plans for me.