Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Ash Wednesday - Lent, Day 1

Being raised Southern Baptist, giving up something for Lent wasn't really our thing. Honestly, I thought it was a Catholic thing. Now, having been married to a Methodist and going to a Methodist church for 11 years now, I'm sorta getting the idea of Lent. I've only observed Lent once. I had decided to give up coffee. The only problem with that was the first day of Lent was smack-dab in the middle of a vacation week. We were at Disney. Our family happily got up and carried ourselves down to the breakfast buffet. Not thinking, I made myself a cup of coffee. Halfway through the cup I remembered what day it was, and I nearly choked. LOL

So, this year our preacher has encouraged us to do not give something up, but to take something on. I'm still trying to get the hang of giving something up. I think the problem I had with the idea of giving something up was that in my mind it needed honor God somehow, and I couldn't figure out how giving up coffee would honor God or help me grow spiritually. So, I've decided to take something on this year. But, wouldn't you know that when I find a way to honor God in Lent by taking something on, I also find a way to do it though giving something up??? What's a girl to do but do both, right?

Taking on: Prayer. I will be honest and say that I don't pray as often as I should. Oh yeah, I pray when someone's sick or I'm in a bind. But honest, daily talks with God.... I don't do that. I do it sporadically, at best. I'm committing to pray for our church and the school system, specifically.

Giving Up: I've decided to give up sweets (candy, cakes/cupcakes, cookies, desserts, etc), sugared sodas, and junk snack food. Laying in bed last night, really wondering what to do about Lent this year - and wondering if I was even going to do anything about it at all - it hit me. I've been trying to lose weight for so long, and I always get sidetracked by what out to be indulgences. I don't honor God with my body. I've taken horrible care of the body He gave me. It's time I treated the body He gave me with the care He'd want me to. God doesn't want me to be fat and unhealthy. So, I'm ousting some of the very things that stand in the way of me getting and being healthy. I've already limited the things I'm giving up, but I'll be honest and say that I've indulged in them a lot more than I should lately.

So, there you go. In 40 days(I think)I hope to have a better relationship with God, and also be be healthier.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Moommy

Yesterday I was flipping through pages of one of my notebooks because my husband said our daughter had drawn on some of the pages. I ran across a picture she drew for me, and at the top she wrote my name. "Moommy."

One one hand, it was hysterical. On the other hand, I thought maybe it was a bit sad. The "moo" part, I mean. I know my daughter wasn't comparing me to a cow. But so many days I feel like a cow. You know. Stand around (sitting, in my case) doing nothing but eat and watch the day slip by. There's a lot of life I could be living, but I'd gotten used to being my size. I'd come to accept that "I'm just going to be fat." I'd gotten comfortable doing nothing.

I've toyed with getting fit. I go on various diets. I've got a full shelf of diet and exercise books upstairs in the bedroom. If I put them out at a yard sale, people would look at them and then at me, and then they'd walk away saying those books must not work. I've come to the realization that a diet isn't going to work. I've got to change the way I view food and my diet (not a thing I go on, but the foods I consistently put in my body)needs a drastic overhaul.

This lifestyle change, because I refuse to call it a diet, is hard as heck. I wish I could tell you that I don't crave or want the junk. That hasn't happened for me yet, but it's getting better. Weekends are still my undoing, and this one has been no different. But I think it's been better. I'm working to make today as good as I can so I can say the whole weekend wasn't wasted.

Goals for the Week
1. Drink my two Herbalife shakes each day and have a healthy meal at dinner. Have the Herbal Tea with my shakes.
2. Drink 128oz of water each day. That's 4 quarts. It's 1 gallon. It's doable.
3. Move! Aim for 30 minutes of exercise each day. I wish I could get back to Gold's Gym. It's a bit odd to say I love a gym, but I really do love that place. Since I can't do the gym right now, I'm aiming for activity on the Wii. I've got Wii Fit, Zumba, Wii Active, and I've borrowed Just Dance 2. I have no excuse to not do something.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Weekends

Weekends usually are my downfall. I don't know why, they just are. I'm trying to make a conscious effort to not let this weekend throw me off balance. I didn't do too well last night. I ran to the store for a couple things before dinner (I was hungry) and came home with a chocolate cake. So, I've got to tap into every ounce of willpower within me to not eat anymore. I'm actually hope Patrick and the kids take care of it while I'm gone today. Sad, I know.

I did start my Saturday off right, though my knees weren't pleased with me. I got up this morning and went on a 1-mile walk. I know to many people one mile is nothing. To me, it's huge. I had surgery on my left knee back in November. (I fell back in June and injured my knee.) My right knee has hurt me off and on for years, but never consistently enough to need to do anything about it. It started hurting more consistently in January. Figures, huh? First of the year and my deductible isn't met now. I really don't want to have surgery on my right knee, so I'm hoping getting the weight off will take the pressure off my right knee and ease the pain.

Anyway, I'm really proud of myself for getting my walk in. About halfway my knees started bothering me, but I kept going. (My only other option was to sit down and wait for Patrick to get back from Home Depot.) It took me 24:16 to walk 1.08 miles. I hope to improve that time and distance, but for now, it's movement. It's more than I was doing. So I'm happy.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Water, Water, Water... and More Water

I think I'm going to float away. Seriously. I've been told I should have half my body weight in ounces of water each day. If I were 120 pounds, this wouldn't be a problem. But holy moly!!!! I'm drinking 4 quarts, or more, of water here.

Today is the first day I'm actually doing this. I've known for a about a week that I should be drinking this insane amount of water, but I haven't been doing it. I decided that today I was going to start. My goal is to do this every day for the rest of the month, with the exception of when I am traveling. Stopping every hour (or more) isn't exactly a good idea on a long trip. Of course, I've heard that when your body actually has the water it needs and it's gotten used to getting this much water each day, you don't have to potty as much. I'll believe that when/if it happens.

So, it's a short post today.... I need to go potty.