So, I am feeling a little discouraged at the weight loss efforts. I have been faithfully weight-watchering for a little over a week now, and my weight is only down about a pound-and-a-half. Which, I am thankful its going down instead of up, but for the first week of behavin, I would expect a bigger drop. I am riding my bike trainer and getting fairly consistent exercise too, although nothing like training for a half marathon or anything like that. So yea...makes me wonder if I will ever have success in this whole weight loss thing. I mean, I know I will, but I sure would like it to be sometime before I am 90! Anyhow...I am really trying, and I will continue to try--I just sure hope I see some more results soon! Thinkin I need to step up the exercise and concentrate on eating cleaner. I am doing the right things, so maybe ramping up those right things will help.
In other news...haven't done much writing, but have done a fair amount of reading. One of the most interesting reads lately was the book The Art of Storycraft by John R. Erickson of Hank the Cowdog fame. What a great book! He is such an interesting man with a distinctly Christian worldview and lives it out in his work of writing. He has some very valuable advice for writers in this book, including to write about what you know. He says living life is very important and if you haven't lived any of life it is awfully difficult to write about it. So, I need to figure out what I know anything about...umm...not too much, unfortunately! So, I need to get busy living and learning, I suppose! But I will still try to write in the meantime!
Related to the above, is that I have this past week figured out that I am pretty sure I am addicted to my iphone. I really, really need to work on breaking this addiction, because instead of living life I find myself doing much more reading about it on facebook than anything else. Seriously....do I really need to check the status updates 80 times a day? Ummm...that would be a no. So...I am going to try to leave the phone in my purse more and be engaged in life more. Here's to hoping I can do it!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
On Writing....
Okay, so one of the other goals I have, besides getting my body back this year, is to write. I really think I have a decent ability to write and I really enjoy doing it. I have one problem though, and its a big one. Ideas! I seem to have them here and there, but then when I think I want to write, I either can't recall them or they fizzle at the keyboard. I need to be doing some more writing to keep in practice, but am having a hard time figuring out: Do I want to write fiction? Do I want to write for kids? Do I want to write something of a memoir? Do I want to write my own little commentary of Scripture? Do I want to write a book about how running is like our walk with Christ in some ways? The answer to all of the above is YES! I want to write about all of these things and more! Now I just need to figure out how to narrow some things down and actually get words down. I have done some writing, but I need to do some more. Lord, I pray You will inspire some ideas inside this head of mine...help me to write what will honor You!
Monday, January 16, 2012
What a weekend!
What a fabulous weekend my family and I had, camping at Buescher State Park just outside of Smithville, Texas. We had a great time and totally made the most of our 3-day weekend. We stayed in one of their mini-cabins which is right on the camp lake and it was so beautiful and relaxing, and for a camping trip EASY! We love our tent, but these little cabins were a great way to go! I would love to go back and do some more relaxing and also be able to take my bike, maybe. It was great. I couldn't exercise this time, unfortunately, because I am still trying to kick this bronchitis I have had going for a couple of weeks now. I am pretty much over it, but still cough like a maniac. Hoping to ride the bike trainer, which hopefully won't start the cough works up too bad when I get home in the morning. I will say, I was absolutely awful on my eating. I mean...aw-ful! I enjoyed my smores WAY too much and we ate Mexican food out last night in Bastrop which was fabulous, and had a last hurrah with some fried chicken tonight before I came into work. I am about to go down to the ER and though, and get totally honest with myself on the scale. I know I will not like what I see. But, see it, I must...and weight watchering, here I come. I have recently gotten hooked on Pinterest, and some of the cute little sayings/signs people pin catch my eye..one in particular that did said "This time next year, you will wish you had started"...so, so true! I want to be glad that I started now, when this time next year, hopefully I can be down by 100 pounds. That oughta be about 2 pounds a week. Do-able? Totally...with discipline! Oh Lord, please be my discipline! Here's to great weekends and new fresh starts....so glad we can have them each and every day!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Weight Watchers...again!
Okay, my husband told me he is beginning to think I am on the diet of the week plan....because for a long time now, I have been bouncing from thing to thing to thing. Clean eating, South Beach, Medifast, etc. Though I don't dare tell him this to his face...he DOES have a point! I have been flitting here and flitting there trying this and trying that and not getting much of anywhere because I get tired of one way and then try something else. But, I do think I have, through all of this, been moving collectively in a more positive direction (albeit with no weight loss) in that we are eating at home far more than we eat out, and our eating at home has been much more health-conscious than it used to be. Not that it is 100% of the time, but I would say for the most part, I am trying really hard to use the clean-eating principles of using whole foods, staying away from lots of sugars and things like that. Now, making dessert is another matter. I haven't been great about staying away from that. But Lord willing, I will get there.
Here lately, I have been asking myself the question, "do I need a plan at all?" Well, I have gone back and forth, but the long and short of it, I think, is: YES. I do need a plan. I remember Howard Hendricks saying that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I feel like the structure of a plan helps me and gives me some guidance. And so...after much deliberation and wringing of the hands over it, I have decided to go back and try Weight Watchers. I have had success every single time (yes, does this tell you anything...there have been many times!) with Weight Watchers. I have done well and been able to sustain it pretty well in the past....until I get off track, which I just need to not be doing this time. I think I can use a lot of what I have learned about eating whole foods and staying away from sugar and refined flours and things and use the WW plan to keep my portions and my percentage of "cheats" in check. I really do think it will be helpful. So, I bit the bullet, paid the 56 bucks for 3 months of online membership, and I will give it 3 months to see how it goes. I will be hitting my big 4-0 about then. Sure would be nice to have some success to celebrate!
I have been doing better in the exercise department too....until I got sick with bronchitis, that is. I have been suffering this week with the most awful barky cough and chest congestion. We went to see my family last weekend, and my allergies went ballistic on me--cedar, I think. My allergies are always pretty bad, but I think whatever was in the air up there was worse and my throat started to get sore, from drainage I am guessing. Next thing I know, I am coughing and feeling like garbage. My CBC showed nearly 12% eosinophils!!! Which either means I have a parasite or allergies, most likely. That is a really high number. Well, I am thinking if I had a tapeworm I'd be gettin skinny, so since I am not, I will assume the allergies did a number on me. Thankfully, one of our great ER docs here at the hospital wrote me for some antibiotic and it seems to be helping clear up the chest stuff, although it's still there. We are going camping this weekend, thankfully in cabins, so I am hoping that I don't stir something back up.
So, that's the update. Weight Watchers, here I come. Lord, help me. I really need to get well, and need to get disciplined!
Here lately, I have been asking myself the question, "do I need a plan at all?" Well, I have gone back and forth, but the long and short of it, I think, is: YES. I do need a plan. I remember Howard Hendricks saying that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I feel like the structure of a plan helps me and gives me some guidance. And so...after much deliberation and wringing of the hands over it, I have decided to go back and try Weight Watchers. I have had success every single time (yes, does this tell you anything...there have been many times!) with Weight Watchers. I have done well and been able to sustain it pretty well in the past....until I get off track, which I just need to not be doing this time. I think I can use a lot of what I have learned about eating whole foods and staying away from sugar and refined flours and things and use the WW plan to keep my portions and my percentage of "cheats" in check. I really do think it will be helpful. So, I bit the bullet, paid the 56 bucks for 3 months of online membership, and I will give it 3 months to see how it goes. I will be hitting my big 4-0 about then. Sure would be nice to have some success to celebrate!
I have been doing better in the exercise department too....until I got sick with bronchitis, that is. I have been suffering this week with the most awful barky cough and chest congestion. We went to see my family last weekend, and my allergies went ballistic on me--cedar, I think. My allergies are always pretty bad, but I think whatever was in the air up there was worse and my throat started to get sore, from drainage I am guessing. Next thing I know, I am coughing and feeling like garbage. My CBC showed nearly 12% eosinophils!!! Which either means I have a parasite or allergies, most likely. That is a really high number. Well, I am thinking if I had a tapeworm I'd be gettin skinny, so since I am not, I will assume the allergies did a number on me. Thankfully, one of our great ER docs here at the hospital wrote me for some antibiotic and it seems to be helping clear up the chest stuff, although it's still there. We are going camping this weekend, thankfully in cabins, so I am hoping that I don't stir something back up.
So, that's the update. Weight Watchers, here I come. Lord, help me. I really need to get well, and need to get disciplined!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Just Do It!
Okay...I have been playing kissy-face with this trying to get healthy stuff long enough....time to JUST DO IT! Gotta say no to eating crap and no to enormous portions and eating all the time and just get it right...I have been playing around saying "Oh, just today I will get the famous amos cookies because they are in the front of the vending machine and they will go well with my coke and then after that I will be good, good, good"--only to do that everyday and even to go so far as to buy the animal cookies in front of the Famous Amos so that I can then buy the Famous Amos and just leave the animal cookies in the breakroom at work, and then before I know it, I realize animal cookies aren't so bad so I just eat them TOO! Seriously, what I am gonna do with me? If I don't get this together like NOW, I am gonna be heading for having to be cut out of my house and have a Discovery Health show about my life called "The 848 pound woman" and it will be AWFUL! Do I want that? Noooo.....I want to be able to run and bike and play with my kids and look cute and not be afraid to wear polka dots and the whole bit! I want to feel better. I want more...so, ok, to do that, I just have to do it! I have been startin to exercise and that piece is coming together, ever so slowly...eating part, here I come. One. Day. At. A. Time. So help me Lord (as Cristy Lane used to sing)....but she was onto something, crazy-lookin perm and all....I just have to make the decisions, one after another, one day at a time.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Book Review: Shadows on the Sand
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005707OHU/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper was an entertaining read, even if at times it became a little predictable, even bordering on a little cheesy sometimes. That being said, once I began, I couldn't put it down as I really was drawn into the story and the characters. Carrie, the main character and her sister Lindsay are well-known around the town of Seaside for the dining establishment owned by Carrie, called Carrie's Cafe. The story is told of how Carrie and Lindsey escaped a very dysfunctional and abusive childhood home at a very young age to begin life in the community of Seaside, and goes on to tell the story of a whole cast of memorable characters who are a part of the town. Greg, who frequents the cafe is Carrie's love interest...and it makes for an interesting story to see their relationship develop as they both work through the emotional baggage of their past. Also woven into the story is the connection of some of the characters to a dangerous cult. The twists and turns that unfold really do keep you reading.I enjoyed the book, even though at times I found myself shaking my head when I saw something coming. It was a fun read that kept me engaged, and I would recommend it.I received this book free from the publisher Waterbrook Multnomah to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55
Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper was an entertaining read, even if at times it became a little predictable, even bordering on a little cheesy sometimes. That being said, once I began, I couldn't put it down as I really was drawn into the story and the characters. Carrie, the main character and her sister Lindsay are well-known around the town of Seaside for the dining establishment owned by Carrie, called Carrie's Cafe. The story is told of how Carrie and Lindsey escaped a very dysfunctional and abusive childhood home at a very young age to begin life in the community of Seaside, and goes on to tell the story of a whole cast of memorable characters who are a part of the town. Greg, who frequents the cafe is Carrie's love interest...and it makes for an interesting story to see their relationship develop as they both work through the emotional baggage of their past. Also woven into the story is the connection of some of the characters to a dangerous cult. The twists and turns that unfold really do keep you reading.I enjoyed the book, even though at times I found myself shaking my head when I saw something coming. It was a fun read that kept me engaged, and I would recommend it.I received this book free from the publisher Waterbrook Multnomah to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55
Book Review: Essentials of the Heart; by Susan Weagant
Essentials of the Heart is a great and practical little book that truly does get to the "heart" of the matter. It is an easy read, yet full of powerful nuggets of truth from God's Word. All of this is interwoven beautifully with Susan's own personal testimony of the Lord's redemption. I read this book in a short time and was captured by Susan's unfolding story and also had many "aha" moments which really hit home. Perhaps my favorite thing about Essentials of the Heart is its practicality. It is not simply a run-down of theological ideas (although there are plenty of them), but rather a practical guide of how to live these ideas out in daily life. I recommend this book without reserve to anyone wanting a time of refreshment and renewal from the Lord, His Word, and the testimony of one of His faithful.
I had the pleasure of working with Susan during the summer of 1994 when I served as a counselor for summer camp at Camp Peniel in my hometown of Marble Falls. She is a sweet lady and now I also know, a terrific writer with a passionate heart for Jesus. Thanks for the chance to read and review your book, Susan!
You can obtain a copy of it, from among other sources, at Amazon by clicking here: http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-of-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B004E8N3Y4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325645738&sr=8-2
I had the pleasure of working with Susan during the summer of 1994 when I served as a counselor for summer camp at Camp Peniel in my hometown of Marble Falls. She is a sweet lady and now I also know, a terrific writer with a passionate heart for Jesus. Thanks for the chance to read and review your book, Susan!
You can obtain a copy of it, from among other sources, at Amazon by clicking here: http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-of-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B004E8N3Y4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325645738&sr=8-2
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year!
Well, 2012 is here...not sure where 2011 went, but 2012 has arrived, and of course with it that beautiful feeling at New Years of a clean slate and a fresh start. I am thankful that the Lord's mercies are new each and every morning (Lamentations 3), and though I know a fresh start can happen at any time, there is just something special about New Years. I need to sit and do my yearly "year in review" in my journal, which is always fun and a little eye-opening for me, and to make some goals for the new year. Not really resolutions, per se, but I like to set goals. Jon Acuff tweeted the the other day: "Remeber the book you wanted to write, the race you wanted to run, business you wanted to open? I dare you to do it in 2012". That so goes along with my recurrent theme of "This is your life, are you who you wanna be?".....I have so many things I want to do..so many things I believe that, with the Lord's help, I am capable of. Time to quit being a lazy-butt and JUST DO IT! I am revved and ready...just need to define these goals a little and get an action plan in place and then GO! This is a work in progress, but I will begin by taking a stab at these goals here right now:
1. Physical Health: I NEED to get this body in better condition. It is fat, out-of-shape, and a
lousy Temple for the Lord Who lives in me. I feel like so much of what I am lacking stems
from this. So....
a. LOSE WEIGHT: I am about 100 pounds overweight. Maybe 115 even. Yep, I could stand
to lose an entire person in order to become healthy. How will I do this? Well, my biggest
problem in this area is my penchant for sugar and truck-driver sized portions. Time to
kick this sugar addiction. Need. To. Detox! The Skinny Ms. Facebook page has a
no-sugar challenge going for January. I may try to follow this...I say try, because it
includes fruits and things that I think I probably need to cut out, at least for a time. Sugar
is crack, baby, and I need rehab--BAD! I am also going to try to get my portions down
and better habits established by utilizing Medifast again. I lost 50 pounds on it last year
(yes, I know, only to gain them back because I got lazy), and I still think there is little
better way to jump-start things and get those portions dialed back right than something
like Medifast...especially for a crazy-schedule like mine! I also want to embrace the "clean-
eating" lifestyle in what I eat and also what I feed to my family. That means whole,
natural foods, the way God made em, not a bunch of processed crap. I am sure there will
be exceptions here and there (birthdays, etc) but I will strive to make those exceptions
be excpetions in the truest sense of the word...ie, one-time deal!
b. RUN/BIKE/GET IN SHAPE MORE: This goes hand in hand with a above, but it deserves
its own entry, because I have some specific goals here in mind. I feel so much better when
I am exerting myself physically. Running is something I so want to get back to. Its not
going to happen right away, and it will take some walking to get up to speed, but whatever
it takes, I want so badly to run again. I am signed up for the Surfside Half Marathon in
February. Would love to run it, but even if I walk/run, I will be happy to be able to cover
that distance on my feet again. I want to take more long bike rides too. Some will
inevitably have to be on the trainer, due to scheduling, and thats okay, but I would love to
get in at least one weekend outdoor ride most weeks if I can. I would love to do the LBJ
100 bike ride as my birthday present to myself in March. By the time fall gets here, I
would really love to run the Chosen Half Marathon for Adoption in October...and do it in
less than 3 hours. Totally do-able, just gotta do it!
c. Sleep as much as I am able: My body needs more sleep. A lot of the time I can't help how
little I get. Some of the time I can help it. So....I need to quit farting around when I could
be sleeping and I am doing nothing productive, and go to bed!
2. Financial Health: We are closing in on the end of Baby Step 2, paying off debt on our Total Money Makeover, ala Dave Ramsey. Not sure if 2012 will see us debt-free (apart from our home) or not, but I need to do everything I can to control my money instead of having it control me in this next year, so we can get on with the rest of the baby steps. This means practical steps, like doing the budget at the beginning of each and every month, sticking to the budget each month, using cash for food purchases (envelope system), cooking home instead of going out, etc. I am already signed up for 1-2 overtime shifts each month at work...so, I need to make the most of them and make sure they are not wasted hours.
3. Home Health: Not like as in a nurse comes to your home, but you know, the state of our abode! I really struggle here. I endeavor to not leave dishes in the sink, to fold and put away a load of laundry each day, and to clean out and purge crap whenever possible. I also need to spend time in my kids' rooms more regularly so as to stay on top of the ever-increasing mess-tastic world they live in.
4. Family Health: Put. down. the. iphone. Leave it out of sight, out of mind. Be truly present with my family when I am present with my family! Read to the kids more. Play with the kids more. Use the crockpot more so all of the above can actually stand a chance of happening!
5. Work Health: Do my best. Be on time. Go above and beyond when I can. Make myself a
valued part of the team.
6. Mental Health: Read. A lot. I have done pretty well at this the past year. I have done a ton of reading and have loved it. I want to do more, specifically non-fiction reads. I know there is value in reading fiction too, but I want to read at least 1-2 nonfiction books every 3-4 weeks or so in the mix. Readers are leaders! I wanna be in that category! Also, writing....I really have developed a love for writing. I think it has always been there, but I have just sort of given it a name. I want to write in this blog regularly. Maybe not every stinking day, but at least twice a week. I want to write a book...or two or three. Or at least a handful of short stories. I will become a better writer if I write. So, I need to write!
7. Spiritual Health: This one is the most important of all. I need this one to come together before I can expect anything out of the other goals. (Matthew 6:33). I want to develop the discipline to keep my prayer list prayed over. I want to develop the discipline to be in God's Word each and every day. I want to study harder. I want to commit more of the Word to memory, writing it on my heart. If I say I love His word, I want it to be true, and to manifest that love in my life. I also want to be a better, more giving wife. A better, more present mother. A faithful daughter. And yes, even a better in-law (Lord, help me!).
Cool thing is, I know He will. He will help me. This is the time. I have one life. THIS is my life....am I who I wanna be? Well, as I have said before, not really...but by His help, I can be. The only thing holding me back is me....let's do this!
1. Physical Health: I NEED to get this body in better condition. It is fat, out-of-shape, and a
lousy Temple for the Lord Who lives in me. I feel like so much of what I am lacking stems
from this. So....
a. LOSE WEIGHT: I am about 100 pounds overweight. Maybe 115 even. Yep, I could stand
to lose an entire person in order to become healthy. How will I do this? Well, my biggest
problem in this area is my penchant for sugar and truck-driver sized portions. Time to
kick this sugar addiction. Need. To. Detox! The Skinny Ms. Facebook page has a
no-sugar challenge going for January. I may try to follow this...I say try, because it
includes fruits and things that I think I probably need to cut out, at least for a time. Sugar
is crack, baby, and I need rehab--BAD! I am also going to try to get my portions down
and better habits established by utilizing Medifast again. I lost 50 pounds on it last year
(yes, I know, only to gain them back because I got lazy), and I still think there is little
better way to jump-start things and get those portions dialed back right than something
like Medifast...especially for a crazy-schedule like mine! I also want to embrace the "clean-
eating" lifestyle in what I eat and also what I feed to my family. That means whole,
natural foods, the way God made em, not a bunch of processed crap. I am sure there will
be exceptions here and there (birthdays, etc) but I will strive to make those exceptions
be excpetions in the truest sense of the word...ie, one-time deal!
b. RUN/BIKE/GET IN SHAPE MORE: This goes hand in hand with a above, but it deserves
its own entry, because I have some specific goals here in mind. I feel so much better when
I am exerting myself physically. Running is something I so want to get back to. Its not
going to happen right away, and it will take some walking to get up to speed, but whatever
it takes, I want so badly to run again. I am signed up for the Surfside Half Marathon in
February. Would love to run it, but even if I walk/run, I will be happy to be able to cover
that distance on my feet again. I want to take more long bike rides too. Some will
inevitably have to be on the trainer, due to scheduling, and thats okay, but I would love to
get in at least one weekend outdoor ride most weeks if I can. I would love to do the LBJ
100 bike ride as my birthday present to myself in March. By the time fall gets here, I
would really love to run the Chosen Half Marathon for Adoption in October...and do it in
less than 3 hours. Totally do-able, just gotta do it!
c. Sleep as much as I am able: My body needs more sleep. A lot of the time I can't help how
little I get. Some of the time I can help it. So....I need to quit farting around when I could
be sleeping and I am doing nothing productive, and go to bed!
2. Financial Health: We are closing in on the end of Baby Step 2, paying off debt on our Total Money Makeover, ala Dave Ramsey. Not sure if 2012 will see us debt-free (apart from our home) or not, but I need to do everything I can to control my money instead of having it control me in this next year, so we can get on with the rest of the baby steps. This means practical steps, like doing the budget at the beginning of each and every month, sticking to the budget each month, using cash for food purchases (envelope system), cooking home instead of going out, etc. I am already signed up for 1-2 overtime shifts each month at work...so, I need to make the most of them and make sure they are not wasted hours.
3. Home Health: Not like as in a nurse comes to your home, but you know, the state of our abode! I really struggle here. I endeavor to not leave dishes in the sink, to fold and put away a load of laundry each day, and to clean out and purge crap whenever possible. I also need to spend time in my kids' rooms more regularly so as to stay on top of the ever-increasing mess-tastic world they live in.
4. Family Health: Put. down. the. iphone. Leave it out of sight, out of mind. Be truly present with my family when I am present with my family! Read to the kids more. Play with the kids more. Use the crockpot more so all of the above can actually stand a chance of happening!
5. Work Health: Do my best. Be on time. Go above and beyond when I can. Make myself a
valued part of the team.
6. Mental Health: Read. A lot. I have done pretty well at this the past year. I have done a ton of reading and have loved it. I want to do more, specifically non-fiction reads. I know there is value in reading fiction too, but I want to read at least 1-2 nonfiction books every 3-4 weeks or so in the mix. Readers are leaders! I wanna be in that category! Also, writing....I really have developed a love for writing. I think it has always been there, but I have just sort of given it a name. I want to write in this blog regularly. Maybe not every stinking day, but at least twice a week. I want to write a book...or two or three. Or at least a handful of short stories. I will become a better writer if I write. So, I need to write!
7. Spiritual Health: This one is the most important of all. I need this one to come together before I can expect anything out of the other goals. (Matthew 6:33). I want to develop the discipline to keep my prayer list prayed over. I want to develop the discipline to be in God's Word each and every day. I want to study harder. I want to commit more of the Word to memory, writing it on my heart. If I say I love His word, I want it to be true, and to manifest that love in my life. I also want to be a better, more giving wife. A better, more present mother. A faithful daughter. And yes, even a better in-law (Lord, help me!).
Cool thing is, I know He will. He will help me. This is the time. I have one life. THIS is my life....am I who I wanna be? Well, as I have said before, not really...but by His help, I can be. The only thing holding me back is me....let's do this!
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