A Head (and Heart) Fix…

As some of you may know, the last few months I have been going through some big changes.  I have been in the process of getting healthier by eating better, exercising, and losing some weight.  I have good days and bad days but I have finally figured out that what really is  most important is my head rather than my body. 

I have been reading the best book by Lysa TerKeurst called Made to Crave.  I literally feel like the author has been peeking in my window and writing about me.  Through her I have really learned some great Biblical truths that relate to the sin of gluttony that I have been struggling with. 

I have realized that like the title of the book says, I was made to crave.  Only what I was made to crave was God…not food.  The fallen world has twisted a wonderful feeling placed inside of me into something that has led to defeat, shame, and guilt.  Only by realigning my thoughts and learning to crave what I was made to crave can I get off of the cycle of overeating and rationalizing it.

Thought for the Day:  My weight loss goal is not a number on the scale.  My real weight goal is peace.

Oh how I wish I had learned these truths years ago.  Maybe I wouldn’t have wasted so much time in this struggle without any success. 

And this doesn’t just apply to weight struggles.  It applies to whatever you are craving other than God.  There is so much in this world that we substitute for God.  That’s our enemy’s aim, isn’t it? 

1 John 2:15-16 says, “Do not love the world or anything of the world…For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world.

While I realize this will be a struggle for me (and everyone else too), until we are done with this world, I am so happy to know these truths and work on fixing my head (and my heart) and live a life that is pleasing to my Lord.

 

 

Confetti…

The thoughts in my mind lately have been swirling around like confetti, so I’m going to let it all come bursting forth:

* This morning I woke up to the news that Bud will not be coming home in the next few days as we thought but may be in Korea until sometime in November.  This was a huge disappointment for both of us.  And (as those who have read previous blog posts know) I’m not very good at waiting.  While Bud is still pretty irate about the whole lack of communication related to their trip home, I’m more trying to see this as an opportunity.  I am hoping this will give me a little more time to be firmly established in Weight Watchers and exercise before Mr. Betty Crocker comes home and gets to baking.  There are also several projects around the house I would like to tackle to jazz the place up before Bud comes home again.

* I walked/ran my first 5K ever last Saturday!!!  I was SO excited because I really wasn’t sure this was something I would be able to do.  I was extremely nervous before the race began.  I did pretty good until right after mile 1 and then I had a few moments of the “I can’t possibly do this”‘s before I decided that I just needed to ask God to help me endure and persevere.  I figured that is a big theme in the Bible (although it’s mostly related to our faith), so I figured learning to persevere may be something He would be willing to help me with.  I’ll have to say that crossing the finish line was amazing.  I was so thrilled to have made it, I even forgot to look at the time.  Thank goodness someone did and told me I was right around the 48 minute timeframe.  I know I still have a long ways to go, but I’m so jazzed about this now.

* This fall feeling weather tonight is really getting me in the mood to decorate with some nice fall colors.  I’ve also decided that now that I’ve broken in my new sewing machine helping Bella make her Star Trek uniform shirt, I’m ready to really get going on some pillow slip covers and curtains for my living room.  I’m so excited to have the machine because I’ve always wanted to make things for my house and was severely lacking without a sewing machine.  I also just discovered a cool pattern to make reusable pads for your Swiffer Wet Jet, and everyone knows I’m all about saving some money on stuff like this.  As soon as I can find some old cloth diapers, or buy some new cloth diapers, I’m going to be whipping up some of those.  I’m sure I will be putting some project pictures up on my blog as soon as I get some done.

* I am really loving my new job!  It is a great job for me because it deals with patients (which I love), is new and different and exciting every day, and requires a lot of organization which is “my thing”.  I have met so many really great people and learned so much in just six short months.  It’s wonderful to look back and see all the jobs I have had before now and the skills I learned in them being used for this job.  I am so thankful that God has put me here at this time in my life.

* The new mattress that I bought a month or so ago…I LOVE IT!  It is possibly the most comfortable mattress I’ve slept on in who knows how long.  And the best part – I can now leave my bedroom door open during the day because my bed is high enough that my little short-legged furry friends can’t jump on my bed.  I used to have to always keep my bedroom door closed as they would get up and were getting my bedspread dirty all the time.  This resulted in a somewhat stuffy/non-aired-out room.  I love being able to keep the door open.  I also love having to invite help up a dog if I want them up there.  If I don’t want them up there, they stay down. 

* Oh, and by the way…War Eagle!!!

Run, Forest, Run…

Or I guess for me it would be: Run, Debey, Run. I have always wanted to be a runner. I’m not sure why it holds such a lure for me, but I really would love to be one of those people who run.

It really makes no sense. Anyone who has seen my short, stubby legs can tell that I wasn’t ever really built for speed. I’ve always been really jealous of people with long, lean legs to run on.
Anyway…I have to make due with what I was given, and I was given short legs.

Lately, I’ve gotten into the treadmill. I guess it was just hanging in there long enough to get past the “oh my gosh, I’m gonna die, when is this going to be over” feeling to start enjoying it some. Now don’t get me wrong, every minute I’m walking and sweating I’m not in bliss or anything, but I don’t HATE it now. I don’t feel like I’m going to die everytime I do it.

So one day I decided, why not? I’m going to try to run for one minute and see what happens. And guess what? I didn’t fall over dead. My legs didn’t fall off. I actually didn’t hate it kind of liked it.

After that I decided I would do an informal type of ramp up to running. I know myself, so I decided I didn’t want a formal, set-in-stone kind of running plan. I would just keep on going to the gym every week and run. So this week it is running at least 4 times for a minute each time during my 45 brisk walk on the treadmill. That’s it.

Next week, I will ramp up to at least five times for a minute or more. Last night, I did my four times but actually ran closer to a minute and 15 seconds each time.

That’s progress, right? I’m striving for baby steps with this as well as with my eating habits on Weight Watchers. Each baby step moves me a little closer to the goal.

I know a lot of people would need something a little more regimented. But I know myself and if I did that I would get burned out really fast and not want to do it.

Oh, and I’m walking/jogging a 5K next month! It will be my first ever. Which is exciting, especially for someone who hasn’t done anything like this since I was in about sixth grade.  I’m still looking for anyone who would like to join me.  Why don’t you give me a call?

I Like to Move it, Move it…

Yesterday I was driving to work and praying as usual and I came to the realization that enough is enough. I decided I had to get back on South Beach and I had to get back to exercising.

I had some success with South Beach last fall, loosing 20 lbs. However, I stumbled when I went to California over Thanksgiving. When we returned home, we had just found out about Bud going to Korea and Miss Emotional Eater came for a visit and stayed with a vengeance. This is not something new – I struggle with emotional eating pretty much all of the time. Just let me get upset about something and see where I head. It’s not to talk to someone or pray or read my Bible, like it should be…it’s straight to the refrigerator or cabinet.

I’m going to be completely transparent here – this is a something I absolutely HATE. This is sin and I know it. This is relying on something other than God to help me deal with hurt, pain, worry, etc. And I am really and truly OVER IT. My health is suffering and my closet is bursting at the seams with multiple sizes of clothes.

So, before I could change my mind, I signed up at Planet Fitness for their $10.00/month membership, which is totally worth it. And last night I went with Bella and worked out. Sure, I whined and sweated like a pig, and felt like I was going to puke, but I did it. I made it 25 minutes on cardio (15 minutes on the bike and 10 minutes on the stepper)! I’m sore this morning but I’m going to do it.

An Apple a Day…

So, I went to the doctor the other day for my yearly check-up. 

First I would like to say that I LOVE Dr. Dailey!  He is the best doctor I have ever seen.  After your lab work is done he actually sends you a letter with your lab report explaining it and giving his recommendations.  It’s so nice to actually have something in writing so you are not trying to remember everything the doctor is saying to you.

So…here’s the deal:

*  My cholesterol and triglycerides are still too high (C=251; T=170).  My LDL cholesterol is also high (163).   I will be taking some meds to lower my cholesterol since diet hasn’t seemed to help.

* My Vitamin D level is still a  low so I will continue to take supplements for that.

* Weight and BMI are too high – BIG surprise there (hahaha).  I guess the plan is diet and exercise (as usual).  We will see if it works this time.

Everything else looked good and aside for the things listed above, I am healthy.

Potpourri of Thoughts, Part 2…

So, we got Joey moved out and I did better than expected.  Aside from the fact that I was carrying stuff to the truck and crying, that is.  I think I hid it pretty well from the other guys.  The actual move out was pretty hard for me, but once they pulled off I felt much better.

He has gotten settled into his new place.  I did have a really hard time when I visited his new place and saw his furniture in a new room.  This is the furniture we bought Joey when he was two years old.  It has always been in MY house.  It just doesn’t look good in someone else’s.

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Bella had a GREAT party for her 23rd birthday.  It was a Nintendo Themed Costume Party.  She spent days decorating the house (some of which is still up).

She had a PacMan room in our Living Room:

A Donkey Kong Country Room in our Den:

Mario in our Kitchen:

Rainbow Road in our Hall:

And Star Fox in Joey’s old room:

Prizes were awarded to Alaura Cook (3rd place), Andrew Eastwold (2nd place), and Caleb Quave (1st place).

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College football kicked off tonight…WOOOOO HOOOOO…just saying.

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We are planning for a visit to California to visit my Dad and my stepmom Louava for Thanksgiving.  It will be just us two girls since the boys will both be working that week.  I’m really excited and can’t wait to see them.  I don’t get to see my Daddy and Louava near enough.  The last time we got to see them in the flesh was when Bella graduated from high school.  In case you don’t know when Bella graduated…that was back in 2005.  They were going to come and visit again when Joey graduated high school, but due to some health problems were unable to fly.  I absolutely cannot wait to put my arms around my Daddy and give him a great big hug!

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I forget between times that I write on my blog how much I enjoy it.  I definitely need to take time to do this more often.  I don’t know if anyone else really enjoys reading what I write, but it is great to get it out of my head.

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Mullets…I still don’t get them.  Business in the front, party in the back – what’s that about???  And why are people still wearing them?  What brought that up?  Just saw Billy Ray Cyrus’s video for “Acky Breaky Heart.”  Wow…

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It’s September – WHY are your Christmas lights still up?  You are either way late in taking them down or way early in putting them up.  STOP IT.

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I’m still on the South Beach Diet.  I’ve lost 16 lbs. and 18 inches.  The inches have gone down the last couple of weeks but the pounds not so much.  I know this is normal but I’m ready for some pounds to get moving.  I keep having to tell myself that I didn’t gain all this weight overnight.  It took closer to 15 years actually.  Therefore, it might take awhile to take off.  I do feel like I’ve finally gained some control in this aspect of my life.

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“For You formed my inward parts:  You knitted me together inmy mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13).

As someone who could have been aborted but was instead born and put up for adoption – I just don’t get it.  How much clearer do some people need it to be.  I’m NOT a mistake, I was NOT an unplanned pregnancy – God planned me.  God formed me and planned for the parents I was to have.

So how can people really believe that abortion is okay?  How can they say that these babies are mistakes and unplanned?  Again, I just don’t get it.

[getting down off of my soapbox now]

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Potpourri of Thoughts…

Joey is moving out tomorrow. I know that it is time and how things should be so why is my heart so heavy? I have had a lot of people ask why I’m sad he’s moving out – after all, he’ll be in town and I can see him anytime. It’s true, but still the heavy heart.

Would it feel any different if he was moving to Australia or even Wyoming? Maybe. But I think it’s not where he’s going that’s so hard. I think it is that things are changing. For 23 years of my life, I’ve had kids in my house. Things have developed into a nice rhythm and I enjoy that rhythm. Now something is changing…and I’m not READY.

I find myself wanting to go up to new parents or parents with small children and warn them. I need to tell them to enjoy every minute. No matter how tired or frustrated or busy you are to savor each and every moment. Because that part of your life is over way too soon.

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I have read the Bible through a couple of times but it’s funny how every time you read the Bible, no matter how many times you have read a certain passage, God brings something new. Here are some recent gems:

“For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He watches all his paths.
His own iniquities will capture the wicked,
And he will be held with the cords of his sin.” Proverbs 5:21-22

“The night is almost gone, and the day is here.
Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit[b]is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says:

“ Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:8-14

There is also a song by Glory Revealed called “Wake Up O Sleeper” based on Eph. 5:14 that is just fantastic. You should definitely check it out.

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I’m still working hard on the South Beach Low Carb Diet. So far, I’ve lost 15 lbs. and 12.5 inches. I do really good most of the time but still struggle with my emotions dictating how I eat. I just have to keep working at it and remember that I didn’t get to this point quickly so I’m not going to lose it all quickly either. Still…frustrating.

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We are getting internet and cable back this weekend! Can I say that I have really missed Deadliest Catch, Dirty Jobs, and House?

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Our garden is still doing ok.  We never got any tomatoes to speak of (but then, neither did my FIL who usually gets a bunch) but we have gotten a bunch of peppers of all shapes and sizes, some eggplant, and we have 5 icebox watermelons currently growing.  All in all – a good experience.  We will definitely garden again next year.

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I definitely feel better when I pray and read the Bible so why don’t I do it constantly?  To paraphrase Paul – Why do I NOT do what I want to do???