Tugging

I have had several things in the last week or so that have tugged at my heart that I feel like God has just put in my path for encouragement. Today, another happened, and I thought it might encourage you guys, too.

I went to McDonald's for lunch...I know, bad. I had to go to Wal-Mart, so I just parked in the McDonald's parking lot to eat real quick. I happened to turn to WDLM, which I haven't listened to in a long time. There was a program on and Nancy Leigh DeMoss was talking about the Proverbs 31 woman. Today just happened to be about taking care of yourself, exercising and eating right. I found the transcript online at www.reviveourhearts.com. You click on the "Revive Our Hearts" under the radio tab and you can click on the right date and find the transcript. It really encouraged me to get back on track...I need to do it for God, as well as myself and my family.

It encouraged me so much that I went to the mall first to walk. I got out of the van and went to get the stroller out and found it wasn't there. I remembered I left it in the garage sometime last week- one of the nice days I did go for a walk with Harrison outside and left the stroller in the garage. So, I was a little diappointed, but I am going to go tomorrow.

I am so ready for it to be spring...I can't wait for warmer weather to get outside more and all the fresh fruit & veggies that it brings. I am still doing my water pretty well and although I haven't lost anything, I haven't gained either! Hope this encourages you all, and hope to hear from you on the blog!!

Hollow

I think my stomach and both legs are hollow this week. I have just wanted to eat nonstop. I haven't gone over my calories, but I have eaten all of them before it's time for supper. I haven't been able to eat much after 4:00. I'm not sure what the deal is. Bob Greene was on Oprah again yesterday. I didn't get to see much of it. I would like to go to the Women's Lifestyle Fair next week to see him if anyone else is interested. He will be there at 2:00 on Saturday. I hope everyone else is having a successful week!

Expensive

Eating healthier is expensive. Craig and I were having one of our "discussions" about money this morning and where it all goes. I have really changed my spending habits since quitting working and staying home with Jack, and we still seem to be just scraping by sometimes. When we look at the checkbook, though, most of my spending is at Wal-Mart and on groceries. We try to shop at Aldi when we can, but they don't really have may options for low fat, reduced calorie. What do you do? I love the Fiber One bars that Amy told me about and the 100 calorie snacks. Those kind of things are so easy to grab when I'm taking care of a baby. I told Craig I would walk through Aldi and look closely to see what options are there. I know they have chicken, fish, and produce. That may be what I will have to eat most of the time. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas?

Whew!

I just spent a week at my parents. I bought some groceries when I got there with the intent of sticking to the same things I have been eating here at home. I did eat some of it, but also ate some good home-cooking. I also ate at the Pizza Ranch once. I looked up calories online before we went and was excited to learn that the chicken is broasted and only has 190 calories in a wing or leg! I didn't do bad there at all. I also only ate one small helping at each meal with my parents and had the same success that I had been having at home with my boring food. I only exercised once this last week. I had a pass to work out at Curves there, but I had such a bad head cold and didn't feel well at all. We'll see what the scale says tomorrow at the Biggest Loser weigh in. Something always changes on Sunday when I weigh in. I want to take my scale with me tomorrow. As of this morning, I had lost 21 pounds since early January. If only I could weigh in the buff at Curves! :)

I'm Discouraged

Ok...so I'm really discouraged this week. My entire family has been sick so I'm hoping that that is the reason I'm not motivated. No pop for almost 5 weeks. Did you know that caffeine attaches itself to fat cells and makes them harder to burn? Ok...so I heard that through the grapevine and can't guarantee that. Anyway...I suck. I'm really going to try harder.

Susan

I'm on day 2 without any pop and it really sucks. Before when I gave up pop it was because of high blood pressure, to lose weight for my wedding, because I was having really bad heartburn or because I would have pain in my stomach - all of which I associated with drinking pop. But just giving it up now is hard. I keep thinking - what's wrong with just one a day?
Yesterday I was so exhausted, I wanted a coke so bad, I had a headache and I just thought if I had a coke it would go away. I've had this feeling before - when I quit smoking! It should be illegal to make substances so addictive!
So I haven't exercised since Saturday. I haven't weighed myself in a while either. I think giving up pop will be my one and only goal this week. If I exercise I think that will just be a bonus. My skinny friend is coming to stay at my house tonight. Maybe I'll force her to try on my clothes so I can see them hang on her like a tent, then I'll really be motivated on the weight loss!

Feeling Good!

Last night I had one of those exercise moments, where it felt great, and I just felt like I could keep going for a couple of hours. Jack was at home with daddy and was soon going to be ready to eat again, so I couldn't stay. I don't have those times very often. When I do, it just feels so good. It served as motivation to keep exercising, so that I will hopefully have another day like it soon. I'm trying to get mentally motivated to go to my parents for a week. I know there will be a lot of good food there. I also usually tell myself, "It's ok to have that dessert, you can relax here, it's kind of like a mini-vacation since you're not at home." I have already gotten my Curves pass, so that I can go to Curves there. I'm also planning on getting some of my healthier food choices at the grocery store once I'm there. I have to stick to it! I just know it won't be easy.

Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

Is that a word? Anyway, I hope it conveys my frustration with myself. I have been drinking my water and not eating out for supper (or lunch for that matter), which is good, but I have not exercised since last Thursday. It is just the last thing I want to do, and the last thing on my mind. I just feel like I have so much else on my plate that is 'more important' that I don't make time or muster up enough energy to just do it. I am down about three pounds from last week, which is encouraging, but I know it won't last long if I don't keep exercising. It has always been a struggle for me. I like to walk and exercise and feel so much better after doing it, it is just hard to do when there is so much else going on. I guess the good thing is that there's always tomorrow to start over!

Karen - Tuesday

I have really sucked this past week. I have not exercised once. I've been sick since Saturday so I'm giving myself an excuse. :(

I still have not had pop for over 4 weeks. I've been trying to get my fiber. Everything else has been bad and yesterday I weighed more than I started. Something has to be wrong. I know I'm not eating more. I've very discouraged. We'll see what happens tomorrow when I weigh in. I've got to do something because I feel like I'm burning out fast.

Susan

Karen talks so much about fiber, I went out and bought some mini frosted wheats this weekend. I used to eat them all the time, but then got tired of them. So now I'll make sure I have that for breakfast this week. Worked out Saturday for 20 minutes. Had a pretty bad headache, so I was happy that I got through that. Nothing Sunday or today. Tomorrow I will for sure work out. I had two pops (yikes) yesterday because we were at a superbowl party. Every one else was drinking beer, so I kind of ok'd myself to have a second pop, not good. I think starting tomorrow I will go to no pop at all. Kind of a good time because I just drank the last one out of the 12 pack today! So my goal now - NO POP!!! Wish me luck - I've stopped drinking pop about 50 times in my life, maybe 51 will be the winner!

Sara - Monday

Oh, the wonderful scale! Saturday, I went to Curves and weighed myself on their scale and was down 3 1/2 pounds from last week. Yesterday at weigh-in for The Biggest Loser I was only down a pound. Why does my weight seem to fluctuate so much and why is it always the smallest number on weigh-in day? I was discouraged. Last night I did relax a little at a Super Bowl party and had a little of the REALLY GOOD food that was there. I didn't overdue it. I know I went over my calories for the day though. Today I started using my-calorie-counter.com. You enter each of your meals and snacks and it records the calories, fat, protein, sodium etc. for you. It won't total each column unless you pay for it each month. It is kind of fun to use. I'm trying to stay focused and remember to take it one day at a time.

Karen - Thursday

I know how you feel Susan...I hate posting failure too. But that's what I'm about to do. I still am not drinking pop...after a close call at Susan's house Saturday. :) I opened a can of Sprite and it tasted funny to me so I only had a couple sips. But I haven't worked out in 2 days. All our kids are sick too Susan. Grace had a 103* temp tonight. Lucy started getting a temp Sunday night. I'm still bummed becasue my weight was up on Wednesday. I feel like I'm making some big changes and just expect to see better results. No, I'm not exercising hours a day or changing what I eat too much...but I'm not expecting to see huge weight loss either.

I had the fiber one bars Amy suggested too. I've been doing good about eating fiber. I'm not sure I got 25g's in today...but I have been. I usually eat a bowl of frosted mini wheats that has 12 gs and now by adding the Fiber One bar there's another 9. I feel like I have my breakfasts under control...I need to work harder on healthier snacks and better meals.

I still feel like I'm making some good changes and sticking too them. I need to keep exercising - that's really important to me. I hate it so much though!!!

Sara - Thursday

I've been doing ok. I need to not weigh myself everyday. I think my weight fluctuates a lot. I was bumbed at the Biggest Loser contest on Sunday. Friday night when I weighed myself on the scale there at Curves, it said I was down 5 pounds. On Sunday, it was only 3. Last night I weighed and again it said I was down 5 from Sunday, so we will see what happens. I know it's only a number, but there is something so mental about seeing the numbers drop. I have been sticking to my 1700 calories. I do need to fit in some more fruit and vegetables. I eat several of the 100 calorie snacks during the day. They are so good! I also tried the Fiber One bars that Amy told me about. They are great! I have been exercising every day. I try to exercise an hour if I can leave Jack for that long. I've also been drinking a lot of water, but struggle with diet coke. It just tastes so good! Everyone is doing great. Keep up the good work!