Zumba!
22 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
Down another pound and feeling pretty good. I juiced several times last week, stayed very close to natural eating and did Zumba three days, so I feel I am heading in the right direction. I called up a few friends and asked if they wanted to start meeting for Zumba on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. It helps so much to know that other people are counting on you to show up. So often when it’s just ourselves, we excuse our commitments away. But usually we do not want to let others down, so accountability really helps. Plus, if you know anything about Zumba…. it’s always a fun party! Reportedly, an hour of Zumba burns 800 calories. So far, I have done up to 38 minutes (burning 455 calories) and my future goal is to make it to one full hour. It truly is so much fun!
While focusing on clean eating this week, I have really felt a return of balance in my emotions and dependency on chemically rich foods. It amazes me how week and depressed I feel when I consume so much junk and how polar opposite I feel when I stay away from the chemicals. When choosing natural, I have a much stronger sense of self-control and desire to make good choices because I feel good…..and I like to feel good!
So this week, I am going to continue to work towards clean eating, 3 cardio workouts and throw in a couple of strength training workouts and let’s see what happens!
Father God, Thank you for creating all that we need. Please help us to turn back to your original design for our nutrition and realize you are the Great Physician that can heal us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And help us see the connection between the three.
That’s what friends are for…
11 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: friends, gratitude
In good times….and bad times….
So yesterday started out on a happy note with another pound lost. This brings my total loss to 5 pounds since I started using myfitnesspal.com. However, as encouraged as I felt when I first got up and weighed, the fiasco of trying to find an outfit for class pictures was enough to put anybody in a funk. I was so discouraged about the picture thing that I didn’t count my blessings that I was 5 pounds down. Well, my dear sweet friend and co-worker brought it to my attention in a powerful way this morning. She said she had a gift for me and that I had to promise to wear it all day. Not having any idea what was up her sleeve, I reluctantly agreed. To my surprise, she handed me a
5 pound bag of potatoes! She said that I needed to focus on the 5 pound accomplishment rather than being negative about what I have not accomplished yet. After lifting that bag for a while…..point taken. She’s so right, sometimes when it seems that I still have such a long way to go and that there’s so much more work to be done, it’s easy to miss the significance of the small victories. Thank you, my friend, for the “gentle” reminder!
Now I’m just wondering how she is going to carry in a 50 pound bag when I reach my goal! WooHoo!
Not cool
11 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
There’s nothing like school yearbook pictures to motivate a weight loss plan! Ouch! I knew it was going to be a challenge when the outfit I envisioned wearing for the picture didn’t fit and it wasn’t until the fourth try that I found something that was decent enough for a picture. You know, the YEARBOOK that your students will have for YEARS to come. Ugh. I saw the instant proof and felt so discouraged. It’s like I know I am overweight but sometimes I guess I live in denial of just what that looks like exactly. When I looked at the picture, I didn’t recognize that girl. What the heck?!?!?! What happened to me? So not cool.
Bright, Shiny Objects
08 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: focus, Jesus, journey
Today I taught a Children’s Church lesson that was probably way more powerful to me than it was to the kids….LOL We talked about keeping our eyes on Jesus and not being distracted. The story was in Matthew 14 when Jesus walked on water. He invited Peter to step out of the boat and walk to Him. As Peter began walking toward Jesus on the water, he was focused… and he was fine. However, once he allowed the distraction of the winds to deter his attention, he lost sight of Jesus and began to sink.
I don’t know about you, but I am a person who easily gets distracted. Seriously, my family continually jokes about the “bright, shiny objects” that seem to keep me from finishing things….even sentences…LOL I am that person who absolutely has to have a list and somewhat of a structure or I will wonder about aimlessly without reaching my goals.
This weight loss journey is no different. When I am focused, and my eyes are fixed on Jesus and what I know He wants to do with my life, I am fiercely determined. And the enemy knows this. So this is precisely when he allows stress to make me think I need chocolate, or convenience to make me think fast food will help, or a well-intentioned project to keep me occupied instead of working out. If I am not centering my focus, day by day and sometimes moment by moment, I will become distracted from the plans that I know my Heavenly Father has for me.
God, please help me to not lose focus and not get…. Umm, umm, oh yeah….distracted!
January One
01 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
Today is the first day of 2012 and my goal this year is to lose 50 pounds.
I will be documenting my progress on myfitnesspal.com. I really like the built in calorie counter and exercise log. My user name on mfp is ChangingCharli, so if you are a member, look me up! I worked out today and was under my calorie goal.
It’s time.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
Small Victories
29 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
Small victories count just as much as the big ones, so I will celebrate my 2 pound loss! Lol Only 48 more to go to reach my goal!!! Lol Hey, gotta start somewhere! Guess the key … Is just to start!
Have a blessed week and a Happy New Year! I am off for a wonderful weekend getaway with my adorable husband! God is good!
Many Blessings!
Temporary address
26 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
205… that number sounds so impossible, yet strangely familiar. I know this may sound bizarre, but both of my grandmother’s street addresses were 205. One in the state of Oklahoma… 205 Cleaver St. and the other in Arkansas… 205 North 18th St. This came to my mind as I was working out this morning because I was thinking about my grandmother in Oklahoma. She was the one who loved me with food. It was just her way. She also loved herself with food. She struggled her entire life with food issues as well and ultimately died of heart disease and diabetes. Father God, please let me learn from my grandmother who lived at 205… please let this number never be my “address” again.
Thank you Father God for giving me the desire to work out today!!!
Dear God
26 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
Today is Christmas Eve and I just finished yet another binge. I am a wretched, tormented soul. 205. Binge after binge and now 205. I do not know what I am so fearful of that I cannot let this go. I keep negotiating with You… and myself… I will start after Christmas… I will start after the New Year. Why? What do I think is going to happen between now and then that will make a difference?
I have been preparing a Children’s sermon today and as I have been studying, it hit me. NOTHING. Nothing is going to just happen to make the difference. I am going to keep binging, keep feeling miserable, keep feeling overwhelmed by guilt, keep feeling depressed, keep hating the way I look and feel and keep going through the motions of this vicious cycle…. until I surrender. I have to face the reality that I cannot do this on my own. I can’t keep running to food instead of God. I don’t feel equipped to fight this battle. Truthfully, I don’t even want to. I want the end result, but I have battled this demon for so many years, I’m having trouble finding the desire. God, please help me. Please give me the desire to surrender this fight to You. I can’t do it alone. I need you.
Romans 1:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Please TRANSFORM me! Transform my mind, my spirit, and this body.
Ongoing
14 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
Update:
Ok, I did finish Week 4 and was one run short of finishing Week 5 when I went on vacation. I had a wonderful time, but got off my running schedule and still have not started it back. I have a new job as a Middle School teacher and I have been inundated with lesson plans, classroom projects and lots of praying!!! LOL
I am realistic enough to know that for the next few weeks, I am going to be very busy and a bit stressed, so I am not going to add weight loss pressures to it too. I will say, I wish I had not been so careless the past few weeks because I do not feel well. Physically, I feel sluggish and not myself. I have been struggling with defeat and despression. So although I am not planning on a big stressful diet plan, I am praying continuously for peace in this area.
I will check back in a few weeks when the chaos of a new school year slows down! Many Blessings, my friends!
Week Three of C25K
10 Jul 2011 1 Comment
Finished Week Three! I must admit, I am impressed with myself! LOL So often, I get real amped up in the beginning, but fail to follow through. So let me take a moment to be proud! LOL Ok, moving on…
Week Three steps it up and is definitely challenging. But I looked ahead and Week Four is looking a bit tough! I am excited and I am asking that my readers help hold me accountable! LOL It’s tough, but I know I can do it and I will not give up.
I was ticked off this morning when I got on the scale. Although I knew my food choices weren’t great, I have been running faithfully and really wanted to see a loss. But did I? Noooooo! In fact, I have gained three pounds. Talk about discouraging. It really clicked in my mind today that all of this running and sweating will do me no good if I am going to eat brownies and ice-cream without thinking twice. This is simple Math and these numbers are not adding up to my advantage! Today, for the first time in my life, I counted calories. I have NEVER counted calories! When I saw how much food I could have within my daily caloric allowance to lose weight, I thought…”No freaking wonder!” I am so used to having what I
want and as much as I want that I didn’t realize the huge amount of calories I indulge in.
Hmmm, there’s a thought…. Simple Math…Calories in vs. Calories burned.
Week Four, here I come! (only this week, I am going to count those calories and not let all of this running be for nothing!)
