Living and Active

I never thought I would struggle with my weight. As a kid, I was always skinny. When I started taking karate and horseback riding lessons in junior high, I built muscle and toned. In high school, my weight yo-yoed but never got above 135 pounds. My freshman year of college, I became a vegetarian and lost the "freshman 15" instead of gaining them. I spent my days in class and my evenings working out, riding horses, and taking ballet classes.

Then life happened. I gave up being a vegetarian and worked out less. I got married. I sold my horse. I had kids. I gained weight. I lost weight. I went back to school and gained a lot of weight. Now, I find myself hovering (a second time) on the edge of my heaviest weight ever. And I don't like it.

The Bible says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19

 

It says we are to do everything for the glory of God:

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31

 

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. ~ Colossians 3:17

 When it comes to my health, I'm not following those commands. Instead, I'm abusing my body. I fill it with unhealthy food. I overeat. I neglect my workouts. I have not glorified God with my physical health. And it's not okay.

Today marks a fresh start for me.

I'm starting the "Living and Active" challenge with Claire at Peak 313. For me, this challenge isn't about being supermodel skinny. It's not about getting six-pack abs or building big muscles. It's about giving God my best - spiritually, mentally, and physically.

My faith is everything to me. It's not just part of me - its all that I am. I know that if I skip my morning time with God, or if I don't have Christian music playing during the day, or if I skip church and feeding my soul - I can't do all that He calls me to do. I can't be a good wife and mom, be my best at work, or lead children's ministry if I'm not spending time with God. I can't give to others unless I fill up first.

Yet that's exactly what I've tried to do physically, and it's not working. I feel awful. So many days, instead of being at my best, I'm bloated, sluggish, and achy. I'm always exhausted. I'm stiff and sore in the mornings. I don't sleep well. I'll admit it - I don't want to live my life this way. I want something better.

I'm ready for changes, and this is the perfect place to start. I love this challenge because it's doable. This isn't extreme - and I have been to both extremes. I have eaten until I gorged myself, day after day, hiding my feelings behinds food. I have gotten scary skinny, hovering on the brink of an eating disorder. Extremes don't work. They don't last. I'm ready for consistent, healthy changes. I'm ready for to be living and active.

It Starts Today

This is a year of fresh starts.  My graduation a few days ago means a new career is just around the corner - in a few weeks, I hope to officially be a Registered Dental Hygienist.  I get to be a wife and mom again, instead of a full-time student juggling work and family.  I get to focus on my blog and my writing.  I get to read again.  I'm starting a new chapter of the story God is writing through my life.

I had to neglect a lot of things to get through school.  One of them was my health.  The intensity of my program, coupled with the demands of family and work and ministry, left no time for working out or planning healthy meals.  I put on weight and felt continually worse.  Now it's time to change all that.  This chapter is going to include me taking care of myself.

I'm tired of battling pain and fatigue.  I'm tired of tight clothes and the biggest sizes I've ever worn.  I'm tired of feeling bad.  I'm tired of treating my body, a temple of the Holy Spirit, like a trash can. So I'm starting fresh, starting small, starting a journey to a new me - and it starts today.

I'm not making sweeping, radical changes.  I walked a mile this morning.  One day, I want to run a half-marathon - but today it starts with just one mile.  Today I'm having a fruit smoothie and a fruit and cereal bar for breakfast.  I won't drop 20 pounds because of it, but it's a small, easy change to improve my diet.  I don't have to start big, I just have to start.  I'm ready to change, starting now.

Side Effects?

I shared a couple of weeks ago about my wake up call regarding my health. I knew it was time to do something, but I also know myself well enough not to dive in head-first. I knew that I needed to work my way in slowly. So I started with a couple of simple changes.

I got a great book on Kindle a few weeks ago called 42 Days to Fit and decided to start the challenge.  Honestly, when I read the first food challenge, I thought, "No way - I can't do this." (In case you're wondering, the first challenge was giving up extra sugar, including desserts and sugary coffee creamer, and even - gasp - diet drinks.) I was terrified as I bought only sweets that I don't like (for my husband and kids) and picked up ingredients for paleo coffee creamer from Pinterest. Around that same time, @TufMotherRunner posted a Twitter challenge to #DumpDietCoke. I knew I'd need the extra encouragement, so I joined in.

It hasn't been perfect. The first day, I hated the paleo creamer because I was used to such sugary coffee. I added a little bit of sweet cream to make it bearable. The next day, I actually loved it. I'm still adding a little cream, but I'm working my way down to just the paleo creamer. I've had Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper four days in the last week and a half - not perfect, but better than my 2-3 a day habit just a couple of weeks ago. Saturday I had a piece of cake at a birthday party, and yesterday I had a small piece of pie. I'm doing better and making progress, though, and as I shared on Monday, being imperfect shouldn't keep me from being better.

This week, I'm finally starting the fitness challenge, thanks to an extra nudge from Run Like a Mother and their 5K Finish It plan. I'm not sure what my final fitness routine will look like. I have to balance finishing school with the specific fitness needs my soon-to-be career as a dental hygienist requires. (I did a research paper on the effects of repetitive stress in the field and the workouts RDH's should do - fascinating stuff, but I digress.)

I'm already noticing side effects from this challenge. I'm sleeping better. I feel better. My blood pressure is better. I could get used to these side effects. I really like the way I feel. What's really exciting is knowing that as the book builds on itself, I'll feel even better. More small changes will have more positive side effects.   I can't wait to find out what the rest of the side effects are!

 

Time To Refocus

Last week was a wake-up call for me. The woman who prides herself on not going to the doctor until she's half-dead, was there twice. Two days in a row, to be exact. It wasn't pretty. I saw my weight, which was horrifyingly high. My blood pressure was spiking. I had a bad case of vertigo. I felt horrible. I found myself sitting in the office, talking to the nurse practicioner, and I thought, "What am I doing to myself?" My health has gotten totally out of hand. Something has to change. Everything has to change.

I saw this on Pinterest not long after those appointments, and I thought it was the perfect inspiration:

I've treated my body as a trash can for too long now, and I'm paying the price for it. It's time to make some major changes. I know that change won't happen overnight. I know it's going to take some time to repair the damage, lose the weight, change my eating habits, and feel better. I also know that I have to start somewhere. So once again, I'm starting where I am.

I'm doing Claire's febYOUary challenge at Peak 313 fitness. I'm tracking my eating habits again on My Fitness Pal. (I'm here if you want to add me as a friend: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/graceinourmoments ). I'm reassessing my goals and what I need to be focusing on.

It's time for change. This time next year, I want a lot of things in my life to look different. It's time to make a plan, then make it happen.

Time to Re-focus

It’s so easy to let life get out of focus.  When you balance family, home, work, church, and more every day, important things can slip off our radar screen before we even notice they’re gone.  We can get so wrapped up in the good things that we let go of the best things.

I sat down this weekend and really took a hard look at where I am in regard to my goals and priorities.  Let’s just say I’m not where I want to be.  My extreme stress levels and bad habits are taking a toll on my body, from aches to trouble sleeping to anxiety attacks.  My scattered mind is struggling to focus on anything for more than a few minutes at a time.  I have a lot of good things going – family, teaching children’s church, school, writing, and more – but I realized that some of the best things – like my times with God and my workouts - are slipping away from me.

It’s time to re-prioritize some things.  For me, that means time with God and time to work out are essential to every single day.  I’ve been struggling lately with old issues that I thought I’d moved past.  As I wondered why, it dawned on me that my time with God has gotten shorter and shorter as the past few weeks have rolled by.  No wonder I’m struggling!  My fitness routine has totally gone by the wayside.  I’m six months away from graduating as a dental hygienist – a physically demanding job (and mentally exhausting while I’m in school!).  If I don’t make sure I am healthy and fit, I may not have a long career.

My goals for this week are simple: (1) Daily time with God (2) Exercise 3 days (3) Write most days - I'm shooting for every day, but I know that's not always going to happen.  I’m going to start simple and stay simple.  The biggest change will be that I want to eventually work out 5-6 days a week.  I'm pinning workouts and checking out YouTube - it won't happen without planning!

My New Workout Motto

Need I say more?  This is my new motto.  5K here I come!

Running Toward My Goal: Week 4

Let the countdown begin: 80 days until I run my first ever 5K with my team, the Dental Divas!  My workouts for this week:

Happy training!



Changing My Perspective

Last week, I shared about starting my fitness journal.  I'm almost three weeks into my journey now.  If I had known what a difference keeping a fitness journal would make, I would have started one a long time ago! 

I jot down notes throughout the day and do a summary at night.  I'm noticing trends and patterns in my behavior that I had never noticed before journaling.  I find myself stopping to check my motives before I grab a snack and pushing myself a little harder with my workouts.  I'm seeing the patterns of how everything fits together - emotions, fitness, sleep, eating habits, and more.

Even though this hasn't been a great week for me fitness wise (I haven't felt too great and have taken it easy the past two days), I know I'm gaining better control of my eating habits.  I'm being more mindful of everything I put in my mouth.  The results (as of Monday) are 1 1/2 pounds that are now GONE.  It's a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.  

It's all tying together for me - emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health.  If one is out of balance, everything is out of balance.  With God's help, I'm changing each aspect and striving for a healthier, stronger life.

Fitness Journaling

It's time to get serious.  A few days ago I was looking at myself in the mirror as I was getting ready for work, and I wanted to cry.  I'm flirting with my highest weight ever.  I don't feel good.  I'm not even close to hitting my fitness goals.  I need a new push, a new challenge, a new direction.

My friend Kristi sent me a couple of great ideas last week.  We were chatting about fitness, our goals, and our need for accountability.  She shared this awesome idea from Pinterest (where all good ideas seem to come from!) for a fitness journal.  It looked like exactly what I needed, so I decided to make my own.  I pulled out a few scrapbook supplies, printed out some of my favorite quotes and Bible verses from Pinterest, and came up with this:

It was so easy to make!  I made it small enough to fit in my purse so I can carry it to work, to the gym, etc.  After just a few days, I can tell that tracking my workouts, how I feel, and my daily calorie intake all in one place will help me see the big picture of my health and fitness.  I can't wait to share my progress and how my journal is helping me along the way.

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Simple Goals and Big Changes

Several weeks ago, I snagged a copy of Candace Cameron Bure's book Reshaping It All for my Kindle Fire.  (On sale - I love a good bargin.)  I grew up watching Candace on "Full House" and her brother on "Growing Pains," so I was super excited about getting a copy.  As soon as I finished my last final for the semester, I started reading it. 

My life has been all about changes lately.  I finished a brutal semester of college, during which I had to make huge sacrifices just to pass.  We lost our beloved 13 year old Yorkie, and a month after her death, we got a new puppy.  Major changes at my job of 4 1/2 years forced me to start looking for a new job, which I just started this week.  I worked at a gym, so leaving also meant starting a whole new workout routine at a different gym.  My life looks very different now than it did in January.
A lot of things are being reshaped in my life right now, so I decided that this is the perfect time to read Candace's book.  I've been fighting the same 10-15 pounds for too long, and I'm ready to finally hit my goal weight and stay there.
In chapter four, Candace talks about goals and counting the cost.  I'm setting four simple goals for myself, with the ultimate goal of losing 15 pounds.  I know (from experience) that if I set too many goals or make my goals too complicated, I'll get overwhelmed and give up.  So I'm keeping it simple:

1. Daily quiet time.  Why am I starting with daily quiet time?  Because I realize that my health is so much more than just the physical - my health is a spiritual thing, too.
2. Move more.  Establish a regular workout routine that includes running, Pilates, and Praise Moves, with swimming and biking with my boys thrown in for fun and variety.
3. Drink more water.  I am a major diet Dr. Pepper and coffee adict.  I love them, and there is no way I'm cutting them out - but I am cutting back.  I'm going to limit myself to one each per day.  I need more water, and I plan to make it my main beverage.
4. Eat clean(er).  I've done some reading lately on "clean eating."  Some things I like, some things I don't, and some things will just never work for our family.  So I'm modifying it a bit, and we're going to clean up our diet - more whole grains, no white (rice, pasta, etc.), less meat/more beans, less prcessed foods.  I'm not totally cutting processed foods and sugar, but I want to cut back drastically on them. 

They are simple goals, but I think these will make big changes in my health and well-being.  I know it's going to be worth the cost.

When Priorities Get Pushed Aside

Something dawned on me the other day.  I haven't been blogging lately.  I'm a month behind on my "read through the Bible in a year" plan.  I don't remember the last time I worked out.  These were all supposed to be priorities for me - what happened?

I was reading an article on blogging last week, and one point from it really hit home.  If you're going to blog (or do anything else for that matter) you have to make it a priority.  Duh, Amanda.  Sounds simple, but I needed that kick in the pants to bring me back around.  The reason I haven't blogged, read my Bible, or worked out lately isn't a matter of not having time, although things have been insane lately - it's a matter or priorities.  I haven't had my priorities in the right order.

Yes, college is insane right now, and I'm a basket case over it.  Yes, I've been sick.  Yes, I'm a new puppy mom who has been busy with our new baby.  Yes, life is crazy.  But somehow I can find time to catch up on my favorite TV show or play Angry Birds on my phone (I'm a little addicted obsessed hooked on that game...).  Yet I'm pushing some of the most important things in my life aside for these trivial things.

My priorities are being re-alinged this week.  You will see me blogging at least twice a week now.  I will work hard, reading extra until I am caught up on my Bible reading.  As soon as I get over this repiratory virus I'm fighting, I will drag my out-of-shape behind back to the gym and start working out again.  I will sit down every Sunday afternoon and plan my week - I will make things happen instead of letting things happen as they may.  I will make a fresh start and get things moving in the right direction again and fulfill my "one word" goal for this year - FINISH.

Count Me Accountable!

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I started the new year, like so many others, determined to refocus on my health.  After losing 12 pounds over about a three month time span, I put it all in reverse and gained back 5 pounds during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Now I'm ready to get back on track.  I love Claire's simple way of breaking things down at Peak 313...

1.  Eat Clean  2. Move More  3. Refresh Daily 

...and I'm so thankful for the accountability link-up at Must Love God!  Knowing that I have support and accountability from friends gives me a huge boost!

Eat Clean: My main goal right now is just to get my calories and portion sizes back under control.  I did better last week, but I need to do much, much more.  Being back in school actually helps me control my eating habits.  It forces me to plan ahead, pack my lunch, and make better choices.  This weekend, I stocked my fridge and freezer with yogurt, Lean Cuisine meals, salad mixes, and bottled water (and a six pack of Diet Dr. Pepper).  I'm ready for a much better week this week.

Move More: I got a couple of workouts in last week, but I have to do a lot better.  I was exhausted from school and felt bad a couple of days, but this week should be better.  My goal is to get off the ellipitcal and back to running, to run three times this week, and to start doing five minutes of PraiseMoves a few mornings.

Refresh Daily: Out of everything, this is the one I'm strongest in right now.  My husband and I are keeping each other accountable in our reading - we're using the M'Cheyne plan to read through the Old Testament once and the New Testaments and Psalms twice this year.  This week, I plan to start structured nightly quiet time with my boys, too - something we've been lacking.

January 3 in 30

I got up extra early this morning to do some reading, planning, and thinking.  I want to link up with "3 in 30" each month this year.  I have so much I want to accomplish - I need to break it down to three goals per month so I won't get overwhelmed.  So, what are my 3 in 30 goals for January going to be?

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1. Eat healthier food.
This has to be a priority.  Before the holidays hit, I was doing great and was only 6 pounds away from my goal weight.  Now I'm 10 pounds away.  I feel awful, and I know it's because of all the junk and processed foods I've been eating.  I'm going to start using My Fitness Pal again, cut back on my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper's in favor of more water, and get back to my 1,600 calorie diet until I hit my goal weight.
2. Follow my chore plan.
In just a few days, the spring semester of college will start.  According to everyone I've talked to, including my teachers, this will be the hardest semester of the dental hygiene program.  With school and work, I'll put in 14 hour days on 3 days each week.  I'll be working 25-30 hours a week, on campus 20 hours a week, seeing patients, and keeping up with all my work from 4 classes, 1 lab, and a major research paper.  It will not take long for things to dissolve into chaos at our house.  I've come up with a detailed plan of what needs to be done each day.  I hope it will not only keep me on track, but that it will help guide my husband and kids so they can help out, too (which they're great about doing, by the way).
3. Be a more intentional mom.
So much of the time, even when I'm home, I'm not really "with" my kids - I'm cleaning, working, cooking, studying, being a busy wife/mom/student/etc.  If I don't make time to really focus on my kids, time is going to slip away before I realize it.  It's already moving much too quickly and my boys are growing up way too fast.

The Hello Mornings Notebook

I am so excited about the new project I've been working on!  I love Hello Mornings (from Kat at Inspired to Action).  The new session starts in just a few days.  This will be my third session to participate in, and my second session to be an A.C. (accountability captain).  I love the friendships that form during these sessions, and I love seeing women all over the world starting (or continuing) a routine of starting their days off right. 

There are three main areas that Hello Mornings focuses on: starting your day with quiet time for Bible study and prayer, planning, and fitness.  I was looking through my Bible study notebook this week and thought, why not combine all the elements of Hello Mornings into one notebook?  So today I present the Hello Mornings notebook!  First let me say, my kids say I'm cheap I'm frugal by nature - I just gathered up a few supplies that I already had on hand and put this together.  I'm sure most of you have the same things somewhere in your house.  So here it is:

A cute, colorful three-ring binder (because when I wake up at 5:00 a.m., I need some inspiration!)

A zipper pouch for index cards, pens, Post-It notes, and other things I need for my Bible study time.

A few dividers - the first section holds the Ephesians Bible study I'm currently working on (and have been working on for quite a while - see my post on my one-word goal for 2012)

The second section is for my prayer journal - I've kept it in a small notebook for several months now, but I LOVE the printable Kat shared from her prayer journal.

Next is my planning section.  I have a DayPlanner that goes everywhere with me (which I often refer to as "my brain") but I use this for a weekly overview (another great resource from Kat) and my detailed chore/housework schedule. (This is new for me, but I'm hoping it will keep me sane during the upcoming spring semester of college.)

I also keep articles or blog posts I've printed out with ideas I'd like to try, like Kat's post about having a weekly retreat.

Finally, I have my workout section.  I've put workout ideas from a couple of great websites in page protectors so I can start my day off with some simple (not easy, but simple) workouts to jump start my day.  Check out Peak 313 and Mom Workout of the Day for some great ideas.

I can't wait to see how this helps me with my Hello Mornings time.  I also plan to put my Bible, notebook, workout mat, resistance band, favorite blanket, and anything else I might need in a basket by the couch (where I have my morning time).  That way I'm not searching for something at 5:00 a.m. while everyone else is trying to sleep...and I'm trying to keep them all sleeping!  I hope this idea helps you, too.

A Special Hello Mornings Project

Okay, you know how earlier this week I shared my one word resolution for 2012 - finish?  Ummm...I have the "start" part down really great, because I've started another project...one that will be finished!  Actually, I think it's going to be a great little project for me, and one that's really easy to finish.

I love the Hello Mornings challenge at Inspired to Action.  I've done it several times now, and when the new session starts in just a few days, I'll be an accountability captain again, for the second time.  I love the friendships that are formed during Hello Mornings, and I love encouraging other women to have daily quiet time with God.  Plus, being an A.C. makes me more accountable because I know other people are depending on me.

Today I decided to make a Hello Mornings notebook to help me focus on the other areas of planning and fitness, in addition to quiet time.  I already had a Bible study notebook...now it's new and improved, with great new features.  I'm finishing it up tonight, so look for a blog post this weekend...we're just a few days away from the start of the new challenge, and I can't wait!