First Things First

In just shy of three days, I will officially be BRACE FREE!!!! After two years and three months I am so ready to have these things off. Everyone keeps asking me what things I'm going to eat first. It's sad how much our world is consumed by food that it's the first question. Anyway - I digress.

Gum. I used to be a chronic gum chewer and can't wait to have a stick!

One of our kids gave us a gift card to the movies and I'm pretty sure there's a box of milk duds calling my name!

Small things that we never think about, I can't wait to eat an apple without cutting it first. Or corn on the cob without cutting the corn off. ;)

I will, however, miss being able to use my rubber bands as an excuse not to eat. Have a fabulous Easter Sunday, everyone. Make good choices around the table or be more active after the big lunch!

I Hate...

I hate being a woman ~ especially this week. ;) Throughout this journey I've had so many tests done to figure out things going on in my body. So far I've gotten no answers, only "It's just how your body is." Well. I don't like my body on the inside. It is AWFUL during the time of the month ~ the pain, all of it! Two months ago I finally called my lady dr about birth control - hoping and praying it at least helps SOME of my problems. Well I had to start the first day and I hadn't had one since then, so I'm just now starting taking it.

We'll see how it goes.

I also hate that during this time, I can't exercise. I know it's supposed to help, but I am telling you it does NOT. Anything but!! This time I've been trying to still get my steps in, but I hate hate hate how it runs my life and things I can or can't do.

Rant over. Here's hoping tomorrow is better. :)

Motivation & My Week

Man, I've been doing so well at blogging and here I haven't done any since Sunday!!

Sunday I did jazzercise with a couple of friends because it's free in March. My legs hurt something terrible on Monday, however... I worked out with my trainer for the first time in over a month. I could totally tell it had been over a month by Tuesday morning because I was SORE!!!

By Wednesday a trip to the chiropractor was in order. He adjusted my neck quite a bit and ordered me to come back by Monday at the latest. Oye! I've been sore ever since, but been trying to stretch it out.

I was pretty proud of my eating until today. We had parent's day out, so spending 8 hours with 32 kids took a toll on my options. However, it was fabulous on me active - I'm up to 8500 steps. :) Might be done moving for the day.

I'll leave you with some motivation that I forgot on Tuesday:

Transformed

I hate when things happen that I've been so careful to not let take place. I've been in prayer mode for most of the afternoon. Listening to k-love with my headphones on.

I just got done listening to a sermon that our Pastor gave a few weeks ago. It's two parts, and I'm getting ready to listen to part 2. It's about being transformed. He describes feeling grace. Like when you get pulled over and don't get a ticket. Having an undiluted devotion to Jesus.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks, to God the Father through him." ~Colossians 3:14

Like when I'm in worship and suddenly begin thinking about what baseball game is on that afternoon... or anything else. Worship is when I focus on HIM! My heart needs to be right.

Not distracted.
Not watered down.

Today was also the last day of 14-day challenge that has been emailed to me. If you can, I highly recommend Pursued: God's Divine Obsession with You by Jud Wilhite. I LOVED this email challenge and will definitely be adding the book to my to-read list. It made me think. It wasn't just one of those things you sign up for and then delete without reading.

I'm also glad to announce that I'll be attending church tomorrow. I need to be fed after the week I've had. Being sick and then today just being run down emotionally. So I'm excited about that.

We'll see you guys tomorrow. I'll blog about my church experience. It doesn't happen often, so it has to be good, right? :) Love you, guys!

Snow Day

I've been in bed since Tuesday with the flu. Today, snow day! I love snow when I don't have to go anywhere. I would love to use my workout today to shovel once it stops... but I'm so tired, I don't foresee that happening. We originally were in the 4-6" band, but the last time we measured, we had 11.5".

I also don't foresee me going anywhere, for awhile... 

How do you recover from being sick? I surely don't want to try anything today or maybe even tomorrow, but how do you ease back into working out? Tips, suggestions?

If it's snowing where you are, stay warm and be SAFE! Don't go out!

A Day In the Life

I thought I'd try something new to get me started -- my days started that is.

I also have an alarm set for 6am, to spend some time in the Word and in prayer. I need something at work to remind me to GET UP. Otherwise, I could sit there for 7 1/2 hours a day and never move. Since I've been tracking my steps, it's a big motivator to get me going -- normally. This week not so much because the princess ball has consumed my life.  If you notice the time this picture was taken it was 12:40 am and the alarm went off at 6. I need beauty sleep!!! :)

The last alarm I have is at 7pm and it reminds me to take my meds. You wouldn't think I would need reminding, but if the alarm doesn't go off, I will go about  my evening without it. 

If you have a desk job, how do you keep moving? On the days I teach (Thursdays and Sundays), I make sure we sing upbeat songs, so I'm up and moving constantly with the kids. I've also been making sure to demonstrate the games (which usually involve running). Then, when I a "teach" the Bible Story I walk around. Every little bit adds up!

Sunday Funday

I've realized most of my Sunday posts are very random. This one will be no different. :) 

Since I'm quitting the gym, I've been doing my workouts at home. Sit ups, push ups, planks, running stairs. I need to get motivated to walk/run outside - perhaps at the track, but today was WAY too windy for that nonsense. It's ok - the day quickly got away from me, so much I've barely gotten all my steps in (right now, I'm just shy of 5,000).

I did manage to teach my lesson on my feet, so I was constantly moving. After lunch, it was back to the church to finish painting for the princess ball this Saturday. After that I was home long enough to eat a reasonable dinner, then left again to go to church.

Whew. Since getting home at 9pm, I've managed more steps, but not quite enough. There's still time, once you people quit distracting me! ;)

In the middle of all that, I've been pondering Lent. What do I want to give up? It's easy to figure out what to add... but do I want to do a Lenten Bible plan on youversion? Or a book?

What are you guys doing?

I wish you guys a fabulous week! Hang in there. :)

More randoms?

I wasn't sure what to write about this morning. I'm feeling kind of blah.. and really for no reason. I'm supposed to have a leadership meeting at church this morning (at 9) and then a training at 1. Honestly - I don't want to go to either. I get like this sometimes, possibly more frequently since being diagnosed T2.

Possibly something to talk to my dietitian about when I see her next week. I didn't work out much this week, but my eating was good (until last night... we had pizza for dinner)! I did a couple days of the sit ups challenge, but right now I'm behind a day or two.

This is a vicious circle, because I don't feel like working out, and don't really care. Then when I get out of the funk, I'm mad at myself for doing (or not doing) things I did.

Boo.

Hope my New England friends are staying safe! Have a fabulous Saturday. :)

P.S. No t-rex dance, please. ;) You know who you are.

Insightful Question

A couple of weeks ago a friend asked me "If time and money were no object, what would you do?" I quickly named a couple of places I'd like to visit (Germany to see my aunt Peggy, another cruise...).

After much consideration on this subject, I realized what I want most.

Fat Camp.

Don't laugh. :)

Austin Andrews from Biggest Loser and his dad (who was also on Loser), have a ministry called RetroFit. They are hosting a Faith and Fitness week, with workouts and worship and other sessions.

Since I've been struggling so much with the scale, I've been wanting to do something that will jump start my health. Not only that, but I feel like there's so much that I never share with people that I need to let go of for my health. Forgiveness that I thought I had given, but when something happens or comes up, this anger rages.

I've looked at a couple of Diabetes camps (I lovingly referred to them as Fat Camp), but they're so expensive! The ones locally aren't for adults, so that's out. The Biggest Loser resort would also be awesome.

Faith & Fitness week is also expensive, but I guess that's part of the question, right?

So that's my answer. If time and money were no object. I'd want to go to fat camp. ;)

If time and money were no object... where would you go? What would you do?

Saturday Weigh In

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I posted. Yikes! I thought I was going to get better at this?! :)

I'm going to be honest and say that this week was absolutely horrible. I ate everything in sight and didn't go to the gym AT ALL. I'm doing a weight loss challenge with Children's Ministry Deals with other children's workers across the country. Weigh in for that is every Saturday. Despite my horrible week, from last Saturday to today I lost 2.8 lbs.

Hold up. Don't get excited. :) I tend to not, because it fluctuates so much and so often. Next week I could gain three. You never know.

My goal for today is to plan my week of workouts and perhaps make it to the gym later. I plan what I'm doing each day, and track how far I go (part of the 365 miles). Today I'm also working on Honk Ministry stuff and other stuff for church. I'll post more about Honk tomorrow.

For now, I must get busy.

Sunday's Random Thoughts

I've changed the blog up a bit. You like? (Be honest and let me know if it looks horrible). I have several things flowing in my brain right  now so I'm not sure where to go today. Today I did a lesson about newness and how God creates in us a new heart, if we pray and desire that change. So many places in the Bible show us, requesting prayer "create in me a clean heart.." We all have our thing. Whether it's drinking, smoking, or even gluttony. A sin is a sin is a sin. I follow a page on Facebook called Feeding my face Faith. She has some really great stuff -- the other day she said this:

Before pointing a finger at someone who drinks...someone who smokes...someone of a different political party...someone who's had an abortion...someone who identifies as homosexual...be sure you're not part of the huge population of overweight or obese Christians who clearly struggles with the sin of gluttony. Ouch, I know. Grace is for ALL; not just the sins we personally battle against. Let's get mad at OUR OWN sins.

WOW!!! Yup, guilty as charged. Even if I have to go minute by minute, I want to honor God with my choices, treating this temple that He gave me in the right way. If you've been curious about going "clean" but don't know where to start in your diet, I came across this earlier today and loved it. It gives you five weeks, so you aren't doing it all at once!

Also - tonight is the premiere of Biggest Loser, Season 14! It seems like it's been forever, so I'm super excited! I'm also excited that they're having teens on the show to help them! Jessica Limpert from Season 12 posted a challenge of how many calories you can burn during a 2-hour show. I'll be at the gym at 8pm with my tush on the treadmill to accept this challenge. Will you be watching?

Not So Healthy Christmas

I hope everyone had a great Christmas - gathered around your family and friends.

My time at home was good - other than the 7:30am weight loss talk with my mother (insert eye roll). I spent a lot of time with my brother, Kyle - was very good!! Other than being a tad lonely at the thought of the fifth wheel, it was good. Here's me and the sibs (and their significant others).

One thing I did that I hadn't planned on doing was gorging on sweets and eating whatever I wanted.

One thing I didn't do that I had planned on doing was working out.

Ugh - more disappointment that I stink. I haven't logged any food for three weeks - there goes that December goal. I have been doing very good with my meds and testing my sugars though. It's been two days, but I'm loving this new medicine. No sickness and it's easy peasy to do! I'm still scared when I put the pen against my skin, but so far so good!

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and prayers of support.

What I hate

I had a moment tonight at the gym.

• I hate that I can't give up sweets. I go for a day or two, but always go back. Frustrating.
• I hate that when the gym gets crowded, I freak out. It's not a panic attack, but I hate when there's so many people.
• I hate that I work my butt off to no end and the scale still hasn't moved.

I'm going to an endocrinologist in December - one that also specializes in metabolism - to see if there's something else going on in my body hormonally as to why the weight isn't coming off. I'm also getting labs done in December, where I will inquire with my doctor further about some other things I've discovered. We shall see. I know it's a process and it's not going to happen over night. But it's getting the point of beyond frustrating for me.

Sometimes I wonder why I should even be strict with myself if it's not going to pay off in the end? I know it's healthier for my heart, etc., etc.

Wow. Off to bed. I'll try again tomorrow... as usual. Thanks for sticking with me. :)