Wednesday, January 25, 2012
15 Down and 15 To Go
Well, it has been a little over 3 weeks since my "resolution" to commit to weight loss. I am proud to say I have beaten the national average of failed resolutions. I have lost 15 pounds to date and am continuing with determination to lose 15 more by April. I already feel better, have more energy, and have noticed a great difference in the way my clothes fit. I no longer have the dreaded muffin top! Thank you to all of my friends who seem to have hung on to the weight loss bandwagon with me (though some have been dragged behind the wheels). Your support is very crucial to my ability to stay away from Daylight Donuts!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
A Prayer For My Children
After tucking my little angels in their beds tonight, I began reflecting on the last few years. I guess the New Year sparks these kinds of feelings. What am I doing wrong and how can I make changes in my life?
My babies are growing up so fast. As a mother, I can't help but wonder if I am giving them the right tools to grow in God's love. I pray over my children daily and I can only hope that with total guidance from my Father, they will grow morally and spiritually stable.
My prayer...
Dear God, help my children learn to trust in you early in their lives and remain faithfully committed to your ways throughout their lives.
In their busyness, may my children have quiet moments in which they think and reflect about You in their lives.
Father, fill me with sensitivity and insight that I may understand the best ways to guide my children so they may grow in your wisdom and love.
Gracious God, infuse in each of my children the awareness that the world is filled with teachers. May they see others as being sent by you into their lives to teach them to learn better patience, greater love, more compassion.
May my children be open and affirming of all others. May they be the ones who reach out, embracing those who are left out or left behind.
Dear God, whenever my children face trial, trouble, or fear, let them naturally turn to you for guidance and strength. May my children know this powerful promise of scripture: "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms"
{ Deuteronomy 33:27}.
Father, convictions mean nothing unless there is courage to stand up for them. May my children "be strong and courageous" {Joshua 1:6}, standing up for those treated unkindly and unjustly.
Loving God, although family life is often hectic and busy, help me to listen with patience to the worries, troubles, and problems my children may have.
May my children exhibit kindness in their speech. Let the words of Psalm 19:14 be true for my children: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight."
In times of moral uncertainty and temptation, empower my children to exhibit spiritual stability. May the words of Joshua have a firm grip in their hearts: "You are to hold fast to the Lord your God" {Joshua 23:8}.
Father, let my children be like Jesus who "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" {Luke 2:52}.
Gracious God, give my children more love, more self-denial, more willingness to sacrifice for others. Let them understand deeply that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
As my children go out this day, may your loving protection go ahead of them, be behind them, hover over them, and stand beside them. This day, protect them from every danger.
Amen.
My babies are growing up so fast. As a mother, I can't help but wonder if I am giving them the right tools to grow in God's love. I pray over my children daily and I can only hope that with total guidance from my Father, they will grow morally and spiritually stable.
My prayer...
Dear God, help my children learn to trust in you early in their lives and remain faithfully committed to your ways throughout their lives.
In their busyness, may my children have quiet moments in which they think and reflect about You in their lives.
Father, fill me with sensitivity and insight that I may understand the best ways to guide my children so they may grow in your wisdom and love.
Gracious God, infuse in each of my children the awareness that the world is filled with teachers. May they see others as being sent by you into their lives to teach them to learn better patience, greater love, more compassion.
May my children be open and affirming of all others. May they be the ones who reach out, embracing those who are left out or left behind.
Dear God, whenever my children face trial, trouble, or fear, let them naturally turn to you for guidance and strength. May my children know this powerful promise of scripture: "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms"
{ Deuteronomy 33:27}.
Father, convictions mean nothing unless there is courage to stand up for them. May my children "be strong and courageous" {Joshua 1:6}, standing up for those treated unkindly and unjustly.
Loving God, although family life is often hectic and busy, help me to listen with patience to the worries, troubles, and problems my children may have.
May my children exhibit kindness in their speech. Let the words of Psalm 19:14 be true for my children: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight."
In times of moral uncertainty and temptation, empower my children to exhibit spiritual stability. May the words of Joshua have a firm grip in their hearts: "You are to hold fast to the Lord your God" {Joshua 23:8}.
Father, let my children be like Jesus who "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" {Luke 2:52}.
Gracious God, give my children more love, more self-denial, more willingness to sacrifice for others. Let them understand deeply that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
As my children go out this day, may your loving protection go ahead of them, be behind them, hover over them, and stand beside them. This day, protect them from every danger.
Amen.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Never Ending Journey
It's January. That glorious time of the year when everything wrong with your life becomes glaringly obvious. You are forced to make resolutions that, let's face it, won't make it past a week or two. Gym memberships sky rocket, smokeless cigarette sales are through the roof, and churches are packed. I cancelled my gym membership before the holidays because I have realized, despite the best intentions, I'm NOT going to go and I can use that $40 a month on a new pair of boots or a pedicure.
I have made some "resolutions" or maybe more accurately, set some goals for myself to include better parenting, increased marital communication, spiritual growth, and of course the inevitable weight loss. While the first three goals are important and may seem daunting to some, the latter seems to be the anchor around my waist.
I'm two and a half years post baby and am still carrying around "baby weight". In all honesty, I'm still hanging onto extra pounds from my first, second and third babies. At 124 pounds before children, I was a healthy size 4, felt good, and had tons of energy.
Look, my thighs weren't even touching!
I don't blame my children completely for my weight gain, but they did get the ball rolling...
My first pregnancy with Joshua in 2005.
Then came Megan in 2006.
And then Jackson in 2009, yes there's just one in there!
Well, here I am now...
2 1/2 years post baby...
at 162 pounds...
Normally, I would NEVER post my weight for all to see. However, previous conventional weight loss efforts haven't worked for me, so I thought I'd go extreme. I'm going to need the encouragement, prayers and accountability from friends and family.
Some of you may be thinking, for three babies she looks pretty good. Ok, maybe I'm just hoping you are thinking that! I know I'm not hideous. I manage to hide most of the rolls with layers of clothing, but I am by no means healthy. According to my BMI (body mass index), I am in the obese category. Time to make some changes.
I've set a realistic goal, I think. I want to lose 30 pounds in the next 4 months. I don't have visions of six pack abs and a svelte beach body. I would, however, like to wear an age appropriate two piece swimsuit on the beach this summer without looking like a beached whale.
I've taken steps to implement my plan. I've cleared the house of junk food to include homemade Christmas yumminess. I really did almost cry as I threw out the candied bacon butter. I've started reading food labels, avoiding artificial sweeteners, and limiting calories, bad fats, and high carb foods. I'm moving more. As I said before, I cancelled my gym membership. It's just not my thing. Running on the treadmill and getting nowhere, breathing like I'm carrying Brett Favre on my back (though that might make the run more pleasant), and staring at the size 2 ass in front of me who hasn't broken a sweat and looks as if she's floating on clouds...no thanks. I'm going to walk in the mall at least 3 times a week while it's cold. The senior citizens seem to walk at more my speed. And as the weather allows, I'm planning more bike rides/walks/hikes as a family.
It seems simple, right? Eat less. Move more. Here's hoping it prevails despite the many previous failed new year's resolutions. Week 1 and I'm down 4 pounds. Water weight, I know, but it's enough to keep me motivated for now. I'm determined. Wish me luck!
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