It is that time of year again. Instead of the usual annual Lettuce Eat Cake contest, Julie is trying a NO SISSY contest. Weigh in is every Thursday for 12 weeks. Each week you don't lose at least 1 lb, you owe a $1. If you don't lose at least .5 lb, you're out. The winner is the one with the highest percentage lost and gets the pot. We start today.
Weigh in - 169.8
I have been wanting to kick start my health habits, so this should help. I am attempting to follow the Trim Healthy Mama program. I was following it last year this time and was most successful once I cut dairy out of my diet. I added it back in for my birthday and haven't slowed down since. I am hoping that maybe I can try again but be more reasonable and not have to cut the dairy. However, I am prepared to do dairy free if I need to.
The basic premise of Trim Healthy Mama (THM) is that you separate your meals by 3 hours and into carbs (E or Energizing) and fats (S or Satisfying). As a general rule, the two fuels should not be combined. It is a whole foods, no sugar, eat until you're satisfied 'diet'. In place of sugar, stevia, xylitol, and erythol are recommended. I choose to use coconut sugar and monk fruit for my sweeteners though I will occasionally use stevia packets. Wheat based flours should be ground from sprouted grains or sourdough.
At this point I am not in 100%, but the basic premise of separating fuels and 3 hrs between meals is my goal.
As for exercise, we have been doing pushups and situps at the end of the day as a family. My arms and stomach muscles are getting stronger but my legs want to be strengthened too. I am dealing with a painful left heal (probably plantar fascias or whatever that term is) which makes it challenging. I bought new running shoes a couple of weeks ago and did not want to use them for every day use, but I broke them out today because something needed to change. It has helped my foot feel better to be in good shoes today. Now I just need to figure out how I will use my time to exercise.
So, for better or worse (hopefully better) time to up my game in all areas of my life!
Let's bring it!
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Deep (cleaning) Thoughts
Wed, Sept 30:
As I was attempting to mop my house today with Peter trailing me and trying in his limited skills to help, but slipping on the wet floor and both of us getting frustrated instead, I figured there must be a lesson in this. Here is what I came up (and it's far from a perfect analogy) - How often does the Lord try to clean our living space but we won't let Him? He warns us of the danger and directs us to safety, but all we can think about is what we want RIGHT NOW. Sometimes we return again and again to the same muck because it's what we're comfortable with instead of what is best for us. Or in our limited knowledge we fail to understand what the Lord has in mind so we assert our own thoughts on the situation instead of trusting that the Lord knows what He is doing.The trouble is the Lord can't clean where we are standing until we move. When we listen and obey the Lord's guidance, we can see Him work in our lives and learn to trust His words. As we wait patiently 'on the carpet' for a time instead of walking on the wet floor where we could slip and fall, He cleans our hearts and homes and allows us to dwell in a better place in the end.
Thurs, Oct 1st:
How can someone have a really spiritual experience and still deny God (ie see an angel or other miraculous thing)? It's a consistency issue. Just because you cleaned your house really well one time does not mean it will stay clean. It requires consistent daily effort to maintain it.
*******************************************
In an effort to motivate myself to read the scriptures. I began a scripture study group. Today was the first day. There was a tremendous response of people interested, but in the end 9 adults were in attendance and four children (including my own). I think it will be a good thing. I'm already feeling more motivated to read and prepare for next week as well as to do my Sunday lessons. It has been a good umph to finish working on putting the house together too. The house looks pretty good at this point. Maintenance... that is the key.
As I was attempting to mop my house today with Peter trailing me and trying in his limited skills to help, but slipping on the wet floor and both of us getting frustrated instead, I figured there must be a lesson in this. Here is what I came up (and it's far from a perfect analogy) - How often does the Lord try to clean our living space but we won't let Him? He warns us of the danger and directs us to safety, but all we can think about is what we want RIGHT NOW. Sometimes we return again and again to the same muck because it's what we're comfortable with instead of what is best for us. Or in our limited knowledge we fail to understand what the Lord has in mind so we assert our own thoughts on the situation instead of trusting that the Lord knows what He is doing.The trouble is the Lord can't clean where we are standing until we move. When we listen and obey the Lord's guidance, we can see Him work in our lives and learn to trust His words. As we wait patiently 'on the carpet' for a time instead of walking on the wet floor where we could slip and fall, He cleans our hearts and homes and allows us to dwell in a better place in the end.
Thurs, Oct 1st:
How can someone have a really spiritual experience and still deny God (ie see an angel or other miraculous thing)? It's a consistency issue. Just because you cleaned your house really well one time does not mean it will stay clean. It requires consistent daily effort to maintain it.
*******************************************
In an effort to motivate myself to read the scriptures. I began a scripture study group. Today was the first day. There was a tremendous response of people interested, but in the end 9 adults were in attendance and four children (including my own). I think it will be a good thing. I'm already feeling more motivated to read and prepare for next week as well as to do my Sunday lessons. It has been a good umph to finish working on putting the house together too. The house looks pretty good at this point. Maintenance... that is the key.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Starting Anew
I am being sustained today in a new calling. I have greatly enjoyed the break from responsibilities. It has been especially nice to sit in Sunday School and Relief Society. (Well, when I can, since Peter has reached the age where we have to wander with him. But Matthew has taken the role of wandering which has also been nice.) My spiritual (and physical) habits have been greatly lacking and my spirituality has suffered. It has been dwindling since New Jersey, but especially while in Utah. It is quite the contrast to who I was four or even three years ago.
The first Sunday of the month the Relief Society presidency chooses the topic of the lesson. Ours this month was on having The Holy Ghost as our constant companion. She created a chart comparing the way we feel/act when The Holy Ghost is with us and when He is not. The 'not' side pretty much nailed me. He has been nudging me in my thoughts to do better, but I honestly didn't care enough despite knowing it made me miserable and lonely to not have that spirituality. The lesson helped, and I began striving to listen to the scriptures again and praying more often. I am still far from creating a regular habit. One thing I did to motivate me was to reach out to the sisters and suggest meeting once a week for a scripture study group. The response was minimal, but enough that we are going to do it. The first class is this Thursday. I am hoping it will be a life-line for others as it was for me in NJ and will be now.
I have served in Primary in some capacity almost consistently for the last twelve or thirteen years. I did have a few breaks here and there, but it has certainly been non-stop since Aaron was in nursery. When we moved to NJ, my heart was in Primary and my emotions were raw. I had no desire to be with adults. By the time I was ready to be among the sisters, I received my calling as a Primary teacher. I was really kind of upset about it and it took awhile to learn to love my calling. I was grateful for the opportunity to see 'the other side' since I had served as President so often. It also prepared me to lead the Primary a few months later when I was called as the President. When we moved to UT, again I was happy to be in Relief Society but was quickly called to the Primary as the chorister. My heart certainly wasn't in it. After Peter was born and I had 6 weeks off I had no desire to return. But as the depression eased, my heart grew as well and I learned to love that calling. I love being in Primary. I love knowing what my children are learning and singing. I love having that time together too. I love getting to know the children in the ward. This time though, the Lord is not returning me to the Primary.
I am grateful for our loving Father who knows me intimately. He knows that I have used Primary as an excuse to not read my lessons. He knows I am wandering without direction. He knows it is time to rebuild my reservoir because I am not doing it myself. He also knows what I can give. I recognize that as I pull myself up I will lead others to the light as well. I have a feeling he is preparing me for another leadership position, but one step at a time. I look forward to serving in my new capacity.
The first Sunday of the month the Relief Society presidency chooses the topic of the lesson. Ours this month was on having The Holy Ghost as our constant companion. She created a chart comparing the way we feel/act when The Holy Ghost is with us and when He is not. The 'not' side pretty much nailed me. He has been nudging me in my thoughts to do better, but I honestly didn't care enough despite knowing it made me miserable and lonely to not have that spirituality. The lesson helped, and I began striving to listen to the scriptures again and praying more often. I am still far from creating a regular habit. One thing I did to motivate me was to reach out to the sisters and suggest meeting once a week for a scripture study group. The response was minimal, but enough that we are going to do it. The first class is this Thursday. I am hoping it will be a life-line for others as it was for me in NJ and will be now.
I have served in Primary in some capacity almost consistently for the last twelve or thirteen years. I did have a few breaks here and there, but it has certainly been non-stop since Aaron was in nursery. When we moved to NJ, my heart was in Primary and my emotions were raw. I had no desire to be with adults. By the time I was ready to be among the sisters, I received my calling as a Primary teacher. I was really kind of upset about it and it took awhile to learn to love my calling. I was grateful for the opportunity to see 'the other side' since I had served as President so often. It also prepared me to lead the Primary a few months later when I was called as the President. When we moved to UT, again I was happy to be in Relief Society but was quickly called to the Primary as the chorister. My heart certainly wasn't in it. After Peter was born and I had 6 weeks off I had no desire to return. But as the depression eased, my heart grew as well and I learned to love that calling. I love being in Primary. I love knowing what my children are learning and singing. I love having that time together too. I love getting to know the children in the ward. This time though, the Lord is not returning me to the Primary.
I am grateful for our loving Father who knows me intimately. He knows that I have used Primary as an excuse to not read my lessons. He knows I am wandering without direction. He knows it is time to rebuild my reservoir because I am not doing it myself. He also knows what I can give. I recognize that as I pull myself up I will lead others to the light as well. I have a feeling he is preparing me for another leadership position, but one step at a time. I look forward to serving in my new capacity.
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