Trying Something New

     Saturday I attended a Day of Dance event sponsored by Piedmont Medical Center.  They offered free screenings for high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar in addition to hours of dance demonstrations.
     I was pretty pleased with most of my "numbers" — cholesterol was down and my blood sugar was excellent which told me these last few months with FP4H is making a difference on more than just a number on the scale. I was a bit bummed that my blood pressure was still elevated, but I admit I still have more tonnage to lose and this too will change.  
     The dance demonstrations were great.  Line dancing, jazzercise, shag, tango, salsa and even belly dancing!
     At one point in the conference two ladies demonstrated the hula hoop. Now THAT was something I could do!
     After carefully surveying the backyard to make sure my neighbor couldn't see me, I stepped into an old hoop that has been out in the shed for 18+ years (we don't throw much away at our house) and let it fly. It went straight to the ground.  Time after time I tried to twirl that darn hoop and time after time it fell around my ankles within nano-seconds.
     Finally, after several desperate attempts and with sweat running down my face, I gave up. Thank goodness the only witness to my failure was my dog Sadie and she seemed bored with the whole process.
     It was ridiculous!  When I was a kid I could do it! It's like riding a bicycle, you just COULDN'T forget how to hula hoop, could you?
     I Googled hula hoops.  Who knew there would be so many websites and YouTube demonstrations on the hoop? Who knew they are called weighted cardio core hoops? Who knew that even Michelle Obama was into hooping? First Lady
   Turns out, the little plastic hoop hanging in the shed is too small and too light for an adult. My circumference was to big for it's circumference. *sigh*
     I couldn't stand it — I wanted a hula hoop and I wanted one NOW! (I'll blog again some other time about the lesson on being impulsive…)
     The hoops come in sections so you can travel with them, although I can't imagine where I would vacation with my new hoop.
    They are padded. (For that I am thankful — but more about that later.)
    They are colorful and weighted.
    After easy assembly victory was quickly mine, the hoop stayed on my hips for about a minute before it came crashing down.  Progress!
    It didn't take long to work up another sweat as I tried to keep beat to music and keep the hoop above my knees. It also didn't take long for my ribs to start protesting.  Clearly my love handles weren't appreciating the 3-pound metal massage.
     I'll take it slow for the next few days to let the bruising heal, but I'm really excited about being able to work on my 'core' muscles and maybe, just maybe I'll look as good as the core hoop model.

     Yea, right…

Keep on Keeping On

    A couple of us were chatting before class.  The yearning for tacos, ice cream and greasy hamburgers dominated the conversation. This is probably a shocking statement, but NO one spoke fondly of carrot sticks, yogurt, cottage cheese or apples.
     I doubt that it's a coincidence that the lesson this week is about completing the task. The writers for FP4H knew after a few weeks of "being good" hardships, trials and life in general would start taking its toll on me and the group.
     Boy has it!  In just eight short weeks illness, surgery and even death has touched our group.
     My personal work schedule regularly throws me off course.  Long stressful hours at the desk are not conducive to my success.
    After eight weeks of trying to make wise and healthy choices I've hit a wall. It's decision time. Do I give up or keep trying?
     Fortunately for me, the conversation later in the evening (thank you Alan) reminded me that this weight-loss journey is very similar to my journey as a believer in Christ.
     When I first became a Christian 11 years ago everything was fresh and new and exciting.  I wanted to attend every conference and concert and join every Bible study available. I was on fire!!
    Years later, I'm very selective about the conferences, Bible studies and service projects I commit to.  I'm no less in love with Jesus (in fact more so), but I understand that it's a life-time commitment and I don't need to cram everything in at once.  Beside the fact that it wasn't realistic.  I have very real and worldly commitments that needed my attention.
     I had to learn to incorporate my love for Jesus into my life.
     My desire to lose weight and improve my health is a life-time commitment and a 12-week program isn't going to get me where I need to be physically, spiritually, emotionally or mentally. Beside the fact that it's not realistic. I'm not on the Biggest Loser Ranch, I have very real and worldly commitments that need my attention.
     I need to learn to incorporate my lifestyle goals into my life.
     So to answer my own question, yes.  Even though I've hit a wall, I'm determined to push through it and keep on keeping on.
     One thing is for sure, if I keep heading in the same direction, I'll end up where I'm going.

Self-Evaluation

     This week in the study we were challenged to reflect on our Live-It journal and identify choices that would be pleasing to God.

     Ten boxes to fill — no problem. I raced through the list.  I was pretty confident that God was really proud of me this week because I had tried Greek yogurt, walked three laps around Cherry Park and kept up with my daily Bible study. It was a very good week for me!

     Then the lesson asked me to identify ten choices that I had made this past week that wouldn't be pleasing to God. Ten boxes to fill — BIG problem.  My pencil was poised over the first box for several minutes while thought about the past week.  It wasn't easy to admit that I had indulged in ginger snaps all weekend, and was it a really big deal that when I fell asleep during my prayer time Thursday, and for that matter was it necessary to call it to God's attention that I ate three pieces of pizza and no vegetables on Saturday?

     After looking at my list, it was embarrassing. I wasn't impressed and I'm pretty sure that God wasn't blown away by my less-than stellar effort.

     Thankfully I was reminded that God's grace covers me completely, even when I'm skipping the salad and going right for the ice cream.

     Reading the story of prodigal son, the father never stopped loving the son while he was on the crazy train, and he quickly embraced him when he stopped being stupid and came home.
     God's love for me is not contingent on what I do — or don't do.

     It's inspiring to know that He cannot love me more and will not love me less, which gives me all the more reason to keep trying to fill up the boxes with choices that will please Him.

Something's Different...

Lose 15 lbs. and part your hair different and people start to notice.

Gracie 1, Lizard 0

I was right. As soon as I let Gracie go outside, death and destruction quickly followed.  The lizard never had a fighting chance.

Fast Food

     I've been chewing on a conversation (sorry for the pun — sometimes I can't help myself) we had in our FP4H class a few weeks ago.
     Kim was sharing about a time she had recently gone out to an all-you-can eat pizza place with her nephew. He was being a typical teenager, wolfing down his food without even stopping to chew. She was amazed at the speed and volume of food he ate.
     If I get overly hungry or just in a big hurry, I'll do the same thing. I'll grab something and scarf it down and never really taste it.
     When I'm trying to make healthy eating choices that's the kind of fast food I need to avoid. It sets me up to eat too many calories before the 'fullness factor' kicks in.
     Another problem with eating at wrap speed. I might be getting proper nourishment, but I'm not ENJOYING the food and before I know it, I'm craving something else to eat.
    Many healthy eating programs (aka diets) recommend three balanced meals and a couple of small snacks a day so you won't get overly hungry. It's also recommended that you eat slowly, giving your stomach time to send a message to your brain that you're full.
     It's good advice and putting it into practice is good for my body.
     I'm also trying to apply that principle to reading the Bible. Cramming in a week's Bible lesson on Sunday afternoon, or grabbing a quick devotional in the morning on my way out the door is ok — certainly better than nothing, but I really need to make sure I stop and savor God's Word. Take time to chew on it and digest it.  Give it time to move from my head to my heart and to my hands and feet.
     A steady balanced diet of the Bread of Life is good for my soul.

Gracie often "helps" me with my Bible study

More Lessons From Gracie

     I have nose prints on every window in the house.  Gracie nose prints.  She longs to be outside and on nice days she sits by the back door crying, begging to go outside.  Every time I go to the door it is a battle of wills that require quick reflexes.
     I keep Gracie inside for her protection. Being outside is too dangerous. Cars, coyotes, dogs could drastically shorten her life.

     It's not likely that I will every change her mind about going outside. She will always struggle with the idea that she can't be out crouching under the rose bush waiting for an unsuspecting robin.
     My lesson from Gracie?
     I long for calorie rich, cholesterol-laden carbs. Instead of nose prints, you'll find my finger prints on the cookies, cheesecake, ice cream, potato chips and warm rolls straight from the oven.
     It's tempting to think my weight-loss journey is something that has imprisoned me, that I'm sentenced to a life without buttery popcorn and mac 'n cheese.
     The difference is, I have the God-given ability to change my attitude. I have the choice to allow God to change my way of thinking.
     Restricting certain foods right now isn't to imprison me, it's to protect me. And when I get my head around that idea, It's easier to make wise and healthy choices.
     High blood pressure, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes and cancer are just as dangerous as cars, coyotes and dogs. If I continue to load up on starchy carbs, statistics show that my life-span will be shortened. Period. End of discussion.
     Saying "No thank you," to the pudding-filled chocolate-covered doughnuts at the office is for my protection.  I can't handle it right now. It's as dangerous as a copperhead coiled under the azalea bush.
     Staying out of the 'frig is a battle of wills that require quick reflexes.
     When I HALT (ask myself, am I really Hungry? Or am I just Angry, Lonely or Tired?) those nano-seconds give me time to decide if I need to back away from the food or go ahead and eat something.
     Gracie will always yearn to be on the sun-drenched patio playing with butterflies, and there might be a time that I'll let her go outside, but just for short periods and always under my watchful eye.
     Fortunately, God has been doing a work in me and I'm understanding that I might have to give up something good right now for something better.  Sure, there will be a time that I can have garlic bread with my lasagna, but not right now, not until I'm stronger — and never unsupervised!

Gracie and Me

This time last year Gracie was a pitiful, scrawny kitten that had been thrown away, rescued and put up for adoption. She lived in a cage for weeks at PetSmart.


Living with us changed that, her belly is full and her coat shines. She is safe, warm and dry and even has the sweet warm spot on the bed between Glenn and me when we sleep.


She clearly remembers being hungry because she can't bear to see her food bowl empty. She's come to assume if I walk by her bowl, I should fill it. She almost comes out of her skin when I come home from work because that means I'll feed her.


I KNOW she's not hungry, yet she constantly craves food. I often have to divert her attention to something else just to get her mind off of her food bowl.


In a lot of ways I'm like Gracie.  No, I wasn't thrown away or ever lived in a cage. (Though I have been rescued.) I'm safe, warm and content in my life.


Yet I crave food too. I get something in my head and nothing will satisfy me until I have it. I crave dark chocolate, salty chips, sweet cool ice cream, a medium-rare rib eye, greasy onion rings— the list could go on.


I associate certain things with food.  Celebrating a birthday…Where's the cake? It's Friday…where's the pizza? I just got home from work and dinner's not ready…pass the chips and salsa!


It takes a lot of self control to stay out of the cupboard and think about something else besides the ginger snaps.  After all, I have thumbs and I can open by own bag of Twizzlers.


These last few weeks in the FP4H class I've been reminded that I have a whole arsenal of weapons that can help me with my struggle with food.  Weapons this will destroy the stronghold that satan has on me.


Repentance, rest, quietness and trust will help me make permanent healthy changes to my life.  It's a slow process, but everyday I'm getting stronger with God's help.

Check out Made to Crave

Check out Made to Crave

The book's got some good stuff to take to heart!

Lions and Foxes — Oh No!

The lesson this week gave us some great visual images of our enemy.

The roaring, prowling lion waiting to devour me is intimidating and I'm totally OK with standing back and letting God take care of him. Instinctively I know I'm out of my league when it comes to taking the devil on.

Heart disease, diabetes, blood clots, cancer in my life?  I need God. He will sustain, strengthen, comfort and defeat the roaring lion. Biggies like that call for a Big God.

But what about the foxes?

I always think I can handle them on my own and don't want to bother God with small stuff. I am often lulled into a false sense of security thinking that I can handle the stress, boredom, loneliness, bitterness, insecurity and worry by standing guard, building fences and even asking friends to help shoo them away. Other methods of coping are found in a box of Betty Crocker brownie mix, Blue Bell ice cream and a second helping of macaroni and cheese…

Problem is, I might be successful occasionally, but another fox pops up, then another, and another. Picture a wack-a-mole game if you will, and before you know it, I'm even more stressed, bored, lonely, bitter, insecure and worried — and I've gained 10 more pounds!

I need to take it to heart that God is interested in all aspects of my life. He's there for me with the big stuff, and the small stuff.  And it's only through Him that I will be able to claim victory over the roaring lion and little foxes. When I'm focused on God, and God alone, the junk around me won't have a chance to bring me down.

The very least I can do is be self controlled and alert and avoid the roaring lion and little foxes when possible. Doing so will honor God and provide me with daily victory and daily joy!