POWER UP YOUR DAY

HOW DO WE GET "POWERED UP"?

 

 1- Eat healthy foods that are low in fat, and high in fiber and protein.

2- Exercise to give you more energy and motivation to continue
3- Read and "soak in" God's  Word (the Bible) for spiritual growth

Healthy Foods

Those foods that you have heard for years that you should eat lots of but you dont.... fruits and vegetables.
Yes, part of having a healthy body and losing weight is eating right.  You can't get around it. Believe me, I've tried and so have most people. When you start taking the "bad" stuff out of your life and put in "good" stuff, it gives you that power up to get through the day.  Some examples are apples w/ natural peanut butter, celery w/ lowfat cream cheese, edamame with light sauce, high protein Greek yogurt, lowfat granola bar or a handful of nuts. Anything with lowfat, high fiber, and/or high protein helps keep you full and you don't want as much.  I have went through withdrawals for the last 2 weeks because you have to "detox" your body of the grease and preservatives and carb fillers that I'm used to eating.  Once you drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables and lowfat items, you start not wanting the "bad" stuff anymore.  After eating right for two weeks, I tried some regular Coke and a few french fries.  It tasted nasty and I didn't want it. So I know that I am slowly training my body to want what it needs.  A lot of eating the right things isn't that you don't like it, its a mind control over your body. Failure starts when you give up trying and don't care what you put in your body.  So keep up the good work and help me stay focused too!

Exercise

Wow, where to start. This one, I have to research a little more and I will do a seperate blog on sometime soon.  But I will say that if you can get yourself motivated to exercise, then you will feel better.  For years, I have told myself that I am so busy and tired that I don't have the time or energy to workout.  Occassionally its true but most of the time it's a load of crap! Once you start getting into a routine, then you have more energy and want to work out to keep your energy.  (not to mention that you are burning calories)  As most of you know, one of my favorite shows is Biggest Loser.  Doing that show would be the next most embarrassing thing besides this honest blog.  To go in front of America and say, "Hi, my name is Christian and I am fat...see!", I would have to be absolutely disgusted with myself.  I have recently been to that point of desperation and realized that I am in control of my destiny and my diet.  Life isn't about diet and exercise but eating healthy & doing fun physical activities. It depends on how you look at it. Granted there are some days that I get on the treadmill and watch TV and say "Let's just do this fast walk and get it over with." But yesterday I went outside and played basketball with Samuel and did squats while the kids were playing on the playground. Hey, no one was around but me, so I couldn't get laughed at! lol!!!  Anyway, doing a simple exercise 20 min twice a day can be just enough to start out and build on. 

Spiritual Health Food

The biggest challenge, to me, is getting my "mind" focused on my weight loss goals and life goals.  You can't stay "Powered up" for long without trusting God and keeping your focus on Him.  God must be the focus of your life and everything else will fall into place.  It's like when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus when he was walking on water.  When Peter looked at the wind and waves and got scared, he began to sink. Peter cried out to the Lord and Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught Peter. As they climb into the boat together, the storm ceased. (Matthew 14:22-33) Jesus said, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?". I have to remind myself of this, because it reminds me that whatever I do in His name, He will not let me fail. If I fall, He will be there to pick me up.  If I put "good things" in my mind and body, then "good things" will come out of it.  There are so many stories in the Bible to motivate you and keep you focused on your goals. The Lord wants us to be happy and healthy and to not overeat/over indulge (Proverbs 23:2).  I feel that I honestly have had an eating disorder because I have let food control me for so long. I am claiming my life back for God and for me.  I know that if I live for Christ and stay in His word that He will not lead me astray.  But if I take my eyes off of Him, I will lead myself astray back into my old habits.  I want to succeed and I am going to with God's help!!!   

GET POWERED UP & CHANGE!!!



Week 2: BRING ON THE CHALLENGE!

So I have started my new challenge: work out every day. This week I want to work out every day to keep up my metabolism and help get in shape as I eat better. I have still been going with the Weight Watchers program and I lost 3 lbs this week!!! Every little bit counts: small victories add up to large ones. I think losing weight helps people learn perseverance and patience.  Lord knows its a lot of hard work to lose a few pounds but I slowly added these pounds on, so I guess it makes sense. 

Eating healthy is a challenge when you are on the run like me. It is easy to stop by and get a drink or a quick snack when you are on the road. So this week, I made it a point to bring healthy snacks with me and snack a little during the day. Healthy snacks, like a handful of peanuts, popcorn with no butter, low fat yogurt, etc. Drinking lots of water really helps keep you filled up and I fill like my body works better.  My skin is more clear, my nails are stronger, and "regularity" is important. LOL. 

So maybe my goal can be another few pounds this week. Guess we'll see......

Week 1:Starting Change

As anyone knows, changing is hard. I have this goal and I'm going straight into it this time. I started out eating right through Weight Watchers Online and did my official weigh-in. Wow, that was depressing, but even more so- inspiring. It gives me the incentive I need to accomplish my small and large weight loss goals. 

I hit the gym at The Pumphouse Gym in Hendersonville.  Its a great place to go, especially when your schedule is crazy. Its 24 hours and always secured. I have to put a passcode and my fingerprint into the exterior machine to enter the gym. That makes me feel safe if I have to go late at night or early in the morning. Anyway, I love the eliptical. Yes, it kicks my butt, but its a great workout. 

Last night, I went to one of my best friends home.  She had two really cool ab machines and during commercials we rotated the ab machines. I loved them and could really feel it working.  Afterwards, we watched one of our favorite shows ever, Biggest Loser.  This show empowers people to get off the couch and move. I guess if there is one thing I have really learned from the show is: Today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Don't wait to start your weight loss journey. START NOW! So here I am.  Change is inevitable in anyone's life whether its age, clothes, electronics, or eating/exercise habits. Its how you think positive and stay around positive support of friends and family that helps make good choices.  Ultimately, it is still my responsibility and my body to change.  Pray that I can overcome these food addiction and start exercise addictions. LOL.

I want to say a special thanks to my friends and family sending me encouraging words yesterday and  a Happy Birthday to my wonderful brother, Matthew (yesterday). Enjoy your day and start moving!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

Welcome to My World...

Where to begin. My days consist of: getting my two kids ready for school, running my home daycare for 10 hours a day/5 days a week, running errands/paying bills, taking care of my two dogs, cooking, cleaning, and bringing kids to dance/ball games/scouts,etc.  My husband, Rick, has been traveling for over a year now.  Almost every week to every other week, he is going to Athens, GA or Memphis, TN or Clinton, OH....  It makes me feel like a single mom.  I don't get much time for myself and I feel like I am non-stop busy.  I can't take a break for myself and when I do, I am so tired. I just want to veg-out.  So "these are the days of our lives". 

Why am I writing this blog? I have so much in my head and no where to put.  Yes, that's true but I have struggled with my weight most of my life. When I was in high school, I lost alot of weight and was content with everything about me.  Somewhere along the way of "juggling" college with a fulltime job and having two children, I lost myself.  I stopped caring about what I looked like and did alot of emotional eating.  When I get overwhelmed with life's challenges, I tend to eat. I know that I have an eating disorder. Its a terrible pattern of snacking, and loving food so much that I don't even think about calories or fat. If it tastes good, it is a small satisfaction for my crazy life. I want to do this blog because I know that if I make myself accountable to all of you, I will succeed.  I want to lose weight, tone muscles, and gain the body/self-confidence I want & need.  My husband is on board with me and doing great. I have tried Weight Watchers before and lost weight but I didn't stick to the healthy lifestyle.

So, cheers to a new life changing journey.... it will be a challenge and a struggle, but I know that with the help of my supports and my Lord Jesus Christ, I will conquer my fears, get out of my depressed & lazy ways, and make myself a new person!


My Beginning Pictures