overwhelmed

it's late tonight as i type...nate is working tonight and i bought a ton of new music and i can't seem to turn it off...i think i'm gonna listen to all 6 cd's before finally greeting my pillow...

anyways, as i sit here watching the news, listening to my spirit-encouraging music, not really enjoying the solitude, but at least relaxing on the couch...i can't help but think about life.

life--i don't know...it's kind of a funny thing when you think about it. i mean, we are here. we were created. we have ups...we have downs...both are inevitable. think about your life...all the people that have come in and out of it...all the things you've been through that you didn't think you could handle...all the things that have happened that seemed too good to be true.

i'm overwhelmed by God's goodness.

i'm overwhelmed by His love.

i'm overwhelmed by His mercy.

i'm overwhelmed by His grace.

i'm overwhelmed by the awesomeness of His plan.

i'm overwhelmed by HIM!

i can't help myself tonight......i'm overwhelmed...and for once, in a really long time, it's not a bad thing...

makeover

Do you ever feel like just changing everything about yourself? Well, I know there's some things that I just can't change, but there's others that I can change!

Tonight I decided to go into the back room, unbarricade¹ the treadmill, remove the remaining debris off the top of it and actually plug it in...Did I exercise on it? You bet I did! I WALKED a half a mile uphill...and then died².

I don't feel better about myself; after all, my effort only proved how disturbingly out of shape I am.

I kept putting off exercising because...well, to be honest, I planned on getting fat...but the good kind of fat...the pregnancy kind of fat...and month after month, I just got more of the not good kind of fat....the nutty bar, late-night sundaes, KFC chicken pot pie, Boston Creme Donuts, fast food for lunch every day kind of fat...

Right now, I'm sitting on my couch in full exercise gear but unfortunately my gut is hanging out and I'm dreaming of coffee oreo ice cream...is that too much information? Hey, you know what? It's your decision to keep reading...

Part of my makeover is starting and completing the event planning course. Today, I started Unit A and finished my first assignment...after about 20 more pages of reading, I can finish my second assignment. I'm gonna get it done before the night is over...Well, maybe when "The Bucket List" is over. :)

What else am I putting on my list? Well, I plan on putting a facial mask on to take care of some of the...um...blemishes...ok, zits that I have on my face and I'm gonna paint my nails....

Short term goals: Finish another assignment, facial, nails

Tomorrow, I will look brand new!

Long term goals: exercise and eat healthier, take care of myself, become a certified event planner

In the future, I will be a successful event planner and people will look at me and say, "Hey, she is so put together! How does she do it?"

...haha...I'm such a dork!

and on that note.....did you notice my footnotes³?

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¹ "unbarricade" is not really a word so I wouldn't advise using it in any formal settings

² don't want to be misleading, I'm still alive :)

³ did my footnotes help or hurt the aforementioned dork factor?

Update

About a month ago, I challenged you to a health and fitness challenge...Ultimately, I was challenging myself, but kidnapping you in the process. Anyways, it has been a while and I figured that maybe I should update you on my progress.

My progress has been...ugh...nothing at all. In fact, I ate cake and pies and all the butter-enriched holiday foods I could get my hands on. What was I thinking setting an impossible goal for myself?

I just love food! Why does it have to be so good?!

Food is a necessary evil...you have to eat to live...BUT you don't have to eat enjoy living...I think that is where the thin line is. My experience at LA Weightloss Center revealed several truths about woman in general...here are a few:

1. We reward ourselves with food.
2. We punish ourselves with food.
3. We comfort ourselves with food.

One time I received a phone call from a woman. The client on the other end felt desperate. She was at a work Christmas party and a plate of fudge was left on the corner of her desk. She called looking for someone to talk her into not eating a piece. She was practically crying! Now, I, as a counsellor, tried to level with her.

I told her, "move the plate"...
she said, "I can't. I will eat one."
I said, "have someone else take it away"...
she said, "but I want one"
I said, "Then have one!"...
she said "I won't be able to stop once I start"...


Now, I, as a woman, said in my head, "Woman, grow up!! It's just food! It's just fudge! Don't be so pathetic!" I really felt like I was talking her off the ledge if you know what I mean...

Anyways, my reason for the story is this....

EATING healthy in order to BE healthy is a must!! God gave us these bodies and we have to take care of them! Eating healthy and exercising consistently require DISCIPLINE!

Maybe I'm not like the woman on the phone...maybe not quite as desperate...but I do find myself somewhere in that category of complaining about my body, knowing there is a need to be healthy, and not doing what it takes to get me there.

This year, I desire to be more DISCIPLINED...not to look like a super model...to be healthy for myself and my family.

Day Five

This will probably be the last post for a while about the health and fitness challenge...why? because it is boring to read about eating healthy almost as much as it is eating healthy...I'm going to continue my challenge and update you here and there, but I'm not dedicating every post to it.

I ate really good today...it could be the fact that I gained two pounds over the weekend! (stupid chinese food) But every day is a new day and I chose to eat healthy!!

One thing I have to work on is drinking more water. The benefits of drinking water are huge...including reducing the risk of certain cancers, cleansing your body of toxins...Plus, you just feel better when you are properly hydrated. When I worked at LA, I drank over 64 oz a day with no problem...but once you stop doing that it is hard to get back into it...It really does take a conscious decision.

What is your favorite healthy snack?

Day Three and Four...etc

Yikes! Yesterday was NOT a good day "food-wise"...I rationalized that banana bread was healthier than pumpkin bread...ate Chinese food for lunch...and had the ever so convenient fast food for dinner...So, yesterday was a complete disaster...nutritionally anyways. I haven't had chocolate yet though!!!

Today's Challenge for myself is to just not eat junk today!

Church was a blessing last night. I love when Mike preaches!! An excellent reminder of God as a Wonderful Counselor...I intend on increasing my wonder....which will in turn decrease doubt.

Day Two

So, I already miss chocolate AND pumpkin bread and wonder what on earth am I going to eat for breakfast and lunch now...



Physical Challenge: Do 25 of this awesome Pilates exercise...It is called the perfect curl and it was my favorite Pilates move that Ari taught me.



Perfect curl: Knees together, feet slightly wider than hips, toes turned in, and fingers interlaced behind head.



Exhale as you lift your head and chest up off the floor. Inhale on the way back down. Keep your head a couple inches of the floor at all times.

Some things to remember:

1). Inhale through your nose, deep exhale out your mouth...like you are fogging a mirror.

2). Always draw your stomach back toward your spine

3). Quality over quantity! You will gain more benefits through slow, controlled movement.

4). Adjust the exercises so that they are comfortable for you. You should feel tired but never in pain.

I hope you enjoy this one because I love it!



Nutritional Challenge: Keep a record of everything you eat and drink including condiments and the little things you pick at between meals...you would be surprised about how many calories are wasted on pointless things that don't even satisfy.



Spiritual Challenge: What is your favorite Bible verse and why?



So, I danced to "Shackles" by Mary Mary ...I just couldn't think of anything else and that was always fun at Bible College and at Young Married Beth Moore Retreats :)



What did you dance to?

For your viewing pleasure...

Day One

Physical Challenge: This won't be hard at all! At some point today, find your favorite song and get off your butt and dance to it...

Nutritional Challenge: Think of the one thing that you eat excessively that is a complete waste of calories and cut your intake of them in half today...enjoy it because tomorrow we are saying "goodbye"...I'm saying "goodbye" to chocolate and pumpkin bread...I've been eating it everyday lately.

Spiritual Challenge: Read 1 Timothy 4:8 and remember that there is no point in fixing up our outsides if we are not pretty on the inside.

I Challenge You!...

Well, I'm mostly challenging me...I'm feeling a 30 day health and fitness challenge...who's in? Don't worry, it won't be too challenging because I will be doing it too...


Disclaimer: you are not guaranteed any results at all...I just think it would be fun if we were all (however many of you actually read this) doing the same thing everyday not necessarily at the same time. Let's start tomorrow...check back for your first daily challenge!...hmmm...I have to make one up first...I'm kinda doing this on a whim...should be fun.