Daily Reminders

I’m back with another update on my journey. The last time I told everyone about the lower carbohydrate and low sugar diet I was following. Well…..it works! I’m down 11 pounds in 5 weeks. I’m still exercising daily…either in my pool or on my recumbent bicycle. I try to do at least 20 minutes per day. Some days I break it up and am able to do 30-40 minutes. The main thing is to be consistent. 

I went to Everman’s to see if I could find less expensive lower carb products. I did find soybean pasta….have not cooked it yet. I will report back on it after I get in the mood for spaghetti. The bagels I could not find at Everman’s. Nor could I find the blueberry muffins and brownies that I like. So, I will continue to order from Linda Diet Delites website as I mentioned in a previous blog. The bagels are only 50 calories (for ½ bagel); the blueberry muffins are 40 calories each; and the brownies are 45 calories each. All are low in carbohydrates which make them perfect for snacks. The muffins are heavier than regular muffins but that’s because they have 8 grams of fiber.

Throughout this journey, there are some things that I remind myself on a daily basis:

1. Nobody is perfect. God did not create us to be perfect. He created us to be whole. Slip ups are bound to happen.
2. Position myself for good things to happen --- surround myself with positive people; products that help me stay on course; learning more about how the body processes foods, etc.
3. Be flexible with my goals --- I don’t need to be a specific size. I just need to be healthy and happy. Healthy is reflected through good lab results and overall radiance. Happy is reflected in my mind and through my spirit. I truly believe happiness is a choice. We can’t move forward if we are always looking back and dwelling on past failures. God doesn’t dwell in the past. He is God of our present and of our future.
4. Dream big, but focus small ---  I know that losing 40 lbs will keep me healthy as I continue to age but that number can seem overwhelming. I break it down into 5 pound increments.  Small steps in the right direction will achieve a goal just the same as a large leap….plus I get more positive feelings along the way just from achieving my smaller goals. 
5. Be patient but persistent --- I didn’t regain the weight overnight and it won’t come off overnight. The main thing is to not be discouraged on the weeks that weight loss does not show up despite doing everything right.
6. Be grateful ---  Every morning I thank God that I’m awake, I’m alive, and I have another chance to help others and fulfill my own goals (i.e. personal goals and professional work goals). I always try to remember that someone, somewhere, passed away the night before and would love to be in my shoes. That puts my day in perspective pretty darn quickly.
7. Make “my mess my message”. I heard that quote from ABC news anchor woman, Robin Roberts (she is currently battling cancer).  I am doing that with this blog….I just never thought of putting it like that. My struggle (or mess) has become my message to others.
8. And finally, God has 3 answers for prayer: yes; no; and I have something even better in mind. Despite my weight struggles, I believe the best is yet to come. God’s dreams for me are so much more than this….but this struggle is preparing me for his future plans. 

So until my next posting, I hope everyone is dreaming big dreams but achieving their goals one small step at a time! Stay positive; choose happiness; and stay in faith. Until next time….

Back to Basics

Hello everyone. I’m recently back from a trip to Nevada, and it’s time to check in again. I’m happy to report that I have lost 6 pounds over the last 10 days. In the beginning, I was trying to follow a lower calorie diet with exercise, but I’ve struggled with it. I’m sure many of you know what I mean. You do well for a few weeks, and then you give in to temptation. I was resistant to the one way that I knew I could lose weight because I would have to give up carbs. I finally took a real assessment of my situation and realized I was getting nowhere fast. So I made up my mind (after praying for God’s support) to go back to basics – meaning I gave up sugar and restricted my carbohydrate intake to 40-45 grams per day. That’s how I lost the 6 pounds. I’m sure my body is in shock. I know I am, now that I’m finally seeing significant weight loss.

I won’t say it’s been easy, but it hasn’t been as hard as I thought. I checked out some low-carb food sites online and found one that has really helped me. It’s Lindadietdelites.com. I found some zero-net-carb bagels, which taste good! They delivered the product quickly. Per the site’s instructions, you put the bagels in the freezer until you are ready to slice and defrost one. Once defrosted, you can place it in the toaster. I toasted it and then put 2 tbsp of peanut butter on it for a snack. I just ordered another batch (cinnamon), and I’m going to give them a try. The bagel has 7 grams of carbohydrate and 7 grams of fiber (which totals out to a net of zero carbs). It’s not quite as chewy as a regular bagel, but I’m thrilled to have bread at all on a low-carb diet.

I also ordered their fettuccini pasta. I cooked it for 14 minutes (I like mine soft and not al dente), then I placed a previously cooked and sliced-up chicken breast in a Tbs of olive oil and heated it. I mixed it with the pasta and presto! What a great dinner! In the past, I really missed bread and pasta on a low-carb diet. Now that I have found these products, I can have it a couple of times a week.

The bagel and pasta become a bit pricey once you add tax and shipping/handling. I’m going to check out Everman’s this weekend to see if they have something comparable.

I have been exercising in my pool, as well as following a lower-carb diet. Sometimes I really miss the crackers and chips, but I’m not going to cave when I’ve found things to help me on my journey. Looking back, I realize that this is how we tell our patients to eat after they have had their weight-loss surgery. Looks like the tried-and-true method is the best method after all. So wish me well, and I’ll continue to share any new finds that help me along the way. Until next time, blessings to all J

Open Your Heart and Mind

Well, hello everyone :). It’s been a while since I last wrote. Things have been really busy for me.  I have not lost more weight since I last wrote. I’m still holding steady at 7.5 lbs lost. I know it should have been more by now. My daughter started at the same time as me and she has lost 38 lbs. That shows me that it can be done!  I’m very proud of her. :) 

I heard on comment on K-Love, our local radio station, yesterday morning. The DJ asked if we had ever seen a fly caught in a spider’s web and, of course, we have all seen this. He said that every time the fly tried to break free, there was another sticky situation that caught it in the trap. The DJ reminded me that our problems in life are like that. We can’t always find the right path to break free, but God can. 

My struggles with weight regain may not be your struggles, but it doesn’t matter. The answer is the same: God. I’m relying on myself to lose weight, with an occasional  prayer thrown in, when it should be just the opposite. I should pray, rely on God and then do the practical work to help me achieve my goal. God won’t do that part for me (sigh!), but He will be there to support me through my struggles. Being constant and following the path He has laid out for me is the answer to my problems and, along the way, I’ll learn the lessons He wants to teach.

Just last week I had proof of how quickly God can turn things around when you’re on the right path. The miracle happened to a patient I had been emailing. She needed a door to open and God did just that – in a very big way. She wondered whether having surgery was the right thing – especially since she would be paying for it without insurance. Within minutes of e-mailing me this concern, she received a cash offer for a vehicle she was selling. Both she and I were astounded, to say the least! We both believe God was directing her and making a way for her to make the right decision.

So, until I write again, if you are mired down in troubles and can’t see the way, close your eyes and open your heart and mind to God’s voice. He gives perfect directions every time. The only questions is, will you follow them?

Discipline: Easier Said than Done

Hello dear friends - lovely weather for the last week. I’ve been enjoying getting outside in the sunshine.  Since my last message, I’ve lost 2 lbs. The key to weight loss is perseverance. There will always be obstacles and things that will take you off track…but success comes as long as you stay focused on the long-term goal and don’t let short-term issues discourage you. I have to remind myself of that daily.

I also have to remind myself that transformation comes from training, not trying. Trying to do something is vague and without a true plan. Training requires patience, discipline, and a willingness to “stick with it.” To lose weight, there must be more than a desire to change. There must be a willingness to change, and a process is required. My process is minor changes in my diet; increasing my exercise; getting more sleep; decreasing stress; and prayer. I know that God is eager to help in times of need and that I can do nothing apart from Him. I also know that God wants me to be strong physically, as well as spiritually. All of this requires discipline.

Discipline is easy to say, but hard to put into practice for food addicts. But discipline will enable me to be the person God wants me to be so that I can fulfill his vision for my life. So I must step outside of my comfort zone and take on the challenges that are required to live my life at a healthy weight…with exercise being my hardest challenge. However, on the days that I fit extra exercise into my schedule, my body feels good; my mind knows I have the strength I need for tougher challenges in the future; and my soul feels more alive, energized and joyful knowing that I’m becoming the person I’m meant to be!

Treat Tip: I found a new no-sugar-added popsicle, Budget Saver Monster Pops, at Walmart this past week. It has 40 calories and is very refreshing. It’s a combo of strawberry, orange, and banana and the package states it’s a “slushed” popsicle….the only thing I know is that it tastes good and is refreshing. Give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments! J

Refocus on the Pay Off

I’m checking in again after two more weeks….and what a couple of weeks it has been. I sincerely hope that you are all well and that flood waters did not cause anyone serious damage. My home remained dry but I have seen signs of the devastation it caused in my mom’s neighborhood. I see people who have lost belongings….people who must now refocus their energies and monies in a way they never believed possible before last week. Even in this tragedy, neighbors are helping each other….rising above their circumstances and moving forward. 

I find that I must also rise above my circumstances. I’ve let obstacles get me off track with my food choices and exercise goals. I, too, must refocus my energies and attempt course correction. To me, course correction comes from admitting my weakness, praying to God for strength, and having faith that He will supply me with that strength.

Admitting my weaknesses does not mean just saying “I’m weak, Lord.” It means taking serious accountability for my choices. Every day I have the choice to eat in a healthy manner and to exercise. I am responsible for my actions….every choice I have made to date has put me in my current position…no one but me can change my behaviors. Temptation is always there and I have to learn to deal with it---because it certainly knows how to deal with me. That is they way that addictions work. So, I’m asking everyone to pray for me during the next two weeks. I’m going to focus on finding something fun to do that involves exercise. I want to rediscover the fun in exercise by doing something that makes me laugh—while I sweat. I think that dancing might just pay off:

The pay off for my body:  Enjoyable activities keep me motivated and means I’ll make time for it.

The pay off for my mind:  I’ll start to view exercise as play and not mindless work.

The pay off for my soul:  The silliness and child like fun will boost my spirit.

The next time I write, I’ll let you know what I tried and if it worked for me.

FYI----my house is back together and area rugs are on my new tile floors. Painting is next and will commence in a few weeks. I’m going to put on upbeat music and have a painting party----I’ll get my “painting groove” on. Oh  yeah…I’ve got moves…LOL

Calling on Heavenly Back-Up

Hello everyone.  Time for another update on my progress, or dare I say, temporary lack of progress.  I was prepared to begin my regular exercise journey on the recumbent bike but had to postpone it.  For the past two weeks, I have had new floor tile laid throughout my house and a new back splash installed.  While beautiful, this did limit me to living in one room in my house during the installation.  My bike was placed in the garage while my furniture was stacked in closets, the garage, and my kitchen.  I don’t know if you have lived through a large renovation before, but it’s not pleasant.  There was dust an inch thick on everything.  With my kitchen out of commission, my husband and I ate out for over a week.  Needless to say, this did not work well for weight loss.

My dietary choices were good for the first few days and then I gave in to my desire for more high calorie fare.  The only exercise I got was washing floors (repeatedly to remove the grit) and lifting and moving furniture….which I might add has caused quite a few sore muscles.  All in all, I did some exercise…..although not in the manner I anticipated.

Of course, this means no additional weight loss at this time.  You would think that this might have deterred me, but it has not.  You see, I don’t let temporary circumstances rob me of my joy.  I choose to rise above the difficulties and have patience because I know that God has infinite patience with me.  God’s love is a sure thing.  He never forsakes us and he will get me there in the end.  I’m going to call on “heavenly back-up” for the next two weeks as I get back on track.  I would prefer to pray and ask God to take away my food addiction, but He does not work that way.  However, He does promise He will help me overcome the addiction as I put in the effort.

My house is almost back together and I can now bring my exercise bike back into the house.  So starting tonight, it’s game on!  If you have been in a position where you made a good start on weight loss and then stumbled, you are not alone.  Don’t feel defeated.  God has placed power in us and we can overcome all obstacles.  So, until we talk again, believe in God’s power to help you triumph….I know I do!  

Diet and Exercise Challenges

I can’t believe 2 weeks have gone by and it’s time for another update on my progress. So far, I have lost 6 lbs since I began this journey.  It feels slow but I have made very positive changes in my diet. I have decreased my carbs to 135-140 grams per day; I have kept my diet to no more than 1500 calories per day; I have added more fiber and calcium to my diet; and I have decreased my night time snacking. When I was younger, this would have been at least a 10 lb weight loss but alas, age does take a toll on the metabolism...so I remain patient and continue to manage my food intake.

Food is my addiction and I recognize it for what it is & how I use it...and as with any addiction, it can be left alone or I can choose to challenge the addiction by changing my behavior. I believe that striving to heal an addiction is striving to achieve one of the highest goals in life. It’s an obstacle that requires commitment and faith to challenge on a daily basis. God has promised that if we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. I have complete faith in God’s ability to help me move this particular mountain. My addiction is not stronger than the person that I’m becoming. I believe God is using this particular challenge to help me become a better version of myself so that I might continue on the path he has laid out for me.

The next challenge I face is adding exercise to my daily routine. Now anyone who knows me understands that I dislike exercise. I have never felt any endorphins when I exercise although I accept this as a medical fact. The only time I feel anything close to an endorphin release is when I first bite into a warm Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut. There is a rush of satisfaction and pleasure so intense that my whole brain must light up (if I could view it on a PET scan at that particular moment)! Thank goodness I don’t live near a Krispy Kreme. It might be the only time I would want to exercise….walking to and from Temptation Island! 

As much as I dislike it, I recognize that exercise is necessary if I want to remain fit as I age and also to help speed up my metabolism. I have a recumbent bike that I can ride while watching my HGTV shows. If the pounds go slowly then maybe the inches will go a bit quicker. Anyway, I’ll let you know how it goes in the next posting. Until then, here’s hoping we all see beautiful warm days and lovely spring breezes. J