Jun. 10, 2006 - So long.... on this blog... :)
I've decided that keeping up with two blogs is just too much for me. I'm going to incorporate my weight and health related stuff onto my regular blog, Heartfelt Homeschool. At least for now.... :)
Come visit me over there! :)
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Jun. 3, 2006 - What's for breakfast?
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What do YOU eat for breakfast? Not what your children eat, but you...
See, most days, my children help themselves to waffles, toast, or cereal and fruit. Every other day, I scramble some eggs for them or make hard boiled eggs the night before. Breakfast for my children is easy.
However, I'm a totally different story. Because I have high cholesterol, I cannot eat eggs every single day. I'm trying to eat healthy and lose weight... What do you eat in the morning that fills you up? Most days, I just eat a SlimFast bar or a Zone bar. I know it's not the best thing, but it's quick and easy, though not all THAT satisfying.
So, I was just curious... what do you eat for breakfast? |
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Jun. 2, 2006 - June 2nd Weigh-In
Well... I'm up a little again. Exactly 155 lb now. 
Isn't it weird, I start this blog and gain weight? ugh. Well, like I said on my last post: Tomorrow is the start of a new week and, with the Lord's help and only by His grace, those numbers will start going down....
Beginning Weight: 164.0
Last Week's Weight: 154.4
Current Weight: 155.0
Gain of: 0.6 lb
Goal Weight: 135 lb
I did walk over 12,000 steps yesterday - I remembered to wear my pedometer... there's a start.... right?
Hope you are doing better than me....
Blessings,
Lisa
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May. 31, 2006 - Starting on Saturday
This week has been crazy busy with company in town, my boys' baseball playoffs and such. I've been trying to watch what I eat, but there has not been time for exercise or logging what I eat.
I weigh in on Friday and then my new week starts on Saturday... so, I will be posting my daily menu plans, etc., starting on Saturday.
Hope you are having a great week!
Blessings,
lisa
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May. 30, 2006 - Goals and Such
I wanted to take a few minutes to share with you my weight loss goals and my "rules" for reaching them. I use the word "rules" loosely, because I can't think of a better one to use. Maybe "strategies" would be a better word.
Regardless of what word I use, here is my outline:
My birthday is September 8th. That is a little over 15 weeks from now. If I lose an average of 1.5 pounds in those 15 weeks, I will be at my goal weight of 135 pounds. I started taking my weight seriously on my last birthday. It'd be awesome to reach this birthday at a healthy weight. Of course, I hadn't planned on it taking so long, but that's okay, right? 
My ultimate goal for weight loss is to glorify God by taking care of myself. In order to lose this weight, I have to DENY MYSELF.... In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, "If anyone desires to come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me." That means when I *feel* like I just *have to have* something sweet, I need to deny that feeling within my flesh and look to the Lord to fulfill my soul. A lot of times, I eat without really thinking and it's so dishonoring to the Lord. I need to remember that this body of mine is the temple of the Holy Spirit within me and treat it as such. May the LORD be glorified in my weight loss journey and destination!
The Plan:
Here is my plan for reaching my goal:
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Eat lots of fruits and vegetables - aim for five servings a day
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Drink lots of water (not normally a problem)
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Write everything down; Be honest! Stick to WW Points.
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Exercise a minimum of four days a week - 30 minutes/day
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No snacking at night!!!!!!!!!!!!! (This is huge for me)
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Don't keep tempting foods at home (since I do most of the shopping, I'm in control of this)
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No sneaking foods... this is a humbling thing to admit to you, but it's my dark pit.. when I know that I am in that hole and am not in a good place... when I start hiding sweets that I buy because I do not want my husband or kids to see me eating them. I do not ever want to be in this place again. I want to walk in the light and that includes my eating!
"And everyone who competes for the prize exercises self-control in all things." 1 Corinthians 9:25a
I hope you will join me! Let me know what your goals and plans are so I can pray for you as well!
Blessings,
Lisa
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May. 27, 2006 - Addendum to my May 27th Journal
I realized while I was cooking dinner that since I am back over 150, I am actually supposed to eat 22 points a day. woo-hoo!! Not good that I'm back over 150, but I do like those two extra points! hee hee!
So, new stats:
Today's point total: 27.6
Activity Points: +1, bringing point total to 26.6
Weekly Flex Points Used to Date: 4.6
QT (Quiet time): Spending time studying Psalm 84 this morning. :)
Exercise: Cleaning house for three hours! 
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May. 27, 2006 - May 27th Journal
I am determined to get back and stay on track.
This morning for breakfast, I had a very small bowl of Total cereal. It's weird. I used to like it, but it doesn't taste so great to me anymore. I need to find something else. I would estimate that to be about 3 points. I also ate half of a FF pudding snack = 1 pt.
Lunch at 12:30pm: Half of a Foster Farms Chicken Patty from Costco = 3pts; hashbrowns with 1 tbsp olive oil (got my good fat in)= 5pts
I was doing good and feeling good... but I think all of the major housework I did today caused me to be HUNGRY. I mean, my stomach was growling!! So, I opened up my pantry and ate a granola bar = 2pts. That would have been fine, but one turned into two, and two turned into three, so that 2pts was now turned into 6pts. I probably would have ate more, but there weren't any! 
And THEN.... my sweet hubby brought home a box of Entemanns' chocolate chip cookies!!! 
I can't get away from the sweets!!! I ate two cookies so far today (2pts)... I don't plan to eat anymore!! While I was eating them, I was telling myself that they aren't really THAT good... yeah, right! ugh.
I'm about to make dinner: Talapia (2pts) with steamed brussel sprouts (0pts), potato wedges (2pts for one serving), and RiceARoni (6pts for one serving, but I plan to eat only a half serving=3pts).
So... if I eat as planned and don't eat anymore the rest of the evening, my point total will be 27.5 points! ugh. I'm only supposed to eat 20 points day, so that means I would have used 7.5 of my weekly flex points. Are you following me?!? LOL If you aren't familiar with Weight Watchers you probably have no idea what I'm talking about! Just bear with me, K? LOL
So... today's point total: 27.5 (but with 1+ activity point, brings it to 26.5)
Weekly Flex Points used today: 6.5
Flex Points used this week: 6.5 (I'm allowed 35).
How was your Saturday?
I do wish I had remembered to put on my pedometer this morning. I spent a good three hours decluttering, cleaning, and vacuuming our house!! I really worked up a sweat! So, maybe I should give myself at least one activity point, ya think?? I'll add that up above.
I hope you have had a good day! I doubt that I will get a chance to get on here tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday. My sister-in-law and her husband are coming to town and staying at our house. So, I will be back here on Tuesday sometime!
Have a blessed weekend!
~ Lisa
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May. 26, 2006 - Friday Weigh-in ~ May 26th
Well... I was doing good last weekend and Monday; however, we ended up going out of town on Tuesday and Wednesday, eating out both days, and all self control just went out the window. On top of that, I wasn't able to exercise, so my weight today was up from last Friday.
Beginning Weight: 164
Last Week's Weigh-in: 153.7
Today's Weigh-in: 154.4
Gain of: 0.7 lb
Goal weight: 135 lb
I will soon be posting my goals as far as how I plan to lose, etc., goes. I hope you are doing better than me!
blessings,
~ lisa
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May. 22, 2006 - Where I've Been, Where I'm At, and Where I'm Going
I wanted to just share a bit about why I've started this blog, and I hope that I can be an encouragement to someone else... as well as remind me why I need to stay on track and not give up. :)
I used to be one of those people who could eat whatever I wanted and not worry about it. It's such a shame that I didn't appreciate it then! I took it for granted. I remember being somewhere close to the age of eighteen and hearing a mom's plight of how hard it was to stay in shape because she was home with her children. I judged in ignorance, thinking that when *I* had children someday that it wouldn't keep me from being able to exercise and eat right....
Well, now I know better... it isn't so easy. In fact, it's downright difficult most days.
Before my first son was born, I weighed somewhere between 120-125 lb, which is what I would now consider a perfect weight for my 5'4" height. I gained 40 pounds with my son (I weighed near 165 lb before birth), and I lost 35 of those pounds fairly soon after he was born. I was young and my body just automatically bounced back. The pounds literally just fell off me without much effort on my part. I was still someone who could eat whatever she wanted without much thought and I was content with the 130 pounds that I weighed.
Two years later, I was pregnant again. I gained 40 pounds again, but this time, the weight did not just fall off! I was SHOCKED! 
I know... you are laughing at me, aren't you? I mean... the weight just came off with the first pregnancy; I expected it to do the same after the second. However, it didn't. I only lost 25 of those 40 pounds gained this time, leaving me at 145 lb. I didn't worry about it TOO much at first; however, I still kept eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.
I should stop and tell you that I am a night-time snacker who has always had quite the sweet tooth. And I love to bake. I don't really like to cook... but I love to bake brownies or cookies or... you get the idea, right?
Well, I was still doing that and one day realized that I didn't like my weight, I didn't feel good about myself, and I wanted to lose those 15 pounds and get back to 130 lb. I signed up for eDiets online and strictly followed it for about a week and a half. I also started exercising, but I was wondering why I kept getting dizzy everytime I exercised too strenously. Well, lo and behold, I was pregnant again!
So, what did I do?
I gave myself permission to eat for two again, of course!!
During my third pregnancy, I gained 35 pounds instead of my typical 40, putting me at a weight of 180 lb before birth. I remember feeling so depressed that I weighed pretty much what my husband weighed!!!
After my daughter was born, I lost 25 pounds, leaving me to weigh somewhere around 155 lb. I was too busy the first year of her life to really think about my appearance and my weight. I had a five year old, a two and a half year old, and a baby. I was happy if I got dressed and showered most days.
However, once she turned one year old, I decided to go have a full physical examination. I was told that I had extremely high cholesterol. The normal range for cholesterol is around 180, and anything over 200 is considered high. Mine was 365!! The doctor told me that I needed to lose 20-25 pounds. I didn't want to go on medication, and I thought that I could lose the weight and get my cholesterol down on my own.
A year came and went... another year came and went... and I had actually gained another ten pounds. I was so used to eating whatever I wanted, I did not ... I was not able to say no to my flesh... it was like the more I tried to not eat what I shouldn't eat, the more I ate what I shouldn't eat.
"For the flesh lusts agains the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."
I so wished to be disciplined in my eating, but I just could not seem to do so. It was a very frustrating thing for me. It didn't help that my physically fit husband who is six years older than me could still eat pretty much whatever he wanted and not be affected by it. My husband also has been blessed with a much strong "willpower" than I have. Things are just *easy* for him. If he decides he wants to stop eating something, he will. It wasn't so easy for me.
I found myself sneaking food... lots of food. I'm not sure what I was trying to fill. I don't try to psychoanalysis it too much. I think when it comes down to it, it is just SIN, plain and simple. It is me indulging my flesh instead of denying it... turning to food for fulfillment and comfort instead of turning to the Lord.
So, through a Christian message board, I discovered The Lord's Table. I went through the 60-day free online course and learned much; however, I didn't apply it well. After another six months or so, I went through it again. I would recommend The Lord's Table to someone if they are feeling as if they are out of control with their eating. It is a very biblically based study on this issue. It made me realize that it wasn't food itself that was the problem. It taught me that I need to turn and feed on Christ - He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Real Meat. Even though I learned much through that study, I still struggled with this issue.
Because I wasn't extremely overweight, it was hard to find accountability... it was very difficult to find someone who would take my struggle seriously enough... to see it as sin and help me to deal with it as such.
My husband kept suggesting I try Jenny Craig; however, I just didn't feel at peace about doing that. It seemed too easy. To have someone provide food for me... and wrong that some earthly "program" would get the glory for my weight loss. Besides that, I didn't see how it would help teach me to live in the real world. I mean, I wouldn't be able to buy their food forever! And, plus, I would still have to make meals for my family. I just didn't have peace about that possibility.
The Lord directed me to a few women at my church and then more women through a Christian homeschool board who were on Weight Watchers. I prayerfully looked into it and figured it'd be worth a try. There were two positives that I could see from the onset. I would have weekly accountability by having to stand on a scale in front of someone, and I would be eating real food. In doing The Lord's Prayer study, they emphasized that you can eat all food but just in moderation. Well, "moderation" was really hard for me to define. With the Points system in Weight Watchers, I was given a clear limit. I looked at it like budgeting your money and having a spending limit. Every day I was allotted so many points to eat and it was up to me how I spent those Points. For me, it fit in well with what I had learned at The Lord's Table. I was able to eat what I wanted, but I was given clear limits on how much - hence, I learned moderation.
I joined WW last September and weighed 164 pounds before I started. By January of this year, I had gotten down to 147.8 lb... a loss of 16.2 pounds. I pretty much maintained from that point until April when I quit going to the weekly meetings. With my boys in baseball and other commitments, it was becoming more and more difficult to make it to the meetings, and I figured I knew what to do... I just needed to do it.
Well, I maintained for the most part on my own here at home, until recently... I've been slipping back into some old habits... not exercising and since I've not been counting points or really keeping track of what I am eating, moderation is now a very loose term. I weighed in last Friday when I started this blog, and I was up to 153.7 lb. That's an almost six-pound weight gain. And the way I was going, I was on my way to gaining back all I had worked so hard to lose.
So, that's where I've been and where I am now... where am I going?
Well, I really would like to get to my goal weight of 135-140 pounds. I think that is realistic. I realize I will never weigh what I once did before having my babies. I'm okay with that. However, I am not okay with just allowing myself to continually indulge my flesh and reap the consequences of that later on in life... heart disease, diabetes, and such run in my family. I already have high cholesterol. I need to take care of this body the Lord has given me.
"But you have not so learned in Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the trust is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:17-24
In my quiet time yesterday I came upon a quote by A.W. Tozer: "O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still." This is how I feel. I long to be filled with the longing for God... that He would fill my every thought and so that nothing else would take precedent over it... that any stress or worry or frustration would be so small in comparison to His presence.... and that my cravings for certain foods would be overwhelmed with my longing and thirst and hunger for Him...
That is where I hope and pray that I will be going....
Join me on my journey and share yours with me along the way! May we be an encouragement and inspiration to one another!!
Blessings,
~ Lisa
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May. 22, 2006 - Please leave me a comment...
I have a fellow HSB friend who emailed me, because she said she wasn't able to leave a comment on my blog. I've checked my settings, and it looks fine to me. Would you please help me out if you've stopped by here and leave a comment for me? I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!!
Blessings,
Lisa
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May. 22, 2006 - May 22nd Journal
Well, let's see... I'm still not doing great... but like I said, just keeping track and being honest is a good start. Maybe next week, I can try to be more diligent in eating fruits and veges and milk, etc.
I got up this morning and immediately put my exercise clothes on. I turned on my TV and started the recording on my DVR. If you have cable, there is a channel called, "FitTV" and there are all kinds of exercise programs on it. So, I taped a bunch over the weekend, so I will have no excuse not to exercise this week.
Anyway, I turned on the exercise show, and one minute later the electricity in my house went off! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......... This is the first time in two months I have even made an effort to exercise and my efforts were sabotaged. I was so frustrated.
So........ I had breakfast - a Zone bar (5pts) and then started school and chores with the kids.
For lunch, I had a simple salad and then a handful of chips with cheese.
For dinner, we are having spaghetti, bread, and salad. I had to go to the store this afternoon with all the kids. My oldest asked me what we were having for dinner. There were two women next to us in the produce section. I answered him and said, "We're having spaghetti." And he exclaims loudly, "We just had that TWO DAYS AGO!!"
Owell... it's just quick and easy and it's my hubby's favorite meal. I thought the boys were going to have a baseball game tonight, so I didn't plan anything extravagant, but then their game was canceled because it rained overnight and the fields were not in good enough shape to play on.
Oh... and I did exercise today! I made my kids exercise with me and called it P.E! LOL I did 30 minutes of Total Body Sculpting with Gilad. Have you ever seen this man? He is hilarious!
And, I remembered to wear my pedometer today. It's almost 6pm right now, and my pedometer is at 7,504 steps. That's almost three miles. What's sad is that I exercised today!! Just think what that number would be if I hadn't exercised for 30 minutes!?! It's really HARD to reach 10,000 steps a day!!
Anyway, I don't think I will get many more steps today. We are getting ready to settle down for a family movie... no goodies tonight either!
Blessings,
Lisa
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May. 21, 2006 - May 21st Journal
Well..... how did I do today?
I didn't eat breakfast. Not on purpose, but just because I got up too late and was rushed to get myself and the kids ready for church. So, I ate a hamburger when we got home. My hubby grilled the lean hamburger meat, and I ate it on a whole wheat bun with avocado (no cheese). We were all out of tomatoes... wished we had had some to put on the hamburger!
After that, I had a plate full of tortilla chips with salsa.
That filled me up. I have no idea the point value. I didn't take the time to figure it out today.
The kids and I went back to church this evening for a special presentation by the kids choir, and of course they had dessert there. I had two cookies. I just can't seem to stay away from them! LOL
I did take a brisk 30-minute walk today with my kids. Well, I walked while they rode on their scooters. That helped me to have to walk quicker to stay up with them. I'll tell ya... I sure felt it in my legs when we got back!!
I taped some exercise shows this weekend on my DVR, so I have no excuse this next week to not exercise. I just need to get up and DO IT!
I hope you had a good weekend. Let me know how you are doing, k?
Blessings,
Lisa
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May. 20, 2006 - May 20th Journal
What I ate today:
Breakfast: Bowl of Total With Yogurt cereal with 1/2 cup milk - (5 points)
At the ballfield: shared a bag of Skittles with my daughter - (2 pts)
After the game, we went to Target and I got myself a Dove bar - (5 pts)- - (do you see a pattern here? ugh)
Dinner - Easy Crockpot Pork Chops - (6 pts) - with 1/4 cup white rice (1 pt) - with salad (3 pts for dressing)
Saturday Game Night with my family - I had two cookies - (6 pts)
So... that's a total of 28 points... I'm supposed to eat 22 points a day, so I went over 6 points and have no activity points today.
It's almost 8pm, and my pedometer only says 6,596... I'm supposed to hit at least 10,000 steps a day.
Well, the good thing is... I'm tracking what I eat and being honest about it. It's a start. I know that this will help me to get back on track.
Hope you have a very blessed weekend!
"I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people..." Psalms 85:8
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May. 19, 2006 - May 19th Journal
I did okay today. Not great, but not too bad. By 4pm, I had a horribly painful headache. I think my body was going through withdrawals. It had been used to having some sort of junk food by then... well, way before then. So, let me see if I can remember what I ate today:
Breakfast: Zone Bar - 5pts
Lunch: Jamba Juice smoothie - orange berry blitz with fiber boost in it (yum) - 7pts
Dinner: Small serving of spaghetti
Snack: Half of a candy bar (shared with my daughter)
I didn't exercise today. And, since it's already past midnight, I didn't go to bed at a decent time either. Those are three areas of discipline that I need to work on: Eating, Exercising, and Sleeping Habits.
One thing at a time... baby steps.... I'll get there...
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
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May. 19, 2006 - Welcome to NewCreation!
Well, I've been ignoring this area of my life for a while now. I just haven't wanted to deal with it. I haven't wanted to discipline myself. I've been maintaining for the most part, so I figured, that was good enough. Well, it is IF I was eating right and exercising, which I'm not... and now the pounds are creeping back on.
So, instead of ignoring the scale and waiting until I've added another ten or fifteen pounds to my frame, I am getting back on track.
I realize that to most people, I do not necessarily look overweight. When people learned I was attending WW, they would say, "Oh, but you look fine," or "You don't need to lose weight." Well, for me, it can't all be about what I look like. *I* know that I am not at MY healthy weight. *I* know that I have not been disciplined in this area. *I* know that I have not honored the Lord in this area. I also know that I have health issues that demand that I deal with this now or else I will regret it later.
I've been struggling with emotional issues and feeling spiritually dry lately. Instead of seeking the Lord more so, I've been feeding my flesh with junk food. As I'm attempting to fill myself, I'm shrinking on the inside, yet getting bigger on the outside! The only way that I will be victorious in this venture is by God's grace alone. And, so, I must seek Him first. As I seek Him first, then HE will fill my emptiness... the inside of me will be full, and the outside of me will shrink. Well, at least at that point, it will be in the Lord's hands and not mine.
Our church's worship director said something a few days ago that really struck a chord with me (no musical pun intended). He was sharing something out of his life and he said that in his circumstaince he learned that God will not extend His grace to us until we stop trying to take care of things on our own and turn to Him and trust Him for the results. He was talking about something completely different, but the Lord put this issue of food and weight loss on my heart when that was said.
I can continue down the road I'm on right now and try as hard as I can... and ultimately, knowingly fail. Or, I can surrender this once and for all to the Lord, disciplining myself, denying myself, and follow Him... and reap the blessings that come along with that.
So, without further ado, I've decided to start another blog - NewCreation! This blog will be a place for me to be completely transparent and honest and be accountable...
I am not a "wing-it" kind of person. I've always been a person who does better with some structure and a plan. Hence, I also do well when I journal daily about my eating, etc. Having a blog for this will make that a little more fun... and I pray and hope that it will be a place for others who struggle in this as I have, to be encouraged, inspired, and motivated.... while it also helps me to be accountable and stay on track.
So join me!! Let's me an encouragement to one another! I'm not sure how the Lord will direct this blog. For now, I intend to journal daily about what I ate and if I exercised. I'd like to add something thought-provoking once a week or so, and maybe a challenge or two... we shall see.
For now, welcome! Please come back soon! I will be updating my blog lots over this next week!
Blessings,
~ Lisa
Goal Weight: 135.0
