I needed to find sources of encouragement for myself. I found a devotion site online that emails me a daily devotion aimed toward dieters. It's called Devotions for Dieters. It's a new year and a new start. I've committed myself toward getting as healthy as I can in 2012. I've been heavy for most of my life. For me, it's not about getting thin and fitting into a size 2 anymore. It's about getting healthy and strong so I can serve God as he needs. It's about being a good steward of the body God has provided for me. I've posted the devotions for these first few days of January as an encouragement to myself and others. Remember, we are not dieting alone, God is with us every step of the way.
1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? As Christians, we believe that God dwells within us. Our bodies become His home, and it makes sense that we should try to make His surroundings as nice as possible. The temple of God in Israel was kept immaculately clean and pure. Only the most clean and holy of men were allowed to enter it. It was revered by all. The temple was the most holy and special place of all. When we are told that our bodies are the temple of God, it is not an option whether or not we will take care of it; it is a duty. When we care for our physical being, we are making God's temple a holy and special place
January 2
1 Peter 1:16
...it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Too often we think that holiness is merely a matter of the spirit. We feel that if we read our Bible, pray regularly, and attend wor-ship, we are being holy. But holiness requires that we tend to our physical health as well as our spiritual health. Early Christians realized that they were more alert and better able to concentrate on God when they felt good. Tending to the body made them better at their spiritual pursuits. Dieting may make us look better, but it will also make us feel better, and it will enable us to pursue God in deeper and more meaningful ways.
January 3
1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleaness, but unto holiness.
When we try to figure out what it means to be holy, we think of many things that we do which we shouldn't. Our minds fill with 'thou shalt nots' and we promise ourselves that we will do better. Our minds should not be so filled by the bad things we have done; we should focus on the good things we can do. Certainly, dieting requires sacrifice, but the benefits involved far outweigh the costs. Our focus must be on what we receive rather than what we must do without. Dieting is not turning from what we shouldn't do. Dieting is doing what God calls us to do.
January 4
1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Sometimes it is difficult to stick with a diet once it has begun. If we are dieting for ourselves, we often lose heart, but if we feel we're dieting for someone else, it can be the motivation we need to stick with it. Every day we make promises to God, and those promises we do everything in our power to keep. God calls us to be the best we can be, physically as well as spiritually. We should commit our diets to God. If we see dieting as a sacrifice we make to God, then we can find a deeper power to remain committed to our efforts to lose weight. Let everything we do honor and glorify God, for that is what truly pleases Him.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Holidays are hard...
Holidays are hard. They are difficult for many people for many different reasons. They are hard for me, because most holidays involve food. The food is so intertwined with the holiday, that it makes it extremely difficult to stay true to eating healthy. But what is the alternative? Taking a "diet holiday"? I know people who do exactly that. "Oh, it's too hard to be good, I'll go back on my diet when the holiday is over!". I've tried it myself. It didn't work out that well. It is very hard to get back on that horse again. So what to do? The year is filled with holidays. There always seems to be some special occasion coming up.
I've tried various strategies with mixed success rates.
1) Skipping an event where I know there will be a lot of great food: I've stayed home and been miserable, feeling sorry for myself, while my friends were off celebrating. I was extremely grouchy and made myself and my family miserable. I wound up stuffing my face in frustration.
2) Going and "toughing it out": Attending the party, dinner, etc. and eating like a bird. Refusing all forbidden foods and sitting there with a martyred look on my face and a glass of water in my hand trying not to look at all the food displayed around me. This backfired. Although I did not cheat and got through the night, I was like a tea kettle coming to a boil. The next day I totally went off my diet and probably ate twice what I would have had at the party.
3) Going and maintaining my diet, but allowing myself to have a little "something" extra. The trick is to limit this and not go crazy. Having a small slice of of birthday cake, or a second slice of Thanksgiving turkey. (Indulging yourself with protein is always better than with carbs.)
I've had better results with this method. It works best for me, if I decide in advance what my treat will be. An example of this is my decision in advance to allow myself one of those wonderful cheese biscuits when my family dined out at Red Lobster. I adhered strictly to my diet for the rest of the meal but did not feel deprived.
4) Bringing your own food. This probably works the best. If you are going to a party and are suppose to bring a dish, bring something YOU can eat. That way you know there is at least one thing you can have. If you are going over someone's house and you are not sure what's on the menu, ask. Plan your meal in advance. Know what your choices are.
Desserts are especially hard to deal with. I have found many delicious sugar-free dessert recipes online. I make one and bring it along. (Just have to remember to still maintain portion size even for sugar-free recipes.)
If I am going out to a restaurant, I like to go where I know the menu and know there is something there I can eat. Going somewhere new is more of a challenge. I've learned not to be afraid to ask the wait staff questions about what's in the dishes presented. Most restaurants post their menus online with nutritional facts. Take a look BEFORE you go, so there are no surprises.
My husband took me out to a popular steak house, and feeling secure that I could maintain my diet there, I planned to ordered a steak, a baked sweet potato, and a salad. For my allowed portion, I would eat 1/2 my steak and potato and bring the rest home. Well, once there I was chatting with the waitress and found out that when the steaks are cooked they are seasoned with salt and basted in butter just before serving. They only used salted butter, even on the sweet potato. Although the menu said they had a vinaigrette dressing, it was very fattening. (Just because it's called vinaigrette you can't assume it is a light dressing.) So what did I do? Asked for my steak to be cooked with no butter or salt. No butter on the sweet potato either, simple vinegar and oil on my salad. Even plain, the steak tasted great, but I felt discontented.
Dining out is a challenge, but holidays are hardest. It's so hard to make some of the family's favorite holiday dishes, and not sample them yourself. I've started "slimming down" family recipes to make them better for myself. Hopefully your family will be supportive of you in this. When I lightened up a favorite broccoli and cheese casserole recipe for Thanksgiving, I warned my family first what I was doing. I was so worried they would be upset with me, but they were OK with it, and the dish came out great.
Still sometimes the easiest thing is to just not make that favorite dish and avoid temptation.
Basically, my goal is to get through the best that I can. Sometimes I sail through, and sometimes I mess up. Maybe someday holidays won't be such a challenge to me, but right now they still are.
I've tried various strategies with mixed success rates.
1) Skipping an event where I know there will be a lot of great food: I've stayed home and been miserable, feeling sorry for myself, while my friends were off celebrating. I was extremely grouchy and made myself and my family miserable. I wound up stuffing my face in frustration.
2) Going and "toughing it out": Attending the party, dinner, etc. and eating like a bird. Refusing all forbidden foods and sitting there with a martyred look on my face and a glass of water in my hand trying not to look at all the food displayed around me. This backfired. Although I did not cheat and got through the night, I was like a tea kettle coming to a boil. The next day I totally went off my diet and probably ate twice what I would have had at the party.
3) Going and maintaining my diet, but allowing myself to have a little "something" extra. The trick is to limit this and not go crazy. Having a small slice of of birthday cake, or a second slice of Thanksgiving turkey. (Indulging yourself with protein is always better than with carbs.)
I've had better results with this method. It works best for me, if I decide in advance what my treat will be. An example of this is my decision in advance to allow myself one of those wonderful cheese biscuits when my family dined out at Red Lobster. I adhered strictly to my diet for the rest of the meal but did not feel deprived.
4) Bringing your own food. This probably works the best. If you are going to a party and are suppose to bring a dish, bring something YOU can eat. That way you know there is at least one thing you can have. If you are going over someone's house and you are not sure what's on the menu, ask. Plan your meal in advance. Know what your choices are.
Desserts are especially hard to deal with. I have found many delicious sugar-free dessert recipes online. I make one and bring it along. (Just have to remember to still maintain portion size even for sugar-free recipes.)
If I am going out to a restaurant, I like to go where I know the menu and know there is something there I can eat. Going somewhere new is more of a challenge. I've learned not to be afraid to ask the wait staff questions about what's in the dishes presented. Most restaurants post their menus online with nutritional facts. Take a look BEFORE you go, so there are no surprises.
My husband took me out to a popular steak house, and feeling secure that I could maintain my diet there, I planned to ordered a steak, a baked sweet potato, and a salad. For my allowed portion, I would eat 1/2 my steak and potato and bring the rest home. Well, once there I was chatting with the waitress and found out that when the steaks are cooked they are seasoned with salt and basted in butter just before serving. They only used salted butter, even on the sweet potato. Although the menu said they had a vinaigrette dressing, it was very fattening. (Just because it's called vinaigrette you can't assume it is a light dressing.) So what did I do? Asked for my steak to be cooked with no butter or salt. No butter on the sweet potato either, simple vinegar and oil on my salad. Even plain, the steak tasted great, but I felt discontented.
Dining out is a challenge, but holidays are hardest. It's so hard to make some of the family's favorite holiday dishes, and not sample them yourself. I've started "slimming down" family recipes to make them better for myself. Hopefully your family will be supportive of you in this. When I lightened up a favorite broccoli and cheese casserole recipe for Thanksgiving, I warned my family first what I was doing. I was so worried they would be upset with me, but they were OK with it, and the dish came out great.
Still sometimes the easiest thing is to just not make that favorite dish and avoid temptation.
Basically, my goal is to get through the best that I can. Sometimes I sail through, and sometimes I mess up. Maybe someday holidays won't be such a challenge to me, but right now they still are.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Walking the dog
I really don't like to exercise. At all. I have never found enjoyment in playing a sport, either. I know many other people who feel exactly the same way. Many of them overweight, though it's not exclusive. Fat or thin, we just don't like to move around a lot. And we've formed a club. It's the "couch potato" club. We have lots of members.
Watching sports is different. Watching sports is a food-related activity. Ball games and hot dogs, it's American! Football has tailgate parties, and wings and nachos. Football is a very fattening spectator sport. And pizza is always available for any games on TV. But going out and actually playing the game? Too much work.
For me, I think the reason is that I just don't like to sweat. Or get dirty. Or muddy, or have leg cramps, or feel tired, or out of breath, or hurt myself. The list goes on, but you get the idea.
However, a diet will only take you so far and then you "get stuck". "Plateau". It's frustrating. You're being good on your diet, but you're not losing. That's when it's time to move to the next level, exercise.
I put it off as long as I could.
I started swimming laps, because it was hot, and I like to go to the pool during the summer. I was already there, so why not swim a few laps? A few laps turned into 74 laps over the course of several weeks and I was swimming a mile. Two important things about this: 1) I AM NOT A GOOD SWIMMER. I am not fast, smooth or fluid like some of the swimmers you will see doing laps. But, I don't have to be. I just have to, as they say on the commercial, "do it". It takes me almost two hours to do a mile. I've seen good swimmers do it in a 1/2 hour. I take comfort in the knowledge that the end result is the same.
2) I found I enjoyed doing it. I find a tranquility and peace that surrounds me and I find myself relaxing and just being in the moment. I do some good thinking while I am swimming. I do some good praying while I am swimming, too. No distractions. Now, here is the important part about exercise. IF YOU DON'T ENJOY IT, YOU WON'T DO IT.
So what does all of this have to do with walking the dog? Let me explain. First some statistics. They've done a bunch of studies, and found out that people who walk their dog lost more weight than those people who don't walk their dogs. As a group, they weigh less in general. They also have lower blood pressure, better cholesterol, less depression, recover quicker from heart attacks, and reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
You may say, "so what!" We've heard it all before, "walking is good for you..." blah, blah, blah. Yeah, walking IS good for you, but we don't do it. However, dogs need to be walked or accidents happen. And people will make themselves take the dog out, whether they want to or not. Rain or shine. Hot or cold. Plus, they've found out that people who walk their dogs generally are happier and healthier than someone who just walks for exercise. Why? Because we love our dogs. We enjoy being with them.
And, when you walk a dog, you don't have to be a speed walker. You can enjoy the scenery while you walk. An added benefit: anyone who has a dog has witnessed the utter joy your dog will show when you pick up that leash. It makes it a lot easier to go out that door on a chilly day.
Years ago, when I was pregnant, the doctor ordered me to take a daily walk for exercise. We lived in a condo complex back then, but up until this time, I had left the dog walking duties to my husband. So, huffing and puffing I would walk around the complex, my 2 little Chihuahuas and our Boston terrier pulling me uphill and down like little tug boats towing a great barge. After my daughter was born and we bought a house, I made sure it had a fenced in yard and my dog walks were over. Those 3 sweet dogs are gone now, and I feel sad when I now realize that I deprived them of a source of joy when we stopped walking.
Until now. Yes, I've started walking the dog. Not all the time. We do have that fenced in yard. But I aim for once a day. And I find that I am enjoying it.
Ginger, our miniature poodle loves these walks so much, that as soon as she sees me reach for my athletic shoes, she assumes it's time for a walk. If I am just running out to the store, I try to put my shoes on without her noticing, or she has a fit. She also has learned the word, "walk", and will react immediately to it even if what you are saying has nothing to do with her.
Dogs, you gotta love them.
Unlike those joggers and fast-walker types, I'm not plugged into music while I walk. I listen to the birds, and the wind rustling the leaves. I look at the various yards as I go by and after a while you start to notice things. "Hmm, they planted a new bush", or "they've painted their shutters." Sometimes you run into other walkers. Some with dogs, some alone. You start to recognize each other and smile and say "hello". It's nice. I'm in a new club now. It's the "I want to get off the couch" club. You should join. And bring your dog along.
Watching sports is different. Watching sports is a food-related activity. Ball games and hot dogs, it's American! Football has tailgate parties, and wings and nachos. Football is a very fattening spectator sport. And pizza is always available for any games on TV. But going out and actually playing the game? Too much work.
For me, I think the reason is that I just don't like to sweat. Or get dirty. Or muddy, or have leg cramps, or feel tired, or out of breath, or hurt myself. The list goes on, but you get the idea.
However, a diet will only take you so far and then you "get stuck". "Plateau". It's frustrating. You're being good on your diet, but you're not losing. That's when it's time to move to the next level, exercise.
I put it off as long as I could.
I started swimming laps, because it was hot, and I like to go to the pool during the summer. I was already there, so why not swim a few laps? A few laps turned into 74 laps over the course of several weeks and I was swimming a mile. Two important things about this: 1) I AM NOT A GOOD SWIMMER. I am not fast, smooth or fluid like some of the swimmers you will see doing laps. But, I don't have to be. I just have to, as they say on the commercial, "do it". It takes me almost two hours to do a mile. I've seen good swimmers do it in a 1/2 hour. I take comfort in the knowledge that the end result is the same.
2) I found I enjoyed doing it. I find a tranquility and peace that surrounds me and I find myself relaxing and just being in the moment. I do some good thinking while I am swimming. I do some good praying while I am swimming, too. No distractions. Now, here is the important part about exercise. IF YOU DON'T ENJOY IT, YOU WON'T DO IT.
So what does all of this have to do with walking the dog? Let me explain. First some statistics. They've done a bunch of studies, and found out that people who walk their dog lost more weight than those people who don't walk their dogs. As a group, they weigh less in general. They also have lower blood pressure, better cholesterol, less depression, recover quicker from heart attacks, and reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
You may say, "so what!" We've heard it all before, "walking is good for you..." blah, blah, blah. Yeah, walking IS good for you, but we don't do it. However, dogs need to be walked or accidents happen. And people will make themselves take the dog out, whether they want to or not. Rain or shine. Hot or cold. Plus, they've found out that people who walk their dogs generally are happier and healthier than someone who just walks for exercise. Why? Because we love our dogs. We enjoy being with them.
And, when you walk a dog, you don't have to be a speed walker. You can enjoy the scenery while you walk. An added benefit: anyone who has a dog has witnessed the utter joy your dog will show when you pick up that leash. It makes it a lot easier to go out that door on a chilly day.
Years ago, when I was pregnant, the doctor ordered me to take a daily walk for exercise. We lived in a condo complex back then, but up until this time, I had left the dog walking duties to my husband. So, huffing and puffing I would walk around the complex, my 2 little Chihuahuas and our Boston terrier pulling me uphill and down like little tug boats towing a great barge. After my daughter was born and we bought a house, I made sure it had a fenced in yard and my dog walks were over. Those 3 sweet dogs are gone now, and I feel sad when I now realize that I deprived them of a source of joy when we stopped walking.
Until now. Yes, I've started walking the dog. Not all the time. We do have that fenced in yard. But I aim for once a day. And I find that I am enjoying it.
Ginger, our miniature poodle loves these walks so much, that as soon as she sees me reach for my athletic shoes, she assumes it's time for a walk. If I am just running out to the store, I try to put my shoes on without her noticing, or she has a fit. She also has learned the word, "walk", and will react immediately to it even if what you are saying has nothing to do with her.
Dogs, you gotta love them.
Unlike those joggers and fast-walker types, I'm not plugged into music while I walk. I listen to the birds, and the wind rustling the leaves. I look at the various yards as I go by and after a while you start to notice things. "Hmm, they planted a new bush", or "they've painted their shutters." Sometimes you run into other walkers. Some with dogs, some alone. You start to recognize each other and smile and say "hello". It's nice. I'm in a new club now. It's the "I want to get off the couch" club. You should join. And bring your dog along.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Sugar-Free Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookie recipe
One weekend, I experimented with 3 different sugar-free peanut butter cookie recipes and baked a dozen of each and held a taste test to find the best-tasting one. The judges were my daughter, Ariane and her best friend, Natalie. The recipe below is their favorite. It's an cross of Paula Deen's sugar-free Magical Peanut Butter Cookies and a couple of sugar-free PB & J cookie recipes I found online.
We compared regular "Jif", & "Simply Jif" peanut butter in the original batches. The difference was minimal, and the fat and calories less with the "Simply Jiff". Then, I also lowered the sodium by using "Crazy Richards" natural peanut butter and cooked another batch for yet another test. In that taste-test, Natalie couldn't tell the difference between the lower sodium version and the "Simply Jif" batch. My daughter, actually preferred the "Crazy Richards" batch.
I used Smuckers sugar-free jelly to make the PB & J version. There are several good sugar-free jellies and jams on the market. I found all of the ones I used at my regular supermarket.
NOTE: "Crazy Richards" peanut butter is a natural peanut butter, which means when you open it, you will find the oil separated from the peanut butter. Simply stir the oil into the peanut butter with a butter knife until totally incorporated and smooth. This only takes a minute or two. It is the same fat and carbs as "Simply Jif", but lower sodium. If sodium is not a issue with you, feel free to use the "Simply Jif" peanut butter.
I've also included the instructions for Paula's basic recipe for the PB cookie purists.
Sugar Free PB & J Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup Crazy Richards peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
1 1/3 cups Splenda
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Smuckers Sugar-Free Jam, Jelly, or Preserves of your choice. I used the Sugar-Free Blackberry Jam.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a large baking sheet.
In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, 1 cup Splenda, the egg and vanilla, and stir well with a spoon. Using a teaspoon measuring spoon, scoop out a spoonful of dough and form into a ball. Place on baking sheet about 1 inch apart.* Using the back of a 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon, press into the center of each ball to make a well. Fill the well with 1/4 of a teaspoon of the sugar-free jam. Bake 12-14 minutes, then cool. Makes about 24 cookies. Serving size is 2 cookies.
*If you wish to make Paula's original recipe instead, at this point, instead of adding the jelly, take a fork, dipped in Splenda to prevent sticking, and press a crisscross design on each cookie. Then bake for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the cookies with some of the remaining Splenda. Cool slightly before removing from pan.
We compared regular "Jif", & "Simply Jif" peanut butter in the original batches. The difference was minimal, and the fat and calories less with the "Simply Jiff". Then, I also lowered the sodium by using "Crazy Richards" natural peanut butter and cooked another batch for yet another test. In that taste-test, Natalie couldn't tell the difference between the lower sodium version and the "Simply Jif" batch. My daughter, actually preferred the "Crazy Richards" batch.
I used Smuckers sugar-free jelly to make the PB & J version. There are several good sugar-free jellies and jams on the market. I found all of the ones I used at my regular supermarket.
NOTE: "Crazy Richards" peanut butter is a natural peanut butter, which means when you open it, you will find the oil separated from the peanut butter. Simply stir the oil into the peanut butter with a butter knife until totally incorporated and smooth. This only takes a minute or two. It is the same fat and carbs as "Simply Jif", but lower sodium. If sodium is not a issue with you, feel free to use the "Simply Jif" peanut butter.
I've also included the instructions for Paula's basic recipe for the PB cookie purists.
Sugar Free PB & J Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup Crazy Richards peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
1 1/3 cups Splenda
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Smuckers Sugar-Free Jam, Jelly, or Preserves of your choice. I used the Sugar-Free Blackberry Jam.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a large baking sheet.
In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, 1 cup Splenda, the egg and vanilla, and stir well with a spoon. Using a teaspoon measuring spoon, scoop out a spoonful of dough and form into a ball. Place on baking sheet about 1 inch apart.* Using the back of a 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon, press into the center of each ball to make a well. Fill the well with 1/4 of a teaspoon of the sugar-free jam. Bake 12-14 minutes, then cool. Makes about 24 cookies. Serving size is 2 cookies.
*If you wish to make Paula's original recipe instead, at this point, instead of adding the jelly, take a fork, dipped in Splenda to prevent sticking, and press a crisscross design on each cookie. Then bake for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the cookies with some of the remaining Splenda. Cool slightly before removing from pan.
Here we are again
Hey! I'm back again.
It's been a long time since I posted here. Sometimes life sneaks up on us and seems to demand all our attention, with nothing to spare for anything else...or at least it seems that way at the time.
So we have a lot of catching up to do. I just don't have the energy to go through the past year and a half moment by moment, so I will just hit the high (or low) spots.
Where to start...well, Jim lost his job, looked for a job, couldn't find a job and got depressed. Money was tight and spirits were low. This went on for months. I started doing what I had always done, turned to food for comfort. Not a good plan. However, I didn't fall all the way back into my old habits. I couldn't. Something (or SomeOne) held me back, and kept me from going too far off the pathway... but I came close!
God was still working in me. I could still hear His voice, but I had the volume turned way down low.
I gained back some weight. I'm not sure how much, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say 20-25 lbs. or so. I mean I had lost over 100 lbs, so what if I gained a few of them back, right? Wrong. I started feeling crummy. Sick. Every night. Blood pressure up, heart beat irregular. I felt God tapping on my shoulder again, and I knew I better get my act together before He kicked me in the pants...again.
OK. I came up with a plan. Started being more careful with my diet, measuring my portions again. Blood pressure wouldn't come down. I started cutting back on the sodium in my diet. Still high. Started walking around the neighborhood. Feeling better. Swimming laps through the summer. Better still, but not great. What more can I do? Pray.
It should be the first thing we do, but often, it's the last.
So, here we are again. Still on this same pathway, bumpy as it is. As my journey continues, so will this blog. I thought counting carbs was difficult, but watching your sodium is harder than anything else up to now. But more on that in another post.
God is faithful and so were those who were praying for us for all those months. Thank you. About one week before our COBRA insurance ran out, Jim got a job. He works nights now, which was an adjustment we had to make, but WE HAVE INSURANCE, and A PAYCHECK!
It's been a long time since I posted here. Sometimes life sneaks up on us and seems to demand all our attention, with nothing to spare for anything else...or at least it seems that way at the time.
So we have a lot of catching up to do. I just don't have the energy to go through the past year and a half moment by moment, so I will just hit the high (or low) spots.
Where to start...well, Jim lost his job, looked for a job, couldn't find a job and got depressed. Money was tight and spirits were low. This went on for months. I started doing what I had always done, turned to food for comfort. Not a good plan. However, I didn't fall all the way back into my old habits. I couldn't. Something (or SomeOne) held me back, and kept me from going too far off the pathway... but I came close!
God was still working in me. I could still hear His voice, but I had the volume turned way down low.
I gained back some weight. I'm not sure how much, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say 20-25 lbs. or so. I mean I had lost over 100 lbs, so what if I gained a few of them back, right? Wrong. I started feeling crummy. Sick. Every night. Blood pressure up, heart beat irregular. I felt God tapping on my shoulder again, and I knew I better get my act together before He kicked me in the pants...again.
OK. I came up with a plan. Started being more careful with my diet, measuring my portions again. Blood pressure wouldn't come down. I started cutting back on the sodium in my diet. Still high. Started walking around the neighborhood. Feeling better. Swimming laps through the summer. Better still, but not great. What more can I do? Pray.
It should be the first thing we do, but often, it's the last.
So, here we are again. Still on this same pathway, bumpy as it is. As my journey continues, so will this blog. I thought counting carbs was difficult, but watching your sodium is harder than anything else up to now. But more on that in another post.
God is faithful and so were those who were praying for us for all those months. Thank you. About one week before our COBRA insurance ran out, Jim got a job. He works nights now, which was an adjustment we had to make, but WE HAVE INSURANCE, and A PAYCHECK!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The juggling act
I've been working several weeks now, long enough to realize the struggle to balance work and everything else in my life. The last time I was working, I was single and had no husband or child to care for with their needs and expectations. And, of course that was almost twenty years ago, and my younger self had more energy and stamina and none of the health issues I currently face. My free time was just that, free to do with as I saw fit. Now that is not the case. Free time now is a race starting the minute I walk out of work. A race to pick up groceries, drop off library books, drive my daughter to where she needs to be. Since my schedule changes with my manager's whim, it is hard to plan too far in advance and I have had to scramble to reschedule appointments. Worse, is missing social events that I was really looking forward to. But sometimes there is no alternative. Modern retail has few boundaries; stores are open seven days a week from early morning to late evening. Those shifts have to be covered, and getting off when you want for what you want, is a tricky endeavor and not always successful.
I've come to realize I must choose my battles wisely as I cannot win them all. Everything must be prioritized. Which is more important, Tuesday night choir practice or a Saturday lunch with friends? Your birthday dinner out with your husband, or your daughter's band concert? What choices are held the most dear?
My manager's only desire is to keep everything flowing smoothly. She sees to it that our little shop continues, shift after shift. Our schedule is ever changing as illness and car trouble and vacations and sick kids throw a monkey wrench into it's carefully planned precision. I've already seen tears, more than once, as schedules collide with personal lives.
Time is a scarce commodity. There's just not enough of it for any of us. Is it any different if you're a stockbroker or salesgirl? The needs of the job verses the wants of our hearts. It's a juggling act I am attempting to learn.
I've come to realize I must choose my battles wisely as I cannot win them all. Everything must be prioritized. Which is more important, Tuesday night choir practice or a Saturday lunch with friends? Your birthday dinner out with your husband, or your daughter's band concert? What choices are held the most dear?
My manager's only desire is to keep everything flowing smoothly. She sees to it that our little shop continues, shift after shift. Our schedule is ever changing as illness and car trouble and vacations and sick kids throw a monkey wrench into it's carefully planned precision. I've already seen tears, more than once, as schedules collide with personal lives.
Time is a scarce commodity. There's just not enough of it for any of us. Is it any different if you're a stockbroker or salesgirl? The needs of the job verses the wants of our hearts. It's a juggling act I am attempting to learn.
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