Letting yourself off the hook

I was reading something yesterday- actually I've been reading a lot of different somethings and I came across this thought. If you get pulled over by the police and get a ticket for speeding do you decide that you've already blown your perfect record for the day. Do you go on a crazy driving spree through the city, breaking every law along the way?

THEN WHY DO WE DO THAT WITH DIETS??? We can be going along minding our own business, eating healthy, getting more exercise and then BAM- chocolate cake (or cheeseburger, fried chicken..name your weakness). Then we do the stupidest thing ever...we decide that since we have already failed we might as well eat all of the other stuff we have been craving. Might as well eat like an idiot for the next few meals/days/weeks. We beat ourselves up for not keeping our "perfect record" when rationally that just doesn't make any sense. I am as guilty as they come but I have got to learn to let myself off the hook. I want to be healthy but I sure don't want to spend the rest of my life thinking about what I've eaten and what I am going to eat.

New Team

Well the contest started last night and I think it was a great first meeting.

I now have 5 other women on my team. It will be interesting to see how God uses each of us in this process. I have started writing down what I am eating again. Counting calories don't work for some but for me it helps me to see where my issues are.

We also had a discussion last night about portion control. I didn't realize I had portion control issues until I started cooking for other people and they kept telling me that I was giving them too much food. I was like, "really??" I am a big girl and I guess I think (thought) that it takes a lot of food to get me full. I am learning though that I can eat a "normal" portion and it will satisfy me for a few more hours. I am trying the Breakfast, Snack, Lunch, Snack, Dinner, Snack idea.

Anywho...Leanna talked about portion control plates that show you on your plate what portions you should be eating. I really like the ones at slimware.com- They are the ones pictured. This isn't necessarily the pattern I prefer but it gives a good visual of what they are about. The big flower should be your vegetables, the medium flower should be starches/carbs and the small flower should be protein. If you are eating a lean protein like fish or chicken then you can use the little yellow flower too.

I love love love the idea of these plates. I hate hate hate that they aren't microwaveable. I'm gonna have to pray about this one.

Here we go again

I'm Baaaaaccckkk. Does that scare you? It sure scares me. I could vow that I will post every day but that just sets me up for another failure. My goal is to post more than I have in the past.

I am gearing up for another Biggest Loser competition with our church group. I lost 25lbs last time (unfortunately I gained it all back). The clear and consistent message that I keep getting from God is to not give up on myself. I also need to write out my thoughts and share with others who are going through the same struggles. I have to stop looking at the "hows" to lose wait and start looking at the "whys" that keep me hiding behind my weight.

If we all know that eating right and exercising can lead to being healthy, why don't we do it? Is it really all about the numbers on the scale? Is that what I should be using to measure my success? Why is it that when people start noticing our weight loss that we immediately go back to eating the way we were? Is it fear? Is it fear that people will expect more out of us or worse yet, we might expect more out of ourselves if we get healthy? Is it that we don't feel worth the effort? Are we putting the needs and wants of those around us before the needs and wants of ourselves? I have so many questions and I pray that God and a good Godly group of women are going to help me find the answers.

We are trying a new approach on this go round. We are breaking up into teams so that there will be additional accountability. I have been blessed to be put into a position as a Team Captain. My prayer is that God will use me and my past (and current) weight struggles to inspire change in those on my team. I want it to be about SO MUCH MORE than losing weight.

Help us fight SMA

For those who know us, you know that Leanna's Brother and Sister-in-Law were blessed with the most precious baby on October 5, 2009. She was diagnosed with a fatal genetic disease called SMA. (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). She went to be with Jesus on October 27, 2009. She impacted so many lives during her 22 days here on the earth. Let us fight for a cure for SMA in her memory!!

SMA -- Spinal Muscular Atrophy -- KILLS more young children than ANY other inherited disease -- 50% die by their 1st birthday, 90% by their 2nd.

1 in 40 people UNKNOWINGLY carries the SMA gene -- few have any known family history.

SMA is degenerative and terminal. Although born healthy, babies eventually lose the ability to walk, sit, eat, breathe, and even swallow. The mind is NEVER impacted and children with SMA are bright and social.

There is currently NO treatment and NO cure, but there is HOPE!

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) coined SMA as the disease "CLOSEST to TREATMENT".

Researchers say a CURE is possible in a few years -- IF given adequate funding.

SMA is considered a "model" disease and many scientist believe it is a "gateway" to answers for countless other diseases, including: ALS/Lou Gehrig's, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, the muscular dystrophies, and even some forms of cancer.

Chase Bank started something awhile ago where users of Facebook could nominate and then vote for their favorite charities. In the first round 100 charities would be awarded $25,000. There were several SMA charities in the running and ALL were worthy of the $25,000 BUT the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation was one of the top 100 charities!!! They wrote a check for $25,000 to Dr. Kirstead (sp?) who is one of the most promising leaders in research for SMA. I want to thank all of you who voted for the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation in the first round of the Chase giveaway!

Please help us to add another million dollars for SMA research. Please go to vote by clicking here --->http://voteforsma.com/

God Bless

Your Hands

God has always spoken to me through music. It is amazing how I would be thinking or feeling something and I song would come on that would just confirm what God had already been telling me. I hope that from time to time you will allow me to share those songs with you. Maybe they will speak to your heart as well.

Today's song is "Your Hands" by JJ Heller. I had never heard of her but as soon as I heard this song I was hooked on her music.

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

This song is such an awesome reminder that no matter what seems to be going on around us (and it seems to be a lot lately) God is ALWAYS holding us in the palm of His hand. Heaven stands...and God is on the throne!! One day God will set all things right and we must keep our hope in him.

You can watch JJ sing this song on Klove by clicking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-F6DGGF4Qs

I hope you enjoy it. I am thankful that God can use anything..including music to touch our lives.

God Bless