WLW: It's a lifestyle

So today's WLW topic is about lifestyle changes.

For the last 11 1/2 weeks, I have been training to walk a mini-marathon.  I was somewhat coerced by my aunt Sharon to do this.  I anticipated that I would walk the Indianapolis Marathon this year, maybe for a few years in a row, and that would be the end of it.

I think I shared that 7 weeks into training I would have given anything to do something beside walking-- Wii Fit, EA Sports active, Pilate's-- ANYTHING.  I have never in my life been so sick of putting one foot in front of the other. 

Then... it happened.  The light switched flipped.  And here I am, think about running 5Ks.  There's one of Thanksgiving I'm considering (even though it would mean training while on vacation).  There's another a few weeks before Christmas.

I also have discovered how awful I feel after I eat out.  I just feel like an absolute slug.  So lately I have doing a much better job of avoiding going out to eat as much as possible (this is HUGE around here).

Now, I continue to enjoy sugar more than I should, but you can't change everything all at once, right? 

To me, learning to enjoy exercise and pushing myself in that way is a very big lifestyle change.  And for now, I'm very happy with that!

Weight Loss Wednesday: Making time for exercise

So this week's topic is making time for exercise. 

At this stage of the game, I actually have this one figured out.  Although, check back next week, I might have it un-figured out again:)

I am currently training for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon.  Before starting my training, I got on-line and found a training schedule for walking a mini.  I made a plan with my husband, I hung the schedule on the fridge, and I have stuck to it.  My husband and I communicate about when he is leaving for work the next day.  I get up when he does.  He gets in the shower, and I go for my walk.  This means I begin my walk between 4 and 5 am. 

Hello?  Hello?  Are you still there?  Ok, good, I thought I lost you when I said 4 am. 

Yes, that is "ugly early" (as the Harry's Chocolate Shop t-shirts used to say), but it is when I can walk without kids.  For me, a scheduled time, a required walking schedule, a goal, a deadline, and a very supportive husband (who has told me more than once how proud he is of me) has all made a huge difference.  Especially in the weeks like last week, you know the weeks where you don't care what size you where, or how healthy you are, as long as you never have to get up for another 4 am walk as long as you live?

What's working for you?

WLW: The Pink Headband

Have I told you that I am walking my first mini in October?  I am.  I very excited... and very nervous.  Five mornings a week I get up and walk my "scheduled" time for the day.  It has been positive for me in a multitude of ways, not the least of which is having lost almost 5 pounds this month!  Yea me!

Now, in my grown-up life, I have been a size 7 and I have been a size 16 and I have been everywhere in between.  I have found that the smaller the number in the back of my jeans, the more confidence I have to be.  Don't mishear me... I am not a confident person, I was not a confident person at a size 7, nor do I think that one can simply become confident by loosing some weight.  I just find, that for me, I feel a bit more confident to move slightly out of my comfort zone when I feel that I am doing a good job of taking care of my body.  Enter the pink headband...

On Sunday, I wore a black with white polka dot dress and black sandals.  I was doing my hair and it was a particularly rough hair day, so I thought I would pull it back somehow to hide the frizz a bit.  I looked under my sink and there was my daughter's bright pink headband.  I am not a "splash of color" kind of girl, but on that particular day I decided I felt confident enough to wear that headband to break up my blah black and white ensemble. 

My daughter... delighted.  My husband... surprised, but somewhat complimentary.  My son... insulting. 

You see, sometimes when we feel brave enough to move out of our comfort zone we are met with other's delight and sometimes we are met with other's insults.  But it shouldn't really matter, what matter is, that for a few hours, I was brave enough to wear that pink headband and to wear it proudly!

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7

Weight Loss Wednesday: Chicken Fajita Roll-ups

This week's Weight Loss Wednesday is all about recipes.  When my IC reared its ugly head, we had to make some major changes in our diet-- some for the better (no perservatives), some for the worse (real butter instead of low cal margarine).  We did learn through some trial and error that the IC diet does not have to be blah and boring.  Some of our new favorites were ones I found in the quest for IC-friendly foods.  This is one of them...

Chicken Fajita Roll ups

Ingredients:

whole wheat tortillas (I use Trader Joes or Ezekiels to meet my needs)
chicken with seasoning (we use garlic powder, garlic salt, & pepper)
shredded mozzarella
corn, warmed
black beans, warmed

Preparation: 

Cook chicken with seasoning.  If you can, grill it; it adds a depth of flavor that's definately worth the hassle!  Place on tortilla along with mozz, corn, and black beans.  Put in the microwave for 30 seconds or until cheese is melted.  Eat!

For those of you with kiddos, know this... the first time we tried this my kids were probably 3 & 7.  They complained about the black beans, and complained, and complained.  By the 3rd time we ate this they loved it.  It is now one of their favorite meals!



*Exercise update:  I finished my "hard" level EA Sports Active 6 week challenge on Sunday-- YEA!!!  Monday I began training for the Indianapolis Half-marathon.  I am walking it, but it's a start!

WLW: I have (almost) finished the race

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."  2 Timothy 4-7

A couple of months ago I started a 6 week, "medium" intensity challenge on EA Sports Active.  I completed it in just 4 weeks, felt great about it, felt real difference in how my clothes fit, and couldn't wait to start the next 6 week challenge!

I am currently 5 exercise days away from completing the "high" intensity 6 week challenge.  This time I have been plagued by unexplained pain, infection, and an allergic reation to an antibiotic.  On top of that, I just want to quit SO BAD!  I am sick of the music, I am sick of the lady's computerized voice, I'm sick of the exercises.  I WANT TO QUIT!!

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4-7

But, I am called to fight the good fight.  I'm called to finish the race (or the 6 week Active challenge!).  I'm called to keep the faith.  God did not design me to be a quitter.  I can do this.

WLW: My One Word

In late 2010, I was hearing a lot about "my one word". I decided to join in. I pondered what my one word focus should be for the year for quite some time. What kept coming back to me was "self". Of course I did the, "No God, you surely don't want me to focus on me; that's selfish. I need to take care of others". Apparently I was doing enough to take care of others without a resolution, because "self" is my word this year!




So, I got on the computer and typed SELF in huge letters. Underneath, I wrote my Bible verse focus to support my word: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35). Underneath that, I wrote some things that I thought embodied how I needed to be taking care of myself daily (ex prayer/ devotion, exercise, 8 cups of water, etc.). I printed it out and posted it on my fridge.




Of course, there are also behavior charts, preschool calendars and grocery lists on my fridge. Before I knew it, my SELF page was getting covered up by everything else.





THAT is the epitome my struggle. SELF is being covered up by everything else. I tell myself I'm a bad wife, mom, granddaughter, etc when I put SELF on top of the to do list. Am I the only one who struggles with this?

Weight Loss Wednesdays: My Story

I happened upon the most amazing blog this week. You know, the kind of blog where you read and think, "This person totally gets me!" even though you've never met. The blog where the tears stream down your face because you realize that you are not the only person with "that" going on in her life. Confessions of a Snowflake is that blog for me.

I read about her Weight Loss Wednesdays and decided to join in. The theory behind weight loss Wednesdays is that a cord of three strands is not easily broken. This made me realize that although I've got me (strand one) and God (strand two), if I don't talk to others about it, I'm still a strand short. So here's my story...

I have an auto-immune disease which causes chronic pain. In order to get pregnant (and nurse) David, the pain meds had to take a hike. This has been managable only by severly changing my diet.

That being said, I had a super healthy pregnancy. Between the first trimester weight loss, the inability to eat Mc You-know-who nuggets, and nearly daily exercise, I had a net gain of 17 pounds-- 9 of which was baby! By the time my 6 week check up rolled around I was 3 pounds less than when I got pregnant. I know, you want to smack me right about now, but keep reading...

PPD hit me even before David was born, but, by the time he was 2 months old, it was obvious I needed meds. I was on them for 6 months. In those months, I struggled to find the drive to exercise, I emotionally ate, and I was on a med known to cause weight gain.

And that is where I find myself... 25 pounds later! Every morning I wake up and say to myself, "I am not defined by whether or not this ____ (shirt, pair of jeans, etc) fits.". I am working on believing that.