Lulu201's Healthy Living Journal--Just trying my best to walk the walk! Come on by!

[DoeWDW]

Good morning, WISH-sis!

I'm so happy that DD found the perfect dress! Isn't it great when we are all dressed up and feel like a million bucks?? I'm so happy for her! I know what those "proud Mama" feelings feel like - enjoy them!

So you finally had a Sunday that truly was a day of rest - good for you!! Congrats on earning that smilie for napping. I'm sure it was just the thing you needed to help you prepare for today.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I'll check my libaray & the local Christian bookstore. I could use a book like that!

I hope you have a wonderful, laid-back, enjoyable day, dear Erin!

 

[septbride2002]

Morning Wish-sis! Ya know positive talk is so dang hard! Like the line from "Pretty Woman" it is easier to believe the bad stuff. Whenever I find myself talking negative I sort of start this inner dialouge with myself. It usually goes like this.

"Amanda, stop being so ridiculous. You are smart, pretty, strong, and kind person. You have a wonderful husband who loves you for who you are and finds you outrageously sexy. You are always looking for the bad instead of concentrating on the good."

Then I focus on what I'm worried about. Typically it is that I am "fat" for you it is exercise. So repeat after me.

"Erin, stop being so ridiculous. You are smart, pretty, strong, and kind person. You have a wonderful husband who loves you for who you are and finds you outrageiously sexy. You are a wonderful mother and are raising wonderful children. You completed a half marathon in April when you thought you couldn't. You are stronger then you give yourself credit for. Right now your schedule is crazy - but you are still getting in as much exercise as you can. You may not be Lance Armstrong - but you are no couch potato either. I can do this half marathon in September!"

~Amanda

 

[lulu201]

Thanks, you guys, I appreciate your encouragement. I particularly liked the part about my DH finding me outrageously sexy.

Erin

 

[Strings]

Hi Erin,

I am so sorry that you have been so ill. I hope you are feling better tonight. Your feelings about the hlf marathon are perfectly ok. You are feeling lousy. No energy and you have a heavy schedule. It isn't surprising that that you aren't feeling confident about the race. Now is the time to rest and rebuild your strentgth. When you are over this thing, reevaluate. Go out to the park on a sunny day, walk and talk to God. You'll get your answer. I presonlly know that you can kick some *** at that race.

Feel better.
Beth

I want to see pics of DD in the dress.

 

[lulu201]

Hey it's a brand new day! Yesterday I earned 5, count 'em , smilies for everything but food. I just couldn't get that under control! I'm going to try again today, though.

The plan:

1. Devotions: Honor your family.
2. Vitamins--gotta set them out
3. Water--will drink a lot!
4. Exercise--after walking Mickey, I'll take a nice walk myself
5. Food--slice of toast w/pb and coffee. Lunch will be a buffalo chicken salad. Snacks will be yogurt. Dinner is up in the air. There will be lots of snacks at the studio today because of end-of-semester parties; I'm going to stay away from the sweets!
6. Scale-- back down a pound, but still I'm feeling wide and round.

Beth, it was nice to see you in my journal this morning. I'm going to take your advice and give this all some more thought when I'm feeling better.

Have to get DD to school early this morning. I hope to pop around to journals as the day progresses.

Here I go after 6 smilies!

Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

Erin, you sure sound like you're feeling better! You go, girlfriend!! Walk that healthy living walk!!

I'd also like to see pics of DD in the new dress.

Go after those smilies!!

 

[septbride2002]

Of course your DH finds you outrageously sexy! Just ask him!

Don't you hate it when their are snacks laying around? I know I hate it when we have a "food" day here - augh! It is all you can do to escape it. Keep the faith girl and try to resist temptation!

~Amanda

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Erin!

Congratulations on a 5 smilie day! Have a wonderful day today!

 

[mking624]

Hi Erin!

Congrats on your 5 day girl!!! You're doing so awesome!!

 

[lulu201]

Hey, everyone! Thanks for stopping by. I AM feeling better--still kind of hoarse and gunky-ish, but I'm hanging in there.

Yesterday was another 5 day; I caved in to cookies. How could I help it, though??? I had a mom bring in a tray of cookies that spelled out: WE LOVE MRS. ERIN. Was I going to turn my nose up at that????? It was an awesome day yesterday, filled with . It's days like yesterday that get you through the tough ones.

Phone rang for DD yesterday. . .the private high school she's interested in has invited her to spend the day on Monday. She's excited and I'm excited for her. . .I'm praying that this will be a kinder, gentler environment that fits her like a glove.

The plan for today:

1. Devotions: "Wait on the Lord."
2. Vitamins--soon
3. Water--must drink a lot!
4. Exercise--hope to get in another couple of miles today.
5. Food--Hey, all I can do is try.
6. Scale--I just didn't feel like it today. I promise I'll peek tomorrow.

I've got to go pick DH up at the car dealership; he's getting his car inspected today. I'll try to stop back around later.

Erin

 

[toystoryduo]

Oh Erin! That is so sweet! I think I read somewhere that when someone brings in a tray of cookies that spells out a kind and encouraging message, the cookies are low carb, fat-free, and calorie free.

Have a great day, Erin!

 

[septbride2002]

That is to sweet! I would have had some of the cookies as well! Of course it could say "AMANDA STINKS" and I would still eat the cookies

You have been doing so awesome with your exercise! I think your daily walks with Mickey are starting to become habit instead of something you have to do. That is awesome, and the first step to healthy living all the time.

Have a great day Erin!

~Amanda

 

[lulu201]

Yesterday didn't turn out too great from a healthy living perspective. I got for devotions and exercise, but that was it. I didn't even take my vitamins for Pete's sake!

Today's a long day at work. I'm going to try to go to the preschool this morning, though I still can't sing. I'll convince the kids to help me out and everything will be OK. Lessons this afternoon are from 1-7:30.

Here's the agenda:

1. Devotions: God is faithful.
2. Vitamins: gotta take 'em today.
3. Water: have to drink tons
4. Exercise--I've been taking Mickey for his walk (usually about .5 mile) and then leaving him at home while I get another 30-40 minutes in on my own. That time is very important to me, but I'm going to have to set it aside today. Tomorrow, though, I'll get my "me time in the sunshine" into the day.
5. Food: seriously, who knows?
6. Scale: down to 180, but somehow I don't feel like celebrating!

OK, I've got to get the kid to school. I'll try to stop back, but I don't know if it'll happen.

Erin

 

[septbride2002]

Sometimes there are other things that are just more important. Not exercising for one day is not going to be the end all to your diet. Do what you can, think positive! You know you can drink 8 glasses of water today. You know you can take your vitamins - you've already earned 2 s plus your devotions - 3

Now the rough one - food. Somedays it is easier then others. Since you will be around the house for breakfast and lunch make those two healthy meals so that if you splurge at dinner you won't beat yourself up.

~Amanda

 

[lulu201]

Hi! It's Friday and I'm tuckered out. It's grey and rainy and I feel like a morning nap would be a very good thing, but it's not in the cards today.
So I'll just motor on. . .

Thanks, Amanda, for the pep talk. I honestly thought you'd kick my in the butt about my food choices! Yesterday I got only smilies for my devotions and my rest day. I know, pitiful. Still it was a good day; I just wasn't into the whole healthy eating thing. My encounter with the scale this morning has changed my perspective, however.

Today's plan:

1. Devotions
2. Vitamins
3. Water--on my second glass now
4. Exercise--I have no interest in this today, either. I'll do it tomorrow and Sunday. That'll make 5 out of 7 days and I'm satisfied with that.
5. Food--OK, this is the dicey one. For breakfast I had a slice of whole wheat bread w/pb, coffee, and 1/2 an orange. That's about 5.5 points. For my a.m. snack I'll have a yogurt. For my p.m. snack I'll have a soft pretzel (with DD after school). For dinner I'll have pizza with DH and my neice and nephew. For lunch. . .well, I don't know. I'm not too interested in that right now. I don't think it would hurt me to ignore it all together.
6. Scale--not pretty.

So I've already done better than I did yesterday. That's a step in the right direction, right? I'm feeling much better than I did at the beginning of a week. My voice is almost normal and my nose is just a little stuffy--totally manageable. Tomorrow and Sunday look nice and light. I can see some serious weekend napping on the horizon!

Take care, everyone ,
Erin

 

[Strings]

Hi Erin,

I'm happy to hear that you are feeling a bit better. I think naps this weekend will do you a world of good. Today is a new day, and I am starting fresh, so lets do the healthy eating thing together.

Take care of yourself and have a great weekend,
Beth

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Erin!

I hope you are having a great weekend and that you are getting a chance to relax. Take care and have a blessed Sunday!

 

[lulu201]

OK, now, let's see how the last few days have gone. . .

I've done my devotions both Sat. and Sun.
I've taken my vitamins both Sat. and Sun.
I've been drinking my water on Sat. and Sun.
I walked 4 miles yesterday and 2 miles today.
I've made poor food choices on Sat. and Sun.
I've ignored the scale all weekend long.

OK, now that that's done. Let's see where I'm going. . .

Tomorrow I recommit. I've had enough. I don't look good and I don't feel good. The last two weeks with this sinus/laryngitis thing had me off my food plan and without any food structure. I need my food structure! So, I have the healthy food in the house. I have the WW stuff on hand. No candy or sugary things until next Sunday; then I can choose 1 treat that I will have. I'll count WW points all week.

That said, I would like to give myself a little banana man dance for exercising 5 days this past week. That, to me, was huge. This food component is the only thing I need to tweak back into shape, and I know I can do it with God's help and the WISH. It's so true that God moves in mysterious ways. Today in church a woman came up to me that lost a good chunk of weight on LA Weight Loss. She and I have always shared our victories and struggles. Anyway, she came up and asked me how I was managing to keep the weight off! "HONEY," I wanted to yell, "HOW CAN YOU NOT NOTICE HOW FAT I AM!!!!" If she hadn't been so sincere and sweet, I would've thought she was trying to be funny. I told her that I was having a terrible time lately and had a hard time caring. . .she shared feelings of the same. I felt like God had sent her especially to me.

Now I know that maintaining my weight cannot be just a whim. It has to be serious business. If I'm borderline diabetic now, I'm going to be a raging diabetic if I keep gaining weight--it's a fact, Jack. So the question is if I'm going to get serious about it again, and I truly want to. SO. . .

The plan for tomorrow is this:

1. Devotions as usual, but I'm going to ask God for some special help to stay on track. I haven't been calling on Him enough.
2. Vitamins are in the little pill boxes for the week. No excuses there.
3. I'm going to make getting in that water a priority.
4. Exercise: Monday 4 miles or training program, Tuesday 2 miles plus weights, Wed. 4 miles or walk/run training program, Thurs. off, Fri. 4 miles or walk/run. Saturday through Monday I'll be away, but I'm going to make it my goal to walk 2 miles a day.
5. Food: Breakfast tomorrow will be half a multigrain eng. muffin w/1 tbsp. pb and a glass of skim milk and coffee (6), snack will be yogurt and almonds (5), lunch will be tuna and crackers (6), snack will be an apple (2), dinner will be chicken and rice soup (6). Total for day 25 points.
6. Scale: Every morning for the next week. No excuses.

Reasons to reach a healthy BMI:

1. So that I decrease my chances of diabetes.
2. So that I can walk/run faster--just in case I want to do another half.
3. So that I look terrific in a bathing suit on vacation in August.
4. So that I can fit into all the cute capri pants I got last year when I was a SIZE 10!!!
5. So that I can look into a mirror again and not cringe. Yeah, I cringe.

Well, that's enough to get me started in the right direction again. As Mel would say, "It's a journey, not a destination." I'm headed back down the healthy living road.

Erin

 

[Auntmeme]

Must have been God's will that you just posted I ditto everything you wrote except I didn't exercise this past week

I'm going to check on you each day and that will provide me with my motivation. I know you are strong and I want to be too! I've been thinking of WW. Do you go to the meetings? or just follow the books? I love Atkins but I'm addicted to cheese and now without the exercise it's too much fat for me. I need to exercise so when can you meet up?

Thanks for being my angel today

 

[DoeWDW]

Erin, you are in my thoughts and prayers as you recommit to healthy living today. Your wonderful and beautiful DD is also in my thoughts and prayers as she experiences a new school and ponders a big change in her life. Know that I will pray often for both of you throughout the day.

I'm cringing when I look in the mirror too. Those feelings of disappointment with myself, of feeling bad for what I've done to this body that God so lovingly made for me, of inadequacy, lack of self-discipline - I could go on - all those negative feelings come rushing at me. I want to turn away from the mirror quickly or avoid it altogether and I'm stuck with all those negative feelings. However, I have to make myself pause and look more deeply into the mirror. There's more to me than what the mirror shows at first glance. I look into my eyes that see the world through God's love. I look at my arms, which hold my family and friends close to share that love. I look at my smile, that can be a beacon of hope to others. I look deeper and see my heart that is filled with love for God, my family, my friends, my community and the wider world. When I take this extra time at the mirror, I can then turn away with positive feelings and face my healthy living choices with a new resolve. Maybe you can too. Take that extra moment to pause at the mirror and cherish the good things that it reflects.

You know you're in my heart, dear WISH-sis. We'll be walking the healthy living walk together today, with new resolve and with God's help.

Love ya,