FYI

Here's an FYI for you.

 

I had an order for my labwork from my OB. My frugal hubby called around to compare prices for the hospital lab versus another lab recommended to us by Samaritan Ministries. (our healthshare newsletter) Turns out that even after the hospital's self-pay discount their lab was still more than twice the price of the new lab we found. Unbelievable! And, even if you have insurance, I'm guessing that, depending on your co-pays, you'd still pay less going self-pay, since they have to mark up the price insanely for insured patients. One test we needed was priced at $40 for self-pay and $200 for insured patients.

 

We used www.saveonlabs.com. Thought I'd pass the info along for anyone willing to do some comparison shopping. It was well worth the $140 savings for us! Something tells me if we all started price shopping, we just may see some changes in the medical market.

 

Still, we got there a little late so my bloodwork and glucose test have to wait until tomorrow. It feels good to have a little bit of control with some of our choices, though. :)

Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin (a chemical that allows the body to digest sugar or glucose), or is unable to use the insulin it has (insulin resistance). When this happens, sugar or glucose accumulates in the bloodstream and throughout the body, causing damage to internal organs, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels.

Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, is a milder form of diabetes. Generally, the blood glucose levels in gestational diabetes are only mildly elevated compared to overt diabetes and do not cause a problem for the mother. These mildly elevated glucose levels can, however, affect the baby. These problems can cause the baby to be oversized, which can lead to delivery problems and an increased need for C-sections. Occasionally stillbirth can occur. The baby can have problems after birth such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and jaundice. Childhood obesity and a predisposition to diabetes can also be a problem for the child.  -taken from the article, Gestational Diabetes by Brette McWhorter Sember

Some things I'm learning:

>Women over the age of 35 are twice as likely to develop GD.

>If you've been diagnosed with GD, you have a 50-60% chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life.

>Once you've received a GD diagnosis, you should be checked annually for Type 2.

>Women who have been diagnosed with GD have also been found to be deficient in Vit. D and Vit. C.

>The CDC reported a 61% increase among all women in the years 1991-2001

>The placenta releases hormones that hinder the action of insulin from the mother's pancreas.

>The insulin resistance in a pregnant mother can result in the need for 3x the amount of insulin normally needed to avoid hyperglycemia.

>The official recommendation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for requiring insulin is 105 fasting.  There is controversy over whether this number should be lower. There is also controversy over the ill effects of overuse of insulin.

>Requirements for testing fasting numbers (the ones I'm struggling with) vary between caregivers. Some want numbers from 12 hours fasting, others only allow numbers from 8-9 hours fasting. Interesting.

>Standard of treatment is has no definded standard. Because there is much controversy surrounding GD, caregives may vary greatly on their approach to care. While some will want to keep numbers strictly low to protect from macrosomia, others will allow for more flexibility to protect from the unknown risks of overuse of insulin. (personal note: When you are working with 6 different caregivers, be prepared for a rough ride. Sigh.)

>Home monitors have an error range of plus or minus 10 mg/dl. I have seen crazy discrepencies in my own monitoring.  Because of these variations and the potential for misdiagnosis because of them, venous blood tests are often most reliable. (personal note: Remember this when next you want to fuss about the lab work the doc has ordered)

More to be added:


Sources:
Plus Sized Pregnancy - Gestational Diabetes: The Numbers Game
Home Remedy Central: Gestational Diabetes

Monday December 26, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Morning Bible and journaling
Busy morning tidying and getting the house in order with the littles
Shopping this afternoon with my 2 oldest
Coffee tonight with dear friends

Today's Not So Good Things:
Didn't eat carefully, I keep forgetting my snacks when I'm busy
Too hungry at dinner, so overate on portion

Today was a pretty good day. I know I could have done better with my eating choices. But, I feel really great about the accomplishments I made today. I also enjoyed a wonderful bible time this morning, finding strength and motivation to get moving. 

I also had a neat time with my two oldest today. We did some shopping together, but also had some good talks while together.  They are getting older and it's been so interesting to have these heart to hearts as they grow.

I'm trying to get my game plan together for tomorrow. I have 4 loads of laundry waiting to be folded and put away. I'd also like to work on cleaning my desk and clearing out my files. What I really need to do is a big purge in the house, but that is a massive job and I'm not even sure where to start with it.  It's also a job that isn't easily done with the littles, so I need to plan in something I can include them in for the morning. It's getting so cold, I'm not sure about a family walk.  I could possibly plan in some wii time for fun since we are still on break. We are planning our Birthday Party for Jesus tomorrow along with a movie. So, I definitely want to get in some activity early in the day.

So, while I work on getting more activity in my day, I also need to start thinking ahead to how our new schedule is going to work when David starts his new job. It feels like there are so many changes ahead. I really need to be sure I find a way to stay on top of things so I don't get too worn out and give up.

Still need to get in for my blood work for baby, too. That should be done this week sometime.

Saturday December 24, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Lovely morning opening gifts with our family
Made wise choices for dinner, avoiding the unhealthy carbs.
Controlled myself to take one small bite of "petz" which had enough sugar in it to last. ;)
Enjoyed a mid-morning nap

Today's Not So Good Things:
Still not getting my exercise in
House is pretty trashed, but I'm letting it be okay.

I feel pretty good about how my day went today. I did well with my choices at dinner at my il's as well as eating at home. I haven't been keeping up with my snacks as well as I should, but I'm still working to be careful. And, I'm applauding myself for that considering we're smack in the middle of the Season of Indulgence.

I spent my day yesterday an emotional wreck. I felt I had ruined Christmas by not working hard enough to make it special. I know I could have worked harder, but I am so grateful to the Lord for His patience with me.  He is gentle and His burden is light. If only I would truly learn to carry His burden rather than the one I strap on myself.  Today was a precious day with our children and again, with David's family. I believe our most meaningful Christmas Eve we've ever spent with them.  I'm humbled to see the Lord continuing to work and build our lives up and closer to Him. 

Tomorrow we spend our day focusing on your word.  Please help me to press forward with a heart eager to serve and obey.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

So, my OB appointment went fine. I wasn't overly thrilled with the doc, but he didn't chase us away either. ;)  After looking over my numbers for the past week, he decided they weren't high enough to diagnose GD at this point. He wants to go the routine path of taking the 1 hour glucose test, which I will more than likely fail. I have for the last 5 babies.  Then I'll move on to the 3 hour test, which I failed last time, giving me the official GD diagnosis.  I was a little frustrated with this plan, since I sorta figure it's a waste of time and money. But, if that's the information that will help him give us the best care, then I'm going to follow my husband's lead and Go With The Flow.

I figure that these steps are going to buy me some time. Since my numbers weren't alarming him, which was great news to me, then I am going to relax and stop all this fussing.  I can now set aside the testing meter, which helps the pocketbook.  I can enjoy the Christmas season without the rigidity of my meal plan and timing my meals and tests.  I will still work to follow the plan as best I can, but when I don't have to watch the clock or take a test, I can enjoy a special Christmas cookie or nibble a piece of fruit without the worry that it will mess up my numbers. 

I'm also buying time by way of the GD diagnosis. Since my numbers aren't high enough to warrant immediate action, I can go in for the 1 hour test in a week or so.  Wait for those results, and mosey in for the 3 hour at a relaxed pace. Again, if I'm not causing the docs alarm, then I guess I needn't alarm myself either. This way, if I do end up on the insulin (very likely), then at least I won't have to be on it for as long as I originally thought.

So, for now I work on keeping care of myself as best I can.  I work at relaxing about the fears and issues that don't seem to be as disconcerting to the docs as they were to me.  And, most of all, I work at enjoying this precious season with my family.  Including the season of growing a sweet, precious baby that we will get to SEE on January 12th during our ultrasound.  Now, THAT'S something to look forward to. ;)

Saturday December 17, 2011

I'm feeling worn down by this GD stuff. I started tracking my numbers this week and it isn't looking good at all.  My fasting numbers have been high every morning.  My dinner time numbers fluctuate. I hate having to think so hard about what to eat. I dread eating, but I've been hungry. I hate having to stay up late just to eat. It just stinks all over.

I did have a good meeting with the NP at the new OB office. That was a wonderful answer to prayer. I go in on Monday to meet the OB and have my first physical exam.  I'm hopeful it will go well.

I'm pretty sure I'm headed to the GD counselor and likely, insulin.  Something's gotta give because I can't get these numbers to look right.  I also can't get to feeling right either.  I don't want the insulin, but I'm wishing I could find *something* to help me feel better.

Big whine for tonight, I guess. We had a wonderful week filled with great blessings from the Lord. I don't want to be complaining. I guess I'm just focusing too much on myself and my inconveniences instead of the opportunities I have to learn and develop stamina and discipline.  Help me to find that right attitude, Lord.

Tuesday December 13, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Rested A LOT - still deciding if that's really a good thing
Got my new meter and test strips

Today's Not So Good Things:
Didn't follow meal plan well - not eating enough
No exercise
So super tired and draggin' today, no motivation whatsoever


Yesterday was really good. Really good. Today, not so much.  I'm really struggling to eat enough. I'm struggling with feeling good. Even when I eat I feel yucky.  I'm not sure if that means anything.

I got my test strips and meter tonight. Tested after dinner and was a little high. :(  I didn't eat exactly as  should, so I don't know if that has something to do with it. But it was more than a little depressing to see David's number so much lower than mine when I watched him eat so much more food. Blah.

This Friday I have an appt. with an OB office. I'm hopeful, yet nervous about meeting them and wondering how it will all come together. I'm desparate for prayer that it will go well, I will be a blessing, and we will have found an obstetric team that wants to support and help us keep this little one safe in all ways.

Thursday December 8, 2011

Today's Good Things:
CELEBRATING!!! David passed his exam!!!!
Worked on convention planning and accomplished a great deal

Today's Not So Good Things:
Did not follow menu plan
No exercise

This morning we woke to the wonderful news that David passed his 3rd exam for the CPA.  We decided to celebrate with breakfast out for the fam.  I set aside my menu plan and enjoyed a lovely meal. 

After that, I did pretty well following my plan from lunch on.  I was busy at my desk, so no exercise. I did enjoy a nice time at the library story hour with 2 of my girlies and some of the moms I've met there.

All in all, it was a pleasant day and I have no regrets on how we chose to celebrate.

Still no news on the OB front. I'll have to do some phone calling tomorrow, I think.

Wednesday December 7, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Bible/journal time
Followed menu plan
Got some christmas and school shopping done via online
Kept up with schooling
Kids had a fun day with friends this afternoon

Today's Not So Good Things:
Indulged in 3 peanut butter cups that dd made today. sigh. SO hard to resist!!
No exercise
I can't get water down. :(
Fighting heartburn all day. Yuk.

Today was rainy and dreary and so was I.  I spent a lot of time at my computer shopping and making some digital photo books for christmas gifts.  That was semi-productive. It needed to be done, but I was not active at all. Didn't even get a load of wash going or anything.

We're waiting to hear the results of David's exam.  That's a little nervewracking too. 

Feeling tired, as usual. Just hoping I can sleep.

Monday December 5, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Bible time/journaling
Followed my menu
morning and afternoon walk!
stayed on track with schooling

Today's Not So Good Things:
Massive stomach issues hit just after dinner. Yuk.
Didn't get in my evening exercise due to feeling gross

I was so thrilled with how my day was going.  I was doing great with eating, exercise, and more importantly, my attitude was good. We were starting back to school and I was doing well with staying patient and kind while we worked through the kinks.

But my evening was awful. I don't know what happened, but I was feeling so poorly with stomach and bowel issues that I had to just give up and put myself to bed. 

Today is rainy and I'm still feeling poorly. Headache and stomach trouble.  I'm plugging away, but taking it easy.

Oh, my aching head!

The last two days I've been in fierce pain with a tension-type headache at the base of my head/neck.  I remember getting one of these in my last pregnancy, but it didn't last two full days.  I know I'm fighting some kind of bug, because I've also got some lovely sinus pressure and my throat is sore along with swollen lymph nodes.  Just ouch.

I spent the day resting yesterday, hoping it would give me what I needed to get going today. Not so. I'm down for the day today, too. This really stinks.  I haven't been following my eating plan because it just hurts too much to move and *get* the food to eat. Blah.  And, of course, exercise is out. Well, I did get in some walking last night while we were outside caroling. I needed to keep the littles busy during the second run of carols, so I got something in, I guess.  If it wasn't for the tylenol, I wouldn't have made it, that's for sure.

I hope tomorrow brings some relief.  I'm reading that poor posture is the culprit. Likely they are right. I've been using my resting time to work on christmas gifts, which means I'm keeping my neck in a not so good position.  However, it seems to hurt most after I sleep. I woke up with it feeling the worst both mornings and after my nap this afternoon. Makes me wonder a bit about my sleep positioning.  And, we already know my sleep woes. Sigh.

Pray I can find some relief from the pain so I don't miss worship with my family tomorrow.  Pray I can beat this before it gets worse. I have had fluid in my ears for over a week now, so I know my body is fighting and without my mega doses of vit. c, I'm afraid it's losing. :(

Tuesday December 1, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Devotions
Followed menu plan well
Made progress on some schooling issues
Worked at and applied the verses I read this morning
Baby Flutters!!!
Great meeting with homeschool group tonight

Today's Not So Good Things:
No exercise
A lot of sitting at my desk to get schooling and notes prepared for meeting tonight
Choices for protein and grains are limited so I've gone back to eat some bread

I haven't been journaling here, but I have been doing pretty well following my menu plan.  Thanksgiving was hard and I did set aside the portions and even allowed myself dessert.  But, I was able to get back on track fairly well and I've been doing well so far.  I still don't have any test strips, so I'm not sure how my body is processing the sugars, but I'm building good habits, so I'm thankful.

I still need to work at getting in that exercise. I have to just push myself, otherwise I give in to the tiredness and the lagging nausea that threatens throughout the day still. The "fog" has lifted, though. So we made this past week a "work week" and have been busy getting the house and my paperwork in order.  It feels good to have some projects done and a plan developing for school next week. Now that I'm feeling a little better, I'm eager to get our schooling more organized and effective. Tomorrow I'll keep working on that as well as do some reorganizing to move a piece of furniture to our room in prep for baby's clothes and items. It's a little soon for that, but I want to do it now since we are setting aside time to get projects done.

David took his 3rd test this week, so life changes again for a bit.  Not even sure how so right now, but this whole year has felt like a constant state of unknown.  Thankfully, the Lord remains faithful and strong.  A security in the midst of the craziness of our days.

So, the goal for tomorrow is to get in my 15 minutes of moving after each meal.  Now that my sweetie isn't dealing with the pressure of the exam, I may just have a handsome escort on my walks. That's the best motivation right there. :)

The happy news is that I've been feeling baby flutters already. I haven't even heard a heartbeat yet, so this is really exciting. Still waiting on our decision of whether we will move forward with a homebirth or switch over to an OB and hospital birth this time around. That also means I haven't really had much by way of prenatal care right now. It's still early, and so far it appears that baby is doing well. I can't help but be excited that it's all becoming more real, that's for sure!

Tuesday November 15, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Up and dressed before the children
Woke them with a smile
Bible & journal
Morning walk with the fam
Followed meal plan fairly well until dinner (enter date night)
Worked out some strategy to deal with tough home issues

Today's Not So Good Things:
Children were not so enthusiastic about my fresh start to the day
Tough issues with one dear child
Date night dinner was too hard to resist

Today I started well.  I am very glad for that.  I'm sad because I can see the transition to get us back on our regular routine is going to be a rough one.  Today was hard, dealing with a lot of those emotions and working on behavior that has been let go for too long.  Emotionally, I'm drained. 

We had a wonderful date night tonight, though.  I'm grateful the Lord always gives hope even when we don't even know where to look for it. 

Tomorrow I hope to start as strong.  I also hope to get in an afternoon walk instead of sitting in my own emotional pity-party.  I should have at least walked off those blues. 

I also have my first mw appointment tomorrow. I wasn't expecting to go this soon, but I am excited to meet with her and hear more on her thoughts for keeping my blood sugars balanced. 

Oh, and starting to think about the Thanksgiving day menu.  I want to include my family's favorites, but I want to be cautious about tempting myself with all of those goodies.  It will be a challenge, for sure.

Monday November 14, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Dressed, bible and journal this morning
Stayed vertical most of the day
Helped with making dinner!
Made some good choices for snacks and meals
Met a good friend for coffee/tea tonight. (it's been too long since I've been able to do that!)

Today's Not So Good Things:
Caved and had a donut
Super slow and crabby day for the whole clan. :(
Couldn't stay focused and motivated this morning

Today was a very difficult Monday.  Everyone was slow moving, unmotivated, distractable and crabby. One is sick, so feeling extra whiney.  Another was over tired from the weekend, so basically no self-control.  And this Momma was about as impatient as she can get.  And I did it. I caved in to my stress and ate a donut as an escape. What a dumb thing to do.  Of course, I didn't escape anything. I didn't actually FEEL better. (though, that moment the chocolate hits your taste buds...mmmm...ahem.)  I likely made my ability to deal with the stresses less effective.  Sigh.

But, it's done and we move on, right?  Tomorrow I have a Plan of Attack to get us off to a better start, complete with family exercise. I know we could all use the fresh air and activity to give us a better handle on our day. 

I enjoyed a lovely evening out with a friend tonight. I've been staying home from my weekly night out with friends because I've been feeling so awful.  But, tonight was lovely and I'm so grateful I was able to go again.  I've missed the break and the wonderful friendships I'm blessed to have.  The break has already left me feeling refreshed and more willing to face the day tomorrow.  It' amazing what a little change of scenery and some uplifting conversation can do for a person.

Praying for a better report for tomorrow!

Saturday, Nov.12 2011

Today's Good Things:
Rested A LOT
Got some laundry put away
Winter clothes organized and sorted (but really, that was not my doing)
Online shopping (but not buying yet) for maternity clothes
Did well with my eating choices, though I didn't follow my plan exactly

Today's Not So Good Things:
Didn't follow my meal plan
Didn't eat enough
Didn't get any exercise
Didn't get enough sleep last night, so feeling awful
Winning the Crabby Mom award for the day (week?? sigh.)

I'm going to do this. I'm forcing myself to get back to daily journaling. Just knowing I have to report my day *should* motivate me to make it worth reporting.  I hope.

So, here comes the personal stuff you may not care to read in happy blog land.  I finally admitted today that I am not enjoying being pregnant right now.  I feel ill, tired, unmotivated, irritable, lazy, achey, and HUGE.  I'm battling a lot of negative feelings right now regarding how my body is changing.  Remember those skirts I joyfully outgrew and put away?  Yeah, they fit great now. :-/

Now, hear me out. I am THRILLED to have a new baby on the way.  I am super excited to learn all about how this little one is growing and changing.  I see newborns and get all giddy, knowing we'll have our own to snuggle when spring comes around.  It's not the baby, it's the pregnancy and the changes and stresses that go with it that are getting me down.

Pray for me.  That's what I truly need.

>I need to forget what is behind and strive for what lies ahead.  I worked HARD last year and saw some fruit.  I can work HARD this year and see fruit as well. Different fruit, but beautiful fruit all the same.

> I need to put my focus back on doing all of this that the Lord is lifted up, not that I can wear a certain size or not look like a tent in what I put on.  I got rid of my entire maternity wardrobe after our youngest was born, anticipating that I would never fit in those clothes again. Sigh.  So, I'm needing a full new wardrobe about now.  With funds tight, I do have yet another chance to see the Lord provide, and I'm grateful.  I just need a better attitude regarding how embarrassing and frustrating it is that I can't even fit in the maternity clothes at the stores.  Again, I need my eyes on the Lord, not my silhouette.

>The GD stuff is SO scary, stressful and overwhelming.  First, the strips are costly and this is not a good season for us to have costly expenses. Second, following the meal plan is costly. (see number one). Thirdly, it's so very stressful to eat just right at just the right times, exercise at the right times and not feel like it's consuming your whole brain.  The perfectionist in me fears "failing" those tests, so just having to take them creates a world of stress that is really hard to work through.

So, today is a very emotional day.  Writing it out helps, right?  Maybe. We'll see.  But, for now, at least I'm acknowledging my fears, doubts and disappointments.  If I confess these sins of selfishness and self-pity, I'm closer to the freedom the Lord has for me, right? Pray for me to find that freedom and walk boldly in it.

The New Plan

Finally, my struggle with thinking about food hasn't prevented me from thinking about food!  The last few weeks have been rough, but I think I'm starting to see the green fog lift.

I spent some time today going over my GD meal plans from last time.  I've made some adjustments, taking out the yeast breads and getting my daily meals as close to our weekly menu as possible.  I know I'll still need to adjust as the days go, but it's good to have a plan and direction on what to do next.  I find that especially hard with food, since I really have other things occupying my brain at any given moment. ;)

So, Tracy's New and Improved GD Meal Plan is in place.  Ready to print and post on the fridge for all the fam to see and hold me accountable.  Along with this eating plan, I'm hoping to get back into my exercise routine.  Morning 2 miles, Afternoon 1 mile, and evening 15 minute workout.  That's going to be hard for me, and I'll definitely need the push.

The meal plan is based on a 2200 calorie diet.  That's what the GD counselor recommended to me last go 'round.  Honestly, it's going to be pretty hard for me to get that many calories in every day.  Even as I wrote out the menu, I cringed looking at the amount of carbs I needed to include. I guess my thoughts right now are that I will likely increase the protein as I decrease the carbs a bit.  Especially the starches, which do not help with my icky yeast issues I have going on right now. Blech.
My mw also told me she has some new research regarding a few ways to help support my blood sugar levels as we go through this pregnancy. I'm eager to hear what she's learned and add that to the plan.

So, if you are interested, click the link above to give my new menu a look-see. Feel free to leave any comments or questions.  I'm always open to new ideas and great advice. :D 

Also, please keep me in your prayers. Last time I needed to follow this plan for only 3 weeks.  This time, I'm starting now, hoping to be as proactive as possible.  I struggle in a big way having to think about food all the time like this. Add in the finger pricks and that is a sure recipe for S.T.R.E.S.S.  Pray I would move forward in confidence, joy, and gratitude for what the Lord will accomplish during this season. Thanks!!

That's About the Size of It

Found out a couple weeks ago we had a little Poppy Seed growing.  The following week it grew to the size of an Apple Seed. This week we are enjoying our little Sweet Pea even though he or she brought an abundance of fatigue, moodiness, and nausea along. 

So, the plan changes for the coming year. I'm grateful I can rest in the confidence that these are God's plans.  Over the past several months, the Lord has been working on this heart of mine teaching me new lessons in contentment.  Gone are the fears and anxiety that I was carrying regarding the prospect of a new pregnancy.  The Lord has moved me over to peace, surrender, gratitude, and joy.  We don't know how long this little one will be with us, but we are all being careful to enjoy each day.  The children are over the moon with excitement.  They've been taking extra special care of their dear ol' Momma with a fervor. What a blessing. 

Next step is to work on my new menu plan. My goal is to combine the GD plan I used with my last pregnancy with Dr. Brewer's pregnancy diet, hoping my hard work in these areas will keep away the GD issues that plagued us with our last baby.  Please pray I can be diligent with exercise, discplined in my eating choices, and persevere in prayer regarding my health and Baby's.  Above all, I continue to desire the Lord to be glorified in all of my life.  I may not be decreasing physically in size in the coming months, but I pray the Lord's purposes, presence, and power will continue to increase in every way.

Broken

A couple weeks ago, I broke my pinky toe. Silly, but painful.  That took me out for walking. Just when I was gearing up to get back to my morning mile, my back went out this weekend. As in, bend over and don't get back up. That's what I get for nursing a broken toe, sitting on my backside all week working on the computer, and...well...I don't know. But, it sure is frustrating.

So, here I am, lying flat most of the day. But, I am able to walk now and getting in my mile actually makes my back feel much better. So, I'm likely going to get out there several times a day, hoping it strengthens my core for now. I'm doing some light stretching, per my chiropractor's orders. I'm getting very little sleep, however, so that is making life a little hard. 

Wish I could say I've been eating next to nothing with all this lying flat. Sadly, I've been eating more with all this lying flat. :(  Easy food for the children to make while helping means lots of munchies and not so good eats for the fam. Sigh. One thing and then the next, right?

Tomorrow, I blog, log, and walk at least twice.  Once I'm able, I am most definitely getting back into my ttapp workouts. I have to strengthen my core so I don't ever go through a week (or more!) like this again. Ugh.

Wednesday July, 27 2011

Today's Good Things:
Morning mile with my sweetie
Devotions
Did great keeping active with the morning schedule and new chore training
Good food choices for meals and snack
FINALLY finished reorganizing our chore system for the coming year. WHEW!!! (yeah, that's where I've been hiding)

Today's Not So Good Things:
Did I even drink any water today???
Ice cream for family dessert. I should've at least gone for the low-fat/no added sugar kind, right?? Sigh. I can't resist the mocha chip.
Finishing that chore system means I've been doing a lot of sitting for the last few afternoons. Blech.

Been weeding this week, got in a mile with the children yesterday, and processed some vegies from the garden today. Our new chore assignments have me movin' this week and my kitchen has been looking good. :-)  I feel like I've been in a tunnel of sorts with this last project, so I'm really glad the planning and setting up stage is done. Now I need to tackle the mess in the house that came from neglecting the chores I've been obsessing over for the past 2 weeks. Ack!

Tomorrow we mow, weed, and harvest in the morning and get some lesson plans and cleaning done in the afternoon. I am so lovin' this summertime life. :-)

Monday July 18, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Morning and evening walk (at least 3 miles total)
Good choices for meals, lovely salad from the garden for dinner!
Ditching the soda
Oh, and some good time in the pool yesterday! (just throwing that in because I'm so glad I did it. ;-) )

Today's Not So Good Things:
Caved in to my sweet craving at snack time :(

I met with my friends for our coffee night tonight. It was lovely, as we ended the evening with a great paced walk that lasted about an hour.  I also skipped the coffee and had a bottle of water. I haven't been drinking enough, so that was a good choice. (Especially since I had already had plenty-o-decaf already today.)

Cycle started today and I feel so much better. The last few days have been yucky and a little up in the air wondering just what to think about a 38 day cycle. ;-)  All the tests were bfn's, but, I admit, I was starting to wonder. So, I have another month (or longer!) to keep working at getting stronger, wiser, and more faithful in my choices to honor the Lord with my body.

Would you believe I forgot all about my weigh-in this morning? I was so occupied with starting my day that I completely forgot. I have no idea what to expect, as I saw a huge drop after my cycle ended last month. But, when am I not afraid to step on that blasted scale, right? I guess I'll give her a go tomorrow and see how bad it is. I definitely feel bloated and like I've gained a good 10lbs in the last few weeks. Sigh.

Either way, I'm going to keep up my momentum for the week. I'm going to work on logging tomorrow as well as keeping up with my early morning walk. I'd love to get in a swim tomorrow too, since the day promises to be a hot one. (though I don't get in all that much swimming with so many little ones to watch ;-) )  I've been fighting some insomnia the last few nights, so I hope that doesn't leave me to worn out to get up and going in the early morning.

Feeling Lost

I'm not even sure what my plan is this week.  Well, I guess my plan is no plan, really.  I have been up each morning at my 5am wake up to pray with my sweet husband and then out for my 1 mile walk, my oldest joining me today.  My sweetie and the boys have been getting in their pt in the mornings too, they even got in a quick swim after their run this morning. It was already that hot at 6am!!!

So, I'm doing pretty well getting back to that part of my routine. I haven't been logging, though, or blogging.  I didn't weigh-in Monday. I was just too scared to see the number. I didn't want to feel down about it, since I do think I worked hard to do well while on vacation. I didn't do well on our weekend of cookouts, however, so Monday I was hiding from the scale. *blush*

I'm still so super tired from our trip. The 1 mile a day is about all I can muster aside from the work of getting our home and hearts back in order.  I even caved on date night tonight and devoured my very own Mocha Chip ice cream.  Sigh.  I guess being tired and worn down weakens my resolve. 

So, for the rest of this week I'll put rest, walks, and more water on my goal list, praying those will strengthen me for making better choices.

The Vacation Challenge

We just got home from a 12 day whirlwind road trip.  11 states, 3500 miles. That's a ton of driving, visiting, touring, eating on the quick, and...sigh...sitting.

I started out really well. I was being ever so careful with my food choices, trying hard not to indulge in the Munch Your Way Down The Highway tradition. The first couple of days I made sure to get out for walks before we started the next stretch of driving or sitting to visit with far away family and friends. However, as the trip got busier and our stops got shorter, much of that ceased. By the time we were making our mad dash home, I was crunchin' the chips with the best of them. *blush*

However, I still believe I did *much* better than I have in previous times. We didn't stop at as many of our favorite eating places on this trip. We often find ourselves eating our way along as a part of making memories. We did still enjoy some unique favorites, like U.P. pasties, cinnamon raisin biscuits from Hardees, and Arby's roast beef sandwiches. I even deterred us from ordering fries and filling in with carrot sticks and apple slices with our Roast Beef Delights. :-) We skipped some others and I made sure our meals eaten from the camper featured greens as often as possible.  We guzzled plenty of water, though my fiber is down right now, so I'll be working on that.  I did cave and get the pop tarts and cold cereal that everyone loves for vacation, but generally we snacked on peanut butter celery sticks and fruit for our sweet treats.  I'm wishing we had been able to make more time for active touring at our destinations.  We got in some swimming, a bit of walking, but not as much hiking as I had hoped. It was tough to do it while visiting with others and fitting in so much in so little time.

Overall, I'm pleased with how we did. We still have a lot of room for improvement, but I am clearly making better choices as a way of life. Even vacation life. :-)

Soul Food

Journal Entry:
Sunday, June 26

Hebrews 5:11-14
"Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

"...you have become dull of hearing."

What does that mean? Later in the verses it says that those who are able to take the solid food of scriptures are those who have had their senses "trained" due to practice - or repetitive use. So, when my hearing is dull, when my sense of understanding has grown weak, it is due to my lack of use - no practice (exercise) to make my soul strong. 

Lord, my senses need training. My children's senses need training. As I desire maturity, it comes by practice - repetitive use of your word- applying it to my daily tasks, choices and challenges. Teach me, as I work hard at growing my soul, to discern good and evil for every area of my life.

"The word of God is food and nourishment to the life of grace." -Matthew Henry

Everything but the Elephant

This story comes from the book I'm reading. I've been keeping a page with quotes that challenge me from that book, but I wanted to type out this story here. It's been a wonderful analogy for me in this area of weight-loss and health as well as applying it to every other area of my walk with the Lord. In fact, we've been asking ourselves frequently around here, "Is that part of the elephant?"

It seems there was an artist who, one day, found that a large piece of granite had risen unexpectedly from the yard outside his home. Now, I don't know about you, but if that had happened to me I'd be upset. Just one more annoying thing I'd need to take care of before I could mow the lawn. Reportedly, it did annoy the artist, and he knew he'd eventually have to do something about it. He debated about borrowing a jackhammer from a friend until he remembered that, of course, he had no friends with jackhammers. Then he thought about getting some dynamite and blasting the granite into smaller stones that he could then carry away. But that didn't seem right either so he sat and thought about what to do. As he sat and thought and looked at that stone, he began to look past his problem. He forgot about his goal of getting rid of the stone. He actually started to see the stone. He noticed the lines and the shape. He decided to be grateful for the stone. Then one day he got out his chisel and hammer, and within a short time, he created an unbelievable reproduction of an elephant. Neighbors and passersby alike were amazed when they saw what appeared to be a real elephant grazing in his yard.

A friend asked the amateur sculptor how he'd managed to do such a good job in reproducing a realistic form of an elephant without even a model or picture to go by. The artist replied confidently, "It was really pretty easy, actually. I just chipped away everything that didn't look like an elephant."

This story comes with the challenge to focus on the person you most wish to become. As I read this story, I am struck with how it illustrates the fact that God's spirit is at work within me to chip away at everything that doesn't look like Christ. Because of His finished work on the cross, the victory of His resurrection, His application of righteousness to my life, and the gift of His Holy Spirit, I am now becoming the person God created me to be. In His word, I see that He is at work to reveal and remove those habits, weaknesses, and desires that keep me from loving my Lord fully.  I am seeing this in new ways as I work to face the addictions and desires that hold me in the area of what I eat and how I use my body.  When I read through this blog, I see the excuses and habits that have defeated me in the past months. Magnify that by the number of years I've been alive and I see a life that needs some chipping. 

The author give the challenge, "If you are serious about continuing your walk on this spiritual path to weight loss, you will work hard to chip away everything that does not look like the person you most wish to become." 

I give myself the challenge, Just chip away everything that doesn't look like Jesus.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  Romans 8:29

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 1 Peter 1:14-15

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again ; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all ; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness ; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:5-13

Scale Saga Continues...

This was my Monday Weigh-In story this week:

Last week I was about 207 on Monday...205ish on Tuesday...and then hovered around 207 all week.

So Monday morning I step on and it says 202.4...again 202.4...
huh??
I always try to get 3 same readings before I believe it. (we all know my history with the scale, right? Sigh.) So then I get 205.2...204.6...201.8...203.something...and finally get 3 readings in a row of 202.

I have no idea what to call it.
But I never once saw 207 (whew) and seeing 202 was really motivating.  Seeing 201ish was surreal.

Wednesday June 15, 2011 Catching Up

Today's Good Things:
Prayer time with dh
Kept busy and productive
Kept my portions low
Avoided snacking
Great choices while out to eat tonight (even did well skipping the ice cream!)
Avoided the junk food while shopping for Staycation

Today's Not So Good Things:
High carb lunch

This week has been up and down. I had a good day on Monday, food wise. Tuesday was great by way of exercise/activity. I worked hard mowing all morning and then weeded.  However, the pizza at dinner wasn't a smart choice. Today was a good follow-up to that bad day, though.

I weighed in on Monday and saw 207, so def no loss. But, then I got a 205.8 on the scale Tuesday morning, so I'm not sure what to think. It's possible I was retaining water Monday morning. I hope so.

Here's the really big news. I started my cycle on Friday. My first pp cycle. Blech. That means all kinds of things for me, but it puts a whole new pressure on me regarding my weight loss efforts. I would be lying if I didn't confess that I'm feeling pretty frustrated with myself that I haven't lost more before my cycle returned. Now that my fertility is back, I am more nervous than ever to walk into another pregnancy as unhealthy as I am today. If anyone is still reading here, I covet your prayers that I would press on stronger than ever in the coming weeks. Pray my self discipline would grow, as well as my joy in this journey. Thank you!

Monday Weigh-In 6/6/11

Down .4 from last week.  Key word is *Down*.  It's not much, but I'll definitely take it. I'm still trying to crawl my way back to the low I was at a while back. The weeding with the hoe in the garden may have helped today. It sure did wonders in helping me get out some of my frustrations. ;-)

Logged today and blogging now. I really want to work hard this week and do well.

Wednesday June 1, 2011 Fancy Schmancy Dinner

Today's Good Things:
Morning walk
At least an hour of push mowing
catching up on school lessons
Lovely evening out with my sweet husband complete with an hour alone to talk over cappucino...mmmmmm...
Did well sticking with the low carbs for dinner and appetizers (notice I didn't say dessert?? Ahem.)

Today's Not So Good Things:
Chips for snack with dh
Missed my bible time...such a slow start this morning
Behind on laundry and housework
I ate The Whole Thing for dessert. Ack!

We went to an annual business meeting tonight. It's a special treat at a restaurant that serves amazing food. I was careful to avoid the crackers, bread and potatoes the whole evening. I chose cheese and fruit for appetizers along with the irresistable bacon wrapped scallops and over-sized shrimp cocktail. Wow!  For dinner my plate was more than half full with fresh salad and steamed vegies, the rest were small portions of chicken marsala and a piece of stuffed baked haddock. So delicious!

I was quite pleased that I resisted the carb load, so I splurged at the incredible dessert table. I picked this unbelievable chocolate cookie pie thing. Heavenly. It was a treat and I know I won't have that level of dessert again anytime soon, so I enjoyed it without guilt. ;-)

I enjoyed the evening with my husband. Neither of us really enjoys the shmoozing that is involved with this event, but tonight we were blessed to meet a man that attended the same christian college my husband did the same year my husband was there. That was so neat! While sitting together at dinner, we also found that we share homeschooling in common with their family as well. We were delighted the Lord used us to encourage this man and hopefully his wife as well. We were praising the Lord on the way home for such a neat blessing to be found in this evening. Thank you, Lord!

Tuesday May 31, 2011 Just Go.

Today's Good Things:
Walked 2.5 miles (while enjoying some nice time with my children)
Bible Time and great discussion about devotions with ds
Good on calories, though I could have made better choices
Stayed busy with gardening and laundry and schooling today (keep movin'-keep movin')

Today's Not So Good Things:
Not the best food choices
Low on water
Sad and pressing prayer issues have arisen
Caved to the ice cream for dessert tonight. (I was doing so good, too!)

I'm not even going to rehash the reasons why I've been neglecting this blog. Needless to say, they haven't proven fruitful in weight loss. I'm here today and plan to work harder at this in the coming days. Praying the Lord continues to renew and strengthen me for this area of obedience in my life.

Wednesday May 11, 2011 Another Day

Today's Good Things:
Up early-ish
Prayer & reading
family prayer time
No snacking!!
Decent on calories
Caugh up on some housework
Shared dessert instead of ordering my own

Today's Not So Good Things:
No exercise
Was not patient with minor irritations

I was moving all day. That was good. I didn't get in any real exercise, but I stayed active. I had a hard time working through some bad attitudes with the children today, but didn't stress-eat to deal with it. That's some progress right there.

We went out for dinner tonite and I was careful with my menu choices. I REALLY wanted to try the new flavor of ice cream, but was in the bathroom while it was being ordered. Good for me, 'cause I wouldn't have resisted that temptation. Thanks, Lord!

Praying tomorrow is a better day.

Tuesday May 10, 2011 Two Days to Report

Good Things:
Up early both mornings
1 mile walk both mornings
prayer time and family prayer time both mornings
New routine started and going well
active with outside projects and sunshine
good time spent with children
1 mile walk this evening for date night with dh
to bed by 10pm both nights
ending the day fair for calories today

Not So Good Things:
fighting a headache, especially in the afternoons
not meeting water goals
too much snacking in the afternoons....grrrrr

The last two days have been good. I still have room for making much better choices by way of what I put in my mouth and when and why I do it. I've been working on waking early for a walk and then getting to my bible time.  Rising early is always a good thing for me and I'm in a place where I can do that fairly well, especially if I don't stay up too late at night or miss too much sleep.  Waking early helps with that. ;-)

I am finding, however, that the afternoons are killing me and I am being way too lazy, which feeds the slump. Instead of getting up and moving when I start feeling tired, I grab a snack and go to the computer or lie down on the couch.  I'm not getting real rest, so I'd be better off going outside and getting something done. I just can't seem to find the energy or motivation to do it. Honestly, by the time I finish up with lessons and choring with the children, I crave a bit of quiet.

I realized tonight, though, that weeding my flower beds gives me plenty of quiet, since no one really likes to help with that. ;-) So, tomorrow, when I'm hunkering for some time alone for a little break, I know where I'll be headed. :-D

Another Birthday....

What can I say?  I started out the day decent.  Skipped the high carb snacks while we played at the park. However, lunch was nothing even close to decent. Well, I did make sure I got in some fresh vegies with my Mcd's. Then came the birthday dinner and it was all over. Well, I guess I did make some choices that were good, considering what I was choosing from. Skipped the chips and ketchup on my hot dog. I also skipped the birthday cake. So, while I didn't eat particularly healthy, I did avoid and chose to skip some things, so I was thinking.

Still managed to devour an ooey-gooey s'more around the campfire. I didn't want my newly turned 3yo to think I was happy about her special day. ;-)

Thursday May 5th, 2011 Rebounding.....I hope!

Today's Good Things:
Earlier start
Bible study day
Testing is DONE!
Sweet evening with the fam
Ended the day well calorie-wise
Resisted a lot of things I haven't been resisting

Today's Not So Good Things:
Too busy for exercise - again. Sigh.
Still high on the carbs
Guzzling my water late at night..not smart

Today was the best day I've had in a while, but it still wasn't great. I did, however, win some victories with my eating choices. I caved one time to an unnecessary snack, but otherwise I did well. It helped that I was rushing like a fool all day and didn't have time to slow down for lunch or snacks. I did NOT eat those amazing looking brownies at bible study...THAT is worth celebrating right there. ;-)

Tonite I am beat. But, I talked dh into joining me on the wii and we challenged each other to archery and bowling. That doesn't really count for exercise, but it was an active way to enjoy each other's company. And, it kept me awake. ;-) After that, I worked with my 5yo on her school books and then read from The Long Winter to those who wanted to listen. One of those sweet moments where they are all gathered around your feet. Love that. :-)

I'm working on a sugar cleanse, as we've had way too much these days. Birthdays combined with low-budget foods are making for some awfully high carb/sugar meals these days. Some things I can change about that, but others I can't. White rice for dinner sort of makes me want to cringe. Yet, I'm so grateful for the Lord's provision, and I know He wouldn't give us what will harm us. We just need to be wise on its use.

Tomorrow begins a marathon of sorts for activity once again. It's fun to be busy, but that makes it hard to always plan ahead and make the best choices. 

So far I'm under on my 1500 calorie goal for the day. I have a bowl of frozen strawberries topped with plain, fat free greek yogurt waiting for me as a snack. I think I'll split it with dh so I can stay close to my goal but still reward myself for my good choices today. :-)

Wednesday May 4, 2011

Today's Good Things:
Logged & blogged
Good meal choices
Great skype-chat with a good friend
Ended the day decent for calories

Today's Not So Good Things:
No exercise
Still snacking
high carbs

I'm feeling tired, worn out, and hungry tonite. I don't want to eat more, though, trying to keep my calories down. I need to add in a bit more water for the day.

It's been hard to get motivated for exercise. I struggle so much with that, it seems. Wish I could just stay consistent with it. Of course, that would require our life staying consistent. ;-)

Tuesday May 3, 2011 Everything is spinning!

Today's Good Things:
Great decluttering done
Stayed busy all day

Today's Not So Good Things:
no exercise
lots of snacking


Not much to say. I feel like I'm just trying to keep my head above water these days. We're busy here and there and all that running is making it hard to keep track of what goes in my mouth, never mind make time for decent exercise. Yesterday I did play kickball with the children while we helped family move. It was a healthy way to pass some time and I was proud that I made a good choice.

Tomorrow I hope to get out for a walk as well as keep plugging away at getting the house organized and the standardized tests done. Also hoping I stay far away from those ice cream treats in the freezer. Blah.

Wednesday April 27, 2011 Some good-Some bad

Today's Good Things:
Decluttering went well
Extra sleep again this morning
Made good lunch choices for myself and family while out shopping (bananas and cheese sticks instead of junk for them, cheese stick and reheated chili for me when we got home)
Yard work
Evening walk with my sweetie
Met my water goal for the day
Skipped the bun on my cheeseburger at dinner

Today's Not So Good Things:
VERY late start to my day
Too many nachos at dinner
Taste tested ALL the dessert samples that dh brought home  ::blush::

I logged today. It's been a long time since I have, so I'm feeling good that I am getting back on course. I wasn't happy with the results of my log, but I did it.

I also got in some exercise today. I always forget how good it is to get out for that walk. It relieves so much stress, gives me a few minutes distance from those little frustrations that really are just that...little.  I was glad I pushed myself to get outside today instead of continuing to work on my inside projects. Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy, so getting the sun and exercise was very good.

Tomorrow is a new day. Prayerfully, I'll get some good sleep and be able to start fresh and new with bible time and a smile for my sleepy kiddos. Tonite felt so much like summer that everyone is up late!

Tuesday April 26, 2011 Trying

Today's Good Things:
Stayed busy switching clothes for the season, purging, and catching up on laundry
Enoyed some extra sleep this morning
Enjoyed some nice time with my 7yo dd working on chores today
Took a nice drive with dh for date night tonite

Today's Not So Good Things:
No exercise
Didn't eat well
Didn't log
Didn't even work on my water goals

My Reboot isn't going so hot. Yesterday we went for a superfun trip to a butterfly conservatory to celebrate our 4 youngest dd's birthday (which all happen to fall within 4 weeks of each other). That was awesome, but also warranted Road Trip Food. It also didn't afford much exercise.

I keep going back and forth between wanting to get moving, work hard, and conquer some projects and wanting to rest, relax, and enjoy my time off. I feel like I really need to do both right now so I'm not sure what tomorrow will hold. I've got another day of inside work this week but a LOT of outside work, too, along with a day of shopping/errands to fit in somewhere. Somehow I'll need to make exercise and purposeful eating a part of the plan as well. :-S

Another Week Goes By...

...and I haven't written a thing. Blech!

I *should* be journaling. It does help me stay on track and mindful of my goals. Simple as that.

Right now I'm struggling so much to sleep. The breathing/pain issues I've written about already are getting bad. I'm not able to fall asleep well at all. In fact, I've even had to take a half a unisom here and there to get my mind to settle. Then I'm waking up in such discomfort that I'm wandering from chair to couch and back to bed again trying to find a way to eek in a few more hours of sleep. Needless to say, it's taking its toll on me. I'm waking up late, slow moving, and barely keeping up with normal duties.  That has sent me back to my old coping mechanism of completely forgetting or setting aside exercise to make time for the schooling, laundry and meals. It shouldn't be optional, but that's what it's become again.

Sigh. This is my life, so I need to adjust and make a way to deal with it. We've also gotten very busy with the spring season. This week is Spring Break, so we'll be busy with projects. However, I'm also going to use this week to Reboot and get back into the habits of exercise, activity, logging and blogging.

Tomorrow I weigh in.  I haven't been eating horribly, but I also haven't been paying very close attention. Just trying to make the best choices I can. Funds are very tight right now, with work being so slow. That has made the lowish-carb plan hard to follow too. We'll see what the scale has to tell me tomorrow. :-S

Monday Weigh-In

I have been missing. It's quite pathetic. I hav several reasons why, and I'll type them out soon, I hope. One happens to be the level of busy-ness our family has been dealing with lately. ;-)

Today's weigh-in has me down 1.6 pounds. I'm quite shocked, even though that's from 2 weeks worth of work and non-work. I'm so swollen this morning from water retention, I thought I'd show a 10 pound gain!

I got in a Ttapp workout this morning. I can tell I haven't been exercising. :-/

Another Favorite Treat

I've switched over to greek yogurt recently. I was told to watch out because it has more bite than regular plain yogurt. Guess what? They were right, but I really love it! Usually I mix it with some frozen berries.  Tonite, I diced up a freshly peeled, juicy orange and covered it with a generous helping of thick, protein-rich, creamy, plain, fat-free goodness and YUM!  Increasing my protein has been making a difference and the greek yogurt is a great, healthy choice to meet that goal. :-)

Friday April 8, 2011 Spring Has Sprung!

Today's Good Things:
Crazy but fun day!
New ducklings joined the family today! :-)
Good choices eating
1 mile Date Walk with my honey

Today's Not So Good Things:
High on carbs for the day

Today was a great Friday. It started with a visit with my dear friend (who called me "skinny"..heehee!) for lunch. We had a short visit, though.  My dh and oldest dd bought 3 ducklings and we had to get them home under the heat lamp. They are so super cute! Their little peeps are sweet to hear.  After dropping her off at home, we raced to the park for kickball. It was a crazy day!

With all that racing around, I didn't get a ton of exercise. I did have fun at the park with my children. It was so fun to visit with some other homeschooling moms.  I enjoyed a brisk Date Walk with my husband tonite. I grilled up some yummy burgers and chicken for dinner. It was just a lovely day filled with all sorts of signs and promises of spring. The weekend, I'm told, is going to be even warmer. I can't wait!

Thursday April 8, 2011 On A Roll :)

Today's Good Things:
Great morning of choring and lesson work
Super day eating
First day of a new bible study - such a blessing!
BIG answer to prayer for our fam
Fun night out for an ice cream treat.

Today's Not So Good Things:
No exercise
Missed my bible/prayer time
Behind on grading

Another great day. :-)  After dinner, I was still a few hundred calories from my lowest goal (1500). We decided to take the fam to McD's for ice cream. (cheap and low-cal....for ice cream, that is ;-) )  I'm a little high on carbs, but still under 200g for the day.  The scale was friendly this morning, keeping me motivated to stay on track this week.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY! We have a possible visit with friends and then we head to the park for kickball in the afternoon. I'm excited to be out in the sunshine and play with my children. :D

Wednesday April 6, 2011 Score!

Today's Good Things:
Ate Great!!!!
Ended the day at 133g of carbs! Under my daily goal!
Met my water goal
Got in a family walk before dinner
Super busy/productive day with the File Pile
Catchin' up on laundry

Today's Not So Good Things:
Struggled through lesson work with One In Particular
No Morning 15 or Afternoon 15 - I didn't even THINK about it. Weird.

So today was simply amazing afa as eating goes. I was so busy with my hands/brain that I didn't even think about snacking. However, I didn't think about exercising either, so it was a good thing!  I got supper going late tonite (Baked buffalo chicken with skinless thighs, seasons red potatoes and a large salad), so dh took us all out for a family walk while we waited for dinner to cook. That was lovely, even though it was quite cold and windy. When he suggested going I realized that I hadn't even thought of exercise all day and I was SO happy to head out for some fresh air. Love that guy. :-)

I've been making some good progress on the File Pile. It's hard to get at that project and still do the Mom-things that need doing. I'm happy with the results so far, though. I'm having fun strolling down memory lane as I go through all the paperwork of our schooling over the years.

Did I mention that we are on a hiatus from going out to eat? Last week dh cancelled his business cc, which means all Treats and Splurges our O.U.T. until we have enough cash saved up.  I'm excited to see how avoiding the restaurants and take-out food will effect my weight-loss efforts.

Okay, off to enjoy my Yogurt Bowl. (plain greek yogurt with frozen mixed berries, sprinkled with cinnamon. Yum...now that I'm getting used to the flavor of the greek yogurt. ;-) )

Monday April 4, 2011 - Spring is in the Air!

Today's Good Things:
Met my lowish-carb goal
Great day school wise
Great day with chores
Kept up with meals well
House is semi-tidy
Kept Laundry rollin'
Got a good start on this week's project
After dinner mile with dh

Today's Not So Good Things:
Munched on chocolate chips that should have all been given away
Missed my Morning 15
Rainy/snowy so missed my Afternoon 15
Struggling with a tmi issue that also prevented me from too much activity

I had a surprisingly great Monday! That rarely happens here and I'm delighted.

Food wise I did really well, even with my afternoon snack with dh and a yummy dessert of fat free pudding that my dd made for us to share. I ended the day with 155 grams of carbs. I'm pleased, since my goal is to get as close to 150 as possible each day. Had I skipped those treats, I'd have been under my goal. Cool seeing that it's doable.

Also got in a 1 mile quick walk with dh before he headed out for an evening meeting. That does us so much good. I love having a little escape like that. Good for body, soul, and heart.

I made some good headway on the File Pile today. Dd planted her seedlings and the girlies started some flower seeds. The smell of that dirt was invigorating! Oh, I love that spring is in the air. Even though it snowed all morning, it melted by afternoon and I can still see the GRASS! Just the smell of the rain, mud, and warmth makes me want to MOVE and smile.

Monday Weigh-In

Finally.

Noticed how I've been avoiding this for the past 2 weeks? I should've recorded the numbers, even though they weren't pleasant. I always gave myself an excuse....

....there's no way I gained 3 pounds in a week! That must be water...
....dumb scale won't give me a consistent reading....
....well, of course it says that, I've not been working hard...

blah, blah, blah!

The last two weeks have been confusing with the scale. However, it was easy to see that my lack of diligence and discipline was not getting it moving in the right direction.

After working hard all last week, though, I'm pleased to see that I'm down nearly a pound from my last recorded weight! Hooray!!! 

That right there is such great motivation. I'm excited to start the new week with new energy!

Friday April 1, 2011 Hangin' In

Today's Good Things:
Nor'Easter - Really, it was good b/c it meant that dh worked from home :D
Great Friday family day
Got in some chapters in a new book
Did well with calories

Today's Not So Good Things:
No exercise

Even with having a treat of pizza for lunch, I'm still able to enjoy a yummy snack of greek yogurt, frozen fruit and a couple slices of turkey breast before bed. Awesome!  I really am getting the hang of this. ;-)

Oh, I was able to see the number on the scale I saw a couple of weeks ago. I'm starting to feel hopeful for Monday's weigh-in. I'm choosing not to beat myself up for taking two weeks to get back to where I was. :-/

Wednesday March 30, 2011 Feeling Springy

Today's Good Things:
A bit of extra sleep this morning
On track with lessons and chores
I did great with food choices/calories today
Gorgeous weather got me out for my afternoon mile AND another family mile after dinner :-)
Enjoyed using my new washer..yay!
Watched a movie all to myself. That was lovely.

Today's Not So Good Things:
My sweet boy's pet gerbil was found "expired" this morning. Funeral was held after lunch. ;-)
Afternoon snack was too carb-y
Missed my Morning 15
Staying up too late to get this in!

It was simply a lovely day.  (well, not counting the sad details of the burial ;-) ) The weather had that hint of warmth to it. The sun was shining down and in and filling up my mind with thoughts of clean windows and walls and basements and yard. Ahhhh...I can still smell the freshness. It won't last long, as I hear tell we are to have 6-12 inches arriving by Friday. Give thanks in all things, right? Right. :-)

I'm finally finding the groove again of paying attention and caring about how I eat during the day. Two days in a row I took the time to make my own lunch rather than gobble down what was easy at the table.

I did end up feeling a little edgy by the end of the day. I think I was just getting to that spot in the week where I needed a little time to myself to regroup and relax.  I seem to need that alone time every so often to refresh my mind and remotivate my brain.

Tomorrow is Thursday which is our wrap up day for the week. I'm so grateful! I admit, I am the one who is counting down the days until spring break. I am the one who is longing for the freedom of no books, tests, and assignements. I am the one who is wishing it all away instead of enjoying and embracing the moment as I should. Serves me right to have winter blast me yet again. I will be grateful and I will rejoice in the challenges of our days. I wonder how the family would feel about turning this next snow into a Farewell To Winter Party? That sure would turn the frowns around! :-)

Tuesday March 29, 2011 Date Night

Today's Good Things:
Fair day with lessonwork
Fair day on calories (minus the choc. chips...grrr.)
Afternoon and evening walk today - 2.5 miles total
Amazing Date Night

Today's Not So Good Things:
Those blasted choc. chips
Over on my eat to lose goal of 1500 cal
Missed my morning 15
Up with sick baby for a couple hours during the night - yawn

Today was a good day in my thinking. I was thoughtful about my food choices. I passed on the high carb lunch and was able to pull together a nice salad with some leftover lentils. That was a good save since I mindlessly nibbled on too many chocolate chips that are meant for rewards for the *children*...ahem.

What topped off my day, however, was the wonderful way my children blessed me tonite. Tuesday night is our regular "date night". Typically we order pizza for an easy dinner and clean up and send the children to bed early to read while my husband and I enjoy some time alone. Well, today my oldest daughter got the idea to have a "restaurant dinner" at home for the two of us. She and her sibs worked all day to decorate and set up a Table for Two in our mudroom/pantry. We were sent off to dress up fancy for our romantic dinner. What a precious night! Both my husband and I were giddy with excitement and bursting with joy to see our children desire such a blessing for us. It's been a tough couple of weeks and this was an unexpected and much cherished gift.

So, I enjoyed the extra calories. Each one helped to create a memory I will treasure forever. :-)

Don't Call Me Sugar! Part 1 - Intro

Our family has been making changes over the years to move to a whole foods diet. As we learned the benefits of eating whole grains and unprocessed foods, we thought we were doing pretty well. However, a serious health issue brought us to our knees and searching for more details on how the foods choices were were making may be harming us.

Our oldest daughter has been diagnosed with childhood epilepsy. That is scary in and of itself, but due to her condition and a week of returning night seizures several years ago, we took the advice of some experienced friends and decided to work hard at eliminating all sugar from our diet as much as we possibly could.

After reading a book, Get the Sugar Out by Anne Louise Gittleman, it was all I could do to keep myself from thinking that every food held poison that would destroy us!! Once I got over the initial extremism that comes when I learn new things, I was able to begin making wise and better choices for our family.

Sugar is an addictive food, that is certain. Sugar is harmful, there is no argument. Sugar is also confusing and difficult to track since it can be hidden, transformed, and deceptively labeled. In a culture such as ours, it is vital that we understand the effects this substance has on our bodies, emotions, and habits.  Sugar is not evil, in and of itself, just as money is not evil, in and of itself. However, just as we are warned that money is not to be our master, we would be wise to have the same awareness and cautions with the beloved sweeteners that make this world go 'round.

I know that our society has overwhelmed us with sugar and sugar products to an insane excess, but I'm confident that our flesh has battled this indulgence from early times. The Lord created sweetness for us to enjoy, "My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste" Prov. 24:13.  He even uses our delight of His natural creation to draw us closer to His own commands, "How sweet are Your words to my taste ! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103.  As is our (sinful) nature, we have found a way to distort the good gifts the Lord has given us to indulge our flesh.  So much so that the Lord has to caution us as he gives us his gifts, "Have you found honey ? Eat only what you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it. " Prov. 25:16; "It is not good to eat much honey, Nor is it glory to search out one's own glory." Prov. 25:27

In this series of journal entries, I plan to share the resources that I've learned from as I've been making changes for myself and my family. I will post some neat lists and videos that bring to life the reality of how our bodies are affected by our daily choices.  I'll share the simple and not-so-simple ways I've been working to eliminate sugar from our diet and our desires. I hope to record the great ways our health has improved due to the nutritional changes we are making.

I'd like to devote a great amount of time to this, but in all practicality, I'm not able to put this in the Top Ten of Things I Must Do In A Day.  So, bear with me as I work to record my own journey and encourage any others who may be following along.

Until then, here is a fantastic video from a new blog that I've just started reading. It's a far better series on sugar than I could ever hope to produce. Give it a read and feel free to leave some comments here for discussion as you do. I haven't read it thoroughly, so I'm linking to it for source purposes right now. Though, it does look promising as far as helpful information goes. :)