Tuesday January 24, 2012

Today's Good Things:
Bible time & journal
Breakfast *with* the children including bible reading
Lunch *with* the children, including bible reading
School finished with relatively good attitudes
10 min school break spent dancing with my girlies - couldn't resist once I put the Doo-Wop music on ;)
Pushed myself through morning work as well as making dinner, clean up and bath time

Today's Not So Good Things:
Felt horrible. Heartburn, headache, and nausea returned
No exercise
SOOO tired.  I could NOT get myself to wake up this morning. Even went back to bed after getting my husband his lunch together and out the door this morning.
Stayed up too late last night (obviously)

Today's Food Choices:
Breakfast: 1.5 pieces ww toast with pb, vanilla caramel tea, water
Snack: cheese stick, 30 Cheez Itz
Lunch: 1 cup leftover skillet supper, carrot sticks, water, 1 hm oatmeal/pb/choc chip cookie
Snack: 3 pb sandwich crackers, 1 snack size bag of chips with onion dip
Dinner: 1 baked chicken thigh, 1 cup(ish) homemade oven fries w/ ketchup, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, water, 1 cookie
Snack: Planning my 3/4 cup ff plain greek yogurt with 1/2 cup frozen fruit & chamomile tea (I need to be sleepy at the right time)

Today was hard to push through while feeling crummy, but I did it. I had to battle some major crabbiness and irritability.  But, the children were patient with me, I pushed to stay vertical, and we amazingly had our lesson work done before sewing lessons this afternoon. Even our history read aloud which we usually bring with us.  It was so nice to sit and read to *myself* while the children played during my oldest's lesson.  Helped my headache, for sure.

Speaking of my oldest, she has taken over my obsession with All Things Healthy.  Last year, when I first started my work on getting healthier and losing weight, she pretty much thought I had gone off the deep end.  She often grumped about my efforts to get the family exercise in each morning. She rolled her eyes when I fussed about choosing healthy oils over unhealthy b/c she didn't like the taste.  Among other things, she was definitely not on board with my newfound passions. ;)

In the last few months, however, I've seen a major transformation in her.  Not only has she decided to make healthy eating and exercise a priority in her day, she's now taken on the role of Obsessor in the family.  I'm delighted to see her make wise choices with her portions and paying attention to the nutrients and calories on her plate. It's a joy to see her making choices based on what is best instead of just what tastes good. I love seeing her "save" her choices for the best treat of the day or hold off on some things knowing she has a plan to splurge a bit later.  I confess, that some things are a little over the top and we are working on creating balance and grace as she works with others. But, I think that's the nature of being in the midst of adolescence and all the extremes that go with it.  She's seen several pounds come off and her clothes fitting her better.  I'm so happy for her and thankful to the Lord. She has struggled with self-control, especially with food, her whole life.  I've prayed and worked with her on these issues. It was sometimes a great struggle for all of us.  But, now I am seeing the fruit of the Lord working in her life.  Her growth in her love for His word, prayer, and desire to please Him is effecting so many areas of her life, including her health. What a blessing!!

So, that was a long way to get to this:  Tonight, on our way home from sewing, I was SO ready to just pull into McD's and grab something quick to serve the children for dinner so bedtime would come sooner. As I thought about it, I *knew* my sweet girl would NEVER allow that. ;)  So, I switched my plan to Subway, in hopes I could get away with a healthier choice.  When I mentioned the idea to my daughter, she immediately said, "Aw. But we have so much good food at home." And she is right.  Not only did we have better choices at home, but I have already spent my limit and should not have even been considering the option of eating out.  I was just SO tired and worn out, I wanted to take the easy way.  I'm so thankful for her spirit, her passion for what is *right*, the accountability she provides for me, and tonight...most importantly, her HELP. :)  When we got home she and I worked to get the chicken and fries in the oven and she tended it while I put my feet up.  Truly, children are a blessing from the Lord.

I'm sure I scare some away with the length of my posts. It's okay. As I've said before, I really do journal this out for my own benefit.  I am thankful for those who read and leave encouraging and helpful notes.  But, I know that unless I am doing this to challenge myself, record my struggles and victories, keep track of what I am learning, if I do that for myself, I *will* keep going.  I will find the patterns, the sins, the weaknesses, and the right things I am doing in this journey.  So, if all this print makes your eyes glaze over, that's okay with me. But I am thankful for you stopping by and pray that in my yammerings, you may find a bit of blessing from time to time.

Also wanted to say that I am still having a hard time posting comments on some blogs from time to time.  Grace, in case you stop in here at all, I wanted to say you are doing a great job and to keep up the good work.  You're working to make the best choices you can in the flucuations that life brings our way. If we aren't learning to do good things in all seasons, then we really aren't learning at all. Blessings to you and everyone else as you work on your goals this week.  Great work on the scales moving in the right direction all!