Day 1: Vice-Busting

January 29, 2013

Day 1

Add Water: My first action - one that will develop into a healthy habit and will change my life dramatically over time is making water an important part of my everyday life.

Substituting water for high-calorie liquids will result in lower calories, adequate hydration, optimal body functions, and better focusing. I'll replace toxins with clean fluids, sluggishness with more engery, expensive drinks with free water. My time buying these drinks will be better spent elsewhere.

Daily Scripture Affirmation:
God’s unfailing love for me never ends. 
"The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease." Lamentations 3:22

I NEED to hear words affirming the Lord's love for me right now. I am struggling so much with my emotions of failure and inadequacy. I daily battle thoughts that I am not good enough, my anger has made me unacceptable and unlovable. When I am hurting, when I am feeling this way, I don't even think. I just reach for a food that makes me feel safe or happy, or in control. I choose foods that I have already determined to avoid simply because it feels good to have that control over *something* when everything else is out of control. When I feel unloved....when I feel I am unacceptable...I don't care if I'm hurting myself. I'm already unloved, so why does it matter? Lord, your unfailing love for me never ends. Even when I'm hurt, even when I've hurt another, even when I sin the same sin I just sinned....your love never ends and your mercies never cease. Help me be loved by you rather than myself.  

I don't have many issues with high-calorie drinks. I've actually grown to the point where I really detest drinking calories, so this isn't an obvious vice for me. However, there are beverages I prefer over water, so I've most definitely grown slack in my diligence to feed my body well. I've chosen to fill up on decaf, and now, caffeinated coffee to push myself through my sleep-deprived days. I used to have a rule of 2 glasses of water for every cup of coffee, but I've also become lazy with following that rule. Starting again with a simple challenge of adding water to my day is actually helpful. It seems too easy and I feel like a horse restless to begin a race, but knowing that I'm doing just one simple thing differently and that it will make a positive difference...well, that feels pretty good. I can't do many big things right now, so one small thing that I can actually manage to include in my little bit overwhelmed life is a great motivator.

I am armed with my 20 oz water bottle. I've drunk one so far today as well as an 8oz glass of water at breakfast. I also had at least 2 cups of caffeinated coffee at breakfast.  I'm feeling good about my progress and looking forward to my cup of decaf coffee this afternoon. :)  However, I'm considering the idea that each cup of caffeine subtracts 20 oz of water so I make sure to get enough in.

Afternoon Entry:

I wanted to choose a simple thing to do to work on some marriage changes I'm learning about and record that each day. I've been challenged in my reading of the story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and her hair. What physical ways am I pouring myself out of serve my husband? What physical needs does he have that I can meet? Right now, the thing I keep coming back to is a neck rub after a long day of sitting at a desk, staring at a computer screen. Something that would enable him to relax and unwind as well as release some tension. I'm going to attempt to make that a part of my daily add-on while I work on this vice-busting.

Evening Entry:

Got in 100oz of water today plus 2 cups of caf and a pot of decaf coffee.
20 min cardio and 1 full circuit on the weight machines tonight as orientation. I'm not as wimpy as I thought I was. ;)
Enjoyed some birthday cake this evening but WOW! way too much sugar for me.
I want to finish tracking my food for the day but I don't have the patience to enter the recipes in. Thinking I'm under today with the workout.

I feel great. On the wat there I was a stressed out, talking a mile-a-minute mess. On the way home I was calm, tired, but relaxed. Like the stress had melted away. Boy, did I need that.

Got in a short neck massage for my husband tonight too.