Eating to feel better

Another laaaaaazy Saturday, and another day to munch on food when I'm bored. Aack! I did ruin the powdered donuts that I ate TWO servings of. After the second serving and thinking "hmm, maybe another half serving won't be TOO bad..." I jumped up and filled the bag with water. Evil donuts.

So I actually enjoyed today's chapter. The past ones have been...ok, but I've just been like "whatev." Today the book talked about eating to feel better and learning the difference between eating when your body needs fuel and eating when you need "an emotional fix." It talked specifically of being tired...which is one I struggle with often.

"Instead of immediately reaching for food when you're feeling tired, do something else first and see if it takes care of the problem." It then lists 3 things you can try before you eat you tiredness.
1)Move your body
"Physical activity will usually revive you better than lying on the couch with chips and a soda. Also, drink more water or other fluids b/c being dehydrated can add to your fatigue."
2)Get some rest.
"Take a nap....Force yourself to rest when you need it."
3)Distract yourself
"Do something that will take your mind off how you feel...Make sure you choose a diversion that fills your mind, not empties it. Watching TV or playing computer games will often make you feel dull rather than revived."

I really liked the advice they gave. It's so true that when I am tired and I just dick around on the computer while watching TV I feel even more blah than if I actually DID something...even something as simple as reading a book. Isn't that the reason I got rid of cable? I love that it condones naps. Earlier in the chapter it said to take a break and sip hot tea or a diet soda. These are good tips and I think they'll actually help me.

I really would like to start getting out of the house and taking a walk with my ipod and a book on laaaaaaazy Saturdays. Just so I still get out of bed and feel productive. Lazy Saturdays are not a bad thing, but I could spend them better :)

I read the second half of the faith chapter. It's familiar but there always seems something new that pops out. Several times the writer emphasized that the people who had faith did not fear the opposition. What is my opposition? The unknown, what other people think, failure...Wow what an unimpressive list. There are so many blessings that I have in my life in addition to the fact that I have a faithful God who will stand by me daily. What is there to fear? I'm becoming more and more sure of what I hope for, and certain of what I do not see. It's hard, and frustrating, but I won't be afraid.

Ok, off to work out. Sigh. I have to do it.

food is my best friend

Today the book talked about how food is always there when we need it. It comforts us when we're sad, angry, bored, anxious, happy, etc. When we don't have (or feel as if we have don't have) anywhere or anyone else to turn to, we turn to food and it's always there. The book tells us to be aware of those moments when we let food "be there" for us. Are we eating snacks at the party to help us feel "safe" from people we don't know? Are we eating brownies b/c we're bored? Be aware and don't let food become your best friend. You tend to become like the people you hang out with the most ;)

I'm having game nite tonight so I'm rushing off to exercise and clean my apartment!

ARgh!

I soooo don't want to work out this morning. I wanted to go in early to work to get stuff done. But, my health is more important than an extra hour at work. I am going to be committed to working out today even if it means I don't get that extra hour. And if I want it, I need to be better at time management in the mornings :)

Food is an instant fix

It's so hard to concentrate on reading this morning when there are so many other things on my mind! Work, friendships, eating right, exercising. Ah. But I think I can get my focus back temporarily to get through this :) I'm actually doing pretty well, just busy as a bee! There's a lot of new stuff that I'm doing at work and I'm loving it, but I'm also try to get it all done successfully and consistently. Getting yourself on a new schedule is hard! But I know I can do it and I know ultimately it's the best for the kiddos. OK, see I just spent about 5 more minute daydreaming about work. Back to the book!

Today the book talked about using food as a fix. It talked about using it when you're bored, restless, need to fill up some empty time, or procrastinating. "Suppose you need to study for a test, clean the house, or mow the lawn. You simply convince yourself that if you eat something first, you'll be able to tackle it more easily." This whole chapter is SO TRUE for me. I'm a wandering eater! I eat when I'm bored, restless, or don't want to do something. I eat to avoid. I need to remember that either I do the task with extra poundage, or I do it without stuffing my face.

Hebrews 11--the first half! Ah the faith chapter. It's a pretty inspiring one I suppose. It kicks off with my favorite verse: now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I find that my faith is nothing compared to the people that are written about in this chapter, but it is encouraging to see my faith grow little by little each day. The more and more I see God changing and doing things, the more my faith grows. If he can make a difference here, I know I can trust him here--kinda thing.

Weigh In

So my weight jumped up back to 222ish last week. And, I was nervous for this weigh in. This week I've been exercising, but I have been eating foolishly. I mean, just awfully. but my weight this Monday is....219.6. I've lost about 2.4 lbs, which is awesome I'm happy. I'm back in the teens and will be working my way DOWN from there from now on :) My goal is to be in the single digits after this month.

Jan 4th (start day) 246.6
Jan 11th (1st WI) 7.2 lost, 239.4
Jan 18th (2nd WI)2 lost, 237.4
Jan 25th (3rd WI) 1 lost, 236.4
Feb 1st (4th WI) 3.2 lost, 233.2
Feb 8th (5th WI) 4 lost, 229.2
Feb 15th (6th WI) 1 lost, 228.2
Feb 22nd (7th WI) 1.8 lost, 226.4
Mar 1st (8th WI) 5 lost, 221.4
Mar 8th (9th WI) missed...still 221.4
Mar 15th (10th WI) 4 lost, 217.4
Mar 22nd (11th WI) 3.4 gained, 220.8
Mar 29th (12th WI) 1.2 gained, 222
April 5th (13 WI) 2.4 lost, 219.6

What is emotional eating?

I'm on day 51 of the book! I've officially completed 50 days :) And like the book says, I've come this far, so I'm going to keep going. Today is my official "restart" for eating healthy and getting back on track. I've decided that I'm literally going to start tracking my food again, and that I'm going to do Jillian's 20 minute work out and 40 minutes of DDR. We'll see how that goes eh? If it doesn't go well I'll rework it. I just want to be exercising every day consistently for at least 45 minutes.

In this chapter the author is trying to get us to distinguish whether we're eating because we're hungry or because we're angry, sad, bored, etc. She says that we need to ask the question "is this hunger or the desire to eat?" I've found that this past month being off my plan because of sickness and then trying to adjust afterwards has been really hard. I've had less self control, and WAAAAAAAAY more moments of eating out of desire and not hunger. I've also chosen to eat worse things like cupcakes, candy, hot dogs, sugary cereal.

It'll be interesting to see how I get back on track. I'm kinda nervous but I know I've done it before so what's to be nervous about right? I love that I'm a size 16, but I don't want to stay that size forever :) I love that I've lost weight and look better, but I want to continue the journey. I want a toned, lean, curvy, healthy body :) So, I gotta keep moving and making the effort.

Hebrews 10 is pretty powerful. It sets up this background about how the sacrifices offering in the OT were not good enough. That they couldn't cover sins for eternity...they were imperfect in the fact that you had to continue to offer blood again and again. But Jesus, was the perfect sacrifice, "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (v 14). One sacrifice, one time, and we are perfect forever. And I love the distinction between made perfect forever and the fact that we are "being made holy." We are in the process of becoming holy. We are not on our own, exactly who we're supposed to be, but God in his faithfulness has still saved us and deemed us perfect in his eyes.

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." vs 22-24

I love that he wants us to draw near, and that he wants us to be free of guilty and to be clean. I this whole chapter that just shows his relationship to us...all we have to do is have faith and believe, and he will do the rest. "He who promised is faithful."

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." v 39

This is one of my favorite verses in Hebrews. I repeated this to myself again and again when I was sick. We don't have to shrink back, we don't have to fear, because we have the most holy and amazing God on our side. We won't be destroyed. And I like how it doesn't say "but of those who fight and conquer." It's pure belief in dependence on a faithful, good God. And I know for myself, the idea that there's nothing that I can do, nothing that I can contribute except full confidence in an invisible God is kinda...scary and uncertain and...foolish. But I've seen and experienced waaaaaaayyyyy too much when it come to his goodness and faithfulness to stop believing now.

God is good.