Always growing

I think we can never get too old to stop growing.  I know that I always strive to keep learning and striving to be better than I was yesterday.  That is one reason that I love to read and I love to read books on spiritual growth.

I finished my book "Life Interrupted" by Priscilla Shirer - awesome and amazing book.  It is about Jonah and his life in the belly of the whale.  I have always loved this story about Jonah but I have never really dug into the story.  This book does that and it is amazing look into this story.  It is a great read ....  Priscilla is a great writer.  I highly recommend this book. 

The book is about life's interruptions - good or bad.  We all have them.  They're aggravating and sometimes infuriating.  But how we handle interruptions actually tells us more about ourselves.  We, like Jonah, tend to run from interruptions.  When major pains and minor problems cause a hiccup in our carefully calculated plans and goals we head in the opposite direction. 

I wish I could put everything I learned about after reading this book, but I would be writing a new book.  Add it to your must read list ....

Now .. onto my next book.  I didn't think I could top the book I just read but I have done just that ...  "The Best Yes" by Lysa Terkeurst.  Just started it last night but I can't seem to put it down.  OMG!!  Powerful book!! 

"Are you living with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule and aching with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul?"

The first thing that hits me and it is in big letter so I don't miss it.  We must not confuse the command to love with the disease to please.  OMG - this is so me!!  I am always doing this ... Are you?    

If we are to be Best Yes Girls, we have to long for unbroken companionship with God.  The one who obeys God's instruction for today will develop a keen awareness of His direction for tomorrow.  

I am going to be sharing some of the things I am learning as I read through this book.  I am also going to do the Bible Study that goes with it.  I will do it after I get finished reading the book.  I hope in my sharing what I learn and my stories ... I can help someone else.   

July 6

Another holiday has come and gone.  I like the 4th of July is such a fun holiday.  I like celebrating the birth of America.  With all the wonderful cook out food - fireworks and of course spending time with family.  This was a rainy year but we still made the most of the day. 

With being on a low carb diet it can be hard to eat how you should at cook-outs, especially if you go to someone else house.  I am learning that it doesn't have to be that hard.  If you are too shy to ask what they are having to eat or if you can bring something; then you just have to do the best you can.  Eat a burger and/or hotdog without the bun.  I have gotten to where I just take me a small bowl with a salad in it.  I just go ahead and prepare it with the dressing on the side.  I don't make a big deal about eating it.  I just get a plate and get a burger and/or hotdog and then have my salad.  I have actually gotten to taking me a salad just about anywhere I go, this way I am sure I always have something to eat. 

Eating Low Carb can be challenging at times but it doesn't have to be.  It has it's moments when it can be hard, but if you slip then you just pick yourself back up and get back on plan.   After awhile it does get easier, especially when you put your mind to doing this for life.  It just isn't a fad diet ... it is for life. 

In my lifestyle of eating low carb I have decided to start sharing some of my recipes.  I have been searching all over for different ones.  I am especially going to post the ones that I love the most ... I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do.  I am not an expert on Low Carb eating but I finding my way.   I hope that while finding my way I can help someone else find their way. 

Here's to finding out way through Low Carb eating .... as a way of life.

It is about the journey

I am so excited and proud of myself.  I am not one that likes to toot my own horn.  In fact, if you know me at all you know that I don't like to brag on me.  This just isn't me.  However, I think it is good from time to time to toot away.  I am giving myself permission to pat myself on the back. 

I know that I am not where I want to be yet, but I know for sure that I am on the right path.  For once in my life and I am on the path to better health and fitness.   I have started this journey so many times to just give up and quit.  Especially when things got tough or the scale didn't seem to move fast enough for me.  Then there are the times that it got stuck or went upwards.  I would just throw in the towel and my hands and quit.  NOT THIS TIME!!!

When I first started doing any exercises at all, I could barely do 5 girl push ups.  Last night I did two sets of 25 push ups.  Still doing the girl ones but that is ok too.  I did two sets of 50 sit ups - that is 100 sit ups - that is awesome!!!  I also did - two sets of 20 jump squats, 15 squats, and 20 lunges.   After I got through last night I just sat and cried.  Not because of the pain from pushing through but for the progress that I have made in the journey.  I am proud of myself!!! 

I am down 22 pounds and really close to being down another 2 sizes.  I am going to take my measurements this weekend and see how many inches I have lost.  I did a sneak peak a week ago and I have lost 4 1/2 inches in my waist. 

I know what people mean about it isnt' about the number on the scale.  Because sometimes it will stay the same or it will go up and down, but what matters is how you feel in your clothes and about yourself.  It really is about the journey ..... about pushing yourself to do one more push up or sit up or making the right food choice at that meal.  Each time you so "NO" to something bad to eat or make the right food choice for your meals that is an accomplishments. 

It is about taking that first step to just get started.  If you can only do one sit-up or one push up - then do that one and be excited.  Then the next time add another to it.  Or take that first step to eat healthy - can't let go of everyone at one time.  Then take that first step to cut out one thing at a time and take one meal at a time.  Set your goals and keep taking the steps on that path towards your goals.  If I can do this ... so can you. 

May 12

I always have good intentions on writing more on my blog.  I get busy and think I will do it tomorrow and before I know it a few weeks have passed. 

I have been so busy for the month of April and so far into May.  This is always my busy time of year.  I am the manager of the concession stand at the ball fields and this is the busiest time.  I try to find someone to work so I don't have to but then it never works out that way. 

On top of being the manager of the concession stand I am also the President of our local recreation.  I am loving it but it is keeping me busy too.  I am sure that I need to delegate more, but I have such a hard time doing it.  I am going to have to learn to do this because if I don't I am going to get burned out really quickly.   I believe though that this is where God has me and He gives me the grace to do the job.  Thank goodness for His grace. 

I am still doing well with my journey of losing weight.  I am now down 21 pounds!!  I am down 4 sizes since last year.  This is a wonderful thing BUT this means I don't have any clothes to wear this summer.   I am so excited!! I am loving where I am headed.  I am exercising and loving it.  I have never been that way before.  Making the right food choices are getting easier.  There are time it is still hard but it does seems to be a little easier. 

I am going to get a new picture taken and I will post a before and new picture.  I will try to make sure it isn't a month ..... 

Still learning ....

I don't think on this journey I will ever NOT be learning something.  Should we ever stop learning?  I don't think so.  Why would you? 

I really thought I was doing good on my low/no carb eating plan.  BUT I have been slipping and it was all because I was slipping on reading labels.  I know that I have to read labels but I have been slipping on some of them.  So, when I was at the store yesterday I made sure I read ALL labels, even though I might had already read it on that product.  Well .... I found out yesterday that I have been eating things that are NOT within my low/no carb guide.  A couple of them was way off.  So, back to making sure that I read labels so that I can stay within my range. 

When reading labels it amazes me at the difference between - regular, light, no sugar, reduced fat and fat free.  No, I am not an expert, by no means; however, it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out.   For example - I was reading the label on JIF peanut butter.  I grabbed a jar without really looking what it said - (I read carbs) well this one jar had a large amount of carbs.  I was upset because I had been eating a very small amount but it was still way out of line for me.  Well, I turned it over and noticed that it said Reduced Fat.  So, I compared it to regular peanut butter.  There was a really large difference.  If you are counting carbs it is so much better to NOT eat reduced fat or fat free. 

 I wonder why we think that just because a label says reduced fat or fat free that we can consume it and a lot of time in large amounts.  No wonder I gained weight over the years.  I really thought this was the way to go.  However, they add so many other ingredients to make it taste good that it is going the other way. 

This was a hugh lesson for me.  I know that I have to take the time to read labels.  Don't just assume that it will be ok - sometimes it is and a lot of times it is not.  This lifestyle change is something that I really can't let my guard down ...  I have to pay attention to each thing that goes in my mouth.  

On this journey of losing weight and getting healthy I am still learning ....

Low/No Carb

I use to think that it was impossible to eat low/no carb.  When I did this eating plan before I got so bored with the few things that I was eating.  So, I ended up quitting it.  As I have stated before I have went back to eating low/no carbs a few weeks ago.  I am being more creative in my meals and they are so good.  Trying new foods that I have never tried before and really liking them.  The other night I cooked Asparagus and it was good.  It is something that I will definitely cook again and it is on the NO carb list - I can have as much as I want to eat.  That is always a good thing.  

Something I have found that I am really liking and I can make it under my 5mg of carbs so I don't have to count them.  It is pizzas made on the low carb wraps.  Make sure they are the Carb Balance - whole wheat ones - they are 3 net carbs per one.  You can put almost anything on these pizzas.  I have even make grilled ham & cheese.   Here is a picture of my lunch from today - less than 5 net carbs.  Grilled cheese on low carb wraps with sliced tomatoes & crumbled up bacon.  I also have a small amount of Jicama as my fries.  They are really good and as long as you eat less than a cup it is NO carbs.  I am stuffed!!!! (The ketchup is Reduced Sugar 1g carbs for 1 Tbsp)

Here is another pizza that my daughter and I made .... it has jar marinara sauce, cheese, scrambled hamburger meat and sliced tomatoes.  Cook in the oven on 450 until lightly brown and bubbly.  Enjoy!!

This is a lifestyle change for me.  I am so enjoying discovering new foods.  It isn't always easy but it is so worth it.  It is worth how much better I am feeling and watching the pounds come off.  I am down 14 pounds!!!  And the journey continues ....

Wed. March 11th

It is funny how some things in life can throw you off and make you have a really bad day.  It is our choice to how we want to let circumstances control our attitude.   But I decided today that I wasn't going to let things make me have a bad day ... NOT today!!

First, one of the kids on my bus decided he wanted to poke a hole in my brand new bus seats.  I was furious.  I really don't understand what makes kids or people in general want to destroy someone else's property.  Why? 

Then I realized that I had put a bag of dirty towels, my nephews, in the garbage can at the road.  I really did think it was a bag of trash.  Thank Jesus the trash people had not ran yet.  So, I went to the road and pulled them out. Of course, my neighbor happened to see me.  I bet I looked funny pulling a big bag of garbage from the can.  He didn't know that it was a bag of towels. 

On my way the doctor, I dropped my keys in the mud and my pocket book in a water puddle when I was getting out.  It was then that I decided how I was going to handle my day.  Before I would have gotten so mad at all that was going on.  However, today I decided to tell the Devil ... nice try, but it isn't  going to work on me. 

I have to say ... it worked!!!  I had a great report from the doctor.  Everything checked out!!  The best part of my visit with my doctor - I HAVE LOST 12 POUNDS!!!!  That is so exciting!!  I have tried so many times to lose weight and this has been a very long journey.  I know this may not sound like a lot to some people but every pound is exciting. 

Even better than the pounds gone is the way that I feel.  I am feeling SO GREAT!!!  I have a lot more energy than before.  My clothes are loose on me.  I just feel GOOD!!! My daughter told me the other day that I just look better.  I knew what she meant.  Fighting with thyroid issues you fight so many different things every single day - depression, low energy, irritability and the list goes on and on.  I haven't been feeling these in the past week or two.  It is all because I am eating a low carb diet.  I / my body just cant' handle the effects of carbs.  It isn't easy to eat as low as you can with carbs, but it is so worth it at the moment.  Thank you Jesus for helping me do this ....  I know that I CAN NOT do it without His help. 

You just have to start .... one bite at a time.  Make the decision that you are tired of being the say old way. It just takes that one step ... and then another ... and then another.  Whatever you do ... DO NOT QUIT!!!!