Accountability

So here I am, only five-six pounds lighter than when I started the "challenge".  Disgusted and extremely frustrated with myself, I'm feeling a bit stuck and in desperate need of a change.  72 pounds and it seems I can't lose an ounce more. The ball and chain of the scales feels tied to the scales heavy today.

I have added a third day of weight training/circuit class and I'm hoping to up my cardio.  Possibly food intake is the issue this time?  Regardless, I'm quite frustrated.  Yet, another goal passed unmet.  I was "supposed" to be below 200 pounds as of the 20th.  I'm 210.5 on one scale and 214 on another.  Maybe that's an issue in itself that I have two scales?????   

Also I just gotta get it out there.  I'm feeling a bit jealous of people going on vacation.  Don't think the fam and I are going  to have that opportunity this year.  Finances are a bit tight.  The house purchase still hasn't been completed and I'm just plain old grumpy.  Think I'm gonna go for a run and get my sweat on at a 9 o'clock open gym time.  Have a great holiday weekend.

MIA from the "Challenge"

I've been participating in the "Ready for Summer Challenge" and I haven't reported my progress or set new goals in two weeks.  I'm not quite as "ready" as I would like to be, but am glad to have taken the challenge.  I'm hoping that there will be another one soon to keep my motivated.  I've stumbled across some really neat blogs.  It's been a good opportunity/experience.

So here it is May 20th.  I'm almost finished with week 8 of the challenge.  I have two more weeks to go and am no where near the weight loss goal I originally set for myself.  I had hoped to lose 18 pounds.  I started the challenge at 220 and today the scales said 214.5.  Sheesh....not too good, huh?  I have had some non-scale victories though and am feeling more toned and fit.  I've become aware of some things in the last few weeks and hope to finish strong!

I will finish on Thursday and then I'll post my progress/new goals.  Just wanted to let anyone reading know...I'm still here ;-)

The Amazing Race

I'm not talking about the reality show.  I'm talking about the 5K that I participated in yesterday.  It was amazing for many reasons.  It was a race celebrating adoption.  I am so grateful that my family was blessed to foster 27 children in 8+ years with Bethany Christian Services.  This was a learning experience that I value as a person, Christian, wife and mother.  My youngest brother Tyler was adopted on his first birthday.  It's been a difficult journey for him and there might be times that he wishes his life had turned out differently (many 19 year olds do), but I do think overall he's very glad to have been adopted into the Morgan family.  Yesterday was also powerful for me as I contemplated, meditated upon the promise and joy of having been adopted into the family of God.  Jew and Gentile alike have a place in His heart.  Forever I will be in awe of His grace to me.

There was another reason that yesterday was so special.  As my mother, husband and some of the dearest friends a gal can have waited at the finish line for me to cross I also knew that somewhere on that course was my sister-in-law, Nathalie, my oldest brother, Greg, my father, and my three oldest children.  How is it that I could be so blessed?  Although I did not make my personal goal of 38 minutes I did beat the time from my first race in February.  I completed my 5K in 40 minutes 32 seconds.  This picture is of me running back to get Jesse and JoyAnn as they finished the race with their Uncle Greg in an hour!!!

Joseph and my Dad were the VERY last people to cross the line.  The clock had already been stopped and awards were being given.  However, it didn't matter to me.  I ran back to help him across the line.  No cameras were present but my heart will always remember that moment.  This was a BIG deal for a kid on the autism spectrum who abhors physical exertion.  He finished something he started and did it without complaining.  What a trooper.  I am so thankful that my Dad stayed steady with him and helped him see this through until the finish. 

I ran across that line confidently, knowing I had done my best.  I kept a steady pace at 160bpm.  It wasn't until later that day that my sis-in-law, Nat, noticed that a friend of hers that had participated in the race posted using "Map My Run".  Her GPS on her smart phone actually mapped the course at 3.42 miles.  Interesting.....huh????  Regardless, I enjoyed myself and am completely hooked on running.  Although my newly "crunchy" knee might need some Biofreeze and a support when running. 

It was a peaceful, rewarding day and I was completely blessed by my husband and children.  My entire family really overwhelmed me with love.  Spending time with my nephews, friends, family was a joy.  Praise be to God that gives me the grace to run the truly AMAZING race mentioned in Phil. 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Happy Mother's Day to anyone reading this that falls into that category :-).

Blessings to you ALL! 

Finding Time Vs. Making Time

So I'm struggling once again with the old ways of thinking. I'm finding myself having a really hard time exercising more than 2X-3X/week. Please hear me, I'm so grateful that I can move my body and that I have the opportunity to workout 2X a week in a class and often run once a week. However, I understand to keep melting this fat and sculpting my body to what I want it to become I simply HAVE TO MOVE MORE. This means 5-6X/week.

I am up by 5:30 am. Nathan and I have coffee and we talk briefly. Then we each have a time of individual Bible study. I'm currently doing a precept study on I and II Thessalonians. I just finished Lord, I'm Torn Between Two Masters. This is a study on the Sermon on the Mount. It was my second time going through this book and I enjoyed it while being challenged afresh and anew. After our time of study we wake the kiddos up at 6:30 (actually they are already awake, we just let them come out of their rooms). Then we eat breakfast together. After that we read Jesus Calling for kids. We all take turns reading that day's devotions ("oceans" as the bubs call it). Then Nathan blesses us. I fix his lunch and he kisses us all goodbye. Then our day starts in a FLASH. Tues./Thurs. I already have carved out a chunk of my day to make it to my 8:30 am circuit training class with Leslie. The class lasts 1 hour and with driving time and "chat time" I'm usually gone 2 hours. Then it's shower, feed the kiddos lunch and try to get some schooling and chores done that day. Tuesdays are full because of our involvement in Celebrate Recovery. So the issue is I need to find a time to get some movement in on Mon./Wed./Friday. I have been attending a Wed. night exercise class, but the last several weeks I have been unable to make it. Saturdays I usually trail run. It is tough to find or MAKE even 20 minutes on these days. Between school, doctor's appts, therapy, naps, baths, meals, etc.

I'm open to suggestions. I'm open to help. I guess it boils down to that saying that "you make time for things that are important". I'm gonna have to discipline myself to MAKE time to move 5-6X/week. What a struggle. Just wanted to put this "out there". If I write about it, maybe I can process it more effectively and get over the fence of apathy.

Updated Pics

So I put some new pics on my pics page.  I found some from vacation a year ago.  WOW!  I finally can see the difference.  Go check them out.  Here's one called "Stages" that my trainer Leslie put together.  What do you think?

The scales said 213 today!!!  I'm so close.  I think when I get to 190 pounds I'm gonna celebrate with the kiddos by going to the mall and jumping on those bungee cord things.  I don't care how silly I look.  I don't care how much my fat will jiggle.  I'm gonna have fun!!!  I also think when I hit 199 I'm gonna buy me a "below 200 pounds" outfit.  Any suggestions?  Maybe a dress?  Some new strappy sandals.  Maybe I'll get my nails and hair done???  I'm gonna keep looking for pics to show how far I've come.

Things That Make Me Go Hmmmmm.....

So today is Cinco De Mayo.  This is a holiday that has to do with the Mexicans unlikely victory over the French army in the Battle of Puebla.  It is NOT the Mexican Independence day.  Why do we as Americans celebrate this day?  I think it's because people are looking for a justification to eat their weight in chips and salsa and wash it all down with a margarita or two.

Why do "we" ok...I, often feel the need to celebrate life's experiences with food?  Good, bad, happy, sad it's food related.  When did I cross the line from moderation to excess?  A taste of birthday cake isn't wrong, but a plate fully loaded with carbs and THEN a piece of cake with ice cream-SHEESH.....that's gluttony, plain and simple.

Mother's Day is coming up and I will be celebrating it by running my second 5K on Sat. the 12th with my brother, sis-in-law, dad, and three oldest kids.  I want to start celebrating life with LIFE, not with sugary food that make you feel bloated and yucky. 

One year using Wii Fit Plus.  I'm down 57.4 pounds.  Since I started this journey I'm down 69.8 pounds.  I'm losing myself and loving it!!!

Words that have more meaning to me these days....moderation, balance, control, pace and peace. 

Have a blessed day and thanks for reading my random thoughts.  I'm gonna celebrate Cinco De Mayo by doing 30 minutes of steps and going for a short run (granted the rain holds off for a bit).

Week 5 Check-in/Week 6 Goals

So today ended Wk. 5 for me in the "Ready for Summer Challenge". I feel as if I am making some progress but really had hoped to have seen a dramatic difference by now. I'm halfway through the challenge and not to my half way point pound wise. Oh well....I've got more time to keep on keeping on :-).

1. Weight Loss Goal: I had hoped that the scale would say 215 and this morning it said 216.3. Sheesh. Oh well. I will give myself grace because I am on my period this week. Hoping to see a little more gone by next Thursday. So since the challenge started I've lost 3.7 pounds. That's a little depressing to type, but hey at least I didn't gain 3.7 pounds.

2. NSV: I registered for my 5K race on May 12th. I'm going to be participating in this race with my brother, nephew and sis-in-law. So fun! Hoping to cut my time by at least 5 minutes.

I'll keep you posted.

3. Nutrition Goal: I didn't get the quinoa or flaxseed oil as I had hoped because I was waiting for payday and then I've had a sick girl. I did use Bragg's Liquid Aminos though in a stirfry and WOW!!! It was wonderful. I had never used them before and I prefer them now to soy sauce. So grateful to have tried something new. Also I've become a huge fan of raw sweet potatoes and

brussels sprouts in my salad.

4. Exercise Goal: I DID manage to get my 3X workouts in this week. I ran for 56 minutes on Sat. I did a very tough hill repeat workout on Sunday and I worked out with my class/trainer on Tues. and Wed. YEAH ME!!!

Week 6 Goals:

1. Weight Loss Goal: I'm on it and my mojo is BACK!!! Period or not I'm gonna press through and see those numbers go down, down, down. Thursday 5/11 my scale is gonna say 213!!!

2. Non-Scale Goal: Finish my 5K race in 38 minutes or less. Color my hair. This gray has to GO!!!

3. Nutrition Goal: Continue to eat 5 small meals daily. Keep my 3 Liter of water a day habit and get that flaxseed oil and quinoa!! I want to re-visit meal planning.

4. Exercise Goal: I ordered the Kettleworx DVD system and have only done one workout. I want to start it on 5/13. So that means a completion date June 23rd.

I'm so grateful to have found this challenge. I'm enjoying the challenge and the accountability. I'm proud of everyone who is participating and grateful for all of the encouragement.

Reality!!!