Accountability

Accountability is where it's at!  I had forgotten the power of allowing people into your lives at many various levels.  Awareness set in AGAIN that if I want to see the numbers budge on that scale I'm going to have to get real and be aware of my food choices, my activity level and my thought patterns.  Here are some of the things I've done to increase/establish great accountability:

1.   I've logged back onto My Fitness Pal and I've added some friends. 
2.   I joined a rewards group at Walgreens that gives points for fitness goals.
3.   I'm going to start blogging here again REGULARLY. 
4.   I'm helping my daughter keep a food journal for her and we've set a goal for the both of us. 
5.  We are trying to get onto Wii Fit Plus daily. 

This week I am hoping to make a trip to a supplement store and get the entire family on Vitamin D and pick up some multi-vitamins for the family.  I've set a goal and I want to share it publicly (so you can hold me accountable).  I weighed 177 today and by May 31st I would like to be 165.  I know that is PUSHING it, but it's a goal AND if Nathan says that we have the funds I'm hoping to sign up for my first half marathon in July.  Our pastors are running and I would like to be a part of this race (it's for a good cause). 

Have a great weekend blog friends.  I think there is gonna be some sun again today...so I've GOT to get outside of this house.

Week 1-Ready for Summer Challenge

So I jumped on board a little late.  I didn't start my challenge until Thursday March 29th.  I also didn't understand that I was to break my LARGE goal into smaller ones.  This week I've got it.  Hey be patient with me, last week I was missing my man and my five kiddos had cabin fever.  :-)

Week 1 (actually ends Thur.)

1. Weight loss goal- at this point I haven't seen the scales move, but that's ok. 

I know I'm on the right path.

2.  Non-scale goal- Those jeans I talked about....I got them on, but needless to say they weren't the most comfortable pants I own.  My husband wanted me to wear them on our date last night, but I knew since we were eating that I better not (hahahaha).  So I'm still hoping in the next 9 weeks to be able to fit into them comfortably, properly.

3.  Nutrition goal- I did eat veggies everyday.  It was wonderful.  I don't think I got a fruit everyday and there were days I didn't get my water intake up to par.  However, I've had a very "clean eating" week so I'm really happy.

4.  Exercise goal- I only did one Kettlebell workout so far, but yesterday I had a WONDERFUl trail run/partial hike with my trainer and friend Leslie.  I felt so alive.  It was hard and at one point my heart was beating so hard that it actually hurt.  96 steps, technical trail run, jogging on the road, I did a little of several things and it felt wonderful. 

***Mini-challenge***- I did enjoy a veggie I had never tasted before.  A friend of mine has two kids with celiac disease and she shared this recipe with me.  "Spaghetti Pie" uses spaghetti squash instead of pasta.  The recipe is SOOOO easy.  Cook the spaghetti squash by cutting it in half.  Place it face down in a 9 X 13 with just a little bit of water in the bottom.  350F for approx. 35-40 minutes.  Let it cool down.  Scoop out the seeds and yucky stuff.  Then scrape the strands from around the side and put it in a bowl.  Set aside.  Beat 1 egg in a seperate bowl.  Combine egg, squash and LOTS of parmesean cheese.  After mixing that use it as the pie crust.  Press it into a pie plate.  Then put a layer of ricotta cheese.  Ground beef can come next (if you want meat). Ground turkey would work or eggplant or lots of mushrooms.  Then sauce (can be gluten free to make it a true gf dish).  Top with FRESH mozzarella.  You can use cheddar also.  Bake it at 350 for 50 minutes or until set.  YUMMO!!!  We WILL be using spaghetti squash again.

So week 2....starts on Thursday.  I'm linking up today though so I can be a part of the group challenge.  Here are my new goals. 

1.  Weight goal- To lose 2 pounds this week.  So by Thursday the 12th I should have lost at LEAST 2 pounds.

2.  Non-scale goal- Try on those blasted jeans :-).  See if I can make it an hour and still breathe...hehehehe

3.  Nutrition goal- Keep working on WATER!!!  Join a CSA and get ready for SUMMER veggies.

4.  Exercise goal- In addition to my 2X week workout with my trainer/class I want to add one day of jogging/walking or hiking.  I hope to maintain this schedule.

Mini-Challenge- I'm gonna see if I can attend a yoga class or Zumba class with a friend of mine, as a guest at her gym.

Keep on keeping on friends.  Have a great day.  Summer will be here before you know it.       

Something I Noticed

So I have this tendency that I noticed about myself last night.  It wasn't the first time that I have done this, but I became keenly aware of it's power yesterday. 

I made a spaghetti pie (spaghetti squash, ricotta, fresh mozzarella, ground beef, pasta sauce) before I left for the evening.  The children went to play with some friends and I had a "semi grown up" dinner with a friend and then visited for jut a bit.  We got home late and I needed to transfer the pie from the pie plate to another plate so I could use the pie plate to bake another spaghetti pie this morning.  As I was transferring it over I felt this uncontrollable urge to taste it.  I wasn't hungry.  I just wanted to eat it because it was there, it smelled good, I was curious.  Needless to say I had MORE than one bite.  Not quite a whole piece of this "spaghetti pie", but certainly more than I should of had since it was past 9 o'clock and I wasn't even hungry.  AS I'm eating this I'm feeling guilty.  I'm thinking "why did you do that?". 

Obviously the world wasn't going to end if I had to wait until the next day to taste this pie.  While in the heat of this moment I didn't stop to think about what I was doing.  There wasn't a prayer lifted up or even a walk away to focus my thoughts.  Prayerfully I can navigate these kind of situations better in the future.  In all honestly the pie would have tasted MUCH better warmed up and accompanied with a salad and enjoyed while sitting down at a table instead of hurriedly sneaking a bite or two.  I've come SO far but yet have so much ground to cover.  It's just food.  It's JUST food.  It's just FOOD.  Why does it control me so? 

I'm hoping today to jog or do a kettle bell workout.  Nathan will be coming home from FL today and I can't WAIT to see him.  Guess I need to read "Made to Crave" again and do some more work in my Celebrate Recovery 12 step books.  I'm gonna share this with my group and continue to make myself open for accountability.  Even typing this helps.  I'm so grateful that this episode was not worse.  I remember the days of sitting down and eating an entire bag of chips (not the individual size).  There was a day when I would finish my plate and the kids plates (no food wasted in this house).  I'm believing those days are behind me, and for that I'm so grateful.  Have a good weekend.    

Being Held Accountable (Long POST)

*LONG POST*  Get comfortable, sit back and read away!!!

Accountability is almost a curse word these days.  People want to live their own lives ANYWAY they please.  They don't want to be held accountable by any kind of authority.  This could mean parents, teachers, government officials and even "a higher power", THE higher power, GOD!!!  Ok...that soap box is for another blog :-)

I have chosen to become accountable to people in my life.  I was a part of Celebrate Recovery for many years.  This meant that I was held accountable by a small group of trusted women by sharing in group, talking over the phone, meeting with my accountability partners etc.  I LOVED it and miss it very much.  However, this season of my life does not lend itself for a weekly CR meeting. 

Well I knew that embarking upon this journey to health and wholeness was NOT going to be easy.  I knew that I needed some accountability.  So I have prayerfully chosen to share my situation with others.  I am sharing through this blog.  Most women won't disclose their weight.  I have chosen to share it with ALL of cyberspace.  I am choosing to allow the worship team at Mtn. View to hold me accountable.  I shared with them in last nights rehearsal a brief statement about needing to be held to the "fire" and wanting them to speak the truth to me in love.  I also am being held accountable by my mother.  We meet weekly to share our food journals and weigh.  Lastly, yet most importantly I am being held accountable by Leslie Raper and the other ladies in the Women's Conditioning class on Sat. mornings. 

So I have SO FAR TO GO, but I'm on the way.  I WANT you to come along with me.  I WANT you to speak the TRUTH IN LOVE if you see me making a bad decision, I WANT you to pray for me and with me.  I WANT you to ask how I'm doing/how things are going.  I WANT TO CHANGE and I NEED help!!!

Thanks for listening, sharing, loving and encouraging,

Janelle