Getting Realistic/Weekly Check-In

I really AM enjoying this challenge.  Although I'm not meeting goals and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all at the moment.  I think I'm really setting my bar too high (is that possible???).  After watching the motivational video about "exhaustion" I'm feeling a bit embarrassed about my post.

Here's my check in for Week 4....

1.  Weight Loss Goal: I was able to get those excess pounds off and see the number 217.5 this morning on the scale.  I'll take it!!!

2.  NSV:  Sheesh.  How hard is it to make a couple of phone calls???  For me very hard.  I can't get enough alone time to make a phone call to the chiro, massage therapist, doctor etc.  I AM going to do this tomorrow.  This must be a priority.  I'm hurting and I NEED some down time. 

3.  Ahhhh....another goal I didn't meet.  This weight loss journey is teaching me so much about myself.  What are the real priorities in my life?  How can I gently adjust/change them?   Learning to live my life in peace and balance.  All things I'm working on even IF I don't meet my "goals" for this challenge.  I'm gonna try again :-)

4.  Exercise Goal:  So what's that old thing..."best 3 out of 5"???  Wait that would mean I would have had to actually DO five of anything....ehehehehe.  I only got the three part.  Hey, but at least I'm not a couch potato anymore (more justification).

HELP!!!  All you people out there.  Anybody hear me????  Please give me some encouragement and motivation.  I need it!

Goals for Week 5:

1.  Weight Loss Goal:  I'm SICK of being in the 200's.  I HAVE to get through the teens and get closer to "one-derland".  So by Thursday May 4th I wanna see 215.  That would be 5 pounds since the start of the challenge (March 29th).  That would leave me 13 more to go in 5 weeks.  Is it possible????  Only time will tell. 

2.  NS Goal:  Register for 5K race in May (5/12) and order a new sports bra.

3.  Nutrition Goal:  Buy flax seed oil and quinoa.  Try at least one new recipe.

4.  Exercise Goal:  Ok I'm going to be realistic here.  I am hoping to run on Sat. (for an hour), and will have my regular Tue. workout, but I need to do at LEAST one more day of something.  Why am I finding it hard to get 3X/wk in these days?  So...this week 3X workout. 

On a more positive note here is an updated pic of me (taken today).  On the left is what I looked like in January of this year.  I'm still having trouble noticing a difference, but maybe others can????!!!

On the Move

Spring is in the air and I'm on the move.  The last two weeks at CSI class I've really been trying to pick up the pace of my short interval runs.  I chose the heavier weights today in class and I really concentrated on form.  Last night at my FIT class I chose to walk up an incline AND add an extra hill.  I added distance and shortened time on my Sunday walk and I'm going to try and jog another 3.1 miles this weekend.  I have not jogged a 5K since my race in Feb.  I have walked, jogged, moved and lifted, but I haven't gone 3.1 without stopping.  It's time to do it again!!!

I have a race in May that I am STOKED about.  This race is special because my family will be participating.  My older brother Philip and sis-in-law Tammy will be jogging/running.  I think the most special part of the day is that Nathalie my other sis-in-law will be participating.  I'm not sure to the extent she will be walking/jogging as she consults the doc about her chemo on March 29th.  Greg my older brother I'm sure will be there in some capacity.  I'm even hoping (hint, hint) that he and/or my Dad will walk with my older 3 in the 5K walk.  What a glorious time it will be for ALL of us.  You see mostly we just get together as a family to eat, socialize and/or open presents.  I cannot remember a time EVER when we purposefully gathered together for a physical event.  My brother Philip, sis Tammy and I all were in a marching band at the same time.  Philip and Greg marched together in high school.  I think Philip and Greg might have been on same teams growing up, but I can't remember ALL of us doing something together.  My heart is saddened that Tyler can't join us, but right now his physical condition limits it.  Please keep praying for his seizure disorder and problems with his foot.  I'm gonna KEEP praying that one day I will walk/jog/run alongside of him.  The same for mom.  Once her new knee is in she'll be moving right along.  Our trainer Leslie has BIG plans for her :-)...hehehehehe have fun mom. 

So with Spring in my step, the PROMISE as my focus, surrounded by my friends and family (such a great cloud of witnesses...can you tell I've been studying Hebrews 11) I'm gonna get to moving.  Here is my friend Bobi's favorite song to spur you on to "moving" today.  Be blessed!!!!   

This is MercyMe's "Move"

Get Back Up Again....

We lose our way, we get back up again....

So I've been struggling lately with consistency, motivation and the dreaded up's and down's.  I know that my body will fluctuate weight wise.  I know that in some expert opinions even two pounds in a day is acceptable +/-.  I just seem to be hitting plateaus a little more regularly and I'm fighting discouragement.  Why can't I just keep plowing forward?  Today I found myself eating mindlessly and much more than I would have like to honestly.  What is that about?  Why do I still seem so bound sometimes by boredom, needless want to eat.  Some days it doesn't get me, but some days just because "it's" there is a good enough reason to eat.  Sweets don't tempt me, it's the REAL deal, the real food.  Salty, cheesy, creamy are more my speed :-). 

I am gonna get back up again though.  When I fall I'm not gonna stay down, and I am certainly not going to get trampled on by the pack of people who are still progressing towards health and wholeness.  Each new moment is an opportunity to choose wisely, act lovingly, think clearly, honor completely.  Each new day brings a chance for growth and change.  Each new meal can be successful. 

Keep trying, keep laughing, keep believing, keep growing, keep changing, keep praying, keep running, keep speaking the TRUTH over my life, keep on keeping on....

MOTIVATION (or lack thereof)

I'm REALLY struggling with motivation these past few weeks.  This snow hasn't helped.  My lil' guys have been sick or Leslie has had sickness or other reasons that we can't meet.  I am chomping at the bit to get back on routine.  Honestly I just don't have the internal motivation or ambition yet to keep up with healthy eating/journaling/working out.  I want to do it I just don't/can't. 

Reminds me of Romans chapter seven.  Here is that passage vs. 14-25 in the NASB "For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of  the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin."

So much I want to do...so much I need to do!!  God I pray that you would capture my heart, mind, soul and strength and give me YOUR grace to walk this journey.

Any thoughts out there?  How do you get back on track?  How do you stay motivated???  HELP!!!

Janelle

There's Strength in Numbers

So I posted earlier about accountability and it's importance in success.  Well I was chatting with a friend of mine on FB last night and we decided a FB group might be helpful.  So...I'm gonna try and start one today.  I will invite people so let me know via email if you wanna join.  Oh and I'm open for suggestions about creative titles for the group.

I can tell that I'm still having trouble with internal motivation.  Leslie was sick on Thursday with a Migraine and I didn't work out because she wasn't here.  Also I was just TOO tired to go to class on Saturday.  NOT GOOD.  Pray for me that I can keep making changes so that I don't feel as if I NEED somebody to get me going.  I was also doing REALLY well with my walking and I haven't walked in about two weeks.  YIKES!!
Yesterday was sure a shot in the arm though.  I had to find a shirt to wear for the Christmas musical on the 12th.  I went to Catherine's and found a turtleneck.  I'm not too happy with the fit, but I hope it will work.  Aside from that the dressing room is TORTURE AND MOTIVATION all in one.  I HATE those lights.  I HATE those mirrors.  I have a lot of work to do and I realize that even though I am going to lose weight I will NEVER look like a model.  I just want to be healthy, happy, whole and FREE and I'm on the way.


So once again I'm grateful that today's a NEW day.  Even though there's ice on the ground I'm gonna try and get my legs a walkin' today.  Gonna make the FB group.  Gonna eat healthy and clean.  Gotta drink some water!!! 

Have a blessed day,

Janelle