Persistance, Not Perfection

Well, I don't know if anyone even stops by to read this blog anymore, because I'm such a random poster, but for myself, I'm checking in!! :)

The holidays were great!! And, so was the food!! I started off well with exercising, then things got way busy, and I just have a hard time mentally when it comes to fitting in my workouts. Scheduling just seems to overwhelm me with that. When my schedule's crazy, out goes the workouts because I just can't seem to understand how it'll fit into my day logistically...Mental herdals I guess.

I did read something since I last posted that offered me some insight on the bigger picture. I get emails from the Flylady (www.flylady.net), and she is passionate about getting rid of clutter...ALL kinds of clutter...on the diet front, she calls it "body clutter." (Isn't that appropriate? LOL) Anyways, she sends out testimonials daily from people she hears from daily, on how her system, her way of changing their perspective has helped them...One of these struck a chord with me.

The Flybaby was thanking Flylady for helping her realize that she didn't have to be perfect, just persistent. There are times of falling off the wagon, and no one is perfect all the time...but, she said, I can be persistent. Persistence is getting back on the wagon & just keeping on in the right direction. No, not perfectly, but persistently. Persistence wins the race, not perfection.

So, that got me thinking...that principle can really be applied in all areas of my life. As a Christian, I am not perfect, but I can be persistent in my walk with Christ. I can be persistent in Bible study, making the right decisions, etc... He knows I will make mistakes. We all do!! But what is important is staying persistent, not giving up because of one bad choice, one week/month/year of missing daily devotions (HA!!).

There's gonna be lots of chances to learn from mistakes along the way. Whether we're talking about dieting (or a new lifestyle of eating habits), or any other place of growth in our lives.

So, here's to being persistent!! I hope this has helped in changing your perspective, too, on perfection vs. persistence!! :)

Love you all :)

So, I have been feeling discouraged the past few months, not just because of my not losing much through Weight Watcher's (and I know it's not their fault, mainly), but because of LIFL!! LOL I stopped reading it...

Not because it's not a great book. On the contrary, it's an amazing book, an awesome tool to use. I stopped reading it because that red pill is one hard pill to swallow.

There are things that I've blamed on my weight that may not be my weight's fault. Sure, there are definitely prejudices towards overweight people, and people who call themselves overweight who really aren't, but are trying to fit into the socially acceptable prototype of "healthy."

But I digress...there are things about me that are wrong that have absolutely nothing to do with my weight!! What a thought!! So, I stopped reading, because I guess it's taking me a little while to digest (pardon the pun) this information.

On the upside...I realized that since January, I have lost almost 30lbs. That is my "pre-Weight Watcher" weigh in number, but a real number, nonetheless. So, that is encouraging, and even though I haven't been going to WW meetings since before VBS, I have continued to lose, so, again, all positives!! :)

Part of me is in awe that I am 30lbs. smaller (I mean, that's more weight than Eli weighs!!), I did the math, and the other part of me isn't thrilled with 3lbs/month average, either.

SO, this has been a little melancholy, hasn't it? I don't mean for it to be, but these are the conflicting emotions I've been dealing with... And, I am going to start back where I left off in LIFL.

Love you all!! :)

Lose It For Liffe (LIFL)

So, I started a new book this week. And, WOW, is it ever good!!

I've felt for some time, now, that this journey I'm on is about more than what I put in my mouth... And, BOY, was I right!! I had a "clicking" moment last week that really woke me up... Something just clicked, I connected the dot from my emotions about something, to the very-over-my-points-that-day eating binge I had gone on.

So, I told Steve, "Honey, I really need to start that LIFL book..." So, he surprised me & ordered it!! :) It was probably the only time he'll ever be able to surprise me in a good way with something that says "You need to lose weight!!" LOL

Seriously, as the book put it, I've taken the red pill, and I've gotta tell you, it hurts going down... Reality is not easy to swallow, sometimes, especially when it's about ourselves.

So, I've been doing not so hot with the WW's, but I've kept going to meetings, and last week, I even "checked out" our class mascot, Hungry!! The kids loved him, and having him around did help me stop & think before I put something in my mouth.

So, onward & down-ward, I say!! :) Here's to figuring out how to "Lose It For Life"!!

Happy Birthday to Me!! :)

Today is my birthday, and I am also celebrating my 10lb. ribbon!! :) I got it last night, after I had "officially" won it a few weeks ago, but I had a couple of weeks of gains, but this week, I lost a whopping 5.6lbs.!! :) I REALLY worked for that loss this week!! :) I stuck to the guidelines, and I FINALLY added in exercise (Walk Away the Pounds...and I even did the 2mile!! :) ). Anyways, I can't believe how much better exercising makes me feel...

I came to the realization last week, too, that I have been rebelling somewhat... I think I shared here how it kind of "hit" me that my idea of normal needed to change... and I don't think I liked that, so I was rebelling... And, rebelling against the exercise, too... But making those changes have really helped!! :)

I stayed for my meeting last night (Steve's mtg. was cancelled, so I got to stay!! :) YAY!!) Anyways, it was all about negative self-talk, and I took notes!! That hit VERY close to home!! :)

The last few weeks have shown me, absolutely, that this isn't just a physical thing, but a very emotional & psychological thing as well...and spiritual, I believe, too... I mean, yes, I have some health issues that just flat-out make losing weight a challenge, but NOT impossible, but there are so many things that go so much deeper than meets the eye...

Okay, that's all I've got time for, I just wanted to give an update since it'd been so long!! LOL :) I am feeling stubborn, that no matter how long it takes me, I WILL still go to mtgs, and I WILL try & stay for the actual mtg. part, when at all possible... Life isn't gonna wait for me to have all my ducks in my little perfectionistic row, so kids, no kids, elder mtgs, no elder mtgs, I'm going to MY WW meeting!! :) I've found them to be very helpful & motivating... Especially when I feel anything BUT!! :)

OK, joyful living, everyone!! :)

Okay...I can't lie...I've been very frustrated with the weight-loss. It's been over 11 weeks (I think I am officially on week 13 or so), and I haven't even "won" my 10lb. ribbon. It's been very frustrating...

Okay, so I know why there hasn't been much change some weeks, but for the most part, I am following the Plan. PCOS complicates matters, too. And, in my head I know this, but I left a my meeting a very discouraged lady this past Tuesday night.

I am almost there, though, at my 10lbs. And, I know that it's not *really* my first 10lbs. It'll be more like 20 for me (although WW's doesn't recognize that because it was pre-WW).

I knew starting out that it would come slow, because it always does...dealing with reality is SO much harder than dealing with pep talks, though!! LOL

Okay, just so you know, I haven't given up...I'm just frustrated!! :)

In Spite of Birthday Cake...

So, the week after Abbey's birthday party wasn't good. I gained...

But THIS past Tuesday, I LOST 4.2!! HOT DOG!! :)

Things are going well...VERY busy, and the kiddos, especially Eli, have been sick this last week, but other than that, we're fine...

So, YAY FOR ME!! :) I'm less than 4lbs. from my 10lb. ribbon!! :) YAY!! :)

Ode To Birthday Cake...

O, Birthday Cake,
O, Birthday Cake,
How do I love you...
Let me count the ways...
There's nothing like the scent that wafts from your box
When you are just opened up from the bakery...
There's nothing like your moist cake with a buttercream icing.
And, O, how I covet a corner piece!!
I love you! I love you! I LOVE YOUUUUUUU!

That is what's going on with me!! LOL Last night we celebrated with some friends (it was my cousin Pam's birthday), and there was a most deliciously scrumptious cake there.

We were laughing, because the majority of the ladies there had just started WW's, but they WI on Saturday mornings.

We were talking about what to do with the cake, and my cousin Andrea said she was planning on having it for breakfast, lunch & dinner today after her WI!! LOL We got to laughing & I said, just bring it to WI!! LOL When she walks up to the scale, hand over her paperwork, & set down the piece of cake on the table!! LOL Andrea said she would be afraid to take a piece of cake into a WW meeting...she's afraid she'd be mauled to death!! LOL

Isn't it fun to go through journeys like this one with friends? Makes those temptations a lot easier, and joking about it taking the sting out of eating the salad instead... :)