Motivation to Live Well - April 26, 2009

213.4

Motivation to Live Well:
Yesterday’s mistakes are not an excuse to continue damaging behavior, but
rather reinforcement as to why you need to change.

I needed this word today. It's been two steps forward and one step backwards, but I'm determined to focus on the one step increase forward while looking for solutions in order not to fall one step backwards. I've worked so hard at transforming my inner self in respect to health and weight loss, it is time for it to make some major transformation on the outside of me.

My mind and heart are being gradually transformed and it will leak out into my outer self! That's been my goal for the past 6 months. For most of us who struggle with our weight and looks, we've spent a large portion of our precious lives being negative about ourselves and feeling defeated. That's why I have felt my first transformation had to be within.

I know that God has graciously been transforming me from the day I met Him and gave my life to Him. He can do the same thing for me in respect to my mindset when it comes to emotional and physical health. I'm counting on it!

Healthily Selfish

I only worked out minimally the last two days. Other obligations took over my time. I HAVE TO start being a little "healthily selfish" and guard and protect my time to workout. In my heart, being selfish, has never been an admirable quality, but when it comes to my weight loss and healthier lifestyle efforts, I must be "healthily selfish" in order to be all I need to be for those I love and yes, for myself. God desires that I be a good steward of all things and that includes my body and health. This I have neglected.

I have another full day today, but I WILL MAKE THE TIME to workout.

After spending some time online looking for blogs of others who are on a journey to be healthier and lose weight, I found there are MANY of us rowing in the same boat. This journey of lifestyle change is such a huge and important step in our lives we seem to all be looking for every bit of the inspiration and encouragement we can find. I am already thankful for finding these blogs to enhance my efforts.

This weekend I came across a magazine that's new to the market, Best You-Health and Joy Begin Here. After reading the Premier Issue, I will pick up the next issue when it's released. It contained some great articles and looked at the journey to be the best me inside and out.

These are only a few "snippets" as my blogging friend, Trina, calls them and is in no way reflecting the abundant content in the magazine.

"GET 30 MINUTES OF EXERCISE MOST DAYS. In the handful of minutes it takes to watch some TV shows or browse the internet, you could slash your risk of diabetes by 34 percent, of stroke by 20 percent-and sharpen your thinking skills, whittle your waist and put some sparkle in your mood. So what are you waiting for." (I've already spent 30 minutes browsing blogs this morning).

"...finding a new identity requires a hard look inside and changing your life is a process."

These, of course, aren't anything that I haven't already heard, read, or spoken myself, but when traveling this road to change and commitment, little reminders are like post-it-notes across my heart and I need them.

I also received this from a friend, "The truth is, we're being changed by what obsesses us. We're becoming like the things that occupy our minds. Our character is being influenced and impacted by whatever has hold of our hearts." Wilkerson

Light Switch Is Turned On

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I've been going through a slight personal crisis and have been somewhat off track. I have been working out doing my strength training so I give myself a thumbs up for that.

To me, the biggest battle in the weight loss journey is the battle of the mind. It's the same battle that defeats most areas of my life. I do believe that satan battles us in our thinking more than anywhere.

All that to say, I think the mental thing is finally clicking in for me. I can want to lose weight, want to be physically fit, want to be healthy, want, want, want all day long, but there comes these moments where the light switch is turned on and mentally I'm ready to be committed to the process. I think that day has finally arrived! THANK GOD! Literally.

I am also finding numerous weight loss journey blogs. Those are a great inspiration.

Okay, I'm on my weigh (word usage intended) to less weight, better health, mental victory, and physical fitness. I am going to enjoy life again!

Some Reflection

212 lbs.

This week, so far I have filled up on lots of water and I have not eaten sweets so I'm feeling pretty good. The resolve is still strong and every day that the resolve is strong builds the foundation for the next day and for my life. Yea!

As much as I love to drink water, I'd stopped drinking very much of it over the past months. I'd been drinking too many other things in its place-tea, coffee, soda. The soda is a definite no-no. I didn't drink them in excess, maybe one a day, but one a day adds up.

From all I've read about nutrition over the years all the sugars are playing havoc with my system. So I also want to watch to see how my body and emotions are feeling without all that sugar going through me. I go through spells of eating a lot of sugar and other times it is minimal, but recently I've been consuming quite a bit, which would explain some of the extra weight I put on in the past two weeks.

I've been contemplating what next week small changes will be. I know for sure I will add working out on the treadmill again. As far as what I'll eliminate the list of possibilities is large, keeping in mind that I'm really trying to do this one SMALL change at a time. I could eliminate bad fats (mayo, butter) or negative things I say about myself (this tears down my progress on a deeper level). Again I don't eat a lot of mayo or butter. I use cooking spray or Smart Balance for those needs most of time time. I eat mustard more than I do mayo, but when you as overweight as I am, every smidgen adds up one way or the other.

I'll just continue to pray and ask God about my Small Change Plans. I know I can't do this without the Holy Spirit's empowerment.