I Got A Little Chubby

 I’m posting these pics for progress’ sake.  I’ve been up 4:30am every single morning this week to workout with the strength training DVDs and this week the plan is to add the bowflex back in. I also am just generally trying to make better choices- Whole Foods, adding in protein, portion control.  Working out makes me want to be more active in general, so that’s helped! Deciding to workout is difficult because you’re too tired to workout, but if you don’t work out, you’re too tired!  But I want to share this amazing reflection that popped up in my FB memories from awhile ago, and that’s my update for the week! *** At Adoration a few minutes ago, I prayed, “Lord, please help me to get back to good health and strengthen me.” Right as my Holy Hour ended, I opened a book I brought called, “God is Not Nice” and it said that health fanaticism has become our new religion in some ways. The health of the body is important and Christians even go so far as to say it is not just...

 I tried. I replaced my scale and started daily weighing myself.I did great when the scale showed daily loss. But two days in a row it creeped back up. And.. I gave up.  I got so discouraged. I didn’t understand! I felt I was doing well, staying active and eating right. So, I decided to put the scale away again. Not out of defeatism, but because I realize I shame and internalize negative results and that’s self-destructive.  BUT The most amazing news of all.. I couldn’t get up early to get my work out in... too many (understandable) excuses to hit snooze: baby didn’t sleep, stayed up too late, etc. So, I posted in a Catholic moms group asking if anyone would be crazy enough to come work out with me at 6am. A woman responded saying that she couldn’t work out at 6, but she could work out at 5.  So we did it! Three days in a row, Wed-Fri last week, I got up at 4:30am, worked out, and made it through the rest of the day more productive than usual.  I am sooo thankfu...

 Bleh. I bought a new scale since our other one was drowned by my kids. I was down ten lbs!! But now back up three.  I had a rough week. I still have pain in my shoulder but it’s not unbearable, it just is exaggerated by sitting at a desk or doing computer work. We bought a standing desk thing for the office which will hopefully help. And it was a busy week, which meant less time to prep healthy meals and more throwing something together that was okay, but not filling and then I found myself hungry again and ended up eating probably more than I should have of my “better choices”.  Anyway. Down and back again. Really discouraged on how slow it’s taking me this time around to get back in shape. I felt really, really sad last week at my limitations and that my favorite pants still don’t fit.  But here’s to a better a week. 🙏🏼

 Howdy!  Bad news is I had to go to the doctor a couple more times to start getting some pain relief. Good news is I did get some pain relief finally and also every time I had to step on the scale (unfortunate that this is a requirement) it was a little lower. I finally replaced my scale and I am happy to report I lost five pounds since last Friday and I’m feeling less sluggish already!  I’m going to wait until I am a little better before starting back on more serious exercise but this is what helped me this week. I didn’t tell myself “no”, but I said “not yet, wait for Sunday”.  And then more often than not, the temptation to eat something unhealthy passed. Or, if I did eat something not so healthy (like a mocha from Starbucks) I said “nope, you’ve already had a treat today.”  Those little things helped.  Also, an incentive was eating better helped my inflammation.  I don’t want to have heart problems or back problems or things that are the result of ...

 Happy Easter! I am back after a long Lenten break from blogging as I was trying only to use my phone for work related things— mostly successful, weaned some screen addiction.  I paused the blog here so that I wouldn’t check back for comments. I *really* needed some separation from my phone. I’m considering giving up social media altogether, but I haven’t managed to figure out an easy way to cut the cord with so many friends in so many places.  But it’s good to be back, especially because I EPICALLY FAILED to do anything to get in shape. I tried to eat better, I really did. I did manage to do some light exercise. It was just so busy and when I’m overwhelmed I find an excuse to “treat” myself.   But I can’t afford a nice spa day, so I’ll take the pint of ice cream. And while I could only eat a little bit of the pint, I’d have to get more dishes dirty. And then the sink will be full of dishes that I will have to clean. It’s a vicious cycle.  And I know what you’re...

 I  don’t want to repeat the year 36– except for the birth of my youngest son! I’ll take him every day all day! He was the ultimate blessing of a very dark year. I struggled a LOT last year. You know when you are walking through your house at night in the dark to check on that “scary noise” — when everything in you is ready to become hysterical but your mind is like “no, no, you’re okay, everything is fine...” That sums up my year.  So when my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I asked for a really clean house. “Sure, hon, the kids and I —“ No. Not the kids and you.  I need a woman in this house. So this amazing lady was at my house all day cleaning and when she was done, I felt like I got a fresh start. Clean home, clean slate.  Asking for help (or saving up and paying for help) is self-care too.  ❤️