Random Thoughts about December 30

Eight weeks has come and gone. The holidays are drawing to a close. And our fitness challenge is officially over, but it has been nothing like I thought it would be. Yes, I kept track of "credits". I drank a little more water and ate a few more vegetables. But the experience was far different than I imagined.

I don't have anything very profound to say. December 30 was not an end date for me; it was simply the beginning of another week. I got up this morning and went for a walk -- it was bitter cold. I took a shower, enjoyed my typical breakfast of oatmeal and fruit, and got into my routine for the day.

The lessons I learned were simple ones, no real surprises. I struggled with the things I knew I would but enjoyed quiet victories along the way. There were some days when I completely ignored the tracking sheet, wishing it would disappear. And other times when I couldn't wait to add up the big totals for the week. I certainly was far from perfect and I'm pretty sure I'm not at the top of the winner list but I'm really okay with that.

I often feel overwhelmed by all the things I "have to do." But I am the happiest when I recognize the baby steps I've taken throughout the day that are moving me in the right direction. Yesterday I made some really poor food choices, but I also spent an hour in the car with my daughter talking about nothing of importance. My son and I looked at fabrics as we discussed his next sewing project. And I enjoyed a wonderful meal and visit with family from out of town. Those are the things I choose to remember. Those are the things that make me happy. December 30 feels no different than December 29. But I will do my best to fill it with more baby steps and small victories.

What about you? Random thoughts? Quiet epiphanies? I would love to hear about your experiences. Look for an email about our Challenge Celebration at the end of the week. And remember to click on the link for the Spiritual Challenge. It begins Sunday, January 5.

Dusty Dreams and a Christmas gift

Today, I found myself thinking about Mary the mother of Jesus. This may be the first time I recognized the significance of the information the angel Gabriel gave in his telling her of the importance of her cousin Elizabeth's condition. Mary presented her faithfulness to the responsibility that was given her, but then pondered those things in her heart, and then sought out Elizabeth.

I, like Mary and Elizabeth, have found myself on a path that I hadn't anticipated I would be on. Mary and Elizabeth probably needed some time to contemplate the change in their paths that they could not have guessed would change the view of who they were as individuals and women. I would guess that both women were in need of an understanding heart to help bear each others' burdens. They could always turn to the Holy Ghost for comfort, but I am sure the Lord knew that these 2 women would be better able to recognize and succor each other in their need for compassion and understanding because of similar life changing situations that they were experiencing. They both presented themselves as faithful daughters of God and put a great deal of hope in his plan for them.

This morning we celebrated an early Christmas gift with the boys. We served cake for breakfast and called it the Sugar and Spice and Everything nice cake and let them know that they would be getting a baby sister in May. 10 years ago, after finding out we would have a second son, I pushed any desire or hope of having a girl out of my mind. Jason and I have been in the all boy world of Scouts, Star Wars and Legos for so long that we identify ourselves with the all boy crowd. It has been so many years since I have dreamed of the things I would do with a daughter and those dreams were left in the dust so far back on my life journey that I am not the same person I was when I had them. The day has given me lots of time to ponder and reevaluate where I thought the path was taking me and who I thought I was. I am not worried about what will come or what other changes the path may take, but I find I have a different understanding of faith and hope and find new excitement in dusting off some forgotten dreams.

I am grateful for the lessons of Mary and Elizabeth and recognize that the Lord knows my needs as well as theirs and has helped me find support and understanding hearts along my path.
Merry Christmas!

Out of the dusty wayside

I was so excited about this challenge, until I ate my first sweet on day three or four.  For whatever reason, I lay on the side of this road, not earning points, not even counting points, until this morning.  Well, maybe I've been struggling to stand the last week or two, but today was the day. I committed myself to restart today and I did it. I'm sore from P90X, I've had lots of water, veggies, and no sweets. So, maybe I feel more like the laborer hired at the eleventh hour, but this is my "next right thing," and I'm glad there are some great women out there with whom to share it.

Fellow Sojourners

After reading Heathers post I reflected on my journey down the road of the Fitness Challenge. I really don't think that I would have lasted the first few weeks if I didn't know there were others trying out the path. If it had just been up to me to take on the path alone I know I would have convinced myself that it really wasn't something I was capable of. Somehow knowing that others are out there giving it their best, helps me to stay motivated to keep trying. As I think about the times in my life when I have felt like the abandoned and beaten traveler on the road to Jericho and the people, sometimes total strangers, that have helped me to know I was not alone and have left me feeling full of gratitude.
 I have thought a lot about the guilt I feel after eating. and it always comes when I exclude myself from others. Not only when I try to sneak a treat privately to myself, but also when I choose not to include myself in a memorable treat occasion. For example, Gilead asked for cupcakes for his birthday. I am not really fond of cupcakes, so had decided not to eat one and save sweet points for something I really wanted. Yet as we were singing and Gilead was blowing out his candles, I realized that my not eating also gave the feeling of not celebrating this little boy of mine that I really wanted to celebrate with. Was it really worth those five points in the grand scheme of things? I thought about the look I would get from him like the others I have seen on my boys faces when they have asked "are you going to have any Mommy?" There is a certain guilt that comes with this exclusion as well.
The week of Thanksgiving is a good example of how I see my personal motivations for food are changing. We spent Thanksgiving in a one bedroom cabin in Nauvoo. We packed our own simple Thanksgiving dinner including pumpkin pie.We made gingerbread cookies the next day at the cabin. I will always treasure the memories that flood back every time I smell or taste gingerbread cookies because of the fond memories of enjoying warm-out-of-the-oven gingerbread cookies in a cabin with my family. As far as points go- the week of Thanksgiving was half of what I had previously earned in the weeks prior. If only looking at points, that week looks like a failure- but it was the first week that I see as a real success. Every sweet I ate was enjoyed with my family. Not once did I sneak treats or feel guilty about anything I ate the whole week.
I have learned so much about myself from this journey. I am glad that my successes are not gauged wholly on points or grades and that I can recognize that joy and fulfillment come from making those decisions that will help me stay on the road to happiness.

On the Road to Jericho

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. Like all of you, this holiday season has been filled with craziness. One reason I wanted to take on this challenge now is because I knew I needed something to keep me on the straight and narrow -- even if I fell by the wayside on occasion. I really appreciated Alanna's comments from a few weeks ago.

"It's all a process. We want to see results immediately from the world we live in, but it takes time and we have to allow ourselves to come to terms with that. I'm in the process of translating my control of food into other aspects of my life. Controlling my behavior, trying to become a firmer disciple of Christ. To really take His name and countenance upon me."

I was reading the parable of The Good Samaritan earlier today and all of these thoughts were floating around in my head -- traveling the straight and narrow, falling by the wayside, this process called life, and this 8-week challenge -- so I did a little more study.

It was an 18 mile journey from Jerusalem to Jericho so it took more than a day of travel. Because there were long stretches of empty road, people normally travelled in groups as protection from potential thieves who could easily hide among the rocks and hills. But this man travelled alone.

When reading this parable, I've always thought about the Samaritan and how I can, and should, be more like him. But today I thought about the ways in which I've often felt like the lone traveler. How many times have I felt beaten emotionally and spiritually on my journey? How often do I try to travel this road alone? How is it possible to feel alone when I am surrounded by people who love me and care about my struggles and challenges? What Good Samaritans have I had in my life to remind me that I am never alone?

I have been blessed with beautiful, caring individuals who have tended to my wounds and made me feel whole again. Their actions turn my thoughts to the Savior who is always there, inviting me to find wholeness in Him -- both body and spirit.

Like Alanna, this challenge has been about more than just food. It has brought me to my knees many times as I struggle to control my earthly appetites. And every time I have wanted to completely give up, I think about this group -- my Good Samaritans -- who are traveling this road with me.

I know this journey hasn't been easy or perfect for any of us, but what do you say fellow travelers? Are you still on the straight and narrow or have you fallen by the wayside, as I have. If so, grab my hand and let's get back on the road to Jericho. I know you've had some good moments on this 8-week journey. Focus on those moments and don't let your struggles keep you down. There truly is no failure unless we stop trying. Imagine 24 strong beautiful women jumping out of bed tomorrow, giving thanks for another day and moving forward. What an amazing sight!

So, this is my problem...

I do not have much of a sweet tooth so not eating sweets is no problem for me.  I love to go for walks, especially since I have a dog now, so exercising is no problem for me.  The problem that I always run into whenever I try to lose weight or get into shape is not knowing HOW to eat healthy, or WHAT to eat.  What are some healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas?  I feel as though every time I attempt to eat something that I think is healthy, some nutritionist expert tells me it is not healthy.  It is very confusing to me.  Any insights on this would be greatly appreciated!  :)

Jess Knox

I Think I Can... I Know I Can

This week marks the beginning of what, for many, has become a month and a half long celebration. While celebrations are fun and offer a change of pace from the regular day-to-day activities, this time of year has unfortunately turned into a gluttony of food, busy-ness and credit cards with little or no time spent on reflection or simply enjoying the moment. This year, I am determined to have more of the latter.

I know it won't be easy and, at times, I will struggle. The busy-ness will still be there as well as the yummy temptations and family gatherings where everyone else will be enjoying (indulging). But when January comes I want to be filled with happy memories, old and new holiday traditions, a grateful heart, and a healthy body.

While the past three weeks have been hit and miss, something "clicked" in my head a few days ago and I am more committed than ever to take on this challenge. I won't let a moment or hour or day or week of prior poor choices carry over into this next moment. I am choosing to make permanent life-giving changes.

The following is a quote from a blog post I read recently. If you'd like to read the whole post, here is the link: http://jeffnovick.com/RD/Articles/Entries/2012/11/21_Thanksgiving_Thoughts.html

"The holidays are a time to celebrate, give thanks and, yes, perhaps for some of us, even overindulge a little. It is important to remember, however, that Thanksgiving is just one meal on one day and is not the start of a month–and–a–half long celebration. The occasional indulgence on the occasional holiday (i.e., the actual day & meal itself) will not be damaging to overall health and well–being if healthy eating and exercising take place on a regular consistent daily basis throughout the rest of the year.

 

"The holidays are also a time to focus on family and friends — not just food. Catching up and sharing laughs with loved ones will allow you to feel the spirit of the holidays more than a second helping of pie. Allow yourself to celebrate, but do so without throwing all caution to the wind or hurting yourself.  And remember, your body is never not watching!"

I know we can do this!

Checking in!

So, I will be honest, week one was pretty difficult for me. I really struggled with the sweets and exercise.  But week two I decided I would just do the full 45 minutes of exercise everyday and get the 7 points, and if I really needed a sweet that day then at least I would have extra points to subtract from! And it worked! Knowing I could have a sweet everyday really helped.  I also got my 9 year old daughter to join in on the challenge with me and being accountable to her really made me step it up. She would remind me to cook a second veggie for dinner and we did a lot of exercise together.  Unfortunately, she doesn't want to do the challenge anymore because we are going out of town for Thanksgiving and she just wants to focus on having fun. I don't blame her - I want to do that too!  I begged her to keep going but it's definitely not worth the argument with her (sheesh, who knew 9 year olds could be SO teenager-ish already?!)   But at least I have you guys to help me along!!

How did everyone else do week 2? Was it easier because you had habits in place? Harder because the newness and excitement is wearing off? Are you traveling for Thanksgiving or having a crowd at your house? We leave Friday for North Carolina and it will be hard to leave my own home where I have my routine in place. But my mom likes to take long walks, so I will try to do that with her everyday and just try to save all my sweets for Thanksgiving Day! Oh, and I am not packing any candy to snack on during the 15 hour drive. I will rely on sunflower seeds and beef jerky to keep me alert! 

Hope to hear from you guys!

Inspirational Quote

I know that this quote was given in the Priesthood session, but I really like it so I wanted to share it:

"Brethren, our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off, and move forward."  - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Water

WATER
1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 30%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Week One. The Good, the Bad...and the Good

I'm not gonna lie. Last week was rough. 9 hours on the road. 6 kids. 8 days. Keeping my brother's house spotless for potential buyers. I'm grateful to be home.

The Good I went walking every day except one. Their backyard leads to a great walking trail, and I got out before the kids were up and moving. I stayed fairly consistent with water, fruits and veggies. And there was very little snacking going on after 8:30.

The Bad My emotional ties to food are VERY strong. Actually, I already knew that but the abundance of Halloween candy and stress of the week really got to me. Result: negative in the sweets category; fortunate not to be in the negative overall. I'd like a do-over... :)

The Good My brother's house sold on my first and only showing. They also found a perfect home in Arizona. Denise made a delicious meal of soup and rolls for my family so they didn't starve while I was gone. Your wonderful comments on this blog kept me going when I wanted to quit. I got back Saturday at 9pm to a clean house and a meal ready for Sunday, thanks to my wonderful husband. And as far as the challenge is concerned, I'm doing better with the sweets, I went walking this morning in below freezing temps even though my body screamed "NO!", and I've already downed 32 ounces of water. Things are looking really, really good.

Totally unrelated...I love Winnie-the-Pooh and here are two of my favorite quotes.

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day."

How to Stop Overeating in Seconds...

In my Paleo research, I came across this article that I found fascinating!

Thought I would pass it along to see if it would help anyone.

How to Stop Overeating in Seconds!

Motivational Quote

Here is a motivational quote to keep us all going through this challenge!  (I am NOT calling anyone a failure!  It's just inspirational to think about!)  :)

Jess


"We can learn something from failure and become better and happier as a result.” –President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Sweet Kisses

Last night at pack meeting there were refreshments and our boys volunteered to make brownies. Brownies and ice cream are probably my 2 favorite sweets.  I will pass up any Halloween candy and even passed up having syrup on pancakes in order to be able to hold out for brownies. Still last night I managed to serve up brownies to all the cub scouts and their families and managed to not steal even a bite of one.
After we went home I was getting the littlest boys to bed with pj's and goodnight kisses. There was obviously still brownie left on those cheeks and I commented that it was one sweet kiss.
Jason told me if it was that sweet, I would have to cross off one of my three sweets from this week. It was a good one and well worth it

No Calorie Rewards

I had told Heather last week that I was ridding my room of all my hidden treats and it has given me time to reflect why it has been something I have always done. Why is it I see a need to reward myself in secret when I feel I have done a good job? Why is it that a piece of candy brings me some kind of satisfaction that I will probably regret later? What other non weight increasing incentives do I offer myself? I've spent some time thinking about other options this week and have come up with a few things that I do enjoy that feel like rewards without the added calories.

• 30 minutes of reading my favorite book, 
• emailing or calling a friend I haven't caught up with in months, 
• watching an episode of a favorite show,
• working on a project that I have been hoping to start/finish.

What rewards do you offer yourself that help you get through a difficult task or day?

What Does the Challenge Mean to You?

I was going to reply to Jennifer's question on the original post but then I thought it might be a good stand-alone post as many of you may be wondering the same thing. Here is Jennifer's question:

Is there partial credit? I'm being serious. If I can chug down half the water, do I get half points? Also, it's 5 points for 3 veggies/2 fruits. If I can eat 4 out of 5, do I get 4 points for the day? Just want to clarify and certainly don't want to cheat :)

So what do you think, ladies?

It has been interesting to watch this blog come to life the past few days. So many ideas, so many comments, lots of support, successes and concerns. And while I started this challenge with the purpose of moving toward a healthier body, I'm beginning to realize that it goes a little further than that -- at least for me.

As I've read your comments, it seems like most of us have struggled with these choices for a lot longer than we would care to admit. So first I want to say how good it is to know I'm not alone. And while I know I will always struggle with these choices, this time feels a little different. My motivation feels stronger, simply because I know I'm not alone.

After 8 weeks I don't want to say, "Whew! I'm glad that's over!" Instead, I want this to be the beginning of something permanent. And I sense that many of you feel the same way.

So is keeping track of credits earned important? Yes. Does it add a sense of competition and motivation to do well? Yes. But in the end I don't believe that a bunch of points recorded on a tracking sheet is what will be remembered. How you decide to keep track is up to you.

There will be a recognized "winner" at our Challenge Celebration in January -- and I plan to be right at the top of the list. But when this is "over," the takeaway for me will be a greater understanding of who I am and gratitude for 24 women with whom I never knew I had so much in common.

Another favorite Anne quote that sums up my feelings about the next 8 weeks : "I've done my best, and I begin to understand what is meant by 'the joy of strife'. Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing."

I would just add, ..."and getting up and trying again."

Heather

Hello Ladies!

So this challenge is coming at a very good time for me! I've been transitioning my eating habits for a few years now and this started in the day I was going to give up the foods that cause me the most trouble and try out the Paleo diet, which is only met, veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds and healthy fats. No sugar, grains, legumes or dairy.

I will freely admit that I am a sugar addict!! My body and brain feels that I have to have sugar every single day. Is this true? Of course not! Same thing goes with processed or unprocessed carbs or grains. They do absolutely nothing for me but gain weight, feel sluggish and sap energy. Don't need, and have now finally gotten to the point, that I don't want them anymore either.

 I'm now on day three of my new eating lifestyle, not calling it a diet as I plan to eat this way for the rest of my life. I was snarling yesterday from sugar detox, that resulted in a bad headache and irritation with everything. But today, I'm feeling much better. I'm looking forward to continuing along on this path and curious as to the results.

The plan is to eat the diet strictly for 30 days to eliminate all the toxins from those foods from your body. Once the time is up, you can reintroduce them one at a time, much like testing foods on babies, to see what affects your body. The foods that have been eliminated have been know to cause all kinds of problems. But everybody's body isn't the same so for some, dairy might be just fine, while for others it's not. We'll see.

This will mean that I won't get to eat bead and my heavenly home made stuffing that I look forward to every year, this year. But I'm okay with that. There's been Halloween candy all over the house and while I do still want it and sometimes will salivate when I see it, I have control enough to not reach for it.

Which is also something that I'm trying hard to do in my life. Get control. I figure, if I can control my food, I can control a lot of things in my life, like my finances and weaknesses...or at least begin to. One step at a time, right?

Now, I am seriously lazy when it comes to exercise. Currently, I don't. At all. It's pretty pathetic really. I think I need a work out buddy, but that's been hard to find. I once had the self-motivation to get up every morning at 5:30 to swim, but the place doesn't offer early morning lap swim anymore, which is sad. And with seminary and I start work at 7, the only time I have is at 5:30am. Doable as I've done it before, but not enough motivation. I was working out with some friends in Bear Creek and was in the best shape of my life, and then they moved and I tanked and put back on the 15 pounds I had lost. So sad.

Well, this is way too long. I'll wrap it up. I'm happy to be in this and look forward to the comments and support!

We've got this, ladies!!

Cold Killer

I woke up super sick yesterday, a really yucky cold.  bleh!  But I will not be overcome by congestion!! ;-)

I didn't want sickness to prevent me from getting my credits.

For anyone who is wondering , this is what I do to kick colds to the curb:



Ginger Lemon Cold Killer 

* 3 lemons, quaterted
* 6 inches ginger root cut in inch-size pieces

1. Run the lemons and ginger through a juicer.

2. Use 1 T. of the liquid/1 cup of the hottest water you can drink.  (I use filtered water) (Store the extra liquid in the fridge.)

3. Add enough honey to make it delicious.


This really cuts through mucus and I hate mucus (sorry to say the "m" word).

It's a good idea to drink copious amounts of the tea. Yesterday I drank 2 quarts of this tea.

WARNING: it's VERY strong, so DO NOT drink it with out adding water!!!!

It's cleansing and energizing, which is a little confusing when you are sick. . . "I feel good, but I feel so yucky!" See?  Confusing.

MY Biggest Challenge

There's a lot of talk on here about what your biggest challenge will be. Sweets seem to top the list! (I have a terrible sweet tooth.) Finding the time to do a bit of a workout is tough. (Work all day, chase kids all night, pass out. That's my day.) Not snacking after 8:30 is hard!!

But really, all of these weaknesses pale in comparison to my biggest challenge: Myself.

I am so easily discouraged. I have a hard time finding the motivation to keep going when I'm not seeing results right away. I get overwhelmed at the smallest roadblock. I see other people being awesome and I think to myself, "why can't I just get it together??" When I step on the scale and see I've gained another pound, my entire day is ruined.

I'm so glad to be a part of this fitness challenge so I can have the support I need to get back on the right track physically. Mostly I'm hoping that at the end of this 8 weeks I'll have more control over not only my health, but my mind as well.

I'm excited to get started on our fitness challenge! Like Heather, this morning when I woke up at 5, it helped to know that I wasn't alone! The hardest part for me is definitely going to be the sweets; I'm sure most of you have the same problem! It didn't help that today was Wes's birthday ... so I gave myself a little breathing room today with the food, exercised a little more than normal, and I'm promising myself that I'll do better tomorrow! We can do this!! :)

Sweets substitute?!?!

The hardest part of this challenge is definitely going to be the 3-sweets-a-week deal.  I'm not alone, right?!  Let's be real, it's asking a lot to limit myself to 3 sweets a day.  Ugh...this was almost a deal-breaker for me, but luckily Tina convinced me otherwise.  So while I put all that yummy Halloween booty out of sight (but not yet out of mind), I'm wondering if any of you have good ideas about feeding my sweet tooth (ahem, sweet teeth) in between those 3 treats.  Ideas???  This is all I've come up with on my own, so please add to this list!! 

- yogurt (if you're a lemon fan like me, try "muller, fruit up, luscious lemon"...it's very dessert-esque!)
- 100% fruit juice
- whatever fruit has the most natural sugar

(I love that there is no calorie counting in this challenge!) 

Thanks, in advance!

Sang

First Thoughts

Okay -- be honest. What was your first thought when you woke up this morning and remembered about our challenge? My first thought was, "Ugh! It looks so cold outside."

While I'm at my brother's home, I've decided that if exercise is going to happen it has to happen in the morning before the day gets crazy. When I left for my walk it was 42 but felt like 35 with the wind. On the bright side, I walked a lot faster than I usually do.

I've been drinking more water the past few days and have learned that I better be near a bathroom about 30 minutes later or I'll be sorry. Then I made the mistake of drinking 16oz before I left on my walk. If the wind didn't make me walk faster, the water definitely did. Any tips from you regular water drinkers? Does your body eventually get better at using the extra water rather than just flowing right through you? :)

I think sweets will be the hardest part of the challenge for me. I tend to be an all-or-nothing person. When I eat sweets, I can't seem to stop at just one. So knowing that I can enjoy 3 makes me a little nervous. Will I be able to stop? Should I just ban them all together? Will that only make it worse? Which category will be your greatest challenge?

Here's hoping for a great first day...with many more to come! Even as the cold wind was blowing this morning, the thought that I wasn't alone made it bearable.

Heather

Do The Next Right Thing

Here we go! Are you ready? As Anne with an "e" would say, "Today is a new day, with no mistakes in it...Yet" (L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables). That quote aligns nicely with another personal favorite: "Each moment presents a new opportunity to do the next right thing" (Johanna S. Kandel).

I love these sentiments because they remind me that there are always opportunities for change, to do better than I did even a nano-second before.

If I lose patience with my son, I can turn it around in the very next breath, apologize and show greater love. If, in a moment of weakness, I inhale six cookies, I can decide right now that I will go for a walk, or write in my journal, or pray for help to make a different choice next time.

This moment is a new moment, one I haven't experienced before and one with no mistakes in it. The next choice is up to me.

Our 8-week challenge is just that -- you make of it what you choose. Do your best, but don't beat yourself up because you slip. Reach out in your moments of weakness and be generous in sharing your successes. You could make all the difference for someone who is struggling.

We’re in this together. One can only imagine the good things that will happen as a result of our efforts. Thank you for joining me on this quest to make positive life changes...one choice at a time.