DAY 300 Spring Challenge Week 11 Update

Hello Journal & Friends,

Time for our Challenge Update!

Holy cannoli!  I can't believe it's Week 11. Only two more to go. By now, you probably know this part by heart, the overall goal of our Challenge:

"The goal of this challenge is to teach yourself to look at your new behaviors positively, to learn to be nicer to yourself and believe in yourself, to learn to enjoy healthy behaviors and learn some moderation. A little balance. It's important. More important to learn than the extremes - too much and deprivation."

So here is my weekly confession...er... report.

My Spring Challenge goals:

1. Every day for the next 13 weeks, do some kind of Exercise.

2. Every day for the next 13 weeks, drink a Greenie.

3. Check in every Saturday.

4. Tell one thing each week that I like about myself.

5. Save up to buy myself a fun Reward at the end.

My Exercise: 

Since I quit pushing the walking and started focusing on other exercise, it's been more encouraging. I plan to do a Friday Favorite review of the new exercise DVD's I bought... I've been enjoying them, especially the Chair Boxing and the Chair Yoga (ooohhh, I was so proud of myself to be able to finally say "I've done Yoga", ha ha ha!)

My Greenies: 

Still enjoying them, and finding new combinations... made 5 out of 7 days. I've been having them as part of my dinner. It's very filling and helps to curb nighttime eating urges. But when Jim is off work and here for dinner, that sort of messes with my routine, and I'm not hungry after eating dinner together. So, I've accepted that it's unrealistic to cram one in after eating dinner with my sweetie. I can live with 5 out our 7. 

One thing I like about myself: 

Must we still think of this one?? It's getting harder each week!  Okay, here's one:

I like my medical training, and my ability to read and understand medical terminology. 

It has been so helpful over the years, in doing research and learning. Most doctors don't have time or interest in educating their patients, so we must learn on our own if we want more than "take this pill and see me in 3 months." I'm blessed in that my current family doctor is cautiously open to alternative medicine, as long as I have thoroughly researched it, and can present him with the research data.

For my Reward: 

Still stashing away money in my glass bear jar. Had to hide it up high... Vee, our new kitty found it and decided it was a fantastic toy to attack!

Remember, we want progress, not perfection.

From Dr Phil's book: "Gain emotional closure...refuse to live with unfinished emotional business."

My verse for today: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer."

My quote for today: "He conquers who endures." --Persius

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 299 A Stinky Friday

Hello Journal & Friends,

Today will be a stinky Friday Favorite!

It's about GARLIC... wonderful, aromatic, tastey and stinky garlic!

I enjoy adding different spices to foods, and over the years have discovered a lot of different ones to try. But garlic is an old friend... one of the first ones I met years ago and learned to love.

But... I am not a fancy cook, nor a gourmet... I rarely get the "real" deal and mess with peeling and chopping it up tiny, then sauteing it, etc. Nope, I admit it.. I use the... gasp... dried stuff!! Oh the horrors... ha ha ha .

Before you purists puke, you must know that I've found a fantastic dried garlic, bursting with flavor. We found it the first time at a local fair here in Oregon, and have ordered it online since then from their website, The Spiceman (HERE).

It is so good, I bought the Garlic Lovers Garlic and also the Sensational Garlic and Herbs. Both are delicious and fresh tasting. Here is what they look like:

For economy's sake, I got the medium sizes, filled little shaker spice jars with some, and stashed the rest in the freezer. It really is good, and if you don't like or have time to mess with fresh, this is the next best thing!

From Dr Phil's book: "You can't change other people or other conditions; you can change only your reactions to them."

My verse for today: "My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth."

My quote for today: "Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce make it Chinese; garlic makes it good."  --Alice May Brock

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 298 And Now For Some Self-Honesty

Hello to my Journal & Friends,

Yesterday I took off from being all serious and just had some fun. Today, it's time for some self-honesty. So, I'm going to just dive right in!

I feel like I've been getting lazy and sloppy on my journey... getting too comfortable. A little bite here, a little less exercise there. Not requiring enough of myself. Not holding to a higher standard. 

It all came home to roost last night, when I stayed up too late, got hungry and wanted to eat. And I did... knowing full well it put me over my calorie budget by 400 calories.

That's when it hit me hard, that if I didn't put a stop to this now, I was opening the door for all my old habits to take over... to start growing up like weeds and choking out my new life. 

Since getting over all the illnesses from the winter season, I have not stepped up to the plate, giving it 100%. I have allowed excuses to creep in. I need to go back to the basics and get with the program again! 

I recently read a post from Sean Anderson that stirred me up and made me face myself (HERE).  In it he said: 

"If it's ever going to change, 

we have to accept the challenge 

and rise above our circumstance."

I remember once hearing a sermon on Going Back to the Basics. The preacher guy had been a baseball player in the minor leagues. He explained that whenever coaches saw a player in a slump and struggling, the first thing they did was go back to the basics. 

They checked his form, his grip, his swing, his stance, his throw... all the basics. Many times the problem was simply that sloppy or lazy habits had crept in!

I feel that's me. So, back to the basics for me. Simple, plain, nothing exciting or new.

-1600 calories per day. Non-negotiable. Period.

-Do my planned exercise for the day. Non-negotiable. Period.

-Do my spiritual/mental/emotional input for the day. Non-negotiable. Period.

That's it. Back to the basics. Not skating by or phoning it in... but doing it with all my heart.

Half-hearted efforts will yield half-hearted results. And that is not what I want. 

I want to live fully, boldly and with joy each day. I want to rise above my circumstance and live NOW. 

From Dr Phil's book: "Get real with yourself."

My verse for today: "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song."

My quote for today: "From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached."  --Franz Kafka

DAY 297 And Now for a Little Fun

Hello there, Journal & Friends,

Time for a change of pace... time for some fun. Recently Ms PJ Geek (here) was nice enough to think of me for the Oh My Blog Award. Thank you, PJ!

I haven't been doing most awards lately, because they are usually so time consuming and have lots of rules, and I'd rather spend my limited computer time visiting Bloggy friends. 

But... then I actually read the rules on this one, and realized I only had to do ONE thing.  I can do that, ha ha ha. So, here are the rules:

Here are the details on the award:

1. Get really excited that you got the coolest award EVER!

Check.

2. Choose ONE of the following options of accepting the OMB award:

(a) Get really drunk and blog for 15 minutes straight, or for as long as you can focus.

Naw, my tea isn't that strong.

(b) Write about your most embarrassing moment.

Too many to choose from.

(c) Write a “Soundtrack of your childhood” post.

Again, too many to choose from.

(d) Make your next blog a ‘vlog’/video blog. Basically, you’re talking to the camera about whatever.

Wish I had the tech stuff to do that, sounds like fun.

(e) Take a picture of yourself first thing in the morning, before you do anything else (hair, makeup, etc) and post it.

Ahhh... that I can do this one. But you might want to cover your eyes!

3. Pass this award onto at least 3, but preferably more, awesome bloggers as yourself. Don’t forget to tell them. 

That will be the hardest part, limiting it. There are sooo many blogger that I enjoy! But, I will try to pick out 3 bloggers I've been enjoying, and tell why I picked them.

Okay, here I am... hair askew, no makeup, housedress, computer glasses. Yikes!

And now, be warned, you have been tagged:

1. Nancy at Deliberately Thin, because even when life gets in the way she never quits.

2. Lisa at 24/7 Low Carb Diner,   because she just quietly keeps at it, day in and day out, and continually offers wonderful recipes at her blog.

3. MargieAnne at NothingIsTooHard,   because I only recently discovered her, and she has inspired me to remember that it is never too late. She is remarkable!

From Dr Phil's book: "You and only you choose how you feel. Others may provide an event or behavior for you to react to, but it is up to you to choose how you feel about them."

My verse for today: "The unfolding of your words give light."

My quote for today: "People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing." --Dale Carnegie

DAY 296 Surviving Monthly Weigh Day

Hi Journal & Friends,

Just to let you know... if you breathe deeply and hold your breath, ya don't weigh less. 

Today was my Monthly weigh-in. The verdict? 336, which means I lost a grand total of TWO pounds for the whole month of May. Need I say more??!!

I think my big experiment was a bust. The only thing I did differently--which I struggled with--was to switch these last two weeks from 1500 calories per day, to the variable count. At the end of the week they added up to approximately the same calories. BUT, I really struggled with the variable approach.

I discovered I am one who LIKES predictability. I like routine. I did NOT like continually getting mixed up and forgetting which day I was on, the up calorie day or the down calorie day. It was frustrating and not relaxing, and I didn't enjoy it at all! I found myself trying to make up for my goof-ups by compensating the next day... which made that day too short, which was frustrating and in the end... it just didn't work.

I think it's a good plan for later, because it kind of fits real life. But for NOW, I guess I am like a 10 year old who has been handed a credit card... I am just not ready for it. 

I am going back to what worked. I was doing well at 1600 calories per day, so that is what I am returning to... live and learn, huh?!

 

From Dr Phil's book: "When conflict arises... don't panic and seek solace in food. I have the power to choose."

My verse for today: "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."

My quote for today: "Each day is a journey, and the journey itself home." --Haiku by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=