Press On Through Discouragement

April has been a month full of celebrations. My birthday, Easter, our wedding anniversary and our oldest daughter's birthday all fall within the short month of April.  Staying on track during times of celebration is really hard, because nobody celebrates with broccoli, it's always sugar and fat, and yummy.

Despite the list of celebrations, I tried to make wise choices.  I opted for water instead of sweetened drinks, used a smaller plate and picked restaurants with smaller portions.  To counter act the extra "things" I also increased my daily steps and am consistently hitting between 10k and 12k steps per day.  By the end of April, I was back to eating raw veggies and lean proteins for most meals, and the weight just kept climbing.  I was so frustrated and discouraged.

I kept eating right and drinking water, walking and feeling like a failure all the while. The scale showed I'd gained back all but 4 pounds of the weight I'd lost in the first couple of months.  How in the world is that even possible?

Then a weird thing happened. Warning, TMI...  On Thursday morning, I did all the regular things then headed to the grocery store, where I bought veggies and hummus and all the healthy things.  While I was out, I had to go pee twice, and I wasn't gone that long.  I got home and I continued to run to the restroom.  Friday morning, I literally couldn't go on my morning walk because I was running to the bathroom every few minutes.  By Friday evening, I was back to "normal", and on Saturday when I weighed in, I was showing a 3 pound weight loss from the morning before.

What I realized is that the sugars and salt in the celebratory foods had caused inflammation.  After a couple of days of eating right and drinking more, my body suddenly released all that fluid it had been holding and the scale took a drastic change overnight.  

So, here's the thing, we have to keep making the best choices and keep doing the right things.  The body will respond in time, but we have to not let our "feelings" talk us into giving up when it appears we're stuck and the scale refuses to move, or moves in the wrong direction.

"Do what's right.  Do it right.  Do it because it's right."

Another Epiphany (Disguised as a Surprise)

I'm sure you've seen the movie "It's a Wonderful Life", right?  You know how, at the end of the movie, George Bailey realizes that he wasn't just a guy that gave up his dream for other people, but that he actually impacted the lives of other people for the greater good?

Well, on April 1 (the irony is not lost on me), my husband took me out to an early birthday breakfast, and then we went antique shopping.  We went to several antique malls, bought one small item and then headed home.  We have a big church right beside our home, and they were hosting an Easter Egg Hunt.  I commented to my husband that based on the amount of cars in their parking lot, it looked like they'd had an excellent turnout. 

I noticed a receipt floating around in the wind in the yard and grabbed it, and commented that somebody in the neighborhood sure ordered a lot of pizza (based on the receipt).  We came on in the house, and there, standing in my sunporch were roughly 30 of my closest family and friends, yelling "Surprise!"

My 17 year old daughter had spent the last 4 months planning a surprise birthday party for me.  I've never had a birthday party, ever, and it wasn't even on my radar screen.  She'd been getting my phone and copying everyone's phone numbers into her phone over time, texting and sneaking to get them all here.  There were friends from almost 3 hours away, that I've known for close to 30 years.  Her daughter was the first newborn I'd ever held, some 26 years prior...and there stood that girls beautiful 4 year old daughter.  My best friend, who was my maid of honor, and present at my oldest daughter's birth was there from 2 hours away.  My older brother, who has always been my closest companion and confidant was there.  My neighbor who has started going to church with me in the last 3 years and has changed her whole life around was there, beaming at me. A pagan family (yes, truly) who I know through my kids jiu-jitsu class was there.  They call us family because we walked along beside them through a health crisis that brought on a financial crisis. A local gal pal and her sons who've been through hell on earth and back was there despite all their social anxiety and aversions to crowds.  Even my in-laws were hanging out there in the back of the crowd.

The church did have a good turnout, but about 10 of those cars were people who parked there and walked to my house for the party.  The receipt floating in the yard, yeah that was the pizza delivery that had arrived at our house moments before we pulled in.  My daughter, knowing I'm on a journey to better health even ordered a salad for me, and bought a huge fruit salad so I wouldn't have to make poor food choices.  I did have cake and enjoyed every bite!

Honestly, this time in my life has been hard, because I feel like I don't have a "spot".  Homeschooling is wrapping up in about a month, the kids are basically grown and independent.  I left my career to raise a family 20 years ago, and just haven't felt like I've been "successful".  Then I looked around at the group of people that took their time to come spend the day with me, and my family who worked very hard to sneak around (NOTHING GETS BY ME, I'M STILL IN SHOCK).

For my youngest daughter to have put this much time, effort and money into such an endeavor, and pull it off exceptionally well really touched my momma heart.

So, I say all that to say, don't be weary in well doing.  Even when nobody sees but you, God knows the things you do for others.  But sometimes, he gives you a "George Bailey Moment" to let you see that it's not in vain.

Fighting Discouragement

I am a results driven person.  "Get it done" is my motto.  Weight loss doesn't work like that, and I get discouraged when I don't see things changing as quickly as I'd like them to.  But I'm no dummy, I'm not about to pray for patience!

A couple of scriptures came to mind this morning, so I thought I'd share those here with my readers as well.  I mean, after all, I can't be the only one who battles discouragement when looking at the scale, right?

So, today, remember you can do it, don't get tired, and don't give up.  I told my BFF this morning that I was feeling discouraged, our humor isn't for everyone, but I'll share what she sent me anyway.

Feeding On the Wrong Things

I recently had an epiphany, or at least a light bulb moment.  My struggle with my weight started not too long after we moved here, almost 15 years ago.  At that time, my husband was working night shift, and sleeping through midday.  Our kids were 6 and 4, and I was homeschooling, taking them to all their activities (sports, dance, co-op) and taking care of everything else at home.  It was busy, very busy.

I remember distinctly having a conversation with my Mom early in that season of extreme busyness, when she asked me when did I spend time in the Word.  Now, I've been a Christian since I was 6, so I knew that "in the Word" meant reading my Bible, praying, worshipping and being actively involved with God.  I remember very vividly, the look of shock on her face when I said "Mom, I don't have time.  Sometimes I don't even have time to take a shower." 

I realized (epiphany), just recently, what I'd done was let my soul starve, which in turn created a void, that I apparently tried to fill with food.Honestly, I don't consume nearly as much food as my spouse or teens, but everything just seems to stick to me.  I've been perplexed for years as to why my weight has increased like it has. It got to the point of even going to the doctor to see if there was an issue with my thyroid or blood sugar levels; both of which are normal. 

As I'm in this new season of very little going on, I've reconnected with God in a more intentional way.  I'm spending a great deal of time reading, praying and listening to good, sound, Biblical teaching.  I'd love to say all the weight just melted off, but that's not the case. However, I am seeing steady results on the scale.  I'm not craving junk, I'm enjoying whole foods and I feel better physically.  More importantly, I'm more peaceful, and am once again excited about the things of God.

I encourage you to make time for God, and He'll help you get the rest done.  And you know, if it doesn't all get done, does it really matter?