Power, Love, and Self-Control: September 2010

The 3 Bite Rule

Sigh...........The Hostess of the Humble Bungalow mentions the 3 BITE RULE in this post. I THINK I'm going to practice that for a few days and see what happens. SOMEthing has to give! (I just ate a piece of leftover taco pizza for breakfast, so I'm starting right NOW.)

Determination/Satisfaction

"You have to wake up with DETERMINATION if you want to go to bed with SATISFACTION!"

(Heard on Dave Ramsey's radio show today.)

I'm WORKING at it!

Seize THIS Day!

I may not look too thrilled about it, but I AM wearing jeans that don't have an elastic waistband! And I DID do 30 minutes of exercise this morning! And I DID avoid major sweets, bread and pasta yesterday!

A quote from my morning devotional said this: "When God says 'today', He doesn't mean 'tomorrow'." I blogged a little more about that HERE.

Hope you're making the most of YOUR opportunities and seizing the minutes of THIS day to be all God envisions for you.

Intentional!

Today is my first INTENTIONAL day of 30 minutes INTENTIONAL exercise after a long period of an UNINTENTIONAL lapse!

If only I had the upper arm strength of our granddaughter! Sigh.

The Thrill of Victory. The Agony of Defeat.

Keeps me busy just snapping pictures!

"What is it about victory that breeds complacency and then failure???" Those were Jess's words to me yesterday in her comment. If we could figure out the answer to that, we'd all be LOSERS (or actually WINNERS at the weight loss/management game)!

That cycle was certainly the story of Israel in their Old Testament history, wasn't it! Hmmmmm. I need to study that again.

Tackling MY game at the four levels from yesterday:

I'm weighing in but not telling! I'll record it in my journal.
Still wearing an elastic waistband because nothing else fits.
Will exercise MORE than 30 minutes with the grands here.
Will have watermelon instead of sweets and only one piece of pizza (lunch) and no other breads or pasta.

Joined the family at age 7 months!

THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND FRIENDSHIP!

WE CAN DO THIS! AND NO BETTER TIME TO START THAN TODAY!

Face the Facts

Unfortunately, I've NOT been maintaining the healthy habits that brought me to a healthy weight last year. I've wasted a good summer. (Well, a HOT summer, anyway!)

Today when it came time to dress, I admitted the fact that there is very little in my closet that fits. I got rid of larger clothes in January, thinking that would be incentive to keep the weight off.

Here for me to face are the facts:

I was irregular in 30 minutes of daily exercise--then quit altogether.
I have been careless - make that EXCESSIVE - in the amount of sweets and breads I've been eating.
I quit weighing everyday.
I started wearing elastic waistbands!

I'm sure there are more facts to face, but for now these are the ones I need to reverse. I will be posting more regularly here again in expectation that it will help me be more thoughtful about my actions.

That Woman is a Success . . .
Found at itsnotaboutfood.blogspot.com

who loves life
and lives it to the fullest;

who has discovered and shared
the strengths and talents
that are uniquely her own;

who puts her best into each task
and leaves each situation
better than she found it;

who seeks and finds
that which is beautiful
in all people and all things;

whose heart is full of love
and warm with compassion;

who has found joy in living
and peace within herself.

~ Barbara J. Burrow ~

To which I add, "who makes God's kingdom and His righteousness her #1 priority"....(rlg)

"A day must come in our lives, as definite as the day of our conversion, when we give up all right to ourselves and submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. . . . there must be a day when, without reservation, we surrender everything to Him--ourselves, our families, our possessions, our business and our time. All we are and have becomes His, to be held henceforth entirely at His disposal. From that day we are no longer our own masters, but only stewards. Not until the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a settled thing in our hearts can the Holy Spirit really operate effectively in us. He cannot direct our lives effectively until all control of them is committed to Him. If we do not give Him absolute authority in our lives, He can be present, but He cannot be powerful. The power of the Spirit is stayed." (Watchman Nee)

"Each day you take a few small steps, then build on them day after day. There may be set backs, everyone has them, but those victories will add up, and then pretty soon you'll be amazed at how different your life has become. And what could be more alluring than the prospect of waking up to your best life? So roll up your sleeves and get to work!"

"Remember, every step you take toward reaching your weight loss goal is really a gift that you give to yourself. When you eat right and exercise, you are taking care of yourself, treating yourself with respect, and acknowledging that you deserve* to be healthy and happy.” (Bob Green, The Best Life)

Rebecca's note: I have trouble with "deserve". I want to care for my body because God Himself cares for it! Do I "deserve" health? No, in light of my sinful inclinations and the fall of mankind, health is a gift. A GRACE-gift directly from the hand of God--a gift to be handled thankfully and thoughtfully.

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