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.

Iodized or Non-Iodized?

After 40 years of adult life, you'd think I'd remember which kind of salt I should use!  Today I stood in front of the two types and reached for the iodized.  It was about $.20 less than the non-iodized.  When I got home, I googled the subject and found out some VERY interesting facts!

Iodized salt is any salt that has been fortified with the essential trace mineral-- iodine. Iodine as well as sodium (salt), can be found in most plants including fruits and vegetables. But the amounts you are able to obtain from plants may not always be enough especially if they have been grown in poor soil. Therefore, iodized salt can help to maintain a healthy balance of iodine in the body.  The benefits of using iodized salt are numerous, as the whole body depends on these two minerals in order to function properly:

Improved Thyroid Function

Our bodies needs iodine for the thyroid to produce a couple of essential hormones called thyroxine and triodothyronine. These hormones help to regulate the metabolism and the growth and development of the body.

**Improved Brain Function**

Iodized salt can improve the functions of the brain, such as memory, concentration and the ability to learn. An iodine deficiency can lower the IQ by as much as 15 points.

Healthy Pregnancies

Iodized salt in moderation can help to prevent miscarriages and stillbirths. It can also help to avoid cretinism, which can affect the physical and mental growth of the baby while it is in the womb or shortly after it is born. Cretinism may affect the speech and hearing as well as other bodily movements.

**Fights Depression**

Depression and feelings of anxiety and frustration may be the result of an iodine deficiency. Iodized salt can help to ensure that you are getting enough iodine to prevent these emotional feelings from occurring.

**Weight Control**

Iodine is important for regulating the metabolism. When it is too high, you may not be able to gain a healthy weight, and if it is too low, you may gain weight, or be unable to lose it. Additionally, iodized salt can increase your energy levels so that you will exercise more.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Iodized salt can prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying in the intestines and can help you to prevent many symptoms of IBS, such as headaches, fatigue and constipation.

**Improved Appearance**

It can help to cure dry and flaky skin, and improve the growth of your hair and nails. It also plays a role in developing and maintaining healthy teeth.

**Removes Toxins**

Iodized salt can help to remove harmful metals such as lead and mercury as well as other harmful toxins from your body. This can help to restore a healthy pH level in your body.

**Fights Cancer**

Studies have shown that an iodine deficiency may contribute to certain types of cancersuch as breast, ovary, lung and prostate cancers.

**Heart Health**

Iodized salt can help to create hormones which regulate the heart rate and blood pressure. It can also help the body to burn extra fat deposits that contribute to heart disease.

We only need about 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. of iodized salt daily, as 1/2 tsp. contains as many as 200 micrograms of iodine. The recommended daily dosage for the average adult is 150 micrograms. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consume between 175 to 200 micrograms daily. Most processed foods contain salt, but usually this salt is not iodized. So you need to take the necessary steps to ensure that you are getting enough from iodized salt or from other foods.

**I assume this information is basically accurate.  The items I marked are of particular interest to me!   

Who knew?

Scared Straight

A couple of days ago, I overheard a conversation in our local public library.  Apparently one of the individuals had two tumors in her brain. The two people she was talking with encouraged her to google "baking soda" and consider this alternative treatment for cancer. 

I don't have cancer.  But I came home and googled it.  One of many, many articles that appeared was THIS one.  I am NOT recommending this treatment, but was intrigued by the article and wonder if there is a nugget of truth in it.

It was a long article and claims to be quoting something from "John Hopkins Hospital".   I'm going to do further research on what was supposedly contained in that newsletter because most of the information seemed consistent with everything else I know about healthy habits.

It was enough to "Scare me Straight" (does anyone remember that phrase and method of confronting destructive behavior?)!!!

By the way, there are many sites that have great suggestions for putting Baking Soda to use in your home.  Here's one of them with 75 of 'em!

"Life Was Meant to Be Lived..."

"I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on.  Life was meant to be lived.  Curiosity must be kept alive.  One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life."  

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Personally, I've found that healthy physical habits are inseparable from healthy emotional, mental and spiritual practices. 

I've also learned (many times over) that it takes longer to MAKE new habits than to BREAK old habits! 

Life WAS meant to be lived!  And while the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, Jesus came that I may have life, and have it to the full!  (John 10:10)

The Encouragement of Friends

You just never know the good your words or actions may trigger in another person!  This morning, Donna's post was on my mind.   Besides being happy with/for her, it served to prod me to put my "pedal to the metal"*!

It helped that I woke up with new energy after sleeping most of the last 24 hours.  After a week of stomach upset, I finally THINK I feel better.  I have no excuse to put off the proper care and feeding of my body

So after saying "good-bye" to my husband, I put the trampoline down on the floor and began my 30 minute walk/workout.  Now, at 7:45 a.m., I am drinking a glass of water and celebrating.  I did it!

* When the accelerator is pushed so far it can't move any more, (in some cars) it hits a metal bar, or the end of the footwell (which is hopefully made of metal). Hence the term pedal to the metal. Obviously if you have the accelerator all the way forward you're gonna be gathering speed...or going fairly fast.

Thanks, Donna!  

I Thessalonians 5:11:  "Therefore encourage on another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

I Walked and Walked and Walked Some More

I didn't walk 30 minutes today;  I walked more like two hours.
I didn't walk quickly today;  I did some strolling.
I didn't walk alone today; I walked with my husband.
It wasn't cool today;  it was hot.
I didn't walk inside my house today;  I walked through other peoples' homes and gardens.

To see more of the OUTDOOR scenes that I saw, click here.

I'm WITH It!

This is the path from our side yard to the front door.  This week (as many of you know) I began a path.  A path of 3 days without white flour, pasta & rice.  I was successful and got back to 30 minutes of walking daily, too.  I'm not at the "front door" yet, but I'm on the way.

More important than what I went WITHOUT is what I am WITH!  I am WITH energy--emotional and physical.  I'm going to get serious about finding the article that triggered this three-day dare.  It made sense then; it makes sense now.  I'd just like to read it in full again.

Losing It With Jillian

In my weight loss journey of last year, I pretty much eliminated breads and pasta from my daily menus.  Concentrating on fruits and vegetables with occasional chicken or fish, I successfully lost over 40 pounds.  Gradually, I have drifted back into eating breads and pasta -- too much, too often.  

After reading a chiropractors blog yesterday, I accepted his challenge to eliminate breads, pasta, & white flour completely for three days and take note of my energy levels and emotional responses.  Today was Day 1.  Already I believe I have more energy.  I didn't feel sluggish and sleepy in the afternoon.  I intend to follow this plan the next two days.

I came to the end of the day and hadn't exercised.  While flipping TV channels, I came across a show that was new to me:  Losing It With Jillian*.  After about 15 minutes of watching a husband and wife with significant weight to lose do so intensive workouts, I got out of my chair and did my 30 minute indoor walking routine while I watched.

I'm really thankful that I did it. I plan to do it early tomorrow morning instead of putting it off until 8:30 p.m.!

*Losing It With Jillian: Jillian Michaels To Rid Families Of Their Excuses and Empower Them To Transform Their Lives In a New Life-Changing Series (from a Press Release)

"I've Been Resting on my Laurels"

(Sung to tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad") 

I've been resting on my laurels

Far too many days!

I've been resting on my laurels;

But I'm done with lazy ways.

So I got back to my work-out.

Now to plan my meals...

I've been resting on my laurels

But now I'm back to "real"!

Centuries ago, the Greeks crowned the victor in the Pythian Games with a wreath of laurels in the belief that laurels communicated the spirit of prophecy and poetry.  (They also reportedly put laurel leaves under their pillows to acquire inspiration!)  The laurel in modern times is a symbol of victory and peace and of excellence in literature and the arts.

The phrase "Rest on your laurels" refers to being so satisfied with past achievement that you make no effort to improve--to stop trying because of one's success or satisfaction with the past.

Well, I'm DONE with that!  I've even been inspired to hijack the words to an old song to sing of my resolution and effort today! 

Sing along, if you want!

Days Well-Lived at the Abbey

A solitary walk up this hill yielded this close up of Joseph and Jesus....

Another day, a hike with friends took us to the statues.

Healthy meals (and no in-between-meal snacks) and daily outings like these contributed to my PHYSICAL well-being.  My emotions and spirit were similarly nurtured.  I hope to honor the time I enjoyed at Gethsemani by continuing these practices.