No, Virginia, It Isn't the Weather

Remember  "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus"?

After confessing that I'd lost my groove, I received  a lot of speculation that the culprit was the weather.  Oh, how I wish  that was true! The end would be in sight, if that were so.  It would be just a matter of a few weeks until I would get my groove back.

Sadly, a closer evaluation has eliminated the weather as reason for my lapse.  I give you my truth in the form of a list.  I warn you, it is graphic!

1.  2 pieces of peanut butter pie.  Thick pieces.
2.  2 medium Dairy Queen Blizzards - Georgia Mud Fudge
3.  A carton of frosting.  That's right.  Cake frosting.
4.  1 small piece of Dairy Queen ice cream cake (it was a celebration!)
5.  Neglecting to do 30 minutes of indoor exercise at least every other day.  If I exercise every day for the rest of the month, I will end up close to that goal.
6.  Irregular meals and lack of planning.
7.  Fazolis.  4 breadsticks in one meal.
8.  Too few fruits and vegetables.

No, Virginia.  It isn't the weather.   And now that I know, I will be more intentional and focused.  Note:  I exercised 30 minutes today and have eaten no frosting, Blizzards or peanut butter pie.

Confession: I've Lost My Groove

"Confession is good for the soul," or so I've heard. Well, I'm confessing.  I've lost my groove.  My "want to"  is still there...it's my "follow through"  that's missing.

So far, there have not been to many consequences (in the weight department).  I am still exercising at least every other day.  I've just lost my groove.

I'll get it back.  It had better be soon.

Lenten Question

"The real question of the Lenten Season is how will I clear out the junk and garbage in my life so that I can be restored to God in some fresh way." 

Ruth Haley Barton

VEGGIES, GYM, AND PERSONAL STYLE

"In other words, grooming, hair care, and matters of personal style rank right up there with eating your veggies and hitting the gym."   

So wrote Sally as she guest posted at Coveted.  It's a post well worth reading, in my opinion.

As I began to establish healthy patterns of eating and exercise, my wardrobe needed some adjustments.  I was able to wear styles that I hadn't been able to wear before.  I took new interest and pleasure in grooming, hair care, and matters of personal style.

This all happened about the time I discovered blogging.  Keeping this health blog up to date has played a huge part in the success of my weight loss efforts.  Now, it serves to keep me on task while maintaining my new habits.  Similarly, my "thrifty style" blog has helped me analyze and enjoy the new size and styles of clothing I am now able to wear.

These two blogs of mine work in tandem to keep me "on track" and committed to my goals to be the best me I can be so that I can be a credit to God who created me in the first place!

FAT MONDAY

While growing up as a child, I don't remember Mardi Gras ever being mentioned.  Apparently I had little curiosity or else there really was not a big hoopla over its events in the small communities in which we lived.  Even as a mature adult, Mardi Gras takes me by surprise and I have to re-educate myself about its origins and significance.  This year, from the brief excerpt I've copied from Wikipedia below, I learned (or re-learned) that Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday".

I got ahead of myself and celebrated Fat Tuesday a day early.  I'll spare you the details.  So for me today is ASH Tuesday.  I think some of you will understand.  I hope the rest of you don't MISunderstand.

From Wikipedia:  Mardi Gras refer to events of the celebrations, beginning on or after the Epiphany and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" (in ethnic English tradition, Shrove Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which started on Ash Wednesday. Related popular practices were associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent.

Popular practices included wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition. In English, the day is called Shrove Tuesday, associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.

Exercise: No Show in the Snow

Most of us are getting weary of the snow pictures.  This was taken out of my front doorway yesterday.  Basically, it's as far as I got.  For exercise purposes,  I'm a "No Show in the Snow".   I would have never made a Winter Olympian!

The truth is, I've been a "No Show" period the last few days.  Today I picked it up and walked, jogged, and did a few weight exercises for the first time in several days.  It's been my longest lapse since the beginning of the year.

But I'm back. While doing some Bible study this morning, I came across three "P"s for training - whether physical or Greater Purposes (see I Timothy 4:8).  At the end of that chapter are these words:  Practice, Progress, Persist.  I'm going be more intentional about all three of them.

HOW TO INDULGE

I live in Colt Country.  It is difficult to go anywhere without being reminded of this great team and the fact that in less than 48 hours, the pregame hoopla will be winding down and The Game beginning!

Our Home Connection (a small group from our church) will be gathering at our house to watch.  Watch and EAT, I think is a more correct statement!

I'm reminded of a statement I read recently.  Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, was asked  what the most misunderstood advice (presumably in her book) was.  She replied, "Indulge."

She continued, "You should treat yourself only in a way that doesn't have negative consequences."

I'll try to remember that Sunday night. 

By the way, Cindy at Letters from Midlife has posted some delicious-sounding recipes for Superbowl snacks.  She says she uses as many fat-free or low fat products as possible in them! Do YOU have a favorite healthy snack?  How will YOU indulge this weekend?

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Just for the record....after getting home from an errand this afternoon, a friend called to say she was going to walk - OUTSIDE!  Did I want to meet her and walk, too?

I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to cold weather, but I bundled up the best I knew how and we walked quite briskly for 30 minutes.  Next time I'll wear a hat or earmuffs!  I thought my white scarf wrapped several times around my neck would keep me warm - but not so much.

I'm very happy with my indoor routine.  Maybe when the sun is out and the temperatures just a bit higher, I'll be a little more enthusiastic about outside exercise again.  It WAS nice to spend time with my friend, though.

CELEBRATION!

After a bowl of WONDERFUL home-made tomato bisque soup at Leo Diner,  I enjoyed a piece of pecan pie at my sister's home where we gathered to celebrate my mother's birthday and play games.

I rewarded my successful "7-Day Plan" completion by indulging in a most scrumptious piece of pecan pie.  My other sister brought pies from Chicago-area Baker's Square.  I DIDN'T have any ice cream or whipped cream on top.

Day 7 - I CAN Do It

"It takes 6 months to get into shape and 2 weeks to get out of shape. Once you know this you can stop being angry about other things in life and only be angry about this."

Rita Rudner

I copied this from Bluebird Notes.  I don't know if it's actually fact or fiction, but I know it's how it seems! And, of course, it isn't an excuse to be angry at anything.  Rather it is incentive to get in shape and STAY in shape.    Thus, my current tools (pictured here) along with healthy eating.  

I CAN do it!  WE can do it!

ALMOST DONE

Day 6 - One for the history books!    I've stuck to the plan and have one day left. 
I'm happy to be back at my B.C. weight (Before Christmas).  Tomorrow I will complete my seven day commitment.  I feel lighter, proud of myself, thankful to God for giving me the inner strength to do it, energized, healthier, and ready for the next challenge:   

Keeping off the 40 pounds I lost last year and losing a few more to reach 135#.

Things I Didn't Eat on Day 5

french fries, garlic bread, turtle blizzard, latte grande, fresh donuts, Big Mac, Snicker candy bar, Almond Joy candy bar, Heath candy bar, Hawaiian bread with spinach dip, peanuts with chocolate chips and raisins, bacon, hot fudge sundae, Moose Tracks ice cream, brownies, hazelnut cappuccino, potato chips, buttered popcorn, sausage gravy and biscuits, chocolate chip cookies, nacho chips with melted cheese, loaded baked potato, elephant ears, breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, Milky Way candy bar, Hershey Kisses, taco pizza on pan crust (Pizza Hut)...

Reporting In...End of Day 4

DAY 4

For the record, I've been able to stick to the plan yet another day.  Only three more days to go!    

The Scale is a Good Consultant

 I confess that I went to bed last night feeling a bit hungry.  But I resisted the urge to snack.  I knew that eating even one thing would lead to eating more.  (The strong coffee I drank at the coffee shop didn't help the condition of my stomach any either.)

At any rate, I got up this morning, weighed as I usually do and was THRILLED to see results already on the scale.  Yes, I'm one of those who still thinks that in the business of weight management the scale is a good consultant.

I am encouraged to continue my vegetable/fruit plan.  After today, I am over halfway finished!

Day 3 of 7

For our main meal today, I prepared a salad of iceberg lettuce, chopped broccoli, walnuts, raisins, a hard boiled egg and tomato.  A side of chopped chicken made it heartier for my husband along with some saltine crackers.

We finished it off with an apple.

Tonight I meet a friend at a coffee shop.  I will have a cup of decaf coffee instead of something fancy.

A handful of almonds and a slow snack of 2 T. peanut butter with either another apple or a pear will be enough for me today.

I'm still liking this plan!