Power, Love, and Self-Control

Miscellany

I need to walk today (or tomorrow) to meet last Monday's goal.
I will probably fall one fish meal "short" of last Monday's goal.
I am usually inspired by the "Motivation to Live Well" feature in my sidebar.
I frequently cringe over the spelling errors in "Motivation to Live Well" - for instance today: "Attitude fuels every step that we take, choose your's wiseley each day."
Our scale isn't 100% accurate, but I'm pretty sure I've dropped at least 1/2 of that 1 pound that was bugging me. By morning, I think I'll see it ALL gone.
It stormed severely yesterday. I spent awhile picking up the smaller branches and trash scattered around our yard. We are blessed to have electricity and a roof over our heads. So many sustained serious damage.

EXCITING UPDATE!

After an exhausting hour of raking up debris in the heat of the afternoon,

I showered and stepped on the scale. Guess what! The pound was GONE!

Here's the scoop about the Action Plan I formulated Monday...
1. I had my first fish meal today - Salmon at Sandra D's in Auburn, IN!
2. I've walked 2 mornings. One to go. (I will probably exceed THIS goal.)
3. I've continued the Fast-5 plan faithfully.

It's a big boost psychologically to meet and surpass goals, don't you think?

Action

"Action is the foundational key to all success.”
-Pablo Picasso

Here's my ACTION PLAN for this week:

1. Continue to observe the 5-hour-window for eating.

2. Three meals incorporating fish (1 salmon)

3. Walk 30 minutes 3 days

I did NOT "release" that pound that I referred to in my previous post.

I'm hoping for that to happen before the end of the month.

One Pound...

...that's all I need to "release" (as some people phrase it)
by this Sunday morning.

Special Occasions

Seems like we've had lots of "special occasions" lately...If not planned FOR and planned AROUND, these can be challenges to a weight-loss crusade! Just in the last two days, I've planned AROUND an "anniversary extended day" and a Father's Day dinner. So far, so good...

Now I'm planning for a couple of lake days with girl-friends.

In all these cases, the Fast-5 eating plan has served and WILL serve me well.

Almost There

Working outside - nothing strenuous...just steady.

Good for the body, mind, and soul.

Consistency in observing my "5-hour-eating-window"

is paying off.

I like not having to worry about WHAT foods I eat or

weighing and measuring them.

I've found my appetite diminished;

my weight loss gratifying.

I'm almost "there".

Lights, Camara, Action

Lights. Camera. Action.

After a few days of all three with our grandchildren,

an added blessing was stepping on the scale

this morning and finding I'd lost another pound or two!

I'm almost to my "primary" goal.

Choosing Beauty

A few days ago, a large piece of slate with faded paintings of dragonflies

fell and broke in two as we were cleaning off the potting bench.

At first I was ready to discard the broken piece.

But then I saw potential.

My husband drilled a second hole in the larger piece

and I chose two words to stencil on them.

(Only now do I realize that standing together they say, "Rose Garden"!)

On February 6, 2012, I was about ready to give up on ever being

at a sane weight again.

I believe that on that day I was given grace to see the future as a clean slate

on which I could create beauty out of brokenness.

I am receiving DAILY grace for DAILY clean slates.

Each day I can choose to throw possibilities away or to create beauty.

I choose beauty!

What Is Is

See that photo of me from a few years ago over at the top of the side bar?

See the date below the picture?

Yes, my hope was to be looking like that by June 1.

Well, here it is--June 2.

I got a late start. If I'd gotten serious earlier, I would look like that TODAY!

I'm about 10 pounds from that.

I'll get there. Just later than I wanted to.

I'm ecstatic that I DID start and am so close to my goal.

(I thought about deleting the date or changing it.

I decided against that.)

What is is.

Eating Out

Such interesting and healthy choices!

I had the salmon salad - spinach, avocado and ruby red grapefruit slices

with a vinaigrette dressing!
I passed on the breads and desserts--but don't these breads look yummy!

Honey on the Table was a new spot for me...

had a European flair.

There was outdoor seating, but it was full yesterday.

I expect to return here soon.

The Fast-5 eating plan let me enjoy so many pleasurable foods

and still lose weight.

It's 4 me!

A Facebook Exchange

She said: "Mexican at 10 at night? What were we THINKING?"

I answered: "That's why I like the Fast-5 thing I've been 'doing' since February. It kind of does the thinking FOR me. From the start, I found its psychological benefits equal to or surpassing the physical ones."

Goal-Setting

Somehow, it helps.

At the beginning of each month, I record weekly (and realistic) weight-loss goals
in my purse-sized date book.

Today is the 24th and I am at the goal I projected for the 27th...
(if you click on the picture, it enlarges--and you can see how much I weigh)

so I've turned the page and written down my targets for June.

Post your goals where you’ll see them often, along with notes of inspiration.
Reminders are a good thing.
(from Motivation to Live Well, 6/4/12)

Update

This week I said goodbye to the 160's (pounds, that is)...
with little fanfare, but great JOY!

Ten more to go

and then I believe I will be satisfied to "maintain".

Eating Out

While visiting my infant grandson who is hospitalized in Chicago,

I took our daughter and my sister who had driven with me

out to lunch. One of them wanted Chinese.

So this is where we went.

It served both Chinese and Japanese cuisine.
I didn't officially find out what "maki" and "uni" were.
My dauighter thought a kind of tuna???

I had steamed white rice with a chicken/vegetable combination

and could only eat about half of it.

So I successfully ate within my "window".

This plan is so flexible.

It served me well on Mother's Day also when I

carried in meatloaf, refrigerated mash potatoes, and hummingbird cake

to my parents' home.

My sister brought the rolls and a wonderful spinach/strawberry salad.

Treats

You've gotta love those D.Q. mini Blizzards!

Not the price so much

as the serving size.

I like Georgia Mud Fudge

made with chocolate ice cream.

When eaten occasionally within my 5 hour window

(per the Fast-5 eating plan),

I have continued to lose weight steadily.

Do YOU have a favorite treat?

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.

Power, Love, and Self-Control

Pages

Miscellany

So Far...So Good

Action

One Pound...

Special Occasions

Almost There

Lights, Camara, Action

Choosing Beauty

What Is Is

Eating Out

A Facebook Exchange

She said: "Mexican at 10 at night? What were we THINKING?"

I answered: "That's why I like the Fast-5 thing I've been 'doing' since February. It kind of does the thinking FOR me. From the start, I found its psychological benefits equal to or surpassing the physical ones."

Goal-Setting

Update

Eating Out

Treats

Pages

She said: "Mexican at 10 at night? What were we THINKING?" I answered: "That's why I like the Fast-5 thing I've been 'doing' since February. It kind of does the thinking FOR me. From the start, I found its psychological benefits equal to or surpassing the physical ones."

She said: "Mexican at 10 at night? What were we THINKING?"

I answered: "That's why I like the Fast-5 thing I've been 'doing' since February. It kind of does the thinking FOR me. From the start, I found its psychological benefits equal to or surpassing the physical ones."