GOALS for February

1. Use food journal (btw, I got a new one... picture to follow shortly, much better than my original and is going to be more helpful)
2. Be intentional with food planning
3. Step up the excercise
4. Lose 5lbs
5. Post one new recipe

Where have I been...

I am so sorry... I totally forgot to let you know that I would be gone for about a week and a half. I was in MT visiting my brother and family for my niece's wedding. So, I'm back... Glad to say that I did not gain any weight while I was gone, nor did I lose any. In fact, I think that i OD on Coke while I was there. Coke became my drink of choice. The after affects were not nice. I have felt miserable for days and have been swollen like a stuck pig!

So, I am back at the starting point... 203.5lbs. It could be very depressing and discouraging to see that after two months, I have completely gone back to where I started. However, it would be all this, if I didn't understand how I got here. Remember my sister-in-law that lost 70+lbs? Well, we had a great talk while I was there and she really gave me some great tips. Once again, the key is preparation or as my pastor would say... intentionality. If I want to get healthy, I need to be intentional, meaning. I need to wake up everyday with a plan of attack. She explained to me that she ALWAYS has some kind of healthy snack with her. For her it's the protein bar. I saw her more often than not grab a couple of protein bars to stick in her purse before we left the house along with a couple of waters. Wow! Never thought about that. I remember doing that for V when she was a baby, but for myself? Never would have thunk it!

With the month of January ending, I have gathered the troops, saw that we were losing the battle, and have determined a new plan of attack...Here they are...

Weigh-In #5

Well, not a happy day in the household...mom gained a pound. I'm totally going to blame it on hormones! It's that time of month and have been eating myself out of house and home! I have had so much Coke and chocolate that I think that I have overdosed! So what's a girl to do? I walked 1.5 miles today. Not a bad start. Haven't started my journal yet, actually I'm really scared to. I'm not sure I want to know what I eat everyday. Ugh! This is so much harder that I thought. But it's so comforting to know that I have friends that are encouraging me and praying for me along the way! Thanks bunches!

Reflections

Okay, so I gained back almost everything that I lost...Why? Looking back over this last month, I see that I made good food choices only part of the time. I wasn't deliberately looking for the best choice, I was getting by. I know that I'm not going to lose the weight by "just getting by." If I'm going to change my eating habits, then I need to put myself in a position to do just that. Go through my pantry and refrigerator asking myself "Will this hinder my success? Is this going to be a temptation? Will this help me?" I need to be proactive and not reactive.

A dear friend posted this as her facebook status :

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Prov. 25:28

Wow! What a great verse! A city that is not fortified will fall to the enemy immediately. A person not prepared will fall to any temptation out there, be it food, lust, lying, etc. We must guard ourselves!

Btw, I did get my new journal. Very excited! It's green and pretty. I'll post pictures of it later. Now, I'm looking for that perfect pen. I'm hoping to start posting recipes of the week! We could all use help making healthier, heart friendly, butt friendly meals!

Have a super week!

Weigh-In #4

Got on the scale this morning... ugh! I gained 2.5 pounds over the holidays.