Who I Am

Good day to ya!  I figured I better get back to blogging about my healthy eating journey before I went plumb off the beaten path and went back to old habits.  You know, healthy eating is a complete change of mentality and change of lifestyle.  I have already had several times when I just wanted to throw in the towel (last week it struck once again), but I chose to stop throwing myself a pity party and do something about it.  I figure since it's such a huge change in my life, I also shouldn't beat myself up for struggling with it either!

Sometimes it's hard to keep eating healthy or making healthy choices when the scale is not showing a number less than what it did the last time you weighed.  I know this because that happened to me last week.  I was counting calories and had not been going over and eating more than I should, AND I had been keeping track of my fiber intake AND how many glasses of water I had each day.  And yet, when I stepped on the scale, it appeared as though I had gained 1.5 pounds.  I know that doesn't sound like much, but oh man.  When you already thought it was long gone and it shows back up again, then, as Tom Hanks said in the movie Apollo 13, "Houston, we have a problem!"

Last week, and even up until Sunday, I felt like I had been on some emotional roller coaster and I felt so defeated and discouraged about every thing in my life - literally EVERY thing.  Then, I told myself that having a pity party about what the scale said was not going to change it.  I determined I would work harder this week and keep going down this road of healthy eating.  Even if I don't see results on the scale, at least I know I am doing what's best for my body.  Like Lysa says, the numbers on the scale do not define us!

Recently, when I was reading the Made to Crave Devotional Book, I came across something Lysa said that totally struck a chord with me, and I thought it might for you too.

She writes, "Tying our happiness to food, skinny jeans, relationships, or anything else sets us up for failure. But tying our security, joy, and identity to God's love is an anchor we can cling to no matter what our circumstances may be."

She goes on to talk about what happened when she reached her goal weight.  She thought she would never have a bad day again.  I mean, when you are at your goal weight, what can go wrong, right? 

I have found myself so many times thinking that if I were skinnier my life would be easier.  I would feel better about myself.  I would be prettier.  Things wouldn't bother me as much.

Maybe you've thought those things and even other things like this.  If I were skinnier then....
- I would have more friends.
- More people would like me.
- I would have a better marriage.

or any of those other things I mentioned that I have thought myself.

The truth is, in Lysa's words, "I've had to accept... that my body size is not tied to my happy.  If I was unhappy when I was larger, I'll still be unhappy when I get smaller."

Wow! How eye-opening that was to me.  I realized that even losing weight would not make me happy.  That's not who I am.  That's not who we are. That's not what defines us.  We can't tie our happy to our circumstances or else our happy will be very topsy-turvy.

So, who am I? Who are you?

We are children of God who have been forgiven, set-free, accepted, holy, made-new, loved, confident, and victorious. (p.126) 

That's who we are.  That's what defines us because that's who GOD says we are if we are his children.  No skinny jeans, diet, or weight loss can satisfy us or make us happy forever.  Only our Maker can!

Be encouraged today!  Go take a walk and enjoy all of this spring weather!

Love,
BB

Pinterest Passion and other Crafts

If you know me pretty well, you know I can't resist a good craft!  I really have to stay away from pinterest because it just gives me way too many project ideas.  I wish I had the resources and more time to spend on doing such things, but I try to get away and do crafts and stress-relief projects whenever I can.

I thought I would just attach a few pictures of my most recent things I've crafted.  I have some more projects lined up, so maybe I will post those later!

I hope you are having a great day! 

Butterfly Hairbows

Wipes Case Cover (Front)

Wipes Case Cover (Back) I had to add velcro since my first attempt left me with a case that would not close!

Post-it note holders with encouragement.

Motivation Monday

Before I posted this, I will tell you I had VERY LITTLE motivation to exercise or really do anything to be honest! :)  Caroline is cutting her molars (poor thing) and so she kept me up for a portion of the night, but I am happy to say that after doing my 30-minute walk and knowing I burned 200 calories, I find myself a tad motivated.... :)

You know, exercise is very counterintuitive.  What I mean is that you would think that when you are tired and don't feel like exercising that you might as well just keep chilling on the couch, but when you actually get up and move you have more energy!  I have had to learn this, and it has been my motivator many times. So, if you are thinking, "Oh, it's Monday. I deserve a break."  I DARE you to move! :)  You'll feel better - I guarantee it!

So, here we go with the things in my healthy eating journey that I have been pondering on.  Here is my most favorite thought of recent from Lysa's book.

Every situation has both good and bad.  When I want someone else's good, I must realize that I'm also asking for the bad that comes along with it.

How many times have you glanced at those magazine covers while you are waiting in the checkout line at Wal-Mart or the grocery store and seen the beautiful bodies staring you in the face and thought to yourself, "man, I wish I looked like that," or  "I bet that my life would be so much better if I was that thin or that pretty?"

Lysa points out that when we get into this mindset that all of a sudden "what [we] don't have blinds [us] from seeing what [we] do have."  When we look at someone and wish we looked like them or had their lifestyle, we don't consider all of the bad that comes along with it.  Everyone has their own issues and that's for sure!

Proverbs 14:30 says "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones."  This scripture reminds us that we should be thankful for what we have!  We are so blessed, even if we don't have that supermodel body.  And you know what, maybe it's just not God's will that we do.  After all, we don't know the "bad" that comes along with it!  All we can do is be a good steward of this body God has given us.

Be motivated today.  Get moving!  Make healthy choices!  You can do it! 

A Diversion from the Notorious Food Posts...

Okay, so usually I use my blog to talk about my healthy-eating journey (please don't say the "D" word... diet... that is a BAD four-letter word!!!).  I thought I would do something different today.  It is out of the ordinary and may seem strange, but it's what has been on my mind here lately.

You know there's something about a song.  Music in itself is therapy and food for the soul, but there's just something magical, if you will, about music and it's power.  I'm not talking about some kind of weirdo power either, I mean, the way music can make you feel and bring back memories that transport you back in time.  I have been experiencing this musical power all of my life, but here lately, it seems just a regularly occuring thing.

For all of you who know about Caroline's sleeping habits and how she doesn't really sleep well STILL after being a year old, it probably would come as no surprise to you to know that I spend a lot of time with her rocking her in the glider in her room.  I can't just sit there.  I have to sing.  I don't have the best voice in the world, but to Caroline, this mama's voice is good enough.  It's music to her ears! :)

I find myself singing to her songs I grew up listening to, but not just any songs.  I think back to all of the songs I used to hear my Paw Paw sing in church and even ones that my daddy sings.  And you know what, those are THE BEST lullaby songs.  Those old hymns full of praises to God really do work the best.  Their melodies are soothing, their words are comforting, and I'm telling you that they just work.

Although I really can't stand sitting in that rocking chair sometimes (especially when my arms ache or my body parts are starting to fall asleep), I find that when I am singing that chorus of "How Great Thou Art" quietly and sweetly to that precious baby that more often than not I have a mini-God worshipping session.  I find myself truly listening and understanding the words to those songs that I have heard all of my life and never really taken the time to really and truly LISTEN.  I end up getting the biggest blessing out of singing those songs from my heart in that quiet, darkened room.  Some nights, my cup just runs over while I am sitting in that chair.

Seems that maybe God hasn't given Caroline the ability to sleep too well yet because sitting there in that chair and singing to her and thinking about Him are actually some of the sweetest moments in my day.  And what's funny, is that when I started typing this post, I totally did not have that revelation until just now... seriously.  Truly God has His ways of getting our worship and praise!

As I sit there singing those old songs, I am transported back in time to when I used to hear them sung when I was younger by my Paw Paw and sometimes my daddy still will sing those songs.  Those are such precious memories.  I am so proud of my family, and the Christian heritage that I have.  It's an honor to know that my grandparents (my Maw Maw and Poppy included) and great-grandparents have been known as people who lived Godly lives.  I am so richly blessed with a great family - mama, daddy, sister, brother-in-law, a loving husband, and two beautiful children.  Not to mention everyone else including my adorable nieces and nephews!

So, I guess I will leave you with this thought.  Listen to those old songs you have heard all of your life.  Have you really read the words of  "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" or "Victory in Jesus" and really thought about what those words are saying/meaning?  Sad to say, that even though I've been around music my whole life and I started piano lessons at age 7, that now at almost 30 years old, I have just realized some of the awesome meanings behind the inspired words of these songs. 

LISTEN. Think.  Praise God!  Music is one of his most precious gifts!  I'm so thankful for it!

Eating Healthy is Not Popular or Cheap!

It's a good thing I only have 1 follower, because if there were more people who followed this blog, I would definitely have to update more than I do! Ha!

Anyway, I have had this revelation...did you know that eating healthy is not popular?

No, it's not.  Recently, we went on a short weekend trip.  We stopped at gas stations numerous times for pit stops and had to eat on the run just to get where we were going in a reasonable amount of time in several instances.

Every time we stopped and went into one of those gas stations, I was bombarded with donuts, candy, chips, cokes, the all-time favorite of chocolate, and every other bit of sugary goodness you can envision entering your mouth.  It was hard in some ways to walk to the nuts or trail mix section and try to find something that didn't contain an astronomical amount of calories and/or sugar.  There isn't a wide selection of fruit and whole-grain healthy snack option as gas stations... sigh!

Let me just tell you, that I was so proud of myself.  I did NOT give into the donuts!  Girlfriend, let me tell you, that was hard!  You see donuts are a food group on my food pyramid, or should I say, former food pyramid.  I won't lie, I did give in a eat several items that should be banned from my healthy eating while I was on this trip, but overall, I was reasonably disciplined.  Thanks be to God for His strength in this matter!

Eating healthy is not popular!

Here is my other revelation....Eating healthy is not cheap either.  Man, those candy barsin the gas stations cost like less than a dollar.  That trail mix or those nuts cost more than that.  Seems like we have it backwards in society.  Oh how I wish that that bag of donuts costs $10 and that a bag of apples cost $1.  Wouldn't THAT make healthy eating and living easier and cheaper!?  Sheesh!

Well, the bottom line is that no, healthy food will never cost less than the junk food in the grocery store, and it is hard to turn away from some of these foods I have considered to be my friends and have consumed for my whole life.  And yes, I still really crave something sweet almost every time I have a meal.  And you know, it's really hard to change your mentality about food after you have been eating one way for 30 years.  REALLY hard.  But, I figure I owe it to myself to try to do that.  I'm trying not to consider myself as deprived from certain foods, but that I am trying to make a healthy choice in the foods I do choose to eat.

One thing I really have been pondering on recently from Lysa's book is when she talks about how food is made for our benefit, but not our detriment.  Those aren't her exact words, but that's how I like to think of it.  Food is meant to help sustain my life and keep me going.  It's not meant to control my life, or even worse, have control over me.  Ouch!  Sugar sure has a way of doing that, doesn't it!?

So, I have a renewed commitment to myself and my healthy eating journey.  I am still trying to eat more healthy and exercise more.  I cannot stop!  Maybe if you are reading this you can relate to my struggles, and let me encourage you that if I can even attempt to make a change, I know that anyone else can do it hands down!  God as our helper we can and will become healthier women!!!

Sweet Tooth Woes

I won't lie to you.  Today I have opened up that cabinet in my kitchen (and multiple times yesterday) and there it was -- C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E.  Yes, every woman's best friend and coping mechanism has been staring back at me and mocking me too I might add.  I want it so bad my mouth waters for it - no joke.  Sad, I know!  One time I even picked it up and ALMOST opened it up to eat just a "bite," BUT I resisted and put it back.  Talk about tempation!

Who ever knew that food could be so tempting?  Maybe that was why Eve fell for it in the Garden of Eden? Who knows!?

I keep finding out things about myself as I have been on this Made to Crave journey. 

• The first thing I discovered was that I think I have an addiction to sugar and really crave it like ALL the time. 
• The second thing I have discovered is that I thought I didn't really have an issue with food, but maybe I wasn't looking deep enough within me to determine that maybe I struggle with it more than I want to admit.  I have found myself in the middle of a stressful moment going to that cabinet in my kitchen, opening it up, and just looking in there for something to satisfy me or take my mind off the situation.  I actually surprised myself when I realized I was doing it.  Yes, I believe the food issue IS truly there. Ouch! So, now to deal with it!
• The third thing I have discovered is that I am a good starter, but not a good finisher. Don't get me wrong, I am the queen of conquering projects.  I don't like to start a craft project without finishing it.  I don't want to start washing dishes without washing all of the dirty ones, but for some reason, and in some areas of my life, this quality doesn't transfer over.  That really bothers me.  Why am I like that?  I guess if it's hard enough, I just cave in?!  My resolve is really not as strong as I thought it was - when it comes to food anyway. 

All of my life I have eaten pretty much whatever I want, but now it shows.  I think most people would agree it doesn't look like I deprive myself at all!  But, I have truly felt like I needed to make a change, and with the Lord's help, change is becoming a little easier.

So, going back to my mouth watering for that chocolate.  It makes me wonder, do I crave God's Word and God's presence in my life as much as I want that chocolate?  Do I try to find my peace in what I put in my mouth or what I read in His Word and He imparts in my heart?  Wow... that hurts too!  To be honest, I KNOW for a fact that the chocolate has won WAY too many times. 

This journey can't be just about food and it's not.  I want to crave God more than I do the food.  I guess the chocolate will stay in the cabinet after all, or maybe I should just take it out of the cabinet and put my Bible there so the next time I have a stressful moment and run to that kitchen cabinet, there waiting for me will be the answer to all of my problems, the words I need to live my life for Him, and the only thing that can truly satisfy ALL of my cravings!

#MadetoCrave

Monday, Monday.....

I read a statement this morning in my Made to Crave devotional that was so profound.  This is what it said, "Don't let people's compliments go to your head, and don't let their criticisms go to your heart. The degree to which you do either of these things is the degree to which you'll be ruled by what other people think of you."

I would encourage you to read it again. I read that sentence probably three times to wrap my brain around it so it could sink in.  Even though this quote is really not particularly related to weight and healthy eating, I though it was so true.

It's SO easy to let the things people say, or to let the things we only think people think of us, really get us down and defeat us.  Like the saying goes, "he who angers you controls you." I believe it's also true that he who makes you feel defeated and discouraged controls you whether it's about your appearance, your weight, you personality, or whatever.

When I decided to write this blog, my decision and comittment to change my ways to be more healthy was exposed.  I felt a bit vulnerable.  Even though I don't have a huge following or a bazillion blog readers, I can't turn back now.  I feel more accountable to uphold my decision, and I needed that.

So, I will try my best to do what Lysa said and not "let people's compliments go to [my] head, and [not] let their criticisms go to [my] heart. The degree to which [I] do either of these things is the degree to which [I'll] be ruled by what other people think of [me]."  My goal should be to please my Savior, live this life for Him, and try to take care of this body He's given me as long as I am able.  In doing so, I believe I will grow closer to Him and have more energy to serve Him. 

Glad that when we get to Heaven we will be able to feast at His table and not have to worry about exercise!!!