No Excuses

I'm sure I'm not alone here, right? We've all made excuses to not exercise or not eat a healthy meal. I have made excuse, after excuse, after excuse. Similar to the image above. I'm sure I'll continue to make excuses. 

I joined a gym at the end of November. I've been there exactly two times. Why?

• Because we got that heavy snow right after Thanksgiving...
• Because I was too busy getting ready for Christmas...
• Because I was too tired from getting things ready for the Christmas services and preparing to be out of the office for a week...
• Because I have to clean the house (the grandbaby is coming for a week at Christmas)...
• Because I crashed and burned this week, so I'm too sore...

There always seems to be an excuse. And I give in to the excuses more often than not. 

I hope you haven't come here for answers. I don't have any. I'm just here to hopefully share my struggles. Perhaps we have the same struggles.

I would love to know what keeps you motivated. What helps you say "no more excuses!" Feel free to comment, if you like.

~Darlene

Thank God It's Monday

Thank God it's Monday. Who says that? 

I like the National Day Calendar page on Facebook and they say today is "Thank God It's Monday Day." Here's what they say about the day:

"NATIONAL THANK GOD IT’S MONDAY DAY

National Thank God It’s Monday Day is recognized each year on the first Monday in January.  This day was created to celebrate all things that will occur on a Monday in the upcoming year, such as; a new job, promotion, birthdays, holidays, vacations, etc.  This is also a day, which starts out the first full week of the new year, to look ahead with real hope, energy, enthusiasm and excitement for all things to come in the next 12 months.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy the first Monday of the year and use #ThankGodItsMondayDay to post on social media."

I guess today (and every Monday) is a fresh start. 

~Darlene 

Crash and Burn

And I thought yesterday was a bad day!

The bad part of today also had to do with counting my steps. I was doing some laundry. I sort my laundry on my bed, then bring one load of laundry at a time to the laundry room. The bedroom and laundry room are on the same level, but at opposite ends of our ranch-style home. Good way to pile on the steps, right?

During one of my trips into the bedroom I noticed a couple shoe boxes that could now be recycled since the date had passed for a return (I had to exchange a pair a couple weeks after purchasing because one of the shoes broke). I carried the boxes outside to our recycle bin. On my way back in my fitness tracker vibrated on my wrist, so I was checking to see if I had met my goal or if it was telling me the number of steps I still needed take to reach my goal.

As I was checking my wrist I missed the second step up to our front porch. I fell flat on my face onto the cement porch. Well, thankfully I didn't hit my face. Somehow I had my arm between my face and the pavement. I did however, skin my right knee and my left elbow. I also have a little road rash on my right hand and a scrape on my left hand.

I did not get my 250 steps in for that hour. I did however get all bandaged up by my wonderful husband. Despite the bum knee I was able to get three of my remaining five hours of steps completed.

So, I will end today's post as I ended yesterday's post...

Yes, it's okay to have an occasional bad day. Just remember...tomorrow is a new day. A fresh start.

~Darlene

Bad Days

Not everyday, but occasionally it is okay to have a bad day. A bad day when you don't eat properly. A bad day when you don't exercise. 

I know, we're not even a week into the New Year and I've already messed up my journey to a healthier me. But I am not discouraged. As I look back at my day, I see that it was not the whole day that was bad.

According to my fitness tracker, I have more steps in today than my normal "sitting at my desk all day" kind of day. I recorded in My Fitness Pal every piece of food that went into my mouth, whether it was a "good for me" food or a "not so good for me" food.

Those were two of my goals for this new year.

• Be mindful of my steps and try to get in 250 steps each hour (for 9 hours of the day).
• Record everything I eat.

They are not my only goals, but they are two that have made my bad day not so bad after all. It is true I have not met my daily step goal, but I've been mindful of getting my 250 steps each hour in. It is also true that I've entered more calories into My Fitness Pal than I should have consumed today, but at least I was truthful with my entries.

Yes, it's okay to have an occasional bad day. Just remember...tomorrow is a new day. A fresh start.

~Darlene

Inspiration

What inspired me to start posting in a blog that hasn't been used since 2011? Actually it was a number of things.

A friend of mine whose health was greatly challenged this past year when his weight increased rapidly, posted something on Facebook that inspired me to reevaluate my health. He had an epiphany moment when he realized losing weight and improving his health was not something he could do on his own. He asked God to take the lead in his journey. That was when I remembered the group that was formed at church. The group that inspired this blog page. We knew we couldn't do it alone, so we joined together to support each other and asked that God be part of our journeys as well.

Another inspirational moment for me was when I received a coffee mug (or hot chocolate mug since I don't drink coffee) as a gift from a couple whom I consider friends. The mug has a scripture passage on

it. "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus..." Ephesians 2:19. This scripture reminded me that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" just as the title of the blog page reminds us.

But the biggest inspiration is my grandson. I had the privilege of babysitting him four days during the holidays. The first two days were extremely exhausting. A six month old takes a lot more effort than this 55 year old grandma remembered a six month old taking when I was a 23 year old mom. I realized if I want to see my grandson grow to be six years, 16 years, and 26 years old (and beyond), I need to improve my fitness level.

Thus, my journey begins. Whether anyone reads these posts or not, it has been beneficial for me to write them.

I hope this might inspire you to reflect on your journey, too.
~Darlene

Comfort

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 

Where do you find comfort? Do you find comfort in others? Do you find comfort in material things? Do you find comfort in food? Do you find comfort in God?

I almost always look to food for comfort. That has been a big downfall for me. The reason I've struggled with my weight for so long. The reason I've developed weight-related health problems.

I need to move from this valley I have been stuck in and allow the Lord's rod and staff to bring me comfort. I need to remember that God is always with me.

May you find comfort in God's Word as you continue your journey to a healthier you.

~Darlene

Back to Basics

Psalm 139:13-16 was the scripture the group read and adopted when we first began meeting in 2011. It still inspires and reminds me that I was formed by God. He formed me inside my mother's womb. 

He is worthy of my praise "for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." All His creations are wonderful. It's easy to see the wonder in a sunrise or sunset. To see how amazing God's handiwork is in a delicate snowflake or a towering mountain. We may sometimes forget how wonderful and amazing God's creation is when it comes to ourselves. 

But, as the Psalm states, before we came into existence, God's eyes beheld us. All our days were written in His book. Even now, only He knows what lies ahead for each of us.

God doesn't make junk, so we shouldn't fill ourselves with junk. Choosing a healthier lifestyle, making healthier food choices, moving more, are things we need to do every day. 

I hope you are inspired to continue your journey to a healthier you.

Peace,

~Darlene

Long Time Between Posts

Wow! It's been seven years since a post was made on this site.

I wonder if anyone will read this. I wonder where everyone is on their fitness journey.

I've had ups and downs in these past seven years. My biggest achievement was joining a gym and utilizing the services of a trainer. Those six months in late 2015 - early 2016 made a huge difference. Not just in my physical health, but how I felt about myself, too. I was physically stronger. I was mentally stronger. The depression I had felt was lifted.

Now it is three years later. I'm not as physically strong. And probably not as mentally strong, either. The depression lingers in the background, but I continue to fight it off.

In 2018 I left the gym I that I had joined in 2015. I couldn't bear to go back and admit my failure (although I am doing so in this blog post). In late November of 2018, I joined a different gym. I have only been a couple of times. Life seems to have gotten in the way. Or perhaps I have let life get in the way.

2019 is a new year. It's time to start a new chapter. This morning I began using My Fitness Pal again to track what I eat. I used it faithfully in 2011 and again in 2015. This time around I am planning to add another "help" along this journey. That "help" is God. I will grab hold of His promise and strength to guide me through this journey. God is in control of my life (if I remember to allow Him to take control).

I hope to hear from others who began this journey with me in 2011 or from others who are beginning their fitness journey for the first (or second, third, or hundredth) time.

Blessings of health and wellness to each of you in this new year,
~Darlene

Hmm

"Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness." — Earl of Derby

Romans 6:10-13

¹⁰The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ¹¹So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. ¹³No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.