In January of this year, we made a decision to change our lifestyles. In the beginning my goal was to lose weight, look better and feel better. During the second month, my focus began to change. Not that these things weren't still part of my goal, but they were not the focus. I happened upon a book called "Made to Crave" by Lisa Teykurst . This book helped me to realize the addiction I had, and how I could change my habits to glorify God.
This started with a change in eating habits. This was not intended to be a diet. We have done so many diets, I can't even count. They all failed because there was no change in lifestyle or heart. They were like band-aids to cover the real issue of food addiction. As a parent and wife, I have carried extreme guilt for the eating habits I have modeled for my family. My children did not learn to like unhealthy food naturally. I purchased and introduced it to them because it was cheaper, easier and quick.
I began to research "healthy" food. Slowly we made changes to the things we eat everyday. Basically incorporating a LOT of fruits and vegetables, fresh whenever possible. Using lean meats and fish, almost eliminating red meat completely. We also eliminated most sugar that didn't occur naturally in food, and switched to Steevia as a sweetner. We started eating more whole grains and whole wheat products versus the "white" stuff. Drinking a lot of water and smaller portions have also been helpful. That is a summary of the eating part of our change. No miracle pills, plans, supplements or food. Just eating healthier.
This is not as constricitng as you might think. It is actually liberating! I am not a slave to food anymore. There is no guilt if I am at a birthday party and have a small piece of cake because I know this is just a treat. It is not part of the daily norm anymore. An ice cream from Ben and Jerry's in Gatlinburg was glorious. It would have never tasted that good if we had continued to eat it every night! I am reminded of a scripture, All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.. 1 Corinthians 10:23. We have the permission and ability to eat whatever we want, but it is not healthy (profitable to our health) and it does not honor (edify) God to choose to be unhealthy stewards of this body he has given us.
After we got a pretty good handle on the eating, we started to get active. This was easier for Bryan and the kids than it was for me! For the past 18 years I have been pregnant 6 times and basically never lost any of the weight I have gained with each pregnancy. Since my soccer lifestyle in High School, I have been pretty much inactive as far as exercise is concerned. This has piled up to a HUGE 100 lbs of excess weight!!! Wow, it is humbling to confess that!! Going from fit and athletic to obese! I have been held captive to food addiction, obesity, and anxiety for half of my life!! God did not design me to live that way!!
I started exercising with video DVD workouts in the safety of my home. I still use them occasionally, but prefer to get outside if possible. Leslie Sansone's walking workouts are awesome! Especially for beginners like me. I also do toning exercises to try to keep a handle on all the saggy skin I am developing.. yuck. I then began the quest to run. I have heard from so many people how great running is, how much it changes your body and mind etc. I have even been told it is "addicting". I have yet to reach the addicted point, but it has made huge changes in my mental and physical state. When I started in February, I didn't do anything close to a run. It was a breathless walk. It took me over 20 minutes to do a mile!! Wow!! I slowly began to jog in spurts between walking. Slowly, minutes began to fall off the time. My goal for now is to be able to run an entire mile without stopping in 10 minutes. I am not there yet, but I know I will be one day! It is not fun yet, and I hate every second of the running (just being honest :)). I do LOVE the way I feel after accomplishing it and the changes my mind and body are making.
I have to say the progress is slower than I would like, but I know that these changes are permanent and it will take some time to recover from all of the damage I have done to my body! We are three months into this journey. This month I have reached huge milestones for myself! I have lost 1/4 of the weight I need to and I shaved another minute off my mile this week! Bryan and I were able to take a 5 mile hike through the Great Smoky Mountains to Abrams Falls! It was an awesome experience!!
I am not writing this to brag or try to make us look super spiritual. I am writing this to encourage anyone who is where we were, to boast in the power and love of God, and for accountability. I plan on posting quarterly until we reach our goal, and regroup from there.
If you are still reading, thank you for taking an interest in our "Quest for Health".
This started with a change in eating habits. This was not intended to be a diet. We have done so many diets, I can't even count. They all failed because there was no change in lifestyle or heart. They were like band-aids to cover the real issue of food addiction. As a parent and wife, I have carried extreme guilt for the eating habits I have modeled for my family. My children did not learn to like unhealthy food naturally. I purchased and introduced it to them because it was cheaper, easier and quick.
I began to research "healthy" food. Slowly we made changes to the things we eat everyday. Basically incorporating a LOT of fruits and vegetables, fresh whenever possible. Using lean meats and fish, almost eliminating red meat completely. We also eliminated most sugar that didn't occur naturally in food, and switched to Steevia as a sweetner. We started eating more whole grains and whole wheat products versus the "white" stuff. Drinking a lot of water and smaller portions have also been helpful. That is a summary of the eating part of our change. No miracle pills, plans, supplements or food. Just eating healthier.
This is not as constricitng as you might think. It is actually liberating! I am not a slave to food anymore. There is no guilt if I am at a birthday party and have a small piece of cake because I know this is just a treat. It is not part of the daily norm anymore. An ice cream from Ben and Jerry's in Gatlinburg was glorious. It would have never tasted that good if we had continued to eat it every night! I am reminded of a scripture, All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.. 1 Corinthians 10:23. We have the permission and ability to eat whatever we want, but it is not healthy (profitable to our health) and it does not honor (edify) God to choose to be unhealthy stewards of this body he has given us.
After we got a pretty good handle on the eating, we started to get active. This was easier for Bryan and the kids than it was for me! For the past 18 years I have been pregnant 6 times and basically never lost any of the weight I have gained with each pregnancy. Since my soccer lifestyle in High School, I have been pretty much inactive as far as exercise is concerned. This has piled up to a HUGE 100 lbs of excess weight!!! Wow, it is humbling to confess that!! Going from fit and athletic to obese! I have been held captive to food addiction, obesity, and anxiety for half of my life!! God did not design me to live that way!!
I started exercising with video DVD workouts in the safety of my home. I still use them occasionally, but prefer to get outside if possible. Leslie Sansone's walking workouts are awesome! Especially for beginners like me. I also do toning exercises to try to keep a handle on all the saggy skin I am developing.. yuck. I then began the quest to run. I have heard from so many people how great running is, how much it changes your body and mind etc. I have even been told it is "addicting". I have yet to reach the addicted point, but it has made huge changes in my mental and physical state. When I started in February, I didn't do anything close to a run. It was a breathless walk. It took me over 20 minutes to do a mile!! Wow!! I slowly began to jog in spurts between walking. Slowly, minutes began to fall off the time. My goal for now is to be able to run an entire mile without stopping in 10 minutes. I am not there yet, but I know I will be one day! It is not fun yet, and I hate every second of the running (just being honest :)). I do LOVE the way I feel after accomplishing it and the changes my mind and body are making.
I have to say the progress is slower than I would like, but I know that these changes are permanent and it will take some time to recover from all of the damage I have done to my body! We are three months into this journey. This month I have reached huge milestones for myself! I have lost 1/4 of the weight I need to and I shaved another minute off my mile this week! Bryan and I were able to take a 5 mile hike through the Great Smoky Mountains to Abrams Falls! It was an awesome experience!!
I am not writing this to brag or try to make us look super spiritual. I am writing this to encourage anyone who is where we were, to boast in the power and love of God, and for accountability. I plan on posting quarterly until we reach our goal, and regroup from there.
If you are still reading, thank you for taking an interest in our "Quest for Health".
