Day 10 & 11.......Discipline

Discipline: Training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.(Websters Dictionary)

I am just getting the magnitude of what I am doing for myself by disciplining my body. I want it, I speak of it, and now I have to DO IT. I am in training to correct, mold and perfect my mental and physical faculties and in so doing shape my moral character. Whoa! No wonder it is a big struggle. Joel Osteen, I believe in his book Best Life Now, talks about 21 days to form habits. I am still in that habit forming phase.

I watched a favorite movie of mine Saturday night, The Holiday, in the movie one of the lead characters is getting advice from a "old school" screen writer. He told her, " in the movies there's the best friend and there's the leading lady. You are acting like the best friend." Her response was, " Of course, I should be the leading lady of my own life..." I can relate. Now, I need to take the reins and lead my own life through training that corrects bad habits: discipline.

Also, A friend, unknowingly, convicted me about getting up early. She told me she gets up every morning and has breakfast with her husband at 5 a.m., a BLOW to my meager efforts of a 6:30 am wake up. The more I thought about it the more sense it made for me to wake up with my husband, it's a reason beyond myself. To have a cup of coffee, and say goodbye to my hubby before he leaves for work. He gets up no problem, everyday at 4:45 am. This morning his alarm went off and we both got up, I guess I am coat tailing on his discipline until I establish my own......Hey, It worked.

By the way.....I was already on the treadmill for 30 min. Yeah! It's Monday and this struggle is doomed....I will WIN.

Day 10.......BLAH BLAH BLAH

What do you say when you start to feel like your all talk!

Food intake has been sporadic, I know I need to be more serious with counting and staying within my points range. However; I feel great and have lots more energy. I am thinking positively. I am exercising on the treadmill everyday, and I am at a good clip (3.5). Ha Ha Ha I'm sure 10 would kill me. My wedding ring IS noticably loose on my finger. Time will tell!

Day 8 and 9.....Rainy Days

Yesterday I weighed in.....I am the same weight. Is this good or really sad? I will give it another week to decide.

Today, is a new day. I am focusing on the positive.

Week 1.....Overview

One down and 51 weeks to go. I learned a lot about myself. I am weak, but tapping into Godly inspiration and help I can be strong. Getting up early to exercise is the best, but if the worst case happens I won't give up I can exercise later. Getting my family involved in outdoor activities is a fun way to get myself moving, bike riding, soccer, volleyball, playing chase at the park. I am more aware of the times I sit, I need to replace that with a activity when I can. I am seriously considering turning off the TV for a year. Not only would I save money, but I will look for more activities to do to keep myself and my girls active. This may be to drastic....I'm still undecided. To journal what I eat is a big part of keeping myself on track. I need to make it more of a habit. Vegetables are my friend. I am learning new ways to make vegetables fun. Oil and vinegar on green beans, onion and fresh tomato.....yummy! Steamed carrot slices are a great snack, cooled. Also, I pulled out pictures of myself, before baby weight and healthy that I put in visual sight at the treadmill. It reminds me that I CAN get there, and what that CAN look like.

Day 7....Over Empowered

Yesterday, I was over empowered to take a bike trek into the city. Just a 6 mile ride to my favorite coffee cafe, to the park and back home. OH MY, I am so SORE today. It's a good sore! My muscles are actually pulsating, as if they are reminding me of their existence. I 'm excited for this tenacity to continues, and for my body to keep up.

Day 6....Empowered!

2.65 miles on the treadmill....Yes! I Feel great. Great music (Addison Road, Hope Now, Cd) and a few podcasts later......I am empowered.

Romans 12:2 (Amplified Bible)
2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

I am ready for the day.

Day 5........I needed Inspiration.

Saying things like, "I can't do this", "my weight doesn't matter", "nobody cares", "too far gone" or just the unconscious dismissal "I don't care anymore" are just like death to good intentions. My day started in this fashion, and as I began to blog this morning, I thought "what's the point", I have tons of more important things to do. Then in my quiet time this afternoon, I sat down to watch Enjoying Everyday Life. Joyce Meyer once again inspired and taught me. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. My own words are killing my intentions. I see myself doing great. I know my weight matters, "It matters to me". "I do care". "I am not too far gone", if forty is the new twenty then I'm still a teenager. If God said His plans have my best in mind, then I CAN believe it and I CAN live it....to the best of my ability. Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Day 4...Celebration in Moderation

Today is my daughters 4th birthday. I will eat 1/16 of a piece of cake to celebrate!

Day 3...for Better or Worse

It is Saturday, and I am cleaning my house today. This is how I justified not getting up at 6:30, to exercise. Now that I am confessing things, I also went over on my points yesterday, when the rootbeer stand seemed like a good idea. Ahhhh! Like all good commitments, I will be faithful, for better or worse! Tomorrow will be better.

Day 2......Woke up late, but I woke up!

As I practically run downstairs, after hitting snooze countless times, My daughter met me in the hallway, "mom, where are you going". "I'm going to exercise", I say. "Mom, I want to exercise with you". As she sat within my view, I realized this is good! My daughter is always a reminder to me, that I am her example. My mind started out with cranky thinking, "why am I doing this, staying in bed feels so much better". I snapped out of that mind set as soon as I saw my daughter. My little girl, with her half asleep eyes, wanted to exercise with me! That gave me the "will power" I needed to tackle my meager 20 min. on the treadmill. Now, where's my coffee!

Day 1 still......I need reinforcements.

At lunch my mom brought fresh vegtable quiche.....Yikes. I am resorting to my old Weight Watcher training. I will be journalling with points. I need to stay on track. AHHHH day 1!

Day 1.. Seriously waking up early is sooooo HARD.

The music alarm went off this morning at 6:30 am. I am so glad I prayed that God would help me get up, because as crazy as it may sound, I woke up. I felt enough energy to get a cup of coffee (thank you hubby for making enough for me before you leave for work). I returned to my bedroom and looked at my bed, then sitting in my chair listening to the music still playing from the alarm, I realized "...the best of my ability" means I have to enable myself. I finished my coffee and went downstairs, changed my clothes and got on the treadmill for 15 min. I played high energy music like All Around Me by Flyleaf, I will not Be Moved by Natalie Grant. I had cream of wheat and turkey bacon for breakfast and now I ready for the day. I do have energy.

Best of my Ability!

This blog idea began with a prayer. Father, I gave this ____ to You; I've maintained it to the best of my ability, but I don't own it. It belongs to You, so do with it whatever You would like. (Crown Financial Ministries www.crown.org) So this ".....best of my ability" part is where I am hung up on and I am putting action to my dismay. Joyce Meyer talks about "Eat the Cookie, buy the Shoes" for those who have put in the efforts that satify, "...best of my ability". So In this season, I'll give myself a year, I will Skip the Cookie, but Buy the Shoes. This will be a year of dening myself the cookie (dieting) and after this discipline is developed in me I will Eat the Cookie, in other words satify the "....best of my ability" as it relates to my body.