Journey to Live an Abundant Life

Body - weight loss motivation and goals

2013-08-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

This is a computer generated image of me at my ideal weight! Going to use this image for motivation! 3 goals for the week - 1) do carb cycling 2) use myfitnesspal everyday 3)do all P90x workouts this week. If you want to create a thin image go to Modiface.com - Have a great healthy week

Body: Fresh beginnings

2013-06-17T07:38:00.001-07:00

Fresh cut flowers represent health and potential beauty - They are cut at their peak when ready to be used as a decorative touch. The flowers have to be given proper nutrition and water to become all they can be. We too need to to give our "temples" proper nutrition if we expect to reach our true potential. Think of how ridiculous it would be to not "feed" a flower---but expect it to be a hearty/healthy display in the long - run. Think of this today when about to place "junk" in your mouth. Give your body all it needs to reach it's efficiency & physical potential. Have a active and healthy day.

2013-06-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since I posted because of computer issues -- now that school is out for a while I'm going to work on this blog : Update on my weight - I lost 20 pounds total and have gined about 6 of that back :-( i am getting back in the swing of myfitnesspal logging and my regular workout routine.I ill say I started my day with an egg sandwich and cut up a watermelon to munch on all day. Be Active Be Happy Have a wonderful day!!!!

2013-03-07T02:52:00.001-08:00

I am down 14 pounds and I am feeling good about my progress. I keep hearing the phrase celebrate progress not perfection. Yes!

2013-02-03T05:53:00.001-08:00

I am down 8 pounds! I am on my way! When you are about to give up, don't that's when something great is going to happen. Push toward your goal.

2013-02-03T05:52:00.001-08:00

I am down 8 pounds! I am on my way! When you are about to give up, don't that's when something great is going to happen. Push toward your goal.

2013-01-16T12:21:00.000-08:00

I am in my 3rd week of my new way of life. I am experiencing such a change in my way of looking at things. I know that I am on my way to losing 55 lb.s. I am down 5 now : I have been listening to Alicia Keys song New Me a lot. I am experiencing a new me for sure. Going to Zumba tonight. I do Zumba 2-3 x's a week. I am using my new tablet to blog and I am having problems uploading pic.sto my blog. Going to work on that - stay tuned. :

2013-01-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

Today marks my 13th day of staying on a lower calori nutrition plan and exercise scedule as well : I have lost 4 pounds but I am feeling healthy and stronger. It is so rewarding being true to yourself. I am enjoying the journey and healthy feeling. I have been following the 30daypush and burpee challenge. Doing something like a challenge or competition is so motivating. Set goals for the month and for the year -- it helps:

2013-01-12T04:38:00.001-08:00

I am sticking to my eat/less workout more plan. I hope you are! Feeling great!

2013-01-12T04:36:00.001-08:00

Look for yourself, and you will find loneliness and despair. But look for Christ and you will find Him and everything else - C. S. Lewis

2012-12-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

i have learned so much in the past few days : i really enjoyed time with my friends (at a cabin on the lake w. One of my best buds and too many beers) and then a night out w. 2 other couples (dinner, drinks and then a comedy show). but i feel like i have wasted more time :-( today is about clean eating, water, and being active. let's get back on track. let's make this year the best yet!! I don't want to allow my plans to be ruined because of my social outings -- ready to put that part of my life on a shelf. new lifestyle:New begginings - new life!!

2012-12-25T14:46:00.000-08:00

Too many calories to worry about counting today:-( Tomorrow is a brand new day. I really don't feel too bad because i feel so blessed to have shared good food with my family! I am looking forward to setting a workout schedule to stick with and eating less calories too! I will not fall into the old cycle of over-eating for several days, with unbrideled freedom. It is just not worth it! Let's refocus on our goal to create fat loss in our bodies! Today was a treat and we should let it go and keep a positive outlook! Also don't forget to drink a lot of wter tomorrow because it will help flush out he sodium we consumed during the holiday dinners.

2012-12-24T13:47:00.001-08:00

Family gathering; sugary punch, hot sandwich, stew, and cobbler for dessert, plus a couple of Sam Adams :-/ salvage this day= consuming no more calories woohoo!

2012-12-22T08:30:00.001-08:00

Started this morning off with a 780 calorie burning Zumba class! I also had a protein shake for breakfast!! I feel like i need to do a victory dance - woohoo

2012-12-21T19:31:00.001-08:00

Here is a quote to inspire us "When a goal matters enough to a person, that person will find a way to accomplish what at first seemed impossible." - Nido Qubein

2012-12-21T15:21:00.001-08:00

Today I have been very active and have eaten below my calorie goal. But I know I am done for the evening!! I know it will be worth it! Committed!

2012-12-21T09:34:00.001-08:00

MyFitnessPal is a calorie counting app I have started using. I have already had 500 calories today. Good to know that I have 725 left. Try MFP if you haven't.

2012-12-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

This is me after a run. Au Natural (meaning almost no make-up and hair all pulled back), yikes! I chose this picture because I think it represents me truthfully - wrinkles and all! I want to come back to my blog with a different slant---- Truth! Some of you won't want to read about my true struggles, thoughts, or feelings. I am wanting to lose 55 pounds and I want this to become the focus of this blog. I plan on logging what I eat and how much I exercise and my pounds lost. I have grown spiritually and emotionally over the past few years by leaps and bounds (that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger). I went through a phase where I thought I should give up on being thin and fit! I am 43 and haven't seen the other side of skinny in approx. 20 years!! I have gone up and down with my weight and got close a few times (145 being my lowest weight since having kids), but have never , I repeat NEVER achieved my physical potential since my 20's. I have recently lied to myself and started saying that it doesn't matter if I am thin or not-- because I feel like I am a good person, mother, employee, friend, wife, daughter, sister and this is what should matter------- But believe me ---- it will not go away (the desire to reach my goal of being thin)!!!! This desire stays with me for a reason. This is my; conquering a dragon, dare I say defeating Goliath, finishing a marathon, climbing a mountain!!! I must do this for me! I do not want to get to the end of my life and say "well that was the one thing I could not accomplish" i.e. could not do. I believe it is possible to get to 125 lb.s I know it is. I am putting it all out there and getting real. Go with me on this journey... I believe that logging on and blogging everyday will help me stay motivated. The fact that I haven't blogged since June is awful but this is a fresh beginning! I believe you reading what I am doing/going through will in turn motivate you as well. Please add your your progress in the comments as we go.

Spirit: Green-eyed monster

2012-06-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

At a time in my life (40's) when I should be accepting who I am , my body, my life and my worldly possessions, I find that I am often consumed with what I do not have, what I have not achieved, how unattractive I feel and how little I have experienced. I look at younger people and envy their position in life. I often wax philosophically about how the world is open to the young to decide how to live their life. ... I desperately want to be satisfied and struggle to feel good about so much in my life, even though I know that I am very blessed in many ways. Maybe it is a mid-life crisis, maybe it is a need for a deeper spiritual connection to our Heavenly Father. Maybe I really need to change my life!!! oh no! not that. Can you say comfortable?????

If you have ever seen a thin, fit, long haired beauty stroll into the room with cute shorts and a tank while you are wearing loose capris and a boxy tee and felt less than then you have felt the tug of jealousy that I am feeling way too often these days.

Jealousy robs me of Joy! I know this- Does that make it easier not to feel this way ---- No

Here is a verse from Proverbs 14:30 to digest:

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Well now, (in the church lady's voice) "Isn't that special?" The truth hurts. I am going to focus on the things that I am grateful for and try to change some habits that are holding me back.

My time to be young has passed, my time to live a content, meaningful, healthy life has NOT passed- maybe it is just beginning.

I hope to spend time this week working on my tendency toward envy through meditation on positives, and prayer. Definitely going to be studying the Word on defeating the green-eyed monster now that I have become aware of what it is taking from me. I want to accept myself in this phase of life. Time to grow into my age and love it. :-)

Please join me in prayer - pray for me to grow in contentment, and acceptance but also for yourself to grow more peaceful and joyful as well. I will pray that anyone who reads this will find abundance in their life through gaining a more positive perspective.

Mind/Body/ Spirit - Life is moving fast

2012-05-05T12:09:00.002-07:00

My Life at this time:

Lots of GroupRide classes and Zumba classes.

My son Jake who is now 18 has had a lot going on this past month- Prom, Academic Awards Banquet and getting ready to graduate. Exciting time - He received an academic scholarship to the University of Tennessee. I am so proud and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for my baby :-)

I spend a lot of time with my friend Martie! She has become such a close friend in the last year. We work out together, go out to dinner, we text and call each other. I thank God for our friendship.

My other son Logan who is 15 (and doing a lot of driving with my husband and myself) is looking forward to having his driver's license in August. We also have to schedule a necessary surgery for Logan (his anterior labrum is torn)- for June. This means he will miss his junior year of football. Prayers appreciated.

Field day is coming up this week for me and it is really going to take place over 3 school days. Wed. Thurs. and Friday. I am stressed to the max - trying to plan it, organize it and run it to an entire school family's satisfaction. ----- Next weekend I will feel like a weight has lifted. My last day of teaching for this school year is May 25 because...

We are going to Madeira Beach on the 26th!!!!! Bring it! It will be my first time flying on an airplane. This trip is a surprise for Jake for doing so great all these years in school.

It will be so wonderful to have all 3 of the people I love the most in the whole world all together one more time for vacation. Cannot wait!

I am trying to lose weight by eating healthy (less than 1250 net calories a day) - and exercising a lot. I try to be a great Mother, wife, teacher, friend, daughter, sister, aunt and also try to keep learning more about Jesus Christ and my purpose here through bible study and prayer.

Yes, life is moving fast and my plate is full- but I do feel that I am blessed to have my life.
Your life is made up of all the small daily decisions that you make. Live in a way that you feel peaceful about. Do your best in every endeavor and you will not regret it. Have a glorious weekend!

Body: "What can this food do for my body?" mentality

2012-03-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

I want to go back to about a year ago when I was

Looking at food from a "what can

this food do for my body?" frame of mind.I have actually copied part of a post from June '11,these points are important and make sense for changing my mindset:Here the following is paraphrased from

You: On A Diet;

Fiber in the morning helps control afternoon cravings. Protein in the mornings decreases appetite.

Consuming "good fats" during the afternoon and early evening can help keep your sense of fullness. Such as nuts, olives and olive oils.

Omega 3 rich fish oils decreases bad cholesterol.

Limiting simple sugars keeps energy levels stable and decreases appetite as well.

Eat as many raw vegetables as you can!

This next section of my blog entry is to remind all of us that food is fuel for our bodies. How I plan on doing that is explaining in the most simple terms some of the vitamins we need and what they do for our bodies and what foods they are found richly in-

The first one is Vitamin A:

When we eat foods rich in Vitamin A we are helping our body processes for vision, reproductive function, immune system and helping the body produce and maintain the linings of the eyes, intestines respiratory and urinary systems. Not to mention the benefits for our skin cell renewal.

What foods to eat??;

brightly colored fruits and veggies, liver, milk, whole eggs and fortified breakfast cereals

The second one is Vitamin B:

Vitamin B is more complicated because there is B1,B2,B3,B5,B6,B9 and B12 that are all important to our bodies.

Best said this way :Vitamin B promotes overall health and well-being.

Here is some of the bigger ones- helps our nervous system, helps us metabolize fats, carbs,and proteins into energy, and helps with DNA repair also blood cell maintenance and more!

What foods to eat??;

Oatmeal, whole grains, potatoes, liver, eggs, leafy greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, almonds, milk, cheese, fish, legumes, chicken, beef, avocados, non-citrus fruits, and fortified cereals.

The third one is Vitamin C:

Vitamin C protects the body's cells against the damage occurring during oxidation (a natural process that constantly changes cells as they interact with oxygen).

Interpretation - helps us not get sick and maintains so many functions in our bodies!

What foods to eat??;Citrus fruits, brightly colored veggies, kiwi, and fortified juices

The fourth and final one is Vitamin D:

Vitamin D supports our bones, heart health, and nervous system and is so unique because our body manufactures it in response to direct exposure to the sun.

What foods to eat??;

Fortified milk and cheeses. Get outdoors in the sunlight a little bit every day if you can :-)

In conclusion, I would like to bring the point home that our body needs all these vitamins to work the way it is supposed to work.

If we will look at potential meals in this way we will surely make better healthier choices for life. Changing your mentality to one in which we see food as promoting great body functionality, could be lifestyle altering forever.

Mind/Spirit: God's punishment should be feared

2012-03-18T06:52:00.001-07:00

The above picture is a depiction of Ananias and Paul from Acts chapter 5. The story goes that Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold property and were to give 100% of the profit to the church. They withheld some from Paul and then lied about it. Peter questioned Ananias and reported his evil choice exposing the deed. Here is an excerpt from that book of the Holy Bible: Acts 5: ³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Well here it is - God struck them dead because they knew better and they disobeyed while being so dishonest in the process of their questioning. Wow - maybe today we need to accept that God is going to punish us. Fear is a lost part of Christianity in our modern society. We are told over and over how merciful God is - but don't you think a good healthy dose of fear is good in the light of our sinful society? I believe that just as we look at prayer and some blessings bestowed upon us as coincidental, so do we also look at misfortunes as coincidental. Maybe God punishes us with different types of hardships and we do not want to think of God that way. Here is the way I think of it; I believe God either punishes to correct us or to warn us. I think some punishments are built in- what I mean is physical burdens from gluttony, over-indulgence in alcohol, some sexual sins, etc. We have punishments that are physically painful from misuse of food, alcohol, medicines, sexual actions and even though we suffer some of us continue in one area or another. It is the great lie that the immediate gratification of any overindulgence is worth the damage done to our body. The warning punishments might just be something that gets our attention - like a fender bender, or in the form of other minor hard situations that gets you off one path and thinking about your choices. Who knows? but I think we need to be more observant of those stories in the Holy Bible in which someone is being punished by God in a corrective fashion. We also need to embrace the fact that God is not just punishing people by casting them into Hell at the end of their life, but is punishing them along the road of their life to give them opportunities to change, and live in obedience and enjoy the life that He has planned for us.

One last thought-

God instructs us through His Word and the Holy Spirit.

God lays down laws to keep (The Commandments).

God shows mercy when we turn from sin and repent.

God punishes when we stay stubbornly in our sin and lie about our disobedience (denial).

God rewards the obedient Christian that embraces correction and strives to walk righteously through this journey.

Romans 2:13 Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. amen!

Spirit: prayer answered in a way that is not expected

2012-03-11T06:14:00.001-07:00

Today I have a story about a rainy day. We have had quite a lot of them in the South this year. We have endured not just rainy days, but some storms as well; scary storms, soaking storms, windy storms and even some surrounding counties have encountered tornadoes.
Back in January, there was a normal school day going on and the weather information was telling us that a big storm was coming our way and was going to have heavy downpours with lightening, high winds etc. This was slated to hit about the time the school buses were to arrive and take the kids safely home. However, I am on car rider duty every day and I stand out in the weather (whatever it might be) for approximately 30 min.s. Needless to say, I was dreading getting drenched and had on tennis shoes and long sweat pants that day (I did have an umbrella but knew from previous times that I would be completely soaked). Plus, the lightening always is unpleasant :-(
I started to pray about it (I am learning to pray for everything). I asked God to please move the storm to later, after all the kids were safely home or on their way home.I just poured out my heart and told God how much I did not want to be out in that storm and I felt like I was believing with all my might that God was in control and could so choose to grant this request, so why not ask? Not only that but I have been recently exposed to the idea that it is a matter of honor to take all my concerns to the Lord our Savior.
Well, something so awesome happened that afternoon: I felt as if I was being told by God that my prayer was going to be answered. It was a happy feeling of confidence that we would avoid the drenching rains. I can't explain it but it was definitely spiritual. Then as the skies were darkening at the end of the school day - doubt crept in... I just knew I was being foolish.
All of a sudden at 3pm (time to start car rider pick-up) there was an announcement that for the first and only time this school year that car riders would be picked up in the front of the school ahead of the buses --- under a huge awning, and then I was told that I would simply be stationed under the awning and walking students to their automobiles at the end of of the awning!!!!!!!!! I was going to be dry and out of the storm. I really did not have time to let it all sink in while the chaos of directing parents and students was taking place, but on the drive home I was overwhelmed and learned a valuable lesson.
You see, God had answered my prayer in a way that I had not anticipated. He didn't move the storm but he kept me out of it!!!!! Amazing grace! I have no doubts that some prayers get answered that we cast off as coincidence. God is so much smarter than we can fathom and I want to close with this bible verse that attests to the power of prayer (spoken from our Savior's lips) ; It is about the fig tree withering. Jesus said to the tree "may you never bear fruit again" upon finding it fruitless and immediately the tree withered. The disciples asked how did the tree wither so quickly and Matthew 21:21-22 I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go throw yourself into the sea and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Here is the thing your prayer might not be answered now or in the way you expected but with faith you can believe that it will be answered in some way. Have a glorious day!

Mind: use of the word "love"

2011-12-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

It has been on my mind during this holiday season how much I and others use the word "love" to describe unimportant objects, foods, entertainment etc. I have been guilty of this practice myself, and just the other day was giving such high praise to a popsicle--- yes- a popsicle! This was my first notice of such absurdity. I began to notice I labeled a lot of idiotic things with such affections. It popped out of my mouth how much I loved an ornament that I was just seeing for the first time and could hardly have had time to have really fallen in love with... hmmmm. You laugh but haven't you in fact been throwing this precious word around with such frivolity that a clown would stop and say "wow that's funny"?
I personally pledge to change this habit; I recognize that "I really enjoy____", or "that is my favorite_____", or "I do like that kind very much" will suffice for such everyday pleasures as food, movies, songs, & decorative objects. I also will reserve the word "love" for the people in my life. I am pretty sure that in the Bible that Love was not thrown around in reference to sheep, manna or any other objects. When God uses the word "love" it is a powerful word, and I believe that it was powerful because it was reserved for only the deepest emotional connection that human beings can feel. It is used in reference to an undying, devoted, sacrificial, beautiful, special feeling that promotes acts of caring for other people.
Don't you think that if we find ourselves saying "I love pickles", that this takes away some of the beauty and strength of the word "love"? I do.

And remember; from this point forward if I say "I love you" it means more than what I can feel for everyday objects that I encounter. Maybe if this special word was used only when it was appropriate then we would get more internal value when other's extol it upon us. Just a thought...

Spirit:Thankfulness

2011-11-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

Thankful Lips :
I will extol the Lord
at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
(Psalm 34:1)
Through Jesus, therefore,
let us continually
offer to God
a sacrifice of praise –
the fruit of lips
that confess his name.
(Hebrews 13:15)

I am at a much better place in my life than I have been in for a long time.
I am thankful for my wonderful children and I am thankful that they are proud of me today.

They are proud of me because:

I have taken on a personal challenge to completely abstain from any alcohol for 110 days.

I am on day 40!

I was inspired by the show "I Used To Be Fat" on MTV. The teens are helped by a trainer for
110 days.

I was so moved by one trainer's declaration that a person that can go 110 days has broken a habit,

and is not held under (food's stronghold) - the trainer's proclamation that real change takes place in

this amount of time resonated with me. I made my own 110 day tear-off pad and hung it on my wall.

I have been tearing a sheet off every night before bed. I wrote little notes on some of the days- on today's

Day 40 (70 days to go) I jotted "your boys are very proud of you". I do not want anything unhealthy to

take the place of a closer relationship with God. I want to learn to turn to our Lord Jesus in times of stress,

and emotional distress. This is part of the journey - to test myself and prove to myself that I don't need

to have alcohol to live a good life. I do not believe there is anything wrong with having some drinks to

celebrate or socialize with- I just feel like when you are "using" it to alter consciousness and you feel like

you turn to alcohol instead of dealing with the problems that you have - It needs to be put aside.

I am thankful that I have a home, pets, healthy kids, safe neighborhood,

good food, good relationships with my Dad, Brothers, and Mother,

a husband to depend on,

and I am extremely thankful for a strong healthy body. I am also thankful that I get to give

and receive the Love of my family and friends over the holidays. -- I am very humbled

by how grateful I feel at this moment. Happy Thanksgiving!!