Well,
here I am again, 7 months later and still no progress. It has been so hard to get motivated again to be a healthier me! Seems like I take the proverbial "one step forward- two steps back" so much. I have days that I am walking over 6000 steps (3 miles) and other days I do good to walk 1000. (I have a nifty app on my Galaxy S4 that measures my footsteps) My Fitness Pal reminds me every day that I have not entered my breakfast... or my lunch.. or my dinner!
But in spite of all of this, deep down, I still recognize the need to live a healthier lifestyle. I know that the older I get, the harder it has become. I have been reading testimonies by others who have lost weight and are living happier and healthier. Some testimonies, I know for sure I could never follow. And that is ok. I want to find out what is the best route for me to take and then get on that journey for the rest of my life.
So maybe if I can write more and share my small steps it may encourage someone else and help me at the same time.
Enjoy the magnificent colors that will be soon upon us by going on a short hike. That is my plan. Sometime in the next 2-3 weeks. Pictures will follow.
God bless and keep you.
Still Standing
Renae
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Downsizing...
Hello!
Most of the time, when you hear the word downsizing, it carries a negative connotation. For example, a company downsizing usually means that folks will lose their jobs. But I am looking at downsizing in a different way, with a couple different applications.
Downsizing, literally, moving down in size. That is my goal physically. To lose weight and to go down in size! Today is my 3rd full day of my "Do It Again" journey. I have reduced my calories to 1590 (using my Fitness Pal App to count) I am increasing my fruits and vegetables, with the goal being at least 5 per day total. My goal is to exercise 3 times this week. I have lost 1 pound in 3 days. This isn't a get slim quick plan. This is a lifestyle change where eating healthy becomes the normal for me. I plan to make my life healthier physically.
The second application of downsizing comes as I am getting ready to downsize my home. I am moving to a smaller house therefore, reducing the amount of stuff that I have. I have found over the years that I tend to hold on to things that I have no need for. Actually, this has created more stress because I keep moving boxes around and have put off going through them for 2 years now. Many of the boxes contain things that were Curtis' and it has been easier just to leave it all in boxes. I realize though, that by keeping things that are not needed or doesn't have a sentimental value has increased the clutter in my life. So as I go through this month, I will be downsizing and reducing things..stuff...unnecessary things.
My third application for this post is downsizing spiritually. Whoa!! What??? What I mean, is that I have allowed clutter, mostly busy-ness to take up more of my spiritual life than what is healthy for my walk with God. I have allowed things to take more space than what is needed, so I am reducing the things that have taken the priority over my spiritual health.
In closing, I encourage you to look around for things you need to downsize and make a plan and goal to tackle these things. Today, I am including part of a prayer that is found in the book "The Weight Loss Prayers: 30 Daily Prayers for Weight Loss Motivation" by Kimberly Taylor at http://takebackyourtemple.com/
"Give me the desire to choose foods that bring energy and vitality to my body and clarity to my mind. Give me enthusiasm to exercise so that I may strengthen my body and have the energy to do the things I need to do. Most of all, Lord, give me wisdom to put You first in my life because You have said that if I seek first your kingdom and all its righteousness, my needs will be taken care of. Thank you, Father for giving me the gift of abundant wisdom today. AMEN"
(included with permission of author)
Moving Forward!
Renae!
Most of the time, when you hear the word downsizing, it carries a negative connotation. For example, a company downsizing usually means that folks will lose their jobs. But I am looking at downsizing in a different way, with a couple different applications.
Downsizing, literally, moving down in size. That is my goal physically. To lose weight and to go down in size! Today is my 3rd full day of my "Do It Again" journey. I have reduced my calories to 1590 (using my Fitness Pal App to count) I am increasing my fruits and vegetables, with the goal being at least 5 per day total. My goal is to exercise 3 times this week. I have lost 1 pound in 3 days. This isn't a get slim quick plan. This is a lifestyle change where eating healthy becomes the normal for me. I plan to make my life healthier physically.
The second application of downsizing comes as I am getting ready to downsize my home. I am moving to a smaller house therefore, reducing the amount of stuff that I have. I have found over the years that I tend to hold on to things that I have no need for. Actually, this has created more stress because I keep moving boxes around and have put off going through them for 2 years now. Many of the boxes contain things that were Curtis' and it has been easier just to leave it all in boxes. I realize though, that by keeping things that are not needed or doesn't have a sentimental value has increased the clutter in my life. So as I go through this month, I will be downsizing and reducing things..stuff...unnecessary things.
My third application for this post is downsizing spiritually. Whoa!! What??? What I mean, is that I have allowed clutter, mostly busy-ness to take up more of my spiritual life than what is healthy for my walk with God. I have allowed things to take more space than what is needed, so I am reducing the things that have taken the priority over my spiritual health.
In closing, I encourage you to look around for things you need to downsize and make a plan and goal to tackle these things. Today, I am including part of a prayer that is found in the book "The Weight Loss Prayers: 30 Daily Prayers for Weight Loss Motivation" by Kimberly Taylor at http://takebackyourtemple.com/
"Give me the desire to choose foods that bring energy and vitality to my body and clarity to my mind. Give me enthusiasm to exercise so that I may strengthen my body and have the energy to do the things I need to do. Most of all, Lord, give me wisdom to put You first in my life because You have said that if I seek first your kingdom and all its righteousness, my needs will be taken care of. Thank you, Father for giving me the gift of abundant wisdom today. AMEN"
(included with permission of author)
Moving Forward!
Renae!
Monday, February 23, 2015
Another "New Beginning...."
Hello all!
I have missed doing a blog and thought there was no better time to jump back in than now. Last year, at this same time, I had determined that I was going to begin a new path of having a healthier lifestyle. I worked hard and lost over 20 pounds in 3 months. I was pumped! I was just beginning to see the results and was feeling great. My joints hurt less, my clothes were getting too big, I felt like I was really finding my ground.
But then.... around mid-July, I begin to go through a difficult season with depression. Some said it was a delayed depression in dealing with Curtis' death in 2011, but whatever it was, it really set me back. I caved and gave back in to the emotional eating that had previously comforted me with a false comfort. The pounds that I had lost begin to find their way back home, 1 pound, 2 pounds.. by the end of 2014 I was back at my starting point.
Today, I am +5 more than my starting point last year. The struggle is real. It has been a daily struggle, with emotional eating becoming a chain weighing me down in more ways than one. With the depression being another chain and just feeling like I was covered with a huge, wet, wool blanket. Then in October, I began having chronic headaches and in December began trying to get to the root of this new medical problem. My doctor has gradually taken me through a series of process of elimination and has determined that there is nothing serious that we need to address. I don't mind saying, I had been on medicine for the depression and had found that one of the side effects was headaches. So we began the process of coming off that medication. I had felt God speak to me last month that I would make it a goal to be medication free this year. Little did I know it was going to come so quickly. So now, with the medication out of my system and my headaches beginning to diminish in frequency (going from 5 per week, till this past week only having 2) I have determined that I am going to go back to my healthy lifestyle goals from last year.
I have decided to do this again. I have a motivational video on my facebook wall that is from Elevation Church that has helped me very much, and I have been talking to myself. "Do it Again by Steven Furtick"
Yes, you have to talk to yourself. You have to remind yourself of the goal that is before you. I have become a slave again to food and it is time for the chains to be broken once and for all. So I tell myself that I have done this before and I can do this again. I am determined no matter how many times I fall, to get back up and live again. March 1 is the starting point.
Join me as I chronicle this journey in my blogs. For those of you who have read my previous blogs, you will hear my heart and see the struggle.
Thank you for taking the time to read!
For those who would like to read my previous blog, you can visit at New Kind of Normal
Renae
I have missed doing a blog and thought there was no better time to jump back in than now. Last year, at this same time, I had determined that I was going to begin a new path of having a healthier lifestyle. I worked hard and lost over 20 pounds in 3 months. I was pumped! I was just beginning to see the results and was feeling great. My joints hurt less, my clothes were getting too big, I felt like I was really finding my ground.
But then.... around mid-July, I begin to go through a difficult season with depression. Some said it was a delayed depression in dealing with Curtis' death in 2011, but whatever it was, it really set me back. I caved and gave back in to the emotional eating that had previously comforted me with a false comfort. The pounds that I had lost begin to find their way back home, 1 pound, 2 pounds.. by the end of 2014 I was back at my starting point.
Today, I am +5 more than my starting point last year. The struggle is real. It has been a daily struggle, with emotional eating becoming a chain weighing me down in more ways than one. With the depression being another chain and just feeling like I was covered with a huge, wet, wool blanket. Then in October, I began having chronic headaches and in December began trying to get to the root of this new medical problem. My doctor has gradually taken me through a series of process of elimination and has determined that there is nothing serious that we need to address. I don't mind saying, I had been on medicine for the depression and had found that one of the side effects was headaches. So we began the process of coming off that medication. I had felt God speak to me last month that I would make it a goal to be medication free this year. Little did I know it was going to come so quickly. So now, with the medication out of my system and my headaches beginning to diminish in frequency (going from 5 per week, till this past week only having 2) I have determined that I am going to go back to my healthy lifestyle goals from last year.
I have decided to do this again. I have a motivational video on my facebook wall that is from Elevation Church that has helped me very much, and I have been talking to myself. "Do it Again by Steven Furtick"
Yes, you have to talk to yourself. You have to remind yourself of the goal that is before you. I have become a slave again to food and it is time for the chains to be broken once and for all. So I tell myself that I have done this before and I can do this again. I am determined no matter how many times I fall, to get back up and live again. March 1 is the starting point.
Join me as I chronicle this journey in my blogs. For those of you who have read my previous blogs, you will hear my heart and see the struggle.
Thank you for taking the time to read!
For those who would like to read my previous blog, you can visit at New Kind of Normal
Renae
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