In my last post, I mentioned that I had started to carve out time for myself. And, since there are only 168 hours each week, that time needed to be pulled from something else - which was this blog.
So, what was I doing? I was finding ways to work out and get myself back into shape. There were many reasons why I wanted to do this:
- I didn't have many clothes to wear when I was busting out of a size 14
- I look at my kids and know - I want to be here for as long as I possibly can and enjoy as many moments as I possibly can. I need to be healthy to do that.
- And, honestly, I didn't feel good about myself anymore...
I give so much to so many other places, but I wasn't giving to myself. And here is what that got me…
Weight - 163lbs
BMI - 26 (Over Weight Category)
% Body Fat - 33.9% (Obese Category)
Pant Size - 14
Ugh! - How did I get here?
I continued to put me last. I gave to everyone and everything else, and left nothing for myself. And, just like on a plane when they say "put your mask on before helping others" (been on more planes these past few weeks than I care to mention) - we need to take care of ourselves first. If we don't take care of ourselves, we cannot be there for others.
So, what have I been doing?
Well, first, I started taking Advocare products. If you haven't heard of Advocare, please check out their website at www.advocare.com. It's a premier health & wellness company with an online distribution channel. Plus, it's a Christian-based company, which I love. And, the products are amazing!!! They have lots of different offerings from:
- Wellness products
- Performance products
- Weight Loss / Trim products
I must add that I would never had heard about Advocare had it not been from an amazing friend that God brought in my life through the strangest event - a Mudathlon! Much more to share there in a different blog…
After a few weeks of just taking the products, I saw a difference, but I also knew - there is no silver bullet. If I wanted to see real results, I needed to put in real effort.
Enter another amazing friend God brought into my life who told me about the Fitbit. If you don't know about the Fitbit - I call it the socially cool pedometer (is that even possible?!?!). Yes! Check it out at www.fitbit.com
So, with some encouragement from my friend, I bought the Fitbit and started walking. And, I mean just walking. Not jogging, not running…just walking.
I set my goal at 10,000 steps per day (about 5 miles). That was a stretch goal on most days. But, since I saw how truly inactive I was, it got me motivated to get off the couch.
Now, most days I walk over 11,000 steps!!! WooHoo!!!
So, what were the results?
- I feel great!!
- I am much happier with myself, so I am a much kinder & patient person
- By taking care of myself, I feel like I am better able to handle the stress of the day (both at work and at home)
- And, since I spend many of those walks listening to my favorite Christian artists, I use the time to spend with God, to work on my relationship with Him.
Not the results you were thinking of??? I know. But those are the ones that really should matter. Those are the ones that make the real difference. But, since I said where I started, here is where I am currently...
Weight - 144lbs (down 19lbs)
BMI - 22.2 (right in the middle of Normal)
Body Fat - 26% (Acceptable - almost in the "Fitness" category)
Pants Size - 8 (Yep, you saw that right!!! Single digits - WooHoo!!!)
Total Inches lost - 15!!
And, now that I feel better about the way I look on the outside, I know I am more willing and able to share my Light on the inside.
Matthew 5:14-16 (GNB): You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lamp stand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Now, the key is that I am able to share my journey with others in a way that isn't boastful or bragging. My biggest joy in this journey is my growing faith, my closeness with God. When people ask about what I did, I also always share this:
- Advocare is a Christian company
- I learned about both Advocare and Fitbit from amazing women God brought into my life
- My exercise routine (which still consists of walking) is my personal time with God
My changes on the outside only represent my changes on the inside. I am so amazingly thankful that God has allowed this change be another vehicle for me to share His word and work with others.
Lord, thank you so very much for the changes you have made in my life - both on the inside, and on the outside. I continue to pray for your help and guidance, to continue to seek you first, and to be patient when listening for the answers. Thank you so very much for each part of this journey.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Can you have it all?
There are many thoughts and opinions on whether or not you can have it all. Some say - NO! You cannot have it all. Others say - Yes! But, not at the same time.
I heard a quote the other day from Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall that I have fully embraced:
YES! Because YOU have the POWER to define YOUR ALL!
Why would you give up your ability to define what "all" is? Who has the right to define that for you? YOU DO!
This quote came at such an important time for me. For the past several months, I was feeling like my life was in balance...well, in "my" balance. I was able to do my job well, spend time with my husband and children, and write this blog - continue to explore and deepen my faith. So, I thought I had it all. Really, I was happy.
Except, when I truly looked in the mirror, I was a missing something very important. I wasn't taking any time for me. And, because of that, my health was struggling.
How do I fit in time for me? And, does my time have to equal work-out time? Some other people may thrive during that time, but that does not seem like fun to me. And, when do I do that? Do I get up at 4am to get down on the treadmill. YUCK! Seriously, that is not for me.
Something has to give.
You may remember, I went to an amazing, life-changing women's conference almost two years ago called "Women Leading Change" put on by the Institute for Women's Leadership. The leader (and overall AMAZING WOMAN) reminded us - everyone only has 168 hours per week. No matter how hard we try - that is all we have.
So, understanding that I am in a zero sum game. I only have 168. How am I going to fit all of this in:
- Faith
- Husband
- Kids
- Friends / Volunteering (I do a lot of that)
- Me (Sleep, Fitness, Other)
- Oh, Yeah - and WORK.
And, with this new job, that work thing has definitely taken on a life of it's own. And, while I truly LOVE what I am doing, I have been spending an significant number of my 168 in this area.
There I was, sitting at a volunteer event, listening to Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, fretting about the number of things still on my plate and how I was going to fit it all in. Thinking about my 168 when she said...
Can you have it all? Yes! Because You define Your ALL!
I missed the next few minutes of her talk because I allowed those words to wash over me. I took the time to think about what did I want to and need to do with my time. And then it hit me...
Integration doesn't have to be between work & life. How can I combine / integrate other things to find time to do more? Or, what is on my plate that I can take off for a while and not feel bad about it?
So, I started to define my all:
- I commit to being the best Wife and Mother I can be. That is my priority.
- I commit to giving my best at work because I asked for this, I want this, and the impact can be truly amazing.
Now, Integrate...
- I commit to improving myself both physically and spiritually
- I commit to eating well and exercising
- I commit to listening to Christian music and praying during my workouts
- I commit to spending time volunteering and with friends that help me grow in my faith / or share my faith with them
- I commit to surrounding myself with others where I can live my Christian Life Out Loud
In that integration, I added exercising. I needed to find a way to be happier with the person in the mirror looking back at me. And, if I was either spending it in fellowship with friends or singing to my favorite Christian songs - I can integrate! WooHoo!
So, what had to give? Even though I was finding ways to integrate - I still only have 168.
What gave was this blog... Not forever, but just for a few weeks (well, 4 weeks) while I was defining and living my "ALL".
I will tell you, when you define your all, define what is in it and what is not, an amazing thing happens...
You stop feeling GUILTY about the things you cannot do!
And, you actually do feel better about all the things you can do. Because, let's admit it, WE DO A LOT OF THINGS!!! So, we should focus on that, and not on what we have missed...
Ecclesiastes 3:1,9-12 (GNB):
Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.
What do we gain from all our work? I know the heavy burdens that God has laid on us. He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what He does. So, I realized that all we can do is to be happy and do the best we can while we are still alive.
God wants us to BE HAPPY and DO THE BEST WE CAN. If we are always focused on what we couldn't do, how can we be happy?
So, I choose MY ALL. And, I am happy to note that MY ALL can now include getting back to blogging. And, on the weeks when I cannot get to it because other parts of MY ALL get in the way, I won't feel guilty about it. I'll pick it back up when I am able.
Lord, thank You so very much for giving me the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the heart open to learn. Thank You for bringing such amazing people into my life to help me find my balance.
This quote came at such an important time for me. For the past several months, I was feeling like my life was in balance...well, in "my" balance. I was able to do my job well, spend time with my husband and children, and write this blog - continue to explore and deepen my faith. So, I thought I had it all. Really, I was happy.
Except, when I truly looked in the mirror, I was a missing something very important. I wasn't taking any time for me. And, because of that, my health was struggling.
How do I fit in time for me? And, does my time have to equal work-out time? Some other people may thrive during that time, but that does not seem like fun to me. And, when do I do that? Do I get up at 4am to get down on the treadmill. YUCK! Seriously, that is not for me.
Something has to give.
You may remember, I went to an amazing, life-changing women's conference almost two years ago called "Women Leading Change" put on by the Institute for Women's Leadership. The leader (and overall AMAZING WOMAN) reminded us - everyone only has 168 hours per week. No matter how hard we try - that is all we have.
So, understanding that I am in a zero sum game. I only have 168. How am I going to fit all of this in:
- Faith
- Husband
- Kids
- Friends / Volunteering (I do a lot of that)
- Me (Sleep, Fitness, Other)
- Oh, Yeah - and WORK.
And, with this new job, that work thing has definitely taken on a life of it's own. And, while I truly LOVE what I am doing, I have been spending an significant number of my 168 in this area.
There I was, sitting at a volunteer event, listening to Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, fretting about the number of things still on my plate and how I was going to fit it all in. Thinking about my 168 when she said...
Can you have it all? Yes! Because You define Your ALL!
I missed the next few minutes of her talk because I allowed those words to wash over me. I took the time to think about what did I want to and need to do with my time. And then it hit me...
Integration doesn't have to be between work & life. How can I combine / integrate other things to find time to do more? Or, what is on my plate that I can take off for a while and not feel bad about it?
So, I started to define my all:
- I commit to being the best Wife and Mother I can be. That is my priority.
- I commit to giving my best at work because I asked for this, I want this, and the impact can be truly amazing.
Now, Integrate...
- I commit to improving myself both physically and spiritually
- I commit to eating well and exercising
- I commit to listening to Christian music and praying during my workouts
- I commit to spending time volunteering and with friends that help me grow in my faith / or share my faith with them
- I commit to surrounding myself with others where I can live my Christian Life Out Loud
In that integration, I added exercising. I needed to find a way to be happier with the person in the mirror looking back at me. And, if I was either spending it in fellowship with friends or singing to my favorite Christian songs - I can integrate! WooHoo!
So, what had to give? Even though I was finding ways to integrate - I still only have 168.
What gave was this blog... Not forever, but just for a few weeks (well, 4 weeks) while I was defining and living my "ALL".
I will tell you, when you define your all, define what is in it and what is not, an amazing thing happens...
You stop feeling GUILTY about the things you cannot do!
And, you actually do feel better about all the things you can do. Because, let's admit it, WE DO A LOT OF THINGS!!! So, we should focus on that, and not on what we have missed...
Ecclesiastes 3:1,9-12 (GNB):
Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.
What do we gain from all our work? I know the heavy burdens that God has laid on us. He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what He does. So, I realized that all we can do is to be happy and do the best we can while we are still alive.
God wants us to BE HAPPY and DO THE BEST WE CAN. If we are always focused on what we couldn't do, how can we be happy?
So, I choose MY ALL. And, I am happy to note that MY ALL can now include getting back to blogging. And, on the weeks when I cannot get to it because other parts of MY ALL get in the way, I won't feel guilty about it. I'll pick it back up when I am able.
Lord, thank You so very much for giving me the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the heart open to learn. Thank You for bringing such amazing people into my life to help me find my balance.
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