Lent! Season to build your faith.

Lent. As a child, my parents raised me in a Lutheran church and in a Catholic family. Annually, we would practice prayer, penance, and repentance during the 6 weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter. During this time, you were supposed to step out in faith. To build your faith, you either selected to give up a bad habit or add a good habit. They say it takes 6 weeks to make something a habit….

I haven’t practiced Lent, in a while, because the Baptist community celebrates the life and death of Christ differently. Regardless, I am up for ANY reason to build my faith. For the next six weeks, I am going to rely on my prayer life and relationship with God to help build my health. My clutch in life is sweets! Sure, I eat lots of bad foods, but my largest battle during this diet is desserts! Even though I preach “delayed gratification”, I fall short with sweets.

Also, I am going to spend this time seeking God, not Facebook. This one is rough, BUT it is much needed. There will be days where I read about other’s lives more than I invest in creating my own life. Facebook is dangerously addicting! I am keeping my instagram open for photos. I guess I don’t use istagram that often, and I am not obsessed with it! MAYBE we can have a lower cell phone bill because I won’t use so much data…. J

Assuming you participate in Lent, what are you giving up? What are you doing to better your health? What are you doing to build your relationship with God?

To Gandhi or Not to Gandhi?

As you can tell, I have ignored my blogging…. Mainly due to the “downs” of this weight loss rollercoaster.

I am such a prideful being, and that isn’t who I want to be OR who I portray myself as. But here I am trying to fix my wrongs before I come back to the blog. There is this story about Gandhi (how true it is, I don’t know, but regardless…) and a mother who came to him for help. The mother asked Gandhi to help wean her child off sugar. Rather than offering advice, Gandhi told the mother to come back in 2 weeks. Confused, the mother obeyed, and returned 2 weeks later. When approaching Gandhi, she asked him WHY he sent her away. She didn’t understand the delay of advice. Gandhi told her that he couldn’t possibly offer this mother advice when he was still eating sugar.

I FEEL LIKE GANDHI (and not in the best of ways…) I win some battles, but currently, I am losing more than I win. How could I be the one offering advice and/or guidance, when I am losing battles? See the pride thing there? Not ONLY did I refer myself to Gandhi, I removed myself from blogging because of my pride, which is driven by my fear of failure. I apologize.

My recent battles:

•             Valentine’s Day: The day of bourbon, burgers, and cupcakes. Dillon wanted to go to our favorite restaurant for Valentine’s day, and rather than practicing delayed gratification ALL week, I ended up not having enough points for the gluttony that ensued. It was delicious…. Until I realized I gained a WHOLE POUND! Thankfully, I had lost about 7 pounds at this point…. But regardless. Lesson learned – If I wanted to enjoy this meal guilt free, I should have eaten less throughout the week and worked out more!
•            Mother Nature: Womenly cravings ARE REAL, y’all. There were 2 days, back-to-back, that I indulged in a pack of M&Ms. Tisk-Tisk. Surprisingly, I didn’t eat these M&Ms after I ate half a pizza. I guess there is a hint of success in this one. Regardless, I learned that I will probably always indulge in some M&Ms this time of the month, and I should plan an extra workout or SOMETHING!
•            Tracking! When I am eating well and being a Weight Watchers little angel, I enjoy tracking and seeing my awesomeness. But when I eat bad meals or over-indulge (see above), I like to avoid it like the plague. My largest focus right now is to track even my worst of days! This will force me to see the repercussions of my indulgences.

My recent success:

•          Working out. I am the most out-of-shape person…. Ever. But I went on a run the other night, and I earned a few points because so. Also, I signed up for Pure Barre tomorrow night. Wish me luck! I hear it’s wonderful. I enjoy work out classes because they won’t allow me to fall victim to my enemy – laziness.
•           More activity in general. Doing just normal things like cleaning, taking hunter on longer walks, and forcing myself to do something on commercial breaks have me earning an activity point here and there!
•          Office Food – Other than the Chick-fil-a I ate the other day, I have had to ability to turn down Kolaches and Donuts no problem! J

All-in-all, I am doing OKAY, but I don’t want to do okay. I want to do well, and I want to see results. When I feel down due to my failures, I seek the Word of God to life my spirits. I hope you, too, can find peace in this for your down days and/or moments.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord, rather than for people” Colossians 3:23

One of my goals for weight loss is to make my body strong to do His work! It’s so easy to place this goal out-of-mind when faced with battles. I surely hope to keep this dagger handy during my next battle!

Let’s stay strong this next week

Self-Control

I am reading the book below called "Fruitful Wife" by Hayley DiMarco. It's hilarious. It's true. It's inspiring. But most importantly, it's eye-opening. Each fruit-of-the-spirit is a different chapter, which is convenient for those days when you struggle with one more than the others. Recently, I have been looking at self-control!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" -Galatians 5:22-23

Hayley makes some great points. For example, the opposite of self-control is self-indulgence. Self-indulgence is the act of choosing to please one's self over pleasing God. It's so much easier to say "No!" to a doughnut, when you think how dis-pleasing it is to God. Of course, doughnuts aren't the devil, it's the when, where, why, and how of choosing a doughnut that's our enemy. When I prepare myself for battle against my enemy, I succeed the most. Yes, start your day with meal planning or with exercise, but also prepare yourself for the mental battles you'll face during the day!

Here's your dagger for those moments your enemy whispers "It's just ONE. It won't hurt".

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5:8

When you choose to please God, it's far more gratifying that the short, sweet taste of the doughnut. Make the vow to say "No!" to office surprises. I am rewarding myself with ONE Kolache this weekend. Remember it's the when, where, why, and how that's your enemy. I am setting aside my weight watchers points to eat something tasty, and I can do so without any remorse/guilt. #delayedgratification

Landing Among the Stars!

My goals for this program!

1 – To maintain a healthy weight!

2 – Feel sexy for my main man!

3 – Enjoy swimming in the Houston heat!

4 – Create a body that is physically able to serve God.

**Please note that I have no size or weight requirements. Ideally, I would like to be about 140 pounds, and a size 6! But if I fulfill the goals above at a size 8, then that's what I'm good with.

BMI charts don't take into consideration the size of your frame. For example, a healthy weight for someone who is 5'4" is 110 - 140 pounds. If you know me, you'd agree that my chest weighs 110 pounds... This number is so far-fetched, and isn't personalized for individuals

I may be 5'4". but if I were 125 pounds, I would die. Literally, I would be dead. I know "big boned" is used frequently as an excuse for excess weight. But there is truth behind being big boned. My wrists are larger than other wrists, and my hips are larger than other hips - EVEN WITHOUT EXTRA POUNDS!

Don’t laugh, but I have large wrists. Here’s what I am supposed to weigh, based on my frame! CLICK HERE to find out what you should weigh.

I have friends who are so number driven that they don't have realistic goals. If numbers are your thing, make sure your number is an appropriate weight for you.

On another note, I have no desire to substitute lesser ingredients to meet point requirements. Not everything I make with have Splenda or Skim Milk. Sure, there are times and places for these ingredients, but I want to eat real foods! I will make cookies with sugar and more sugar. I will eat ONE cookie, only if points allow it. Also, diet sodas are 0 points+ value…. Currently, I am still drinking sodas, but overtime, I would like to remove them from my diet. And like I said before, I will drink a REAL Coke, only if my points allow it! 

Highs, Lows, and Uh-Ohs

We used to do this as part of our daily routine in camp. It was a wonderful way to reflect on your day, and relive the moments. All of the moments. It makes you appreciative for all the good and funny memories mad at camp.

My week in an overview:
High - I successfully lost 1.7 pounds, and I made it through a cocktail party without overindulging.
Low - I have 49 weekly points, and I ate more than this! I went over my total points this week.
Uh-Oh - I sat down to watch a movie WITH the peanut butter jar. #dietfail



Today marks ONE WEEK on my diet.

Before I get to the things that went well, I must confess my short comings!

Per week, I get 49 weekly points, which I can use to splurge on whatever I want. I have lived an avid social life recently, and I love it! However, a more social life comes with MANY more opportunities to eat poorly and make bad eating decisions. I ended up going over the total points I had this week, even subtracting my activity points!

Sticking to my points will be my main focus this coming week.

I did, however, do some things FAR better than I normally would. For example, we had a mixer at work on Wednesday, and I successfully partied within my points allowance. I spoiled myself with a few chick-fil-a nuggets, a glass of wine, and a lemon tea cake. I felt liberated once the party ended. I felt in control.

If only that went into the weekend! I had a blast this weekend, but I was a bit out-of-control at the Mexican restaurant and snacking Saturday at St. Arnold's Brewery.

This week, I only lost 1.7 pounds! I was hoping for double that! But progress is progress. Here's to a fresh week, and remembering the good. !

... And the Pursuit of Happiness

If you know me, you know I love Dave Matthews and his band. The title of my blog is from my most favorite (my husband hates when I say most-favorite because favorite is indicative of one, therefore, you wouldn't have a most…) Dave Matthews Band song “Don’t Burn the Pig”. This song speaks to me, and offers great advice, too.

((While you read why I love this song so much, click HERE to listen to the song!))

I love Dave’s lyrics because there is a realism about them. He speaks from a place of “a-16-ounce-glass-has-8-ounces-of-water”. Neither a place of “glass half full” nor “glass half empty”. He is neither optimistic, nor pessimistic. He writes songs of real. Of what is. The good, the bad, the ugly. Yet, you find happiness in his lyrics and in his melodies. This is pure happiness.

PURE HAPPINESS – choosing happiness, when it isn't the obvious choice.

For example, Dave (yes, we’re on a first name basis) has a song titled “Funny the Way It Is”, and these are the lyrics: “Funny the way it is … on a soldier’s last breath, his baby is being born” Pure Happiness is choosing life, despite death. If you choose a happy life without thinking of its end, are you really enjoying it?  

Choosing happiness through an optimist’s perspective would be a skewed version of pure happiness. “Out of sight, out of mind” isn't what’s real. If you ignore death out of fear of death, the happiness of life isn't whole. The happiness of life is marginalized to the bounds, which you set. 

I've experienced far too much death. Especially for a 24 year old. My children will never know either of their biological grandfathers. It’s just what is. Does the lack of my father’s presence detour me from enjoying Christmas? Does my father-in-law’s birthday inhibit my ability to laugh and crack a joke? No! Because I, too, will die. It’s just what is. I am, however, blessed with today. And today, I choose happiness – pure happiness – life in the presence of death.

“All good things come to an end sometime. So, don’t burn the day away.”

It seems fitting for me. For all of us.

“Don’t Burn the Pig” hints at those who “ask for more from above like a greedy little pig”. You have been blessed with today. What shall you make of it?!

I’m about to be honest. I am about to set my pride aside. I am making myself vulnerable, for the hope of growth. I have burned too many days away. Even knowing that I am not guaranteed tomorrow. 


I have been a greedy little pig - literally! Over the past few years, I have been faced with LARGE amounts of stress. I always thought I tolerated stress well, and had a poor relationship with food. Over time, I realized it's quite the contrary. I eat poorly when I am stressed, and THIS isn't living life to it's fullest.

I feel like I have been on the losing side of a never ending battle. I have prayed on and on about my inability to lose weight without God. I have begged for Him to help fight my enemy (cupcakes. the devil covered in sugar). It wasn't until recently that I realized God is using this journey to show me my true enemy. Cupcakes may be an obstacle along the way, but my enemy is PRIDE. So much so, that I could not even be honest about my weight to my husband, who loves me unconditionally. About 3 weeks ago, I LIED about my weight, while looking my husband in the eye. After that "little white lie" came across my lips, I realized why I kept failing at my (very long) weight loss journey.

Since then, I have been praying over my pride, and I have been at peace. Here I am today making myself vulnerable for the ability to grow. Here I am today realizing I have a lot more to lose than a few  a lot of weight.

With that said, I hope you all keep me accountable! In the past, I have signed up for Weight Watchers, but never kept with it. Why???? Because I was too mortified to share my journey with others. It's no secret that I have a few a lot of pounds to lose. I kept it a secret for a fear of failure. HOW CAN I ENJOY SUCCESS WHEN I FEAR FAILURE? It's very much a possibility, and ignoring it only limits my potential for success.

In order to be successful, I have to choose success. It is up to me. THANK GOD, I don't have to do it alone. I have a wonderful, powerful support system.

Last Wednesday, I signed up for Weight Watchers, for the last time, and here is my weight loss story!