"Life is not a career path or an attentive husband or a new home...Life is Jesus. #WhatLoveIs

Same ol' Story

If you've ever struggled with weight loss, maybe you'll understand this little rant. It feels maddening to keep repeating this same cycle over and over again. Perhaps my story is similar to yours. I find my motivation from any number of sources - someone's inspirational story or maybe from the scale or the way my clothes fit or simply how awful I feel - and decide I'm going to get back on track. I start exercising and eating better. It's hard to get started but soon enough I find my rhythm and I do great for a while. Then something happens. I get injured - I've suffered through multiple shin splints, back problems, a bulging disk in my neck just to name a few. Or I get sick and am laid up for while. Then there's the holidays; they're always a lovely bump in the road and before I know it, I'm derailed, discouraged and defeated. Some time passes and the cycle begins again.

I hate this cycle. The beginning part is great. Who doesn't love feeling all gung-ho, like you can conquer the world and if not the world, certainly the excess weight that's been hanging on you like an albatross threatening to drag you down into the abyss of ill-health. The middle and end of this cycle, however, just plain sucks. I try so hard to avoid the middle part. I stretch before exercising, get the right shoes, take my vitamins but life just has a way of happening no matter how careful one is.

I realize so much of this is a matter of mind-set. Motivation is great and necessary but it can burn out quickly. I very much identify with the "instant gratification" society that's all around us so I've got to dig deep and find more than just motivation if I'm going to finally succeed in my journey to good health. With God's help and strength, I know I've got it in me to do it.
      
Yes, the cycle is maddening but it would be madder still to give up completely. I know the consequences of not taking care of this body God's given me. I want to make a different future for myself and leave a far better example to my kids of what's possible. So, here I go again. I'm back on track, walking and eating right or trying to anyway. No matter what, one thing I know is that this WILL be part of my success story. How 'bout you?

Be Blessed
Melanie

What Love Is

I am so very much looking forward to doing this new study by Kelly Minter! Check out this clip.
WhatLoveIs

Be Blessed!

What Love Is

God's love for us grants us the capacity to love others." - Kelly Minter #WhatLoveIs

What Love Is

"Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God's children." - 1 John 3:1 #WhatLoveIs

Praise His Name

What does it mean to you to "praise God?" I read something this morning that struck me and kind of sharpens the focus a little in the way I'll pray from here on. It said it's telling God "how great He is and why you think so." I should tell Him why I think He's so great. I like that. It's very personal because I have many reasons why I think He's so great.

Now I know some would see this in a negative light, so let me just clarify. We're not encouraged to praise God because He's conceited or egotistical. He's not up there quoting Bette Midler in Beaches saying, "But enough about me, let's talk about you. What do you think of me?"  Nor is He forgetful. He knows full well who He is. He does not need us to remind Him. No, praising Him is for OUR benefit. We need to remember who God is everyday. When days are good, we need to remember that all good things come from God lest we get prideful. When days are bad, we need to remember who He is so we remember why He's the one to go to to get through those bad days. If you need more of God in your life for any reason at all, then by all means, begin by praising Him! Psalm 22:3 tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people.

Praising God focuses our attention and our hearts on Him and that's just how we need to be. So if you'll please excuse me, I'm gonna go get my praise on!

Be blessed!
Melanie

Starting Over...Again

The dreaded scale, while all to often the least favorite item in my home, can also be quite the motivator. Depressing, yes but motivating just the same. Depressing because I'm creeping ever closer to the weight I was at months ago, which freaked me out then as it does now. Motivating because I hate that weight and don't want to be there ever again. Something's got to give. I feel awful. I look awful. How could I let myself get back to this point? All the hard work I put in, all the money spent and all the big talk, yet here I am - again. Granted, I've battled my share of annoying injuries - heel spurs, shin splints, back problems, etc. but had I stayed on track even with just the food, I would likely be that much closer to my weight-loss goals.

Failure. Wimp. Quitter. These words rattle around in my head tempting me to soften the sting over a boston cream at Dunkin Donuts. But no. Not gonna happen. I already overindulged at breakfast and I've decided not to let that fact sabotage me any further. Instead, I went walking. It's been a little while since I did that and it felt good. It took me nearly 20 minutes to walk a mile but walk a mile I did and then some. It's a bit disappointing to remember my happy dance in the middle of the street not that long ago over having walked/run 3 miles in only 50 minutes in addition to having lost nearly 20 lbs!. That was progress right there and I was so proud of myself. The fact is, if I did it then, I can do it. I can and will work to get back to that point and beyond.

I am no failure, wimp or quitter. That would only become true if I decided I was content with my weight and health as it is now and I'm NOT. There's a saying that goes "Without the 'test' there's no 'testimony'. Weight-loss and a healthy lifestyle doesn't happen overnight. My testimony will be one of overcoming my challenges and staying consistent despite the ups and downs of my journey.  

So here I am, starting over - again. So, I suppose it's not the worst place to be.

Be blessed.
Melanie