Give me rest!

So it happen again.. I wanted to be in bed by nine and guess what I was shutting off the light at midnight!!! Dude why in the world is it so hard to get to bed at a decent hour? Why? I tell you why.. because it would be sinful to let things wait till tomorrow. Or because if your not busy your not important.

One of the pitfalls of a healthy life is the lack of sleep and good rest. Like everything I am finding myself looking to the bible for examples and role models. The people in the old testament worked and when the sun went down they retreat home for a meal and rest with family. And guess what they didn't even watch tv the whole night! They didn't have the technology we have today, its no wonder they lived till 100!

I have limited myself to 2-3 hours of tv for the week.. Not because it is evil or because it corrupts the mind like some people say. I did it because it was a waste of my time. I complain I don't have enough time in my day to read, pray, workout, be with my husband but I found myself in front of the tv 2-3 hours a night. I tried to reason with myself that the time was spent well and it added some sort of value to my life, but it didn't.

I remember a few months ago, our Cable got shut off. And if I am keeping it real I will tell you its because I forgot to pay the bill. It went off on a friday and didn't come on till a monday. To most they would have freaked out, and to be honest I did. You know what I remember that week more than any other. Not because we were bored or because we didn't have tv but because I spent quality time with the family. We hung out at the park longer with Noah, we caught up on reading and we caught up with each other. Did that add value to my life? Yes it did. I have never read the bible, or spent time with my family or prayed and said that was a waste of time. And you know what when Monday came along I was so well rested.

Now as a mom and wife I know it can be difficult to find rest in the craziness however Jesus tells us that it is in him that we can find rest. You may think that there are not enough hours in your day but when you evaluate your day you will find there is. It just depends on what you do with it.

I need to take a true inventory of my day and see what can wait and what cannot. I need to stop feeding the farm ( just kidding, believe it or not I don't play farmville) , updating my status all day ( like anyone really cares) I need to stop trying to beat everyone on bejeweled ( I suck at it anyway) and just make a true effort to get to bed at a decent hour.

Today I was tired, and cracky and I counted the hour till I laid Noah down for a nap. I was sooo ready to hop in my bed. I picked up my bible and was reading and this scripture touched my heart

“ My soul finds rest in you” Psalm 62:1 sometimes it is not physically, mental tiredness is way worse. I didn't take that nap because I couldn't put down my bible, but I do feel rested.

Have a great weekend and may it be filled with rest!

The key isn't to just obtain, BUT to maintain!

So I think that I figured out one good reason we fail at successful weight management.

There is a saying that “people prepare for a wedding more than the actual marriage”. Its true when planning a wedding most people go to marital counseling only because they have to or don't go at all. They spend majority of the year fine tuning the details of the day but never prepare on what comes after that day. Perhaps that is why they say the first day of marriage is the hardest.

I think that the same thing holds true with weight loss. I think we spend so much time trying to obtain that “target weight” we don't know how to maintain it after. We are driven by that “number” working hard to obtain it. So we get there, now what? The problem for most like myself isn't obtaining it but maintaining it.

So what is the solution? I don't know really just yet. Perhaps we don't limit ourselves to just that target weight? I am all for setting goals and think it is important. Maybe we focus on the bigger picture and set our eyes on the “lifestyle change” and the target weight will be a blessing reaped from this change in focus.

Like a marriage the lack of communication is the source of many struggling marriage early on, after the honeymoon is over. Well friends I think that the source of disaster after the honeymoon period of weight lose is compromise. Speaking for myself and maybe for some of you. During the weight loss period I discipline myself on how to lose weight but not learning how to live a healthier lifestyle. So when I hit the goal it is like mission accomplished and then its time to compromise. A lil cookie wont hurt, I haven't had it in months, and then a cookie turns into cake and so on and so on.

Now don’t get me wrong there is nothing bad about a lil sweet here or there in moderation. If you are the type like me that has not mastered that discipline just yet it is just best to stay away or find alternatives.

So here is what I am going to do.. I am not just going to count points for weight watchers. In my pursuit of FFF (faith, food & fitness) Fuel I am going to educate myself. Not just how many points a food is, but the other stuff, the salt, fiber, carbs, calories.. Etc. I am going to take a class on nutrition to learn how use “food to live, and not how to live for food” ( as Renay put it)

In pursuit to maintain not just obtain,

Monica

Fuel.. You cant get this at ARCO!

Great the gas light again, didn’t I fill you up last week?

You don't expect your car to run without gas.. You don't expect a plane to fly with out fuel.. A gas range or BBQ cannot function with out the gas.. We cannot expect our bodies to function properly with out the proper fuel. Think about a fire for a second without fuel it will burn out. So lets apply the same concept here:

Faith (God’s word and Prayer) + Food ( Good fresh food not high in sugar or fat) + Fitness ( working out, getting the body moving) = Fuel

This balance of fuel with keep the fire and flame in us to continue to live healthy lives. It hit me yesterday as I was laying in bed reading the bible. This formula is essential and to take one out of the equation would be foolish and unbalanced. When one is lacking it will start to interfere with the other.

I don't listen to doctor OZ much but I remember him saying this to be true. He said if you are lacking in one area, your body will try to pull in another area depleting something else. For instance if you are eating junk, your body will start to wear you down and you will become tired and start to require more sleep. More sleep can cause you to feel fatigued and thus affecting your daily activities.

Ok so now I have the method, and need to put it in action. I laugh now as I see the formula because yesterday I thought it was a huge revelation dropped from heaven. Haha but today feel like a dummy since it is so super simple. Oh well sometimes things need to be put in lament terms for me to understand.

On a totally different note, I made my favorite weight watcher meal last night it was a turkey meatloaf with cauliflower mash potatoes. Although I wonder if you can still call them potatoes when there is no potatoes in them, hmmmm. Counting points again has been a lil challenge but what I need to kick start my body and get myself disciplined in portion control. If you are interesting in losing weight I really suggest it, no I don't get paid to advertise it but it really teaches you self control. It allows you the freedom to splurge here and there and not feel deprived. So if your tank is filling empty like mine is right now........... Fuel........!

In pursuit of the fuel I need to complete my race,

Monica

Snot, Coughs and crying!

Toast- 1.5, coffee- free, Orange- 1, counting points again= ugh! Well today is actually day two because I didn't make it on here last night. I know ...what do you expect from a monday, a wife and a mom of a toddler.

So sunday night I had a plan, a purpose, I was to establish order in my monday so that I can be successful in my new journey. Here is how I planned it to go.. Get up early, workout, market early to get my healthy snacks, eat 5 small meals, clean house, read and devotion while Noah naps, and have dinner ready to go at 530 when sal got home.

Here is how it really went down.. Noah woke up at 8, and I couldn't because we were up all night with his cough. The only workout I got was carrying him around the house all day because apparently his legs decided they didn't want to work yesterday. I think I ate my first meal at 1pm when I tried to lay Noah down for a nap. As soon as I got my stuff together to do my devotion time and read he was already up from his nap. After 15 minutes of tears, snot and coughing I brought him to my bed were he crashed for another half hour.

I finally got to the market at 330pm and my hubby was eating dinner at 730. What in the world happen, this was the day I was to conquer the fitness world. So I lay in bed at the end of the night thinking that I can take this day two ways. One as a opportunity and challenge or be discouraged with self pity, what happen to the time for me. Of course self pity seemed to have the edge! Ugh!

I picked up my book “ Authentic Faith” that I am reading and the chapter I read for the day was entitled “living beyond yourself- The discipline of selflessness.” Are you kidding me, God cant you just let me waddle in my self pity for just a few minutes. There were many things that I hit me in this chapter but one thing really hit the heart.

.

He says “ When our happiness is dependent on what happens to us and when our self-focus determines our daily mood, our joy will necessarily be limited to whatever good thing happens to us. But when we learn to truly delight in the welfare of others and rejoice in what God is doing in their lives the potential for increase joy skyrockets.”

I am not exactly sure why this spoke wonders to me today, but like it says in Romans 8:28 God make all things work for good. I realize that if I don't learn to embrace Proverbs 16:9 “ A mans heart plans his way But the Lord directs his steps” then I am going to get discouraged and give up quickly. Then I was reminded that I am not just setting out to learn about fitness and food but also true authentic faith. Yesterday was defiantly about faith I didn't realize it till today.

Submitting to Gods plan and His training abilities,

Monica

The birth of Faith, Food and Fitness For Real

It's ok, how much damage could I have done? Seriously can it really be that bad? I stood there on the scale and watched the numbers blink. I felt like I was taking part of a weigh in on the "biggest loser" the few seconds it took to calculate my weight seemed like 20 min.

I found myself saying.. "no whammy, no whammy... stop" you remember that old game show back in the day. Then the numbers stop and It was almost like I heard the voice of God, only he had a Ricky Reicardo accent saying " you have some explaining to do." I stood there only in my underwear (come on like you don't take EVERYTHING off to weigh yourself) disappointed. I was disappointed and I did have some explaining to do.

I guess I was disappointed because I found myself at the same place once again? Why is that? Then I realized that a true change without balance will never become a true lifestyle change. It will only be a diet, or only be a great workout for a few months and it will only be superficial faith. Then came the birth of this blog "Faith, Food and Fitness For Real."

Im tired and I don't need a resolution that I can break, I need a revivalution! Something that will last, something that will become a part of me that comes as easy as breathing. I have a desire this year, it is to really step out of my comfort zone and do something I have been wanting to do for a long time. I want to run a marathon, I want to run for women's cancer. More importantly I want to run the race that the Lord has set before me with endurance.

I will need to train my body and discipline it like the athlete the bible talks about. Did you know that the bible talks so much about being an athlete. Why because it takes dedication, hard work and faith. This year I want to pursue the title of "Athlete". I don't want to settle on being just a good eater, or physically fit or emotionally or mentally healthy. No I want more, I want to be an athlete running the race for the Lord.

I am not sure what you can expect from my blogs. I am sure that there will be peaks and valleys. I cant promise that I will blog everyday or week or month.. I can however promise you that I will be real and share the realities of a everyday life of a mom and wife pursing that prize. " I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Phil 3:14

I pray that you don't read my blog strictly because you are bored or have nothing better to do. I pray that you read it so that you will find encouragement. I pray that you also take a journey with me as I find the perfect peace in the balance of Faith, Food and Fitness. I pray that you will also pray for me and keep me accountable. I know once this post, I have not only the eyes of the Lord on me, but yours as well and I do not want to disappoint either.

So you ready? Lets Do this!!!! " I can do all things through Christ" Phil 4:13