Bringing Back Faith, Food and Fitness for real!

Welcome back! I am back with a refocus on FFF! I set out on a journey last year on how to obtain that Faith, Food and Fitness that we as women struggle with. It took a unexpected turn and I did learn alot about the three just in a different way than I expected.

I didn't run a marathon, I didn't drop the weight I thought I would.. Instead I had Caleb, gained 20 pounds with the pregnancy and ended up with gestational diabetes. Imagine that! Although my diabetes came and went, what didn't was the desire to be healthy.

What I felt that day sitting with the diabetes nutritionist I will never forget. Poking my finger 5 times a day, eating certain foods all day, eating every two hours and working out after EVERY meal, I will never forget. Dramatic it may seem to some because it went away however I cant think of the risks.

I have a 50 % greater chance of getting type 2 diabetes later in life because I had it when I was pregnant. It is because of this risk that I have a new focus. I cannot take that risk and I need to be healthy. I know that it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it without of God. I know that the bible has alot to say about food and fitness. I know that it is the balance of the three that will help me to achieve my goals.

All my life I have been doing it wrong. There were times I was counting the points, neglecting the fitness. There were times I was working out, and pigging out. And there were many times that I didn't allow God to help me in both of these areas. In the bible it clearly states in EVERYTHING do it with God. And this my friends is the new refocus on “FFF for Real”

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink , or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” - 1st Corinthians 10:31

This is not another diet, important to remember that if you are following along. You wont be counting points ( and you know I love me some weight watchers) You wont be following some elaborate working out plan. You wont be doing long bible studies.. Or at least to start. I am smart enough to know that as a mom of a toddler and a newborn, doing to much will set me up to fail. So I am going to keep it simple...

I wont be blogging everyday.. I will be blogging monday with the weeks challenge and then on fridays with a wrap up. If I find some time during the week I will add some bonus stuff. If you are following I really encourage you to join in on the conversation. Share your fears, failures and successes. If you have questions, whats working and whats not working for you.

Here is what you can expect.. You can expect prayer, you can expect a support system and you can expect to change if you really commit to it...

Here is what you should not expect.. As I said it is a lifestyle change and not a diet. You cannot expect to drop the weight fast, obtain that childlike faith and be able to run a marathon in a week... It is a process, some of us have been battling these areas in our lives forever so it will take time to rid of the old man, so to speak!


Here is what you will:
A journal and a willing heart!

I am not a nutritionist, I am not a pastor, and I am not a trainer.. Everything that I do will come from the bible, research and resources. If you are following with us feel free to share your knowledge and wisdom in FFF. Make it your own journey.. You can do everything that I am doing or some or none. If you simply just want prayer and encouragement that is fine to!

So here is this weeks challenge:

Faith:
Get out that journal today and write out a letter to the Lord asking Him to help you in the process.. Ask Him to show you were you are lacking in the the areas in your life and what He wants you to focus on. Then remember a time when your faith was tested and how you felt during and after that time. Did it seem impossible at the time? Sure did and did He get you through? Absolutely!!!

Think about a goal, and the steps it will take to get there! And by faith hop on the scale and write that number down. We will revisit your weight on a later post..

Food:
The other day I prayed as I normally do before I eat.. some how the words “Lord may this meal make me healthy and strong” seemed foolish when I opened my eyes to a burger, fries and a milkshake :/
Alot of times we are just hungry and we don't even think about what we are putting into our mouths. So I came up with this process for every meal.

Pray-- Pause-- Consider-- Proceed

Pray for your food, Pause and take a look at your plate, Think about the food options is it really healthy? And then eat.. doesn't have to take long to do this.. It is just bringing awareness of what you are putting in your mouth.

(Try this week to drink at least 2-3 more glasses of water that you normally do)

Fitness:
This week spend time researching a workout plan that is obtainable and realistic for you. We will start workouts next week...



In close:

Overall this week pray for the discipline needed to start your journey. It is a pretty simple week to get us into next week when we really get started. May seem pretty basic but we are simply laying the foundation..!
I know this is super long.. I will try to cut it down. It was the first one so bare with me. I am excited to share this journey with you.. If you are doing nothing more than reading this then I ask that you pray for me and keep me accountable!

See you friday! Love you guys!!!!!

FFF,
Mon

Caleb Joshua Pereyra

I ha vent blogged in awhile.. A long while actually.. Things just got to busy and well I was pregnant! I cant use that excuse anymore to get out of jail free.. Now it is back to cleaning, lifting, cooking etc!

So I wanted to blog because I have been overwhelmed with the love, support and prayers from so many friends and family that I wanted to send out a praise report.
As some many or many not know I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, this was told to me back at the beginning of September.

In my determination NOT to take medication I was put on a STRICT diet and had to work out at least 30 minutes after each meal. This was a challenge and many days it seemed impossible. Even after all the effort I still found my sugar high.. I didn't give up and many of you were praying. It actually turned out to be a blessing, I lost weight and it actually put me back into a healthy weight gain for the pregnancy.

This past Sunday after I ate I noticed something unusual, I noticed that even though I was eating the same and I did not work out my sugar was in the lower end of the normal range. So I experimented and the next day I ate normal didn't work out and my sugar was fine.

I called my diabetes lady and asked if it was possible to get rid of the diabetes before delivery and she said no. We tried to figure how it was that my sugar levels went from high to normal without medication and without the extra working out. After talking with her for a half hour, I had to to tell her that I believed it was the power of prayer and I still do believe that.

Tuesday night, I woke up a few times with a tummy ache, no big deal.. Then on Wednesday night I kept waking up ever 30 minutes with the urge to go to the potty and cramping. I told sal I thought I was coming down with a stomach flu. It wasn't till around 5am in the morning when the cramps were coming four minutes apart that I realized I was in labor :O

We rushed to the hospital and got there around 830am and then they slowed down and I was dilated to a four. The nurse asked me to walk around for an hour and come back.. So I did and in that hour I started getting them every two minutes apart. It was now about 9:50 and I was now at a six for dilation. They took me in a labor room, where I progressed. I signed the paper for a epidural however I had a strong desire to try and do it without it. As the pain got worse I opted to get a shot of some pain meds, hoping that would work and a epidural was not needed.

It took the edge off and it did help, but it was then I prayed. I said “Lord, I know you cant take this pain away. In the bible it says I have to endure the pains of child birth, so please just give me the strength to endure it.” The very next contraction I had an urge to push. I told the nurse I feel like I need to push. She checked and sure enough I was at a nine. It was now about one... The doctor came in a minute later, broke my water bag, saw that I was at a ten and told me it was time.

Three or four contractions later, and for pushes, Caleb Joshua Pereyra was born and 1:23pm weighing in at 7lbs 4ozs!

Now I listen to my hubby tell the story of how labor went down and I have to admit. He makes me sound like a gladiator, he makes it sound like I have been the only lady on earth to give birth in the natural form. I smile and wish that it was me and that I was that strong, but I am not.

I wish that I could take full credit but the truth is that when I was pushing I felt so weak. I felt that I couldn't push anymore, and at one point I said I couldn't’t. It was at that time everyone in the room said yes you can one more push. It wasn't so much their voice but the Lords voice telling my that I could because He could.

My best friend tells me that I was pushing so hard that she had to kick off her shoes to hold my feet. Friends I wish that it was my strength but it wasn’t. I look at Caleb and I am in love again.. I never thought that I could fall in love with another lil man, but I have. I am so blessed with my boys that my heart is overwhelmed.

Truth is I am tired, only slept about 9 hours total since Wednesday. I am scared, to go through those tough infant seasons again. I feel guilty when I look at my Noah and see in his face that he misses his mommy. I hurt when I look at my tired hubby trying to be everything that I am not and trying to be the leader of our home. Also frustrated when Caleb was crying 80 percent of the night because of gas and I couldn’t calm him.. But you know what.. I am so blessed and loved.

I know that God is love and love is all you need. His hand has been in everything and I know will continue to be.. So Praise Him for that.. Thank you all for your prayers, support and love!!!!

waiting in silence!

Ive been silent.. Not because I have been lazy or no time, but because God told me to be! Whaaaaaaat? Not sure why but when He gives me the ok, you better watch out cuzz I think I have alot to say.. hahah

Its been hard because I have had a ton of blog topics, but being obedient!

I miss you guys, Still praying for my readers and waiting on the Lord to have me speak....!

Not just a father but a daddy... My Hubs!

"Daddy, Daddy".. Noah cried as his daddy walked out the front door to go to work. "Son, daddy has to go to work, I will be back later" he said.. As tears rolled down his face he said " No daddy, come, come." Taking Asher away from the door the look on my husband face was one of sadness....

It has been said many times that being a mom is one of the toughest job, I could agree.. But I would have to admit that being a daddy isn't any easier. Anyone can be a father, but it takes a special man to be a daddy. There is a difference you know. Being a daddy is taking on more than what the job requirements are.

I cant imagine how hard it must be to be the leader of a home, yet that is what a daddy does. He is strong enough to protect his family, yet gentle enough to comfort a hurting child. He is tired after working a long day, yet finds the energy to play cars with his son, then gets him in the bath and off to sleep. He forfeits his male bonding time, to spend time with his family because he has had a busy week of work and school.

He walks around with some worn out shoes because he puts the needs of his family ahead of his. He celebrates the little things, making even the smallest a big deal, like no cavities! Or crazy outside the line coloring projects. He spends quality time with his children and doesn't sit in front of the TV wasting time.

He is humble enough to recognize that with out the Lord as headship of the family the family will not be a family. He teaches his family and children about the Lord and keeps prayer alive. He is the leader of the home but is the most willing servant of them all. He is a loving husband and daddy that ensures the words " I love you" are never lacking within these walls.

He bares all the family burdens, the financial ones, the spiritual ones, the emotional ones ( yup us women get emo sometimes, hard to believe I know) and everything else in between. He leaves in the morning knowing that he must make the days wage when all he wants to do is stay home and spend time with his son.

He gives more, requires less.. He does more and expects less. He is a selfless man that puts the needs of the family first! I knew that husband would be a good daddy, but never dreamed he would be the one he is today. He makes me a better mommy because of who he is. There is no other person I would ever do this " parenting" thing with and the Lord knew and that is why he gave me this man. With God and my husband, I know all things are possible and I never have to worry!

May God be with these men. May He give them the strength, wisdom and knowledge needed to be the headship of the family!

A blessed and grateful wife,
me

The heart of worship

The house was quiet, the boys were gone and I slipped into the warm tub. I put my water pillow behind my head ( ok it was a rolled up towel, ghetto I know) and slipped on my ipod careful not to get it wet. I laid there with my eyes closed and played worship music.

As I started to sing, tears rolled down my face. Perhaps it was the long challenging day I had or maybe something a friend recently told me. I saw my friend the other day and she had to have surgery on her throat. They removed her thyroid due to cancer. She said the worst part of it was that her voice hasn’t come back and she was unable to sing and worship. Her eyes filled up with tears as she explained that we take the ability to worship for granted. I saw the pain in her eyes as she explained how she desired to sing out to the Lord and is unable to with her voice.

I was playing worship on the computer today, I walked into my room to find Noah sitting on my bed signing. I said “son what are you doing” He looked up at me and said “worship”. My eyes filled with tears as I watched my son sign and sing worship. I want that heart to worship.

Life and circumstances can take us from that place of worship. The other day as I was in the tub I sang a lil louder. Today as I sat on the bed, I signed with my son more passionately.

It doesnt matter how we come to worship, it could be in a cancer stricken voice barely there, in a off key tune in the tub or simply through sign on the bed. Let us not take for granted the ability to worship the Lord.

Here are the lyrics to “ The heart of Worhip” by Micheal W Smith:

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come

Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart


I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord for the thing I've made it
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve

Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Coming back to the heart of worship,
Mon

Hope lost on a Freeway

I know its late. I wanted to get in a blog today but the day got away from me. I really want to just turn in from a long day that ended in a great birthday celebration dinner with a friend. The truth is I am not sure how well I will sleep if I don't blog about today.

Today was the day we were going to get a ultrasound to determine the sex of the baby. We headed out to Costa Mesa and was driving on the 5FWY south carpool to get the 55 south. For a mile or two if you are not familiar, you are on fwy overpass that is above the 55. I happened to glance on the shoulder of the opposing traffic to notice a motorcycle parked up against the shoulder. Didn't appear to look like it had been in an accident. I started to formulate why someone would leave it there and drew my own conclusions.

Excited on the way back from the ultrasound place we got back on the 5 North carpool lane and as we were to go on the overpass there was CHP blocking it. It forced us to go straight on the 55... Sal said I wonder if they are trying to see where the driver of that motorcycle is. I said yeah I thought it was kinda weird, that the bike was there.

No more than a minute later my heart dropped as I glanced over to the opposing side of the FWY. There were cops, cal trans workers and a corner standing over what appeared to be a body. "OH my Lord, Oh my Lord" I cried out.. " He jumped, He jumped" My eyes immediately filled up with tears and my heart started to ache. It appeared that this man must just jumped right before we passed his motorcycle.

I cant imagine what someone must be thinking to jump from the overpass onto oncoming traffic. What was this man thinking as he drove, parked his bike and got on the ledge to jump? He took his life because he saw no hope. Did anyone? I wondered if this man had family, friends? Did they know that this man was hurting and walking around dead? How come they didn't intervene or perhaps he didn't let anyone into his world.

I could not stop thinking about this man. I couldn't imagine the call his mom was about to get that her child is no longer alive. My excitement turned to sadness. As I was celebrating life, one was lost. What happens to a person that feels the only way is to take their own life? I don't know, I am not sure anyone on the outside will ever know. People think suicide is selfish, today I didn't feel that for this man. My heart ached for this man who lost hope, who lost the will to live.

He was someone's son, he was the Lords son. I pray for his family, his friends and others that are like this man. I pray for the hope that Jesus gave me in some of my darkest days. I pray peace in their lives. Please help me in praying for these people.

Remembering tonight how fragile life can be
mon

Hot Dog, Pork n Beans and A glass of Kool Aid

Today I poured myself some Kool-Aid and as it went down the pipes I closed my eyes and remember the summer days as a kid. My Tia used to watch my siblings and I during the summers. I remember having a hot dog, pork n beans and a nice glass of kool aid for lunch everyday, every summer till we were old enough to stay on our own.

Those were the summers we would do crafts, run through the sprinklers when we were to lazy to get out the slip n slide. We would be outside for hours. We would smell like sweaty puppies and the grass stains were as green as could be on the knees. Occasionally at a local school they would give out free lunch, and those were the only days we got a break from the hot dogs.

I cant ever remember ever getting tired of eating that same lunch, because back then nothing matter. Four thirty would roll around and like clock work my mom would come to pick us up. It took her about an hour usually to round us up and persuade us to get in the car.

My Tia was a special lady. She was always sick with diabetes and there were times when we thought we would lose her. She made our days spacial and fun. We would do talent shows, make homemade kites, walk to the park for picnics ( yup the same hot dogs). She always had a camera to, snapping shots as we ran around the yard. We loss my aunt about six months ago. Her diabetes finally took her out. Kool Aid will always remind me of her. I thank God that we had those special summers. I learned alot from her, she taught us kids how to be creative and never let us just sit in front of a t.v.

Who knew that after many years a hot dog, pork n beans and a glass of kool aid could still bring joy to my heart!