Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Reality

Can we just all say that now that we are shredding together that 30 days is FOREVAH LONG?

That's it.

Pressing in....sore, tired muscles and all.

And, I know that some of you know this already....but, level 2 is ridiculous.

I will survive. We will survive.

Hugs...
Fran

Monday, May 11, 2009

We can do this thing...

We won't grow weary with "the Shred." No we won't. :)

It was hard over the weekend because we were out of town and so busy and I couldn't workout Saturday or Sunday. Bleh. A hotel room and a bunch of kids is tough when it comes to the workout scenario. But, no condemnation here.

It's ok if we don't get our 30 days in 30 days.

Press on sisters! We will always support one another.

Love you girls,
Fran

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Whole Heart Faith

Hey friends! I'm going to take a break for the next few days and wanted to tell you about it. So I decided rather than "reinvent the wheel" I would repost something I wrote for my own blog over at Your Word is Life this morning.

I'm praying for you all and can't wait to hear all about how God is working and moving in each of our lives as we seek His Face and encourage one another with what He says to each of our hearts!

Blessings,
Dori

WHOLE HEART FAITH, WEEK 1
by Dori Cook


I know that on yesterday's post I said I would be taking a break from online activity. And I guess by writing this I may be breaking that fast. But the truth is that I have agreed with my friend, Leigh, to participate in her Whole Heart Faith Challenge. And her Whole Heart Faith Challenge and my Whole Heart Faith Thing goes along with this computer fast that God has called me to this week. And so after I hit "publish" on this post, my aim is to walk in obedience to the fast that God has called me to for this week.

I told Leigh this morning that my Whole Heart Faith "Thing" was going to be the idleness that I have experienced for some time that has turned into "idolness." Now, I'm not sure that "idolness" is a word, but work with me here.

The idolness of idleness is a contributing factor to every other form of idolatry in our lives. Think about it.

When I'm idle...

...I watch too much tv.
...Spend too much time on the computer.
...Spend too much money.
...Ignore important things that need to be done around the house.
...Eat too much.
...Exercise too little.
...Ignore important relationships that need nurturing.
...Miss opportunities to follow where God is working.
...Dwell on negative attitudes and thought patterns.

The list goes on, but the most important thing that suffers when I'm idle is...

...I don't spend enough time in prayer and Bible study.

And I feel it. So over the next few days, weeks and perhaps months. I'm going to seek God's face like never before and ask Him to make me useful, productive and on task for Him. Laying aside the idolness of idleness, I'm believing God for a radical change in my heart and in my life.

I opened up my e-mail inbox this morning to make sure there were no pressing work-related items there and I saw a post from Proverbs 31 Ministries. It reminded me of this passage in Numbers:

"…Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord..." Numbers 15: 38b & 39a (NLT)


Just like Leigh decided that she would show you her scales so you could see how much her idol weighs, I want to have a tangible, visible reminder of this walk of Whole Heart Faith. When I read the scripture above I was reminded of the little blue cords that we wore around our wrists during the Believing God study by Beth Moore. I'm tying mine on today to remind me of the benefits of being busy for God and the hurtful results of idleness or "idolness."

Will you join me? What is something that God is calling you to have a Whole Heart Faith over? Pop over to Leigh's blog to read her heart on the matter. You can read her introduction HERE and read her Whole Heart Faith, Week 1 post HERE.

Just like I told a friend a moment ago in an e-mail, the times are precarious. Everywhere I turn, my faith is being challenged by a world that wants to discount the power that our Creator God has over His very own creation. I need all of the reminders I can get to be radical, sold-out, whole heartedly steeped in, drenched in an "if I perish, I perish" kind of faith!

To walk it with friends -- both those down the street and those here on the internet -- is precious! Let's do this and let's encourage one another!

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:23-25)




Waiting on Him,
Dori

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

In Response ...

I started this out as a comment on Teri's post, but it got long and I wanted to share it with all of you too. So, here ya go:


I know it is discouraging - I have so been there. Starving myself and working hard and getting nothing in return ... I was there in November! But then I saw on Biggest Loser where Bob's team was just not losing so he looked at their food diaries and saw that they were actually eating too little. Yes, eat healthy foods, but give your body something to burn or it will start to store it up.

I know it SEEMS like that would be counterproductive but it isn't. Your body burns the "fresh" stuff first and then goes for the stored stuff. If it doesn't have enough fresh it just stores. You need protein and complex carbs to fuel your body as well as nourish it.

I am taking that lesson to heart this time and it is working. The LA Weightloss stuff I am doing uses real food that I buy at the store and prepare myself, the portions are measured out and proportioned correctly (with a food diary to keep track) and they satisfy without leaving me stuffed. Even working out it is just enough! I would be more than happy to share - I can make copies of everything and get them to anyone who wants them.

Teri, measure yourself and keep that track that way - it can be a truer test than the scale. I do both, because even if I hit a plateau with the weight the measurements remind me that I am losing.

I hope that this is helpful and not preachy.
I love y'all and we are in this together ... that is why we have this blog - to lift each other up and help each other carry on!
I don't know about y'all, but I know I NEED this!
I NEED YOU!!!

Monday, May 4, 2009

A Tad Bit Discouraged

So, this morning I got up at 6:00 for my daily trek on the treadmill and it felt SO good!  Then I opted to just wash up a little instead of showering so I could SHRED after going to pick up the girls I babysit.  (For those of you who don't know me, I work as a childcare giver two days a week for two cute little blonde hair, blue eyed girls!  They belong to my dear friend Meeghan, who is a teacher and works two and a half days a week because she job shares with another teacher.) While I was at Meeghans house this morning I decided to jump on her scale to see how it compared to my scale, because my scale said I haven't lost a single pound.  Much to my surprise, my scale was wrong.  I am actually ten pounds heavier than I thought. So, not only did I NOT lose weight, I'm also starting ten pounds heavier.  I wanted to cry.  (Just so you know, I went out and purchased a new scale which confirmed what Meeghan's scale read.)  

Meeghan is an amazingly thoughtful friend and she blessed me with a gift card for Target as a "YAY!  You did it!  You made it through your freshmen year!" gift!  (I know. She is amazing, truly.)  So instead of purchasing more fat clothes, or my favorite trail mix only available at Target, I picked up a Dancing With the Stars Latin dance exercise DVD.  

I will not let the scale discourage me again.  I know I am moving my body more everyday than I have in the last nine months.  30 minutes on the tread mill, 20 minute SHRED and 40 minute Latin dancing.  I am eating all the right things.  My portions are small.  My snacking is planned out every day and it is all really good stuff.  

I know I am doing everything I can possibly do to get this weight off, and if it seems as if I am a little obsessed about this thing, I am.  I'll admit it.  You can't know how discouraging it feels to be up 35 lbs in a year.  It is just not good.  All of my summer clothes are at a size I am comfortable in, and I am going to get back to that size.  I am determined to live a different lifestyle.

I have a theory as to why I packed the weight on.  This time last year I was VERY stressed.  (Remember Frannie?)  I had a ton of really intense heart stuff going on and I think I was just really down.  After I decided to go to school I think the stress abated some but then as soon as school started I have been on high speed, going pretty much non-stop.  Sleeping about 4-5 hours a night, running around like nuts all the time. Trying to balance my school life with my main priority--my family.  I don't have a house keeper, nannie or a chef! (Haha!)  I powered through all of this year and I think that even though I loved it, there was still an underlying level of stress that sort of never went away.  

I feel like I am coming down from it now, and I am really glad to be creating new habits, because they can only help me next school year!  

The true benefits of fueling my body with good nutrients and working out are that I am sleeping better at night, I have more energy and I am finding it easier to turn my brain off at night.  (Something that has plagued me for forever!)

So I'm sticking with it! (And staying off the scale until I start to feel my clothes feeling different!)

Well, that's all!  

Observations from Day 6

Hi Y'all! I just thought I would share some observations I have come up with in the midst of my 6 days with Jillian ...

* If the girl doing the "easy" moves is the one with the best body, shouldn't we ALL just stick to the easy moves?

* Jillian is an amazing trainer but, it would seem, not too good in the math department ...

Note to J - A "couple" denotes TWO, so please do not say "a couple more" and then go off on some tangent while we are laboring through a whole heck of a lot more than TWO Static Lunges with Bicep Curls. Thank you very much!

* I have one big problem with the push up section of the workout (other than the fact that on day 2 my weak arms gave out and I ended up kissing the floor!) - I have two children and one husband who likes to eat late night snacks in the family room ... the push ups not only cause much pain in my arms, they also bring me face to face with the fact that I need to vacuum my rug a little more often.

* I USED to vacuum said rug once a day, but since beginning the Shred my arms are too weak to vacuum at all.

* Jillian is an excellent trainer, but, it would seem, a little lacking in the musical appreciation department. Not only did she pick extremely uninspiring music to go with this workout but she. also, cannot keep a beat to said sad music.

* Are Anita's abs for sale?

* Has anyone watched the intro montage closely? Cause I am thinkin it is gonna be a serious long time before I can do that one arm, up on your side, the other had on your head pushup thingy! Not to mention some of the other methods of torture I witnessed Jillian inflicting on those poor girls in the intro!!!

* Is it just me or does anyone else picture Jillian's face during the punches!?

* Is it just me or does anyone else feel like they're gonna fall on their face during the but kicks?

* Is it just me or has anyone else ACTUALLY FALLEN during the calf stretches?

* Is it just me or does anyone else feel foolish and VERY old during the split stretches? VERY un-limber!!!!

* Is it just me or is anyone else COMPLETELY and UTTERLY Blessed to be doing this with the best friends a girl could possibly ask for?

XOXOXOXOX
Becky Jo

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Anyone Else Stressed?

Oh, girls, I know you are!! We're all living this Life and it's tough sometimes!

I was thinking about it today. We had such a full afternoon yesterday. The kids are coming down with "crud" and I hit a wall today in exhaustion. It wasn't pretty. We just stayed home from church.

Usually, when I encounter this kind of stress and fatigue, I default into snacking, overeating, and more snacking. Plus, today I made my oldest's Spiderman Birthday cake - recipe for ultimate crash of healthy eating. Oh My!

Well, I cannot say it was complete victory, but I didn't go crazy! Hallelujah!

This stress-eating thing will be a huge obstacle to my healthy, BALANCED living as I go through this season of life (selling a house, moving, buying a new house, making new friends, etc.) if I do not let Christ remind me of the boundary lines that have fallen for me in pleasant places! (Psalm 16:6) Let me tell you siestas, I'm in hot pursuit of Christ's peace here. I'm tired of buying the lies that the food will make me feel better. It is not true!! May I, in Christ's power, say no and turn in prayer to find my satisfaction and fulfillment in Him alone.

I covet your prayers as I take my stand against the Devil's scheme in this area of my life. I'm going to do my best to be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty power (Eph. 6:10-11) Tomorrow, my "shred" is supposed to arrive. The exercise should help relieve tension too, right?! Tell me, girls, how'd this weekend go for you?

with much love,
rachel

Friday, May 1, 2009

Not a Pretty Sight...

So, yesterday I had an all day study day. (Or, shall I say, I had an all day twitter day with study breaks in between? :) )  I had a final at 6:00PM so I never really had the time to SHRED until I got home from class.  The only problem with that is the family is home in the evening.  So, in order to keep with my personal goals, and not make excuses to skip the SHRED, I just went right ahead and did the dumb thing.  Right in front of my husband.  It wasn't pretty.

Let me just tell you a little about my husband.  While in high school he competed at the national level on a Marine Physical Fitness team.  His team won the national championship.  Paul (my man) ended up winning second place in the nation.  SECOND PLACE IN THE NATION LADIES. Needless to say, his body hasn't changed much since then. (We celebrate our 20 year high school reunion this summer.) I'm not even kidding, he has an amazing body.  He still has a six pack.  He isn't crazy obsessed about fitness, he just likes to be active now, but yeah, he is hot.  In fact, I really don't know why the man would want to even touch me.  Thank God that while Paul has a smokin' body, he didn't fare so well in the eyesight department.  So during those non-clothing-wearing-times, he pretty much can't see the wonder of pale flab that has become his wife!  (Nor can he see that I am in fact a hugh stretch mark, from just above my belly button, to the scar where they cut my kids out of me.) Thank God for small favors!  

Anyway, I sucked it up--my pride that is, and sucked it in--that one would be my tummy, and just did the stupid SHRED. And I lived.  And my husband is a gentleman, because he never even said a word. 

So, if I can do it...YOU CAN TOO!

I Heart Jillian!

Yes, I know the title of my post is curious, but you see I have alot of making up to do with Jillian. Because, frankly, I called her everything I could think of yesterday while I was doing Day 1 of the Shred. I told someone yesterday that I would HAVE to go back today and do it because I needed to apologize!

Seriously, ya'll, there was loud screaming in my playroom while I was doing jumping jacks for the first time in years and crunching abs that haven't seen much more than a bend since childbirth! Then I gave up screaming at Jillian and just began to call upon The Name! Yes, I begged Jesus to help me get through it. And He did!! I finished all 20 minutes with only a few short breaks to catch my breath. Considering I wasn't feeling well yesterday, I was amazed that I got through it.

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

Or better yet, here is my paraphrase of that verse:

"With a woman who has spent the last 16 years of her life eating any and everything that she has ever wanted, had two pregnancies and never tried to work off the excess pounds and wondered how the 80 something pounds packed on -- the 30 DAY SHRED IS IMPOSSIBLE, but WITH GOD even Jillian Michaels kicking your ever-widening butt for 20 minutes every day is possible!"

And so I'm about to head upstairs for Day Two.

But I go with this in mind...

I love the LORD for many reasons, but today I'm thankful for an "all things are possible" kind of LORD!!

Blessings,
Dori

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Sojourning Siestas

Girls, I just cannot tell you how exciting this is going to be. I love to encourage and be encouraged. Especially when things are hard like this.

So, as I am about to embark on some crazy kinda life change adventure, I'm overjoyed to be with you and share the journey together.

Ya'll are just amazing and I love you to pieces!

Skeered!

Just want y'all to know that I'm a tiny bit scared to start this Shred mania tomorrow (Friday) but I am and will think of you as I sweat and carry on like a mad woman for 20 minutes.

Here we go!!!

It's never ever too late to get in on the bandwagon.

We are simply here to hold your hand and cheer you on!!

Hugs!
Fran

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Can't even begin to thank you...

I just can't begin to tell you how much all of your prayers, emails, gifts (I am ALL about the gifts, people), cards, phone calls, text messages, etc., have helped me over the last 6 weeks or so.

I will share with y'all that if this had happened even two years ago, I would have run like the wind. No WAY would I have stuck around...I would have let "someone else" handle it. Just call me when it's all over and it's all good.

God had another plan. And part of His plan was that Beth would be pulled into our church via her boys (God uses anyone and everyone) and by the way the girls in our bible study reached out and accepted Beth from day 1. The fact that we were doing Esther...for just a time as this...is not lost on our bible study group. Nor was it lost on our Pastor who brought it up at the graveside service for Beth.

Yes, this sucks. Yes, it's hard. Yes, I am sad and grieving and will be for an undetermined amount of time. But I am also able to recognize some good out of all of this. I was able to get to know Beth in an entirely deeper way. A God-Heart connection (pulling the God Card as my bff, Lori says). We prayed together. Worshipped together. Learned about God together. Being with her over the last 3 weeks of her life...the hardest damn thing I have ever had to do. Ever. And I wouldn't change it. Period.

All of you helped me get through it then. And continue to help me now. I am so thankful for each of you. To say that sounds...trite and totally nowhere near the depth of my feelings, but I have a plan. Well, okay, GOD has a plan. That plan is for all of you to be a part of my life...and He has been showing me how to love you as He loves you. He did that by the way you loved me.

Thank you.

I love you.

Susan

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Here We Go ...

Hi girlfriends! Here we go - this is where you can come to vent, brag (in a Godly kinda way!!!), ask questions, support each other, be held/hold accountable, and love on each other. NO judgement, just love and support! I cannot wait to start this journey with y'all!

I picked this pic for our profile pic ... but only til we can all get a shot together! Feel free to post photos on the sidebar if there are ones of you together ... like the one of me and Teri ... Hmmm, think I will go find it now!

I love y'all!
Becky Jo