Be Still and Know I Am...

It's been rather stressful around our home recently and yesterday sent me over the edge.  I turned back to my old habit of turning to food for comfort.

It wasn't major.... I started the day ok other than running late and skipping breakfast; but as the day progressed and the stress began to spiral downward, so did my eating.  After seeing I'd gained a pound at my WW weigh in (wasn't a surprise - I'd stayed well within my points for the week but I knew I'd enjoyed too much sugar last week), I was determined to immediately get back on track.  I came home and made a healthy lunch choice of a salad and zucchini pizza bites.  4 points total for my day to that point.  That was the last good moment of my day food-wise.

Through the afternoon, as the stress began to mount, I started turning to food.  It started out as a bowl full of berries with the hope of whipped topping (zero point snack) only to find the can of whipped topping empty.  Yes, I ate the berries, but with a grumbling heart.  Soon I found myself turning to the red licorice I found in my backpack, which soon turned to munching on bagel chips while making dinner for the kids.  My true intention of making myself a healthy low point dinner, ended in me deciding to take the kids to church, then hit McDonald's.  Yes, I made the conscious poor choice of drowning my stress in a quarter pounder, fries, and a Dr Pepper.  Did it make me feel any better?  Nope.  It just added a bit of guilt on top of everything else.  Now, don't get me wrong, deciding to enjoy a fast food meal once in awhile isn't wrong at all.  The problem for me was that I chose to turn to food for comfort rather than turning to God and waiting on Him for counsel, blessings, answers, and even permission.

Today is a new day, a clean slate, a fresh start.  The stress that was there yesterday is still here today.  It's not going away too soon.  But I've chosen to hand it to God rather than to try burying it in "comfort food".  I chose to start my day with a good breakfast of shredded wheat cereal with sliced strawberries and milk.  I will stick to the plan God has laid on my heart in the beginning of this journey.  I realize I will still stumble along the way, but I also know that God is right there beside me, to pick me back up and set me straight again.
 

My Tip For The Day....

This goes along with my personal challenge :)  I've decided to start my days with 5-10 minutes on the treadmill to kind-of kick start my mind in the activity process.  AND... I'm a big multi-tasker.  So, I've started doing it after my shower when my hair is wrapped in a towel.  It's not enough time to get hot and sweaty, nullifying my shower, but it is enough time for the towel to help pull out some of the water from my hair, cutting down on the drying time.  It also gets me moving to start my day.  So far, so good :)  Now, it's time for breakfast and to get on with my day.  Blessings to you all :)

Mandisa "Good Morning"

Challenging Myself

My ActiveLink assessment is finished and my 12 week challenge begins on Wednesday.  There were no great surprises other than I'm not quite the couch potato I thought I was ;)  On average I reach my basal activity minimum by late afternoon and earn 1-2 activity points most days.  The days that I got involved in some sewing I didn't earn any activity points.... keeping busy does not equal keeping active.

I've decided to challenge myself to do a couple of things: 1) determine to be active for at least 5 minutes every couple of hours throughout my day and 2) reach my basal activity minimum by no later than 1 o'clock on school days and lunch time on non school days.  These are pretty practical goals, but like I've said before, I tend to get lost in my days and not think about things like this, then I find I'm playing catch up at the end of the day.

I started this morning by walking 1/4 mile first thing.  If I can get 1/8-1/4 mile in every couple hours throughout my day, it will add up quickly to my other long term goals.  There is joy in the treadmill too.... as it's time that I can chat with God, memorize scripture, and reflect on the blessings He rains down on me :)

The Weekend....

Nicole C. Mullen "Call On Jesus"

This weekend I've had time to reflect on many things about this journey and I've got to say that I'm thankful God chose to work on me even though I'd given up on some things myself.  He is ever faithful and I'm ever thankful.  He chose to set me on this path when I was sick and not able to breathe without working at every breath.  He saw fit to place the desire in my heart of hearts to be all that He created me to be and to bring Him glory each and every step of the way, even in my weakest moments.  He has blessed me with silly little gifts that keep me going and He is continuing to heal my body each and every day.  It's God who's showing me things to find joy in along the way, whether it be big things or tiny things that I'd normally overlook.  So as this weekend comes to an end, I want to just take a moment and thank my Heavenly Father for taking me by the hand and walking this path right alongside me; encouraging me, blessing me, keeping me from giving up, and taking the time to comfort me when I need it most.  I truly am looking forward to the new week, knowing that He is right beside me.  

Planning Ahead...

I'm meeting a friend for lunch today, and as I've quickly learned, eating out consumes more WW points than eating at home.  I already have 3 options in mind for what to choose for lunch, but there is still no question that the points value is a bit more than I'd normally use by that point in my day.  To help this situation, I opted for a 1 point breakfast of berries, yogurt, and just a little crunch by adding a sprinkle of chopped pecans, sliced almonds, and coconut.  I am getting 2 full servings of fruit and a full serving of dairy in my breakfast for the bargain price of 1 point.  By planning ahead, I won't be left this evening to either try skimping by without using extra points and feeling deprived, or feeling guilty because I've used a bunch of those extra points for no good reason.

Finding joy in this journey is also about learning to live with the lifestyle changes God is making in me.... longterm.  It's not just about losing 50+ pounds and calling it good.  Right now, I'm learning to rely on Him for His strength to make it through this.  I am asking Him for permission each time I want to eat.  I'm listening to His lead on my activity.  Eventually, this will all be second nature again, like He designed it in the beginning (natural feelings of hunger and full), but until such time I'm so thankful that He loves me enough to walk this path beside me, guiding me all along the way.

Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Broccoli and Sausage Casserole Recipe

Tonight's dinner was a recipe off the WW website and it's another keeper :). I tweaked the instructions a bit to suit my more haphazard cooking style and I used mozzarella cheese rather than sharp cheddar because 1) I'm feeding kids and they prefer a more mild flavor and 2) I had mozzarella on hand. Here goes...

12oz loaf (bakery style) unsliced Italian bread

2 cloves garlic (I used the "fresh" minced in the jar kind

Onion powder

Minced onion

16 oz bag of frozen broccoli

12 oz sweet Italian turkey sausage (I used three links and just removed the meat from the casings)

1/2 cup chicken broth

3/4 cup shredded cheese

Cut loaf in half, lengthwise and lay cut side up on sprayed baking sheet. Rub each half with garlic and sprinkle with onion powder. Bake in a 350 degree oven until toasted, about 10-15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool enough to handle. 

Meanwhile, brown sausage in a medium skillet. Once almost all browned add broccoli and minced onion (I just sprinkle some on). Allow to cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally. As the sausage and broccoli are cooking, tear up toasted bread into pieces. 

Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with cooking spray. Layer half the torn up bread in bottom of baking pan, top with half the sausage-broccoli mixture, then sprinkle with half the cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Pour chicken broth over top of casserole. 

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm. 

Serves 8. 

6 points per serving

Breakfast

As someone who's never been a big breakfast eater, unless there were donuts involved, I've learned an often preached lesson that really is true....a good breakfast can set the tone for your day. I take a fair amount of different medicines in the morning and had become immune to the side effects, like getting jittery, from taking them on an empty tummy. Since starting WW and committing to a good breakfast each morning, I've been pleasantly surprised at how much better I feel. Breakfast isn't fancy, it's just filling and packed with power foods to help me make it to lunch. Gone are the donuts and in are the whole grains and fruit :)  A simple bowl of Cheerios (1 cup) with berries and half a cup of milk is only 4 points and will offer enough fuel for everything my morning tosses my way.

Indulgence....

In THOSE moments. There's just gonna be those days; you know the ones I'm talking about. For whatever reason, you're feeling stressed and overwhelmed, frustrated, or maybe even a bit angry. If you're like me, the natural tendency is to turn to food for a little comfort and down time. Problem is, this journey is about making healthy changes, so where exactly does that leave you?

First and foremost, turn to God. Honestly, only He can fill the void you're feeling in those moments. Meet Him with hands open for Him to fill, rather than balled up or worse yet grabbing, trying to fill them yourself. If there's still a desire for your "comfort food" be reasonable about it. 

Today was a bit on the stressful side; no particular reason, just "one of those days". Normally, I'd run away to Starbucks for a venti mocha java chip frappucino made with whole milk and smothered in whipped cream with extra chips and drizzle. I could've made that choice again today, using my weekly indulgence points, but.... God is changing me right?  Therefore, even tho I could've done it, I had to ask myself, "should I do it?"  1 Corinthians 10:23 tells us "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive."  

If there's joy to be found in this journey, even during the stressful times, we need to look to God to find it. After dinner tonight, I still had 3 points left that I'd normally save for my bedtime snack or my evening vanilla bean latte'. Tonight however, I REALLY REALLY wanted a frappe'. I did a little searching and discovered that, praise The Lord, Starbucks actually has a light java chip frappe' and it's only 4 points for a tall. Yes, I had to sacrifice the whipped cream and drizzle, but I think I can live with that as I continue to seek God on this path to health and find joy in the gift He chose to offer me tonight, wrapped in a classic Starbucks cup:)

Weigh In Day...

I'm thrilled to report that I lost 7.4 pounds my first week.  Yes, yes, I know that I won't be doing that every week, but what a great way to start off :)  It encouraged me to make the healthy decision of coming home to make my lunch rather than celebrating with lunch out.  I'm enjoying a big salad with zucchini "pizza" bites :)

Baked Chicken Recipe

Tonight for dinner I tried a recipe I found on the WW site and I was impressed.  Easy and yummy :)

I served the baked chicken with brown rice, corn, and a loaf of homemade garlic basil bread.  Easy meal with comfort food flair.

Baked Chicken (3 points per serving)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly coat a small, shallow roasting pan with cooking spray.  Season both sides of boneless skinless chicken (about a pound or so) with salt and pepper.  Transfer chicken to the prepared pan and drizzle with olive oil.  Sprinkle with lemon juice (I just squeezed half a lemon lightly over the chicken), rosemary, and parsley.  Pour 1/4 cup chicken broth around chicken to coat the bottom of the pan.  Bake until chicken is cooked through, about half an hour.  Garnish with fresh lemon if desired.

This is a definite make again around our home:)

Note: I prefer dark meat, so I used boneless skinless thighs rather than breast meat.  It worked well and the portions were perfectly sized.

An Unforeseen Benefit of Weight Watchers...

I owned up to this early on... I tend to take the easy way out, hence hitting drive thru so often.  Not only did that bad habit help me gain weight, but it was also instilling horrible eating habits and expectations in my daughters.  I honestly attempt to feed my family well, but like everyone else, by the end of the day I'm flat out tired and just don't want to deal with it.... then it's "Hello McDonalds"

Well, thanks to my new WW way of making decisions (I always ask myself if something is "point worthy":), and my determination to follow God on this journey He's placed me on, my family is eating better as well.  We are eating at home and I make most things either homemade or at the very least semi-homemade.  It's causing me to actually stick to the plan I set out with (I'm famous for coming up with plans and not seeing them thru) and I'm finding our days are running smoother than ever.  I know what meals are planned for the week, I've gone to the grocery store and made sure I have all the ingredients to make everything on the list, and each morning I look to see what's up for the day and get a jump start on things.  Tonight's dinner calls for some homemade bread which is baking as I type.

All in all, I'm finding great joy in watching God work thru so many little things as He pushes me along this WW path.  He's simplifying my life in ways I'd not anticipated, but am so thankful for.  Feeding my family better and teaching my daughters to fuel their bodies with good fuel not junk, is only just the surface :)

Power Lunch

My day seemed to have started before me today, and consequently I've been playing catch up. My wonderful husband made me a 3 pts berry breakfast at 5:30 while my eyes were still trying to open, but by 11 I was starving. I opted for my version of a harvest chicken salad wrap with a side salad. YUMMY!!!  Lunch was ten points, but it's power packed and will see me thru quite awhile.

To make my wrap sandwich: mix 1/2 cup canned chicken packed in water with 1/2 tbs miracle whip. Add a few sliced grapes, some chopped apple, a tsp of crushed pecans, a dash of celery seed, and some alfalfa sprouts. Spoon onto a whole wheat tortilla and attempt to wrap;). As usual, my side salad has feta crumbles, raw sunflower seeds, and balsamic dressing. 

My New Little Gadget

I decided I wanted a pretty complete picture of my fitness, so I went ahead and got ActiveLink. It's a little device you wear all day and it tracks all your activity based on you movement. After finding your baseline, it helps you reach your personal goals by setting challenges for you which you can adjust if you feel you need to. ActiveLink is directly linked to my WW account/phone, so I can see if I need to bump things up to reach my goals. 

I'm in my assessment period still (the first week is assessing your NORMAL activities. You're not to suddenly decide to sign up for Zumba when you've spent months doing nothing more than toting laundry baskets from room to room), but each night I get a little picture of what's going on when I plug into my computer. I've been pleasantly surprised to find I'm not as much of a couch potatoe as I thought. I'm reaching my minimum activity level by the afternoon and earning activity points based on the rest of my activities for the day. So far, doing just my normal things, I'm earning 2 activity points each day. I'm looking forward to seeing the full report by the end of the month and to see the first 12 week challenge ActiveLink sets up for me. 

I love gadgets, I love rewards, I love to reach personal goals... ActiveLink seems to be the perfect little tool to help dangle carrots in front of my nose as I journey down this path God has me on. 

Power Lunch

I'm starving!  We spent the morning on schoolwork, then Gracie and I did the grocery shopping for the week. Normally, I'd just grab a pizza from the pizza kitchen at the store and head home to eat it with the girls. There's no way I was wasting points on that today, though. CHOICES... It's a beautiful thing to embrace when you're making the right ones. So... I made a power salad for lunch. It has feta crumbles, peppered turkey, raw sunflower seeds and pecans, and my favorite balsamic dressing. For a little added "crunch" I chose a serving of bagel chips on the side. See why I'm never hungry?  All this, along with peach iced tea for only 8 points :)

What's Monday mean?

A banana split for breakfast of course:). Only 3 points and packed with power foods. Slice a banana, top with 1/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon chopped pecans, 30 semi-sweet chocolate chips, and shredded coconut. Now this is a great start to a new week:)

OOPS! I forgot the picture :)

Menu For The Upcoming Week...

I'm completely committed to making the changes I need to make on this journey to a healthier and simpler life.  One of those changes is to be diligent about menu planning; It will keep me from getting caught short and falling back into bad habits.

The first thing I did was look at my calendar for the week to see all the activities going on and build a menu around it all.  I tried to make sure I planned meals that work for the entire family, not just my WW needs.  I also spent a little time on the WW site looking for some recipe ideas, just to try a few new meals.  Beyond just planning the meals for the week, I also looked at how I wanted to incorporate activity into my days.  I'm still very much in the recovery phase, so I'm taking it really slow where my activity goals are concerned.  I am more than a bit excited about wearing my new ActiveLink as it does my personal assessment over this coming week.  Everything I've read about it makes it sound like it's the perfect little technological gem to help me reach my goals in a reasonable way.

OK... onto this week's menu;)  (keep in mind that my WW weeks start on Tuesdays and end on Mondays)

Tuesday 3/18 - Lunch - Cobb Salad with 2 Schwan's Bavarian Soft Pretzel Sticks (10pts)
                         Dinner - Baked Chicken with Brown Rice and Veggies (7 pts)
Wednesday 3/19 - Lunch out with a friend.  Thinking Red Robin and will get a kids chicken          
                              sandwich with a side salad (8 pts)
                              Dinner - BLT and a Salad with Balsamic Dressing (10 pts)
Thursday 3/20 - Lunch - Progresso Lite Clam Chowder, Schwan's Bavarian Soft Pretzel Sticks, and a
                          Salad with Feta and Balsamic Dressing (8 pts)
                          Dinner - Broccoli & Sausage Casserole, Carrot Mini Muffins, Jello (10 pts)
Friday 3/21 - Lunch - Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup, Salad (9 pts)
                      Dinner - Tacos (2) and Refried Beans (10 pts)
Saturday 3/22 - Lunch - Sandwich, Apple, Pretzel Slims (11 pts)
                          Dinner - Toast, Egg, Bacon, Fruit with Yogurt (6 pts)
Sunday 3/23 - Lunch - Eat out (12 pts est)
                       Dinner - Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce and Salad with Cheese and Balsamic Dressing
                                      (9 pts)
Monday 3/24 - Lunch - Chicken Salad Wrap, Chicken Noodle Soup, Veggies and Dressing (8 pts)
                         Dinner - Garlic Chicken Broccoli over Noodles (7 pts)

Breakfast for me is pretty consistent... cereal with fruit and coconut milk or skim milk (4 pts), mixed berries with raw nuts, sprinkled with shredded coconut and a dash of coconut milk (1pt), or oatmeal with a tablespoon of brown sugar and a splash of milk (6 pts)

I've left snacks open so I can go along with my mood, but I already know how many points I have available for them.  Of course I have all my weeks worth of PointsPlus points to work with as well.  I tend to use them on the days we eat out and end up needing a few extra points to make it thru.  I love to unwind with my latte' (2 pts) each evening after the kids are in bed and will use my PointsPlus if needed on things like that :)

Alright, my plan is in place, the shopping list is made of the few things I need to pick up, and I'm excited to begin week number 2 on this Joyful Journey.  To God be all the glory as He directs my steps and continues to give me a peaceful heart and good attitude about this :)

My Favorite Snack....

You know you're gonna just have those times when you're starving and about ready to devour everything in the kitchen cupboards.  Be prepared for that.  You really don't want to waste points out of a sudden desperation.

I've discovered an amazing snack and it's only 1 point.  Choose a fresh fruit, slice or chop it up into a cereal bowl.  Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of chopped raw pecans, 1 teaspoon sliced almonds, and if you like coconut like I do, 1 teaspoon of coconut over your fruit.  Then empty a single carton of Dannon Light & Fit Greek style strawberry yogurt over the top.  You literally have a yummy, to die for snack that will take you through the afternoon and give you the energy you need to accomplish all your activities.

Philippians 3:14

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

As I've shared  a few days ago, I jumped into my new journey as I was in the beginning stages of recovering from a severe asthma episode just a few days before.  It's been a week full of mega doses of steroids, antibiotics, and doctor visits, a week of me struggling for every breath I inhale.  Thankfully, I'm finally feeling my body begin to recover and today I felt good for the first time all week.  God chose this week to send me in this new direction He has for me, when I had more than enough justifiable reasons to just stay in bed.  I don't know why, but I do know I've learned a few things over the past few days.

God ALWAYS calls us where and how we are; it's not about what we have to offer Him, it's about what He is doing in and thru us.  You see, it's not about us at all.  I've had to rely on God, His direction, and His strength for every single thing this week.  Thankfully He's provided me a wonderful family willing to help every way they can.  He's also given me an unusual desire to follow His direction in all of this without digging my heals in and trying to tweak things to suit my way.

By calling me while I was down, it gave me the time to focus on the changes I need to make, being realistic about where I'm truly starting from.  I couldn't pretend I am in better physical shape than I am and chance setting the beginning bar too high... this week, I completely understood how foolish that would be for me to do and that if I did that, I'd just get frustrated and quit within a week or two.

Another reason I feel God chose this week to send me back to WW was that I wasn't strong enough to be running around town and then hitting drive-thru all the time... it forced me to eat at home.  I realized how much more I enjoy the food at home and that it actually doesn't take any more time to fix lunch at home than it does to go out.  I had the time to do a mental inventory of my fridge and pantry and to make a shopping list of things I wanted that work well with the WW plan.

Our local WW is encouraging activity clubs this year.  Being accountable to a small group of others who attend your meeting time and enjoy the same activity as you, committing to participating at whatever level you are capable of, and in the end, earning a charm for your keychain.  Ironic, that my first week back I can barely breathe while I walk and this is the week that the clubs formed.  God gave me a gentle shove to join the walking club aka WOW (Walking On Wednesdays:).  It was more than a bit humbling to only be able to commit to half an hour of walking/3 days a week, when most of the ladies in this club are at least 20-25 years older than I and were committing to an hour a day, every day:)  I was humbled again when I faced my treadmill for the first time on Thursday.  In the past, I've always hopped on, turned it to 3 mph to do a warm up lap, then gradually increased it to 4.2-4.6 mph by the time I was at my first mile; then I'd chug along doing 2-3 miles.  This use to be my daily routine.  Well, it's been months since I've been on my treadmill to begin with, and now I stood facing it, barely breathing.  Almost immediately I discovered that I was unable to go faster than 2 mph AND I was only able to do 1/4 mile, then I had to rest up for awhile before facing it again to do the other 1/4 mile.

Why am I sharing all this?  Because I've found joy in the fact that God scooped me up in my weakest state, saw my worth, and proved yet again that He won't ever give up on me and the plans He has for me.  Yes, the charms I look forward to earning for my WW keychain are a fun enticement, but earning the ultimate prize of bringing God glory through my journey and seeing His approving smile as I stand before Him in Heaven someday is what this is really all about :)  Allow God to call you right where and how you are.  You don't need to "get it right" before He can use you; matter of fact, it's impossible to ever "get it right" without Him at all.  If you feel Him tugging you in a certain direction, just go ahead and follow His lead.  I promise, you won't ever regret it.

Lunch Time...

Score one for Mom!  The girls and I had a spontaneous Saturday morning out. I wanted to stop by Weight Watchers to pick up an ActiveLink (another story for another post) and "since we are over this way, Mom, can we just go to..."  Well, after a full morning in Michaels (one if my happy places;) they were starving and begging for McDonalds. I did oblige them, but I had determined to eat at home. There was nothing on a McDonalds menu worthy of using up my points on;). 

Once home, I prepared a great lunch; one that will take me thru the afternoon. Full of power foods. A Greek style salad, complete with feta and sunflower seed along with balsamic dressing, and little zucchini pizzas made with a bit of prego marinara and mozzarella cheese. My entire yummy lunch is a whopping 3 points :). Yeah baby!  Now that's what I call exciting :)

Happy Saturday... Now Let's Get Up And Move :)

Even though I've been severely compromised from my asthma attack last weekend, I'm taking steps to try to get moving in the right direction.  I ate a good breakfast, packed with power foods (multi-grain english muffin with 1 Tbs all natural jam, 4 points, along with mixed berries and raw nuts with coconut milk, 1 point).  Now it's time to get going for the day.  I leave you with my Grandmother's favorite verse that she use to make me recite every morning...

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

You've Dipped Your Toes In... Now What?

First off, smile and feel good about this new adventure.  Is it going to take some hard work?  Absolutely!  But anything valuable is worth the sacrifice.  We are only talking about changing some of our food choices and getting more active to begin to take care of our bodies.  God sent His Only Son to die on a cross, so that we can have eternal salvation; our bodies belong to Him... He did the hard part; we only have to be better stewards of His temple :)

So, if you haven't already, make a list of "healthy" foods you actually enjoy.  Spend some time evaluating your eating style, your likes and dislikes, your strengths and weaknesses, and be sure to note things that can throw you off track.  For example, I'm a snacker more than a meal person.  I LOVE berries and nuts, apples and bananas, and I think peanut butter goes on just about anything :)  I only like real cheese and dairy and would rather have a small amount of the real food than large amounts of the low/no fat stuff.  I tend to lose track of time which can easily through a wrench in the works for meals around our home, causing me to opt for the easy way out of drive thru.  Understand, you're on a lifelong journey; don't feel you need to go 100% cold turkey on everything and get it all 100% right, straight out of the gate.  Allow God to reveal things to you along the way; trust me, He knows you by far better than you know yourself :)

Since I've chosen Weight Watchers as my path to losing weight, the first thing I did was go sign up :) Then, I came home and spent some time really getting to know the new plan (and getting excited about it too).  Jump right in... don't pull the "I'll wait till tomorrow" card.  When I signed up, I'd already had an apple fritter for breakfast before heading over to WW... that was ok, I just worked the plan for the rest of the day and managed to still not even use up all my daily points :)  Make a list of foods that are "free" or low points that you really, really like and can be your go to choices.  Then, think about a few "meals" that would work well for you to begin with.  Let's face it, for most of us, breakfast is a no brainer; we usually eat pretty much the same thing every day.  For lunch, you really want to pack in some protein and power foods to keep you running throughout the day.  Dinner is where most of us like to have a little more variety.  Find snacks that will give you energy and keep you going without using a lot of points ~ personally, I think that's where most people end up getting stuck... 5 points may not sound like much for a snack, but that is probably more than half the points of your lunch.  Don't nickel and dime your points away.

Time to head off to the market.  If you have a smartphone, put it to use.  Weight Watchers has a great app with a bar scanner.  You can quickly decide what are good choices and what are indulgences.  I always head straight to produce.  We are not exotic eaters, so my cart starts filling with basics... lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, avocado, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, apples, bananas, watermelon, corn, potatoes, raw pecans, raw almonds, raw sliced almonds, raw sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, etc.  I then head to the deli department for feta cheese ~ my favorite touch on a salad that doesn't add points when used in a small amount (2 tsp).  Everything in my cart to this point I can eat without using any points at all :)  I love balsamic oil dressing for my salads or occasionally real ranch dressing; neither add more than a couple points when used in moderation.  In the dairy department, I've found Dannon Light and Fit Greek Yogurt; only 1-2 points for a 5 ounce container and super yummy.  I still use real butter and only regular cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream.  Yes, they are higher in points value, but I'd rather enjoy a smaller amount than eat something that, to me, tastes like plastic.  See?  It's all about choices ;)  Don't forget the eggs!  They are a great source of protein and you can enjoy whole eggs now rather than just the whites like we were taught in decades past.  When it comes to milk, don't be afraid to try some of the different nut and soy milks available.  Personally, I LOVE coconut milk and use it on most everything ~ on my cereal, over my berries and nuts, in my coffee... you name it, I'll put coconut milk on it :)  Next up, grains and meats.  Keep in mind that I have young children at home and frankly, they are not fans of whole grain pasta, so for me, personally, I still buy the regular kind.  We have, however switched to brown rice (thankfully minute rice has a brown rice version now:) and we enjoy couscous as well.  Breads can get sticky at times.  You don't want something that taste like a sponge, but you want to keep your points down.  I've found that Sarah Lee has good options at only 2 points a slice and I use multi grain english muffins as well at only 3 points each.  As yummy as a bagel is, they are a high point option, so I typically stay away from them.  At the meat counter, stick with what you enjoy and try to keep it as lean as possible.  Finally, it's time to choose a few "indulgence" items.  Don't let the name fool you, you don't want to just throw caution to the wind and load up on Little Debbies.  Look for choices that will taste like a treat, fill you up, and allow you to find the "joy in this journey".  I Love pretzel thins (11 pretzels for 3 points), popcorn with a little butter and salt (3 points), chai or vanilla spice lattes (2 points).  Another good TRUE indulgence to keep on hand, is a small amount of chocolate.  Let's face it, we want that smooth sweet taste melting on our tongue every once in awhile.  Do yourself a favor and don't buy the Costco size variety bag; get one of those individual bags of the bite size version of your favorite in the checkout aisle.  One or two pieces and you'll be a happy camper; then tuck the bag away in your hiding spot so the kids can't find them and it's there the next time you want to really indulge.  

I hope this has given you a place to start and you haven't become overwhelmed.  Never forget that each day is a brand new beginning and this journey is full of grace.  Look to God to help you find joy, even in the sacrifice.  Focus on one thing at a time, especially if you're working at giving up something really hard, like soda was for me.  And... don't forget to celebrate your success, no matter how big or small it may seem :) 

Tools for Success

I'm a firm believer in having the right tools to do a job correctly.  That holds true, even on this healthy lifestyle journey I'm on.  If all it took to lose weight was self-control, eating well, and getting physically active, none of us would have any problems, right?  Oh yeah... but there's this thing called life, and it loves to throw curve balls in our path.  Therefore, we need to find the right tools to accomplish our job as we deal with everything life throws in our path.

Health issues are a huge curveball in my life; not only my own, but also my children's.  As a severe asthmatic, I've spent my life on mega amounts of steroids to keep my airways open.  My asthma also causes me to need to be easy going when it comes to physical activity.  Overdoing can send me into a severe attack and place me out of commission for weeks.  This is not conducive to weight loss, however it's not insurmountable.  I'm learning to be realistic in my goals.  You'll notice that I've set a little activity ticker off to the side to track my goal of walking 100 miles by the time I reach my goal weight.  Ironically, I've started this journey as I'm recovering from a serious asthma incident and have another couple of weeks to go before I'm sure I'll be back to 100% :)

I'm also a mom to a child with Type 1 Diabetes; this requires me to function on very little sleep and therefore, over the past nearly 9 years since her diagnosis, I'd grown accustomed to the fast energy kick I could get from sugar and soda.  That quickly turned into an addiction of sorts for me.  I needed much more than just self-control to break those cycles.  I found Plexus Slim; a product that was actually geared toward the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.  It lowers and levels out blood glucose levels along with lowering lipids (I am not a Type 2 diabetic and my cholesterol has always been in a great range, knock on wood).  During human trials in an FDA study though, it was noted that over 85% of the trial participants were losing weight.  Upon further investigation, they reported that they no longer had food cravings and their appetites were well controlled; something that was occurring due to the Plexus Slim.  Accelerator was soon developed to work alongside of Plexus Slim to "kick start" the body into giving up the extra fat rather than storing it.  In September 2012, I began taking Plexus Slim and Accelerator and was stunned to find that nearly immediately my own cravings for sugar and soda were gone.  I no longer NEED a large Dr Pepper 3-4 times a day to make it through all my days entail, nor do I NEED the quick energy that high sugar junk food use to give me just to make it from hour to hour.  Plexus Slim has become my safety net to keep me from the bad choices that had turned into bad habits, the ones I don't want coming back.  Just another tool in my toolbox :)  If you'd like to learn more about Plexus, go to www.getslimLiveWell.com

This weekend I'll be doing some meal/menu planning.  I obviously need my personal journey to work within the daily life of raising a family.  I cannot make two separate meals three times a day ~ one for me and one for the rest of the family.  That's just impractical and plain silly.  Planning takes time in the beginning, but saves time and frustration on a daily basis.  It also allows me to really see a full picture of where I want my points to go rather than just watching them fly away thru the drive thru window.  I'll share my meal plans with you all in a few days, along with any recipes that turn out exceptionally yummy :)  I can tell you though, that here at my starting line, I am working with a points limit of 28/day.  As you all know, Weight Watchers also has 49 extra "indulgence" points to use during the week, which is an awesome way of keeping anyone from feeling deprived.  During the first half of my first week, I've remained slightly under my daily target most days and have only used 6 of my extra points on date night... and I honestly feel like all I do is eat.  It truly is all in the choices you make.

Starting Over... Yet Again

I find myself at the starting line once again, of a journey as familiar as the well worn path home.  Over the past 15 years, I've gained weight, lost weight, gained some of it back, lost it again, gained more, lost some... well, you get the drift.  Add into that constant cycle, a wonderful husband, four crazy daughters, a menagerie of animals, an out of the box "homeschool lifestyle" and a few medical conditions along the way and you suddenly find yourself wondering just how you managed to get back here, fighting this battle once again.

After throwing a few nice pity parties, crying many tears, pitching a few fits because I don't like what I see in the mirror, I began to search out a way to journey back to a healthy weight and life... for good this time.  As a God loving woman, desiring to bring Him glory in all that I do and how I do it, I automatically began looking at many of the Bible based weight loss plans.  I've done a couple in the past and loved how closely I walked with God thru those times.  However, that said, I just truly didn't feel God calling me to jump into any of these programs this time around.  I heard Him whispering "Simplicity.  Remember?  I have you on a journey to a much simpler life.  One that leads straight to my heart.  Stop complicating this."  After a few months, and a lot of frustration and feelings of failure, I finally listened to what my God was speaking to my heart.

I made the decision on March 11, 2014 to return to Weight Watchers.  As soon as I walked in, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace about things.  I was excited... yes, actually excited to begin this journey again.  I work well with the WW methods; my mind easily wraps around counting points, understanding power foods that will take me further, and I've always loved how it's all about adding in movement to your days, not pressuring you to "workout".  I also know that I NEED the accountability that the weekly meetings offer.  I've tried the program online in the past and failed miserably, it's just too easy to not write down what I didn't want to see.  And.... remember that wonderful husband, 4 daughters, and menagerie of pets I mentioned?  Well, this is a little time of renewal each week for a mom who finally realized she needs it.

It's my desire to bring God all glory as I journey to my "ideal" weight; through the ups and downs, the good days and the bad, the frustrating plateaus that are sure to come and the weeks that I totally slide and gain a pound or two.  It goes beyond my own personal body issues and image because I realize that I'm setting the example for my daughters.  I'm not wanting to get back to my teenage weight, it's not about the size on the tags of my jeans... it's about showing my daughters that God made us beautifully, uniquely, and perfectly.  He entrusted our bodies to us to care for while we are living here on this earth; it's about getting healthy and being here to watch them all grow up to be the beautiful women God created them to be.

I'm inviting you along on this well worn journey, as I begin yet again.  This time however, I'm going to be taking the time to find the joy in each step and not just focus on the destination.