Milestones of Magnitude

So as we kick off a new week, I want to post my own personal milestones from the past week. I know that some of you may laugh and wonder why I wasn't doing this before, and others are going to wonder why in the world I wanted to do these to start with. So here we go:

• Met with a personal trainer AND spent the money to keep him around for a while
• Had a Subway sandwich WITHOUT mayonaise
• ordered a grilled chicken salad from Elizabeth's...with NO cheese
• ate a salad without ranch...I tried light olive oil and vinegar instead

I know these may seem silly...but me and my mayo are pretty tight...as are me and my ranch dressing :)

I shed about 3 pounds this week...although I think it was water weight, lol. But 3 pounds is threee pounds! I'll take it!

I know life is going to happen. I have a lot of stressful things going on in life right now. But that's okay. I am approaching this weight loss/get healthy thing from a new perspective. God is going to deliver me, I am confident of this!

Have a great week :)

~Leslie

Sackcloth and Spandex

Today was an interesting day...to say the least. Right now we are dealing with issues with my nursing home bound grandmother, so that made the day that much more entertaining! God blessed me so much today. I started out my day in prayer for my sweet Jesus sisters on this journey with me...that was a blessing all on it's own! And it's a fun time trying to recall the names and precious faces of my Bible study victims when you are half asleep and bleary eyed...I forged ahead and all is well :) (but if any of you had an odd day, it's most likely because I was praying for your face but someone else's name, lol!!!).

Satan is reading my blog I think. He is seeing my attempts at encouraging emails to my friends too. He has been on the attack today! He and I had to have a conversation this early this morning...well, it was very one sided. I had to explain to him that in Jesus name satan has no dominion over my heart, my mind or my soul. That is Jesus' place in my life. So he just needed to get behind me and forget about ruining my day...the day got markedly better after that :)

So I promised an entertaining blog to my friends today. I shall deliver :) Today was my "Body Analysis" session with my new physical trainer. So I made sure and hit Old Navy earlier in the week for some cheap workout pants (yes, I had some, but needed new ones with no holes :)...armed with my best workout bra, a bottle of water and a check to pay for my torture, I walked into that gym with purpose! I have since decided I need a new workout bra too :) You know...those cute gray spandex pants looked soooo much cuter on at home in my own personal mirror and dim lighting...I was ready to go into mourning and trade them out for the traditional sackcloth of mourning when I saw myself in the wall to wall mirrors at the gym. (I mean really, is all that necessary??) Before my session, I examined myself a little closer. Yep...it looked like my cellulite was dancing to the loud "thump, thump, thump" of the funky music that all gyms play! Really? Dimple dancing is what I call it. Need a self esteem slam? Put on some spandex. Seriously, it wasn't as bad as I make it, although it seemed so at the time!

The analysis itself was a little scary, simply because it made me face the harsh realities of my health (I had already faced the harsh realities of my physique, as described in the previous "spandex is a product of the devil himself" paragraph.) I was weighed...ugh. My body fat was checked...fun times. My BMI was announced as "not quite obese" but I know I was on the border. Reality checks can mean one of two things 1) go wallow in my self pity and have a swiss roll OR 2) do something about it. I choose #2. It's a choice I will have to make repeatedly every day...every meal, every snack. But you know what? I am eXcItEd about this! I am taking control...no no...let me rephrase that...I am taking control of my health and my weight, by letting God take control. I know there will be tough days ahead...days of strong food cravings and days of detest for the gym...but I can do this. I can do ALL things (including this!) through Christ who strengthens me! I just have to ask for it!

Isaiah 43:7
Everyone who is called by My Name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him

Ya'll...don't get lost in that one tiny verse. Everyone who is called by My Name - is that you??? Is that me??? Yes!!!!!!!!!!! Whom I have created for My glory - is that you? is that me?? Yes! We were created for His glory! He says that through Isaiah! Does that give you hope? It should :) The Hebrew of "created" is to "select, feed, dispatch to do". We were all selected for Him to "feed" or grow us, so we could be sent out to "do". The Hebrew for "glory" is...get this...rare. His glory is "rare". There is none like Him...nothing like His glory. And we were selected for it...grown up in our Faith for it...so we can go and do. He is "growing" us now...to go and do. How's your journey? Are you being fed on a level that you can go and do? Or are you standing still? He has a purpose for you in this journey...I promise that...and then, we can experience something very rare...:)

~Leslie

A yummy recipe from Weight Watchers "Simple Steak Sandwich"...ENJOY!








http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=106751

Lot's of great stuff on this sight!!

~Leslie

It's Subway or the Highway...

Alrighty...so today wasn't too bad! I woke up this morning with my Bible studying Jesus girls on my heart, so I dove straight into some incoherent early morning prayer time for them, lol. Seriously, I petitioned to God on their behalf and my own behalf as well...I try to do it all day! Ya never know when someone's gonna be driving down the road, needing a snack and see a Hardee's sign beckoning you to fulfill your cravings (ahem, Pam)! Prayers work all day long...as evidenced by my sweet friend that so desired a yummy snack and pulled into a convenient store instead and got an apple :)

My first big challenge of the day was actually having lunch with my kiddo...seriously??!!?? you ask...school lunch was a craving for you Leslie?? Um, well, no...not exactly. I planned to have lunch with Miss G...but kind of had an ulterior motive behind it. See, I didn't have stuff ready to pack her lunch this morning and we were running late...soooooo...yeah, I promised to have lunch with her...that I would BRING her lunch with me :) Yes...a trip to Subway was planned! Unfortunately a little bit of trickery gets involved with buying lunch outside of the school and bringing it in...so I have it figured out. I go in, order the sandwich and have them wrap it in plain cellophane...and toss it in her lunch bag...and presto, lunch from Subway and no one's the wiser :) I was so prepared for this...run into the Subway, grab a sandwich and be on my way...my coworker was buying me a salad from Zaxby's, so I knew I had healthy food coming...and then I walk into Subway. OH. MY. GoOd GrAcIoUs! What in Subway smells so darn good??? Really? It's processed meats and cheeses, I mean, seriously? Girls...some SURIOUS prayer was going on when that craving started! Our amazing God delivered a miracle to me today...and I walked out of that Subway with ONE sub, for the kiddo, a bag of baked chips, for the kiddo...and I hit the highway. It was tough, but I made it! Praise God! I know this sounds funny...but big accomplishment for me to walk out of there without an ooey, gooey, toasted Italian sub loaded with goodies!

Here's my line up of the day: greek yogurt for breakfast, a low fat cheese stick for snack, a grilled chicken salad from Zaxby's for lunch, 1/4 c of walnuts for a snack, and grilled chicken and veggies with mexican rice for suppa...come to find out, that grilled chicken salad from the Zax man wasn't so good for me...live and learn...and check Weight Watcher's points BEFORE ordering next time :)

I am going to steal a quote or two from Lysa's blog from yesterday...they are quotes from her Pastor, Steve Furtick from last week...too good to not pass on...very encouraging, so chew on these some (instead of chocolate peanut butter hearts)...

• "Sometimes God allows us to see the miracle...sometimes He allows us to BE the miracle."

• "When you do what you can do, then God will do what only He can do."

Here's some further encouragement from King David...Psalm 20:1-9

"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice. May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves His annointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call."

Girls, this journey is a tough one...I mean, really, I'm sure NO ONE out there cherishes food as much as I do, but still, it's tough on all involved! God wants us to seek Him in this journey...not just daily...but every time we have a craving...every meal time....every snack time....and times in between. He wants to give us the desires of our heart! We just have to ask Him...He is all powerful, all knowing and loves us more than imaginable...don't you think He wants to give us this victory over food? YES friends! He does!! Does that thrill you? It should! He knows what we are going through now...and He knows we are doing this to strengthen our relationship with Him...and He lOvEs it!

~Leslie

Made to Crave...Swiss Rolls?

Back in the saddle again! I promised my friends that I am doing a Bible study with that I'd start blogging about my experience. Given the fact that the ol' Dell decided to catch the flu for the last couple of weeks I'm only about 3 weeks late :)

Since we've been doing this for 3 weeks now, I'll give the Reader's Digest condensed version (have any of you EVER known me to be condensed? OH! That's right, that's what I'm trying to accomplish with this study, lol).

Myself, along with several other precious Jesus girls at my church are currently participating in a Bible study on a recently published book, Made to Crave, by Lysa TerKeurst (and YES! I spelled her name right!) Lysa, if you haven't heard of her, is with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is a sweet soul and I love learning from her. I first heard of her book while listening to KLove one morning. Made to Crave is all about learning to crave Jesus over any other thing - and Lysa's focus is on food. The rave reviews that I read lead me to investigate a little further...prayed about it...and bada bing, we had our study! One of the more affordable ones out there, I might add.

The first week we started the study, I, along with a friend, joined Weight Watchers. I'm thinking...gee, if Jennifer Hudson can do it, so can I right? AND I get extra points based on the new system? Are you kidding me? Well, it takes a little will power and lots of prayer Leslie...neither of which was I prepared for! Two days into it...well, let's just say, I already knew I'd avoid the weigh in the next week. The study itself was fantastic. I never began to think about the fact that my faith factored into my health and nutrition! I mean really, it's just never been my focus. As a woman, wife and mother, my focus is on my family. I pray for my friends and family and church family...I pray for our nation, our President, my church and a revival in this land...I never thought to pray about my food choices.

Week two was a little more indepth as we went from Empowerment to Determination. The author has been on a journey with her health and weight for a while now and she is so encouraging in her writing...you can tell she's poured her soul into this and that she so desires for women to be free from their bondage to food!

Yeah, yeah...I know you all are wondering how the Weight Watchers was going at this point...that little calculator is darn cute and makes a great addition to my junk drawer. The books come in handy for stocking my book shelf too. Oh, I am definitely paying more attention to the foods I am eating and the choices I make...but daily I dissapoint myself and daily I have regrets. But I'm working on it...making choices that aren't for the moment, but for down the road as well. That's the goal I have to keep in mind...and I have to say, I pray for strength more, and I pray for tempation to be held at bay...and I pray for satisfaction in the food I AM eating!

So week three for sure brought it's challenges...as I pray about my food, as I pray over my friends doing this with me, as I pray about having accountability (ya'll got your accountability partners yet??), as I pray for God's guidance and strength...well, darn it, I've started coming under conviction over the food I'm putting into myself. I should've well expected it, but it's not an easy one to get through. Knowing that God cares about my health is fantastic...it's humbling and pleasing...but when He messes with my food, gosh, it's just hard! But I think I'm getting the hang of it!

So today, I went and had a session with a personal trainer. Yeah, you know the type...chiseled, ripped, tofu eating health guy. I looked at the roll coming over the top of my workout pants and sighed a little...okay, here we go. This is what I'm here for, right? I think longingly of my Facebook post from yesterday "I need a Swiss Roll" and imagine what that Swiss Roll tastes like. I know what it looks like, cause that's the roll coming out the top of my pants (or what caused the roll, lol!!) Or foods just like it. So I refocus...determination sets in...I sign up for four more sessions and an initial analysis and brace myself for...the best. God has got such a great plan for me. When I think of what's coming in the next few months and years, I get giddy. This is just the start. I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me...just got to ask for the strength! It won't be easy, but I know it can be done. I figure it this way...the same God that created the earth in 6 days but could've created it in less than 1...can most likely help me get rid of my swiss roll :) My body analysis is on Friday at noon, so I'm sure that will be fun times...and a hilarious blog!

Until then my friends...check out www.lysaterkeurst.com for her latest blog...more tomorrow!