I am beside myself that the first month of 2014 is over! I can remember when I was younger, how time seemed to stand still, now it seems to fly by -- why does that happen?
As we enter February, I had to take a look and re-evaluate my goals. What have I stuck with, what have I given up on, what am I stuck on? As determined as I was at the beginning of January, I am determined at the beginning of February, but I just needed to look to see if my goals were truly realistic! A few of my personal goals were for health reasons, some were for spiritual reasons. We set goals as a family, some of those goals were for a deeper level of "family", some were just for fun. Also, Ted & I set goals for our marriage, some of these goals were for strengthening our marriage, some were for financial growth. Goals are set for a reason, and I know that for me, I needed to see some change in a few areas of my life, my family and my marriage -- so instead of just hoping for the change I set my personal goals, talked with my family and we set our Family goals together.
I learned from my Pastor, to write my goals out, for my eyes to see, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, and as I reach my goals to check them off as completed, and the date I completed them. If for some reason, I drop a goal, write out why I dropped it, and when. Also, to re-evaluate my goals to see if they are realistic, still, every month. We wrote ALL of our goals out, everyone has a copy!
Although I am struggling with a few goals, determination is a word that has been ringing in my ear throughout the month of January. As I look over this list, I am beginning to see a growth pattern of a deeper determination to meet these goals. I have not given up on any, nor have I changed any. That is not to say that I have been perfect in my walking through them during the month of January, but I am still determined to meet those goals in 2014!
I am not perfect, but a lapse in my walk is different than a relapse, and they are both different than a collapse -- I am praying for a perfect walk, but I am DETERMINED that I will not relapse into old ways, nor will I collapse in defeat!
Walking into February, determined and pressing through with perserverance!
Happy Hearts Day!
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
The Battle is Raging!
My Battle is raging, is yours?
Through the last few days, I have come to realize why I battle food and the vicious cycle that has followed me! I have researched and done some deep thinking, talked with my immediate family, and have come to the realization that I eat WHEN I AM BORED -- MY BATTLE IS RAGING!
A few months ago, I had to take some time off of work for a planned surgery. While I was in the hospital, my cravings were for any form of solid food, as I was on a liquid diet for the first 48 hours after surgery. Once I was able to eat solid food, all I wanted was a Diet Coke! I constantly told whatever family member was with me at the time, what food I wanted, and how badly I wanted it! Now, this may not seem like eating out of boredom, but it was for me! I disliked being in the hospital, although I know that the end result of my stay was for the betterment of my health. I was bored of sitting there with nothing to do, but lay in bed, watch TV, read a magazine, read the Good Book -- but to me, those few things are exactly what my body, and brain, determined as bored!
When my discharge date was delayed due to minor complications, I was saddened, because I was looking forward to my own bed, but I was mad, because I just wanted to drive across the street to the nearest McDonald's for an order of French Fries and a Large Diet Coke! How sad is that? Well, once I was finally discharged, we drove across the street for those 2 very things, my order of French Fries and a LARGE Diet Coke!
The next few months were the actual truth to my battle. What do you do after surgery? Recuperate! In my house, my family (husband and 2 grown children), would not let me lift a finger, and when they couldn't be with me, they ordered help -- let me insert here that I am VERY thankful for all of my friends -- but between my family and friends, what did I do? I sat around, watching TV, reading magazines, reading my Bible, sometimes conversation, but for the most part -- boredom! I gained about 15 lbs. during that time, I was sedentary, due to restrictions while I recuperated, and then all the food that my church family brought to help us through this time. I ate, and ate, and ate!
I returned to work after 10 weeks of recuperation, only to be let go after working 9 days back at the office, the office that I called my home away from home for 3 years. I didn't eat while I was stressed, so, as long as I kept myself busy during the day, sending out resumes, going on interviews, cleaning and organizing my house, I didn't eat! From the day of my release until the day I started my new position I have lost 12 of the previous 15 lbs. that I gained. Now I am back to my original, heavier than I was when I delivered my second and last child, weight -- ready to make a change.
New year, new goals, new Ministry to follow (Proverbs 31 Ministries), and just a few weeks into 2014, a new job - PRAISE GOD! Small goals have been set, one step at a time! I am #EMPOWERED through the Bible Study that I have spoke of, Made To Crave, and I am taking one day at a time to conquer the raging battle that I have faced in the past! All my past is gone! With the love and support of my family -- I am making changes to my thinking!
Through the last few days, I have come to realize why I battle food and the vicious cycle that has followed me! I have researched and done some deep thinking, talked with my immediate family, and have come to the realization that I eat WHEN I AM BORED -- MY BATTLE IS RAGING!
A few months ago, I had to take some time off of work for a planned surgery. While I was in the hospital, my cravings were for any form of solid food, as I was on a liquid diet for the first 48 hours after surgery. Once I was able to eat solid food, all I wanted was a Diet Coke! I constantly told whatever family member was with me at the time, what food I wanted, and how badly I wanted it! Now, this may not seem like eating out of boredom, but it was for me! I disliked being in the hospital, although I know that the end result of my stay was for the betterment of my health. I was bored of sitting there with nothing to do, but lay in bed, watch TV, read a magazine, read the Good Book -- but to me, those few things are exactly what my body, and brain, determined as bored!
When my discharge date was delayed due to minor complications, I was saddened, because I was looking forward to my own bed, but I was mad, because I just wanted to drive across the street to the nearest McDonald's for an order of French Fries and a Large Diet Coke! How sad is that? Well, once I was finally discharged, we drove across the street for those 2 very things, my order of French Fries and a LARGE Diet Coke!
The next few months were the actual truth to my battle. What do you do after surgery? Recuperate! In my house, my family (husband and 2 grown children), would not let me lift a finger, and when they couldn't be with me, they ordered help -- let me insert here that I am VERY thankful for all of my friends -- but between my family and friends, what did I do? I sat around, watching TV, reading magazines, reading my Bible, sometimes conversation, but for the most part -- boredom! I gained about 15 lbs. during that time, I was sedentary, due to restrictions while I recuperated, and then all the food that my church family brought to help us through this time. I ate, and ate, and ate!
I returned to work after 10 weeks of recuperation, only to be let go after working 9 days back at the office, the office that I called my home away from home for 3 years. I didn't eat while I was stressed, so, as long as I kept myself busy during the day, sending out resumes, going on interviews, cleaning and organizing my house, I didn't eat! From the day of my release until the day I started my new position I have lost 12 of the previous 15 lbs. that I gained. Now I am back to my original, heavier than I was when I delivered my second and last child, weight -- ready to make a change.
New year, new goals, new Ministry to follow (Proverbs 31 Ministries), and just a few weeks into 2014, a new job - PRAISE GOD! Small goals have been set, one step at a time! I am #EMPOWERED through the Bible Study that I have spoke of, Made To Crave, and I am taking one day at a time to conquer the raging battle that I have faced in the past! All my past is gone! With the love and support of my family -- I am making changes to my thinking!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Nervous
I am not even sure how or what to say to start a blog, but I will try .........
I am learning quite a few things as I grow older, one of which is how to blog. Seems to me, I am one of the last few to join this movement! I am not an English Scholar, a published writer or even a personal journalist, but I do know that I am never to old. My Pastor has imparted a truth to me, one of which my family & I stand on, "Growth brings change and change brings growth". I am ready to grow and change! Please bear with me as I do!
You see, I am beginning an OBS (Online Bible Study) with over 40,000 other women in the world, who want to see change. Change in themselves, to grow deeper, and to crave God more! I never knew there would be such a powerful outpouring of women who want to Crave God as never before!
In this journey we are asked, but not required to, blog -- for many reasons -- but, it's a time to share my words, meet new friends, leave words of encouragement and a place where I can go to link with like-minded women, who are working through the same issues I may face on a daily basis. In their blogging, I am praying I will be able to find encouraging words for my walk.
I want to make a change in many places in my life, and on many different levels. Through this study, and through my blogging, I hope to achieve a few of my goals for 2014. I have the love of my family, and support of those same loving people, yet knowing that there is a community working through this same goal is encouraging for me to make this start.
One small step toward one large, physical goal, has been to stop drinking soda. I started this on January 1st, and have been faithful to the goal, thus far. One small step. I can see a difference in a few ways, for which I am grateful, but as I make more changes, take more steps, I have hope & faith to reach the best of what God would have for me. Knowing that I am EMPOWERED will make this walk easier.
If you are interested in joining me on this journey, it is never too late -- just click Made To Crave and you can start today!
I can't wait to see you there!
Lori-Ann
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