True Confessions

Well, friends, since the number on my scale this morning ISN'T very inspiring (I am holding at last Monday's weight), let me share with you some comments from others which ARE inspiring!

Natalie is amazing. After years of not exercising regularly, she and her brother have signed up (and paid the money!) for a triathlon in Idaho this summer. She, it turns out, still has it goin' on ... she ran 2 1/2 miles out of the gate her first time on the treadmill and is going to classes at the gym. She says limiting sugar in her daily diet is huge. Go Natalie!!

Erin is amazing. I see her at church each week, and I think she looks ten years younger already. She noted on facebook today that she has lost 14 pounds, and that she is "enjoying the journey of losing weight slowly and steadily". Go Erin!!

Jenni is amazing. She recently started exercising with the "Couch to 5K" training plan, never having run before as an adult. This past weekend, she did a mini-triathlon, and wants to sign up for another one! Go Jenni!!

Melissa is amazing. She has found that the key to her "get-healthy journey" lies in doing it together with her husband. She has four-year-old twin boys, but finds the time and motivation to exercise daily at home on the stationary bike or treadmill. And she makes homemade spelt bread for her family every week! Cottage cheese with diced apple and chopped walnuts is a favorite treat...mmmm. Go Missy!!

Susan is amazing. Being one step from a diabetes diagnosis, she knew it was "now or never" to regain her physical health. She is making changes in her daily diet, is losing weight, and is feeling great. Go Susan!!

Women, you inspire me!! Thank you for sharing your stories and ideas ... there is, indeed, strength in numbers. Onward!!


For me, I spent this morning's "spiritual creation" time reviewing my list of guidelines, praying, and figuring out how I can stay strong in the areas I'm doing well in, and recommit in the areas where I'm slacking. Here's what came to me, and what my game plan is for the week ahead:

1. No refined sugar for a month: Into my fourth week, I am still doing fabulously on this one, with the exception of half a blueberry muffin at a meeting yesterday! As one who had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2009, I have noticed an immediate and almost complete improvement in joint ache in my hands, which is still holding. I feel this miraculous change is due both to very little sugar, and very few processed foods. Wouldn't it be amazing if diet (which I can control)really does play a huge part in this?

2. Weigh every morning: Check. I have never done this before, but LOVE this new practice as it helps me keep on top of my weight on a daily basis. I track things in my little notebook and on a piece of graph paper ... I like to SEE the improvement in different ways!

3. Morning spiritual creation and preparation: Prayer and planning under the influence of the Holy Ghost. This is the BEST thing I'm doing. THIS MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE OF ANYTHING, especially in my mental attitude and motivation. This, I think is key to finding joy in the journey.

4. Eat half of my normal portions (of healthy foods): I have crept up again to servings that are not condusive to losing weight, even though they are fresh and healthy choices. Back to Square One on this.

5. Blog post on Monday: Check!! This makes me unexplainably happy.

6. 64 oz. water daily: Check!! This feels so good. Water is my main drink, though I do have a cup of fat-free milk with breakfast because I love it. No juices (I eat the whole fruit) and no soda pop. Herbal tea is also a favorite.

7. Exercise 5 times/week: Boo. Due to some unforeseen health challenges -- well, let's just say it: after dragging around the entire month of February with a horrible recurring sore throat, I was diagnosed two weeks ago with being in the second stage of mono. Can you believe it??! Medicines have got me feeling better, but I'm still struggling with energy level. Last week, I just took two short walks. Plan is to increase this week, while not overdoing it.

8. Bedtime at 10:30pm: Because of #7 above, I have succumbed to daily naps, which in turn make it hard for me to be tired at a decent hour. Turning over a new leaf on this one today, too.

There it is, everything -- and so very much more!! -- that you wanted to know about me. I do hope that in some way these thoughts and confessions (!) can be a help to you, as you have been to me. I plan to search for an inspirational talk on lds.org today to focus on for the coming week ... when I find one, I will hook you up in case you'd like to study along with me.

My scripture for the week: "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." (Alma 26:12)

Amen and amen to that.


Last thing... Food, glorious food! This much I know: that in removing the sugar and processed foods from my diet, my taste buds have been reborn! Everything in its natural state tastes so DELICIOUS!! Eating fresh and simple foods is so much fun (okay, probably too much fun last week) that I (seriously) don't even miss the junk. Here are some of our dinner ideas from last week:

**Whole wheat spaghetti with homemade meat sauce (I am really liking knowing exactly what is in the foods I'm feeding myself and my family. Best way to do this: make it myself, from scratch. I love to cook anyway, so this works for me.)
whole-grain toast with a little real butter
fresh veggie sticks

**Creamy Corn Chowder (very low-fat recipe)
Grapefruit and orange sections in juice

**Sweet Pulled Pork Salad (recipes posted last week)

**Foil-steamed red snapper
Baked potato with lowfat cottage cheese, fresh parsley and chives
Green peas

**Sliced tenderloin steak
Wild rice
Asparagus with lemon juice

That's all for now! Have a great week, and do let me know how things are going with you. Love, love, love to you all.