Death By Helmet

I can just see the look on the medical examiner's face as he writes on his certificate, "Death by Helmet". Surely he would wonder, what would cause this woman to strap on her helmet so tightly that it would take the breath out of her? Couldn't she tell it was too tight? Wasn't she uncomfortable? Who would tell him that she missed running so much that she was desperate to get any kind of cardio work-out she could and since riding her bike did not hurt her foot/ankle, she was DESPERATE to ride no matter what! How would the investigators be able to figure out and tell her loving family, Reuben, Erin and Reub that apparently the rollers in her hair that she had to use because of the new hairstyle she got over the weekend, were really too high for the helmet but she forced the helmet on any way, snapped it closed, and rode for 30 minutes in spite of the trouble that she must have had breathing. At least she went doing what she loved, he'll add to his report, and surely he'll think he's seen it all now. Hmmm...."Death By Helmet".

O.K. Now that we're finished laughing, let's all learn from this. Let's not be so determined to eat right or exercise that we make unwise - O.K....down right stupid - choices. It really was hard to breathe this morning with that helmet snapped so tight on my neck, but I was too stubborn! I was too determined! I had to be that good example! I was going to get my 30 minute work-out no matter what! (O.K...I said you can stop laughing now.) I finally went to see a physician about my ankle/foot last week and he wants to have an MRI done to see what's wrong because the X-rays did not show anything conclusive. It's times like this when I realize that exercise is not enough. This lifestyle of being fit must include both exercise and eating healthy. I enjoy running, Yes, I really do, because of the wonderful feeling I get when I run, but also because running burns LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of calories! ....way-ay-ay more than riding my bike! So, without being able to burn as many calories as I usually do, then I really must eat right. And sometimes that's not so easy. So, we must be disciplined in both areas.

O.K. Really ...stop laughing.

It's a War!

As soon as I get home after work, the war is on! It seems like as soon as I walk in the house the 'eat the first thing in your sight' demons attack! It's got to be more than one because I am often so helpless with seemingly no defense! Somehow they know I didn't eat a healthy lunch. Somehow they know even though I'm hungry I really don't want to wait until I cook to eat something. Somehow they know that I was fasting until a certain time of the day and on quite a wonderful spiritual high but now things are different and I may be a little weak! Somehow they know snacking is my greatest weakness and if they get me quick they've got me for the rest of the evening. Somehow they know I've used so much discipline with my eating earlier in the day that by the time I get home I can't take it any more - I need a snack!!! IT'S A WAR I TELL YOU!! IT'S A WAR!

So, what do I do? Sometimes I just lose it. Sometimes I give into the temptations, snack on whatever I can get my hands on BEFORE dinner and my evening is ruined. And, of course I feel so guilty. It's awful. The next morning I start all over again with a new determination, (and begging the Lord for help in my prayers), to do better at eating healthy ALL DAY - not just until 6pm. Sometimes I eat dinner - if it's leftovers - AS SOON as I walk in the door before my hands can grab anything else! Sometimes I grab a piece of fruit - if I have to cook - to help me until dinner gets done. Sometimes I'll prepare some 94% fat free microwave popcorn just before I leave work and eat it in the car on my way home to keep me from wanting to snack when I arrive. Sometimes, as I drive home, I repeat my health affirmations that I've already said in the morning: 1- I am healthy and fit. 2- I do not want to snack tonight because I am not a snacker!!!; and, 3- I do want to eat a healthy dinner. I DO! I REALLY DO! HELP ME JESUS!!!

I believe we all have an area - or two - that we feel like we're in a war, with regard to our goal of being healthy and fit. To overcome them. let's first of all acknowledge them, then determine strategies to be victorious. And, let's remember, "A person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls" (Proverbs 25:28) And, "Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city." (Proverbs 16:32) OUCH!!!! THAT REALLY HURT!!!

Do Something Different!

Because of some physical challenges I’ve had in my left foot/ankle for the past few weeks, I’ve been unable to run four-five times a week the way I normally do. The first week, I tried walking instead of running for my cardio workout; still uncomfortable. The second week I tried the elliptical machine at the gym; still uncomfortable. So, yesterday I rode my bike instead – not a stationary bike at the gym, but a real bicycle. Yes, it has been a while since I rode. I haven’t ridden my bike much since I did the 25-mile Acura Bike Tour in 2006, but thank goodness, once you learn how to ride a bike you really do never forget. But, I miss running. I miss the track. I miss the gang at the track. Today, day two of riding my bike, as I was riding and feeling sorry for myself, before I knew it, I was reminded how much I love working out outside early in the morning; early before everyone begins their hustle and bustle; while the birds are still singing and the wind is still crisp and the sun is still on the horizon waiting for the perfect time to rise, as the moon gives out one last shout. Hmmm…my pity party soon turned to a praise party, as I seemed to fly along the not-so-busy-yet-but-just-you-wait-and-see streets in my neighborhood. As I rode, I began my daily regimen of reciting scriptures that I meditate on during my morning workouts. Hmmm…. I dare you to try an early morning workout outside. I know…. I know…that means you would have to get up earlier. I know….I know…. O.K. O.K., if not an early workout, because YOU ARE JUST NOT A MORNING PERSON, then at least try something different for your workout routine this week –whether it’s in the morning, noon, or night. Keep it interesting! Keep it fun! Keep it exciting! If we do the same old workout routine all of the time then we risk getting bored and then we may stop altogether. Try the gym instead of the tennis courts! Take a walk instead of swimming! Take a spinning class instead of an aerobics class! Jump rope instead of doing your exercise tape! Walk faster than you usually do! Walk further than you usually do! What a concept!! I can’t wait to hear what you are going to do different this week!

'Where there's a will.....'you know the rest

Bending down these days can be a little painful for me. But let me see one of those 25 cents candy machines in the mall with one of my favorite candies, boston baked baked beans, and WATCH me maneuver myself down to get those candies! Slowly, that's right, feet flat, take my time...hmmm.. got 'em! (Sorry...blame it on a wonderful childhood filled with lemon head candies, sugar babies, and goobers!!...but I digresss....)

Where there's a will, there's a way! Especially for women! Women, you know that once we put our mind to something, we DO IT! This is why we simply don't have any excuses when it comes to exercising! NONE! But incase you are still holding on to a few, let's dispute them, shall we?

1. I can't exercise in the morning. Fine. Exercise during your lunch break or in the evening after work. (Or when the kids are napping if you are a stay-at-home Mom or when you are with them at the park, you can exercise.)
   
2. I want to exercise in the morning but it's so difficult to get up early. Set your alarm clock for the earlier time and move it AWAY - far away, as long as you can still hear it - from your bed so you have to GET UP to turn it off. Or, ask a friend who is already up early to give you a wake up call. Or, ask a friend to ask you every day, 'So, how was your work out this morning?' Better yet, ask your children to ask you that question! They'll love it!
   
3. I'm too tired or too busy to exercise after work but I can't at lunch or in the mornings before work. THEN exercising after work is your only other option so you must make it work!! Keep your exercise clothes at work and change before you leave. Or, keep them in the car. Keep healthy snacks at your desk and/or in your car to snack on something before you get to the gym or your destination so you don't give in to being hungry and claim you can't work out on an empty stomach. Don't over do it. Start with 30 minutes. If you must go home first or pick up children or drop children off, etc. make use of your surroundings: walk or run around the gym or park as you wait for your children. Walk down each grocery store aisle even if you don't need something in every aisle. Stand while you wait, don't sit around, as standing burns more calories. Put an exercise videotape in while cooking dinner and do whatever you can while you're cooking. DO NOT TURN THE TELEVISION ON WHEN YOU GET HOME for any other reason than an exercise video.
4. I hate the gym. Fine. Don't go. Walk. Run. Jump rope. Get exercise videos. Try Curves. DO SOMETHING!
5. I hate exercising! Make it fun. Play tennis. Play with your children. Go swimming. Skip. Jog. Make it fun, just move that body!
   

Where there is a will there is a way! Yet, this is another reason why we must renew our minds as Romans 12:1,2 instructs us. We could have all of the solutions in the WORLD for why we don't exercise but if we first don't decide that exercise is important we'll never make it a priority in our lives.

Enjoy!

Affirm Yourself!

If we are to be transformed by the renewing our minds so that we won't be conformed to this world, just how to we think this transformation is going to happen? Perhaps one way is by daily affirmations. Yeah...Yeah...you've heard this already. But have you ever tried it!? I know...I know...it took me years and years before I tried daily affirmations too, but now I am convinced of their value. Allow me to share two stories.

Story One

One of my daily affirmations is "I enjoy being a wife and a mother". In October, 2007, I was volunteering at one of my 13 year old son's football games. I was on the sideline taking score. The team did not have another clipboard so my hand was my clipboard. It got a little cloudy. The wind started blowing. It started to rain. I didn't have an umbrella. This was my son's first season playing tackle football, but I knew that the game would not be called because of rain. The ink started to bleed on the score paper. The wind and rain blew in my face. I was getting cold. Then out of nowhere I heard a voice. It sounded like my voice but I wasn't speaking. But there it was again...that was my voice. All of a sudden I heard it again, it was me....somewhere down on the inside of me ...I heard, "I enjoy being a wife and a mother." All I could do was laugh. I was about to get real upset and vow never to allow my son to play tackle football again, but instead, all I could do was laugh. Then about 10 minutes later or less, the rain stopped.

Story Two

It was my goal to do the 2008 Los Angeles Marathon in less time than I did in 2007. ( I run and walk the marathon. I don't run the entire course.) So, I trained accordingly. During the marathon, as I reached the 11th mile I was not making the time I had trained for. My timing was off. I was taking longer than planned for each mile. I started getting a little discouraged. Then there was that voice again. One of my daily affirmations while training for the marathon was, "I can run faster than I think." Somewhere between mile 11 and 12, I heard my voice tell me, "I can run faster than I think". I agreed. I finished the marathon 54 minutes less than I did in the last one.

Affirm yourself!

You can eat less!
You can exercise!
You can eat only one dessert!
You can walk more than a couple of blocks!

Renew your mind!

Big Plate? No, A Little Plate, and Then She Ate!

I believe if we can master portion control, I think we can master just about anything else as we choose to keep our physical temples fit. Here are 7 Portion Control Secrets by Jennifer R. Scott of about.com

1. Meet yourself halfway - You can cut the calories of your favorite foods by 50% without changing about them - just eat half.

2. Downsize your dinner. When eating out, don't be afraid to ask for the lunch entree at dinner time, or ask to order from the children's menu.

3. Resist the upsize offer. Fast food portions are already oversized, so there is no need to add insult to injury by upgrading your meal.

4. Good portions come in small packages. If you find your will-power is overpowered by a full bag of potato chips, don't buy the large bags. Get the individual lunch sized bags one at a time.

5. Size up servings. Just how many of those chips are in one serving. Check the nutrition label to find out - you may be surprised at how small an actual serving looks compared to what you usually eat.

6. Be gone buffets! It is nearly impossible to practice portion control in an all-you-can-eat situation.

7. Compare to control. A really nifty way of learning to control portions is to mentally compare them with common every day objects that you are used to seeing, i.e one cup of cereal is the size of a baseball, one ounce of nuts is the cupped size of your palm, 3 ounces of hamburger is like the lid of a jar of mayonaise, 3 ounces of poultry is like a deck of playing cards, 1/2 cup of cooked pasta is like a golf ball, etc.

So, it's no secret any more! Enjoy!

When Do We Choose the Good Part?

"But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her......"Do we choose to spend the precious 24 hours that we get each day distracted with our priorities out of sync, or at some point during our day do we realize the importance of spending time in God's presence and in his word? I must concur with David who said, "Early will I seek you....." I have learned how valuable it is to seek the Lord early in the morning! (NOTE: I said I have learned....It didn't happen over night.) Does this time change my circumstances for the day? No. If I'm broke (financially) when I start, I'm broke when I'm finished. But my perception and outlook is re-focused. Does it mean I'll have absolutely no problems during that day. No. But I stand a much better chance of any problem not overtaking me. Does it mean I won't make any mistakes that day. No. But I'm more likely to ask for forgiveness quicker and forgive myself even quicker.

It's all about choice - and sacrifice.

We make choices every day. And, usually if something is really worth it, it requires a sacrifice. Yes, you might have to get up earlier than you normally would...or watch one less television show than you usually do....or talk to one less person on the telephone each day. But, whatever the sacrifice, I'm a witness that it will be worth it.

When in your day do you choose the good part?


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