Spring break and manly motivation

Spring break has been fabulous!  Mr took 3 days off this week so for 5 days we were a family of four.   I LOVE that.   We have laughed, shopped, watched movies, took down outdoor lights, tried to convince each other who should do the spring poo clean up, went to an art museum (with boyfriend in tow) and had a St Patty's day family gathering with friends which included a water fight - in MARCH.  That was crazy.

The Mr and I were back to making fat jokes and complaining about clothes.  We have both done horribly in the last several weeks.  Today he decided he needed a challenge....a motivation.   He is a golf NUT.  I mean he is crazy for it like a PMSing woman loves chocolate.  Yes, that's a lot.  So he was watching golf today after church and started lusting after the cool golf polo's.  Its funny what gets him excited....he is so laid back it's hard to get real excitement out of him but Golf does with ease.

There in lies the motivation for the challenge.....for every 5lbs he loses his reward is $30 to spend on golf clothes.  I tried to get excited about this.  I really did.  So we discussed reality, budget etc and I gave a wifely "whatever".  Then somehow he decided (guilty conscience?) that I should have the same offer but altered because I cannot possibly lose as fast as he does.  So he said $30 for every 3lbs.  "Think about it."

Official weigh in to start would be tomorrow.   Hmm......I've been telling myself that I do not want any reward until I can remove the 5lbs I put on over the last month or so that I've been struggling.  I certainly NEED the summer clothes.....and the motivation would be good....

Hmmm.....its the details I'm pondering.   3lbs seems awfully small to offer a reward for.....or is that the point?

I don't know what to do.

Any ideas?

Blessings of sunny spring time joy and energy to you, 

the Mrs.

weigh in Monday 16 - just swell

I'm not headed in the right direction.  A gain of 2 this week is not encouraging.

There are some mystery issues happening though and one of them is swelling...this may be playing a part.  For the last month I've woken up with swollen hands.  They've woken me up during the night aching and gradually I've ended up where I am right now which is swollen and having pain in both arms.  Initially I thought perhaps I'd consumed something or done a bit too much boxing and that was causing the hand issue.  But now I'm struggling shoulder to fingertips so that means something is being eaten.  ANY thing that could cause pain, also causes bloating and weight gain for me.

Ordinarily I would put in a good 2 hours on the treadmill on Sunday night while Mr plays volleyball, instead I opted for a movie under the covers of a warm, heated bed (oh how I love a heated mattress pad!).

So this week I'm going to eliminate anything with vinegar.  It's on my list of no, no's but in small doses only causes a bit of gut trouble.  So I made myself a list of vinegar containing things I may not eat this week: Ketchup, mustard, salsa (NOOOOO, this has become a daily staple to flavor wraps, sandwiches and replaced salad dressing), mayo, pickles, guac singles and BBQ sauce (not that I eat bbq often now that I'm not eating meat but it is good to dip some cheeses in).   I'll watch my salt intake as well, just in case.

Hopefully the vinegar is the issue.....well, I don't actually "hope", I did just buy a bunch of salsa for the pantry but at the very least I can make my own in the future and add some plants to my garden list.   This week my focus needs to be drinking LOTS of detox water, green tea and sweating on the treadmill as much as I can to get whatever is in my system, OUT.   By the end of the week I hope to be able to pull the cheese drawer open with my left arm without gasping from the pain.

Ceaseless moments
Such is life!  These are merely the details.  It does provide a topic of conversation between He and I and this morning I did have to apologize for a pain inspired inappropriate word uttered in the silence of my own mind....He does hear and see all.   I find the weekends hardest to hold His presence firmly in my mind.  More people, noise, things to do and distract the mind.   I am a weak minded person to begin with - meaning that maintaining focus on any one thing is a struggle for me - when I am having a reaction of some sort a mental component always comes with.  A slowing down and drowsiness that creeps in so slowly that I don't notice my mind isn't as sharp.   Yesterday morning in church, just before service, it got my full attention.  A friend sat behind me and asked how the week was, I so struggled to find words that her initial response was to think the week had been bad.  Honestly I just couldn't find words and was a bit confused for a moment.  Pain struck during service and raising my hands in praise was not part of worship, holding my pen to take notes wasn't really worth the discomfort. But He and I had our words and the songs were lyrically focused to Him instead of about Him.  I appreciate these songs more in worship.

Blessings are only shallowly hidden. My mind is mushy from whatever it is, the pain becomes a blessing.....like a light guiding you through dense fog, twinges of pain clear the mind for a moment, getting my attention and helping me to focus in again....on Him, not the pain.   While I cannot report success for long periods of time yet, I can say that the frequency of my attention is increasing.  This is good.

Blessings to you for an uncovering of their abundance in your life,
the Mrs.

sunday sweetness

Smile on my face all day.

The Lover and Creator of my soul reminded me personally that He doesn't just listen but He hears.  Not just my prayers for others but those uttered wishes for myself.  

The gift of worship, delivered precisely the way I needed.....asked.

A song, uttered beautifully, from the mouth of a wonderful friend.

Testimony.   Perfect assurance.  He is providing, working, and knitting together a community of people.....even if I can't personally see or feel it yet.   The ones who really need it...do.

The morning felt like a customized gift, just for me.   A sweet "I love you".

I relaxed into that.  Smile on my lips.  Tears in my eyes.  Full, warm heart.

It's been a great day.   Have I done anything particularly spectacular?  Not really.  But I worked my buns off just now.   Nearly an hour on the treadmill.  I don't run.  I don't go nearly as fast as others.  Generally I top out at 3.5 with my short chicken legs moving with as much rhythm as I can muster without tripping.  Then I moved to the wii.    Whoever says video games serve no good purpose have not met this machine.   I know there are many systems, many games.   I have not been introduced to them so I cannot speak to that but I can shout the praise of this.....this new and amazing thing.  I got it for Christmas.  Gold's Gym.  I sweat.  No, not that girly "glisten".  I'm talkin dripping, I need a towel, kind of sweat.  I got the boxing gloves to go with it....cuz basically that's all it is.  Boxing.

It's true.  When you find something that you connect with and enjoy - go for it!   Your workout will be so much more successful.  You will WANT to put more into it.   Right now......my arms feel like lead as I am trying to type this.  I had to stop in, share my beautiful morning......and tell you:

I am seriously excited about weigh in tomorrow.

Excited.

I think it's going to be a good one!  I can't wait to see how I did this week.

Also.  I wanted to share a post from a blogger that I find inspired and offers pictures of food that will make you lick the screen.   Food porn.  Plain and simple.  Its not all calorie laden, hip exploding, waist expanding  gloriousness but also heaps of veggies.....my favorite ones are roasted to beautiful perfection.   She has been on the journey to lose.  She lost 135 lbs and has the most healthy, well balanced view of food that I've ever encountered.  She writes beautifully and has been asked to write a book.  Today she answered a letter from a reader about how she handled slipping up on her diet.  Go read.  Be encouraged and comforted with reality.   This girl is wise beyond her years and the way she strings a sentence together is a thing of beauty.

See you tomorrow.  Sweet dreams and peaceful sleep.

Blessings of a beautiful, brand new tomorrow and all the hope it offers, 

the Mrs.