Playback Dial-in Number: 1-218-486-8703 Midwest
Playback Access Code: 111878
Be sure to use this telephone number and access code, and not the previous Dial-in Number and access codes associated with the conference call itself.
Remember to BLOG your answer to the 3 questions (below). Also, today's Proverb (from the CYL Daily Bible) says,"Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house."
Even with 100 in the group and 30 of us on the phone call, your comments and posts are meaningful to everyone.
Be encouraged,
Becky
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Dear Becky,
ReplyDeleteI didn't get to hear the call today, for I was busy at school. I wanted to listen tonight, but I've been working on school work all evening. A few minutes ago I just finished posting a rather long note for this blog, and somehow lost the whole thing as I was trying to send it. Perhaps it was too long, so I will write it again in briefer form.
Thank you so much for organizing this group and coaching us along the way. I am also grateful for the bloggers who have posted more consistently than I have lately.
You mentioned above something about having the courage to post honestly. I'm not going to go through the list of questions and answer each one thoroughly tonight, but I will be honest about one of my greatest struggles: overscheduling.
When I went back to school this fall, I very reluctantly gave up one of my WW groups because I knew that it would be impossible to work two nights and keep up with the demands of teaching four classes of Honors English 12, a journalism class, and a combined newspaper and yearbook class, I would have my hands full. In addition, I enrolled last spring in a college program that is wonderful, but also very demanding.
I am working harder than ever--even getting up between 3 and 3:30 a.m. just to be ready for school. That is insane for anyone--esp. for someone in her late 50s! I know God doesn't want us to sacrifice human needs, such as sleep and proper meals, just to keep up with a job (or two or three). Last night, I went to bed with the intention of getting up again at 3:30; however, my body simply said "NO!" I slep through three alarms this morning and barely made it to school in time to unlock my classroom door as the kids were pouring into the hallways. What a way to begin!
On the way to school, having not taken time for my usual Bible study, I prayed that God would help me through the day, and he certainly did. The extra 2-1/4 hours of sleep this morning left me more refreshed than I usually am, and the kids were really cooperative (despite my less than wonderful planning). When I came home, though, I began to feel tired, and instead of taking a quick nap and then eating a healthy meal, I really pigged out. I haven't done that in ages! What was I thinking?
Anyway, I am rambling on here. I just want to say that I know I need to sleep more and get back to eating well and exercising regularly. I'm not quite sure how I will fit it all in, but I am praying for God's guidance and direction.
One of my favorite quotes--one that I use with my WW members as they face the challenges of trying to eat healthily and get to their goal weights--is this: "If nothing changes, nothing changes." Isn't that true for all of us? Even when we have been on the right track, it is so easy to slip up and go back to our old ways. Thus, as your website suggests, we need to "change [our lives] daily," and we can make lasting changes only when we let God work in and through us.
I'm really eager to make healthy changes, and I pray that all of us in this group will end the year strong.
God bless!
Wanda
I was so glad to be able to listen to the call this evening when i had more time --In fact i listened twice -- I have made my plan - I am prepared for the weeks ahead -I am looking forward to having a support group and a coach.
ReplyDeleteI was able to see Becky in person in dallas last year and she said "Food is my fuel-not my Fun" -- thought i would pass it along --
looking forward to our time
joyce L.
It was a great encouragement to listen to the conference call and know that there are others out there who are planning and working towards similar goals. These next 12 weeks are a crucial time for me when it comes to saving time, calories and money. It seems like everytime at this year I lose total control and then come January 1st, I am wishing I hadn't spent 3 months in a free-for-all. Making a plan right now will hopefully be the foundation for a holiday season that leaves me fulfilled spiritually, not bankrupt financially and emotionally! :)
ReplyDeleteThe most difficult thing for me is my control over food. Or rather, my lack of control. Spending time with God and even budgeting money (a more difficult task) are far easier for me than having control over my eating and exercising.
So here is my plan:
I will stick to a 1200 a day calorie plan with 500 freebie calories during the week. This worked very well for me in the past. My goal is to lose 20 pounds during this next 12 weeks and I believe if I follow this plan I will be able to do that.
I will spend AT LEAST 30 minutes a day with God. I know how busy my schedule is and I want to commit to spending 30 minutes, no matter what, and try to double that when I can!
I will spend 20 minutes a day exercising. The exercise that works the best for me is yoga. I hope to be able to attend more classes and to take my dog on more walks, but no matter what I can commit to 20 minutes!
I am still working on figuring out how much I can spend on Christmas, I will know that within the next few days and update.
The final thing that I know is most important in all this is being able to know the reason behing these choices I am making and to "define my passion." I need to be able to turn down cookies or make healthy eating choices and know why I am doing it and be able to share that with those around me.
Good luck to everyone!
I have an interesting question. I don't know how quite to ask it without sounding disrespectful. And I am sorry for even asking it but I don't understand why we have to give up parties and fun food. I'm not sure it is worth being skinny to have that attitude of food being for fuel and not for fun. So much fellowship at Church and at family and at Christmas parties is the special food that people make out of love to share for special occasions. Is there any way to have both fun food, parties and still stay healthy by balancing it with exersice and cutting back at another meal?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question. And everyone has to answer it for themselves.
ReplyDeleteFor example, in my home/family, because I'm an alcoholic, we don't have alcohol in our home or at our parties. That means some people are less comfortable and/or have less fun when they come to my house, but it is the "balance" or boundary that allows me to live sober. It also means that I'm not so fun to invite to parties--so I/we don't get invited to a lot of social events. Additionally, when my husband had cancer, we had no sugar in our home for 3 years--that was really much less fun, but we had to do it for his health. It also meant we ate out a lot less, cooked at home more, spent more time alone, and yet we (especially he) got healthier.
So food and drink and parties at this time of year, for many of us, cause us to be tempted to do what we don't want to (or shouldn't) do. Thus many of us are in this "save money calories and time" group because we need help not to overeat, spend out-of-control, or be over commit our time. We need help to make the less fun choices, those that are healthy for us as individuals, but might not be what "others" are doing (or want/need to do).
No disrespect taken. We each have to determine our boundaries and respect that others' strengths or weaknesses will be different. This is group is designed especially for those who need to save money, calories and time during a big spending, big eating time of year.
Thanks for asking. Hope this helps.
Becky
What a great discussion. I so appreciate the ? and the response. This last week I have thought about my "plan" for the holidays. In advance I have given myself permission to have pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. I am giving bouquets of flowers instead of my usual cookies. Someone the other day said but you don't have a problem with your weight why are you rigid with your eating. I eat for health, to stay cancer free, and feel good. When you eat healthy, you get to feel good. I have more energy, lighter feeling. My clothes look great on me. If I ate the stuff others eat I would be 20 #'s heavier. Are you really gaining that much fun? Last week I came down with the flu it made me think of the year I battled cancer. The lousy flu day was considered my good days with cancer. I learned many valuable lessons with cancer. I learned to prioritize my time. If I went to the christmas luncheon (something I thought I didn't want to give up at the time) I was spent and no good for my young children when they came home from school. I couldn't shop so that year the gift I gave my children were written prayers. Just thinking about that Christmas brings a rush of God's love washing all over me. I didn't spend $, a friend came over and decorated my house with ribbon. No energy to get down christmas stuff. I used to decorate my house with 30 boxes of stuff. Took a week to get it out and 2 weeks to put it away. I now have 3 boxes and what freedom that is. Cancer was a blessing beyond belief. I didn't think I would live so I did all kinds of letters to my children for the times I wouldn't be there: graduations, birthdays, weddings, etc We all have limits in our lifes the challenge is to figure out how to be pleasing to God with our time, calories, and money. JennyGrace thank you for asking the ? and Becky the conviction to help all of us who need the help to stay on track. My daughter didn't have to read her wedding prayer I got to pray with her before she walked down that church isle. I know my experience is not the agenda here but I said it because the concept is the same. It isn't what we are giving up (parties, food) it is what we are gaining: a deeper walk with our Lord and Savior. That is what cancer gave me. What is Christ view of what the holidays should be? How can we honor Him? There is deep satisfaction to be gained here. I am still working on the budget. Walking is my form of exercise and got a few walking partners to keep me on track. I am so very excited for this Christmas it feels like it is going to have the depth that my cancer Christmas had over 11 years ago. Dear Jesus, Guide us all in this journey, may we be pleasing to you. Amen
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky and Robbie for that perspective. I appreciate the time you both took to comment. Wow, Robbie, I am so happy that you survived the cancer and have grown so much from it. We have absolutely no alcohol at any event on mine or my husbands side of the family so that is not a problem for me. And, Obviously,with my attitude I am 25 pounds overweight so actually it was a stupid question :-) Thanks for the advice.
ReplyDeleteJennygrace,
ReplyDeleteYour question wasn't stupid it was helpful to many who wonder the same things that you did. Our culture equates food and love together, so if we think that we are giving up love just to be skinny doesn't make sense does it? Then we think we are pursuing the hollywood image. We are in this journey together keep the questions coming they help us all be what God has in mind for us. If you hadn't have asked the question then we wouldn't have been able to formulate other discussions. We all have challenges to be all we can be. In the process of discussing our beliefs we gain understanding. Many years ago my daughters preschool teacher gave me some great advice. She said to write down all that went well for you and what didn't work in regards to Christmas and the holidays. This was to be done Christmas night or Dec 26th. Then you write how you would like to change. One of my discoveries was getting the Christmas card done in November and mailed the day after Thanksgiving. I would put the plan to accomplish this in my November page of the calendar. The object then is not to make the same mistakes year after year. I see this group as that process. We have a plan: how are we are going to do the holidays. Less stress more joy... Just my thoughts... I am always looking for ways to be better... or keep the course. So many distractions
I have been trying to post since last week. I have written my 3 answers at least 7 times and it still isn't posting. Now it says that it didn't post because it was being edited. I am new to this so if anyone has any suggestions. I am listening. It is getting very discouraging!
ReplyDeleteLorraine: You quite often have to hit post, and then hit post again (at which point it often asks you to type in those odd little code letter combinations). I dont think any of us have figured out why this happens, but it usually takes me two or three tries to post because of that.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the fact that I am reading your post means it finally took, so maybe you can try your three answers one more time?
We're all blessed to be together in this, and all of us were new at one point or another.
Keep trying to hit that post button!
And God bless.
Lorraine, I'm trying to figure out things as well so I really don't have advice on the how to's. But one thing that may help with the frustration level is that when you are done typing your post, highlight and copy the entire thing and paste it onto a Word or email page. That way if it disappears when you try to post it, you have what you've written backed up and don't have to start from scratch.
ReplyDeleteAs far as my prep work, my biggest issue is being in control of the amount of food I eat. What I have found that works best for me is to not worry so much about what I'm eating (although my goal is to eat healthy) but to pay attention to how much I eat. What I intend to do is the following...don't eat until I feel hunger pains, serve myself a small serving (I can always get more if I'm still hungry), eat slowly (it takes about 10-15 minutes for me to feel the food in my stomach), eat the best parts of the food (e.g.the middle of the sandwich)and enjoy the food I eat. I can handle feeling 'deprived' of the quantity of food I eat better than feeling deprived of the food itself, if that makes sense. I've lost a few pounds already in the past couple of weeks practicing these things(my goal is to lose 10-12).
I will walk/run on my treadmill 30 minutes and then do my 30 min weight routine, at least 3 times a week.
As far as my QT, I will pray and study my Bible for at least 30 minutes per day.
For my finances, my husband and I have yet to sit down and discuss our plan but I’ll post it when we have it. Thanks for the accountabillity ladies. I'm excited to be a part of the group.
Corinne
For those of you having trouble posting keep hitting post button
ReplyDeletehit post button (your post didn't go thru) hit post button, scrabble letters appear: type in scrabble letters hit post comment. This will work.
1. Maintain my weight with the flat belly diet.
2. Walk 30 minutes a day. (I even walked in the rain yesterday, great fun)
3. Appointment with the King the first hour of the day.( Daily walk bible and prayer journal) CBS: Luke, and Beth Moore: Believing God. (in the evening)
4. $: Need to re-think (when I looked at what I spent last year, food, decorations,cards, gifts, outside help I was flabbergasted) We have the $ but is this how God wants me to use it was the question. So ladies I am needing another week for this one.
Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:12