Our Daily Walk

Since June, several times a week, five to six times to be exact, my husband and I have been walking a route with a rather steep incline, 3 to 4 miles a day.

I feel like we need to just take a minute and let that sentence soak in. Because that is truly an incomprehensible thought. I have the slowest metabolism on the planet. I have always said if it were any slower I would be in the grave. So to take on this activity is truly something akin to a miracle. I was telling a friend today that I don't know how in the world I got into this "zone" but I'm going to keep up with it as long as I can.

Anyway, on this walk one of the things we have enjoyed is watching the summer season turn into autumn. We have watched a potato field be planted, grow and harvested. We have watched an apple orchard produce sweet, juicy apples. I thought it might be fun to take you on our walk with us. So put on your tennis shoes, drink some water and let's go.

First we leave the house and walk the first 1/2 mile stretch to the highway. There are always two hawks sitting on a telephone pole. Since hawks are known to mate for life we assume they are Mr. and Mrs. Some days they are sitting close together. Sometimes they are sitting with a good sized space in between them. Other days they have been on two separate poles. I guess married hawks and married folks have some similarities.

As we approach the highway we make a game of measuring whether we can cross without stopping. There really isn't all that much traffic on it, so usually we go right on across. On the corner is a pasture with four horses in it. My husband likes to call out to them and now they know his voice. When they hear him, they usually start ambling over our direction. Next we pass a house on the left with two barking dogs who bark at us from the deck of the top floor. Their tails are usually wagging too so I think it's a case of "their bark is worse than their bite". At least that's what I choose to believe while praying for no close encounters with them.

It's at this point that our incline begins to increase ever so gently. In the beginning of the summer this is where I would begin huffing and puffing. Now I barely notice. We pass a home on the left that has a nanny goat tied to the outside of the fence most days. Apparently her job on the farm is to keep the grass short and she does a good job of it. Every evening she is moved to a different spot further on down the fence. A few days later, she starts over again. She is a timid soul and if we get to close she bleats at us. We usually tell her something like, "Good job Nanny, you should be really proud of yourself". She seems to understand as she stands still and watches us pass by.

Next we pass a potato field on the left. I love the musty, earthy smell of potato fields. Potato plants are really rather pretty, the potato grows under the dirt and the leaves are big and green. At the end of the season they are sprayed with a defoliant that kills the leafage and they turn all brown and shriveled. We were delighted one afternoon on our walk to watch a large scale potato harvesting operation come in and harvest the field, dumping the golden potatoes into large trucks. I have to admit that when they were done, we loaded our pockets with the little potatoes left behind and had a wonderful dinner for the next couple of nights. We figured it was a Biblical act - gleaning the fields like Ruth and Naomi you know ;)

This is now where the incline is getting very steep. I try to ignore that fact by studying the apple orchard on the right. What fun it was to watch the apple grow from blossoms to little green and finally dark red fruit. We have seen the process of setting the large crates throughout the orchard and watched the migrant workers picking them by hand. The other day my husband asked in his limited Spanish if we could buy some of the apples. The nice worker gave us 4 apples and wouldn't take any money for them. What a sweet treat on a long, hot walk.

Now the incline is seriously steep and I am eagerly searching for the mail box that is our marker - the place we turn around. Somehow I get a second wind and when we reach the mail box we talk ourselves into going just a bit further, up the steeper yet part of the hill to the irrigation canal. Two golden retrievers bark their greetings to us from the house on the right and we continue putting one foot in front of the other to the top of the hill. Whew! By now the sweat is rolling, the lungs are heaving and I'm sure I am going to die. But the thing is when I make it this far I know I have it licked because it is half way. My only choice now is to finish this route by turning around and going home. We usually make to our front door just as the sun is nestling behind the hills of the Owyhee's.

Inside there is a glass of ice water waiting for me on the kitchen counter. Drinking deeply of the sweet, cold water I mentally pat myself on the back for staying on track one more day. We talk of what it will be like walking in the winter. We look forward to seeing the fields and the orchard come to life again in the spring. I anticipate the long, hot days of summer again. Our goal is to walk this route for an entire year and then we might look for a new one for the next year.

This is such a small thing we have added to our daily routine and we marvel at how much enjoyment it brings.

Time to Weigh

Well, if I ever doubted I was a stress eater - this last week proved otherwise! Life this past week has been very, very difficult and I ate my way through it and gained 2 pounds. Here is a short list of what I dealt with:

a very dear friend in a serious motorcycle accident
a very dear friend hospitilized with serious mental health issues
caring for that dear friends 4 children for two weekends in a row. I love them dearly and I enjoy them tremendously - but it isn't easy!
being involved in Vacation Bible School every evening
a very dear friend discovering cancer and not ready to tell anyone yet
our sewer system backing up into our house for the weekend and discovering that we have to install a new septic system in our back yard.
watching tractors and back hoes destroying my beautiful back yard that I have loved and tended and cared for.
All this, and working full time. Of course it was this week that my usually calm and somewhat boring job became crazy and I was required to put in some overtime.

I'm okay. I finally remembered that when you are drowning - you shouldn't struggle - it only makes it worse. I have grabbed on to the life preserver cast to me by Jesus Himself, and I am holding on for dear life. I am riding out the waves and the storm. I am feeling a bit bruised and battered but I am okay. Life is fragile and difficult at times, but God is in control. I know that.

I'm not too worried about the 2 pounds. It's really hard to eat the way you should when you are spending the majority of your time in hospital waiting rooms, VBS, and cooking for small children. I'm back on the wagon today.

Weigh In and Prayer Request

Just wanted to check in and tell you that I lost a pound this week. I'm happy about that of course. But it seems very minor to me today.

Because I also wanted to just ask anyone who would like to, to remember me and some situations in prayer today. Life has a way of going along smoothly and suddenly you hit a brick wall. I always say that life in the ministry is a life of privilege - and it is. But sometimes, when people under your care are hurting - we have the privilege of hurting with them. And lately it's been more than just one person. We have some incredibly serious hurts going on right now and the pain of it all gets to be almost unbearable. People we love and care for deeply are experiencing huge and difficult situations. People my husband and I invest our lives in daily. Life is just really hard sometimes, but I am remembering that God is good and He is in charge. I am remembering that "The eyes of the Lord are toward the Righteous, and His ears toward their cry." Psalms 34:15
Thank you for your prayers today.

Weighty Observations

Weight loss programs are an excellent time of self-discovery. In this recent weight loss adventure I have discovered some new things about myself. And I like these new things. One thing I have noticed is how little food I really need to eat healthy and feel good. Instead of looking to see how much food I get for my money, I now try to look at how little food I need to feel full. I am also learning to appreciate a slightly hungry feeling. That tells me that I have not overeaten and that I am losing weight. I never gave my body a chance to tell me it was hungry before. I am learning that I can still cook and bake foods and I don't have to overeat. I have learned that I can eat whatever I want - just not how much I want.

When we vacationed in Florida last month, I spent some time on the beach and I just watched different body types go by. One thing I really noticed was how age makes a huge difference in bodies. There were lots and lots of young girls who were very thin and their bikini's hung on their bony frames. The best word to describe them was lean. They just didn't have any body fat at all. These are the types of bodies we all dream of! But as I watched, I noticed women who were probably 35 and above. While they still looked good, and they were not overweight they looked softer and rounder. They looked well, more normal. They looked like they were comfortable. They looked healthy. They even looked sensual.

And I realized that I have matured not only in my body but in my thinking as well. I do want to lose weight. But it's no longer about a number on the scale or on a tag in my clothing. It's no longer a competition. It's not about how thin I can get. Now it is about feeling good, being healthy, and being comfortable with who I am. And I find an amazing freedom in that realization. I am never going to have the lean body that those 20-something girls on the beach had. And if that is the only regret I have in my life then I consider myself pretty fortunate.

I am going to continue this weight loss program, but it's for very different reasons than anytime before. I want to be able to be active without being breathless. I want to be able to have fun and not feel embarrassed. I want to know I am doing everything I can to "take care of this temple" without obsessing over it. I want to look good for my husband. I want to do myself a favor.

I'm liking this new-found freedom.

Weight loss this week: 2 lbs.
Weight loss since beginning May Day challenge: 7 1/2 lbs.
Weight loss since beginning in April: 15 1/2 lbs.

Loss

Another week down - another pound down. Yeah!

Refreshing Summertime Drink

I don't know about where you live, but it is HOT here! We are in the high nineties and are supposed to be in the hundreds all next week. I love hot weather myself, as long as it is the dry, arid heat we have here in southern Idaho. I can take the temperature but I can't take the humidity!

Anyway, I have been trying to get into a walking program this summer and I am up to 2 miles a day. For me 2 miles is phenomenal. I respond well to rewards, so each evening that I walk, I reward myself with this great refreshing drink. It is very crisp and thirst-quenching, and absolutely refreshing. It might be a little more refreshing to jump into a pool but since I don't have a pool - this drink has to do. But it is awesome and the best part is that it only has 10 calories and no carbs! Whoo hoo! And you can count it towards your total water intake each day. So here is what you do:


Here are the components. I prefer the key lime Clear American sparkling water that Walmart sells - it is a little sweeter - but this is what I had in my cupboard last night.



First you crush a mint leaf or two and put it in the glass. Mmmmm...smells so good.




Then add two heaping teaspoons of Splenda or a sweetener of your choice. You may want to adjust the amount depending on your sweetness level. Well, not your sweetness level,I mean the level of sweetness that you like.



Then add 2 tsps. of lime juice. A little more if you like the tart flavor like I do.



Stir this all up until the Splenda is dissolved in the juice. Then fill your cup about 3/4's full of crushed ice.




Fill to the brim with key lime flavored sparkeling water. Garnish with a lime slice, add a straw, sit back and enjoy! And I promise, you will want more than one. I hope you are able to enjoy one this weekend!


Tropical Breeze

mint leaf
2 heaping tsp. Splenda
2 tsp. Lime juice
crushed ice
key lime sparkeling water
lime slice

Crush mint leaf in bottom of glass. Add Splenda and lime juice. Stir until dissolved. Add crushed ice about 3/4's to top of glass. Add sparkeling water.
Garnish with a lime slice.
10 calories 0 carbs.

Good Taste

Since reading a post by the recently retired and fabulous at fifty Becky at the Butler's Wife, I have been pondering aging issues. While I am not quite at 50 yet (but hovering dangerously close), it does seem like I am changing in several areas of my life. I'm not even going to touch the obvious physical body changes - no sir, I'm not going there. But one thing I have noticed is how my taste buds are changing. For instance, I have been a life long member of the I Hate Onions Club. I have always hated onions and wouldn't eat anything containing an onion if my life depended on it. All of the sudden I am craving grilled onions! I can't get enough of them. It all started at a church potluck and I walked by the kitchen window that was displaying a huge plate of grilled onions. The aroma caught my attention first. They just smelled heavenly. I made sure no one was looking and popped one into my mouth. Grilled onions, where have you been all my life? You are amazing in your buttery, smooth, mild flavor. I am hooked forever!
Another taste bud upheaval has been for fish. I have never been a fan of fish, except for the fish sticks they served every Friday in elementary school. But now, grilled salmon and halibut are something I really enjoy.
I have also been a huge chocolate craving freak all my life. Suddenly chocolate is well, okay. Not great. Not awesome. Not if-I-don't-have-a-piece-of-chocolate-I'm-going-to-tear-your-head-off kind of thing. These days I tend to prefer salty snacks. Popcorn is my latest fad. Weird huh?
I don't know about all of this. It kind of seems like maturity might be at least offering a healthier alternative in my life. I'll be waiting to hear from all you other "mature" ladies to tell me if this is normal or maybe I'm morphing into an alien creature whom no one will recognize!

Success!

This was last weeks promise:

FOR ONE WEEK I PROMISE TO:

1. Write down every point I eat. Every single one. Even the creamer in my coffee.
2. I promise to drink two glasses of water a day. This is two more than I normally drink.
3. I promise to walk 5 days this week. I promise.



I DID IT!!! And I lost 4 1/2 pounds!!! I feel so good about this last week - so here is my promise list for this week:

1. I promise to write down every single point I eat - every one.
2. I promise to drink three glasses of water every day.
3. I promise to walk 4 days this week. I'm going out of town for business on Thursday through Saturday and I'm not sure if walking will fit into my schedule while I'm gone - just keeping it real.

I am going into this week feeling strong. I really hope my business trip doesn't foul me up - but I'm going to give it everything I have got!

I get a button! I get a button!

New Resolve

Okay, I'm done with this fooling around business. I have had to face the reality that in 5 weeks I have not lost any weight and I have only been fooling myself into thinking I am doing a good job. The hard truth is that in this 5 week period I have only lost ONE pound. I am ashamed. But I am not giving up. And here is my new plan.

FOR ONE WEEK I PROMISE TO:

1. Write down every point I eat. Every single one. Even the creamer in my coffee.
2. I promise to drink two glasses of water a day. This is two more than I normally drink.
3. I promise to walk 5 days this week. I promise.

Hopefully, next week I will have something positive to report. Please help keep me accountable and ask me during the week if I am sticking to my promises. I really, really want to do this.

Weigh Day Report

I am down 1 pound this week. I lose weight so very slowly. I always say if there were a famine in the land I would be the last survivor and there would not be anybody left alive to see me when I finally got to my desired weight! How sad would that be??!!
Things to work on:
I tend to let myself go a little bit after I weigh in - thinking I will get right back on the program "tomorrow". Of course "tomorrow" doesn't come and then 2 or 3 days before Tuesday I get serious and get back on the program. I am going to work on being more consistent EVERY day.
We are leaving on vacation (I won't be reporting in next week). Oddly enough I always tend to do better on vacations. I think it's because I am busier and more conscious that I could really mess this plan up! Anyway, I hope to do good while I am gone.
I am still considering the exercise option. I keep looking at my bike hanging in the garage and wondering . . . .

Weight Check In

Whoo Hoo! I'm down 2 1/4 lbs. this week. I was able to stay on the point system and did a much better job controlling binge eating. Still not walking - but I am thinking about it. My total loss for this weight challenge is 2 3/4 lbs. but my total since I began dieting last month is 9 lbs. exactly.

Weigh In Day

Well. . . . this has been a rather up and down week. On Sunday morning I weighed and I was very excited - I was down 3 pounds! That is so good for me - I never lose that much in one week. But then Mother's Day on Sunday and a family birthday on Monday - I was sabotaged. On Mother's Day all my girls planned a wonderful meal of spare ribs, baked potatoes, and a fabulous chocolate cake. For our family birthday dinner last night we had a Mexican fiesta - complete with a Mexican flan cake lovingly prepared by my daughter. How can you not eat? So all this to say that when I weighed this morning, my 3 lb. loss changed to a 1/2 pound loss. But I am still encouraged because if I stick to my points this week (no holidays that I know of) I should lose that pesky 2 1/2 pounds again.
Other than the two special days, I did very well staying within my point range. And I hesitate to admit it out loud, but I did do a teensy bit of walking this week. But it's not a committment - I don't want you to think I am feeling obligated to walk everyday, it's not like that- okay? I am not saying I am a walker now - I am just saying that it was convenient to do a little bit of walking this last week. I didn't plan it - it just happened. Okay - are we straight on the exercise thing? I'm not exercising - I'm just dieting - for now. I'm just saying. Okay?
So my final loss for this first week is 1/2 pound. At least I didn't gain. Right?

Weight Loss

And so it begins. Today is the day I begin the May Day Weight Loss Challenge. I am trying to get excited about his - I really am. But I start thinking about how much weight I need to lose and how hard it will be and will I ever be able to try out that new chocolate cake recipe I just got? I have actually been doing a weight loss program on my own for about a month now and have lost 7 pounds, but I think the fun of doing this with others online sounds appealing and will help me to be accountable. So I will report my weight loss/gain every Tuesday for all of you read. And all of you, my dear readers, are to congratulate me or chastise me - which ever is appropriate! Some are posting their actual weight. You will have to forgive me, I am not up to doing that yet!

I am going to follow the Weight Watcher point program. I don't attend the meetings but I have all the books and slide guides from previous attempts, so I keep track of all my points in a little notebook. I find that writing down the things I eat helps me a lot. I never realize how much I have eaten if I don't chart it. It always amazes me how LITTLE we need to eat to keep us sustained. I also, intend to combine some of the South Beach principles, such as high fiber and low carbs into my point system. I have not made a commitment to exercise yet. I know I need to but I am not there yet. I just can't be forced into these things - I have to get there by myself!

As far as a weight loss goal, I haven't settled on a final number yet. Instead I am setting a goal of 30 pounds for now (not counting the 7 I have already lost). That will get me to a size that I will be more comfortable at and once I reach that, I will re-evaluate what I want to do. Somehow, it just seems more "do-able" if I make smaller goals. The road doesn't seem so endless, if you know what I mean.

I have attempted this so many times in my life. Once, I achieved my goal of losing 60 pounds and it was a very good time in my life. I hope to get there again.

I have come to realize that I am somewhat of a stress eater - I get stressed and I eat. But mostly I overeat just because I love good food. I love to cook and bake and I really enjoy the way food tastes. I don't have any deep underlying emotional issues I need to resolve and no matter how hard Oprah tries to convince me otherwise, it's just not so! I just love good food. And I just need to practice a little discipline. Okay, a lot of discipline - I need to keep this real don't I?

So pray for me and wish me success! I'm diving in!

Oh, I am excited about this. I am struggling to start a diet and this sounds like just what I need. There are reward buttons for each 5 lbs. you lose - isn't that great? It starts next week so if you have been thinking about losing 5 lbs or 50 pounds - the time is now!