Celebrate You!

I am writing this post on my 30-something birthday!(May 31st) The clock reads: 2:04am. I should be sleeping but I am wide awake with excitement. Today, as people celebrate me I want to pose a question to you. When was the last time you celebrated yourself? I mean really celebrated without it being a birthday?  Although excited  about the Facebook birthday posts, cards, calls and gifts.  However, I am most excited about the birthday celebration I am throwing myself.

I believe you should honor others, rejoice with them, and cheer them on.  But I also think many of us have developed this attitude to celebrate ourselves means we are being arrogant and self consuming.  I disagree.  I have spent the better part of the early years of my life depressed; not liking myself.  I had birthday parties, even surprise parties where people gathered together to honor me but on the inside I did not even like me.  Trust me, its hard to enjoy a party when you have self-esteem issues.  It gives new meaning to that song… “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.”

My life changed in college.  It when then I vowed after a friend told me I was good at celebrating others but horrible at giving myself the same permission.  I decided whether no one else did or did not I would love me enough to applaud me.  So back to my original question: “When was the last time you celebrated you?” You don’t have to wait until your birthday, you can do it when you meet a goal or just because.

So as my friend told me many years ago, I give you permission to buy a hamburger and put a candle in it… it’s your special day because YOU are worth celebrating.

Happy YOU Day!

In His Super Grace

R0:)

 

 

 

 

Dropping LBS?!?!

  Say what? I actually got on the scale and I lost 2 lbs! I jumped off and got back again and sure enough I had lost 2 lbs. Go me, Go me, Go me!  It’s a small start but it was the encouragement I needed. Since I started this journey I have lost a total of 7 lbs.   This weight loss was the encouragement I needed after doing a radical change in my eating habits.  My goal: drop 45 lbs. So just 38 more to go. What’s my current weight you ask? You would want to know… but I am not ready to bare all just yet.  Umm, maybe one day(wink, wink).  I want to say thank you so much to all of you for the sweet comments, recipes and encouragement, this girl needs it.  It helps me to know people are counting on me when I have days when I want to eat that whole sleeve of Oreo cookies(or trust me, I can do it!).

So for all of you are on the journey to health and thinking about giving up… YOU.BETTA.NOT. Here is some encouragement I found on Pinterest and looking around on google, enjoy!

In His Super Grace(Your workout partner)

Ro:)

Food for Thought

I did it. I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting on Monday.  I was a bit overwhelmed by the process at first however, I am glad I did. Before I share about my experience let me just clear this up. I am NOT joining Weight Watchers because J. Hud has lost all that weight.  No, I am joining because I need accountability and their points system really intrigues me.  I have done my research, spoken to several people about the program and decided to travel almost twenty minutes away from home to attend Monday’s meeting. 

When I arrived at Harvest Baptist Church I was almost intimidated. The parking lot was full.  At first, I thought it was a Sunday morning service.  Little did I know that what was going on inside was reminiscent to small group bible study.   Once I entered the fellowship hall I met Joanie, the class facilitator and lifetime member with Weight Watchers.  She went over some information about the Weight Watchers then allowed me to sit in on the weekly meeting.  Today’s topic: Eating during the Super Bowl.  I found a seat in the back of the room.  For years, I would be very skeptical of these type of “support groups” but here I am sitting in this metal chair in desperate need of support.  Joanie talked to us about sticking with the “points” even with attending a Super Bowl party.  She spoke about eating a meat lovers pizza with all the most fattest meat  and how “bad” you feel afterwards. I giggled to myself because actually I feel pretty good afterwards.  Seriously, I noticed a common theme throughout the meeting  I must renew my mind to eating. Until this point, I never planned what I ate nor did I really consider portion control. All things Weight Watchers highly urge you do.  I must PLAN to eat healthy, I must PLAN to change or substitute my high sodium diet and I must PLAN to stay within my allocated points if I truly want success.  Romans 12:2 reads:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

My old stinking thinking had to go and go soon! In this meeting I also learned there is a difference between a snack and a treat. Did you know that? I guess I never thought about it.  But as I sat in this meeting once again my thoughts challenged me.  How could have eaten so poorly for so long and other destructive habits.  However, I did get some encouragement.  I learned people who keep food journals have good success in weight loss.  I purchased one the night before at Barnes and Noble for $2.  It has really helped me in keeping track of my points and consider what I am eating.    As the meeting started to close, our “Pastor” Joanie celebrated those who have lost weight thus far and ended the meeting with this thought, “We are born to win but we must plan to win…”  Immediately I went home and started putting what I learned to practice. And I started working out… again. That’s for another blog post. Already I notice a difference in my approach to food. I have started retraining myself in using “healthier” food to celebrate milestones and I certainly snack more on veggies(Mom would be proud).  However, I need some really good recipes in my arsenal on those tough days.  Do you have any healthy snacks or dinner suggestions? Please share in the comment line.

In His Super Grace

Ro:)

 See my prior Journey to Health post.

Disclaimer:It is essential that you seek professional advice for all issues about your health. Do not take any of the information in this blog (either in posts or comments) as professional advice.  Posts and comments on this blog are not intended to be used in place of  professional advice, unless implicitly indicated in the blog post.