love language

well folks, i listen to klove on my van radio. klove is a christian station. i am so glad to have found it. listening to good christian music has really enhanced and enriched my life. for some reason finding good uplifting, christian music that is not always "gospely", if you know what i mean, has really helped me to get in touch with the spirit within me. it is if having found a variety of God based music has helped me find the permission to be as i am. i have found through this music, that i can be who i am even with the imperfections. i can live in my humanness knowing that i don't have to be prim and proper, so to speak. it has been so freeing to come to this realization. i can be a good catholic christian woman and live right here where i am and influence the spirit in others with the understanding that i am as God intended me to be, imperfect. wow! this is huge for me. how has this music done this for me? don't know but i don't need to ask. we never know for sure how God will speak to us but sure glad i was listening the day he lead me to klove.

klove has been featuring a book this week that has me intrigued. it is called The 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. from what i understand the book focuses on these 5 ways that we feel loved. there are 5 languages of love and we all have a primary and sometimes a secondary love language. at http://www.klove.com/ there is a love language quiz that can help you determine what your love language is. i am heading to the site to take the quiz after i finish here. each day this week klove has focused on each of the 5 languages. they have shared stories of people who have studied the love languages and learned so much more about themselves and the people they love. i am looking forward to learning my love language. i'm hoping that i can explore the love languages of my children and my husband. i think that knowing how they feel loved will help me to love them better. i'm hoping that it will help insure that i know my kids are loved in a way that they understand. now if i can just get a copy of that book. we are so broke right now so i just cannot justify buying it and the library here does not have it. i just know that God will find a way for me to have that book. stay tuned and i'll share how it influences my relationship with the people around me and thus my relationship with My Lord and Father.

one week in

well here i am one week into the biggest loser challenge. my current weight is 246lbs. yep that's right- down 6lbs. i am very proud of that number but know i could have done more. woulda, coulda, shoulda... can't look back to last week so i will look forward. rather thank dwell on what i could have done, i'm gonna pat myself on the back for what i have done. i have cut my soda consumption significantly. that is huge for me. those who know me would tell you that fountain coke is a staple in my diet. i am really proud of that considering i can have as much fountain coke as i want when i am at work. i've been taking my trusty water bottle in and keep fillin that sucker up.

as for eating, i wish i could say that i was eating all things good. i could improve here. i have stopped ordering that ever popular value meal. i get my sandwich or salad and water usually. i ask more questions and do more research. if i know that i'm going out somewhere, i try and plan what i will order before i get there. i feel like the longer i commit myself to it, the easier it will become. i hope!!!

and then there is the ever popular- exercise. i've got to get this body moving more. i am proud to say that i went to the y several times by myself and didn't quit. it would sure be easier to just say i did a bit and be done. i pushed myself. not sure if i like walking/running as much though. i think i have to work on getting a little less of myself to move. i do like the stationary bike but know that if i'm going to get the cardio burn that i need, i have to push myself.

i have had a minor setback in my exercise because i have gotten a head cold that i just can't get rid of. it is difficult to get my heart pumping when my head feels like it is going to explode. i will work though it and get myself back in the game. what does the future hold? remains to be seen!

biggest loser

well we have started the biggest loser challenge at work. i'm hoping that this is the kick in the pants i need to get myself in better shape. i weighed myself and my starting weight is 251.00 lbs. when did that happen? i could blame it on carrying three babies but really my youngest is 4. i could blame it on stress but i have lived my whole life with stress. it comes down to poor eating and not moving. yikes!

well starting today in this public forum, i'm gonna make some changes. i'm not going to fool myself into thinking that i can cut all the good stuff out. i'll still be eating my chocolate and drinking my coke. i'm just going to have to consume it in moderation.

my plan:
drink 6-8 glasses of water each day
exercise 4 or more days each week
cut down on fried foods(this is gonna be hard cause i work in a restraunt with yummy french fries, chicken fingers, and delicious onion rings)
tell myself that i can and believe it
accept that there will be times when i make mistakes and not let that allow me to give up
love myself every day

so here goes. i'll take you on this journey with me. today i am planning on working out here at home. kids are home on a snow day and the y kidzone closes at noon. i have some workout dvds here. i'm also gonna committ to doing at least 20 crunches between shows or olympic events. well, we will see how it goes. wish me luck. willing to hear any advice but please understand that i may not take your advice if it is not something that i can committ to. thanks friends!