Something Uncomfortable: Day 83

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Happy Sabbath, my friends!

I hope you are taking the time today to honor God and love on those around you.

Here is this week’s highlighted post: 

Women, Why Do We Do This To Each Other?

(The other night, my 3 year old daughter said her pants looked bad on her... we need to stop doing this to ourselves and to each other.)

Something Uncomfortable: Day 79

http://www.facebook.com/SomethingUncomfortableSteppingFromFearToFreedom

Today's Something Uncomfortable: Confessing to you that I have had a rough patch with food.

Life has been stressful over the last month. And when life gets stressful, I usually eat. There hasn't been a lot of sitting-down-and-binging... this time. It's been much more subtle: Stealing a bite off of my kids' plates... eating a handful of granola... eating another handful of granola... eating another handful of granola... you get the idea.

Much to my amazement, I have not gained all of the weight back. But I have been gaining and losing 3-5 pounds each week. And I feel like garbage because of it. And I'm sick. Imagine that, I'm not eating healthy portions of healthy foods and I got sick. Coincidence? Maybe, but probably not.

So on Monday, I started over. You know what's great about life? You can start over every day... or every hour... or every minute if need be.

Why is this uncomfortable to share? Because it's embarrassing to admit that I've fallen off the wagon. So why share? Because I'm guessing you fall off your wagon from time to time too. It's so much easier to climb back on that wagon when you know you are not alone and when you are not treating it like it's a secret.

So what's your wagon? Have you fallen off it recently? Are you willing to join me and start over right now?

Food is Fuel… It is NOT My Friend

http://www.facebook.com/SomethingUncomfortableSteppingFromFearToFreedom

I have always had an unhealthy relationship with food. I began starving myself in 4^th grade. I began binging and purging in high school. Somewhere along the way I discovered diet pills and laxatives. And then after I got married, I became lazy. (Sorry, honey.) I had tried most diets, but just hadn’t figured it out. But I vowed I would, so that I would NOT pass this insanity down to my children.

Last summer, while I was on a walk in the park with my kids, I had a realization. “Food is meant to be fuel. It is NOT my friend.” Of course, we have all heard this before. But for the first time in my life, I heard it with my soul. I knew that I needed to learn how to eat properly. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing since.

I downloaded the MyFitnessPal App for my iPhone. (You can use it online if you don’t have a smartphone.) It’s amazing! I learned how many calories I should be consuming each day and how many calories different foods have. With a little common sense and some Google searches here and there, I have taught myself how to eat properly. 

The best part about the App is that it tracks your weight. I weigh in every day. I know there are different schools of thought on this, but it’s what works for me. It holds me accountable and it allows me the freedom to be a little less strict and make up the bad days quickly. I’ve lost over 20 lbs. (It varies depending on the day... and the holiday.) I’ve gone from a size 6-8 to a size 2-4. But best of all, I’m a lot healthier.

This is definitely a work in progress. In fact, two weeks ago I gave up my beloved Lean Pockets and replaced them with a healthy homemade black beans and rice recipe. I make it once a week and have quick, easy lunches throughout the week. And this past weekend I had a pity party and put anything that wasn’t tied down into my mouth. But I’m back on track and focused again.

We aren’t meant to deprive ourselves of sweets and carbs and the foods we enjoy. BUT we certainly are not meant to binge on them either. After all, food is fuel… it is not our friend.