Get Fit Friday - Getting started....again

My last attempt to get in shape was interrupted when I tried to commit suicide. I've let too much time pass sitting on my couch wishing I was in better shape. If I am totally honest, I want my 20 year old body back (don't we all?) but I do understand that is totally unrealistic. Totally unrealistic.

My personality is somewhat all or nothing. On or off. In or out. I'm not much for middle of the road or half way. This translated into me setting goals like "Completely give up all processed foods" and "go to the gym twice a day every day" and "lose 100 pounds by summer" (which is in 4 months BTW). Again...unrealistic.

You may say, "Just go to the gym and eat healthy," and to that I would reply, "that sounds like a wonderful idea," but honestly, that is not going to work for me. I mean, it would I'm sure, but my brain doesn't work that way. I need a plan. I need goals. I need a timeline to reach those goals. That's the only way I know how to determine whether or not I'm "succeeding."

I am ready to try this again. I am going to TRY to be gentle with myself. Baby steps. Better food choices. Eating out less. Cooking more. Moving around more. getting ample sleep.

Lifestyle changes. 

I'm not going to (or at least I'm going to TRY not to) worry so much about weight and size and really focus on making changes. I hope I can focus on the changes and simply let the lifestyle changes do what ever they are going to do to change my body. I'm only going to measure and weigh once a month. I need to lose 8.4 pounds a month to reach my ideal weight in 12 months.

Here's where I'm starting....

Date 2/9/2018

Actual Weight         250.4

Bust                              48

Bicep                            16

Forearm                        12

Waist                          50.4

Hips                              53

Thigh                            28

Calf                            19.5

Hip/Waist Ratio         0.95

Ugh that all makes me a little sick. But....it is what it is. I have to start somewhere.

Much love

K

Thursday's Thoughts on... Spiritual Warfare

If you are familiar at all with ITB, you know that I have been dealing with depression for quite some time. I have said many times that I am thankful for my doctors who prescribe meds to keep me functional and for my therapist who helps me sort through things. Let me say this again, I believe that these are needed and necessary. 

At the same time, I wholeheartedly believe that there is a spirit of depression attached to me, or attacking me if you want to think about it that way, and that this spirit is wreaking havoc on my life. This is only one of the spirits that I believe are attacking me, but will name depression since this has stolen so much of my life from me over the past few years.

I realized today that I have given Depression much power. I have spoken life into it. I have given enough and lost enough to Depression. Before I go on, I am not going to stop taking my meds or seeing my therapist. I may be crazy, but I'm not that crazy.

I am not going to do this any longer. Here's why...

I love God and I want to serve Jesus but I have not lived anything close to a perfect life and I know that nothing less than perfect can be with God. Because I am far, far from perfect, I have no hope on my own of being in the presence of God. My ONLY option on my own merit is hell, separated from God for all eternity.  

I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that He lived a perfect life; that He never sinned. I believe that Jesus died to save my wretched soul. I believe that Jesus paid the penalty for my sin so that I will be able to spend eternity in Heaven. I believe that Scripture is absolutely true and that when it says "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 13:31) that means me (and you).

I believe that God loves me and has a plan and a purpose for my life. I believe that God's ways are absolutely perfect, as is His timing. I believe that everything about God is perfect. I believe that His ways are not mine and that I do NOT have to understand what God is doing in order for Him to work in and through me. I only have to submit to Him, trust Him, and follow Him.

I believe that God delivered me from cancer not once, but twice. I believe that God kept from losing Brian when I was pregnant with him. I believe that God gave me the ability to paint. I believe that God gave me the ability to put my thoughts in print. I believe that God healed me when I nearly died after having my gall bladder removed. I believe that God stopped my arms from bleeding when I tried to take my life. I believe that God delivered me from Anorexia and Bulimia. I believe that God is the most powerful, period, the end. He is. 

That being said, I believe that what ever spirit is attacking me at any given time, be it something as simple laziness or as strong as suicide, is of no consequence. No matter how powerful any spirit wants me to think it is, or how powerful it actually is, it doesn't matter.  God is more. More powerful. More present. Bigger. More knowing. More aware. More. God is just MORE. 

My God parted the Red Sea, Delivered Daniel from the lions, saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace, fed 5,000, and so many many other things. HE can deliver me from any spirits Satan tries to use to steal my joy, kill my spirit, and destroy my witness. I need not worry about my tormentors. They are already defeated.

I will leave you with the words of wisdom from Junior Asparagus,

 "God is bigger than the Boogie Man."

Much Love and BIG BIG BIG hugs,

K

Wednesday's Weekly Recipes - Valentines Edition

Okay ladies, for those of you who, like me, want more "wow" with less work, this is for you!

Valentines Day is a week away and this is a super easy Valentine themed breakfast treat.

All you need is a can of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and a little bit of patience.

1. separate the rolls
2. unroll them and reshape them into a heart (see below)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Bake per instructions
4. Ice them and add sprinkles if you like

I made these the other day and...just a note...they end up being kinda round if you don't put them in the pan like the picture above.  Also, it helps to sorta pinch the bottom of the heart so that it makes more of a point. 

Enjoy!!!

Much love and big hugs!

K

Tuesday Tips and Tricks - Getting Organized - Bathrooms

Last month we purged and organized our bedrooms. I hope that you are enjoying the extra space from your closet / drawer purge! I know I am!

This month we are going to move on to the bathrooms. Now, I live in an older home. There are some maintenance issues in my bathrooms. I'll share what I learn and how things turn out as we go along.

First, let's take care of the basics.

This week, we'll clean out those bathroom cabinets and drawers! Just like with the bedroom, have a trash bag handy and don't over think it!

This is a good time to purge and organize bath towels, beauty products, make up, nail polish, etc. It seems that the cabinets under my sinks are lovely places to "stuff" anything I can't find a logical home for. My GOODNESS!

Once you have everything nice and organized, go over all the surfaces with some bathroom cleaner.

We'll deep clean next week.

Much love and big hugs!
K

Monday Motivation

I have told many women over the years, "Satan stole (number)  of years from you already. It would be a travesty to let him have your future too.  Dwelling on the past changes nothing about the past, but it does steal our joy today and our hope for tomorrow.