Get Fit Friday - What's Working / What's Changing

If there is one thing I can count on, it is that things are gonna change. For now, this is very good.

I mentioned before that "Get Fit Friday" is about more than just exercise and eating right. There are many areas of me that need to be shaped up!

I've been making some changes.

What's Working:

I realized that it really doesn't matter what kind of mood I'm in when I choose my clothes. I mean seriously, I have spent 30 minutes trying on one outfit after another some mornings. Years ago, I planned my week's wardrobe on the weekend and just put on whatever I'd set out for each day with no thought at all. There's no looking for jewelry or shoes in the mornings. Everything is together and ready to wear. I have started this again and it is WONDERFUL! Saves time, keeps me from being frustrated, and, IF I'm in a bad mood, my clothes don't reflect that!

I'm doing this 30 day challenge thing where you throw away items according to what day of the month it is. On the 1st, you throw away one item, on the second day, 2 items, on the third day, 3...you get the idea. So far this month I have tossed 78 items! It is very freeing.

I'm using my calendar/planner and making lists and it is really helping free up some thought space. Again...no wasted time trying to remember if I need to do something. Helps keep me on task and makes me feel good to SEE what I've accomplished each day.

Got all my hair cut off and it is awesome. Not saying that I am going to keep it this short (I'm sure I won't), but it is a very nice change and I enjoy fixing it each day. 

What's Changing:

Not eating unless I'm hungry isn't working. I'm always hungry. Going to go back to IF on Monday and really focus on staying within my eating window. IF works. I just have to make my mind up to be faithful to it.

Gym hasn't been working for a long time. I don't enjoy the Courthouse...I do not like working out with the body builders. I do not enjoy Focus Fit....SOOOOOOOOOOOO many people...It's not worth the anxiety it gives me. SO, the hubs met me at Planet Fitness and we took a tour and got the whole spill about their philosophy and we joined there. So far, I LOVE it. Looking forward to the benefits now.

I am gradually owning the whole idea of not being responsible for others' happiness and am consistently looking for ways to find value in myself rather than looking to others to value me. I am gradually believing more and more that my worth is not relational...it does not change based on who I'm around (no matter how they may want to remind me that they are "better" than I am). I'm trying t embrace the idea that my worth and value are not determined by others' words or actions.

I've accepted a challenge to do 5 (real) pushups by August 1. To think that these spaghetti arms could do 5 big boy push ups is laughable. I cant do one girl push up today. BUT I am not one to turn down a challenge. I may post my success video on here... just because I can. LOL

That's it.

K

Thursday's Thoughts on... the perfect version of me

Last week, I began writing about the paradigm shift I have experienced recently. 

Here's the shift... I am not responsible for anyone else's happiness...but more than that... no one is responsible for mine. Well, no one but me of course. Conversely, I am not responsible for anyone else's bad attitude...and more than that... no one is responsible for mine. Again, no one but me of course. And I suppose it goes without saying, but I'm saying it anyway... I am completely responsible for my own happiness and my attitude.

I really cannot control how others feel about me...or about themselves. This is hard to even type. A core belief from my childhood sounds something like this: 

"If anyone in your life is unhappy it is because you are not 'enough' OR you are 'too much' for them. If anyone in your life is unhappy, that means you should change."

I'm not sure where this came from, but I have believed it in my very soul.

I hope that, in time, I will be satisfied with and confident in who I am.  I hope that, in time, I will love what and who I love with no need to explain or defend either. 

At the end of last week's Thoughts I started a list of questions that I'll try to answer over the next few weeks. Here's my first stab at one of them.

What would my perfect version of me be like?

Disclaimer...this is my PERFECT version of me. I'm not saying that I EXPECT this to come to fruition. Even so, I think it's good to think about what I WANT to be. One has to have goals.

The perfect version of me would be kind, gentle, loving, patient, peaceful, and full of joy. The perfect version of me would be self-controlled in all areas of my life. The perfect version of me would be faithful, thoughtful, dependable, honorable, and disciplined.  Perfect me would take time to rest well, exercise well, and would feed my body nutritious food. Perfect me would be punctual. The perfect version of me would be considerate of others' feelings and needs. My perfect version of me would be characterized by these things... not just sometimes, but consistently. Perfect me would put others needs and wants before my own and would consistently look for ways to share the love and message of Christ with the people in my life.

My perfect version of me would be good... filled with goodness... not just "nice." I'd be good - sweet, loving, tender, considerate, encouraging, uplifting, and kind.

Perfect me would be a lovely blend of boldness, gentleness, peacefulness and passion. Perfect me would be courageous, strong, and steadfast when faced with adversity. Perfect me would face fear and difficulties with calm resolve.

My perfect version of me would radiate a quiet and gentle confidence that draws people in, and leaves them refreshed. Perfect me would leave people better than I found them.

Most of all, "Perfect me" would inspire and encourage the people God puts in my life to live for Him and to strive to be more like Him.


What would "Perfect you" look like?

Just my thoughts,

K

Other Questions I'm pondering....

What determines my worth?
What makes me feel happy?

What is consistently causing me stress?

What do I really enjoy?

What will make my life easier?

What do I NOT enjoy?

When do I feel successful?

When do I feel confident?

What do I LIKE about me?

What do I truly value?

What is holding me back?

Wednesday's Weekly Recipes - Pimento Cheese

I honestly had no idea this was a "southern thing," but the internet says it is. (The internet never lies)

As a child, I was exposed to store bought pimento and cheese on white bread. I am not a fan of plain white bread and I do not like store bought pimento cheese.  So, you understand why, when a friend offered some "Homemade Pimento Cheese" a few years ago,  I was hesitant to try it as an adult. Oh my WORD! Am I ever glad that I took a chance and tried it!

My personal favorite way to eat pimento cheese is warm (like a warm gooey slice of grilled cheese heaven) followed closely by eating it as a dip with wheat thins.

Here's the recipe...

Basic Pimiento Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
1/2 cups mayonnaise
8oz Cream cheese, softened
1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp. finely grated onion
1 jalapeno pepper, diced (optional)
1 (8-oz.) block extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, finely shredded
1 (8-oz.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper to taste

Stir together first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in cheese. You can use a mixer for a more blended spread.

Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.

grilled pimento cheese 

You can serve it cold or warm. You can serve it as a dip for raw veggies or crackers. You can use it to top burgers. You can eat it (warm or cold) in a sandwich. I've even had it rolled into balls, battered and deep fried (oh my goodness).

I've also made this with Rotel instead of pimentos and it is super good as a dip with crackers or tortilla chips. (I leave out the jalapeno when I do this...I don't like mine very spicy)

Big hugs,

K

Tuesday’s Tips and Tricks- expanding a flowerbed

So I’m working on the flower bed in my front yard. It’s not really all that bad. I actually kinda like the chaos there. HOWEVER, some of my spring bulbs don’t bloom as expected and I think this may be a result of them not getting enough sunshine.

So, I’m expanding the bed to allow the bulbs to be in the sun for a larger portion of the day. So far all I’ve done is sprayed one section of grass with Roundup. It’s dead now and this weekend I will take on the lovely task of pulling it up.

Here’s a picture of the bed in early March of this year
:
My plan is to move the border of the bed out to the pavers, fill in the space between the pavers with gravel to make more of a path,, and move the sun tolerant plants toward the  new front of the bed.

I’ll kill the grass with roundup first,  then cover the dirt with newspaper to prevent new grass from growing, and cover the news paper with mulch sonthat I don’t have newspaper laying in my front yard! Lol  this fall, I will transplant the bulbs  and should have better luck with blooms going forward.

Monday Motivation

The other day I read something along these lines....

When people talk about time travel, they talk a lot about How dangerous it is to go back in time because one small change there could powerfully impact the present...

But no one considers how one small change could powerfully impact the future.


I do often wish I'd done things differently in my past so that there would be things in my present that are more to my liking... but i have only recently started thinking about what I can do now to positively impact my future.

So, for me, this is a perfect quote to start the week:

Have a great week y'all!
K