One Day At A Time.....

 

Well, Hi everyone !  Yet, another day of 'winter'.  I think everybody that you talk to is sooooo ready for sunshine, warm weather, and days with no snow in the forecast.  Yet, I know everyone says, "We need the MOISTURE!."  Well, someone is getting blessed with praying for moisture.  We are learning about being content in our Sunday School class.  It is sooooo hard to learn and live to be content each day with snow flying in the air twice in a week. Anyways, I guess we need to just be thankful that we are alive, healthy, and we get to live another day on this planet.  My parents have already mowed a few times living in Fort Madison, Iowa.  I swear living down there is like a 'little Florida." :)   I am so jealous ~!

On to my healthy/eating journey.  I am still going pretty strong, haven't fell off the wagon just yet. I am not ready to ditch the new eating/workout/running plan as of yet.  I really hope and pray I don't each day.  I am actually feeling good, having a lot more energy, and I feel amazing that I 'm actually sticking to this plan.  Right now, I am taking ONE DAY/ONE MEAL/ONE HOUR at a time.  Sometimes days are just down right hard tho.  With having seven kids in our family it can be a real struggle.  Even tho we don't buy a lot of junk food anymore, the kids still get an occasional cookie or two here and there.  We are hoping to instill healthy eating/exercise into their daily lives.  GOSH, I sound like Michelle Obama. :)

Back at that last sentence...noticed I put the word WE....Yes, Bart is on track with this healthy/eating living thing, just as I am.  He got on that wagon about three weeks after I started.  He now says that I inspired HIM!   Amazing....  He didn't tell me that at first, but I'm glad he sure did, it made me feel incredible !!!!   I really think it helps with both of our healthy eating/ weight loss that I am cooking only mostly gluten-free/low to no sugar.  AKA I refer to them as SKINNY DISHES !  The kids are getting used to me trying new recipes and introducing new foods etc.  They are finding out that healthy food actually tastes good !  Its a lot of pinterest time finding good/healthy recipes or really good ones but eliminating all the higher fat, sodium, sugar....substituting with Greek yogurt, 98% FF cream soups, and reduced fat/foods. 

 The changes have benefited both Bart and I.  He has lost about 16 pounds in three to four weeks, where I have lost 16 pounds in 6 weeks.  AHHHH~!  Guys, and their muscle mass.  This reminds me of that cartoon commercial that was on a few years ago where the husband and wife were losing weight together, and in the end the husband ended up being skinny as a stick, while the wife just got smaller boobs!  :)    I can also remember my father-in-law Mike losing a bunch of weight after he had an unexpected stroke.  He did a good job losing some weight, and I remember Judy, my mother-in-law just rolling her eyes and just being frustrated how easy it was for him to lose weight.  Those Waddell men have some stinking HIGH metabolisms!  We are soo envious !  The best thing about Bart, is that he's made a change and I am sooo proud of him for doing & keeping at it!  And~ being honest about telling me that I INSPIRED HIM!  Love Him!
 

Well, this week I am still sitting at a 16 pound loss, like I told you above.  I ran about 7 miles on Monday, I took Tues/Wed off, due to my kiddos traveling out of town to do MCA testing.  Today, as I was getting pelted by Mother Nature with ice pellets, I was able to run about 3.5 miles out to our town cemetery.  It was horrible weather conditions.  I could just see the puddles of rain just pouring off of my raincoat hood.  I asked myself...."WHY ARE YOU OUT IN THIS MESS?" ...... I shut that thought down immediately!  I told myself, "BREATHE....JUST.KEEP.GOING" 

Running is sooooo mental.  You could get frustrated and quit just by thinking the wind isn't right, if your shoes aren't right, heck even if your pants aren't fighting just right.  I am learning....and I say learning, to fight through those emotions/feelings knowing that my body is strong, and my legs are capable of carrying me for miles and miles.  I was kind of embarrassed today as I was out in this rainy/snowy day when  a farmer stopped to ask me, "Are you exercising (looking at me thinking... YOUR NUTS WOMAN) or do you need a ride?"  He was such a nice man, concerned with me being out in such awful weather conditions.  I just thanked him politely and said...."No I'm okay, I'm just one dedicated and committed runner!"

My HEART goes out to all the victims/families affected by this heartless tragedy.  May God bring justice to those responsible.