Two Days In A Row of 10,000+ Steps!

Two days in a row I’ve walked more than 10,000 steps!  Having this pedometer is fun, except when it gets reset without me knowing, like if I take a nap and forget to take it off or when apparently holding my niece resets it. 

I had to go to the bank sometime today so instead of walking/running around my neighborhood on my usual route and then trying to coordinate schedules to borrow my mom’s car to go to the bank, I decided to just walk/run to the bank.  It’s a little bit farther than my usual distance, but that’s okay.  J  I set out just after 6:30 a.m. but could’ve gone a few minutes earlier.  I was a little self-conscious about running next to traffic because I’m kind of starting over and am not too concerned with form right now, just with getting back to running the whole distance.  I overcame that self-consciousness and just did it.  No one pulled over to tell me I wasn’t running properly or to ask why I had slowed to a walk, so it was okay! 

I ended up doing a total of 4.6 miles in 52 minutes, running some and walking some.  My knee made me walk just a couple times.  The rest of the times I walked it was because my mind was slowing me down.  I had to go back to setting goals for myself like, “Keep running until you get to the next cross street; then you can walk.”  I did that many times.  One time I did it and when I got to the cross street I knew I needed to keep running.  There was no physical reason to stop. 

It was so rewarding to put a practical purpose to my exercise! 

In other news, a blogger I follow posted this question on Facebook:

Why do we struggle with food?

She had been talking about this with her counselor and is planning to do a blog post on it, but wanted her readers’ input.  I read a dozen or so responses and almost all of them talked about overeating or unhealthful eating being learned behavior [blame your parents] or lack of self-control.  They were so hopeless!  I had to answer with the hope God has given me in overcoming the sin of overeating.  Here’s my response:

“For me, it's plain and simple indulgence.  I like the taste of food.  I wasn't trusting God to give me what I need when I need it; I was getting it for myself...and lots of it.  Sometimes when working late at night I knew I needed to sleep but I couldn't; I had to keep working.  So I ate food for energy to stay awake.  A bowl of white rice with butter wasn't the best choice, though.  Now that I've learned self-control by denying myself what my body doesn't need, life is so much better.  I still like food, and I still have a little chocolate most days.  Food isn't what consumes me anymore, though.  It's fuel for my body.  Period.  If I can make it taste good AND be healthful, so much the better.  If I have to just eat and move on with my day, no big deal.  Food is no big deal anymore.  It's no big deal!!!  If my current size 16 body had said that to my old size 26 body, it wouldn't have believed it, but it's true!  I love this freedom!”

One person wrote after me that she wished she could just learn to put Jesus in place of food so she wouldn’t have these problems.  I clicked through to her blog and left a comment inviting her to view my blog or email me.  I hope she contacts me so I can share with her what Jesus has done for me!

Glorious?

5:30 a.m.  Uuuuunnnnhhhh.  I do NOT want to get out of bed. 

You'd never know I went to bed at 9:30 and was asleep before 10, would you?  Almost 8 full hours of sleep.  (Thank You, God!)  But I still didn't want to get out of bed this morning.  And my lower back hurt.  It would've been so easy to just skip jogging today.  As I sat on the edge of the bed I wondered how this is supposed to give God glory.  Wouldn't it be more glorious if I jumped up and could barely contain myself as I got dressed and put my shoes on?  Wouldn't it be glorious if I was so excited I started running in place in the living room as I waited for it to get light enough to go outside?  Maybe.  It certainly would be exciting and fun to write about.  But that's not what happened this morning and it's not what has been happening for quite a while now. 

Is drudgery glorious?  Is doing what I know I need to do and what is good for my body even when I don't feel like it glorious?  I...think...so.  As I jogged and walked, God encouraged me to blog about this.  The good, fun, exciting times and the blah times when I feel like it makes no difference. 

Stephen Curtis Chapman's new song that's all over the radio is called "Do Everything."

You’re picking up toys on the living room floor



for the 15th time today


Matching up socks and sweeping up lost


Cheerios that got away


You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips


and head out the door


And while I may not know you I bet I know you


Wonder sometimes does it matter at all


We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you






Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you


Cause He made you to do


Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face


And tell the story of grace


With every move that you make


And every little thing you do






OOoh ooooh oooooh





Maybe you’re that guy with the suit and tie


Maybe your shirt says your name


You may be hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers


But at the end of the day






Little stuff big stuff in between stuff


God sees it all the same


And while I may not know you I bet I know you


Wonder sometimes does it matter at all


We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you do






Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you


Cause He made you


To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face


And tell the story of grace with every move that you make


And every little thing that you do






Well maybe you’re sitting in math class


Maybe on a mission in the Congo


Maybe you’re working at the office


Singing along with the radio


Maybe you’re dining at a five star


Or feeding orphans in Myanmar


Anywhere and everywhere you are


Whatever you do it all matters


So do what you do and don’t ever forget


to do






Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you


Cause He made you to do


Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face


And tell the story of grace as you do


Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you


Cause He made you to do


Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face


And tell the story of grace with every move that you make


And every little thing that you do






Ooh oooooh


Every little thing you do

So I'll keep getting out of bed or dragging myself out of bed if necessary and jogging, helping Brianne with math, transcribing, thrift shopping, and doing whatever I do to the glory of the One who made me.  Some days it will be by sheer faith that I do it because I can't see how it can possibly be glorious.  I'll just trust God that it is.      :-)

Battling The Flesh

The last week or so has been very "light" spiritually. I miss my heavy spiritual days. I feel distant from God and heavy and bloated physically. I've been feeling hungry a lot lately so I've eaten more. Small amounts at a time but probably more overall. I just don't have time in my schedule to plan sit-down meals or meals at all. We have food but not meals. I'm missing sleep, but that's nothing new. I'm looking forward to next week when I'll have some time off from work for the homeschool convention and just in general. SLEEP!  

I remember back when I had the most success with losing weight. It was when I was relentless in denying my flesh. I got tired of that and thought I could loosen up a little. I guess I can't. Yesterday I decided to stretch my denying time to two hours after I first feel hungry. I'm going to read back over old posts, blogs, journal entries, and Bible verses to rekindle the spark I used to have.

I need more of Jesus and less of Michele!