Rest

This picture says it all. The blood, the downward gaze, the scars. She's been through more than you or I could ever know. She has struggled, she's fallen down, and she's picked herself up again. And, right now, she is resting. Why do we think resting is not important or productive? Are we so addicted to busy that we forget that even warriors have to regain strength? I'm learning that, in this journey, resting is very much part of transformation and a healthy lifestyle.

So I rest...

Glory

Blame it on Bagger Vance

For many reasons, I am sure, today finds me very emotional. Partly because I just savored my last bowl of rice, stir fried veggies, and egg roll for the next 8 weeks. Partly because this house really needs attention. And partly because I stayed up past midnight last night watching a movie with Hubby. It was "The Legend of Bagger Vance." It was different. It was good. And it got me to thinking, and talking, and evaluating. My life.

Now, I'm not a golfer, nor do I have any intentions of picking up the game. But I found much about the movie that applies to my life. Some things are true for certain people, and some things are just plain true. After all, at some point in everyone's life, we come face to ugly face with adversity. It's hard and it hurts. But we can't hide from it for the rest of our lives or blame it on anyone or anything. Sometimes things happen for a reason and sometimes things just happen for no reason at all. But the real question is the same as always: What are you going to do?

Bagger Vance: "I don't need to understand... Ain't a soul on this entire earth ain't got a burden to carry he don't understand, you ain't alone in that... But you been carryin' this one long enough... Time to go on... lay it down..."

What did I do? I survived it. I got over it. I got on with life. At least on the outside it looked that way. But did I win? Not always. Sometimes I failed. Sometimes I ran from it. And sometimes I fought back with all I had to fight with. Now, let me tell you, this is the scariest thing I've ever done. I'm running to it.

Hardy Greaves: "There ain't nobody to beat up on but yourself."

I have been and still am my own worst enemy. I am harder on myself than anyone else has been on me. And it's time to make friends with that enemy. To remind myself that I am not alone in my fight. That there are people surrounding me who want me to win. Just like God created me to win.

Bagger Vance: "Yes you can... but you ain't alone... I"m right here with ya... I've been here all along... Now play the game... Your game... The one that only you was meant to play... Then one that was given to you when you come into this world... You ready?"

Yes, Bagger Vance, I'm ready.

Glory

The Ultimate Prize

Let’s put it this way: I am just 40 pounds away from my ultimate is-that-really-MY-body weight. To some it’s small potatoes (which I can’t eat for awhile, by the way), and to others it seems like an impossibility. For me, it’s just 10 pounds more than I’ve lost already. Granted, these are going to be tough old fat pounds to lose, because these are the stubborn ones. You know the ones I’m talking about, right girls?

These are the pounds that thrived on the pumpkin spice lattes every Fall, that convinced you that one more slice of caramel apple pie on Thanksgiving was expected, that assured you that Mom’s green bean casserole was healthy because it had veggies, that scolded you if you didn’t eat everything on your plate because that would be rude to your dinner host. Yes, and these are the pounds that chortled when you couldn’t zip up the fly on your favorite pair of jeans anymore, that glared at you in the department store change-room when you were looking for something nice to wear for Christmas, that seemed to plot against you when you made your New Year’s resolutions and drank meal replacement shakes and crunched your abs until it hurt to laugh at the funny little things your kids said, that bullied their way into every family picture and photograph so all you saw were those horrible unforgiving hateful pounds. Of course, by “you” I mean me. Yes. I. Did. That.

No. Not anymore. Not ever again. I will not deal with those pounds for the rest of my life. I won’t listen to them when they try to tell me my body wasn’t made to be lean. I don’t care if they burn and rage within my arms and belly and thighs. Let them holler and curse my efforts. If sweat is fat crying then I’m gonna make it bawl its eyes out. I’m going straight to the source of their power-grip on me and I am cutting it off completely. All those stupid pointless calories I used to crave and love and worship are O.U.T. How can I say all of this so resolutely? Well, I’ve made new friends with different body parts, called muscles. And let me tell you, they know their way around too. Oh and the better I feed them and the more I work them, the more they love me and literally beg me for more. I’m actually enjoying their company because they don’t lie to me and say things that make me just feel better. They actually make me better and let me take all the credit. They are my team and I know I can count on them to help me win. And the prize? You’re gonna totally love this: a lifetime of ultimate health and fitness. That alone is worth the fight!

It’s on!

Glory

"Have you been to the gym?" and other awkward questions...

So, this hasn't been the awesome-est week for working out. First of all, I have some good reasons and great excuses for being out of sync. Secondly, I'm plumb tuckered (it's fun to say this, by the way). And thirdly, I don't owe anyone an explanation. Actually, that third one isn't true at all. I'm just a tad snarky...sorry.

Keeping Hubby's back on ice and his veins flowing with vicodin hasn't been my favorite thrill ride, this week. Oh sure, I can talk about how we rocked the mountain hike a week ago when we rescued our little girl's hoodie from the wild elements, or even perhaps a shivering bear cub in serarch of warmth. Cute picture, huh? But helping him recover was a labor of love, no doubt of that, in sickness and in lost spinal alignment.

BUT those days are over! Not only is he getting better but I am learning that health and fitness waits for no one. We either show up or we stand down. Is that clear, soldier?

Count me in!

Glory

On The Hunt...For Healthy!

I’ve been practically glued to my laptop for the past few days now. It’s not like it sounds. Yes, I do leave a social networking tab open the whole time. But I’m not parked there like an old decrepit clunker on the freeway. Clean that up, will you?! Truth is, I’m productively searching for something healthy. I’m always prowling the internet in my quest for better choices. Let’s face it, we can all make better choices. We all need to repent! We all need to sing like a choir in white robes while the organist plays something soulful. “I surrender all…” Do you hear me, sisters?!

On my social networking site of choice I have “like”d some sites that are motivating, encouraging, and butt-kicking when I need it. And I’ve had to un”like” some that were bringing me down, enabling bad choices, and offered to host my pity parties for a small fee. I’m learning to be stealthy and use whatever means I can to bag my catch. Am I setting my sights on more fiber? Hunt for recipes that include more fiber rich produce. Do I want to capture a protein-packed trophy? Look for the meats, beans and dairy items that will give me the boost I need without loading me down with unreasonable fat calories. Am I getting enough nutrients in my snacking choices? Expand my selection to include fresh fruits and vegetables and leave off the high sodium and carb-laden standbys. Hunt. Aim. Shoot.

Right now I’m looking for healthy and inexpensive protein bars that I can make myself. There are plenty of recipes out there for breakfast bars, cereal bars, granola bars, but some of the ingredients make me feel cheap and dirty, like I have no standards. And I have my standards! I’m not about to get picked up by something that looks okay but leaves me empty and ashamed of myself. I’m better than that! Besides, I’m the one wearing the safari hat stalking my prey. So, I fasten my buttons and look for things like protein, whole grain, and natural sweeteners. Dried fruits, seeds, and nuts are fine but I don’t want to blindly consume hidden calories just because everything else looks wholesome. To start with here’s a super-easy bar that doesn’t need baking:

Energy Bars- Unbaked (By: American Running Association Running and Fitnews)

1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup raisins or dried fruit, chopped
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup light Karo syrup

Mix it all well. Freeze in bar shapes.

Happy hunting!

Glory

Hurts So Good...?!

I'm showing my age. And not just because of the old John Mellencamp song reference from 1982. It is a great one, though. No, I'm talking more about muscles, joints, and recovery time. Sometimes I simply whine about it. Other times I actually behave in a quite infantile manner. Shameless confessions aside, it seems that the common attributes of everything that's good for us are painful, unappealing, or difficult.

It's a love-hate thing, actually. Sometimes more hate than love, at times. Take your vitamins! Study for finals! Say you're sorry! The results are worth it but it's always work at some level. Accomplishing goals takes work. Great relationships take work. Achieving fitness takes work. Getting to where we want to be in life is sweet, wonderful, and euphoric! But it's not always fun or easy.

A lot of fitness centers and personal trainers understand this and will state this fact to their clients openly. Everyone has heard "no pain, no gain" uttered through clenched teeth. It's not really a masochistic thing at all. Not for the average mentally stable person anyway. Of course there are always those who would take such phrases to extremes, individuals I personally take great care to avoid, by the way. The idea is the same no matter how you say it.

Feel the burn! Embrace the suck!

Uhm, okay. But is all that pain really necessary? Well, yes and no, according to research of the body's anaerobic and aerobic energy systems. To understand a bit more about this process read What Does "Feel the Burn" mean...and is it good or bad?. The good news is that muscles eventually learn how to manage through that burning sensation and it will lessen, over time.

Consider this truth: "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way." Hebrews 12:11 (NLT) That pretty much tells it like it is, huh?

The Marine corps have adopted the quote "Pain is weakness leaving the body." Yeah, I can appreciate that on more than one level. No matter how much it hurts, in a get-your-lazy-self-moving sense, I know it will make me stronger. Bring on the pain!

Glory

Phobias And Fresh Starts

It’s like my worst nightmare. Seriously. I would rather give birth or hike the Himalayas than deal with what is probably one of my deepest fears. Unfortunately, after weeks and often months of my typical avoidance strategies, I can no longer exist in denial. This has to be faced squarely with no hesitation. So, with all the appropriate materials at hand and having assembled the necessary supplies I stand with my feet shoulder width apart, my knees slightly bent, and my back straight. My palms are sweaty, my stomach is churning, and my throat feels dry. I resist the urge to turn and flee the inevitable. I stretch out my yellow gloved right hand, hold my breath, and open the refrigerator door.

My name is Glory. And I have a phobia of cleaning the refrigerator. “Hi Glory,” my mental support group replies.

I’m not sure where it started or why it offends me so much. But eventually I know it must be done. Confrontation of any kind just sends me reeling. But there is just something about containers of mystery leftovers, jars of half-used food, cartons of expired products, and the bag or two of fresh-last-season produce run amuck on sticky shelves and carousing in crispers that evokes a soft whimper and a shudder or two. Yet I continued on, unloading chilled foodstuffs, scrubbing and wiping surfaces, and tossing away things that would not be making a return to the refrigerator. While there was a time I would have considered this to be wasteful, I have since determined that something that isn’t needed, wanted, or even safe to consume is simply taking up space for something better, healthy, and far more appealing. In short, I was practically giving my refrigerator a makeover. And now it looks fabulous, darling! Teen girl even applauded.

Besides the obvious improvement to the cleanliness of the kitchen, there are several other health benefits to a good fridge cleanse. More space is not the least of these good effects. All that junk was taking up room on the shelves for free without even paying rent. Getting rid of the deadbeat items means I can buy more fresh healthy things like spinach and yogurt for my green smoothies. It also means that when I open the refrigerator door I can save time by easily viewing my choices and making my selection quickly without contemplating what sort of sweet calorie-laden goodies might be more readily obtained in the cupboard. An organized refrigerator filled with good healthy food makes for a disciplined me filled with energy, vitality, and joy. My fridge is happy again, and so am I!

Glory