Another Change

In my last post I told you about one of the changes in my life that could effect my weight control.  I have another change in my life that is changing my lifestyle.  Bryan got a new job!

This is a wonderful change in our lives.  We are thrilled about it. For the past 14 years he worked for WTMJ Radio.  It was a job that he loved but over the past couple of years we knew it was a job that God was calling him away from.  Two years ago he got a part-time job at our church as the youth minister so has been working full-time for WTMJ and part-time for Good Shepherd Catholic Church.  This was a minimum 65 hour work week for Bryan each week.  Although he loved both jobs he knew he couldn't do it forever.

Three weeks ago he quit his job at WTMJ to work for the church full-time.  He is now the part-time youth minister for 2 different churches which adds up to one full-time job with benefits.  We are very excited!  He will still be working about 53 hours per week but that's much easier than the 65 he had worked previously. He is also working on one business instead of 2 so he can spend all of his energy on one focus.  It has been a whirlwind of changes for us. Two days after his last day at WTMJ, he left for youth work camp in Michigan with one church.  He was gone for 6 days, came home for 1 day and then left for youth work camp with the other church.  He was gone for 6 days again.

That left me to keep things going around home all by myself.  I ate too much.  It wasn't due to stress.  It was due to the fact that I'm used to having Bryan around to help keep me in check.  I didn't realize how helpful he was when I was tempted to eat too much. I am grateful to have him back home.  Even though we both struggle with our weight, we are a good balance for each other.  We help each other out by being good examples to each other and reminding each other not too have another helping or have any cookies at all.

The following week Bryan was home much more than usual.  With all of the extra hours he had been working for both churches, he needed to take some comp time off.  It was great having him home.  We started a new routine.  We went for a walk each morning. It was wonderful.  We pushed Sammy in the stroller so he was happy and we got some much needed exercise.  I look forward to many years of walks with my husband.

This week he started working for both churches with a normal schedule.  It's going to be an adjustment for us.  I am going to love having him home more and going on our walks but I realize that whenever I have changes in my life, it changes my routine enough to mess with my eating and exercise habits too. I need to watch myself very carefully.  I have put on a few pounds over the last few weeks and I have to get that under control before it controls me.

Stay tuned.  I have more changes to come.....

Have a great day,
Corinna

"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Changes of Life and Healthy Living

My life has encountered changes recently.  In my past experiences, I have come to realize that when my daily life changes, my healthy living changes too. Since I am now aware of that pattern I am going to try not to let these changes change the fact that I take care of myself.

I am only going to discuss one of those changes with you today and save the rest for another blog soon. That change is that I turned 40. Not a week goes by that I don't see a commercial, hear an advertisement or read a magazine cover that mentions the fact that it's harder to lose weight or keep weight off after 40.  I can't help but wonder what that means for me.  Does that mean that those pesky 3 pounds that I have yet to lose from Samuel's pregnancy will never come off because I didn't lose them before the magic age of 40? Does that mean that those stubborn 5 pounds that I keep gaining and losing over and over again for the past 2 years will only attach themselves permanently to my thighs and never let go?

I take pride in the fact that age has never really bothered me.  I don't color my hair.  I realize that someday that may mean that I look 10 or 20 years older than other women my age but it's just not something I can ever see myself doing. I don't mind if my hair looks my age as long I as I feel as good as I can.

I don't feel old.  Turning 40 was just a fun milestone. It didn't mean that I was suddenly old or halfway done with my life.  If I'm going to live a long life, I need to turn 40 at some point so I guess this point is the time that it happens.  That truly is okay with me.

My main concern is that if my body starts doing strange things it will make it harder for me to maintain my healthy lifestyle.  So far, I feel great.  I can't complain.

So my strategy for dealing with this change is to take it in stride but to be conscience of it at the same time.  I don't want to ignore that fact that a woman's body may go through changes at 40 or soon after. I may need fewer calories. I may have to workout harder. I may have to find different workouts all together.  Since I've only been 40 for a whopping 12 days I have seen none of these effects but I want to be mindful that I don't let this change to unnoticed.  I noticed the change in my age.  I am going to be aware of the effects and be ready to battle them with the energy of a 30 year old but the knowledge of a 40 year old!

Have a great day, no matter how old you are,
Corinna

"Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city. The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the Lord's alone." -Proverbs 16:31-33

Celebrating our Freedom

My big kids getting ready to ride their bikes and scooters in our local 2011 parade.

Today we begin our celebrations for Independence Day.  In our family, we have some great, regular traditions.

Every July 3rd my family goes to a Fourth of July parade with some friends and then stays afterwards to watch fireworks.  Then we follow up our celebrations on the 4th by getting up early to walk or ride in our local parade to a park.  We participate in the games and fun at the park and head home after a couple of hours.  Next we pack up the car to go to my in-laws house  for a picnic and social time with family.  As evening approaches we load it up and drive to another suburb to picnic and watch fireworks with some good friends.  We go home late and tired on the night of the 4th but always have lots of fun.  This has been our pattern for several years.

I know it sounds like a lot of food and celebrating but the nice part is that we have done this for years.  I know exactly what I am going to encounter.  I can plan for it.  I can decide right now what I am going to eat and what I will politely turn down.

On Independence Day we celebrate our freedom and I would like to include my freedom from food.  Food does not have to have a hold on me.  I can say yes or no to benefit me. On this holiday I want to exercise my freedom by saying no to the foods that are not good for me and eating what will be good for me.  Thinking ahead, I know that I will encounter snacks at the parade and fireworks this evening.  I truly have no plans to eat any of them. I am going to get a good, healthy dinner on the way to the parade and then eat it while waiting for it to start.  I'm not sure what yet, but I'm thinking either salad or sub sandwich.  I will decide what I am having before I leave the house and fit it into my points accordingly. I have tracked my food so far today so I will know exactly how many points I have to spend.  I will bring my water for my drink.  I don't need any alcohol and rarely drink soda.  I will enjoy my dinner and then bring some fruit to snack on. I already purchased snacks for my kids and none of them will call to me.  I don't forecast any difficulty in bypassing them.

Tomorrow, we will encounter ice cream at the park when we finish marching in our little, local parade.  I will plan on having that ice cream.  It's always a nice treat after walking 2 miles.  It's just a little bit so it wont even cost me much. I will bring along a healthy snack to eat while the kids are eating all of the candy that they win on their little games.  Right now, I'm thinking a hard boiled egg and some blueberries.  I'm glad I'm working it out in my head now so I can boil the eggs today and have them ready for the mad dash in the morning.

We will then eat at my in-laws for lunch.  I will eat a burger with no bun and a side or two.  I am bringing the fruit so I know it will be there for me.  After a few hours we will be off to watch fireworks with some friends.  I know that they will have grilled meats available.  Depending on how much I ate at my in-laws, I may have a piece of meat.  I am bringing the veggies to share so I can always snack on them.  I will need to track my points today to keep myself on target or I know I will get out of control fast.  My friend always makes rice krispie treats so depending on what I feel like eating I may have one of those instead of the meat.  It is a day to celebrate so there is nothing wrong with eating a little celebration food.

The trick is to stop from eating too many celebration foods.  I always need to remember that it is good to have a limit.  Today is my birthday.  I feel a little strange publicizing that but I have a point.  Yesterday Bryan asked me what I wanted for dinner today.  He has to work all day and is going to meet me and the kids at the parade.  He offered to pick up my birthday dinner.  I told him that even if it doesn't sound exciting, what I really want is to eat a healthy dinner for my birthday.  After all, it's a day to celebrate me so I want to take care of myself.  I don't need any cake or, dare I say, ice cream.  I just want to feel good when my birthday comes to an end.  I feel the same way about my Fourth of July celebrations too.

Happy Fourth and have a great day,

Corinna

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit." -2 Corinthians 3:17