photo courtesy of sfxeric

I’ve been disappointed with the lack of my weightloss lately and it has shown.  We’ve eaten out more, I’m not exercising as much as I was, and just not as motivated.  I didn’t even want to post here for lack of what I’ve done – craft or fitness wise.  Life was getting in the way and I let it be an excuse.  Yup – luke warm.  Just not boiling hot with intensity, aiming for a goal, but just meandering around hoping that I was doing OK enough to lose a little.

Yesterday I was contacted by an old friend – and when I say old, I don’t mean age – hello? We are the same age and I refuse to be old!  She’s a gal I’ve known since I was in kindergarten.  We’ve become weightloss accountability partners! I’m so excited, it really just kicked me into high gear to have someone else to talk to about the issues I face on a day to day basis.  To listen to her struggles and successes.  Oh yeah, I’m not lukewarm anymore there! I’m totally and utterly ready to keep dropping these pounds!

I’ve also been lukewarm on an issue that is pretty huge from a Christian standpoint. (I’m not going to say what the issue is just yet as I don’t want to start a debate.  Perhaps one day God will give me the loving words to say.)  And while I’m not at a place to say my heart is in line with God’s Word on the issue – I can admit that how I feel about it is not the Christian viewpoint I should have.  I’ve been talking to Christian friends, asking them to pray for me as I dug into His word.  I wanted to see what He thought on that issue.  I was seeking knowledge and wisdom – which can be scary when it starts to turn out that what you feel is right, isn’t right.

photo courtesy of jamelah

So I started talking to my sister about it yesterday.  She said that I had gotten lukewarm on that issue and to watch out before God spits me out and gave me the verse from Revelations.

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

I’ve been letting the media and what others said dictate how I felt.  Then these feelings took over, instead of me searching for God’s voice on the issue, I listened to my own.  Then my views changed.  That view point then started to slowly creep in and take over my other strong biblical views like a disease.   The Truths of God.  His Spoken Word.  Yup, I was trying to change my beliefs to what I felt, not what God commands/says.

I can say now that I know what God says and how I believe.  I’m still studying His word so I can stand firmly upon it and not wobble.  I’m still seeking on that issue.  But I’m no longer lukewarm.  I’m on fire for my God!

Can I just say how blessed I feel that I can actually have these deep conversations about being lukewarm with my sister, my kids, my husband, and friends?  God really does put the people in your life there for a reason and I’m so thankful!

photo courtesy of Cimm

For those that have no clue as to what I’m talking about, Zumba is an awesome aerobic workout where you are led by your instructor (who happens to be double-jointed in the hips) into fun Latin/hip hop dances.    It’s high energy and tons of fun.    Many of us on the dance floor can’t shake it or even get some of the dance moves right, but we are whooping and hollering with the rest of them.   (If you want to see some of the routines or what it’s like, just look up Zumba on youtube.)

photo courtesy of markvall

Being as big as I am, it was tough at first to even conceive of taking a class at the gym.   Just GOING to the gym in the beginning was a huge step.   But with time, my mind changed.   Sure, I’m the largest woman in the class usually… but I love to dance and this was the perfect aerobic workout for me.  In order to stick with something, you’ve got to find what works for you.

photo courtesy of michaelcupino

Regardless of if you were born dancing, took lessons as a kid, or just like to tap your foot to the music,  I’d encourage you to give it a try.  Your size doesn’t matter, your age doesn’t matter.   You can go here and look for a class in your area.   Who knows how many calories you could be burning while having a blast!

Kandra

Does it take your joy?

Does it take your peace?

It’s so easy to look at our past and let it drag us down. I know personally, I can let my past eating habits or even how fit I used to be (a lifetime ago) sidetrack me from pressing on to be the fit person I know I need to be. It’s so easy to let it get in my head and manifest into this little evil monster that feeds my self doubt.

“Go ahead and eat that – everyone else can, why can’t you?”

“Why are you fighting so hard to lose two pounds when you know it’s not going to stay off.”

“You aren’t worthy.”

“You aren’t good enough.”

The same for my faith. Those things that happened to me in my past –those horrible things that left me crying in dark closets or hiding in my tree house can shake my faith. Why me? Why after all these years do I still struggle? What about how I teased people in school? I’m so ashamed of the person I used to be that it’s hard to become the person that God sees. I live in His Grace and am so very thankful for it, but it is still hard to see through His eyes, rather than my own shameful ones.

These are stumbling blocks every single day. Ones that I’m working on moving out of the path with my walk with God and my walk to a healthier me. I struggle. I fall. But I also press on.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phillippians 3:12-14)

And I have proof that pressing on, helps. I am closer to God now. I can forgive. I can lose weight. I can quit smoking (5 years come 8/15!). If God is for me, who can be against me? – Romans 8:31

Yup, I’m gonna keep pressing on with God right here beside me – cause we’re tight like that.

image courtesy of www.heartlight.org

Here are lyrics from Relient K (one of my FAVE bands) – titled aptly “Pressing On”.

I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here.
There’s only one thing left to do.
Drop all I have and go with you.

[Chorus:]
Somewhere back there I left my worries all behind.
My problems fell out of the back of my mind.
We’re going and I’m never knowing (never knowing) where we’re going.
To go back to where I was would just be wrong.
I’m pressing on.
Pressing on, all my distress is going, going, gone. (pressing on, pressing on)
And I won’t sit back, and take this anymore.
‘Cause I’m done with that, I’ve got one foot out the door.
And to go back where I was would just be wrong
I’m pressing on.

I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here.
Out of mind, out of state.
Trying to keep my head on straight.
I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here.
Adversity, we get around it.
Searched for joy, in you I found it.

You look down on me, but you don’t look down on me at all.
You smile and laugh, and I feel the love you have for me.
I think we’re going somewhere.
We’re on to something good here, and we’re gonna make it after all.

Gonna make it after all,

Kandra

Who doesn’t remember those days of feeding quarters into a video game machine at the local pizzaria and playing Pac Man to your heart’s delight?  I ♥ pacman! So here’s my contribution to the Bitty Block Committee’s August swap.  Pac Man Love.  Gotta love it!

Kandra

Linky Parties!

I started in January by just walking for 5 minutes, then 10. I started dropping weight. In late February I got a bodybugg for my birthday and started watching my calories in versus my calories out. I also walked my first 5k. By mid July I had dropped 40 lbs!!!

I’ve gained a few of those back, due to slacking on my part and having bodybugg issues (that are now resolved!).  Last Friday we kicked off a Biggest Loser team competition at work. My team has 3 other people in it and we are deemed the Flabtastic Four! This couldn’t have come at a better time. My bodybugg is back on my arm and I’m motivated to get back into the swing of things again.

With that resolution- that one choice -I started a journey and the highs way out weigh the lows. I’ve played paintball with the hubby and kids,  participated in 5ks with friends, shook my bootay in Zumba class, tried to get limber in a Pilates/Yoga class and I hope that list keeps growing. I’ll probably post some recipes, thoughts on the process/journey, highs and the lows, and all the new things I’ve tried (or am trying) on here. I hope that in sharing, that maybe just one person will begin their own weight loss journey or find some inspiration to keep pressing forward.