Injury

Happy Monday everyone !!  My day started off with me dreading getting out of my bed.  Why is it Monday mornings my bed is just way more comfortable than any other day?  Oh well, after pulling myself up and coming down for my coffee, my oldest son has a 100.4 fever.  He has been sick off and on this weekend but this boy does not want to miss school, but he has too.. bummer.  So, I get the other 2 boys ready to go and when I get to the van it is totally dead.  I mean the electric doors won't even open.  Hubby has already left and I don't know what to do.  So, we call my Pastor... thanks Pastor for coming and jump starting the van so I could get the boys to school. 

So that is the start of my week.  Anyway, I wanted to write today about my little injury.  About 2 weeks ago I hurt my wrist.  What did I do you ask?  I have no idea.  I was getting ready to go out to dinner and bam....pain..that wouldn't go away.  So, after a week of not getting better I go to my local medical clinic to see the Physician Assistant there.  He takes an x ray and thank God there are no breaks but I have several torn ligaments in my wrist and I have to wear a brace for the next 6 weeks he says.  6 weeks... I can't use my wrist?  I can't lift weights or do my yoga??  He smiled and said if you don't baby it, this could be a 6 month or more recovery.  Ugh.....  not what I wanted to hear.  Did I also mention I am left handed and this is my left wrist.  So needless to say this has been really hard for the past 2 weeks....4 more weeks to go.  Everything I do from putting on my contacts to make up to pouring anything uses my left wrist.  I have tried to use my right hand and boy am I clumsy with that.  Try using your opposite hand... it's really awkward.

So now I have to adjust my exercise routines to not use my wrist.  This is not easy.  I refuse to stop exercising.  Not an option.  So, I am back to walking and jogging.  It seems simple enough except I hate jogging.  Walking I could do, but jogging.... ugh... it is torture.  I want to love it.  I want to be a runner.  But every time I think of doing it I dread it big time.  But last week I started doing it and in a week I lost 1.6 lbs.  So my total is 5.4 lbs.  I am getting back to my goal weight.  I am determined. (even though I went to the Chinese Buffet yesterday, hey gotta live a little)

So, my tip for today is when something happens, like an injury or something that stops you dead in your tracks, to stop where you are, pray and redirect.  Don't give up.  Don't stop.  Just redirect your energy somewhere else.  I may not be able to lift weights, but I can improve my mile run now by focusing on that while I am not using my wrist.  Let something positive come out of something negative.  It really is encouraging when you redirect something that is a big problem or negative into something new.

Blessings,

Trish
All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called to His purpose. 
Romans 8:28

The Scale or not...

In my post yesterday, I shared my story of gaining 10 lbs over a year without even realizing it.  I have read many articles about not weighing yourself.  I totally understand this concept because as I said it really defined how my day went, good or bad.  How shallow is that?  I feel very guilty letting some number define who I am, but I am working on it everyday with Gods help.  Anyway, the scale or not the scale.  Should we weigh in? 

 On the flip side of the coin when we don't hold ourselves accountable, we don't realize how that scale just creeps up.  (It makes me think of sin, how if we give in just a little at a time thinking it is no big deal how it just creeps into our lives unnoticed until one day we are miserable and our lives are in turmoil.)  Anyway, back to the scale.  I have done the weigh in thing and the avoid the scale at all costs thing and for me, I have to weigh in to keep myself in check.  It is a lot easier to get on that scale and see that you have gained 3 or 4 lbs, than to weigh in once every year or 2 and gain 25 lbs.  I let it go too far so from now on, I will weigh myself once a week to keep myself accountable.  I have worked way too hard to get here and I never want to go back to where I was at 4 years ago.  So, you have to decide for yourself what is best.... the scale or not...

Tip for today is go ahead... weigh yourself.  Don't let it define you but let it encourage you to be a better you. 

Blessings,

Trisha
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Stuff happens

I know it has been ages since I've blogged and I guess I have felt like I didn't have anything to say.  No real tips.. boring stuff.  Well today's topic is me.  You all know I have lost 42 lbs and kept it off for 4 years... well sorta.  I have avoided that scale at all costs because it just freaks me out.  I don't know why I have to be scared by that number, but I know I am.  So, for probably 5 months I have ignored that scale.  When I used to get on I guess I let it define me.  If I was down a little I would have a good day, up a pound or 2....really really bad day.  I know this is shallow, but it is how I feel.  So instead of weighing in, I just totally ignored the scale so I wouldn't let it create a mood for me.  Fast forward to 3 weeks ago.  I had this inkling that I should get on the scale.  I was feeling a bit .... bloated... yeah bloated.  So after 5 months of abstaining from that weekly weigh in I stepped on that darn thing.  Well, needless to say, what I was feeling was not bloating but a pretty substantial weight gain.  UGH.  7 lbs since my last weigh in and 10 lbs from my goal weight.  10 lbs.  That is why I say stuff happens.  Life happens.  When I tell you I have exercised 6 days a week (minus 2 or 3 days) for the past 4 years, I mean it.  I have busted my butt working out and eating healthy.  Thus the healthy tips blog I'm writing.  But here I sat feeling over come and defeated.  I felt really really bad.

So, I could do one of two things.  I could throw in the towel and eat my way through a few pizzas and ice cream or I could go back... reflect on what I have done in the past and do it again.  I did do this once and yes I let it creep up a bit, but I can do this again.  So, my main problem that I have realized is my eating.  I just love to eat.  I really do.  So while I was exercising regularly, I was still eating too much. 

So, I cut back on my portions, started eating more fruit and veggies and stop eating that after dinner snack.  That is my biggest downfall.  I can do good all day, but after dinner my sweet tooth kicks in. 

So, now in 3 weeks I have dropped 4 lbs and hopefully on my way back to my goal weight.  I guess I needed some accountability so I felt like I needed to share this. 

So, I guess my tip is for myself mostly.  It is don't give up.  Setbacks happen sometime.  Stuff happens.  Just stop where you are and figure out where you want to be and start doing what worked in the first place. 

Blessings,

Trish

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

Don't over resolute !! Is that even a word?

I don't know if that even makes sense, over resolute.. but it makes sense to me.  So many of us for the new year make resolutions... too many of them all at once!  We want a new year to be the spark of the new us and that is great but then by the end of January every resolution is broken !!  I know I do it.  So this year instead of trying to do TOO much all at once, why not pick one thing.  Just one thing that we could change or do.  If we can master one thing then we can go on to the next.  So this 2011 go at it easy.  Pick one thing that is important to you this year and stick with it!  I know you can.

Today's tip  Don't go overboard with too many resolutions.  Pick one thing and make it happen.

Blessings,

Trish

A Brand New Year

I know it has been way too long since my last post.  With the holidays and a trip I have been really busy.  We have been hit with a lot of cold weather and snow.  The boys had a week off even before winter break due to snow.  I thought we live in Tennessee?  This is the south right?  Well it is the end of the year and I am already ready for some warm weather and sunshine. 

As this year comes to an end I have to sit and reflect on it and ponder how it went overall.  I know I could always do better, give more, be more.  I always find myself coming short of what  and who I want to be.  I am so thankful for what God has blessed me with, a wonderful husband, 3 beautiful children, a warm home, a job for my husband... the list could go on.  With all that I wonder why I am not doing more... being more. 

As the new year approaches I am not going to make resolutions because I know that they don't work, but I am going to try my best to do more... be more than I am right now.  There are so many people out there who are in need of something.  Something maybe I could give them... a kind word...a good deed....a fresh loaf of bread...something.  I don't know what it may be, but as this New Year begins I am going to make it a daily prayer of mine to ask God if there is something I could do or someone in need that I could help in some way.   I think I feel that I want this 2011 to be less about me and more about others.  I hope I could fulfill this.

I hope you all had a wonderful blessed Christmas and have a Happy New Year.

Today's tip is mostly for myself, try to be more focused on others than myself.  Yes I will still eat healthy and exercise and take care of myself, but I am really going to try to be more sensitive to the needs of others.

Blessings,

Trish

Switch it up

I've been exercising 6 days a week for almost four years now.  I'm committed I'd guess you would say.  I have to do this for me and if I don't I am afraid that I will just slack back to not doing anything.  I have come too far to go back to my old ways of eating whatever I wanted and sitting on the couch.  Do I love to exercise you ask?  Well, no I don't.  Most mornings I get up, have my coffee and wish I didn't have to do it.  But, I do it.  For me exercise DVDs are what work.  I have a set period of time, a certain type of workout and someone telling me what to do and for how long to do it.  It just works for me.  So day in and day out I pop in one of my 20 DVDs and work out.  I do pick out different ones so I am not working out the same muscles every day.  Some days I do more cardio, some days strength, some days yoga.  But, it usually is always a DVD.  So, today my wonderful husband said, "Come on and work on the weights".  My first reaction was yuck... the basement, the weight bench gross.  I hate going down to the basement.  It is cold, damp and on the dark side.  But as I looked at my DVD collection and realized I was bored with them, I agreed to go give it a try. 

So, I went to the dungeon and he had me all set up to do some sets of heavier weights, abs, chest presses, clean and jerks, weighted squats etc.  He actually was quite a good trainer pushing me to do more than I thought I could.  I was actually enjoying it a bit.  Then for part 2 he had me boxing with the punching bag and then with sparring gloves... Well that was it.  I LOVED IT.  I think I was made to punch people.  Just kidding but really I loved doing it and before you know it I put in 40 minutes of strength and cardio and really enjoyed it and it was something different. 

The key is to switch things up so you don't get bored.  I was doing different DVDs but it was still the same type of thing.  This was something new and something I really enjoyed and hope to incorporate into my workout schedule. 

So today's tip:  Tip #1 is get moving... do something...exercise.  Tip #2 if you already are exercising, mix it up a bit.  If you jog, try tennis.  If you walk, try jogging intervals.  If you do the elliptical try going for a bike ride.  Do anything to mix it up so you don't get bored and you will see changes in your body also.

Blessings,

Trish

One of my not so new favorites...

Some people have been asking me about carbohydrates and which ones are good.  I have written before that if you choose whole grains over white ones that is your best choice.  One thing that I didn't mention is one of my favorite grains quinoa pronounced (keen wah). Even though technically it is not a grain it is a actually the seed of a leafy plant related to spinach.  How about that?  It really is a cool little grain..seed.

Quiona is high in protein and includes all the nine essential amino acids. It is the choice of grains for vegans and vegetarians, as it helps them take in the adequate amount of protein, required in a healthful diet. It contains lysine, an amino acid that is very important for the growth of tissues and tissue repair. It has slow releasing, high level of carbohydrates, that give the stomach a full feeling for a long time.  Plus it tastes great.  It is like cous cous but way more healthy for you.  It cooks up in only 10 minutes !! 

You can eat it for breakfast like oatmeal, or use it in cold or hot salads.  You can mix in beans, roasted vegetables, cucumbers, cheese., nuts.  This really is a versatile little grain..I mean seed.

Today's tip is to try this little seed called quinoa.  You can use it in place of pasta or rice.  Here is what i like to do with it.

Cook according to directions, which is 1 Cup quinoa to 2 cups water.
After it is done, fluff it like rice and then add the following

1/4 C extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 C walnuts or any nuts you like
1/2 C grape tomatoes
1/2 C feta cheese
1 cucumber
some fresh parsley, dill or basil
salt and pepper to taste.

Mix all this and let sit for a while in the refrigerator and enjoy cold or at room temp.
This is a delicious and healthy side dish, main dish or salad.

Blessings,

Trish