Don’t Stay There
Having tried to eat clean while depriving myself of dairy, wheat, and sweets, adding in exercise and drinking lots of water, I’ll admit to being discouraged when the number on the scale did not move!
Ugh!
If that isn’t discouraging, I don’t know what is!
But, here’s the thing. You can be discouraged and allow those feelings for a minute or two. Just don’t stay there! Don’t wallow in self pity or “Why me?” and don’t you dare do the “What is wrong with me?” questioning that we are prone to in situations like these.
I told a friend just the other day about the non moving numbers on the scale, and the reply was, “How could that happen?” Yea … I’d like to know that also, BUT what I do know is that I am not the only one this has happened to recently.
One of my previous (In)courage friends posted a picture of herself in December and another picture at the end of January. Normally there is massive amounts of change in a before and after picture, but there wasn’t a drastic change in her pictures. She was honest and shared that the numbers on HER scale didn’t move either. I thanked her for sharing because it helped to encourage me when I was feeling a bit defeated.
The thing is, no number on the scale can tell you how healthy you are getting your body. No numbers on the scale can tell you that you’ve replaced fat with muscles that you’ve built by doing those squats and lifting those weights.
No number on a scale can tell you how beautiful you are or how hard you’ve worked. Yes, it would be nice if the number decreased … even just a little bit. BUT, what is more important is how you FEEL … how you LOOK … and how your clothes are FITTING!
So this is me telling you – and myself – to get back out there and DO this! You CAN, with God’s help. Remember – God will strengthen you! Just ask, pray over this, and hit that treadmill like I’m going to do RIGHT after I hit “post” for this article.
Feeling defeated, too? Don’t stay there!!
Let’s do this … together!
What Was I Thinking?
Oh, dear Lord.
What was I thinking?
Having just started an exercise and clean eating lifestyle change, I got extremely sick within the first week! Now if that isn’t discouraging, I don’t know what is!
Here I was trying to better myself, stick with my new year’s resolutions and make a life change … which resulted in my body rebelling. It was as if it hissed, snarled, and growled … leaving in its aftermath a severe sore throat and eventually a low grade fever. After nearly losing my voice to where I squeaked like a field mouse when trying to speak, I felt the sickest I’ve been in years! Ah, but my body wasn’t finished rebelling yet. Along came the whole coughing up a lung thing. I could have sworn I saw the other lung come hurling up last night!
And then … after five days of feeling unnecessary and useless … I decided it had been long enough now, and it was time to get back to exercising.
What in the world was I thinking by putting in Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred?
Yes, I had completely forgotten the butt kicking she gave me once before when I tried this, and even on Level One, I was gasping and panting within the first five minutes.
Winded, you say?
Ha!
I tried to keep up, and I did pretty good until I realized she jumps around … and my joints just couldn’t take a whole lot of that this morning. I did the best I could, though, and when I just couldn’t do that particular move any more, I modified it, walked into the kitchen to get more water, and came back for more torture … I mean, exercise!
Weight training, squats, and ab work, I can do! I can even do jumping jacks. You want to know what got me? When she started with the jump rope thing, followed by butt kicks where you’re running in place and kicking yourself in the butt. Literally.
THAT is when I had to modify the move.
Insert Leslie Sansome’s Walk Away The Pounds skater move. Instead of running and kicking, I did a move as if I was up on roller skates. I still managed to kick my own butt, just in a different low intensity way.
So, a word to the wise … if you’ve been sick … don’t get discouraged. You can get back into your exercise routine slowly. Notice the word … S L O W L Y.
Don’t do like I did and pick the hardest exercise trainer after five days of being ill.
BUT … don’t give up either.
Get back in there and gradually begin your work outs. Once you’re back to feeling like yourself again, by all means, increase the intensity.
Just learn from my mistake … as I sit here sipping on my second glass of water trying to recover. Hey, I’m no longer panting so that’s a good sign. lol
NOW … Bible Study time!
Maybe I should have started my day with that instead! Another lesson learned!
Captive
As a long time fan of movies based on a true story, I can honestly say that I was on the edge of my seat while watching Captive.
Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. Romans 5:20 is a bible verse that appears on the screen as the movie begins to play.
Imagine just recently losing your husband and attempting to recover from a Meth drug addiction in an effort to improve your life and regain custody of your daughter.
After attending a recovery group meeting, a lady gives Ashley the book entitled The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Being only two days clean this time, Ashley does not have a lot of hope, so she promptly chunks the book in the trash as she exits the building.
Meanwhile, a convicted rapist, Brian, overpowers the authorities in the jail, takes the gun and radio, and is able to escape after killing several people and severely injuring one on his way out of the building.
Ashley makes her way into work where she finds that the same lady that gave her the book earlier in the day has now dropped off a package with a note saying, “You forgot something …” with the same book inside of the package.
As the story progresses, the escaped convict takes Ashley hostage in her own apartment! Things were completely intense as she was not sure what his next move would be. Then, he asks for drugs, which she gives to him but refuses to do herself. There she is, trapped in her apartment with Brian, who has now just used drugs and would be capable of anything at this point!
Since we sat down to watch this movie as a family I will admit that there was a certain part in the movie where I had to turn it off until everyone else cleared the room so I could make sure it was suitable for us to continue watching it with our 11 year old present. The part I’m referring to was strongly suggestive based on the character, Brian, having been in jail for rape, among other things. Leading up to this scene, it appeared that while he was holding Ashley captive in her apartment that he may rape her at this moment. However, he did not. When I realized this, I allowed my family to come back into the room to finish the movie together.
What ends up happening is something I never would have imagined. Ashley begins to use The Purpose Driven Life to offer hope and light in the mist of despair. Brian seemed to receive the message in this book well, and it provides hope for them both in this situation and what they are facing in their individual lives.
This movie takes you deep with the characters as the plot thickens and things begin to play out.
I have watched this movie twice now. It is amazing to see how God provided hope in this situation to both Brian and Ashley. At the end of the movie, it has a snippet of the real Ashley as she appeared on Oprah and got a chance to meet the author of the book, Rick Warren. It also provided updates on the individuals involved throughout the movie.
If you would like a copy of Captive, please enter our giveaway below.
Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
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