Happy?

Today: Happy Thoughts? Water kissed by Lemons? Stretching towards the stars before bed!

ahhh............

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes! that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

When I eat Chocolate covered Pretzels

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

Salute!

Hunger

Day 3 - continue

Sunday! While I rode my health rider for 15 minutes and then stretched for 5, I listened to Dr. Charles Stanley on TV. (15/15/15/)

Hunger! My hunger should be after a intimate relationship with the Lord.

Hunger! My hunger should be after foods that bring me life, wholeness, wellness

Hunger! My hunger should before exercise daily - that produces a healthy Body.

Psalm 63

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

¹ O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

³ Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Beating Stress

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

I'm feeling stressed about "being stressed out" about changing my choices and "sticking" to them. I'll admit, I went to bed last night without a thought about what I did for exercise during the day! Well, maybe its because I SHUT off my brain after going to "Fat Burger" with my husband and Grandkids. COME ON! I said ok since it was a simple quick place to go. I didn't eat fries, had water and convinced myself that tomatoes, lettuce and a "baby size burger" would be ok if I exercised! Ok, then I made a choice to run to the car to get my purse. Boy, that made me feel better (true no sarcasm) . A 3 minute jog was a good choice. The Burger! not really. I need to remind me (reinforce to myself that I didn't enjoy the burger, it didn't make me feel better and in the future I will make a better choice).

What I just wrote is called "disclosure". Providing information (however sad) in order to relate to others. Hopefully helps us connect. I'm in the same boat with many of my family and friends.

DAY 3

Spiritual: Be anxious for nothing as the scripture reads. Lord, I see your written word, I hear your voice... now fill me with your spirit. You know that I desire to seek and serve you. My Body is your temple. Dwell in me and therefore I will have the strength and wisdom to glorify you with my life, my body, my actions, and my words. AMEN

Mental:

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by Janet Maccaro Phd, CNC. from her book Fabulous at 50 Redefining Midlife: body Mind, & Spirit.

Chapter on Beating Stress before it beats you

Excessive worry, tension, edginess, irritability, insomnia, disturbed sleep, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, rapid heartbeat, shakes, chills, hot flashes, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, muscle aches, and back pain - all these are symptoms of persistent anxiety. At fifty, many people visit their physicians for these life-disrupting symptoms. After running blood test, EKGs and Stress tests, and X-rays, most often the verdict comes back as stress.

.... Eat well. Besides choosing healthy foods, make meal times a pleasant social encounter. Celebrate family time by working together to plan the menu, set the table, and cook.

.... Exercise. A good workout triggers chemical reactions in our bodies, enhances our moods, and makes us more fit to handle physical challenges. your exercise doesn't have to be structured. Look for simple opportunities to move a little more - park father from your destination for a longer walk, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and toss a ball with your children or grandchildren in the backyard.

....Have fun. Keep a good balance of work and play, of solitary and group activities. Sometimes we need time alone to gather our thoughts;sometimes we need people around to hug, listen to, or share ideas.

...Maintain a support system. Make sure our schedule accommodates time with loved ones.

...Meditate and pray. Find ways to focus energy on a meaning and purpose beyond your everyday life.

This chapter of the book recommends a SUPPLEMENT: GABA- is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter that restores the brain. Its function is to regulate anxiety, muscle spasm, depression and chronic stress. Note: GABA is best taken with magnesium (200mg) and vitamin b6 (at least 10 mg)

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Physical: Exercise is an IMMEDIATE stress reducer. It's something you can take charge of and get immediate satisfaction. SO TODAY! right now do it!

Hit the floor and give me 25 push ups... well, ok, I can't even do that. So, how about 25 Jumping jacks! You'll be amazed as your blood starts pumping... it'll clear your mind and invigorate you. (wow, that made me think of Jack la Lane who is now 90+ years old).

Eating: Mantra today! when I see food that isn't a healthy choice I will say "My body is his temple and I will not fill HIS temple with that UNHEALTHY CHOICE" "I don't need it therefore I DON'T WANT it". THen .... Walk away from the food"!

If you can't then choose the following:

smaller portion

put down the fork between bites and wait until you'll swallowed before taking

another bite

If you've choosen somthing unhealthy - Remind yourself as you eat... "this

isn't a healthy choice, It dosn't even taste good to me knowing it's unhealthy

.... say it even if it does taste good. Let your MIND tell your body how it

should FEEL.

.... while interupted writing this to take care of some homemaking task... I found a heavy spirit of almost sadness on me. The few pounds of weight gained during the holidays when I neglected to stay on track, haunt me. The lack of "stick to it"

so... I started to hum some up lifting songs to "fill my mouth with praise for him" NOW......I'm pulling out of the closet my exercise machine (put away for holiday company! HEY ... what was I thinking!) and I'll PUMP it up! You may say, why not do 25 jumping jacks but I'd have to wear a depend to get that accomplished! so sad... another issue to work on.

Ok, let's do it today... Day 3

say it together "I will do it unto the Lord... I WILL DO IT TODAY!" When I get distracted or complacent I will CLOSE MY EYES - Take a deep Breath and re focus my thoughts on taking care of ME by doing what is right!!!!

Salute!

Balance

Day 2- continued

Definition: Any association between two species populations

that live together is symbiotic, whether the species

benefit, harm, or have no effect on one another.

Mental, Physical and Spiritual! SYMBIOTIC!

In my search for answers "why I choose unhealthy food choices, when I CLEARLY KNOW they are wrong" I have unfolded a two facts:

FIRST: Habit

I have a history of eating for pleasure, I seek food during stress, I desire certain foods when I want to reward or comfort myself.... I hum and ahhh over a menu at a restaurant choosing what "sounds" good. Ya, know thinking "gee what do I FEEL like having".

Yet, why can't I use COMMON SENSE when choosing foods

KNOWING that I'll only feel worse and the effects are SAD making poor food choices.

Yes, I want to step back into the 80's and BLAME MY MOTHER. After all, "we're Italian" by heritage. So, the moment you wake up, sit up and make eye contact with your mama - It's ALL ABOUT FOOD! Ok, food sustains life. But, in my life food was the driving force for everything! "Your father works hard to put food on the table...." "Come sit, have something to eat..." "what's a matter??.... ahhh... Sit I'll make you something to eat!". I could go on and on.... but the reality is

I AM NOW AWARE OF THIS! Food is not the enemy, just a Money is not the evil.... it is the soul of MAN that is the problem.

SECOND: Spiritual Warfare

I don't want to point out the obvious -

For those who know the Lord, Who know the Word of God.... KNOW that only a relationship with the Lord Can Satisfy.

Emotional Eating, Eating for Socializing, Eating because ..... Well, really I've never really needed a reason to Eat. JUST .... Mangiare!

This past few months, I have become more and more convinced that being overweight and struggling with "diets" stems from having developed/aquired Unhealthy Habit and it is a SPIRITUAL Battle.

It makes me disappointed and Sad to see Nurses, Doctors and Ministers of the Gospel! - Overweight.

Yet, I better take the "chocolate layer cake" out of my eye before I judge others who have a chocolate chip in theirs!

Matthew 7:4

How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

That is why I'm on a mission, journey to discover the truth. For me!

21 days of developing new lifestyle habits: Physically, Spiritually and Mentally

Again:

BALANCE - Mental, physical and Spiritual. When one thing is not functioning properly it WILL affect the other two areas of our lives. It can't help it - they are intertwined, related, symbiotic. Think about when you stub your toe! A simple example. The Physical Pain is expressed by a scream (maybe a few expletives) ..... "OH GOD! Help me, that hurt". Then Fear sets in (Mental and Spiritual is involved in fear) that the toe may have broke!

Yap, Physical, Mental and Spiritual. I think you know what I'm talking about....

ok, lets go to the next step:

You walk past Cinnabon Store at the Mall and smell the fragrance of the warm Cinnamon rolls floating past your nose. Your mouth waters, your eye's light up and then BAM! You say " I don't really NEED that"... but your body mysteriously follows the aroma and you even STAND IN LINE to wait your turn to buy the stupid roll that you know isn't good for YOU!

Mental, Physical and Spiritual - BATTLE IS HAPPENING! Think about it!

Accountabiity

1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Spiritual: I will overcome - Therefore I shall not be ruled by my desire to EAT!

When I want to eat something that isn't a healthy choice I WILL CONFESS HIS WORD. "Greater is he in me than he that is in the FOOD!". OH, ya.... I don't want to be EVE and eat the forbidden fruit! well, apples are good, but APPLE Pie's are NOT a healthy choice!

Mental: I will learn today. I think I'll research herbs that decrease inflammation.

Physical: PUMP IT UP today.

Although "Bob Green" in this book "The Best Life Diet" states in Chapter One - Phase One- Title: Weigh IN. "...put away the scale away, and don't look at it for another four weeks." He states that fluctuation in your weight during the early stage of weight loss can send you on an emotional roller coaster. The scale isn't a good indicator of what's going on in your body due to water-weight gain or loss."

Well, for me, I disagree. It motivates me each time. I weight first thing (after the bathroom) in the morning. My scale has the weight, water weight and BMI. Never the less. It makes me accountable to look at what I did the day before! No, delusion there. Yes, I exercised yesterday, but I also ate BROWNIES! So, how do I cry when I see weight gain- Fat not water! OUCH!

TODAY- I'm going fill up my pitcher of water with lemon and a pinch of cayenne pepper ! and drink my 8+ glasses (8 oz glasses). This is fabulous for energy and detox. (detox- I'll talk about that subject later). We do this in the hospitals for our patients. Fill up the pitcher so we can calculate the intake of the patient for the day. Well, I find that "people" always say that they drink a lot of water. But, truth is most of the time the suck on the same bottle all day! Or they start a bottle and forget where they put it and start a new one.... well, let's just say - reality is MOST people "Think" they drink a lot but don't. So, I say pour the days amount of water (add lemon juice which is great for "detox" and Cayenne pepper which speed up the metabolism) and be ACCOUNTABLE to drink all the water in the pitcher by the end of the Day!

The simplest calculation is the 60-40-20 rule.

• Total Body Water = 60% of body weight
• Intracellular fluid = 40% of body weight
• Extracellular fluid = 20% of body weight

Yes, Water is LIFE! Although some Physicians tell you that you can count coffee, juice and teas as fluid intake

I SAY NO. WATER, WATER, Water.... (Unless your on a fluid restriction due to health reasons- ie. CHF)

Gotta run - literally - 15/15/15

Salute! to my friends and Family

......... and PRAISE GOD FOR A NEW DAY - I commit this day unto Him and will praise HIM for his goodness.

Lord fill my heart and mouth with praise for YOU. (this way my mouth will be too full to shovel in food, and my heart will be satisfied for you and not seek the wrong foods! especially brownies). AMEN