I found this exercise here and tried it. It's true! Why IS this? It reminds me of a conversation my friend and I had at the kitchen table yesterday morning...
We've both been struggling with gaining weight lately. I identified MY problem as being a "cluster" of challenges--difficult to separate one from another. Each influences the other challenges -- kind of like the foot and the hand thing!
My friend and I expressed our determination to address our individual issues and check in on each other. My work will be to get my hands and feet cooperating with my mind and emotions to correct some bad habits that have replaced HEALTHY and WHOLESOME ones including:
- Substituting blogging for daily hand-written journaling
- Neglecting 30 minutes of daily exercise
- NOT neglecting sugar
- NOT neglecting breads and pasta
- Neglecting daily times of prayer
If confession is good for the soul, then it is well with my soul!
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God's steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:11-14).
This is something I used to show my grandchildren, Rebecca, along with standing in a doorway, with the backs of ones hands firmly pressing against the door frame for a dew moments. When stepping away, ones arms will slowly rise into the air, like wings!
ReplyDeleteI find losing or keeping weight off long term is easier to do, by increasing activity...more so than deprivation of certain foods. Short bursts of activity all day work better for me than one exercise session, seems to keep ones metabolism high! Bread and pasta are my favorites, diets excluding them would fail for me eventually! Just a thought!
Oh, yes! I remember the doorway exercise!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you...I don't intent to deprive myself of breads and pasta and sugar, but to avoid excess. Excess (unfortunately) is my constant challenge! And I try for the short bursts of activity all day - but got negligent about the 30 minute one (which really isn't so LONG anyway and usually consists of a brisk walk).
The whole month of July and now into August I am off track and out of balance with almost every thing...I do believe it is because I am not putting God ahead of my circumstances. I am also struggling with weight...I am at my highest ever. :(
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that it's activity that
ReplyDeletekeeps weight off. I eat whatever I want
just not to excess and you have to move
to lose!
I remember that little exercise from
a few years ago. It's so true.
I did the exercise and got tickled immediately as my foot began to move in the opposite direction.
ReplyDeleteAbout dieting...I've been cutting down my eating of white flour and sugar WAY down, and have been keeping frozen grapes in the freezer for urges. Now I notice that when I do eat white flour, I get a bit puffy and don't feel as well. Interesting.
Oh I am there with the weight problem...and many of the same list. I can say I have been hearing the song, "It is Well with My Soul" lately. Maybe if I would come that understanding than I might not emotionally eat.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...such an encouragement!
I will have to try the exercise with my kids...we can all laugh!
OH...Your blog change is great...you did a great job...the other was pretty also...WOW, I need to learn some of this!
ReplyDeleteJanette, Thank you for your comment on the blog change. I USED to rearrange my house a lot. Now I just rearrange/change my blog! LOL.
ReplyDeleteWell I tried it and you are right, I can't do it! I so understand your troubles Rebecca. It can be a daily struggle at times to stay on track, especially when we have aches and pains that prevent us from doing healthy things for ourselves. This is a constant struggle for me. I can start riding my bike and do well then all of a sudden my knee will go or my tendon in my foot. It always seems to be something!But I haven't given up yet and I know that you won't either! Love Di ♥
ReplyDeleteYour exercise made me laugh out loud! I'll have to pass that along to the grandchildren!
ReplyDeleteYour struggles are some that I share - especially making myself exercise! I'm telling myself when cooler weather gets here, I'll do better!
I'm also in the midst of losing those few that became more than a few pounds!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I love in the frozen 'natural foods' section, it's a chocolate muffin by Vita-licious. It's got protein and fiber and is only 100 calories. It's filling and delicious, and I am not even a chocolate freak.
And, like you said... the exercise has to be a part of it. I do aerobics and walk for 30 minutes.
But, as all of us know at this point.... 'if ye know these things... happy are ye if ye DO them!'... :)
Working at it with you!
Sonja
(I just clicked on the link where you found this and saw the Girl with A Pearl Earring! Oh I loved that book/movie so much! I have a facination with Vermeer!)
ReplyDeleteWell Rebecca I'm depending on you to keep me motivated to lose some weight as you have inspired me by what you accomplished last year. So how's that for a little pressure? :) :)
I know as disciplined as you are, you'll get back with it. But I think you are right...so many influences work together. I have to be careful over a simple thing like having a cup of coffee. It automatically makes me want something sweet. Crazy!