I can't tell you how excited I am about this clean eating. It's just going really well and I'm feeling great. I felt,when I looked in the mirror yesterday,that my eyes and skin looked clearer and healthier. Plus, I'm feeling so much more in control of my food desires. Last night, played cards with friends, where drinks and snacks were served, and I just kept to my plan. I was so satisfied after my healthy dinner, I had no need for anything but my glass of water. I've noticed when people are around me and eat something I really liked, like cookies or candy, I'll have a hint of craving at first from the aroma, but then I take a deep breath, and a large gulp of water and it subsides immediately. I've lost 9 lbs and haven't once counted calories or gone hungry. My husband feels anxious before each meal, feeling sure he is not going to like it, and at the end finds himself thanking me effusively for not only a great meal, but also for taking such good care of him. And his weight is dropping also.
Had a wonderful morning of worship and community at our church. The young people led the praise, and seeing their enthusiasm was heart lightening. The youth pastor spoke, as they often do, very much from the heart. Talked about fully embracing God, leaving at his feet all the things that burden, or worry or hold us back from following Him completely. What a great plan God had, when he told us to gather together to worship and sing, and pray and enjoy each and every unique person that is part of our fellowship. It's always a vitamin booster for the soul, before you go in to the new week.

So today is Saturday. There is nothing pressing on the calendar. It's cold out and I've had a very busy 10 days. So I'm faced with a challenge. My natural inclination is to stay in my jammies, hunker down with books and magazines and totally veg out. But I need to ask myself, "Who do I want to be" I want to be healthy, vital, spiritual, giving, interesting and productive. This does not come from mindless veging.(is that a word?) Since my time is valuable, I need to make my time count. So a little relaxing is good, a day of it, not so much. Plus it will just make my hip hurt. So I'm up and off to live and be the kind of person I admire. Look out Saturday, here I come.

I'm back from my Maine trip. Ended up being one day longer because of cancelled flights, due to weather. Turned out to be a real blessing. Had a day for a photo shoot. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm generally a pretty even tempered person, don't get overly excited or upset about most things, but hand me a camera, and some specatacular scenery, and I'm as giddy as a school girl going to her very first party. Coming upon a new scene, I'm prone to jump up and down, throw my arms open, and giggle with glee. I can't describe to you how happy I am taking pictures. So picture the bright blue sky, icy blue Atlantic ocean, black rocky cliffs, snow white surf and the charming Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse, for added charm. Throw in my oldest, dearest friend, and I've got an almost perfect day. I can't say perfect, because my honey wasn't there and that would make him sad.

Well, I decided to plunge in and embrace the clean eating movement. It's taken me a number of hours, to do some initial learning, make my list and do the grocery shopping. But I feel excited and confidant I can do this. In just one week, I lost 5 pounds, and never had any cravings. That's major, and I loved everything I ate. And the grocery bill wasn't bad at all. Though the things I was buying were a bit more expensive, take away all the junk, and given that these are much more filling choices, thus needing less, it all washed out. So thankful my hubby was willing to embrace this new way of eating.

I'm visiting my girlfriend in Maine. She told me before I came that she was now "clean eating" which I thought would translate in to starvation, no taste eating. Boy was I wrong, I've spent 3 days without any sugar, flour, or anything processed at all. It has been tasteful, satisfying and amazingly flavorful. I would have thought I could never take this kind of radical eating style on, but now I'm considering it. Moral of the story, don't be a naysayer before you have given something a chance.

Next item on my thoughts is to extend yourself generously to others anytime you have an opportunity. I have been on the receiving end of some very gracious warmth and hospitality from people who I barely know and live 100's of miles from me and I tell you, it feels so nice. I don't think I have ever been so lovingly treated by people who are almost strangers in my whole life. I always think people aren't interested in getting to know people they won't be involved with. Of course that is definitely one of the problems with my personality, but I'm going to aim to be more open to all of life's possibilities and people. It opens up my heart, mind and soul. Women are immensely varied and interesting people to know. They add so much to my life in all the many forms and types they come in. This week I've learned to knit and clean eat. Who knows who or what is around the corner for me next?

One thing I have learned in my 50 some years, is that when life throws you an oppurtunity, if at all possible, take it. Last week, I was on the phone with my girlfriend, and she said, can you come out next week, and I said yes. Clear some of the schedule and make it work. So I'm off to a week of fun time, relaxing, getting together with her friends, some snowshoeing and I'm going to learn to knit. Plus , My girlfriend has been taking some college classes in photography, so she and I are going to go out with our camera's, and she'll be sharing some of her knowledge with me. It took me all these years to be able to say "yes" to things like that, rather than live in my life of excuses, fear and "I can't" attitude. I know my life has become so much richer because of that, and this particular friend has been God's gift to me, in helping me learn this. So probably soon I'll be wearing a new hand knitted by me, scarf. Fun Fun.

I did an hour of yoga yesterday, trying to do something to overcome my hip issues. My pelvis is out of allignment and I've been in a lot of pain. Unfortunately, that didn't do the trick, however along with the pain I know have a lot of sore muscles to boot. Everything must have a cost, I guess. Not feeling particularly fabulous, but while taking it easy today, I spread some good cheer to my sister and read most of a good book. So not a total waste of time. Please God help my hip to be better soon, this is taking it's toll. It's probably good, to think in terms of how it's been for my Dad this last few years, suffering from chronic pain. It makes me worry that that might be my future. Well, I'm down right inspirational today.

I said it would happen, and it has. I feel like a big ole slug, Don't want to be excellent or accomplish anything. HOWEVER, I'm going to go get my buns moving, right now and see if I can turn this mood around. I'll let you know.

Purposeful

Well, after last weeks major house overhaul, I find this week there is definitely less physical work to do around here. That means I have to be alot more purposeful to find ways to move my body and that usually means down right exercise, and that's not always so motivating. I'm getting in my regular routines, but then I don't want to just add more just to get my physical activity up.. It shows, that I need to make moving daily alot more part of a regular routine. Whether that means adding classes, sports or play dates, I just will have to think on that. I hate to many appt's in my life. Arghhh. Change, so not easy. Anyways the cleaning lady didn't show up yesterday, so I waited until today, thinking she might, but alas no sign of her. I was actually happy, because that allowed me to clean myself, plus gave me extra movement. I'm sick, I know, but I'd actually rather clean, then lets say, have a yoga class to go to. Anyways, I'm off to spend the day with my girls and grandbabies, and teach my daughter some sewing.

Well as I woke to the day this morning, I have to admit my first thoughts were " Surely, I can't keep up this model of trying to live well for another week. :-)" Frankly I was exhausted, and longed to go back to my slow meandering through any day that I don't have to blast off somewhere to. However, I know after the eupohria of week one, this is really where the rubber meets the road. Better living will really boil down to developing habits of good and purposeful living everyday. So I'm off to conquer this Monday, with my "to do" list in my hand, my cucumber water prepared, my strawberry melon smoothie filling my tummy and a "Can Do" attitude. Week Two here I come.

I had a great week and feel proud of how I lived it. Managed to get in exercise 6 days this week, one being snowshoeing with my husband today. It feels great to break out of the ordinary routine. Plus I was able to enjoy one of my favorite hobbies, taking pictures of the great and beautiful outdoors. Loving my new book "The Divine Conspiracy" Makes me think, good for my brain to get a little exercise also. Off now to practice the piano.

I've been thinking alot this week, about what "better living" is really going to be all about for me, because in a all honesty, I already live pretty well. That is to say, I'm reasonably balanced. Each and every week I stay connected with a large family, I give to the community through volunteering, I use my spiritual gifts in a church body, I read, stay connected to world issues, balance a number of close friendships and find time for fun, exercise, household work and a variety of hobbies. Yet despite this, despite the fact that I have managed my life reasonably well, I don't really seem to make much of an impact on people, except in my closest circle of life. If I don't manage to leave this planet, leaving the fragrance of Christ in my wake, being a conduit of the life giving light that Christ has bestowed on me, than I haven't lived up to my purpose which I was created for. Glorify Christ with my life, in whatever I do. With that goal in mind, I want to make improvements in my life, tackle problems that entangle me, use my time more productively, continually improve my mind and talents and hopefully in the process, don't become totally self centered. Ahhh, life can be so complicated.
So with all that introspection aside, what have I done better this week? Well, I added more beauty through music, and turned off the TV more. I moved and exercised more and in the process kept my little household tasks more up to date. I treated my husband to a new recipe. I walked with my husband holding hands in the dark snowy streets of my neighborhood, I played the piano while my mother sang, I gave my father a pedicure, I started a new book on theology, and was able to give a scarf and gloves to a person I came upon who had none. That was just in the little moments in my life between the regular responsibilities. And I found I really like trying to live better every day. Of course, I know, I know, It's day 4 of a new year. May God have mercy on me and help me to continue.

BodyBug

I've got a Body Bug (you know those things they wear on The Biggest Loser) and I love it. Reason being, that it is very motivating to just plain keep moving. Because it all adds up. My goal has been to try to burn 2800 cals. a day. Now on a day with a workout in I usually get to about 2600 and I have to go above and beyond housework to get it up to 2800. One of my personal downfalls is that so many of the extracurriculars I do involve sitting. I'm a big reader and scrapbooker, I enjoyed getting together with friends and talking, I play around on the computer and work with pictures alot. I sew, I tutor, I mentor, I play the piano, all of the above are done on my rear end. Well, in my effort to live better, I've been adding little jobs to my regular routine and they are really adding up. For instance, last night, in stead of just doing the dishes, I also cleaned and reorganized several drawers in my kitchen. Anyways, I went over 3000 burned calories yesterday. First time ever! So now I'm going to regularly think about the fact, that every extra little job I do, helps me become a healthier person. Plus, the more active I am, the less obsessed I am with snacking.....

Blogger Brain

I've worked hard the last two days, but my brain has been obsesively blogging all day. I hope that stops. I don't want to constantly be thinking about what I'll say, however if that could be motivation to keep me going forward on this path, then I'll take it. My usual modas operandi is get on a bandwagon, stay about two weeks, get sick of it, jump off, feel guilty about jumping off, avoid anyone who knows about the bandwagon, promise to get back on, begin to hate the bandwagon, turn my back on it and look for another better bandwagon to get on. One that will be more interesting and fun. This is one of many traits about myself I would like to overcome. More about that later, anywhooooo, I have had a couple of heavy duty clean and organzize days. Just like everyone else, I'm cleaning up after the holidays. That in itself is not to inspiring. However I did a few things that I felt for me were better than average. I got in a couple of great workouts, thanks to my faithful workout buddy Cici, I drank 8 glasses of water each day, but to make it a little more special, I added cucumber yesterday and orange slices today. Very spa of me. I found a classical music station, programmed it to favorites and listened to that all day while I worked and when I finally sat down at about 4:30 today, I spent 45 minutes playing the piano. My body is tired and sore in a good way and I'm off to soak in my hot tub.

Here We Go.

I've always said that I'm sure my life would be better if I had a soundtrack to go with it. You know, you're at a movie, and the music swells as the hero or heroine face their challenges, and somehow they manage to live at a level that they hadn't been at before. I want that for my life. I want my everydays to be a bit more inspirational for those I travel this journey with. So with that in mind, this is my attempt to journal about the journey I'm going to take in 2010, to live better than I have in the past, live as if perhaps I'm a heroine in a wonderful novel, that my life is being watched and might make a difference for the good.