Let's face it, don't we all want this sometimes? 

A Little Now, Longer to Go

So, in my last post I talked about how I was on the road to changing things. My plan is to get healthier for the glory of God. To take care of my temple the way that He has intended. Well, here is a little more about what I am doing and an update. 

I've been starting with eating foods that help to burn fat and that are yummy. The yummy part is important because if it isn't good, there is no way I am going to eat it. I have been eating mostly turkey and chicken as my protein at lunch and dinner. I also am eating more vegetables and fruit, my favorite being blackberries and blueberries. Another thing that has made a difference is breakfast which is a variety of different things. Some of the things I eat for breakfast are: eggs, whole wheat bagels with cream cheese, oatmeal, frosted mini wheats, fruit, and my most favorite! whole wheat waffles with peanut butter (so good!). I also drink either orange juice or coffee in the morning. I have found that breakfast really does make a difference in helping me be more alert in the morning and able to eat better balanced meals throughout the day. For the busy mornings I grab a Kashi granola bar. This week I have Dark Almond Mocha, very delicious. Other foods and snacks that I eat are applesauce, almonds (my favorite go-to), pretzels, white-corn tortillas and low-fat yogurt. I also discovered delicious smoothie mix from Yoplait! Another key staple in my day is water! Water, water, water! I have pretty much cut out soft drinks and tea, mostly because of the sugar. I get my caffeine from the coffee that I drink. Another thing that I have that helps me is an app on my iTouch called My Fitness Pal. It is specified to my height and weight and tells me my calorie goal. I enter everything that I eat and drink and my exercise and it calculates it all to whether I stayed at or below my goal or if I went over. I really like this app because it tells me the breakdown of whether I'm eating mostly carbs or fats and what things I went over on. Most importantly, it has helped me to count calories and learn portion sizes. 

As far as exercise goes, I try and do mostly cardio three times a week, and then strength exercises the other days. On Saturdays, I alternate walking and running for up to an hour. I'm slowly trying to build my way up to complete running. The first Saturday I was able to run for 5 minutes (although not consecutively) and the next Saturday I was able to run for 6 minutes total, at 2 minute intervals. So mostly, the other 55 minutes is walking at a semi-fast pace. 

Now for the update. After the first week that I started and changed my diet and starting exercising, I lost 2 pounds. That isn't much, but it shows a change and is encouraging. I have noticed other changes though like more energy and just feeling better. I only weigh myself once a week, usually on Friday mornings. Any more than that I am only going to get obsessed with the number and those fluctuate so much. 

Now for the bad. I do normally allow myself one "cheat" day where I continue to watch portions and what I eat, however I do not document it in My Fitness Pal. Well, the past couple of days have all been cheat days. I have not done well in eating right and watching portions. I relate this to lack of time to plan and actually eat a meal and also that I am getting "bored." This week is also difficult for me to intentionally make meals, with having a long list of homework to do. However, really this is showing my lack of self-control and procrastination in doing what I know is the best thing. The past few days I have not watched portions, skipped meals, and gone through too many fast food lines. I was going to tell which ones, but I think I will refrain. Even if you think it's possible to make a "healthy" choice at a restaurant, it is very rare to actually do. It is way better to take the time to make and eat a meal at home. 

Here is to getting back on the road to better and healthy eating. 

For His glory! 

It's a Life Change, Worship to the Lord

If there is one thing you haven't learned from reading my blog and seeing pictures that I have taken, I love trees.  My all time favorite scene to capture is the sun shining through trees like the one above. Not to mention two of my favorite Bible verses speak of trees, vines and branches. 

This is a passage found in John chapter 15, verses 1-8:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

Another of my favorites speaks about the Cross and how we are healed by Christ's wounds in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 24: 

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

I took the picture above at Camp Sumatanga in Alabama earlier this year when my college ministry went on our Winter Road Trip. This was the last chance I would have to go on a roadtrip with my college ministry. Of course it was bittersweet, but it was also a wonderful time! I hate that I didn't take more pictures, but I was too busy soaking up the Word and enjoying fellowship with my brother and sisters. 

We focused on the Gospel and how it impacts us as individuals and how it impacts the church, both body and building. 

One part of the teaching that sticks out to me is focused around Romans 12:1-8:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

Here are some notes that I took from that session:

• The Gospel changes how we use our bodies, simply because Christ is our treasure. 
• Every "do not" in the Word is drenched in love. We are to not conform, but to be transformed. 
• The Gospel changes how we use our minds and how we think.
• The Gospel changes how we think of ourselves. 
• The Gospel changes how we view the local church and our assigned roles.

The bullet point in bold is the one that had the most impact on me and something that the Lord has really placed on my heart to truly think about and take to heart. I'm not saying that I have had a negative self-image, but I mean let's face it, I am a girl. What girl, or guy for that matter, has never thought about something that they would change about themselves? It hasn't been until recently that I have begun to see what it means to belong to the Lord as His daughter, to view my body "as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." 

I have always had that "resolution" to lose weight, eat healthier, and fit into a smaller pair of jeans. As we all know, resolutions rarely ever last. Then, my view of losing weight turned to: getting healthier. It isn't about looking better, gaining attention from guys or competing against other women to "look good." It is about "true and proper worship." My body is not my own, but God's. I was created in His image to do His work. This is about being transformed by renewing my mind to the things of Christ. I want to be the daughter and servant that He has called me to be. 

The discipline is hard, physically and spiritually, but in the end the harvest is righteousness and peace. 

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 'Make level paths for your feet,' so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."

Hebrews 12:11-13

So, here I am on this new journey. 

One that will be hard, but I know will be worth it in the end. 

A transformation and renewing of my mind, of how I think about myself. 

A journey to discover the way that the Lord sees me. 

Beautiful, holy and pleasing to Him. 

We Lost, But Then We Won

Last November, LSU came to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama in what was called the Game of the Century. 

It was a lot of pressure for these two teams in what is already a heated rivalry. 

Now, in Tuscaloosa, we had ESPN camping out, more people in the city than we had ever had before, and two teams that were hoping to pull out a win. For LSU, it was to remain undefeated and have a chance at the National Championship game. For Alabama, it was the same, but they were also playing for redemption and to revive a town that was torn. Alabama was playing for a greater cause. Just as LSU aimed, and succeeded, to win the National Championship game for their fans after their home state had been ripped and flooded by Hurricane Katrina, Alabama had the same notion. To play and win the National Championship game for their state and fans who had been torn and impacted by a wave of deadly storms and tornadoes that ripped apart their state, including Tuscaloosa, the home of the Crimson Tide, in April of 2011. 

The Game of the Century ended with LSU on top and what appeared to be a sure win in the National Championship game to take place in January. Alabama thought that their chances were gone. Then, a turn of events that could only happen in college football, gave the Tide a second chance. The teams that needed to win did, and the ones who needed to lose, lost. At the end of the day, LSU was number one and Alabama was right behind them in the number two seat. Controversy and anger came from many different ends, while excitement, nervousness and elated joy came from Bama supporters. It was a second chance that was unbelievable, but it was here. 

LSU and Alabama would have a rematch. 

In the National Championship game in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Alabama would win. 

Here are some other pictures of me and the group throughout the weekend.

The group the day before the game at the Riverwalk.

The group at the Pep Rally in Jackson Square. 

The morning on the game after we got our tickets!! 

Roll Tide!

Group shot after the game!

Champions again!

Roll Tide! 

:-)

Posts and Pictures coming soon!

Hey Everyone! Well, it has been awhile again. The last time that I posted was in January and I had just gotten through with Christmas Break. 

Well, now it is the end of my Spring Break. I worked for part of the week in Tuscaloosa and then came home to do nothing for the rest of the week. 

Many things have happened since January and I plan to have posts and pictures to tell you all about it. Things are only about to get more busy around here and I want to keep you informed.

 :-) 

Some things that you can expect to read about soon include: National Championship game in New Orleans, Winter Road Trip with my college ministry, school in general, a new job, 30 Hour Famine and my upcoming Graduation. 

Stay tuned! 

:-) 

Hey Everyone! 

I'm back in Tuscaloosa now from Christmas Break. 

Last weekend I was able to go back to New Orleans for a visit, because my school's football team went to participate in the BCS National Championship game and won! :-)  

I am so glad that I was able to go down and actually go to the game! It was amazing and sooo much fun! 

I'm too tired right now to do a whole post on it, but one will be coming soon filled with pictures! 

:-) 

Hope everyone is doing well and Roll Tide! 

:-) 

Learning to Trust

I was reading in the first couple of chapters of Luke the other day, which talk about Elizabeth and Mary both being told that they would become with child.
First, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, telling him that his wife would be pregnant with John the Baptist. Then, the same angel appeared to Mary and Joseph, telling them that they would be pregnant with the Savior of the world, Jesus. 

While Mary was pregnant, she went to visit Elizabeth for about three months. She stayed with her and then returned to her home. Shortly after, Elizabeth gave birth. 

I thought about how the Lord allowed Elizabeth and Mary to be pregnant around the same time. Although they were months apart, they were experiencing the same thing in that period of their life. He allowed them to be friends and be near each other to be encouragement for one another. 

I think it is the same way in our lives sometimes. We may be going through this season in our life, where sometimes we can feel all alone. Then, God in His infinite love and wisdom for us, sends us someone that can be an encouragement to us. He sends us someone who may be in that same season of their life, that can give us advice and encouragement, listen to us talk, and be there when we shed some tears. 

I am so thankful for my best friend. We have only known each other for a little over 2 years, this August will be 3 years. But, together we have already been through so much together. I am so blessed to have her in my life and thankful for the encouragement that she gives me. Sadly, we no longer live near each other, but thanks to Skype, we are able to still see each other's faces. 

Last night was one of those nights where I needed some encouragement, advice, someone just to sit there as I cried. I love how she can tell when something is wrong, even when I say that it is all okay. 

She knows me too well. 

Truth is, in 5 months I will be graduating college and I have no idea where I am going right now. 

Absolutely no idea. 

And I have not been trusting God with it all.

It is hard to give everything to Him, because we are human and want so much to have some control of our lives. But, if I claim to put my faith in Him, to allow Him to be my Savior, I have to give it all. 

He already knows what the future holds. 

That should be enough. 

I have to trust Him.