Refreshed, Renewed & Energized

Day #8 of my second 21 day journey of better eating, better living and better health. Just in 8 days I have regained stamina I thought lost. While I eat to nourish I am really not hungry/craving foods. I am excited to do the next day's exercise, excited to see changes in my body. This is totally a transformation and I can hardly wait to see the portrait of me my mind had drawn.

Up for the Challenge

Ending the 21 day healthylife awareness journey that began June 1st with an amazing drop in my blood sugar & blood pressure and 5 lbs. vanished is only the beginning of what I hope to accomplish.

I now step into a new 21 day program. This journey is an awareness of my body's need for nourishment and exercise, not my personal habitual need to eat and sit. It is learning that aging can be beautiful if the mind will allow it. As I complete Day#2 and embark on Day #3 I am giving my mind permission to let my body enjoy the goodness of a healthy aging. 

"Get up and get moving!"

Day 21

Yippee!!!!! The sugar is down even more, weight is standing still for today, BP was also amazingly lower. Didn't get exercise in today. I made it my rest day. Was just a little threatened today by sweets in the home. I confess I had a couple chocolate dipped strawberries and a dipped apple. Overall I have been very disciplined. Ate light, drank my proten smoothie but did not consume as much water as I should. I have recently learned that to flush out the toxins and help me stay full I must drink at least half my body weight daily. That's good-to-know-information. 

So, down with Day 21. 

Day 20

Motivation isn't easy when you've been idle too long. It took a reality check to put a step back into my walk. Started my journey June 1st. Now on day 20 as I climb my mountain I can begin to see the top, although still far away it's closer than before.

Reality brings things home, makes us appreciate life and the determination to live it with as much enthusiasm as one can muster. A good healthy attitude and a lifetime to match makes the road a happier one.

When I began this journey, my blood pressure reading was just a bit too high and blood sugar teetering on the Diabetes side. Although I am not overweight, it seems to be that eating wrong foods of late had moved the weight into an area of the body that is not healthy. Today I weighted in 4 1/2 lbs. lighter, BP 112/71 and pulse rate at 64. Sugar was a bit too high, 122. I am educating myself in a fast way what constitutes a sugar. I forgot that my pure organic raw honey I normally use in my de-caf evening coffee with a touch of cinnamon is not recommended, hence the higher sugar reading. Honey went in the trash. In fact, I have cleaned out a lot of things from my pantry. Salt no longer has residency here. Water has moved in. 

Off the couch and out the door!  Gym time, outdoor bicycling, walking the dogs, walking me ( a little humor), floor exercise, DVD Workout, mowing yard, and whatever else I can find to keep me moving. I have a healthy and sensible breakfast, my protein shake with fruit about mid-day and end the day with another sensible meal, adding water throughout the day.

Day 20 down and out.

New Dawn

Energized for another beautiful dawning, I sit outside awaiting the sounds and visits of the early morning backyard birds while sipping on my hot, bold coffee. During early to late Spring and even early Summer this time is my moment of tranquility, of a beauty that is etching its own image of God's beautiful creation. 

While there are many chirping sounds, there's an unusual melodic tune filling the air from atop the trees. What bird is that? Wait! It's many different birds. I continue to scout the trees, the rooftop, the skies. Where are those birds that are bringing such beauty to my ears? A soft breeze flows through the tallest pine and I see him singing his song. It is only one bird! Yes, it is him, Mr Mockingbird. He has a gift of memicking the sounds of other birds, even frogs and incorporating them into one beautiful song. I counted 16 different sounds before he paused to start again. Yes, I did hear the frog sound as he hit a low note. 

I continue to enjoy my tranquility time when the backyard becomes quiet..ery quiet. All of a sudden a beautiful big Red-Tailed Hawk swoops down to the ground from behind the pines and the sounds of many birds sing their alert sound. How I hate this moment: the beauty and life of many birds being jepordized by the beauty of another. God, in all His beautiful creation knew what He was doing. Yes, it is the "dawning of a new day", again.

Did you know?

Once upon a time, long ago there was this great love that could not be contained. One person held onto this love for as long as one can and from that love an even greater love was birthed. Brilliance like unimaginable radiated from this amazing love, touching many who in turn told about this love. Time passes. Excitement and joy of telling about this love became so overwhelming that jealous reared its ugly head trying to crush this rippling magnitude of love. Destruction was inevitable. Mission was accomplished, so it was thought. A love so great cannot be destroyed. This love was created by the one who created all things. 

Now you know the "rest of the story".

~kdhuff~

"Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Drifting Along

Yesterday was awesome! Great reviews on the work front with new job title, got in an early morning exercise, great hair day, dinner out with friends was relaxing, got that "oh-so-expensive" jacket on sale, and surprisingly laughed often. 

However, today is another story.  Lay-offs are announced. With the new title comes the dreaded responsibility of downsizing; great friends, but none want to listen; stress is looming; today is defiantly a hair-pulling" day; there's a snag in that new expensive jacket and trying to muster a smile seems impossible. What else can go wrong??!!!!!

Do you take what the day offers or do you offer something to the day? Are you just drifting along, living each day with a "come what may" attitude or do you live each day with a "hello world, it's me" attitude? Life will pass leaving you with many regrets or life will pass leaving you happy and content. It's simply a choice made daily. 

"In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly master."

 ~Colossians 3:23 

"Let all that you do be done in love."

~1 Corinthians 16:14

Healthy eating. Where does it get us?

The story goes, "if you want a good life eat right & exercise". Kind of not true because you can eat whatever you want and have a life, not necessarily a good one. It is when I was faced with a health issue that I said, "No More!" 

My doctor ran the test one day and the next day I was sitting in her office dreading the outcome. I had known for the last two years that my diet was not like it use to be. My weight fluctuated a few pounds up and down, but nothing drastic. I had gone through physical therapy a couple of times for some back issues. My exercise regiment was defeated, at least this is what I told myself. So the "I-will-do-better-later attitude" was born. Meals prepared at home were seldom. Eating out or going through a drive-thru was so easier. I had responsibilities. They were keeping me busy. I was stressing over things I had no control over. Slowly I was giving up on me and giving into everything and everyone. So when the doctor sat back in her chair turned around and faced me I knew times were about to change. They did. I was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. What an awakening! She was about to write a prescription when I said, "Wait!" She looked up and was prepared to speak when I simply stated, "give me a chance to change this through diet and exercise". 

I was surprised at her response. She was in agreement, even liked the idea that I chose to try and beat it before I chose medicine. I have 6 months to correct this diagnosis. I have seen a dietician, gone back to the gym, become more active, less stressed and get the required rest to maintain a healthy life. Each day brings renewed hope that I will accomplish my goal: to be healthy and fit.