Made to Crave!

         

Where to even begin. Oh, yes. I signed up for my first EVER online (or in real life) bible study. It starts TOMORROW. It's based on Lysa Terkeurst's book "Made to Crave" (which is a fantastic book!) It's all about replacing your food cravings with cravings for God- sounds simple, but it isn't! Believe me, I've tried.

I signed up because I'm tired of always saying I will do something and not following through. I'm sick of having to buy clothes in larger sizes instead of smaller sizes. I'm sick of knowing this is my struggle, and not doing anything about it. This year, this time, I AM doing something about it.

This time, I believe it will work. I'm not in this alone either- over 35,000 women have signed up for this study! Amazing! We have blog hop days, prayer and praise days, assignments, small groups, it looks like it will be an amazing experience for everyone involved.

So if you are reading this, I hope you'll consider joining me on this journey, or at least following along on my journey to finally take care of what God gave me, and to focus on Him, not on the food.

Happy Saturday!

Does that make me crazy?

Way back on March 5, 2012 I started this blog. And here is why:

http://cuppofcoffee.blogspot.com/2012/03/first-time.html

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And here we are, almost 20 months later. Nothing has changed. If I were to have actually DONE something when I started this and said I would, imagine how different things could be. 

Now, OK, maybe some things have changed. Or many. But I wanted to write to make other people not feel so alone, not feel so inadequate and unwanted. I wanted to have this blog become a community of women who are friends. No perfection or judging allowed. I wanted to make a difference.

I wanted to share weight loss struggles, and debt issues, Bible verses, and dreams
I wanted to learn to cook, clean, sew, work, have children, make food from scratch, repurpose garbage into house decor. I wanted to become the Pinterest Expert. The girl who could do everything.

Instead, I've done nothing. And I've realized-

Can't I just bake chicken, scramble eggs, and make sure there is food in the house?
If mold isn't growing, can't cleaning wait until after I spend some time with my Husband? 
I can make a mean batch of boxed brownies, do I really need to make my own bread?
Do i need to make all natural home made cleaners, when I can get windex on sale?

I don't need to do it all. I just need to do what needs to be done. I don't need a picture-perfect home, and some (ok, a lot) of dog hair on the floor is FINE if the house isn't falling apart.

I've learned I don't need to coupon to save money. Therefore saving me time.
I've learned it's ok to not bake, because Kristi can bake for me.
I've learned it's ok to not sew, because I have friends who can help me.

I'm still going to Church. I still love God. I am a youth leader, and a Sunday school coordinator. I say yes way more than I should. I have way too much on my plate.

Let's add that to the list of things to work on...
 

This is NOT a diet

Trying to come up with a full menu on the dirt-cheap side. May not be nutritious, but we're young, and in debt. Cheap food it is!

Breakfasts

• Toast &Butter
• Cereal

Lunches

• Cereal
• PB &J
• Ramen
• Soup
• Snack-y lunch (cheese, kielbasa, crackers, fruit, etc)
• Cheese Quesadilla

Dinners

• Mac &Cheese
• Eggs &Toast
• Baked Chicken
• Pork Chops
• Roasts
• Meatballs
• Pancakes/Waffles

Snacks

• Boiled Eggs
• Popcorn 

Sides

• Frozen Veggies
• Stuffing
• Potatoes
• Noodles
• Bread (roll, garlic bread, etc)

Impact

Short post.

I Miss Impact.

Any youth who has gone would probably say this without hesitation. A youth leader. on the other hand, not so much.

I'm a youth leader, and I miss Impact. I'm sad we couldn't go.

All the planning, packing, food buying, requesting, organizing, etc. All the registration forms and permission slips and trips to the bank. All the calls and texts and emails and questions and answers...

It's all SO WORTH IT. And I can't wait till Zeteo '14. I miss my SNL friends.

Jeans Day

It's been about two weeks, or maybe only one. I lose track.

Anyways, I'm still working on the whole "You're not hungry, don't eat" thing. BUT I have taken the dogs for a walk and used the treadmill twice-progress.

I've found reading Sparkpeople articles, reading my weighdown book, and anything else "inspirational" every day helps me to stay motivated for that day. Hey, whatever works, right?

I am feeling a bit left out cause 2 of my coworkers are doing the new t25 program. However, I know its something I wouldn't enjoy. At. All. So I can't let that bother me, more like cheer them on for doing what THEY want to do to lose weight. It's not the same for everyone.

My house is almost completely clean. I've been decluttering. I hate having things in my home that I don't need.

And I have 3 Scentsy parties lined up- YAY :)

Oh, and WeighDown is all about finding jewels in your day. My jewel for today is my jeans fit for Jeans Day at work. :)

S'Mores

It seemed pressure came from every direction. It was unrelenting. Financial pressures brought worry. Children issues brought frustration. And an overloaded schedule kept me up at night. It got so bad I wanted to have a bonfire with all my to-do lists and make s'mores.

This was from Encouragement for Today. Her bonfire of to-do lists is rather similar to my analogy -

Picture a ceiling fan, with each blade LOADED with things to do, people to call/see/pray for, things to think about, things needing to be dealt with, obligations, etc. Now, picture that fan on high speed. That was my brain 2 weeks ago. So much running through my mind, it was all a blur and I got nothing done.

This is why I blog. At least in my head :)

See, my problem is, even with all those things to do, I think of more I want to do. How can I do what I want to do, when I'm already doing so many things I want to do.

Here's what's going on.
1. I joined my friend's wellness FB group. This post is my introduction to them :) 
2. Lucky(my german shepherd) graduated basic training last night. Judging by his behavior today, you'd never know.
3. I just purchased a car I have no money for. Thus making our super tight budget EVEN tighter. 
4. Number 3 happens when a car pulls out in to you on your way home from work.
5. I have no time for my priorities. (God, Husband, Health)
6. Number 5 is my main problem.

Is it weird that I feel that if I can get my 3rd priority (my health) in order, it will make finding time for the first two priorities easier? 

I'm tired. I have no energy. I am uncomfortable with myself. All I want to do is lay in bed. I do think if I were making time to exercise and eat a bit better, maybe I'd have more energy the rest of the time to better manage my time.

Better yet. I've lost over 40 lbs through weigh down (20 lbs each time I've done it) 

I KNOW IT WORKS. Food is just to yummy to resist. So honestly, getting in shape through exercises that I like, such as pilates, dvd work outs, just dance, and walks with the dogs, and eating better through following weigh down principles, I should be well on my way to being happier with myself, and feeling better in general.

I'm at my highest weight currently.I need to lose 30lbs to be in a healthy weight range (BMI under 25) 

Once I'm there, I will see how I feel and go from there. Thinking probably another 20lb after that, because there's a 40 lb ideal weight range.

But as with Weigh Down, God is in control. God designed my body. If I am eating according to my bodies needs, and not just because it tastes good, I should reach my ideal weight with no problem, no matter what weight that may be.

I have a shelf full of size 8 clothes that it would be nice to try on some time. :)

I have no idea how often I will post on here, but I'm hoping to use this to chronicle my getting out of debt, getting in to shape, managing my time better journey :)

Thanks for stopping by!

(BTW! My name is Lyndsay :) I work at a bank. I still plan to finish college one day. I'm a youth leader. I've been married for almost 3 years. No kids. Two puppies who act like kids, Lucky and Sonny. Two cats, XJ and Kitty. Four animals-we don't need kids yet! We rent. We plan to buy within a year or so. We also plan to have kids one day, but more on that another time. I like to ramble.)

What a weekend

So many things running through my mind.

Old friends
Preteen girl problems
30 hour famine
Salt n light
Inappropriate Rihanna songs
What makes you a Christian
Misleading and judgemental people
Is being classy old fashioned?
Is being nice and kind uncool?
Just say no.
Marriage
Husband, what
Why is my cat laying with me?
Denver
Ministry
Mission
Life.

That has to intrigue you.