B8 - How am I doing????

This month is nearly over and I took a good look at the Big Eight and how I am doing as far as working toward my goals. I began the new year by setting my alarm to get up 30 minutes early each week day in order to get my quiet time in early in the morning. I have done this consistently! I have even been to exercise in mornings before school, too! I know that whatever I do first thing in the morning is DONE and NOTHING can take it away!  I have a great morning routine that has worked for me this month.


MORNING ROUTINE:
1. Get up, weigh, pour up a cup of coffee.
2. Do my Connect the Dots devotion Monday-Friday. Saturday/Sunday study the Bible on my own - Philippians for me right now. I do it ALL on the computer. I put Pandora on Instrumental Praise music and pop in my headphones. I look my scripture up on www.biblegateway.com. I downloaded Connect the Dots in PDF from Harp's Crossing Baptist Church's website http://www.harpscrossing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Volume-1-January-March.pdf. I highlight on it and make notes electronically. I have this wonderful quiet time each morning and I really look forward to it!!! I make sure when I finish that everything is ready for the next morning.
3. Take my vitamins/meds and fill up my water bottle. I start chugging my water!
4. I do anywhere from 15-30 minutes of exercise. I bought an exercise bike and a treadmill at thrift stores and I get on one of those for my morning workout. Love that I get some exercise in early so that my metabolism gets a jump start and no matter what the rest of the day holds, I have done at least some exercise!
5. I pack my lunch, make my protein shake and put it in the freezer.
6. I shower and get dressed.
7. I grab my lunch, shake and everything I need for the day and head out the door.
8. I sip on my cold shake on the way to school.


This routine really works for me! I get sleepier earlier in the evening so I am going to bed at a decent time for the first time in my adult life!


Here is the B8 - Big Eight - and how I'm doing. I really need this accountability.
2014 Resolutions - AKA MY BIG EIGHT (B8)! How am I doing?????
Working on this daily. 1. Talk and LISTEN to God every day! Seek His will!  Be where He wants me to be - do what He wants me to do. Be in the center of His will! Praise and worship Him every day! Proverbs 3:6  (TLB) In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

Doing this daily. 2. Read and study His word every day. Joshua 1:8 (HCSB)This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite^[a] it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 

Praying for opportunities like a mission trip. 3. Tell others about Him! Reach out and share the gospel! John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Struggling with this one a lot!!! This is the hardest for me!!! 4. Stop worrying!!! Trust HIM! I am giving myself permission NOT to worry! Philippians 4:6 (TLB) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.

Still struggling but have made some progress. 5. Stop letting other people affect my happiness. Look to HIM to be HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY! Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.



Making  progress! Having the kids/grandkids over for a meal a couple of times a month.   6. Spend more time with my family. Joshua 24:15 (KJV) ...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Ephesians 5:24 (TLB) ²⁴ So you wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the Church obeys Christ.



Making some progress- I am leaving 30 minutes earlier than usual but still staying 2 hours after my scheduled work hours. 7. Spend less time at work. Luke 12:27 (KJV) Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Making good progress! Eliminating artificial sweeteners from my diet and exercising every single day! 8. Take care of the temple - eating right, exercising, going to the doctor when I need to and being good to myself.


I have learned that nothing happens by accident and I have to be INTENTIONAL about doing the important things! I have to keep my goals in my mind if I am to change! January is usually a great month for following resolutions. February is a month where many of these resolutions are forgotten. I have to remember this and guard my heart from this! I can only do this with God's help. GOD IS MY STRENGTH for I am weak!

If I were on The Biggest Loser, then this is a Jillian Michaels Moment!

I have been gaining and losing the same 10 pounds for over a year now! Every time, EVERY TIME I approach getting 170's , I begin to not track my food and inch back up on the scales toward 190! This last time at 185 pounds, I realized that if I was on The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels would be pulling me out of the gym and parking my big fanny on the front steps. She would be saying, "What is going on? Why are you sabotaging yourself? You put in the work, eat right and then just blow it all! WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?"  I have heard that question resounding in my mind and have searched and prayed for the answer. It is the same fear that I have in all aspects of my life: FEAR OF FAILURE! I am afraid that if I go after it with all I got that it will not be enough! There, I've said it! It has been a true breakthrough in my thinking....an epiphany! I weighed 181.6 this morning. I have lost a total of 51.6 pounds! I am approaching the ambush zone where I subconsciously sabotage my own journey. I am barreling through this self-imposed road block...risking it all...facing forward with not even a glance behind me....my battle cry is GOODBYE 180s HELLO 170s GOD IS MY STRENGTH!!! Fall on my face or breakthrough the roadblock....either way, I am going for it!!!!

Taking a Break!

The more I focused on The Big Eight, the more I realized that some of the things in my life would need to move much lower on my priority list in order to concentrate on the important things - The Big Eight things. One of those things is Facebook. Since I have been recovering from my appendectomy December 18, I have spent hour upon hour on Facebook. I am not saying Facebook is bad, please don't think that! I am saying that God showed me that I was spending too much time on Facebook. Number 1 on B8 (The Big Eight) is to talk and listen to God and I would get on Facebook first thing every morning instead of spending time with HIM. Number 6 on B8 is to spend more time with my family and Donnie has pointed out many times that I am spending too much time on Facebook, too. I can give excuses as to all the advantages of Facebook but I just won't. I have an ALL OR NONE personality - some may call it an addictive personality. Whichever it is, I tend to go after things whole hog and that can be good and bad. So, as of last night, I deactivated my Facebook account. A friend commented that she would see me in two days because that is how long it lasted when I took a break before - see how obsessed I get!!! I will really miss seeing pictures and posts of my family and friends! I will miss the group Fit Friends so much because of their support. I am not saying that I will never be back at this point but I will have to limit myself when I do come back. It's not just Facebook that I spend too much time on - it's electronics in general - iphone, ipad, Kindle and laptop. Right now, as I am weaning myself off Facebook, I realize that those things will have to be weaned off, too, eventually. This is much tougher for me than doing the Couch to 5K program! GOD IS MY STRENGTH!