That children's song always makes me laugh (because all the kids get tickled and shocked about singing "P-P" together). But today, it fits!
Last year was a difficult year. Through all the different things we faced, I re-gained every pound I had lost over the last year and a half, and then some. The second week in December, I had a wake-up call of sorts. With my husband's support and encouragement, we made some adjustments to our diet. I thought I would never get through the holidays, but I did, and didn't gain a pound. The weight is not coming off as easy as before, but my blood pressure is slowly coming back down (110/82 today!) and I have to keep my mind focused on the road ahead and not the path behind.
I do not enjoy exercise. Never have, and probably never will. But then, I also don't enjoy cleaning the bathroom, but it still has to be done.
Monday I got a phone call from one of my doctors. I was expecting part of the news, but was quite upset to hear the other: she was unhappy with my cholesterol levels (both the good and bad have dropped 10-15 points - good in my book, but the ratios made her unhappy). I felt like the last 2 months had been in vain. The next day I bought a chocolate chip cookie and a Dr. Pepper. The cookie tasted salty and the Dr. Pepper didn't have quite the same flavor it used to have. I wasn't sure whether to be happy or disappointed. I ended up only drinking 1/4 of the drink that day. Today I had a follow-up with my general practitioner, only to find out he is temporarily satisfied with the results. I did get the usual "You've got to be good" lecture, but this time he gave more basic food principles, which I already knew, but it was good to be reminded that I'm on the right path. As for the cholesterol, he said they were still within normal levels and if I continue to eat right and exercise I should be okay.
The coolest thing...seeing the frame in his office today. It's a duotone painting that resembles a child's drawing - a blue tree that has been chopped in half, with a small green shoot coming from the side. Above it is the Bible verse "He makes all things new." (from Rev 21:5) I SO needed that reminder and encouragement today! No matter how frustrating, how hard, or how challenging, with God's help I can do this! And I like the reality that a growth is always smaller than the stem or original product. Growth is small and hard, but that doesn't mean it's not there.
Now if there were just some way to make bread and sweet tea taste bad...
Last year was a difficult year. Through all the different things we faced, I re-gained every pound I had lost over the last year and a half, and then some. The second week in December, I had a wake-up call of sorts. With my husband's support and encouragement, we made some adjustments to our diet. I thought I would never get through the holidays, but I did, and didn't gain a pound. The weight is not coming off as easy as before, but my blood pressure is slowly coming back down (110/82 today!) and I have to keep my mind focused on the road ahead and not the path behind.
I do not enjoy exercise. Never have, and probably never will. But then, I also don't enjoy cleaning the bathroom, but it still has to be done.
Monday I got a phone call from one of my doctors. I was expecting part of the news, but was quite upset to hear the other: she was unhappy with my cholesterol levels (both the good and bad have dropped 10-15 points - good in my book, but the ratios made her unhappy). I felt like the last 2 months had been in vain. The next day I bought a chocolate chip cookie and a Dr. Pepper. The cookie tasted salty and the Dr. Pepper didn't have quite the same flavor it used to have. I wasn't sure whether to be happy or disappointed. I ended up only drinking 1/4 of the drink that day. Today I had a follow-up with my general practitioner, only to find out he is temporarily satisfied with the results. I did get the usual "You've got to be good" lecture, but this time he gave more basic food principles, which I already knew, but it was good to be reminded that I'm on the right path. As for the cholesterol, he said they were still within normal levels and if I continue to eat right and exercise I should be okay.
The coolest thing...seeing the frame in his office today. It's a duotone painting that resembles a child's drawing - a blue tree that has been chopped in half, with a small green shoot coming from the side. Above it is the Bible verse "He makes all things new." (from Rev 21:5) I SO needed that reminder and encouragement today! No matter how frustrating, how hard, or how challenging, with God's help I can do this! And I like the reality that a growth is always smaller than the stem or original product. Growth is small and hard, but that doesn't mean it's not there.
Now if there were just some way to make bread and sweet tea taste bad...
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