Dear Friends,

You know if you are reading my newsletters that I’ve been working on my weight loss with a goal of losing 30 pounds.  I am happy to say I have now lost 12 of them.  I am almost half way to my goal!

It is a slow process as most weeks I only lose a pound.  It is a frustrating process as there are days I feel deprived.  I feel deprived because my eating habits were out of control and sometimes, every afternoon, I want to go back to those old eating habits.   I was putting the wrong foods and the wrong quantities in my mouth all too often, think daily or even multiple times a day here.  It had become a very bad habit.  That said, I think it is ok to have some of those “not so healthy choices” some of the time and in moderate amounts but not the way I had been previously eating them.

My biggest struggle is between lunch and supper when I get hungry.  I get bored.  I want something tasty.  I want that full feeling in my tummy.

So each day it becomes a battle with my mind, a test of my will power.  I keep thinking it will become easier one of these days.  It has not.

There are many habits we are encouraged to do when it comes to our health.  We are told to eat healthy, exercise, stop smoking (I’m not a smoker), get plenty of rest, decrease our stress and the list goes on.  Out of these, I’ve come to the conclusion that the number one habit to do when it comes to our health is to exercise.  Some of you may argue with me that diet or stopping smoking is more important and maybe for you it is.  For me though I see exercise being such a huge key to our health.

Exercise has a list of benefits a mile long.  It helps our muscles and joints, improves our brain’s functioning, regulates the hormones in our body, helps us sleep better and decreases stress just to name a few.

I also think exercise needs to be more than just moving our body.  I’m really seeing the importance of getting our heart rate up, and how in doing so, it in a way it cleanses our body and does a reset of all our body systems.  I know I feel better after I exercise.

Probably one of the biggest benefits that I’m counting on is that it will make me feel better in the future as I age.  I want to be able to move around as long as possible.  I want to be independent as long as possible.  There are things I never used to think about but in getting older and in watching my parents I desire having a healthy body as long as I am on this earth.

I wish though that I liked to exercise.  I don’t.  I don’t like going to the gym.  I don’t like the time it takes out of my day.  I don’t even like thinking about exercise.  I do like spending time outdoors especially now that things are starting to turn green.  I do like the dance lessons that my husband and I are taking.  I do like listening to podcasts when walking alone.  I do like walking with my husband, children or friends and chatting with them and sharing what is on our hearts.

I do see improvements with the whole weight loss, diet, exercise, healthy lifestyle thing I have going on.  I still have a long way to go but I’m determined.  I will get there.

Here are a few of the podcasts that I’m listening to these days.

Daily Audio Bible

The Model Health Show – Excellent for health and fitness

Pursuing a Balanced Life

Elise Gets Crafty

Etsy Conversations Podcast

The Launch Grow Joy Show

If any of you have any tips for me, please feel free to leave a comment as I am open to all the help I can get here.  Not only do I want to reach my weight loss goal but I want to be healthy and STAY healthy.

Be Creative Daily and Live Life Beautifully,

Nancy

Pictures from walk last night.  Enjoying God’s beauty.