I am also a small business owner of a small little cake decorating company that I built from nothing, grew to something, and then scaled back to not-such-a-big-something again… for the moment anyway. I am very passionate about my little blessing based business, I am quite attached to it, and I rather enjoy getting to be a part of a few things on occasion that can in return bless a friend, or a stranger, or merely just be a sweet indulgence for someone now and again. It’s a cake and cupcake business… it’s edible art. It’s something created that is meant to be shared, and eaten, and it’s not at all healthy, it’s merely a tasty, pretty, celebration piece.
I understand wanting followers, I get wanting to be seen, I get wanting to make a positive impact on the world around me. And yet, for some odd reason, I also feel like I need to almost defend some of my own personal health related decisions that I’ve been making over the past nine months, and clearly state that an occasional cupcake and a little free soul care motivation here or there is the only thing I’m at all concerned about promoting right now.
I have chosen to embrace my health from a totally free and pure approach this time. I am not part of or affiliated with any organization, or business, or team, or gym, or health coach.
Nearly a year ago I hit a personal low… after trudging through a very long and low season of loss in my life. And one day I woke up and realized that it was time for a change. It was time to start trying to pick up a few more pieces of my crumbly life and continue to try piece myself slowly back together again.
For a year and a half I’d already been diligently working on healing some deep wounds and pains after the loss of our infant daughter, a child I had prayed for, wished for, gutturally begged and pleaded to God for for over seventeen years… and when He finally granted that wish, He also blessed her with a little disease called Trisomy 18. She would never live to come home with us, and would get the joy of meeting Jesus before meeting her mom and dad.
I grieved, I mourned, I healed. Well, I started to heal. It took a long time for my body to physically heal from the effects of this on my body, and I know I will never reach a state of complete healing mentally or physically while I’m still on earth. But through our loss, God set me out on an amazing and powerful journey of finding myself and finding my faith.
As I diligently worked on my inner hurts, focusing so intently on my soul and my heart and my mind, I allowed my outer self to fall apart a little. I gained quite a bit of weight, and I chose to ignore it for a long time. My whole life I’ve battled weight and body image. I’ve dealt with eating issues and diet issues and perfection issues for as long as I can remember. The rollercoaster ride of my crazed reality was nothing new.
But God kept working, He kept nudging and whispering and carefully pushing me toward a humbleness of knowing it was again time to return to a healthier way of living. I heard it and fought it for a very long time. I refused to listen - until the reality could no longer be denied as I could no longer physically fit into anything I owned.
Pride set in and I refused to allow myself to purchase yet another set of clothes another size larger. Pride and financial thriftiness also set in and I would not allow justification to spend any money specifically towards this new health quest.
I would not join a gym and pay any membership fees. I would not sign on and pay any type of health coach. I would not sign up for any kind of diet fad plan currently available out there.
This was merely between me, and God, and nature.
And that is exactly what I did. It was very hard and very slow going and I was incredibly discouraged for a very long time. But I chose to not give up. I chose to continue to get up every morning and just try do the next right thing, figure out the next right thing to try tackle next. I had good days, I had worst days, I had ok days. In time, I slowly started making some small headway… and the more I learned, the more I figured out, the more determined I became.
I tried to not talk about it much… but unfortunately when the inside of your brain is filled and transfixed on something that it’s diligently working on, what you think about tends to often seep into what you also talk about. But I honestly tried to just remain quiet, and remain diligent.
I’m not there yet, I never will be. But I’m further than what I was. At least for today I am. I do live in fear that falling off the bandwagon is only one bad choice away - only one Bunny Tracks® double scoop away from forever leaving this current quest for living a naturally healthy life.
All that being said, I have had a few people ask me what I’ve done, what I’m doing, what I’ve taken to get where I currently stand today.
I am not a health coach in any way shape or form. I am not taking any sort of product or supplement. I am not drinking any kind of special colored drinks or shakes, I am not on any all-or-nothing type diet. I am not selling or endorsing anything (expect my cupcakes, which I’m sorry ~ will not help you one iota on any diet plan).
I have chosen a few really close, really strong people to journey beside me and hold me accountable, whom I know will love me and be honest and real with me through both my failures and my successes. They lift me up, they pull me back in, they drag me along, they walk beside me, and these few friends have become my absolute rocks.
I drink water. Lots of water - and I should probably drink more. I occasionally will put in a little crystal light drink mix thingy, but that’s it. I still drink coffee every day, and I still use creamer. I switched to unsweetened almond milk. I have given up all pop and alcohol.
I eat from all food groups, I just record what I eat, and try eat in moderation. I do a kind-of old school weight watchers type thing I think - but I’m not officially a paying weight watchers person. I have some off brand old app I log everything into, along with another off brand old app where I try find what numbers I need to log from the food that I eat. No bar code scanning, no weekly weighing and meetings. I do weigh twice a week, but alone in my bathroom. I still eat carbs - even white sandwich bread. I still eat crackers and an occasional sweet… I just eat a whole lot more fruits, vegetables, and meats. I eat pork, beef, deer, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs… I eat dairy and cheese. I just watch how much I eat of it all. I take a multivitamin, a cascara sagrada, and some extra magnesium every day. I take a prescription sleeping pill every night, and some days a few alieve pain relievers (because I run, but I'm really not a runner...)
I try exercise several times a week. I don’t belong to a gym, I don’t have a personal trainer. I don’t lift weights, or crossfit, or bodypump, or yoga, or any kind of video things. I simply walk and I run - either on my treadmill or outside in the elements alongside the beauty of nature. I log my distance and time after most workouts. I trained and ran a half marathon in May. I hope to run another in June, and a final one in October. I did splurge and purchased an elliptical for my birthday this winter. Oh, and I convinced my husband last week to finally cobble together my now twenty-year-olds bike from ten years ago, so I can maybe start riding that too… but I haven’t actually convinced myself to get on it just yet.
I would not join a gym and pay any membership fees. I would not sign on and pay any type of health coach. I would not sign up for any kind of diet fad plan currently available out there.
This was merely between me, and God, and nature.
And that is exactly what I did. It was very hard and very slow going and I was incredibly discouraged for a very long time. But I chose to not give up. I chose to continue to get up every morning and just try do the next right thing, figure out the next right thing to try tackle next. I had good days, I had worst days, I had ok days. In time, I slowly started making some small headway… and the more I learned, the more I figured out, the more determined I became.
I tried to not talk about it much… but unfortunately when the inside of your brain is filled and transfixed on something that it’s diligently working on, what you think about tends to often seep into what you also talk about. But I honestly tried to just remain quiet, and remain diligent.
I’m not there yet, I never will be. But I’m further than what I was. At least for today I am. I do live in fear that falling off the bandwagon is only one bad choice away - only one Bunny Tracks® double scoop away from forever leaving this current quest for living a naturally healthy life.
All that being said, I have had a few people ask me what I’ve done, what I’m doing, what I’ve taken to get where I currently stand today.
I am not a health coach in any way shape or form. I am not taking any sort of product or supplement. I am not drinking any kind of special colored drinks or shakes, I am not on any all-or-nothing type diet. I am not selling or endorsing anything (expect my cupcakes, which I’m sorry ~ will not help you one iota on any diet plan).
I have chosen a few really close, really strong people to journey beside me and hold me accountable, whom I know will love me and be honest and real with me through both my failures and my successes. They lift me up, they pull me back in, they drag me along, they walk beside me, and these few friends have become my absolute rocks.
I drink water. Lots of water - and I should probably drink more. I occasionally will put in a little crystal light drink mix thingy, but that’s it. I still drink coffee every day, and I still use creamer. I switched to unsweetened almond milk. I have given up all pop and alcohol.
I eat from all food groups, I just record what I eat, and try eat in moderation. I do a kind-of old school weight watchers type thing I think - but I’m not officially a paying weight watchers person. I have some off brand old app I log everything into, along with another off brand old app where I try find what numbers I need to log from the food that I eat. No bar code scanning, no weekly weighing and meetings. I do weigh twice a week, but alone in my bathroom. I still eat carbs - even white sandwich bread. I still eat crackers and an occasional sweet… I just eat a whole lot more fruits, vegetables, and meats. I eat pork, beef, deer, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs… I eat dairy and cheese. I just watch how much I eat of it all. I take a multivitamin, a cascara sagrada, and some extra magnesium every day. I take a prescription sleeping pill every night, and some days a few alieve pain relievers (because I run, but I'm really not a runner...)
I try exercise several times a week. I don’t belong to a gym, I don’t have a personal trainer. I don’t lift weights, or crossfit, or bodypump, or yoga, or any kind of video things. I simply walk and I run - either on my treadmill or outside in the elements alongside the beauty of nature. I log my distance and time after most workouts. I trained and ran a half marathon in May. I hope to run another in June, and a final one in October. I did splurge and purchased an elliptical for my birthday this winter. Oh, and I convinced my husband last week to finally cobble together my now twenty-year-olds bike from ten years ago, so I can maybe start riding that too… but I haven’t actually convinced myself to get on it just yet.
I go to the chiropractor once or twice a month. And I have no opposition to medical doctors and using prescription and over-the-counter medication when needed.
I’ve bought a few new clothes at Maurice’s, the rest are from the second hand store. I buy my makeup at the dollar store and a few items through Mary Kay. I buy groceries from Hyvee solely because I can order online, I'll occasionally buy groceries in town if I have to. I hate shopping, especially at places like Walmart… so if I can’t order it online, I probably really don’t even need it.
I read. I journal. I write. I pray. I do devotions. I take time to be alone and in silence. I allow myself to do things that fill me, that I enjoy. I try openly share the real, the honest, the vulnerable from within, in hopes to simply bless and encourage someone else who may need it. I try leave myself open and available for anyone to reach out to me, to contact me, to be real with me in their struggle and hurt. No one needs to ache alone in silence… I merely want to be an open palm for a hand if they need someone to walk beside them.
So no, I’m not going to try contact you about anything. I’m not going to push or pedal anything (other than my own bike, but I’m not even to the point of convincing myself to even pedal that thing yet ~LOL). I’m also probably not interested in anything from anyone other than your support and encouragement. I’m not dissing or downing anyone out there who is passionate and believes in what they are invested in. Personally, I find their passion and drive an encouragement. But that’s not me, and if I would be interested in trying something they offer, I would be contacting them, be assured of that.
I have chosen to simply try live in a balance of natural health and diet and exercise, doing what over time I have found seems to work for me. I may continue onward with an occasional post and talk about the struggle, the reality, the journey I’m on. A journey of life, of love, of loss, of gain, of blessing, of failure, of curse, of struggle, of overcome. I can only hope some will choose to read and follow, but that’s entirely up to them… I will continue to be someone who will listen, will care, will encourage, and will not judge, because I have found life is hard - far too hard to go it alone and live in silently.
So, go find your rocks, find what works for you, and then just do it. If you haven’t found “it” yet, don’t give up, keep on looking, keep on trying. There’s a wealth of people, products, information, and plans available. I would suggest starting with your Bible, a bottle of water, and a three mile walk or jog outside, but whatever you chose, whatever your mix of motivation is, just choose it wisely, and then rock it with all your might - because you are worth it.
{ Next Blog Post "Social Media Mind Games" HERE }
{ Previous Blog post "Days of White" HERE }
I’ve bought a few new clothes at Maurice’s, the rest are from the second hand store. I buy my makeup at the dollar store and a few items through Mary Kay. I buy groceries from Hyvee solely because I can order online, I'll occasionally buy groceries in town if I have to. I hate shopping, especially at places like Walmart… so if I can’t order it online, I probably really don’t even need it.
I read. I journal. I write. I pray. I do devotions. I take time to be alone and in silence. I allow myself to do things that fill me, that I enjoy. I try openly share the real, the honest, the vulnerable from within, in hopes to simply bless and encourage someone else who may need it. I try leave myself open and available for anyone to reach out to me, to contact me, to be real with me in their struggle and hurt. No one needs to ache alone in silence… I merely want to be an open palm for a hand if they need someone to walk beside them.
So no, I’m not going to try contact you about anything. I’m not going to push or pedal anything (other than my own bike, but I’m not even to the point of convincing myself to even pedal that thing yet ~LOL). I’m also probably not interested in anything from anyone other than your support and encouragement. I’m not dissing or downing anyone out there who is passionate and believes in what they are invested in. Personally, I find their passion and drive an encouragement. But that’s not me, and if I would be interested in trying something they offer, I would be contacting them, be assured of that.
I have chosen to simply try live in a balance of natural health and diet and exercise, doing what over time I have found seems to work for me. I may continue onward with an occasional post and talk about the struggle, the reality, the journey I’m on. A journey of life, of love, of loss, of gain, of blessing, of failure, of curse, of struggle, of overcome. I can only hope some will choose to read and follow, but that’s entirely up to them… I will continue to be someone who will listen, will care, will encourage, and will not judge, because I have found life is hard - far too hard to go it alone and live in silently.
So, go find your rocks, find what works for you, and then just do it. If you haven’t found “it” yet, don’t give up, keep on looking, keep on trying. There’s a wealth of people, products, information, and plans available. I would suggest starting with your Bible, a bottle of water, and a three mile walk or jog outside, but whatever you chose, whatever your mix of motivation is, just choose it wisely, and then rock it with all your might - because you are worth it.
{ Next Blog Post "Social Media Mind Games" HERE }
{ Previous Blog post "Days of White" HERE }
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