Thursday, February 28, 2008

New Beginnings

This morning I woke up to birds singing and the sun shining.... Could it be? Is Spring *thinking* about coming? (I know, the thinking process will probably be a month and a half long or more, but I can hope, can't I?)

The singing birds and bright sunny morning got me thinking about new beginnings. The fresh new start Spring offers is one of the reasons I love that season so much. I started thinking about all the changes we are going through in our lives... Our "new beginnings" if you will. J is back on second shift (he was moved to first for four weeks - *sidenote: That move had its own blessing despite the upset to the schedule and the lack of any overtime at all for the four weeks.... Those weeks were the exact same weeks that the bro, sil and little man were home on vaca from Italy. And our "time change" meant that the kids and I could go to W-town with J and spend the day with my family at my parents house while everyone was up! Had he still been on second shift, those visits would have been far more complicated. end sidenote*) and that move makes our life a little easier, although, this week we are definitely getting used to late nights and late mornings again... Retraining the kiddos.... 9:00 a.m. IS too early to get up.

Another change being made around here is me. Well, more specifically, I am embarking on a lifestyle change. It is NOT a diet. It is a "retraining" of my (mostly head, I think) body to eat enough.... Some days, "enough" means "more" and other days, like yesterday, it means "less". I used to scoff at those (well, really scoff is a strong word.... snicker and then say "no way!! Couldn't catch me counting my points!!!!") who chose this method... But really, the more I have watched, the more I have seen it work. And, I have finally accepted that I do not have my 16 year old metabolism and the ability to eat six hot dogs, buns and condiments included, and remain at the same "anorexic" weight. (*No, I was never anorexic... That just is how my body at 5'7" and 110-115 lbs was often described.) Hey, back then I TRIED to put on ten pounds.... Had I been a couple inches shorter, that weight would have been fine, but..... Oh well, I'm digressing AGAIN. Now as I am cruising toward 30 at the speed of light (that's how it feels anyway), I am finding that those ten pounds I so coveted twelve years ago have FIRMLY attached themselves to my body, plus a *few* friends, and they WILL. NOT. LET. GO. It is very disturbing. I've been watching my sil (no, not that one, one of the other ones... from the other side) and she has "joined up" and is doing a fantastic job of counting points and is gradually and steadily losing weight. Very good for her. I'm very proud. S, if you ever read this, high five. Good job. Sorry, I keep getting slightly sidetracked. Moving on.... So I've watched her, and realised, if she can do it, I can do it. And if it works, what is there to lose? (Uh, besides the weight.) So I called her up and told her to give me the low down. She helped me figure out my point scale and allowance and helped me figure our how many points I had just eaten for breakfast that day.... Two. Twenty-one to go. Crud.......... If you don't eat ENOUGH, your body is in starvation mode and it will store every ounce of fat you eat and start burning up your muscle. Ew. Can't have that. So THAT day I tried really really hard to reach my points. I actually had to *force feed* myself a small bowl of ice cream. Oh, the horror. Now, YESTERDAY, on the other hand, was a COMPLETELY different story...... For lunchsupperdinner, I blew all 23 points. In. one. meal. One serving (portions are important here, folks) of spaghetti, two meatballs and sauce with grated cheese on top and a slice of garlic bread. All my points. Gone. I almost cried. In fact, I might have... I can't completely remember... I kind-of blocked out that day from my memory... Thank God for those 35 flex points a week. All of that potentially over-share to say, I am making a change. I cannot do it completely on my own. And, while I am jumping head first into the points counting and portion watching, I am not attending "the meetings." (Heresy, I tell you.) First of all, they are on Monday nights, and I am still in class for EMT training on Mondays, and plus each week (going to the meetings) costs $12, and what can I say... I'm being cheap. So my "support group" is you... I vent, share, rejoice, cry, whatever, and, if you want, you read. :) Otherwise, skip that post.

But back to my thought track this morning, listening to the birds. Spring brings fresh starts and new beginnings. I am in a fresh start.... But fresh starts aren't limited to Spring, different schedules at work or lifestyle changes. Every morning we have a fresh start. A new beginning. God's grace grants us that.... What are you going to do with your fresh start today?

8 comments:

Bug and Eye said...

ooh ooh! I'll join the support group! I need to make some of those pounds that found me after I turned 25 and stopped having a 16 year old metabolism too....need to make the long white dress fit....169 days to go!!
long weekend in 2 weeks....let me know if you're around

Mrs. Guthrie said...

8th and 9th or the weekend after that?

I figured it's about time... took a couple days to prep myself (read: whined and cried) and officially started Wednesday. Taking off a pound a day...... Lets see what the long term looks like..... (Although, they say, it is NOT unusual for people to lose 7-10 pounds in the first week.... after that it tends to slow down and be more like 2.) But hey, I can deal with those numbers!!!!!

Bug and Eye said...

I'll be home for my "vacation" the 13-16th.....
we whined and cried too...it's a little bit easier since the gall bladder issue....but still...I like my sweets :-D

Mrs. Guthrie said...

those dates look good.... will talk as it gets closer??

I like mine, too.... BUT, I have found that counting and watching portions lets me (on most days, but definitely not on days we do spaghetti, meatballs and garlic bread)have a serving of ice cream to hit my points. It's a tuff life, I tell ya ;)

Bug and Eye said...

I've discovered that the smart ones desserts are incredible....

mira said...

if I eat according to the smaller number on each of the food groups instead of having to limit my intake I face the opposite problem of trying to fit it all in! BUT, when I do that I feel full all day, get the right proportions of good foods, and my clothes fit better. Sort of like counting points, but less strict since I don't measure servings. hey, whatever works! (ps: try carrying a 10+lb sack of flour on your stomach, hip, or back for several hours at a time each day, especially if you're walking anywhere. Works wonders.)

thanks for visiting the hometown so much, we LOVED seeing y'all. the boy is bored now that the only one to play with during the day is his own mother.

Mrs. Guthrie said...

It didn't take as long as I thought it would to be able to recognize a serving size and not have to measure it out..... and veggies are either free or cheap points-wise, so I am definitely being more careful to get them in......

You are welcome. :) We'd missed you guys a ton (and do again :) ) and it was easy (for the most part :) ) to come that way to see you. Kiss the bored and lonely boy for me.

Bug and Eye said...

My friend is a diabetic and when she had to go on that diet she lost a ton...it really is all about the portion control...Denise Austin says when you go out, don't get dressing, eat all of the salad and have them immediately box half of your dinner...and then you aren't tempted to keep eating just because it's there...It works for me...as does eating an apple 15 minutes before a big dinner....