Week in Review No.1

Weight: 176.0

Loss/Gain: -4 lbs

Physical: I planned a few days worth of meals last Sunday. That was helpful. I updated my tracker after each meal, every day. I really enjoyed eating healthy food this week. I tried hard to make sure I only ate food that really tasted good to me. By my definition, I cut out sugar except for in my creamer this week. Just not sure I'm going to give that up. If my sweets cravings weren't gone by the end of this week I was going to consider it, but I really haven't struggled with wanting sweets this week. I do continue to eat grains and fruits that have sugar in them. No dessert-y things. Got back in the game, so to speak, with  my running. Registered for a half marathon in April. Knees are sore, but overall the body feels much better after just one week of regular exercise. Sleeping well again and able to get up in the mornings much easier. That's what exercise will do for ya!

Mental: The mind that I know and love has returned. By setting some goals and meeting them early on this week, it's like the clutter in my mind began to clear out. Being sober-minded is how I think of it. My mind does not work properly when I am living a free-for-all where my health is concerned. It really is like I am drunk because of over-eating and being sedentary. My mind deceives me when I live like that. So thankful to be "clean" for a whole week.

Emotional: Working on getting my emotions back in check. I know my emotions were not made to control me. Lots of prayer and just sticking to my plans is helping here. Encouragement from the blogging world, friends and family has (always) been crucial. Many thanks to you all!

Spiritual: Picked up where I left off in a First Place 4 Health Bible study book I had called God's Purpose for Your Life this week. Great!  Kind of funny because in today's sermon my pastor said that the Bible never calls us to a Purpose-Driven life, but a Spirit-filled life. That was good for me to hear because I am one who perhaps focuses a bit too much on "the purpose". I always want to--really, really want to--understand why things happen or how they are going to happen...so that I can know my purpose. But I'm starting to realize that simply living each moment presently seeking the Holy Spirit to direct my actions is the purpose of my life. And many times that means not knowing "WHAT"S THE POINT OF THIS!?" LOL. Kind of combines the two things. Anyway...Ultimately Jesus is the purpose. God has been faithful to me. It feels like I have been in the wilderness for the past 4 months and now he is bringing me out. I did not resist temptation as Jesus did in the wilderness. But I did wait on the Lord. I believed that he would rescue me from the pit as He has so many times before.  I was truly blessed by this passage today as I feel like the words speak so loudly to what this week has been like for me:

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10)

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Highlights for this week: Got up.

Goals for next week: Stay up; keep going. Remember that Jesus is the purpose...the cause, the way, the solution, the comfort, the Promise.