Facebook & Grains

Don't you think Facebook is funny sometimes? The other day I was thinking about that old philosophical question "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, did it make a sound?" The modern version of that might be something like, "If I do something and don't post it on Facebook, did it really happen?"

Of course I'm being silly and a little sarcastic. I just think it's weird that I know so much about so many people...like where they are every second of every day. The new "check in" thing is kind of creepy if you ask me. But I also feel the urge to check in quite often. Mi Casa...Mi Couch...Mi Potty...

Okay. Sorry. But here's my Top 10 Facebook Statuses. They aren't necessarily mine, but could be. Just the ones that I see most often and they kind of crack me up, or annoy me.

1. A negative remark about the weather.
2. Expressed desire for excessive amounts of coffee...or beer?
3. A vague, cryptic and sometimes hateful editorial.
4. A brief synopsis of why this person's life is THE BEST.
5. Ball game play-by-plays, critiques and cheers.
6. Announcement of a crappy day.
7. Announcement of a fabulous day.
8. Witty quotes or scripture.
9. Recount of funny dialog between parent and child.
10. An open letter to the day of the week Monday.

What are some of your favorite Facebook Status themes?

Thanks for all the advice from yesterday's post!!! I had never thought about some of the stuff that was mentioned and will definitely be implementing some suggestions. Now for today's inquiry...

Healthy Whole Grains: To eat or not to eat--that is the question.

I have been doing a lot of research on this. Up to this point the arguments seem pretty even to me. I personally have no problem losing weight while eating healthy grains (mostly 100% whole) but I know some people who seem to struggle when they do.

I am very confused as to why grains are pushed so heavily by many health organizations and are discouraged by many as well. How can something be really good for you and really bad for you at the same time? Trying to get to the bottom of this.

Any solid information that you can back up with a source or link would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Running on Empty

I recently started Couch 2 10K. It's great. It takes a very long time. I really want to do my workout in the morning because I see huge results on the scale (hint, hint :) when I do. Here's the problem, er...problems.

Problem #1 is that I can't eat first or my side will hurt. BAD. But with no food since dinner the day before (around 4pm), I run out of energy. Actually I don't have any to begin with.

Problem #2 is I can't drink water because then I need to pee every 5 seconds. But if I don't drink water I get dehydrated and have to call my hubby to come pick me up before I can finish my workout because I'm afraid I will pass out.

So, hit me with you best shot. Any advice from all the morning runners out there? The ones with small bladders and side stitches...

By the way, please don't take these for excuses. I will continue to pee in bushes and run with what seems like 50 pound weights on my feet if I have to. I am relentless, remember?

Where Would I Be?

This week Molly left me a comment that said this:

OH MY HECK! Awesome measurements! Nice job. What a change from January. Do you ever think about where you would be if you didn't make the changes you are making? I think about it every day and thank a loving Father in Heaven for the changes that have happened!

Molly, to answer your question--No! I haven't really thought about where I would be. Which is hard to believe because all I do is think. I internalize, analyze, over-analyze, replay...But this is not something to which I have given much thought.

Interesting.

Well, of course I have been thinking about this ever since I read Molly's comment. Whew. Tough stuff to imagine. I wonder if subconsciously it is such a scary thought that I have avoided it?

Some people would say to leave the past in the past. Just move on and never look back. I suppose in some instances that is a good idea. However, I can not afford to forget the past. Ever. I can never let myself not think about what might have been.

Since graduating high school I gained an average of 10 pounds per year. It's safe to assume I would be another 10 pounds heavier than I was this time last year, putting me at the frightening weight of 240 pounds on my 5'4" medium-boned frame.

I know without a doubt that I would not be exercising. Allowing my bones to petrify and my cardiovascular health to deteriorate at the age of 30 years old. People would still ask me what I was doing that put me so out of breath every time I answered the phone. Of course I would never tell them it was the mere act of getting off the couch to answer the phone that taxed my body so.

I might actually be institutionalized by now. I am not making light of this situation. I really felt like I was going crazy. My poor health and inactive lifestyle had led me directly to the gates of hell in the form of anxiety and depression by this time last year. I was paralyzed with the fear of death. Ironically, in my misguided efforts to avoid pain, I had caused a great deal of it for myself and those around me. I can only imagine how that would be affecting us now.

I would be wondering What is the point? I would be thinking that I can never get myself out of the pit I am in. I would still be dependant on something with no wisdom, no love and no life to provide my comfort. Food.

Where would I be? It would be a bad, bad place. It hurts me to think...

Molly, thanks for asking the question. The best part about thinking through all of this is knowing that at the end of my quickly fraying rope, I gave Christ control of my life. The feeling, the thinking, the eating, the using...all of it. All of me. I gave it to Him and He has made something out of nothing.

I'm more than just a beautiful mess. And so are you.


P.S. This song describes my feelings quite succinctly:

(You Are Everything, Matthew West)
I’m the one with two left feet
Standing on a lonely street
I can’t even walk a straight line
And every time you look at me
I’m spinning like an autumn leaf
Bound to hit bottom sometime
Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won’t let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in
Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
I’m the one with big mistakes
Big regrets and bigger breaks
Than I ever care to confess
Oh but, You’re the one who looks at me
And sees what I was meant to be
More than just a beautiful mess
Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won’t let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in
Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You’re everything good in my life
Everything honest and true
And all of those stars hanging up in the sky
Could never shine brighter than You
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in
Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You are, You are, Jesus You are
You are everything

Inches Update

Chest January:47.5"
Chest August: 43.25"
(-4.25")

Waist January: 52"
Waist August: 39.5"
(-12.5"!!!)

Hips January: 52.5"
Hips August: 47"
(-5.5")

Thigh January: 25"
Thigh August: 22"
(-3" x 2= -6")

Arm Jaunary: 14"
Arm August: 12"
(-2" x 2= -4")

This is a total of 32.25 inches of fat GONE off my body!

I am super excited because to be out of the woods, so to speak, for elevated risk of heart disease, diabetes, etc. the waist measurement for an average female is supposed to be less than 35". I am only 4.5 inches away from that! I am hoping to reach that goal by the end of this next 12 week session of First Place 4 Health.

For those who know me--I DID use a calculator for this but feel free to check my calculations ;)

Reward Shoes

On the sidebar of my blog I have listed some mini goals and rewards that go along with them. The rewards come every ten pounds. Several months ago when I broke into the 170's I should have gotten a massage. I never did.

But this week I decided I needed a new pair of running shoes. My feet had been hurting and my back, too. Neither pair that I alternate seem to feel too great and I think I have surpassed my recommended mileage on both of them.

So tonight I rewarded myself with a new pair. Actually my parents did ;)



They are pretty sassy, just like me. They feel like a little puffs of air surrounding my feet. I also learned at the store that most of my problem is likely due to my poor running technique. (Yes, they make you run in the store and watch!). So I will work on that.

Yay for new running shoes. And Yay that new running shoes are considered a reward in my book. This revived book of life that I am writing...

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. --Robert Frost