Happy Friday, or whatever day it is to you now! Has it really only been a month since I wrote to you last?! Gee, in ways it feels like a lot longer as life is forever busy and the daily tasks are never ending.
Have you ever sat down and thought about everything that is on your list to accomplish, or just your normal daily routine in a 24-hour period? Actually, shorter if you take off time slept, and then have to wake up and do it all over again?! Well don’t. It can be overwhelming!! Insert hysterical laughing face!
Of course, life is less overwhelming with consistency, motivation, strength and the will power to do it all. And that’s where I’m coming to you from this last month. There has been a lack of those things in my life. I started off, in September with great motivation to do all the things. All the mindsets and changes I have been working on and making were moving right along. Then come November 1, shared my first blog of my journey and it became like a slippery slope after that. I found myself struggling and juggling all the changes I have been making were clashing with the desires I was having. I went from eating little carbs each day to wanting them every meal. Some say it could be pregnancy cravings and yes that could be, my body needs and wants something, but for me in the past I’ve always filled it with carbs because that was what ‘filled’ it up, but not in the sense my body needs. It leaves me feeling bloated and bogged down and can ruin a whole day for me when I veer off and chose not to eat properly. It robs my motivation and desire to achieve any of my goals for the rest of the day. Is this just me? Or have you felt that way being loaded on carbs or sugars? Did you know carbohydrates turn into glucose; a type of sugar once consumed? There are clean and healthy carbs/complex carbs which are not always the appealing ones but in the end satiating and then the adverse carbs/simple carbs that fill you up but make you feel gross or regretful of the decisions you made, at least that’s how it leaves me feeling. That is a glimpse inside where I’ve been. (Side note, those complex carbs can be the desire-able ones, you have to train your mind for them to be.)
Alongside my slippery slope I was dealing with, we thankfully started a new challenge at work, BCHD, for the month of November, called the ‘stuff your face challenge’. The goal was to consume 2 cups of fruits and 2 ½ cups of vegetables per day, earning 1 point for the day with a goal to achieve 16 points by the end of the month. If it hadn’t been for that challenge alongside the struggles I was facing I would have drowned in my bad decisions! So thankfully, the stuff your face challenge was really that, it took quite a bit of stuffing my face with all the natural fruits and vegetables and didn’t leave much room for my unhealthy desires. Through the month, I was continuing to work out in my small garage gym 3 times per week and walking up to 10 miles a week. So, when measuring time came around for me on the 20th, with some encouragement from family and friends I decided to go ahead and measure. My weight stayed the same but the inches continued to fall off. I lost another 3.75 inches total! That was uplifting to know I was still making progress and gave me a renewed strength and motivation that sometimes when we get off the path a little bit, that it is never too late to get back on the path and stay in between the lines.
I still have yet to see my OB/GYN, the appointment is coming up quickly and I’m growing anxious to hear that little heartbeat within. Until then and the days ahead, I plan to keep the acquired mindset of ‘stuffing my face’ with good, natural and clean foods! There is so much temptation in this world and we have to guard ourselves and be strong at the grocery store or even the gas station. I plan to keep moving, walking and exercising. Our bodies are made to move, not to sit idle. It’s incredible how much better I feel when I take the time to make the right choices; be disciplined and do the workouts, go on walks, and eat good food for my body. After all food is our fuel, and if we fuel it with junk, we will reap the side effects that come along with it.
I share all this in hopes to encourage you in your struggles, whatever they may be, that no matter where you are in your journey, you can pick yourself back up, and get back on that path and be successful. It is never too late. Some people take a little more discipline and time than others to reach their goals, and that’s ok, you know why? Because we are all different, each individually created to be a unique person. A rare gem in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. There are no two people on this planet created exactly the same. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Pslam 139:14
So lastly, remember this, as someone encouraged and pointed out to me, don’t forget to give yourself grace. We are all a vessel, forever learning and molding to be as we are called. There’s always room for improvement, but getting there requires grace.
Until next time, much love and happiness to you!! 🙂
Candice Cox
