I did not–most certainly did NOT–meet my health and wellness goals this past week. Between the wedding in North Dakota and my need for crunchy/salty, chewy/sweet while driving and my five oldest children away at camp since Sunday [momma angst!] and the bag of honey mustard Snyder’s pretzels mindlessly consumed last night…
Well. The weight is up a pound but my spirits aren’t flagging. The takeaway message, for me, is:
“It’s not worth it.”
It’s not worth it for me to eat Snyder’s pretzels, at least not an entire bag of them, and it’s not worth it for me to not drink ice water. (Because, um, there have been a few gin & tonics this past week as well.) More than anything, though, it’s not worth it to beat myself up about it! Life happens. Emotional eating happens. Time to get back on track today.
I have two book recommendations for you this week. You can find them at your library (like I did) which is better than buying them sight unseen. Really, the themes in these books totally start to overlap, but they’re good to read for encouragement.
Bread Is the Devil
Yes, I know. I’m the grownup.
Here’s a quote to give you a sense of her writing:
“It’s a joy to spend quality time with your child, but it can also be very isolating. And, let’s be honest, boring. I spend some days at my office and some days at home and for me it’s definitely harder to eat well at home. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, it’s sometimes hard to avoid mindless nibbling. After all, you spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen, and it’s hard to pretend it’s not full of food.”
It’s a good book and an easy, encouraging read. I recommend checking it out.
I pulled The Amen Solution
Pretty sure I’m not the first person to make that mistake.
His approach is to focus on the causes behind our overeating, specifically, the impulsive-compulsive and angst-driven triggers that send us to food when it’s our heart that’s hungry. I really like his description of ANTs, which are “automatic negative thoughts” that, in his words, “infest our psyche and ruin our day.”
I got ANTs. Do you got ANTs? I have so many, in fact, that I could change the name of this blog to “Momma ANTs,” but that would be weird & creepy & not that encouraging…
…so I’ll just stick with the blog name I got.
You know what I mean, though? Being a mom means negative thoughts, and being a blogging mom makes it even harder. That’s my choice, though! I have a choice, and today I choose…hmm…happy thoughts versus negative ones; playing with my boys versus staring at Facebook; and making a meal for a mom who just had Number 8! Little acts of service take us out of ourselves, and…assuming I don’t eat up their pie before delivering it…
I’m good. āŗ
Happy Weigh-In Wednesday, everyone! I hope you’re having a wonderful week and if not, I hope you join me in changing the rest of it.
Saw a picture of you on facebook and thought you looked absolutely wonderful! I'm about to have baby (our first!) in the next few weeks (37.5 weeks now) and hoping I'm able to look as good as you postpartum!) Be gentle with yourself… you're doing wonderfully!
Dr. Amen also has a book about the brain. I blogged about it. I found it very interesting and he did touch on ANTS in that book also. I am always working on why I think about all the bad stuff that happened to me in the past. Why do I focus on that so much. stupid brain. My brain also made me fat….ha
You look purty darn good to me also.
I have always had 3 carbs per meal, through all my pregnancies, through my nursing years (like 13 of those) and now, I"m not either and so I am trying to watch those carbs and have less. Lots less. I admit, I do not have a problem with food. I have a problem with not exercising. (I have a hip/knee problem now–yay) But if there are cookies there, I'm going to eat a couple or 10. That's why there are not cookies here often.
That being said, I've been craving homemade cookies like the dickens (whatever that means, but I think it means a lot!) I think I'm going to bake those cookies today and enjoy them with my kiddos. Or not.
I fight with myself like that all the time.
Where's the balance? Can't we bake once in a while, enjoy it and then get back on track? We can. OK, for me it's cookies, for you it's salty things.
You are doing a great job Maggie. You are nursing, you have those cravings, and maybe it's your body saying you need it.
You do look great to us, but if you are not feeling great, well, we understand. God loves you no matter what, so does your husband and family and me.
Ladies,
I have heard GREAT things about this book from Mamas like yourself who are losing weight and getting healthy with this AWESOME book! The book is written by two lovely Christian Mamas of large homeschooling families.
"SERENE ALLISON and PEARL BARRETT are sisters who share the passion of healthy mothering. They both have large boisterous families and love to experiment in the kitchen on ways to best nourish their families and stay slim and healthy in the process."
The book is the talk of many Christian Mama blogs right now. They even have a awesome Facebook group! The book is expensive, but totally worth it in my opinion! You have the option of buying the e-book though, which is less expensive.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Wait until you see all the delicious recipes!
To check out the amazing book:
http://www.amazon.com/Trim-Healthy-Mama-Pearl-Barrett/dp/0988775115
For more info about the e-book:
http://www.trimhealthymama.com/
Hope I've helped someone here!
Love,
Maria š
Jamie Jo, when we bake cookies, we only make enough for each of us to have two or three that day. Then we make the rest of the dough into cookie-sized lumps and put them in the freezer for another craving – I mean, day. š You can cook them right out of the freezer; just drop the temp a little and maybe give them a couple of extra minutes. Otherwise, we used to do the same thing. After all, they're best the first day!
We also try not to snack directly out of the bag. I got a stack of little bowls – they hold about a cup each – and that's what we eat our treats out of. Not always a whole cup's worth, but it helps to see what you're eating, to choose in advance how much. You can heap up the popcorn, but they'll only hold one scoop of ice cream. We use small, saucer-sized plates for other things, like cake or cheese and crackers.
I guess little dishes are fun, frugal and healthy!
Great idea Jennie! I did not end up baking and the craving is kind of gone….til tomorrow, but tomorrow is too busy. That would work though, that freezing thing, because when I have bought those pre-made doughs in the past, they only make enough for everyone to have a couple…perfect.
That trick for cookies works only if you don't like to eat cookie dough. The dough never makes it into the oven at our house after I've balled it and put it in the freezer!
My daily struggle is why do I want to get down to x-weight? I go back and forth with myself…one minute I think, "Hey, I look pretty good!" and the next minute, "Ugh! Look at that belly!" I am a busy mom of 7 blessings and an amazing husband who all love me no matter what. So, why don't I love me no matter what? Okay, I'm getting too deep for myself…better go spend some time in prayer!
Have you seen this book Margaret?
http://www.amazon.com/Cravings-Catholic-Wrestles-Food-Self-Image/dp/1594713057
I thought it was very well done. She goes into the spiritual aspects of food and issues with self image and weight through a Catholic perspective.
I'm finding, though, that there is no "magic" book for me with the answers. It's in my prayer life. My relationship with God, and my weight, are closely knit together, and that is where my answers lie. I just have to be patient in letting it all play out. I am hungry with nursing, and I am running again (not much, but enough I get hungry), so I need those carbs for both. My mother ALWAYS was overweight, and I have really deep seated issues with not wanting to become my mother, because she was the unhappiest woman on earth (still is, and she's still overweight, and has major health issues). I guess what I'm saying is, I have to wonder sometimes if these quests for weight loss aren't little ways of distracting us from what really matters. Our union with God, our vocation, etc. Yes, being healthy is very important. I know for me I don't like being in my own skin with the extra weight, but I know it also occupies my mind SO much that it really saps my energy to be silent in prayer. To listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying. After all, God made me, and knows me better than anyone. So I'm guessing He knows best how to go about this weight loss thing.
I also have a general rule when nursing a baby to not worry about the last 10-15 pounds. I have a hard time with those, so as long as I'm eating well and exercising, I know it will come off after I'm nursing.
Sorry to hijack! I'll stop. I think you are JUST BEAUTIFUL the way you are.
Oh, and I just don't eat the cookies. My 12 year old makes a mean chocolate chip cookie, and for me…it's an addiction thing. I can never have just one, so I stopped eating any sweets after this pregnancy. Maybe one day I can have just one, but right now, I can't. So I don't even go there. And I don't miss it. š