Seriously... Just do it.

I've been working on getting healthier, spiritually and physically. I dedicate the majority of my blog posts to the spiritual parts of my journey, but there is a huge physical journey going on as well. I promised back in January not to get on here and boast every week about weight loss, but I would like to share with you that I'm still on that journey and I am making progress.

I technically started trying to get healthy last June (this post), but it wasn't until this January (this post) that I really got serious about it. For me, as I've shared before, my spiritual journey and physical health journey go hand in hand. I can't do one without the other. I can't be the hands and feet of Jesus if they are too out of shape to go anywhere and too exhausted to care. I can't get in shape, overcome temptations and find motivation without the strength of God. Seriously, it's impossible, trust me I've tried... a lot.

My main focus when I started in January was to workout 3 days a week and eat real food. Simple, right? Well, I worked out hard for about a week and a half and just quit. To be honest, I just didn't want to do it. I could say I blame it on the weather, but I have a workout area in the basement so that's really not it. I could say we were super busy and I struggled with finding the time, but I know I could have squeezed it in somewhere. My want to was just drained, so I just didn't do it. Eating started off super strong and is still going well. I'm working on making choices I will be OK with making for the rest of my life, not just to shed pounds. My goal is to have as much of my diet as possible come from real food, finding food I will enjoy that will also fuel my body, no empty calories.

I think the hardest part about incorporating fewer processed foods, or at least foods not as processed, as often as possible is the amount of time needed. It takes time to plan our weekly meals, it takes time to cook every meal. I was used to convenience foods for breakfast and lunch, then cooking dinner for the family. Now I generally cook 3 meals a day. But breakfast and lunch are often just for myself... not as fun, but I can't seem to get the others up when I do for breakfast. I have to get up much earlier every morning to make breakfast happen, and lunch ideas are the most difficult. Even though I am home by lunch time and can cook, it's often the meal I try to make easier, without "cheating".

The absolute best thing that has happened, or maybe I should say is happening, is the change in the way I feel overall. And if I feel this way now, how will I feel in 2 more months? 6 months? A year from now? This bonus is closely followed by my new desire for these healthy food options over the processed junk I was regularly consuming prior. (My family is quite possibly soon going to get tired of hearing about why certain foods should just be left at the store). Now, don't get me wrong, I will never be able to go all whole foods, some things just taste good! But I am enjoying the odd (for me) cravings for vegetables lately. Then there is this energy that magically appeared a little over a week ago. You aren't going to find me out running a marathon- OK, you aren't going to find me out running, period, but I suddenly have the desire to workout again. I feel ready to start the day when the alarm goes off (before 5:30, in hopes I'll get out of bed by 5:30), instead of oversleeping until 6:30 every morning. I find myself almost bored or uneasy when there is nothing going on. I'm still nursing an injury from back in August but it's definitely getting stronger all the time. Also, the new found energy translates into a stronger desire to dive into God's word, rather than nap.

My encouragement to you today is this-

JUST DO IT!!!!

You just don't realize how much you are missing out on. How much you aren't enjoying what you are taking part in, until you begin taking care of yourself. Your whole body is going to thank you, I promise. Even if pounds don't fly off like you would hope (although I'm fairly certain they will) the amount of energy and overall healthy feeling you will gain is more than worth the sacrifices you have to make to get started. And I'm praying that somewhere along the way, for me and for you, this just becomes who we are. Just like, for longer than I care to remember, I've been the unhealthy girl, who couldn't overcome this weight battle. I will soon be made new physically, to match the spiritually. This new me emerging will prayerfully be the me that is here from now on!