True Confession

I am a bit disappointed that my MIL was the only one who commented on the lovely photos on my last post.  Despite the fact that this indicates no one is reading my blog, I press on and post again! (Though I appreciate the kind words from my MIL 🙂

So, what I am going to confess?  Well, remember my big plans to walk and eventually run everyday starting back in April?  I did great in April and May, and then school got out and Mark started working nearly 50 hours a week, so my life changed and I didn’t adjust well.  I also started working more, so I just let things slide.  This means, I didn’t reach my goal of hiking with my children without being winded on my birthday in July.

But, never fear.  I am coming up with more goals that I will hopefully meet.  If I don’t set any goals, I know nothing will happen.   If I keep setting goals and working toward them, change is going to happen–at least eventually.

So with the incredible heat of July, I am not starting to walk again outside, but I am going to start using the treadmill 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes.  I have also just finished week 1 of my own low carb diet–sort of an amalgamation of South Beach and Atkins.  Not as much fat as Atkins and not allowing as many carbs at South Beach.  Week 1 went well.  I was really crabby for the first three days as my body adjusted to the new way of eating.  But by Thursday, I was not getting hungry, and I was nicer 🙂

I am not weighing myself at this point because, well, I just don’t want to focus on numbers until I feel some results in clothes fitting, etc.  So I’ll report more about those kind of results after more time passes.

Dieting is really frustrating for me.  I have gained weight in my last 4+ years of living in St Louis.  Stress is a definite factor in weight gain for me, and we have been stressed!  Before we moved back to St Louis, I had been pretty faithfully watching my diet for 4 years, and I exercised a lot.  In the last year, I exercised at least 5 times a week.  In those 4 years, I lost a total of 12 pounds.  But, I did feel a lot better than I have of late.  So, I am trying to just eat better and feel better before I get too serious about numbers.

Positive news is breaking in the Horne household.   Mark has more writing work on the horizon, and it seems God is blessing us in ways we haven’t experienced in a long time.  Feeling a bit optimistic makes the idea of dieting a bit more doable.  But if the circumstances of life change negatively, I want to not allow that to change my resolve.

At this point, all I can say is, pray for my success.

7 thoughts on “True Confession”

  1. Hey, Jennifer. I think more folks read your blog than you know. I’m going to rush right down to your previous blog and add a comment now. 🙂

    Glad to hear of the encouragement. So happy that Mark is getting to write more and more. Will pray that that continues. And will pray for your other endeavors as well!

  2. I know it is a struggle with the weight loss and exercise. I am so blessed that my husband allows me 5 mornings a week to workout. I just need to be ready by 8:00 (showered if I want one, and dressed). I struggled for a long time with weight and exercise and it wasn’t until I decided to train for a half marathon that I got the habit down. I find training to be much easier to fit in than “working out”. It is goal oriented. Have you read The Courage to Start yet?

    Also if you are “ready” I highly recommend starting with a charity team like Team in Training. There are lots of first time runners/walkers so it is a very beginner friendly environment. Also there are coaches to help you through finding shoes, finding appropriate clothing and any injuries that “might” crop up. I found the distraction of fundraising to be just enough to keep me from freaking out about the training and the distraction of training to distract me from the fundraising. Additionally, you get to go to a race in a fun location! I got to go to Arizona in January. Now would be a perfect time to train for the Disney World half marathon in Florida. Think of how fun it would be to go to Disney World (without kids) and accomplish an amazing physical goal! I think it was really what I needed at the time. Gus was 2 1/2, Bridget was 4 1/2 and Joey was 6. I really relished the “time for me” and it made me feel like I was more than a wife, homemaker and mom. Also I had lots of good prayer time on my runs by myself!

  3. Ok Jennifer, the last time you even commented on MY blog was in FEBRUARY…so no griping allowed!! 🙂

    Seriously though….maybe we aren’t looking at the same page, b/c I think there are a LOT of people reading your blog! If I were you, I’d be quite happy with the large number of comments. Other than your most recent post, your 4 previous blog entries have a bazillion notes underneath! I count, in order of most recent appearance, comments totaling 9, 7, 6, 8. Quite a showing in my thinking. Esp when compared to my pathetic 0, 1, 2, 2 and (highest of the last few!) 4!!! Heehee.

    I will definitely add your diet/exercise request to my list of prayers for you. And I do hope as things are “looking up” somewhat that the routine may feel easier to implement overall for you. Sadly I don’t exercise very regularly – I often find it’s easier for me to just watch what I eat since I am SO lazy about working out, and I struggle to find time for exercise. But when I have made time, I know it makes me feel SO much better both physically and emotionally… so I will pray that kicks in for you too, cause that can help keep you going once you have begun.

    You GO, Girl! 🙂

  4. Tricia,

    You’re right. I don’t always comment on your blog. But I do check it about once a week to see if anything is new. I think the FB phenomenon has something to do with that.

    Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate your prayers, too.

  5. Lindy,

    Thanks for the encouragement. I don’t think I can “train” for anything just yet. But I did read “The Courage to Start” back in April, and that is why I feel ok about just accepting that I need to “start” again.

    When I see via FB what you are getting done, I am so amazed. I truly don’t know how you do it.

    I know Mark will allow me the time to exercise now that his schedule is more consistent. So I hope to make it reality. The dieting thing is still going well in week 2.

  6. Jennifer, I am so sorry to read about the loss of your sister. I can not imagine going through something like that and hope you are doing as well as possible.

    I saw Mark’s blog on another person’s blog the other day (don’t remember who) and figured I could find you by way it and here you are. How are you? From your blog it looks like you are very busy. I found a couple of books I borrowed from you and want your address so I can mail them to you.

    We are busy starting school this week and just got back from a small vacation to Branson with the girls. Had a blast at Silver Dollar City!

    Anyways, if you have a minute to catch up, I would love to. Also just found you on facebook so I will request your friendship there too. Take care.

    Courtney

  7. Hey, hang in there, girl! And I like your idea of not weighing in for a while…it can be such a psychological downer! I’m a HUGE low-carb proponent…not everyone’s body is the same, but if it works, it really works!! One thing that has helped me, is to give myself Sundays to indulge in carbs if I want to. That way I know I’m not deprived for the rest of my LIFE!! Just until Sunday…FEAST DAY! You go, girl!

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