Standing On A Ledge

Yesterday was April Fools! Did anyone play any crazy practical jokes on you? I was pretty much left unscathed.  I did take our new puppy, Leia to the veterinarian yesterday. She was not happy about the wait.

She cried and cried and cried waiting for the vet...this was the only 5 seconds she was calm.  

The little porker weighs 29.2 lbs. already.  She's now at the wonderfully frustrating stage where she gets into everything, chews everything and drives you crazy when she's not getting attention. The only cure is exercise. Walks through the neighborhood seem to tucker her out well enough.

I have been sorely neglecting my blog for the past several weeks.  There are probably things I should update you about.  My motivation to write has been severely zapped.  I have been overwhelmed.  Like I'm standing on a ledge.  Work is crazy busy with 100 deadlines.  Trying to get caught up on my journaling has been excruciatingly dreadful.  And figuring out how to balance weight maintenance versus weight loss has been making me a bit nuts.

Trying to NOT obsess about my weight has me focusing on God's word.  "I am fearfully and wonderfully  made!!!"  If that is true, then God loves me just the way I am.  Praise him!

Here is the thing, when you are trying to lose weight, you learn a program, you stick to it and you follow the program.  If the program is right for you, it works like magic.  When you are no longer trying to lose weight, you still have to be vigilant about your nutrition, but you have the added pleasure of including extra calories and treats along the way.  Eating a piece of cheesecake for dessert, means you have to learn how to not feel guilty after and stick to eating only one piece.  When your hormones are cross-eyed and you get bloated, you have to learn the difference between that and feeling like you are actually getting fat.

My church sponsored a Women's Conference a couple weeks ago.  Friday night we had a dessert social, which was simply amazing.  It was so hard to limit myself with all the delectable goodies available.

The positive side of things is that the weather is warming up, providing more opportunities to be outside.

Playing with the puppies outside brings a lot of joy!

My weight has been stable within about 7 lbs. When it's up on the other end of the 7 lbs, I get a little freaked.

In January, I changed my form up a little for my squats.  It was like starting over.  I have been focusing on attaining a deeper squat.  This week, I finally beat my personal record and am up to three reps at 160 lbs.  It's a good sense of satisfaction.  (I forgot my hair tie this day...need to keep some spare ones in my gym bag.)

To deal with the weight fluxuations, I cut back on my calories somewhat and have been trying to eliminate simple sugars (I think these are contributing to my feeling bloated).  I have been sticking to the same regimen (macros and meal prep) and trying some new recipes along the way.

I made this for myself for lunch this week:

Turkey & Lentils
Yields 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground turkey, browned
1 red pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 carrot sticks, peeled and chopped finely
1 C. dry lentils
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 can chicken broth, fat free, low sodium
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 Tbsp. crushed red pepper
1 Tbsp. basil

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in the crock pot, cook on high for 4 - 5 hours.

Note:
I put it in the crock pot one night and asked my husband to turn it off when he got home.  When I got up, I divided it into four containers and put in the fridge for myself for lunch.  If you like cumin, it's really tasty.  It's not too spicy at all, but if you like spicy, I'm sure you could add more spices.

I served it with veggies.

Nutritional Information:
187 calories
1.4 g. fat
17.1 carbohydrates
17.4 carbohydrates
4.2 g. fiber

At the Women's Conference a couple weeks ago, I shared my story.  I think it went well.  I think I might have talked too much and didn't get to the point fast enough...I should have given the ladies more tools to take with them.  It was my first time public speaking, so I know now, if I were to do it again, what I need to do to change the format.

I got a little animated...

And Easter happened too.  

Mitch came home for spring break and was with us for Easter dinner.

Feeling so overwhelmed lately, I had an opportunity to really reflect on the meaning of Easter.  The sacrifice Christ made for us...for me...  This is what makes it possible to have hope.

Hope:  No matter what you are experiencing, what challenges you face... Whether you are overwhelmed with all life is throwing at you...  If you screwed up and are dealing with the consequences of your actions... Or have dealt with one crisis after another...  Sometimes it all gets to you and you feel like you are on a ledge.

Easter:  Christ died for us to pay our debt.  His resurrection is the real miracle.

When we give our burdens to him, we can have peace.  For He has overcome the world.  That's what it is all about.


Questions for you:  (Answer in the comments below.)
Did play any April Fools jokes on anyone?  Fall victim to any?
What plans do you have this weekend?

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My Week Off

In the North East there are two school breaks before Summer Vacation.  One in February and another in the spring, usually in April.  The February break coincides with President's Day and depending on where you live, the spring break coincides with either Easter or Patriots' Day.  Patriots' Day commemorates the start of the Revolutionary War and is an official holiday in several states in the USA.  I need both breaks.  

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14

My week off has been largely focused on the puppy, Princess Leia.  I knew it would be a lot of work and tiring, but I forgot how draining it is to get up every night at 3 a.m. because she has to go out.  Wednesday night she didn't wake me up and had an accident in her crate.  

She can go up the stairs, but needs help going down.

Koby is getting used to her.  Look how tiny she is compared to him.

She is so adventurous and curious.  When I was vacuuming the other day, she followed me up the stairs and got stuck about half way up.  

She is absolutely adorable, especially when she's sleeping.  I am spoiling her rotten.  It's cute now when she's tiny and I let her sleep on me, but when she's 70 lbs. and expects to do the same thing, it won't be cute!  It's hard to resist her though.  

I have been spending time with my friend and classmate, Cindy.  We both have to finish our field experience and do our portfolio in school administration so we can graduate in May.  We are in the same shoes, dragging our heels about doing the journal.  I really abhor writing about what I do every day and how it relates to the standards of a school administrator.  If it weren't for Cindy, I don't think I'd do it at all.  I hate it that much.

Cindy loves the puppy.  She doesn't mind coming over to work together so she can get some puppy love.

I started reading this book:

Stronger Than You Think: Becoming Whole Without Having to Be Perfect
by Kim Gaines Eckhert

I was hooked right away.  In looking back at my life long struggle with weight, I can see how instead of taking care of myself, I used other things to try to be the perfect mother, perfect wife, perfect counselor and perfect Christian.  This resulted in high levels of anxiety and depression which I dealt with by doing even more things to keep me busy.  Now that I've taken time off from everything to focus on a new career pathway and to seek a healthier lifestyle, I am more acutely aware of how my "busyness" interfered with my wellness.  As time allows (with the new puppy), I think I will really enjoy this read. This paragraph describes most of my adult life:

Lillian, in her longing for wholeness was trying to make herself complete through a flurry of activities that were leaving her exhausted.  Jesus gently calls Lillian and us to be joined to him, and to let go of our futile attempts to make ourselves whole.  Instead, we can rest in the work he has already completed in us.  "Come to me, all you who are wearing and burdened, and I will give you rest," Jesus invites us.  "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  (Matthew 11:28-29)*

I met some classmates for breakfast the other day.

I am trying to learn how to eat like a normal person again.  I did skip the potatoes, but the French Toast and eggs were phenomenal.  Bringing balance back to my life is a slow process.  If my lifestyle has truly changed, I need to be able to eat "normal foods" once in a while.  As long as I keep track of what I am eating and stick to my calories, it's okay to eat food like this on occasion.

My mother's birthday is February 22, so I typically take her shopping and out for lunch during winter break.  

We went to the mall and had a lot of fun!  I picked up a bunch of things at the Christmas Tree Shops, got these leggings at New York & Company.  The "gray" ones are actually green.  I don't have anything to wear with them yet, but it will be fun to find something.  

I also got fitted for a new bra at Victoria's Secret.  Remember, I was complaining about the floating boobs.  Well, now my bra really fits. AND I was surprised that I was right about my 34B's.  I thought I was smaller than that, but it's probably just the style bra I've been wearing.  As expensive as Victoria's Secret is, it's worth the investment.

I hate that my bras are bigger than my breasts.  Now I think my new bra will solve that problem.

New leggings with my new bra.  No more floating boobs.

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my blog.  Tracey's Getting Fit started February 18, 2015.  

My very first post was entitled, "It's About More Than Just Weight Loss" and that holds true today.  My journey towards fitness has become a journey to health and wellness.  Now I seek to give back, to inspire others. 

Anxiety in a man's heart weights him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Proverbs 12:25

With that said, I am at a point now in my education where I have to buckle down and complete my degree.  I need to use the same discipline it took to lose the weight and to train for the Ride to Remember and channel that into my studies.  Instead of writing a blog entry every time I get inspired about something, I am going to take my inspiration towards journaling about my Field Experience and compiling everything I need for my portfolio.  Writing my blog makes me happy, so I've decided that new entries to Tracey's Getting Fit will be a reward for completing a benchmark.  I expect to complete approximately one entry per week,  I appreciate your support and encouragement.

So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

2 Corinthians 8:11 ESV

Stay tuned.  Check back weekly for a new post.  And be sure to catch up with some of my older posts as well.

Here are a couple of my favorites from the past year:

• Exactly one year ago on 2/21:  Three Steps to Weight Loss
• Mike Made Me Do It
• Dmitriy Made It Happen
• Fixating on the Numbers: Nine Strategies for Weight Loss
• The Girl Picked Last

Question for you:  (Answer in the comments below.)
How do you stop procrastinating?

Now:  Subscribe to new posts!  When a new post is added, you will receive an email notice so you can check it out.  I promise:  no SPAM and I won't share your email address with anyone.  Look at the top right side of the page to subscribe.  

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*Gaines Eckhert, K.  (2007).  Stronger than you think: Becoming whole without having to be perfect.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Do You Really Want It? Guest Spot

I'm exhausted!  Our lives have turned completely upside down with our  newest family addition.  I'll write more about her and how the rest of the family is (or is not) acclimating to her.  Here's a sneak peak:

I really am in love!  She is so sweet and so beautiful.  I know it looks like we have more than one puppy, but we only took home one.  The second puppy is one of her litter mates, taken at the breeder's house on puppy pick up day. 

Do you have any idea how cold this is?  Try training a puppy in this weather.  She's doing great, though!



This is Koby's bowl.  Look how little she is!!!!

With all the excitement of the new puppy, my blog has been neglected.  Bear with me.  I have a couple ideas brewing.  Speaking of ...

Amen!  Especially with the puppy waking me in the wee hours.

In the mean time, I had the opportunity to write a guest post on Dee's Blog, "Break Out the Skinny Girl."  I first started reading her blog in September.   She shares her journey to Skinny Town in a charming way which is both honest and humorous.   I can so relate to her. This weekend, she featured  me in a guest post, where I shared my thoughts, "Do you really want it?" Check it out!

Question for you:  (Answer in the comments below.)
What's your favorite hot beverage?  How do you take it?

Now:  Subscribe to new posts!  When a new post is added, you will receive an email notice so you can check it out.  I promise:  no SPAM and I won't share your email address with anyone.  Look at the top right side of the page to subscribe.  

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Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TraceyGettingFit

Twitter:  @TraceyFit99

Instagram:  @tracoleman99