Nag Less, Pray More

Category: My Health Journey (Page 1 of 2)

Keeping in a Positive Mental Place

I have always considered myself to be a positive person, but lately I must confess that I have been struggling with negative thoughts. Before I even open my eyes in the morning, my mind begins meandering to worries and worst-case scenarios instead of the greatness of God and the impact of a life well-lived for Him. I dwell on what others think of me and criticize myself about my weaknesses. I feel defeated before I rise.

Instead of allowing the enemy of my soul to hijack my thoughts, I need to focus my mind on the One who is in control and loves me more than I can comprehend. God is longing to bless me and to make each day a meaningful day for Him. Even in my sleepy early-morning restlessness, I need to immediately fix my mind on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is commendable.” This takes discipline, but I know from experience that it can strengthen me to greet my day with confidence and joy.

What are some morning habits you have developed to keep yourself in a positive mental place? I’d love to hear from you!

Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last

Dear Younger Self,

While I was researching this blog series, I asked a number of people what advice they would give to their younger self.  One of your friends you haven’t met yet, Pat, an octogenarian great-grandmother and widow, was the oldest person to reply to my question.   She answered quickly with a  wistful look in her eye, “Live each day as if it were your last.”

You have no idea what will happen from day to day, and you are not promised to have a tomorrow.  You will meet many people in your lifetime who pass away with very little if any warning.   Make sure you tell the special people in your life that you love them every time you talk to them.   Don’t leave conflicts unresolved.  If there’s something you’ve been wanting to try in your lifetime, there’s no time like the present to begin your pursuit.

As you look back on your life as you take your final breath, you will want to look back with fondness rather than regret.

This post is part of a  31 Day Blogging Challenge entitled Advice to my Younger Self.  Please click here  to find all the posts in this series.  You’ll be glad you did!

Keep the faith, even when you can’t see what’s around the corner

Photo courtesy of Heidi Louber from one of her incredible long-distance hikes!

Dear Younger Self,

Sometimes it’s hard to keep going when you have no idea what’s coming up next.  You tend to imagine the worst case scenario and let the doom and gloom hold you back from taking the next step.  This is where faith comes into play.  You need to rely on your mighty God who will never leave you or forsake you for every move you make, especially the difficult and new ones.

I love the Martin Luther King Jr. quote, “Faith is taking the first step, even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”  If you stay at the bottom, just staring up at the top, without taking action, you will never get where you are going.

Another friend you haven’t met yet, Carol, has a daughter who has hiked some of the toughest trails in the world and took the attached the following quote to the above picture from one of her hikes,  “Keep the faith, even when you can’t see what’s around the corner.”

If you turn back in hesitation, you’ll miss the amazing view and adventure awaiting you.   You’ll never regret moving forth in faith!

 

This post is part of a  31 Day Blogging Challenge entitled Advice to my Younger Self.  Please click here  to find all the posts in this series.  You’ll be glad you did!

Develop good habits

Dear Younger Self,

You have always hard a hard time with consistency, and the struggle will continue to plague you throughout your life.  It’s so easy to make excuses and talk yourself out of doing activities which are best for you.  I firmly believe that it’s because the enemy of our soul, Satan, whispers lies to us and entices us toward laziness and poor choices.  Don’t succumb to the temptations, younger self!

Work toward developing these kinds of disciplines:

  1. Spiritual-No matter what, make sure you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer every day.  You have so many choices as to the method to pursue so you can find the system that works best for you.  It’s imperative that you stick with these habits above all because it involves drawing closer to the God of the Universe, who longs to be in closer relationship with you.   Scripture memory and group Bible study are vital activities to pursue as well.
  2. Physical-I know you think exercise is a horrible thing now, but, trust me, it will help you far more than you will ever know.  Even when you feel like you are too tired to exercise, get out there  and raise your heart rate daily.  You will feel so much better physically and mentally.  Studies claim that exercise is the most underused drug and that food is the most overused drug, and I believe it.  Track everything that you put in your body, so you are aware how many calories and grams of fat, sugar, and protein you are ingesting.  Make sure you brush and floss often and get all your regular check-ups too.  Sleep is a vital component of your health, so go to bed at a decent hour.  I know I sound like a mom, but you will thank me later.
  3. Mental-Make sure you exercise your brain.  You love word and number puzzles, and these help to keep your brain nimble.  Read daily, and pursue new hobbies and skills.
  4. Social/Emotional-Contact friends often.  I know it’s more comfortable for you to “hermit up,” but we were created to be in relationship with others.  Also, make sure you schedule downtime to recharge your emotional batteries.  Journal to process through difficult circumstances.  Reach out if you read me.

It only takes 21 days to form a habit.  That’s not a really long time when you look at all the benefits that habits provide.  If you do happen to miss a day,  instead of beating yourself and completely giving up, quietly strengthen your resolve and get right back to it the next day.  When you are busy keeping up good habits, you don’t have nearly as many time for bad habits.  With God’s help, you can do it!

This post is part of a  31 Day Blogging Challenge entitled Advice to my Younger Self.  Please click here  to find all the posts in this series.  You’ll be glad you did!

Gratitude can help you get through anything

Dear Younger Self,

The temptation is so strong to focus on what is lacking in our lives instead of what is abundant in our lives.  It’s so easy to think about what we want to acquire, achieve, or change instead of express thankfulness for each blessing in our life.

Make it a game to see how many things you can express gratitude for each day.  From the first smell of coffee in the morning to your comfortable pillow at night, you can find objects, situations, feelings, relationships, and experiences that cause you to express gratefulness.  The more you notice and thank God for all you have, the stronger your “gratitude muscle” will become.

Your “gratitude muscle” will be especially needed on dark days, when finding things to be grateful for will take more effort and creativity.  When you choose to focus on all the gratitude-worthy parts of your life, your mood lightens and you realize just how blessed you really are!

 

This post is part of a  31 Day Blogging Challenge entitled Advice to my Younger Self.  Please click here  to find all the posts in this series.  You’ll be glad you did!

 

Trust in God more than circumstances

Dear Younger Self,

By now you know how much circumstances can make or break your day, week, month, or year, yet you wake up in the morning with your circumstances on your mind instead of your mighty God.  Circumstances can change as often as the wind, yet God is completely unchanging and unchangeable.   When you base your mood and stress level on your circumstances, your stress level and mood will changes as quickly as your circumstances, but when your focus is on a faithful God, He will be your Rock and Stronghold, no matter what is going on around you.

You’d be shocked if I told you the difficult circumstances you will endure in the years to come…many deaths of loved ones, a rapid decline in your own health, and unexpected moves and changes in your husband’s career.  Yet God will be there for you in everything that will happen just as He has always been there for you in all that has happened to you so far in your life.

Enjoy your life, but keep an open hand on the changing circumstances while you cling to a perfectly trustworthy God!

This post is part of a  31 Day Blogging Challenge entitled Advice to my Younger Self.  Please click here  to find all the posts in this series.  You’ll be glad you did!

Remarkably Glad to Be Unremarkable

Now that I’ve hit the milestone of the big 5-0, my doctor has recommended that I take more tests than I used to.  Since both my parents died of cancer at a comparatively young age, I’ve decided to follow these recommendations.  Two weeks ago, in addition to my annual mammogram that I have done for the past ten years, I also had a bone density test.  As I changed into my special “test outfit,” (hospital cape open in the front), I chuckled to myself that my word for the year is humility.  I am a modest person and exposing my body to a technician is a bit embarrassing for me.  The mammogram is far less painful than it was many years ago, and the bone density test was also a piece of cake.  I was in and out of both of those tests in less than half an hour and quite relieved to receive a letter informing me that I am unremarkable.

This week has been a bit crazy as I prepared for my first colonoscopy, which I had yesterday.  On Tuesday evening, I fondly savored a piece of dark chocolate, knowing it would be last solid food I would get to enjoy until Thursday afternoon.   Even though I was teaching on Wednesday morning and tutoring reading on Wednesday afternoon, I only had Gatorade, Snapple, water, vegetable broth, and three popsicles.  At 4 pm, I mixed the dreaded gallon laxative, electrolyte concoction with water and began to drink it, 8 ounces at a time until half of the prescription was consumed.  At first, I was wondering why everyone warned me to stay near a bathroom after drinking the mixture.  Then my stomach began gurgling, and I dashed to my bathroom retreat where I remained for a good chunk of the evening.  Even though I was drained, I set my alarm for 3 am to repeat the process.   I arrived at the Endoscopy clinic ready for the whole experience to be over.  Then I was instructed to change into another hospital gown, opening int he back this time, and submit a urine sample on the off-chance that I was pregnant.  How can I be young enough to still get pregnant but old enough to need this embarrassing test?  The test itself was a tranquil nap for me, much needed after my active night.  Before I left, I was presented with some pictures and a report saying that my colon is unremarkable.  I don’t have to retake that test for another ten years.

I remember the first time I received results that said, “Unremarkable,” I was a bit offended.  I am a unique person with much to contribute to the world, and yet the one adjective the results used to describe me was “Unremarkable.”   Then I thought about the fact that unremarkable can also mean normal and disease-free.  Now I am thrilled to be considered unremarkable.

Don’t Give Up!

It’s so easy to become discouraged when life does not progress according to our timetable.   We live in an instant world that expects instant gratification.   When we don’t see results, we want to stop.

I have been on a weight loss journey for the past two and a half years.  At first, the weight came off quickly with not too much effort.  I have gradually increased my exercise time and protein and water intake while reducing my sugar, fats, and carbohydrates.   As time has progressed, the weight loss has slowed even though I have stayed true to a healthy lifestyle.  Now I am at a plateau that seems to be transforming into a mountain.   When I ran into this obstacle in my 20s and 30s, I gave up my healthy habits and consoled myself with chocolate.  I am determined to change my ways and dig in my heels in the difficulty.

Even though I may not see instant results, I will “keep on keeping on.”  I will continue to pull on my running tights even when they fit a bit more snug.  I will continue to lift weights instead of keeping my hand in the candy bowl and my body on the couch.    I will see setbacks as opportunities  to develop my character and strength.  And I will continue to place one foot in front of the other.

 

Aches and Pains

I will admit that aches and pains are not my favorite thing in life.  There’s not an hour that I don’t feel a twinge of discomfort in some part of my body.  However, I have learned some advantages to pain.

  1. It reminds me that I am still alive.
  2. It makes me rely on God more.
  3. It causes me to look forward to the day that I will leave this imperfect body on earth.
  4. It often signifies that I had worked a muscle hard enough to fatigue it.
  5. It allows me more empathetic with others who are experiencing physical pain.
  6. It forces me to slow down and rest.
  7. It humbles me and shows me that I am not invincible.
  8. It helps me to be thankful for the moments that I experience less pain.

As we age, aches and pains are inevitable, but moaning and complaining about them is optional.   I am making the choice to rejoice!

 


This post is part of a  31 Day Blogging Challenge entitled Embracing Fifty.  Please click here  to find all the posts in this series.  You can find the work of more bloggers participating in this series here. You’ll be glad you did!

Healthy Choices

My first half marathon, August 2015. I weighed 225 pounds and completed the race in just under 4 1/2 hours.

My second half marathon, August, 2016. I weighed 190 pounds and finished in just over 4 hours.

My most recent half marathon, August 2017. I took nearly half an hour off my previous year’s time, and I weighed 170 pounds.

My health, laziness, and gluttony dictated my lifestyle through my twenties, my thirties, and most of my forties.   Brownie bites and peanut M&M’s were staples on my Costco shopping list.   My exercise routines were nonexistent.  I chose dinner recipes based on ease of preparation and what the family liked instead of looking at the nutritional information.  The number on the scale rose steadily over the years, but I blamed it  on stress, my health, and having babies instead of my sedentary lifestyle and poor habits.  The more I weighed, the more my health declined and the less I moved my expanding body.  Three years ago, I was hospitalized for five days, too weak to breathe or walk on my own due to neuromuscular issues.  I weighed well over two hundred pounds.

After my hospitalization,  I made the decision to take control over my health.  I began training for walking a half marathon.  I purchased less junk food.  I focused on getting the rest my body needed instead of waiting for illness to force me to rest.   After walking my first half marathon in 2015, I decided to kick it up a notch and hired a trainer, a friend in her forties who had birthed ten children and then had made wise choices about her strength and health.  She designed a strength routine for me.  The first time we met, I was so weak that my whole workout was sitting down in a chair ten times and standing up again then ten bicep curls with five pound weights.  Even that was a struggle with my debilitated muscles.  She also had me log each piece of food I ate with an app called MyFitnessPal, trying to keep under 1200 calories a day.

Now, more than two years after starting with my trainer, I strength train for over 30 minutes three times a week with up to fifteen pound weights.  I walk or run three other days a week.  I still log my food each day.  In fact, I have almost a 600 day streak on MyFitnessPal.  I have dropped nearly 70 pounds.  I have completed three more half marathons.  I have more energy.  I am off all prescription drugs and all their nasty side effects.  I see a holistic chiropractor monthly who checks me not only for misalignment and weak muscles, but also hydration levels, vitamin deficiencies, food sensitivities, and thyroid and adrenal gland function.  I try to average close to 8 hours of sleep a night.

All of these new activities in my life are not part of a “diet,” but have been integrated into my lifestyle for the rest of my life.  It doesn’t mean that I can never have a piece of chocolate.  I enjoy a piece of Dove dark chocolate 3 or 4 days a week.  It also doesn’t mean that I never go out to eat.  It doesn’t mean that I can never take more than one day a week off exercise.  I’m flexible, and I’m giving my family the gift of a healthier, happier wife and mom who plans to thrive on earth for many more decades!


This post is part of a  31 Day Blogging Challenge entitled Embracing Fifty.  Please click here  to find all the posts in this series.  You can find the work of more bloggers participating in this series here. You’ll be glad you did!

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