Road Trips

I've decided that road trips are hard for me.  Road trips by myself are even harder!  Boredom sets in and my old habit of wanting to snack my way through the drive creeps back into my brain.  

Twice in 2 weeks I traveled to the metro Detroit area (about an 8 hour drive from home).  The first trip I took my son, daughter and son-in-law.  Time passed quickly going there because we had some great Jesus talk.  I didn't find myself wanting to snack at all, actually.  The trip home?  I was tired. And part of trying to rationalize my thought was that if I ate I'd stay awake. (Silly considering a lot of times food can trigger sleepiness!) I didn't necessarily do bad (didn't buy snacks of my own); but I did have a few bites of "this or that" that found its way into my car.  

So during my solo trip, I intentionally didn't buy snacks.  Did I think about it? Yes!  And that bothers me.  I wish I could get to the point where it wasn't a constant issue in my psyche.  Even if I had brought 'healthy' snacks, which some people recommend, I would be mindlessly eating because I was bored. I don't want that bad habit to be part of my life again.  I refuse to go back to an unhealthy lifestyle!

I think I've made it clear that the weightloss surgery isn't a cure for my addiction.  Every minute of every day I must make a conscious decision to choose Jesus over food.  Do I do great every day?  No.  I've had moments of weakness that happen.  Moments when I walk by something and grab a handful and pop it in my mouth before thinking.  I've even had moments when I willfully eat something that could cause me issues - and by that I mean that it could make me want more...and more...and more.  The head-work of this process is the hardest part.  Really.  But I'm so thankful that God has opened my eyes to the path that could lead to destruction for me and I quickly stop the process.  

I know He has big plans for my life and in order for me to follow His call, I must be healthy. Being strong and not buying junk food in the gas stations is an NSV for me too! Planning for things like road trips is is a must! No exception. Pay at the pump...don't go inside.  Coffee at a drive through, not in the gas station.  Those little things make a difference for me.  I'm doing what it takes to stay healthy!  God isn't done with me yet! 

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"I praise you [God] because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~Psalm 139:14

Loving the NSVs!

Thought I’d list out some of my NSVs from my recent trip to Turkey.  These are kind of fun to list!

• Being able to sit on the ground in a crowded waiting area at the airport and being able to get up off the floor without a problem.  Even being able to get up gracefully!
• Not needing a seat belt extender on any flight – even having to tighten the seat belt after I fastened it.
• Running through the Rome airport because I almost missed my flight.  The whole time I was stressed about the situation I was also amazed that I was running through the airport…and I didn’t miss my flight!
• Walking down the aisle of the airplane without needing to turn sideways to avoid contact with people/seats.
• No swollen feet after very long flights!
• Walking hours (6 was the most in one day) with very few “sitting” moments and having absolutely no aches or pains in my knees, ankles, feet, back!  Plus not being out of breath when walking up the steep hills of the streets in Istanbul or climbing stairs to the top of the Galata Tower in Taksim or to the top of the Bodrum Castle.
• Fitting in the back of a small Honda with 3 other people (yeah, not legal in the states…but I wasn’t in the states!) Previously, I would have taken up the space of two people!
• Enjoying new foods without incident!  (Fully 100% credit this to God!)
• Going down the slides at a playground to the amusement of a 2 year old!
• Not shying away from the camera…even in a bathing suit!

In all honesty, this whole trip is one NSV and a testimony to the work God continues to do in my life!  May he receive all the glory and honor and praise!

And now some pictures...because it's my blog and I can post what I want!  LoL

Flight #1 - no seat belt extender and window seat.  Yep, happy camper!

Sitting cross-legged...on the ground.. yep, I did that!

Historic train station in Istanbul

Beautiful view at lunch time.

In front of Dolmabahce Palace

This is the view the Sultans and Ataturk would have from the palace.

Galata Palace - Taksim, Istanbul

Breakfast table...lots of fresh food, eggs and cheese...see the breads???

They included me in the family picture!  :)

Fashion designer cousin...does beautiful wedding and special occasion gowns!

Love this girl!

Foca - yes, the water is that blue!

I took this picture for one of my blog readers... Deniz!  :)  It's "her" restaurant!

View from their home in Bodrum.

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"I praise you [God] because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~Psalm 139:14

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Terminal

Yeah, I know I said I'd not be blogging, but this made me laugh and I still have an hour until boarding. 

I got patted down at security!!!  Looking at the screen and where she was patting I am confident the two "boxes" on the screen were caused by my staples!!!  I had to laugh!!!  :-)

So excited and so thrilled that God has given me this opportunity even I it means I get patted down!!! 

Turkey, here I come!!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

As much as I love where I was last week, it's always good to be home.  CME left me a sweet message on my last blog entry (you should read it if you haven't) letting me know that the changes I'm making really do influence the whole family.  That's one of the goals of this journey for me...to get our entire family healthy and for our family to make good, healthy choices.


Things I realized during my trip (in no particular order):

• It's hard to stay on a schedule when your schedule is not your own.
• I can still enjoy [ethnic] foods without the "I'm so stuffed" after effect!  Over the week, I was able to sample Lebanese, Chinese/Japanese, Italian, Mexican and Yemeni foods.  I didn't always have my measuring cups with me, but when I did it sure was easier to know how much to eat!  I think that I have a tendency to under-eat if I don't completely measure it out.
• I can have an iced caffe Americano with one half and half and 2 sweet n low and not have any side effects.
• My body shuts down on its own when it needs sleep - time of day does not matter.
• I can celebrate non-scale victories (NSV) like being on the go from 6am - midnight without having to sit down because my back or my knees or my ankles hurting.  
• I have a wonderful support team at bariatric center.  I called one afternoon to verify if the gift of baklava I was given would cause me problems.  (I knew it would, but secretly was hoping otherwise.)  RD called me back and confirmed my suspicion.  Bummer on the baklava.  YAY for a great RD who doesn't mind silly phone calls!
• I have a GREAT support team of friends who were constantly reminding me to drink my water.
• Waking up with leg cramps 3 of the six nights is no fun.
• Not seeing some friends since I started on this journey was kind of fun!  Their reactions to the weight loss so far was sometimes embarrassing because I still don't really see it in my brain, but for the most part it was a good mood booster!
• I can't eat a protein bar for breakfast.
• They really do make sugar free baklava, but it's more expensive and a small bite is not worth the cost or the worry.
• I can fix a fruit protein smoothie and enjoy it when others are eating their ice cream sundaes.
• The trip was good for me weight loss wise... 7.5 pounds in one week.  I wonder if my body was celebrating the new foods!  LoL  (67.6# since January - 42.6# since surgery)
• I have a great set of friends in another state!
• I have an amazing band of prayer warriors that not only were praying for me during this trip, but that lift me in prayers on a daily basis as I continue down this path.  I thank God for them (you) every day!!!

So yes, I'm back home and am in the process of getting back into a routine.  Next up is to increase the exercise (which I've been lacking, to be honest).  I'm looking at a couple other 5K races soon...just wish they weren't so darn expensive!  Regardless, there are other things I will begin this week to get a routine for exercise going.  Please pray for me in that regard - I've NEVER liked exercise and just because I'm losing weight doesn't mean my mindset has changed regarding it (yet).  I just know that it is necessary for my (our family) long-term success and health!
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"I praise you [God] because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~Psalm 139:14