Frustration

I have heard so many wax poetic that the obesity epidemic in the world today is directly related to a lack of physical activity. Others claim the cause is poor nutrition and lack of self-control. If either, or both, are correct, what is wrong with me and those like me?

Let me paint a picture of my week:

• I do one hour of intense Zumba Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• My husband and I take at least a 2-mile walk 5-7 days per week.
• I drink over 100 ounces of water daily.
• I drink a soy milk and green superfoods drink every morning.
• I eat a primarily vegan diet with the occasional chicken breast or hamburger added to the mix. 
• Our home is dairy-free and, mostly, gluten-free, thanks to Celiac Disease in my husband and second daughter.
• I spend Tuesdays and Thursdays on my feet 10:00 am until 4:00 pm, teaching college mathematics.
• In addition to teaching math, I also teach clarinet and flute lessons on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
• When I teach all day, I drink a vegan meal-replacement shake and eat a Clif Bar for lunch.
• I have four daughters, a husband, an orange furbaby, and a home to tend.
• I play in a woodwind trio, woodwind quintet, and orchestra.
• I am planning a solo clarinet/chamber music recital.
• I practice one hour or more daily.

My point? I am far from lazy, I do not overeat, and I eat pretty healthy food.

Why, then, am I gaining weight instead of losing? I suspect a few culprits:

1. A healthy body requires at least eight hours of sleep per night, and I am averaging just under seven right now.
2. Weight training is missing from my routine.
3. My stress levels have soared this semester.
4. Although I eat heathy foods, and not too much of anything, I do still have a bit of a sweet tooth.
5. Hormonal fluctuations that are not being adequately subdued by my current medication.
6. Asthma that is not as under control as it used to be.

My plan is to start with the first item on my problem list and work my way through them until I discover what is stopping my weight loss. I have lost it all before, and I can again.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 14

As I posted today on Facebook, I need to refocus my trust in God to provide what we truly need, so I think it is time to start up some thankful posting.

Today, I find myself extraordinarily thankful that I had four pregnancies that carried to term and brought home four healthy, incredible baby girls. Thank you Lord for these four miracles that give back to me in a multitude of ways daily. My life will forever be *millions* of times more meaningful and happy because of my children.

Today, I was moved by a post concerning the incredible organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.  This is an excerpt from their website concerning what NILMDTS does:

NILMDTS extends our sincerest sympathy to families who are in need of our services. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of NILMDTS. We hope the gift we provide will bring some peace and comfort during this very difficult time.

I have been blessed to never have to experience the kind of loss these parents have, and words simply cannot express my gratitude for this blessing.  God has truly kept me and my girls firmly in His grasp and saved us from this sort of heartbreak.  When I found out that a childhood friend recently experienced such a loss, it broke my heart all over again.

Please pray for these parents, babies, medical professionals, and the caring photographers that volunteer to document their last moments with their children.  As a photographer and a mother, I do not know that I could handle taking these sorts of images, because my heart would be breaking and tears streaming down my face the entire time.  As it is, my cheeks are wet just writing this post.

Please consider donating to the March of Dimes or NILMDTS.  Please help spread awareness for prenatal care, genetic testing, and follow-up care.  Pray for those affected by illness, accident, and stillbirth.  For those of us that have our children at home with us, we should hug them that much tighter today.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 11

As I posted today on Facebook, I need to refocus my trust in God to provide what we truly need, so I think it is time to start up some thankful posting.

Today, I am thankful for science and medicine.  After feeling pretty rotten last night, I was able to take some medicine to ease my discomfort. This is not readily available in every place in our world, so I am extremely grateful.

As I have become healthier, I have completely overhauled how, where, and when I eat.  I strayed from that plan yesterday afternoon, eating chicken nuggets and fries from Chick-fil-A (definitely not the best choice for an aspiring vegan), and I paid for it all afternoon and evening. The high salt content wrecked my system, and I found myself incredibly nauseous, bloated, in pain, with a headache, and in need of a bathroom for the rest of the day and night.  If it were not for the over-the-counter medicines readily available to me, I would have been miserable for so very much longer.

We tend to take for granted things that others in this world have never even experienced.  Especially at this time of year, I find myself so very thankful for all the comforts I have.  Thank you, Lord, for the doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists, and research scientists that you have put in our world to aide us in becoming or remaining healthier.  Thank you, medical professionals, for the work you do every day in our world.  Your work is truly admirable.