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Well, lets just say DON”T let grandma into Babies R Us with a credit card !!!!!!

Love Maggie

Trailer:

Synopsis:
A Christian school football coach is in danger of losing his job because his team has had 6 consecutive losing seasons, not to mention his personal life is a shambles. But he finds comfort in the scriptures and uses it to teach his team that every aspect of your life is to be done for the glory of God. Along the way they learn that God has a hand in everything, even football.

My OPINION:
OK, first off – really BAD acting. Almost turned the movie off it was so bad. But as the film went off, I was able to see past it.

Once you got past the bad acting, it was a really good movie.

This is a very family-friendly movie. It is great for church groups to show. If you are not into “church-y” films or stories, this is not the film for you. But then, if you’re not, you probably wouldn’t have picked it up, or even heard of it to start with.

That being said, this film has a great message. A message that brought me to tears before the film was over. Nothing is impossible with God.

While the acting is mediocre (you’ll feel like you’re watching a high school production), and some of the scenes corny (I have never imagined a football coach quoting scripture on the practice field), the idea was heartfelt and moving. The planting of spiritual seeds. This movie is a great tool of ministry.

The title references the final game of the movie vs. the Richland Giants, a much bigger, much more talented team.  But the metaphor is greater: Facing the Giants. We all have giants and so does every person in this film, especially the coach.  He is having difficulty with his team players transferring to other schools; school with winning teams. He is facing possibly being fired.  His house is falling apart. His car needs jumper cables just to start every time he needs to go somewhere.  He is told by his doctor he will never father children with his wife.

But as he prays and begins to find his purpose, he sees God in every minute of his day.  And sees where prayers are being answered, even if the answer is “No.” Nothing is Impossible with God.

If you enjoyed family films like The Ultimate Gift, The Last Season, Fireproof or any of the Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly saga, you’ll really enjoy this. If feel-good movies make you run, or you are expecting high-action sports scenes with heart-racing music, don’t bother. Varsity Blues, The Replacements, or The Longest Yard are more to your taste.

An uneventful weekend, as Iowa weekends have gone lately.

Christmas Eve: Grandpa’s.  I forgot how crazy and loud and chaotic it is with the entire family there.  You have to shout to be heard by the person sitting next to you.  You need to guard your gifts to make sure that they don’t get caught up in someone else’s trash, b/c the wrapping paper is knee-deep.  But it’s family. And I do love being with family.  It was funny watching Maggie’s reaction, even though she’s only 3-months old. It was the first time she’d been with the Family and her eyes were so wide and she was trying to watch everything and take everything in. I think it was sensory overload for her!

Christmas: Mom & Dad’s.  Us kids bought Mom a new stove and surprised her fairly well with the gift. She had no idea and was just dumbfounded.  The little boys got new tipis from us and just adored them.  It was a toss up between those and their new Hot Wheels tracks as their favorite gifts.  Dinner was wonderful and it was nice to spend time with our immediate family.

Friday- day after: We did nothing! It was great. Sat in our pajamas all day watching movies (I had to work to finish another present though).

Saturday: Grandma’s.  Had a wonderful lunch with ham and potatoes and veggies et al.  No cottage cheese, though. Bad Grandma!   The family has grown and there are now 6 little great-grandchildren.  But it makes it so fun.  We had good conversation and just a warm, welcoming afternoon and evening.

Sunday: The Bears game and movies.  Watching FAcing the Giants (see next entry for review) and part of 27 Dresses.  I need to finish the 2nd one so I know how it ends.  Another lazy afternoon as we tried to consolidate our presents so they would fit in the car – didn’t make it! Some had to be left behind for another trip!  Or maybe Mom & Dad come visit us??  Got a late start home and had to stop a couple of times for Maggie.  Long trip, got in really late.

The “Holiday Season” isn’t technically over yet and I’ve still made some grave mistakes. As I look back over this last week, I wonder what I could’ve done differently. I found an article on Weight Watchers calling “Have a Holiday Game Plan” that lent me a lot of insight and I want to comment on where I went wrong and what I did right. (Any italicized portions are quotes from the WW article.)

1. Plan Each Day: “Face the season in a highly organized manner,” says New York Weight Watchers leader Liz Josefsberg. “There shouldn’t be a day where you don’t mentally and physically plan the way that you’re going to attack that day.” Have an overall goal for your holiday season weight loss, and remember to weigh yourself weekly. Understand that a weight gain one week does not mean failure.

Ok. Isn’t the saying, “Failure to plan is planning to fail”? Well, that would be me this last week. I attended 3 separate holiday dinners without any plan in place. I did not prepare myself daily by eating correctly during the day prior to said meal. And I did not have anything in place for when those yummy treats were set out to LIVE on the counter or table.

2. Offer to cook: “I will know exactly what goes into 95 percent of the holiday dishes I serve,” says WeightWatchers.com Community user JULES1012.

OK, as I was traveling this week, this was hard also. But I have one more celebration to attend that I can offer to bring something. Email has been sent to the host (you know who you are!) to see if there is a course/side/entree that she is missing that I can bring.

3. Keep track: Write down what you’re eating, even if you overdo it, no matter what goes into your mouth!

Tracking is very hard for me to do, because I find it tedious. I found mention in a magazine article this weekend about taking pictures of every single thing you eat to create a visual food journal. NOTE TO SELF: Look for more information on this idea.

4. Plan for treats: Allot POINTS® values for the cookies at the office and for the food gifts that people bring you. “The holidays are a preparation battle,” says Josefsberg, “because there are so many surprises. You have to constantly be on top of your game.”

I recognize that my main problem is my addiction. By allowing POINTS for treats, I set myself to fail, because my brain says, “Well, there are still 8 on that plate. If you eat them, you won’t have to worry about eating them tomorrow and messing the day up.” Of course, once I’ve eaten them, that messes everything up anyway, so then I eat the next plate and the next and the next, until there’s nothing left to eat. I don’t know if I would be able to plan for these treats without worrying about losing control. But if I don’t plan for them, I lose control anyway. I don’t understand why this is, why do I have this problem when millions in the world do not?

5. Add activity: By exercising you can earn extra POINTS values for the things you want to eat. Plus, it helps to get some fresh air. And, “any time I exercise, I feel that urge to continue eating well because I don’t want to ruin what good I’ve done,” offers JULES1012.

This past week: F. This coming week: goal = A. If I move a little each day this week, I am doing better than I did last week.

6. Bring food with you when shopping: If you find yourself hungry at the mall or in a department store, it can throw you off to not be able to find anything other than chocolate and fast food.

Now this is an interesting tip. I try to always bring some kind of snack with me, because inevitably, I will get hungry if I’m out too long.

7. Don’t go starving to parties: And follow the advice of WeightWatchers.com Community user CSUSUNSHINE: Fill up on fresh veggies (watch out for the dip); drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have; take tiny portions; and if you crave something, eat it. Otherwise you will splurge.

As being part of an enabling family, there are not a lot of veggies in the first place. And eating beforehand doesn’t work, because I’ll keep eating even if I’m full. So, my task then is to bring the things that I can snack/graze on.

8. Give kudos to you! : “Applaud yourself for deciding this year will be different,” says Dianne Siegelbaum, another New York-based Weight Watchers leader. “When it comes time to make that New Year’s resolution, you will already be on your way to a healthier and happier springtime.” And reward yourself too! Find non-food-related rewards that you can treat yourself to for every pound lost.

This I can do. I do feel more confident, just by putting myself out there online, trying to document my struggles. But it makes me feel very vulnerable. But I am proud of myself at the same time.

OK, this was filled with more excuses than there should be.  New resolution: No Excuses.

The weekend before Christmas, Maggie rolled from her back to her front! (She’s being rolling from her tummy to her back since she was about 3 weeks old.)  We’re excited b/c she’s only 3 months old!  So, she’s a genius, obviously.

She also has started giggling and laughing now. Not a lot, but once in a while she’ll let one slip.  She “talks” so much more now with her squealing and noises.

We’re getting anywhere from 6-10 inches today (it’s been snowing all night). Left home at 5:45 this morning to make sure I got here by 8.  I really hate driving in snow.

I think I have an addiction.

I feel controlled by food. When am I going to eat next? What am I going to eat next? If there is food, it must be eaten until it is all gone, no matter how much is there. I eat in secret. I hide snacks to eat later when no one can see me. Descriptions of drug and alcohol addicts sound familiar to me, in how they describe feeling out of control and simply ruled by their addiction.

But what can be done about it? I can’t stop cold-turkey with eating, like you would with smoking or drinking. That would cause another host of problems. Food is necessary to live. But why must this abuse continue?

“ Food addiction is a contemporary term used to describe a pathological disorder; the compulsive, excessive craving for and consumption of food. This condition is not only manifested by the abnormal intake of food, but the intake and craving for foods that are, in themselves, harmful to the individual. While society and the medical profession have readily understood alcoholism and drug abuse, it is only in recent years that there is an equal acceptance of the fact that persons may be addicted to food in the same way. When any substance is taken into the body regardless of its potential for harm or in excess of need, that substance is said to be abused. Individuals who abuse substances in such a way are addicts; these persons become physiologically and mentally dependent upon certain substances, in this case food. …

“Food Addiction – Is There Any Hope for Recovery?
Food addiction is a serious condition with many adverse health consequences. Obesity, psychological disorders, diabetes, and gastric anomalies are just a few.

“The first step to recovery is, of course, the realization and acceptance of the problem. Medically, individuals must identify which foods — the trigger foods — cause allergic symptoms and cravings.

“There is no easy way to combat food addiction; it will require intense discipline in modifying eating patterns and lifestyle. A manageable exercise program should be embraced along with dietary changes that may be maintained. Ambitious attempts to change eating patterns abruptly or to lose weight quickly rarely have long-term success.

“The physiological and psychological dependency of food can best be broken when the individual recognizes that they are powerless to combat it alone. They must look to God, who alone is able to provide help and healing in this and all areas of human helplessness. “For I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26b) God is as much concerned with our physical well being as He is with our spiritual relationship to Him. As an individual seeks Him, he will find health and healing and recovery. “Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is” (3 John 2).” ~All About Life Challenges

I feel so lost. I am compelled to eat junk when there is junk in my presence. I am compelled to eat EVERYTHING that is set before me. I am compelled to sit and inhale bad nutrition.

But to change this, I must change my mindset first. This is an addiction. I am a food addict. I am a food abuser. I have only recently begun to recognize this. With God’s help, I hopefully will be able to conquer this addiction.

The more I read online, the more I think that I may have a food allergy of some kind, but how do I figure this out? I don’t really have the money to go and get a lot of expensive tests done. (Apparently, a food allergy can trigger a craving for the food you’re allergic to. Who knew?) I could try a Food Elimination Test and record how my body reacts to different things, but that is time-consuming. I just don’t know. But it would be helpful if there is something that I shouldn’t be eating.

Today is the first day. Is it the first day of the rest of my life, as the saying goes? Possibly. I’d hate to think that my life didn’t start before today, but maybe this is the start of the next chapter. And that chapter is a very very long one.

I’ve always been heavy. My entire life has been one long diet or weight loss struggle. And I’ll talk about that as this blog continues. But not today. Today is about the Why. Why am I doing this? Why now?

This is the Why. My family. My husband deserves to have a wife who is happy with who she is, who is healthy and fit, and who will take care of herself and her family. My daughter deserves to have a mother that sees herself as beautiful and models that behavior. She deserves to grow up in a household where junk is not the norm and a sedentary lifestyle is non-existent. She deserves to NOT have to do this on her own in 30 years. I want to learn that I am strong enough to do this on my own. That I am in charge of my life, and that I have the control to conquer my fears (more on that in another post).

I am considered Morbidly Obese (Definition: a person who is 100+ lbs over their ideal weight or has a BMI of 40+). MORBIDLY obese. MORBID = DEATH. In 2007, we suffered both a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy. The doctor’s notes regarding my surgery with the ectopic indicated obesity as a contributing factor. While I don’t know how they know that, the fact that it was noted really bothered me. To think that I could have possibly caused that to happen, and thus almost caused my death. And according to the website by Obesity Action Coalition: The most common morbid obesity-related diseases include:

• High Blood Pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

So, I could end up with cancer or diabetes or any number of conditions/diseases. And the 3 main contributors are behavior, environment and genetics. Well, I can’t do anything about genetics, unfortunately. But I can work on behavior and environment (and I’ll try to address each of these in future posts).

The How: I will weigh each week and measure once a month to keep myself accountable. Because I am still nursing, I will follow Weight Watchers program for Nursing Mothers right now. As she weans, I’ll reaccess. And I will strive to move every day. My goal will be a healthy 2# weight loss each week.

Day 1 Statistics:

Weight – 225#

BMI – 40

Measurements:

Chest: 50.5″

Waist: 41″

Hips: 50.75″

Right Thigh: 27.5″

Left Thigh: 28″

Right Arm: 15″

Left Arm: 15″

LONG TERM WEIGHT LOSS GOAL: 125 lbs (my healthy weight is between 121 and 135)

SHORT TERM WEIGHT LOSS GOAL: To lose 22 lbs – 10% of my current weight.

HEALTH GOAL: To eliminate that Morbidly Obese distinction from my record.

My sister desperately needs any and all prayers.  She is currently trying to adjust after leaving her abusive boyfriend and trying to establish custody of her kids.  That’s all I can say, but I had a very scary weekend in Iowa. Email me for details.

This is from Thanksgiving – all bundled up!