WHEN I STUMBLE

I didn’t say if because being a human being I will not do it all right all the time!

This morning I was looking over my journal entries from the beginning of my weight loss challenges. It was very encouraging and motivating for me! I need to faithfully journal because it is one more tool to help me be consistent as I chronicle my progress.  It also reminds me ‘from whence I’ve come!”

So I begin today (June 27^th, 2011) with my struggles of yesterday. I was not prepared for the day with an eating plan. The failure to plan is a plan to fail and I proved it. In fact this whole week has not been very good for me.

My side tracked eating has included a couple of pints of ice cream, 6 ice cream bars, a dozen or more home made cookies as well as half a dozen large Safeway chocolate (3)  and snicker doodle (3) cookies!  And I don't even like them that much!! Chocolate covered raisins finished off my binge! What I thought was for one day has lasted a week!  And where did it all go?  To my belly!!!

So what do I do? Wallow in my self-pity? Keep it going? Beat myself up? Spiral down into a cycle of regret and what ifs? Or “look what you’ve done now, Susan, maybe you’d better give up??? Lots of possibilities, but only one good choice:

“Today is the first day of the rest of my life"---so what am I going to do with it?

Yup, my donkey cart fell off the road this week. In fact it probably lost a wheel and broke an axel, BUT I’m getting back up on the road, repairing what needs repaired and continuing this journey. The negative alternatives listed above are not a choice I will make. I’ve come too far to turn back now. I’m right around the corner from a big break through and I can’t give up when I’ve got so much to attain by persevering!

As wonderful as this journey has been so far, there’s always going to be a few bumps in the road. That’s called life! It’s what I do with the obstacles or the bumps in the road that matters. Do I let then totally derail my journey? Do I let them turn me around and head me in the wrong direction? Do I go back to my old ways?

Or do I recognize that getting back up and dusting myself off is part of the growing process that makes me stronger—makes me MORE not less successful in the long run. We need both the rain and the sunshine! They work together.  Too much of either can be bad, so in the process of this journey I am learning balance! I’m not proud of myself for choosing to eat such unhealthy foods. I’m not happy with what others might think of me for losing control either! But then haven’t I been learning to “Be secure without the approval of people”? That’s why I’ve been reading John Bevere’s book “Breaking Intimidation”!!

So what am I to do? This is a new day, an opportunity for me to start fresh and new. The mercies of the Lord are new every morning and His compassions do not fail!  Great is HIS faithfulness! As I get up and get going I put my plan into action. It is 8:30 AM and I have 3 ½ hours before I need to leave for church. I have most of my meals cooked and will finish up the rest of them. I will get those menus up and working, leaving NOTHING to my imagination. I believe that the indulgences of this past week and especially yesterday will help keep me on track in the future. I don’t like going to bed feeling bloated and gassy!

I’m choosing to forget those things that are behind me and press on to the goal—to learn from this past week, but not dwell there in my mind. I choose to jump off that spiraling, vicious cycle of regret. I affirm that I am more than a conqueror and that I CAN DO all things through Christ who strengthens me! When I am weak He is strong in me. I will not try to do this all on my own, but I will stop and call out to Him for help. Knowing what I can do on my own and what I need help with is a sign of strength, not weakness! “I look to the hills for my help. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth! (From Psalm 121—The Bible)

Once again this  is "Babyboomergrandma" trusting that my honesty and vulnerability has helped you. Thanks for visiting with me!  It is indeed a life-time journey taken one day at a time!  Until next time, may God richly bless YOUR life.