Weekly Fitness Update #2

This is my 2nd update, as I missed the week before last and didn't do anything.  However, I made up for that this past week!  I did 4 days of intense workouts and I have SO much to share with you all! :-)  For starters, my body has changed - fat rolls have actually disappeared on my sides and lower back.  I just noticed that today, I was like where did they go!?  It was amazing!  The scale hasn't shown anything but my legs are firm, cellulite is vanishing as well and my arms are smaller and more firm and hubby keeps telling how my body is changing, which is very motivating since the scale says no change lol.  I know what has been happening, since I've been doing intensive weight training, I've been losing fat, yes, but I've been gaining muscle - so the scale hasn't shown anything yet since I'm basically trading out for fat for muscle.  However, in a few weeks, the scale will no doubt start to drop as the fat sheds off and I'm so ready for that.  I'm just happy my body looks better woohoo!

Here is what I did for workouts this past week and YES - I worked out on Thanksgiving woohoo!

Monday - The FIRM - Supercharged Sculpting 30 minutes
Tuesday - The FIRM - Ultimate Calorie Blaster 20 minutes; 20 minute cardio
Wednesday - 22 minute walk with running sprints; 10 minute stretching
Thursday - The FIRM - Aerobic Body Shaping 55 minutes

I took Friday through Sunday off as rest days because I was beyond sore folks!  I feel so much stronger, able to lift heavier weights now and sleep better at night because I put my body to work. Hubby got me some more FIRM workout gear for an early Christmas present and I can't wait to try them out. I've liked the FIRM workouts for years now - one month a few years back, when I did the dvd's 3 days a week - I had lost 8 pounds and loads of inches in one month. They really do work and I love how you combine cardio/weights together in a short workout. They really are hard but they get easier as you build up your strength and then you can add more weights, etc.

Yes, you can lose weight quickly without doing weights but you will, unless you are young, have saggy skin. In past times of losing weight, I've used weights, even though it may seem like its longer - you end up smaller BUT with a tight, firm body and no sagging skin and a fired up metabolism! I had lost weight one time on Weight Watchers and I lost it so fast - went from a size 20 to an 8 - but my body was not pretty in the mirror. And what does it matter that others thought I looked good when underneath the clothes - I didn't like myself? I figured, I'm losing weight for myself and of course for hubby - so it really is important to me what it looks like underneath you know? I guess its one of those things of who are you doing it for? Others or yourself or spouse? Anyway, said all that to say - DON'T BE AFRAID OF WEIGHTS as women, unless you have some sort of predisposed gene to bulking, you will not get big! ;-)

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Oster Extra Large Convection Oven

We have been needing to replace our microwave for a while now and we decided to get a convection oven instead to heat up our freezer meals and other frozen foods and even for baking, broiling, etc.  This oven fits a 16-inch pizza, 9x13 inch casserole dishes among other things.  I've never owned a toaster oven and I actually didn't know what they were until the past few months.  I've used it so far to make toast - which it toasted both sides evenly!  It can toast 6 slices but with my homemade bread, I can fit in 8-10 slices in there possibly.

Yesterday, I decided to video while I was trying it out on my bread.  Even though the bread cracked at the top, it finished 5 minutes earlier than our regular oven and it was evenly baked on all sides and it tasted BETTER than my bread has ever tasted and the consistency was so wonderful!!  I'm hooked and can't wait to make more items in this oven.  Since it uses less energy and cuts time down a bit on baking, I may use it and only use my regular oven for large batches of cookies, muffins, etc.  I have freezer meals done till mid-January but come then, I will be able to try freezer cooking week out using 2 ovens - oh the joy!

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Happy Thanksgiving To You and Yours!

Let the past go, and be thankful you were able to survive it.

Let the present be, and be thankful you were able to endure it.

And let the future come, being thankful that you walk with a God that will give you the strength you will need to get through it.

                                                       ----------------------------

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. - Melodie Beattie

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Things I'm Thankful For

Did you ever just stop and think about all that God has done throughout your life and all that you have to be thankful for?  There are so many that we couldn't possibly list them all throughout our lives but here is my summary.

Here are Things I'm Thankful For:

1. God saving me in December of 1999, this Christmas will make 11 years since my precious Savior delivered me out of the miry pit of sin!!
2. Holy Spirit Baptism - I'm thankful for the POWER of the Holy Spirit and how praying in tongues daily builds up my faith and helps me to not sin!
3. Godly, faithful, loving, handsome, smart, funny husband!  God has blessed me with the best man on earth and I not only love him dearly - his life won me to the Lord when I was 19.
4. Loving, generous, enthusiastic, sweet, darling daughter!  I love Katie so much and so thankful that God chose to bless my womb with this wonderful child!
5. New Testament Christian Church - I'm thankful for my church!  It still stands as a beacon of holiness unto the Lord and there are those still flying the banner for God.
6. Pastor Davis - I'm thankful for this man that OBEYED God so many years ago and started our church.  It was because of his obedience that there was that holiness church in Anchorage, Alaska that was my birthplace in God.  
7. The Men of God - their lives exemplify our Saviour's and they stand firm against sin, ungodliness and hold the standard of God's Word boldly!
8. Pastor Kekel, Pastor Kinson and their wives - through all my growing pains and failures, mistakes, they have not ceased loving and caring for my soul.
9. Brother and Sister Garcia - God has used these friends to recharge my spiritual batteries more than one time!  They are an example of a minister and his wife and I'm thankful to have them in my life!  They hold a special place in our hearts.
10. Brothers and Sisters in Christ - I'm thankful for TRUE brethren!  Those that have your back, encourage you, edify you and sharpen you.  
11. Candy - a true friend who has been there for me and one that has helped me in my own battles.  Thanks for being a true friend! 
12. All my bloggy friends and readers - Thank you for your encouragement, prayers and love!

I could go on and on with thankfulness for my home, food and all that but I just wanted to name a few things in this moment of silence thinking on my life.

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Fall Decor

I wasn't even really trying to decorate Fall around here with buying orange curtains, I just happen to like them anytime of the year.  Hubby's mom sent us a turkey centerpiece and although I don't normally keep a centerpiece on the table because we usually have crafts/homeschool and all that on there - it was nice for dinner Friday night so I took a quick pic.  I like candlesticks - so I added those as well.

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Hair Update - November 2010

It has been a long time since I did a hair update.  For new readers of my blog, I lost 20 inches of hair with 2 perms a few years ago and spent the past 2 years or so growing out my perm.  I don't cut my hair and haven't since 1999, not even trimming, per God's word stating that it's my glory and sign of submission to my husband.  Anyway......I had to go through the "growing-out" phase for a while and it was hard!  So many times, I wanted to cave in and just get another perm but I didn't and I PRAYED and God helped me.  It didn't make sense to me to get yet another perm when they had already destroyed 20 inches of my glory.

So I went through a year or so of half straight/half permed hair and tried to work the best I could.  Then finally in July, I was able to stop trying to make the bottom match the new growth and did a video on that here.

Now, my hair is silky, shiny and I don't blow-dry anymore, I just let it air dry and comb and go.  I was blow-drying maybe once a month but I cringed every time I did it, so now I just prepare ahead of time to give my hair time to dry on its own and it has really improved in appearance.  Then I still do the coconut oil - yes, I still use the cheap, Louann's Walmart brand lol - I know, I know.......I suppose I should spend more and get the organic real stuff but hey - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I curl my hair with a VERY low heat curling iron once in a while and tonight one of those times so hubby took some pictures so I can do this update.  I can hold my hand on my curling iron and actually leave it there without it burning me - that is how low the heat is when I curl my hair.  There really isn't any damage, just barely-there heat.  I have done higher heat and I do get tighter curls but the one time I did that a few months ago, I got a LOT of broken hairs and it was enough to scare me to not do it again lol. =0

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What's Happening at Cambridgeshire Academy?

Here is what has been happening at our family homeschool, Cambridgeshire Academy, since October:

October Posts

• 1st Grade Science - Human Body Outline
• Week 1 - Living/Non-Living & Cells
• Lift the Lid on Mummies Fun!
• Lady Bugs
• LadyBug Life Cycles - Larva:Pupa:Adult Video
• Homeschool Room Redo
• Katie's Drawings

November Posts

• Week 1 Human Body RSO Labs
• Week 2 - Skeletal System & Muscular System
• Wooden Sphinx
• What Detention Looks Like at Our Homeschool
• From the Dean of Cambridgeshire Academy

I wanted to share the most recent post here because it really touched my heart! I woke up on Sunday morning to this note on our homeschool board from my dear husband. What a man and I love him so much!! :)

To the beautiful ladies of Cambridgeshire Academy,

    I am very proud of your efforts you have both displayed in this school.  Remember; this school was founded with the fullest intentions of providing an education based on the fundamental principles that our God has taught us in His word.   Take to heart the great blessing it is that we can educate our children in our home – with no watering-down of the Gospel.  We experience no assault on the foundation of Christ in this home.  Should it come to that – that foundation will not yield – nor will we.

    I cherish you both.  When I hear the laughter in this room during school time, or the simple instructions being read, or the irreplaceable bond between mother and daughter that touches my soul – I know in my heart that my home is not just my castle – but it is the focal point in which I learn what is truly important in being your provider, your father, your man.  Thank you for teaching me, without opening a book.

With Love,

Daddy

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Quotes on Mind-Body Illness

Here are some quotes that we posted over at "Motivated Mentality" a while ago and since my last post here was talking about this subject, I thought I would share these here as well:

A bodily disease, which we look upon as whole and entire within itself, may, after all, be but a symptom of some ailment in the spiritual part. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter

The mind has great influence over the body, and maladies often have their origin there. ~Moliere

There is something in sickness that breaks down the pride of manhood. ~Charles Dickens

When the head aches, all the body is the worse. ~English Proverb

The part can never be well unless the whole is well. ~Plato

I see rejection in my skin, worry in my cancers, bitterness and hate in my aching joints. I failed to take care of my mind, and so my body now goes to hospital. ~Astrid Alauda

Know, then, whatever cheerful and serene.....Supports the mind supports the body too. ~John Armstrong

Hear your heart. Heart your health. ~Faith Seehill

Health is a large word. It embraces not the body only, but the mind and spirit as well;... and not today's pain or pleasure alone, but the whole being and outlook of a man. ~James H. West

A healthy body and soul come from an unencumbered mind and body. ~Ymber Delecto

In a disordered mind, as in a disordered body, soundness of health is impossible. ~Cicero

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired. ~Author Unknown

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Mind-Body Connection - Deliverance is Yours for the Taking!

I was suffering with incredible back pain for about 10 weeks and couldn't even load the dishwasher without pain.  My doctor had reached the point of basically saying, I could get shots every month or surgery, or live off of ibuprofen.  I came home so depressed and desperate and called out to God for healing or to direct me in some way of why these things always happen to me.  It was then that I came across Dr. Sarno's Mind-Body work and this video:

(There is one curse word in there from one of the patients at 12:03)

After watching that video, I got Sarno's book "Healing Back Pain" within hours.  Within 30 minutes of reading the book, I was in tears because it was explaining my entire life since childhood.  My brain was trying to "do me a favor" and direct my emotional pain from past abuse to different parts of my body - which medical records, hospitalizations from the past 23 years prove.  I missed a lot of school growing up and even had rare illness' in my early 20's and went from doctor to doctor.

As I was reading his book, I realized what was happening in my body.  I couldn't deal with the emotional pain of abuse and thus, my brain did only what it could to help me - put the pain somewhere else in my body.

Only after 3 hours of reading the book, my back pain completely disappeared!  I told my brain to stop it and then told it that it had to deal with things and stop using my body as the means to divert me from the pain of my past.  It cooperated and for the past 11 weeks I've been illness free!!!  I don't remember a time in my life that I have gone so long being free of sickness or some injury, etc.

God is helping me and I'm finally dealing with these things........its been quite a hard road but without Jesus, I'm not sure where I would have been!!  I had no idea that I never dealt with things, I just subconsciously pushed them back in my brain and never DEALT with emotions.  It has been very hard to deal with things in my mind now, but its keeping my body pain and illness free!  I know so many people who have been abused or went through things and they are suffering with pain that pills and even surgery won't help - and only if they would realize what their brain is doing, they could have deliverance.

I'm writing a letter to Dr. Sarno to tell him what his book did for me and my life story as well but I wanted to let you all know what a life change I have went through the past 11 weeks and even close friends have told me that I'm like a different person.  Thank you God for this man and the wisdom you gave him and remember the Bible itself tells us:

Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he

I've been reprogramming my brain and learned behaviors (extreme perfectionism, low self-esteem, etc.) that developed from past abuse and its been hard work but my life has been changing and I feel like a new person. Just wanted to share and I know I don't get this personal a lot but I was ready to come forth to tell you all what a major life change I have experienced the past 11 weeks!!

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Dr. Weil on Dr. Oz Show - Videos

I've been a fan of Dr. Weil for years and have read most of his books and he is my main source of information for my health. My mom was telling me she saw that doctor I rave about on the Dr. Oz show, so I searched online and found the videos of his segments and thought I would share:

Health Clinic with Dr. Weil:

    

Part 1

    

Part 2

    

Part 3

    

Part 4

Dr. Weil Eating Plan:

    

Part 1

    

Part 2

Alternative Health with Dr. Weil:

    

Part 1

    

Part 2

    

Part 3

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November/December Baking Plan

• 2 loaves of whole wheat bread (I do this weekly)
• 24 whole wheat pancakes; freeze by 2's
• 18 whole wheat pancake/sausage muffins; freeze
• Granola bars
• Whole wheat Pumpkin bread; freeze by 2 slices per bag
• Whole wheat muffins; freeze

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Weekly Fitness Update #1

I didn't feel like keeping up with my weight loss blog, so decided to just post a weekly update on my progress.  It's now been 10 weeks of consistent exercise and building up my strength.  The past 2 weeks, I've taken my fitness to a whole new level and wow have I been sore but the soreness was very minimal the past few days because my body is adjusting to weight training.

I did a total of 3 hours and 42 minutes of exercise this week and most of that was moderate to high intensity!  I really feel like a powerhouse and like my "old self" again and have had so much energy that I cut my coffee down to........just HALF a cup!! Today, I did have a coffee at Starbuck's but I try and limit those to once a week.

I now wake up wanting to move my body and on Friday, I did the FIRM workout first thing and its been awesome.  I've increased my walks from 20-30 minutes to 45-60 minutes whenever its not raining.  I've even thrown in some 1 minute running spurts every now and then.  With my FIRM workouts, I moved up to a heavier weight for bench presses and other chest work and also my squats/lunges.  I'm able to do the 14-inch step climb (up and down for 3 minutes) easily now without getting shaky.

By the first week of December, I expect to be stronger than I am now and try my Jillian Michaels dvd's - they are killer and sure to break any plateau I may have in a month from now lol.

My eating needs work - especially on weekends and I plan on working on that more this week to see some weight and inches lost.

Onward, forward I go.......shrinking Bev is coming soon!! ;-)

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Bev's Tonic

I wasn't sure what to call this, so "Bev's Tonic" works! ;-)  This is good for a lot of things - general immune system booster, soothing for sore throat or laryngitis, colds, flu, etc.

• 1T organic lemon juice
• 500-1000mg pure ascorbic acid (powdered vitamin c)
• 1T raw honey
• 8oz boiling water

I have a handy water dispenser that gives me boiling water in less than a minute, but if you don't have that simply heat up 8oz water in the microwave or on the stove till very hot or boiling. Add vitamin c, lemon juice and honey and mix till dissolved.  It is very soothing, enjoy!

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Christmas: Decorating Early

We have been playing Christmas music and really getting into the Christmas spirit around here, so we went ahead and put up our tree, lights a few decor items.  I wasn't blogging last Christmas, so you probably didn't know I got a black Christmas tree.  I never knew they existed until last Christmas when I saw them in stores.  I was actually going to spray paint my green one until I saw one in the store.  I love how it matches my decor!  I showed it plain, with the green balls and then with all our ornaments in the last one.

Here are some crafts we did last Christmas - snowman and reindeer out of pipe cleaners and then I made pine cone elves with a pine cone that I spray painted.  I also sewed his hat, gloves, shoes.  I put them in various places on the bookshelves and yes that is me and hubby in the photo behind the elf and me when I was 7 - my hair was jet black growing up.

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Freeing up Time

If you have been following along the past few weeks, you read that I did freezer meals for Oct-Feb!  I'm telling you all, I didn't realize the great impact this would have on my time.  I knew it would free up some but didn't realize how much easier and less stressful it has made my life!

I plan my life (not every single minute), with my Google calendar.  Normally, the week I get my house money, I have to take off homeschool to grocery shop, bake and do the freezer meal cooking - oh, don't forget the planning.  Looking at my schedule for next week - it just has shopping and then I've been baking while my daughter does her math meeting or writing so its fit in nicely that way.  It is so wonderful to me to know that from now till mid-January, I won't have that one week a month that throws me off anymore!  Rather, I can just calm down a bit lol, realize I'm not a rush anymore to homeschool to "catch up" after one of those weeks and delve into other things that make life so wonderful - crafts, family time and field trips.

My schedule is still full but that is just because I replaced cooking dinners daily, that one week cooking blitz chaos........with crafting, nature walks, family time and more baking.  I have to say I'm so much more happy now!  Also cleaning my house one day a week worked just as well.  Who wants to clean and cook all day everyday!?  I suppose if you love to do those things, but for the rest of us, its about not forsaking those things (please ladies clean your house and cook dinner lol), but rather being wiser with our time to allow more "life" into our life!

I will be the first to say that I count spending time with my daughter or hubby over washing dishes and a lot of times my sink has proven that fact lol. ;-)  The dishes will always be there to wash - but my daughter will not always be a child.  What is more important?  It comes back to priorities - I won't choose a clean dish over missing my daughter's childhood but I will rather work it to where I can carve out that time.

So, I'm going to keep the 3-month cooking rotation going.  I'm going to get a jumpstart on it come January and start my freezer meals the 2nd week of the month and that will be through April.

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America - GO VOTE!

I urge all my readers in the USA, to go vote today!  It's time to change our country around and get it back on track by adding in more conservative leaders.

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Crafty Anabelle

Katie was so excited about this new website to showcase our upcoming crafts, sewing and all that other creative stuff!  She calls it our "show and tell" blog - I call it our showcase!  ;-)  Just a blog full of pictures of our crafts, sewing or whatever.  Something simple.

Hubby and I talked it over and we thought it would be useful, especially with our daughter's intense desire to create.  In a few years, who knows, she may have her own business selling things made by her own hands.  It took us a while to come up with a brand because something we are starting to make, we also want to attach our brand name labels to it and thus "Crafty Anabelle" was born!

For my daughter, whose middle name is Anabelle.......

www.CraftyAnabelle.com

The blog is just pictorial and closed for comments. It may change in the future but for now, its simply a picture blog.

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Past Mementos - Name Key-chain

My mom sent us a package and it arrived today.  She has been gradually sending things she has kept from my childhood.  We have been getting one box a month usually and its like I'm opening tiny bits of my past and memories are rushing in.  Lots of tears have been shed and gasps of joy as well when I recall the item and then say "I forgot about this" or "I remember this!"  My daughter has been wanting me to tell the story behind each item and its really been awesome.

I wonder why my mom kept certain things and I realized they were things that were special to her as well that she wanted me to remember and keep.  Some of the things I never really cared about it, but she did, and it meant something to her and then now they mean something to me.  What I'm blogging about today is one of those things.

My mom got me this key-chain and she thought it was something special, though as a teenager I thought it was stupid.  She held onto it all these years and I could have cared less being the wild teenager that I was.  It was a key-chain that had the meaning of my name.  Beverly means industrious.  Now, back when I was 15 or so, I thought what in the world is industrious, this is stupid.  However, my mom had hopes for me and I pray today that I'm finally fulfilling that special meaning.

When I held the key-chain today, my mind raced back and then to today.  I've been striving to be more of a homekeeper, wife and mother and though I have come far I still feel inadequate.  This key-chain reminded me of my goal - to be industrious, to work hard and not be lazy.  Not only because that is my duty as a Christian but also because of my daughter - I want her to develop a good work ethic and not one of being a lazy sloth!

There are only a few places, mostly from articles in the 1960's where it shows the meaning of Beverly is industrious.  I wonder why it just kind of "went out of style" over the years?  Here are some other names with their old meanings:

Linda - Beautiful
Elizabeth - Oath of God
Margaret - Pearl
Patricia - Noble
Helen - Light
Hannah - God has favored me

These meanings that have been around for centuries are fading away for new, modern-up meanings but the old, timeless meanings of the names are special to the mothers that name their children in hopes that they will fulfill that meaning.

Thanks Mom for holding on to these mementos and I pray I live up to the special name you gave me!

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Biblical Love

The message last night was talking about eternal love and this quote I came across today really fit within the theme of the messages lately:

Biblical love says, “I choose to love you, and I’m not going anywhere.”  Biblical love knows nothing of backing out when things get tough. Biblical love gives without expecting, goes the extra mile, sacrifices for others, and views divorce as a tragic and unnecessary plague visited upon a culture that has settled for a lie. Biblical love is not constantly seeking the emotional high that often characterizes immature relationships but instead is content with the depth and breadth that only the love of a maturing, godly relationship can provide. ~ Voddie Baucham

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