Sometimes it feels like the universe is against you. It may even feel like (if you believe) that God is against you. I know I have been feeling that way lately. I have been feeling that way for a few months now and it doesn't seem like its getting any better. That's when it hit me. I have been looking for help in all of the wrong places.
I have a tendency to fall in and out of routines, especially when it comes to my faith. There are days I feel like God is on my side and then there are those days where I struggle with my faith. I have been having the latter lately and maybe that is why I'm feeling such jealousy and anger towards others who can't help the situation that they are in. I am not putting my faith in God and his plans for my life.
Many struggle with this and I know I'm not alone. Whether we want a car, baby, money, or a house, everything has to do with God's timing and his plan for our life.
As humans we have this need to be in control. We want to know every detail so that we can plan for the bumps along the way. We want to know how every situation will turn out even before a situation arises and we get frustrated when something doesn't go our way. Jealousy is a big part of this. We see friends, family getting married, having children, or buying a house or car and want that too. We ask the main question, "When will it be my turn?" or we go above and beyond to find shortcuts to get us what we want. When will we realize that we will never work.
God isn't the bad guy, our emotions are and we need to stay strong in our faith and trust God. In my situation, I feel like I will never understand what God's putting me through. It seems like something new brings me down everyday but then again I haven't been trusting him like I should. A pastor back home once said, you are either getting ready for a trial, going through a trial, or getting out a trial but that cycle keeps repeating. All I know at this point is I need to keep my mind and heart on God. I need to trust him and know that he will see me through. He knows our needs better than we do and his timing is always right.
A very good article to read about this
http://livingbyfaithblog.com/2012/04/17/the-bible-and-jealousy-how-to-fight-the-fight-of-faith/
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Thursday, March 5, 2015
When You Know It's Time To Let Go
There comes a point in our life where we have an ah-ha! moment. It can be about friendships, work, school, and everything else under the sun. Sometimes these ah-ha! moments make you realize that it is time to let go.
When it comes to letting go we could take a lot of notes from Elsa, I mean she is the queen of letting go. She has her own song about it! Letting go can be a very hard thing, it can be even harder for people who have invested so much time into whatever. I know that for me, it's really hard especially when it comes to investing time into friendships. I already have a small circle and frankly, I don't want it to get any smaller. College, I dropped out and have never looked back. It was never for me. It took me a couple years to realize that, but I had no problem letting go. Work, I quit to marry my husband and don't regret it one bit. I am happy to be spending everyday with him and not trying to find another job to where I won't see him and have our schedules be terrible. Now the past when it comes to certain things, that can be a troublesome area to let go.
Last night, I had an ah-ha! moment. It all started with me thinking about what I regret while going to college in Texas. Of course, there is no way to change what you could and there's no point in dwelling upon it. And so I realized that I have a wonderful life now and that's what I need to be focused on.
Life brings us different routes that we can take. I chose to get married and be with someone I have known for eight years. Throughout knowing him, he has always been on my mind and somehow our paths have always crossed. He is my now and my future. Why focus on the past that will do nothing? And so, I must choose to let go. Let go of the negativity that I faced, decisions, worrying about things that don't matter, and everything else. It all needs to go! And sometimes, starting fresh is a very good thing.
When you know it is time to let go, don't fight it. We may not like what will happen when we do, but our heart always knows best. Deep down inside, we know what we need and we should always listen. Life never gets easier and neither does making choices, but at the end of the day worrying about something that is so insignificant isn't worth it. Keep moving forward and never look back.
When it comes to letting go we could take a lot of notes from Elsa, I mean she is the queen of letting go. She has her own song about it! Letting go can be a very hard thing, it can be even harder for people who have invested so much time into whatever. I know that for me, it's really hard especially when it comes to investing time into friendships. I already have a small circle and frankly, I don't want it to get any smaller. College, I dropped out and have never looked back. It was never for me. It took me a couple years to realize that, but I had no problem letting go. Work, I quit to marry my husband and don't regret it one bit. I am happy to be spending everyday with him and not trying to find another job to where I won't see him and have our schedules be terrible. Now the past when it comes to certain things, that can be a troublesome area to let go.
Last night, I had an ah-ha! moment. It all started with me thinking about what I regret while going to college in Texas. Of course, there is no way to change what you could and there's no point in dwelling upon it. And so I realized that I have a wonderful life now and that's what I need to be focused on.
Life brings us different routes that we can take. I chose to get married and be with someone I have known for eight years. Throughout knowing him, he has always been on my mind and somehow our paths have always crossed. He is my now and my future. Why focus on the past that will do nothing? And so, I must choose to let go. Let go of the negativity that I faced, decisions, worrying about things that don't matter, and everything else. It all needs to go! And sometimes, starting fresh is a very good thing.
When you know it is time to let go, don't fight it. We may not like what will happen when we do, but our heart always knows best. Deep down inside, we know what we need and we should always listen. Life never gets easier and neither does making choices, but at the end of the day worrying about something that is so insignificant isn't worth it. Keep moving forward and never look back.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Friends: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
The topic for today is friends. They can be a blessing and sometimes they can be a pain. New friends, old friends, and friends that are in between, we all have them so why not talk about them? In a good way, of course. Or is it? I guess you will have to keep reading to find out!
My oldest sister once told me, "Friends come and go. You have friends in high school who won't always be your friend. You'll make friends in college and then move on and never talk to them. You'll eventually get new friends at a job later down the road who may not always stay there. Friends always change during different phases." Through out the last couple of years since being told that it has remained true. Do I still talk to people I went to college with? No, and if I do it's once a year or something. Do I still talk to people I used to work with? Nope, unless we are seeing how life is going. I have a few new friends since I moved to the east coast and time will only tell if we remain in contact when one moves. Who knows what the future holds!
Now don't get me wrong, I would love to stay in contact with more people but like my sister said, things change. It doesn't make me any less of a friend because I realize one day I may not be friends with someone because I will always be the best friend I can be with whomever is in my life.
Also, this isn't a reason to not have friends either. Don't make the excuse, "Well, since we probably won't remain friends so no point in having any." or, "Well, I'm in a new place and starting over sucks. No, thanks.". Life is dull when you have no one to share it with. Of course, family and spouses will be around for events but friends can be just as important! And sometimes, it's easier to rant to someone of the same gender than your husband. I know that for sure!
Another subject that goes along with friendship is balance. Balance and friendship? I'm sure you're wondering how these two words can be in the same sentence. Well, I'm here to explain!
Balance in a friendship is important. It is the thing that keeps a friendship from being one-sided. We can all agree that somewhere down the path of life we have come in contact with someone or quite a few someones that make everything about them. It is what they want, when they want it, and you can easily be replaced when your schedule doesn't fit into theirs. These are the people I can't stand! Obviously, for a very good reason. I mean, who wants to be beckoned when it works best for the other person? I am all about listening and understanding problems that people will face, but when they can't give you the same then there is no point in a friendship. A friendship is a form of relationship which requires two people. I wouldn't want to be in a relationship with my husband where it's all about him. I'd lose it! This same concept goes for friends.
I am glad that even though friendships don't always work I can always count on my friend, Katelyn. I know that no matter where life takes us, we will always stay in contact and visit in person when we can. She is there for me to vent to and I am there for her. We have balance and it's great! If only more friendships could be that way.
To keep this post short, since mine always seem to be long, I'll end with this: Don't ever take a great friendship for granted and hold onto it for as long as possible. Friends may come and go but I want the good ones, the ones I really care about, to keep growing and flourishing like the beautiful flower that they are.
My oldest sister once told me, "Friends come and go. You have friends in high school who won't always be your friend. You'll make friends in college and then move on and never talk to them. You'll eventually get new friends at a job later down the road who may not always stay there. Friends always change during different phases." Through out the last couple of years since being told that it has remained true. Do I still talk to people I went to college with? No, and if I do it's once a year or something. Do I still talk to people I used to work with? Nope, unless we are seeing how life is going. I have a few new friends since I moved to the east coast and time will only tell if we remain in contact when one moves. Who knows what the future holds!
Now don't get me wrong, I would love to stay in contact with more people but like my sister said, things change. It doesn't make me any less of a friend because I realize one day I may not be friends with someone because I will always be the best friend I can be with whomever is in my life.
Also, this isn't a reason to not have friends either. Don't make the excuse, "Well, since we probably won't remain friends so no point in having any." or, "Well, I'm in a new place and starting over sucks. No, thanks.". Life is dull when you have no one to share it with. Of course, family and spouses will be around for events but friends can be just as important! And sometimes, it's easier to rant to someone of the same gender than your husband. I know that for sure!
Another subject that goes along with friendship is balance. Balance and friendship? I'm sure you're wondering how these two words can be in the same sentence. Well, I'm here to explain!
Balance in a friendship is important. It is the thing that keeps a friendship from being one-sided. We can all agree that somewhere down the path of life we have come in contact with someone or quite a few someones that make everything about them. It is what they want, when they want it, and you can easily be replaced when your schedule doesn't fit into theirs. These are the people I can't stand! Obviously, for a very good reason. I mean, who wants to be beckoned when it works best for the other person? I am all about listening and understanding problems that people will face, but when they can't give you the same then there is no point in a friendship. A friendship is a form of relationship which requires two people. I wouldn't want to be in a relationship with my husband where it's all about him. I'd lose it! This same concept goes for friends.
I am glad that even though friendships don't always work I can always count on my friend, Katelyn. I know that no matter where life takes us, we will always stay in contact and visit in person when we can. She is there for me to vent to and I am there for her. We have balance and it's great! If only more friendships could be that way.
To keep this post short, since mine always seem to be long, I'll end with this: Don't ever take a great friendship for granted and hold onto it for as long as possible. Friends may come and go but I want the good ones, the ones I really care about, to keep growing and flourishing like the beautiful flower that they are.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
The First Year Of Marriage
Time has been flying by since January 2014. It is now March 3rd, 2015 and a year ago today I married my best friend. Our relationship hasn't always been picture perfect and for seven years we had been doing the long distance thing. I am quite grateful for his mother who helped push it along, if it wasn't for her we may not be where we are today!
Now, back to the real topic at hand, marriage. Marriage is a commitment between two people. It is a bond that shouldn't be broken but in this day and age divorce is everywhere. Many marriages don't even last a year and frankly, it's really sad. I knew from the beginning that no matter how upset we got at each other or what we disagreed on, if anything, divorce was never going to cross my mind. To this day, it hasn't. Our marriage isn't perfect and going from long distance to spending every day together has been quite an experience! But, it's an experience I wouldn't want with any other man. Therefore, the rest of this post will be about what I have learned in the past year when it comes to marriage which will hopefully come in handy down the road to remind me and possibly others to never forget when living with someone for the rest of your life. So with that, let the list begin!
First on my list (not in any specific order) is communication. This is key for any relationship, whether it is friendship, dating, or marriage like in this case. Communication can build trust and it can also break it. Communication also leaves the door open for talks about anything! There are times where Daniel or I need to vent about our day and this helps us understand one another better. It helps me know what he dislikes and what needs to be changed. There are also times where we vent our frustrations about one another. Sometimes, I don't want to hear it and think that I am just fine the way I handle things, sadly that isn't the case always. Communication makes couples stronger.
Second would be adjustment. I never thought being married would be difficult and frustrating at times. My parents always made it seem easy. I have now come to realize that living with someone can be interesting at times! It's much different than living with family for one, you have lived with them for so long. There are some habits that he has I never knew and I'm sure I have habits he didn't know about. Adjusting to these can take some time and even after a year I still haven't adjusted to them all. Adjusting doesn't have to be just moving in together either. At some point, kids will become another adjustment (no kids yet!) and even pets can be an adjustment. If you have married someone in the military, that's an adjustment as well because lots of moving is involved. When it comes to adjusting, communicating can help and just remember that things will get easier!
Third on my list would be sacrifice. I know this word all too well and so does my family. After getting married I spent one more day with my family and then moved. I've had to sacrifice them being a part of my engagement because of Daniel being from a different state and being in the military. They haven't been able to get to him know that well either. I wish they could have played a bigger part in huge events in my life, but I can't help a southern boy stole my heart. Sorry, my wonderful family! Sacrifices can also come with arguments or views and life plans. I don't know what other sacrifices we will have to make later on in life, but I do know that he will always be by my side and so will our families. That makes sacrifices a little easier.
Fourth, never stop showing your spouse that you love them. This doesn't really seem like a hard one, but let me tell you it can be! If you just had an argument, being loving isn't really on your mind at that point. But, even just hearing them out and remaining calm when you want to yell can be a loving gesture. You don't have to go out and buy a material item to show them love. Love comes from your heart. You can show them love by, listening to them, doing what they want to do, and saying "I love you" which can never be overused. I know sometimes I struggle to be loving, but that is everyone at some point. I hope to get better in this aspect in the next year!
Fifth, a big wedding doesn't make a marriage. How many have seen magazines as they are checking out about the next big celeb wedding or their next divorce? I know I have! Every girl dreams of a big wedding, don't get me wrong, they are beautiful! If circumstances were different, I still wouldn't of had a big wedding, but that's just me. I like to be stress free! We had a small ceremony by my pastor in my parent's house. It was beautiful, small, and unique. It wasn't traditional and I do wish more of our family could have been there, but again, two different states is hard because someone will always be left out. But back to the topic at hand, a big wedding (even a small one) doesn't make it last. The two need to realize the commitment and love they must give for it to work. Everything on my list will apply and other things that I draw a blank to. If you can't have a big wedding like you want, don't stress! Saving money is more important, that was the case for us. Everyone is different and everyone has different circumstances but it all comes down to realizing how important marriage is and what it means to you. We shouldn't take it lightly.
Sixth, and the last for now :p, is God. God has many thoughts on marriage in the Bible and sometimes we need reminders. My parents have been married for 25 years and God has been the center for a majority of it. I see how God works in their lives and I want that. They have been a good example. God is in charge of everything and he knows what is best. I hope that Daniel and I will continue to grow our relationship with him and become a strong couple with God at the very center.
There is my list and I hope to grow in all of these areas in the next year and hopefully I'll grow in other areas that weren't mentioned. Marriage is not always easy, but it's worth everything if you are with the right person. We have our arguments and I know that won't change, but how we deal with them will. I don't want a perfect marriage because then I can't continue to grow and learn. I want to keep growing and learning and being the best wife I am able to be for Daniel. I am happy to spend and love him everyday. I can't wait for many more years and to see where God takes us! Here is too many more years in the future to show how much I love you, Happy Anniversary Boo Boo! You'll always be the one I want to be with. xoxo
Now, back to the real topic at hand, marriage. Marriage is a commitment between two people. It is a bond that shouldn't be broken but in this day and age divorce is everywhere. Many marriages don't even last a year and frankly, it's really sad. I knew from the beginning that no matter how upset we got at each other or what we disagreed on, if anything, divorce was never going to cross my mind. To this day, it hasn't. Our marriage isn't perfect and going from long distance to spending every day together has been quite an experience! But, it's an experience I wouldn't want with any other man. Therefore, the rest of this post will be about what I have learned in the past year when it comes to marriage which will hopefully come in handy down the road to remind me and possibly others to never forget when living with someone for the rest of your life. So with that, let the list begin!
First on my list (not in any specific order) is communication. This is key for any relationship, whether it is friendship, dating, or marriage like in this case. Communication can build trust and it can also break it. Communication also leaves the door open for talks about anything! There are times where Daniel or I need to vent about our day and this helps us understand one another better. It helps me know what he dislikes and what needs to be changed. There are also times where we vent our frustrations about one another. Sometimes, I don't want to hear it and think that I am just fine the way I handle things, sadly that isn't the case always. Communication makes couples stronger.
Second would be adjustment. I never thought being married would be difficult and frustrating at times. My parents always made it seem easy. I have now come to realize that living with someone can be interesting at times! It's much different than living with family for one, you have lived with them for so long. There are some habits that he has I never knew and I'm sure I have habits he didn't know about. Adjusting to these can take some time and even after a year I still haven't adjusted to them all. Adjusting doesn't have to be just moving in together either. At some point, kids will become another adjustment (no kids yet!) and even pets can be an adjustment. If you have married someone in the military, that's an adjustment as well because lots of moving is involved. When it comes to adjusting, communicating can help and just remember that things will get easier!
Third on my list would be sacrifice. I know this word all too well and so does my family. After getting married I spent one more day with my family and then moved. I've had to sacrifice them being a part of my engagement because of Daniel being from a different state and being in the military. They haven't been able to get to him know that well either. I wish they could have played a bigger part in huge events in my life, but I can't help a southern boy stole my heart. Sorry, my wonderful family! Sacrifices can also come with arguments or views and life plans. I don't know what other sacrifices we will have to make later on in life, but I do know that he will always be by my side and so will our families. That makes sacrifices a little easier.
Fourth, never stop showing your spouse that you love them. This doesn't really seem like a hard one, but let me tell you it can be! If you just had an argument, being loving isn't really on your mind at that point. But, even just hearing them out and remaining calm when you want to yell can be a loving gesture. You don't have to go out and buy a material item to show them love. Love comes from your heart. You can show them love by, listening to them, doing what they want to do, and saying "I love you" which can never be overused. I know sometimes I struggle to be loving, but that is everyone at some point. I hope to get better in this aspect in the next year!
Fifth, a big wedding doesn't make a marriage. How many have seen magazines as they are checking out about the next big celeb wedding or their next divorce? I know I have! Every girl dreams of a big wedding, don't get me wrong, they are beautiful! If circumstances were different, I still wouldn't of had a big wedding, but that's just me. I like to be stress free! We had a small ceremony by my pastor in my parent's house. It was beautiful, small, and unique. It wasn't traditional and I do wish more of our family could have been there, but again, two different states is hard because someone will always be left out. But back to the topic at hand, a big wedding (even a small one) doesn't make it last. The two need to realize the commitment and love they must give for it to work. Everything on my list will apply and other things that I draw a blank to. If you can't have a big wedding like you want, don't stress! Saving money is more important, that was the case for us. Everyone is different and everyone has different circumstances but it all comes down to realizing how important marriage is and what it means to you. We shouldn't take it lightly.
Sixth, and the last for now :p, is God. God has many thoughts on marriage in the Bible and sometimes we need reminders. My parents have been married for 25 years and God has been the center for a majority of it. I see how God works in their lives and I want that. They have been a good example. God is in charge of everything and he knows what is best. I hope that Daniel and I will continue to grow our relationship with him and become a strong couple with God at the very center.
There is my list and I hope to grow in all of these areas in the next year and hopefully I'll grow in other areas that weren't mentioned. Marriage is not always easy, but it's worth everything if you are with the right person. We have our arguments and I know that won't change, but how we deal with them will. I don't want a perfect marriage because then I can't continue to grow and learn. I want to keep growing and learning and being the best wife I am able to be for Daniel. I am happy to spend and love him everyday. I can't wait for many more years and to see where God takes us! Here is too many more years in the future to show how much I love you, Happy Anniversary Boo Boo! You'll always be the one I want to be with. xoxo
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Never Letting That Number Own Your Life
In the last post I talked about body positivity and how important it can be. I touched briefly on my reason for loving the body positivity movement, but let's admit it, it was real brief! I have been doing a lot of thinking about whether to write another post about my struggles and like my friend Katelyn mentioned, it could end up helping someone. Who knows! But, I'm willing to give it a go. So, without further ado here is my struggle with those numbers on a scale.
Boys and weight are always on a girl's mind during those teenage years. I was insecure about my body and a few comments made by people made it worse. College was better, but that's also because everyone is worried about being an adult and many have grown out of making fun of others. Though, these changes didn't quite help my insecurities or how I pictured my body. It's not like I was trying to lose weight either. I didn't have a reason to or a want. Working out? I didn't have time for that. Classes, work, and sleep was all I needed until there was a boy.
Doesn't everything happen because of a boy? In this case it did. A boy that had been dear to my heart for a very long time was going to be graduating from bootcamp in a couple of months and his mother was flying me down. In my mind, I had to look good on the outside. I couldn't be overly fat, though many would say 190 pounds isn't fat at all. To me, I was a whale. I'm not really sure what I did to get down to 175 pounds before my trip. I know I did some working out, but food wise, your guess is as good as mine. Did losing 15 pounds help my body image? Nope, it was still the same and even worse since this was the first time I'd be meeting him. There was a lot nervousness and anxiety. But, everything worked out and now we're married, hehe.
To him, my body is perfect and we love to be complimented but it doesn't change how you feel about yourself. Since his graduation day in June 2013, I lost another 10 pounds before visiting him again and getting engaged. Another 10 pounds didn't change my thinking. It helped, but scales and sizes of clothes can make a good day into a bad one. It always did for me. After that visit in September 2013, I went back home and began to diet again but this time it was more drastic.
The calories I was taking in were below the minimum anyone should consume. I was eating less than 1,000 calories a day. I wanted to look good for my wedding that was in March. What girl doesn't want to look good in a dress in front of people? At this point, I wasn't working out anymore. I was only focused on calories and eating as little as possible. Did I know this was bad for my body? Not exactly, and at that point I didn't care. Of course, I lost weight and before I got married I was down to 142 pounds. It didn't stay off for long because I deprived myself for so long everything I didn't eat before I began to eat, and it wasn't in moderation. I stuffed my face!
After the wedding, I moved away from my family and my weight went back up to 170 pounds from really poor eating and not working out at all. I knew I needed to do something again and I tried to eat a really low calorie diet but I couldn't stick to it. I would binge eat, especially when my husband wasn't home and then decided to vomit after. So, for a few months I became bulimic. The numbers on the scale were never the numbers I wanted to see. Nothing was working and it was frustrating! Everything I was doing to my body was terrible, I know that. I was desperate and desperate times call for drastic measures. Or so, that's what my mind was telling me.
It finally dawned on me that the only way I was going to make a difference was to start eating better and not deprive myself. I began to try and focus on macros (IIFYM or If It Fits Your Macros) and adding more fruits and vegetables. I even talked to a nutritionist to get some advice. Currently I am at 151 pounds and healthier than I was at 142 pounds and I have muscle! I'm trying to not focus on that number though. I went from weighing myself everyday to weighing maybe twice a month. I don't want that number to bring me back to a dark place where I want to throw up or eat less. I now know about BMR and what is healthy. I don't want to go back to my old ways. The mind is such a tricky thing. Those voices telling you that you're fat and you aren't good enough can really get you down. Even now after dealing with all that and eating better, I still have those voices but I don't let them tell me how to feel anymore. You have control over your mind. You can look in the mirror and tell yourself you are amazing. beautiful, and great just the way you are! When you start telling yourself that, sooner or later you will begin to believe it. It may not seem easy but what's the other option? Being miserable? No, thanks!
Eating healthier and working out are a step in the right direction to a healthy life, but we can't forget our mind. It'll help motivate you, determine how you feel about yourself, and keep pushing when your legs say no. I've struggled in the past and may struggle in the future, but only I can determine how I will handle it. Sometimes, you have to tell those little voices to shut up and keep going!
Boys and weight are always on a girl's mind during those teenage years. I was insecure about my body and a few comments made by people made it worse. College was better, but that's also because everyone is worried about being an adult and many have grown out of making fun of others. Though, these changes didn't quite help my insecurities or how I pictured my body. It's not like I was trying to lose weight either. I didn't have a reason to or a want. Working out? I didn't have time for that. Classes, work, and sleep was all I needed until there was a boy.
Doesn't everything happen because of a boy? In this case it did. A boy that had been dear to my heart for a very long time was going to be graduating from bootcamp in a couple of months and his mother was flying me down. In my mind, I had to look good on the outside. I couldn't be overly fat, though many would say 190 pounds isn't fat at all. To me, I was a whale. I'm not really sure what I did to get down to 175 pounds before my trip. I know I did some working out, but food wise, your guess is as good as mine. Did losing 15 pounds help my body image? Nope, it was still the same and even worse since this was the first time I'd be meeting him. There was a lot nervousness and anxiety. But, everything worked out and now we're married, hehe.
To him, my body is perfect and we love to be complimented but it doesn't change how you feel about yourself. Since his graduation day in June 2013, I lost another 10 pounds before visiting him again and getting engaged. Another 10 pounds didn't change my thinking. It helped, but scales and sizes of clothes can make a good day into a bad one. It always did for me. After that visit in September 2013, I went back home and began to diet again but this time it was more drastic.
The calories I was taking in were below the minimum anyone should consume. I was eating less than 1,000 calories a day. I wanted to look good for my wedding that was in March. What girl doesn't want to look good in a dress in front of people? At this point, I wasn't working out anymore. I was only focused on calories and eating as little as possible. Did I know this was bad for my body? Not exactly, and at that point I didn't care. Of course, I lost weight and before I got married I was down to 142 pounds. It didn't stay off for long because I deprived myself for so long everything I didn't eat before I began to eat, and it wasn't in moderation. I stuffed my face!
After the wedding, I moved away from my family and my weight went back up to 170 pounds from really poor eating and not working out at all. I knew I needed to do something again and I tried to eat a really low calorie diet but I couldn't stick to it. I would binge eat, especially when my husband wasn't home and then decided to vomit after. So, for a few months I became bulimic. The numbers on the scale were never the numbers I wanted to see. Nothing was working and it was frustrating! Everything I was doing to my body was terrible, I know that. I was desperate and desperate times call for drastic measures. Or so, that's what my mind was telling me.
It finally dawned on me that the only way I was going to make a difference was to start eating better and not deprive myself. I began to try and focus on macros (IIFYM or If It Fits Your Macros) and adding more fruits and vegetables. I even talked to a nutritionist to get some advice. Currently I am at 151 pounds and healthier than I was at 142 pounds and I have muscle! I'm trying to not focus on that number though. I went from weighing myself everyday to weighing maybe twice a month. I don't want that number to bring me back to a dark place where I want to throw up or eat less. I now know about BMR and what is healthy. I don't want to go back to my old ways. The mind is such a tricky thing. Those voices telling you that you're fat and you aren't good enough can really get you down. Even now after dealing with all that and eating better, I still have those voices but I don't let them tell me how to feel anymore. You have control over your mind. You can look in the mirror and tell yourself you are amazing. beautiful, and great just the way you are! When you start telling yourself that, sooner or later you will begin to believe it. It may not seem easy but what's the other option? Being miserable? No, thanks!
Eating healthier and working out are a step in the right direction to a healthy life, but we can't forget our mind. It'll help motivate you, determine how you feel about yourself, and keep pushing when your legs say no. I've struggled in the past and may struggle in the future, but only I can determine how I will handle it. Sometimes, you have to tell those little voices to shut up and keep going!
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Body Positivity
Well, it has been quite some time since I sat down and wrote a post. I hadn't thought of any good topics to talk about and quite frankly politics, which are always on my mind, just don't get me started! Haha.
Anyways, the topic at hand today is body positivity. It has become a movement in the last couple of months with more women being confident in their skin, whether they are on the larger or smaller side. Shows like, My Big Fat Fabulous Life really help reach out to the ones who are unsure about what they see in the mirror. Whitney Thore is so confident in her skin while being close to 400lbs. I've never been confident ever! It's impressive to me and yet, it makes me question myself and why I haven't had any confidence.
My weight didn't effect my thinking until I decided to go to public school after being home-schooled from 7th-10th grade. I can only think of a few instances where someone had mentioned my weight in those times and yeah, it hurt but I was still growing up and it really didn't bother me. But, once you're in an environment with other teenagers and around boys, who doesn't feel insecure? I know I'm not the only one! You just throw a smile on your face and try to walk it off.
Now a days, it seems that more people have issues with their bodies or rude comments being made towards their appearance. Even when someone is confident in their own body someone still feels the need to try and break them down. But, at some point you have to realize there will always be a Negative Nancy out there who wants to bring people down. Their opinions shouldn't matter, why? Because who cares what others think of your body, it's yours! Feel how you want to feel! Everyone has the right to feel beautiful.
Everyone has their own opinion of what the perfect body looks like. Social media does, you do, and I do but the only opinion that should matter is yours. And remember, there is no such thing as perfect.
Our society has become so intertwined with the sizes on clothing or the number on the scale. Why are we letting those insignificant numbers define us? Is that going to give us the self worth we desire? Not at all! Those numbers will keep decreasing and some will never be happy. If you keep seeing yourself as fat and keep telling yourself that everyday then what are you going to believe? That little voice in your head will always win over the voices from people around you, believe me. I've been there and one day you have to say enough is enough.
Body Positivity starts with yourself. If you want to lose weight I'm not saying don't. I still have plans to drop a few pounds but I'm not going to let the scale control my life or when I go out to dinner with friends or my husband. Another thing to remember is, confidence shines and can be contagious. Don't let anyone bring you down!
I'll end there since I feel like I'm rambling, teehee. Just remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and everyone deserves to feel beautiful (or handsome :p).
-JNB
Anyways, the topic at hand today is body positivity. It has become a movement in the last couple of months with more women being confident in their skin, whether they are on the larger or smaller side. Shows like, My Big Fat Fabulous Life really help reach out to the ones who are unsure about what they see in the mirror. Whitney Thore is so confident in her skin while being close to 400lbs. I've never been confident ever! It's impressive to me and yet, it makes me question myself and why I haven't had any confidence.
My weight didn't effect my thinking until I decided to go to public school after being home-schooled from 7th-10th grade. I can only think of a few instances where someone had mentioned my weight in those times and yeah, it hurt but I was still growing up and it really didn't bother me. But, once you're in an environment with other teenagers and around boys, who doesn't feel insecure? I know I'm not the only one! You just throw a smile on your face and try to walk it off.
Now a days, it seems that more people have issues with their bodies or rude comments being made towards their appearance. Even when someone is confident in their own body someone still feels the need to try and break them down. But, at some point you have to realize there will always be a Negative Nancy out there who wants to bring people down. Their opinions shouldn't matter, why? Because who cares what others think of your body, it's yours! Feel how you want to feel! Everyone has the right to feel beautiful.
Everyone has their own opinion of what the perfect body looks like. Social media does, you do, and I do but the only opinion that should matter is yours. And remember, there is no such thing as perfect.
Our society has become so intertwined with the sizes on clothing or the number on the scale. Why are we letting those insignificant numbers define us? Is that going to give us the self worth we desire? Not at all! Those numbers will keep decreasing and some will never be happy. If you keep seeing yourself as fat and keep telling yourself that everyday then what are you going to believe? That little voice in your head will always win over the voices from people around you, believe me. I've been there and one day you have to say enough is enough.
Body Positivity starts with yourself. If you want to lose weight I'm not saying don't. I still have plans to drop a few pounds but I'm not going to let the scale control my life or when I go out to dinner with friends or my husband. Another thing to remember is, confidence shines and can be contagious. Don't let anyone bring you down!
I'll end there since I feel like I'm rambling, teehee. Just remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and everyone deserves to feel beautiful (or handsome :p).
-JNB
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Weightloss Journey Take Two!
In February 2013 I set out to lose weight. Through out that year it was a struggle to actual stick to any plans that I came up with when it came to fitness and eating right. Even with these struggles, I managed to lose almost 30lbs in time to go see my now husband graduate from bootcamp. Vacation always screws up plans, but I tried to stay away from as much junk food as possible. I managed to keep my weight the same.
After that, I returned home and continued my weightloss. I had stopped working out and decided I was just going to eat as little as possible. I began to only eat about 900-1000 calories a day. Many know that is unhealthy and even though I knew that I didn't care. I did't worry about cutting out unhealthy foods or eating fast food. I only worried about the calories. From about December 2013 to the beginning of March 2014 I managed to get my weight down to 142lbs! That is the smallest I have ever been that I can actually remember. Obviously, I did it the incorrect way and it caught up with me.
Early March I got married and quickly put back on 20lbs in the months to follow because I hadn't changed my habits. I ate what I wanted and I had stopped counting the calories. Now, I am on take two of my journey and I'm doing great!
I have realized that eating that low of calories was very unhealthy and it made my body feel weak. I am now eating about 1500 calories in a day. I may not be losing weight as quickly but I feel so much better! I am working out about 1-2 hours a day 6 days a week and resting on Sunday. It still has been a struggle to keep my plan but I am almost through week two and have dropped 4lbs! Motivation, old photos of who I was, and wanting to be healthy and strong keep me going. I know what I am capable of and I will continue to push myself each and every day.
After that, I returned home and continued my weightloss. I had stopped working out and decided I was just going to eat as little as possible. I began to only eat about 900-1000 calories a day. Many know that is unhealthy and even though I knew that I didn't care. I did't worry about cutting out unhealthy foods or eating fast food. I only worried about the calories. From about December 2013 to the beginning of March 2014 I managed to get my weight down to 142lbs! That is the smallest I have ever been that I can actually remember. Obviously, I did it the incorrect way and it caught up with me.
Early March I got married and quickly put back on 20lbs in the months to follow because I hadn't changed my habits. I ate what I wanted and I had stopped counting the calories. Now, I am on take two of my journey and I'm doing great!
I have realized that eating that low of calories was very unhealthy and it made my body feel weak. I am now eating about 1500 calories in a day. I may not be losing weight as quickly but I feel so much better! I am working out about 1-2 hours a day 6 days a week and resting on Sunday. It still has been a struggle to keep my plan but I am almost through week two and have dropped 4lbs! Motivation, old photos of who I was, and wanting to be healthy and strong keep me going. I know what I am capable of and I will continue to push myself each and every day.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
New Recipe Friday!
I have been trying to eat less meat and get more protein from nuts and sometimes egg whites. We have recently tried two meatless recipes, one actually following a recipe and the second just adding some here and there for the meal I am showing off today. The prep and cooking time is under an hour as long as you don't make homemade corn tortillas which will add another hour since the dough has to set. Corn tortillas are easy and I don't mind making them because then I know what is going in them and I know there aren't any preservatives and what not. I also used dry beans and cooked them up myself a few days ago for the first recipe. I'll list the recipes below and hopefully someone else will enjoy them as much as I have!
Corn Tortillas:
http://www.theleangreenbean.com/homemade-corn-tortillas-and-tortilla-chips/
Crunchy Black Bean Tacos:
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/12/crunchy-black-bean-taco-recipe.html
Spanish Rice:
http://skinnyms.com/skinny-mexican-rice/
Cooking Dried Beans:
http://onceamonthmeals.com/get-real-dry-beans-vs-canned-and-the-winner-is/
Enchilada Casserole (makes 8 servings):
1/2 jar of any salsa
1 can black beans
12 corn tortillas
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 cup onion
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp paprika
1 cup or more of any cheese
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl except for the tortillas and cheese.
In a square pan place four tortillas on the bottom and some of the mixture and a bit of cheese, depending on how much cheese you want.
Layer again and then place the last four tortillas on top with a bit more cheese.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes with aluminum foil on top. You can take it off after and broil it for a few minutes, I did.
Enjoy!
Corn Tortillas:
http://www.theleangreenbean.com/homemade-corn-tortillas-and-tortilla-chips/
Crunchy Black Bean Tacos:
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/12/crunchy-black-bean-taco-recipe.html
Spanish Rice:
http://skinnyms.com/skinny-mexican-rice/
Cooking Dried Beans:
http://onceamonthmeals.com/get-real-dry-beans-vs-canned-and-the-winner-is/
Enchilada Casserole (makes 8 servings):
1/2 jar of any salsa
1 can black beans
12 corn tortillas
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 cup onion
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp paprika
1 cup or more of any cheese
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl except for the tortillas and cheese.
In a square pan place four tortillas on the bottom and some of the mixture and a bit of cheese, depending on how much cheese you want.
Layer again and then place the last four tortillas on top with a bit more cheese.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes with aluminum foil on top. You can take it off after and broil it for a few minutes, I did.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Yesterday,
I made my own corn tortillas and beans not from a can! The real test will be when we eat them tomorrow. Hopefully, I did well and if not then I will just keep trying. I have plenty of time to make mistakes. Now it is time to write some of my novel and quit procrastinating!
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Trying New Things,
Now a days most things that seem healthy are not. Many items are packed with different forms of corn ranging from Xanthum Gum to High Fructose Corn Syrup. After watching many documentaries I have realized that the groups put in place to protect our health are doing the exact opposite. Don't get me wrong, I love food! I have struggled with weight my whole life and still am. It's hard to find a balance between getting into a new lifestyle and still wanting to enjoy the delicious foods we see all around us. Many will argue for moderation and that's fine, but how is that going to help in the long run? We would still be eating things that could cause damage to our body. I don't want to risk my health for something that is only going to make me happy until it's gone and I want more. That just won't do.
I have realized that I have plenty of time on my mind. I could be baking bread and making my own refried beans and what not. Why aren't I? It is definitely a healthier option and something that I will be trying in the next few weeks. It'll give me something to do and will also cut out a lot of processed items I don't need while still allowing me to eat something that is delicious. The only person that is stopping me is myself.
I have realized that I have plenty of time on my mind. I could be baking bread and making my own refried beans and what not. Why aren't I? It is definitely a healthier option and something that I will be trying in the next few weeks. It'll give me something to do and will also cut out a lot of processed items I don't need while still allowing me to eat something that is delicious. The only person that is stopping me is myself.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Healthy Eating,
Since getting married and moving away I have gained back about 15-20lbs. It definitely has taken a toll and I just feel gross. I'm happy to say that today is day one of getting back into the swing of things. I want to drop 30lbs and eating the way I have been just isn't going to cut it. It is time to make healthier choices and to stick with it and make it a lifelong lifestyle. I have my workouts ready and running starts next monday! I'm actually excited for all this because it's another start and I know I will feel good in the long run.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
A Hurricane,
Life on the east coast must come with a few storms here and there.It rains a few times a week but today I will be faced with my first hurricane! I'm not even sure what to expect and we didn't really prepare like the doomsday preppers who have bought all of the water at the commissary and Walmart. I'm not that worried. The rain and wind will start at about 3pm and will go through the night until about 10am. I'm glad that it is during the night! If my power goes out then it is no big deal, haha.
His family is still on their way and will be here tomorrow morning. Hopefully, they will not rush because of the storm, (take your time!). We are looking forward to seeing them and getting some delicious Kentucky BBQ! But, just happy we will see them and have company for the weekend. Staying safe and staying in for the next day!
His family is still on their way and will be here tomorrow morning. Hopefully, they will not rush because of the storm, (take your time!). We are looking forward to seeing them and getting some delicious Kentucky BBQ! But, just happy we will see them and have company for the weekend. Staying safe and staying in for the next day!
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Days Like These,
I love days where him and I can get out for a nice stroll. The weather wasn't too bad today, not much humidity and a slight breeze! I love being able to spend time with him and it's definitely a time filled with great communication. It was also nice to start off the day with church. We are so thankful to my dad for doing research and finding us a great church. The people have been very kind and we are looking forward to a Sunday where we can stay for potluck. We will be able to meet other young couples and really get to know the people in the church.
God has been very good. He has led us to a wonderful church and to people who aren't worrying about partying. I am excited to see what else He has in store for us this year. Although, time has flown by since we said "I do" in March and I can't wait for our first anniversary! I am very thankful and blessed.
God has been very good. He has led us to a wonderful church and to people who aren't worrying about partying. I am excited to see what else He has in store for us this year. Although, time has flown by since we said "I do" in March and I can't wait for our first anniversary! I am very thankful and blessed.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
The Reality of Society,
Everyone deals with criticism. No one has ever been excused from it and no one ever will be. People use criticism to build one another up, but mostly to tear someone down. Criticism comes at times when we least expect or want it and from people we have thought higher of. Recently, I was criticized for my choices in life. I was criticized for not having a job or going to college and by not doing one or the other I am a "dependa", especially since my husband is in the military.
The term "dependa" gets a lot of bad criticism because you are known to be fat, lazy, and you just do nothing. Let's get one thing clear, these people criticizing me do not know me. They do not know my life or my ambitions. They only see that I do not have a job or a degree. In today's society someone is practically nothing without one or the other. Their self worth is demolished and they pity themselves. It doesn't help that society has created such a norm and that once in the cycle it is hard to break free from. Women are busy trying to climb ladders and jump through hoops to become better than a man. They have stepped out of their normal role as housewife or mother for many hours of the day. Now, I am not knocking those who work because some need to since one income is not enough.
You and even my critics know that I do not have children at this point in life but I do have a job. My job is as a housewife. My job is taking care of our pets so they do not have to be locked up all day. My job is running the house, cleaning and cooking. My job is as a writer. I have all of these jobs but not one is considered such. There are also a few things I would like to do in life but under circumstances make them quite difficult. I want to have a rescue for dogs and I want to foster children and in the future I will.
My days may not be as full as others, but that's fine because this is what I have chosen. Criticism can be brushed off or taken and I choose to brush it off. My husband and I are fine with my choices and that is all that matters. We are a team and if depending on him makes me a "dependa" then I guess it makes everyone who is married one. We are all supposed to lean on our spouses and there is nothing wrong with that.
The term "dependa" gets a lot of bad criticism because you are known to be fat, lazy, and you just do nothing. Let's get one thing clear, these people criticizing me do not know me. They do not know my life or my ambitions. They only see that I do not have a job or a degree. In today's society someone is practically nothing without one or the other. Their self worth is demolished and they pity themselves. It doesn't help that society has created such a norm and that once in the cycle it is hard to break free from. Women are busy trying to climb ladders and jump through hoops to become better than a man. They have stepped out of their normal role as housewife or mother for many hours of the day. Now, I am not knocking those who work because some need to since one income is not enough.
You and even my critics know that I do not have children at this point in life but I do have a job. My job is as a housewife. My job is taking care of our pets so they do not have to be locked up all day. My job is running the house, cleaning and cooking. My job is as a writer. I have all of these jobs but not one is considered such. There are also a few things I would like to do in life but under circumstances make them quite difficult. I want to have a rescue for dogs and I want to foster children and in the future I will.
My days may not be as full as others, but that's fine because this is what I have chosen. Criticism can be brushed off or taken and I choose to brush it off. My husband and I are fine with my choices and that is all that matters. We are a team and if depending on him makes me a "dependa" then I guess it makes everyone who is married one. We are all supposed to lean on our spouses and there is nothing wrong with that.
Friday, June 20, 2014
The Natural Way,
I recently downloaded an app called "Think Dirty" which explains what beauty products are made of. The results are surprising! With skin being the biggest organ I felt the need to actually do something when many could have long term effects which include cancer. I am very fortunate for Pinterest because you can find many natural diy beauty products. Hopefully some do work and if that is the case I will be posting them on here for others to check out. Fingers crossed!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Our House,
One thing we have been blessed with since moving out on our own would be the house we have. We have a four bedroom/three bath house that is on base. It is definitely more room than two people need, but it will be nice for when we do have company. We are located thirty minutes from the beach and have went once while his mom was in town. I am hoping there are plenty more visits to come before fall hits. Thankfully, I have plenty of time! I thought I'd share some photos of the house as well:
And so it begins,
Many have asked what our house and the area we live in looks like or how it is to be married and on our own. It's not always easy to remember to catch up with someone or, in this case, everyone back home but I am hoping that having a blog will get many connected into our life. In this day and age it shouldn't be hard to snap a few photos here and there because almost everyone has a smart phone and yet I always seem to forget. Hopefully, I'll be able to capture more and document our new life on the east coast. Now to do as my title says and begin...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)