Take the Beans Out!!

I woke up this morning with the line from an old song, "You'll have to speak up, I have beans in my ears," running through my mind. For those of you too young to have heard it on the radio, I have posted a link at the end of today's blog.

So what, you may ask, does this little ditty have to do with a health challenge?

I am guessing, that God is trying to get my attention!  (Read: Day One of this blog for more about listening to God.)  I am so jazzed about hearing God's voice.  Each day, He speaks to me, and as I am getting the beans out of my ears, I am hearing more clearly!

Beans, for me, symbolize those things I stupidly place between me and God. Usually, they are the mindless, daily activities that consume my attention, diverting me from that vertical conversation with my Lord.  If I am not deliberate, they block my hearing. 

Today, His message to me through this song, was to remind me to ask Him what is best for me to eat.  Last week,  I was feeling frustrated at the lack of downward movement of my scales.  Before I went to sleep that night, I cried out in my sometimes whiny way, "What is the deal!!"  I didn't hear response.

The next morning right before I woke up, I had a dream.  In my dream, I was repeating my whiny question to God as I started to make my coffee.  I went to the refrigerator to get my cream, and when I picked it up, I discovered it was rotten.

I awakened with a wondering. Could it be the cream I put in my several cups of jo each day that is the culprit in my dieting failure?  I told my friend/sister Annette about the dream, and she quickly totaled the calorie count, yikes!! I cannot even repeat it here.  Suffice it to say, realization dawned, that if I just eliminate that one thing from my daily diet, I could lose 40-50 pounds in ONE YEAR without even changing anything else!!!

With great haste and delight, I took it as my word from God for that day, and started drinking my coffee black.  Guess what?  Yesterday, when I got on the scales, I had already lost three pounds!  And that is with totally Not watching my diet last week.  We ate out almost every day, two meals a day, during a Board meeting.

I am so jazzed! (Can you tell I have had three strong cups of black coffee already!)  LOL

Today, I am taking the beans out of my ears, and listening for the next bit of wisdom from my precious Abba.   He really does know how to fix that which He created!

So, my challenge for you today, dear cyber friend, is to look for the small, seemingly insignificant items you put in your mouth each day. You may find your cream saboteur!

Blessings, Anna Marie

Serendipity Singers - Beans in My Ears

Exercise Your Brain!

You know the old expression, "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"  This popped in my brain today as I was once again struggling with my health challenge.  In the world of Anna Marie, momma is my brain.  Exercising my brain in new ways has been restoring the rest of me as well. It is astounding how working on new brain connections has made me more eager to move the old bod as well!

Today I was reminded of "the Mozart effect."  There was a study in 1993 that demonstrated how listening to Mozart's "Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K448," temporarily boosted the IQ's of 36 student volunteers by about 9 points!

I have decided to break down and get an i-pod.  Just think! Exercise, fresh air, sunshine vitamin and Mozart!  I'll be getting smart!! For your listening pleasure and brain boost:
http://youtu.be/v58mf-PB8as

Hope you are working your plan!  Remember, some is better than none!! 

Fast Food is More Fun if You Eat it Slowly!

Okay, I confess!!! I had a fast-food, patty melt today from What a Burger! Man, it was great!
But! (Here comes the rationalization..) I did climb up and down the stairs several times, at our healing center today...does that count?? 

Seriously, I feel absolutely no guilt! This is a huge break-through!  I am convinced, if I can learn to enjoy what I eat, I will eat less, and more slowly, and savor every bite!  What I have discovered, as I am re-learning to have a normal relationship with food, is that I am eating less, and enjoying it more.

Last weekend, I was enjoying a meal with my grandson, and he asked me, "Grandma, why do you keep putting your fork down?"  I had to try hard not to laugh.  I told him how it was helping me to slow down, and enjoy my meals more. He had a very thoughtful look on his face.

Looking forward to my workout tomorrow.  Hope your health plan is going well for you!
Blessings!

Stairway to Fitness!

This week, I am adding stair-climbing to my routine.  Actually, I have been adding it lately, but not on purpose!  For the last few weeks, my husband and I have been staying with different people around the country.  All of them had two story houses.  The thing I could not help noticing was how easily the owners navigated up and down their staircases. I, on the other hand, was having to be careful with my steps, watching carefully, so as not to trip or fall.  In one of the homes, the hosts were at least a decade older than I!

I remember the years when Jack and I lived in a dormitory at SMU while he attended seminary.  Those were the years I became a runner.  I would meet friends from our dorm and we'd run on the track not far from our residence. What I had forgotten, was we lived on the third story for the first year, and the dorm did not have an elevator.  Every day I climbed up and down, carrying two kids, groceries, suitcases, or whatever the day held.

One evening, the weather had been too wet and cold to do my usual run, so I decided to run up and down the stairs for 30 minutes.  It was nighttime, and the darkness had transformed the large windows in the stairwell into mirrors.  I was starting down the stairs, when I was startled by the reflection of these other pair of legs coming down with me. They were lovely legs, well muscled and slim. I turned to see who it was and was shocked!  There was no one else there!  I was looking at my own legs!  I laughed myself silly.  Never in my life had my legs looked like that.

The other benefit I remember from stair-climbing every day is the coordination.  When I was daily running up and down the stairs, I never had to watch my footsteps.  It was an inherent motion.  I think I want that ability back more than the carved legs!  I was feeling so old last weekend as I had to watch each step so carefully.
I hope I can get the coordination back.

I have been reading about climbing for fitness and there are a few points to remember, if you feel like joining me in this challenge.

• Start slowly, there is more stress on the knees going down
• Try two flights and then walk on a flat surface for a minute or two
• Warm up for 5 minutes by walking around the building or floor
• Place your entire foot on the step so you don't damage your Achilles tendon
• Alternate days of climbing with a different exercise to avoid over-use injury
• If you have them, you may want to wear knee braces for a few weeks

Have fun!  I think it is time for me to invest in an ipod.  Music always helps to relieve boredom.  Until I get one I am going to sing, at the top of my lungs!  I am going to pretend I am a kid again.  I hope I don't get arrested for disturbing the peace!  Blessings!

Walking With Friends!

Today, I was happy to walk with two great friends, and we not only got our exercise, but we shared our hearts.
Walking has never been my exercise of choice, but when I walk with a friend, it becomes a joy; more than that, it doesn't feel like exercise!

If you are having a hard time getting going with an exercise program, consider walking with friends, or joining a class.  It definitely helps to have someone to be accountable to. Today, if I had been alone, I would have gone home to rest on the couch. I was so sleepy.  But having committed to my friends, I went out and we walked about 40 minutes at a nice clip.

Tonight, I am not only happy because I had a good work out, but my heart is happy because I connected with two lovely young women.  We were made for companionship.

I am praying for you if you are reading this blog.  I pray you not only get healthy, but that you make a new friend this month.

Heavy Metal Fan?

Recently I discovered that I have a heavy toxicity of heavy metals.  It has been been causing me extreme fatigue and memory loss.  A friend mentioned to me that eating Cilantro helps in Chelation therapy.  Intrigued, I did a search for more info and found this website. http://www.healthy-journey.com/chelation-therapy-food-and-supplements

Check it out. It is loaded with information to improve your health.  If you have amalgam fillings in your teeth, or drink sodas from a can, or use antiperspirant, you may have this issue.  One of the other unhappy side effects is difficulty with weight loss.  The body stores heavy metals in our fat to protect us from them. Then when you try to lose weight the body holds on to the fat because when you break down the fat they metals dump into your system.  Wow! God made our bodies smart!

I feel better about my weight problem knowing this.  I am going to include the foods recommended( in the article from the above website) into my diet and I will report to you how it goes.  I truly expect a shift in my weight.

Sadly, heavy metals are found in high concentrations in fish.  Be sure to do your homework about where the worst problems are.  I have heard that China and India are two of the worst water polluters. I am no longer buying fish imported from those countries.

And...sniff, sniff, sniff...I am giving up my Hanson diet Ginger Ale....sniff, sniff, sniff.....

Five Great Reasons to Exercise Today!

Here are just a few good reasons to get out and move today:

Exercise helps stabilize blood pressure.

Exercise helps release endorphins, which make you happy.

Exercise stimulates your immune system.

Exercise builds muscle and strengthens your bones.

Exercise can help you sleep better and improves your brain.

Think on these things today, and let yourself look forward to getting active.

Okay, Anna Marie, hit the ground and give me twenty!!