September 24, 2013 - The Right Stuff

Good morning fam, Yes, after spending fun time in the sun yesterday, I am sunburned but happy. It rained our first couple of days, so the sun was beautiful. Teree and I enjoyed a late afternoon stroll along the beach for about an hour and I marveled at God's creation. I was reminded, also, that all of us come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Perhaps because it's the last week of September, there were no models on the beach, only real people like me. :) Whew! I have fallen in love with a new lunch combo that you might consider. I take a carton of 2% low-fat Activia cottage cheese, blueberries, mandarin oranges in their own juice and a tablespoon or so of nuts and mix. YUM! Great combo of fruit, cheese, and protein and all under 250 calories. Add to this a can of coconut water with the pulp (70 calories) and you have a power lunch under 350. So colorful too! One thing I am fighting here, though, is the fact that my every minute is not consumed and when my mind drifts, it drifts to food. WHY??? People eating pizza at the pool should be ILLEGAL! But, I had taken an apple and smiled, half heartedly, as I consumed it. Someday I hope to find myself numb to the temptation of foods I have deleted, but I am so not there. Keeping it real this morning. But at night, it's great to check off another day of health and know that I am doing my part to allow my body to do it's part to keep me functioning well to 100. I was watching Joyce Meyer this morning and she was emphasizing that just because we have all the Christian books and t-shirts doesn't mean we are really followers of Christ. There has to be real change in our day to day living. That's the same concerning our health, isn't it? If we purchase healthy foods and all the health-fad-gadgets and still over eat, never exercise, and drink diet sodas all day we probably will not be healthy EVEN THOUGH WE OWN THE "STUFF." It's amazing how our culture wants a lot for a little. YIKES. We expect to be physically fit from taking a tiny diet pill and then often blame-shift when it doesn't work in 3 days. I hear it all the time. Choosing health is a daily option and often not an easy one. I wish things were different. Vacation for me was always extravagant meals, brownies and desserts, FRIED SEAFOOD daily, and tons of candy. That actually defined a "good vaca." I thought last night as Teree and I grabbed a few things at Publix - "wow, has my definition of a "good" vacation changed. Now I am looking for fruits and coconut water and grabbing the beauty of the sunset to build a new definition. Know what's good? This new definition offers me the possibility of many more vacations with great health as the benefit. My previous definition of a great vaca - not so much. Off to work out, change clothes, and grab the floatie for the pool. Remember, having the stuff doesn't matter - making correct choices does! Talk tomorrow, PK