Category Archives: WildBerry Workout

Health Journal weekend summary July 21

On Top of the RV!

HEAR YE! HEAR YE! HEAR YE!
ALCOHOL RAISES FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE!

I’ll research this…..this last weekend has sort of produced my own test. I never have hangovers – even when I was in the Navy and drunk so much that I did not remember getting back to the barracks – I was fine the next day. So – there was no performance reason to avoid alcohol.

Actually – it effects Type1 Diabetics with Hypoglycemia

But mine is a strange version of type2 and I should have read the MedNet article on alcohol before testing!

Alcohol is considered a poison by your body, and all efforts are made to excrete it, including the cessation of maintaining healthy blood glucose levels. Studies have shown that alcohol interferes with all three sources of glucose and the hormones needed to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

Alcohol can also negatively impact blood sugar levels each time that it is consumed, regardless of the frequency of consumption. Research has shown that acute consumption increases insulin secretion, causing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and can also impair the hormonal response that would normally rectify the low blood sugar. Drinking as little as 2 ounces of alcohol on an empty stomach can lead to very low blood sugar levels. This makes alcohol an even bigger problem for anyone with diabetes. Along with the impact on blood sugar, studies have also shown that alcohol can impact the effectiveness of the hypoglycemic medications, so extreme caution needs to be taken when consuming alcohol by anyone with diabetes.

I respond in the reverse – but, the point is, it effects me.

I have always believed that conservative and moderate alcohol participation was allowable for Christians(this comment to pre-answer the question, “But Christi, you’re a Christian! You drink?”

Yes. I enjoy a drink now and then.
There are some things that I cannot do, but not because of some legalistic application of some interpretation of scripture.
In fact, there are things that I don’t eat that some believe the Bible would tell me to do so – such as bread:

Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Some would say that since this is one of the few things that Jesus put into the Lord’s prayer – that he was saying that we should eat bread daily! And, when the Israelites were wandering around in the Wilderness – God fed them with manna – a ‘grain’.

But – I cannot eat bread – at least the bread of this day.

While I do believe that a drink once in a while – for social reasons(the Wedding at Canna) and for medicinal reasons(Paul to Timothy for his stomach) is permissible in the Christian life(self control is one of the 9 fruits of the Spirit), I need to be aware of how it affects my body – and how that affects my abilities, because of my blood glucose, the next day.

I have enjoyed a drink once in a while. Now, it looks like I cannot drink alcohol without an effect to my next day fasting blood glucose, whether I like to or not. (On the other hand – the piece of Key Lime Pie probably didn’t help!)

They key here is –

to thine own self be true

Actually – my truth is this: I am responsible to God for my body, since:

1 Cor 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Just for good measure – I checked out the effects of alcohol on a fatty liver. Well, I tried.
I have non alcoholic fatty liver. The Mayo Clinic defines it clearly. But one of the symptoms is weight loss!!! Hey guys…what’s up here? On the other hand, they don’t talk much about alcohol and the nonalcoholic fatty liver.

NOTE to self: I will need to do a blog on caring for your liver!

Today’s focus was on my blood glucose.
The American Diabetes Association has done amazing work for Diabetics.

I had forgotten that I wanted to do the Tour de Cure for Diabetes!
This year, that’s not going to work, because I don’t have a bike – but, I have walked for Diabetes before…I’m a Red Strider!
And there is a Step out in Orlando November 8, 2014! 2.6 miles! I can do that!

So – I have fatty liver – I am a diabetic – I say I want to get healthy.
What am I doing about it?

Well –
first, I’m eating better and better.
second, I’m moving – somedays not so much, but I’m moving my body!
third, I’m supplementing with things that help my body work better.

Here’s the summary of the weekend.
Saturday, July 19, 2014, day 10 of PlexusSlim –
no Basal Temp numbers.
Thermometer was posting in centigrade. so, I ignored all the numbers!
RHR 75
FBG 118(second day it was low!)

Began the day with Plexus Slim.
I did eat out twice – careful planning of my breakfast at BobEvans, and then we went out for a salad at Panera for lunch.
I spent the afternoon painting.
Didn’t walk much – because Jim did all the walking, and I was suffering from cramping.

Ended the day with the BioCleanse, ProBio5, the natural anti-inflammatories and my medicine.

Sunday, July 20, 2014, day 11 of PlexusSlim
Basal Temp: 97.2
RHR 75
weight 239.8
FBG 140!!! WHAT?
Saturday night, I drank a Seagrams cooler to relax the cramps in my abdomen. This was the ONLY non paleo item of the day. This has to have effected the FBG.

weight 20JUL2014

Bone % 20JUL2014

BMI 20JUL2014

Began the day with PlexusSlim, added in the B vitamins and the C, as well as the Liver support complex.

I did not do much – we took a long car ride, we took a nap, and we went to friends for a cook out.
Oh, I did climb up the ladder on the RV for a 12 week challenge!(who knew that climbing a ladder could hurt the area around my neck!)

I can do it!

First Step!

Arm work

Footwork

pull it up

Over the Top

Oh, Yes I can!

Ended the day with the BioCleanse, ProBio5, the natural anti-inflammatories and my medicine.

Monday, July 21, 2014, Day 11 of PlexusSlim
My numbers this morning are:
FBG 134(keyLime pie and 1/2 bottle of Seagrams)
Temp 97
RHR 81

I drink my PlexusSlim while typing this blog. That gives me some time between it, my other supplements and food.

My heart rate, while sitting and typing this blog, has stayed steady in the 80’s – so much better than 111 just typing…and no, I didn’t type that fast!

But, the alcohol and the sugar last night have affected my FLIC(Fasting Lower Intensity Cardio) for this morning. I’m dizzy, nauseous, and just plain extra tired.

Therefore – I am going to eat something good – go back to bed…and then, paint.

I pray that this will help!

In His hands and Under His wings,
~Christi

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

If you are interested in more info,
Christine Wildman, Plexus Website

For information on the water I live by:
AlkaViva

Health Journal – day 8 – yeasty beasties fight back!

I’m happy today!

It is day 8 of my Plexus Slim trial.
It is 5 of my BioCleans and ProBio5 trial.
last night, I doubled the BioCleanse at night.
THIS MORNING – MY FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE WAS 118!!!
I have not seen those numbers without medicine!!!

I also was able to walk 1.4 miles this morning, doing a fasting low intensity cardio dog walk. I call this my morning FLIC.

I want to share some information that has been beneficial to me.
I am now taking the ProBio5 as a probiotic to combat candida from the medicines I’ve had to take this past year.

Antibiotics cause yeast overgrowth.
Steroids cause yeast overgrowth.
eating sugar and starches feeds yeast overgrowth.

The only way to heal this, is to replace the good guys.
Lisa Richards, of The Candida Diet, explains why it’s a good thing to take probiotics.

This is the information on the ProBio5 – Probiotics:

Description
Do you suffer from sugar cravings, inexplicable fatigue or bloating, anxiety or a “brain fog”? Fortunately, ProBio5 provides a solution to many of today’s “mystery” symptoms. ProBio5 features five extra strength probiotics, added enzymes, intestinal flora, B6 Grape Seed extract and vitamin C— all in one effective delivery system that supports the breaking down of hostile organisms that negatively impact your health.

Features & Benefits
Yeast organism (Candida) and fungal cleanse
Proper probiotic balance in the intestinal tract
Proper intestinal balance which increases nutrient absorption
Relief from typical Candida symptoms (anxiety, recurring irritability, lethargy, allergies, acne, dry/flaky skin, migraines, and so forth)

– See more at: http://christiwildman.myplexusproducts.com/products/probio5#sthash.qtFfXExO.dpuf

Here is a great resource for fighting candida –
The Candida Diet

Candida is a huge issue in my family…and I have been battling it since the late 80’s.
I’ve used nutrilite, juice plus, young living and other things.
Ask me, I’ve probably tried it.
The biggest issue with dealing with Candida, is the Die Off.
Again, I’m going to refer to Lisa Richards, and her article on Candida Die-Off symptoms.

Die-Off Symptoms
Here is a list of some of the symptoms you might experience during a die-off (otherwise known as a Herxheimer reaction).

Nausea
Headache, fatigue, dizziness
Swollen glands
Bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea
Increased joint or muscle pain
Elevated heart rate
Chills, cold feeling in your extremities
Body itchiness, hives or rashes
Sweating
Fever
Skin breakouts
Recurring vaginal, prostate and sinus infections

The Die-Off, or Herxheimer reaction, has been documented in research on antifungals. One 1980 study (see here) of the commercial antifungal Nystatin found the following:

“One phenomenon deserving emphasis is seen occasionally when therapy is initiated. It suggests the Herxheimer reaction … The reaction is usually limited to a flu-like syndrome of mild generalized aching and lowgrade fever, but may also encompass an exacerbation of the patient’s allergic manifestations.”

So – working on a yeast die off, while increasing my energy can be an interesting combo.

Even the Whole30 timeline has a week or two of die off symptoms…(I’ll talk about Whole30 in another post).

No doubt. I’m dealing with die-off.
Thanks to Lisa Richards article on die off…here are some ideas to treat the die off!

Coping with Candida Die-Off
These symptoms normally clear up within a week or so, but could last a little longer. However, there are a few things you can do to slow down this reaction or expel the toxins faster.

Take a supplement like Candidate, Molybdenum or Milk Thistle to help your liver expel the toxins.
Molybdenum in particular is very useful for those suffering from Die-Off. It converts the neurotoxin acetaldehyde into acetic acid, which is then expelled by your body or even converted into helpful digestive enzymes.

Cut back or temporarily discontinue antifungal supplements.
Antifungals work by breaking down the walls of the Candida yeast cells, which then release the many toxins that the Candida has been producing. Reducing your antifungal dosage will cut down the amount of toxins being released into your bloodstream. When you feel better, you can start to increase it again.

Reduce your dosage of probiotics.
A course of good probiotics will repopulate your gut, crowd out the Candida, restore your stomach acidity and boost your immune system. Probiotics are less likely than antifungals to cause Die-Off, but if you start to experience the symptoms you can temporarily reduce your dosage.

Increase water intake to flush out the toxins faster.
If you want to feel better, all those byproducts that are released by the Candida yeast need to leave your body. You can give them a push by drinking more water.

Slow down and rest as much as possible.
Stress can weaken your adrenals and reduce your body’s ability to fight pathogens like a fungal infection. Relaxing and taking some personal time will help your immune system to do what it was designed to do.

Try some alternative detox methods like skin brushing, saunas or contrast showers.Most of these treatments are designed to increase your circulatory and lymphatic systems. They help you to expel the toxins that the dying Candida cells have released.

Take 1000 mg of Vitamin C twice daily.
This multi-purpose vitamin boosts your adrenals and helps restore your immune system to health.

For more information on choosing a detox supplement and reducing your Candida symptoms, take a look at my Ultimate Candida Diet treatment program.

I’ll be honest – I got Lisa’s free 8 steps to fight candida(just sign up at her website above)…and didn’t do them well. Now that I am fighting the candida – I’m going to pull those emails back up and read them.

As I’m reading through her website – I’m seeing some other supplements that I’ve done before, but put on the back burner as I’ve tried out these Plexus products.
Milk Thistle Tea – with Dandelion, and Burdock, and Mullein. This is my liver cleansing tea!

My Liver Cleanse Tea ingredients

And then, “Candida causes low adrenal function and low metabolic energy”
I have not been taking vitamin C – or my regular B vitamins.
I haven’t been taking my Liver Blend of dandelion and milkthistle

Candida Support supplemtns

What is becoming clear to me is that I have been on this battle field for many many years – and I have had various attempts.
I have learned many things – indicated by the fact that these items ARE IN MY PANTRY!!! (comeon, Christi – why aren’t you doing what you know to do?)
I wrote about a yeast cleanse – 28 days of grace.
I’m not sure that I ever got anything written up about whole30.
But I did write about the struggle to become the New Me.

The bottom line here is that I have tried, over and over and over, to get control of the sugar dragon(from Whole30) and heal from the candida stuff.
I have fatty liver – because of much of this stuff…
and, today, I see the first evidences of healing…the lowered fasting blood glucose number
Today, I am celebrating! adding the things that I’ve learned over the years to these new products – and thanking God for continuing to give me wisdom – His wisdom!
If Plexus Slim and the other two products give me the edge I need to take down these dragons – Then I thank God for bringing them into my life!

I pray that this will help!

In His hands and Under His wings,
~Christi

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

If you are interested in more info,
Christine Wildman, Plexus Website

For information on the water I live by:
AlkaViva

Plexus Journal day 7 – This will now say HEALTH Journal

While I’m documenting this to see if I am convinced with the efficacy of Plexus products, I am also continuing to utilize some other products and techniques to regain my health. Regain – I cannot remember a time when I was ‘healthy’.

Thursday, July 17, 2014
fbg 121
temp 96.8
rhr 76

yesterday, I walked .85 mile…and my knee started giving out.
By the evening…the right leg was giving out.
This would have nothing to do with my supplementation…but it does have to do with my continued walking.

I also need to report that I am drinking Alkaviva ionized and alkaline water. This water has shown an amazing ability to keep my lymph glands from swelling – me from retaining water – and thereby eliminating the pain that goes with those symptoms.

CRAVINGS DISAPPEARING?
One of the things that folks say about Plexus Slim is that it helps them with cravings.
I just went to Bob Evans, and chose a salad because it looked good – instead of the ‘healthy’ breakfast with multigrain cranberry hotcakes.
As I was looking at the healthy breakfast with the hotcakes – I just felt inside that I did not want the hotcakes…I don’t want the effect that grain has on my system.

THIS IS NEW!

In addition – because of my decision on the hotcakes, I had to make a choice of salads. Often, if I am TRYING to limit grains, I choose the spinach salad, because there is no offering of special bread.
Today, I chose the Cranberry Pecan Salad, without the blue cheese(limiting dairy…oh how I love dairy), and before I even got to the bread, I asked my friend Beth about bread to take home for her husband, and we settled on bread for another friend’s husband’s lunch. Done. no bread! no cheese.

What is new? I’ve done this before on a Whole30 protocol, and on a sugar cleanse protocol. So, those who have watched me go through this health thing might wonder…so what…she’s done this before.
What’s new? the lack of struggle!!!!
And, I didn’t even want the bread!
Or those hotcakes!

If this is from the Plexus Slim – if the ingredients in this simple drink are helping me to not want things that are not good for my body…I’ll take it. My liver will thank me. My kidneys will thank me. My lungs and throat will thank me. Eventually, maybe I will thank me.

No real exercise today…rain…spotty rain…so, I can’t go to the pool…and my knee is not interested in going for a walk.

I pray that this will help!

In His hands and Under His wings,
~Christi

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

If you are interested in more info,
Christine Wildman, Plexus Website

For information on the water I live by:
AlkaViva

Plexus Journal day 4

I really meant to do a little more documentation, but I got carried away painting.
Today’s Vitals:
weight 242
Basal Temp 97.2
RHR – 90
FBG – 152

I drank an alcoholic drink yesterday at dinner out – and half of another that I was handed. This could be the reason for the high FBG, and the resting heart rate could be the result of the elevated FBG, causing increased HR.

Comments on the Products effects:
Since taking Plexus Slim, I have turned the corner with the excessive sleep.

Since I didn’t write this up daily, here is a recap of the last four days:

On July 9, I was so sleepy, I fell asleep, slept through multiple alarms set, and even had to be awakened by my friend using the spare key, and coming into my bedroom to wake me up to go to my doctor’s appointment!
On July 10, first day with Plexus – I set up my outdoor studio, and painted…and didn’t take any nap. At all.

My Outdoor Studio

I can tell that the BioCleanse is working, if you know what I mean. Some people would say that I’m full of poo…but, since taking BioCleanse – I’m much less full!

And, I don’t really know about the BioPro5 – that will take time.

One thing I just realized this morning, as I looked at my ‘have to take it’ natural anti inflammatories – FYI Ultra and Zyflamend Whole Body, I had forgotten to take them as I started Plexus. Actually, I had decided to forgo all of my supplements, to see how Plexus Products worked – and not to allow cross reactions.
What does this mean?
Last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – I had to have friends drive me to doctor’s appointments because I was so tired that I couldn’t guarantee that I’d be able to stay awake to drive.
I only walked Gabriel about 100 feet – and that was just because he refuses to pee and poo in our area!

Thursday,July 10 I set up my outdoor studio…which entailed moving stuff from inside my RV out – several trips up and down, up and down, up and down 4 metal steps – not too mention the carrying of things!
I took Gabriel for several .2 mile walks!
I took down my outdoor studio, because of Florida Afternoon Storms.
Even though I was tired and achy…NO NAPS!

July 11, Friday morning – I work up, on my own, at 6am.
I had a Bible Study with a friend in the Phillipines.
Then, I set up my outdoor studio.
I painted –
I went to the store with a friend, AND I DROVE!
I took down my outdoor studio.
I walked Gabriel multiple .2 mile walks.
I was surprised my hubby’s early return home…but stayed up, visiting, and was achy, tired, but not in an FMS flare!
I asked Jim for some ice cream.
This is NEVER a good idea – but, I was in the middle of a Fibro Flare…and I wanted to see what would happen(since my old habits were to feed the pain, to dull it with endorphins).
I ate the ice cream. Good quality ice cream.
YUCK!
and I don’t want the rest of the container!

July 12, Saturday morning.
I woke up early – around 5:30 AM, and had an online Bible Discussion with another friend!
Then, I wrote the blog!Does God Hear Me?
I showered, and dressed nice for Jim – and we took Gabriel to the vet for a vaccine visit.
We drove…and drove…and drove, exploring!
And, we got home after noon, and I set up my outdoor studio.
THIS is unusual.
I normally have to take naps after our ‘run and find out’ drives.
THIS time, I set up my outdoor studio…AND PAINTED FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS!
That is me at the top, caught off guard by my hubby – painting!

Oh – outdoor studio – minimum temp is 90 degrees.
I have never been able to be out in the heat long enough to do anything without my electrolytes crashing.
They had not crashed until this day…I went two days without supplementing electrolytes!

Downside of forgetting my anti-inflammatory supplements?
After the drive AND painting outside – I had a fibro flare.
Had to lay on the floor, with ice on my neck and a small pillow under my bum to realign my spine.

The upside realization?
I DIDN’T TAKE ANY PAIN MEDS for those three days!!!
I had not taken pain meds since I got up and stared to do things!
The supplements have helped me to avoid the liver and kidney damaging Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen.
Without the natural supplements – I was taking a minimum of 600 Ibuprofen every four hours to maintain lowered inflammatory swelling, and pain.
Without those supplements, if I didn’t want to take the NSAIDS, I had to not do anything! At All! And stay inside away from the heat!
For THREE DAYS, I was out IN THE HEAT, doing things that normally caused pain and inflammation…and it didn’t!
I took my natural supplements – and, no painful cramps or cramping kept me awake. I don’t remember ANY painful cramps or cramping!

Sunday, July 13, Again, I woke up early, and did some Bible Study.
Jim and I had an intense conversation, and we canooddled.
Now, this is very difficult to talk about – because it’s so private…but I had energy to canoodle!
It did not knock me out for the day!
and I was not overcome with pain.
We went out to dinner with friends -this is where I ate the bread and drank a Blackberry Hooch Moonshine Cocktail. (It was delicious!)

Getting home, all I wanted was watermelon to help cleanse my body!
I did not want ANY of the ice cream!
I thought about the seagrams escapes(like a beer) – Jim handed me one, it tasted good – but I just didn’t want it!

I did get the sleepies early, but, as I said above, and with my stats…I had 1 1/2 alcoholic drinks…those would effect my blood sugars, and I ate some bread – grains make me sleepy.

I have added melatonin back to my sleep practice – but it never worked this well! I slept like a baby!

Now, we are up to today:
Monday, July 14
I woke up this morning wanting to document this process.
My weight today is 242.2
I’m not happy with that – but, like I said – yesterday’s intake wasn’t exactly weight loss friendly!

Today – I am going to start taking notes of my food intake on MFP.
Today – I am starting the fitbit for steps again.
Today – I am taking my life, my health back.

Workout:updated at the end of the day
counter pushups – 40

I pray that this will help!

In His hands and Under His wings,
~Christi

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

If you are interested in more info,
Christine Wildman, Plexus Website

Who Am I? Who Do I want to be?

I have been digging deep.
Who am I?
Who do I want to be?
What do I want to do?
What do I need to do to get there?

Who am I? Who do I want to be?
MCWW – daughter of the Most High King through the grace of Jesus Christ
Christi – wife to WildRoss – desiring to aim for the goal of the Proverbs 31 wife.
Mom
Gramma
ChristArtist – painter of peace, writer of wisdom(or learn from my mistakes)

I think it’s time to move ChristArtist up on the list – but not neglect Christi, Mom or Gramma.

I have fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, sugar issues, and 100 pounds to lose.
I live with pain – but I don’t have to eat to deal with it.

My life has layers – sometimes like an onion, sometimes like a beautiful torte.
1.Faith
2. marriage
3. Home
4. family
5. Health
6. focus(art and writing)

I need to move these around a bit:
1 Faith
2 Health
3 Marriage
4 home
5 Focus
6 family

I need to create a plan for each – each layer has it’s own needs – it’s own scheduling issues – it’s own requirements.
But, #1 – if my faith isn’t where I need it to be – I fall.
Ps 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

But #2 – if my health isn’t at it’s best – I can’t do any of it!
But #3 – if my relationship with WildRoss isn’t up to par – stress for both of us multiplies.

But if 1+2+3 are taken care of they equal 6 –
I believe what I am seeing is that if I put the first three in order – the rest will follow.
Of course, there is the aspect of friends and fellowship – and I can never get away from who I am – friendly, caring, and giving.
I believe that these will flow out of the first three as well.
Health is fitness AND food.
But for me – mental health is key – so I need to focus on that FAITH issue.
Ps 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

So, I have dug deeply – as my body has refused to allow me to do anything but some swimming and some walking – AND WALKING UP A LIGHTHOUSE!
AND, while my AF has been acting up with the FMS – I need to go back to some workouts that helped me rehab – so that I COULD do things.

I’m not going to preach this program – but I am going to DO IT.
It made HUGE changes in my life one year – and I abandoned it – because “It’s not ‘real’ exercise”
Me at TTapp Retreat.

And skin brushing…this is so effective for fibro and lymphatic drainage.
Eating what I know is best for me…

At least it is one that I can do – I can improve – and I can heal while doing it.
For goodness sake – I have no hip pain because of the movements I learned doing this!
I have turned around lymphatic swelling by movements that I learned in doing this!
Why have I not continued? Well because I have some issues with some layers and thinking that I need to lift heavy things.

I need to love me enough to take care of me! That is HUGE!

I think I am abandoning this challenge – to focus on these areas…which actually is in line with several of my first challenges this year.
And it is in line with finding out who I am – and what I want to be and do.

Actually – if you don’t have a goal for where you are going, isn’t that just called wandering?
My deep digging this last week has put some goals in to focus – some reality into CLEAR focus – and clarified my focus.

On that note –
No eye surgery – A week ago – the blindness disappeared. I I wasn’t looking forward to eye surgery – or being 1/4 blind!
Delayed neck surgery – I found a chiro that works with this stuff – and by God’s grace, chiro and TTapp have strengthened herniated discs in my low back, I want to give this a try! He also does the ART massage, which may help with the fibro issues.

There is another issue that has come up, that could be serious – but I am waiting until I speak with that doctor. Or it could be my body getting used to being forced to actually move!

If you have read this far – thank you.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Naomi’s Heart Mission

Sponsor a Child

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Time keeps on slipping, slipping….

Psalms 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Ps 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Today I planned on doing my ‘stats’ – measurements – weigh in – and max reps type thing. I want to see how fast I can walk a mile…I have to walk a 5k in 4 weeks…it’s not a fast walk – but I’d like to know I can walk the whole distance!

I’ve been posting #100happydays on facebook – I suppose I should post them here as well!
today, I hope to do some art…

I am fine tuning my goals to make them SMART – even though this challenge is well underway, one of my goals is to have a plan for my days, weeks, months, years….
I am turning 54 – I need to seize the day!

Who knows how many more I’ll have, but the mathematical fact is that I probably have less left than those I have already lived.
How many things have I said “I’ll so that next time” and it never happened?
Now, when it’s decided that “we’ll do that next time” – I am realizing that, there may never be a next time.
I may never go back to Niagra Falls, or the Grand Canyon, or Sunset Cliffs.
I may never get back to Europe.

http://youtu.be/hRp3RFUIAdU

And then, there are the people that mean the most to me in my life…and, I have made choices, or forced to make choices that effects out time together:

When you lose someone in your life…it’s often not a planned leaving. Recently, I have had to make some decisions that meant I didn’t get to spend time with some very special people…but I had to be mindful of my own body. I may never pass that way again…Time keeps on slippin, slippin – into the future!

So, this makes me live my life more mindful – and it has caused me to make some difficult decisions..but decisions that I make by choice…not by just not making them.
To not decide is to decide to let ‘other forces’ decide for you.
To not choose is a choice in itself.
If I lived to 104, it’s only 50 more years…and my body is not what it was when I was 20.
Average for my family is living to 80 – 26 more years…what can I do with that time?

The Bible story about the farmer that had a huge crop and he tore down his bins to build bigger –

Luke 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

And then, he got lazy:

Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

And he didn’t know the bigger plan:

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

The Moral of this story?

Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God

The thing is, we don’t know how long we have…and we need to make the most of every minute…and, after writing yesterday’s blog…I am well aware of the times I made decisions not to decide, I chose to not choose…but, This is the New Me!

All these plans, and actually – I want to go back to sleep – I am on the fifth day of Bactrim and it’s messing with my stomach…
One of my goals in 2014 is to listen to my body…that would help with the diabetes! HA!
I am doing a ‘new’ type of cardio for the RPG & Adventurers challenge – maybe I should just listen to my body – and rest today.
the numbers aren’t going to change much between today and tomorrow…and tomorrow – I won’t have the sulpha in my stomach!

So – I have just talked this out with those of you that read my thread…welcome to my brain!
I am making a decision,
I’m choosing to rest my body to finish it’s healing from the infection.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Mission

Sponsor a Child

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Could this be the new me?

**author note – I am going to post this, before it’s completely pretty – because I want to post this now. I’ll pretty it up later, and add appropriate links and reference. ~mcw**

For the last two years, I have done various ‘diets’ to clean up my ‘act.
A sugar detox – prescribed by my naturopathic doctor in Texas
Whole30 – attempted over and over and over – until it’s a Whole24/7/365.
Various Cleanses
Fruit Flush

All this has done is prove to me over and over that I am sensitive to certain food groups:

I have noticed that these food groups cause undesirable reactions:

This is my new me –

I have done many diets over the years, and some were successful in losing weight, but I still had the eating disorders and the mental baggage.

This year, 2014, I have worked on myself within the group called Nerd Fitness. I started the year with a whole30 – and lost 20 pounds – then gained it all back, even though I was working through challenges within the forum groups.
Why did I gain it back?
My brain or my emotions or my whatever continued to WANT the things that make me sick.
My mind allowed excuses –

and so many more, that I have realized that my 54 years have not been focused upon fuel, but stuffing…stuffing emotional pain.
If all I did was have a piece of pie once a month for a celebration,
Or had some special food item at a travel destination,
I would naturally burn that off – as I exercise my life.

but I didn’t do that.

These are the some of the choices I have made over the last 20 years.

I have blamed all the surgeries I’ve had since 1989.
Yes, hormones, metabolism, injuries, immobilization boots, excruciating pain, heart rate issues and more, can be blamed for not exercising.
But over the years, I have learned to modify exercising – and I have had success…why haven’t I continued?
I have been lazy in many ways.

I have had legitimate reasons for not ‘exercising’ in the manner in which most fitness trainers suggest. There was a time, just walking could cause a tendon to rupture – which meant surgery – which meant 8-12 weeks rehab.

But, how did I deal with subsequent surgeries?
I felt sorry for myself.
I was like Job – I sat on my recliner (like his dung pile) and cried “woe is me!”
Because I was emotionally distraught – I ate.
And, I did not exercise what I could!
And I did not draw nearer and nearer to God.
I blamed God for allowing me to go through all this pain – amongst other emotional pains. And I will stand by the fact that HE is in control of everything – while also allowing me freedom of choice. How that works is not something that I comprehend on this earth, I just take it by faith.
But I didn’t allow these challenges to continue to draw me closer.

In Job’s story – when he was first challenged – he came through with flying colors!
As God allowed the enemy to take more and more from him – Job cracked.
He even despaired of life itself.
His wife told him “curse God and die!”

His friends – oh the “Job’s friends” that came to ‘encourage him’!
“confess your sins and this will stop!”
But Job wasn’t aware of any sins within himself – God himself had said Job was righteous. So Job tries to convince his friends that he hasn’t done anything – that God had just decided to allow these things – and he had no idea why. And yet, Job preached – and his words are recorded, and used to encourage us who would give up.

In the end – God showed Job the bit of sin still in his heart – and Job repented, received a new understanding of God, and a relationship with Him, and His friends got a new understanding of grace and mercy!

What does that have to do with me?
My weight is a direct outcome of my lack of leaning on Jesus.

When I am hurt – I should go to the Holy Spirit for comfort –
but I’ve gone to ice cream, chocolate, pies.
When I am angry – I should go to my savior, and receive HIS grace to release the anger, and respond as Christ would respond, but I’ve eaten sweets to stuff it down.
When I am alone – I should go to Jesus who will never leave me nor forsake me, but I eat sweet and salty things to feed my aloneness.
When I am bored – I should fill my mind with good things, and exercise my body for energy and health to care for this temple of the Holy Spirit, but I sit and watch tv, movies, play games.

For me – putting anything between me and God is committing idolatry.
For me – when I go to something other than God for help, I am committing idolatry.

I don’t mean that I can’t get help from other places – because that is why God created us to be a tribal/community driven creature. And, God has brought many people into my life that have helped me overcome.

I do mean – I need to pray – speak to God, through Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit – before any other ‘device’.
And self damaging reactions are NOT God’s way.

Here are just a few comparisons:

For me – when I do not care for this temple that God has entrusted to me, when I take this temple into temples that do not honor God, I am sinning.

I am confessing, before anyone that reads this, that I repent of this mindset of leaning on everything other than the Most High God.
I confess of using ‘things’ to stuff the challenges that God has given to me, for my growth.
I confess being lazy – not wanting to grow anymore! Yes – true!
I confess that I have used food as a slow form of suicide – knowing thigns would eventually kill me.
I confess that I have not been a faithful caretaker of this temple –
and I ask forgiveness, and I ask for mercy, and I ask for grace to turn things around.

I have been turning things around this year – by the grace of Jesus Christ – but I need to make a stand.

And, because of this repentance –
I am a new me – and this time, I pray that the old Christine stays gone – passed away, and all things are becoming new!

Exercise – Eat right – Excitement

Go tell ‘John’ what you see and hear:
The lame walk
The blind see
and the poor receive the gospel.

I was lame – and now I walk.
I was blinded to my responsibility – but now I see.
I was falling away from the gospel, and feeling poorly spiritually – but God, through Jesus Christ, has breathed the Holy Spirit into me anew – and the gospel is the story.

This is the new me. Welcome to my Journey.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Naomi’s Heart Mission

Sponsor a Child

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Prepping for Tenacious Texas Test of Toughness 2014-

I wrote Welcome 2014 almonst a month ago.
Since that time, I have made a choice to move at least 15 minutes a day, for 100 days – heading to 30, based on the Penguin’s Challenge.

The first few days were rough…5-10 minutes 3 times.
It is only three weeks to the Tenacious Texas Test of Toughness meet up…and I feel like I am a non-athlete. I do not want to go, because I will not fit in…everyone on this NerdFitness forum is DOING SOMETHING. I am trying to just WALK!!!

side note – I had to get back involved with Nerd Fitness because my daughter, my new coach, insisted that I get into a group for accountability. I have avoided this group since my epic failure almost 2 years ago.

By orders of my coach, I am using My Fitness Pal app to track my calories.

I pulled out Map My Walk app, and started to time myself on:
1/8/2014. .26 mile in 7:38 min. I didn’t even bother to calculate the speed. That wasn’t the only dog walk…but, it was a walk.
(computations done at unit juggler)
I pulled out my heart rate monitor, and decided to try a new thing…fasting lower intensity cardio…keeping my HR down to fat burning levels for a fasting period of time.
A.M. Fat burn discusses the pros and cons…and I am doing this to help mobilize the fat out of my liver….and other places. Your mileage may vary

1/9/2014 – I walked a mile for the first time in several years. 1.18 in 26:11. 2.3 mph. Not 5k race material…but a start. I got the 30 minutes in one stretch. I paused the app when the dog had to stop!

1/10/2014 – 1.16 in 25:39. 2.4 mph
1/11/2014 – .83 in 26.57. for some reason that comes up as 2.3mph.
1/12/2014 – I spent hours and hours walking sideways spackling and painting the apartment walls. didn’t take a ‘walk’ – but I got my “30 minutes” in!
1/13/2014 – I CAN’T MOVE! my legs and back are in so much pain that I can barely move myself. Freaking out that I hurt myself AGAIN, but then, dear husband remembered what I did the day before…. that spackling and painting…to the right, to the right, next room, to the right…I just hurt because I worked!

For Monday and Tuesday, 1/13 and 1/14, dog walks added up to 30 minutes, plus stretches…and attempts at squats.

Now we are up to:
1/15/2014 1.15 in 29:30. THAT’S 2.06 MPH!!! I’M WORSE!!! Oh wait – this was recovery from all that pain from Monday! Ok, so I don’t freak out. much.
1/16/2014 – Clean the apartment. My friend, DEAR friend, Mitzi came with me to clean the apartment. 2 hours in the AM, 2 hours in the PM…I got my workout in. No walk, specifically, other than walking the dog!
1/17/2014 – 1.08 in 34:06. 1.71 mph – but I knew that I had forgotten to pause the time when someone stopped to talk to me. I’m ok with this timing.
1/18 and 1/19 were spent at Florida’s RV show…walking around the State Fairgrounds.
Again – I got my walking in…just not documented.
1/20 No idea, I guess I rested…but got the 30 minutes in stretches and strength, and dog walks combined.
1/21/2014 – .52 and .4 – a mile split in two – I got my 30 minutes in…and almost a mile (and definitely if you count the other short dog walks!)

So now I am up to the day we are to fly out to Dallas – and I am still nervous.

I have not done any lifting.
I have not done any squats.
I have not walked a 5k(which was my goal, set to hit on May 31st…or do some Memorial Day 5k).
I am fat.
I am old.
I am certain I will not fit in.
I was falling into a deep dive of depression…and trying to figure out how to get out of going. If it wasn’t for our friends hosting this gig, I may have bowed out!

On the upside…

I have completed 20 days of Paleo in preparation.
I have done movement for 21 days…and
I have added some other goals to this plan.

I am improving myself, by God’s grace, Jim’s support, Rachel’s guidance, and some help from some new friends at Nerd Fitness.

Next – What happened in Texas?

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.

We have email subscription! And you can manage your subscription from the dashboard!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Naomi’s Heart Mission

Sponsor a Child

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!