It has been a while since my last post, longer than a while I suppose, so instead of recapping everything that has happened between then and now, I will stick to the basics!
Some pictures:
Layla & Gage:
My dad and stepmom are in the process of adopting this sister and brother. We all love them to pieces!
This was at Gwynn's birthday dinner.
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| Thanksgiving 2011 |
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| Thanksgiving 2011 |
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| Attempted Family picture; Christmas 2011 |
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| Christmas 2011 |
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| Christmas 2011 |
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| Christmas 2011 |
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| Callaway Gardens; Christmas 2011 |
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| Callaway Gardens; Christmas 2011 |
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| Happy New Year! 2011 - bringing it in with a KISS;) |
-We are in the final stages of home buying - awaiting the reports of a final inspection before setting an official closing date. It has been an incredibly long process, but it has been even more incredible to see God's hand in all of it. When it is all said and done, we will be able to say without a doubt that this is the house that God has planned for us all along.
-I am in my last year of school. Hard to believe, but I can only think of one event more exciting than being done with school - HINT - rhymes with carriage:).
-Finnley will be 2 years old tomorrow! I can't believe that we have had her for almost two years! She is such brat, but so stinking adorable, quick, and smart. We love her to pieces:)
I have acquired an interest in healthier eating. I had always considered myself a healthy person (up until a month ago), but come to find out, I was no where near that. I could chalk it all up to genes, but could give myself no credit, which I was not pleased with. I decided that with the up-and-coming wedding, what better motivation does a girl have to get in shape? But more than that, I wanted to make sure that my health and fitness plans became a lifestyle, not just a temporary fix. I am slowly on my way to accomplishing that. I have been doing Jillian Michaels' (Trainer from Biggest Loser) "Ripped in 30"dvd workout, and so far I am seeing encouraging results.
But those results are not coming without a price - I am sacrificing time to do these workouts, and to do them well.
Doing them well, however, requires more than just good time management, it also requires a dedication to good eating. I have been doing a lot of research: poring over blogs, health journals, and various articles to determine what things are best for the body, and instead of declaring myself on any specific type of diet, I am just: "eating healthy". That means the correct balance of fats, carbs, proteins, sugars, and vitamins.
To help me stay on track, I use the myfitnesspal app (they also have a website that allows you to do the same thing, just not on your phone, myfitnesspal.com). This app allows me to plug in a goal weight (my goal is not to lose weight, just to lose fat and gain muscle, so I just plugged in my current weight) and gives me the exact amounts of each food group that I need to be eating a day. I track what I eat by simply plugging in every single thing that I eat.
The next facet to "eating healthy" is understanding that food is not for PLEASURE, it is for FUEL, so that we can continue to function for God's will. It is strange, you may think, that equating food with God would make any sense, but indeed it does:
19 Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you.
Amazing, right? So with that being said, clarity is met. We are not on this earth to pollute our bodies, for they are not "ours" to pollute. We are here for God's purpose alone, nothing to do with us, therefore it is our duty to take care of ourselves. People are more worried about the rights of animals and national parks than they are their own bodies. Strange.
I will say that it is a struggle for me to always maintain that mindset, that "my body is not for me but for God so therefore I should only eat what fuels me"...because in other things that we have been called to do as Christians, God does not want us to walk around every day SUFFERING for His Glory. He wants us to enjoy life and enjoy His creation. But when food is involved, enjoy it in MODERATION.
MODERATION. That is is the key. So while I am eating healthy, I am not completely cutting out those rich and delicious treats that I so adore baking:), but I am limiting myself. As I am counting calories and monitoring everything that I put in my mouth, I can hardly imagine the amount of calories, fats, and sugars that I was consuming on a daily basis. I never gave it any thought!!
This renewed concept of food and life in general is very exciting, and I am looking forward to where it takes me and the results that continue to show up:)
That being said, I want to use this blog as a vessel to communicate many different things:
So, bear with me, if you will, because I'm excited!!
~Allyson
This renewed concept of food and life in general is very exciting, and I am looking forward to where it takes me and the results that continue to show up:)
That being said, I want to use this blog as a vessel to communicate many different things:
- What I am learning about food and health, as well as sharing recipes that I come across that I enjoy and that are healthy. Not healthy for being-skinny's sake, but healthy for being-healthy's sake, and healthy so that you are able to maximize your potential as a servant of God. (Of course there will be the occasional 'treat';) how can I resist?!)
- Things I am learning in my quiet times with the Lord, and as I read through the Bible.
- Up's and Down's of owning a home, and the fun projects that we have in store for it
So, bear with me, if you will, because I'm excited!!
~Allyson
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