A Day of Rest

My daughter and I headed out for our walk this morning about 30 minutes later than usual. But that's okay. This is a day of rest. We walked and talked, shared our praises on Elephant Hill and decided we can take off a day from our evening walk to rest. It's funny how a change in point of view can reflect in your thinking.

Just a month ago, the thought of waling 3 miles would in no way be considered a day off. Now, even though I don't always feel like getting started in the morning, walking has become a blessing. It's part of the day and one I'm glad I didn't miss on the day of rest.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Consistency - Encourage One Another

Today I rolled out of bed without about as much desire for going for an hour walk as eating nails for breakfast. I sat at my computer and started working on a short Sci-fi story I'm developing. It's so easy to get involved in a project and forget about exercise--that is until my daughter walked into the room with her walking shoes in hand. She looked about as enthusiastic as I felt, but the praise is that we DID IT. Instead of talking each other out of walking, we encouraged one another.

The first round up the Elephant Hill we were kind of quiet--not quite awake. By the second round we were thanking God we were out there, but wishing we could say it was round three. By round three, perspiration trickled down our backs and we were actually thankful to be out there. Our fourth time around we offered our sacrifice of praise as we trudged up Elephant Hill one more time.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Another Day - Another Blessing

Hard to believe, I've come to the end of another day. Calorie counting (as much as I detest it) has been a blessing. It helps me stay aware of the amount of calories I'm consuming and by tweaking my choices, how satisfying the right foods can be. In the month since I arrived in GA, I've lost between 6-8 lbs. depending on what day I'm weighing. Of course, I'm thrilled with that.

If you are struggling to lose, my recommendation is to make sure you exercise. Walking is one of the best. Start out slow and build from there. To maximize the effects of your effort, count calories. For a woman, I recommend between 1,000-1,200 a day to keep your matabolism kicked into gear.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

The Ant and the Sluggard

It's funny how God can use the same Scripture to teach me multiple lessons. As I work on Change From the Heart ~ Lifestyle Budgeting for my publisher the Dabbling Mum it is easy to apply the lesson of the ant and the sluggard to finances and saving.

Proverbs 6:1-11

My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, have given a pledge for a stranger, {If} you have been snared with the words of your mouth, have been caught with the words of your mouth, do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids; deliver yourself like a gazelle from {the hunter's} hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer {And} gathers her provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest"--Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.

I pondered this Scripture as my daughter and I walked. In my studies I learned that a sluggard is lazy (I knew that), but will do what needs to be done when it has to be done but will allow others to do what they should be doing.

We are to consider the way of the ant and be wise. The ant plans ahead. They know what they will be eating. It's easier to be a sluggard and allow myself to be tempted, lured (or just lazy)and eat what is easy.

So today, consider the way of the ant and be wise.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Even in the Good Times

Part of my family tradition is to celebrate good news with food. So here's a praise; look at my latest news:

PUMPING YOUR MUSE CLIMBS #2 IN ONE WEEK

In just one week, Donna Sundblad's book PUMPING YOUR MUSE hit the #2 spot on Fictionwise's general interest best sellers list. Sundblad's publisher, ePress-online, added the book to their online selections at Fictionwise last week where it shot to the number 2 spot seven days later. World-building dills found within this book motivate seasoned authors suffering from writer's block and fledgling writers looking
for inspiration and guidance. A must have for every aspiring novelist's bookshelf; the unique, contiguous exercises generate a novel-length draft.

To say the least, I was thrilled. What's even better, we went out to dinner and I passed on the bread and potatoes.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Faithfulness

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cr. 1:9)

As I walked this morning I considered God's faithfulness. All the times I turn to my own ways rather than His ways, yet he is always waiting for me when I turn back to him. Walking up that "Elephant Hill" has become a reminder to praise God. My daughter and I walked up that thing four times this morning, and with each effort we praised God for various things in our lives.

Walking up the hill is still work but for me, a reminder of God's faithfulness. I didn't "want" to walk up the hill, but when it was finished it gave me another thing to be thankful for.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

I'm Feeling Blu-u-ue

Yesterday I exercised, stayed in my calories and could feel a difference in my clothes. How exciting! But I awoke this morning feeling fat. Well, I am fat--but fatter. It's times like this that make me see clearly how feelings and emotions can sidetrack our lives if we allow it. Instead, I need to remember Elephant Hill and the lesson learned and relearned. One step at a time. Doesn't matter how I FEEL, I need to choose to do the right thing and stay on the path to better health.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Elephant Hill

Daily walking is becoming a habit, and I praise God for that. My endurance is building and energy levels climbing. Along the route one steep hill challenges my legs, breathing and will to go on. The muscles in the back of my legs, rear and calves scream a mild protest as I trudge the extra weight up the incline not once, not twice but usually four times each morning.

I'm blessed to have my daughter accompany me in this endeavor each morning, while in the evening we walk as a family affair including husbands and children. A few weeks ago when she tested my grandson at the end of the school year, she compared it to eating an elephant one bite at a time. Although cliche, for him it was a new concept.

Thus, we've dubbed the steep hill Elephant Hill. One step at a time, we choose to exercise and eath healthier. It's a choice. We thank God for free will, and praise him at the top of the hill each day. "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." [Joshua 24:15]. It's a new day, a new hill, and your choice.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Writing It Down - Moderation and Accountability

Well, I'm back to writing down what and how much I'm eating. For now, I'll limit my calorie intake to between 1,000 and 1,200 calories. No more and no less. Why? Because I want to learn to eat in moderation. Moderation is not starving myself, and 1,200 is quite adequate to provide the energy needed to accomplish day-to-day activities while losing weight.

Writing down what I eat and the calories it provides offers accountability in that I'm eating enough but not overeating. I'm continuing to exercise. Between the two, I've lost four pounds since my move here to Georgia. That fluctuates a bit, but that doesn't matter. What matters is learning moderation.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Taking Responsibility

As much as I've tried to avoid it, it's time for me to take responsibility for this weight and to do something about the food going into my mouth each day. It's easy to rationalize. We've sold our home, have everything in storage, and are living with my daughter and her family while we look for our next home.

We've moved from Florida to Georgia and aren't finished with the process. Isn't that a good reason to indulge my physical appetite? No. I came across another good reminder to pay attention to what I'm eathing at The Dabbling Mum Meets Life Head On Blog. Take a look.

It reminds me of the importance of checking lables. Know what you are eating. Where does sugar fall within the ingredients. If it's within the first three and you want to lose weight, avoid it. When it says enriched flour, it means the real nutrients have been stripped away. Look for healthy choices that really feed your body what it needs.

Walking, Walking, Walking

Since the move to Georgia, I have to say I'm walking regularly (at least 2-3 miles almost everyday). My eating has improved in that I'm making healthier choices more often including juicing each day. Now, if I could just get my little binges under control I could say I'm being consistent. However, I am being more consistently consistent if that makes sense.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Baby Steps

I oversee a goal-oriented writer's group and enjoy the pleasure of seeing writers accomplish large tasks by breaking them down into smaller steps. So far, everything I've tried with my weight hasn't worked because I've only been willing to take one baby step at a time without connecting the steps to make forward progress.

For now, my main goal is to exercise regularly. The rolling of hills of northwest Georgia require a bit more effort that the flat lands of Florida, and I've enjoyed getting to know my new walking route. The mornings are on the cool side of balmy, which is a bit more encouraging that the heat and humidity of Florida summers.

So, my first step is regular exercise (at least 5 days a week). However, I know I need to consider the second baby step so that I can connect the two. For now, it will be to limit my intake of starch to no more than one serving a day.

This morning I walked two miles and for lunch, I chose a salad over a cheeseburger. It's a step in the right direction.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse