One More Praise

As I walked this morning I thought of another thing I forgot to share. On our trip we went shopping with my sister. Shopping is not my favorite activity, but I figured on vacation I can bite the bullet. So we splurged for a new lap top since mine limps at best. My husband walked out of the store wondering what hit him as I don't like spending money.

A few miles down the road the car in front of us smelled like burning rubber. My complaint about the smell scarce left my lips when the car turned onto a side street and I realized the smoke in front of the car seeped from beneath OUR hood. Oh my!

We popped free of the car and someone pulled behind us to offer help. I made sure to grab my purse in case flames engulfed the vehicle. It turned out to be the clutch thing-a-ma-bob that runs the compressor. Okay, no AC for the rest of the trip--and an expensive repair ahead.

What's my point for telling this little tale? The praise. Stress did not push me into overeating and I can't begin to tell you what a miracle that is.

Donna Sundblad
Author of
Pumping Your Muse and
Windwalker

Freedom

Moderation--it's freeing. I'm no longer struggling with forbidden foods or diets that work but end. Being away from home helped me realize the freedom of eating what is set before me. Gee, seems that I've heard that somewhere before. The trick is to eat in moderation.

When I was faced with choices like fried chicken, potato salad, Waldorf salad, etc. I ate and celebrated with the others, but I didn't overeat. When I arrived home, I actually felt like I'd lost a little weight. Of course I won't know until a weigh at the end of the month.

The thing that amazes me is that I'm free of the guilt. I ate fried chicken and Waldorf salad, but didn't over do.

Plus, as I arrived home I was actually looking forward to getting back to routine--walking daily. All I can say is that my thinking has been changed and I love it.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse and Windwalker

Home Safe Sound Not Feeling Fat

Life on the road isn't for me. As great as it was to see family and friends, I'm happy to be home and looking forward to routine. I didn't count calories while I was gone, but most days I kept a mental total. Here's the great thing; I'm not suffering from guilt and I'm motivated to get back to eating healthy and walking. That's the difference when you know it's a lifestyle and not a diet!

Things are coming along at Inspired Author. More articles up for those looking to write fantasy and I've got a couple of classes in the works. You'll have to keep an eye on it for updates. I'm thrilled for the opportunity to work with writers learning the craft.

Also, Windwalker arrived in my mailbox while I was gone. After I read through it one more time, the print issue will be available. Should be by the end of the month. The electronic issue is selling and has reached #20 on a list of more than 1,600! Plus Pumping Your Muse has climbed back to the #3 spot on the general non-fiction category at Fictionwise.

Now that I'm home, I'll be posting more regularly.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse and Windwalker

Eating While on the Road

I'm on the road to visit family and attend a wedding. So what do you do about eating and counting calories while traveling. Here's one thing I've done.

Look up calorie content for fast food restaurants and chains, print out the information and bring it along. This way, as you watch the options on the off-ramp signs you'll know which ones really offer options.

On top of this strategy remember not to be legalistic. Instead, make the best choices you can. Stay as active as possible. Look for an opportunity to go for a walk and even invite someone along when visiting family.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse and Windwalker

Thinking Ahead

I'm about to embark on a road trip to see family and friends as I attend my niece's wedding. As a creature of routine, such trips can challenge, but I also know they renew my creativity. However, what about the eating? What about my exercise?

I figure I have choices to make. Do you throw away making right choices because you're on vacation? No. Instead, I need to make a plan. Just like with my writing, how I accomplish things will change, but they still need to be accomplished.

I've printed out a copy of Change From the Heart~Lifestyle Budgeting to read through in the car so I can make the final changes and get it submitted. I also need to write the first draft of at least two articles. Other than that, things will be on hold. It's a plan--realistic considering the car trip is about 13-14 hours each way.

Now as for eating. Leaving the house for days puts things so out of control. However, if I determine ahead to make the best possible choices and to try to go for a walk when possible--that's better than planning for failure. I'm also going to pack some apples and walnuts for snacks. Having healthy snacks that don't need refrigeration on hand opens the door to making a better choice.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse and Windwalker

Feeling and Facts

I know I've talked about this before, but not weighing vs. weighing too often is on my mind. I'm choosing not to weigh until the beginning of next month. I FEEL like I'm not losing--yet I bought a couple of pairs of jeans this week size 8! And they zip!

Sometimes I actually think I have an addiction to the scale. If it gives me good news I FEEL good. If it gives me bad news, I FEEL bad. But what's the reality? What are the facts? How do the numbers that show up on the display really matter?

The facts are God is renewing my mind. I'm learning moderation. I'm staying within 1,000-1,200 calories, exercising for about an hour most days, and not stepping on the scale. My new jeans are smaller and fit. So why do I FEEL like I'm not losing? Maybe because I allow myself to have a small ice cream cone most evenings. It might have something to do with the fact that I CAN eat anything, but have to stay within the moderation zone. I'm not sure, but I do know that the head game can be a challenge.

On the writing front, I'm thrilled to say that Windwalker has climbed to #49 as of this morning (on Fictionwise) and #5 on the epress book list available at Fictionwise. Not bad for the first five days.

The land property issue is an ongoing saga. We've decided to have another soil tester go out next week and test the soil to see if it perks. We'll go from there.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse and Windwalker

Good New Bad News

Each new day carries with it new circumstances. On the writing front, I'm happy to report that Pumping Your Muse has climbed back to 4th place on the general non-fiction best seller list at Fictionwise and Windwalker has climbed to number 100 out of 1670 books. I'm happy.

On the finding property quest, we find ourselves caught in the middle. A man who works as a soil tester to see if the land perks claims he has tested the land we are interested in, and that it doesn't perk. However, he has no paperwork to back it up, and he has tried to steer us to land he owns. I tend to find myself a bit suspicious. Either the owner of the property and real estate agent aren't being truthful, or the fellow that tests the soil.

So for those who read my blog regularly, I ask for your prayers on our behalf.

Now, as for my eating. Think there's enough stress going on? Last night I did eat pizza, didn't count calories for that one meal, but I'm back at it today. It's all part of moderation. I'm not allowing counting calories to become a form of bondage. Instead, I'm trying to be moderate. Ate out this afternoon and ate half the entree (which came to about 300 calories). Let me say this, I'm thankful God is changing my heart and mind.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse and Windwalker

Roller Coaster

Today we learned that the property we were considering will not perk as well as we had hoped. This would add a substantial amount to the price and upkeep of the septic system. As we go through the ups and down in life, it can be tempting to turn to food for comfort. Instead, remember that the Lord knows everything. He's got it under control. For now, we're praying for what is next.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

One Day at a Time

I've written about this concept before. Each day holds its own set of blessings, challenges and mundane routine. As a writer, I don't feel like writing everyday. In my quest to eat healthier and lose weight, I don't feel like exercising or counting calories everyday. Let's fact it, discipline is not something we always want to do.

Yesterday, my family found the land we'll probably live on the rest of our lives (unless God has other plans). I secretly thanked God for the two months of faithful walking that prepared me for trekking over hill and dale as we looked over the acreage. It was a day filled with excitement. Hardwood trees, meadow, deer, and family all made it special. By the end of the day we sat at a buffet filled with delicious (mostly unhealthy) choices.

That old emotional need to eat crept in. I ate a little more than I should have, but even in this I didn't eat bread, potatoes, rice or noodles. That's a big step in the right direction. And when I decided to have something sweet, I chose two oatmeal cookies and about a fourth of a cup of ice cream. I fashioned them into a small ice cream sandwich. It worked, and I stayed within my calories. How cool is that?

One day at a time, choices make a difference and practice makes it a little easier.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Windwalker Released

It's here! My fantasy novel Windwalker is out. After all the months of creating, rewriting, and editing it's almost like a dream to finally see the story in print.

I want to take a moment to thank Mel Landon, my good friend and cover artist for her contribution. I love the cover.

Through all this, I praise God for keeping me on track with counting calories and walking. This morning, pink pastels highlighted white wispy clouds drifting over the majestic trees here in NW Georgia. It was only 64 degrees this morning. That will be an adjustment this winter and another topic for another day. Florida winters kind of spoiled me.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

One of Those Days

This morning I awoke with a holiday mentality. Sat up in bed and shook the thinking from my head. I don't need to overeat to celebrate. In fact, eating right is really more of a celebration.

What a special morning. My daughter and I were joined by my grandchildren on our walk. Yes, they made it the entire three miles with very little complaint. What a legacy to hand on to them--living well.

As I moved through the day, my attitude (I must confess) found little pockets of wanting to feed my flesh. However, God took my hand and helped me through those times. I even fit ice cream into my calories at the end of the day. Of course, it's Healthy Choice and it is delicious. Learning to eat moderatly works.

Hope you all had a great holiday--eating well.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

Tension, Excitement, and Controversy

One of the things that's kept me hopping in recent days is a spec-fic anthology project. I don't even know if my story Caleb Sees the Light will make it into the final cut, but I'll consider myself blessed to have met the other authors in the process.

I've been a sci-fi, fantasy, spec-fic fan for as far back as I can remember. Little did I realize the hullabaloo that would break out when the buzz about Light at the Edge of Darkness started to leak into the virtual byways of the Internet. You can keep your finger on the pulse of that debate at The Lost Genre.

I've sent in the corrected galley for Windwalker and am making steady progress on the articles for Inspired Author. And with all this tension and excitement I praise God that eating hasn't crept in as a crutch to help me through. I actually stepped on the scale yesterday. It tipped in at 14.5 pounds less than when I moved to Georgia at the end of June.

So, thank God for all he's doing in my life.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse