Another hard week. I am struggling with setting priorities and dealing with an enormous amount of stress right now. It's been a little over six months since Ty lost his job and though we're both employed (and we are so grateful), our finances are feeling tighter and we are fighting back discouragement. Meanwhile, I've gained back all of the weight I worked so hard to shed last year, which is such a blow to me. I am trying to find someway to incorporate a healthier lifestyle while being a working mom, which is, in a word. . . hard. I feel that a lot of the problem with my weight gain is STRESS! I really feel like I need to reinstate my morning devotional (I have fallen out of the habit) and also find TIME in my very, very ridiculously crazy schedule for some sort of outlet.
Do any of you have any suggestions? I'm open to any ideas. What do you do to regulate stress in your lives? How have you coped with discouragement in your past experiences?
Before I start sounding too whiny, I want to share with you a beautiful passage I read the other night. I felt that it applied nicely to my mood that confusing, dark evening:
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." (Psalms 42:5)
"Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." (Psalms 42:8)
Though I am struggling to find my way, I do "hope in God." I shall praise him in the hard times as well as in the easy, peaceful times. I am so entirely grateful for his lovingkindness. (I think that "lovingkindness" is the most beautiful word in the English language.) I acknowledge tender mercies daily from my Father. And yes, my prayer will always be unto the God of my life.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Suggestions Please!
Posted by K Walton at 8:43 PM
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6 comments:
I feel your pain! I started working full-time again a month ago when my husband lost his job. In the last month, I've gained five or six pounds. I don't think I've been eating much differently than I was before (but maybe I have and don't realize it), so I am wondering if the weight gain has been caused by stress. It's very discouraging. I don't have any brilliant answers to share with you right now, but I thought I'd let you know that I understand. I'll let you know if I have any epiphanies. Please continue to share yours. I love reading your blog!
Thanks so much Kimiko! I love having someone understand how hard this is! You have always been such an inspiration to me! Thanks so much for supporting my blog. It's been my lifeline! You're awesome!
Hi Kristen!
My weight gains are always due to stress and boredom. I've worked full time, luckily at home, since I have had kids. I understand the stress!!! :)
I have found what really works for me is waking up earlier in the morning, reading my scriptures, getting ready, and saying my morning prayer. It has completely changed me. Once Hannah starts sleeping better, I am hoping to get up an extra half-hour earlier and have some exercise time.
I find just this half-hour to hour of time to myself and focusing on the the Lord has changed my outlook on life, helped me to manage my stress so much better, and helped me to be a better person.
Good luck and I hope the discouragement goes away!!!
When I gained all the weight during pregnancy, I kept telling myself that I couldn't do anything about it because I was just too stressed and just too busy. I believed it for a long time. You motivated me to try.
For me, food choices are the easiest part. I don't get up early enough to do breakfast at home, so I usually have fruit/cheese stick or some other such combo. Also, cutting out the soda and drinking more water helps. Dinners have gotten progressively harder for me. I'm at the end of the first trimester, so I'm always exhausted. By the time I get home from work I'm exhausted and starving. I need to get back in the habit of making heathier choices rather than grabbing the 'quick fix' meals. We've been trying to keep washed/cut veggies around so I've got healthy quick fixes ready while I take the time to make dinner.
The hardest thing for me is getting exercise in. By the time I get home, I don't have the energy for it-or the time. I've been walking a mile on both my a.m. and p.m. breaks. I work out 3x a week during my hour lunch break.
Really, what I have learned is that working full time and loosing weight is not easy. I've tried different things...lots of different things...until I've found what seems to work for me. I've slid a little in the last 2 weeks on the exercising. I'm jumping back in full swing on Monday.
The key is not giving up. Thank you for starting up this blog. You got me thinking about how we can turn to Him in every struggle, even weight. That has helped me the most.
I'm sorry to hear you've lost the progress you made. I know you can do it. Hang in there. Let us know the tricks you find. Good luck!!
Sorry about the novel!!
Thanks you guys, for the feedback! It is always so comfroting for me to know and feel that I am not in this alone. And I hope that each of you who follows my blog knows that too! One thing I had hoped to create when I started writing over a year ago, was a sisterhood. And I feel that sisterly love and kindness from all of you. Thank you so much for you continued support. You'll never know how much your stories touch me and keep me afloat!
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