Physical therapy, sunshine and new beginnings

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I feel blessed today. I know I am blessed every day, but today I feel blessed, if that makes sense. :)

Today was my last day of physical therapy for my hip, that I started a month ago. I am feeling so much better, but I also know I need to keep up with my stretches and work that she (my doctor) gave me to do. I am so happy that I am done with therapy. I am not one that likes ‘having’ to get out of the house multiple days a week. Our house and family runs a lot smoother when we don’t have a lot of things planned. Well for the past 4 weeks, I’ve had to get to PT 3 days a week, and believe me, that was stressful at times. Plus having to do the work at home she gave me, phew, tiring. But I made it through, and the two main goals I set for myself today (since it was my last day) I met!!! I was really happy about that.

But I’m also sad that today is the last day of physical therapy. I’m going to miss my therapist, the receptionist, and all the other workers. I have been to physical therapy before, but honestly, I’ve never enjoyed physical therapy as much as I did this past month. All the workers there are so nice and encouraging. The other patients are nice too. We all do our different therapies in one big room and there are tons of different conversations going on at once. My doctor would remember everything we talked about and ask me about my weekend, or a dinner, if I had talked to her about that, things like that. And I would ask her about her weekend and such too. It was so nice to have this adult interactions that I am really going to miss my time there. But my time is done, and my body is feeling better. I will stop by now and then to say hi, and Paul and I both will go back to them if we ever need too. So I’m happy and sad about today.

I’m sitting outside right out in my backyard with the sun shining, my laptop on my lap, enjoying the weather while working (and now writing this post). :) I am so happy that we are finally getting some warmer weather, in the 70′s, even though it will only last a couple of days. I’ll enjoy it while I can.

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Today is also Paul’s first day in the Produce department at work, it’s official, he’s out of deli and on to new beginnings. :) Today has been so busy, I’m not sure if the afternoon shift change has hit me yet, probably not. But I know it will eventually. Obviously Paul’s not home yet, but I’ve been texting with him on his breaks and I already know he is really enjoying his new department! :D He is so happy there, and being his wife, and seeing how hard working in the other department had become, I’m so happy for him now. It’s always such a blessing when your husband is happy to go to work and happy with what he does for a living. That’s what I’m going to keep remembering in the days and weeks to come with this new schedule. And I can’t wait to see what new things we find to do and how much we start enjoying afternoon shifts. Though it’s weird knowing he’s not coming home right now, I’m already enjoying this new shift, because I love seeing my husband so happy and blessed

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My food desires (Fit Mommy Friday)

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For this Fit Mommy Friday post I decided to skip writing about the goals and instead write about how the Lord is with me during this time in my life. It is a little long, but it’s truly a blessing with how the Lord is with me through all of this.

Anyone who knows me, or if you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you know that I have never been one who likes vegetables. I like corn and potatoes, and use diced tomatoes in pasta sauce. I will eat chopped green peppers in meals some times, but not always. I like Romaine lettuce with leaf spinach salads, so I’m not completely without veggies. But I’ve never been one who craves veggies, until lately, let me explain.

First I need to go back a few years, about 10 years, to be exact. I was dealing with a lot of stress in my life, and lots of changes were happening in our lives back then. I had never been one to drink a lot of water, oh lets just say it, I’d never been one to drink water at all. Oh I might have a glass here or there, but not every day and nothing consistent. It was milk, pop, coffee and juice that I drank. But with all the stress I was going through, I knew I needed to drop caffeine from my diet, which dropped two of my main drinks. But honestly, I just didn’t have any desire for water. Then one day, I remember clearly, sitting in church stressing over the fact that I had no desire for water, but knowing I needed it. When all of a sudden this thought came to me (more like the Lord spoke to me) that I had never prayed and asked the Lord to give me a desire for water! What? It was true, I just never thought of asking the Lord to help me with something like that. I know the Lord desires to be in all aspects of our lives, but some things seem like it’s something I should be able to do without Him. Silly, I know. So I prayed, nothing major, just “Lord please give me a desire to drink water.” I didn’t think anything about it after that. I didn’t try to add more water to my diet, I didn’t ‘work’ on drinking more water. Actually, I never really thought about it after I spoke that one sentence prayer.

Then a few months later I realized, quite out of the blue, that all I was drinking lately was water! I was so shocked by that fact, I really couldn’t believe it. Then I remembered I had asked the Lord to give me the desire, and He did. Why was I so shocked? Why do I think that the Lord wouldn’t be interested in helping me with something ‘small’ like that? Why do I try to put God in a box? I think what really shocked me is I didn’t work at any of it, it just wasn’t anything to do with me. It wasn’t my will power, my endurance, my work, it had nothing to do with me. I never tried, and honestly I felt like drinking water would be something I would never do easily. But the Lord stepped in and gave me the desire I needed, it was all Him, and not me.

Fast forward 10 years later to the present. I’ve been wanting to add more veggies to my diet and honestly have no desire for them at all. It was a fight and a struggle to just try and remember to make a veggie for dinner because Paul and Sarah likes them. I am not one that likes to deprive my body of certain foods, because I know (for me) it’s a boomerang effect, and I just eat what I deprived myself from even more. Well, eating what I wanted never included wanting veggies, and I didn’t know how to add them without depriving myself of something else. Then one day I thought, “Duh, why not ask the Lord to give me a desire for veggies just like He did with water.” So again I said a simple prayer, “Lord please help me to eat and desire more vegetables.” But this time I tried very hard to make myself like veggies. I tried to force it into what I ate, and I always felt so bummed when I didn’t eat any. I felt like I had failed. :(

So I gave up trying. I started focusing instead on my portion sizes, not really worrying about adding veggies, just trying to watch the amount I ate. Then I was talking with Paul one night and found out he really likes homemade soup (I love that we are still learning things about each other even after almost 18 years of marriage :) ). So I decided to try some homemade cauliflower soup. I figured if I didn’t like it, at least Paul and Sarah would eat it. But when I ate it I realized it wasn’t all that bad. I tried another batch the following week, and tweaked it with the things we like, and it was the best! Honestly, I ate that soup about 4 days in a row!

During this time I had started adding chopped broccoli to things that I could mix the broccoli with. It was just a taste I started having, for broccoli. Then one day I mentioned to my physical therapist that I don’t eat veggies (I forget what brought up the subject) and she asked “Not even peas?” Ugh, they are the worst, mushy, and horrible tasting. She said, “Oh no, you need to get some petite peas, put a little butter & salt on them and give them a try.” I said, “Aren’t all peas the same?” Nope, these are different. Hmmm, ok. So the next time I went shopping I picked up a bag of frozen petite peas. I put a small amount in a bowl, added a bit of butter and salt, and barely microwaved them (the mushy part of peas is one of the things I hated the most). You know what? They actually tasted good. So I’ve been adding some petite peas to different meals throughout the past week.

But then one day this week I had a taste for petite peas with my lunch and I wanted to try making some potato & broccoli soup for dinner, all on the same day. I didn’t think much of it, and I threw together a pretty yummy tasting soup (that’s what the family said). I started with the basic cauliflower soup and changed it around a bit tweaking it for my family’s taste with potatoes and broccoli. It was a really nice meal, and we enjoyed it immensely. But it was that night that I was shocked when I realized, I DESIRE veggies!!!!! I am actually desiring veggies. I was talking with Paul about how shocked I was, and we were both laughing about it. But the funniest part is that why am I so shocked that the Lord answered my prayer, AGAIN? And again, it was all Him. When I tried adding the veggies, I never desired them, and I always felt like a failure because I didn’t eat ‘enough’. But again, when I gave up trying to do it all myself, all in my own strength, the Lord stepped in and took care of it for me. I love the Lord. :D

I’m not saying that veggies are my favorite food, or that I would pick peas over a steak or anything. I know I’m still a steak and taters kind of gal. But I’m blessed because I now have a small desire for veggies, which I never had before. I’ve asked the Lord during this time to help with my portion sizes, what I desire in general, and just to help me loose weight overall. No, I haven’t dropped lots of weight, and no I haven’t been perfect on my portion sizes, but I am noticing subtle changes. I am noticing that when I try not to worry about it and fight with it, and just try to live my life (hopefully living for the Lord), things are changing. The Lord is giving me desires for things I’ve never desired before. He’s also helping me realize my portion sizes more and more, and my lack of movement. He’s showing me what I need for me, not what others are doing, but what I need for me. It’s so funny that I want the Lord in all areas of my life, but I’ve never thought of Him in my eating and weight areas of my life. Why do I think that He would only be there for emotional things, or health struggles (not with foods), or job issues, or parenting issues, etc… Why do I not realize that He wants to be in ALL areas of my life, including my eating. I think maybe I kept my eating from Him, because it was something I wanted (and still do at times) to control myself. Maybe it wasn’t something I wanted to give to Him? I don’t know, but I am so glad that He is stepping in here for me. I’m so thankful that He is giving me desires for not only veggies, but different changes in what and how much, I eat. I’m just so thankful He’s not left me alone with this area in my life. Thank you Lord.

I know it’s just not going to change magically overnight, and I’m not saying I don’t have any part in what I eat or portion size. I’m just saying when I gave it all to Him, things started changing. When I made Him my focus and desire and not food, weight loss, veggies and such, things started to change. Yes, I know I won’t always be perfect, I’ll still make mistakes, not eat enough veggies and eat bigger portion sizes. But I’m thankful that the Lord is not leaving me alone in this.

I just had to take some photos showing the veggies I’m eating. ;)

My petite peas, yes, there is a difference between these and regular peas.
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And my homemade potato and broccoli soup. It was very yummy and my family really liked it too.
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New job position and the changes that come with it.

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Yep, you read the title right, there is some new schedule changes coming to our lives and we are all trying to embrace them fully. ;)

First, for those of you who don’t know me that well, I’m not one that likes my schedule to be changed. I have been a very scheduled person most of my life, then about 2 years ago Paul decided he wanted to get back into customer service work and accepted a job at one of our local grocery stores. That was a major change in our life because our lives could no longer be scheduled. Not only was his schedule going to change every week, but we wouldn’t even get his schedule until the Friday before the following week. There was some major stress for me with those changes, but the Lord is always faithful and was with me through it all.

We prayed and decided back then that we would have a 4 day school week, with the kids and I always having Sundays off. That gave us a definite end to our week, and helped with scheduling for lessons and such. The other two days off are whenever Paul has off, which means there are time we are doing school on Saturdays. That was hard for the kids at first, but honestly, we are all so use to this schedule now, we really wouldn’t want it any other way. Yes, there are time we would like to have the ‘normal’ Saturday and Sunday type of weekend, but not always. We like having museums, library, movie theaters and the like with less people and more to ourselves. We like being able to go to different places that we wouldn’t normally be able to go to. And honestly, there are many times we have 3-4 days off in a row, and we all like that. ;)

He’s been working in the deli department for 2 years, and though he has liked it a lot, he’s been feeling for the past few months it was time for a change. We weren’t sure what the Lord had for us, which department he wanted him in. A year ago there were multiple departments wanting him, but then business got a bit slow and now no one could hire him in. Then about a month ago the Produce department, which is one of the departments he wanted to get in to, started showing an interest in him. After talking to them, prayer and more prayer, the position was offered and Paul accepted it. He needed to give his current department a few weeks to replace him, but hopefully he’ll be working in the Produce department within 2 weeks from now, if not sooner. He is honestly happy and blessed with this change, and we know it is from the Lord, but there is another major change with it.

Just like accepting the job two years ago brought with it some major changes, so has accepting this position brought with it changes. It’s an afternoon position, which means he’ll usually start between 1-3 in the afternoon and won’t get home until between 9:30-11:30. That is a major change for all of us. We won’t be starting school until afternoon, which is not a strong point for us. The kids and I both prefer to get lessons done during the morning. Our main meal together will be lunch, not dinner. Paul and I won’t be making too many get together’s or parties for a while, since they are usually in the evenings. And there are many other things that will change.

It will be a stretch for all of us. The kids are older, and though we would love to always be together like we have since they were young, we know that won’t always happen. They do have their own schedules and appointments, which means some days they will have to do lessons in the mornings, while dad is home to make their afternoon appointments. We plan to be more deliberate with our mornings. None of us are really ones to go out and do things in the morning, just not our style. But with this schedule change, we’ll all have to change that style. We’ll have to learn to make plans to do things together as a family during the first part of the day, instead of the evening. Yes, we will still have his days off to do things, but since this job change, we’ve made sure we’ve done things when he’s gotten home from work too. We don’t want that to change, just because his time home with us will be mornings instead of evenings.

We are thankful for many things, but one of the major things is that this isn’t a permanent situation. It could last as long as a year or two, but it won’t last for the rest of his working career. A year or two is a long time, but knowing that there is an end at some point in time, makes it easier to accept. Also, I’m thankful because this is something my husband really wants and needs. He is looking forward to the new working environment and the people he will be working with and for. I know it is truly a blessing, but I also know that the Lord is going to have to continue to be our strength, peace and guidance through it all.

If you think of it, could you keep us all in prayer. Specifically that we would adapt to this new schedule with little or no problems. I also pray that the position change would come quicker than we expected, and that he would be switched back to day shifts quickly. Yes, we are approaching this knowing it could be a while, but I will continue to pray that it ends quicker than expected. ;)

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A misc. post

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I realized I haven’t written a post, just a regular, non Fit Mommy Friday post, on here for a few weeks. Sorry about that. Though there is always things to write about, finding the time to write about them is the hard part. If I have to choose between living my life and writing about it, I choose living it. :D

Last week was our spring break, and it was a great time, though very busy. Sarah had plans with friends Monday & Tuesday, I had physical therapy Monday and Thursday, and then Thursday night we went to my parents house until Saturday afternoon. Thankfully Paul didn’t work on the following Monday, so the kids and I had some extra time to relax and really enjoy some days off that weren’t busy. It was a great time with my parents and family. My sister and her kids and grandkids where there, so we had lots of fun times together. Hubby, Paulie and my nephew Danny went out shooting for a bit, and they had a blast. My mom, sister, Sarah and I stayed home and worked on crafts. There is a major schedule/routine change coming up in our lives (I’ll write about that later this week) and this weekend away was just what we needed before that change comes.

We are getting so close to finishing school, and should be done with the whole year in about 8 or 9 weeks. The kids and I both are very excited about that. It’s been a good year, but I’m always ready for the end of the year, and I think they are too. ;) Plus, again, with this change coming up, it will be nice to be done with school in early May.

I’ve been very busy with crafts lately. I really want to start making some gift sets of different craft projects I make. Like dish cloths & pot holders together in a little gift basket with some dish soap. Or a gift of a wash cloth, body scrubber and body wash. I have some ideas like that, not many ideas, but some. I have found that working on things that have no definite deadline is very hard for me. If I’m making a baby or birthday gift, or something that I need to get done at a specific date I work better. But having no deadline, just and arbitrary time of get this done so I can use it some day, I’m not as disciplined. I really need to work on that.

Trying to creatively put things together for gift ideas, plus picking the color yarn, is not a strong point of mine either. My mom and sister helped me out this weekend, picking some yarn colors and ideas to put together. My mom always blesses me with some yarn from her stash when we visit out there. I definitely have a good stash of yarn now, and some ideas of what to make with it. I have made a list of possible gift ideas, and I think now I need to add to that list the different colors I brought from my mom’s house. If I can make lists and coordinate colors when I have help, or when it comes together, then when I’m sitting around and not sure what to make I can look at my list and know what I need to do. I definitely need to work on that this week.

I’m making some small yarn bags for my mom and sister too. They picked out the colors they liked from my mom’s stash of yarn, and I started my sisters during the craft time we had together at my mom’s. I’m about half done with hers, and then I’ll start my mom’s. I’m glad they come together pretty quick, and of course it comes together quicker because I have a definite reason to make them. :)

That’s a bit of an update on things that are going on around here, and now it’s time to go do some of that living instead of just writing about it. But you know I can’t leave you without a picture. ;) From my weekend at my parents house.

The local restaurant just loves it when they see all of using piling into a table. :D
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Fit Mommy Friday

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It’s been a good week overall. We went to my parents house from Thursday night through Saturday afternoon, and it was a blast. One of the things that we do the most when we are together is eat, but I think I did pretty good this week, and didn’t over eat too much. Plus, it was a blast to be with family again, and see the new, little girl of my nephew. :)

My goals:

Eat more vegetables:

I’m about the same with this. I am eating more than I usually do, though I’m not eating veggies every day. But I am not going to compare myself to others. For me, I am eating more veggies, and that’s whats most important, not how I do compared to someone else. :)

Watch my portion sizes:

I did good. Only a couple of times did I eat past full, and like I said at the beginning, that is a huge feat for me when I’m together with my family.

Eating slower and enjoying my food:

Making improvements, but I still want to be able to make a meal last for at least 20 minutes without having to ‘work’ at making it last. Glad I am doing better though.

Walking/moving:

I haven’t been able to walk outside much, our weather has been crazy. And though right now I can’t do a workout DVD, I am trying to keep myself moving.

Doing my physical therapy exercises and watching my posture with my hip:

Yes, I am doing my exercises regularly, and she has now added some shoulder exercises too. My shoulders started acting up again, and before they get worse like they did years ago, I’m getting some work done on them now.

Watch my sugar intake for my IBS:

My IBS is doing real well, even with the sugar I’m eating. I’m not going overboard with sugar, but I’m not cutting it out all together either (I don’t believe in depriving my body). It’s funny, now that I’ve gotten off the extra supplements and things that I thought would help my IBS and I’m watching my portion sizes and eating slower, plus drinking more water, my IBS seems much better than when I took those extra things. What a blessing.

Remember to drink water throughout the day:

Yep, I’m doing real good with this. I even drank a lot of water up at my parents house, which normally I really slack on. But I kept up with it, and I feel really good.

Don’t push myself to exhaustion:

Nope, I haven’t, well except for today, I’m a bit over tired. I’m not exhausted, but I think from this whirlwind weekend we’ve had, I’ve pushed a little hard. I have one more thing I need to finish today, and then I’m sitting on the couch relaxing, working on photos I took this weekend, doing crafts and watching movies. We even have tomorrow off too, so that is one more day of spring break to rest. That will help a lot. :D

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Fit Mommy Friday

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It was a pretty good week this week. I started my physical therapy and my hip is feeling better already. It’s not perfect, and I still need to be careful when moving from a sitting position to standing, but it is feeling better. She’s really starting to make me work hard the past few appointments. At first it was all easy, simple things, and now, lots of leg lifts, bike riding, stretches and more. But I like how I’m feeling, and I can even keep up the same pace as Paul when we walk together, which is huge. He is a fast walker and I haven’t been able to keep up with him for a while, but now I can. What a blessing.

My goals:

Eat more vegetables:

Yep, had some more cauliflower soup, I’m going to make some broccoli soup this week, and I’m making sure I add veggies to at least one meal a day. I keep trying to add more, but it’s a start that I’m very happy with.

Watch my portion sizes:

Not the best, explanation on the next goal.

Eating slower and enjoying my food:

NO! :( I’m still eating way too fast, and when I do that, my portion sizes increase. I do notice that my portion sizes aren’t increasing horribly which is good. But I’m just not feeling good when I eat fast. Even if I eat a small portion size, if I eat it too fast I feel like I’ve over eaten, and I just don’t feel good. I was getting real good with slowing down, but I lost that momentum. I really need to get better with this.

Walking/moving:

Yep, especially when I’m at the physical therapists office.

Doing my physical therapy exercises and watching my posture with my hip:

Yes, I’m doing my PT exercises every day. I’m determined to get my hip feeling better.

Watch my sugar intake for my IBS:

Not the best, I’ve been overeating on cookies. Like I said, I’m eating too fast, and eating way too many cookies, quickly. Now that I’ve announced it to everyone, I’m going to work real hard to stop doing it. Not stop eating cookies, just stop eating too many. ;)

Remember to drink water throughout the day:

I did great except for the last two days. My water container was dropped and it broke, so for the last two days I haven’t had my own water pitcher and it has really made a difference. I haven’t been drinking nearly as much water as I have in the past. I can’t believe how much having my own personal water pitcher has really helped me drink more water. But these two days that I haven’t had one has shown me how much it has helped.

Don’t push myself to exhaustion:

Doing good with this one. I haven’t pushed myself too hard at all.

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Fit Mommy Friday (Saturday Post)

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Yep I did it again, forgot to write my Fit Mommy Friday post yesterday. I was on a hunt for some cute, supportive, flat shoes to wear while I’m doing physical therapy on my hip. Of course I can’t find any one shoe that will work for both now (which is still on the last of winter/cold spring time) and will work when it’s warmer. Though I would love to have a closet full of different shoes that I could change all the time, the practical side of me won’t let me do it. With trying to watch our finances I tend to buy a pair of shoes, and pretty much wear those same shoes all the time. I just try and make sure they will go with most of my outfits. No longer are the days that I have pretty pants shoes, pretty dress shoes, pretty walking shoes, pretty sandals, and so on. But I’m finding, with trying to find what I want in flats, I almost need two pairs of shoes. And it’s just bothering me to all get out the price I would have to spend to find two supporting, comfortable and pretty shoes. I refuse to wear gym shoes around everywhere. ;) So all that to say, I was on the hunt yesterday trying to find these elusive pair of shoes, to no avail. Then we had friends over last night, and it wasn’t until this morning that I realized I forgot my post. :(

My goals:

Eat more vegetables:

Yes, I even made a pasta dish this week that had broccoli in it. It seems like broccoli and cauliflower (at least cauliflower soup) seems to be the main veggies I’m adding to what I eat. Not much of a variety, but better than nothing.

Watch my portion sizes:

I do think I’m getting better with this. I am noticing much more quickly when I’ve had to big of a portion size. I think that’s good, that I’m becoming more aware. Now to start putting that awareness to work in stopping me from having big portion sizes. ;)

Eating slower and enjoying my food:

Not real good this week. I found I felt rushed during lots of my meals, and when I’m rushed I wolf down my food. I really need to make sure our meal times are better scheduled so we’re not eating in a rush to get to the next thing.

Walking/moving:

I took out the T-Tapp exercises for now, because my physical therapist wants me to stop them until we get my hip feeling better. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about I wrote about my hip and physical therapy here). She does want me to keep walking though, but unfortunately we’ve been having a very wet week. I can’t get out to walk too much because of it. So I try and make sure when I’m running errands I’m walking more than normal, but that gets us back into my heel/flat shoes issue (because the only shoes I have are heels) so that kind of walking isn’t helping a whole lot. I’m hoping there is a break in the weather today and I can walk for a bit. I guess we’ll see.

Doing my physical therapy exercises and watching my posture with my hip:

Right now it’s two simple stretches for my hip, and I am being consistent with those. We’ll see how I do next week when she start adding more things. ;) I am starting to notice when I’m shifting my stance, crossing my legs, and/or putting my hip in a weird position that’s not good for me. I’m surprised at how much I’m putting myself in positions that aren’t good for my hip. It’s a minute by minute learning and adjusting.

Watch my sugar intake for my IBS:

I am eating a bit more sugar, but for now it’s not effecting my IBS. There is a level of sugar that my body can handle, and thankfully I don’t think I’ve passed that level.

Remember to drink water throughout the day:

This is going well. I’m finishing my container of water every day, which is a huge improvement from what I was doing.

Don’t push myself to exhaustion:

Only yesterday did I push myself to exhaustion, but I took a quick power nap before our friends came over and felt better. I do have a lot of things I need to accomplish today, but then hubby has the next three days off! Yeah!! He took an extra personal day so we have a nice three day weekend with nothing much planned. We thought of visiting my parents, but with me just starting physical therapy I didn’t want to miss a session. Plus, honestly, it will feel nice to not have to constantly be on the run for a few days. Though I will still be on the hunt for those elusive shoes. ;)

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Physical Therapy

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As I sit here, writing this post, I am very conscience of how I am sitting. More to the point I’m very conscience on how my legs are positioned. Why? Because I am now in physical therapy for my right hip. It all started late last summer. I was trying to add more exercise to my life and decided to do the C25K (Couch to 5K) program. That’s where they have you walk for a couple of minutes then jog for a minute. You build up the time of jogging until you are jogging for 5K. Now, here is the funny (for lack of a better term) part, I don’t like jogging, never have. But I thought that walking wasn’t cutting it with my workout and I wanted to see what the fuss was with jogging. I thought this would be a good way to start, and actually I was quite happy with myself when I could jog for a few minutes straight. I researched jogging and the stretches you should do, and I did them properly and regularly after warming up with a simple walk. What I’m saying is I did everything ‘right’, but even so, I started feeling a pull in my right hip at times. Most of the time it went away and never bothered me. Then one day as I was doing the jogging part I could feel it pulling more than normal but I went ahead and finished jogging the last minute. I guess I shouldn’t have done that because my hip really started hurting then.

By now it was into September and it was around the same time I had a bad sinus infection and was dealing with the beginning of my white blood count issues. So all I kept hearing from the doctor was to rest, which at the time worked out well since I knew I needed to rest my hip too. Then one day, after sitting on my bed for a while ‘resting’ I stood up and turned and felt (and heard) something pull in my hip. I seriously thought I wouldn’t be able to walk. After sitting down I called my sister (hubby was at work and she can always handle me crying when I’ve hurt myself) and talked with her about it. We both agreed since I was talking fine, I could walk around without serious pain (just the pain I had had previously) that probably nothing too horrible happened. Since then though my hip has just gotten tighter and tighter. When I stand up after sitting for any length of time it hurts and I limp around until the kinks get worked out. I really didn’t think much of it (I always tend to compensate when I’m hurt) until Paul saw me getting up from the couch the other day and said it was time to get my hip looked at. I was limping quite a bit and hadn’t even realized it.

So today I went to our physical therapist (yes, we have a physical therapist that Paul has been using for a couple of years), she is the best. I told all about what happened and she checked my movement and said things are pretty tight on my right side. She gave me two stretches to begin with so we can figure out what’s going on. If things don’t improve with the stretches and tests, over the long term, then I would probably need to get an MRI to see if there is a tear there. Yeah, obviously I’m praying that the stretches help, that there is no tear and that I won’t need an MRI. Not sure I would get one anyway, unless things get worse. She really doesn’t think it’s necessary, but our PT always tells us all the information, which is one of the many reasons I like her. So I’m on a new physical therapy routine, we’ll see how it all goes.

The biggest issue isn’t the pain or the stretches it’s all the little things I’ve been doing to compensate for the pain, and I have to stop doing those things. The way I sit at my desk with my legs stretched out and crossed by the ankles, that’s a no no right now. When I’m standing and I shift to my left, a no no. When I shift to the left and I turn my right foot out to a 90 degree angle, a no no. I kept doing it right in front of her, completely subconsciously, then catching myself and we would both laugh about it. She said she’s going to let Paul know so that I stop doing it all. ;) Oh, and of course sitting too long without breaks, a big no no. I’m happy that she said walking is very good and something she wants me to keep up with. No jogging but a good solid walk is a good thing. She said I’ve probably been compensating taking shorter strides, which I’m sure I have. So today as I was out running some errands after the appointment I made sure I was walking with full strides. And now that I’m home I’m watching how I sit at my desk. I can tell already, it’s going to be a long couple of weeks. :)

Right now I don’t have to give up my shoes with heels, but if my hip doesn’t improve I might have too. I have been wanting to get a new pair of black flats (with arch support) that I can wear with my pants, and I think now is a good time to get some. I do know walking around today in my walking shoes made my hip feel better than when I wear my boots with a heel on them. So maybe it’s time to switch to some flats for a bit. Of course I need to find some fun, flat summer shoes too then. ;) Hey you’ve got to look for the positive in everything, right. :D

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Fit Mommy Friday

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It has been quite a week and the Lord has been showing me so much about my body and health this week. This is the first week I’ve really felt a difference since getting off the supplements, like flaxseed, and the thing I’m noticing is my hunger is back. My portion sizes were way too big and honestly, I never felt hungry between meals. I believe strongly about eating when you are hungry, stopping when you are full and all things in moderation. But I was having a serious problem knowing when I was hungry. I never felt hunger pains, because I always overate. Then it was ‘time’ to eat, so I ate, even though I wasn’t hungry. Well this past week between being off the flaxseed (which gives a very full feeling), I’ve really been trying to watch my portion sizes and my hunger has returned. Now I’m not perfect with it, and I have to watch and not let myself get too hungry, then I’m ravenous and I over eat again. But it really has been great to learn to eat when my body is hungry, not just because it’s time. A friend told me that the Lord never said that food was suppose to be for our well being. Food is fuel for our body, the Lord God is for our well being. I’m no where near perfect with it, but the more I realize and accept that food is just fuel for my body and not something that I have to have to enjoy life all the time, the better I get with not over eating. Isn’t it funny how much of our celebrating includes food? Or if I want to go do something ‘fun’ lots of times that means eating out? Which is all fine and good, and I know we won’t stop going to parties or eating out. But I’ve just realized how much I was using food for everything BUT fuel for my body. I can and do enjoy my food, but it’s a heart issue. And in my heart I need to know what the main purpose of food is for, enjoying it when I’m eating, but getting my main enjoyment from the Lord, people the Lord has put in my life and the blessings He’s given me.

My goals:

Eat more vegetables:

YES!!! I’ve been praying to the Lord and asking Him to help me with my portion sizes, to slow down in eating and to give me a desire for veggies. He has been helping me in all those areas, and today I was shocked, at myself. With lunch I’m having a baked potato and I had a desire for broccoli on top of my potato! :D That is huge for me, really. But it tastes good and I’m really enjoying it. Why do I get shocked when the Lord answers prayer?

Watch my portion sizes:

Yes, like I said above I am getting better at this. I’m not perfect, but better.

Learning to eat slower:

I decided to add a new goal, learning to eat slower. Because along with learning to eat smaller portions, I know I eat way too fast. I’m trying all the tips I’ve read, and they do help a bit. The biggest is trying to set my fork down between bites, to have nothing in my hand while eating (I got that tip from Jenn). That really has helped, I think for the simple fact that it makes me think about what I’m doing while I eat. I’m not just eating blindly or on automatic, it makes me remember what I’m doing. It makes me remember to slow down and when I slow down my body feels better after eating.

Do T-Tapp every other day:

Yep. But the Lord also showed me something about this too. I like doing the T-Tapp, and will always at least stick with the primary back stretch because it helps my shoulders and neck. But I realized this morning (my off day of T-Tapp) that I wanted to go out and walk, but in the morning it was still very cold. We are suppose to get to around 50 today and I thought, well I can go for a stroll in the afternoon but what about a ‘work out’? See to me a work out always meant I had to get sweaty and if I get sweaty I want to shower, so that means my workout needs to be in the morning or no workout (no time in the afternoon to take a shower). But what the real problem was was that I was looking at physical activity only for loosing weight, instead of something I should do every day for my body to function well. If I walked every day, even if it wasn’t a ‘work out’ type of walk, my body would be better for it no matter what. But if it wasn’t a workout I never really pushed myself to do it. And I figured a ‘true’ workout was the only thing that would help me. The Lord showed me that’s not true. My body needs daily physical activity, not necessarily a ‘workout’. So that is my focus now, and I will probably change this goal to reflect that.

Do T-Tapp Hoe Downs every day:

No, just with the T-Tapp exercise.

Watch my sugar intake for my IBS:

I’m doing ok with this. I do like my sweets though. Guess I need to find a good sweet that helps my sweet tooth and my IBS. :D But drinking more water has helped my IBS greatly! So it is going well.

Remember to drink water throughout the day:

Yes, with the way I started doing it last week it has really helped.

Don’t push myself to exhaustion:

This has been ok, but Paul’s schedule has been a bit crazy so I haven’t been sleeping the best and that has made me tired more than normal. But not really exhausted.

Thanks for continuing to follow me on my health journey and all the things the Lord is showing me on the way. :)

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I’ve been playing :)

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Yep, I’ve been playing a bit and did a major overhaul on my website. I’ve changed the look to something I’m hoping is a little more simple, minimal and fresh. Those who know me know its more color than is ‘me’, but remember what I said about my crafts, I’m trying to branch out with more color. So I thought I would try it on my blog too. Color yet simple. :) What do you think?

Besides working on my website I’ve been busy with home life, lessons, work and being with my family. I made cauliflower soup today and it actually tasted pretty good. Of course I had to add some cheese ;) , and I only had a small bowl, but I did eat it, it was good and I will eat it again.

We’ve also been busy looking for a new couch. Honestly I’m quite disappointed in what’s available and the prices. We don’t have too many furniture stores in our town which makes it hard. We just want a simple, low back, firm couch, with non pillow cushions for the back. You wouldn’t believe how hard that is to find. Plus the fact that the prices for the ‘simple’ couches are outrageous. Seriously, I am shocked at how much couches cost, and a bit disheartened. We really need one, but I’m thinking it might not happen this year. :(

I’m a little worried because my laptop’s media reader is no longer reading my camera’s memory card. :( I think the drive still works, since it can read my point and shoots memory card. And my desktop can read my Nikon’s memory card, but not my laptop. It’s really strange. I think I’m going to get a new memory card for my Nikon, which aren’t cheap, and hope that’s it. My laptop is still under warranty, but I really don’t want to have to send it in for a card reader issue. At least my camera is working fine and still taking pictures. It’s just so weird. I downloaded all my pictures on the 29th and it worked fine. On the 3rd I went to download more and it doesn’t even recognize the card, so strange. So because of that I haven’t been taking too many pictures, since I’ll be having to get a new card soon. But you know I can’t leave you without a picture. So here’s one I took on the homeschool mom’s getaway I went to last year. My friend who went on the photo shoot with me on the retreat.

DSC_0465

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