Eat less and move more

Last night I caught the 2nd half of a 2 part documentary called fat and back. A woman from the UK who wasn't happy about her tax dollars helping to pay for 5,000 gastric bypass surgeries a year wanted to prove you can lose weight just by eating less and moving more. She gained 43 pounds in 3 months! Completely unhealthy but stay with me I have a point. She then proceeded with her experiment to lose the weight in the same amount of time. No gym, no trainer, no calorie counting. She ate whatever she wanted,  but in small portions. She made sure to walk 10,000 steps a day and exercise 3 times a week. In 3 months she lost 30 pounds.
This woman used a lot of fat shaming. She was very mean and who knows if it was 100% real but regardless of all the things I found messed up about her and her experiment,  I was inspired.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized how little I move in a day. So all the calorie counting I do can't be making much of a difference. So I'm going to keep it simple. Eat less, move more. I don't mean starving myself, I mean portion control. To make sure I'm taking all the steps, and getting my exercise. I'm going to start out with doing 5,000 of my daily steps here:

Right in my own home!

Every hour a timer goes off telling me to walk up, then down my steps 10 times. I was going to do it 20 times but the first time in I realized how out of shape I am and that I need to work up to that.

Eat less, move more.

Day one.

Weight: 182.6

A day in the life of Billy.

Billy is a busy boy!
That's the best way I can think to describe him. I have a difficult time not being stressed out by his antics.

His day is pretty full. He wakes up, and if I'm still sleeping he will scour the house for something to dump out. It could be baby powder, lotion, anything I forgot to put away the day before. Then I will wake up to the smell of whatever is all over my bedroom.

Once I've cleaned up that mess we go downstairs and he is in the refrigerator looking for milk. If there is a cup he will pull it out and spill some on the floor before the cup reaches his mouth. If not he will get the gallon jug out. He waits for nobody.

I sit him down for breakfast and he eats. When he is done of I dont let him down from his chair right away he gets bored and starts flinging milk and cereal or whatever I give him around the room.

Once I've cleaned that up I can get him to sit down for a cartoon. If he decides he isn't interested he will repeatedly jump off of every piece of furniture he can climb on. Or he will go back to the refrigerator and dump the parmesean cheese or drink some chocolate syrup.

He loves to cuddle. He will climb into my lap and sit with me.

He likes to wrestle. He has the sweetest smile. Even when he is grabbing my phone or drawing on the bottom of his feet with a pen he found.

Billy loves trucks. He pushes his mega blocks truck around the house and tries to mimic the sound effects he hears his brother making.  He has quite an imagination.

Lunchtime is a repeat of breakfast. Then he goes back into the refrigerator.

Then comes 1:00 and those two blissful hours of naptime. This kid needs a nap. He is a nightmare by 5:00 without one.





He wakes up and he is back in the refrigerator.

We play and watch cartoons some more and I have the door to the kitchen locked so he stays out.

While I'm cooking dinner I struggle to keep him away from the counter tops and the stove. He opens the deep freezer because he likes to scrape the ice out and eat it.

At dinner he likes to feed it to the dog if he doesn't want it.

After dinner he is his most rambunctious.  He runs all over the house climbs all over and shrieks a lot.

He is so much fun.

He is in the refrigerator again.

We start our bedtime routine. He loves his spin brush.  He wants to spit his toothpaste like his brother but he doesn't quite get the concept so he swallows it then leans over the sink and makes a spitting sound. We go upstairs and he picks out a book then runs around playing while I read.

Then he says his prayers.  We say the child's bedtime prayer. We want him to learn a love for God as early as possible. He doesn't have it memorized yet but he says it so sweetly. When I say "may angels watch me" he thinks I'm talking about me and says "may angels watch you." He wants lots of hugs and kisses. He loves hugs and kisses he gives them to me all day long and I love it. I tuck him multiple times before he finally falls asleep.



Billy is a busy boy. He is into everything. He keeps me moving. He shows me amazing love and I can't imagine not having him in my life.

God chose me to be his mom. I am so blessed.
He is mine, yet he is not my own. He is God's child and God has given me the responsibility of raising him to love him like I do. To be a great man one day. To love and not hate. To not judge and let live, to have a kind heart and empathy towards others. To have a good work ethic

But for now, we'll just go back to playing with our toys and learning to stay out of the refrigerator :)

Why I am choosing to be a submissive wife

"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as you do to the Lord"   Ephesians 5:22

Maybe this sounds crazy to some of you. How could a strong, independent woman, ever do such a thing as this? Surely this means I should let my husband make all the decisions on his own, tell me what to do, walk all over me, and take advantage of me while I silently make every effort to meet his demands and please him.

This might sound like a typical reaction to what it seems God is asking us as wives to do according to scripture. However, it is just one of the common misconceptions about what these verses actually mean for us to do.

I am a submissive wife.

Don't get me wrong, I make mistakes in this area almost every day. It was only recently that I handed my duty as as wife over to God because I didn't know what else to do. I started reading "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace and I knew as I read that I was responsible for a lot of the problems I was upset about. She says no matter what percent of the problems in your marriage you are responsible for, you should take 100% of the responsibility for them.

I started striving to understand my husband and meet his needs. After all, the most important person in my marriage should be my spouse. I started asking for his input on everything and following his lead. I'm learning patience and respect in bigger ways and when I feel frustrated or unsure I talk to God and it calms me.

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" Philippians 2:4

The dynamic between my husband and I has shifted. We are arguing less and considering each others needs more.

If being a submissive wife means respecting my husband, full filling his requests as long as it's not a sin, asking him what he thinks before doing things for myself, saving time in my schedule for him as opposed to giving him what I have left at the end of the day, praying for him, and not selfishly seeking my own way, then I can do all of this!

"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

I am my husband's helper. When I am a pleasant and loving wife who considers things from his point of view, he is happy. I am glorifying God so there for I am happy. Our marriage is better than ever.

 While there are still so many that don't believe what amazing things God can do and has in store for us, I believe, and all of my needs are being met, and I credit that to God.

Sharing this post is scary. I know some of you might be shaking your head at this, and that's ok. This is for me, this is for wives seeking answers from God. This is me.

"It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:17

Why should I put God before my family?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you"     Matthew 6:3 NIV

This question was something I didn't know the answer to for a long time. I was brought up in the church, I heard it all the time. "Put God first in your life." After I became a wife and mother I still didn't understand how I could possibly put God before my own spouse and children. This just sounded unfair to them, almost selfish. I didn't know God personally, why was it so important for him to be my first thought in everything?

The book that I have been reading, "The Excellent Wife," (see marriage tab of my blog) has been teaching me more than just how to be a Godly wife, it's been teaching me how to be a Godly human being.

God wants to be first in my life and now I understand why. I think about what God wants from me all the time. I think about how I am to act and treat others according to his word. When I'm happy, angry, frustrated, or sad, I open my bible and I read and I learn. It was like a light bulb came on.

God should be first in my life, because everything I learn from his word, makes my relationships better. Before I yell at someone for doing something wrong, I remember not to repay evil with evil. Before I spend too much time worrying over things, I remember to cast my anxieties on the Lord, because he cares for me. When I'm happy, I remember that it is the will of God for me to be happy, and give thanks to him for that. If I am feeling bitter about someone, I remember that God forgives my sins, and I can easily forgive others of theirs. If I am sad, I remember that the Lord saves the crushed in spirit.

All of these things come from scripture. When you pick up the bible, you will find verses all over it that can be comforting and make perfect sense if you have an open mind and an open heart.

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:6 NIV

Because I seek guidance from God for all things in my life, he gives this to me!

A big problem I had was spending way too much time wondering how this person or that person felt about me. What have I done wrong? What have I said that was wrong? Do they even like me?

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."    Galations 1:10 NIV

I don't worry anymore, I feel the love of those who love me, and wash away the sadness for those who don't accept me because I am glorifying God and he is my protector.

Putting my relationships with man first before God is like having people in your life and no guidance for living in harmony and happiness with them. Putting God first before man is having the wisdom and ability to make the relationships I have with the people I love thrive.

Makes sense to me.

Healthy Eating- The work is worth the reward!

Weight loss is not an uphill battle for me, and it's not a downhill battle either. It is a yo-yo battle. You would think that after 2 years of paying for a gym membership I would have this great body right? Wrong! Why? I was inconsistent! I would go the the gym every day, sometimes twice a day, and count calories for a month, lose 4 pounds, or for two months and lose 8, then I would have ONE DAY when I didn't get around to it, and one day turned into 2 days, and I blinked and 2 days turned into a month! So how much weight did I lose from my start point until now? Probably around 30-40 pounds. Because of my lack of consistency, and adding on all that weight I kept gaining back, I am a whopping 10 pounds lighter than I was when I started two years ago!

It's just sad isn't it? It happens to a lot of us. We pay all this money and sign these contracts and we just don't go to the gym. I'm not going to give you any excuses. I am holding myself accountable 100%. I got lazy, a lot. Now my gym membership is up. Even though I spent the last two years accomplishing less than I desired as far as the scale goes, I gained so much knowledge on how to eat healthier, that I know I can still do this! I'm not ready to give up, and I'm not ready to spend the rest of my 20's overweight. Now that I've shared all that with all of  you, what choice do I have?

Eating healthy isn't just about the calories you take it. It's the sugar, it's the fat, it's the sodium. So it is my mission to meal plan EVERY WEEK and put in the work it takes to be healthy! Here are some of the substitutes I have made in my diet:

1. Fat Free Cheese: Yes, I know it doesn't taste the same, but it has no fat and half the calories and you do get used to it. If you're a person who uses shredded cheese in a lot of your meals, or any at all, this will help!
2. Ground Turkey: I've been doing this one so long it makes me sick to my stomach to eat ground beef. This is one you need to get creative with because it is more bland than beef, however, spices and seasonings are a wonderful thing!
3. Chicken and Beef Broth: I used a lot of this, but even the "lower sodium" broths have hundreds of milligrams of sodium. So instead I buy herbox no-sodium beef and chicken bullion and make my own broth. Just as tasty and so much better for you!
4. Soda, Juice, and Tea: A no brainer here; drink more water! I might have a soda once a week, at the most. I'm glad for that because I have enough trouble with food.
5. Junk Food: Lucky for me I don't have much of a sweet tooth but who doesn't love a good bag of chips when they are available to them? I don't buy them I buy fresh fruit and vegetables instead. I know something like this seems expensive, but if you CUT OUT the junk and REPLACE it with the right stuff, the cost is about the same.

Of course I'm not perfect, of course I make wrong choices, that's why I'm still in this unhealthy body. So now for your reading and hopefully using pleasure, a Recipes and Healthy Living section on my blog. I'll be creating healthy alternatives to unhealthy meals for my benefit and yours. Happy Reading!

The Excellent Wife

I've been spending a lot of time praying about and seeking ways to improve my marriage. Let's confess for those of us who are married, our marriages aren't perfect. Some of us argue more than others. Some of us argue about bigger things than others. None of us agree on everything. How we handle ourselves can make or break our marriages. Most of the time I focused on how I could help my husband. On Sunday night however, God finally led me in the direction of helping myself. I was browsing bible study guides on amazon and this is what I decided to buy.

I was excited to have received it so quickly. It came in the mail today. I downloaded the corresponding book onto my Kindle and started it right away. By the time I finished the first chapter I felt closer to God. I decided I would immediately start applying what I learned. I can honestly say that just with what little wisdom I gained so far there was already a shift in the dynamic between my husband and me. It felt amazing and only made my desire for self improvement stronger. 

For anyone who doesn't fully understand the concept of what it actually means to submit to the authority of your husband, or for anyone who doesn't have the desire in their hearts to live for God and Christ, this book might make you a little uncomfortable but even with that aside there is a lot of good advice I believe any wife can appreciate!

To find the book on amazon click here

Billy is 2!

I can't believe my youngest baby is 2 years old today! Time has surely flown by for our little firecracker! And he is, such a firecracker!
When we started planning for another child after our wedding, we couldn't wait! We were blessed after about 5 months to find out we were expecting again! In the first months I was terribly sick, in the hospital a few times for dehydration, same as before. I love when that subsides and I'm really able to enjoy my pregnancy. I had gestational diabetes this time around, but I stuck to a healthy diet, exercised, and kept track of my blood sugar so despite the diabetes, the rest of my pregnancy was fairly easy.
Tracking back in time to October 9, 2012. I went into the hospital very early in the morning for a scheduled C-section. I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, but I was looking forward to still being less tired than the average Mom after giving birth, because I was skipping the hard work that is labor. Even though I had done this before I was extremely nervous. I was also very excited! We were having another baby boy, God had given us what we had prayed for, a namesake for my Dad. In just a few hours, William James Barnes would be born!
Sure enough, we got our healthy baby boy! Born at 9:18am at a small 6 pounds and 14 ounces, was this beautiful boy!

 

 Emotional reactions were tough for me because his birth was surgical. I was strapped to the operating table, oxygen in my nose, unable to move, feeling like I couldn't breath. Epidurals always made me feel horrible. I got a glimpse of him in my husbands arms before being carted up to recovery. About 3 hours later, I was settled into a room and given Billy for the first time. Love at first sight!

I always loved the hospital stays with my children. I know that sounds crazy but recovering from the birth felt like an amazing bonding experience to have with my children. This was my time to really get to know the life we created. I spend hours holding, kissing, and studying this tiny person, and feeling such joy and happiness! He was so perfect! (and still is)

Fast forward, two years. Billy is our firecracker! His personality is SO big and he has entertained and enriched our lives more than we could imagine. He is adventurous and loves to explore the world, especially in any other direction but ours. He is so independent, much like I'm told I was. He is me, inside and out. His attitude, his stubborn tendencies, he is even a morning person, just like me! He has my eyes, my dad's eyes, and it is such an amazing thing that our little boy, given the name of my Dad, looks like him also.

 

Billy is my little cuddle bug. He spends hours a day in my lap, cuddled up with me, and I take that time to take him in, because he won't be this small forever. He already wants to do his own thing. He is unstoppable!

We are so blessed to be this little boy's parents. His smile and his words will melt the hearts of anyone, especially mine. He is my energetic, happy, one of a kind boy, and I couldn't ask for more! Happy 2nd birthday Billy! We pray to be blessed with many more years on this earth raising you and watching you be extraordinary!