Day 2 - Start early... portions!

I'm a visual person.. so here's some things I've decided to keep in front of my eyes to help in this journey to health and learning portion control.

And while I'm not necessarily following the 21 day fix, I do like their easy-to-follow portion control containers.  I'm thankful for everything out there on Pinterest and the web that helps me to understand how to use these portions!    (Please understand that I fully appreciate the work that goes into this program and those that have worked so hard to make it accessible to clients and to the public.  If this causes some sort of copyright issue, I will glady take these charts off the post. chart credits)

I pray that these are helpful and effective for me as I begin today's journey.  Again, my goal in this is not just weight loss (though I do admit that it's a motivator...), but I'm not caring for my body as I feel God desires me to do, and so in that I am not pleasing Him!

  I'm also looking into what God would speak to my heart as I begin this journey.  I remember as a child that my mom went through a similar time in her life and used a Christian prayer-based plan for dieting and exercise.  It is my firm and confident belief that I am unable to change anything about myself on my own... I might be able to FORCE some change and move towards noticable improvements... but they will quickly dissolve when I get bored or tired of trying so hard.  One tool I plan to use with this is God's Word, which is POWERFUL and LIVING and ACTIVE... it will help me to understand what it is about my world that is provoking my lack of self-control.

  Another component of this that I need to recognize is the amount of transition and change I am facing.  Eating in an unhealthy way has come as a result of changing countries, routines, food available, choices available, and my own desire to be "satisfied" with foods that I have truly missed after not being able to access them for so long.  I think those are big keys to remember.
 
  Also, I am a mom of three, and my body will NEVER be what it was 15 years ago.  That's just life. I give grace to myself not to try and look like those crazy trainers in the media who spend their ENTIRE day working out and weight training to get the perfect abs.

Not gonna happen.

Part of this journey is me working through perfectionism as well... there is no grace in perfection.  I know that if I slip up, don't portion correctly, eat one too many orange boxes... I'm going to be frustrated and annoyed with myself.

This is not grace.

I am speaking truth to my heart.  This is also about allowing the Holy Spirit to break this cycle of perfectionism in my heart!