"Better Together" check-in

Hello friends!

I have a few minutes so I thought I would check in with you and see how our "Better Together Challenge" is going. So, far I'm doing pretty good. I'll quick share with you some things. If you're joining in for the first time you can find out about the "Better Together Challenge", and join us too.

1. I've lost 3 pounds! Yippie!!!! I was super excited.



2. My willpower is terrible, but God has amazing power and His spirit is inside me! I have not had one piece of Halloween candy since the challenge started. I love candy. I'm not depriving myself of treats altogether. I am going to treat myself to something each week and it's probably going to be a candy bar from the kids' stash! They actually gave me a whole bucket of their candy...which is sitting on my fridge as we speak.



3. Know that Satan will tempt you. I have passed up so many pieces of cake within the past few days I can't even count. It's like cake is every where! The first thing I saw on Monday when I went into the break room at work was the cutest pumpkin cake. And two more times that evening I was offered yummy looking cake. Then this morning at our staff meeting we celebrated birthdays. And wouldn't you know there was chocolate cake with caramel on top, oreo cookie cake...cake, cake, cake...everywhere! Just stop with the cake already, I'm not giving in!!! :)



4. I have been exercising everyday for my 15 minutes. :) Mainly walking, but I'm feeling good.



5. I've had breakfast every day! Huge for me!

Ok, so how are you doing? I know that some of you wanted to email me about the challenge and that's just fine. But if you want to be a part of encouraging others, please feel free to post in the comments section too. PLEASE share your victories with us! Share your struggles as well so we can pray and encourage you.

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

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No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

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When I rely on my own strength, it's hard to stay strong. But I am relying on the Lord to help me through this time. No matter what your challenge is, God can help you through this. Remember to share any victories or struggles.

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Lord,

I thank you for bringing us together in "blog world". Your Word says you will use ALL things for good. You are so faithful. Please give each of us your strength as we try to honor you in our everyday lives. You know each one of us by name and you loves us so much. Walk with us Lord. Keep us safe from the lies and temptations of the evil one who comes to kill, rob and destroy. We can do all things through you Lord and we need you so. Be our provider. You are amazing Lord. Lord, I lift up Tracy and Christine to you. They are beautiful daughters of yours. Be with them and encourage them where ever they are. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Christine

READY, SET, GO!

"THE BETTER TOGETHER CHALLENGE" DAY 1

Alright friends, are you ready? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, scroll down to Weightloss Challenge on Thursday, October 30 and start from there. Let's get started! I'm so excited to start this journey with you. With a little help from each other and a lot of help from our Lord, I know this will be a success. I am a goal type person. I love lists and goals. So, lets list our goals. I hope you'll list yours in the comment section. There's a great website to help you create your SMART Goals.

S.M.A.R.T GOALS

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely/Tangible

Here are mine:

• Lose 10 pounds by November 30
• Lose 20 pounds by December 31
• Exercise for at least 15 minutes per day, everyday!
• I want to be wearing Size 12 by Christmas time
• I will do this by making healthier food choices.
• I will do this by eating breakfast every day!
• I will eat smaller more frequents meals. (Snacks in mid-morning and early afternoon). My snacks will be fruit and vegetables.

My reward:

• New clothes!

Ok - I'd love to see your goals and your rewards! On the right column you can choose to follow this blog. You can post a picture, write your befores, goals, etc. on your blog too. The possibilities are endless. :) If you don't have a blog, that's ok. Just join us in the comments section. You can even do that anonymously. I would love to read scriptures, ideas, healthy recipes, anything you'd like.

I will try to post as often as I can. For sure I will post every week, I'm just not sure about how often in between.

Is there a fitting scripture or quote that would go good with this day?

Let's get started!

Christine

Weightloss Challenge anyone?

Hello out there!



I've decided to try something a little different. Ever since I got ill after my fourth child, Hailey, I've gained weight. I weigh more than I did when I was pregnant with Hailey. That makes me mad, because I tried so hard to keep my weight down when I was pregnant with her. I only gained 17 pounds with her. That's amazing considering I gained 50 with my first! I know that there are times when I eat because I'm sad or stressed out, instead of going to my Heavenly Father. I want to stop doing that. I want to run to my Father instead of running to the fridge. He is my comforter.


"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

I'm hoping that this will inspire and encourage myself and others who are trying to lose some pounds. Personally, I want to lose 50 pounds! I'm hoping to find one of those fabric tape measurers so I can record my inches and see them fall off too! I don't know about you, but I know that I am much more likely to follow through on things if I have some accountability. This is where you all come in. If you'd like to join in with me, I'd love to have you! You can sign in annonymously if you'd like. No one will know who you are! Share whatever you want. Share how many pounds you want to lose or don't. It's all up to you. The thing is to encourage one another. If you have any ideas, please leave them in the comments section.



Here's what I am going to do and share each week (on Fridays):

1. Weigh in - I don't know if I'm brave enough to post my weight, but I will post pounds lost or gained.



2. Record the amount and type of exercise I do. I want to exercise at least 15 minutes per day - at least to start out with. And for me...making something a habit works better if I try to do it everyday. That way if I miss a day I can just try it again the next day instead of trying to remember something every other day and then maybe missing 3 or 4 days in a row.



3. Post any ideas of easy, healthy meals or exercise tips. Hopefully, they'll be given by you!



4. Share victories we have!



5. I'm going to write down everything I eat - although I won't bore you with those details.

You can join in at any time. If you're reading this and we've already started, that's ok. Just jump in.





"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

I will do this from Saturday, November 1 through Friday, January 2! That's 2 months. Wouldn't it be great to continue to lose weight or stay on track through the Christmas season? I don't know about you, but I know that when New Year's Day rolls around...I'm always feeling like I just ate my way through the holidays. That's probably why I always start out the year with "I'm going to lose weight and exercise this year!" Right! Anyone else out there who does that? Well, this year it WILL be different, because I'm starting NOW!

Check back on Saturday for the shot gun start!!!!

All God's Blessings and encouragement to you!

Christine