Welcome to my blog, and thank you for taking the time to read it! First of all, I'd like to point out that I've never "blogged" before, so this is really new to me. Please bear with me as I try to figure this out, and maybe it'll get better as I go.
Introduction
I feel like I should explain the title of my blog "Temple Keeper." I have truly been feeling convicted lately about my stewardship for the things in my life as many of you already know. In this category of 'stewardship' lies several things, but one of them in particular is this body I am borrowing for my life here on earth. With a lot of prayer and mulling over things, I have come to the conclusion that if everything is God's then this body is a gift. Being a gift, I should do my best to take care of it. Plus, the Bible says, " Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. That's pretty straightforward! I want to keep this verse in mind as I work towards improving my physical health. That being said, the name of this blog seems quite appropriate.
Goals
My primary goals in doing this are first and foremost to be a good steward of this body. I want to be healthy, and if skinny comes with that, amen! :-) My other goals are as follows:
- Body weight of 135
- BMI of 22.5
- Waist size below 32"
- healthy cholesterol levels
- to workout 5 days per week
- to eat three servings each of fruits and vegetables per day
- run a half marathon some time this year
You'll notice there is no goal 'pant size' or specific numbers regarding my physical size other than my weight and waist which I will get to in a minute. I don't believe that working towards a certain size is a healthy goal, at least not for me. It's important for me to feel good about myself at any size, and it is more important for me to be healthy than to be skinny. The only reason my body weight is on my list is because it puts me at a BMI of 22.5 which is extremely healthy. Also, women with a waist size below 32" (measured across the belly button) are at a much lower risk for heart attack and stroke. I hope my message is perfectly clear: I am making a change for health, not for vanity. If I can be fit and healthy at a size 8, then great! If I make it down to a size 4, wonderful! But these are less important accomplishments to me.
The Starting Point
It doesn't get more honest than this. These are my starting numbers:
- Weight: 155 (5lbs overweight)
- BMI: 25.8 (overweight)
- Pant Size: a snug 12 Old Navy Brand
- Bust: 38"
- Waist (measured at the belly button): 39"
- Hips: 41.25"
- Left Thigh: 22.75"
- Right Thigh: 23.75"
- Left Arm (measured across bicep not flexed): 10.5"
- Right Arm: 10.75"
Methods
Diet:
Though I will soon be starting the Maker's Diet, I am still breastfeeding so I will have to start at stage 2 or 3 of the program. I want to focus more on making healthy choices. Jillian Michaels was talking about a smart way to diet on Dr. Phil one day, and it makes a lot of sense to me. She said break your week up into three parts: For two days count your calories and be very strict about your diet, for three days eat well, but don't be so rigid, and for two days (the weekend maybe) relax a little and enjoy some indulgences in moderation. This is a program I could live with. I want to learn to focus on whole foods and to make good choices and smart substitutions. I'm not a huge believer in counting every calorie, but it's certainly beneficial to have a ball park idea of what you're eating. At least to begin with, I am choosing not to count calories, but just to be smart about what I'm letting in to my body. I will keep a log of my food for the day and post it at the end of every day.
Exercise:
I plan to do cardio at least 5 days per week for at least 45 minutes a day. The bulk of this will probably come from running and training for a half marathon, but I also plan to do a lot of walking. In addition to cario, I plan to do some sort of strength training at least three days per week for at least 20 minutes per day. This will often be in the form of pilates, Wii Fit, and EA Active. It's a pretty simple plan, but sticking to it will be difficult some days. I'll also be keeping a log of my activity for the day. Please keep me accountable!
Wrapping it Up
Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog! I'm so glad that you've decided to be a part of my journey to health, and I hope to hear any suggestions and encouragement that you have. If you're so inclined, why not take a journey of your own? You might not feel brave enough to make a blog for everyone to read, but you can still make changes to improve your life!
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