my goals

After a number of years searching for the healthiest life style, I figure now that it is achieved individually by finding inner peace, which includes an agreement between heart and mind.

For quite a while I thought subjecting my heart to the ideas of my head was exercising will power, so I forced myself to not eat or preform grueling feats always believing it was because it was good for me, but really, is it? I have proven to myself something i already knew... I could accomplish anything with enough time and focus. And I am not liking this person I willed myself into. I am less heart and more head. I know that I cannot return to where I was, but repentance is always possible, and new beginnings need not wait for anything. I started today to follow a plan that includes accomplishing true peace/health by using a well-rounded approach. I will accomplishing goals in 4 areas, Physical, Intellectual, Social, and Spiritual. My progress will create a better person and a happier me.

I already feel better despite my afflictions. This morning, I disregarded nay-sayer notions that this old dog could not learn new tricks. I will run again. I began my journey this morning. And knowing that my husband has the power of God combined with the fact that God loves me, and will help me accomplish my desires... all I must do is my fair share.

Here are my goals:

1. Obviously, running again.

2. Learning and speaking fluent French with my mom and brothers.

3. Make some friends, by inviting people over to play games or something.

4. Write a good Hymn/song and have it performed.

I think all of the endorphins from running this morning are affecting me already, I feel sooo good about this!

something my mother said

Sometimes, I have flashes of a sort that can only be likened to Enos, who when out hunting recalled the words of his father. At the time that I was told such things they seemed to be of no worth and yet, I remember them still and they are brought to my thoughts as I  was listening to the words as recorded in the book of Job about the hope of a tree.

I cannot remember or think of any good reason for my mother to even talk about such things, but I remember her telling me that there was a special type of photography where a leaf was photographed and then it withered away and parts had been lost, but when photographed in this manner it had an identical appearance as it originally had.

I also think of the song "wick" from the Secret Garden (the musical). And the parable of grafting the olive tree to restore former fruit.

From all of these various thoughts, I decided on a truth, that a thing resembles it's spiritual and that birth and death are but markers to assist in comprehension of time, but spirit/intelligence simply exists, and will not be dimmed. 

It is helpful to remember that as I begin to notice the effects that seem unconquerable. In the book of Job it was recorded thus:

7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 

8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 

9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 

10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

being 50

I do not even know how it happened. I went from planning for a glorious future one day to waking up the next morning only able to muster gratitude for the present.... such it is, being 50, I guess.

I looked up photos to see what a 50 year old woman looks like, to see if I was even close,  and felt depressed, then I realized, most 50 year old women would not wished to be immortalized in photo, unless they believed they looked exceptionally good, so that cannot be my standard, the biggest idea that is universally shared is that all that superficial stuff we lost never mattered anyhow.

I have alot of growing to do before I fit comfortably in this creaky old version of me, but, I will, and life will  come and go regardless, why did I ever even think it was worth regarding anyway?

weekly recurring thoughts

Why am I not promised to be sealed to one I love and cherish. Maybe, because it is cyclical. Of someone loves you for eternity you will love them back. I remember a similar phenomenon with my best friend LeAnne. I thought that life would be so much better without her, so I moved out and got my own everything...whew that was great. I was right. I didn't need her friendship, but as I had everything else I wanted previously, I found all I wanted was her friendship. It actually reminded me of Eliza Dolittle, the Doctor found that though life would seem better without her, he had grown accustomed to her as he puts it. I was impressionable. That was how love worked. I digress... so, I realized that though I did not need LeAnne, I really had taken all she did for granted,  I wrote a song about it: https://youtu.be/E2BcV42Ysb4?si=ufudBizWbGi7wVlO

Anyhow, so forever is a very longtime, and the thought I run with is that change is time, so with unlimited time, things like out loyalty and affection can be molded into anything necessary.  So, what is necessary? The covenant path. Obviously. At a youth conference, I didn't get "sealed" to anyone cause I didn't want to. Um, there is a Christian teaching about submitting your will to the father even if it isn't what you want. At the Youth Conference. I followed that notion and picked a random guy, who happened to be Penny Craven's boyfriend and got him to "Marry" me explaining the necessity of it. He agreed. But, then later after we were in the Celestial Kingdom, we went to go have a testimony meeting and my "husband" left me to go sit with his girlfriend. So, that suggests it is better to be loved than to love, or does it? If I had been in love and wanted to be with someone, I certainly would have behaved differently, whereas my argument had been that it was a formality. And frankly, that is how I feel about it right now. I definitely lack wisdom!! Without disclosing details, I had prayed in the past asking a question that was answered undeniably, svo eg veit hann er þar, og.... sorry, was singing a song in Icelandic and I also know that He will hear and answer me.

My additional thought is more a memory of a thing I had been taught that is applicable. I lived for a while with Sister Reinbold and she used to stress about. She asked me which man she would be with because she had been married three times. I was young and impressionable, so I remember it. Then in a class I was taught that nothing is forced in the Celestial kingdom. You will be with whomever you want to be with who is worthy. 

I think I already have all that I need to know, I am being petty in seeking to be compelled, like my husband on Saturday. He claimed his car needed to be repaired, but was doing nothing about it. He just sat at his computer playing games, until I asked him if he was just waiting for it to somehow be fixed.

Eureka!

I remember an episode from the show Eureka wait, as I think of it, it was once again from Stargate Atlantis, when Rodney McKay mentions how great scientific discoveries came in the tub/shower and it was a result of clarity that comes from good circulation. I was in the bath because it was so cold, I feared my glucose was not reading properly... one thought lead to another until Boom! I realized it was not a fat or a hormone problem even, but a circulation issue. 

My body is extremely wise and constantly tweaking it's functions to improve my health, and as such I had falsely assumed that my weightloss, for example, had been due to my extreme amount of exercise. It is not, rather in spite of it.

 Truly, I care not about my weight. I care so very much, likely too much, about my fat amount. I want to be lighter and smaller it's true, and that is objectively measured through weight, but ultimately it is a matter of opinion.

Yesterday,  I listen alot and concluded that I needed to exercise less, Dr. Bikman reviewed the reasons we ought to expect success, like improved strength or stamina.  I decided to dedicate myself instead to being sure my glucose was always in the "healthy" or "normal" range, so, to mu surprise when I found it to be at an all time low, I broke my fast and ate, but even after eating it was still too low. So, my insulin had a nice break, but it is time to work again, and it truly does work extremely well, it is that nutrients and hormones are not circulating well that deserves my attention. I have Manu other signs that denote circulation troubles, and frankly, I have always been cold, so I will endure the hot flushes, and use the rebirth of being to be healthier instead of lamenting what is unobtainable, in other words: perfect.

it is working for me

I have tried so many "tools" so I am uncertain what is causing it, but this morning, but idea is that it is the seemingly pointless morning exercise that seemed to do nothing, but I kept on. I thought, it just takes my body a tad longer to make any change, like fasting didn't work at first last time either, and I finally came to terms with why my blood spikes with exercise. My son pointed out that at rest a body doesn't need energy, but when it is active it must be at the ready, he further noted that that was my blood glucose, not my ATP that I was measuring, and it is systemic, not a local measurement, so I ought not jump to any great conclusions on such evidence.

I have noticed trends, and gained a greater appreciation for my body, though. It is amazing! I have noticed that I feel better when my blood glucose is what I considered high before, around 80 to 100. And fasting it tends to drop too low, which I liked, (50 to 70) and I feel sick and get headaches.

This week, as I was researching glycolysis I realized that my instant weight loss due to water was not necessarily a good thing. It seemed my cells need both Oxygen and hydrogen for them to do their thing and so water is needed. All along I had seem water as my enemy, and even the fact that it just makes me pee alot, reminds me how smart my body is.  It will not retain what it doesn't need, and flushing out the system is good!

I also have been taking "morning kick" to be sure my body has all of the needed materials like vitamins, minerals, collagen, etc. Without a huge change to my established routine ( which is slowly working... I have lost about 10 lbs in 2 weeks..it seems drastic, but I first started by gaining 5 of those).

Also, I am up to a desirable IF of 20 / 4 which I like, and only vary to confuse my body by using a glucose meter to determine what I should eat and for a week, I stay within 80 and 100 without fasting at all and still lost weight. Every person is different, but I found what works for me, but I add that I am not certain which tools are essential, and which merely seem to be working.

A whole lot of weightloss happens because people were trying so many things,then when it happens it could be residual of a thing long abandoned, they think it was a result of the immediate gimmick,  so I need to be cautious in determining what worked.

glucose meter

I have decided to use a glucose meter to decide what I can eat, or if I want to eat how much exercise I must do. But, my results have been extremely odd.

I was 70. I had Chicken noodle soup so I was 77, then, I did my nighttime exercise so I could have a snack. But after I exercised I was 85. Huh? Must not be waiting long enough to check. I recall with Kinsey, I had to wait a while before adjusting insulin because I did not want to be zigzagging giving her highs and lows as I tried to figure it out. But, the strangest thing was the dawning effect. I woke up and took my glucose to kniw where I started today, and it was 91, so I exercised and took it again, expecting it to drop, but it was 103. I didn't care my goal was to stay below 120. So, I ate a breakfast sandwich and checked to see how much of an effect it had and it read at 81. Right now, I am waiting for a drop to have time to register after I did HITT on my bike and I am cooling down so I can safely eat dinner. My son looked up and said that I am well within the normal range for my age height and the kids ganged up on me and wanted me to stop dieting altogether.  I am pleased that they even care, cause I just quit my exercise because my body will freak out about needing to have reserves incase I need it, so I need to be sneaky and only do strength training and normal day to day activities, and just,be grateful I can. Ok, time wasted, time to test myself and set the table. Also, I have discovered knooking and I love it!!

my conclusion regarding weightloss

Most of what I have tried I knew was a scam, but I figured that it was worth it to try the product/service in my own way, like a fitness routine or meal plan. I think that I even knowing what following such fads had done to others, I thought that I was different and, like my dad warned me, " Don't mistake what you want right now for what you need." I just ignored it because I wanted it to magically work for me. But, my ultimate realization time and time again is that it is like the lottery, one could accidentally win, but chances are not with me, and I realize that.

   As I pondered what I should do. I realized the obvious answer was in front of me... use my time and energy to draw closer to God. It is my being that I truly want to improve. I want to be loved and thought the secret to that was being beautiful. But, what little science I have tried to logically follow, my body has time and again reacted differently that it ought to have by what I have been taught, like if I eat well and exercise and fast, then I will loose weight. It is not at all that simple! My body will absolutely NOT burn fat for energy. I might be sort of keto diabetic, though my body can produce fat, once there it cannot use it or eliminate it, at least not the way I have been taught.

Not all science seems to make sense, like a prayer making food multiply or turn water into wine, but truth is truth, it can be done and Heavenly Father understands truth  He understands exactly what I am going through and why. It sure seems to me that if I hope to be beautiful, drawing closer to him would make far more sense than trying to loose weight.

    Maybe, I will not gain too much weight, either way, I have been promised health, and my time for being attractive in appearance has passed anyhow. And if I am ever to be at peace with what I am I need more understanding, not more scams. I am just going to stick with the truth that has been revealed to the prophet of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding care of our great gift of a body. This has been revealed in the form of a program or method to be used by youth in the church. It is done by focusing on well-rounded improvement in these 4 areas: 1)Physical 2)Social 3)Intellectual and 4)Spiritual . This is how we ought to develop and mature. More or less than this is obviously a scam. I know this, and it is no easy thing to do. It is likely my greatest blessing to be able to believe. I not only CAN believe such things as I had been taught. But, I must believe them because I have never ever had a credible reason to not and several undeniable reasons to accept the things I have been taught as truth. It was sincerely my greatest gift to have been raised by such wise parents.And now, it is my duty to help as I have been helped. And, so I decide this morning, the best way to peace of mind is through drawing closer to my Heavenly Father, not in focusing on how to manipulate my body to be more attractive.