Body Bugg Update

I have been using the body bugg for a couple of days now. I have gotten a chance to really see how it works. I have been logging my foods, and of course the bugg is tracking my calories burned. I was surprised at how much I was actually moving all day! I was HORRIFIED at how much I was eating all day. It's not that I am that hungry. A few extra nuts here and there, a piece of string cheese, and next thing you know it I have blown 600 or 700 calories. This is so wonderful for me, because I see what it takes to burn 100 calories, and I know how easily I can eat that much! I don't weigh in again until Thursday. I am looking forward to seeing how much I lost.

I almost forgot. The program also has you take your measurements. Then they compare the inches and pounds lost and compare them to the food diary. You get an average of how many calories a day you are actually consuming. Estimates are 20 - 40% of the food we eat, we aren't really aware of or our portion sizes are underestimated. It will be exciting to see!

Today we got 14 inches or thick wet snow. DH fell so I got the wonderful task of shoveling about 1/2 of our drive. Just 2 hours or so worth of work! It was wonderful to see that I burned 650 calories! Almost made it worth it. ALMOST...

My New Gadget

Yesterday I got a new gadget. Normally I want to pinch my pennies, but I spent a boat load AND all on me. Seems strange even to write that. However I got a ... Body Bugg. Yes, that's what they wear on The Biggest Loser. It is strange to have spent so much money, but we are considering it an investment in my health. Besides I got it from Costco. It IS cheaper there and came with an extra 6 month membership to the online site. I put it on for the first time late last night. I was so excited I just pulled it off to see how many calories I had burned today. The grand total 1535. I still have 6 1/2 more hours left in today! Actually I have a really nasty flu like bug. So I am pretty pleased to have burned that much.

This is my big secret for now. Just me and well... I don't really think anyone reads this blog. That is just great! If by chance you do read this and know me in real life don't tell! I want to see how this works first. I'll keep this blog updated. Now that I have something I am excited about to post about that is!

Last week made one year that we have not had broadcast or cable TV. We missed a lot. Maybe I should say we were blessed to miss a lot. Though I must confess that I have missed watching TV. For instance I missed the Haiti earthquake. I started asking myself why I kept seeing things about help for Haiti. Then I checked the news, and Wow was I surprised.


Last Friday as I sat in the urgent care I got to watch a few minutes of the Ellen show. Not a show I would have choosen, but it was on, and hey I was there. She was talking about her attempts at "World Domination". I think that is about making the world laugh. Well, she is trying to get her flag put on top of the worlds tallest building in Dubai. After she spoke on the phone with the people who could put her flag on the building, the building got hit by lightening. She even had a picture of the lightening strick. I must say it was an impressive picture. Then she said something like "Well it could be the Lord, but I am not going to say it was. But it was."

Maybe this isn't any different than TV was a year. However I am different, and I am glad that I am different. I found her comments shocking.

So many people claim to be Christians, but don't realize the holiness of God. He isn't a puppet or toy. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Gen 1:1 Shouldn't we as the creation really acknowledge God as our creator?

Every now and then you hear an idea that just startles you! Wow. That's so genius! Why didn't I think of that?? Well, flipping through some blogs about saving money I ran across this article. Basically she sits down with her husband on Sunday evenings and does a run through of the week. They do a quickie budget report and look at needs for the week.

Last night Eric and I did this. It was nice to hear what he thinks is important around the house. It's not always what I am thinking. I'll see how the week goes.

Illness

Lately I have been having a lot of health problems. I have learned a lot about trusting in God during this time though I am still a work in progress! God is really working me over to just LOVE time in the Bible. My hunger for the things are God is renewed and strengthened!

Sunday I really did not want to go to church. My body was weak and weary and so was my spirit. Just walking, (err riding) into the building was overwhelming. But once there I could just feel myself being encouraged. The goodness and grace of God just washed away so many concerns and lies in my mind. We sang "All I Have is Christ". I kept waking up singing the song that night. God is so good, and He LOVES me. Not just loves me in the impersonal way that I used to think, but me, Lisa, specifically and affectionately. God really DOES work ALL things for the good of those who love Him. You can listen to part of the song both on iTunes and at the Sovereign Grace site. This really is an amazing song.

All I Have Is Christ

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Avoiding

This morning I was reading my Bible in 2 Timothy 3. About the last days, and the kinds of people who will be around. There was a fly buzzing around. I hate flies. Last night one was flying around the family room. I told Eric I thought they were from the pit. He laughed, and then he said before the fall they had a different purpose. That since they eat dead stuff God would have created them to do something else. This is something that I look forward to learning about. Flies???

So one of the verses I was just reading came to mind. Verse 5 says "Avoid such people". That sounds like something I should DO. Not think, but DO. I don't believe that I should feel trapped by my circumstances (harassed by the fly from the pit), but I should look for what I can do. So 30 seconds later I dumped the dead fly in the trash, and I thanked God for the reminder that there is a time for action!

Sophie's Garden

This year a lot of our gardening efforts have been using seeds. Our lettuce has done well, and that encouraged me to keep trying. We have a small concrete pad to the side of our garage surrounded by a planting area. We call this area Sophie's garden.


The area is not big. Just big enough for a little girl's big planting dreams though! There is a retaining wall around the area, and on the other side is my blueberry bushes.

Recently we got this area planted. It was fun looking at the different seed sizes and trying to follow the directions for planting. It will be interesting to see what happens. We got the seeds in, and then we had a downpour. The poor seeds may all be washed away! We will have to wait and see what happens.

This is our "dirt". We are using the square foot gardening "soil" mix even for this area. It took us a long time to find vermiculite, then we got too much. It has been interesting comparing this "soil" to our yard soil.