SlayingDragons

The last couple weeks have been so

.FULL.

KIDS. ANNIVERSARY. REVIVAL. GYM.

LIFE

My husband and I celebrated 11 years of marriage on the 18th.

We enjoyed a quiet dinner just the two of us as well as a fun afternoon

 spent with the girls and our family.

I couldn't help but reflect on my food choices at the restaurant.

In years past, I would have been distracted from the lovely meal because I would have been focused on all the mistakes I was making.

My personal dialogue would have sounded something like this...

{"don't eat the bread."  "absolutely NO dessert."  "why is HE eating that in front of ME."}

However, this time as I skimmed the menu and anticipated the meal 

I didn't hear that old dialogue playing in me head.

(or if I did I wasn't listening)

Instead I ordered what sounded appealing.

When my food arrived I ate until I started to feel FULL.

I DID order a dessert.  It WAS amazing.

I didn't feel guilty.  I didn't feel like a failure.

I savored EVERY bite and it was DELICIOUS.

So what was different?

Before my anniversary day I had a conversation with myself

(yes, I do that.  It is a THING, for me)

I knew I wasn't going to deprive myself.  I knew that it was a special occasion.

I checked out the menu before I went so I had an idea of what was offered.

I wasn't concentrating on calories, or carbs, or macros.

I was going to eat until I was FULL.

Not combustion FULL.  But rather my new FULL.

It was one meal.  One day. 

I survived!

As I've shared before, and some of you already know, this isn't the first time I've tried to win the battle against obesity.  However, I feel like this time is different on SO many levels.

I am really trying to rewire the way I think about food, feel about myself, and treat my body.

I'm able to apply what I'm learning this year through the Healthy U resources as well as build upon knowledge and lessons learned from the past.

It isn't always easy.  It is never pretty.  Some days are hard.  Most days are different.

However, I'm learning what it means to be FULfilled.

I'm learning how to have a fulfilling relationship with God and in doing so...

 give up depending solely on myself to conquer and slay these dragons.,,GIANTS

These are some lyrics to a song I've been jamming to this past week...

Francesca Battistelli - Giants Fall

Don't you be afraid
Of giants in your way
With God you know that anything's possible
So step into the fight
He's right there by your side
The stones inside your hand might be small
But watch the giants fall
Watch the giants fall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqjdkvuFT30

Every time I sit down to blog my mind wants to go a million different directions.

There is just so much exciting, revealing, and riveting changes going on that I want to tell you all every. single. detail.

For those of you who know me well, you know I like to talk.  

Every. single. detail. would be an understatement...

For those of you who do not know me very well, you might be surprised to know that I do in fact talk as opposed to the silent, awkward smiles you generally see me communicate in.

:)

So, I wanted to blog about success.

I did.

However, I didn't publish it.

I tend to be too honest when I blog.

I'm also a "play it safe" kinda gal, and there is a strange fear in being that vulnerable and open that keeps me from blogging more.

I will work on that.

.....So....

lets talk about 

CROW POSE.

For those of you who have already been changed by the art of yoga...

you know what I'm talking about.

For those of you who think of pretzels and yoga pants when you hear mention the word yoga...

..stay with me..

I tried yoga a few years ago and hated every second of it.

The breathing, the stretching, the tightness is my muscles...

I quickly decided after that one class it wasn't for me and I didn't fit the mold.

Fast forward 100 pounds (give or take a few), 3 years, and an opportunity to change my life...

I decided to try it again.

I still didn't love it, at first.  

However, I knew with my weight gain and past injuries from aggressive workouts

 -it could be wonderful for my body.

So far I've been going every Wednesday morning since mid-January.

Not all that long, in the scheme of time.

I wouldn't even call myself a novice, I'm that green.

However, I learn something new each session.

Which is probably why I love it.

I've always enjoyed learning something new, especially the challenge of it.

So, in yoga there are many poses that we move through.

Our instructor introduced us to the Crow Pose.

www.yogajournal.com

.this is crow pose.

I'm blogging about crow pose not because I can do it, at least not perfectly yet.

I'm blogging about crow pose because it is a representation of allowing myself to break through my personal insecurities and in the process I have gained so much confidence.

Every Wednesday, we spend just a few minutes of our time practicing this pose.  Most of the other women in the class can hold the pose by now.  I celebrate this accomplishment with each of them!

It takes balance, strength and intention and FOCUS.

Every Wednesday morning at yoga I am reminded to set my intention for class:

.I AM ENOUGH.

This has been my motto since the beginning of January.

....I am slaying old habits...

I am reminding myself each day that I am worthy of practicing better health.

I am worthy of time spent being physically active.

I am still equally as good of a mom and wife now that I am taking time for myself.

.I AM ENOUGH.

So, although I am not able to hold crow pose in full position YET, I continue to show up every Wednesday and it is AMAZING how far I've come in just over a month.

I encourage you to take some time to set your intentions..

for you, your family, your health,  in your relationship with God...

Remind yourself of your intentions and take time to reflect as you go.

I'm slaying old habits one by one...

#Heismyshield #Heismystronghold

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. -Psalm 18:2