Conquerors of today

~In all things we are more than conquerors of through him who loved us~ Romans 8:37

Food has been there for me my entire life.  It has been a comforter when I am depressed or upset, it has been apart of celebration for birthdays and holidays, it has been a tool I use when I am bored to occupy myself with something to do.  I have held food to a much higher standard than it could possibly provide me.  Instead of using it to sustain my body filing it with nourishment I have managed to over fill it with salt, fats and sweets that it does not need to help keep me functioning.  Now I am not in delusion that my world will change with me, I do not expect to deprive myself from the very foods that have caused me to be in the place I am in.  But moderation is the name of the game, a tool I have rarely used in my belt.  I know what I need to do to be successful at weight loss, I have been dieting since I was young and dieting is my problem.  I restrict myself from the foods I enjoy cutting them out of my life completely replacing them with foods that are better choices but lack in fulfilling the needs I expect them too.  I spend my days weighting my portions and putting my meals in Tupperware tubs marked by the meal so I don't stray from my plan.  While those things work for weight loss it is not life changing for me.  I follow the plan for a few weeks, maybe a month until something triggers my emotional eating habits so I binge and tell myself "I've ruined my diet and I can't live like this, I will just be happy the way I am."  I live in a lie, that this body I have over stuffed is ok.  That I feel good about myself and am comfortable the way I am and I am not.  I am not wanting to be stick thin, I never have been.  I want to be a healthy example for my family, someone they can look to for support and knowledge.  I want to feel good in my skin and not be weighted down by insecurities that have plagued me since grade school.  This year I am not dieting....I am changing my life!  I have a plan to bring healthy food choices to our table and still enjoy the snacks and treats we all love....in moderation.  So no I will not pass on birthday cake, chicken n dumplins or Nana's Christmas peanut butter bars!  I will eat what I enjoy but in proper portions and remember what I put in must be put out in physical activity.  No more eating till I feel sick then napping on the couch till I feel like I can move again.  No more overeating at fast food cause it is easier than preparing my family food because they have better choices that I always passed by for the chicken nuggets and fries.  No more drinking a 2 liter of cherry coke because I use the excuse there is nothing else in the fridge that's cold.  I have every excuse in the book used twice but they are behind me now.  With the support of my family and friends I know I can make this life change I so desperately need. So whats my plan:
1.  Menu planning breakfast lunch and dinner.  Adding more vegetables and cutting down on carbs and meat portions.  Following the guidelines I have been reading about on how our meal plates should look.
2.  Get my family involved in more activities needing movement.  Game night around the kitchen table is great but we're still sitting in one place.  More sledding, ice skating and snowball fights will be taking place in our yard.
3.  Setting a schedule for myself to keep everything I need to do at a certain time so I don't make excuses.  I know there are always things that pop up, but generally my life is pretty timed out.  I plan most of my day out anyway, there is no reason I can not set time aside for working out to get where I want to be.
4.  Accept help!  While I hate asking for it, I know I can not do it alone.  I do need my very own cheerleaders at my side letting me know what a good job I am doing....don't we all?  I'm not saying I need someone following me all day saying "Your eating a healthy breakfast GREAT JOB, lunch too FANTASTIC" HAHA but acknowledgment for my hard work when it pays off. 
5.  And last but not least: Stop listening to the naysayers!  There is always someone in your life that doubts you can do what you want to accomplish.  I have failed so many times before, I dread even mentioning a life change to others but I am human.  I fall on my face but get back up and if others see my attempt as weakness they are the ones with a problem.  I will not listen to the "how long will this time last" or "you don't finish anything you start"  because believe me I already have those thoughts in my own head but I know I have power and strength over them.  I will not let negative words and thoughts stop me from taking control over my life.  It is indeed my life, the only one I have.

~I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me~Philippians 4:13