Judging by the sound of crickets chirping, I’m the only one not out to dinner?


I hope you girls aren’t reading this because if you are, it means you are not having a delicious dinner with your sweetie in a restaurant without a large, red-headed clown out front.

As for me and my house, we are staying home, saving our money, and watching Lost. And in the meantime, I’m trying to ignore the Thin Mints calling my name from the freezer. Yes, I froze them thinking that would keep me from eating them as easily. Turns out, they are an ice cold HEAVEN. How entirely appropriate that I should be working on a bible study of flesh versus spirit. In my own translation of Paul’s struggle with sin I could add, “the cookies I don’t want to eat I eat, and the cookies I do want to eat, I eat.” As of right now, I’m not feelin’ the whole overcoming thang.

But, it’s Valentine’s Day. I’m sitting here cuddled with my family and life just doesn’t get any better. And if I decide it could get just a tad better with a mouth full of Thin Mints, I won’t beat myself up too badly.

It’s my First Place Leader I’m scared of. Have mercy, J.?

Have a great night!

February 14, 2008 | Filed Under Holidays, The Temple | 26 Comments 

Starbucks is SO Worth Second Place

I’ve not said a lot around here about New Year Resolutions simply because its very stressful for me to fail publicly. Most of my issues are internal and are safely between me and Jesus. But for example if I put it out there I would like to, oh say, lose 20 lbs. and in a few weeks a weight loss is not obvious, my paranoid self thinks you are thinking, “Lisa just has no follow through. All talk, that girl.”


A fact with which I would agree wholeheartedly.

But this year when a friend at church announced she would like to lead a First Place group, I was very excited. Mostly because the basis of the program is spiritual well-being as well as physical but also because this particular friend is one of those kinds of girls who will whip my sorry tail if I cheat hold me accountable and not apologize for it.

This program is based on the Diabetic Exchange List and requires a lot of charting and counting of food exchanges. It’s a little confusing at first but I’ve found all the work required to record the food has actually helped taken my mind off eating the food. Can that possibly make sense? I told our leader I felt like I was trading one bondage for another, but at least option number two won’t expand my 4-baby waist-line.


So here’s the thing. I’ve been very diligent when I know I’m going to be out for lunch to look up restaurant websites for nutrition information and decide ahead of time what I’ll eat. This way, I’m not as tempted to cheat and I’ll know exactly how to chart my food.

I didn’t look up Starbucks.

I thought I could just say no. I didn’t look to see how many calories my beloved Caramel Apple Spice had or how having it with whip cream is just a tad more fattening than without.

I pulled up to the drive thru and was thrilled to find out they offered sugar free caramel sauce. Check. I’ll have that. Then I asked if they had fat-free whip cream. Is there such a thing? Anyway, they did not so I had a fast decision to make. Do I keep the whip cream or say no? I mean really, how harmful can one measly squirt of whip cream be?

“Ohhhhh???? Okay. Give me the whip cream.”

I only ordered a Tall and got the sugar-free caramel sauce so I’m still figuring it’s not all that bad. I came home, pulled out my Live-It Sheet and logged on to Starbucks.com. Just in that one drink there are four of my allowed six exchanges of carbs and 1 1/2 of my allowed 3 exchanges of fat.

First of all, I have to say it was worth it to totally blow supper. The problem was, I had nothing left I could eat save for a fat-free vegetable that wouldn’t put me further over in one of the categories.

So I ate 2 STINKIN’ CUPS of green beans. And since green beans are basically the only green vegetable I like I get to look forward to 13 weeks of stuffing my face with them when I’ve totally messed up the rest of the day.

BUT – aside from the food part I’m really looking forward to the spiritual. I am totally a stress eater so my weight fluctuating is normally directly related to how little I am caring for myself and allowing God to care for me. This program focuses on balance and I don’t know of any of us that don’t need an exchange of that.

So have any of you ever done First Place? Another program you’ve tried that worked? Anything you are doing now?

So far I’m encouraged and I really think First Place is do-able. I would be ever so happy to get back to my pre-baby weight simply for the fact I know I’ll have to physically feel better. I also look forward to helping lead these women through the Bible Study portion and see us as focused on feeding our inner man as we are shrinking the outer one.

Blessings on all you girls. I pray God gives us each the resolve to accomplish His purposes in our lives!

p.s. If spiritual and physical fitness are among your goals in 2008 and you don’t have an accountability group, head over to CWO today to participate in Live Well. Darlene has excellent articles on the topic and has formed a free, online support group that meets each Wednesday.

January 9, 2008 | Filed Under The Temple | 45 Comments 

Fit4Life

I’ve been a real slacker in posting Fit4Life though I am so proud of Deedra in being faithful to it. Ya’ll, I get to see her almost every day and she looks GREAT. She has worked so hard on her health and it really shows! Go by and congratulate her on her success!

Here are some things I am working on:

1. The last time I posted here, I think I told ya’ll I intended on finishing my New Testament course. Well, I am almost there. I have a final to complete and a little bit more of my paper. I WILL OVERCOME! :) I’ve got some time yet to complete it so I’ll get to it soon….

2. The reason I have not finished this course work is because I am diligently working on a submission of the ‘I AM’ study for LifeWay. I’m not in any way suggesting I think it will actually be published, but this is a project of obedience and experience. If there is one thing writing this study has taught me, it is God can accomplish anything He wills through a girl with a ‘yes’ in her spirit. If He wants this message out in this format, He’ll make it happen. If He doesn’t, I still praise Him because knowing Him is enough for me. Anything else is just icing. My goal for this week? Complete the First Chapter Material.

3. I am also working on some conference material called, “Get Over It: Being an Overcomer in An OverWhelming World” My goal for this week? Pray, pray, pray. I don’t know if the Lord is taking part in Fit4Life, but if He is, I hope His goal this week is to reveal my session titles…I have some good notes already but am reading John MacArthur’s Revelation commentary now. Some good stuff, girls!

4. Another goal? Send letters to some of my new friends in Montgomery to encourage them in their walk.

5. A very important must-do: Answer email. There are some pressing things I must take care of that will take much scriptural support for replies. Please be patient with me girls! I promise I am praying and forming responses even now! I so need school to start back! :)

6. Keep walking. I’m not losing much weight past the 5-6 lbs. that initially came off when I got serious with walking/running again, but I can definitely tell a difference in my endurance and the increased tone in my legs. I’ve given up on the belly fat ~ I’ll just accept it as a marker of motherhood.

Go visit Deedra for more Fit4Life…It’s never too late to get on board!

August 3, 2007 | Filed Under The Temple | 7 Comments 

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