Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The Plunge

So today I took the plunge.  Instead of being a customer, I am now a coach.  What could you do if you were no longer afraid?  

I am hoping to inspire people to improve their health.  As a TIDiabetic for 24 years, I completely understand the struggle.  It is hard to lose weight while having to adjust your insulin and diet all at once.  It can also be dangerous so HELP FROM A DOCTOR IS ESSENTIAL to success.  

If I can do it, anyone can  so I hope I can be an example for others in my situation.

www.beachbodycoach.com/ELLAPYGMALION

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Hot Pink Shoes

Right before Christmas my husband and I were at the Nike Factory Story getting new shoes for our teenager. I needed some new tennis shoes but the ones I had were not completely worn out thus I decided it could wait. You see, I always do that. I always feel things for myself can wait. My husband, however, picked up a pair of hot pink tennis shoes and said, "These are for you". At first I wanted to argue with him about it but I decided to just let him get them for me. After all, I had not had pink shoes since I was a small girl. My husband also knew I had been working out; doing Zumba and cardio on the elliptical. This was his way of showing his support for my efforts. But why Hot Pink? Of all the colors, why that color? He said they just made him think of me. So I have hot pink tennis shoes. Why is hot pink something that would come into question, you wonder? Well let me tell you. For many years I had a very strong aversion to color. All color, but especially anything pink. In my opinion, pink represented Happy and I was anything but happy. In fact, I was rather loathsome. I was angry all the time and having a decade or so long pity party. I was angry about being "made fun of" while in high school. I was angry about being sick all the time. I was angry that I was not able to be a doctor, which is still somewhat of a dream of mine. I was absolutely tormented about how my first marriage ended in divorce. I could not see the good things in my life because I was so focused on the negative. In order to express my anger, I wore mostly all black and wore heavy black eyeliner. I was isolated and introverted. I had a very small select group of people who I trusted. Anyone else was repulsive to me. My circle was small and I like it. Some described me as "semi goth" or "punk". Most described me as "the weird freak girl". I loved this. At least they were leaving me alone. As this anger grew inside of me and as I separated myself form others, I also separated myself from my faith. I left the church and had no need for organized religion. I felt God had played a cruel joke on me since my life was such crap. I was angry at him too. Almost two years ago I found myself inside a church for the first time in many years. My life was changed redirected inside that church. I came to some realizations that I had never thought about before. I saw things in a new fashion. It was like being awake to the happiness around for the first time. I had much to be happy about and thankful for. Since then I have made some serious changes in my life and my attitude. When I visited my family over the 2015 holiday I was wearing my hot pink shoes. Everyone noticed them and made comments about how bright they are and what not. But one person, my Uncle Avery, made a comment that had a profound effect on me. He said, "I never thought I would see you in hot pink shoes. You have changed a lot. You have come a long way from that angry girl in black. I am so proud of you and happy you are following Christ". (I am writing this a month after that statement so this is completely how I remember it and may not be completely verbatim). This statement went directly to my heart. If other people have noticed a change in me I can only thank God for dealing with my heart and mind. It is his mercy and grace that have gotten me to this point in my life where I can now see all the things that angry girl missed. I had many things to be grateful for and happy about but I let my own darkness hide them all. So from now on I hope I can always find hot pink tennis shoes to remind me of how far I have come and to never go back. Pink still makes me think of happiness and I want to take that happiness with me everywhere.



21 Day Fix Challenge Accountability

This lifestyle change has been easier than I thought it would be. I am still learning as I go and each day is a choice between temptation and a healthy choice. The following is my accountability and testimony blog for this first 7 days. So I only ate out once this week. It was yesterday while running errands with my family. My victory is in NOT getting that burger. I got the salad bar FIRST. Then I found the lowest calorie thing on the menu, bourbon chicken with spaghetti squash. It was actually good. I had water to drink. I have a Samsung Gear Fit (like a fitbit) and I have tried really hard to walk the 10k step goal everyday. I only missed it once this week and I really think I made enough steps. I just had to put the device on the charger for a while so I had uncounted steps. One night I actually jogged in place for 15 minutes, while reading a spiritual book, in order to get my steps and my devotional done for the day. In a normal day in my OLD life I would have no less than 5 diet cokes in a day. Add to that the 4+ cups of coffee and you can see a bad pattern. I have managed to cut down to only one diet coke each day (being diabetic I cannot handle the sugar of a regular cola) and 2 days this week I did not have a single cup of coffee. When I did have coffee I used stevia instead of equal. Instead, I am drinking water. I am attempting to get 100 oz each day but I typically only make it to about 90. I also take a bottle of water to bed with me so when I wake up, it is the first thing I grab and I drink it down. I said no to many things this week; burger king, crackers, granola, noodles, etc. I tried to make my carbs healthy ones using whole grains. I am making veggie spaghetti instead of using regular noodles. My family loves it, which makes me feel happy. Knowing they are supporting me and enjoying the food makes this so much easier. Another favorite we have discovered is Ezekiel 4:9 bread. It is delicious and WAY healthier than regular bread. I also did every workout this week for the 21 day fix and logged them into the beachbody gym. I want my shirt lol. The workouts are no joke. Even the warm up makes you sweat. I love how modifiers are included in the workout for beginners, like myself. I can begin doing the no modified movements but can easily move to the modified when I feel like I just cannot do anymore. It allows me, at my fitness level, to continue WITHOUT GIVING UP! I also drank my shakeology every day. Some days I really wanted to drink a second one. I am in love with the chocolate flavor. It tastes like a dessert. It is the easiest protein I have ever tried to drink. It mixes well and really does taste great. Many other proteins I have tried over the years always seemed chalky or coarse. Shakelogy is almost like a smoothie. I really do wish it was not so expensive but with all the money I am saving from not eating out and drinking so many sodas, I think my pockets will be okay :) It is also so full of nutrients, it is totally worth it.  I am seeing changes in my skin, hair, nails.  I am not sure if it is from the Shakeology or all the water, or some combination of both.  Whatever is causing it, I am pleased.  I am also seeing changes in my physique.  Small changes but noticeable.  I have to remind myself that nothing happens overnight and that I am type one diabetic.  Synthetic insulin is my lfe save and my enemy.  It makes it so hard to reduce weight since insulin is a fat storing hormone. I am not going to give up though. I will get to my goal. One step, one squat, one inch, one pound at a time!






Monday, January 11, 2016

Healthnet, Tricare and Continued Care

Planned Parenthood

There is never a day that passes where I do not see something about protests of Planned Parenthood. This got me wondering why Planned Parenthood has such a horrible reputation among "Christians". As a christian it is important to me that people understand the Bible does not say everyone has to share our beliefs. The Bible (at least the way I read it) states God loves everyone. Every sinner. As Christians we are supposed to accept people as they are and love them. Through our walk and love for their souls we should lead them to Christ. Very few people are led to Christ by being frightened or ridiculed into faith. Also, my Bible says I am not to judge others. I can listen to them and witness to them but no judge. How can a person be ridiculed and not judged? It is impossible, imho. The Bible says to cast he first stone if you are without sin. I know I am not without sin so I cannot cast stones upon the sins of another; no matter what the sin is. God views all sin as sin. He does not have a measurement scale for how bad each sin is. Lying is just as bad as stealing, etc. So what does this have to do with Planned Parenthood? For years people have been against Planned Parenthood because the organization allows abortions to be conducted in their clinics. Due to this, the entire organization is seen, by some, as a baby killing organization with no benefit. Well, I want to argue that Planned Parenthood is beneficial regardless of the abortion aspect. Let's remove abortion from the scenario and look at what Planned Parenthood would be without it. It would be an organization that offers the following: Birth Control information including: Abstinence Birth Control Implant (Implanon and Nexplanon) Birth Control Patch Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera) Birth Control Sponge (Today Sponge) Birth Control Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing) Breastfeeding as Birth Control Cervical Cap (FemCap) Condom Diaphragm Female Condom Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FAMs) IUD Morning-After Pill (Emergency Contraception) Outercourse Spermicide Sterilization for Women (Tubal Sterilization) Vasectomy Withdrawal (Pull Out Method) WOW!!! All this information on how to prevent pregnancy including ABSTINENCE! Planned Parenthood also offers information on: Body Image Issues (who doesn't need help with this topic) Relationship Health (which includes help with ending relationships and topics on unhealthy relationships) Pregnancy Breast Feeding STD Testing Men's Health (including testicular cancer) Women's Health (mammograms, pelvic exams, breast exams) And several other beneficial items but I think I have listed enough. Many of the above listed items are free or discounted. This is the only way some women are able to get breast exams, pelvic exams and birth control. The costs of these procedures, even with insurance, can be detrimental and prevent people from seeking much needed medical attention. So here is my big question for all the Christian Protesters: How can you ignore all the benefits of this program simply because you do not agree with one thing the clinics offer? If a clinic offered free cancer treatments but also preformed abortions, would you not accept the treatments if you were suffering from cancer yourself? I think you would. Again, it is not our place to judge anyone. We also do not have to condone it but I believe there is a right and wrong way to do things. We should not ridicule people as they seek refuge in the clinics. We should be reaching out to females in need before they reach the point of needing/wanting an abortion. They should not be spat upon by sinners and yes WE ARE ALL SINNERS. When Christians scream and curse at these women as they try to enter a clinic, what message are they receiving? A message of love or hate? Jesus loved them all. Are we better than Jesus? I think not. Our mission is to disciple the lost into followers of Christ. It is possible to hate the sin but love the sinner. Not sure how to do that< Christian. Read the word and look to Jesus for the example. He did it. So can we.