Weeks 14-16 Journey to Skinny Jeans and lately to other things

Well, still no changes….hmmm, so time for something that will be hopefully encouraging to you

I happened to be cleaning a bookshelf at work which I use for everything else but books…:)  I came across a little green box of organic green tea.  I suffer from acid reflux disease and do you know what I discovered?  Green tea is wonderful and healing for this condition.  Now, let me be specific; the decaffeinated type is the best because caffeine can irritate the problem.

If you google ‘benefits of green tea,” you will find some amazing research out there.  The tea that has caffeine is great for weight loss management.

Studies have also shown green tea extracts are capable of reducing fat digestion by inhibiting digestive enzymes. Others have shown thermogenic properties of green tea (probably brought on by the interaction between the caffeine, and catechin polyphenols). Thermogenesis is the process of the body burning fuel (fat) without making chemical energy (the calories are released as heat).

I read another article that had a test group of Japanese people who drank 3-5 cups of green tea daily and the research showed that these people had a lower incidence of esophageal cancers, stomach cancers and cardiovascular disease.  Wow!  All of that from one little leaf!

I buy the organic kind that has lemon in it.  I drink it hot; but I bet it will taste delicious as iced tea.  So, as I lift my cup of tea to you, think about switching out your morning coffee or that mid day soda for some do your body good green tea…:)

Week 13 and 14

You know the old saying “no news is good news?”  Well, the good news is I haven’t gained anything since I lost the first 15 pounds.  I am going to leave it there.  How long?

I will put up another another “uncommon angel” this week instead of whining about my lack of losing lousy lumps of lard.  How do like that for alliteration?….:)

See you soon.

Week 12 Journey

Twelve weeks of no progress.   I am not sure what else to do.  I don’t have too much to say about it.  So, I am going to talk about others…:)  No gossip!  I think I am going to intersperse my journey with stories about those I affectionately refer to  as Uncommon Angels

I hope you will enjoy meeting some of the people I will profile and I hope they will inspire you.

Fannie

She’s spent time in the hospital because of a series of strokes.  She fights daily an awful disease that is determined to rob her of her eyesight, plunge her sugar levels to one extreme or another and she struggles to walk because of rheumatoid arthritis. I have seen her eyes tear up as she massages her hands that are throbbing with pain; but, she won’t complain.  Fannie is a sixty something year old widow who lives on what most of us will probably spend on dinner out several times a month.

She responded to a postcard my church mailed out a few years ago inviting new residents of the area to visit. My husband and I went to see this woman who lives alone in an apartment complex that many in town would never dream of setting foot in. Most of the apartment dwellers here are battling with addictions whether chemical or sexual. There are Satanists, New Agers, and agnostics living here. It is a place where Jesus would spend much of His time teaching, comforting and healing.

Fannie wanted someone to study the Word with her.  Little did I know when I volunteered, that God would bless me greatly by introducing me to an uncommon angel.

Going to Fannie’s place, you might see a black child who has just fallen and needs a hug and band aid, or a desperate woman who has spent her last dollar on a bottle of liquor and needs food for supper, or a small child who doesn’t want to stay home alone because his parent is still at work, or a high young man who wants to use the phone because he can’t afford one of his own.

Fannie keeps her refrigerator filled with drinks for thirsty kids, shares her meager dinner with another widowed woman and many times babysits at all hours of the day for those who need to put their children somewhere safe. She doesn’t take a dime for doing this and no one ever offers.

She keeps bottled water in her refrigerator and treats on the table for kids who will inevitably drop by.  I’ve seen her do laundry for some of her neighbors who can’t make it to the laundromat for some reason or another.  Her biggest frustration is that she doesn’t make enough money to do more.

She told me one night at our Bible study that most of her neighbors identify her as the crazy old religious lady and sadly, some have even cursed her after she has given them food or help.  She had just taken a woman’s three children for a week after they had been physically and verbally abused by the mother’s boyfriend. The mother decided to keep the children away from Fannie because ( I believe) she doesn’t want her kids exposed to the teachings of Jesus. Fannie likes to pray and talk about the Bible.

Saddened that she wasn’t able to visit with the kids, Fannie still had a smile and quoted me a Scripture with a few minor errors; but, the gist was understood. You see, Fannie has about a third grade reading level and the strokes have slowed down her thought processes. She works really hard at understanding what she is reading. The Holy Spirit has been so beautiful with helping her.

Praise God for using a simple older woman who owns very little in this world to be a light in the very  darkness.

Week 10 of Journey to the Skinny Jeans

Oh yes I do want to just quit this stupid journey.  Gained back 2 pounds and I give up so much, ugh!!!  Okay, I got that off my chest.  The other part of me says, “Keep going sister.  You will make it and those brand new jeans hanging over your mirror will fit you like a glove.”    “Yeah?” the jaded side retorts, “When, twenty years from now?!!”

Do you have arguments with yourself?  Hmmm, some of my friends who know me understand that I have a very creative imagination and I can get a bit weird.  It makes for interesting writing if nothing else.  Seriously, if I put another piece of celery in my mouth I am going to scream.  Maybe I should switch to broccoli for a little while, what do you think?

I so wanted to be 25 pounds lighter by this time.  It’s a new week coming up.  I will toast with a delicious glass of water….sorry, couldn’t contain the sarcasm…:)

Week 9 of Journey to the Skinny Jeans

Another week and no weight loss.  How long?  I guess as long as it takes.  Still 65 pounds to the goal.  Although, I can’t help thinking that a chisel and an hammer chipping a way at a concrete edifice would be easier.  At least I could eat what I want!

Okay, I don’t know where you are; but, thank you President Obama for thinking about us uninsured.  I know, I run the risk of losing followers of my blog.  I hope if you know me, you will not let my political views taint your feelings.

I really believe it when Scripture says love your neighbor as yourself.  Do I not want my neighbor to have whatever I have or maybe even a little better?  I am my brother’s keeper and I am okay with that.  My big brother, Jesus, expects me take care of those around me as best I can.

So, you ask,”What does she do?  Is it all a bunch of talk?”  Well, I am not rich by no means; but I do take 10% of my pay (the rest has to go to bills) and I buy food for a poor woman down the street, or I buy gas for some who struggle to get to work, and things like that.  No bragging here; I just want to do my part.

I hope whatever good goal you are pursuing that you get that much closer this week….:)

Week 8

Oh, my, still the same, ho hum.  Well, on the brighter side, no weight gain even if I did cheat one day and had a waffle!  It’s amazing the simple things one misses on a specific diet of basically veggies and proteins.  Bread…freshly baked and warm.  Warm enough for the butter to melt and and soak into that fluffy white mouthwatering deliciousness.  Can you tell I have a thing for bread?…:)  Give me loaf of Parisian bread, creamy cheese and a glass of fruity wine…I can happily live on that.  Ooh La La c’est magnifique!

Forgiveness is such a beautiful thing.  It is the Prevacid for anger reflux.  I spent an entire week taking abuse from all kinds of folks.  Someone I had come to respect and admire came to my office one afternoon and basically read me the riot act.  It took the wind out of my sails; I never saw it coming.  I was put on the defensive my heart reeling from the assault.  My first inclination was to run.  I did.  I left my office early, tears in my eyes and stomping along the side of the road because I didn’t have the patience to wait for my ride.  That evening, I prayed, cried a bit, prayed some more and then I made the decision to forgive this person.  Now, don’t go thinking that I’m good or anything like that.  It has taken years to realize that I don’t have to experience the ulcerative pain of bitterness, the reflux of anger or the nasty taste of replay.

If I give over the hurt to God and pray for the perpetrator of that pain asking God to help me forgive…:) well, it’s just beautiful.  I can smile and feel totally unburdened.

Learn to forgive.  Have a blessed week….Leann

Week 7

Another strained week; I hope this is not the nature of things!  I did manage to lose the 3 pounds I had originally gained.  I am saddened by an event that happened a couple of days ago.  I talked to someone I admire and love about my frustrations with the corporate world.  It seems to me that making money is the ultimate goal for many of our American companies at the expense of people’s jobs and health care.  Ah, now that’s an issue, health care.  My son was denied health care because the major insurer did not want to pay for his prescriptions even though this company made 2.7 billion dollars last quarter and has shareholders.  Imagine that, people making money off your health or denying folks health care to pay the share holders.  What a capital idea.

Well, this conversation led to the president’s plan on providing health care.  Here is what HealthReform.Gov said:

Steep Rate Hikes Show Reform Needed

Today the Des Moines Register added its voice to the growing number of groups calling on Congress to pass comprehensive health insurance reform. Citing Anthem Blue Cross’ recent rate hikes to people in the individual insurance market as an example, the Register called on Congress to finish the job, saying “these are exactly the reforms Americans need. They are the kind of reforms Iowans need.”

“Nearly 20 million Americans purchase health insurance in the so-called “individual” market. They don’t have the bargaining power or protections that come with employer-based health insurance. They are the people who are unemployed or self-employed or work for a business that doesn’t offer insurance. They are on their own shopping for coverage. And they frequently pay a small fortune for it – if they’re lucky enough to get decent coverage at all. These are some of the very Americans lawmakers had in mind when they crafted health reform legislation – and a reminder of why Congress needs to finish the job…

…The truth is, there is no scarier place to get health-care coverage than in the individual health insurance market. Insurers review your health history. If there’s even a hint of a health problem, they may charge you higher premiums. If you have heart problems or cancer or diabetes, they may not sell you coverage at all. Companies may cancel your policy if you get sick.”

Des Moines Register, Wednesday, February 17, 2010

And from the LA Times off the same website:

Healthcare overhaul could save money and boost jobs, researchers say

Health insurance reform will do more than provide coverage to millions, make health insurance more affordable, and slow long-term growth. It will also create jobs. According to two new studies, reform will slow cost increases for businesses, and free up money for raises and new jobs.

“National healthcare legislation in Congress could slow the growth of medical costs, allowing employers to create 250,000 to 400,000 new jobs a year over the next decade, economists from Harvard University and USC are predicting. Wading into the hotly debated issue of whether the legislation is a job creator or a job killer, researchers from the two universities say that the reforms under consideration would slow the rate of cost increases and free up money for companies to raise wages and hire more workers. Specifically, healthcare savings could be achieved through proposals for greater competition in insurance markets, better coordination of care and shrinking administrative expenses, they said in a report to be released today. With those changes, employers could then reallocate money now spent on ever-growing premiums to other business priorities.”

LA Times, Friday, January 8, 2010

My comment was that many Americans want and need reform; but a number of Republicans refuse to sign the package.  (This really isn’t fair because they are not representing the majority of people.)

Here’s the problem, whether you agree or disagree with the entire health care issue, losing someone you care about over an issue is just sad and plain stupid.  If I offended my friend for taking a side that does not go along with her views, I apologize and I am praying for her because she is more important than political issues.

Week 6

Oh what a hard week!  After 4 rejections for my writing and other issues going on, I gained 3 pounds back.  Totally my fault; after all, I am an emotional eater.  Big mistake: don’t get comfort from food.  You use it, lose it and gain weight.  God and me had a heart to heart.  He knows how weak I can be and I really let Him and myself down.

Okay, so I messed up.  It’s another day and another week.  I am determined to wear those jeans.  Now, I have really added my journey to my prayer life.  Duh!  It’s only taken me 6 weeks to realize I can’t do this by myself.

I was listening to a conversation today regarding Whirlpool’s move to Mexico.  One woman said she thought the Mexican government should pressure Whirlpool to pay it’s workers better than say Driscoll, the huge fruit corporation,that  pays its workers $10.00 per day while it makes millions.  I chimed in and explained that the Mexican government is probably getting something for this deal but certainly not the workers who are trying to feed their families.

Another gentleman piped up and said, “Well, we need to take care of our own, first.  It’s like getting on an airplane and the steward tells you in case of loss of cabin pressure, one should put on his/her mask first before helping anyone else out.”

Hmmm…I don’t think Jesus was an American nor did he fly in an airplane.  Jesus was concerned more about others than Himself.  I think He said that a number of times in Scripture.  I want to be a follower of Christ first, then I’ll be an American.

Spring is around the corner somewhere.  Smile and make some sunshine.  God bless you in your endeavors….:)

Week 5

Okay, enough with days; I will start posting by week.  That will save your eyes and give me something a little more to write about!  Today is my birthday and I allowed myself an ice cream sundae to celebrate.  (Ice cream is my weakness).  But, after 5 weeks, I think I can go without ice cream for awhile before treating myself again.

Great sermon today about how God is concerned with social justice, specifically, the poor, the oppressed and those who are imprisoned with harsh sentences.  (Nehemiah 5) Did you realize that our prisons are run by a corporation and that one of our former politicians is on the board for this corporation?  He lobbies for stiffer sentences so that he can make more money for himself and his cronies.

Our justice system is criminal.  We have more people in prison than any other country in the world including China.  Are we the most evil people in the world or is our justice system broken?  Do the research, you will get a great awakening.   We don’t care about rehabilitating people because prisons exist for the money not to correct and rehabilitate.

Feed the poor, stand up for the weak, and give a voice for those imprisoned with harsh sentences that don’t fit the crime.

Days 31-32

Today is President’s Day and it’s still snowing from earlier this morning.  We have about 3 inches and the wind is blowing hard making it appear like there’s a blizzard.  I have decided to take the day off.  No sense being an extra vehicle on the road.

I received my second reject letter for a couple of stories I had entered.  It feels worse when you don’t even make the top 25 or honorable mention.  Like my journey to the donning of the skinny jeans, I still work hard plunking out imaginary characters struggling with real life issues.  One day, I hope to have one of these stories published.  Today I will be creating another adventure.

I hope you had a sweet Valentine’s Day.  One of my neighbors brought me beautiful red tulips in a pot.  It’s the unexpected things that makes you feel special.