The Great Awakening and Yes, It Began in a TJ Maxx Dressing Room

I have to admit I've been getting pretty discouraged with the health kick I'm on. Mostly, I've stayed right with my plan...staying away from artificial sweeteners, white foods and too much red meat. What I haven't conquered yet is my loathing of exercise. I hate to sweat. I really do. I give myself all kinds of legitimate excuses for not exercising but even I know they are just that, excuses.

Today after eating my favorite dinner of chicken fajitas and splurging just a little on nachos, I made the huge mistake of trying on swimsuits. It must have been some evil genius who put TJ Maxx next door to a Mexican Restaurant. Omgosh! How much sense does it make to try on swimsuits after a meal of Mexican food? It was in TJ Maxx my current awakening began. I looked like a big, white, beached whale. All I could think was..."What happened to my body?" I could have cried but I was determined to suck it up (and in) and walk out of that store as if I were the most beautifully built middle aged woman in the world. I'll tell you this, NOW I really know why old women wear moo moos. Yes siree, that's where I was heading 3 weeks ago when my dear doctor put the hammer down and said loose weight, get healthy or take some more drugs.

When I got home, I immediately called my sister, Cathy who struggles with her weight too but even when she's heavy, she's one of the prettiest women I know. She's trying to get healthy, too and I'm spending the next 3 days with her at the beach. Talk about misery loving company! She gave me a sisterly pep talk and it helped. Don't you just love people who will tell you the truth in love and at the same time make you feel okay? That's my Cathy.

After clicking off the phone, I got back to the task at hand...cleaning off and organizing my desk. As I began to sort through the mess and clutter of at least the last 12 months, I found letters, cards and notes from people I love and who love me wishing me Happy Birthday, Happy Mother's Day, Happy Valentine's Day, Merry Christmas and even a letter from a customer thanking me for helping her with a wireless problem. Talk about feeling better...I immediately began to be thankful and realize again that it's not so much about what's on the outside but the inside that really counts. I am so blessed! For a few minutes, God simply showered me with His love and grace and gave me a better perspective on the substance of my life.

Truthfully, the ship has sailed on my being the 5'7" slim, firm, young woman I was for so long. I'll never be young again or even as firm as I was in my 20's and 30's. And that's okay. I will be healthier each day and oh so much richer as I learn to give even my eating and exercise habits to the control of the one who made me. The journey continues...

No Diva's In Heaven

DIVA: "...Knows what she wants and how to get it. Has an attitude and knows how to use it..."

My favorite coffee mug is a great big black and white one with the word "Diva" on it. My husband bought it for me because I saw it in a local coffee shop and just had to have it. It's sort of a joke among my family and friends that I'm a bit of a diva. I have to admit I am. I like being out front and in charge. I'm driven by my passion for the things I love and am relentless in the pursuit of my dreams. Sometimes I'm so driven, I lose my perspective about what is really important in life. Sometimes I need to be reminded where the gifts come from and who they really belong to. Oh, and what they're for!

During yesterday's worship, this thought crossed my mind, "There won't be any divas in Heaven." WHAT? I have to believe the Holy Spirit was speaking His wisdom to me in His still, small voice. What I take from His message is simply this, everything I am and everything I will ever be is a gift from Him. In fact, I am His. Simply put, Christ owns the rights to me. When I sit back and think about all of this, it takes the pris right out of my strut! In fact, I have no reason or right to ever feel pride in the things I do or accomplish because it is only by Him and through Him I accomplish anything. "Entertain With Jane" is not my show, it's His...be it a local television show seen by a few or a national television show seen by many, it's His. Realizing there are no diva's in Heaven also helps me when I'm tempted to be jealous of someone else's accomplishments. In the body of Christ there is no room for power struggles, petty jealousy or false pride. The talent and gifts we have were given to each of us for Him and by Him. Sure, we enjoy the gifts. I love doing my little television show and cooking for others but the bottom line is all I am or ever will be is His.

It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ,...he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. (Eph. 1:11 - The Message)

My Daughter, My Fitness Pal

LOL! I love that title. You see my daughter got me to download a new app to my Iphone this morning called "My Fitness Pal". Get it??? She highly recommends this useful little tool and so do I. For me the best part of using it is using it with her. No, I haven't quite figured it out yet but I will and both she and her best friend are using so now I have a new network of support. A little support never hurt anyone on the journey to becoming healthy! However, I'm especially excited about the common interest and time I'll spend with my daughter. Now that's what I call healthy all the way around!

Recapping this first week of my new lifestyle, I have to to say it hasn't been bad. Yes, there have been times I've wanted to binge eat, drink a soda or two (I'm cutting down on even the diet ones), not make myself exercise and just generally fall off the health wagon but it's been over a week and while I haven't lost much weight, I do generally feel better about myself.

Last night was a total challenge because I took my parents out to eat at a local seafood place that specializes in (what else) FRIED seafood. As my parents ordered fried perch, fried flounder, fried shrimp, french fries and topped the order off with a fried onion of sorts, I remained faithful to my new lifestyle. I proudly ordered grilled salmon and a skewer of grilled shrimp with steamed veggies on the side. My treat was a diet soda with lemon. I left feeling somewhat triumphant and more than a little proud of myself! I'm simply not going to take more meds and while I may die of a heart attack or stroke, it won't be because of my lifestyle! Frankly, this may sound morbid but every time I think about making my family nurse me through an illness I could have prevented, I feel extremely guilty. They may some day have to take care of me but I don't want it to be because I abused my body.

Again, this week hasn't been too bad. I hope you've checked out my other blog for those yummy recipes I posted. And while I'm recommending things, I HIGHLY recommend you trying them. I'm working on more recipes but cutting the fat and calories while maintaining the integrity and yes, THE TASTE of the dish can be a little daunting if you cook like I cook...REAL SOUTHERN!

Stay tuned...I'll even let you know when I screw up on my quest but hopefully, it won't be too bad...

Oh, BTW, I even exercised 3 times last week. I do my own version of zumba by turning on some Latin music and shaking my booty. Now that's a sight!

Woman Does Not Live By Bread Alone!

Well, the first weekend of my official new lifestyle is almost over and I have to say, suprisingly, that it hasn't been awful. Fact is, there's something about eating healthier that makes me feel good about myself. Last night was a real challenge. I had friends over for supper and when I entertain I always try one up myself and wow my guests. This usually involves a lot of butter, sugar and assorted "white" foods. Last night, however, I did a healthier version of chicken piccata including whole wheat pasta and it got rave reviews. I'll post the recipes in my other blog. Try them, they were really good. I was especially concerned about dessert. I decided to do a mixed berry and fruit cup and top it off with a dollop of mango Greek yogurt. Hmmmm, not exactly decadent but I knew I'd knocked it out of the park when my, 6'4", 280 pound dinner guest gave it two thumbs up. Men can't be fooled when it comes to their desserts!

Since woman does not live by bread alone, I have to tell you about this morning's worship. The sermon was taken from Daniel 3. I'm sure you know the story of Shadrach,Meshach and Abednigo. Remember them, they wouldn't bow to the king's mega idol, a golden replica of himself and found themselves thrown into a furnace so hot it burned up the soldiers who threw them in, that's hot. Anyway, as the king looked on, he notices there were four men in the furnace not three. Yep, God was in the fire with his children and apparently, they were having a grand ole time.

As I pursue Entertain With Jane, I often times find myself majoring on the minors. I forget that it's not about me, it's about Him. I was made for God's purpose and the gifts and talents he's graciously given me are for him. In the quest for culinary stardom, sometimes, often times, my focus is on myself and this morning, God used his word, to show me, yet again, to refocus my heart. The "quest" may not go smoothly. I may not ever be on national television but that's okay because it's all about Him,not about me. The temptation to bow down before idols is very real and all around me, but I hope and pray I'll be faithful and like Shadrach, Meshach and Abedigo...yeah, I might find myself in the center of a firey furnace but you know who'll be with me! And we'll be having a grand ole time!

Every meal may be a party when you entertain with Jane but all of life is a celebration when you focus on Jesus!

The Party's Over...

I knew sooner or later "Entertain With Jane" would have to go on the wagon. I knew my weight has been steadily climbing for about 10 years and that some day, SOME DAY I'd have to change my eating habits. Well, guess what? SOME DAY is today. The party is over. I'm on the wagon. And...I'm not any too happy about it. I've been telling myself for quite a while that "even though I'm fat, I'm still purdy!" Over the past few years I've learned to avoid mirrors,perfected my chin tilt at that certain angle for pictures, wear clothing that "hides" my pudge, and just generally act as if size doesn't matter. Know what? Turns out size does matter.

The reckoning came about mid morning today, just after I ate my usual breakfast of champions, a pack of nabs and an ice cold diet Pepsi. I'd been dodging my doctor's calls for about two days when she finally caught up with me. D@#% EMAIL! Yes, I got an email from my doctor's office this morning and instead of her telling me how great my blood work was, she told me how I have 3 months to lose weight and get healthier or she's going to put me on cholesterol meds. "CRAP!" If there's one thing I don't want to do is take more medication than I already do. And truth be known, at least 1/2 of my medication is probably the result of my packing on the pounds through the years. So...

THE PARTY IS OVER...it's time to get serious about my weight and overall health.

Here's what I'm NOT going to do:

1 I'm NOT going to Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, or NutriSystem.

2 I'm NOT joining a gym.

3 I'm NOT giving up the foods I love.

4 I'm NOT going to play the martyr.

5 I'm NOT going measure my success by my weight.

6 I'm NOT going to weigh myself obsessively.

7 I'm NOT going to promise myself to excercise every day for an hour.

8 I'm NOT going to beat myself up WHEN I fall off the wagon.

I'm sure I'll add to my list but for right now, that's all I can think of.

Here's what I AM going to do...

1 I'm going to eat healthy.

2 I'm going to learn more about nutrition.

3 I'm going to excercise until I learn to enjoy it.

4 I'm going to dance, do my own housework, and walk more.

5 I'm going to drink more water.

6 I'm going to change my lifestyle.

7 I'm going to create HEALTHY recipes and versions of the foods I love.

So, as I blog about this new adventure, feel free to join my journey,make comments and by all means feel free to pray...especially for my husband. I'm one mean woman when I'm hungry.

Expect to Succeed!

Every time I enter a contest, submit a resume, audition for a cooking show, I expect to win. Hummmmmmmmmm. I have to wonder what this says about me as a person. Am I deluded? Do I think more highly of myself than I should? Am I so self centered that I don't realize my limitations? I guess some would say "yes" to all of the above but I don't think so. I'm simply optimistic and I also have faith in the God who made me.

In grade school, I wanted to be the president of a club or a committee, I don't remember exactly what it was. However, the lesson I learned the day we voted, I remember very well. Time came for the vote and just as I was about to cast my vote for the other person, someone asked, "Should someone vote for himself?" The teacher answered by asking the class this question, "Who do you think the president of the United States votes for in an election, himself or the rival candidate?" She went on to explain how silly it would be for the president of the United States to vote for his advisary and not only silly but what would it say to his potential voters if he didn't believe in himself.

That lesson has followed me through life. Rest assured, when vote time comes, I've always voted for myself! Furthermore, I expect to succeed because I believe in myself. Sure, I know I have limits but I also know I am created with gifts and talents to use. I wouldn't enter a phyics tournament (if there is such a thing) and expect to win but as I've realized my own strengths and gifts, I expect to succeed as I seek to use these gifts for His glory.

Expect to succeed! You have God-given talents, gifts, and abilities and He will allow you to use them. The key is "through Christ". "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"!

Confessions of a Procrastinator

As I sit here writing this I have to admit a certain amount of loathing for myself. You see, I am a habitual procrastinator. For example, I've been pushing to the side an article that must be written for a local magazine for at least 2 weeks. I've got the idea and the gist of the article all mapped out in my head but I simply haven't put it to "paper". Knowing me I'll wait until I hear from the editor via text message asking something rather pointed like "article?". I'll then jump on my computer and peck that sucker out in about 30 minutes. I don't know why I procrastinate. I may have ADD. I may not. I may be lazy. But I'm really not lazy. Heck, my wheels spin all the time. I may be unmotivated. Nah, that's not me either. I may have "too many irons in the fire". That may be true, but who doesn't? Truth be known, my procrastination is probably simply a dirty little habit I've cultivated like a well tended vegetable garden for most of my life. I mean, really, why do it now when I can do it later? "Sigh".