There are two big struggles one can encounter when creating change. #1- getting started #2- staying free I'm going to talk about one of them today.
- Getting Started!
Often times a pain point brings us in. Our hearts get desperate for change! We can no longer let the problem go on and we yearn for freedom.
We join the next new thing we can find. Because what I tried the last time just simply did not work. Ask me how I know? There is no shame! One thing I have learned from this cycle is that I am persistent and REFUSE to give up!!
If you have ever joined a group and have not actually started, I get it! I really do! It's a process to come out of old habits. The reason we have the old habits that are not serving us is because someone first mistreated us. Why would you ever turn to food for comfort? Comfort that should have been shown to you by a human, as the extension of God’s love for you. We were created for relationship to fill us up but not tear us down!
Our body is keeping score, our mind remembers the hurt and food can become our greatest comfort. Bad things are stored in our good bodies. Your body is doing a good job of keeping you safe.
Did you know that God created our bodies to have fat storage AWAY from our vital organs? Why do you think abdominal fat is even a thing? It's because the creator knows how to protect your heart!
Who you are, is not where you are! Your pant size and the number on the scale does not define you or defile you! Can you start small and simply rejoice in that? Can you start by drinking more water?
Girl, I know their are hurts in your heart, I too have experienced them. I am here for you, I am cheering for your victory! I know you can do this, it is worth the time, effort and energy!
Gosh, I wish we were sitting on my couch together drinking some apple pie tea so I could look you in your eyes and let my words cover the wound in your heart.
If you are ready for a lasting change that heals the heart and teaches you how to lose weight from what weighs you down then complete this survey.
Cheering for you,
Megan
The other day I was working on cleaning the dishes. My son was taking out the trash and grumbling the entire way. My daughter was complaining for the 57th time that she was hungry and wanted ice cream as a snack. Then the phone started ringing. My hands are wet and soapy and all of the sudden my daughter is screaming that Toby is peeing ( he's our 11 year old boxer) right in front of the door where his chain is. As soon as Colton got him on the leash outside, he stepped right in a fresh pile of poo in his sock.
I could feel my chest getting tight, my heart racing and the muscle in my neck starting to tense up. Has this ever happened to you? All the demands of the day come crashing in on you like a tsunami wave? You know you are going down and there is no way your feet can hold you up. So, the first thing you do is run to the kitchen snack drawer. Only to find a tiny little foe was eating your snacks as the field behind your house just got plowed!
Stress just built up around you and inside your body and those cool ranch Doritos are just the thing to bring you some peace. You know the scale will not be forgiving tomorrow morning, but who cares because something has to stop the chaos that is swarming.
Mama friend, it’s okay that things are swarming. It’s okay that you feel tense, stressed, and overwhelmed. You are not God, you are only in control of your response. Here’s the beautiful thing! You are already responding with an action. Your stress button gets hit and your reaction is to run to the snack drawer. What if you don’t have to do more or be more in this moment? What if it’s as simple as having a different response? More is not better, better is better!
I would love to hear from you! What is your go to action when overwhelm is swarming around you?
If you are ready to let go of your emotional eating habits that are keeping you from your weight loss goals click the link: https://forms.gle/VxWsmJb1u4RoN8e16
Cheering for you,
Megan
The alarm rings, waking up already exhausted, you hit snooze and your alarm goes through it’s 3 different rings before you peel yourself out of bed. The kids are up and already watching tv. And so it begins, you react to what’s already happening in your day, no sense of control. The knot in your stomach is already forming.
The moment the electronics are off the bickering begins. The two of them are at it again. You send them on their way to get ready for the morning. It takes guiding them on each step and threatening their life if they touch their sibling. “Come on guys can’t we have a calm morning?” You heart rate starts to quicken.
Reaching for the first glass of water because heaven knows you need to care for your temple better. Racing out the door to get everyone where they brought tension in your shoulders. It’s as if you are playing dodge ball to bullets chucked at you, only your still drained from yesterday that your reaction speed is dwindling, it’s a matter of time before you are hit.
Never having tangible control of what’s going on around you, swirls in your mind. At least you ate a healthy breakfast shake, but by lunch time there's no motivation to eat healthy when your co workers are going for Mexican.
As soon as 4 pm hits, it’s off to the races again, grab the kids, feed their never ending hungry bellies, and homework. Praying each step of the way you don’t blow a gasket on them. It’s never your heart to burst out in anger. If only to have a moment of peace in your day.
It continues. Rushing to football practice, it’s cold out and your daughter didn’t listen when you told her to put pants on and grab a jacket. It’s all flooding your body now… the heart racing, the huge knot in your stomach, and the head tension. It’s hard to think let alone respond calmly. So once again you find yourself in the drive thru desperate for a sugar high to feel some sort of peace. Only to derail your hopes of ever losing the extra 40 pounds you are carrying around.
It’s like you are paralyzed. Never making movement towards losing the weight because you are always responding to what’s happening in your day. Each mess up only confirms the thought that "I am too lazy" so, I’ll start Monday is going to happen again for the 50th time.
Luke 5:18 -25 tells us a paralyzed man was being carried to Jesus, but there were so many people standing in front of them the friends took him to the roof to lower him down. Jesus told them their faith had healed him. He must simply stand up, pick up his mat and walk.
Momma friend, my faith is strong enough for your healing while you are still feeling paralyzed. I’ll carry you on the mat to the feet of Jesus so you too can be set free! You must simply pick up your mat and walk! Fill out the survey if you are ready to walk out of the bondage of reaction mode and running to food for your comfort.
Cheering for you,
Megan
Standing in the dressing room trying on the next size up once again. So, you finally make a decision to make a change. In your heart, you feel this change has to happen NOW! You start the new fad, jump all in. You spend several hours researching and learning this new way of eating. Only to discover 2 weeks into it, that your exhausted and didn’t lose an ounce of weight.
Your heart is heavy, tears are flowing, all that work for no result. What if speed didn’t matter? What if the thing you are tracking is actually derailing your progress? So many people say in order to create a smart goal it has to have a time measurement to it. I’m going to blow the horn in the other direction.
A measure of time to accomplish a health goal can be PRESSURE! If pressure, isn’t a motivation for you to actually do the thing with joy in your heart than it’s not serving you well.
Does it really matter if it takes you 6 months to lose the weight or 12 months? If in the end the weight comes off, you have new healthy habits and freedom from the thing that once was crushing you? 
I have learned to find pure joy in taking one small habit and mastering it. I move forward each day, each meal, each sip of the water. Day in and day out caring for the temple God so graciously gave me to live in. No pressure, showing up with joy!
Friend, if you need to learn how to have joy on this health journey, join the free group
Dessert for Breakfast where women are showing up every day with joy.
Your hope dealer,
Megan
Does it seem like life has been pretty foggy these days? Everything is so confusing and you don’t know what to believe. The dense fog has your mind swarming.
One thing for sure is that the fog will come and it will GO. Our life can have thick fog, paralyzing ourselves from moving forward. We become debilitated and our progress is stunted.
Here are 3 tips to continue to move forward on your healthy eating plan when life gets foggy without completely giving up.
- Just like when you are driving a car, turn your fog lights on and look at the next step right in front of you. You can’t see very far in the fog. When life is swarming and the thought of ever being able to reach your goal of having peace about your body image seems out of reach, I urge your momma friend to drop your head down and look at your feet. The next step right in front of you is do able, the finish line may not be in sight but it’s still there. The fog will lift, the storm you are going through will pass by, and the finish line will still be there. Your best next step is to drink water and eat a meal that is on plan to nourish your body.
- When the fog comes in, we naturally slow down. Slowing down is for our safety and protection. On our healthy eating journey and finding peace with who you are it’s okay to slow down. Please hear me correctly, slowing down doesn’t mean permission to eat all the junk food. It simply means to make simple meals, repeat meals more often so you don’t have to think about it. Have grab and go snacks that’s on the nine day protocol to stay the course. Drink water and lots of it. One of my favorite go to meals is bag salad and rotisserie chicken. Of course, eating Lily’s chocolate for dessert is my go-to.
- Call a friend. I could shout this from the roof tops again and again. Our family and friends can see past the fog in our life. They can see the finish line and cheer us on the course. My friend Angela knows my goals. I send her a quick Marco polo letting her know I’m in the fog. She asks me how it feels, and what next step I need to take to move forward. For a moment, I can think rationally and take my best next step.
Bonus tip: if you have found yourself in the fog and you turned away from your goal, girl I get it! Take a deep breathe, know that who you are is not where you are, (that's from Heather, a mentor of mine). Pick back up with the next meal. Forget the “I start tomorrow” and move forward with “I am a new creation NOW.”
Come hang out with a community of women creating their dream life even when life gets foggy. It’s a free group where we cheer each other on towards our goals. There is a spot open for you at the table. I’m saving you a seat.
xo,
Megan Dale
