Angela, Wife, Mother, Christ Follower

Not that you’re interested, but I thought I’d share with you what my mornings are like.  Every weekday morning my alarm clock goes off at 4:55.  I roll over, hit snooze, and spend the next 10 minutes coming up with reasons why I don’t really need to get up.  At 5:05, when the alarm goes off again I get up.  Let the dog out. Make sure she has food & water. Let the dog back in. Go upstairs.  Put on shorts, a t-shirt, socks & my walking shoes.  Brush my teeth.  Put the dog back in the bathroom.  Grab my cell phone & ipod.  By 5:20 I am out the door to walk a mile & 1/2 around my neighborhood.  I know, a mile & 1/2 isn’t that far, but this time last year I slept until 6:00 and didn’t walk at all. While walking I listen to one of the many sermon podcasts that I subscribe to.  It’s usually Joyce Meyer, or the latest sermon from the Oasis.

After that, it’s back to the house and into the Word.  I’ve been reading through the New Testament again, two chapters a day.  After that I spend some time in prayer.  By this time Freddy is up and (trying) to get the girls up.  Then it’s all about getting everybody ready to get out the door.

I’ve been on this routine since about mid-June and I have to say I’m fairly impressed with myself.  Not that someone getting up at 5 and walking and reading and praying is that amazing of a feat, but ME doing it is!  I am queen of excuses when it comes to reasons not to exercise or to sleep later.  I am trying to get into shape.  I will admit that there is a vaniety aspect to it.  I don’t like the way I look, and I’m trying to do something about it.  But more so, it’s about taking care of myself.  It’s about taking care of God’s temple.  I’ve been doing pretty well.  I exercise 5 times a week and I’ve cut out almost all sweets except fruits.  I eat very little bread, pasta or rice.  I have a salad almost everyday at work.  And I’ve lost 10 pounds since mid-July.   But I’ve hit a wall.  The past 3 weeks I’ve lost the same 2 pounds over and over and over again.  I’m 3-5 pounds (depending on where those 2 pounds are) away from a milestone and I’m getting frustrated!

Because it was raining Tuesday when I woke up, I decided, instead of walking, I would “work out” at home.  So I did 50 sit-ups, 50 push-ups and 50 of 2 different leg exercises. (I don’t know what to call them.  I think I saw them on a Denise Austin video.)  It’s Thursday and my body is still mad at me for it.  I think I’ll start alternating between walking and “working out” depending on the weather.  I’m hoping that mixing it up will break through this bloomin’ wall and I can start losing weight again.

So, what do your mornings look like?