Healthy Body Image Challenge Day 11: "Good Healthy Fun"

Tonight for Young Women's we combined with the Young Men. We were going to go bowling, which is a normal activity, but we added a little bit of a twist. Stephanie, the second counselor, had the idea of drawing UNO cards before we bowled to tell us how we were going to bowl. Some of them were pretty hard such as bowling backwards; with your opposite hand; granny style; your choice; regular; slow; awesome approach; skip approach; awesome stance; etc.

It was so much fun and it was a little easy twist on a very common game. Yes, we may have looked a little bit silly, but we had fun and the Young Men and Women loved it! It was so much fun for them. We only have two girls in our program that are active, but they are so much fun. There are about 5 active Young Men and it was good to learn about their personalities. These youth are so strong and a great example of good that is still in the world. They are so clean, innocent, and just want to do what is right.

It was so fun to go and play as a kid again. My nickname that night was the "Great Turkey". (I was hoping it would be some luck for me to get 3 strikes in a row. Now 3 strikes, but I did get one strike and I think it was while bowling backwards. (I just threw it in between my legs). We did get to bowl regularly on our second turn, so we got a chance to redeem ourselves.

It's good to remember to let loose and have fun. I'm glad that even though I had a lot to do, I got the chance to go out and have some fun. That can be the best for your body. Also being around youth. They are so wonderful and fun to be around. It makes me remember that I have one of the best jobs in the world. It may be very trying at times, but it is very rewarding.

Healthy Body Image Challenge Day 10: "Detox" (Bath)

I have done this bath before, but I like it more and more each time. The hotter the water, the more relaxing it feels. I tried putting in ginger with the epsom salts and baking soda. It felt wonderful. The one problem is that I need to really drink A LOT of water for the next couple of days or I get a massive headache. That is probably why it's a good detox. It makes you drink more water.

I'm so grateful that I had this to come home to rather than treats. It was such a crazy day at work. I got to eat most of my breakfast (3/4 of my oatmeal) and then 2 spoonfuls of my soup for lunch. I told Ryan that he needed to hide the treats so that I would not be tempted and to have something good ready for dinner so I didn't just eat whatever. I don't know if this was healthy, but it was healthier than the pizza I would've ordered if there wasn't something there. He got me an XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito (Chicken) from Taco Bell. It hit the spot and it filled me up along with the V8 Fusion (Pomegranate and Blueberry).

Here is the link for the detox bath if you want to try it. Comment if you have one that you like as well and would like to share!

Healthy Body Image Challenge Day 9: "Food for the Soul"

In order to keep my body in good condition, I also need to take care of my soul. I need to be better about the spiritual side of my body. I need to remember to read my scriptures daily, meditate/ponder, pray, and serve others. I need to remember to think of more than just myself. I need to make my home a place where the spirit can dwell. Only allow in things that are good, virtuous, and beautiful.

It is important to create an environment that is soothing for the soul. When the soul is at peace, the body can be at it's best. It is important to remember to take care of my spirit. It is what can help me to overcome the natural man. The natural man can be what wants to take over and make choices that may not be so smart, but the spirit can override that. I'm grateful for the opportunity we have each month to realign our spiritual side with our bodies through fasting. It helps us to remember that we are in control and can make wise decisions.

Healthy Body Image Challenge Day 8: "Listening to your Body"

I know that my lung is normal and I am over the worst of it. However, I still feel that there is something lodged in my lung trying to get out. I'm sorry, I know that sounds pretty gross, but it still hurts on my left side when I move.

I woke up this morning with it higher up, so I know that it is trying to get out. We were fasting today, so I didn't take Mucinex yet, but I will later on. I just really want it to go away. I felt like I needed to lie down most of the day. It felt better when I lied down. I could get up for awhile, but it would hurt after awhile. I'm glad that I went to get an x-ray because I know that it is nothing serious. I just need to listen to my body better. I need to understand what is happening to it.

I know that I still need to relax and not stress out. I am listening to my body more. I still need to work on being more efficient. I started my new lists today. I combined the A, B, C, D list with the subjects list and how long it takes to do each one. We'll see how it works out.

Listening to your body can be hard. I really don't want to be a wimp and think of every little thing that goes wrong, but I do need to take care of my body. It is important since I am the only one who can really decide what I need and at what time. I hope that this does go away and I can start working out again. I feel like my body is needing that to. There is moderation in all things and I'd like to get back to working out soon.

Healthy Body Image Challenge Day 7: "Eating Healthy"

Is there a way to eat healthy when out with friends or family? Such as going out to eat. I know that there are a lot of places that offer lower calorie options, but what about when eating at a family function? Or at a place where those lower calorie options are not there?

I guess I could just plan on not worrying about it. When it's a celebration, just relax. If I really want to watch it, then it's all about proportions. I don't need to eat everything in sight. I can eat lots of different things, but in smaller proportions. It's just hard when there are so many great things.

Eating out is the same way. Buffets are the worst! I guess I just need to be better during the rest of the week. I need to watch what I eat the other times so that it can really be a celebration when I go out with family or friends.

So really it comes to healthy eating the rest of the time. I guess that is not too bad because I have more control over what I eat at home. In the end, it's all up to me. That can be the hardest part. :) Good thing Ryan is a good protector and supporter of healthy eating. It helps me to stay closer to my goals.

Healthy Body Image Challenge Day 6: "Stress Reducers"

Stress is a part of life. It can motivate you or it can immobilize you. No matter what you do, it's going to always be there, but it doesn't have to rule your life. I have already confessed that I have a tough time doing "first things first". I put off those important tasks that should be done for tomorrow, for the things that will happen far in the future. It is not bad to plan for the future, it is just important to do what is important first. I have worked on writing lists and I know that they can help. The problem is it takes time to plan out my list. I want to be as efficient as possible with my lists, but I still haven't perfected the art of using the list correctly.
I've used different methods:

• Priority Lists (A, B, C, D)
• Timed lists (write the actual time I will work on the task)
• Week Lists (write one or two things down for each day)
• Subject lists (home to do list/school to do list)
• Room lists (things to do in the home)
• Subject lists (what to do at school)

I guess it's not an exhaustive list, but it's what I've tried. I guess the next step in my ability to de-stress is to follow that list. Maybe I need to plan in my day to plan for the next day. I should be better at this because I'm a teacher, but I'm still learning. I admit that this is a weakness, but I want it to be a strength. In my planning, I need to remember to not over plan.

I was talking to my mom last week about this subject. She mentioned that she knew someone that planned out her days with things they needed to get done, but also time to relax. This is an important thing that I forget to do. That might actually be what could help me to continue writing lists.

As I started out writing about these topics, I really thought that it would be more about my weight and how to be healthy, but maybe it was divine intervention that I got sick with pneumonia so I could start out focusing on my mental health. I can't do a lot about exercising right now. I can do a lot more about how I think about my health. It is important to learn how to deal with life in general and all of it's unpredictable events. I know you can't plan for everything, but "If you fail to plan, than you plan to fail."

I've noticed that I still have a tightening on my left side. The doctor called today and told me that my lung is completely normal. Either I still have stuff that is working it's way out or it's a stress ball that has always been there, I just didn't recognize it until now. Either way, I'm going to work on getting more sleep and relaxing by making lists that are attainable and smart.

If you have any tricks on how to write a better list or stay motivated please leave a comment. 

Healthy Body Image Challenge Day 5: "Good Night's Rest"

I had no idea (or I had forgotten) what a good night's rest can do! I slept almost 10 hours last night (that hasn't happened in who know's how long) and I woke up feeling so much better. I still feel like there is something in my lung, but it's actually starting to leave. I felt a ton better today. Not 100% still (cough, runny nose, etc.), but the sleep did some wonders.

I've been looking at what sleep can do for you. It really does have a lot to do with "beauty rest". Your body repairs itself best when you are sleeping. That is why when you are sick, the doctor tells you to rest. I was not very good at that last week. I was still working on school work when I was at home. One of my co-workers told me after I came back that she had taken the math books from me because she wanted me to go home and rest and stop working. (We are adopting a new math program this year, so we have lots of different volumes).

Sleep make it so that your mind is more alert, your emotions are not heightened (as much), and your patience is not as thin. I feel so much better about life when I've had my sleep. Now I know that this is a hard thing to practice. I'm the girl who "burns the candle at both ends", but I think that was my wake up call as well as having pneumonia. I need to take care of my body/mind and sleep is a priority. It takes into account the philosophy of taking a break. Our body needs that break to rejuvenate.

I have also heard that if you get the same amount of sleep each night as well as go to bed around the same time and wake up at the same time (with a variation each night within an hour), you control your body weight better, specifically body fat. It was a study I read that they had done on college age students. Does that work for me still? I should try it out and now that I have seen what a good night's rest can do, I'm going to work on that. Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite. Or in Sweden "Sov som en groda" (Sleep like a frog). :)