I feel like such a "jumper" sometimes... like I go full-force on an idea and when it doesn't work, I give it up and jump to the next thing. Ugh. SO frustrating.
But I'm in this for the long-haul. Lately, I keep reading that everyone has setbacks in their weight-loss journey... everyone. And you know what? That makes me feel better. I KNOW that I can do this- because it's not me that can do anything. God gives us the strength to accomplish His purposes and plans... so I'm not giving up yet!
This morning, I read a quote by one of my favorite authors, Elisabeth Elliot. She says,
**On a positive note, I completed my first 5k- and fell in love with running them. Seriously! I had SO much fun and felt SO accomplished. I'm ready for my next one!**
Okay, since I haven't updated in a while... how about some product reviews and a super-fun giveaway?? Some of these will be health-related, and some will just be for fun, so get ready- I've got a bunch of them!
First... the sometimes-loved-sometimes-hated kitchen scale.
Why do I have a love/hate relationship with my kitchen scale? Because I fear it. I fear that it will create more work for me by me having to weigh my food. But I have surprisingly grown to LOVE it! It really makes keeping track of what I'm eating way easier.
I have the Kalorik Electronic Kitchen Scale. This bad boy looks AWESOME in my kitchen- seriously. It's the coolest looking kitchen scale I've ever seen. And it works like a charm! My favorite feature? It can measure different things and then add them up all together. So if I feel like doing surf and turf and want 6 oz total? I can add 'em up on my scale. Love love love.
This scale is on sale right now for $29.99! It looks awesome, works fabulously, and has sincerely become one of my favorite products. Go here to order!
Next product? Pressure cooker set!
When I got this, I scratched my head. Sure, it looked cool, but... pressure cooking? What on Earth is that?! It looked complicated. Little did I know how much I would fall in love with this set... for real.
I actually read the instruction manual (!) that came with this set and learned quite a lot about pressure cooking. Here's what I learned about it:
What are the Benefits of Pressure Cooking?
•FAST. Saves up to 70% in cooking time! Your favorite recipes can easily be adapted to cook in 1/3 of the time.
•EASY. Just load the ingredients and liquids into the cooker, close the lid, bring to pressure and cook, then release and open the lid. It’s that simple!
•HEALTHY. Because foods are cooked under pressure, up to 50% more vitamins and minerals are retained. Also, shorter cooking times retain more nutritional values of food as well as the natural color. In addition, it cooks without oil.
•SAFE. Fagor Pressure Cookers have three safety valves that permit any possible excess pressure to escape, so the cooking experience is completely secure.
•VERSATILE. All types of foods can be cooked in a pressure cooker – from vegetables, rice, stews, soups, chicken, fish, meat, even desserts.
•ENERGY EFFICIENT. Because pressure cooking reduces cooking times up to 70%, this means a tremendous conservation of energy.
•OFFERS GREAT TASTE. The steam pressure breaks down the fibers in food in a very short time, leaving food moist and succulent, with an intense intermingling of flavors
I wish I could give everyone a set of these for Christmas. Seriously, it's a little pricey at $150 for the set, but it's one of the best $150 you will ever spend. TOTALLY worth it. And you can buy it from me on Opensky here!
Next would be a really cool gift for any gymrats in your family- or even hikers! This is the GloBag... the coolest gym bag ever invented.
Okay... how can a gym bag possibly be cool? Watch this video, and you'll understand.
I have one and I LOVE it! I take it with me to the gym and even on trips- SUCH great storage in this one bag! Another great thing about the Glo Bag is that it's SUPER durable. I am SO rough on the things I have. I can tear anything up in about a week. I've had this bag for several months and it still looks absolutely brand new- and trust me, I haven't treated it like it's brand new. I am incredibly impressed and definitely recommend these to anyone and everyone!
These sell for $119 and you can buy them from me on OpenSky here!
Okay, now onto non-fitness related but still amazing products!
I came home a few weeks ago and had a package waiting for me. Hmm. I opened it up, and there was an adorable and amazingly soft scarf waiting for me!
This is a scarf from a German company called FRAAS. It's made out of what they call "cashmink" (which is really fun to say, so I would encourage you to find a way to throw that one in a conversation today!), which is basically an acrylic fiber designed to feel just like cashmere but the cost to you is a fraction of what you'd pay for actual cashmere.
Coming from a fabric snob (well, maybe not a snob- I just hate scratchy synthetic fabric)... this seriously feels like cashmere. It feels GREAT! It's SO soft and the thickness is perfect- I could easily wear it year-round. I've worn it several times and gotten lots of compliments!
At around $20-25 on Amazon, this would make an excellent Christmas gift. And don't worry- they sell scarves for men, too!
And now... your review with a giveaway...
Chiquita just came out with their new Frozen Fruit Smoothies. I got the opportunity to try these, so I tasted the Strawberry Banana flavor... oh so tasty!! These come in the frozen section in the grocery store. You just pop them in your blender with some water and ice and, *voila!*, instant smoothie! They are SO tasty -the taste rivals expensive Smoothie stores and for only a fraction of the price- and they come in four AWESOME flavors. You can choose from Peach Mango, Mixed Berry, Banana Colada, and Strawberry Banana.
Because Chiquita wants YOU to get a chance to try how delicious these smoothies are, they're offered a giveaway! Two lucky readers will win one coupon for a free Chiquita Frozen Fruit Smoothie and a cute Chiquita tshirt.
To win? Just leave me a comment telling me which flavor you'd try!
For extra entries, you can Facebook about this contest and let me know OR Twitter about it and tag @BrightEyesCals.
I'll pick a winner on 11/22!! Good luck!!
3 comments:
P90X is really not for everyone! Quitting P90X isn't giving up or failing, it's just figuring out that this workout style is not for you.
I'd rather run twice a day than do P90X once a week!
And way to go on your new love of 5Ks! I love doing the cool weather ones because you get long sleeve tees.
So true. Sometimes I feel the same way. Not just with trying to be healthy; Sometimes I loose the real goal to why I am living and trying. Giving God the effort,surrendering, and letting Him have the results.
Those scarves are beautiful... :-)
I'd like to enter for the coupon. The mixed berry smoothie sounds yummy. :-)
I hope you can make it through the holidays. I am struggling to have self control and I think it's going to get worse as it gets closer to thanksgiving and especially Christmas. :-)
Blessings,
Leah
Dear Callie,
I have have the same issues with weight loss. Most people look at me and say that I don't need to loose weight or work out or whatever, but just like you I want to give my body, my self image, and my mind to God. When I got married I had a little nervous breakdown of sorts and as God brought me out of it I commited to three goals. One was to become a master of all things domestic and learn to balance my 'home duties' with the rest of my life. Next was to create habits regarding Bible study and prayer. Finally I commited to get in shape and to stop whining about my lack of fitness. I commited to accomplish these three things within two years or before Ryan and I had kids. I've attempted them one at a time, leaving the fitness one till last. God's given me strength in the first two... but fitness has been the hardest to date.
I've struggled with my mind so much in this. I've been working out for twelve weeks now and been through the same roller coaster you described in you blog. The hardest weeks were the first. God was dealing harshly with me, testing my reasons for getting into shape. He really humbled me. I believe he wanted me to see myself through His eyes and not through the lens of self-perfection that the rest of the world puts on us. Now my biggest struggle is the on-again off-again motivation. One week I'm driven and motivated and the next I'm boo-whoing and achy and don't want to get out of bed.
Ultimatly though (like you said) if we are doing this for our good and God's glory we win regardless of what the scale says. Our lives do not belong to us anyway and He deserves our best efforts (not to see us in a size 4).
I love you girl! Keep truckin... and let me know how the running goes (I know how addicting it can be)
Melissa Jones
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