This past week it was golf and precious time with hubby and son up at PSU.  Halfway through our trip I started getting sick, and four days later my fever has now finally broken from having pneumonia.  Still feeling really bad but just knowing the fever is gone makes me want to try to get out of bed for longer periods and gain some strength back.  So I decided this afternoon to try on some clothes in my closet that were impossible to even get all the way on just two short months ago.  Did I mention I have now lost 15 pounds?!! woohoo!!  The first seven came off during my diet detox where I only ate fruits and vegetables for 10 days.  The rest came off on the "rest of my life" diet, which is basically low carbs with complex carbs being my only carbs, no bread products and limited starchy fruits and vegetables; basically eating eggs, lean meats and lots of vegetables and fruit.  I'm completely off sugar and yes chocolate!  If it wasn't for this illness right now, I would be ecstatic.  So the clothes I was hoping I could get back into are actually too big on me now! WOW  and I can see more muscle tone on me, especially my legs.  Did I mention I joined a gym two months ago too?  So down 15 pounds, a size and a half, getting toned... it feels good.  I really haven't missed all the junk, and even with having to eat out while out of town up at PSU, I was still able to lose just by eating lean and clean.  Maybe I can actually keep this up... I am certainly motivated by these results!  I had to lay back down rather quickly after only trying on a few things, but it sure did boost my afternoon!

My pastor and his wife and our visiting guest ministry stopped by to pray over me too.  What a blessing that was to me!  I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow feeling goooooooood!  For now it's back to bed and my ice chips (too nauseated for food).

Wow it's been a while since I've blogged.  I realized I want to return to my blogging roots, which are 1. I wanted to keep a journal online of my daily life (no matter how boring it might be for others to read), and 2. to meet new and wonderful people through the Xanga community, which I've met so many since 2005 and even some in person!  So if I can get back in the habit, I'm back!

This summer is turning out to be all about me haha.  I know that is against everything my Christian faith teaches, but hang on and I'll explain.  Of course, while always and forever keeping Christ the center of my life, I have embarked on a health improvement journey that is starting to show great results!  Hubby and I decided to try out this wellness doctor who combines western medicine with alternative medicine.  So far we love this guy!  We had our first consultation with him in April, followed by extensive testing that could actually tell what condition our bodies were in down to the cellular level.  While I believe Jesus is my ultimate Healer, I also believe He has given medicine and the study of health to gifted men and women to work through them to bring healing as well. 

While supplements are one path towards this physical healing, we are also getting acupuncture and iv vitamin/immune drips.  Me acupuncture - still can't believe it's happening!  But it makes perfect sense to me, addressing the energy system in my body.  I'm already a believer of our nervous system and see a chiropractor on a maintenance level basis.  This energy system is something new to me, but as I'm told very basic to anyone studying medicine, whether it be western or alternative.  Again while I know Jesus could heal me completely and wholly if He so choices, I'm trying to do my part to help feed my body good things like the vitamins.

We started and finished a 10 day detox diet, which basically consisted of fruits and vegetables and allows stuff like olive oil, balsalmic vinegar, spices, etc.  Now we are in the "rest of your life" diet, which has no-no's like sugar and sucralose, white flour, bread in general for me because of yeast issues, caffeine, chocolate, etc.  We are adjusting very well and feeling the benefits, which includes losing 12 pounds to date for me!  We are allowing a "cheat" day once a week, but as we are finding out cheating too much on that day only results in feeling sick because the body just isn't used to that junk anymore.

Around the same time we started this journey, we joined our local LA Fitness gym, using personal trainers to help get our bodies in shape.  That is working out great - painful (good pain they say haha) but getting results!  I was in a place where I just couldn't get started working out on my own at home using our home gym.  So this personal trainer method is truly working for me because I have to schedule my sessions, and I need 24 hours to cancel.  So if I wake up sleepy I can't just blow off my workout because it involves another person and their livelihood. 

Needless to say doing all this with hubby at my side has made all the distance.  I can't imagine success if I didn't have his full support, so thanks Robert! You're amazing and a huge blessing to me!!  Buddy systems are so great!

So that is what's new with me.  A new me in the making!  Of course I've been golfing and enjoying summer, and I've been on a painting and decorating kick as well.  You wake up one morning and realize you've been in your new home too long to not have done hardly anything with it to make it yours.  That's been my kick in the butt! haha  One project at a time it's coming together, slowly but surely.  Maybe in a few more years it'll be all done haha!  I find the process quite enjoyable, exhausting at times, but loving the finished results!

This next week we are heading up to Penn State to spend some time with our son and also to use a gift we received - two nights and three days at a lovely golf resort in State College.  Hubby's birthday is Wednesday, so it should be a fun time!

Blessings on your day!