Made to Crave is made for a give away! :)

On this journey to FABULOUS, it's always great to get a little help from a friend. And, my good friend, Lysa TerKeurst, has given me 5 copies of her latest book, Made to Crave! I'm so excited because this New York Time's Bestseller is not a diet "how-to" book, it's all about finding our "want-to" and learning to put God in food's place in our lives. Something I desperately need to train myself to do!

I can't say enough about Lysa and her impact on women's lives all around the world. As the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries (and a two-time guest on Oprah), she writes and speaks to the female heart with the understanding of a best girlfriend. I've been privileged to work with Lysa as the radio consultant for the Proverbs 31 Ministries one-minute radio program for women for about 7 years now. Wow, has it really been that long? Actually, I started working with them in 2003, so it's more like 8 years! Shew! Time doesn't just fly, it jettisons!

Anyway, I'd suggest taking some time to learn more about Lysa at www.lysaterkeurst.com. Her life is full of stories I know you'll relate to and her daily blog is refreshing!  Plus, right now she's doing a live podcast series on Made to Crave on Monday nights. You can read about that at her site, too. It's a lot of fun on top of being inspirational and informational!

So, how am I going to give away these little books that have been hard to get lately? I'm simply going to do a random drawing. But, there's more...so stay tuned!

All you have to do to win the book is sign up to follow my blog right here (www.tellmeitsnottoolate.blogspot.com). That's it. But, do it right away because I will draw the five winning names from the list of all my followers this Friday (2/4/11) at noon, central time.

Now for the "there's more"... Whether or not you win the book from me, I'd like to invite you to a cyber book club. Each week we'll read one chapter of Made to Crave and go through the discussion questions together through my blog. I'll post my answers to the questions and look forward to having a great conversation with you as you post YOUR answers or other comments. We'll begin with the questions for Chapter 1 on Monday, February 21, 2011. I'll post my thoughts by that evening and we'll continue with Made to Crave Mondays until we finish the book and are ready for bikinis, ha!. Seriously, I'm looking forward to drawing closer to God and allowing Him to take the priority in my life that I've freely handed over to food for several years now.

OK, good luck! Remember to sign up to follow the blog so you can be eligible to win! And, I'm looking forward to a whole new way to travel together along the road to becoming FABULOUS!!!!

FABULOUS news!

I just got a stack of Lysa TerKeurst's brand new book, Made to Crave, in the mail. Thanks so much to Lysa and my good friends at Proverbs 31 Ministries. (LOVE YOU, LADIES!)

Here's the thing...I'm working out the details for the give away. So, over the weekend, make sure you sign up to follow the blog (that's the first step) and I'll let you know soon how we're going to give these New-York-Times-bestselling babies away! If you don't know about the book, it's all about learning to find our fulfillment in Jesus, not food, or whatever you tend to crave above God. And, it's FABULOUS!

SO EXCITED!

Need some encouragement for a rough Tuesday?

Hey, my FABULOUS friend! I don't know about you but this is a toughie Tuesday for me. I'm EMOTIONAL (thanks for that, Eve, ha ha!) and having a bit of a fibromyalgia flare up. On top of that, my husband's sick and my parents are dealing with some pretty rough stuff, too. I've also been feeling down about the struggle to have a second child recently. I know God is good and has my best in my mind (even if it's not what I'm hoping for), but it's been a difficult road these past few years, especially the last several months.

SSSSOoooooooooo, needless to say I'm feeling less than motivated in the healthy choices and actions department this morning. Can ya relate? Don't ya just hate how our feelings and emotions can keep us from taking care of ourselves? Why is it that I never think, "Man, it's been a hard day, I think I need to go run a mile or two to unwind!"? Instead it's vegging out in front of the TV after my daughter's tucked in bed or calling it an "all diets off" night and making a call to the Hut to order something sufficiently artery-clogging in which to drown my sorrows. Am I alone here?

If not, then I think we could use some extra encouragement today. Maybe you saw this on my Facebook page. Sorry to repeat if that's the case. But, you might want to watch it again. It's just that good. My friend, Olivia Ward, is a contestant this season on the Biggest Loser and she's a true inspiration. Watching her pour out her feelings and concerns about her Opera career and her desire to have a baby and doing whatever it takes to be healthy is a kick in the tush for me, and maybe it will be for you, too. In a NICE way! ;)


http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/video/ep-1103-week-3-purples-worry/1270579/


Well, that's all for now. Please let me know how you're doing and let's keep praying for each other on this journey! LOVE!!!

NOT a fabulous excuse...

OK, I think I can add this one to my list of the worst excuses for NOT exercising! This morning I was planning to head to the gym to work out after taking Alyssa to pre-school. I had the BEST intentions, seriously. Then, Jeremy came into the bedroom and said, "There's NO HOT WATER!" The hot water in our shower tends to freeze when it gets below 20 degrees for too long. So, we leave the hot water running just a little during these really cold days to keep that from happening. Well, apparently it was SO COLD last night that even leaving the water running didn't keep the hot from freezing up. So, in my mind, I'm thinking, "I can't go work out if I can't take a shower. I'd be all stinky for work and family worship later today and tonight." Then I thought, "Well, I COULD take a shower at the gym after I work out!" But, then I thought about HOW COLD it is and running around the locker room trying to get in and out before my very blood freezes solid. I was even able to convince myself that my rushing around on those slippery floors would almost guarantee a major slip-and-fall incident that would most certainly require an ambulance ride to the hospital and we definitely don't need an emergency room co-pay right now! SHEW! So, that's how I arrived at the decision that I absolutely could not work out today. Then, as I was driving Alyssa to school I realized, "I could have gone to my parents' house and used their tread mill and their shower. DUH!" Oh, well, too late now. Another workout routine skipped due to the faulty logic of a not-yet-disciplined-40-year-old-brain!

Well, I'm not going to let this lapse get me down. It's just one minor hiccup on the road to FABULOUS, right? There will be more workouts to actually get to and more reasons to congratulate myself for healthy food choices. THIS is not going to defeat me!

So, can I encourage you...don't let whatever failure(s) you've experienced this week defeat YOU, either! We're in this together, my FABULOUS friend! Let's go into the weekend with confidence that we are slowly making the changes that will last a lifetime!!

Hello, remember me?

My FABULOUS friend, I missed you! Don't know if you've missed me but I've been away from the blogging thing for quite a while and it's SO good to be back. I could say it was the Holidays that kept me silent. I could say it was my hectic schedule. And, I'd be correct. Partially...

I need to be honest with you, though, and say that I was going through a bit of a depression during the end of 2010. Being overwhelmed with all that I desired for my life...to be healthy...to have another child...to truly follow God fiercely...and not seeing any real movement or change in these areas started to take its toll. ESPECIALLY since I turned 40 back in June. I started thinking less of myself and getting really irritable really easily. So, I kind of withdrew from talking about those changes that I'd like to see take place in my life.

Part of what has helped me through these past few weeks has been talking with a really good Christian counselor. She's been helping me to see that it's good to want to make changes but that when that desire comes with so much self degradation and self defeat...it can only lead to depression, anger, and a hard heart. Which was pretty much where I was.

So far, the beginning of 2011 has been lighter and brighter. I've been putting less pressure on myself. I've been spending more time reading the Bible just because I want to. (I've been praying for God to put that desire on my heart and, wouldn't ya know it, He's been listening and answering!) I've been getting to the root of my emotions instead of burying them in food. (Lots of prayer for THAT, too!) So, I've been experiencing a more positive outlook lately and am looking forward to that continuing with God's help!

Another resource that's beginning to have a lot of impact on my heart and emotional well being is the new book, Made to Crave, by my good friend Lysa TerKeurst. Lysa's the President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and one of the hosts of their one-minute radio program as well as the author of several books. And, although my friendship with Lysa over the years has been fantastic, I can easily say that this book has hit me in a way none of her other  writings (as great as they are) have. I'm sure it's because it's hitting me right in the face with what I've been doing...craving food more than God over and over and over and over again! Can you relate? If so, I highly recommend this book.

So, this is the rollercoaster of a journey I've been on lately. And, while I'm starting to see an upswing, I realize that there will always be the dips and the loopdey-loops and the stomach-churning twists. However, I'm starting to enjoy the ups and downs a little more each day. How about you? Where are you on this journey toward FABULOUS? Have you given up? Are you flying high? Somewhere in between? Let's ride the coaster together! I'd love to read your story, so please leave a comment if you've been so kind to take the time to read my thoughts! LOVE to you. Oh, and as I close, I want to include a link to Lysa's controversy-stirring article recently on CNN.com. She does a great job of describing the struggle many of us who follow Chirst encounter when trying to "will" ourselves thin. Let me know what you think. And, beware, many of the comments on the original article are positive, but many are NOT. Lysa told me, "If you're going to read the comments, make sure you have your big-girl pants on!" :) Have a FABULOUS day, my friend!

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/30/my-take-when-the-fat-girl-got-mad-at-god/?iref=allsearch

Becoming FABULOUS with a few friends!

Hello! How goes it in YOUR journey toward becoming FABULOUS? Honestly, I'm having my up days and my down days. This weekend has seen me down and out a little due to a fibromyalgia flare-up. Resting and avoiding junk food seems to helping a little bit. And, the patience of my overly sweet hubby man! ;)

One thing I'm realizing in big ways these days is that an important part of this journey is learning to Open Yourself Up to Your Friends! When I let down my walls and really confide in my friends I find my heart freeing itself of anger, bitterness, and frustration. I always wonder why I didn't open up sooner. Can you relate?

Well, I'm hoping to do a little Opening Up tomorrow morning as I have the awesome opportunity to spend some time with some new girlfriends at First United Methodist Church in downtown Peoria. I'm SO looking forward to meeting everyone and talking about that journey to become FABULOUS! It's tomorrow morning at 9:15, so if you think of it, could you send up a quick prayer for God to be over all the preparations on their side and mine and to use the opportunity to do His will, and not mine?! Thanks and have a great, or rather a FABULOUS, rest of your Sunday!

My Workout Confession

It's time to come clean. I have a secret that has been weighing heavily on my conscience. It's not so much a dirty little secret as it is a sad, pathetic little secret. And, I've been hiding it long enough. The Bible says we should confess our wrongs to each other, so brace yourself. Here comes my workout confession!

I secretly wish for a text every morning I'm supposed to meet my friend Katie and I feel terrible about it! Three times a week she is so kind to travel all the way to my home at an unheard-of-pre-dawn time just to help me train for the Jingle Bell run coming up on December 4th. She does this because she's an incredible support. She believes in me and my efforts to become FABULOUS. And, she agrees that part of becoming FABULOUS is understanding that healthy habits are crucial. I can't put into words how much I appreciate Katie helping me week after week. She's an amazing friend, and I'm fortunate to know her. Still...every morning we're supposed to meet I continue to hope for a text from her.

I'm ashamed to admit that still, six weeks into my training, my ears itch to hear that little bling-bling-bling that tells me there's a message waiting. A message that says Katie can't make it...she overslept, she forgot, or (gasp) she's not feeling well. Isn't that pathetic?! How could I secretly hope even for my dear friend to come down sick just so I don't have to get up before the sun and go out in the cold to face yet another 20-30 minutes of pushing my lumpy body up and down the hills of the main street near my home? I know...it's sad. To go so far as to even wish for sweet Katie to come down with a cold, so that I don't have to exert myself. Granted, I don't wish for anything serious like the flu. I would never go that far. But, I really wouldn't mind a little case of the sniffles or upset tummies. I am a monster! Thank God Katie continues to come through for me despite my wishes otherwise. She's a much better friend to me than I am to her...that's for sure! So, tonight, I'm going to pray that I don't wish for a text tomorrow morning. And, that in all circumstances my only wish, hope, or prayer for my friend is for peace, love, and 100% good health.

Am I the only pathetic one? Please tell me you have a workout confession as well. If not, please pray for me!