Christianity

An Old Journal

Posted on May 29, 2019 by The Healthy Habit Lady

Recently, as I was packing up boxes of books for my upcoming move, I found several of my old handwritten journals.  My teenage son was fascinated to see so many books in my handwriting.  So, just for fun, I picked a random page to read … the picture below is where I landed.   At this time of this entry, I was very overweight and working as a Training Director in Richmond, VA.  ~ in the midst of hiring new staff. Meanwhile; I often wrote about wanting to lose weight and changing my habits or how I simply MUST exercise.  I would get motivated, but it was fleeting.  I would start and stop, over and over again.  I often became paralyzed by analysis paralysis in my overly eager desire to plan every detail, to ‘get ready’ to make a change.   Yet change never happened, and if it did, it did not last.  Simply put, I failed dozens of ways before I ever achieved success in weight loss.

So what changed?  My mindset.  My focus.  Instead of trying to change my whole life on the proverbial ‘Monday’ that never comes, I focused on just changing one bad habit, just one thing.  Once I replaced a bad habit with a better habit, I moved on to the next challenge.  The very first thing I did was give up Mt. Dew because I was drinking it like water and I knew it was terrible for my body.   I didn’t worry about my nutrition or my exercise routine, counting calories or any of that, I just focused on giving up Mt. Dew and drinking water.

I often tell people I lost 175 pounds 5 pounds at a time.  Seriously, I only focused on five pound goals.  Now I am in maintenance mode and have been for over five years.  Are my habits perfect?  Of course not.  Do I have room for improvement?  Always.  Do I have saggy skin and stretch marks in places?  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.   To God be the glory for this marvelous mess of a temple that I enjoy.

Now while I’ve been a bit stressed and in transition, preparing for the move and selling my home, shifting my career, etc. ~ I think it is important to recognize when the good Lord sends us love notes of light.  Even when those notes are in your very own handwriting.

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

OldHandwrittenJournal

 

Categories: Books, Christianity, Fitness | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Debraology

Posted on February 23, 2016 by The Healthy Habit Lady

Well, yes I go by ‘The Healthy Habit Lady‘ in this thing called a blog ~  but I do have a real name, and it is Debra.  I think most of you know that.  I was challenged to do a blog post and call it Debraology with all these silly questions, so my readers get to know me better. Well, I think I’m pretty transparent and forthcoming with information, but regardless, here it goes.  It’s long, so get comfy.

FOODOLOGY

What is your salad dressing of choice? that would require me eating salad and I do not
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Texas Roadhouse
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Cheerios
What are your pizza toppings of choice? I do not eat pizza either
What is the most disgusting food you’ve ever tried? spoiled milk
Favorite Wine?  Red (I think) … just getting started in that

TECHNOLOGY

How many televisions are in your house? 4
What color cell phone do you have? gold
iPhone or Android?  iPhone 6+
Mac or PC? Both but I prefer PC

BIOLOGY

Are you right-handed or left-handed? right
Have you ever had anything surgically removed from your body? yes
Have you ever broken a bone?  yes
Have you ever been knocked unconscious? never
Eye color?  Green – some say Hazel
Blood Type?  B+

BULLCRAPOLOGY

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? not a chance
If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Goddess
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000? not even for a million
Church of your choice?  Episcopal presently but has many others in the past
Dream job that you’ll probably never do?  Radio DJ / announcer
Do you drive over the speed limit?  I plead the 5th

FAVORITOLOGY

Season? Autumn
Holiday? My Birthday
Day of the week? Sunday
Number? 13
Flower?  Purple Iris
Candy?  Werther’s
Cabin in the woods or The Ritz Carlton?  Cabin, hands down

CURRENTOLOGY

Missing someone? yes
Mood? Optimistic
What are you listening to? a dog snore
Watching? two cats chase each other
How many pairs of flip flops do you own? none – I don’t like them
Will you leave the house without makeup on?  Yes, of course
The last lie you told yourself?  I’m not sick

RANDOMOLOGY

First place you went this morning? the bathroom 🙂
What’s the last movie you saw? Star Wars
Do you smile often? Yes and without effort
Do you always answer your phone? no
It is four in the morning and you get a text, who is it? daughter
If you could change your eye color what would it be? I wouldn’t
What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? I don’t
What’s on your wish list for your birthday? that I get another one
Can you do push ups? if it is absolutely necessary
Can you do a chin up? not likely
Does the future make you more nervous or excited? always excited
Ever been in a car wreck? yes
Do you have an accent? I don’t think so – but give me some more time in TX
What is the last song to make you cry? Butterfly Kisses
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? No
Name 3 things you bought yesterday? fuel, ginger snap cookies and milk
Current hate/dislike right now? political ads
Someone who changed your life? Jesus
How did you bring in the new year? in Wisconsin
What song represents you? Hats by Amy Grant
Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? no way – I live in the present
Do you cry at movies?  Not usually
Who is the last person you talked to on the phone? my dad
Are most of the friends in your life new or old? great mix of both
Do you like pulpy orange juice? nope
What is something your friends make fun of you for? not eating pizza
Have you ever ridden on an elephant? not yet
When is the last time you ate a grilled cheese sandwich? last week
What song(s) do you want played at your funeral? “More Than You’ll Ever Know” by Watermark, “Father’s Eyes” by Amy Grant or “Thank You” by Ray Boltz
What is the most fun thing you did this week? State Park in Mineral Wells
What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Praise God for another day

MineralWellsPark

 

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

 

Categories: Challenge, Christianity, Fitness | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Books That Changed My Life

Posted on January 13, 2015 by The Healthy Habit Lady
My Son Reading The Bible

My Son Reading The Bible

So, you’re not a reader.  Well  – – read a book anyway.  Make the time.  Sometimes ya just gotta do it.  I have several that earn that phrase ‘changed my life’.  I’m not an avid book reader in that I have piles and piles laying around to step over; but I do like to read.  I like non-fiction as well as fiction.  I like real books as well as my Kindle.  I do own entire too many books that sit on my shelves; despite the hundreds I just recently gave away and donated.  Yes – – we own a lot of books.

But nonetheless; here is my list of books that I read at different times in my life, for different reasons, and they each affected me in great ways.  I inhaled them all word by word.  So, thus, they are highly recommended by little ole me.  They are not in any particular order, although I will confess that I read the Spark Book first.  Well; actually I read the Bible first; but I’m not included that in this list.  But let’s just say the Bible obviously changed my life far before any other book ever did, can’t forget my little Jesus plug, now can I? 🙂

SparkBookEatCleanDietFamKidsBook DanielPlanBookTheHungerFixBook MadeToCraveBook DesignatedFatGirlBook PUSHBookImage CompoundEffectBook

Meanwhile; I am working on writing a book this year; or finishing one rather.  I have many titles and manuscripts rolling around in my head, but first and foremost look for a title to be published this year by The Healthy Habit Lady; and maybe, just maybe, someone will put ME on their list of books that helped them change their habits.

Picture taken April 2007

And while I’m on the subject of books, I feel I should mention that I happen to have a handwritten copy of a cookbook my mother kept.  Really, it’s just a spiral notebook of sorts, but she was an artist and talented in oh so many areas; so this book is mighty precious to me.  I cling to it, as you can imagine.  Since I lost my mom at 17 years of age; it’s not like I can call her up for advice, so it’s kind of sweet to have her handwritten words on paper and some of her tips on cooking.  So yeah, that book kinda changed my life too; but sorry, you can’t order it from Amazon. This photo was taken in April of 2007 when I was having way too much fun with my daughter in the kitchen and we were playing with some flour.

Blogs/websites that I highly recommend are:

http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/

What Is ARFID?

http://madetocrave.org/

http://danielplan.com/

http://www.sparkpeople.com/

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

Categories: Books, Christianity | Tags: , , , | 3 Comments

Trash Talk

Posted on January 9, 2015 by The Healthy Habit Lady

Do you judge people’s grocery carts when you shop?  Are you a crunchy mama who sees an overweight woman with three kids hanging on her heels, dressed in shabby clothes, paying with a Welfare/Food Stamps card .. and judge her for the chips and soda or junk food in her cart?   Or are you oblivious to what other folks are buying and doing, texting while you’re in line, impatiently waiting your turn?

Do you judge people by the trash in their vehicle?  If someone offered you a ride and you climbed into their minivan; and there were cracker crumbs everywhere, and crumbled up fast food bags, tons of balled up receipts, straw wrappers, soda cans, maybe even cigarette packs … what would you think?  Would it bother you or would you even notice?

Do you judge the Perfect Polly who seems to have everything in order, amazing marriage, fabulous house, talented kids, spotless record, flawless skin, tight and tone body … envy her and wish things came so easily for you like they do for Polly? Only later you find out she actually envies YOU and often has thoughts of escaping or running away?

Okay … so now think about the crime shows or movies where there’s a murder or someone goes missing.  They immediately start picking that person’s life apart (the victim).  They go through their financial records, their phone records, their GPS whereabouts, their computer and internet history, etc.  The authorities even go through their house, their closets, their trash, their purse/wallet, desk at work, locker at the gym, medical records, etc.  The detectives pick apart that person’s life looking for clues, right?

NOW .. stick with me a moment … what if YOU went missing right now?  Right this moment.  No time to prepare, no time to hide your secrets or cover your tracks or clean up your messes.  Your disappearance would be a mystery and the authorities would start picking apart your life, inch by inch, minute by minute, text by text.  They would talk to your neighbors and co-workers and relatives, and even your enemies (or perceived enemies).  They would talk to your dry cleaner and your pharmacist and your banker and everyone in between.  What do you think these people would say about you?

What conclusions would they draw about you?  What would they determine about your habits and your whereabouts? What would they discern about your character and your relationships?

NOW — Imagine yourself in a little floating bubble looking down on these frenzied detectives picking apart your life.  Would you be embarrassed?  Would you be happy with the conclusions taking place?  Would you be content with the legacy you’d left behind?  Would you have regrets?  Would you be proud?

But guess what ?!  You. Are. Not. Dead!  You’re probably not even missing.  If you’re reading this, and you’ve stuck with me this far, then this is really good news.  You’re not in a bubble.  There’s probably not even anyone going through your trash 🙂  The only one aware of your every move and every thought is God.  SO, go talk to Him … He is listening.  And truly, HE is the only Judge that matters anyway.

It’s not too late.  If you do not like the way you’re life looks from the outside looking in, or from the inside looking out … now is a perfect time to do something about that.  Remember:  If nothing changes, nothing changes.  Toss those negative thoughts and toxic talk straight into the TRASH … and start building some healthier habits, day by day.

YanLamTrash

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

Categories: Christianity, Motivational | Tags: , , , | 3 Comments

Answered Prayer

Posted on July 4, 2014 by The Healthy Habit Lady

I wrote this poem a long time ago in honor of adopting our daughter.  She moved in with us when she was four years old, and it took us two yeas, but she was finally adopted into our family 2 years later.  She’s been with us the whole time.  She’s an amazing young lady.  She is now 17.

Answered Prayer

By: Debra Sue Higginbotham
a.k.a. Healthy Habit Lady

All material is hereby copyrighted.

 

Sitting herewith stars in my eyes,

thinking a thousand

thoughts of you.

Quietly wondering,

then I realize –

what I did

to deserve you.

I think the thing

that I did right

was ask for you

in prayer.

Before I slept

most every night,

God assured me

you were out there.

Now here you are

all in my heart,

a treasure

for me to keep.

And now I know

the sweetest part

is Singing you

to sleep.

 v8
As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady
Categories: Christianity, Poetry | Tags: , | Leave a comment

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