I have started the 12's so I will try to post, and comment when I can...cannot wait for them to be over, I will miss you all like CRAZY, but after these I will have 6 days off, so its a pretty good trade I think...Today was a good day in every department...
CALORIE DEPARTMENT:
Woke up to AMAZING steak my favorite food of ALL time, my buddy loves me and loves cooking on the grill. Had some mashed potatoes and little ear of corn. At work we have a man who owns a restaurant in Kansas and comes to the casino to do some gambling, well when he comes he always brings fried rice and egg rolls to us. So I did have a little fried rice and chicken and then when I got home this morning, and still had a steak waiting for me. So well under my calories for the day.
EXERCISE DEPARTMENT:
Well today exercise was GREAT, Sean and I went to the gym and did some more weight training so sore from that, my right arm is soooo much stronger then my left, so it will take some work to get it caught up....Sean was so funny with the weights...below is some weight training pics...ALSO I whipped him all over the place on the racket ball court. He may try to tell you different on this but DON'T believe him..K?
Want to leave you with what has been on my mind since I posted on yesterday.
Sometimes do you feel that your life can change from “Cocoon to Butterfly”? Can you feel something within yourself going through a subtle gestation process? Where changes are occurring, perhaps a new direction your life-yet it is unseen? Do you feel trapped inside the cocoon and you cant seem to free yourself, alone and afraid of what the future holds for you? That you will never become the butterfly that you know you are deep inside?
The Cocoon
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly,
one day a small opening appeared, he sat
and watched the butterfly for hours, as it
struggled to force its body through that little
hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress.
It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could on its
own and could go no further
Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he
took a pair of scissors and snipped off a remaining
bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a swollen body and small shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he
expected that, at any moment , the wings would enlarge
and expand to be able to support the body, which would
contract in time, Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly
spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen
body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not
understand was that the restricting cocoon and the
struggle required for the butterfly to get through
the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid
from the body to the butterfly into its wings so
that it would be ready for the flight once it achieved
its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in
our life. If God allowed us to go through life without
any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not
be as strong as what we could have been when it is
time for us to fly. In your times of trial and tribulation
remember that the stronger you become, the further
and longer for a lifetime, you will fly......
Cheers to new beginnings,
Irene
Beautiful as always my friend! I loved the pics from the gym - I would probably skunk my hubby too if we ever got to one : )
ReplyDeleteI loved the story about the butterfly. Its so true. If losing weight was not a fight, every one of us would never appreciate what it took to get to our goals, and then we'd never stick around long enough to enjoy the fruits of our labors.
Prayers that you get through your 12's and back to a resting point so we'll hear from you again!
lots of love!
When I think of butterflies, I think of the butterfly that killed my father.
ReplyDeleteNo, no... stop crying. Horace is okay. He wasn't really killed by a butterfly. But wouldn't that have been super ironic if he had been?
Hmmmm, maybe I better call him and make sure he's okay. It would have been even more ironic if something happened to him and I was over here saying he'd been done in by a butterfly.
Now I'm all worried. Thanks, Irene!
What an amazing analogy. So true. Wonderfully presented baby. My goodness I love that picture of us on the side---Isn't that crazy to actually "love" a picture? very different perspective.
ReplyDeleteWith all of our struggles over the last 22 years, our wings are strong enough to take us as high as we want to go baby.
I really enjoyed this. And, uh--- I believe I schooled you in the racquetball court. You're settin' your self up for a major racquetball behind whippin' someday soon.
Ugh about the 12 hour shifts---but I'll be patient and wait for those fantastic 6 days straight you'll have off!
Love you girl,
Sean
How great is it that you guys get out together to work out?? Awesome!
ReplyDeleteAnd the butterfly analogy absolutely made me stop and think of the journey i've been taking. Thanks
Loved this, made me well up with tears. Good luck with all the 12's. I would sure love those 6 days off as the reward though.
ReplyDeleteyou and hubby look like two beautiful butterflys fluttering through life together, earning new wings along the way. wow. i loved that story!
ReplyDeletedont bemoan our challenges, embrace them and learn from them! this made my morning irene :)
That was such a great story! I loved it.
ReplyDeleteSo awesome that you skunked the hubby on the court! I won't rub it in too hard when I talk to him... might hurt his man pride. ;-)
x's & o's
Beautiful story - and so true.
ReplyDelete"The shell must break before the bird can fly"
Great comparison. When my wings started to stretch, I felt so incredibly alive. Still do. It's worth every struggle and every ounce of sweat.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really beautiful story Irene. I'm going to think about this as I battle my agoraphobia and fight my way out the front door!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration!
Best wishes,
Bearfriend xx
Thank you for sharing another wonderful, uplifting post. Your poems and stories are always so inspirational.
ReplyDeleteIrene... I hate this time zone difference we have...By the time I get to comment on your blog, heaps of ppl have already commented you popular girl.
ReplyDeleteMay I say to Jack....you are a twitt you funny boy
I was telling Sean to tell you that noone should smile while doing weights girl you are amazing
Sean .... sorry but I bet Irene beat your butt in the game lol
Have a good sleep sweetie xx
What a great post!! I love that analogy!! It's awesome that you are able to share all this with your fam....it's amazing!!
ReplyDeleteBTW, the fact that Sean said, "You're settin' your self up for a major racquetball behind whippin' SOMEDAY SOON" confirms that he got whipped!! lol Nice try Sean!
Take care guys and keep up the great work! ou guys look awesome
Hi Irene - Just been reading your blog for the first time and I loved your writing, particularly the butterfly discussion! Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story! Thanks for the motivation!
ReplyDeleteYour posts are so thought-provoking. You are amazing!
ReplyDeleteLove the butterfly story, that's so inspirational!
ReplyDeleteI guess we are like the butterflies, we are also fighting for our wings... some of us fighting for our lives.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to fly. I can think of wanting to ride a horse again, or a mountian bike, or being able to spike a vollyball.
That poem was moving. Hopefully I can get moving and figure out where my wings are.
After all Foolsfitness is all about the wings... And the Fries and shake!- Alan
Amazing story! Thank you for the key that opened another door in my mind :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing post momma girl!
ReplyDeleteButterflies. I LOVED IT!
I can't wait to see you on Friday!
:)
I love you bunches and bunches, gobs and gobs, lots and lots, forever and always!
Missing my momma like crazy!
xoxoxoxox
-ambeeee
Another great post, you are awesome! You always have such great poems and really good insights...keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI love the butterfly analogy....about the struggles...so, so true. Do you realize how much we're going to appreciate all the hard work we've done when we stand in front of the mirror on the day we reach our goals??? How proud we're going to be???? I wrote a post a while back entitled "April's Butterfly"...check it out when you have time. :)
ReplyDelete