POA

So I've come up with a Plan Of Action and calling it my POA. (I like acronyms)

First off, I have to remind myself that this is not a quick fix.  It is hard that things take a long time as we live in a Veruca Salt kind of world.  We want it now...enter fad diets and quick surgeries.  The unfortunate part is that people don't realize what these types of things do to your body. Without a lifestyle change, those "quick fixes" mean nothing.  Most just yo-yo back and forth in weight, which isn't good for your body either.  I am definitely guilty of that.  You have to be ready to change.

I am ready to change.

I am changing what I do. 
I used to have my kids run up the stairs for me quick to get something.  Now, I have to catch what I am saying, and do it myself.  I try to go up and down the stairs as much as I can every day.  I try to pick up as many things as possible, as bending over lots exercises my core.  I try and do squats as I clean to help. 
I also get up and exercise.  Like real exercising.  If I don't do it in the morning, it doesn't happen.  I try to get somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes of cardio in, then if I have time, do something else like abs, legs, arms, core, etc. Those are harder to do.  I would prefer to be starting breakfast as my kids get up so they can have a healthy breakfast too.  Ideally it would be nice to be showered and ready for the day before they get up as well.  Most days that doesn't happen, but I would like it to.

I am changing what I eat. 
This is one of the hardest things for me.  I love food.  And I mean really LOVE food.  I love to cook and bake and decorate cakes, and cupcakes.  I also love to eat what I make, because it tastes good.  After my second baby I had really decided to try out this Mediterranean diet.  I wasn't a huge fan of the recipes, but the portion control was what got me.  I was able to lose about 20 lbs. just doing portion control without exercise.
I am back on that bandwagon.  I am trying not to tell myself that I can't have anything.  I have noticed on the days that I am doing good with my portions and eating the right types of food, I don't crave or even think about sweets and junk that I otherwise want after a meal. 

I am changing how I feel about myself.
While losing weight is a great thing, and being healthy an even better one, the most important is that I learn to care for myself.  If I truly love myself, the other things will come that much easier.  So in a way, I am doing the former two so that I can change how I feel about myself and vice versa. 
However, I am also doing other things that help me recognize my self worth a little more.  I am studying my scriptures more and better.  This has helped immensely.  I am a child of God.  This is never so evident as when I am studying His words.  I am saying prayers more often.  I know that He is there, I know that He knows me, and I know that He loves me.

By doing these things, I know that I will get results.  I know that they won't come quickly, but they will come if I keep doing it.  I just have to be like Dori and "just keep swimming."