More Scenes from Camp - Wednesday

World view camp is different from other camps that youth can attend. There are 26 hours of lectures on understanding your world view and others' world views. There are lectures on leadership. There are sessions where current movie clips are viewed and discussed with an eye to world view. Daily spiritual disciplines are taught and practiced. There are a zillion "team work" activities - sports, zip lines etc. that illustrate a Biblical worldview in practice. They also take a day and commute to Austin, where they share Jesus on campus. It's a very focused week and they are blessed to be sitting under some of the very best authors/lecturers on the topic.

Jared & Jamin have a practice of being up and in the Word every a.m. at 6 - the house is quiet these mornings with them gone. It's fun to see photos of them continuing that practice at camp - nicer setting. LOL

Jamin's witnessing group in Austin - I'm SURE this was stretching for the boys!Jared's group in Austin

Camp IS expensive. Our children have not gone to camps or retreats as the norm. We felt this was a great opportunity for them. World View Academy travels - but their home base is in New Braunfels, (home of the Schlitterbaun) TX. They put on an annual fall event for homeschoolers. We had hoped the boys would attend and were thrilled when they caught the vision and earned the money themselves. The camps are for 13 - 18 year olds. Jared is young to attend - 13....but we knew his maturity level could handle it, and we aren't sure if we'll be here in future years. He wanted to go badly. He sure worked his tail off to make it. ::snort:: We wish that the older three could have attended but the ages were never "right" when we've been in TX.

Some have asked about the photos. They take a lot of photos everyday. They are of all the campers....I am simply saving the ones of the boys from the website. I love this aspect of camp - makes us feel a small part of their experience.

Insanity...some thoughts! ::grin::

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Albert Einstein

This is a familiar quote. In January my dietitian shared it with me. It's big at Curves. It has applications to all of life. Great quote. I'm in a quandary. I've not decided what I will do about my quandary.

January 2007 I had been stuck at 160 forever (OK just since having Stacia but it FELT like forever since weight usually comes off in 6 months for me). I went to see the dietitian on base because of my high cholesterol numbers and she suggested I eat more (up to at least 1200 calories) and eat lots of produce and fiber. She also told me that I AM older and DO have a thyroid disease and so we need to focus on a healthy metabolism and expect slow weight loss. Get those cholesterol numbers down. I attended her class. I began to lose weight. I was doing a 45 min step routine 5 days a week and a bike ride the other two days.

February 2007 - The exercise physiologist on base suggests that a "curves type" circuit training is the very BEST workout for women trying to lose weight. It protects your metabolism by building muscle and strength while you lose weight. It is also a cardio workout. I now weigh 145. I sign up. Curves says I should be eating 1600 calories a day. Debbie, the dietitian, says 1200 - 1400 a day is fine with all the produce I eat - as long as I'm still losing weight I know my metabolism has not been compromised.

March 2007 - Mike returns home. I now weigh 139. I get pregnant....I still work out but really struggle to eat. I gain up to 148 by the time I have 2 months off exercise and miscarry.

June 2007 - I'm back to Curves. I'm eating again. I'm at 142 and we go on vacation...for nearly 6 weeks - no exercising and road food...but lots of fun!

July 2007 - Back home - working out 5 times a week at Curves. I'm now 148 after the trip. I'm stuck.

August 2007 - Still eating 1200 calories, adjust workout to 3 x a week and add 2 step workouts back...gain to 150. I'd say I'm still stuck and I'm still doing 10 - 13 servings of protein a day at 1200 calories. Is this insanity?

September 2007 - Curves 6 week eating solution - First two weeks - they say 1200 calories but WOW - lots of protein. I try. I go from 149 - 147 the first week. Still eating 1200 calories and such - trying desperately to take vitamins, add protein, count fiber, carbs et al.

October 2007 - Enter phase 2 of Curves - calories up to 1600 and protein up to 120 g a day (about 6 chicken breasts). I'm on the high carb plan - those on high protein are happily eating MORE than 120 grams of protein a day. I'm eating cheese, eggs, beans, nuts etc to try to get the protein. I'm staying the same. I'm told "eat more protein", "don't worry about the fat", "eat less produce". I try. I weigh today - I'm 150!

A few thoughts: I weigh more NOW than I did when I joined Curves or when I began this "weight loss solution" 3 weeks ago. ::snort:: I understand that since I'd been stuck at 1200 calories that is a sign that my metabolism has adjusted to 1200 calories. I know that Debbie had talked about adding calories when that happened. I'm content to continue on another month at this program and see what happens - I guess. Curves has a plan to raise your metabolism and I think that is where I should have begun and not at the start of their solution since I've been really eating at their "phase one" since January.

For those who are new to my ramblings...I STRUGGLED to eat 1200 calories. I had been eating about 800 a day. I know that I need to eat more. The problem is with this weight loss solution,
I feel MISERABLE. All this extra food, protein, calcium, vitamins and calcium supplements, less produce has me feeling bloated, sluggish, and constipated....and 3 lbs heavier than when I was stuck on the 1200 calorie plan. I read the Curves book and it says that when you are building metabolism you let yourself eat the higher calories, gain up to three pounds and then go back to 1200 long enough to lose them and it takes longer and longer to reach those 3 pounds of gain as your metabolism adjusts to the new calories you are giving it. When you eat the higher calories for a month, without gaining, you know that you've raised your metabolism to that new level. THEN you can begin dieiting again to lose the weight. I'm giving you the digest version of this. It makes sense. It agrees with what Debbie and Gary at the base said.

Here's the thing - I feel SICK with all these supplements and protein and such in my system. I'm not sure if I should stick with this another 3 weeks and see if things settle down and I adjust to this....or throw it all out the window.

I understand and agree with the Curves circuit training in principle but obviously I was losing weight much quicker and steadier when I did aerobics 5 days a week. BUT building muscles is what Gary and Debbie said would help my metabolism....so here I am. I'm not sure what to do....

I'm thinking of taking this all in and visiting with Debbie, the base dietitian, again. This seems like a lot of protein....and I can't help but wonder what happens with my cholesterol now that I'm eating less produce and more fat. KWIM? Debbie, had said that a woman only needed 24 - 42 grams of protein a day - Curves has me at 120 and that's lower than the "high protein" plan for carb addicts. I've NEVER been able to make the 120 grams in a day. I think my top day was 40 some grams. At Curves I'm encouraged to stick with it. I'm told dieting won't work (which I believe). I'm told insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results....but I'm thinking this Curves eating thing is wreaking havoc with my system and isn't working either....so is it realistic to give it 3 more weeks....or insanity to give it 3 more weeks?

Yes, I'm a teacher by gift and nature. That translates to a person that wants the facts. I've done the research. I've asked questions. I'm not sure that the trainer at Curves is seeing the total picture - in other words I do have other health issues too and I'm not sure that she knows what else to offer me than to say "keep eating this way and eventually it will work"....but I am concerned about MORE than just the stubborn weight...I'm concerned about my cholesterol....my blood pressure has spiked a few times in the last 3 weeks...I need to keep my metabolism revved up (which IS what Curves is ALL about). I'm simply not feeling good eating this way. Debbie has more education. I believe she can look at more options than just the one she's been trained to teach. I don't know what I'm saying. I'm not sure what to do.

Curves now has food products out that are low carb, high fiber, high protein....the ceral has TBHQ in it and the granola bars have ethanol in them. This is strange to me as all their literature promotes lean protein, whole grains, produce and bioavailable vitamins and such. I plan to write them. ::snort::

Mike says I need to start running with him. ARGH. THEN I'd have joint issues too. Suggestions?

Tuesday Camp Photos

It's not ALL sports and such - I'm noting that Jamin looks exhausted and it's only Tuesday

Throw it, throw it, Jared! Cy bets that Jared is trash talking... LOL I like how they post photos nightly on their website of the day! I can't wait to hear all the boys are learning, thinking, and experiencing.

Tuesday Tidbits

We are not doing Tapestry of Grace this week. We want to stay on the same week as the boys. We're doing more one on one with phonics, math and science. We plan to work on lapbooks and hands on projects the next few days.

I had to call Shop Natural and try to find substitutes for the 3 pages of out of stocks that were on our group order. I am not finding any other company that has truck routes out here....

Several ladies dropped by to pay for this week's produce.

Bible Study - only two more weeks of this study on friendship. It's been easy and yet thought provoking and challenging at the same time - if that makes a lick of sense. We had a new lady tonight - always fun. She and her dh will be organizing the chapel's Christmas Shoe Box "campaign" this year.

I turned the corner on my way home from Bible Study and Mike's Honda began clanking...more than usual. He is saying I broke his car - but honestly it would be hard to do much damage to this car. The muffler had fallen.

I'm calling it a night.

World View Camp

I just discovered photos posted of each day from camp on the website. I found Jared - getting ready to jump off of something high and dangerous looking. I can tell that because I saw the photos of the other kids AFTER they jumped, while they hung and bounced in mid air. LOL

Jared is 3rd from the left

The boys will be having 26 hours of lectures on World View. These lecturers are ones who have written books on Worldview/Leadership. They will also be doing LOTS of team building activities and such. Please pray that this week helps their mind to explode with connections between their Bible studies, their course work in school, the teaching we've provided through the years, and the shape of society. This week could be life-changing for them.

Praying for safety may be called for too. ::snort::

I FORGOT

Ah man - I was so enjoying the little things that matter that I FORGOT totally and completely about speech therapy today. ::snort::

Now I can't sleep because well....I forgot and wasn't able to call and make it right and everyone knows you CAN'T sleep with something like this hanging over your head....so I came to play with the blog instead.

For the life of me I don't know WHY the spaces get all messed up with blogger. LOL

Enjoying the Little Things

I'm in a bit of a melancholy mood today. Nothing has gone quite as planned today. There are simply days like this.

Our house seems really "slow" today. There are only 4 children at home. Josiah has classes and closes every night this week. He won't be home much. Jamin and Jared are at World View Academy. The girls still haven't moved back home. ::snort::

As we drove away from "the ranch" (wow is this a NICE resort/camp), Mike commented something to the effect that "this is what our family is going to look like in a few short years." We've both been trying to process this thought. Wow. Where did all the wonderfully chaotic years go? Four children at home is nearly normal.

We had a great visit with Brad and Brenda. Brenda commented on the energy it takes to keep up with our little ones. I had an epiphany. I realized that most women my age are no longer chasing toddlers around. ::snort:: This gave me a shocking glimpse into why my decriptitude is accelerating and my energy levels are declining - I'm not really doing the typical "aging female" type activities. OK - so QUIT LAUGHING!!! This was a lightbulb moment to me. I'll have to take vitamins and quit worrying about being tired. Most my friends my age have only young adults at this stage in their life...no wonder I'm TIRED! ::snort::

All these thoughts have me melancholy. I feel truly honored and excited that we still have young blessings at home to parent. I miss the older children. I miss the season when we were all under one roof - but I see things clearly now that I missed when the older four were young.

It doesn't really matter if they ace those tests. It doesn't really matter if the house is a mess. It doesn't really matter if they don't care for broccoli. It isn't really going to cause the world to shift if the crayons melt on the car floor. It won't really matter if there is laundry left on the couch. Truthfully, it doesn't really, really matter if I lose or gain two lbs this week....not really.

It's the little things that matter. This week, with just the four of us home, I'm determined to focus on the "little things" that matter. Today we concentrated on some character issues I've been meaning to address, we began talking about what love looks like and we also began a "family way" on cooperating, we co-operated and put up some fall decor (note below), we played games, watched movies, I made bubble scultures while Stacia took a mid-afternoon bath...the little things.....but they matter.

Note (we seem to have lost a box of Thanksgiving/Fall decorations - even checked the attic - where could it have gone???)