What I've Been Up To...

It's been a while since I posted on my blogs because I've been on quite a journey to get back to health. I'm so excited to feel energetic and well again, and I can't wait to share with you how I got here!

In December of 2016, I literally felt like I was dying of something dreadful that no doctor could figure out. My body had so many symptoms, and I was overwhelmed with trying to navigate through it all.

I felt left on my own to figure out what was happening to me, and thankfully, I love to study and research. I found my answers! Through little bits of wisdom and knowledge here and there, I put the puzzle together. Honestly, I give all glory to God because I literally felt like He carried me the whole time.

Fast forward to August of last year when, through an interesting chain of events, I ended up enrolling in a health and life coaching certification program. I was terrified and exhilarated all at the same time!

It's now January of 2018, and I am amazed at where this journey has taken me! My mess is turning into a message!

I'm so excited to be able to help others believe they can walk in whole health. I love to encourage. I love to see others gain hope, perspective, freedom, and understanding.

I know that there are answers out there for any problem we face. I can't wait to share with you what I'm learning!

Lunch Wrap Idea/Intermittent Fasting

I really enjoy getting meal ideas from others so I'm going to try to be better about sharing my own. Currently, I am following the 5:2 Fast Diet plan which is intermittent fasting two days per week. I eat around 500 calories on those two days and up to 2,000 calories on the other five days.

I decided to do this mainly for the health benefits that I believe research is confirming. I do hope I see the added bonus of many pounds dropped too. I still have about 40 I think need to come off.

I'm making progress though! On my other five days, I still follow the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle of eating. This just makes me feel good! I feel so much better keeping my fuels separate and keeping my blood sugar stable.

Here is my lunch for today...a low-carb wrap with chopped, grilled chicken strips that I sauteed in a non-stick skillet with a little dry ranch dressing mix, low-fat veggie cream cheese, a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, and spinach. I had a pickle on the side because it is salty and crunchy and helps me not miss chips so much! I had water mixed with a True Lemon Lemonade pack and my doTerra Lemon oil. I threw in a few cherries for a twist! It was deliciously satisfying!

Let's Talk Nails!!!

I've never had strong nails. Never, ever in my life. Even during optimal eating, I have noticed little difference in the strength or durability of my nails. 

This, unfortunately, seems to be the trend in my Mom's family line for some reason. My Mom takes biotin for her hair and nails. You've probably heard of biotin, as it has been promoted quite a lot lately. 

One day, I had a thought...what if I buy biotin in capsule form and just puncture a hole in the capsule and rub it directly into the nails?

Wouldn't that help the most? It made perfect sense in my head. :)

Well, as it turns out, fingernails must LOVE this stuff! As you can see below, my nails shot out and have remained strong! 

I seriously was amazed! Ever since my hysterectomy, the lack of estrogen hormone in my body has dried my hair, skin, and nails terribly. My fingernails and toenails were bending and ripping off! I'm so excited I found a solution.

Daily application was 1 capsule, punctured and squeezed onto a thumbnail, then massaged into all fingernails and toenails. I did this twice a day.

Of course, once I had some long nails to work with I wanted to paint them! Sadly, I noticed immediately that standard "drugstore" polish didn't help my dryness! Plus, I'm in general just trying to move to less chemicals going in and on my body. I do believe every little bit helps.

I ordered some of this LVX polish because it had great reviews. I have the 3-in-1 Treatment that I use as a base coat, this color that is pictured, and their gel topcoat.

I like how all the polishes went on. The brush was fine. However, my polish peeled off within two days. I was bummed. 

I CANNOT say that the problem is the LVX at all though. I use my doTerra essential oils off and on all day for various things. I'm wondering if they, along with my tendency to not be able to keep polish or artificial nails on long anyway is the true problem. I don't know if there will ever be any way of knowing. 

What I do know is that I like the idea of less chemicals on my fingernails and there is no disgusting odor while I'm trying to apply the LVX. I would definitely buy more, and I think it will work just fine for special occasions or weekends.

Beat That Flesh into Submission!

Hi there :)  It's been over a year since I wrote here. In my last post, I shared that I was going to focus on taking care of myself and building my body back up. That's exactly what I've been doing.

As it turns out, I didn't really understand, at that time, how run-down my body was. After hormone tests, I was instructed to take every opportunity to rest. I even had to be careful with exercise as my body just received it as more stress which perpetuated the cycle of illness.

Finally, though, I now feel like I am coming out on the other side! I have rested...and taken supplements...changed even more eating habits...used essential oils...spent time in prayer...

And now, I'm feeling better than I have in many years! In August, I will turn the big 4-0! My goal hasn't been a certain number on the scale or the tag of my jeans; my aim is to be the strongest I have ever been in my life.

I just want to feel healthy and fit.

I have been following the Trim Healthy Mama way of eating. I do go "off plan" some...usually on the weekend, but I have had great success still. I feel good inside. I have energy again!!!

Yesterday, I started a workout program that I did years ago, but haven't been well enough to do for quite some time. I was nervous giving it a go, mainly fearful that I wouldn't be able to do it and would feel discouraged. 

Good news though...I did it! I made it through, and I made it through well! I kept up and only had to modify the exercises that would put my neck in positions that could trigger a migraine. 

I hurt...but it was normal I-haven't-used-those-muscles-in-ages pain, not awful body issues or fatigue!

So yeah, Day One of my 6 week program done. Today is Day Two. I have just under 5 months until my birthday. I want to hit that target! I want to beat my flesh into submission!  

Getting Back to It!

Hi there :)

It's been awhile. First semester of school about did me in you guys! Yikes! 

We made it through though, and things are going pretty well now. I have cut two things down in my schedule which has helped tremendously.

Right now in Health at our co-op, I am teaching on mental health topics and managing stress and time. I think my sons just saw a very practical life lesson last semester!

But, alas...now I am able to make some time to focus on exercising and taking care of me! Not to sound selfish, but we parents tend to put everyone and everything else first and forget the importance of taking care of ourselves so we can keep giving!

So I am stretching, rebounding, doing some light strength training, and carb-cycling for my diet. Last week was my first week to do this, and it paid off nicely...5 pounds and 2.5 inches lost!!!

I'm sure it was a lot of water, but it still felt great because I was dealing with a lot of inflammation from the holiday eating. 

Hopefully, I can keep going strong and keep building my body up. I'm still a bit tender in my abdomen from my surgery in July, but I'm pressing on and doing what I can. I figure anything is better than nothing. You've gotta start somewhere!

I also have to give a shout out to doTerra Essential Oils company for their Slim & Sassy oil. Wowza! I'm taking 3-4 drops of this a day in a capsule to help curb cravings, and it has made a serious difference for me. I can definitely tell when I haven't used it or it's wearing off. (If you want to check it out, you can visit my doTerra webstore at the link on the sidebar.)

I've used these oils for just a little over a year now, and they have blessed my household so much. I'll try to share some of those stories with you in the coming posts...not to try to sell you something, but so you know that there are healthy options for your family's health and well-being.

Until next time, find some you time, set some goals, pursue them, and share some tips with others!

Meal Planning

Hey there! Are you feeling as busy as I am right now?

Getting back into the school swing can be tricky.  I can't imagine being a momma who works outside of the home as well.  I watch my friends and sisters do it, and I just don't even know how they get it all done!

Our schedule is very different this year than previous years.  Two days per week I am gone all day.  One day I am gone half.  That leaves me three days at home, unless I have to throw in an appointment of some kind.

So I thought I would write about what's helping me get food on the table for my guys each night.

I make meal plans.  

I've done this for the past three years I think.  This can seem overwhelming, I know, especially if you aren't the naturally organized type.  Don't fret though!  You could even start by jotting down on a calendar what you have each night for the next month.  This doesn't have to be complicated okay!

When I started, I just thought about what all we liked to eat and rotated it each month.  Later, I thought about ways I could make it healthier.  This school year, I came up with two months worth of meals!

I basically like to have a lean protein, low-carb starch, and a veggie or two at each dinner.  It doesn't always work out like that and there are times when I just don't feel like cooking so we grab something or do a frozen pizza.  Yep, it happens, and I'm fine with that.  

I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to let mealtime stress me out!  This is real life so let's just be practical.  Some things come easier to others.  Sometimes life's circumstances change our days and we need to do something different.  What I know is that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

I refuse to beat myself up over food! I am committed to making the wisest choicest possible with whatever a day presents.

But, there are some ways to make having a home-cooked meal with decent ingredients happen on a fairly regular basis.

Planning ahead with a meal plan helps take the frustration out of figuring out what to have!  It also helps keep your grocery bill down because you go with a list and stick to it.

When I get home from the grocery, I like to brown all the ground beef or turkey up at once with a little seasoning that works for every dish.  Then, I let it cool down and store it.  When I need it, I simply defrost in the fridge the night before I will use it.  

This has helped my sons learn how to cook things, as well as made my meal prep so fast.  You can also do this with chicken if you want or seal your steak in marinade and feeze it!  Yummo!

I have built in two crockpot meals for the two days we are gone so long.  It's so nice to come into the house and smell dinner ready for us to eat!  On the other nights, I try to use the stuff I have pre-cooked so that a meal doesn't take much work and is usually ready in minutes.

I have watched how planning ahead of time pays off tremendously! Oh, and many times, I will double a recipe while I cook it in the crock and freeze part of it for another meal.

I also have a list of snack foods, breakfasts and lunches that we cycle through each week.  It helps the kids not ask what they can have or are having over and over again!

So be encouraged that a little work to make a plan now can save you oodles of time and energy later.  It's worth the effort!  You can search for other people's meal plans online and get tons of ideas.

Happy planning!

On My Way!

Hi Friends :)

How's everybody doing out there?  

I hope you are continuing to pursue your own ways of living practically in a busy world!

I was hoping to have some more pictures of projects up to show you by now, but getting over the surgery I had in July has really kept me tired.  And getting my kiddos back into the school grind is taking much of my time!

I'm doing great otherwise.  Thank you for the messages and prayers.  I just find myself feeling so anxious to accomplish more things and my body isn't ready quite yet.

So, as always, I don't set my eyes on what I can't do, but what I can!  That's pursuing practical living!

I had to think through with a couple friends what I can do.  

I can stretch daily.  I can walk short distances.  I can use small hand weights.  I can continue to learn about nutrition and exercise.  I can watch what is going into my mouth (and I don't mean as I shove it in there)!

I can read, watch documentaries, teach my children, and encourage friends.

I know well what negative thoughts can do...how they can lead you into discouragement and depression.  I don't want to go back there by thinking on things I can't do or don't have...or people who aren't around or places I can't go.

No.  I have learned that right living begins with right thinking!  So when I can't walk out the steps or do the things I want to do to move in practical living, I make sure I am thinking about it, planning it, and preparing for it for when I can!

I'd like to shout out a thanks especially to my friends Amanda and Andrea who have been such an encouragement to me lately!  You continue to give me hope that things will level out again and this is just a season.

Be blessed today blogger friends!  Rest.  Set your eyes on what you have and what you can do and rejoice with me.

I love what Joyce Meyer says, "I'm not where I want to be, but thank God, I'm not where I use to be!"  Amen sister!