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!

The Power of Fried Chicken!

Did your family have that one thing that your momma or grandma made that was just everybody's favorite???

I love these tradition foods!

I love the anticipation and how people just want to flock to the house and gather round the table. It makes the hard work worth it!

My dad's mom made amazing cheeseburgers. My mom's mom made creamy banana pudding. My momma makes the best sugar cookies around. My husband's mom makes fabulous cakes. His Grandma Ina made scrumptious Christmas brunch.

These ladies all made lots of yummy things, but those are the things we all tend to associate with them, ya know?

So what about me? Well, "my food" is fried chicken!

I didn't set out for it to be. My husband just really liked his mom and grandma's fried chicken, so I just wanted to learn to make it and bless him because we lived away in the military.

The funny thing about the favorite foods seems to be how the recipes get tweaked a little here and a little there until that person knows how to do it and can't really give you exact measurements!

So I just watched and listened and then watched cooking shows and eventually kept tweaking my own recipe until I realized that this was my food.

Somehow fried chicken became the thing my family begs for...the thing friends ask me to make...the thing nieces and nephews whisper in my ear and ask when I'll be cooking it again.

Now, I will admit that I do really love how it tastes and my chicken is my favorite fried chicken, but what I truly relish is that it brings people together!

It's a labor of love, but it's worth every smile and every memory. And I will tell you that I do use it as leverage to get my boys to spend time with me :) "Oh, okay guys, I'll make it, but you have to help through the whole process."

This is the meal they all want for their birthdays. This is the thing they invite friends over for!

Here are some pics of the process. I'd give you the recipe, but then they would all come to your house! Tee hee!

Sorry, this is one we are keeping in the family. Here is a tip though: soaking your chicken for at least 24 hours prior to cooking is key!

Sneak Peek!

Here's a little peek at one of the schoolroom/office projects.

I am super blessed to have lots of littles running around here all the time, and they love making art for me as much as I love receiving it!

I thought we needed a display area so my sweet little neighbor and friend, Addi, helped with some painting. Later, Adalee (my niece) told me where to hang things.

Here are some pics of our work and one of Sethy and Addi creating! (Oh! And one of Tom and Addi having an ice cream break because well, you know, painting can wear a girl down!)

American Summer Porch

I wanted a new porch look for summer, so I opted for All American!

I try to be very practical and buy things I can store and use over and over again. I also new that after having surgery, I wouldn't be able to water flowers on my porch.

I gathered some pretty artificial flowers and containers at the Old Time Pottery store. I picked up a wire wreath, pre-cut quilting squares, and ribbon at a craft store to make a rag wreath. I used a Pinterest tip of tying bandanas at the corners to cover throw pillows we weren't really using. I grabbed some cheap flags at The Dollar Tree and the two red flower pots at Dollar General. I used a couple other things I already had and boom chocka locka, I had myself a new look!

I think this little makeover turned out pretty cute!