From the Trenches

I write about what is healthy and what is not, what is good for you and what will bring you down.  I've been educated and I write about health because I know how it feels to have health problems.

So the last couple months have been really ruff on me, and even more so lately.  I have hypothyroidism.  Which in short means that my metabolism does not work like it should.  So I eat and my body can't use the energies, nutirants, etc.  So if you don't use it you...store it.  And the major set back is not having energy.  Two weeks ago I was crying because I was so so so incredibly tired.

It stinks, but that's my cards, and as long as I keep tabs on my condition I can live with it.

So I wanted you to know that my life/body is not perfect either.  I have issues, but I don't let them be excuses. I make them reasons.

Because I have this I exercise to keep my weight in check.  Because I have this I eat healthy so I can keep my skin, hair, nails as good as I can get them.  So I can have energy to at least smile at my kids.

So what ever you may have or what ever condition your body is in just know that I'm in the trenches with you.  And it's a battle that we can't give up on.  Because if we do then things will only get worse.  Only through nutrition and exercise can we have a greater quality of life.  So stick with it, push through it.  I'm with ya. You wont' regret it.

Image courtesy of graur codrin/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Screen Detox

Hey all,
Sorry I missed last week.  My computer's motherboard fried and my work laptop kicked the bucket too.  What a week for technological disasters.  All my work is done electronically so I was completely useless.

Well not exactly.  I used the time to read and meditate everyday.  My stress level went down 10 notches.  I worked on projects like cleaning the basement- which now looks great.  And I did a lot of quilting.  I'm working on two large twin sized quilts for my boys.  There are sport themed, for their new room this summer.

It was amazing how life these days revolves around electronics and when we shut it all down we can breath again.  (minus the on-line bill pay, not being on top of that for two weeks did get me nervous, and now playing catch up with work)  It really was good for our family. 

For good health I think every 3 months we will shut down for a week and just slow down. I think that is one of the reasons I like camping so much.  No distractions or nonsense.  Just nature, exercise and relaxation. 

Being that this Sunday is Mother's day I really encourage you to toss the electronics until then.  You can focus on your to-do list.  Get those projects done and slow down a bit.  It's a good reminder about what is really important in life: God and family.

Also, I did research on healthy eating on a super tight budget, just to see how little I could spend.  Again you will be amazed!  But for now think about the screen detox.

One last item of business:  Green Giant Chips.  The ingredients did have some pleasing surprises, such as spelt and quinoa.   In my opinion it is the best so called "health chip" there is.  It's still not up to par with a salad or green smoothie of course but for a chip-very good, 5 stars.

Recipe for Life

My husband and I had a discussion this morning about religion and people's views on it.  He is worried about some friends who stopped coming to church and wanted some thoughts on what to do.

My advice?  The Recipe for Life.

I as I do with most things I related them to fitness and health.  But the theory is universally applicable to anything.

I told him of the struggle it is to get out of bed on a cold tired morning with a giant To-Do list and to say "First I must exercise."  It's tough but I do it.  Why?  Because I don't want the other result.  I don't want to be weighed down with excess fat and not have energy to play with my kids(been there) or go hiking.  I don't want any extra (I already have some) health problems complicating life and keeping me on pills, in bed, or the hospital.(seen it) I want a good quality of life more than I want quantity.

Because I don't want any of that I have to act now and every day to make sure that my actions coincidence with the result I want.  It's by looking to the future that we can better judge the present. 

He's remarks were funny yet empowering.  He said "No one wakes up in the morning and says: 'I want to be fat'.  People just don't think like that."

They don't? Maybe we should. It changes everything.

Take Ebenezer Scrooge or the modern version, the film "13 going on 30."  Only through seeing where their present course of life would take them were they able to readjust and commit to change.  They didn't want to be that future person so they lived the present differently.

If we wake up and say who we are and what we want to be, we instantly have a source of power.  Motivation.  A reason for doing what we want to do.  Which then gives us more momentum to recommit to our decision.

That in essence is the Recipe for Life.

If you know how to commit to something, making it a daily or at least regular practice then you can be successful in anything.  Religion, marriage, health, careers.  Because the commitment, diligence, and handwork are all transferable.  Will we be perfect?-No.  But we can get close.  Especially if we plan properly.

That is why if you can live a healthy life you can succeed across the board.  Because you know how to commit and push past the burn.  Nothing worth achieving is easy.  It's not.  But it's just that, worth it.

So the next time you wake up remind yourself who you want to be and take action immediately.  Then just as Ebenezer and Jenna did, keep that goal, that ideal in your heart all day and every day.