"We're not ghosts. We have bodies. And they need stewarding"

"We’re not ghosts. We have bodies. And they need stewarding. Maybe you need to do a few things for your health, too, but you think you’d rather take a sharp stick in the eye. I won’t hound you. I’ll just let God hound you. Otherwise you might think that misery just loves company. And let’s admit it. It does. "

An appropriate remark from one of my most beloved teachers, Beth Moore.  She knows the importance of "body maintenance".  This brings to mind that the battle isn't just with our bodies, it is in our minds.  Our thoughts sometimes need a swift kick out of our brains!! Let's face it (because that's what we do here) we really need to watch what we believe, read, watch, listen to.  We need to be aware of that paralyzing word...procrastinate.  You know, it hides behind:  I'll start tomorrow, or Monday, or the beginning of the month (HEY...it IS Sept. 1, after all!).  Or how about:  when I'm not so busy, when the kids are in school,  when I have more $ .... You get the idea.  Before you know it...the gusto has passed you by and you've missed out on who you could have been! Don't you just hate that?


Well...I love this definition of "balance":  staying focused while you're on a tightrope. We ARE all busy, aren't we?  We have families, careers (or j-o-b-s), home maintenance,  church activities, community involvement, sports, etc. I'm with you on this...always looking for the balance.  One thing I have learned...if I don't take care of myself, I will do no one any good.  Oh, I might limp along...but I'll either be lacking energy, a positive attitude, sleep, physical stamina, etc.  If I continue on this path...I'll spend $ and precious time on meds, doc appointments, in bed, or on the couch.  Now...be sure to hear (I know I'm repeating myself for emphasis)  that I'm not anti Doctors or Medicine.  If you saw my checkbook, you would know this!  But we MUST be our own advocates, and our childrens' advocates. Last time I checked (and I'm pretty experienced), most Doctors visits result in the treatment of our symptoms with medicines.  Yes, there are exceptions....like yearly exams and physicals, blood-work, mammograms, pap smears, bone density scans, etc. (ALL of which I highly recommend.)  But your Doctor is not going to hold your hand and take you to the gym, go to the grocery store and do meal prep with you.  Doctors are limited in what they can do for you.  I love many of them...but that is just the truth.  YOU and your CREATOR.  If your car is malfunctioning, you go to a mechanic...if you are malfunctioning, you may want to check in with the God who made you.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made, you know?  He talks to us about balance, about our bodies' being  a "temple".  Do you feel more like a pup tent, or a broken down shack?  That needs to change!

Thanks for bearing with me as I get down off of my soapbox now.  Next blog, I'll show you my "WHY".  Why did I get started with this?  What drives me?  What do I do personally to take the "medicine" I'm dishing out?  We're all individuals...but we were created to learn from one another.  Thanks for coming along.

Who needs health insurance?

We hear a lot about health insurance these days...on the nightly news, in Board Rooms, in job interviews, at kitchen tables.  Health insurance is all the buzz; it's expensive and necessary.  I don't know about you...but it's been one of our "big 3" monthly expenses...right up there with the mortgage. It's really a risk to be without health insurance.  As a "healthy Virginian", I get a "discount"...if you want to call it that.  That means I don't smoke, I wear my seat belt, work out regularly, and my cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and weight are in the range of someone in good health.  I think that's great...healthy folks deserve a break.

The greatest health insurance, I believe, is prevention.  The old saying goes " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Wisdom. What is prevention? Prevention is living a life in balance...a life of no excesses.  We're not talking rules and legalism here, we're talking balance and wisdom.  A balanced diet (if you want to be a vegetarian that's fine with me...get your protein other ways)....enough sleep, exercise, stress management. 

Is this enough though?  Back to reality.  Our food supply is full of additives and we don't get enough nutrients from the foods we eat.  No one eats a "perfectly balanced" diet consistently.  Many of us don't exercise regularly.  Our lives are full and drive-thrus are convenient. Processed foods are the norm in many kitchens today due to time constraints.  Stress is taking it's toll. If you're popping a multivitamin from the local drug store thinking that's taking care of the slack...think again.  The supplement industry is not regulated  and many  vitamins just end up in the toilet.  Seriously. 

All this said...do your homework!!!  I did.  I had a special interest in researching good nutritional supplements. If you've done any looking at all, you will know that there is much to choose from.  Choose wisely!  You  do not need to choose what I did...but choose wisely.  Invest wisely.  Don't throw your money down the toilet.  I wanted supplements that would be easily absorbed.  I wanted quality and value, not hype. I wanted a company with integrity, with a track record.  Because I know that "bad company corrupts good morals"...I wanted to know "who" was involved,, (or who used the products and what they had to say about them). I found what I was looking for with AdvoCare.  They had the Science.  They  invested in research, development, and safety over advertising.  They did not pay endorsers big money to say they used the products.  Folks like Drew Brees, Michael W. Smith, Colt McCoy, and Olympic Athletes, were unpaid endorsers.  I liked what I heard.  I decided that investing in prevention was definitely worth it.  Back to the great exchange....Starbucks, McDonalds, 7-11...they all became history.  I decided I was worth the investment.  I decided my children were worth the investment.

What are you  investing in?  Are you getting the return you want?  Let's keep exploring good health together!!

Let's Be....Community

According to Todd Duncan, the New York Times Bestselling Author of Time Traps, one of the most important investments we can make is an investment in our health. Here's what he had to say "...nothing steals your time quicker than poor health habits. Just think how much a little cold slows you down.  When you add something more invasive, the effects multiply quickly...according to a national health survey...58% are overweight (22%are obese). He goes on to say that the things that effect our health in turn devalue our time...if you don't take care of your body, your time is not maximized...you must take a proactive approach to health.

So....now we're not only talking about being a good steward of our body (which we're borrowing)...but also being a good steward of our time (ever heard the saying "we're living on borrowed time"?!)  It really hurts me to say this...but the very folks who preach about being a good steward of our $....well, it sometimes look like some banks have been broken at the drive-thru (the fast food drive-thru that is). But, enough of that soap box...I want to be known for what I stand FOR, not what I stand AGAINST.

So this post will stay simple.  Tomorrow is Monday....always a great day to start one new good habit.  Some say that it takes approximately 21 consecutive days to form a new habit.  Pick one, just one.  Commit to it for the next 3 weeks a day at a time.  Like what?
*eat a healthy high protein breakfast (see previous post for ideas)
*get moving. Walk with a friend (or your ipod, or scripture) or start a gym or class membership
*replace 1 destructive habit with 1 constructive habit
*get enough sleep (A recent Columbia University study suggest that people who get too little sleep tend to overeat, and that women were especially inclined to overeat when sleepy.  On average, people consumed app. 300 more calories when they were sleepy that when they were well rested.)

Most importantly....and I'll end with this:  let's be community!!  Accountability and relationships help tremendously....lone rangers get picked off. Not all of us can meet personally (though some of us can, and I'm available) and that's where blogging communities come in. I know for a fact that some 90+ folks have visited.  Please begin to comment on what's working, what's not working.  What's helpful, what's not helpful.  What is missing?  Your questions and comments are not only welcomed....they are needed for community!!  Let's share one anothers burdens....we need each other!

Purposely Practical

"The truth will set us free; but first, the truth might make us uncomfortable, even miserable. Yet holding on to falsehoods and not going forward are worse, thereby denying the truth." ~The Irresistible Church You may be noticing a trend by now in these blogs. Reality and truth are required to be really living LIFE. We've all tried the denial trip and we're always brought back around to reality...one hard way or another.  Some of our trips are longer than others!  I speak from experience. Last time we talked about "fast food"...now that's a reality in our world!  The faster the food prep is...the happier this gal is. I guess you could say I was susceptible to fast food.  I'd rather be living and doing than banging pots and pans in the kitchen. I believe I'm not alone.  And to complicate matters, we seem to be moving and doing on a much faster pace than our parents or grandparents.  Hence, the success of fast food.  And yes, the fast food giants are trying their best to bring healthy alternatives to their menus....but in reality, I'm thinking that most folks still order up those fries and burgers! Not to mention the sodas and shakes. Now these "restaurants" are beginning to post nutritional information...like just having information ever changed anything.  Worked for the cigarettes, huh? So what's a fast livin' bunch to do?  We call it "the great exchange".  Exchange something better for something not so good.  Know what trips you up and flee from it.  Invest (put your money somewhere) in things that will bring you life and health...not destruction.  Here's one practical example: My hubby's Dad needed to stop smoking and it was a battle for years.  As he attempted to quit on many occasions...he noticed a pattern.  Coffee was a huge trigger.  He started his day with coffee and a cigarette, he ended his meals with coffee and a cigarette. Of course, the harsh reality was...now he was looking at giving up TWO things he loved.  Ahhh...here is where the great exchange came in.  We introduced him to SPARK (AdvoCare's brain drink).  It still contained about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee...but because it wasn't coffee...it didn't trigger that familiar pattern that coupled the drink with the cigarette.  The "great exchange" worked...his Doc said, "keep drinking that stuff".  It not only provided the caffeine, but it is loaded with good things:  21 vitamins, minerals and nutrients for fast-acting and sustained energy.  He called it "his medicine". That's how the great exchange works...give up something that isn't working for something that will.  In most cases, the money exchange is about the same, so we're not talking about a huge investment.  Quit spending on something that isn't working and spend or invest your money on something that will work. Spark is a healthy alternative to soda, kool-aide, and other energy drinks that are on the market.  All my kids love it, including the big kid! Oh...and the fast food.  I have found 3 favorite healthy "fast foods".  Let me share them with you: ~GREEK YOGURT AND FRUIT.  I purchase "Fage" at Costco (more bang for the buck).  It is no fat and a serving is loaded with 23 grams of protein.  (I HAVE told you how important protein is to maintaining your muscles, haven't I?!) One cup has 130 calories, if you are a calorie counter.  I then sprinkle some ground flax seeds on top (buy them ground, or get them whole and grind them yourself)  Flax seeds are loaded with Omega's...just trust me that is good and you can do the research for yourself. Sometimes I add a small amount of granola. I add a favorite fruit...fresh if I can get it (peaches, strawberries, and any berry are my favorite).  Top if all off with some walnuts (also good for you)...and I feel like queen for a day.  It's yummy, can substitute for dessert, is loaded with good stuff, and fills me up. ~ APPLES AND PEANUT BUTTER. Here's how it works for me.  I cut up my favorite apple (for me it's Fuji or a crisp apple)...I'm talking bite size so I eat it with a fork.  I add peanut butter or almond butter (not my kids...the natural stuff with no added salt or sugar).  I use those ground flax seeds again, and the walnuts....and YUM!  You've got your crunch, your sweet and salty, it's fast and easy.  Because you eat it with a fork...you feel like you've really had something more than a snack. ~AdvoCare's Meal Replacement Shakes.  My favorite is vanilla because I add a 1/2 frozen banana (we buy tons of bananas but because we are all banana snobs...once they are the slightest bit soft or brown...none of us think they're edible).  So...bananas past their prime are put in the freezer (no fancy chopping or prep here...just toss them in the freezer with the skin on).  I cut one in half, peel it with a knife and toss it in the blender with the shake mix, ice, and water.  Yum.  It's my "go to" when I'm on the go. Have I been practical enough for you today?  I hope so.  Now fuel that body and go do something good!  You are loved.

Can you afford to NOT use dietary supplements?

Get honest....do you eat a healthy diet 365 days a year? I certainly don't and I don't know anybody who does. I love living in reality...it has set me free!  Now...I'm probably going to say some things you already know, but some things we need to hear over and over again.  DIET is a four letter word. The first 3 letters in DIET are DIE. DIETS don't work..statistically only 2% work.  We ARE a nation of gamblers if we look at the $ that is spent on fad diets. I don't know about you, but I've to do do something that I can LIVE with.  I'm all about living today...no regrets, no dreads.  Don't diets have that effect?  "Blew it yesterday...back on the wagon today....I'll suffer for a while to make up for it"  Our lives can become a vicious cycle of temporary success and failure and obsessive focus on food. We become what we think about.....yuck.

Great supplements bridge the nutritional gap.  They give our bodies what they crave that we don't always get from our diets.  If our bodies are getting  the fuel we need...cravings will begin to subside.  They won't be completely eliminated (have you ever heard of  "emotional eating"?!), but cravings will be squelched to a great degree. Do you know that the average person spends $11.50 a day on  incidentals? That includes money spent on things like a stop at a convenience store or fast food for a coffee, other beverage, or snack.  AdvoCare has acted as fast food prevention for many folks.  AdvoCare's 24 Day Challenge costs an average of $7.25 a day, retail. Let's see....junk in my body that I'll regret or great fuel for less money.  No brainer. Plan ahead to avoid the fast food temptation!! 

Next time....let's examine some of our home "fast food" that gives us good nutrition without blowing our nutritional and financial bank! Remember to invest time and money into things that are important to you and things that are life giving!!!

Got Motivation?

If you want to take your mission in life to the next level, if you're stuck and you don't know how to rise, don't look outside yourself. Look inside. Don't let your fears keep you mired in the crowd. Abolish your fears and raise your commitment level to the point of no return, and I guarantee you that the Champion Within will burst forth to propel you toward victory.”
Bruce Jenner

I guess we can say he knows what he's talking about!  But...most of us aren't Olympians.  What about just being all we were meant to be where we're planted?  Check out these scary stats:

A decade ago, 29.9% of Americans were obese.  Now, 2/3 of the nation is obese or overweight.  This rate is climbing among older children and teenagers.  12% of adults are diabetic, 25% of adults 45 and over are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs...well, I could go on and on, but stats are boring so I won't.

So...if you  want to join the ranks of the health conscious, if you want to get started or step it up a bit with me...I'm all over it!!  Let's get real and take a look at the Serenity Prayer:  "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." Let's face it...we can't change the families we were born into or the genes we inherited.  I could do  calf raises 'til the cows come home, but I'll never have shapely legs.  I was born with "Kramer legs", that's just the way it is!  Part of getting started is being realistic about what we can and can't change!

Now...let's get practical.  The first thing I had to face...my eating habits, starting with breakfast.  If any of you have checked out my story on www.advocare.com/09094089 you will know that I was a coffee drinker and breakfast skipper.  I saw no problem with that, I thought it was working for me.  As a matter of fact, I was somewhat proud of the fact that I wasn't hungry until mid-afternoon. Little did I know that my metabolism was shutting down and chug-chugging along.  It got worse as the 50's approached!  But, heck, I didn't like breakfast.  The smell of bacon in the morning made me gag.  AdvoCare's Meal Replacement Shakes were a great solution for me.  I could handle drinking my breakfast, especially when I was on the run!  The Vanilla flavor gave me the freedom to add in a part of a frozen banana or berries.  Great protein to start my day and rev up my sluggish metabolism.  VERY IMPORTANT, I learned!  So, whether you choose AdvoCare shakes or something else...get that engine running!!! Keep checking in as we get really practical...make it a great weekend!!!

Getting Started Works.........

EXUBERANCE..."You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an inner exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world." Sheilah Graham

What DOESN'T work...wishing, blaming, procrastinating..  Take the first step and that would be ownership.  Ultimately, we stand alone with our Creator...no pointing fingers then!!! I discovered that I was a steward (one who manages another's property,  finances, or other affairs", according to Webster)...and I did not always do a yeoman's job...in other words...I was lacking diligence.

So, when it comes to being a steward over this physical body...I realized the cost for slothfulness was great.  Being overweight and unhealthy can cost big money...an average of $4, 879 a year in medical costs, sick days, lower wages, etc, according to a recent study by George Washington University researchers.  And the $ is just the beginning of the list.  We'll talk more about that later!

Lovin' Life Prologue

"I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, then you grow  wings."  William Sloan Coffin

Well...that about sums it up. A leap of faith and a blog is created as an outlet for my passions and as an outreach to those I've met along the way and those I will meet.  Welcome...journey with me as we look for ways to be healthy inside and out!  I'll be sharing what has worked for me (and from the "school of hard knocks" what hasn't worked), recipes, great products, nutrition, and whatever else comes up. To get a preview...check out my website:

www.advocare.com/09094089