Life

Who Are You Becoming…In the Middle?

What is the difference between a journey and an adventure?  To me, a journey sounds long, hard, grueling, and draining while an adventure sounds mysterious, exciting, fun and freeing.  What if we took the view of an adventure as we move towards our weight and health goals?  Is it possible to make the process fun?  Or at least, not a dread?  Is it possible to change the course of our health without feeling deprived?  I think that a lot of weight loss and nutrition books attempt to combine a formula for success, bottle it up and sell “easy.”

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Life

Loving You, Inside and Out

If you look good, you feel good and if you feel good, you do good. –Georges St. Pierre

When you look amazing, you walk with confidence, smile more, enjoy the stares of your spouse and engage in conversation.  It totally changes the way we carry ourselves,  think about ourselves and how others engage with us.

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Faith, Life

Another Gift…

A beloved baby.
Our family is elated to share that we are expecting!  My sweet McKaela is going to be a big sister.  We are in the throes of packing and moving into a new home and are quite excited for the new season and adventures ahead of us.

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Faith, Life

Move Over Perfection, Make Room for Excellence

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. — Harriet Braiker

As the oldest child in my family and with a very real and innate desire to please and excel, I think perfectionism will always be a thorn in my side. As much as I would like to imagine I can overcome it and get rid of it, I think this desire to pursue, press on, go further and use my God-given gifts is a part of how I was created.  The problem is when it becomes about me.
The twist is when doing good, excelling, and moving the bar higher becomes a self-serving action.

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Health, Life

Feeding a Toddler…The Continuing Saga

The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.  –Michel Legrand
As many of you know, I have a lively little girl who has added more joy to our lives that we ever imagined possible.  Kids bring a heaping dose of fun, laughter, and sweetness, but they also present dozens of challenges and obstacles that for most of us newbie parents, are foreign, frustrating and can easily steal our joy.

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Faith, Life

Owning Weakness, Finding Strength

One click.  It was gone.  Gone.  The Honors presentation I had spent long hours creating had vanished.  I had closed out without saving my powerpoint and what remained was a rough skeleton of a presentation. Stunned, I couldn’t believe it.  Didn’t want to believe it.  It was less than 24 hours before my Honors Panel Presentation during the Spring semester of my senior year at TCU.

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Life

The Power of People

 

“Show me your friends and I will show you your future.”

 

Have you ever heard that statement?  My youth pastor was known for making that proclamation and it always stuck with me.  That little piece of wisdom has dramatically influenced how I make friends and whom I choose to place in my close, inner circle.  

 

Of course we interact with dozens if not hundreds of people every day, but the fact remains that the people we choose to spend the most time with, have the most influence on our lives.  Their values, beliefs, convictions and language add to the environment in which we live.  It doesn’t mean we lose our individuality, but the more time we are in their presence, the easier it is to be influenced by what they say or do.

 

While some people speak toxic trash, others speak life-giving truth.  

 

As you are running towards your 2017 goals, persevering, developing healthy habits and wiping out damaging behaviors, it is critical that you consider the people around you.  These individuals are powerful and have the ability to lift you up and drag you down.  

 

Attracting and inviting the right people into our lives won’t only encourage us, but has the power to bring out the best in us.  

 

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

— Proverbs 27:17

 

 

In my years of nutrition counseling, the individuals that experience long term progress were those that invited support.  They actually asked for it, sought it out and created relationships that promoted personal growth. They realize this was a journey that they could not walk alone and actually needed people to cheer them on.  These individuals realized that “Negative Nellie” made them feel hopeless and “Diet-Crazed Sally” rode a rollercoaster to nowhere and “Lazy Lana” was staring at the consequences of her inaction.  

 

These clients realized the power of the people around them and the power of those they allowed into their inner circles.  Surrounding themselves with positive people actually helped them persevere when the journey was tough. 

  

When I was working for an outpatient bariatric program, I co-lead monthly support groups.  I was always wowed and amazed as I would watch people walk in feeling frustrated, depressed, and out-of-control and leave an hour later feeling uplifted, encouraged, empowered and courageous.  It wasn’t me; it was the other patients that sat in those same chairs and offered support, ideas, empathy and a listening ear.  

 

Those positive, uplifting patients played a necessary and dramatic role in helping others stay on track, keep moving and not be discouraged by bumps in the road. This happened every single month.  Again and again. What a beautiful picture it was.

 

We all reach places of despair and frustration, when we feel hopeless and at the bottom of a pit.  We all get weary along the journey, wondering how many more steps until the future looks brighter.  We all need someone to relate, empathize and simply say that they care.  

 

 

We need people, uplifting people, to keep walking and eventually reach the future we envision.

 

Are you walking with any like-minded people on your health journey? Choose people that have a vision for their health and are constantly moving towards it.  Choose people that treat their bodies kindly.  Choose individuals that don’t follow the next diet craze and instead, pursue a healthy lifestyle that includes real food with the occasional treat.  Choose those that speak truth, affirm, encourage and uplift.

 

If you would like to find some health-minded individuals that can support you on your nutrition and fitness journey, here are a few ideas:

 

  • Walk/Run groups– You can often sign up for these through sporting goods stores, meet-up groups and track clubs.  A simple online search can help you find groups in your area.

  • Church/social groups– Consider attending or leading a book club or Bible study group with the focus on health and fitness.  This is a great way to learn, share ideas and find support!  There are several programs specifically designed for small groups including: 7 Pillars of Health by Dr. Don Colbert, First Place 4 Health, The Daniel Plan by R. Warren and D. Amen and M. Hyman, or Lifesteps Weight Management Program.

  • Dietitian Consult– Registered Dietitians are excellent resources to help you assess barriers and formulate plans to achieve goals.  They can help you develop a customized meal plan, strategize difficult situations, and direct you to beneficial resources.  Many dietitians also lead support groups, grocery store tours and cooking classes to help take concepts and make them easy to apply.

  • Health Coach Consult– These health professionals can help you identify and assess motivation, integrate health recommendations into your lifestyle and create healthy language to meditate on that empowers you to thrive.  Make sure you find a credentialed Wellness Coach; many Registered Dietitians have also received training and credentials in health coaching.

 

Remember that healthy individuals are those that not only talk the talk but walk it out.  Consider people that demonstrate consistency.  Having a gym membership does not make someone an exerciser.  People that value health and fitness regularly carve out time for these activities, demonstrating that they are a priority in their lives.  

 

I encourage you to write down a list of healthy behaviors you want to practice regularly and then look for these in the people you know.  If you envision a future where you have energy, vitality, a healthy self-image and feel good putting your clothes on each morning, invite some people along the journey that can see you there too!   

 

If you see something beautiful in someone, speak it.

— Ruthie Lindsey

 

Choose people that speak truth, cheer you on and help you go to the next level.  Keep your future bright.

  

TRUTH: Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

Proverbs 13:20 (MSG)

 

 

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase a product through this link, your cost will be the same but Healthy Inspiration will receive a small commission to help with the operating costs of this blog. Thank you for your support!

  

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Life

Unique Mason Jar Gifts that Don’t Disappoint

As the daughter of a teacher, it is not uncommon to walk into my parents home during the holidays and see an array of cookies, cakes, candy, cupcakes and sweets galore!…  Think Willie Wonka, the home version! The kids in her classroom, and their mothers, ADORE her and shower her with gratitude and edible gifts.  Day by day between Thanksgiving and Christmas break, my parents’ dining room table turns into a dessert bar, sparkling with sweets and treats.

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Faith, Life

Dear Stress, Let’s Break Up

It was December 3rd and I was checking my inbox, weeding out massive numbers of holiday sales flyers and advertisements when I came across one that read, “Last minute gift ideas…”.  Seriously?!  Last minute?  Since when did 22 days before Christmas become “last minute?”  I found panic rising and my mind swimming even as I rationally told myself I still had 3 weeks to complete my shopping.    

But doesn’t this happen all too often…?  We know what is true, but allow people, brands, and industries to create stress, panic, angst and worry in our lives.  It’s kind of like we just open the door to our home, our sacred space, and let “Whoever” walk right in and create alarm.  

 

Who gave that person permission to freak me out?  I did.  

 

Who gave that person the right to enter my personal mental space and stir up worry?  I did.  

 

Every time I meditate on worry I am refusing to meditate on truth.  Every time I meditate on truth, I simply can’t think to worry.  It is either light or dark, but they can’t inhabit the same space.

 

 

Now, 2 weeks later, my family has gone through several rounds of colds, stomach viruses and an ear infection and I don’t find myself much further along in my Christmas preparations.  I am tired.  I am worn out.  I am behind. There are only 2 wrapped Christmas gifts under our tree and many that have not been checked off my list.  Let’s not even talk about Christmas cards. 

 

While there is a part of me that wants to cry, blame someone or something, and throw up my hands exasperated, I should be grateful that I can actually sit on my couch and type.  Only yesterday, I laid huddled in the fetal position all day, with a fever, chills and my stomach in agony… with a 1 year old pulling at me, wanting to play.  

 

To be honest, I don’t really know how I am going to get “it all done.” Maybe “it all” is not as important as I think?  Well, right now, I still think it is!

 

It is difficult to feel merry when I feel so behind.  But, once again, 14 days later, I have an opportunity… an opportunity to choose panic or peace.  

 

Sometimes, when life feels overwhelming, it is difficult to figure out even where to start.  What is most important?  Where should I invest my time? What deserves my mental energy FIRST?

 

 

There is a song that has encouraged me so many times in the last few months.  It doesn’t give me any new revelations or brilliant ideas how to channel the powers of my inner superwoman, but it reminds me to do one thing, one thing that is so innate that we don’t even give it a second thought.

 

Breathe, just breathe.

 

Johnny Diaz sings it beautifully.  The only place to find peace, clarity, and fresh perspective for our day, is at the feet of Jesus.  

 

You don’t have to go another moment feeling inadequate, overwhelmed and stressed.  

 

BREATHE.

  

TRUTH: Come to Me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (NLT)


To hear the full song, click here.   

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