1 cup chopped fruit (grapes/strawberries/mandarin oranges)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (red and/or yellow)
Dressing:
1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp Red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp orange juice concentrate
1/2 tsp prepared mustard
1 Tbsp coconut sugar
1/4 tsp poppy seeds
Dash of pink Himalayan salt
Chop kale and put in a medium bowl.
Mix together dressing and put on kale.
Toss well to coat all the leaves.
Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Try a variety and don't be afraid to add or take out some of the seeds, nuts or fruits!
Let marinade in the Refigerator.
Serve immediately or within a few hours.
Best if used within a couple days.
In my life I have been average weight, then heavier, then lost weight and been average size again, become overweight, and obese, lost weight, gained some back, been obese again, and once again am losing more weight. Some people might assume that I 'struggle with my weight', and most of us have heard this phrase countless times in our lives. I have thought about it, and this is what I have come to conclude: Although my weight has fluctuated significantly throughout my life, I do NOT struggle with it.
Here is what I envision when I hear the word STRUGGLE:
Looks to me, like they are having a difficult time trying to pin one another down. I can't imagine trying to pin part of me down to get control of myself! haha! Although I have experienced obesity more than once, I don't feel like I was struggling with my weight. I still loved myself and always knew that I am a daughter of God. My value did not decrease based on my weight. I may have struggled with overcoming bad food cravings, I may have struggled with whether or not I wanted to exercise, I may have struggled with letting go of negative experiences and feelings, but I don't feel like I struggled with my weight.
When I eat poorly, don't exercise, and harbor negative thoughts, I gain weight. It is that simple. When I eat healthy, take care of my body, and replace the negative with positive, I lose weight. My weight seems to be a direct reflection of OTHER struggles I may be facing, but the actual weight is not the struggle. I stopped 'trying' to lose weight. I stopped focusing on valuing my health. I went back to convenience foods and comfort foods that tasted good to me. It was easy to do, and it was easy to gain weight back. It definitely wasn't a struggle for me. I was still happy. I still had plenty of people that loved me for ME! (and I appreciate you all!) I tried to go back to a healthy lifestyle about a year or so ago, but I wasn't ready or mentally prepared. So I stopped. That wasn't a struggle either.
When I finally decided I was ready to take charge of my health once again, it was just that: A DECISION. There were no doubts or struggles going on. Only HOPE and EXCITEMENT that I was finally ready to begin again. I learn what I need to do and I do it. No struggle. Only FAITH. With each small step and each small healthy choice I make, I get closer to where I know I am meant to be. Do you tell yourself you struggle with your weight? That MAY just be a limiting belief that is actually keeping your body from letting go of the weight. Think about it. Our minds are MUCH more powerful than we realize!
We each have our own hardships and lessons we must learn in life. It is important to recognize them so we can use them to improve our own future. The past will repeat itself if we don't LEARN from it and make the necessary changes. Take some time every day to sit in silence and DECIDE where it is you want to be in the future! Are the choices you are making today leading you closer or further away from that dream? If they aren't leading you closer, then don't let it get you down. Just take it one step at a time to help yourself realize your true potential! You were made to do great things! Once you determine where you WANT to be, you can then discover what you need to do to get you there.
The interesting part is that we all have different dreams, and there is no right or wrong way to achieving them! There is not ONE SPECIFIC way that we all must follow. One person's way may not work for someone else. What works for someone, is not a one-size-fits-all method for the next. If someone tries something that doesn't stick, and they give it up, does that mean they are a quitter? I don't think so. It just means they have to get creative to find what works best for THEM! And in the end, it's not even about the destination, it is about the JOURNEY! The lessons we learn, the relationships we build, and the life we create!
You are ALWAYS worth it! You are worth the effort! You may have your own personal struggles, but you should never have to struggle with the thought of knowing whether or not you have value. Making the right choice should not be a struggle. You will know because you will have PEACE in your heart and soul! Next time you think of yourself or someone else as "struggling" with their weight, think instead of what they actually may be struggling with, and perhaps you can help them through it. Chances are, their struggle is NOT the weight at all.
I found a juicer for an awesome price, and therefore, started my adventure with juicing!
I had mixed feelings about it because of some of the things I have heard. ("Don't drink your calories", "You need fiber along with the fruit or all you are getting is sugar"...etc). I looked into benefits and experiences that others have had, and it was clear to me that the benefits greatly outweighed the cons. Yes, it takes A LOT of veggies and fruits to make one glass of juice, but that is the greatest benefit of all! Think of ALL THOSE NUTRIENTS and raw enzymes!
A couple weeks ago I decided I had had enough of the back-and-forth of watching what I eat, and then not caring and eating whatever I wanted. There was no balance or goals. I have been in survival mode for quite some time now, and I just wasn't focused on any specific health goal or mindset.
I changed my mind because I was sick of feeling tired and run down all the time. I was sick of how my clothes fit me and how I never felt my best. The juicer came just in time! As I was trying to figure out the best way to utilize my juicer for health benefits, I read up on what works, reasons for doing it, and also then discovered others doing juice fasts. During a juice fast, you drink only FRESH juiced vegetable and fruit juice and water for an extended period of time. Some people do days, some do weeks, some do months. This has many purposes, such as giving your digestive system a rest so your body can focus on healing itself from the inside. Our bodies are AMAZING! They can perform miracles if you allow them!
For quite some time, I have felt that my body is full of many toxins (from years of bad habits and living) and unwanted visitors (parasites after a trip to Mexico, for example). I have done a couple 'cleanses' in the past, but I am not one to go for fad diets that promise fast results and rapid weight loss. Those don't really interest me if they aren't sustainable. I know I can lose weight making necessary lifestyle changes, because I have done it before and prefer exercise and diet as means to lose weight.
So what made me decide to do a juice fast? It is mainly for the healing and detoxing purposes. I know that even when I lost 70 pounds, my legs were still full of cellulite, a place where many toxins and fat cells can hide out. I was not able to get rid of that with just exercise and proper diet. I needed a cleanse that works down to a cellular level. When doing a juice fast, your digestive system gets a much needed break and your body is still getting the nutrients and enzymes it needs. While your digestive system is resting, your body is able to concentrate its energy on healing and eliminating built up toxins.
Some of the stories I have read about the experiences of others and how they were able to heal, get off medications, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce goiters, and so many other miracles that our bodies are capable of! I also know that I want to eliminate my bad cravings and get to a point where I eat at least 80% RAW. I just need a bridge to gap where I am now and where I want to be. I am not saying a juice fast is something everyone should do, but I did discover that this is what I need to regain control of my eating habits, and after the extended fast, I know it will be easier to continue enjoying more healthy foods and significantly less amounts of sugar and junk foods.
Today, I am on day 4 of my juicing journey and I can say I have felt some effects of the detoxing, (which is why I took a rejuvenating bath soak using these bath salts), and I have strong willpower to get through this and I have goals to become the healthiest I have been in decades! Gotta start somewhere, and for me, this is my jump start to health and healing!
This simple yet effective bath soak recipe is easy to make at home and very cost friendly.
I use a pint size canning jar to store mine. Once you have the jar, lid, Epsom Salt and essential oils of your choice, you can begin!
I start with filling the jar half full of Epsom salt. I choose 3-5 relaxing oils to add (pictured is lavender, peppermint, clary sage, and melaleuca). If you have an aromatherapy blend, that would work great! Just add a few drops of each oil into the Epsom salt.
Fill the remainder of the jar and add a few more drops of each oil on top. Secure lid and shake well to mix.
For my weekly soak, I fill the bathtub and add about 1/2 cup of this relaxing Epsom salt mixture and I enjoy soaking in the tub for 20-30 minutes. Epsom salt is great for detoxing, rejuvinating and helping sore muscles!
Here are some reasons to use it year round!
I love that Epsom salt is very reasonably priced (less than $4 for this large container) and is easy to find at many stores! Or you can get it online and have it delivered right to your door!
Enjoy this recipe and make your weekly rejuvinating bath soak a priority.
Setting goals may be intimidating. I think the main reason people don't set personal goals more consistently is because of the effort and dedication it takes to achieve them.
Perhaps they also fear failure. If that is the case, they are not alone To begin, choose a day of the week (preferably Sunday) to reflect on the previous week and set goals for the week to come!
It took me a lot of practice and persistence to learn how to set measurable goals, keep track of them and eventually reach them. But the key here is BELIEF AND CONSISTENCY. If the goal is reasonable and attainable, we CAN reach it! It's not a matter of IF, but rather WHEN. When setting a goal, be sure to follow these guidelines to help ensure your success! SPECIFIC: The goal must be specific! Saying "I want to drink more water" or "I plan to workout more" is way too broad and is hard to keep track of. Get specific with the details. MEASURABLE: Numbers help with measuring a goal. Set a certain amount to your goal and make sure you can easily track it. Instead of, "I want to drink more water" say "I will drink 80 ounces of water every day." Once you reach that number, you will know you have reached your goal! ATTAINABLE: Your goal must be possible or you will will get discouraged when you are unable to reach it. Having a broad long term goal is okay, as long as you have small attainable short term goals to back it up and keep you on track. Saying you want to lose 50 pounds is good, but you need small, attainable milestones to get you to that ultimate goal. REALISTIC: Your goal must make sense and be realistic. If you set your goals too high or are hoping for something that isn't really possible, then you are setting yourself up for failure. TIME-BOUND: Set a DEADLINE! When you have a reasonable deadline for yourself, you are more likely to stay on track and push yourself harder. Goals are great, but even the most specific goals are put on the back burner when you don't have a set end date. REMEMBER: The only reason you don't reach a SMART goal is because you choose not to. It's not because you can't do it, it's because you didn't do it. There is a HUGE difference. And it starts with MINDSET!
Make the CHOICE to make the changes you know you need to have in your life. ONLY YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOALS. No one else can do it for you! I wish you the best in setting and reaching goals. I find the best thing for keeping track of my goals and determining if they are specific enough, is to write out a chart and check each item off as it is done. I'd love to know what works for you and what awesome goals you have set for yourself! Feel free to comment or message me your goals and I will help hold you accountable to those!
Of the many things I have overcome, this may just be the greatest struggle yet.
I feel like I have gone through ultimate highs and ultimate lows, but I have to remind myself that no matter what, I must never give up!
I understand that we each have core beliefs and values that navigate our choices and actions throughout the course of our own lives. Each of us is unique, and our personal experiences and life lessons are just as unique. We all have our own story, our own personal beliefs, hopes and dreams, struggles and oppositions. And we all have our own unique way of dealing with these things.
As much as I think I may have enjoyed a psychology course or two, I have never actually taken one. However, I still tend to analyze and over-analyze my thoughts and actions and attempt to find reasoning behind my core beliefs and reasons for the way I am today. Soft-hearted and a little stubborn, I will admit that. Which has led me to the fact that I care a little too much, yet when people don't show sincere interest in me, I unapologeticly back away and close myself up. Which in turn, I believe, makes it hard to gain close friends that I can fully trust.
I can surely attest that life is easier when you have less people to please. I have learned that when people expect less of you, you have less to worry about! However, I can also attest that without those expectations placed upon yourself, you definitely accomplish LESS and feel less important and needed. And what is life and it's purpose if you don't feel needed and accomplished? It's depressing!
Having experienced both sides, I can say that having and setting goals and accomplishing more, all while having more people look up to you and expect more from you, definitely FEELS better and results in a more fulfilling life!
So that brings me to my change in direction, in which I need accountability from others that are willing to listen and care and I return the favor as well! I once lost a significant amount of weight, felt amazing, yet bad experiences with people shut me down and somewhat made me rebel against the healthy lifestyle I adapted. I have gained back the weight and feel STUCK! I have felt aimless and felt that I had lost my purpose and reason to get back on track. Mainly because I am back at my old mindset which says, "I don't care what I look like. If people don't like me when I am fat, that is THEIR problem." But the truth is, I don't feel so good. I feel fatigued, unhealthy, lazy, careless, no drive or motivation to even make needed changes. But I know with support and love from others, I can once again relearn to set and reach goals, remember what it feels like to be physically healthy, feel accomplished and driven, and at the end of the day feel SATISFIED and HAPPY with the choices I am making daily.
The thing that drives me is RELATIONSHIPS! People that truly care! Knowing that the choices I am making is not only affecting myself, but also people around me. Having others AND myself set higher expectations of me helps drive me to do better every day, Frankly, when others don't seem to care, I don't care. But I am ready to change that attitude and put more effort into proving not only what I am capable of, but helping others realize their own God-given potential.
With these thoughts in mind, listen to and enjoy the song in this video.
WITH GOD, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! Are you ready to set and reach goals together and prove to yourself that you are capable than more than you ever thought possible?
Life is a series of learning opportunities.
We are here to help one another learn!
I am a stay-at-home mom that has overcome many obstacles!
I was once suicidal, have struggled with being overtaken with obesity and have finally found my way and my purpose of fulfillment in life.
Through this journey, I plan to spread hope and encouragement to others!
I have made many positive changes in my life! One includes recently losing over 70 pounds!!!! All from working out and eating healthy! I now LOVE to help others do the same! JOIN ME on this journey!!!
