I typed up my favorite pancake recipe to share with you! It is even on a cute little background if you want to print it! Let me know if you try it and what you think of it!
For my family, I usually double the recipe and if we have extras, we cook them up then refrigerate or freeze the cooked pancakes for quick and easy breakfasts on a later date
I am not sure there are man feelings that are greater than the feeling of being able to make a difference in the lives of others! We all need that sense of being wanted, needed, useful, important, etc.
I also live knowing that I can not accomplish all I want to accomplish on my own. We NEED one another. We NEED support and friendship to thrive in life!
In my scripture study today, I ironically came upon this very topic that I had already begun writing here.
The scripture I read states, "ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU; SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU." ~Matthew 7:7
Ask. If you need help, ASK. This simple act of asking not only eases your burdens, but it also gives someone else the opportunity to serve you and to feel needed and important. With all the millions of generous people in the world, I am sure that there are many people out there willing to help those in need. Not all people, but many.
All we need to do is ask. And when all else fails, PRAY. There is a Heavenly Father that listens and is ready to pour down blessings if we just ask, seek, and knock.
New Year.... Everyone is so eager to make a change! I LOVE it!
We take this time to recognize what we need to change, and we COMMIT! I know, some commitments last longer than others, but what matters most is that we see ourselves a little differently. We open our eyes to possibilities of what we may be capable of. We decide that we can change direction and make different choices.
There are MANY things I wish to change about myself, my habits, my time management skills.... and more. And yes, like most, I am taking advantage of this new year and making commitments to better myself, improve health, learn and practice new skills and become a better mom, wife, and friend!
What better way to hold me accountable than to join a point-tracking challenge where I get points for daily life-changing habits? Points are awarded for workout, water intake, following a meal plan, eating at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies, personal development/scripture study, checking in with the group, getting enough sleep, keeping that sweet tooth under control, and a few other things! It is GREAT!!!
Okay, I KNOW it has been far too long since my last post. I try to stay positive and uplifting, even through struggles, but it has been hard lately. So what do I do? I stopped writing here momentarily in hopes of things magically getting better, but as we know, things don't magically get better. We have to MAKE it happen.
SO now I am on a journey of getting to the root of my health and what I have been struggling with this year. And to show my starting point, I will take this time to talk about the not-so-uplfting things that I have been experiencing. I am not really fond of going to the doctor and discussing "possibilities" of what I "think" may be wrong with me. Frankly, it isn't THAT serious. It doesn't really effect my daily duties YET, and I thought it was something small that would pass. But here I am still experiencing the same symptoms after months of 'hoping' it would go away.
Here is a bit of what I have been feeling:
(this list is more for my own record so I can track my progress)
No energy. I get PLENTY of sleep each night, and yet I still have a hard time getting out of bed in the mornings. Soreness. I find myself exhausted and sore even after minimal work. And after an actual workout, I almost can't walk for a day or two. Heavy "brain fog". Sometimes I just can't think clearly, and I lost my train of thought. Forgetfulness. Loss of focus. Literally. My eyes get lazy and I have to blink a few times to get things back into vision. Lack of motivation. I was doing great on my weight loss journey, but lost my drive and ambition to continue. Tenderness in my abdomen. This has been present for many many years, but I thought it was normal due to my birth defect gastoschisis. I have been in for this man years back, and it was discovered that I have built up scar tissue in my intestines and a few times it was so painful because the scar tissue was trapping some toxins causing a section of my intestine to become infected and inflamed (3x the normal size!). Skin tenderness and irritation. Which I thought was shingles reoccurrence after being diagnosed with this for the first time back in 2008. I get small painful pimple/blister-like bumps on my face, scalp, neck and shoulders. They aren't pimples though, because they don't "pop" at all and is a different kind of soreness. Pain in Jaw. The tenderness even goes deep into my jaw (moves from side to side) and temporarily affects my gum line, throat, and lately even my ear. Achy Joints. Trouble losing weight. This plateau seems endless. I am stuck and the scale just won't budge! Although I do understand that the scale doesn't necessarily determine progress, I KNOW that I shouldn't weight this much and so it is beyond frustrating. Inconsistent Food Cravings. For not-so-healthy foods. Many times, sugar. Some are harder to control than others. Moody. Irritable. Bloating. Constipation. Headaches. Easily Annoyed. Bad taste in mouth. Irrational Anxiety.
So after thinking for so long that this behavior, and these symptoms were "normal" and "no big deal" (I hadn't actually made a list of them all), I heard from a friend about this book:
I am all for natural healing and searching for an alternative to modern medicine.
So after further reading, and piecing together all of these symptoms and troubles that I have been experiencing, I have decided to start with the cleanse that is outlined in this book. I will be tracking my progress here on this blog, and sharing what it is that I am doing and how it is (or isn't) helping me.
I don't claim to know it all, nor am I certified in anything health related. Which is why I choose to learn from the experience and expertise of others. I share my experience and opinion, and if you are reading this, I hope that you would do what is best for you, consult with your doctor, and don't take my approach as a diagnosis or cure for your own ailments. However, if you do decide to try this or have already done this, I would love to hear your experiences!
Happy Cleansing! CHEERS to HEALTH and WELLNESS!!!!
It seems we need this to stick with something that we don't enjoy.
I have felt (countless times) that LACK of accountability. And what happens when I don't have anyone to hold me accountable? I fall. I fail. I make excuses. I quit. I slack. I don't measure up to any expectations, especially when NO expectations have been set.
I often have a pity party inside my head! I frequently find myself saying,
"Well, no one else cares if I fail. I have done it before, and NO ONE cared. Why does it matter what I look like, anyway? I am still a good {wife, mom, friend, sister, daughter} even if I don't fit into those goal jeans or hit my goal weight.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
NO ONE ELSE CARES?
WHY SHOULD I?"
After time and time again of struggling through this mindset, this thought came to me just yesterday. I reversed the question and asked myself:
"IF I DON'T CARE ABOUT MYSELF,
WHY SHOULD ANYONE ELSE?"
This was a tough reality check.
Why do I worry so much about what others think and try to please everyone else?
The person I should worry most about is myself. After all, I am the one who has to look at myself in the mirror. Am I proud or ashamed of the choices I have made?
So where should the expectations come from?
They should come from within. What is it YOU want and desire? And how bad do you want it?
Expect more from yourself. Not because you are not good enough RIGHT NOW, but because you are capable of SO MUCH MORE!!!! Much more than you ever give yourself credit for.
Do it for YOU. And no one else. Because you are worth it.
Don't get me wrong, this is NOT an easy task.
We all need constant reminders.
Can you count yourself as your own accountability? Your level of commitment depends on your level of desire to grow and become better.
But guess what? No matter how much you think no one else cares, there is always Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that will care for you no matter what. They also want you to do your best and become your best. Challenge yourself. Improve your skills and mindset. We are here to learn and grow, NOT JUST SURVIVE.
It seems that through struggles, we are brought to our knees in humility and broken heart, which then draws us closer to God and we will then become spiritually stronger.
We all have a purpose and a place in this life. There is no doubt in my mind that each one of us is unique and we each play an important part here on earth.
This new favorite song of mine portrays JUST THAT!!!!!
Read the powerful words, then LISTEN to the song and FEEL of it's truthfulness <3
"Focus your energy on the things that really matter! There will always be distractions that will keep you from achieving your goals. Don't give in to them. How have you increased your skills, knowledge, abilities, or income in the past 90 days? Do you really expect to be successful, given how you are using the majority of your time, resources and skills?
Are you spending time with people who can enhance and enrich your life? What are you doing to take your life to the next level? Will your current efforts make the next 90 days even more successful than what you just experienced? Be honest with your assessment. Don't play games with yourself. Remember ~ if you don't have an agenda for your life...you will be a part of someone else's agenda. You have GREATNESS within you!" -Les Brown
Have you ever felt ALONE? Surrounded by countless people, yet feel so alone?
This past weekend held emotional highs and lows. And for some reason, I still wasn't over it by Monday..
Here is what I realized, and feel I have to share. Not only to overcome this feeling of loneliness, but to help others struggling with the same thing.
EVERYONE has their own demons they have to constantly battle. Nobody's struggles are "better" or "worse" than anyone else's.
And we all likely feel ALONE at some time or another. We feel that there is NO ONE who gets us or understands us completely. I feel I have passions, struggles, heartaches, worries, likes and dislikes, that no one can fully understand.
I was driving today and a thought came to me. The part in Harry Potter (yes, I am a HUGE HP fan) when Harry was feeling so alone and felt that he had to fight Voldemort all on his own. And Luna Lovegood told Harry that THAT is exactly how "you-know-who" wants him to feel.
ALONE.
Because the ONLY way you-know-who can defeat Harry is if he feels alone and helpless.
Harry Potter: Thanks. Seems you're about the only ones that do. Luna Lovegood: I don't think that's true. But I suppose that's how he wants you to feel. Harry Potter: What do you mean? Luna Lovegood: Well if I were You-Know-Who, I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else. Because if it's just you alone you're not as much of a threat.
SOOOO it hit me again. THAT is how Satan wants us to feel. He wants us to feel ALONE because when we are alone, he is able to have more control over us, our thoughts, and our actions (or lack thereof), and we feel defeated and helpless. Satan is HAPPY when I feel alone, sad, distressed and not productive. He wants me to feel like I have NO ONE because then I get down on myself and have an emotional pity party and don't feel like doing anything.
When I feel lonely and alone, I am less in tune with the Spirit and I am unproductive and negative toward myself. I feel defeated. Just like Satan wants me to feel. Because that way, I am not as much of a threat.
It seems I need reminded of all the love and support I have.
My Heavenly Father Jesus Christ My FAMILYMy FRIENDSMy fellow coachesMy church and countless other acquaintances that are cheering me on.
THEY want me to succeed and that means more than anything.
THIS is what gives me HOPE again.
Because with SUPPORT and LOVE, we are STRONG and cannot be defeated!
And YOU WERE MEANT TO SHINE......
My husband could tell I was distressed and an emotional wreck, so he brought me home my favorite flowers <3
"Whether you are 8 or 108 there is one thing that I hope you truly understand and know: YOU ARE LOVED. You are dear to your Heavenly parents. The infinite and eternal creator of light and life KNOWS YOU. He is mindful of you. Yes, God loves you this very day and always. He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with the full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light, and believed. Even in the midst of growing darkness, He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you feel you have fallen short or failed and still he loves you. And God knows of your successes, though they may seem small to you. He acknowledges and cherishes each one of them. He loves you for extending yourself to others. He loves you for reaching out and helping others bear their heavy burdens, even when you are struggling with your own. He knows everything about you. He sees you clearly. He knows you as you REALLY are. And He loves you today and always. Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair and nails are perfect? Do you think your value to him changes based on how many followers you have on IG or Pinterest? Do you think he wants you to worry or get depressed if someone unfriends you or unfollows you on facebook or twitter? Do you think outward attractiveness, your dress size or popularity make the slightest difference in your worth to the one who created the universe? He loves you for not only who you are this very day, but also for the person of glory and light, you have the potential and the desire to become. More than you could ever imagine, he wants you to achieve your destiny, to return to your heavenly home in honor." ---Dieter F Uchtdorf General Women's Broadcast October 2014
YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.
YOU WERE MEADE FOR DIVINE PURPOSES and HAVE A DIVINE DESTINY.
If you feel you need someone to talk to, contact me. I want to hear from you.
You should always go to the grocery store with a list of foods to buy – otherwise, you will find yourself in aisles you don’t belong, looking at foods you don't need, and then spending more than planned! (sound familiar?)
Having a PLAN and will make a HUGE difference and it really is the best way to stay on track with healthy eating and save money!
For the 21 Day Fix nutrition plan, you should be thriving on whole foods. This means the majority of your grocery shopping will be done around the outer perimeter of the grocery store, which is always where all the good stuff is displayed.
I use this grocery list for the 21 Day Fix by printing it out and making a note in the margins of how many servings of each container I needed for the week. Check off each item as you add them the cart.
If you are looking to buy the 21-day Fix program with workouts and color-coded containers, you can CLICK HERE to buy it from the company with a full money-back guarantee and warranty on all DVDs
OR even better! You can get an annual access pass to Beachbody on Demand which will include the 21-day fix program, nutrition guide AND a bag of the healthy superfood nutrition supplement Shakeology for an AMAZING price! That way, after you finish the 21-day fix, you can move onto the 80-day obsession with the same food containers, or choose from one of the 55+ other workout programs that are available online with Beachbody on Demand! CLICK HERE TO GET THE BONUS PACK!
IF YOU NEED HELP OR SUPPORT, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME cherishsaurey@gmail.com
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!!!
