Lifestyle Changes

I've always loved food! As I'm sure you are all well aware - I don't exactly wear a size 0 (or actually care to) but I would enjoy becoming more healthy.

Diets SUCK!!!! I HATE them - I LOATHE them. I think my reason for my extreme diet hatred is the fact that I can never follow through with them, I starve on them, I feel deprived and consumed by them, they take up my time and my thoughts. They take too much effort in so many ways that I just can't do it. They become an idol that I do not want to worship. I start off good (for about three days) and then someone has to go and have a birthday, or an evening out with friends and the diet takes a back seat and I justify my gluttonous appetite to the fact that it's a celebration and I need to throw caution to the wind and eat whatever I darn well please. That and I don't want others' attention drawn towards me if I only order a leaf salad and a water. I HATE that kind of attention. And after that my diet officially dies - until Monday rolls around. I swear I've probably dieted for an entire year (but only if you count the Mondays) Cheers to those who can stick to a diet!!! You have no idea how I envy you. You are my hero in health.

SO - I've learned a few things about myself, my health and my over all well-being over the past few years. I'm not sure why it's just been the last few years. Maybe it's because I'm beginning to realize that I'm getting older. I know, I know, I'm only 34 years old but I'm beginning to feel that my body is slowly disintegrating.

I'm always making new years resolutions about my weight, pinning healthy recipes and exercise routines on pinterest, printing off helpful tips to stay on track (maybe for four days instead of three) and attempting to exercise when I can. (Preferably become one of those run 7 miles each morning, buff and skinny types - by the end of the week). - HA!

I feel like I'm turning a corner in my way of thinking. I DO need to become more healthy, not only for my own well-being but also for a positive example to my children. But no I'm not dieting, I'm not going on an all out exercise craze, I'm not signing up in advance to run a 5K. I've just made some lifestyle changes over the past year that I've just realized have probably made me healthier and it inspires me to make more changes and for that reason I'm excited.

So - in case you are interested, here are a few things that I've changed:

I used to hate oatmeal - but over the past few years I've learned to love it. For breakfast I will have oatmeal with a little bit of brown sugar and peaches. I think I'm eating dessert for breakfast. It's amazing!!!

I LOVE popcorn! And it is usually my go to snack after dinner when we sit down to entertain our brains in front of the television. And I know how Unhealthy popcorn can be so I've switched to making my own. It takes a little more time than microwave but I think it tastes so much better and I don't feel that buttery film on the roof of my mouth when I'm done. I make it on the stove in a pan set on med. heat and I melt 2 Tbsp. coconut oil in the pan, pour in the popcorn (enough to coat the bottom), put the lid on and wait. It doesn't take too long. You don't have to worry about moving it around or standing right there. It doesn't burn and when I hear the popcorn lifting the lid then I come ready with the popcorn bowl. I sprinkle the popcorn with Seasalt and enjoy. It's sooooo delicious - I think it tastes a bit like movie theatre popcorn because of the oil. But it's sooo much better for you.

Another favorite snack is cottage cheese with strawberries and almonds. I get 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, 1 cup strawberries (cut up) and 1/4 cup salted almonds. I sprinkle one splenda or stevia package over the top and enjoy. I LOVE it!!!!

I don't like lunch. Never have! And so in the summer I find myself eating breakfast late, snacking around 2pm and then waiting until dinner. One of my favorite "lunch" options is apple slices, with laughing cow swiss cheese and turkey. I spread the laughing cow cheese on an apple slice, wrap the slice in turkey and enjoy. Apple slices with natural peanut butter (freshly squeezed from Winco) is another one of my favorites - and my daughter's as well.

Frozen grapes - my whole family loves them.

Almonds - especially the new coconut ones (so yummy!)

Edimame - my kids will eat an entire bag of them.

Grilled Asparagus - Another family favorite. Rinse the asparagus, place tinfoil on grill, put asparagus on tinfoil, sprinkle with olive oil and seasalt and let cook on med heat.  I usually turn them a few times. We like the tops crispy.

Another change I've made is switching from cow's milk to almond milk. I don't drink milk, never really have unless it's with a warm chocolate chip cookie and so it was easy to make this switch. I LOVE cereal and will often eat it for dinner and so almond milk is my cereal milk - and I can't even tell the difference anymore.

I've also switched some of my ingredients in recipes when I bake:

Crisco or Vegetable Oil - I use coconut oil (more expensive but better for you)
Sugar - sometimes I substitute honey
Butter - applesauce
Eggs - Egg whites (if the recipe calls for 2 eggs I use 4 egg whites)

I know there are a lot more substitutions that you can make for different ingredients but these are just a few that I consistently use when I bake.

I wrote this blog post not only to give you a few ideas on some healthy snack options and to encourage all of those non-dieters out there. But also to remind myself that I've made some permanent changes that are benefiting myself and my family. And I feel better now!

My mindset has also changed to encompass the never-ending cultural phenomenon of physical perfection as a fantasy never to be obtained. I will never be rescued from a tower guarded by a dragon, I will never be a competitor in a game of Quidditch at Hoggwarts, I will never sit with Bilbo Baggins in his hobbit house drinking tea and discussing Gandolph's fireworks display or fly through the sky on an Eagle and I will never be a size 2.  As much as I WANT these things and WISH that they were real - I am fully aware that I am mortal and live in reality. Therefore I relinquish my desire for physical perfection for I know that it is a goal that is unattainable. I know that there will always be something about my physical appearance that I would like to change. Always!

Some of you are reading this and saying (what? she can be a size 2 if she really wants too. It's a goal that is definitely attainable. She just must not want to put forth the effort to attain that goal. She must just be like all of the other lazy Americans who make excuses for their obesity and do nothing to change it.) To those of you who might be thinking this - I'm laughing at you. Yes - Yes I am!!! You need to realize a few things about me before you say such things:

1. I'm a mom - therefore fully uncapable of spending hours at the gym, hours planning meals and hours preparing separate meals for me and my family.

2. I do not want to consume my time day in and day out with myself. Life is too short to spend it striving for perfection only to end up in a box in the ground anyway.

3. Thanks to my physical heritage (don't know if I should blame the Native Americans or the Dutch) my hips are incapable of fitting into a size 2. I don't even think my bones are a size 2, so YES a fantasy it is. And I'm cool with it - I don't really want to be a size 2 anyways. It looks good on others but on me I would probably look like a modern day holocaust victim. - No thanks!

And so - I will wrap this up. Sorry for the rambling - the on-topic, off-topic mumbles. Like I said this post is more for me than anyone else.

I plan on making more changes. I know that God desires for me to be healthy. I know that I don't want to make physical perfection a goal, but I also don't want to make food become and idol either. I need to find a balance. A balance between enjoying life and not ruining mine with what I choose to eat. I'm working on it - it's a process but one that I don't want to spend too much time on anymore. I know what is healthy and I just need to eat it more often.

One of the most important changes I'm making is a morning pep talk. A time to read the Bible, pray and be thankful. When my spirit is at peace and my mind is content then my decisions in everything that I do will be more of God's will than my own. I want to see myself as God sees me, and put my time and effort into eternal things.

Love this verse:

1 Peter 3:3-4 - "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

Cheers to Lifestyle changes!!!

"Don't Judge"

As a follower of Christ the phrase "don't judge" is beginning to make me angry. I understand it's concept and when used appropriately it serves a very great purpose - HOWEVER it has been used A LOT lately and always it seems against Christ followers.

(Which in and of itself is strange because they are judging "us" for judging "others" so their argument therefore holds little validity in my opinion)

Don't get me wrong - I know why we get that phrase jammed down our throats - it's because through their eyes "we" don't practice what we preach. We are too quick to judge others and point fingers at their sin which is sometimes true in many situations - sad, but true! I'm guilty of it myself from time to time, it is a human struggle that I pray about often.

Recent events of sin-struggles amongst fellow believers has sparked a passion in me to always side with the truth of God's word - Always! HE is my constant, my hiding place, my security, my hope, my comfort and my peace - everything else in comparison is empty. TRUTH always wins - and He is truth - so I'm on the winning team. SIGH - OF - RELIEF!!! I honestly don't know how anyone can go throughout this life without Him.

If you must know, I WILL go to a place that is very uncomfortable for some to discuss- ok many! I think it needs to be discussed, I think we need to respond to those who point fingers at us and say (no scream) "DON'T JUDGE!!!!"

The idea of homosexuality - I said it! And no I'm not a homophobic bigot. I'm not! The homosexual community is in the forefront of social media and gets a lot of press. Even though it remains a very uncommon occurrence among us, it is forced into our living rooms, our relationships and our minds. It's widely accepted as "normal".

SO - the church is now one of the only places that homosexuals haven't "infiltrated" yet. They are still not accepted in the church - or so they say. Now, I can't speak for any other church than my own but I know ( because my dad is the pastor of my church) that if a homosexual were to enter into our church they would be welcomed with open arms. HOWEVER, if they were to come into our church hand in hand with their significant other and expect to be accepted and worship like anyone else then they would be escorted out immediately. Would you call that judging? NO - and I'll tell you why!

The church is a place for sinners to come and heal from their struggles and downfalls. It is not a place to exploit their sin, practice their sin or pretend that their "sin" is o.k.


Think of it this way: If my dad were to see an alcoholic enter the church on a Sunday morning, open bottle of alcohol in hand, sit in the service and proceed to get even more wasted during church - they would be escorted out. If a drug dealer were to enter our church on a Sunday morning, bag of marijuana in his pocket, smoking pot during church - they would be escorted out. If a person addicted to pornography were to bring their Playboy or Playgirl magazines into church and proceed to look at the pictures during the service they would be escorted out. If a person struggling with bad language and abuse were to come into church on Sunday and proceed to cuss and beat on his wife during the service they would be escorted out.

I hope you understand what I mean! The church is not a place to expose or practice your sin - and as a follower of Christ I believe that homosexuality is a sin - a sin that Christ can heal them from.

The fact that I believe it to be a sin can cause some to draw a quick intake of breath and say, "that is why I'm not a Christian! Because they are not accepting of other people's lifestyle choices."

And to them all I can say is, "I am accepting of everyone, and know that I am a sinner myself, but I do not and will not accept their sin as something that it is not." I'm not going to slip it under the rug and pretend that it's o.k. - when the Bible clearly states that it's not. So, I will love them, pray for them and try to teach them the truth.