Studies have shown that people that have a healthy spiritual life tend to be healthier mentally and physically as well. Here’s a verse to meditate on.
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8
It’s day 8 of detox and as Michael Bublè would sing, ‘I’m feeling good.’ My metabolism and energy are way up. I’m starting green food phase today. And I’ve dropped another half inch of my midsection in two days. That puts me down 2.5 inches in 7 days. I’ve only taken off about 1 inch in below tummy area, 3/4 inch in hip and 1/4 inch in thighs, but as I said, I have a lot of muscle and probably won’t see big changes there and right now my body is fighting hormonal issues so I won’t have a true picture for another couple of weeks. But hey, progress is progress.
Yesterday proved to be a bit of a challenge though. I figured out a long time ago that I stress eat. While having to deal with a major stress situation I found myself craving to eat something. However, as to not blow my progress, I opted to snack on baby carrots. Then to put my hands to use and focus on something else, I sauteed some baby spinach with mushrooms and onions, one of my favorite dishes.
I’m also finding that I am hungry between meals now. This is actually a good thing. It means my body is starting to use up what I’m eating and will have to start using it’s fat stores. Remember, a little hunger is not a bad thing. You don’t always have to go stuff yourself every time you feel hungry. Just don’t starve yourself or your body will slow down to conserve.
As said I am feeling much more energetic now and will actually attempt to add a second time of exercise today as I go though my day. I did kickboxing this morning, so maybe some Pilates for stretching and relaxation. I have a great 20 minute workout that doesn’t take long to do. As a mom and business person it can be difficult to find time to exercise, but I know I have to make time to do it in order to be my best each day for my family. I don’t like feeling sluggish or like I have to take a nap all the time when I have so much that needs to be done. Don’t get me wrong, naps are great, but I don’t like that ongoing tired feeling.
I need to go to the store today and pick up more fresh veggies. One of the keys to getting through this is stocking your refrigerator with good choices so that when you do get those cravings you can reach for the right thing. I may end up having to make a trip to the Whole Foods store in the next city though. I’m looking forward to the startup of the farmers market season here again. The economy and the preceding food scares have really taken it’s toll on being able to find great organic products in our neighborhood stores. For a while our local Target and Walmart had started to carry many organic produce selections. Now they are few and far between and what they have is slim pickings at best. I guess I’ll have to start making the trek to WF again. I really wish they would put one in our city though.
That reminds me…. I heard there were some people boycotting Whole Foods because of the comments that the CEO, John Mackey, made. Are you kidding? Get real people. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It is still a free country after all. As a mother of three who will be paying for everything that is going on today, I have very definite opinions about the healthcare and economic issues too. It’s my right. It’s what this country is founded on. To say that you will boycott someone just because his political views are different from yours and he criticized the government is insane. What will happen to our country when our choices are taken away and what we are entitled to have or not have is based on current popular opinion or some government checklist? Our country would be taking a step back.
Now don’t blast me, but I feel that in some ways, Mr. Mackey is right. Many health issues can be avoided by proper diet and taking care of oneself. Yes, I think everyone should have healthcare, but I don’t think that I should be the one that has to pay for it when my own is already so high. I’m also not willing to give up my privacy to make it happen. If you haven’t read the entire bill and know every nuance of it and the ramifications of every action contained in it, don’t blast those that have a different opinion than you do. We all have issues we are most concerned about. Mr. Obama promised to “reach across the lines” and reunite our country. His administration has only succeeded so far in dividing it even more. The healthcare reform is one of those issues. Don’t let this divide our country. He promised change, but I’m not sure this is the kind of change we need right now. Like many, many Americans, they’ll have to convince me.
Off my soap box now. I try not to talk politics because it is so volatile as been revealed of late, but some things just irk me. Stay tuned for day 9 of my detox.
It seems like each day we hear more bad news. People losing their jobs and houses, food prices going up, more taxes, etc. All of these things bring us down. What’s a person do? I’ll tell you what to do. Focus on the good things you do have. Yes, money is tight. But do you have a house to live in? Do you have a car to drive? Do you have food to eat? There are some people that do not have these things, in our country and others.
I sponsor a child in Ethiopia through World Vision. I received a letter from her recently where she told me of her living conditions. Her entire family lives in a two room hut-a kitchen and a living/sleeping room covered with mud and straw. They have to use animal dung to make a fire to cook with, but they are happy for every little thing that they can get. We should be the same way.
I tell you that if you start feeling down just think about the good things that you do have and you will find some measure of peace within your circumstances.
Philippians 4:8-9 (New American Standard Bible)
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Sometimes when the world is crashing all around us: the kids are screaming; the house is in chaos; husband is working late and you’re exhausted and depleted, you start to wonder, does anyone care about me? Does anyone love me? Well, no matter what is going in your life remember that God loves you.
Jeremiah 31:3 (New American Standard Bible)
The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
A Christian talking about sex! Oh my goodness. Why not? We need to have a good love life too. After all God designed sex and He gave it to us for a reason. It connects us in ways unimaginable. Problems occur when God’s beautiful gift gets distorted. I was listening to the radio today and heard a program from Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. I thought I’d share these messages with you. The mp3s are free to download. There is one for him and one for her. I don’t know how long the links will last. If you can’t get to it try searching their site with the subject line of this post.
What Every Husband and Every Wife Wishes Their Spouse Knew About Sex
Individual links in case the above doesn’t work:
