Baby Steps

Three weeks ago my chiropractor encouraged me in my health improvement journey. He said take baby steps. In that time I have tried very hard to increase my water intake and I've been drinking a good share of my meals.

In the morning I juice with cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, lemon, apple and ginger.

At lunch I make a smoothie with apple or banana, blueberries, flax seed, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, almond butter and coconut milk. If I don't make a smoothie I will have a salad.

For supper I eat a regular healthy meal.
I've also been taking my supplements regularly.

I was feeling pretty well and noticing I had more energy until finally one of the bugs that has been going through the community finally caught up with me. I have kept it away all winter but now I'm suffering from a very bad sore throat. My smoothie is about the only thing that I have interest in "eating".

Evan at that I feel like I'm making progress in that I feel better. The scale hasn't budged, but I have to remember it's about health.

This past October my chiropractor diagnosed me with what he believes to be Fibromyalgia.

In order to manage it I'm improving my diet, drinking more water, taking my supplements and trying to find time to do some mild exercises, especially stretches.

Last summer I took a Tai Chi class for the first time and really enjoyed it. Problem is, because of my teaching schedule I can't participate during the school year. I had great plans to continue to try to do the exercises on my own, but best laid plans...I have forgotten most of them. I looked online and on YouTube but haven't been able to find exactly what I'm looking for. I remember my teacher said to sometimes just do free movements so that's what I started doing this week and it felt really good!

I am so STUCK! I'm hoping when I feel better that I can make this part of my daily routine, but time and demands make it difficult. Once I feel a bit more loosened up I will try to incorporate some yoga as well. I can't wait until summer when I can take part in classes again.

I'm finding that with both Tai Chi and Yoga the breathing is key.
                     
                                                                             One day at a time.

Tomorrow if I'm feeling up to it I will be hosting Bible study and I have a few students in the late afternoon/evening hours. Friday it's back to the chiropractor to see if I've made any noticeable improvement.

Wishing all of you a very good night!

Two Years!

                         Time flies so very quickly,

It's been two years since I wrote my featured post  ( you can find it here ). I think if you take the time to read it and the attached articles you will understand more where I'm going with this Two years since I felt God leading me to live my life with intention, take charge of my procrastination and generally get my life in order.

                                                            I stumbled upon these ladies. I instantly        felt drawn to the whole idea of being "Queen of my own life". 

You will see them featured on my blog from time to time. I find them inspirational. As a woman of faith I have to balance that idea with Scripture and be careful to read and understand that thought through an eyeglass of faith. Isn't living the Christian life one of discipline at times?

One of you who read my blog recently reminded me that being gracious is not the same as being a doormat and I agree and appreciate the reminder. Sometimes as a queen I have to stand up for what is right, for what I believe and also as queen I have to keep my own "castle" in order.



                                                              Are we not children of
                                                                     The King? 
                                     Are we not a royal priesthood?

So began a year of living life to the fullest...more in touch with the Holy Spirit of God than I had ever been and then 2017 came and I fell apart. I did fine for a while, then a few things out of my control fell apart in my life. I had family struggles and issues at church and as the stress mounted, everything I had planned to get in order fell further apart.

                  But now I'm choosing not to dwell on the misfortunes and                                               mistakes of last year. 
                                     it is time once again to reign over my life, 
                          
2017 is over and I honestly don't know where it went but I'm glad it's done.




So I'm starting again...but where? I think the most important thing at this point is to get healthy again. I'm starting a new health journey which involves a new diet and hopefully a new exercise program. One step at a time...first the diet. I will be juicing my breakfast which will consist of:

                                                    apple, cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, lemon and ginger

Lunch will be a smoothie made with:
apple, blueberry, almond butter, flax, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, coconut milk and spinach

Before breakfast and lunch I will drink Slim and I will eat a regular but healthy supper as well as drinking half my body weight in ounces of water. Sundays are my free day...not to go nuts and eat whatever I want, but I will have regular healthy food all day.

I hope to do this for 6 weeks and at that time I will assess how it's going, how I'm feeling and whether to continue or make some changes.
                                                                                                               

 In addition to getting my health in check I will be working on getting my home organized and most importantly trusting God to show me how to live a majestic and gracious life in my church...balancing the ministry I'm called to do in what I see as a conspiracy against use of the organ. I simply do not understand why it has to be either/or...why can't they see the organ can be relevant in the contemporary church?

Today in church Pastor began a series in Daniel.
He talked about how Daniel and his friends were taken from their homes, given new names that didn't match their faith and Daniel allowed it all...he compromised up until the point he decided he wouldn't eat the kings food and defile himself.
                                                                                               Pastor then gave us the "wisdom test" ----- Even if I'm right , am I irritated, frustrated, angry? Am I trying to just win the battle or show them Jesus?

I still haven't figured out where he was going with that thought and I'm ashamed to say I got stuck there and didn't hear much else he said. He made me feel like if I'm irritated, frustrated or angry I should step back and compromise. I don't know that I agree with that completely.
                                                                                                   Of course if there is conflict of opinions there is going to be irritation, frustration and anger on both sides.

And what about "righteous anger"?
                                            Jesus clearing out the temple...He was angry but rightfully so! All things to think about and I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have them. Tonight we'll talk about the sermon at small group so maybe I'll get some answers there.



So there you have it...hopefully next post I'll have some progress to share.

Another Suggested Read

In addition to being a wine-lover, Daughter #1 is a "foodie". She is passionate about eating healthy and healing the body with the food it takes in. She has started a blog about all the helpful things she comes across to help us lead healthier lives. If you're interested you may find her at Grateful Glow. 

Eating Plan

$237.93!!

May 9, '11 8:26 PM for Julie's contacts

How many times have I said it??? I'm going to eat right, exercise, get healthy, lose weight...never mind, don't answer that. I know I have said it way to many times to count, yet at the same time, I'm saying it yet again and starting yet once again on my arduous journey.

I began with a trip to the grocery store armed with a list made from a menu of only healthy meals. Daughter #1 has gone completely gluten free/sugar free and although I am not going to the extremes she does, I have learned quite a bit from her quest to exist only on whole foods - nothing processed and organic when possible. For me this is process in itself. It requires research and education and a total revamping of ones kitchen, much less thinking and mindset. Years ago I did learn the trick of shopping mostly from the perimeter of the store for the healthiest products - I have to say I have greatly reduced the amount of pre-packaged foods I use, but now it's time to go a step further and eliminate as much as possible, canned goods as well. During the winter I rely a lot on frozen veggies and during this recent trip I bought fresh as much as possible and much to my dismay wound up spending the above amount! The picture above is what I brought home from that trip. I am usually able to hold my bill to around $100.00, so you can understand my shock. I read somewhere that healthy eating doesn't have to be more expensive...well I'd like to see how that works...if someone knows something I don't know, please don't keep it to yourself, because we can't afford this...yet at the same time we can't afford not to.

Some friends of mine have jumped head first into the whole "extreme couponing" craze. I decided to give it a try, but am finding that I am very limited in what I can purchase here with coupons since we live in a rural area and I am also finding them rather limiting and who puts out coupons for whole foods??

In my quest for health I am also in the process of eliminating chemicals from my home as much as possible. Again, I say process because I am simply too cheap to throw out my existing products so as I finish what I have I will replace with a homemade version which will also save some money in the long run. I have found several recipes for cleaners and personal care items I hope to try soon.

I'm not sure I want to fuss with the laundry soap recipe, but I still might give it a try.  This homemaker's blog has some good ideas. I'm also not sure about this facial cleanser, but I'm definitely going to make the homemade deodorant since I have read that the aluminum that is found in most brands is possibly linked to things like breast cancer, kidney trouble and memory loss...all of which I can do my best to avoid and if this helps...great!  Even if you're not interested in this sort of thing, the blog entry about the deodorant is an interesting and entertaining read. I plan to explore her blog more in the coming days.