Disrespecting Our Bodies

Today is a GREAT day! The day began with me waking up early because I couldn't sleep. This NEVER happens to me. Well I guess it does since it did today but this was a first. Honestly, I hope it is not the last either. Now I did still get a good amount of sleep. I feel well rested. I got up and got right on my treadmill. I walked at a good pace for 3.5 miles while I lifted some 5lb dumbbells. While I was walking I like to listen to my Integrative Nutrition courses. Today's message really resonated with me. The speaker said something to the affect of, when you eat something that is not good for your health you are disrespecting your body. WOW! When you put it like that it took on a whole new meaning for me. We hate it when other people disrespect us but I fear we are doing it to ourselves ALL the time! And not just with food, but with our self talk. If a friend said some of the things to you that you say to yourself about you, How long would they be your friend? Or if you were constantly serving people proccessed packaged foods when they came over instead of a home cooked meal, How often would they come?
I've been hearing a lot lately about our bodies not being our enemy but our best friend. I know with my own weight issues, up to this point, I have not believed this. But a new light has been put on this. Our bodies are so smart! It can only keep us balanced for so long and if we are telling it how horrible things are then it will help us depart out of the circumstance, therefore bringing on disease and sickness. Food can be a healer or a slow killer. It all depends on what you are fueling it with. I heard a story once from Russell James that there was once a homeless man who was offered a cheeseburger. He graciously declined. The giver could hardly believe it and asked him why. The homeless man said, "If I eat things that will hurt and kill off my body, where will I live?" This struck me deep through to my heart. I believe my body is a Temple given to me by God. It is a precious gift and if I put bad foods and thoughts into it not only am I disrespecting myself but I am disrespecting God and this precious gift he has given me. I am taking this gift of life here on this earth and slowly committing suicide, therefore not achieving the mission he sent me hear to accomplish.
I know this is all pretty deep stuff today that I am speaking about, but it has been an "aha" moment for me. It is times like this that I am able to solidify my goals and my purpose. I hope these insights will help you as well and maybe it won't take you as long to achieve your goals.
Stay positive...Have Happy Thoughts...and fuel your body with the best foods nature has to offer!

Loving Relationships

Do you ever find it harder to eat right and/or exercise if you are having a hard time in a relationship? I know II do. I am definitely an emotional eater. If things are going well then it is reason to celebrate with restaurant food. If things are bad, well then I just deserve a candy bar to help me with the pain. This thinking still comes out of me sometimes but it is much more controlled these days. Or at least so I thought. How about this one.....When one of the kiddos are driving me crazy I have noticed I'm not turning to food like I used to but now it is to my phone and let's just numb the pain or agony by scrolling through facebook or pinterest or email...just one more time today. Then a one minute thing has turned into 30 min or more. So how do we break these cycles. Well I am finding just recognizing and admitting to myself that that is what I am doing has helped. So my goals for this are to try reading a scripture verse instead or doing 20 jumping jacks or just closing my eyes and counting to 20. I think the first two would be more beneficial though and help me complete more than one goal at a time.
I've been learning about relationships this week in school and how if we are having issues there then it doesn't matter how good we are eating or how much we are exercising our health will be impacted negatively. Looking back I agree that this has been true in my life. How about yours? Do you agree?
So I have been trying to do things to build up my relationships, knowing if I do this not only will my relationships improve but the eating and exercise and my general health and well being will too. So what have I been doing? Well with one of my sons, I have a really hard time. He is very different than me and can't seem to get things done in a timely manner. Drives me CRAZY! So I have been trying to compliment him more. I have been taking notice of the things he does that are great and the talents that he has.
If you are married, you know that strengthening that relationship constantly is important. So I have been so excited this Christmas season to do a 24 days till Christmas little love thing for my man. I got the idea off of datingdivas.com I made up 24 cards. Some have little love notes on them, some are service oriented and others are date night themed. I know he likes it but I think I am getting more out of it than he is just because it is so fun to be the giver.
So my point is that health and wellness can improve through strengthening relationships. What are you doing to strengthen yours?