To be or not to be.....Normal.

I was sitting in a theatre with my husband when an ad came up for mini cars. The ad really caught my attention.  Watch it here;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R_D4V-Ns3Y

As I thought about this, I realized I DO NOT want to be normal. Occasionally, when I am in social situations and they are all eating the fat laden sugar food that I used to love so much (okay confession: I still love it, it is addictive, I just try not to eat it), I wish for a moment that I could eat that too for the taste and have it not affect my weight, but that is just not so. It does affect me and not just my mood, but my general health and well being. I desire to fit in at least so the situation isn't so awkward. Like I've said before, I am going to the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and we talk about fitting out. By fitting out, you can still be you. You can be an example and an inspiration to others. That is my hope. It still doesn't make it easy, I know! I had my parents come out for Christmas and it was really nice to see them, but every meal seemed awkward. I was trying to share some of my raw dishes that I had been taught and my family have enjoyed. It went over well with my mom who eats pretty healthy already. It didn't go over so well with my dad. I must say though, he was good and ate what I prepared without too much complaining. You could tell though that he was a bit miserable with it though. I did do some clean eating cooked dishes as well and we did go out to eat a few times while they were here, in my defense. So it's not like he was forced to eat only raw vegan the whole  time he was here or completely 100% healthy. I did make him a raw German chocolate birthday cake, which was amazing! He did say it was good, but made sure to tell me when he got home and was surrounded by the rest of my extended family that he had his Real, Normal Cake! I was sad at first because I thought...I am such an outcast in this family. I am not normal and I don't do stuff the same way they do. For example, because I'm not just talking about food here, I home school my children and I attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints; all of which are considered outside the norm. Plus, I live far away from them and so I'm not even with them on a normal basis.
The point of me sharing all of this with you is so that you can see that, yes, as you start eating healthy and different from the , Norm, you will stand out and it may be hard, BUT...you will feel good about your health and how you look and feel. And that is what is most important because you have to live with you ALL THE TIME! I truly believe that every non-normal thing that I do and practice is because I find it to be right and true and it is what works best for my family and I.
Also, I don't want to be normally obese or have a normal heart attack. I don't want to deal with normal diabetes, normal medications that I have to take everyday for the rest of my life. I don't want to be tired, fatigued and sick on a Normal basis. I just don't want to have all that common, standard, normal American diseases and illness' caused by eating a Normal, Standard American Diet. Nor do I want my kids to be socialized by other kids.  (That is a whole different conversation)
My hope and dream for me and my family is to be Amazing and Vibrant. I want us to be healthy, happy and be able to learn and grow as we see fit. 
I want you to know, that I am not saying in anyway that what is right for me is right and the only way to navigate this life. I'm just trying to make the point that normal is NOT our best option nor our only option. Does this all make sense? It sure did strike me, right to my center, when I saw the commercial and had been sulking about not fitting in that well.
It is this very issue or situations, circumstances, feelings and emotions like these that keep us from achieving what we really want in our hearts to become. So it is this sense of being normal that we need to overcome in order to really be set free to achieve the goals, hopes and dreams we have for ourselves.

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?

Always Making Changes

Well it has been about forever and a lifetime ago since I have been in touch. Much has happened. I have traveled more, which was wonderful for the heart and mind but not so much for the physique. I prepared and planned but in the end I just got comfy and dropped the ball. Then I got back on track by taking a raw chef course and making AMAZING dinners every night. Then I fell off again. Then I signed up to be a health coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition and I was back on course strong and sure for about 2 weeks until the course work picked up and started to become a bit more time consuming. So I'm off but getting back on first thing in the MORNING. Notice I did not say MONDAY! (short version of the story)
The point in case is that 1) I am learning a lot about myself and from other people. and 2) I am completely HUMAN and imperfect. I make a lot of mistakes on this journey I am on, BUT I am NOT giving up and that is what is making the difference.
I was worried about being a health coach if I was having my own struggles with weight and walking the walk 100% of the time. The great thing is I have a bit longer to figure it all out and second the new goal in this regard is to make this weak part of my life a strength. A strength so much so that I can turn around and help others walk the same path.
It is becoming a longer journey than I imagined it would be, but I am learning so much about myself in the process. A journey that is definitely worth it. No I may not be speeding down the freeway like I had hoped but I seem to be getting off at an exit every now and then to experience life in that place and learn and enjoy what it has to offer and then taking what I can from there and getting back on the freeway towards my end goal. I feel like this will be able to help me in my health coaching practice.
I needed to come up with a web address and name for my business this week and what I decided on was this:
Believe and Achieve Health -Inspiring Higher Health
www.believeandachievehealth.com

I chose this because as I am coming to realize reaching our goals is not only about having the knowledge and knowing what to do with it but also about getting in our own heads and listening to what we truly believe about ourselves and what we can accomplish. By making sure our thoughts are positive and uplifting, by breaking down fears and negativity and excuses we can achieve our hearts desire for our health.
I appreciate all of your love, support and comments as I share my personal journey with you and it is my hope that if you need someone to help you and listen to you without judgement that you will call on me to be your strength until you can find your own. Hugs...

At THAT place...

Yes, I am at THAT place. Maybe you know the ONE and have been there too. It's that place where you always get to when you lose weight and then for some reason you just cant get past it. And not because your body is at a plateau but because your mind is. It's the point when you just seem to lose all will power and strength and all the excuses of why you can"t proceed keep slapping you in the face at every meal and at every thought that says I should exercise.
So I need to ask myself, What is going to make this time different? How am I going to pull past this and keep going so I can reach my goal by Christmas? Well I have some ideas, BUT PLEASE chime in with any thoughts of encouragement or inspiration.
I have been pinning short fun exercise routines that I can do throughout my day in between changing diapers and breaking up fights between the kids. I guess I should take those seconds to do them instead of pinning more. hehe
I also have ordered a new raw eating book. 80/10/10 diet and Have printed off and expanded my recipe collection.
I also am going to get back into my netflix food documentaries while I walk on my treadmill, which means I need to get back in the habit of getting the kiddos to bed at a reasonable hour. Did I mention how difficult my children are and how lazy and depressed I get when hubby is away? You'd think it would be easier because I have complete control over my extra time at night and what gets fixed for dinner but it just doesn't seem to work that way.
So I guess what I am trying to say is that I feel like I am drowning and need some extra support to make it to my awesomeness by Christmas. So if I have been inspiring at all up to this point please encourage me and let me know you're there so I can move on to the next place...the I did it completely, not just for a while success phase.
Thanks everyone!
Oh and btw it is really embarrassing to have to tell you that I am at that place BUT I wanted to make this a real truthful journey and by writing this blog and sharing I could get past this place in the road that I always seem to reach and never surpass. ....UNTIL NOW! (positive progress to follow)

Vacations with strengths and struggles

Yes, I know it feels like it has been years...right!?! At least it does to me. After my last post the typical daddy is gone everything must break and go wrong set in. I was so frustrated. I planned a trip out to IL for my sister's graduation and because of all the stress ended up leaving early so I could have help from family sooner. I was prepared! I took bags for everyone full of Larabars, dehydrated fruit, nuts and stuff so we wouldn't have to stop on the road to eat. I also prepped my family on our eating habits so my mom could get proper groceries from her end. I took my juicer with me and my vitamix blender, along with some specialty items for recipes that I knew I probably wouldn't be able to find there. We had a very good time and we did great!
I made sure to have my family try all my recipes. Some they liked and others they did not. I did make an exception while I was there for my two favorite childhood restraunts...Avantis and LaGondola. Which I had planned for months on making that exception. I knew a few things...1) It would taste AMAZING as usual! 2)I'd probably get sick and feel horrible 3) It would probably cause cravings! And that it did....worse than I thought. I will admit that because of this...Yes..I cheated a few more times. Am I paying for it? Yes I am. Should I have not had it? Maybe. But the great thing is is that even though I am really struggling with cravings right now I am back on track. I figured the easiest way to get back on track is to juice and have some smoothies, but no nuts or other major fats like coconut oil. By the end of the week my cravings should be gone and I should be go to go again on my raw journey. My dearest husband is away again so this is the perfect time to really focus in and see how much better I can look and feel by the time he gets back. I have a goal to lose 40 more lbs by Christmas. This would put me at my ideal body weight. I have already told dearest husband that I would like my wedding ring resized for Christmas. It has been over a year since I have worn it because it is too loose. (I had it sized up when I had put on the weight)
On another note. I didnot weigh myself the whole time I was in IL. I was up 4lbs when I got home (probably from the cheats) BUT I am down a pant/dress size !!!!! WOOHOO! I imagine by the end of this week, I will have lost the 4lbs and hopefully more. I got my spiralizer when I got home and I love it!!! It is by far the coolest thing ever! I love how the zucchini noodles taste. I haven't found a topper though that I really like yet. Still playing with that part. So this is my latest update. Because I am juicing again I will keep you posted as to if it is as great as it was the first time. Hope you are all living healthy and happily!

Fast Food and Fast Moves

So I know it has been a while since my last post. I was worried that my posts were starting to all sound the same as I posted daily. Hence the reason for not hearing from me in a while. It has been a bit of a roller coaster emotionally this past week, but more so the past few days.
Last week I exercised everyday....up until Thursday when baby decided he WAS NOT going to go to bed till 10 and/or 11pm. That's the problem with leaving your workout till after the kids go to bed....sometimes it just doesn't happen. It is important to take advantage of those few minutes here and there throughout your day. Which some days I did and other days, my emotions got the better of me and I threw down my lazy card. With this insight I wanted to make sure i had some quick workouts on hand to do. My health coach, Connie Lancaster, found this amazing video a while back and so I reintroduced myself to these FAST MOVES. you can google M-100's (Ninja workout). It is pretty hard core. Now i can't do the jumping burpee thing really well at the beginning so I have modified it to where I step back and up and I believe for my exercise level I am getting the same intensity for me. Does that make sense? You can also google modified burpee and there are some videos on that. I have also been doing  a lot of core exercises. Today I even was able to get in interval training on my treadmill. It was a really good workout day today.
Let's talk FAST FOOD. Did I eat some....YES! I ate the fastest food on the planet. FRUIT and veggies. Did I trick you? I haven't been making very many recipes lately. I told you the boys and I were going for simple while daddy is gone. We really haven't been eating any set meals around here. It has just been grabbing whatever we are in the mood for. Apple? Grapes? Carrots? ect...ect...
I am so excited! I ordered a spiralizer for myself for Mother's day! I know it sounds silly but dear hubby told me to as he can't do stuff like that while he is gone. I can't wait to get it. I hope it comes really fast!!!
I finally went down a pound and lost some more inches! This was Monday that I noticed this. On Tuesday, I was up 1.4lbs. I am fully aware that this could just be a daily fluctuation of 5-7lbs, BUT I did have an increase of nuts yesterday and some coconut oil. I'm really starting to wonder if I need to just stick with avocados as my fat source. Any thoughts? Maybe when I get down to my ideal weight this won't be such a big deal. It makes me kinda sad though because there are so many good recipes with nuts in them.
Did I tell you that I am going to start working on this from the inside out? What I mean by that is that I am going to really strengthen my core tons and exercise as much as I can and even if my weight doesn't change....my pants size, shirt size and appearance of my body will.
On another note, I just have to tell you this! Just a little, no a BIG success! The boys and I went out for groceries today. We had to go to two different places and they were VERY VERY GOOD! It really helped that I told them if they were not that they would not get any tortilla's or Larabars! Yes, I work that way.
so there you have it, Little success. It's all a day at a time. Hope your day is the best!