There is a NEW Coach in Town!

There is a new Beachbody coach in town.  She is a young Air Force wife & mom of 2 cutie pies.  I am sharing her website here to help her business along.  I hope you will go check her out & encourage her too!!


http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/rachelmills09

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!
Pamela

Christmas Time

It's that time of year again. 

Time for sweets & rich foods.

Crazy schedules & little time for workouts.

Company coming.

How will you plan better for this season?  Will you plan ahead & keep your healthy lifestyle on target or will you just throw it all to the wind & let it go?

I have chosen all things in moderation right now.  I am able to stay on target with my workouts.  I started a program just over a month ago specifically so I would have a set schedule ahead of me.  I will plan good foods that I can eat & will allow a few sweet things as well.

I just plan NOT to OVERindulge. 

That's my plan.  Now it's out there. 

What is YOUR plan??

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!
Pamela

How To Love A Family With Food Allergies

GREAT blog post.  I have a friend who is completely on top of what I can eat and what I can't.  She never tries to compromise the diet I have to adhere to to keep myself feeling well.  I so appreciate her for that!  I hope this post the Humble Homemaker wrote helps at least one person know how to help someone with allergies along.  Be Blessed!





How To Love A Family With Food Allergies

The Healthy Lifestyle I have Chosen

9+ years ago I decided to treat myself better.  My food choices were crazy & fitness was, well, there was no fitness.

I had also just had my 3rd child & knew there needed to be a change.  My oldest son had made a couple, very innocent comments about my weight.  Things.needed.to.change.

I started slowly with some walking dvd's (Leslie Sansone anyone?).  They were 20-30 minutes.  Totally doable with my homeschooling/new baby gig.

I also was taking things out of my diet due to problems for baby (breast feeding).  I started reading a book called "Body By God" by Dr Ben Lerner.  I felt strongly that he was right about his way of thinking.

"Your body is by God. God preprogrammed you to look great, have outrageous health, and experience incredible happiness. In the human body, God created a perfect design, equipped with all the organs, tissues, and cells necessary for health, production, and reproduction. The problem, asserts Dr. Ben Lerner, is when we as humans interfere with God's design for our bodies. Junk food, high-stress living, and neglecting exercise are just a few of the things we do to hinder our bodies' performance."

So, I was well on my way to my healthy lifestyle.  About a year after my 3rd child was born I had a reaction to some food.  We will call it the "fatal pudding incident".  This brought along - Ambulance, fire trucks, Epinephrine and an ER.  About 5 weeks later after being scared to death to eat anything, I found out I was allergic to ALL 3 THINGS IN THAT PUDDING along with a bunch of other things.  As the years go on I have become allergic to even more.

While that does make eating out difficult I have found a way.  I always offer to bring things to friends houses to eat & I have no problem letting restaurants know I have a list of allergies & would like to be able to enjoy my meal there.  They sent out the manager with the info I need & we are good to go.

As the years have gone on I have become addicted to my workout HIGH as I call it :)  I do workout 6 days a week giving myself a true day of REST on Sunday.  I may walk with my husband but I try to make sure I am giving this day to God & also letting my body rest from the work I have put it through during the week.  I also try to take a week here and there to just do less intense workouts as well.  Our bodies get stuck in ruts some times & we need to shake things up!!

My family (kids ages 19(married son), 16(son) & 9 (daughter) have all had their own journeys through this time of Mom getting healthy.

My oldest I call my drive-through/fast food son.   I didn't know any better.  He played baseball most of his life & he is a healthy adult now though & follows a healthy way of eating for the most part. He knows the benefit of drinking lots of water & eating a balanced diet.

My middle child also plays ball.  He knows the benefit of eating well & drinking lots of water but at this time is going through the teen sugar phase & just being a kid. 

My daughter inherited food allergies from me :(  She gets hives when she eats gluten & dairy (thankfully she isn't as allergic as I am to it though).   My boys suffer from acne almost from the time they hit puberty.  I have explained to my daughter that if she sticks with eating like she does & drinking lots of water that we can, hopefully, keep her from having the same issues.

Our family watches what we do.  They will eat what Mom/wife makes them.  I have reminded myself of that regularly. 

I have bad days.  The days that those thoughts get in my head that I will never be good enough.  I won't ever reach the goals I have set for myself.

You know what?  That is a lie.  I am fearfully & wonderfully made.  I was created in the image of my God & He knew exactly what He was doing!

This is a journey.  A life-long journey.  I am grateful you have chosen to follow along with me & maybe let me give you encouragement along the way or vice versa.

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!


 

Surgery & Recovery

Feeling a little deja vu?  Yeah.  That is because just over a year ago I spoke about this same topic (here). Heck, it's even the same surgery (for the most part).

About 5 months ago I noticed some burning pain from my mid ab section out to my right side.  I chose to believe that it was all the new core work I had added into my routine.  Then about 2+ months ago & noticed the lump above my belly button.  Larger than last time.    

I called the dr's office that took care of me last time & talked with the nurse.  Got right in to see this doc.

First off - this doctor is the BOMB!!  He is the most gentle, understanding doctor.  He felt badly that the last surgery didn't last like we had hoped.  See, it's a hernia & when he originally saw it (over a year ago) he felt it was small enough to sew up & get out of there.  Boom, done. 

Well, if I had come home & changed my lifestyle maybe.  By change I mean stop the workouts like I do.  Yeah, NO.

Of course we didn't realize that at the time.  This time though it was larger & Doc knew a simple sew up wouldn't work.  This time we decided to use the mesh they use for these kinds of hernias.

He told me the recovery would be a bit harder than last time as this time the incision would be larger & of course he is putting something in there.  I would need to be careful during recovery.

He even took the time to ask me about my workouts.  Explained what I could do & when.  Told me how much he loves running & other stuff to keep fit.  He understood that recovery (sitting around not doing anything) would be hard.  Empathy.  That was important to me.

So, surgery happened.  

Recovery is still happening.

The 1st week was INTENSE.  The pain was just off the charts and the meds they gave me made me just way to dizzy & felt funny (and I was only taking 1/2 the dosage).  I opted for regular old Ibuprofen/Advil and was satisfied with the edge it took off the pain.

I let my family wait on me as much as possible.  By the 6th day or so I was really tired & done.  I felt like I was missing life.  I started doing some moving around the house.  Just standing & walking around.  I stood at the sink & washed a few things.  Stuff like that.  Just to get myself moving.  I graduated to lifted my little weights (they were neglected for a long time anyway) while I sat in the chair so I could elminate as much core work as possible with lifting them.  I walked in place & did butt kicks (lightly).  This got me ready to go for a walk with my walking group on Saturday morning - 12 days out from the surgery.  We got 2 relatively slow miles in and it felt GREAT!  My legs even told me so the next day. That made me happy.

I saw the Doc for my post op this morning & he said to go ahead & start more workouts but to be very careful as I am still healing.  He expects I will be back to my crazy stuff in 4 weeks time.

I like that goal.

I will continue to be careful as I really don't want to backtrack with this one.

I am feeling blessed to have my family that took care of my so well and friends that prayed & tried to help also.  My sister made me food that I could eat with no worries of allergies.  My husband did what he could while working etc.  I even had some girl time on day 3.  They both brought me a coffee & sat with me.  Knowing I needed a pick me up.  I love my family & friends.

Do you have a hard time accepting help during recovery times?  

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!
 

10 years

This is me.  The picture from 2004 was almost 6 years after having my 2nd child & 1-1/2 years before our last child was born. 

No pills.  No wraps. 

Healthy eating & exercise.  Patience (not all the time), faith & hard work.

It's not easy.  No one said it would be.  If I can do it - so can you.

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!

What's All The Hype About?

Miracle weight loss pills.

Wraps that will slim you down & keep you that way (if you keep wrapping -- and paying for it!).

You can be firm & fit in 21 days!!

Um, no.

We all get drawn in to something like this at one time or another right?  (please say yes ;-) )

I was drawn into this not too long ago.  I have been enjoying my healthy lifestyle for over 9 years.  To me that means eating right & exercising.

Recently I was tempted and gave in.  I saw those wraps that you can wrap around the part of your body that you would like to be slimmer.  I saw those before & after pictures that were unbelievable.  At first I just ignored it.  Then I saw people I knew doing it.  People I knew were getting results from this.  Can you guess what happened next?

I was invited to try it.  For only $15.00 I could try this & see results.  I realized I had my son's wedding coming up fast & my dress is a beautiful, long, slim fitting dress.  Can you get what I did?

Yes, I tried it.  I paid the $15.00 and had someone wrap a piece of what looked like plastic (with nice smelling lotion on it) around my mid section.  I sat & visited with some wonderful ladies for 45+ minutes while I "cooked".  A picture was taken before the wrap and then again after the wrap.  I saw no difference.  Then I was told I needed to take another picture in 3 days because it will keep working.  Oh & drink alot of water during this time.

Water?  No problem.

Results?  None.
Ok, to be fair we saw something.  Shadow?  Who really knows.  I am a skeptic, for sure.

I realized after doing this that I was glad I did.  I also realized that when I have a doubt about something it's OK not to go with the flow & do it.  I can take a step back & continue my course -- That by the way - is working.

I have lost weight & inches.  I am healthy & gaining definition in all areas.  Definition that will stay with me & not go away in 3 days because I need to "re-apply". 

I am not saying I don't believe these wraps didn't work for the other people.  I'm sure they did.  I wanted with all my being to say "why not try the healthy eating & exercise way?".   Ok, I did say that but in my opinion it fell on deaf ears.

So, all the hype?   It's everywhere.  Pills, wraps, even workout programs.  Bottom line is we need to be good to ourselves.  Put healthy food in & get your body moving.  THAT is what will work.  Getting results the right way.

The proof hard work pays off.

Have you fallen for any "hype"?  What was your temptation?  

Be Blessed & Live Healthy

My Busy Month

I feel like I keep saying I'm exhausted from all the wedding activities but to be honest it's been almost a month!!

Lake Unity

What a beautiful day it was too.  I will share a few pictures with you and will try not to bore you!

Me with my groom with new groom & bride

Flower girl & Ring BEAR ;)

The day turned out just gorgeous.  We had a moment after the ceremony that there was rain across the lake from us but it just went along the other bank of the lake & never came our way.

These two beautiful people make a wonderful couple.  They have been together for 5 years (best friends for the 1st 1+ years).  It was a joy -- and a little nervewracking -- to watch them grow in their relationship.

To be able to call this young woman my daughter now is pure joy.

To know that my son is no longer living on his own is very comforting.

Mr & Mrs at Lake Unity

To know they are learning & growing with each other is wonderful.

I'm a very proud Mom.  Thanks for coming by.  I know I have been M.I.A lately.  I have many things on my mind that I plan to share with ya.  Stick around!!

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!




And in case you are like me & LOVE looking at pictures I have added some more below :)

Lake Unity (that is really the name of this lake!!)

My son, Me & My Hubby

My 2 boys

The Princes & the Princess

The girls :)

My daughters!!!

That moment

The Kiss

Beautiful

Mother/Son dance (no one warns you about this!)

Young Writers

I was recently wowed by a young girl's blog.  This young lady is in 6th grade & part of my church family.  She has some things to say for sure that everyone, young & old, could use to read.  I hope you enjoy this!

http://theblueeyedblogger.blogspot.com/

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!   

An Apartment, A Birthday & a Wedding

I have had some big changes this year.  For me anyway.

My oldest son, who is on the cusp of getting married (in exactly one month!) moved out about a month ago to his own place.  He wanted to live on his own before getting married in March.  Can't blame him for that!  He has been sharing a bedroom nearly all his life.  I'm sure he would like his own for a couple months atleast :)

My 2nd son turned 16 today :)  in 12 days he gets his license. 

I am so proud of both my boys (I have a daughter also but I'm going to focus on the boys right now).  They have hearts of gold. They also couldn't be more different. 

My oldest is the lead in a band that is quite popular.  He is our worship leader at church as well.  Totally living his dream.  He is a strong willed, follow your dreams & don't stop til you get it kind of guy.  He is also dedicated to his family, fiance & friends.  Introvert to the max too believe it or not :)  I love him so much & miss him like crazy.  He is only 40 minutes away but he was the night owl with me.  Even if we never said a word to each other I knew he was up with me.  Some times those were the moments we would have our best talks too.

My 16 year old has a compassionate heart.  He is more of an extrovert but not completely.  He will stand in the background & doesn't want the attention but loves having a good time & loves his friends.  He is into baseball like nobody's business.  Pitcher & 1st baseman.  He even got to spend part of his birthday at the field with his team.  I was so happy for him when he came home saying they won 10-2.  He didn't play but he was there cheering his team on for that win. 

I am sure I don't have to tell you Moms out there how my Mom-heart feels right now.  I may cry but they are happy tears.  I couldn't be happier to be able to watch these boys grown into the men God has created them to be. 

As my son watches his fiance walk down the aisle to become his wife I will be there watching him.  He will be growing before my eyes as he has for the passed 19+ years.  I will be thanking God for the times I have had with him & the way our relationship is changing for the better.  I remember during the hard times everyone with teens would tell me it will be better.  Of course, they were right. 

Thanks for reading & letting me share some of my Mom thoughts with you.  I would love to hear from you as well. 

What are some Mom-moments you have had?  Maybe you are the child & you can tell me some Mom things that you cherish.  

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!!

Excuses, Excuses

We all have them.  I could come up with at least 2 right now why I am not doing the dishes or sitting & schooling my daughter (besides the fact I'm typing this for you!).

I have been learning a lot about myself lately & I especially have learned I hate excuses.  I have made a point to stop using them as much as I can.  When I do something or am late for something I don't run in & tell them all the reasons I'm late.  I apologize & make a note to make sure I don't do it again.  Who wants to hear all that?  Who wants to hear about the traffic that is backed up on the high way or the mess you had to clean up at home?  How does that help them? 

You can't change anything with excuses.  Maybe the person you inconvenienced is more understanding but you were still late (or whatever it is you have an excuse for). 

I find when it comes to healthy living & fitness there are excuses enough to fill a huge, HUGE book.  I even mentioned to someone recently I should start writing them all down. 

We all have setbacks.  We all go for something that may not align with the healthy plan we have for ourselves.  There may be a day we just can't get that workout in.  It's all good!  Get up, brush yourself off & try again. 

Stop making excuses for things.  Own it.  We are human & flawed (did you hear that *gasp*). 

So, think you will be too tired for a workout tomorrow?  Get into bed earlier tonight. 
Think you may not be able to resist the ice cream or (insert binge of choice here)?  Get rid of it.  Remove it from where you can have access to it.

Just my 2 cents for today.  This is all shared with love, I promise.  I think if we stop with all the excuses & start working on ourselves & be honest, our lives will be so much healthier!!

What's a favorite excuse you have heard?

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!
 

2 New Programs!!!!

I have gotten 2 new programs I have yet to tell you about!!!

I did some work for someone around their house & they surprised me by paying me for it.  I then turned around & bought the program PiYo from Beachbody.  I liked everything I had heard & saw about this particular program & thought it would be perfect for me.  Was I RIGHT!!!

I have developed Plantar Fasciitis AGAIN.  This means running, jumping like a crazy woman & sometimes even walking are rough on me.  This time around it's pretty bad.  So, PiYo is right down my alley! 

Chalene Johnson has created a great program that you are stretching & using your own body weight in balance moves etc to help build your strength.  I love how I feel after doing this workout.  There are a couple that leave me in a puddle on the floor too!  Who'da thunk huh? 

Then for Chrtistmas I received the 21 Day Fix.  I was looking forward to something a little different to switch things up.  Because of the PF I haven't been able to do some of the cardio moves but Autumn Calabrese has a modifyer on there that shows exactly what to do if you can't go crazy.  Honestly I can tell you the 10 minute ab workout is truly challenging.  She NEVER STOPS for that 10 minutes!  I wasn't sure if I would be able to pick myself up off the floor when I was done.

With these 2 workouts I found I can double my workouts & feel really strong afterward & not hurt myself doing it.  No pounding on my feet right now is a good thing. 

I'm excited to keep going with them (just finished out a week of 21 Day Fix and the 8th week of PiYo). 

I happen to have my son's wedding coming up in March & I would like to be as fit as possible when that comes!!  Want to look good in those pictures!!!

What goals have you set for yourself in this new year?

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!!


***  I am not a Beachbody coach or trainer.  These are my opinions only. 

Post Christmas Ponderings (part 3)

This is my final post about Christmas.  I promise :)

The blessings abounded this past Christmas.  Just over a year ago at Christmas my father was admitted into ICU in Pennsylvania where my parents live.  He went in because he was having trouble breathing (smoker & prone to collapsed lungs & pneumonia).  Within a 1/2 hour my father was unresponsive & on a ventilator.  Us girls (I have 2 sisters) were called & were kept updated constantly.  My older sister went flew up there to evaluate what was happening & seeing what Mom needed.  My younger sister & I have younger children & were not able to get up there as easily.

As the days went on we were informed we needed to get up there.  It didn't look good for Dad.  My sis & I flew up together & stayed for an extended weekend going back & forth between hotel & hospital.  My Dad's 2 brothers drove in.  This was serious & the Dr's were not feeling too positive.  My sis & I were praying over Dad every chance we could get.  I would sing songs to him.  He would respond some times by squeezing my hand and turning his head to me.  Oh - if I didn't mention before, I have always been a Daddy's girl.

So, that was just over a year ago.  Dad pulled through.  He had to have some therapy as being in ICU for 14 days & then in the hospital for longer takes its toll on a body.

My other sister was on Facetime on the phone Dad is holding :)

He wears a shirt that says "Miracle Man".  That is so true.

In the months that followed Dad & Mom decided they wanted to be closer to their girls & grandkids so they came to FL & found a house here.  They will live here during the winter months & up in PA during the summer months.

We were blessed to have them here for Thanksgiving, Christmas AND New Years.  Celebrating these moments with them was extra special.  Seeing my Dad get around when truly there is no reason he should have made it through all he went through is just mind boggling. 

He still has things he is working on getting stronger with.  Mom & Dad are the only grandparents my kids have right now so having them close by is really sweet.  My middle son(almost 16) has been in boy heaven going over & helping Grandpa with different tasks around their house. 

So that is one of the blessings we had for Christmas.  As I look back on the holidays of 2014 I realize how incredibly blessed I am.  Yes, there were moments that made me sad but all in all God has been so good to me I need to focus on that.

Thanks for reading the ponderings of a slightly emotional (ha!) woman after the holidays.

I hope yours were all you hoped they could be.

My next post will be more health/fitness related :-D

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!

Post Christmas Ponderings (part 2)

I mentioned in my last post about some family estrangement.

It makes my heart sad when family is estranged from each other.  I remember growing up & having older members of our family not want to be around others in the family.  It never made sense to me.  There were times it made me sad as I got older.  I realize that people who grew up together would choose to not have a relationship really bothered me.

I realize now as an adult how easy that can be. Relationships take work.  Even being 1000 miles away that relationship would take work!  One of my sisters lives in TX and if we don't take the time to call, text or email it would be extremely easy to just move on & lose touch with each other.  We have had times that it's gone too long & realize that needs to be remedied.

I have a confession to make.  Years ago I passed judgement on a relationship someone close to me was in.  It created bad feelings for a few people.  When my husband called me out on that I spoke to the person I was close to & explained my feelings.  He pretty much told me "suck it up, it's my relationship".  That was true.  Not my business really.  I can still love him & his (now) wife.  Problem is now there are hard feelings.  Feelings that someone can't get passed because of my judgement years ago.  I have apologized & have been trying to make amends.  Regardless of how we feel, if we are Christ followers He calls us to do that.  I won't stop doing so.  This estrangement is affecting so many others though in the family & that is so sad.  It is carrying on to the next generation.

Through this last Christmas it was weighing heavy on my heart how not all family could/would be around to celebrate & remember Christmas' past.  To share memories of passed Christmas'/holidays with family is so important especially as we get older & the patriarchs/matriarchs pass away.

I know some times it's hard to 'like' someone even if they are part of our family.  Jesus calls us to LOVE though.  Love our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40), honor one another above ourselves (Romans 12:10)

So that is what I'm trying to do.  I have done wrong in the past.  I am not perfect (hence the name of my blog).  I have apologized & hope I will be forgiven soon so that we can heal & create lasting relationships for our families.

I am writing all these things because I have realized over the last year that our mental health is SO important to our physical health.  They seriously go hand in hand.   We can't make someone love, like or even stand us BUT we can do what we can to make sure that our part of that relationship is right.

Hope this makes sense.  I do appreciate you reading this.  Funny what the holidays do huh?

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!

Post Christmas Ponderings

This past Christmas season was especially poignant to me.  It was the last Christmas we will technically be a family of 5, as officially we will welcome our daughter-in-law in March.  It was the first Christmas in 19 years that all of my children didn’t wake up here. 

Hearts made sad this year by those family members that have chosen to be estranged yet we have been blessed by others that are close enough now to celebrate the birth of Christ with them.

I have realized twice now in 1 week I have heard about Mary “pondering these things in her heart” in regards to Jesus.  This is so true for me right now.  I want to remember every little thing & make sure my children know I love them & they will always have a place to call home. 

I find myself in moments of being extremely capable of starting that cry.  You know which one I’m talking about.  The “ugly” cry.  I understand these things are normal. 

This is the time we raise our children for right?  They are not meant to stay with their Mom’s & Dad’s forever.  We raise them with what they need to go out & spread their wings. 

This Mom might not feel ready for this but I know my oldest is.  He is ready to spread his wings.  He has already been practicing it & I am proud of what I have seen so far.  He needs this time on his own before he gets married in March.  

On to the next phase in his life.  I just hope he can be patient with this Mom who just loves him more than he will ever know.

Happy New Year!

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!