A Lesson (for me)

As I have mentioned a couple posts ago I recently had some minor surgery. While the surgery was minor the recovery (to me) is the worst part and is taking forever. I knew this before going in for the surgery. One of the last things I asked my Dr was "when can I run again????". Yeah, She just looked at me and said "4-6 weeks, just like we talked about". She didn't say the part "just like we talked about EVERY TIME YOU HAVE COME IN MY OFFICE LATELY". She was very sweet.

Anyway, I LOVE to exercise. I haven't been like that all my life. I really got the bug about 5 years ago and when it hit I was ready and took full advantage. I have increased my workouts and have been called an addict about it too. Hey I figure if I am going to be addicted to something, this is a good thing to be addicted to right?

What I never saw coming was my lesson in humility. God is so good even when I'm not really thinking that way.

Humility: the quality or condition of being humble.
Humble: not proud or arrogant




Ok, I didn't think I was proud or arrogant. I didn't! (ok I just yelled that at that little voice in my head) I would get up every morning and work out for atleast an hour. Anything less was too little. And that didn't include if I went out for a run too. Usually dragging my middle son with me following me on his bike. The way every 12 year old wants to spend his mornings right? Guess what? I can't do that right now. I'm 2-1/2 weeks into my recovery process. It has taken me this long to cry out to God and ask Him what He wants me to be learning during this time. Why did it take this long? I'm not really sure. One thing is for sure. I'm learning alot about Him. I guess if that is the only thing I learn about during this process it's good right? I'm learning that God made this body and I do need to take care of it whether or not I'm exercising. I have friends that can't or don't exercise and are still concerned about their health. During this time for me I can still eat healthy and continue to feel better about myself. I can witness through my life just as God wants me to. I learned that I want to be a person that God can glorify Himself! I want to be that person that people look at and see something they know they want.

I believe God is teaching me that my addiction needs to be in Him. Now THAT is something to be addicted to!!






Be Blessed & Healthy!!

PS - I AM doing great from my surgery. All is well and nothing to worry about.xo

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:4

Sugar

Yes, sugar. When I found out a few of these facts I was floored. Now don't get me wrong. If you have the choice between sugar & the fake, chemical sweeteners they are using now -- choose sugar! Otherwise there are natural things you can use or even no sweetener at all.

So, here we go.

Did you know:

4 grams of sugar = 1tsp sugar

1 12fl oz can of Pepsi has 41grams of sugar so that is 10tsp! (by the way - 1 serving is 8fl oz but with the guidelines they have they don't have to say 2 servings unless it's a 16fl oz bottle/can)

Gatorade/Powerade both have 14grams of sugar = 3.5 tsp (by the way - this is a bottle that is 32fl oz. If you read the lable servings per bottle - 4 )

Monster Energy Drink: 8 fl oz (this is 2 servings) 27grams of sugar = almost 7 tsp sugar.

These are just a few drinks that I know are somewhat popular. This information is REALLY easy to get. This isn't even getting into the processed foods that have sugar in them.

There are some really good healthy alternatives if you just need that sweetener. Stevia is a natural sweetener. My mother even grows this!! It comes in a liquid or powder form. I have also tried the liquid form with different flavors like Chocolate Raspberry & Orange. These are great in coffee too!!

There is also another one out there called Truvia.

There is one statistic that I found that says "the average American consumes 2-3lbs of sugar each week". It is said that "we have increased sugar comsumption in the U.S from 26lbs to 135lbs of sugar per person per year". Yikes! That is alot. That increase has been in the last 20 years. I also found on another site "the average American 20 teaspoons of added sugar each day. This is not including the sugar naturally found in milk & fruit. This is double the USDA's recommendation that the average person eat no more than 10 teaspoons of added sugar a day".

Ok, I realize this is alot of information. It's information that was really easily found! I'm not a professional. I am not putting down any of these products at all. I am saying we need to be really proactive in reading the labels on the products we are wanting to purchase.

I read a great book called "Body By God" by Dr Ben Lerner that says the closer the food is to the way God created it, the better. Yes, there are natural sugars in the food God has created for us to eat. We just need to remember that our bodies are made so perfectly in His design that we should really be taking good care of them.

Check it out yourself. Don't go just buying things blindly anymore. Look at the labels. Research some of the ingredients that you can't pronounce. Don't feed your family things that you can't even tell them exactly what's in it. You love them right? Don't you want to make sure you are taking care of them and yourself?

Think about it.

Be blessed & healthy!!

Some facts above were found at: http://www.pepsiproductfacts.com/ http://www.gatorade.com/ http://www.powerade.com/ http://www.digitalnatropath.com/ http://www.healingdaily.com/