Eat To Live

Here is a question for you to think about.

Do you LIVE to EAT  OR  EAT to LIVE?

I've seen a few posts on social media that are telling people it is a GIVEN they WILL make poor choices on Thursday so just go workout or whatever. Is that true? NO!!!!!!! It is NOT a MUST that we make poor choices on a holiday or anytime of the year. 

When we focus our lives around food we will struggle to eat correct portions and with eating foods that are better for us. If it is all about food then we allow those foods that have addictive ingredients in them to control our lives. Many foods contain them. Our bodies have built up an addiction to foods with salt, fat and sugar plus unhealthy chemical additives that make us think we are still hungry, but we aren't. Although, if we are ONLY feeding our bodies those foods, our body is screaming for the foods and nutrients it needs but have no room for them in our stomach. We are over fed and under nourished. Our bodies were created to be fed certain foods. What foods are you feeding your body? 

And it isn't just about what foods but how much food. Why do we stuff food into our bodies without thought? We pile our plates high with so much food and then want to have seconds and thirds because it "tastes so good." Or when we eat out we get large everything or think we need to order very large plates of food. It's OK to enjoy your food. But it isn't a good feeling when we are so full we can't even keep our pants buttoned. I used to live like that. Many, many people do. 

THAT does NOT have to be your Thanksgiving this year. You can eat some delicious food and have a great day. But choose them in the right portions. A smaller amount of potatoes and stuffing is OK. A bigger helping of fresh salad or vegetables is great. Then pick a small piece of dessert, like a thin slice of your favorite pie. It doesn't have to be huge to taste wonderful. And you don't HAVE to have some of every dessert at the same meal. You could spread it out over a number of days so you can enjoy each one IF your like us and tend to make more than one kind of dessert. 

Have no regrets this Thursday. Don't give up on your goals for one day, for one day of food. 

But you say..."Can't I just workout extra hard before and/or after?" Well, I do recommend that you DO keep up your workouts as if it is just any day of the week. I try to workout between 5 and 7 days a week. I do SOMETHING active each day. But when it comes to fitness and weight loss, if that is your goal, it is 80% diet and 20% exercise. Done together will get you the best and fastest results. 

I'm not here to judge your Thanksgiving meal. I'm not here to judge you exercise habits. I am here to support you in your fitness choices and encourage you to make more healthy choices than you do unhealthy ones. We are human and can't do everything just right all of the time. But we can set our goals, figure out what it will take to reach those goals AND stick with it!!! Don't let anything get in your way of reaching them, including yourself and the temptations that come along every day for each of us. 

That is my job as a personal coach and trainer. I want to help you find motivation to set and meet your goals. I want to help you find food choices that you can enjoy and not just tolerate. I want to help you find exercise that you LOVE to do. I have found that if you love to do it you will want to do it more and won't like it when you miss a day. I have free groups that help with different areas of food and fitness. I also have groups that require a commitment to fitness program to be a part of. In those groups you get even more of my attention and support. 

I am here to help and encourage as I am on my own journey. I am real and upfront. I share my struggles and my successes. I don't sugar coat it. I am human just like you. I give you REAL advice to help you make REAL steps forward. I have a FB page that I post many things on the subject, videos and links to my challenge groups. Click on Fitness Fun on this page and it will take you there. You can also sign up for me to be your free coach on my website. There are ways to track your fitness goals on my website and much more. 

Let's finish 2015 strong and start 2016 even stronger! 

~~Helping Transform Lives One Day At A Time

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 2013

Jennifer and I ran in the Arlington Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day, November 28. It so happened to be my birthday. I am so thankful that she ran with me. We walked a lot because she is not a runner but we did run some. My run tracker stopped working so I really have no idea where one mile ended and the next began. Before long we were at the finish line. It was about 34 degrees out there when we started but I think it warmed up a few degrees by the end of the hour. Here are some of the pictures from our run.

Before we left home. 

Before

After

Changing my life one day at a time.

At Year's End 2009

November was filled with lots to be thankful for, including a wonderful Thanksgiving day with all of my kids here, even if it was only half the day. That is such a blessing, to have us together for the holidays. I intended to make a list of what I was thankful for, but time got away from me. The kids did do some nice things for a few of our neighbors as a "Thanksgiving" gift. They raked and bagged their leaves for free. The ladies were so grateful and tried to pay them but they told them it was a gift to them. I am a proud mom!

December was filled with lots of "Christmas" happenings. It snowed three times and stuck twice!!!! YES, in Texas! Hard to believe, I know. But God blessed us with a white Christmas in Texas! We spent December baking goodies for others instead of buying things. We also had a "small" material Christmas. I had told the kids last year that this Christmas would be much smaller in that sense than all the other ones they had ever known. I am a huge over spender when it comes to gifts because I just want my kids to have it all! They DON'T NEED it all! After being a mom for almost 23 years I finally get it! Each child (plus each parent, yes it included us) got one gift around $50. They also got one gift from their older sister and then one from the two siblings they live with. So three gifts per person. (Plus, we put some small stuff in the stockings. My kids know the stockings are from us but we still like to pretend). I also got several movies sets for very low price to put in a box for everyone to open. We don't have cable or even TV without the use of a DVD or the Wii hooked up. And believe it or not, it was one of the very best Christmas' that we have ever had. I am so glad that I allowed the Spirit to guide me in this direction. We focused more on giving and more on Christ than ourselves, as it should be.

The year was filled with so many blessings that I am not sure I could even count them. God has been so good to us. Even through all the little things that didn't seem so good He brought good out of them.

I have many changes going on for 2010. I will go into that in another post. But just know they are major changes and it is quite a shock to a certain extent. But I am hanging on tight to HIM and waiting to see where He takes me on this journey in 2010! What an adventure life is with Him. May you all have a wonderful 2010. May you grow closer to Christ daily. 

Until next time...blessings to you.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

The blessings around me are many,

I'm not sure I can even count that high,

As I make my list in my mind,

It gives me wings and I feel like I can fly.

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First and always,

I am thankful to the Lord above,

Who came down to Earth,

To show us His Love.

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My husband works hard each night,

To put food on the table,

A roof over our heads,

And keep our home stable.

~~~~

He loves the Lord,

And serves Him gladly,

As we work to share Jesus,

With those who need Him so badly.

~~~~

We have been married for years,

25's the number we just hit,

We renewed our vows in April,

And then we split.

~~~~

A dream trip we took,

To a far away state,

On the other side of the country,

Where we had steak on our plate.

~~~~

Our first born is my Sunshine,

On a cloudy day,

She has grown up so quickly,

Her childhood days gone away.

~~~~

She is over 21, all grown up,

And making her way,

I love that she calls,

Or texts me most every day.

~~~~

We both like movies with songs and love stories,

Baking and shopping for clothes,

Although we have had our ups and downs,

We are so proud of her, I hope she knows.

~~~~

Our next is a son, 16 this year,

Who is quite gifted at many things,

He plays the piano, bass,

Electric guitar, drums and sings.

~~~~

He will be a star one day,

In front of a crowd,

Doing what he loves,

Singing and playing so loud.

~~~~

Another son born 9 years ago,

He is a high spirited child,

Who loves sports, music,

And loves to run wild.

~~~~

He has the ability,

To make me smile,

Even when I am sad,

Or have been mad for awhile.

~~~~

Our fourth child,

Is a sweet little girl,

Whom God sent seven years ago,

To complete our world.

~~~~

She loves all the things,

Other little girls do,

Dolls, barbies and stuffed animals,

Her bed is covered like a zoo.

~~~~

She is like my shadow,

A clone at times,

I have to try and be careful,

That only my best side shines.

~~~~

She is easy to correct,

And quick to listen,

Her smile brightens a room,

And her eyes just glisten.

~~~~

As the years go by,

I cherish the moments we share,

I try to capture things on film,

And tell them how much we care.

~~~~

Our families are spread out,

All over the place,

But the memories we've made,

Withstand time and space.

~~~~

The same holds true for our dear sweet friends,

Those here with us now or gone from our days,

In one way or another they have touched our hearts,

Made us smile and showed us love in so many ways.

~~~~

The mission and church family,

We serve along side,

Has been there for us in so many things,

Good and bad, even the bumpiest ride.

~~~~

The home we live in,

Was a gift from above,

It meets our needs,

We try to fill it with love.

~~~~

Our land in Westcliffe,

Is another such treasure,

We so long to live there,

The amount you can't measure.

~~~~

The day care we have,

Is filled to the brim,

With wonderful families,

That feel just like kin.

~~~~

My blogger friends,

Are a new joy to me,

They share a window into their world,

A glimpse of God in their lives for us to see.

~~~~

If I sat here all night,

While I think and I ponder,

About the blessings God has given me,

The list could grow longer.

~~~~

But that will have to wait,

For another new day,

For I have to get some sleep,

There just is no other way.

~~~~

Thanksgiving has dawned,

Though the sun is still down,

Soon everyone will be awake,

And running around.

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Turkey and stuffing to cook,

Pies and cookies to bake,

Smiles, laughter and hugs,

They leave in their wake.

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Have a Blessed Thanksgiving,

To YOU who stopped here,

May your day be filled with love,

And warm holiday cheer!