Good morning to anyone reading! This post finds me in bed with what looks and feels like the flu. Yay me! Oh well. My mama always said that if we don't slow down, God will slow us down. Now, I don't know if I would say God "gave" me the flu, but I do think it's possible He has allowed it to put me in a position of resting whether I want to or not.
Post Whole 30 is going well. I am learning what works and what certainly doesn't. I have reintroduced grains, but whole grains - not white. I am reading labels like a fiend and cooking more healthy meals for my family. I still occasionally get the "I'm sorry Mom but that looks weird!" I am starting to see some changes in my kids too however. My daughter actually asked me to buy sweet potato chips at the store last week and her new favorite thing is chicken sausage infused with apple. I made hot ham & cheese sliders with whole wheat rolls, nitrate free ham, a sugar free sauce and cheese (you could leave off the cheese if you like;-) for Super Bowl Sunday and fresh guacamole with sweet potato tortilla chips. Way different than last year's menu.
I made my favorite pasta sauce the other day and ladled it over some yummy roasted spaghetti squash. Oh my goodness it was good. My weight is remaining steady but once this flu nonsense is over, I will be making use of the treadmill my husband has cleaned off and set up in the laundry room. Right now, I do well to stay on my feet for a few minutes at a time without coughing up a lung or sneezing my head off.
I am contemplating Romans 8 these days. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." As Christ followers, we find great comfort in that verse, however I am finding that we also often take our liberty for granted. We often stake our claim on that one verse at the expense of other verses about "not causing our brothers to stumble" or "are we to continue to sin so grace may abound?" I am asking God to help me reconcile all these verses in light of who He is and who I am in Him so that I may live true to His word. Not an easy task I'm afraid, but I believe as I continue to read, pray and study that God will show me where I fall short.
Have a great day friends.
About Me
- Angie
- I was created to glorify God. Each day is a new opportunity to do that through the choices I make.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Winding down
We are winding down this 2nd round of Whole 30. As I sit here tonight, I am feeling grateful for the education I am getting. As I read recipes, research, blogs, etc., I find the following to be true:
1. There is no "perfect beat all, end all" way to lose weight. For every article I have read about tried and true to brand spankin new trends, there are at least the same number refuting said methods. What one "expert" believes to be totally healthy and life-giving, another "expert" finds fault with in favor of something different. Even among my friends, there are differing opinions.
2. I have a love/hate relationship with exercise but I know I need it. Eating healthy is great but I simply do not get the same results without also exercising. Plus, my metabolism at 48 is way different than it was at 28. Go figure.
3. The best eating plan is the one you will follow and can stick with as a part of your life. There are lots of healthy eating plans out there. They all work as long as you follow them. Find the one that works for you and live it.
4. I am more at peace when I am obedient to God's word. Seriously y'all, I cannot stress this enough. When I end the day knowing I gave God my best, it makes rest all the sweeter. The fact is, because I am a follower of Christ, the choices I make are worship. They show who I serve. I want to make sure my life is a true reflection of who Jesus is.
So a few more days to go, then we'll see where God leads. I'll keep ya posted!
1. There is no "perfect beat all, end all" way to lose weight. For every article I have read about tried and true to brand spankin new trends, there are at least the same number refuting said methods. What one "expert" believes to be totally healthy and life-giving, another "expert" finds fault with in favor of something different. Even among my friends, there are differing opinions.
2. I have a love/hate relationship with exercise but I know I need it. Eating healthy is great but I simply do not get the same results without also exercising. Plus, my metabolism at 48 is way different than it was at 28. Go figure.
3. The best eating plan is the one you will follow and can stick with as a part of your life. There are lots of healthy eating plans out there. They all work as long as you follow them. Find the one that works for you and live it.
4. I am more at peace when I am obedient to God's word. Seriously y'all, I cannot stress this enough. When I end the day knowing I gave God my best, it makes rest all the sweeter. The fact is, because I am a follower of Christ, the choices I make are worship. They show who I serve. I want to make sure my life is a true reflection of who Jesus is.
So a few more days to go, then we'll see where God leads. I'll keep ya posted!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Well, Hello there!
It is day 20 of this second round of Whole30 style eating. Some things have been easier this time. Knowing what to cook and experimenting with new recipes has been nice and my family has even enjoyed several recipes without too much pain and whining. Seriously, they have adjusted well to the limits. They are not as limited in choices as I am, but we are all eating healthier and that's nice.
I have not been as strict with myself this time. It's really been more of a lifestyle change than a food plan. I have still lost 12 lbs and I feel better physically - from less pain in my arthritic joints to sleeping more soundly at night and waking up feeling rested rather than rusty! Win win.
God continues to stay close. He lets me know when I make wrong choices, but He also shows such grace and patience. In February, I'll add some things back into my diet but it won't be a whole lot different. I made that mistake the last time and once you add those things back in on a regular basis, it's easy to fall away from what's healthy. I want to be a lot more careful this time and pay closer attention to what certain foods do to my body.
I was just listening to "He's been Faithful to me" by Damaris Carbaugh and the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir. It says so well my feelings in this second round...
"He's been faithful, faithful to me
looking back, His love and mercy I see
Oh in my heart I have questioned
even failed to believe
yet He's been faithful, faithful to me"
I'm so grateful for His never ending faithfulness...My favorite Psalm is Psalm 121
I have not been as strict with myself this time. It's really been more of a lifestyle change than a food plan. I have still lost 12 lbs and I feel better physically - from less pain in my arthritic joints to sleeping more soundly at night and waking up feeling rested rather than rusty! Win win.
God continues to stay close. He lets me know when I make wrong choices, but He also shows such grace and patience. In February, I'll add some things back into my diet but it won't be a whole lot different. I made that mistake the last time and once you add those things back in on a regular basis, it's easy to fall away from what's healthy. I want to be a lot more careful this time and pay closer attention to what certain foods do to my body.
I was just listening to "He's been Faithful to me" by Damaris Carbaugh and the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir. It says so well my feelings in this second round...
"He's been faithful, faithful to me
looking back, His love and mercy I see
Oh in my heart I have questioned
even failed to believe
yet He's been faithful, faithful to me"
I'm so grateful for His never ending faithfulness...My favorite Psalm is Psalm 121
121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Amen and amen...
....and now a word from my kitchen..........
Yummy smashed 'taters
5 large potatoes
almond/coconut milk (unsweetened)
clarified butter or ghee
3 (or more) strips nitrate free bacon
1 TBS minced garlic
1 chopped onion
Chives
parsley
1. peel, cut into chunks and cook potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover the potatoes
2. While potatoes are cooking, chop garlic and onion and sauté in a little olive or coconut oil. Set aside.
3. When the potatoes are fork tender enough to mash, drain water off
4. add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the almond/coconut milk and a couple tablespoons clarified butter or ghee (or more if you want to- I won't judge)
5. Using a potato masher, smash those taters up coarsely so there are some lumps
6. Add crumbled, cooked bacon, the sautéd onions and garlic, chives and parsley (to taste and to make it pretty) - don't forget the salt and pepper!
7. Mix all together and eat it up!
Serve as a side dish to any lean meat and some steamed veggies! Oh MY!
** IF you have any leftovers, they might be a little dry but if you add some homemade Paleo ranch dressing (I love the ranch recipe from one of my favorite Paleo websites, theclothesmakethegirl.com ) and heat it up, it will be nice and creamy and have a little 'zing' to boot!
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Round 2
"Behold, I am doing a new thing....."Isaiah 43:19a
So It's day 3 of my second round of Whole 30 type eating. After the "feasting" season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, my body is very ready for a change. My weight has gone up and down and up and down the last couple months, and so has my energy level. It's time to -as we say in Tennessee - hunker down and get busy. After 2 days back in the "30" saddle, I already have more energy at the beginning of the day, and I have to say it was not as hard falling back in line with the plan as I thought it would be. I spent the last few days of December in prep mode. Egg boiling, menu planning, condiment making, recipe searching, butter clarifying, you name it. I am excited to try some new sauces and things I have found and adapting my own.
I'm grateful I had somewhat of a knowledge base in my head this time around. It made shopping easier and it's been easier to figure out what to have for dinner, because I already have ideas from the last time. So grateful I kept notes too, so I could go back and refer to them. I even cleaned out my spices and organized them in a drawer - label side up of course- so I can easily see what I need without something falling on my head! I love to cook and I love to use spices, but if I can't get to them, I am less likely to use them and the food tastes bland and I miss the mixes, prepackaged flavors and such that I definitely DON'T need.
In other news, the holidays were great and time off with the family was wonderful, but I am ready for a normal schedule again. My little family loves a little laid back leisure, but we so much better when we have a routine. We had the "first of the year family meeting" yesterday (my man and I had our "meeting" the day before), and talked about some goals to work on for the coming year. Healthy eating for the whole family is one of those. The kids were thrilled! Okay not really but let me have my little fantasy for a minute here. The boys take after their dad....meat and potatoes and the occasional, "What are those green things called again?" My girl though, she is like her mama and likes to try new things so I have at least one ally.
My husband wants to try out some of this plan this time too. As a man who has lost large amounts of weight in his young adult hood, he knows the benefits of healthy eating, but he isn't totally sold on the strict nature of Whole30 just yet. He may be able to incorporate a few changes into his routine and do just fine. For me, Whole30 is just a good "reset" to remind my body what good food and good health feel like. That motivates me to move forward and continue doing the right things. That and the even bigger motivation to be the woman God wants me to be. Above all else, I want to honor Him.
And now a word from my kitchen:
Favorite meal so far:
-olive oil in the skillet
-saute onions, peppers, mushrooms and garlic till soft then set aside
-make hamburger patties (lean - no add ins- season with salt, pepper and garlic powder), throw in skillet and cook till mostly done
-add veggies back in with meat and cover with coconut aminoes (soy sauce alternative) and a little more olive oil and simmer until the meat is cooked through and the kitchen smells heavenly.
I didn't want to go down to the basement for potatoes ( I was in the middle of several other cooking projects at the same time) so I grabbed a handful of frozen sweet potato cubes (I buy bags of frozen cubed sweet potatoes at Fresh Market and they are the bomb diggity-no peeling - holla!) and heated them in the microwave with a little butter (clarified) and cinnamon.
Oh Aunt Bee....it'll make your tongue slap your eyes out!
I made four patties, ate one and put three more in the fridge in a container with the veggies for quick/easy dinners over the next few days.
So It's day 3 of my second round of Whole 30 type eating. After the "feasting" season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, my body is very ready for a change. My weight has gone up and down and up and down the last couple months, and so has my energy level. It's time to -as we say in Tennessee - hunker down and get busy. After 2 days back in the "30" saddle, I already have more energy at the beginning of the day, and I have to say it was not as hard falling back in line with the plan as I thought it would be. I spent the last few days of December in prep mode. Egg boiling, menu planning, condiment making, recipe searching, butter clarifying, you name it. I am excited to try some new sauces and things I have found and adapting my own.
I'm grateful I had somewhat of a knowledge base in my head this time around. It made shopping easier and it's been easier to figure out what to have for dinner, because I already have ideas from the last time. So grateful I kept notes too, so I could go back and refer to them. I even cleaned out my spices and organized them in a drawer - label side up of course- so I can easily see what I need without something falling on my head! I love to cook and I love to use spices, but if I can't get to them, I am less likely to use them and the food tastes bland and I miss the mixes, prepackaged flavors and such that I definitely DON'T need.
In other news, the holidays were great and time off with the family was wonderful, but I am ready for a normal schedule again. My little family loves a little laid back leisure, but we so much better when we have a routine. We had the "first of the year family meeting" yesterday (my man and I had our "meeting" the day before), and talked about some goals to work on for the coming year. Healthy eating for the whole family is one of those. The kids were thrilled! Okay not really but let me have my little fantasy for a minute here. The boys take after their dad....meat and potatoes and the occasional, "What are those green things called again?" My girl though, she is like her mama and likes to try new things so I have at least one ally.
My husband wants to try out some of this plan this time too. As a man who has lost large amounts of weight in his young adult hood, he knows the benefits of healthy eating, but he isn't totally sold on the strict nature of Whole30 just yet. He may be able to incorporate a few changes into his routine and do just fine. For me, Whole30 is just a good "reset" to remind my body what good food and good health feel like. That motivates me to move forward and continue doing the right things. That and the even bigger motivation to be the woman God wants me to be. Above all else, I want to honor Him.
And now a word from my kitchen:
Favorite meal so far:
-olive oil in the skillet
-saute onions, peppers, mushrooms and garlic till soft then set aside
-make hamburger patties (lean - no add ins- season with salt, pepper and garlic powder), throw in skillet and cook till mostly done
-add veggies back in with meat and cover with coconut aminoes (soy sauce alternative) and a little more olive oil and simmer until the meat is cooked through and the kitchen smells heavenly.
I didn't want to go down to the basement for potatoes ( I was in the middle of several other cooking projects at the same time) so I grabbed a handful of frozen sweet potato cubes (I buy bags of frozen cubed sweet potatoes at Fresh Market and they are the bomb diggity-no peeling - holla!) and heated them in the microwave with a little butter (clarified) and cinnamon.
Oh Aunt Bee....it'll make your tongue slap your eyes out!
I made four patties, ate one and put three more in the fridge in a container with the veggies for quick/easy dinners over the next few days.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Turning the Page
Today is the last day of 2014 and what a year it has been. I have seen God's faithfulness in every way possible - through triumph and tragedy, loss of loved ones, adding to my extended family through adoption (I am now the oldest of 8 - my parents are incredible people), it just goes on and on. My Whole30 experience in August taught me much and reading scripture the last few months has taught me even more. Here's an update of where I am at the end of 2014:
In Exodus, God tells Moses to set aside 3 times a year for feasting and remembering His faithfulness. As I read this, I was amazed at how it lined up with life even today. I do not profess to be a bible scholar, and I hope I'm not reaching here, but I believe God showed me something important that I will not soon forget.
One time of feasting was at Passover ( for us I would think that would be Easter). The second time was at Harvest time (Thanksgiving to you and me) and then the third was at the end of their calendar year (Christmas/New Years). All of these times were about remembering what God has done, sharing it with future generations through stories and testimonies, and yes...feasting. The foods for these times (from what I can tell) had significance and/or were seasonal. I've said it before....God never intended for food to be the enemy. He meant it for nutrition and also for celebration. We are the ones who have made food the enemy. And not even just the enemy, but also our idol. Literally, the human race has a "love/hate" relationship with food! No wonder we're so out of balance! I love that the Lord keeps reminding me of this truth over and over again in different ways. He is such a patient God!
So I've been pondering and asking God to help me see what it looks like to have a proper relationship with food the way He ordained it to be. For me, this meant enjoying the holidays with my family, remembering loved ones who had passed in 2014, sharing stories and seasonal foods while sitting around a table full of some of the most precious people in the world to me. There were many moments of thanksgiving for what God has done in our family. There were tears and laughter. There were prayers and words of encouragement. There was love.
Feasting is over for awhile, so time to get back to "normal" -if there is such a thing at my house- and look toward the next year. I read a quote by Ann Voskamp this morning (y'all know how I love her) that went something like this..."Random acts of greatness pale in comparison to habitual acts of faithfulness. It's not what you do every now and then, but what you do everyday that changes everything." Ann Voskamp
I don't typically do New Year's Resolutions. I find that for me it is useless to "resolve" to do anything I might think up on my own. However as I was typing this, I remembered the words to a hymn we used to sing when I was a little girl and I looked it up. It made my heart beat a little faster as I read the lyrics and I think if I were going to make a resolution, it would go something like this (except maybe in today's vernacular though).
I am Resolved (by Palmer Hartsough, 1896)
I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
Refrain
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.
Refrain
I am resolved to follow the Savior, (This is my favorite part!)
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.
Refrain
I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
Refrain
I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heav’nly way.
Refrain
Monday, October 13, 2014
So, how we doin'?
Howdy. It's been awhile. After the women's retreat, the flu, a trip to Atlanta for a yearly conference I attend with my church family, teen craziness, football games and band competitions, I am still standing (well, propped up is more like it)!
I am still walking this food thing out day by day. Some good days, some not so good but learning more every day what living an obedient life looks like and doesn't. I am learning that when I lean on my own understanding it's a train wreck, but when I depend on God for my strength, I eat healthier, I live freer and feel lighter inside and out. Seems like a no-brainer, but for this girl it's a huge learning curve! I am learning and experimenting more with paleo cooking, and that's been fun. I make healthy recipes for the girls in my small group and they want me to write a cookbook. Not sure what I'd call it, but here are some ideas...
"Bits and Pieces: making something out of nothing..."
"Odds and ends: using weird ingredients to create magic"
"Paleo imperfection: it may look ugly, but it'll taste good..."
Who knows if I'll ever do it. I don't measure much unless I'm baking, so it's difficult to remember to write things down unless I do it while I'm cooking it. That seems like an awful lot of trouble.
So...exercise. Yeah, I'm not good at that. I was walking with a friend, but our schedules got switched around thanks to our kids and their school/work schedules. I've tried a couple things but haven't found anything I enjoy consistently. I know I need it, and my body craves it, but I need to pray for the "want to" because I don't have it.
Payday is Wednesday and I will re stock my "good" food. I need to tighten up a little bit before the holidays set in. I want to be in a good place when I start visiting family and face all the yummy temptations of the season.
God continues to be faithful to remind me of why I began this journey. His word remains a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. His presence is so close. I am grateful. I'm trying to not make this about a number on the scale but about His holiness and what He expects from me. Praise be to God that He is more concerned about the state of my heart than the number on my scale. I don't know who if anyone still reads this, but if you do read it, thank you and keep praying!
I am still walking this food thing out day by day. Some good days, some not so good but learning more every day what living an obedient life looks like and doesn't. I am learning that when I lean on my own understanding it's a train wreck, but when I depend on God for my strength, I eat healthier, I live freer and feel lighter inside and out. Seems like a no-brainer, but for this girl it's a huge learning curve! I am learning and experimenting more with paleo cooking, and that's been fun. I make healthy recipes for the girls in my small group and they want me to write a cookbook. Not sure what I'd call it, but here are some ideas...
"Bits and Pieces: making something out of nothing..."
"Odds and ends: using weird ingredients to create magic"
"Paleo imperfection: it may look ugly, but it'll taste good..."
Who knows if I'll ever do it. I don't measure much unless I'm baking, so it's difficult to remember to write things down unless I do it while I'm cooking it. That seems like an awful lot of trouble.
So...exercise. Yeah, I'm not good at that. I was walking with a friend, but our schedules got switched around thanks to our kids and their school/work schedules. I've tried a couple things but haven't found anything I enjoy consistently. I know I need it, and my body craves it, but I need to pray for the "want to" because I don't have it.
Payday is Wednesday and I will re stock my "good" food. I need to tighten up a little bit before the holidays set in. I want to be in a good place when I start visiting family and face all the yummy temptations of the season.
God continues to be faithful to remind me of why I began this journey. His word remains a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. His presence is so close. I am grateful. I'm trying to not make this about a number on the scale but about His holiness and what He expects from me. Praise be to God that He is more concerned about the state of my heart than the number on my scale. I don't know who if anyone still reads this, but if you do read it, thank you and keep praying!
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Lost and found
I have found myself feeling a little lost this week. Not scary lost like I think I'm going crazy. No, just lost like life is whizzing by and spinning me around each time it passes. My food has been pretty good considering, but I am finding that when I am tired or depressed I don't want to eat healthy. I am still packing my food for work and that has been a life saver, but when I'm at home it is hard to make good choices sometimes.
Today I have been contemplating doing Whole30 again. At least a very close version of it for the majority of my food. I seem to do better if I don't have a lot of choices and it kind of forces me to choose the healthy options because I don't allow myself to choose anything else. My only fear in that is I don't want this to become just another idol. Right now you're asking yourself, "What the monkey is she talking about?"
You heard me. Being crazy strict about what you eat and how you eat it can be just as much an addiction as eating all the unhealthy stuff. You become afraid of food and it becomes your master just as if you were mindlessly eating string cheese and potato chips every meal. I have been down that road too (I told you I have tried it all!) and I was in just as much bondage. The purpose (or one of them at least) of Whole30 was to break that food addiction and not be enslaved by it any longer. I want food to be in its proper place in my life. I am going on a women's retreat this weekend and I hope to spend some time just asking Jesus what He wants me to do next. If He wants me to do another Whole30 round, I want to be willing but if He says something else, I want to be willing to go that route too. I'm in this for the long haul so whatever He says goes.
If you're reading this, I would love for you to pray for me to that end.
Today I have been contemplating doing Whole30 again. At least a very close version of it for the majority of my food. I seem to do better if I don't have a lot of choices and it kind of forces me to choose the healthy options because I don't allow myself to choose anything else. My only fear in that is I don't want this to become just another idol. Right now you're asking yourself, "What the monkey is she talking about?"
You heard me. Being crazy strict about what you eat and how you eat it can be just as much an addiction as eating all the unhealthy stuff. You become afraid of food and it becomes your master just as if you were mindlessly eating string cheese and potato chips every meal. I have been down that road too (I told you I have tried it all!) and I was in just as much bondage. The purpose (or one of them at least) of Whole30 was to break that food addiction and not be enslaved by it any longer. I want food to be in its proper place in my life. I am going on a women's retreat this weekend and I hope to spend some time just asking Jesus what He wants me to do next. If He wants me to do another Whole30 round, I want to be willing but if He says something else, I want to be willing to go that route too. I'm in this for the long haul so whatever He says goes.
If you're reading this, I would love for you to pray for me to that end.
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