The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.....

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,

but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4

 10 Thing You MUST Give Up to Move Forward

#1 Letting the opinion of others control your life.
*Its not what others think, it's about what you think about yourself that counts.
*You have to do exactly what's best for you and your life, not what's best for everyone else.

#2 The shame of past failures.
*Your past does not equal your future.
*All that matters is what you're doing right now.

#3 Being indecisive about what you want.
*You will never leave where you are now until you make a decision where you would rather be.
*Make a decision to pray about what your plans, listen and then pursue it passionately!

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I have plans for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

*There are two primary choices: accept conditions as they are or accept responsibility for changing them.
#The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.

#5 Choosing to do nothing.
*Everyday is a new opportunity to make a choice.
*You choose to see the glass half empty or half full.
*You choose to have self-control.
*You choose to love yourself.

#6 Your need to be right.
*Aim for success, but never give up your right to be wrong.
*Because when you do, you will also lose your ability to learn new things and grow.
*Release your pride.

#7 Running from problems that should be fixed!
* Stop running!
*Face these issues, pray about your problems, communicate and ask for forgiveness.
*Forgive and love the people in your life you love the most.
*Forgive yourself.

#8 Making excuses rather than decisions.
*Most long-term failures are the outcome of people who make excuses instead of decisions.
*Often times it's the things in life that we had to work the hardest for that we are the most thankful for. If we had given up, we would have missed the blessing at the finish line.
*No more excuses!

#9 Overlooking the blessing in your life.
*What are you thankful for today?
*What you see often depends on what you're looking for.
*Be thankful for the smallest to the most important things in life....water, blankets, candles......our families, God's unconditional love and grace.

#10 Not appreciating the present moment, the gift of today!
*Too often we try to accomplish something big without realizing that the greatest part of life is made up of the little gifts in the moment.

Whether you 

THINK YOU CAN

or think you can't

YOU'RE RIGHT!

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try!

Focus of how far you've come, 

not how far you have to go....

1 day completed of self control and discipline!

I choose to eat 5-6 smaller meals a day w/ around 

250-350 calories and 20 grams of protein.

The benefits I find to eating protein often are:

*Increased energy levels

*Stabilizes my blood sugars

*Suppresses my appetite

*Controls hunger pangs

*Raises my metabolism

*Resists the temptation to cheat 

*Feeling satisfied

I take a cooler with me almost daily to make sure I have 

healthy meal options. I also try to prepare my meals 

for the next day the night before. 

Preparation is so important!

I keep Quest bars, raw cashews and almonds in my car.

When I make a larger dish, I often divide portions in 

containers for two-three more servings. 

Some of my favorite 250-350 calorie meals are:

*low carb wraps with the following inside:

-fish tacos= cabbage, cilantro, lime, salsa, tilipia

-canned tuna, slice of cheese, vegetables-grilled

-refried beans, laughing cow cheese and vegetables

-black beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, 1/4 avocado, cilantro, lime

-your choice of lean meat or chicken

*protein shake & raw vegetables with greek yogurt spinach dip

(found at Walmart with the dips)

*chopped salads 

-1/2 spinach and 1/2 iceburg with bean salad, tilipia, salsa, and lime juice
(Walmart has amazing fresh salsa by the vegetables!)
-3 egg whites and 1 whole hard boiled egg,  1/4 cup of feta cheese, 11 almonds, cranberries

* 3 egg whites with 2 tbsp supremely spicy hummus 

(courtesy of Michelle) and a kiwi or apple

*apple and 22 almonds

*apple or banana with 2 tbsp almond butter (craving buster!)

*quinoa with beans, avocado, tomatoes, lime, cilantro and salsa

I use lemon and limes in place of dressings and I love fresh lemon and lime in my water. I have a lime press and I use it multiple times a day!

The distance between who I am and who I want to be is separated only by my actions and words!

40 days!!!!

"Nothing tastes as good as feeding our bodies the 

proper nutrition feels!"

Over the next couple of days I am going to share some of my favorite meals. 

Please share your favorites.....

For breakfast I eat one of two things:

A) protein shake....easy and quick!
-8 oz unsweetened almond milk
-scoop of protein
-1/2 frozen banana
-2 tbsp chai seeds or flaxseeds
-ice

B) Eggs
 -3-4 egg whites & 1 whole egg
-vegetables
-1/4 cup feta cheese
-low carb tortilla

2-3 hours later I eat a quest bar...so chewy, convenient and yummy! They have 20 grams of protein, 17 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar and minimal ingredients. You can purchase them right now at GNC for $22.50 for a box of 12 (25% off full boxes) Coconut cashew and lemon are my favorite. I  also buy them online at bodybuilding.com.
 (Each time you order on bodybuilding.com you can get two free "sample"quest bars.)

When I first wake up I drink hot tea with 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar and lemon. This works amazingly to get your digestive system moving!!  I highly recommend this daily!!

Also, two of my favorite blogs are diva dish & peas and carrots for amazing recipes!

One of my favorite recipes is on diva dish. 

(& Michelle's...Ben loves it, too!) 

Just go under the main meals on diva dish and look for 

orange glazed chickpeas and sesame zucchini...amazing!!

Thank you to those of you that posted...

post your challenge if you haven't,

 we would love to hear from you!!

Encouragement and Accountability

41 days!

I don't run to add days to my life, I run to add life to my days!

Tomorrow we will all embark on our fourty day journey to feeling happier, healthier and stronger! It is my hope that we will use this blog to hold each other accountable and encourage one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I know how awful (mentally and physically) sugar is for my body, which is why I have chosen to resist the temptation for my challenge. Sugar decreases my energy level and ALWAYS leaves me unsatisfied!

"Scientists compare sugar addition to alcohol and nicotine addiction and the withdrawal to those going cold turkey on heroin. The symptoms last 2-5 days, after which the sugar should be out of your system and you shouldn't be craving it anymore."
-Ehow contributor

What victory will you be celebrating fourty days from now? Please share!!!

If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you!

Determination

Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Daily Motivation:

Don't give up what you want MOST, 

for what you want NOW!

Self-control....what are you giving up until the race?

43 days!

As of Monday, I will be giving up sugar for 40 days!
Phillipians 4:13

 I feel AMAZING when I consume 30 grams of natural sugar or less a day! Please hold me accountable, as I will post ANY cheats!

Most importantly I will fuel my body with the essential nutrition it requires by:

• Starting my day with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and lemon in hot tea.

• Eating clean, unprocessed food every 2-3 hours with at least 20 grams of protein.

• Consuming 250-300 calories 5-6 times a day.

• Eating vegetables at each meal....of course a cup of spinach in my morning shake!

• Drinking lots of water.

• Working Out! 

Proper nutrition attributes to 80% of your 

physical and mental success! 

Unfortunately, 

you can't out exercise a bad diet....

it's a simple math equation!