Don't Give Up

I don't mind allowing myself some off plan meals or snacks from time to time, honestly I don't. I believe in food freedom and not becoming a slave to the way I eat. I think the occasional special treat is great. 

But I have to be careful.

Not because it messes with my weight, one treat is not going to mess with my weight. 

I have to be careful because some off plan foods trigger cravings for more off plan foods and it can quickly spiral out of control.

If I allow sugar back into my diet, it can easily become ugly. Sugar makes me crave more sugar!

It's like a drug and I feel like I lose control. Honestly, that is how it makes me feel. No. Control.

I allowed an off plan lunch last Thursday, then I taste tested a cheesecake I was trying for a catering job. Friday evening was a family gathering and I allowed more cheats. 

Then Saturday was bible study and I ate off plan again.

Sunday my cravings were horrible! Then the family decided to order pizza for dinner. Not. Good.

You know the funny thing is that these "special" occasions happen all the time and when I have the correct mindset it is no problem at all for me to stay on plan. But if I get in the mindset of "oh it's okay, I'll just get back on track tomorrow" or worse the "I really don't care today" mode - it is just ugly.

Really ugly!

Now, I know that my hormones fluctuate and they really do effect my appetite, but that is no excuse for me to lose control. 

Self control is a fruit of the Spirit, even when the hormones rage. 

Today my mindset is back in the right place. I'm ready to get back on plan. Thanks to prayers from my friends and from myself, God is helping me. 

I'm not down about this weekend. I'm not even going to get upset with myself.

It happens.  It isn't the first time I've done this and since this is a lifelong journey, it probably won't be the last.

The main thing is that I get myself back on track and not give up just because I had a bad weekend. That's what happens with diets, not with a lifestyle of eating. 

I say all of this to encourage you if you have these times of splurges and off plan eating. Don't let it derail you. Don't let it take your focus off of the bigger picture.

You didn't ruin anything. Yeah, you might have slowed your weight loss, but you didn't completely ruin it. 

You just get back on track. 

You do your best and you take one day at a time if  you have to.

Don't give up.

No matter how many times you mess up.

Don't quit.

You are worth the effort. 

Don't feel guilty, that is from Satan.

Just learn from the situation and move on. 

There is no guilt, no condemnation.

You are human, we mess up. No one is perfect.

You are beautiful.

You are loved.

You are worth the effort.

Be blessed my friends and if you stumble, just get back up. 

Rashel ♥

Bumps on my path

I have a busy day ahead so I don't have long, but I did want to share something with you.

This morning for my run I made a new path around my field instead of just running the driveway, it's much prettier :)

The problem is that this is a new path, out in a hayfield, which means it is not flat or level in all places. As I'm running and praying that God would make the path flat and safe so I don't injure myself, He reminded me that sometimes there are going to be bumps in my journey. The bumps may make things harder and I may not always like them, but -

the bumps make me stronger!

Just like in life, we have bumps in our journey. 

Things are not always easy or safe, God never told me they would be. He just said follow me and His path was not easy either.

So remember in your journey, on your run of life, that you will have bumps in your path, but those bumps will make you stronger if you just keep going.

Rely on Him in all things.

Trust Him in all things.

God is in control and He wants what is best for you, always.

Blessings,

Rashel

I got some new running clothes this weekend!

How my fitness effects my faith

I know that for some people their fitness, or their health, has nothing to do with their faith and they can't even see how one could possibly relate to the other.

But for me, it has everything to do with my faith.

Not only do I know that God gave me this body and that His Holy Spirit lives in it, therefore I should be a good steward of it, but I also know it goes deeper than that.

For me I develop my faith each time I push my self in an exercise I think is too hard or every time I choose to exercise when I would rather do something else. 

How?

It makes me think of Jesus as He was beaten, ridiculed and then hung on the cross - for me. He didn't give up. He didn't call the angels down to rescue Him or tell God He quit, that He didn't want to go through with it. He did it. 

He endured it. 

He suffered, for me. (And you)

If God can do all of that for me, I can push through a tough run for Him. I can do that last set of double crunches for Him.

There is more.

Each time I practice diligence in exercising, it helps me develop diligence in other areas of life. Each time I exercise self control in the foods I eat, it helps me develop self control in other walks of my life. Each time I choose to do what God has shown me in my fitness journey, it helps me choose what God would have me do in my faith journey. 

I pray to Him as I exercise, especially when I'm running and think I can't go any further. I pray for strength, for breath, for endurance. It helps me rely on Him to go farther than I think I can go, in exercise and in life.

I talk to Him as I'm walking; praising Him, thanking Him or pouring out my heart to Him. I listen to worship music that helps me focus my thoughts on Him or that encourages me in other ways. 

I keep my focus on Him.

My fitness is not just about looking good or even feeling good.

My fitness run helps me develop my faith run.

It makes me stronger for Him - in ALL ways!

Blessings,

Rashel

It IS Important

I'll start tomorrow. It's only one donut. We're all going to die anyway.

Yeah, I here people say these things all the time as excuses as to why they aren't taking care of their health. There are always excuses. Tons of them. There always will be. Be let me just say this...

IT IS IMPORTANT!

God created our bodies to be awesome, functioning machines, but we must put the right fuel into a machine for it to operate correctly. You don't put kool aid in a gas motor and expect it to run. So why would you think your body is any different? Yes, you will still live awhile, you will still breathe and be able to move - for awhile. Eventually, you will start slowing down, you will blame it on aging but is that really the reason. Maybe, just maybe, it's because you haven't been taking care of your machine properly.

Sometimes you don't even realize how sluggish your machine is running because it has become normal to you. Until I cleaned my system out I had no idea how bad I really felt. I was tired a lot, I had headaches often and my tummy was always rumbling. It was life, that was just how I was and I had gotten accustomed to it. Thank God He didn't allow me to stay like that. He nudged me and encouraged me to get healthy and I cannot tell you how thankful I am for that. I feel like a new person. I have energy I never had before. My headaches are few and far between, and quite honestly only when I eat poorly. My stomach is much quieter and I sleep SOOO much better.

IT IS IMPORTANT!  And what is more - IT IS WORTH IT!

You are worth the effort it takes to eat healthy! Your family is worth it, they deserve the best you that you can give them. God is worth it.

Yes, God!

How can you serve Him to the best of your abilities if you aren't the best you that you can be?

Your body is not your own, it is His. He bought it with a very high price. He is just letting you take care of it. So, how good of a job are you doing at that?

This might seem a little blunt, but sometimes that is exactly what it takes for some of us to see the truth.

Your health is important to God because you are important to God!

I'm running this same race with you and I know it can be really hard, but sister, it is so worth it. I pray that you start this journey, restart this journey or continue this journey - wherever you are right now, I am here with you. You are not alone. God is here too, always!

Today's Quick Lunch

I was really hungry when lunchtime came around- after doing my 5k training and my PrayFit challenge, I needed to refuel!

But, I wanted something quick and easy. I don't cook a big lunch. I just don't.  My children are very used to fixing their own lunch by now, which I think is a great skill to learn by the way. 

On to my lunch:

Simple Panini - THM S

It was so yummy I decided to share with you, although, it is super simple so this might not be necessary. Oh well, here it is.

I took have a lavash bread, 

spread it with mayo and mustard,

added healthy deli turkey and ham,

red onions, cheese and spinach.

Then I grilled it in my panini pan sprayed with coconut oil,

just until toasted on each side. Then I cut it in half to make it easier to eat.

I had some raw veggies cut up already, so that was my go to quick side. 

I had planned to have 1/2 a triple zero yogurt for dessert, but I wasn't hungry enought for it. 

Yep, SUPER SIMPLE!

But maybe it will inspire someone.

Blessings my friends,

Rashel

33 Day Challenge Day 1

Yesterday was day 1 of my PrayFit 33 day total body challenge so I thought I'd share how it went. Have you ever heard of Pray Fit? I love it! Jimmy Pena totally relates our faith to our fitness in every aspect and is super encouraging to listen to. My favorite thing about the total body challenge is that it encourages me to do better tomorrow than I did today, keeping my focus on improving myselft not comparing myself to others.

I also love that we only use our own body weight, no other equipment is required - so anyone can do this! It is your basic old school exercises, but put together in the best order for the best effect.

Yeah, totally being real here! I never look fabulous exercising, do you? 

Anyway, I said I'd share my journey and this is part of it, so there you go - me doing a squat!

My plan is to do this every day, in addition to my 3 days a week of 5k training. If that becomes too much, then I won't do the challenge on training days. We shall see how it goes.

As for my eating yesterday, I did well even though we ate out TWICE!! That is pretty rare for us, but it happened. I did the best I could at lunch, Taco Bell, and then stayed on track at Cracker Barrel for dinner (that place is easy).  If you want to know exactly what I ate, I track my food on the Two Grand app, username RashelTHM. That is a great accountability app for me, knowing I have to take a picture of everything I eat and then post it for all to see really makes me think about what is going in my mouth.

I'm excited to keep sharing my fitness journey with you and hope you enjoy it as well. I did take my measurements when I started and I'll give weekly updates as I go, maybe some before and after pics too :)

Have a blessed day today and do something toward better health for yourself today!

Blessings,

Rashel

THM Honesty Time and Advice

My advice to anyone starting, or restarting, Trim Healthy Mama is to not give up. I know it can be hard and sometimes you wonder if it is worth it. It is! Your health is worth the effort.

I'm going to be completely honest with you - I've been off plan for a few months now. I made excuses why I couldn't do it, even posted about why I wasn't doing it but to be totally honest, I was just being lazy. I didn't exercise self control or will power. Then it was just easier to justify why I was off plan with excuses, which I did believe at the time - but I was wrong.

Yeah, my family did start eating junk but that was my fault, not THM's. I got lazy and slacked when it came to fixing them healthy food. It was just easier to let them buy the junk.

Yes when I fix off plan baked goods or meals, it takes a lot of self control not to eat them or at least not to eat TOO MUCH of them. But I SHOULD use self control in all things. It is a fruit of the Spirit that I must use and train at all times.

I could go on with all my excuses, but that is all they are, excuses. And boy did I sell myself on them for awhile. I know that Trim Healthy Mama is the best way for me to eat. I feel so much better when I stay on plan- more energy, no headaches and just overall feeling good. Yes, it takes self discipline to stay on plan, but it does for any healthy eating plan and that is a character trait we should all strive to strenghten in our lives.

I wish that I wouldn't have wasted those months eating off plan, my body has more healing to do now, but I will just learn from it and move on.

I started back on plan last week, consistently and do you know what? When I am committed to the plan, I actually enjoy it! I enjoy finding new healthy recipes. I enjoy knowing that what I am eating is nourishing my body instead of poisoning it. It is totally a mind thing with me. When I am committed and excited about it, it is fun and doable, but when I let negative thoughts about it come into my mind, it becomes drudgery. When I start allowing negative thoughts in, then I start finding excuses not to do it.

The bible tells me to think on the good things, the praise worthy things, the true things - THM is good for my health in so many ways. That is the good, praise worthy truth! I will think on that and I will continue to enjoy my journey.

I also recommend finding an accountability buddy, it helps so much! If you don't have someone you can count on, join Two Grand. There are so many THMers on there that will gladly help you.  My username is RashelTHM, look me up, I'll help you!

I pray that at least one person has been encouraged by my honesty in my struggles. May you be blessed and strengthened in your journey.

Rashel

God's Real Temple

     I'm sure many of you have been on countless diets and done numerous exercise routines in hopes of getting in shape. Of course that could just be me but I highly doubt it knowing what a skyrocketing business diet and health are in this country.We all want to be healthy, we all desire to be our best. Right? But let's face it, sometimes that is just plain HARD! I've tried a few different ways of eating and while some of them really work, they aren't things I can stick to for the long term and when it comes down to it, that is what really matters. If I  am not going to stick with it or if it isn't something my family is on board with, it just won't last. Coming to this realization is what led me to where I am now. I have come up with my own healthy living guidelines and I've decided to share them with you. Lucky you ;)

     This year I turn the big 40! Gasp! Honestly, my age isn't bothering me at all but my unwanted weight is and I decided to do something about it before the BIG day gets here. I first started thinking about my beliefs on nutrition and what I believe to actually be healthy. I don't want some fad diet, I want something that I can live with forever. In fact, I don't want a diet, I want a new lifestyle of eating. So what did I do? I came up with my own way of eating. It isn't really anything new and most of it I am sure you have heard before, many times. I just decided for me it was easier to write it out as guidelines for me to eat by. Sort of a way to stay on track with eating healthy. A way to make sure I wasn't cheating all of the time without realizing it. Yes, I do that, just a chip here or a cookie there. You know, don't you?

I still have a lot of things I want to add into my plan, such as scriptures and reference information but because this is the first day of a new month, I really wanted to get it posted and get started. I will fill in the details later, a little at a time. So, here they are and while they are numbered, that isn't necessarily in order of importance.

Guidelines to Healthy Eating
1.Start everyday in fellowship with God. Remind myself I am His temple. Pray for discipline, diligence and wisdom.

2.Take my vitamins and herbs of choice daily

3.Take apple cider vinegar in water, 1 Tbsp. 3times daily, preferably before meals

4.Drink 64 oz of water or healthy liquids daily

5.Eat four servings of fruit daily

6.Eat six servings of veggies daily
7.Eat healthy proteins, serving is size of palm

8.Eat fresh ground wheat daily

9.Eat raw or fermented dairy daily
10.Get 30g of fiber intake daily, drink fiber water before dinner
11. Eliminate all sugar, may have natural sugars in foods, stevia, truvia and use honey for baking

12.Exercise at least 30 minutes 3 to 5 times a week

13.Record weight daily to stay focused.

14. May have one dessert per week that is not “healthy” to avoid binging later.

15. Eliminate as much processed food as possible without obsessing about it.

16. Keep food journal with times to monitor my progress and to be able to track any problems, cheats or triggers that inhibit weight loss. 

    So, there you have it. My custom guidelines for maintaining God's Real Temple. Scripture tells us we are His temple and with these guidelines I will be eating REAL foods, therefore I am calling it God's Real Temple. It is also a reminder that my body is His and I should be taking care of it as much as possible. 

     As I said, I will elaborate on these more but for now, I just wanted to get them posted. If anyone wants to follow along, I would love it! Please, please, please leave me a comment if you decide to. I will be posting frequently to update how I am doing.

Blessings all,

Rashel