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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Super Life ~ Being Your Best Self!

So, you may know if you've followed me on facebook, that I'm reading a book called "Super Life." This book has been life changing and really changed the way I feel/think/view food.




Let me share some of the powerful "nuggets" I have gotten from it:

"When we eat, we open our bodies wide and expose ourselves, every single cell, to whatever's out there in our environment.  It's how we turn the out there into the in here.  When we eat, those external things actually become us.  Our organs, bones, muscles, nerves, skin, blood and everything else are made from what we eat and drink ~ there's nothing else to work with.  Before we were born, we were completely created, cell by cell, by what our mothers ate and drank.  Today, it's no different, except now we're the ones doing the eating and drinking, inventing our bodies."

"Here's how dramatically food can change when we tamper with it.  A large-scale study published in the British Medical Journal found that people who ate fruit at least twice a week - especially apples, blueberries, and grapes - were up to 23% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who ate fruit no more than once a month.  But subjects who drank fruit juice once a day or more had an increased risk of developing diabetes, up to 21% higher than those who did not."


"We get calories - which we need to survive of course, but very little else.  None of the nutrition {talking about processed foods here}.  As Dr. Fuhrman puts it, we end up mechanically full, but nutritionally starved.  If we do that often enough, we will absolutely harm ourselves at the cellular level.  Over time, that may bring some chronic condition." 

"Eating is the single most important thing we can do to stay healthy.  If good, clean food isn't worth our money, what is?"

"The symptoms of acidosis ~ fatigue, lack of energy and motivation, moodiness, headaches, cramps, poor digestion, heartburn, dry skin and hair, and cold hands and feet ~ are the same minor complaints and everyday aches and pains that people suffer stoically, thinking they can't be helped.  Just normal adult life, right?  Wrong.  They're not minor problems, and they're not normal.  And the fact that lots of other people complain about the same things doesn't mean these conditions are acceptable, let alone inevitable.  These are all signs of an overly acidified internal environment, which could mean we're headed for something catastrophic."


"Antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed drugs today, even though science has proven how strongly nutrition influences our mental and emotional states."

He also talks a lot about water and the quality of water.  How lack of water affects our brains, our moods, our attitudes.  This is powerful, friends.  

I love this part ~ "We have to take responsibility for what goes into our mouths.  No more autopilot. Take time to form new habits, and then it will be no big deal ~ and you will feel better because of it. It's work. But all good things are."



I hope you know I write this and share these types of things often because I love you and care about you.  I know what it feels like to be nutritionally starved.  I used to live off of sugar, diet soda, big pretzels and cheese!  I didn't eat vegetables or protein.  I was certainly not taking care of myself.  I think part of it was I didn't want to at the time and the other part was I just didn't know how to. That is why I am so passionate about helping others.  I know what it is like to be where you are.  Exhausted, depleted, your zeal for life is gone, because you are just getting by, slugging through the day.  It doesn't have to be this way!  If you are ready to make some changes, please let me help you.  You don't have to do this alone!  You are worth living a super life...don't you want that?  I want that for you! Please let me know how I can help you.  I want you to live a super life, friend!!!

Monday, April 27, 2015

Why I Prefer Being Called A Coach!

I get a little annoyed when I hear people say they know a Shakeology "rep," or a Beachbody "distributor," or a "sales person." Eck. Why? Because it's so much MORE than that to me. I feel like the words "rep," "distributor," "sales person," all imply sales. A "one and done" type thing. This is so NOT that for me. I'm a coach. And, I'm proud of that! What does the word coach mean? Well, glad you asked :) I found two definitions that were intriguing ~

1. a person who teaches and trains the members of a sports team and makes decisions about how the team plays during games

2. a large usually closed four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage having doors in the sides and an elevated seat in front for the driver

The first one makes sense, right? Someone who teaches and trains. That's what I do in my online challenge {or accountability} groups. I teach and train. It's sharing information, education, motivation, support, recipes, ideas as well as offering accountability. I gotta tell you, I love the groups. Each one takes on it's own personality and they are so fun! It's like this huge cheering section of new friends encouraging and supporting one another for a common goal. They are simply awesome. No other word to describe it. Something super special happens in those groups for sure!

The second definition baffled me at first, but as I think about it, it also makes sense. In essence, definition two talks about a coach CARRYING people to a location, right? The driver is in an elevated seat up front. Why? To see what's ahead. Why? Because they have been on this road before. Ah ha, so that definition might ring a little more true now, eh? As a coach, I am simply someone who has been in my challengers shoes before and can help carry them to their goals. I provide a means of transportation, if you will, of getting there, of helping them reach their goals. Does that make sense?

So, back to why it irritates me to be called something other than a coach. This is SO not about sales for me. This is about changing lives. This is about helping people. This is about relationships. I'm not going to sell you something and disappear! {Drives me crazy when that happens, BTW. Or when I don't get a thank you note after I've bought something, but that's another topic. } I'm going to continue to support you on your journey, check in with you from time to time, add you to my graduates group where I continue to post things that will help you on your journey. I put my heart and soul into this and to be called a sales person just makes me feel icky, I gotta be honest with you.  I am not just here to sell you something.  Honestly, if I wanted to do that, there are lots of other opportunities out there to do that.  I'm here to support, encourage, motivate, inspire and help you be the best YOU that you can be! You are worth that, your family is worth that. Don't you want that for yourself? If you do and are ready to get in the game, I'd love to be your coach!  So, if it's your time to get off the sidelines and into the game, let me know.  I'd love to make it happen for you! Game on!

Friday, April 24, 2015

Yup, I'm Going There.....

Wow, has this week been a roller coaster! At the beginning of the week, I was hopeful, optimistic, ready to fight the good fight. Then, Wednesday hit and it was another story, LOL! It could have been the fact that Chad was traveling, the kids were both up the two nights he was gone and I was tired. I don't really know. I do know I did what I know is best for me - being in the Word, praying, eating well and exercising. That's how I take care of myself and honestly, what makes me the best I can be for my family. I think the tiredness was a fact, but also the fact that the more I learn about our food supply and the "state of the union" regarding food, if you will, it is discouraging! I feel like so many of us are unaware of what we put in our bodies, on our bodies, where it is coming from, what the ingredients really are and how they affect us and our kiddos. I feel like we are asleep and doing things because we believe it is safe, or because we are told to by someone in "authority." It's time to wake up friends! I love you and care about you and your family and that is why I'm so passionate about this!

I started reading the book "Super Life," by Darin Olien and wow, is that an eye opener! I was telling Chad some of what I was reading and his reply was "why aren't we told this? Why isn't this information known?" That is my point exactly. And, it frustrates me. I don't know if it is because we trust those who rule, regulate, create, etc. our food supply, medications, vaccines, etc.? I don't know if it is because we are too busy to do the research ourselves? I don't know if it is because we are uneducated? I truly don't know and that frustrates me. I am so passionate about this, guys! I feel like my eyes have been open to this and I want others to be too! I've been pretty transparent, I think, about sharing my food issues, as well as my children's and how that has affected us. So I can't personally deny the link between what we put in and on our bodies {and what's in the environment around us} and how that affects us. I was so discouraged and distraught earlier this week I felt like quitting! I really did. It seemed hopeless and like I was steering the Titanic {no thank you!} However, the more I pressed into God, the more I learned and read, I knew I had to be part of the solution and that quitting wouldn't accomplish that.

I was sharing some of my thoughts, feelings, etc. with my mentor who encouraged me to read the book of Lamentations in the Bible. I love the Word, believe it is sharper than any double edged sword and that it still applies to life today. So, in reading the book of Lamentations, here are some verses that stood out to me. Are ya ready? I am still kind of in shock as I type this.....here goes:

Lamentations 1:11 - "All her people groan as they search for bread;they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. “Look, Lord, and consider, for I am despised.”

Lamentations 1:19b - "My priests and my elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive."

Lamentations 2:12 - "They say to their mothers,“Where is bread and wine?” as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers’ arms."

Lamentations 2:19 - "Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner."

Lamentations 4:4 - "Because of thirst the infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth;the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them."

Lamentations 4:9 - "Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field."

Lamentations 5:9-10 - "We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert. Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger."

Wow, so much depth here. Do you see it? In the first 2 verses that are bold and in red, those words are identical in the 2 passages. "Food to keep themselves alive." That tells me food keeps us alive, yes? As I keep digging into the passage though, I notice fainting from hunger, children begging for bread, racked with hunger, risking lives for food, feverish from hunger. It's bad, friends. It's not a pretty picture. Sadly, I see the same thing happening today. As I was reading, I didn't know if they were talking about a spiritual hunger, or a real hunger? I'd venture to say both. And, it's the same thing I see happening in our world today. We are physically hungry because our bodies aren't getting what they need due to the depletion in our food supply, the busyness of our lives causing us to eat more packaged, processed foods, and less foods that are "raw," or "live" that contain what we need. Did you know the physical hunger/depletion of vitamins, minerals and nutrients affects our minds? Yup, sure does. "Heal the gut, heal the brain," is a phrase one of our chiropractors said and it is so true. I've seen it with Lauren. When we healed her gut by taking out wheat, dairy, food dyes, sugars and adding probiotics and fish oil to her diet, she was a healthy kid. A vibrant, joyful, kid full of life, as she should be! Same goes for me, as I started to take care of myself by eating clean, drinking Shakeology, cutting out wheat and dairy, drinking enough water, etc., my brain fog went away, my anger and depression lifted. Guys, there is a for sure connection between what we eat and how it affects us not only physically, but mentally as well! These are our lives and our kids lives we are talking about here. What's more important than that?

I can't help but wonder too, if the writer in Lamentations is talking about a spiritual hunger? Which is also something I see today. The church needs to wake up and start standing on the promises of God and expecting Him to do what He said He can do - miracles, healings, things we can't even imagine! It's time to stop making Him who we think He is and let Him be who He is. He's the same yesterday, today and tomorrow...so why aren't we letting Him?

Friends, I'm concerned about our society for these reasons! Will you please rise up with me? It's time to take a stand and become aware, educated and informed about what goes into our minds, as well as our bodies! Who's ready? I'm all in this and would love for others to join, as well! We're better together, right?

Love,
Melissa

Monday, April 13, 2015

Here's the Thing With the 21 Day Fix {Or Any Program for That Matter.}

I need to get something off of my chest and this seems like the best place to do it.  So, here's the thing with the 21 day fix program, or any program you do.  {Using the 21 day fix as an example}.  It is unrealistic to think you're going to do the program for the allotted amount of time, see some results, then at the end of the program, go back to what you were doing before the program and either 1. continue to see results, or 2. maintain what you achieved.  There were likely some habits/relationships with food that made you try the program, which is huge!  Yay for you! That is great that you got started!  I know how hard that is and I applaud you for that!  I know it's not easy! And, the fact that you completed the program is also huge!  Kudos to you for that!

However, I want you to be able to continue to see results if that is your goal, or maintain what you achieved if that is your goal.  So, how do we do that?  I've been thinking back on my experience with the 21 day fix a LOT lately.  What made me continue to see results once the group I was a part of was completed? I continue to follow the program.  I continue to eat clean.  I still, to this day, 14 months after doing it for the first time, use my portion control containers.  I still exercise 5 times/week.  I still drink my Shakeology daily. I still drink a lot of water each day.  The 21 day fix I did was a springboard to change my habits, which it did.  However, I continued and do continue to walk in those habits daily. I didn't say, "oh the 21 days are over, I'm done," and go back to the old habits/ways of eating.  No, I continue to do it to this day, more than a year later.  So, will doing the 21 day fix give you the same results it gave me? It can.  It all depends on what you do after the 21 days.  Are you willing to take what you've learned in the group, with the coaching and accountability, and apply it to life, of are you going to revert back to your old ways?  The choice is yours, friend.  I just want to be honest and realistic about what will give you the MOST success. It's not realistic to think you can do a program, complete it, and continue to see results if you're not willing to stick to the changes you learned on the program.  

Saturday, April 11, 2015

A Real Life Example of Fear Hurting Me

God has really been addressing the issue of fear with me.  Has it been easy?  No.  Has it been fun? No.  Has it been painful? Sometimes, yet, at the same time, I'm thankful to be able to look back and see how far I've come as well.  That's the silver lining, I suppose.  I've been reflecting on my life and this concept of fear....when did it start?  How did it start?  How has it affected me?  While this isn't the most glamorous story at all, I feel compelled to share a real life example of how fear physically hurt me.

I was a young girl, maybe 7-10'ish when this happened?  I'm not sure of the exact age I was, but in elementary school for sure.  I was swimming in my babysitters above ground pool one summer day. I had just learned the art of diving, so was anxious to show off my new skills.  {This was after practicing sit dives, of course earlier in the summer and hitting my head on the wall a few times.  So, I was good to go by now!  Ha ha!}

Confidently, I took my place on the side of the above ground pool.  {With my water wings on, LOL! Just kidding!}  I got up and took my stance to dive in.  I dove off the edge, only to realize mid dive that my dive wasn't perfect and I was afraid of doing it incorrectly.  So, I did what any smart child would do.  I turned around mid-air and tried to get back onto the side of the pool to start the dive over.  I let fear and perfection get in my way.  And, ya know what happened?  I ended up getting a nice size gash in a place that's not the most appropriate to share about on the internet.  If you're familiar with above ground pools from that time, you'll know/remember that they have a metal edge that surrounds the part of the pool you walk on.  Do you know what I'm talking about?  So, ya, that metal edge cut me. Blood gushing everywhere, sitting on a towel to go to the doctor.....not exactly the highlight of my summer for sure.

The funny thing is I had completely forgotten about this memory.  Duh, why would I remember it? Lauren was taking swimming lessons and I saw her do something very similar and viola! The memory came back. She had finished her lesson and it was time for "fun!" where the teacher let them jump in the pool.  She wanted to jump in so badly. She was bold, confident and stood on the side of the pool, ready to go.  Until it was her turn. Then, she freaked out.  She'd start to jump. Then, she'd get scared.  We'd pep talk her up. She'd be ready.  Then, freak out again.  As I saw her sit there and flip flop between jumping and not jumping.  It hit me - we ALL do this.  We say we're going to do something. Then, we get scared.  We may even go past saying it and take a step.  Then, we get scared. We might even start.  Then, we get scared. The fascinating thing to me is that I knew nothing bad would happen to Lauren.  She was safe.  The teacher/lifeguard was there, I was there. There were no sharks in the water.  What was she afraid of?  To be honest, I don't know.  But, because I had been in her shoes and have jumped in the pool before, I knew it was safe.  BUT, Lauren didn't know it was safe.  Look at my story - I was ready to go, I went for it, but what happened?  I got scared and stopped mid way.  The result was pain. Serious pain and a physical injury.  So, what's holding you back?  What are you not jumping into because of fear?  Think on it today and ask yourself - "is there someone who has done this before me?"  Chances are the answer is yes.  How did it turn out for them?  Chances are it turned out well, on one of the attempts at least. Don't get caught up in fear and let it paralyze you.  JUST JUMP!

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Self Sabotage: My Story

Self Sabotage.  Been there done that.  Just a few days ago, actually.  



So, if you've been reading my blog, following me on facebook, or anything....you likely know I've made some pretty big changes in regards to my health, wellness, fitness and nutrition.   If you're unfamiliar with my story, feel free to read it here.

Long story short, I was a food addict.  I used food, specifically sugar, to get my fix.  It would make me feel better.  It would sooth me.  It would comfort me.  It made me happy. Ice cream - check. I could eat 1/2 of a container in one sitting.  Not the whole thing, because I would really have a problem then! Brownies - check.  Again, 1/2 a pan gone, no problem!  Cookies - check.  Ate 'em by the handful.  Candy - check.  How many pieces could I fit into my mouth at once?  Done!  Or a whole bag of gummy peaches?  Sure!  Why not?  They're fat free, after all!  BUT, when I really wanted to be "healthy," I would have an organic dye free sucker.  I'm not sure why, but whatever.  Justification?  Likely.


When you've struggled with something for most of your life, you don't think it is a problem.  At least I didn't.  I just thought that was my "normal."  I mean everyone inhales sugar like cocaine, right? Um, no.  Over the past year, since I started changing my nutrition, I've noticed I've changed.  I don't crave sweets daily, like I used to.  I don't "need" food to feel good.  I don't "need" to stuff myself anymore. I don't eat dinner, then need to eat something sweet right afterwards. I don't "need" to get that high anymore that I used to get from eating too much crap food. Pardon my language, but it's true.  So, yes, I've MADE some changes and as a result, I have changed too.  My habits have changed, my tastebuds have changed, what I crave has changed.

So, this past weekend with it being Easter, I decided to "test" myself.  I'm not sure why I decided to, but I did.  Chocolate candy in the house - check.  Gluten free, dairy free, dye free cake in the house - check.  Tootsie rolls in the house {oh, don't get me started on how many of those I would eat when I worked at the bank.....no wonder my drawer wouldn't balance all those times.  Sheesh} - check.  I'm ready to go!  I ate a healthy lunch and had some cake.  Great, doing well.  The day ended, and I felt good about my eating choices.  So, let's test.  I ate a few pieces of chocolate.  It didn't even taste good to me.  And, I didn't get a sugar high like I used to get.  Ok, interesting.  Something must be wrong, I can't be free from my sugar addiction, let's try again tomorrow.  Is anyone thinking of the verse in Proverbs about a dog returning to it's vomit....I sure am!  {Proverbs 26:11 - "As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly."}  Nice, huh?  Monday, I'm going full force for the Reese cups. Yum!  Now, those taste good, but no high.  I better eat in excess to get that rush.  Um, no rush.  Ok, so they taste good, but no rush.  I better throw the rest away.  So, yes, I threw the rest of the blasted Easter candy away!  I'm sorry, Chad, you didn't get any....I was in self sabotage mode here!  Because I really needed to act like Gideon and test it one more time, I had some cake on Tuesday.  Same deal. It didn't taste that good and it certainly didn't do anything for me.  So, finally after doing this 3 days in a row I had to ask myself why?  Why did I keep going back and doing something I'd worked so hard to change?  Self sabotage came to mind.  I was trying to sabotage myself.  Why? I don't know. To see if I was still addicted? I'm not.  I haven't had any sugar for 2 days now and am doing great. Do I want any?  No.  Do I miss it?  No.  Does it do anything for me?  No, not anymore.  Was I trying to get readdicted? I don't know.  I just know the feeling I used to have when I ate sweets is gone. Gone. Gone. Was I looking for it?  Possibly.  But, it's dead and I don't care for it to be resurrected, thank you.  I'm pleased to say each time I see the bunny cake, I have no desire for it at all.  That, my friends, is a huge victory over bondage, right there!