Monday, December 19, 2011

I want a bonafide, New Testament style, touch of Jesus, the illness is gone, holy-roller miracle healing for my son's asthma!!!!


Nice choco mustache son!
 Many of you are aware of the extent of Daniel's asthma. We really have had a better year. Finally got on the 'right' combo of meds:
  • 1 tsp. of Allegra, morning & night
  • 1 tab. of Singulair before bed
  • 1 puff 2X/day of Advair 115/21
However, from time to time, when his asthma cough wants to flare, we bump up to 2 puffs 2X day.

Sadly enough, the poor boy has not grown for a few months, and it's believed to be the Advair use that is doing it. And with his most recent flare-up, he's been on 2 puffs 2X/day for a month. This is what helps control him...

We live in a home w/ air purifiers, no carpet any where, non-upholstered furniture, bed incapsulated in allergy cover, pillow too. I wash his sheets weekly on hot. He does not have any kind of stuffed animals. We do not have furry animals. I have done just about all I can for his environment w/in the home. And really, if we stay here...he does fine.

It's when we go to some event/party/church service & anyone w/ any kind of big or small cold - if Daniel gets it, he flares up. People don't understand the extent of how miserable a little cold is for our home. I have actually missed birthday parties because someone had a cold. Needless to say, I was very reluctant to put him in pre-k this year...and seriously, I am contemplating pulling him out...he's missed so much recently...is it worth it???? (that's a whole other blog...)

I have avoided relatives homes w/ dogs for the last year nearly...which is why I think he's had such a great year of not needing the prednisolone, like last year. But it's miserable to always decline invitations to my dad's because of the hairy chihuahua.

Today was a follow-up that they called me for since his allergy doc had to ok some refills in the last month. And she's referring me back to an L.A. Kaiser pediatric pulmonologist. This is the route we took 1 year ago and all the guy did was test Daniel for Cystic Fibrosis - which was really scary, but turned out negative - thank God. And so I'm not sure what this guy can say now. He didn't seem too helpful then...

I scratch my head because both of them said that moving out of Bakersfield would NOT help...maybe they haven't seen this info: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/03/us-air-pollution-worst-cities-deadly_n_853548.html#s268983&title=1_BakersfieldDelano_CA

Really, the worst air in the nation. Hmmmm. My friend moved far, far away for you baby girl to breathe and so far it's worked. Can they for one second consider that it's the air that keeps the asthma on standby for a flare when anything else comes & tips the scale on the cough????

The saddest thing happen this last flare w/ Daniel...he came to me crying since he couldn't stop coughing to take a nap (poor thing had been coughing most of the nights)...and he said "Momma, I don't want this asthman" - (He puts an N at the end of asthma.)  That literally broke my heart that he, himself says he doesn't want it anymore.

Everyone tells me he will grow out of it. Will he? He's not even growing anymore...will this ugly beast just go away???? And when?

I just mentioned to a friend the other day that I'm always focused on having a current testimony of God's divine intervention/interaction in my life & I said, nonchalantly...I think the next testimony needs to be one of Daniel's asthma being divinely healed. I don't want any of this 'we found the miracle med' healing (not that there's anything wrong w/ those for some people)...but I'm talking...

I want a bonafide, New Testament style,
touch of Jesus, the illness is gone,
holy-roller miracle healing!!!!

So, I will seek the Lord for this...and I believe the time has come to claim, knock, ask until I receive. I am tired of paying out of the nose for medicines that don't control it. I'm tired of telling everyone I know who has dogs, which is nearly everyone...I can't come over. I'm tired of this asthma controlling our life, leaving us sleep deprived, overly anxious over the behaviorial issues when we have to use the prednisolone...It needs to be gone now - in the name of Jesus!

Will you partner w/ me and claim it for Daniel too? Let me know if you will. Thanks so much!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Laying down my dreams & taking a hold of my calling...

So the time has come for me cross over from my post & blog focus on losing weight, fitness to more about the true #1 priority in my life...the Lord. It's really no secret for those who have known me for the last 10 years to know who my #1 man really is! : )

My time & my words were so intertwined with church so long ago, I didn't know where my church ended & I began. (A little scary looking back now). My schedule was wrapped around this priority...but nearly 5 years ago when I had Daniel, my schedule got off beat. Then, once I had it zeroed in again, I had Jacob. A newborn, plus the worst year of Daniel's asthma = sleep deprivation...and my time w/ the Lord was very inconsistent.

Then one day, the end of February of 2011, I got told about Shakeology and this awesome business opportunity with Beachbody. I jumped on it since I had lost all my weight w/ Turbo Jam, one of their hit workout programs. Plus, Dave and I wanted to save about $25/month (each) on our Shakeology. (A wonderful supplement/nutritious meal replacement that works pretty miraculous in your body...visit www.shakeology.com/JenniferMorin for all the ingredients and to watch a video on what docs have to say. Best shake on the market, hands-down!)

I actually left to the rr to see if I
could run into Tony Horton after he
spoke to us...but met Shaun T.
Anyways....me being the overachiever I am set out on a mission to be a Diamond coach within this organization. I went to a Summit training event, met Shaun T. Creator of Insanity & Asylum...and Tony Horton, creator of P90X and P90X2, which I start on Sunday.  :)

 I was motivated. I caught vision of how to build my business. I had the passion to help people lose weight and avoid preventable diseases and death by obesity. I was on my way....


Me, Tony Horton, &
My friend Felicia - BB coach too!

I immediately started a 90 day to diamond group. And the group that shared the priority of becoming diamond coaches met with me. It was my accountability group to achieve my goal. But then...something in my Spirit started to happen...

My heart strings were getting convicted over the time that I was now "finding" (really making) to work my business. I had began to break $500/mo. in just a couple of months of hardwork. I was stoked. I was seeing visions of my new car in the horizon.

But, there was this 'voice' speaking truth that I needed to make time for the Lord first...then pursue my dreams. In fact, I sat in church one Sunday as the pastor was teaching and told God, "I want to work in the church again someday..."

And then the thought hit me...'Why am I burning my candle at both ends for material things?' 'How did I go from not having 30 min./day for a devotional to having 2-3 hrs. to work?'

And then I said, "Some things have got to change around here!"

I got a devotional that was appropriate: Life-Management for Busy Women...because that's what I was...I was busy, busy. And then I got to the chapter that made me examine true priorities above all else: #1, my relationship w/ God. #2, my relationship w/ my husband. And #3, my time/energy/care for my kids.

Yes, that was a blow to the gut. I had been missing the mark by far in all 3. And because my innermost desire is to always please God...I had to lay my BB business on the altar. And I did....

Note: I am still a Beachbody coach...

(to be continued....)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Some of us don't have the discipline...

 ....And some of us do!

Do you spend enough time with the Lord to get filled up for your day? You want patience with your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, employers/employees, extended family, parents, etc...

Are you spending any amount of time with the Lord to receive that patience?

You want joy about life, your day, your circumstances? Do you walk with joy for the simple fact that you are will be in heaven with your Creator at this end of this life (if you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior)?

Are you spending enough time with the Lord & in the Word to catch the vision on where your joy comes from?

You want to 'do something amazing for God'?
Are you spending enough time to get that abundant overflow to receive the 'download' from the Lord?

I need to post the transition story to illustrate my dry seasons a bit better, but to get to the point for today's post, let's just say: I fell of my horse a couple of times....but I'm back in the saddle.


Here's my spot for time with the Lord: Bible, notebooks for
prayers, & the 'downloads' my  thesis, and future
ministry work, Leadership textbook,
and yes...my morning joe!

Committing to getting Master's, maybe Doctorate at Summit Bible College has definitely forced my time-management to shape up indeed. I now get up very early to seek God, read the Word, pray, and read my other books for class.

And now that I am being disciplined in this area – boy – the downloads are amazing. So grateful that I am finally taking time for God receive His plan for my life. And I'm not scared. I just take the notes....take a deep breath, and say, "Well God if that's You, You're going to have to bring it to pass". I don't feel my flesh pushing me to go out and do it today...unless there is instruction to do so.

It's as though little by little, He is showing me step 1, step 2, step 3...and so on. I feel that I am to record it all now, write it all down, and meditate on Him and the HOW will come when it is time. He gives me insight on who to bounce stuff off of, seek wisdom and direction...and He has given me insight to NOT ANNOUNCE IT TO THE WORLD! Which I am so gifted to do! :)

Do you have the discipline to spend time w/ the Lord &
get full of the Spirit to have the fruits?
Do you have the discipline to make time
to get the downloads on your life's purpose?

I am here today to encourage you to dump stuff off your schedule that is not moving you forward & devote it to the One who holds the future!

Reexamine your life, your commitments, your time, your energy & do everything you possibly can to make time for God. He has a real job & assignment for YOU to do for His Kingdom.

Won't you make yourself available to Him to hear it,
receive it, and get equipped for it to carry it out?

Do it – you won't regret it!!!!!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Put the Burger down & no body gets hurt!

When helping people get a game plan ready to 'lose weight', I start with asking them what they currently eat. Many, many, many people live on fast food, restuarant food, and sodas (diet or regular). They often do not tell their appetites 'NO'. And how can they when they haven't planned ahead, cooked a healthy dinner w/ plenty left over for lunch the next day?

Now, when hunger strikes because you've skipped breakfast or lunch time has come, what are you reaching for? I had a friend gain 2-3 lbs. in one week because she was 'busy'...'in a hurry'...and was succumbing to the fast food trap.

And it's easy to do when you get these 2 for $5, 2 for $3 coupons in the mail. Just this last week, I got the Carl's Jr. coupon promos in the mail. I looked at the "New Steakhouse Burger" and thought to myself, all that cheese (2 kinds), fried onion & thick red meat patty can't be good for you. So I did some homework for you. I looked at these 'deals' to see what the calorie & fat gram content is...and holy cow - YOU'RE HEART ATTACK WON'T COST MUCH! Can we say cardiovascular disease?

Here's some of the killer deals they are offering with their killer menu items:
  1. 2 Steakhouse burgers for $5: 1 burger = 870 cals. & 54 gms of fat. So 2 burgers = 1740 calories. This is before you have a fry, which a lg. fry is 470 cals. Meal of 2 burgers + fry: 2210 calories!!!!
  2. 2 Famous Stars for $3: 1 burger = 680 cals. & 39 gms fat. 2 burgers = 1360 cals. Add lg. fry to the 2 burgers and you've got an artery clogging meal of 1830 calories!
  3. 870 calorie burger!
  4. Free med. beverage w/ Chili Cheese Fries:  820 cals. & 46 gms. of fat!
And people wonder why they can't lose weight...this is why! These are the foods they are eating (or something like it from some other burger joint!)

I'll just tell you that I don't even eat 1800 calories in 1 day, let alone 1 meal. Too many calories being consumed and not enough expended!!!! Two of my meals don't even add up to 870 calories!!!1

Folks, give these foods up & you can lose that nasty weight that you are so sick of. You don't have to go on a deprivation - 1200 calorie diet...you just need to stop eating these high fatty, high calorie meals - D A I L Y!!!!

Those are some of their current promo meals...let's consider some alternatives:
    
    390 calorie BBQ chicken sandwich
    
  1. BBQ Chicken Sandwich: 1 sandwich = 390 calories & 7 gms fat. This is what I order. It doesn't have any mayo to worry about, I skip on the 'meal' and just get the sandwich w/ an ice tea. And if I'm really watching my calories, I use the lettuce on the top and only eat the bottom bun.
  2. Grilled Chicken Salad: 270 calories & 9 grms of fat. On these, if they come w/ cheese, I pick that off and only use the low-fat, nonfat drsg.
  3. Apple Walnut Chicken Salad: 320 calories & 11 gms. of fat.
My point is: THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO THE BAD!

We eat on the run when we've been out running errands and can't get home in time to eat. However, if I'm about 5 minutes from home...we go home. The time it takes me to get there & throw something together is about the same time it would take to stay in line at the drive thru & wait for the food to cool to eat.

My kids eat what I serve them at home without a fight, the less they eat out. I know we've had Del Taco too often if they are being picky at the dinner table, so I scale back to trying not to eat out at all. Can you imagine?

Imagine making breakfast, lunch, and dinner
at home 7 days a week.
I nearly do. I know that the food I make at home is healthier and more cost effective than eating out.

Yes, there are Sundays after church that we just want to go out to eat something and so we go to a Chuy's or Coconut Joe's where we can get some tasty grilled chicken meals. We do not succumb to the deals out there with the giant burger, giant fry, and giant pie meals...simply because our goals are to lose weight and stay healthy.

If  you want to lose weight,
my challenge for you is to:
STOP EATING BREAKFAST,
LUNCH, and/or DINNER out!!!!

Just stop and save on the calories and save the money! Sit down and figure out how much you are spending eating convenient food throughout the week. Take half of it and send down to the rescue mission and save the other half for a great family vacation.

There are tons of benefits to eating at home.
Your waistline & family will love you for it!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

For help w/ choices, email me at:

Saturday, December 3, 2011

My Recent Delicious Soup Recipes

'Tis the season to simmer some soups on the stove top to warm up the kitchen...and help control calories.

Yes, this is the time of year many can pack on some pounds. With cookies, gingerbread men, shopping and eating out, Christmas parties w/ cupcakes, it's no wonder that some can put on 5-10 lbs. during November & December.

However, it doesn't have to be this way. I am finding a way to keep my meals at home filling and healthy. Here are 4 soups we've enjoyed in the last 2 weeks.

And P.S.: I always make enough to have for leftovers for a few days...or freeze 1/2 to enjoy later.

Turkey Bean Soup - This was an alternative to the chicken tortilla soup when I had leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.

Recipe: Shredded-up turkey (as much as you want, the more the meat, the meatier and more filling the soup). Simmered in 6 cups chicken broth (homemade or giant can is fine). Add frozen or fresh corn, as much as you want. Let cook until corn is tender. Add 2 cans of pinto beans, 2 cans of refried beans, and 2 cans of stewed tomatoes (w/ chili peppers for spicy soup). Cook until all is hot and serve up.

If you're watching calories, use less beans & more poultry breast. If you love tomatoes, add more. But this is what I threw in the large stock pot. My 4 yr. old loves this so I skip on adding peppers, but if you like hot, use any you love.

Traditional Cabbage Veggie Soup - This is what I use when I'm getting the scale to tick down. I advise this one for folks who want a cleanse & don't want to spend the money on one. This soup plus a good serving of nonfat/plain greek yogurt sometime in the day should get things moving for ya! ;)

Recipe: In this order, I add the veggies to piping hot chicken broth: onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, cabbage, and then stewed/diced tomatoes. Let it all simmer 'til all is tender. I add the hardest veggies first so that by the time I get the cabbage chopped, they are nearly done and my cabbage doesn't have to disintergrate to mush. Season w/ garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper.

We like to add diced up chicken to the top of this soup, or some cooked, ground turkey (measured out).


The GREEN STUFF - I came up with this soup last week when I wondered what just having green veggies together would taste like...plus I thought it would be real simple.

Recipe: All simmered in chicken broth....Onion, 4 garlic cloves, zucchini (7 of them), a whole celery bunch, and 1 1/2 head of cabbage. The seasoning that set it off was this "Montreal Steak" made by McCormick I picked up from the grocery store. I accidently dumped a ton of it in there, so it was too spicy for the boys (it has black & red pepper in it).

My favorite part was when Dave looked at the bowl of 'green stuff' and said, "You're feeding me that?"  I told him that he was in for a surprise...and he was. He had 3 bowls the first night it was served up!

Low-Cal Shrimp Soup - Today's invention that I put together by looking at a variety of asian shrimp soup recipes was the following...

Recipe: 2 large cans of chicken broth (12 cups of it), 2 bundles of green onions, 5 cucumbers (skin shaved & quatered), celery bunch, and 1 head of napa cabbage & a couple of cans of water chestnuts. The store I was at did not have 'baby bok choy' - I will try this next time. After all the veggies cooked a bit, I added 1 lb. of chopped shrimp. Could've used more, I will double the meat for this next time. Dumped salt, a bit of pepper, onion powder, and parsley flakes in it.

Low-cal Shrimp Soup

Once the soup was done, I served it up and added some soy sauce to it. Yummy. Then I served up a second bowl and added some Franks Red Hot Sauce to it. And then my 3rd bowl had soy sauce and the hot sauce. Yummy! I ate that at 2:30 this afternoon...and I am still full.

Basically, my take on soups have been: whatever veggies seem to go together, I throw 'em in a lg. pot of chicken broth, add some spices and voila - low-cal side!

They are so easy, the time is spent chopping. Some things can be purchased in a can or frozen to save time there.

Be creative in the kitchen, cook your meals at home & your family will be healthier & love you for it!

P.S. If you come up w/ a healthy soup...email me the recipe at: flexyourselfjen@yahoo.com so that I can try it! I love eating healthy.