Are you eating to live or die?

If you've ever been to my home, you will see 3 picture frames in my kitchen, one with each word:

EAT        TO        LIVE

I made these when we first moved in, nearly a year ago with Daniel. He did the painting with water colors, I cut out the words, something I should put up in pinterest, right?

But there were 3 purposes for this project: 1) to fill in the wall w/ some decor, 2) make something homemade with my 4 year old, and 3) serve as a reminder - in my kitchen - to eat to live, not live to eat.

Fast forward a year after living here and I am 8 lbs. lighter from when I moved in. I moved here weighing about 133 (a plateaued weight), and this week I reached 125.4 lbs. This is a result of continually working out 4-6 days a week from the last year w/ my at-home dvd programs that work, by the way. And by stopping the mad eating, the splurges, the snacking on my kiddos food scenarios.

If you've talk with me for any amount of time, you'll know I attack 'food addiction'. I'm a firm believer that's why most people are obese and overweight. And I believe a food addiction is very real for their daily life. (A book on this topic is on the list.)

Keyword is 'most'....I have a few, very few friends, who really have medical problems that prevent them from losing weight, but it's been tested and confirmed by the doctor. Not used as a scapegoat excuse to not work out and eat healthy.

Are you still with me?

For the last month or so, I embraced experimenting with food. I took dairy and meat out of my diet...bread, caffeine, and didn't sweeten anything w/ my all natural sweetener stevia. I ate "plant foods" only: greens, fruits, all kinds of veggies, beans, almonds/nuts, and hummus. Stuff grown, not processed with artificial stuff or butchered. And wow, I'd say I've never felt more healthy in all my life. No bloating, tummy aches from eating 'too much'. No zits!  And I went from about 129 to 125 lbs. in just 3 weeks. Mind you, I did NOT have the goal to 'lose weight'.

Back to EAT TO LIVE. My 'experiment' was encouraged by information my chiroproactor shared with me from a book. (My Chiropractor is Dr. David Mongold who has the Alpha Omega Wellness Center at Gosford and White Ln. (661) 397-6555 - www.alphaomega4wellness.com )

Guess what the title of the book was...are you ready for this?



EAT         TO         LIVE

This book is written by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D. I just started reading it today and it has a nutrient dense food consumption approach. You'll have to get the book, read it, and learn it. But I think I'm going to try it. Since I was kinda doing it already and saw the results, I want to learn more and move my family in that direction. He also has a book "Disease-Proof Your Child".

After going off animal products for awhile, and then experimenting by putting a little dairy, very little and some meat back in yesterday...I will tell you I was miserable last night. I felt stuffed...my tummy hurt, was bloated and was NOT a happy camper. And I did NOT eat a ton of bread or meat or dairy. Just a little bit at a time.

In fact, as soon as I put a little (nitrate, preservative, gluten free) lunchmeat in my tummy, I felt a knot in my gut.

Now I know why some people go Vegan and never return. Although, I think Vegans do bread, not sure exactly on their guidelines....But the way I was eating for those weeks didn't have bread, but last night, I had 1/2 a bun of gluten-free bread (since my son eats this stuff, we have it eat). Maybe it was that, that left me stuffed. You really feel the difference of putting plant food in only, versus animal products: meat & dairy.

So now what for me? Am I ruined for life? The beauty of the plant-food-only way I was eating was I was enjoying fruit like I hadn't in months (too much sugar, right?). I was eating almonds/nuts, which I avoid (too much fat, right?)

So what have I got out of this experiment? I have learned that if I eat plant food only, minus the dairy & meats - I can have more of the nutrient dense, deliscious, natural stuff that I love. I love bananas over cheese by the way. Oh and peaches...I have a tree in bloom and can't wait to splurge. But for some reason, when eating all the animal foods, I can't seem to eat more than 1/day w/out gaining weight. 

Get this book Eat To Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman if you're interested in losing a dramatic amount of weight, getting off diabetic/blood pressure/cholesterol meds, if you have an autoimmune disease, etc.

I am going to embark on this a little further and I know that it's going to turn my life upside down on how to eat.

I've always thought to eat to live, now I have the book to teach me how. And I say, 'why not?' I refuse to believe the lie that NOT eating junk & sweets is a miserable way to live. Look at how you look and feel from eating a diet high in fast food, processed foods, packaged foods, sweets and fried foods. Really, I'm not miserable from NOT eating that stuff.

I hypothesize that by changing the way I eat and staying dedicated to exercise, I will have quality and quantity of life...Lord willing I don't die by a tragic accident. And that's what I'm going for...my goal is to live to 80ish, but feel like a 40 year old!!!! Otherwise, if I'm overweight, have all the aches and pains as many 60 year olds do, have a prescription list longer than a grocery list, than please God, let me die before 70.

I dread being old AND sick AND in pain.

I'm investing the next 40 years of my life to eat healthy, so when I am old I am NOT sick and NOT in pain. We can eat to live a healthful, vibrant life. Won't you join me?

You can check out this doctor's site at www.drfuhrman.com and www.diseaseproof.com!  Let me know what you think!

P.S. I was not paid to plug in these doctors. You know me. I love information and helping people be healthier & don't require payment to do so! :)

Do you REALLY push yourself?

Do you really push yourself? Yesterday's list of reminders may force someone to push themselves against the grain with their daily time-management alone.

(View this quick check off list here: http://flexandgetfit.blogspot.com/2011/06/reminders-for-week.html)

But are you one to challenge yourself to go beyond what you are comfortable with? Do you force yourself to stick to standards and limits? Or do you just do what you want, what feels good? Do you indulge yourself in anything and everything you want? Are you responsible?

Somewhere along the way, self-indulgence has been glamorized. What a shame, perhaps this mentality is why 65% of America is overweight and obese. Perhaps this is why there were more than 200,000 foreclosures in April of this year alone (this seems to be the monthly average). People were unwilling to stay within guidelines of their finances and overextended themselves.

I'm not here to point the finger, but to sober the general population to the idea that people are just not pushing themselves hard enough in areas that are affecting their personal lives...and has had a negative effect on our economy as well.

You ask, "how does me being overweight affect the U.S. economy?" Google it. Think about all the people who are receiving public medical aid for conditions that are TOTALLY preventable through diet and exercise? Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. Now, we have 33% of American children who are overweight or obese. Childhood obesity is on the rise, only to be followed by a rise in childhood cases of diabetes. AND IT'S ALL PREVENTABLE!!! (Stay with me...)

Here's the solution, it's kinda a no-brainer - PUSH YOURSELF TO BE YOUR BEST! Period. Make yourself get up every morning and exercise. I don't care if it's a dvd program, a trip to the gym, a 30 min. walk around your neighborhood, a bike ride on the bike trail or jog....JUST GET MOVING! It will also take you pushing yourself to have SELF-CONTROL and tell yourself 'no' when it comes to things that are not healthy.

I am passionate about this stuff because I believe that we have gotten lazy about the things that impact our homes. Overeating, overspending, overcommitting, over - you name it! I want you to want more for yourself & I want to see you push yourself to get there, to achieve it!

I laid awake at 1 in the morning thinking about this...and I have to get it off my chest today. I hope you hear my heart: I want MORE FOR YOU! Let me know if I can help.

Exercise is only 20% - but it's key!

I've heard it said over and over and over again: Diet is 80%, exercise is 20% of losing weight. I talk a lot about losing weight thru diet and food choices. I can be a broken record sometimes on it, so I thought I would talk about exercise and highlight somethings to really zero in on to fully maximize your weight loss efforts.

1. EXERCISE. Seems like the obvious, right? But how many try to lose weight withOUT exercising? Just start moving. Figure out what you really like to do & do it. If you enjoy your workouts, you'll do them. (How often have you seen people at the gym, w/ frowns, on a machine, not even into it? No intensity? Yea, don't do that.) Find a class, a program, or something you can't wait to do the next day. I found what I like and that's how I lost my weight and keep the weight off!
2. SET GOALS. Most know the story of my husband (http://www.thislittlepiggywenttothegym.com/). His goal was to lose weight, not be a 400+ lb. man, and not die young. My goals have always been little increments of weight. For example, when I was 159 lbs. (after my 2nd born son), I said, "I'm going to get down to 155"...then it was 149, then I said, "I can get down to 145". And when I reach that I said, "If I work out a little harder, kick up the intensity, I can get under 140". Now I'm about 134.
3. CHANGE IT UP. I know I said, find what you like...but you still have to change it up. If you like the treadmill. Go from walking to jog...then jogging to running...then sprints w/ jogging. Then try to tackle 5 mi. then 10 mi. Like the stairclimber...turn up the intensity, increase the level, increase the speed.
4. USE WEIGHTS. This may take a little homework or you asking someone to help, but you gotta have resistance training. (If you're a woman, resistance training helps prevent osteoperosis.) Weight-lifting/resistance training revs up the metabolism, builds muscle, and gives you that toned, defined look. It's a win-win!

These are just some things to get you started. After you've lost those initial pounds, go thru the list and re-apply them. Somehow, some way, we easily steer off course. Reminding ourselves of some of the basics, helps us get back on track.

A couple of observations I recently made and my husband and I have talked about, that may help if you consider. You've heard it said, 'get a workout buddy'. And that's great if you find someone who has the same schedule as you, but that can be difficult. But here's the thing: don't make your weight loss success dependent on that person showing up. How often do things come up & your 'workout partner' flakes out or gets sick? Then how easy is it for you to miss when they've called in advance and told you they won't be there? Don't put your success in someone else's hand. If you need accountability, get someone to hold you accountable. Find someone to text your weight to every Monday. Find someone to call you and check in with you. But don't make your attendance to the gym or your workout dependent on someone else showing up. Get yourself there and workout to your fullest potential - when you clock out from work, drive straight to the gym. Have you gym bag in the car & just get yourself there. Or set your alarm, drag yourself out of bed and get yourself there. Turn on that dvd. Whatever you do, just get yourself dressed & show up. Then apply the tips above. Heck, use me as accountability. Beware though, I'm a little diehard and can come across as a drill sergeant sometimes, so you may get results if you ask me!!!!

All this to say, if you have weight loss goals. Don't depend 100% on dieting....get yourself moving & grooving at least 3-5 times a week for 30-60 minutes each time & you will lose!

Benefits of exercise:

1. Metabolism boost
2. Encourages body to burn calories
3. Revs up your heart & lungs to work at maximum capacity
4. Healthier bones
5. Increased stamina & energy
6. Lowered risk of heart disease
7. Overall improved health
8. Body transforms & leans out
9. Improved self-esteem/lessens stress

EXERCISE - it will change your body...it will change your life!

My Thoughts on Thursday - "NO" buys you LIBERTY

I've met with a couple of very business-minded, financial planning individuals this week and we engaged in great challenging conversations. I thought for today I would throw out some of the things we discussed. Now, for the sake of my feelings, don't personally attack me, but just hear me out and then think about it for a day or two, and then email me your thoughts.

Now, in no particular order, here are taglines of conversation topics:
1. People are not planning for their retirement.
2. Healthcare WILL be the biggest expense when we retire (there will be no Medicare).
3. People are living longer. (Their meds are keeping them alive).
4. Most seniors are on blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetic meds. (These ailments are preventable.)
5. Young people do not realize they need to save a.s.a.p. for retirement.
6. Most people do not have money to save.
7. These people do not have a written out budget.
8. Most people spend their money unwisely & impulsively.
9. People want fancy things now and will live in debt to have them.
10. People do not have financial goals.
11. People do not have fitness/spiritual goals.
12. People glorify eating bad at buffets, drinking all night, hangovers.
13. When you talk about healthy eating/budgets/self-discipline, many react defensively.
14. 65% of Americans are obese/overweight - fact!
15. Healthy Eating and Exercise can change that fact.
16. All it takes is goals, self-discipline, and the right program.
17. It's necessary to tell yourself 'NO'.

This is just a brief list....and I'll expand on #17: It's necessary to tell yourself 'NO'....Think about it, our parents told us no, we tell our kids no, God tells us no...because if we/or our kids were allowed to do everything we/they wanted, where would that land us. Really, think about it.

Somewhere, when we grew into adults, we decided that doing whatever we wanted, buying whatever we wanted, and eating whatever we wanted was what being an adult was all about. "Now that I'm an adult, I can do things my way". And where has that got us? That's got our nation in debt, into foreclosures, 65% if us obese/overweight, arrested, divorced, etc. Isn't it time that we shift our own mental paradigm and began to say no to our appetites, spending urges, addictions and start making decision that move us closer to true freedom.

Are we really free when we need 3 meds to keep us alive? Are we really free when we have to work 2 jobs to just keep the lights on? There is freedom in the simple life. There is freedom in telling your impulses "no". Tomorrow, I'm going to give you our personal written budget catagories (minus the $ amounts). Use it as an example of how YOU, yes YOU can structure your finances in a way that's uses them wisely. This way you can afford freedom in your life!