Eat less C.R.A.P.

It's really hard to avoid certain foods.  Junk food often costs less than foods that are good for you.  When we live in an age that a double cheeseburger from McDonalds costs $1.59, and a salad from the same place is going to cost you $4.59, we have a problem.  It's important for you, and your health, to make wiser choices and budget accordingly.  It may seem like healthier foods are more expensive, but how much are you willing to pay for feeling and looking better, and adding years to your life?

EAT LESS CRAP

EAT MORE FOOD

Let's evaluate the CRAP.

C: Carbonated Drinks.  They're everywhere.  Super-size them.  Get them out of the vending machine.  It's usually the first thing your server recommends when they come to get your drink order.  But did you know that water is typically free when dining out?  Sure, it's probably coming from the tap, but who cares?  Ask to add a lemon or lime, and cut your cost by choosing water.  Plus, the health benefits are tremendous.   Did you know that your body is primarily made up of water?  So, doesn't it make sense to replenish and feed your body what it's made of and needs to function properly?  Water can help you lose and maintain weight, flush toxins from your system, aid in healthier digestion, regulate body temperature, gives you energy, and so many other great things. 

 R: Refined Sugars.   They're in everything!  Not just sugary drinks and treats.  They're found in ketchup, breakfast cereals, juice, yogurt, chewing gum, drink mixes, bread, sodas, flavored milk, applesauce and canned fruit, etc.  It would be easy to list more because refined sugars are added to so many food items in our pantries.  So, what are refined sugars?  The starting product, called raw sugar, is softened and dissolved, then the components are separated to yield the white, pure sugar recognized as table sugar, or pure sucrose.  Click here to read more about refined sugars.  To avoid too many refined sugars, simply read the labels on the food products you buy.  Opt for less.  And when you can, choose products made with raw sugar, honey, or stevia (which is a natural sweetener derived from stevia leaves).   Absolutely avoid anything sugar-free as these tend to contain artificial sweeteners. 

A: Artificial Sweeteners and Colors.  Artificial, you've got to know by now, that's a fancy word for "fake."  It's man-made, instead of occurring naturally.  Aspartame, Acesulfame-K, Sucralose, Saccharin...all deemed safe by the FDA.  But are they really safe?  Artificial sweeteners have been linked to a number of health issues:  Headaches, fibromyalgia, anxiety, memory loss, arthritis, abdominal pain, nausea, depression, heart palpitations, irritable bowel syndrome, seizures, neurological disorders, vision problems, brain tumors and weight gain.  I don't think any of those side effects are worth skipping calories. 

• Aspartame is marketed under the NutraSweet, Equal and Sugar Twin brands
•  Acesulfame K is sold under the brand names of Sunett, Sweet One, and Sweet & Safe
•  Sucralose is sold under the brand name Splenda. The ingredients of the tabletop product are listed as “dextrose, maltodextrin and sucralose” on the packet.
• Saccharin is sold under such brands as Sweet ‘N Low, Sweet Twin and Necta Sweet.

Avoid artificial sweeteners at all costs.   These are harmful and toxic to the human body.  Choose natural sugars.  Just do it.  Don't consume these chemical concoctions. 
Sources: The Sugar Association and FitDay

Read up on the hazards of Artificial Colors from the Food Network.

P: Processed Foods.  Go.  Open your cupboards in the kitchen.  What do you see?  Boxed food...canned food...bagged food...mixes...  Do you ever wonder what happens to get that food in those packages?  Last I checked, Goldfish crackers didn't get picked from a bush.  Processed foods are clearly not in their original, natural state.  They've been processed, canned, dehydrated, frozen and preserved so that they have a longer shelf life for the consumer.  Not all processed foods are bad.  It's your responsibility to choose wisely.  Opt for whole grain vs. white or some wheat, frozen vegetables vs. canned, dried and/or frozen fruit without added sugars, look for packages labeled as less or sodium free.  You don't have to ditch processed foods entirely, but you should really pay close attention to labels to find better options for your and your family's health.
Source: About.com

But does it really work?

It sure does!

Wow! So, I have a trip coming up. I'll be heading back to Florida for another PAYcation. We'll be staying at a resort with it's own private beach. That means I'm going to want to pack a bathing suit to soak up some rays. 

All the swimsuits I've accumulated since becoming a mom are very...well, blah. They are designed to hide the traces of how motherhood changed my body. Since kids, I've hated shopping for bathing suits. It was a chore to find something that
A) covered up my stretch marks and mommy pooch,
B) didn't show too much of my newly expanded thighs, and
C) looked somewhat cute.
That all translates into BLAH!  Nothing special. Just something to wear IF I got near a pool or beach (which I've kept to a minimum). 

March of last year, we were in Dallas for the ItWorks Bootcamp. The hotel we stayed at had an indoor pool and hot tub. Friends of ours sent me a  text inviting us to join then in the pool one morning. We hadn't packed suits, so my husband and I made a quick trip to Walmart to find something to wear by the pool. I hadn't wore a bikini in 12 years. I wanted so badly to get back into one, and since my tummy had changed so much since using the ItWorks wraps, I was confident I could rock a bikini that day. Suit after suit, I finally settled on one. I wasn't 100% happy, but crunched for time and a limited selection, I bought a bikini. By the time we made it back to the hotel, our friends were finishing up at the pool, and wee needed to get ready to head to the next training session that was about to take place. So, that bikini got tossed in my suitcase. 

The next month, I ran across the bikini again. I decided I wanted to try it on again. I was so happy with how I looked, I took a selfie and text it to my husband. Then I realized what a big milestone I had reached. I was happy with how I looked. Happy with my reflection in the mirror. I text my husband and asked if I could share my results on Facebook (that's how confident I was...I wanted everyone to share in my accomplishment). Before he'd given me approval, I was posting. 12 years! Back in a bikini for the first time in 12 years and after 5 pregnancies.  This is the picture I was eager to share:

That was April 2013. That leads us to today. The kids and I made a trip to the zoo. After we finished there, we headed to the mall because my oldest daughter wanted to spend some of the money she had left over from her birthday. While at the mall, I got to thinking that I'd like to give bathing suit shopping another go. This time I wouldn't be crunched for time. We browsed the racks in a few stores. I wasn't seeing anything that I felt would work. My poor kids try so hard to help me search for the right suit, but it just didn't seem to be anywhere we looked. I told them, "We'll look in this last store. If I don't find one in there, I'm done today."  The store we went in actually had something that I could tell was a possibility. I thumbed through the tops to find my size, then we made our way to the dressing room. I tried it on, and OMG, it fit, AND I actually liked how it looked on me. There I went again taking a selfie to send my husband. Even my kids were excited that I'd found "the one."  I paid for my new bikini and we made our way home. 

After getting the kids in bed, I went back to my room to unpack my purchase. I figured I'd try it on again just to see before I removed the tags. Wow! Again, I'm so pleased with how I look. I took another picture in front of the mirror. Then ...déjà vu. I realized it was a year ago this month that I had reached such a big milestone. I flipped though the pictures saved on my phone to find the one I took last year. I had to compare. This time, I'm even more happy with what I saw. See for yourself:

My wrapping journey started in June 2012. I never want my tummy to look like my Before picture again. I've routinely wrapped my stomach once a month since I first began. I do not diet (are you kidding me? I love food), and the most exercise I get is pushing a shopping cart while I walk around the grocery store. I'm a busy mom. I need something that works, works fast, and is easy. And I found it. It's called ItWorks for a reason. And it's made me one happy, happy lady.

I'm bikini ready for my trip to Florida.  Are you?  I can and want to help you get there.  It all started with one wrap for me, and my life has been forever changed.  Click on the link to check out my website and visit my Facebook too.  I have lots of other success stories and pictures.

We have problems like everyone else.

Life is hard.  Troubles are going to come your way.  It's not an "IF," it's a "WHEN."  We have problems like everyone else.

My husband was laid off over 3 weeks ago.  It's part of the job.  They get hired on to build a section of pipeline, and each day that they work, they are literally working themselves out of a job.  So, they were done with that job, and that left him unemployed.  At first, I wasn't stressing.  He had a paycheck coming in.  Where the old me would have not wanted to pay the bills we owed in fear of not knowing how long my husband would be out of work, I made the decision to do what I've done each Friday since January 24th:  Tithe, save, pay what we owe, and apply extra toward debt.

It was hard.  I'm not going to lie.  I wanted to revert back to the old me and hold onto that money for the unknown.  Since I started putting money in our savings in January, we did have something to fall back on. Not a lot, but enough.  It wouldn't allow us to pay everything, however, it allowed us to keep food on the table, and the electricity on.  That's what counts.  Wouldn't you know it, we had some unexpected expenses, too.  Not good timing, but we had to replace a part on my vehicle (and you know parts are never cheap).  I will be late on the bills for April, but our kids haven't noticed any lack.  They got to enjoy having their dad home for 3 full weeks.  We just made adjustments everywhere possible. 

He will start work this coming week.  And it will take 2 more weeks before we see a paycheck.  Our savings is continuing to trickle and decrease.  All the progress we were making trying to tackle our debt has come to a complete halt, and is slowing sliding backward.  I should be in full panic mode, right?  Well, I'm not.  See, I have a paycheck coming in before my husband gets paid.  You know my wrap business?  Well, March was a big month.  My team and I busted our butts.  I'm getting my commission check soon, and it will be the largest it has been in months.  It will have extra bonuses attached to it, too, since I'm ranked Diamond in the company.  There's been so many months since I started with It Works in June 2012 that I've been in awe of how God has used it to provide for us. He never ceases to amaze me.  When I was stressing and crying to my husband yesterday morning, counting and naming all my worries, he just said, "We'll get through this.  And we're going to have a big check from It Works coming.  We know that."  I love how we seem to balance each other. It's not 100% of the time, but most of the time, when one of us is down, the other is the voice of reason and brings things back into perspective. 

Having my husband home isn't always easy, though.  The kids and I have our routine, and I'm not used to always having him here to share in that.  When I allowed myself to worry, when I allowed myself to focus on the lack, when I allowed myself to doubt, that's when I wasn't at my best.  I was uneasy, and very sensitive.  Anything done or said could hit me the wrong way.  I wish I was perfect and got along with my husband the entire time he was here, but I didn't.  We don't fight much, but this time with him home, unfortunately, we spent too much time at odds with each other.  Things were said, and feelings were hurt.  I had to contact our Pastor one evening because I was overwhelmed by the argument that had just taken place.  Without going into detail, what was shared with me from our Pastor helped tremendously.  He told me, "It's not your fight. Ask God what you would like to see happen and trust him to give it to you."  Even just typing that out to share with my readers brings tears to my eyes.  That statement is so heavy with truth.  And can be used with anything...whether a fight with my husband, a worry about finances, or anything else that has caused struggle in myself.  The next morning, while we were still distant from each other,  I knew that in order for me to get along with my husband while he was home, I had to take captive my thoughts.  I can't be responsible for his, but I surely am in charge of my own thoughts.  I shared this that morning on my Facebook:

I was given this word this morning. My mind can sometimes be my worst enemy. And I can often forget that I have power over my thoughts. Today I choose Joy and to have a day of thanksgiving. I will not let others bring me down. 

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB)

So, why do I share all of this with you?  Well, I'm not perfect.  I love to share how wonderful my life is when things are going good.  I don't do that to brag, but in hopes of helping others.  If I can help someone get to do what I do, get to enjoy life to the fullest, I want to do that.  I want to inspire others.  That said, I also struggle.  Like I mentioned, I'm not perfect, and I'll never pretend to be.  I have problems like everyone else does.  I have my share of bad days.  Jamie and I have a beautiful marriage and family.  We do have days that we don't get along.  It's part of being human. 

There is something that I do when life throws difficulty my way (and I don't always default to this...it may take me a couple of days to get there, but the end result is always the same):  I'm thankful. 

1. I'm thankful for my husband.  Though we may not always get along, he's always been there for me.  And I hold back tears anytime I have to see him go.  He makes me want to be a better person.
2. I'm thankful for this next job that he's going to.  Even if it's not that one he wanted, God provided this job for him.
3. I'm thankful that God presented the opportunity with It Works.  It's been there every month as an extra paycheck, and always pays what we need when we need it the most. 
4. I'm thankful for the people God has placed in my life.  So many, family and friends, have been an ear to listen to my concerns and struggles, and they've also given me a word of encouragement that have helped me during this time.
5. I'm thankful for my amazing kids.  They bring so much joy into my life.  They roll with the punches and can cause even my darkest days to be bright.  
6. I'm thankful that we've always had our needs taken care of.  We've never gone hungry.  We've never found ourselves without a home.  God has always taken care of what matters most.  
7. I'm thankful that even during the hard times, God is always shaping me.  He continues to teach me new things and I know I'm always growing.

 When you focus on being thankful, you really can make it though anything.  What is it that you have to be thankful for?  When you find yourself going through a season where it just seems like things keep getting worse, make a list of what you're thankful for.  It may not change your circumstance, but it may change your attitude about it.