Pinterest Inspiration: Day 8

I can saw with 100% certainty that I big red puffy heart Pinterest. I love pinning, I love looking at what others pins, I love the outfits, I love the way I can see a picture of a DIY project knowing full well I could NEVER do it but somehow Pinterest makes me believe I can. I love the creativity. The inspiration. 

I though I would share some of my favorite pins. Ones that not only deal with health but just everyday living. Some that inspire me and other that convict me. Hope you enjoy.

source

source

source

source

source

There you have it, friends. Some of my Pinspiration.

 What inspires you? 

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge

Day 6 & 7: Saying YES

What if I just said yes? What if I just gave up stressing about or resisting what is {and what may be coming}? What if I choose to embrace it. To simply say YES. What if this simple change in perspective changed your entire week? By saying 'yes' it allows you to view and overcome some of the fear, anxiety, and stress. It allows you to embrace each day of THIS week in a whole new light {at least it does for me}.

This week I am saying yes....

... to sharing some amazing stories from a bunch of ladies choosing to get healthy

... to HIS will and not my own

... being present wherever I am at 

... to picking out Halloween costumes

...yes yes yes to eating clean and finishing up my cleanse

...yes to meeting a friend for coffee

...yes yes yes to planning my sweet Mason's Birthday Party

...yes to wearing my favorite boots and scarfs

...yes yes yes to looking fear in the eye and defeating it

...yes to my heart bubbling over when I see my boys in their feety pajamas

...yes to simply enjoying life

...to soaking in HIS grace

Each week we are given many different opportunities and challenges we will face. Will you say 'YES' to embracing your role? You will speak with, smile at, drive by, and laugh with many people. I challenge you to say 'Yes' to being real, to owning who you are, being proud of who you are and showing grace this week. 

What are YOU saying yes to this week?

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge.

Day 5: Art of Enjoying Your Life

Happy Saturday, Friends! 

 Honestly, it has been a pretty daunting task trying to blog every night. Clearly, I didn't do a great job of it yesterday. However, sometimes life gets in the way and my boys just need me So, hopefully you will show me some grace.

 I am still learning what living a healthy life looks like, I am on Day 6 of my Herbal Cleanse and goodness, I am feeling like a million bucks. I was invited to attend a We Care Arts Local Celebrity Fashion Show. It was such a great event. They served lunch and I was actually able to stay within the guidelines of the cleanse. I think to often we fear doing things different-- like eating healthy. For fear of standing out even if it for a good reason. What I am finding as I am walking through this myself is that, you can leave the dressing off your salad, double up on the grilled chicken and guess what? No one cares. I'm pretty sure it's just a mind game we play with ourselves. I often wonder if we are afraid to actually step out of our comfort zones and be different.

To not be ordinary but to truly be extraordinary. 

As I left the fashion show and then headed off to spend an evening with my boys, I found myself proud of the choices I made. Thankfully for the way my body is showing visible changes and thankful for the energy that I have to keep up with my life. 

It's a busy time of year but oh friends it's one of my favorite times of year.

Enjoy your weekend with your families. Love on them, steal lots of kisses and be back here tomorrow! xoxo 

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge.

A New Day: Day 4

Every day is a new day. The sun rises again, we eat breakfast again, get the kids off to school again and at the end of the day we will go snuggle under the covers

 only to start it all over.

Every new day is exciting, because every new day is a chance to get fitter, to look better, to make healthy choices and to get closer to your health and fitness goals.

The best thing is that it doesn’t matter what happened today. Thats all gone now. Whether you worked out or not, whether you chose to eat well or not.  You get a whole new chance to try it all over again.

I know that every day is another chance for me to be my best, as a mom, as a wife, as a friend, and as a sister. So, if you are having trouble finding your motivation today, or you have maybe made some unhealthy decisions in your actions for the day then this message is for you, my sweet friends--It's ok. Go to bed tonight and be thankful for all the good things in your life and wake up tomorrow with a clean slate.

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge.

Yep, she's back. Day 3: The Double Butt

I had you at double butt didn't I? 

If there is one thing I am learning about myself it's not to take things so seriously and personal. Tonight, I was with a group of ladies, some that I have known for years. They knew me before being married, before children, before the double butt. I know, your wondering what she is. Well, I wrote about her awhile back. 

After talking about her at dinner with the girls I began to realize she is almost gone. 

For me, this is HUGE! Everyone has something about themselves that drives them crazy. The DB has always been my crazy. What has changed you ask? Honestly, it's been my eating. I am doing the same amount of exercise but changed a lot of my eating habits. It's not nearly as hard as I thought. 

If I am being honest I was afraid I wouldn't know what to eat and just give up. 

I thought that the shelves of my fridge would have to be lined with healthy, organic food that myself and boys would immediately love. That's a lot of pressure. Too much pressure for this momma. It doesn't have to be that way at all. It's about taking small steps, making right choices. Today, I did that and I am thankful. I really challenge you to make right choices and start incorporating changes in your eating habits TODAY.

 Start Small... Start Now... 

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge.

Carboholic: Day 2

  

My issue with health isn't so much with exercise, but with my eating. I am a carbaholic and sugarholic. I honestly could live on pepperment patties and cookie cake icing. I lack willpower. I try, but often unhealthy food wins every time. While I probably will lose a few pounds and inches from my waist line while doing the first part of the 24 Day Challenge, (the 10 Day Herbal Cleanse), I am really wanting to learn how to eat better for myself and also for my family.  

As a working mom with three boys who have crazy schedules often find myself going for the quick fix. I have done this not only since becoming a mom but even in my college years. I would always want the quick fix. What I am learning with this cleanse is how to get healthy for the long run.... eat better. With that being said, I am also realizing I have a long ways to go but I am really shocked at how I feel only 2 days in. 

One of the many things I am loving about doing this with a group of girls are the texts I am getting throughout the day. It's cracking me up. As their 'coach' I am checking in on them, trying to encourage them and give them as much information as I can to help them. Who knew grown woman would be so excited about how many times they have gone to the bathroom!

I am sure some are wondering what I have actually ate the past 24 hours. I have been keeping a food journal from yesterday...

Day 1
Breakfast: 
Fiber Drink

Spark Drink

Oatmeal

Mid Morning Snack: 
Apple

Lunch: 
Salad w/vegatbles and grilled chicken

Afternoon Snack: 
Strawberries & Spark

Dinner:
Grilled Chicken
Steamed Veggies

** I really wasn't hungry. I NEVER eat six times a day but I know I should. Energy level was increased by Spark. It has some caffeine and tons of nutrients. This has been a life saver today!!! 

What are you going to do today to start making changes in your eating habits? I will leave you all with this to think about .... 

                                                                                                       Source:

See you tomorrow, friends.

31 Days: A Journey of Health: Day 1

Every October, The Nester hosts 31 Days of ...

{Whatever is on your mind for 31 days}. 

 Those participating are invited to write about the topic of their

choice every single day for a month.  I have always heard of challenges like

this, and have always admired those who took the time to consistently share

what is on their mind.  I have had this pull of wanting to join but I always

let life get in the way. This year, with the encouragement from so many of

my friends, I am tackling this challenge head on. 

 

As I thought about what topic to write on, my heart and mind immediately went to health and fitness. For years, I have felt like the Lord was going to somehow use me in the area of health and fitness but wasn't sure how.  I

have always had a passion to help women feel good about themselves. To be

able to look in the mirror and not only know that 

"you are created in His image" 

but also be able to look in the mirror and feel good about what you see. 

 That's one of the reasons I became a Zumba instructor and that has

been extremely rewarding. But for me that is only part of it. There are many

of us (myself included) that can exercise all day long and use that as an

excuse to eat however we want. Some of it is not knowing how to eat right

but it also because there is sometimes no accountability. There is nobody

encouraging you asking about your fitness and eating habits.  I believe with

every ounce of my being that you must take time to learn how to be healthy not

only for your future but for your children's future.

This is one of the reasons my husband and I decided to become AdvoCare distributors. It was a way for us to embody many of our convictions on health and fitness and also be able to earn a little extra income.  For us,this was the best way to start our business in hopes of partnering with others and helping them reach their goals whether that be losing weight, gaining energy or 

having an extra pay check that will allow their family

some breathing room.

 

Many have asked how I got my husband on board.

  You see, those who know him well know he is pretty conservative and not one to take risks (must come from that accounting background!).  He researched the business opportunity for a couple weeks and my heart leaped for joy when he called me from work and told me there was very little risk and he was "all in".  That's the

moment I knew this was our journey. For some, the idea of a home-based

business like ours rubs them the wrong way.  But like any decision in life,

you aren't going to have everyone love it and for once in my life, that's

ok! For us, we look forward to the day when we have a team of individuals

all over the US helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle.

 

For the next 31 days I am going to write about the journey of a group of

people taking on the 24 Day Challenge and what happens after it's over. 

What it looks like in real life. What I personally learn about myself and how it

is impacting others around me. I'm excited to see the way the Lord uses this

journey and how I am challenged and changed. I hope you will follow along.

I will leave you all with this verse:

 

"She is clothed in strength and dignity

 and laughs without fear of the

future." Proverbs 31:25