It's for your OWN good!

I came across this site whole30.com, and was reading about it, I loved their motivation and thought I'd share it here.  Its for their program, but you can totally put it to your self for your own health goals. 

I tried to copy and paste, but it won't let me, so here's the link to the motivation - scroll down to the orange words that say IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD - its awesome.  http://whole30.com/step-two/

It’s For Your Own Good

Here comes the tough love. This is for those of you who are considering taking on this life-changing month, but aren’t sure you can actually pull it off, cheat free, for a full 30 days. This is for the people who have tried this before, but who “slipped” or “fell off the wagon” or “just HAD to eat (fill in food here) because of this (fill in event here).” This is for you.

• It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.
• Don’t even consider the possibility of a “slip.” Unless you physically tripped and your face landed in a box of doughnuts, there is no “slip.” You make a choice to eat something unhealthy. It is always a choice, so do not phrase it as if you had an accident. Commit to the program 100% for the full 30 days. Don’t give yourself an excuse to fail before you’ve even started.
• You never, ever, ever have to eat anything you don’t want to eat. You’re all big boys and girls. Toughen up. Learn to say no (or make your mom proud and say, “No, thank you”). Learn to stick up for yourself. Just because it’s your sister’s birthday, or your best friend’s wedding, or your company picnic does not mean you have to eat anything. It’s always a choice, and we would hope that you stopped succumbing to peer pressure in 7th grade.
• This does require a bit of effort. Grocery shopping, meal planning, dining out, explaining the program to friends and family, and dealing with stress will all prove challenging at some point during your program. We’ve given you all the tools, guidelines and resources you’ll need, but take responsibility for your own plan. Improved health, fitness, and quality of life doesn’t happen automatically just because you’re now taking a pass on bread.
• You can do this. You’ve come too far to back out now. You want to do this. You need to do this. And we believe that you can do this. So stop thinking about it, and start doing. Right now, this very minute, tell someone that you are starting the Whole30.

- See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.62rXA8P6.dpuf

It’s For Your Own Good

Here comes the tough love. This is for those of you who are considering taking on this life-changing month, but aren’t sure you can actually pull it off, cheat free, for a full 30 days. This is for the people who have tried this before, but who “slipped” or “fell off the wagon” or “just HAD to eat (fill in food here) because of this (fill in event here).” This is for you.

• It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.
• Don’t even consider the possibility of a “slip.” Unless you physically tripped and your face landed in a box of doughnuts, there is no “slip.” You make a choice to eat something unhealthy. It is always a choice, so do not phrase it as if you had an accident. Commit to the program 100% for the full 30 days. Don’t give yourself an excuse to fail before you’ve even started.
• You never, ever, ever have to eat anything you don’t want to eat. You’re all big boys and girls. Toughen up. Learn to say no (or make your mom proud and say, “No, thank you”). Learn to stick up for yourself. Just because it’s your sister’s birthday, or your best friend’s wedding, or your company picnic does not mean you have to eat anything. It’s always a choice, and we would hope that you stopped succumbing to peer pressure in 7th grade.
• This does require a bit of effort. Grocery shopping, meal planning, dining out, explaining the program to friends and family, and dealing with stress will all prove challenging at some point during your program. We’ve given you all the tools, guidelines and resources you’ll need, but take responsibility for your own plan. Improved health, fitness, and quality of life doesn’t happen automatically just because you’re now taking a pass on bread.
• You can do this. You’ve come too far to back out now. You want to do this. You need to do this. And we believe that you can do this. So stop thinking about it, and start doing. Right now, this very minute, tell someone that you are starting the Whole30.

- See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.62rXA8P6.dpuf

It’s For Your Own Good

Here comes the tough love. This is for those of you who are considering taking on this life-changing month, but aren’t sure you can actually pull it off, cheat free, for a full 30 days. This is for the people who have tried this before, but who “slipped” or “fell off the wagon” or “just HAD to eat (fill in food here) because of this (fill in event here).” This is for you.

• It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.
• Don’t even consider the possibility of a “slip.” Unless you physically tripped and your face landed in a box of doughnuts, there is no “slip.” You make a choice to eat something unhealthy. It is always a choice, so do not phrase it as if you had an accident. Commit to the program 100% for the full 30 days. Don’t give yourself an excuse to fail before you’ve even started.
• You never, ever, ever have to eat anything you don’t want to eat. You’re all big boys and girls. Toughen up. Learn to say no (or make your mom proud and say, “No, thank you”). Learn to stick up for yourself. Just because it’s your sister’s birthday, or your best friend’s wedding, or your company picnic does not mean you have to eat anything. It’s always a choice, and we would hope that you stopped succumbing to peer pressure in 7th grade.
• This does require a bit of effort. Grocery shopping, meal planning, dining out, explaining the program to friends and family, and dealing with stress will all prove challenging at some point during your program. We’ve given you all the tools, guidelines and resources you’ll need, but take responsibility for your own plan. Improved health, fitness, and quality of life doesn’t happen automatically just because you’re now taking a pass on bread.
• You can do this. You’ve come too far to back out now. You want to do this. You need to do this. And we believe that you can do this. So stop thinking about it, and start doing. Right now, this very minute, tell someone that you are starting the Whole30.

- See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.62rXA8P6.dpuf

It’s For Your Own Good

Here comes the tough love. This is for those of you who are considering taking on this life-changing month, but aren’t sure you can actually pull it off, cheat free, for a full 30 days. This is for the people who have tried this before, but who “slipped” or “fell off the wagon” or “just HAD to eat (fill in food here) because of this (fill in event here).” This is for you.

• It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.
• Don’t even consider the possibility of a “slip.” Unless you physically tripped and your face landed in a box of doughnuts, there is no “slip.” You make a choice to eat something unhealthy. It is always a choice, so do not phrase it as if you had an accident. Commit to the program 100% for the full 30 days. Don’t give yourself an excuse to fail before you’ve even started.
• You never, ever, ever have to eat anything you don’t want to eat. You’re all big boys and girls. Toughen up. Learn to say no (or make your mom proud and say, “No, thank you”). Learn to stick up for yourself. Just because it’s your sister’s birthday, or your best friend’s wedding, or your company picnic does not mean you have to eat anything. It’s always a choice, and we would hope that you stopped succumbing to peer pressure in 7th grade.
• This does require a bit of effort. Grocery shopping, meal planning, dining out, explaining the program to friends and family, and dealing with stress will all prove challenging at some point during your program. We’ve given you all the tools, guidelines and resources you’ll need, but take responsibility for your own plan. Improved health, fitness, and quality of life doesn’t happen automatically just because you’re now taking a pass on bread.
• You can do this. You’ve come too far to back out now. You want to do this. You need to do this. And we believe that you can do this. So stop thinking about it, and start doing. Right now, this very minute, tell someone that you are starting the Whole30.

- See more at: http://whole30.com/step-two/#sthash.62rXA8P6.dpuf

Here's some motivation for ya...

WATCH OUT

I'm down ONE pound, move over I'm heading into the lead...hahaha.  :)

...literally.

Nothing New

Juli + .4
Arik + 1 lb


Not losing hope!

back to square one

So, Arik is in Cali, he doesn't have a scale handy.  I lost .6.....so I'm at the exact same weight that I started.  This is frustrating.  There were two days I didn't exercise, because of lack of time and that time of the month.  I could do a little better with eating.  So, this week I'm recommitting to that, and maybe add more to my exercise time.  I feel great though.  Plus, I read a talk by Elder Scott about revelation, and it said that exercise and eating healthy can increase your ability to receive revelation.  Interesting.  Well, I hope you all had a good week and prepare to have an even better one this week! 

Veggie/Fruit Chart

Here's a chart I found we're going to use for us and the kids to mark 1/2 & whole servings of fruits and veggies to make sure we're getting in enough a day.  Thought I'd share in case anyone else wants one.  You can put it in a sheet protector and use a dry erase marker so you don't have to print a new one out every week.

Arik & Juli Weigh In

I'm assuming we're doing weigh-ins on Sunday like last time?  Well, I started on Wednesday, and Arik started on Thursday.  In that short time, I feel so much better just being more active!  I feel like I've been doing good this week with exercise and eating, but my results are in the positive.  HA! 


Juli : + .6
Arik : - 5lbs

Move it

I thought this was a great list and a bunch of them go right along with healthy eating too.

The list....

OK, it sounds like so far the people that are IN are:

JULI
ARIK
ROBYN
STEVE
TIFFANY
BRAD Q
JENNI
BURKE
....and some of Arik's family....Juli and Arik will let us know who those are.  Should we each put $10 in the pot for the prize????  Suggestions?  And try and comment again, I checked and it doesn't look like anything was changed, not sure why that is...just too old of a blog?????????  haha.  If we need to make a new one I guess we could.  But I'd like to keep this one.  Did you try on the computer instead of your phone, Juli?  Or someone could try to make a post also and see if that works.  Let me know if it fails when you try.  THANKS!  I'm excited!!!!!  :)

Who's in??????!!!!!!!!!

I've been thinking it would be awesome to start another round of our Biggest Loser; it was a great motivator last time.  Does everyone want to do it again????  You can tell anyone else that sounded interested last time too.  We could go from May to August, or do just a short two monther instead of three, just until July?  What are your thoughts, please comment if there is interest or not.  We could each put in $10 this time, or keep it at $15 each, is that what we did last time?  OK, lets talk.  What do you think??????

Cabbage Salad and Dressing

Sorry, I didn't feel like typing all this in.  But, hey - you get more recipes THIS way!  Hahaha!  This recipe was really yummy.  I made the Cabbage Salad with the Cabbage Salad Dressing.  And of course you could use the dressing for any salad also, you don't have to make this salad.  I just put the dressing on each serving instead of the whole salad so it would keep longer. 

Choc. PB Carmel Squares

This is the recipe everyone wanted - the treats Erin and Tiff made Ryan for his birthday.  They are SO good.  I would even just make the pb part and spread it out and freeze it sometime.  That's the kids favorite part.  Next time I will half the chocolate recipe to have a thin layer of that, it's very strong.

Chocolate Peanut butter Carmel  squares

Chocolate
4 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup Cacao powder
4-6 tsp water
4 tbsp coconut nectar (or agave)

Mix together in a bowl and spread across parchment paper lined 8x8 pan. Pop in freezer while you mix the pb caramel.

Peanut Butter Caramel filling
½ cup coconut oil (I only used 1/4 cup and it was plenty)
1/3 cup organic peanut butter
½ cup organic REAL maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
up to ¼ teaspoon salt (start with a pinch)

blend in food processor until mixed. This filling is SO good I could eat it with a spoon alone! Remove pan from freezer and spread pb mixture across the chocolate. I added crushed raw almonds on the top.

Let harden in freezer and then cut up.

Fun treat

Yummy snack my kids help me make today.  And we doubled it.

 No Bake Energy Bites.

Ingredients:
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1/3 cup honey (we used agave)
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (we used craisins)
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.  Mix the ingredients thoroughly and let it chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once the mix is chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!

You can substitute almost anything.
-Soybutter
-Almond butter
-Cashew butter
-Sun butter
-Agave nectar
-Maltitol syrup
-Crushed cereal
-Wheat germ
-Whole wheat flour
-Granola
-Raisins
-Dates
-Craisins 

Recipe

I tried this the other day and really liked it.  It is definitely a different texture of cereal, but good.  I got this Raw recipe book by Ani Phyo.  One thing she says before this recipe is this:  Chia is an Aztec superfood that builds strength and energy.  Hydrated chia seeds absorb more than twelve times their weight in water, keeping us hydrated all day long.  Chia gel gives this cereal its thick texture.  A supersource of energy, this cereal travels great on camping trips and long treks.

COOL!  So here ya go:

Super Chia Cereal
4 Servings (I usually just get a bowl for myself and put an 1/8 cup of everything and 3/4 cup mylk.)

1/2 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped dehydrated apples
3 cups of your favorite mylk (any nut milk)

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well.  Wait for 5 to 10 minutes for the dry ingredients to become hydrated and the cereal to thicken.  Top with fresh fruit before serving and enjoy! (I just get it all in the bowl and let it hydrate while I'm getting the kids breakfast ready or doing hair or something, and then it's ready for me.  NICE!)

You could do any nuts, seeds or fresh or dried fruit you have on hand.  Also adding cinnamon is good.  Another option she suggests is chia in mylk with pecans, cranberries, and dried shredded coconut - I need to try this one, mmmmm!

RAW recipes

Check out this website for a TON of yummy sounding RAW recipes.  I thought I'd put it here in case anyone wants to try something out.  RAW FOOD RECIPES.  I'm so excited to try out a bunch of them.  Post if you try one you like.  :)

Quote of the day

I just read this on a natural healing site and loved it.  Thought I'd share.  

"Just as you don’t walk down the street and “catch” health, neither do you walk down the street and “catch” disease.  Both are earned.  They are the consequences, not the causes. "

Deep, right?!  And oh SO true!  

Superbowl Snack Ideas????

It'd be fun to post some healthy snacks on here for the big game coming up. I found one that is SO YUMMY!

PB Fruit Dip

1/2 c Natural Peanut Butter
1 C Vanilla Yogurt
Fresh fruit, cut up

Mix pb & yogurt 'til smooth & well blended. Dunk some bananas, pears, apples, or whatever you want in there! So yummy! Could even sprinkle with granola. Enjoy!

Gone Green

I had to take some pictures of our ritual that happens at our house daily.  Green Smoothies.  

 Sprouted wheat being soaked for an aid in not getting sick over the winter.

 Sprouting lots of things to get a bunch of added nutrients to our diets.

We've been doing really well...until Kaiya's b-day hit and then baptism.  We are starting up again tomorrow.  A few day break and Kaleb was actually asking for a Green Smoothie tonight!!!  That was awesome.  Didn't think that would EVER happen!  :)

Anyone there??? Anyone...

I thought of talking about doing this again to people.  Not for money, just for change.  Hahaha!  NOT money change, just change change.  That was not intended, funny.  Burke and I started on January first with our no meat or dairy, just plant foods and whole grains, beans, stuff like that.  It is going great so far.  I've loved reading the China Study while we are doing this, it's given me even more motivation.  We've been making more recipes in our 12 steps Green Smoothie Girl book also.  We've really enjoyed a lot of the salad dressing out of there also.  I am going to start posting yummy healthy recipes we've tried on this blog and anyone else share them too!  We started this last Sunday, the 1st and since then, I've lost 3 pounds!  Woohooo!  Pretty amazing what just eating right can do.  I did work out a couple of times, but I really owe it all to the food. 

The first recipe that I wanted to share is:

Overnight Deluxe Oatmeal

Spray a slow cooker.  Then add:

4 1/2 c. water
3 Tbsp. butter (we used coconut oil)
1 apple, peeled and diced
1 tsp. cinnamon
dash of salt
1 c. Steel Cut Oats
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1/4 c. brown sugar (we used 1/8 c. xagave)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Cook on low for 3 1/2 hours.  Yields 5-6 cups finished cereal.

I thought this was SO yummy!  I made it before we went to bed and then just heated it up in the morning, but it was really yummy freshly done.  So if you want to get up at 3 or 4 in the morning and turn on your crock pot, more power to YOU!  :)

I'll add more later.....

Weekly Weigh In

I lost another 2 lbs. this week.  Wahooo!  It is amazing.  During our last challenge I worked out twice a day, every day, except for Sundays.  This week I worked out 3, maybe 4 days and just once each of those days!  This Green Smoothie business is working.  I don't feel as hungry and when I do and I drink my drink and try to eat more raw things, I lose weight.  It just happens.  I still ate what we ate at Bunko and things like that.  Anyway, I'm just really enjoying learning about what good food can do for the body, my body.  It is a fun journey!