Doing It Together

Today marks year 3 in saying "I do" to the man I now call my husband.  It's been a wild ride with ups and downs as my life has taken a complete 180 since the day I moved to Idaho to start my new life with him.  I found out I was pregnant within a month of moving here.  At the time, my oldest son was staying with his father and I went from working full time for 20 years to being a stay at home wife, mother and student.  Now my oldest lives with us, and turned 15 this year, while my little "Bug" is going on 2 1/2 years.  I'm also quickly approaching my own 40th birthday on August 8th, so with all the things that are going on in my life, there is a part of me that feels the need to reflect, react and reaffirm the changes I want to make in my life.

My husband has started going to the gym the past few weeks after he was medically released after his jaw surgery, and he's been making some progress.  We both have our faults when it comes to eating right and exercising, so we're making changes little by little.  There are a lot of information out there that show that having a support system can increase your chances of success, and it will be great to get him on board with all of it.  I know we have different ways of working out, but hopefully we can find some common ground with walking or crossfit training.

He and my lil "Bug" are visiting family and will return late Saturday, so hopefully we can start a new routine and get on track together, and start getting the whole family on track with eating right and moving!!

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie... I love you!

Cheryl

The Rest of My Academic Year

Well, here's the rest of my year planned out for me at Kaplan.  Now you understand why I have to get on the ball with myself and my own lifestyle.  On one side I don't want to be the one with all the info that a patient or client sits in front of and thinks "this sure doesn't seem like a person I should be taking advice from".  On the other side, I do want them to know where I've been and where I come from so that they can find something in me they can relate too.  Food addiction.  Diabetic.  Heart/Artery Disease.  Neuropathy.  Mother.  Whatever they can link themselves to and relate to will help me in helping them. 

We all love people that inspire us, but normally what inspires us is those we can relate to.  Those people that we see a bit of ourselves in, and in turn it makes us believe that it is possible to meet those health and wellness goals that we set for ourselves.

Was there someone that inspired you?  Someone that you looked at and saw their journey and thought to yourself... if they can, I CAN!!   Who was that person?  Do they still inspire you?  How do you inspire others?  Comment below!

Starting Meatless Mondays

One of the great things about starting to eat healthier is to find whole food recipes that the family will enjoy.  I know my oldest son is always accusing me of trying to "turn him vegan", but I know that's just his cheeseburger/pizza molded teenage mind that sees vegetables as "icky".  I've tried to implement "Meatless Mondays" and there have been things that the boys love, and others they straight out tell me not to make again.  I've yet to find a recipe that I didn't enjoy, but I sometimes thing that it's my diabetic palate that makes anything taste good since I usually eat so plain.

Sometimes, all it takes is to find a classic and find a way to make it into a vegetarian dish.  This is an lacto-ovo veggie dish that is sure to please!  Click the name to see the full recipe!  Hope you have a great Monday!!

ARTICHOKE SPINACH LASAGNA

Benefits of Quinoa

There are a lot of people that are hesitant on trying new foods.  One whole food that I personally have found a liking to is quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah").  This is great food for those trying to transition to a more vegan lifestyle or menu for them and their family.  The great thing I've found about quinoa is that it is very versatile because it doesn't have much of it's own taste, kind of a cross between brown rice and couscous, so it can be a great replacement in numerous recipes.  There are recipes for stuffed peppers, salads, and even websites dedicated to cooking quinoa.

Quinoa is also a great balanced food containing the three major caloric nutrients for energy!  A serving size of quinoa is a great source for your daily carbohydrates, fat and protein.

Be sure to check your grocery aisle and add it to your meal plan!  Quinoa is sure to be a staple food in your pantry, and something that you and your family will enjoy!

Hope you had a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!!!

Self Sabotage and Accountability

There has been a lot going on in my life in the last few months that have mentally and emotionally taken me out of the game when it comes to my health and wellness.  Sure I could sit here and list excuse after excuse, but what good does that do?

I need to get back to focusing on me and not worry about what others may think of me and my time for ME!!  There are those that I have seen snub their nose at those that get sitters, or leave the little ones at home so they can go work out with comments like "I live for my kids, they are my top priority".  Well, sorry darling, you aren't "living" for your kids if you put your own health and wellness last.  Shortening the years of your time on earth by sitting around, being immobile, eating whatever you want isn't "living" anyway.  It's "dying".

I have always struggled with having an overabundance of knowledge in the health and wellness, and as I'm currently going for my Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science and going for my Masters in Health Education, it's all about executing what I know, and what I have learned.  It's difficult and I am human.  I'm flawed, I have insecurities, I have distractions, but at the end of the day, I'm also accountable for what I choose to do and not to do.

No one ever says that getting fit and healthy and staying fit and healthy is easy, but it gets easier as it becomes a lifestyle and not just a "diet".  I need to start making some small goals and achieving them and start back on my path to wellness.  I need to get my A1C in check and my cholesterol lowered, and start to focus on meditation and relaxation techniques as well to help me get through school, mommy-ing and all my other obligations and responsibilities.

There is a friend that has started her own blog recently and I look forward to watching her journey.  Check Ashley out over at Getting Fit & Staying Healthy!!

Have a great weekend!!