Doing Hard Things

I finally sat down and took a deep breath...and shared a little more of mama's story.  I can't seem to hold back the flood of tears and emotions...so although there is much more to be told, I will need to share a little bit at a time. For today, I wanted to show my sweet mama's love for people through her visit at the Gerson Clinic in Mexico. I hope you can feel her heart through what I share today....



Please read my new entry on the tab above - My Mom's journey with Cancer.  

New Discoveries in My Healthy Lifestyle Changes!

My Protein Powder Discovery!

WOW!!! Have you tried to find a good protein powder lately? Holy cow...there are a LOT to choose from! I have tried many...from whey proteins, soy proteins... the ones even with nice looking labels that sounded like they had all the right stuff in them, but one thing they all seemed to have in common was this (and I am sorry if this is TMI) but they all tended to give me digestive issues! I would drink them and within a short amount of time feel extremely bloated or gassy...YUCK! No one wants to feel that way when they are attempting a new routine at getting healthy! 

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!! 

 

Pure Vegan Pea Protein+

Smooth Vanilla Flavor

All Natural

and...it tastes DELICIOUS!!

Lactose Free - Soy Free

Gluten Free

No artificial Flavors or Preservatives
Sweetened with Stevia
Contains Flaxseed and Chia Seed
+good source of Omega-3

25g Protein/5g Carbs/

2g Fiber/Only 138 Calories!

Available at Healthshop101 - READ MORE

 I will usually drink one of these after my run in the morning.  Protein is good for muscle recovery after a good work out.  It can be used as a meal replacement as well.  In addition, it is yummy enough that if your diet is lacking in a good source of protein, you can incorporate this into many other foods like a healthy muffin, hot cereals, etc.  Other things like fruit, or pure grade b maple syrup can be added for a different flavor as well!

I am so excited that I found this that I just HAD to share! It works for me and I hope it will work for your too!!! Let me know what you think!!!

In the meantime - make every minute count, keep balanced as best you can, enjoy the balance of the sunrise and sunset, and most of all....embrace the beauty in your world...

Challenges - Curagious Changes... What are yours?

Challenges face each and every one of us EVERY day! Have you noticed? Some challenges are emotional; some physical...some financial...some family...work...schedules...relationships... the list can go on and on.  The key is to not let challenges overcome your determination and focus.  Embrace that which places challenge before you and use it to develop strength and heighten your perseverance to keep moving in a forward direction...with LIFE as it is presented to you. The idea is to keep on that road and celebrate the times you made it around one of the curves or uphill battles :0)

I am going to focus a lot of my posts in the next month on facing challenges.  I hope that if you relate to any of them, you can either share your experiences with me - to share with others so we can band together as a supportive community of people just trying to put the next foot in front of the other!I am not a doctor or healthcare provider.  I am simply a person who cares about improving my health and wellness, and sharing it with others.  Let's start with a firm focus forward!


A Personal Challenge:
When I am faced with challenges, I try to take just one step at a time.... My Next Best Thing.  A good friend said that to me once, and it stuck! So what is your challenge? What is your next best thing? Just one... after that has been mastered and fits with life...go on to the Next Best Thing.

It was about four years ago when I made a life changing challenge decision.  I was feeling sluggish all the time, I had no energy, I was out of breath quickly, I couldn't run...I could hardly even walk fast...SOMETHING had to change.  I needed to exercise more.  I needed to eat better.  There were so many things I was sure I needed to do and I just felt so overwhelmed I wanted to just sit down and cry.  Where would I even begin? This was MY personal step forward.  I gave up drinking soda.  It was difficult for me to do.  I had been to a point at one time where that was almost ALL I was drinking.  I cut back a little at a time.  Then soon I was down to one a day, 1/2 a day, then every other day.  Once I kicked it, I couldn't believe the difference it made for me!  I was able to start moving in a forward motion with tackling other things that were in my way of setting and achieving my goals.  It has been about five years now and I am feeling great!

So this is Today's CHALLENGE:

If you are a soda drinker, start reducing your consumption of soda TODAY!

Struggling with this challenge? Let's get through it together! I am always looking up and researching ideas for getting through certain issues this way - other readers may also have some good ideas!

Here are some things you may not have thought about:
What are the BENEFITS you feel you are getting from drinking soda - BE HONEST!! For me, the only benefit I could honestly tell you that I just liked the ZIP it gave me in my mouth! LOL - That was it for me.  So, What does it do for you??

NOW - Let's talk about some of the RISKS of drinking soda:

These are just a few - I am sure most people know it just isn't good for you, but here's the deal...for ME - I can notice a difference like night and day in my running endurance if I do drink soda...Remember the Challenge - GIVE IT A TRY!!! 21 days makes a habit...I DARE YOU!!

My Journey Forward

Life after Fifty -

Anyone who knows me, knows I love birthdays! All Birthdays! Everyone's Birthdays! I won't lie though...I really, really LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!!! I am grateful for EVERY one! I am more grateful for who is there sharing it with me, for the day itself that we are there to share it together, the present of each day after my birthday that is giving me yet another day to enjoy.  Maybe it is another day to get a "do-over". Perhaps an opportunity for second chances.  It could be just another day to embrace that which happens...rolling with the sun, or the rain, the snow, or the wind...but embracing whatever comes our way!
Whenever YOUR birthday is...I hope you won't dread the day as many do - we are aging every minute and birthdays are GOOD!!! The alternative is not having one! I hope instead, you look forward to the day of your birth and celebrate with style! Take the day on with a HUGE smile and enjoy every minute celebrating the YOU in who YOU are! Find the beauty in the little things...the things that make you smile and the perhaps makes you giggle inside... and if you can REALLY take in the day - enjoy a good "gut-laugh"!
My journey forward is just that...taking every day as it comes (good or bad) and learn what makes me tick... learn something new...learn to grow from the bad and appreciate it all.
I ONCE AGAIN am going to make a better attempt at keeping this blog current.  I have some updating to do on several of the pages.  I want to finish my mom's story - that one is hard for me to do.  It still seems so fresh.  I do miss her so, but she lives within me every moment...in fact, I think she has a lot to do with my enthusiasm for LIFE!
I hope you will travel with me - through each day of this life's journey, whether it be in cooking, vacations, stay-cations, health and wellness, and just loving and embracing life!
Let's take on this journey together!

Embrace and Enjoy your Environment....

Embrace and Enjoy the Environment which surrounds you!

Finding the beauty in your world can sometimes be a chore, especially when life gets so busy you can't slow down to smell the roses! But what about when the roses aren't where you are? What about that which IS where you are? That is why I love seasons so much! It offers so many different things to appreciate in every single day! The key is.... wait for it.... stop your day just long enough to see them! It only takes a moment... and you won't be sorry.  This is why I love the hour I take for myself every day possible.  When I can't take the hour to myself, I take whatever moment I can, look around me, and find beauty in something.  My hours are not just about becoming more physically fit, but also mentally fit.  We have to take care of our mind and our emotions too, or our physical well being doesn't mean much to us.  I hope my blog will inspire those around me, and maybe those I don't know to embrace life... even the challenges to which make us a stronger us! 

 

How Do I Choose the Best Magnesium Supplement?

How do I choose the best form of magnesium supplement to take? This is a question many are asking themselves.  There are always new descriptive words coming out to declare the new best… “ionic”, “pico”, “trace”, “nano”, “angstrom”, “liquid”, “powder”, “capsule”, “tablet”.  What do these terms mean? How can they help me to determine which is best for me?  Have these same questions crossed your mind?

I am the kind of person who wants things simplified so that my personal health and wellness goals don’t have to be so difficult to achieve, so I break things down.  I wanted to share what I came up with for others who may be struggling with the same confusing ideas around introducing dietary supplements into their worlds.

Supplement Form:
Let’s first talk about the SIZE factor with minerals. It seems logical to me that a liquid would absorb faster than a powder, capsule, or tablet.  The powder, capsules, and tablets would have to go through the digestive system to be broken down by our bodies to be able to absorb any of the mineral at all.  How much would actually be absorbed? According to Livestrong Magazine, the supplements in pill form are only 5-20% absorbed by the body.  Why is this? The liquid form doesn’t really make it to the digestive system. Instead, it is more readily absorbed into the bloodstream because of the size.  Now, all liquids are not necessarily created equal either.  There are a variety of magnesium supplements available in the market today. Which is the smallest and most effective? I looked on several conversion charts for this answer.  Angstrom sized is the smallest and most cell-ready available.  All liquid supplements are not necessarily angstrom sized.  Some liquids are boasting “nano” or “pico” sized.  According to the conversion charts that I looked at, those are larger still than the angstrom sized.  So when referring to the size, I believe in going with a supplement that is angstrom sized for the most affective absorption for my body.
“Ionic” is a word that is being used a lot today as well.  This is how the mineral is bonded.  It is considered to be an ionic bond or a covalent bond. 

Supplement Concentration:
In addition to the “size”, there are also many different concentrations.  It is important to know the concentration, parts per million (ppm), or milligrams (mg) per serving, etc.  People have said they were taking a teaspoon of a specific mineral and think that would be the measurement they would go with.  However, every mineral is packaged according to that brand’s concentration criteria.  Be sure to know the amount of the mineral you are actually getting per serving.  They can also be recognized as “regular strength” or “professional strength”.  It is very important to know the difference.

Know your Deficiency or Symptoms of Deficiency:
There are tests to help you determine your level of deficiency. Tests can show conflicting results for minerals if they are in the blood or in the cells.  Magnesium for example is cellular.  Many times, a blood test will show normal while the cellular test will indicate a deficiency.  So testing can be confusing.  Iron on the other hand, will show up accurately in the blood test.  In my opinion, it is critical to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of deficiencies, as well as the kind of testing that you need to better determine which minerals you need and their dosages.  Many times, if a person is slightly deficient, it may be adequate to just supplement with the regular maintenance level serving size.  If an individual is experiencing issues surrounding a specific deficiency, they may need to increase the amount according to their unique circumstances surrounding their symptoms.  This is certainly something that could be discussed with your healthcare provider, whether it is a doctor who is knowledgeable in nutrition or someone who specializes in nutritional healing.

Know your Ingredients:
I personally don’t like having fillers or other ingredients in the supplements I am taking!  I prefer to have just the mineral itself.  This does a couple of things to set my mind at ease.  It assures me that I am getting just what I need in the specific mineral I am taking AND there will be less of a risk of experiencing undesirable side effects from taking the supplement.  Be sure to read the ingredients list when considering which supplement you are going to choose.

As wonderful as it would be to be able to get all of the minerals through a healthy diet, it just doesn’t seem possible in today’s world.  Our lives are so busy, it is easy to get caught up in eating convenience foods, processed foods, and fast foods.  It takes time to prepare the right foods and even then, you may not be getting enough of the mineral according to what your specific health needs may require. 

I am not a doctor or healthcare provider, so I cannot advise, prescribe, or recommend products for issues a person may be experiencing.  However, I feel like taking responsibility for achieving our own health and wellness goals is important.  It is my personal determination that the angstrom liquid minerals are the best choice for me in taking dietary supplements.  For magnesium specifically, it means better absorption without the frustrating side effect of diarrhea!

I hope this article has been helpful in answering some of the questions you may have in regards to choosing the best magnesium supplement for you!

The Road which marks the Path of your Journey

The Road which marks the Path of your Journey

Define your path - the road...your journey.  Even when you do that, circumstance and life can alter they way it may look.  It can create obstacles to go around, and hills to climb - but the one thing that should always remain the same is the persistence in looking ahead and keeping your focus forward, no matter WHAT!!!

This winter, I tried something new. My sister took me snowshoeing.  It was a blast!!! We spent the whole day just doing what sisters do.  We talked, we laughed - we poked fun at life and it's funny little twists.  Let me tell you about the "walk around the lake".

As we began our adventure that day, we first needed to figure out how in the world those snow shoes worked!!! They had straps everywhere, and they just fit over your boots.  We did finally figure it out. Now the poles extended...did we need the poles right then? Not necessarily, but they went with the outfit, right? There were obviously poles that came with the snow shoes for a reason, so altough we didn't feel like they were "needed" we took them anyway. Gloves? Well, we had some...but what a beautiful sunny day it was! Did we really need them? No...not really, but hey, let's put them in the pockets...just in case.  

So, at the beginning...the paths were fairly easy to follow as they were clearly marked and it looked as if many had gone before us.  At times, as we were talking back and forth to one another, I would sometimes drift off the path slightly - it was easy to tell when that happened, because the snow was deeper and created a little bit of an obstacle of needing to watch my step, after I tripped over myself first!  The snow shoes, DID make it easier to walk as they cover more of the area to which you step, however,  if you are not watching what you are doing...your own feet can become a tripping hazard!  WOW!!! Good thing I had those walking sticks!

As we followed the path around the lake, it took us into a little forest of trees.  Just beautiful - the trees were HUGE...it created wonderful shade from the sun, which isn't as much appreciated in the middle of winter, as it could be in the middle of a hot summer.  I am so glad I thought to keep those gloves in my pocket! When you looked around you almost couldn't see the sun through the trees...it was surely much darker, and a bit colder as well. But, we were prepared and the sun was shining still!

It was fun to visit, but the path wasn't always wide enough for us to walk side by side - so it was necessary to walk ahead or behind for a while...not as easy to visit and not as much fun either, but those times were temporary.   A few times the thought crossed my mind as I wondered if maybe we were going the wrong way around the lake...like is there a right way and a wrong way to go around the lake?? Nope! I don't think so...there were many coming and going both ways, and at the end of the day....we all ended up at the same place! As you can see in the picture...there were some who made their own path across the lake - we were told not to go out there, so we didn't - we thought it best to play it safe...Now it isn't to say we didn't take a few wrong turns as we got distracted by a few chit chats with nice people we met and little critters that made us happy we were able to share in their space of nature that day - because there were a few times...those sticks came in handy!

This little guy entertained us for some time romping back and forth in the snow, up and down trees and bushes...scurrying about his own business in his little neck of the woods. He even followed us for a while, until we went down this other road...what a wise little squirrel - he KNEW we were going the wrong way! It is much more difficult to climb a hill in snow shoes than one would think! However, WE DID IT! We climbed to the top, and continued down another path that did in fact...lead us to the place we needed to go.

You may be asking yourself by now..."is this story just a story"? Well, this story is my life. I think there may be others who can also relate. Our roads or our paths may not all be the same, but we all have them. In fact there may be some of us who go clockwise, while the others choose to go counter-clockwise. We may sometimes drift off the beaten path to find obstacles that make us lift our step a little higher, and we may find friends who help us along and offer up friendships and relationships that last forever...or maybe even just that moment you shared a simple hello on a walk.  Even though you may be watching what you are doing for the most part, you may trip...on your own feet! But, use the poles or walking sticks that are there for you to catch your step...put on the gloves you brought to keep you warm.  Appreciate that which surrounds you.  Absorb the positive part of your environment, leave the rest behind as a learning experience and something that has given you growth.  Although there may be times that appear to be dark and cold...there is sun shining, you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other to get where you can see it better! Stay strong even when the climb seems more difficult and you will reach the top....and it will be easier to see where you need to go.  Walking side by side is always more enjoyable than in front or behind :0) Eventually, you will see, whatever your journey is - everyone has one.... just always look ahead and keep your focus forward.

My mama is facing another battle with cancer - I was not ready tonight to write the new beginning of this old journey.  I felt drawn to something more of what I wrote to prepare us all for what we are about to embark on - Her story will be updated this weekend as I get to spend it with her....