Cold Weather Encouragement - For Those Who Hurt This Morning!

"Lord, I need this to go away..NOW please!"

(This picture could only be more perfect if it had a mound of cold snow on top of it!)

I don't know about you but this morning when I woke up this morning I felt like this cactus.  Then, when I looked outside and everything is white and cold I thought…"Lord, I need this to go away..NOW please!"  Not only am I naturally a warm weather outdoor girl but for those of us with autoimmune issues (and probably past physical injuries)  the change in barometric pressure and cold often bring a lot of pain and fatigue.  

There are actually scientific reasons.  When the barometric pressure changes it actually affects the pressure on our bodies and joints causing them to ache.  There are also autoimmune syndromes like "Raynard's Syndrome" which is essentially a big word for really bad circulation in the fingers, toes and the ability to feel warm.  

For me, I just can't regulate body temperature.  I'm always cold.  My feet, my fingers.  I pretty much feel chilled 24/7 and it just makes me want to sleep.  And when I sleep I hibernate..not much can wake me up. 

So what do you do when you wake up feeling physically exhausted before you even get out of bed?  (other than move to Australia of course because I'm told that is where there are the least changes in environment!)  

Well - I look for re-enforcement.  I lift my head toward God and say (after complaining of course :) )  "What do you have for me today in this cold, uncomfortable place"   


I pick up the Bible or in this mornings case a book that my great friend Amy gave me and read.  It reminds me of truth.  Truth that I can hold on to throughout the day.  I wanted to share some of it with you today that you may be encouraged!

An Excerpt from:  Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings [STREAMS IN THE DESERT]

2 Cor 7:5  " We are harassed at every turn"

Why is it that God leads us in this way, allowing such strong and constant pressure on us?  

One of His purposes is to show us His all-sufficient strength and grace more effectively than if we were free from difficulties and trials.  "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show us that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Cor 4:7)

Another purpose is to bring us a greater awareness of our dependence upon Him.  God is constantly trying to teach us how dependent we are on Him - that we are held completely by His hand and reliant on His care alone.  

This is exactly where Jesus Himself stood and where He desires us to stand.  We must stand not with self-made strength but always leaning upon Him.  And our stand must exhibit a trust that would never dare to take even one step alone.  This will teach us to trust Him more.  

There is no way to learn of faith except through trials.  They are God's school of faith, and it is much better for us to learn to trust Him than to live a life of enjoyment.  And once the lesson of faith has been learned, it is an everlasting possession and an eternal fortune gained.  Yet without trust in God even great riches will leave us in poverty. " 

So this today, if you are hurting physically or just plain hurting…let us remember the truth that there are eternal purposes at work…things gained that will last forever.  A God who loves you and has a plan and holds out hope that will carry you through until the sun is shining and warm and your hurt has faded away!

My Current Short Term Fitness Goal! (not the sticker chart...the video!)

So here's the deal... 
I have to have a fitness goal.  

Not only do I need a sticker chart to keep track of that goal, but I also need a reason to keep pressing on when my body hurts and I am tired.  

My ultimate fitness goal is to be strong and healthy, keeping my Lupus and Arthritis as contained as possible. 

But how do you measure that?  I used to measure my health by how I feel each day but that is so subjective.  The positive physical benefits like fitting into a certain dress or swimsuit have never been motivators for me.  Maybe a piece of awesome cheesecake!  (Not a good idea!) 

So last year I decided I would "measure" my fitness by setting a short term goal and it worked!  My goal last year was to be strong enough physically to enjoy a full day of water skiing with Brad's family.  The prior year...I couldn't enjoy it because it made me so tired.  So last year, not only did I get to actually enjoy skiing...the added benefit was that I had enough energy to keep up with my children.  I have more memories of last summer having fun than memories of just wishing I could take a nap!  I'm hoping for the same this year.

A personal note...please know I share this with you...not for my own benefit.  I fear always talking about me.  But, I have learned through these past years of not feeling well...that life is short and I'm hoping that you will be encouraged to live life, get moving, enjoy each moment God gives you and make some great memories...

Sooooo - My fitness goal this year is to feel strong enough by spring to physically to do this:

Yikes!  (don't tell my mommy!)

So today the question is...what is your fitness goal?  Long term?  Short term?  Maybe it's to be able to physically sit on the floor and play games with your children.  Maybe it's to play basketball and be able to walk off the court of your own free will. :)  I don't know what it is...but I believe if you don't set some goals...you can never reach them.  

You can do it...decide, commit to the process, make plans and jump!

What We DO Eat - Breakfast!

Many of you have asked "What DO you eat?".  I would LOVE to talk about the things we eat!  I've been trying to figure out how to do that in a small area like on a blog. :)  Hang in here with me..it's going to be long.  

Today I'll start with breakfast and break it up into "MY FOOD" & "FAMILY FOOD".  Note that the food I eat is for those of us that are avoiding the 7 Foods that cause inflammation.  My family, particularly, my husband has an awesome immune system and loves his whole grains, so he gets to eat them. :) 

MY FOOD:

OATMEAL 

Oatmeal is pretty much my staple breakfast.  Not quick-cooking but real oats.  I add a little cinnamon and craisins.  If you are trying to eat gluten free make sure they are gluten free.  My favorite are Bob's Red Mill.  Tip:  Don't do steel cut oats if you have digestive issues as they are too hard to digest.

Eggs 

Eggs are a great source of protein.  We do eat a lot of eggs - 2 egg whites and 1whole egg scrambled with any add-ins that I have available in the fridge.  I also have boiled eggs around all the time for quick protein.

Shakeology 

I have a Shakeology either for Breakfast or for Lunch.  It has over 70 ingredients in it that I just can't eat in a days time and it has the digestive enzymes and probiotics that keep my digestive system working.

Buckwheat / Oatmeal Pancakes 

Occasionally I will make up a batch of these.  The buckwheat is gluten free and the oatmeal adds fiber keeping the glycemic index down.  I throw the leftovers in the freezer and eat later with nutbutter when I want something pancake-ish.  I will post the recipe later :)

FAMILY FOOD

All of the Above Food and: 

Whole Grain Pancakes 

I like to make my own but when I can't (or Brad is making pancakes...because he is much more patient than I am) we use Bob's Red Mill or Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat.

Whole Grain Cereals 

Brad's new cereal of choice is  KASHI Cinnamon Harvest which is pretty close to a whole food.  The ingredients are "organic whole grain wheat, evaporated cane juice (yep-sugar), and organic cinnamon"  That's it...that is pretty incredible for a box cereal.  The girls eat Frosted Mini-wheats.  In order to keep away from High Fructose Corn Syrup, we changed to Hy-Vee Brand that does not contain HFCS and is very much like the name brand. 

Organic Yogurt 

Yep dairy.  Organic Yogurt if you do not have an allergy to dairy, it is a great source of protein and probiotics.  I would keep yogurt as organic and "live" as possible.  This is one we will spend money on because I think it is important.  Tip:  Buy your yogurt plain and let the kids swirl in real  or low sugar fruit preserves.

Fruit 

Grapefruit  Tip: If it's fresh, peel it like an orange, or use "special

grapefruit spoons".  DO NOT put sugar on the grapefruit... it  doesn't help.  Actually salt makes it sweeter if you have too.  But

if you don't teach the kids to dip their grapefruit and

strawberries in sugar...they won't think of it!  Clementines - kids

can peel them on their "own" which is huge in my family!

Apples, frozen fruit, frozen blueberries, grapes, bananas...We have fresh choices..we just have to make them happen!

A Word of Encouragement:  

Maybe you are thinking...UGH my family will NEVER eat that...

Don't think that way.  Change the things you can without a fuss RIGHT NOW and pick one food a week to introduce or change.  Make it fun!  Let them be a part of the process.  

When I started changing breakfast I made lists of "choices" and allowed them to pick a choice from each list.  One list was from the whole grain or egg category,  the other list was a type of fruit or yogurt.  They loved picking the options off the list.  In fact they acted like they were at Village Inn.  

May your mornings be filled with love and lots of good food!  

What We Do Eat - Michi's ladder!

My goal is to feed my family as much healthy and nutrient filled food as possible.  

That being said, I will confess that there are times that I don't or can't.  Those times would be: when my children are in others homes or care, when the food budget does not allow and some times when it's just not the battle I want to engage in with my family.  I do not want my need to watch my foods becoming a stumbling block to my children.  In time, they will have to make their own choices.  But for now, I can model, teach and love them...even if someone just offered them a mocha frappicino and they drank the whole thing!  There has to be grace in this process...  (OK off the soapbox!) 

Oh wait... I have to post this: 

I know, I know... I used to love them...

Carmel Frapp with whip

500 Calories

16 Fat

10 Saturated

80 Carbs

68 Sugars

NOW, tell me how this is good to eat every day?

Sooo:  below is a list of the "best" foods we can choose!  I copied this original list here from Team Beachbody.  My goal is not to "lose weight" but to eat healthy nutrient filled foods.  I will leave the list complete so that you can choose for yourself what you will decide to eat and feed your family.  Personally, I have one for myself with my diet modifications, and I have one for the family as they can eat tomatoes and whole grains etc. etc. 

Don't be overwhelmed.  
The concept of the "Ladder" is that we need to be eating from the top "Tiers" as much as possible.  The higher on the ladder...the better the food is for our body.  For example: we do occasionally eat lean hamburger listed on Tier 3.  However, we recognize that it is not the best choice and try to substitute chicken or a protein found in Tier 1 or 2 if possible.  This "ladder" also helps me see the truth of how healthy Brad's baked chips or my refried beans really are. :)   

Climb Michi's Ladder

Apples, with skin  C Artichokes (no sauce) PC Amaranth PC Arugula C Asparagus C Barley C Beans PCF Beets C Blueberries C Bok choy C Boysenberries C Bran C Broccoli PC Broccoli sprouts PC Brussels sprouts PC Cabbage C Carrots C Cauliflower C Celery C Chard PC Chickpeas PC Cherries C Citrus fruits C Collard greens PC Cottage cheese (nonfat) P Cucumbers C Egg whites P Endive C Fish (broiled, steamed, grilled) PF Flaxseed F Garlic (fresh) C Grapefruit C Grapes C Hempseed F Herbs Kale PFC Ketchup (homemade, no sugar) C Kiwifruit C Lentils PFC Lettuce (romaine, green or red leaf) C Melon honeydew C Milk (nonfat) PC Mushrooms C Mustard C Natto PFC Nectarines C Onions C Papayas C Peaches C Pears C Peas PC Peppers C Pineapple C Plums C Prunes C Quinoa PC Radishes C Raspberries C Refried beans (nonfat) PC Rice (whole-grain) C Salsa (natural, no sugar or oil) C Spelt PC Shakeology CP Spinach PC Squash C Strawberries C String beans PC Sweet potatoes C Tea (green or black, no sugar) Tomato sauce (no sugar) C Tomatoes C Vinegar Water Yams C Yogurt (nonfat, no sugar) PC Zucchini C Back to Top Apples, skinless C Applesauce (raw) C Avocados F Bagels (whole-grain) C Bananas C Bread (whole-grain) FC Broths (veggie, chicken, etc., low sodium) FC Buffalo, super lean (under 10% fat) PF Cereal (whole-grain) PFC Cheese (nonfat) P Coffee (black or cappuccino w/ nonfat milk) C Coconut F Corn FC Couscous PFC Cottage cheese (low-fat) PF Cream cheese (nonfat) P Dates C Eggs, whole PF Eggplant C Feta cheese (low-fat) PF Fowl (skinless, white meat only) PF Figs C Granola (raw, no sugar) PFC Hummus PFC Juice (fresh-squeezed w/ pulp, no sugar) C Mangoes C Meat, wild game PF Milk (1%) PFC Muesli (raw, no sugar) PFC Nuts (raw) PF Nut butters (raw, no additives) PF Oatmeal PC Olive oil F Olives F Pork tenderloin PF Plantains C Raisins C Ricotta cheese (nonfat) P Rye Crisp C Seitan PFC Squid PF Stevia Sunflower seeds PF Tahini PF Tempeh PFC Tofu PFC Vegetable juice C Veggie burger PFC Yacon syrup C Yogurt (low-fat, no sugar) PFC Back to Top Applesauce (big brand) C Agave nectar C Almond milk PFC Beef, ground, super lean (under 10% fat) PF Beef (lean cuts) PF Broths (veggie, chicken, etc.) C Butter (unsalted) F Canola oil F Cheese (hard) Cheese (low-fat) PF Chicken taco (baked) PFC Chili (no lard or sugar added) PF Crackers (whole-grain) FC Cream cheese (low-fat) PF Fowl (skinless, dark meat only) PF Fowl, ground, super lean (under 10% fat) PF French fries (baked) FC Fruit (dried) C Granola (no sugar added) C Honey C Jam or marmalade (no sugar added) C Ketchup (store bought, no sugar added) C Lamb (lean) PF Lettuce (iceberg) C Maple syrup (natural, no sugar added) C Milk (2%) PFC Muesli (big brand) PC Molasses C Oatmeal (flavored) PC Pancakes (buckwheat) C Pasta (whole-grain) C Pickles C Popcorn (plain) FC Potatoes (baked or boiled) C Refried beans (low-fat) PFC Rice cakes C Rice milk C Rice (white) C Sauerkraut C Shellfish P Shrimp P Soy milk PFC Soy nuts PFC Sugar alcohols (Truvia, & anything ending in –tol) C Sushi PFC Tortillas (whole wheat) FC Veal PF Wine (red) C Wine (white) C Back to Top Artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame, saccharine, etc.) Bagels (refined flour) C Beef, ground, lean (under 20% fat) PF Beer C Bread (refined flour) C Butter (salted) F Caesar salad (w/ chicken) PFC Canadian bacon PF Cheese, soft (including blue and goat) F Chips (low-fat, baked) C Cobb salad PFC Coffee (iced mocha latte w/ nonfat milk) PC Coffee (latte w/ whole milk) PFC Coffee cake FC Crackers FC Cream cheese F Fish (fried) PF Fowl (with skin) PF Fowl, ground, lean (under 20% fat) PF Graham crackers C Ham PF Hot dogs (turkey) PF Ice cream (sugar-free or fat-free) FC Jell-O C Jerky (turkey) P Juice (from concentrate) C Lamb chops PF Lasagna PFC Macaroni and cheese FC Mayonnaise F Meat loaf PF Milk (whole) PFC Muffins FC Nuts (salted or roasted) F Nut butters (processed) FC Pancakes FC Peanut butter (not raw) FC Pizza (thin crust veggie) PFC Popcorn (w/ salt and butter) FC Pork chop PF Potato salad or macaroni salad FC Pretzels C Pudding (w/ low-fat milk) FC Reuben sandwich PFC Sauce (steak, etc.) C Sherbet C Sloppy Joe (lean beef or turkey) PFC Soup (canned creamy) PFC Soy sauce Spaghetti (w/ meatballs) PFC Sub sandwich PFC Sweet-and-sour sauce FC Tortilla (refined flour or corn) FC Tuna salad or chicken salad PF Yogurt (frozen) C Back to Top Alcohol (hard liquor) Bacon PF Baked beans PFC Beef, ground, regular, (over 20% fat) PF Beef taco (fried) PFC "Breaded" foods FC Breakfast sandwich (fast-food) PFC Cake FC Candy PFC Cereal (sugared) PFC Chicken à la King PFC Chicken (buffalo wings, nuggets, tenders) PFC Chicken or fish sandwich, fried PFC Chips (potato or corn) FC Chocolate PFC Chicken fried steak PFC Cinnamon bun FC Coffee (mocha, macchiato, ice blended, frappé, triple caramel vanilla buzz bomb, etc.) FC Cookies (Oreo®, etc.) FC Creamed veggies FC Creamer (nondairy) FC Doughnuts FC Energy drinks C Fowl, ground, regular (over 20% fat) PF French fries FC Gravy PF Grilled cheese sandwich PFC Hamburger (fast-food) PFC High fructose corn syrup C Hot dogs PFC "Hydrogenated" foods F Ice cream FC Jerky (beef, pork, venison) PFC Juice (sugar added) C Lobster Newburg PFC Margarine F Milk (cream or half-and-half) PFC Nachos FC Onion rings FC Pastries FC Pies FC Pizza (delivered) PFC Potato skins (fried) FC Refried beans (w/ lard) PFC Salad dressing (creamy) FC Sausage PF Soft drinks, diet (read the studies) Soft drinks, sugared C Sports drinks & foods (unless you're playing sports) Syrup C Sugar (refined) C Tater tots FC Toaster pastries FC Vegetable oil (cheap big brand) F

My next post will be specifics of what we are currently eating, but I first wanted you to have the big picture of good food choices.