Smashing Acorns - Irony - Bullies - Arrogance - Sensory Memories

We live in a very wooded area. Our deck is a playground for gray squirrels, red squirrels, chipmunks and the occasional raccoon. Every fall the deck looks like an oak tree and acorn war zone. Those darn squirrels go up in the oak trees and don't just take 1 or 2 acorns. They snip of the entire branch tip and let it fall to the ground. Most of those end up on our deck.

I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat wondering what smashing acorns have to do with irony, bullies and arrogance. Your brain is an amazing tool. We can't even begin to fathom the power of the mind.

Years ago, in another life, when I was part owner of a software development and distribution company, I discovered the joy of smashing acorns. As a business owner, the workday never stopped at 5. I would often be on the phone, working on billing reports, putting together proposals and so much more. I also often worked from home. If I was on a particularly long phone call or conference call, I found huge and strange stress relief in pacing back and forth on my deck and stepping on the acorns. The crunch of the nut and/or the top shell was weirdly satisfying.

I came home last Friday and found myself on a call and I went out to the deck. I honestly had forgotten about stepping on the acorns and there they were, waiting for me! It had been a very challenging day with multiple deadlines, problems with orders etc. I started stepping on those acorns and remembering.

There may have been a really good reason that I had forgotten about stepping and smashing those acorns. Your brain is an amazing thing and often will protect you from things you had long forgotten. Friday, my mind quickly went back to a day I was on the phone and smashing acorns.

I had gotten a call from a business consultant/coach our company had hired at about 6 pm. I don't remember the specific details of the call with a few exceptions. It was a very difficult call. He was telling me what a horrible person I was and ALL the things he thought were wrong with me. He told me I was never going to succeed (ok maybe that was my interpretation). At the time of the call, I found my head spinning, I was totally taken off guard and I found myself trying to defend myself.

At one point in the call (here is the irony), he said that I reminded him of himself. He told me that he felt (no one asked him to do this) that he needed to break me down so that he could build me back up. Yup. He told me that after about an hour of beating the crap out of me telling how useless I was. Can you imagine the ego and arrogance required to do that to someone?

So, long story short... I believe very strongly in the power of the brain and memories. Scents or smells are the most common, the smell of a certain perfume or cologne, baking bread or cookies, they can bring back a flood of memories. Sounds, like music, certain hymns or songs from your first dance also have strong ties to memories.  

This is the first time I have experienced a physical memory. The stepping on those acorns in addition to the sound of the crunch, took me back to that phone call with that "business coach" and the horrible things he said to me to "break me down, in order to build me up."  Please, don't ever do that to someone. I don't care how well intentioned you are, it is horrible.

You may wonder how that all ended up? We fired him. My next call was to one of my business partners. I needed to know if he knew the "coach" was going to do that. He said he did not. Thankfully my partner had my back and agreed it was not helpful, productive or kind. 

On Friday, when that memory came up, I was able to let it all go. I guess you could say I forgave him, but I also know how much of a success I am and that he did not destroy me or my future. I didn't let him.

Never underestimate the power of your brain. 

Milestones

 Life is full of many milestones. We measure progress and growth with many different steps and stages in life.  This is especially true when you have children. You know, the height measurement on the wall or the back of the door?  Not every person decides to become a parent.  Parenting is certainly not for the faint of heart. I can remember my Mother telling me that life would be very lonely when you get older if you don't have children. I didn't understand that, but I am beginning to see that. Why are we in such a hurry to grow up and then we want to slow down the aging process?

When you become a parent, your world changes. You are responsible for the life of another being. I remember so many changes when I became pregnant. I didn't like flying much anymore. It wasn't just my life; I was responsible for another life! 

I remember being pregnant. I was NOT a good pregnant person. Control freaks don't do well when hormones make you out of control. As we were setting up the nursery, I remember sitting on the floor, listening to a CD of baby lullaby music and crying my eyes out. I wasn't sad. I was overwhelmed with what was ahead of us. When I first held you, I thought my heart would burst. You cannot understand or comprehend that love. It is different than loving your parents, your siblings or even your spouse. That tiny person is a part of you. That tiny person holds your heart. The depth of that love is beyond comprehension.

Not to gloss over the process, but you measure that life in a series of milestones.

1. Birth
2. Baptism
3. Kindergarten 
4. 1st Grade
5. Jr. High/Middle School
6. Confirmation
7. First Dance
8. First Date
9. High School
10. Driver's License 
11. Graduation
12. College (for those choosing to attend)
13. Graduation
14. First Apartment
15. First Full Time Job

All of a sudden you get to this place, and you don't know how you got here. How did it happen so quickly. Where did our baby girl go?

Celebrate the milestones and treasure the moments. There are no more toys in our tub or on the living room floor.  Grandma's annoyingly loud PT Cruiser toy is no more. Singing on the fireplace with the toy microphone is silent. No one shouts, 'naked naked naked' before bath time. Her room is empty, but the house and my heart are full of memories.

I remember when Elsie was learning to drive. One day I looked over at her and realized that her driving meant that someday, she would drive away and out of our home. You know that is the logical step in life, but I don't know if you can ever prepare for that. 

Last Friday was the 5-year anniversary of us moving Elsie into college. She went a full year early and we knew she was ready. It didn't make it easy, but we knew she was ready to fly. 

On Saturday we hit another major milestone.

SHE SAID YES. 

Elsie is engaged. To see the joy in her face and the love in her heart melted my heart. We know her, inside and outside and both are beautiful.  She has all the best traits of her Dad and me, and some of our not so good traits. She is her own, unique and amazing person. She is loving, generous, demanding, fierce, caring, talented, opinionated (maybe a little pig headed), incredibly smart, driven, competitive, she talks loudly, nosey, she loves with her whole being, and she is maybe a little high maintenance (it takes one to know one). She was doomed with two over achiever, perfectionist parents.  But we love all the parts of her and are so thankful she found someone that also loves all the parts of her.

    

We are thankful for Noah and his love for Elsie.  Blessings to you both on your journey.

This came in my email today and seemed appropriate to share.

The story of human intimacy is one of constantly allowing ourselves to see those we love most deeply in a new, more fractured light. Look hard. Risk that.

Cheryl Strayed

A Village/A Community

 People need people. Even introverts need people. Yup I said it. Maybe it doesn't seem like it, but let's face it everyone deserves to be loved and needs to feel love, compassion and even companionship. The last two years have been so hard for so many people. Families have been separated and torn apart. Friends were restricted to not being face to face. Businesses were not face to face with their clients. People were and many still are working from home, alone. 

A beloved introvert said to me the other day, I don't think Covid was good for me. What he meant was that he liked being with people even less than he did before. Social media and the divisive nature of our society doesn't help that at all. The number of people judging people and rejecting people for personal beliefs of all sorts is unprecedented.

Your village, or your community could be a group of friends, your church, your co-workers, your neighbors or even your family. Your village/community does not have to be huge; it can be a few trusted people in your lives. If you have been a part of a community and felt that support and love, you know exactly what I mean.

When you lose that community, or have to leave that community, you may not realize the hole in your life. Trust me, it is there. 

We recently ran into a couple that was part of a former village/community for my family. It had been probably 10 years since I had seen them. IT WAS SO WONDERFUL to see them. It triggered a lot of memories.

As we chatted, we found out they were still part of the physical location that is that community, but they felt over the years the community had been destroyed by its' current leadership. It broke my heart. At the same time, it made me realize that I was missing that community. I was missing that village.  The people, yes, but more the feeling, the comfort, the trust that these people would have your back if you needed it.

If you have that community anywhere, hold on to it. It is precious. It is important. 

It appears it may be time to go on a soul-searching adventure. I need to find that sense of community again. Maybe I can bless someone else that also is feeling that they are without community.

Crochet & Memories

 I have been crocheting a lot since Covid started. I find it fulfilling to create things with my hands. I have never thought of myself as crafty or creative, but I enjoy using my hands to create. My Mother used to knit and crochet. She taught me how to do both many years ago. It is both a visual kind of memory and a tactile memory. 

Shopping for yarn, was a time that we spent together at stores. Feeling the different textures, looking at the patterns on the labels and colors, oh so many choices for colors and color combinations.  We would set skeins next to each other and review the color combos talking about what we liked and what we didn't. When I was little I gravitated towards the bright colors. She was a little more subtle in her color selection. 

When we got home, each skein was opened up, unfurled and I would hold it between my two hands while she wound the skein up into a ball. We would talk about life, the world, friends, family and just really anything that came to mind while she wound that yarn. 

I remember her sitting in the chair with her feet up and a large blanket in her lap.

When she got older, she suffered from arthritis in her hands and she couldn't crochet as much. We would still sit together on a Sunday afternoon after eating dinner together. That was a family tradition even after I moved out of the house. Church together on Sunday morning and then Sunday dinner with my parents. After I was married, my husband joined me for Sunday dinners.

When my husband and I got pregnant the first time, we wanted to let our parents know right away. I bought yarn and a pattern for a baby blanket. Wrapped it up and gave it to her to open asking her to make it for me. We all cried tears of joy together. It is still a treasured blanket to me.  

When my Mother passed away, I got some of her left over yarn and a blanket that she had started but never finished. I recently got that out. I made a couple of pumpkins with some of the variegated yarn. While making those pumpkins it was a connection I hadn't felt in a long time. I held the yarn in my hand, ran it through my fingers, knowing that she had held that very yarn in her hands. Memories flooded back and I felt a real peace. I love that connection I have to her in my crochet work. 

What traditions do you carry on from your parents and family?

And Then You Were Gone

 

And then you were gone.

One day I blinked, and you were gone.

I wasn’t ready.

I didn’t know.

The pain.

The hurt.

The sorrow

That went with you leaving.

Had I known?

I would have spent more time loving you.

Being With You.

Being Intentional.

And now?

It’s too late.

Sadness.

Sorrow.

Regrets.

A College Graduate

 Just yesterday I remember sitting on the floor of your soon to be nursery, listening to lullabies and crying. Crying with joy and because I was so overwhelmed. 

I had no idea what was in store for us on the journey ahead. But I knew that I loved you with every part of my being. The journey isn't over and neither is yours and my heart is so full of love and pride I think it may burst. I will write more about this later. But for right now I want to share sweet Elsie's reflections.

NOTE:  PHOTOS ARE FROM HER FRESHMAN MOVE IN DAY.

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There are changes that occur when you grow that no one tells you about. Things that individually stay small but eventually add up to feel catastrophic. When you’re a child no one tells you that soda turns into alcohol, bikes become cars, hugs turn into kisses which hold the possibility of leading to something more. When I was younger sitting on my dad’s shoulders was the highest place on earth. The biggest problem I faced was trying to get the whiffle ball out of the nettles that lined the fence of my back yard without the itchy white bumps that were guaranteed when you brushed against their leaves. War was only a never-ending card game and the most pain I ever felt was from a scrapped knee. Oh, the irony that I see when I realize that I couldn’t wait to grow up.

College has ended almost as quickly as it started. I am left to ask the simple question, “where to now”? The transition from the education system that I have spent the past 18 years in to the real world is daunting to say the least. You have so many ideas in your head, plans that you were so certain would come to fruition and instead you are met with chaos and the realization that the world is so far out of your control.

I couldn’t wait to grow up. I was always looking forward, years down the road. Growing up was funny though because I never actually felt older. When I was a kid in the summer, I had nannies, who were in high school. They were 16 years old and lived in my neighborhood; they had a car and a boyfriend. I thought they were so cool, and I couldn’t wait to be their age and be that grown up. Well, I turned 16, I got a car, and a boyfriend and it was nothing like 5-year-old me thought it would be. I realized that at 16 I didn’t feel grown up and I definitely wasn’t. At 16 I had friends that were leaving and going to college and I couldn’t wait till I got there. I thought surely when I was in college, I would feel older, feel like an adult. Well, I went to college and it was nothing like 16-year-old me thought it would be. I definitely had more freedom than when I was high school, but in many ways that freedom showed me just how easy it was to be irresponsible. Even with the freedom I didn’t exactly feel like an adult. During college I nannied the sweetest little boy, the two years I was with him he was in 2^nd and 3^rd  grade. He used to say to me, “Elsie, you’re an adult because your old but you’re not a grownup because you aren’t old old”. I chuckle thinking back to these conversations because somehow this 7-year-old cutie knew exactly how to describe what I was feeling. I thought surely when I graduate college, I would feel older, I would finally be a real adult. Well, here I am about to graduate college with a double major and a minor (not so humble brag, I know. But come on, I worked hard) and it is nothing like 18-year-old me thought it would be. I don’t just mean because I am graduating college in the second year of a global pandemic.

While I do not feel the way that I once thought that I would after graduating college, in many ways, I do feel older. I feel older because my life is so much richer than it was four years ago. I have built relationships, lived experiences, and battled through hardships that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I have had some of my greatest successes and some of my biggest failures. I have loved and I have lost, but above all I have grown. See now I realize that when I was younger, I was placing the emphasis on the wrong word. Life is not about growing UP but rather about simply growing.

My time in the classroom is ending, at least for now, but that doesn’t mean my education is ending. I will stop learning when I stop breathing, then and only then. My instruction has taught me tolerance, its has taught me how to bounce back from countless failures, it has helped me be more openminded, it has given me a passion, a passion to do well for myself but more importantly to do good for this world. College has shown me who I am, and I have to believe that even though 5-year-old me would be disappointed that I was wrong time and time again she would be proud of how far we have come and how far we are going to go. If I could tell my younger self anything it would be that being grown up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

So here I am, a 21-year-old college graduate, an adult that’s still learning and still growing. Behind me lie all my memories, ideas, and thoughts of how the world works. Before me are all of my dreams for myself and the world. Around me are all the people who love me and who I love right back. Lastly within me, I have everything I need to move forward in love, kindness, grace, and goodness. 

Going Home

 It is no secret that our family has been incredibly stressed due to the virus that has affected the world.  As small business owners that depend on live events to earn a living, it has been a challenge to say the least.

One of the things that has gotten me through this time, is my faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. With the extra time on our hands, I have been reading the bible, praying and studying more than I have in years.  Maybe God needed to do something big to get our attention again?

I have had an issue with the closing of churches.  I strongly believe in a time like this, we need God and we need the fellowship of church and other church goers more than ever.  Before everyone gets their undies in a bunch, I don't envy any church making the decision to stay open or to close. But I still am of the opinion that if you can go to a grocery store, a Walmart, a Target, a Costco or the World's Largest Candy Store that you can worship safely.  This is not a criticism of any church, just simply my opinion.

I also am of the opinion, if you are high risk or are in regular contact with people that are high risk?  You should stay home.

All that being said was simply background to understand where we are today.

Last week, (March 4th) I got to go back to church to work with our church confirmation youth band, Holy Commotion.  I didn't even realize how much I missed those kids and I missed sharing our faith through music.  

The world is broken in so many ways.  These kids have always been a light in the world to me so many others. I have felt so lost without a church family to lean on during these incredibly difficult times.  I see the depravity of the world and it's brokenness every day.

While the band was warming up, our final song was Messiah.  They sang it beautifully.  We hadn't been together in over a year and I got chills.  We need Jesus more than ever.  I am broken but made whole.

I said to our son when we were done last Wednesday, "It felt like going home."

MESSIAH

Someone's shouting from the dessert. Someone's shouting from the sea.
Someone's shouting from the mountain. Someone's shouting from the valley.

Messiah, Come and be our King.
Messiah, Come and be our King.

Someone's shouting from the city. I am young, I am cold.
Someone's shouting from the country. I am lonely, I am old.

Messiah, Come and be our King.
Messiah, Come and be our King.

Someone's shouting I am broken. Someone's shouting make me whole.
Someone's shouting come and change me. Someone's shouting save my soul.

Messiah, Come and be our King.
Messiah, Come and be our King.

(Larry Olson, ©1989 Dakota Road Music)

Scale: Slave to? Or Accountable To?

 Weightloss.   Everywhere you turn you see ads for quick and easy weight loss.   Pills, shakes, creams, and even laser therapies.  If you have followed me at all, you know I have struggled with my weight since our daughter got sick the first time.   I know I am repeating myself, but I am a major stress eater.  Knowing and understanding your eating habits and eating triggers is critical to success in weight loss.

Fast forward to this spring.   Gyms had been closed for three plus months.  Our business has been drastically affected by this pandemic as well.  That was a recipe for disaster for me.   Food for comfort, beer and pizza, wine, chips and so much more.   The latest health issue in our home if our son hurting his back over a year ago during off season baseball training.  That is another story, but let's just say, unsupervised weight training with young high school athletes is a REALLY bad idea.  He has struggled a lot and missed a lot of baseball as well.  The masses of tests, emergency room visits and so much more has been stressful to say the least.

We trusted so many people and medical professionals to figure out what was going on with his back.  The answer?   I don't know.  His tests are normal.  We finally turned to a long time friend and person trainer Jason Ivesdal.  Jason is the perennial student and is always studying and learning to better service his clients.   Our son started training with Jason and working on building back his strength and mobility.  Of course then COVID hit.  there was no more training with Jason for over 3 months.  But, this isn't about our son.  I always went along to our son's training sessions with Jason.  Jason and I would chat about a lot of different things during those sessions.

One very emotional day for me, I said to him with tears in my eyes, "I can't be like this anymore, I need your help to lose this weight for good.".   His simple answer, "I will help you."

I will write more about the process later, but right now I want to talk about the scale.   I have been a slave to the scale for many years.   If I had a night of beer and pizza, I would step on the scale the next day.  I would get frustrated that the scale would go up significantly and it would take me days to get back to where I was.  I would get frustrated and say things like, "I won't ever be able to eat normal food again.  Every time I eat normal food I gain weight."  "I'm never going to get to my goal weight."  In the past the scale would make me feel like a failure.  It was not a healthy place for me to be so obsessed with the scale.   

The scale does not always reflect where you are in a weight loss journey.  There are other considerations.  For example:   Are you retaining water?  Do you have food allergies?  Are you working out and building lean muscle mass?   The scale is only one piece of a larger wellness puzzle.

So, I changed my focus.  Now I am excited to step on the scale and don't concern myself with how much it goes down. I am looking at the scale as a tool to help keep me on track.  I am learning what foods and what things make the scale go up slightly.  That way I can adjust my "normal" eating habits to not eat those things as frequently.   I also purchased a new scale.  This one has an app (doesn't everything) associated with it that lets you visually track your progress.  As an accountability tool, I make adjustments if I see the scale go up.  This will help me ultimately from rebounding and gaining the weight back.

My scale was also not accurate.  So many home scales are NOT!  That didn't help my cause.  So I decided to splurge on a new scale.  Withings Body Scale

                     

Who would have ever thought I would be excited about a scale?   This bad boy does all this:

• Tracks BMI & Weight Trends
• Up to 8 Users
• Wi Fi Synchronization
• Daily Weather Report
• Works with Multiple Health Apps
• Has a Baby & Pregnancy Mode (I am way beyond that but great for expectant Mother's!)

The hardest thing for me over the last few years is to remember that I AM Worthy.   This is a struggle for so many women.  I have lost weight and regained it more times than I can count anymore.  I know I have said this before, but it is time for ME.  Time to be healthy.  With all the craziness of this pandemic, it is even more important for people to care for the bodies God gave them.  Eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep and have a strong spiritual life.  That will help you stay healthy even through a pandemic!   I will write more about healthy living, but don't fall for quick weight loss scams.  Pills, shakes, etc.  They are not sustainable unless you want to continue purchasing and using those products for the rest of your life?   No gimmicks, no cheats, real food and exercise (full disclosure, I started with shakes, but there is a good reason for that - I only did them for 21 days). 

You are worth it.   I am worth it.  If you need to talk with someone about this, I am always available.

This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase a product through an affiliate link I make a small commission at no cost to you.  This small commission keeps my husband happy when I spend too much time on things like this.  Thank you for your support!

DIY Thieves Household Wipes

Since the start of Covid people are much more conscious of cleaning and sanitizing surfaces.  At our house we have been using Thieves household cleaner for virtually everything.  No toxic fumes, smells great and has been proven successful in killing many little nasties in your home.  An even larger bonus is it is safe for children and/or pets.  Let me tell you from experience, teach your children EARLY how to clean and get them involved in the cleaning process.

The Clorox wipes and other similar products have safety warnings all over them.  I don't want to use products like that.  Over the years we have slowly moved to more plant based and natural products in our home.   With the lack of disinfecting wipes available during this pandemic it made so much sense to make our own!   You only need 4 things.

1.  Large roll of paper towels.  We like Bounty.   Of course you can purchase these at the grocery store but if you prefer to shop from home?   Bulk Paper Towels

2.  A bottle of Thieves household cleaner.

3.  A small container.  We like this one:    Favorite Container 

4.  Water

Directions:

• Cut your roll of paper in half.   
• Place it in the container.
• Mix In Bowl 2 Cups Water & 2 Capfuls Thieves Cleaner
• Pour the Water Mixture Over The Paper Towels

Voila' you are done.   Let the towels soak up the moisture.  Once the towels are wet you will be able to remove the cardboard tube from the center.  Our recommended container seals tightly to help keep moist.   Open the lid and pull wipes from the center!   Super easy.

On the go?   Pick up some of these refillable baby wipe containers and add a few of your paper towels to this for a portable option.  Wipe your hands, wipe down shopping carts and much more! 

Portable Wipes   

Thieves household cleaner can be used for many cleaning tasks in your home.  This product is highly concentrated and will make you MANY bottles of cleaning solution at a fraction of the cost.   Notice we only used 2 capfuls in the recipe above.  Here are recommended dilution ratios.

This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase a product through an affiliate link I make a small commission at no cost to you.  This small commission keeps my husband happy when I spend too much time on things like this.  Thank you for your support!

Pandemic Gardening - Weeds Be Gone!

My Mother had beautiful, well tended gardens.  One of her best friends, Florence also had beautiful gardens on a large gorgeous wooded lot.  I remember as a child, going with my Mother to her home for lunch in the summer.  We would arrive there, walk down the hill to the screened gazebo (this is Minnesota after all and home to killer mosquitos).   I called her Aunt Florence because we spent so much time with them as a family it didn't seem right to call them Mr. and Mrs. Felber.  So they were Aunt Florence and Uncle Harvey.  Yes, I am that old that we called adults Mr. and Mrs. not their first names.  Inevitably, when we would arrive, Aunt Florence would be on her hands and knees at the edge of the garden.  She wore her big floppy hat and was always pulling weeds, digging in the dirt, moving plants to various places in the garden to create her version of beauty.  We always began with a tour of the garden.  The joy and the love Aunt Florence had for those plants was contagious.  She would point out new growth, beautiful blooms and talk about changes she was making to those gardens.

Her table was always impeccable.  Beautiful white floral table cloth and of course a vase of beautiful flowers in the center.   The table was set with beautiful china and all the silverware was placed to appease Miss Manners.  Sandwiches, iced tea with lemon and always a lovely home made pastry for desert.

 We have had the opportunity to do a lot more with our house and our yard this year.   Our neighbors are probably very thankful.  Unfortunately our son was unable to play baseball this summer.  This is probably the first summer in 14 years that we have not spent the majority of the summer on a ball field!

So, our backyard was a DISASTER!

We have a large back bed that has become completely overgrown with grass mostly.   Let me tell you it is A.  Ugly, B.  Hard to mow.  

This year I have taken the time to do much more planting and "playing" in the dirt.  Actually weeding the front beds so that our front yard actually looks decent.

Now on to the backyard.   The first thing we are tackling is that large back bed.   We are a toxic chemical free home as much as possible, so killing weeds safely is a real challenge.

Here is a testimonial from a friend that tried it.

Weed problems? Oh my gosh does this stuff rock!

Do you love our planet? Little changes add up to BIG changes!

Harsh chemicals like Round-Up sprayed on the cracks of the driveway and sidewalks DO make their way into our water supply - where we then ingest them.

Angela ordered this for me the other day and oh my gosh the weeds are just GONE! I believe she sprayed it on straight and 24 hours they were already withered!

I will be taking before and after pictures.   The plan is to spray tonight.   We will then bring in a load (or two) of black dirt.  Nothing like some manual exercise with a shovel and wheelbarrow!

                                                

Here is a link to purchase your own:    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W9HX3MV/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=lhanken-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=4d984cf15d2aa0e59b2fdd1d209ae600&creativeASIN=B07W9HX3MV

During these crazy times, we are always looking for ways to naturally boost our immune system.   Vitamin D has been shown to naturally boost your immunity.  The best way to get Vitamin D naturally is through sunshine!    

Here is a great article on how gardening actually can make you HAPPY.   https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/antidepressant-microbes-soil.htm

Working in the soil is good for the soul.  You often hear people describe their garden's as their happy place.  Beautiful shades of green, gorgeous blooms of varying colors.  Gardening also is a natural stress reliever.    Being present in the moment while gardening naturally reduces stress and anxiety.  I like to say a prayer, thanking God for his amazing beauty while gardening.  Listen to the birds, the breeze in the trees.  It can be very calming.

I know the summer is almost over, but get out in your yards, dig in the dirt.  Plant some fall plants.  Be joyful in the moment.

Be Observant - Be Present

My parents survived the depression.   My Father was incredibly frugal.   He did very well in his business but he would still haggle over acorn squash prices at a roadside stand.   He would pick up people's trash (long before Bloomington curbside pickup), fix it and either sell it or use it in our home.   He had the funds to buy whatever he wanted, but he was always frugal.

We took a lot of vacations in the car.   We didn't stay at fancy hotels, we stayed at motels (do they even exist anymore?).   I was ecstatic if we stayed at a motel that had a pool.   My oldest brother is 18 years older than I am.  I am the youngest of 4 which means I was basically an only child.   Yes, we took some big trips to Europe (to see my other brother who was stationed in the army in Germany) and to Hawaii years later when I was in high school.     But MANY of our trips were road trips.   Drive to a place, stay in a motel, drive to another place, stay in a motel until you got to your destination.

I had the backseat to myself generally and I was really good at sleeping in the car.   I still have that skill if anyone wonders.   The beauty to me was that I would fall asleep and then wake up and we would almost be there.   I thought car rides were horribly boring.  My Mother would regularly say, "Lori if you sleep the whole car ride you will miss so much!"  I wasn't buying it at the time.

My parents bought a lake home when I was 2.   I grew up at that lake home.   We were at the end of a dirt road.   We didn't have a tv.   We listened to music, we played cards, we did puzzles, we rock hunted, we explored, we fished, we swam, we played yard games, we bird watched, we boated, we grilled, we gardened, we did yard work and every day we would "go for a walk down the road".   I remember those walks usually just with my Mother very fondly.   We would talk, look for agates, watch the birds, she would point out wildflowers.   We had reference books and when we saw particular birds or flowers we would look them up and mark in the books the date and location.  We were present in the moment and always observant of what was around us and the gift of nature that God provided.

             

I learned to be observant.    I learned to listen.   I learned to watch.   Boy, how much did I miss while sleeping on those car trips?  The joy she had in finding and seeing God's creation every day was infectious.   A sense of adventure and discovery was something I cherish now. 

Fast forward to today.   

I now understand my parent's frugality.   It came from experience.   It came from fear.   We have learned to be much better stewards of our money during these trying times.

The world has slowed down.   Time is all relative now.   Our society needed this change of pace.   

Cell phones, and being constantly connected is not good.   Everyday we see people walking by our house, looking at their phones or even talking on their phones with headphones.   Why is everyone afraid of silence?   True silence doesn't exist.   While you are walking you may hear the sound of a trickling creek, or the birds singing.  Even the sound of a chainsaw or a mower brings back memories of my childhood summers.   Open your eyes.   Look at the world and the people around you.   Listen to the beautiful music God provides outside.

Our family has become more connected through this shutdown.   We are going for walks together.  We are playing games.  If I can share a little of the joy my Mother shared with me I will pass along a legacy of beauty and joy.

Worship Where You Are

Shelter in place.  Churches closed.  No singing.  Social distancing.  I never in my wildest dreams thought that our country would be brought to a screeching halt by a virus.   Over the years you watch the virus movies and it simply never occurred to me that this could happen in my life and that it could happen so quickly.  We were on "shelter in place" due to our MN Governor's orders.   The world has slowed down.   Businesses are closed, churches are closed, people are unemployed.   It is a terrifying time for many people.  That evolved to some slow openings and social distancing.  Months later and nothing is normal.

Churches were closed for weeks.   So many churches, including mine, have adapted as best they can to reach their congregations.   Messages of hope and of God's love are important to many.  But, are we sharing that message outside of our comfort zone?   

Now that we no longer worship in the walls of a church, where are you worshiping?

I picked up a book I had started before and hadn't finished.   An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor.

The first chapter of the book talks about where we worship.   God actually told Jacob that he didn't want a "house of worship".   It is easy for Christians to hide in a house of worship.  We are with people we know, people we love.   We re comfortable.  But what do you do when you leave those four walls? 

Jacob encountered God in the wilderness.   When he awoke, he realized the place he was in was the "house of God."

We have had to learn to worship differently.   The whole world is the house of God.  Church can be a front porch, a river bank, a mountain top or even a chair at the dining room table.   Jesus comes to you where you are.   He doesn't need a fancy church, he just needs your heart.

I have been on a new (old)  journey.   Yes, it is another wellness journey.   I have done a lot of clean eating and weight loss programs.   I am always successful with them.  Then something happens.  Someone gets sick, or injured, or something happens at work and I fall back to old habits.   This new journey for me, will include a lot of self reflection.  Clean eating, reading and exercising. 

I added a couple other options, pray, devotion and write.

If you have followed my journey at all, you know that I am a stress eater and when I am caring for others, or stressed, I stop caring for myself.  I talked with our friend and trainer Jason.  I was almost in tears.   I said, "I need your help".  I need to lose this weight.  I will tell you more about the journey later, but he stepped up and is helping me get there.  

So.   Now is the time.

Where is your house of God?

The Sanctuary Was Empty

The sanctuary was mostly empty.  A full sized figure of Martin Luther sat in the back.  Our chairs were separated so that we could still practice 'social distancing'.   It was very surreal.   I would even say awkward at first.     I was a little self conscious (if you know me, that is not me - at all!) and a little anxious.  It felt like a HUGE responsibility to be there sharing God's word to all the people that no longer can come to church.  Little did I know, that I was the one to be blessed.

Like many churches, we use Holden's Evening Prayer for Lenten services.  I know the music and the words by heart.   But last night.   Those words.   Oh those words.   As the service continued I was overwhelmed by a sense of peace, love and awe.   Those words seemed so much more powerful.  Maybe I had been forgetting lesson #2 (see below).   It is so easy to go through the motions during a church service.  Not last night.    Those words washed over me.  There is Hope.  There is Peace.   There is Joy.  There is Love.

"Jesus Christ you are the Light of the world; the Light no darkness can overcome; Stay with us now for it is evening, and the day is almost over.  Let your Light scatter the darkness and shine within your people here.  Joyous Light of heavn'ly glory, loving glow of God's own face, you who sing creation's story, shine on every land and race.   Now as evening falls around us, we shall raise our songs to you, God of daybreak, God of shadows, come and light our hearts anew.  In the stars that  grace the darkness, in the blazing sun of dawn, in the light of peace and wisdom, we can hear your quiet song."

And, oh so powerful...

"Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul, love that burst all chains asunder, set us free and make us whole."

It continues....

"You who made the heaven's splendor, ev'ry dancing star of night, make us shine with gentle justice, let us each reflect your light."

I sang with every part of my heart and soul the canon that followed.   After worship was over, I found out that family members and many others were watching and singing along.   How powerful is that?   Satan has no hold.

"Let my prayer rise up, like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.  O God, I call to you, come to me now; O hear my voice when I cry to you.   Keep watch within me God; deep in my heart may the light of your love be burning bright.  All praise to the God of all - Creator of life; all praise be to Christ and the spirit of love."

I love Lent.   I love the time for reflection and the quiet that seems to come with Lent.  Our church, Immanuel Lutheran in Eden Prairie, like many churches use Holden Evening Prayer for their Lenten worship.    This week we have been forced to "social distance" ourselves which means no in-person worship services.  What a time in the church year for this to happen.  Lent.   While we are preparing for God's biggest sacrifice and his biggest miracle.   We are forced to not worship together in a church building.

In my work with Holy Commotion, the youth confirmation band at Immanuel, I only want them to learn two things from me.

#1  Being a worship leader is all about giving glory to God through music.   It is not about your own glory or about your musical talents.   It is giving of your time and talents to glorify God.

#2  Really hearing and feeling the words while sharing worship music.

Last night, I felt both those lessons so dramatically it made me cry.

So, maybe this is a good thing.   We cannot hide behind our church walls anymore.  We cannot be safe together in a sanctuary.   We need to worship where we are.  All day.  Every day.  This situation has already taught me many things and I am sure I will continue to learn and grow as a person through this process.

When the service was over?  We all felt it.  We knew we really had just experienced something truly special.  I read the comments from the live stream when I got home.  Families worshiping by candlelight at home, people from afar joining us,  taking communion on their sofa,  worshiping against all odds.   It was such a blessing to me.

Why Do You Eat? Understand Your Triggers.

I am sure you have all been on pins and needles wondering where I have been and how I have been doing!   I have taken a little time away from the juicing and tried my hand at eating whole foods again. 

See, now, here is my issue.   I love to eat.   I have been trying to be mindful here now about what, when and why I eat?   I have discovered a number of things.

1.  I eat when I am bored.

Yes.   I admit it.   When I get home, or when I am bored I go and open up the fridge to see what is in there.   Usually, I don't pick something healthy.  Some pretzels, a cheese and crackers, lunch meat and of course the dreaded........   

POTATO CHIPS

Understanding your eating habits is a big part of the battle.  What are your triggers?   Do you know what they are?   

2.  I have a hard time stopping when I am satisfied.

Oh, this is such a learned behavior.   Again, I am not one to blame others, but I am of the 'clean your plate' generation.   You weren't allowed to leave the table until you cleaned your plate.

I won't tell you about the peas that I snuck to the dog so I wouldn't have to eat them.    I have to work really hard to be sure that I don't finish what is served, especially at a restaurant.   Serving sizes have become absolutely ridiculous at restaurants.   

A couple of tips at restaurants.

 - Avoid the bread basket!

 - Avoid heavy, creamy dressings and go for vinaigrettes or oil and vinegar

 - Ask the server to split your entree and put half in a box before it is served

 - Split your entree with a friend

 - Start with a green salad (but remember to avoid the creamy dressings)

 - Drink a large glass of water before you eat

 - Avoid alcohol if you are really trying to lose weight

3.  Enjoy your food/Eat slowly/CHEW

We live in such a rushed world and we are always (at our house) throwing down dinner or eating late, or eating breakfast in the car.   Food is something that should be enjoyed.   Chewing has been shown to help increase satiety.  Even if you are eating a green salad, sit down at the table and enjoy your food!   Chewing your food well also helps with digestion!

Here is a great article to read on that.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26188140

So, where am I at?   As I mentioned, I took a couple weeks where I focused on exercise and eating healthy.   As of this morning I am down a total of 22 pounds.   I am almost half way to my goal!   

What have I noticed?

• Increased Energy
• Sleeping Better
• Clothes Fit Better
• My skin is clearer and looks more lusturous
• I stand just a little bit taller now (I know I was tall to start)

#THISISMYJOURNEY, #IAMWORTHY

BHAG's - Update - Day #11

Weight Loss is a funny thing.  When you have more than 10 or 20 pounds to lose it can seem overwhelming.   What happens for me?  I lose the first chunk of weight.  I feel great.  I can see it in my face   My clothes fit differently.  Then reality hits.   I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO!

It is easy to get frustrated.   It is easy to give up.   It is easy to say things like, "I'll never get there".

Yes I will.   I know I can do this.   What makes me even more excited is I am doing this on my own.   No fancy pills or shakes (all the shakes do is drop your calorie intake, so why wouldn't you just do that with whole foods?)

I have not wanted to share my goal because I guess I was embarrassed by how big that goal had become.  It meant I had let my emotions and other external factors affect my well being and affect my weight.

So, here it is...  My weight loss goal from my start date is 50lbs.   Ok.  I know there are people that have hundreds of pounds to lose.   I have HUGE respect for them.   But #THISISMYJOURNEY.

I have not given you the results of my 10 day juice cleanse.   I made it all 10 days and I didn't stray once!   That is a big goal for me.   Was it easy?   No.  Would I do it again?   Yes.  Actually, today I am on day 4 of another 5 days.  I will fill you in on the Chicago weekend a bit later.

But for now...   Here are the final 10 day results.

I have a long way to go.  For the naysayers and doubters out there.  I am 9 days since day 10 and I am continuing to lose weight.   I haven't gained it all back.  I am not passing out.  I took a weekend off and then today is day 5 of another 5 days.  I will post day 5 results tomorrow.

Let me just say, the gains (or losses in this case) far outweigh the challenges.

#IAMWORTHY, #THISISMYJOURNEY

Forgiveness - Day #10 - Did You See How Fat She Is? - Part Deux

Forgiveness has a release and a lightness that goes with it.  Holding on to anger, hurt and hatred takes a lot of negative energy.   PLUS, it is not what Jesus wants us to do. 

If you have been following my journey, you know some pretty hurtful words were said about me.    A series of events including this one propelled me to make a change and make it BIG.

Another one of those events that I have not shared is when we were in Arizona for a baseball tournament.   It was just our son and me on that trip.  The weather was beautiful.  A couple of younger and much more fit Mom's were going to go hiking.  I chose to say no.  I knew I would hold them back and didn't want to do that.  Others sat by the pool.  I chose to not go to the pool because I was embarrassed of my body.  I was absolutely wallowing in misery and self pity.  Pretty pathetic.   Here I was in all this beauty and I sat in my room and worked, and read, by myself.

Notice that I used the word 'chose'.   I wasn't forced.  I chose to be miserable.   Joy, contentment, happiness?   Those are all choices too.

That trip was a real turning point for me.   Our daughter was still fighting a serious illness so it wasn't time for me to act.   But it was always there.  The desire to change it.

Long story short.   I forgive myself for wallowing in self-pity, for not caring for myself and for letting myself get to the place I was.   I forgive the person that said those words to me.  I will say again, they define her, not me.   I feel a lightness.  No pun intended.  This lightness is in my heart.  Before you say something negative about someone, look in your heart to see why you are saying it?   Are you hurt or angry and need to lash out at someone else?   It really doesn't make you feel better.

Most importantly, if you hear a friend or someone else say something like that about someone else, tell them, "THAT IS NOT OK!!!!!!!"  Trust me, if they are talking like that about someone behind their back, most likely they talk about you behind your back too.   TELL THEM - NO!

I know that was kind of a random thought sequence right there.  Welcome to my brain.

For me, I FORGIVE MYSELF AND I FORGIVE YOU.

This is the last day of this juice only juice cleanse.   I feel great.   I still have a journey ahead of me and the next 4 days present a great challenge to me that I am ready to take on.

I will weigh and measure in the morning before heading to the gym.  Thanks for following along.  Stay if you want.   My journey is not over.

#THISISMYJOURNEY
#IAMWORTHY

My Heart Is Full - Day #9

There were times in the last 9 days that I wanted to quit.   I wanted to give in.   I just wanted to eat whole food.   Notice, I did not say real food.   Juice is real food.   My family has been amazingly supportive. 

My poor family is not really eating much because at first it was hard for me to cook when I wasn't partaking.  I hope they know how much I appreciate their support.   Not eating, the mess in the kitchen, my 'occasional' moodiness on this journey and so much more.

I have been holding on to this little gem since I started.    When I got out my gratitude journal to start this journey I found a letter.   I don't know when it was written, but it came from our lovely daughter.

Here is the text.  Misspellings and all.  I can tell by the writing, the context and the spelling/punctuation that she was quite a bit younger.

To: Mommy I <heart> U

My Mom has made me laugh, made me cry, wiped my tears, hugged me tight, watched me succeed, seen me fail, cheered me on, kept me going strong, and drove me crazy.

But in the end it is all ok and every bad or crazy things that have happened to you, because you guys got in a fight or something, it's worth it.  All it does is bring you to closer together.   You need to be close to your Mom and luckily I am.  She is my best friend, the person who I go and tell everything to.  Sure we may fight but every Mom and daughter do, but I do know that my Mom is the one person who can make me smile from a million miles away.  The best things happen when I am with my Mom, like rolling the windows down in the car and cranking the music up so we can sing like no one is listening, or just laughing together.   Just being with her is a new adventure.  That is what makes my Mom special.  Theese are the memorys that I will remember forever, cherish and love even after she is gone.  As I get older I will only become harder to deal with, I may get an attitude and think my Moms weird and unfair but I will always remember that:

Moms are a promise from God that you will have a friend forever.   But I have to disagree, I didn't get a friend, I got a hero.

I love you and always will Mom

Happy Mothers day.


#THISISMYJOURNEY
#IAMWORTHY

David, Elsie & Porter thank you from the bottom of my heart.   I love you all more than anything!

Week One Results - Day 8

I know you have all been waiting with baited breath for my week one results.  Ha!   Seriously though, I was excited and anxious to measure this morning.  I know where the scale has been and have been pleased with that, but I know that the scale can be very misleading.  Here are a few reasons.

1. If I even look at salt (ok that is a sight exaggeration) the scale will go up the next day.   
2. I also know that I am not getting a ton of protein and that I can be burning muscle instead of fat.  I am ok with that right now.*  
3. Plus, I know the first week can be a lot of water weight.

*Here is a great article that talks about muscle loss and how to avoid it during a juice.  I have been adding in the fruits and veggies that are high in amino acids to counteract this.   I am confident that I have not lost a lot of muscle in my 7 days.  https://www.livestrong.com/article/556855-solutions-to-minimize-loss-of-muscle-while-juice-fasting/

BUT, measurements don't lie.

So drum roll please.... (This feels really weird for some reason
to me to share this).

Pounds GONE FOREVER ----- 10.6

Inches Lost

Chest - 1.5"  (of course your boobs get smaller first)
Waist - 1"
Hips - 2"
Thigh - .5"
Calf - .5"

Total of 6.5"

I am very pleased! 

• I do feel lighter.   
• You can see it in my face.   
• Our daughter came home from a weekend trip and said, "Mama you look skinnier".  
• Clothes that were tight are a little bit looser.   

Now is the time for me to push through and keep on.   I know the results will start to slow down, but progress is progress.  There is no magic pill.  There is no quick fix.  This is a lifestyle change.

Every pound counts.   If you think that losing just one pound is not very much, take a look at this.

Improvements

Sleeping Better
Night Sweats Gone
More Clarity
More Energy
Inches Gone
Pounds Gone
Morning joint pain gone (foot and hip)

I am going to keep this short and sweet.  Lots to do at work today and lots of energy this morning to get it done!

This week, I am adding in more weight training to start building more muscle.   You know muscle burns more fat right?  SO BRING ON THE MUSCLES BABY!

When you exercise, you use muscle. This helps build muscle mass, and muscletissue burns more calories -- even when you're at rest -- than body fat. According to Wharton, 10 pounds of muscle would burn 50 calories in a day spent at rest, while 10 pounds of fat would burn 20 calories.May 11, 2007

8 Ways to Burn Calories and Fight Fat - WebMD

https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/8-ways-to-burn-calories-and-fight-fat

I still have this Chicago trip coming up (maybe).   Working on a plan so I don't lose ANY progress.

#IAMWORTHY
#THISISMYJOURNEY

You Don't Sweat Much For A Fat Girl- Day 7

There is a clarity that comes with juicing for me.   Maybe it is the massive simplification of your diet that gives you the opportunity to look at things.   I don't really know.   I was visiting with my sister yesterday about eating habits and how they are formed by your parents and your childhood.

Somewhere along the line, I became uncomfortable with my weight and/or my body.  I was skinny for many many years.   I was actually skinny for more of my life than I have been overweight (not using the word fat - that word is ugly to me).  In high school I was 5'11" and weighed 130 pounds.   Far from overweight.  I put on the proverbial 5 pounds in college.  Yes it was only 5 because we walked and biked everywhere!   I was still far from overweight. 

That's me sitting behind the piano in high school.  Of course none of my high school photos are digital.  I'll have to look for some to scan.   The sad thing?  I don't like pictures now and I don't let anyone take my picture.

I remember high school, when I would sit on the sofa, with friends, I would always put a pillow in my lap over my stomach.   I don't know why, but I still do it to this day.   I also remember my Mother always wanting me to buy clothes that were too big for me.   I remember clearly buying a skirt and jacket and her telling me that I was a big girl and needed a large size.   Keep in mind sizes have changed over the years.  What was a 14 is probably now a 12 or even a 10  She wanted me to buy size 16's.  The skirts were always too big and the jacket was baggy.

Here is an article showing the evolution of women's clothing sizes.   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3198374/Chart-reveals-clothing-sizes-changed-past-60-years-shows-size-12-Marilyn-Monroe-00-8-today.html

I don't know why she thought I needed a larger size than what fit me.  Don't get me wrong.  I am not blaming her.  She was not doing anything to hurt me.   Here is another good one.  I had a boyfriend in college that thought it was really funny to say, "You don't sweat much for a fat girl."   I dated a guy after college that told me, "I don't mean to offend you, but your arms don't look good in a sleeveless shirt."   Anytime someone starts a sentence with, 'I don't mean to offend you,' it probably shouldn't be said.

So... long and the short.  Did all these things affect me?   I really don't know.   But acknowledging all those things can only help me.   I release that past completely.   I am where I am.  I am beautiful.  I am loved.  I am worthy.   I am making changes for me because I am worthy,  not because of my past.

Day 7 is just about over.   I will weigh and take measurements in the morning to see the results of week one. 

#IAMWORTHY
#THISISMYJOURNEY

Whole Foods Only - You Might Not Like This Post - Day 6

I have had a couple people ask, why are you doing a juice cleanse?  I have done these in the past.   I have also read a lot and watched a couple documentaries on the benefits of juicing.   It is not for the faint of heart.   You need to have  very strong will power for sure.  If you haven't watched it, go check out Fat Sick and Nearly Dead.   If that doesn't inspire you, nothing will.

I also know there are a ton of people working in network marketing that will tell you that they have the solution.   I am also in network marketing with Young Living Essential Oils.  We have a whole line of natural products.  But, that is not why I am writing.   There are many people in network marketing that will tell you that they have the magic solution for weightloss.   I have even heard some people call them their "magic pills".   I don't want to disparage any of my friends and I have had many suggestions made to me on products to try.

If you are anti network marketing, I get that.   I was there too.   You may like my post about network marketing.   You can read it HERE!  But, this is not the point of this post.  Squirrel.

I want to do this with whole foods and for now juicing.

Why?   This is sustainable with me only putting in my body things that God created.  My issue with all the supplements and protein shakes etc is that they want you to drink them everyday (for the rest of your life).   Of course many of these people truly want to help people to live a better life and to make a good living financially.  I do not begrudge them their success.

I just know I need to do something that is sustainable.   No, I am not going to juice for the rest of my life all day every day.   But I am cleaning out my system.  Removing toxins and loosing weight in the process.   When I decide to quit juicing, I will have a plan to keep calories eaten below calories burned.   It is that simple.  Burn more calories than you put in your body.   Don't eat foods that will destroy your health.  Things like processed foods, sugar etc.   Of course I am oversimplifying this.  But eating good whole foods, portion control and exercising are the best way to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Plan for a 80% clean rate and you will sustain your weight and even lose more weight.

My plan is to drop the pounds and not put them back on again.   I don't want to be tied to somebodies products, pills or shakes to make that happen.   I do take supplements to support my wellness, but not for weight loss.   I am not opposed to an occasional protein shake, but make sure you understand the ingredients.   Putting chemicals and processed sugar products back into your body after a juice cleanse is pretty counterproductive.

The other day, my friend, and trainer, Jen Eggum Flynn wrote a great post about one of the weight loss shake products out there.   She said everything I have wanted to say about these products.   Please READ LABELS

Looks good right? Some even say incredibly healthy and amazing and tastes amazing! LOSE WEIGHT, FEEL GREAT!

I see more and more "pop up" nutrition shops, we have one in every town surrounding Jordan and now one even opening here. These shops serve herbalife teas and shakes and are advertised as "healthy". They also hold nutrition seminars, weight loss programs and meal plans.

I'm going to warn you ahead of time that you may not like what you are going to read but as a certified health coach, a certified nutrition coach and someone who is passionate about teaching others what to put in your body....I feel it's my responsibility to tell you what's in these products so that you can decide for yourself and also to warn your kids.

Friends, what you may not realize is what is actually in the product that is being sold as "healthy" "good for you".

Herbalife Protein shakes
(Direct Ingredients from their website):

Sucralose - (AKA splenda) this is how they make sucralose - they start with sugar and then selectively replace three hydrogen groups with three chlorine atoms. The result is an exceptionally stable sweeter that tastes like sugar. So whats wrong with eating something that's been chlorinated? It DESTROYS gut flora. Unhealthy gut flora leads to allergies, weakened immune system and ultimately studies have proven autoimmune disease.
Not to mention, Sucralose still tells your body to produce insulin and when the insulin is not used.... it leads to fat stores. Thus actually adding actual fat weight.

Soy isolate protein- Soy is rich in phytic acid which blocks mineral absorption. It's also rich in goitrogens which negatively impacts the thyroid. It's also rich in phytoestrogens..... mimics estrogen in the body - not a good thing.

Canola oil - canola oil is a rancid industrial oil that undergoes an unbelievable amount of processing. All the cells you are trying to improve with eating nutritient rich foods... is being destroyed by putting tiny little holes into your cells with Canola oil.

MSG - is hidden in this powder labeled as "natural flavors" and maltodextrin. The body does not process glutamate the same as naturally occurring glutamic acid. MSG also causes cravings and overeating.

Carrageenan - is a food additive from seaweed. It is what thickens the product when mixed. It has been scientifically proven to cause colitis, ulcers and gut and digestive tract problems.

Not to mention other ingredients like corn syrup, wheat protein, utilized yeast extract and don't get me started on the horrible types of fiber they add in to these products.

Bottom line... be very very careful. These healthy drinks and teas (which have the same horrible ingredients) are NOT actually healthy.

So how do they get away with it? It's not FDA regulated. which means they don't need to tell you that it could be harmful to your health.
Also be cautious of these shops that offer nutrition advice and meal plans. Most (not all) are not certified and typically not educated at all in nutrition. It's a marketing tool used to sell... yep more product that goes into the recipe.

Lastly, this is not an I hate herbalife post. I get that these companies are in it for the business and to make money. Most of these shops will not last 3-5 years in the same location. They move in quick make a ton of money and move out. And if you are the business owner, I get that you need something to support your family and at first glance it seems like a great way to do so. I on the other hand have been on the receiving end of bad products, bad advice and my health has been affected. So I will pass along information for the public to learn about these products and and then decide what they choose to put into their body. Who knows maybe I will even get these business owners to think twice and choose a product that actually is good for your health because there are some out there.

 

You can check out Jenny's amazing Facebook page HERE!

About Jen:   Jen uses her own journey of obesity, depression, tragedy and how she overcame and won the battle to Coach others how to live a healthy lifestyle through the use of real food, appropriate exercise and learning how to live with purpose and passion.

Feel free to reach out to Jen for coaching opportunities!

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