Balance.  Doesn’t it sound lovely?

When I think of balance I think of a smiling, well dressed woman that has all the kids’ lunches packed as they walk calmly out the door to get on the school bus. Her house is clean, supper prepared in the fridge, car washed, cat fed and she picks up a book to read and snuggles into the couch.

This is NOT a picture of my life.  But I still run a business, raise three kids, have an awesome marriage, strengthen my faith daily, exercise and still find time to unwind without going crazy.

Want to know the secret?

S.T.O.P.

Yep.  Stop it.  Stop balancing. 

There is no such thing as balance in my life.  What I have are priorities.  I set them clearly and firmly.  Then I stick to them.

I believe balance is a myth.  There are seasons to life, just as there are seasons in nature.  God doesn’t balance the perfect amount of rainfall, sunshine, wind and temperature every day, week, month or even season. Certain times call for specific priorities.

Th...

For 5 weeks, I have been breaking down the top five “health rules” that I BREAK. 

One thing that I pray for you is that you never take any person’s opinion as fact.  While some of these “rules” might work for you, I would say the majority of people it is actually hurting rather than helping them.  Even when I tell you my opinion, you need to decide for yourself if you will benefit from this or not.  You need to test it out by applying it to your life, listen to how your body reacts and then by making YOUR OWN DECISION.

Last week’s rule was EAT EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.  I’d love to hear your opinions so don’t forget to stop by my Facebook page and leave questions or comments!

This is the last week!  Of course, I saved the best for last!

Health "rule": LOSING WEIGHT IS ALL ABOUT DIET AND EXERCISE, MOSTLY DIET THOUGH.

I’m smiling right now while reading that statement.  Yes, there is a lot of truth to this.  But the weight loss experts want you to believe this is the end al...

For 5 weeks, I am breaking down the top five “health rules” that I BREAK. 

One thing that I pray for you is that you never take any person’s opinion as fact.  While some of these “rules” might work for you, I would say the majority of people it is actually hurting rather than helping them.  Even when I tell you my opinion, you need to decide for yourself if you will benefit from this or not.  You need to test it out by applying it to your life, listen to how your body reacts and then by making YOUR OWN DECISION.

Last week’s rule was EAT WHEN YOU’RE HUNGRY.  I’d love to hear your opinions so don’t forget to stop by my Facebook page and leave questions or comments!

This week is one I am sure to ruffle a few feathers about:

EAT EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.

Seems logical right?  Paul does write, “Everything is permissible for me” in 1 Corinthians 6:12a.  We can eat anything we want, right?  As long as we don’t go overboard, right?

Did you read last week’s post?  Even a “moderat...

I'm breaking down the top 5 “health rules” that I BREAK.  Today we talk about number three.

One thing that I pray for you is that you never take any person’s opinion as fact.  While some of these “rules” might work for you, I would say the majority of people it is actually hurting rather than helping them.  Even when I tell you my opinion, you need to decide for yourself if you will benefit from this or not.  You need to test it out by applying it your life, listen to how your body reacts and then make YOUR OWN DECISION.

The last two "rules" were never skip breakfast and eat every couple of hours to keep your metabolism going.  I’d love to hear your opinions so don’t forget to stop by my Facebook page and leave questions or comments!

RULE NUMBER THREE: Eat when you’re hungry. 

Lately, if you follow any of the “natural” health movements, you have probably come across the Intuitive Eating plan.  The basics are this:

1. Eat when you’re hungry.
2. Eat what you really want, not diet fo
...

For 5 weeks, I will be breaking down the top four “health rules” that I BREAK. 

One thing that I pray for you is that you never take any person’s opinion as fact.  While some of these “rules” might work for you, I would say the majority of people it is actually hurting rather than helping them.  Even when I tell you my opinion, you need to decide for yourself if you will benefit from this or not.  You need to test it out by applying it your life, listen to how your body reacts and then make YOUR OWN DECISION.

Last week’s rule was Never Skip Breakfast.  I’d love to hear your opinions so don’t forget to stop by my Facebook page and leave questions or comments!

Well, this week’s really follows along in this similar direction.

RULE NUMBER TWO: EAT EVERY 2-3 HOURS TO KEEP YOUR METABOLISM GOING

Humm.  Heard this one?  Have you said this to yourself before when you really want a snack?  Another form of this that I hear is, “Eat something when you’re hungry.  Your body is telling...

For the next 5 weeks, I will be breaking down the top five health "rules” that I BREAK. 

One thing that I pray for you is that you never take any person’s opinion as fact.  While some of these “rules” might work for you, I would say the majority of people it is actually hurting rather than helping them.  That being said, you still need to decide for yourself if YOU will benefit from this or not.  Test it out by applying it your life, listen to how your body reacts and then make YOUR OWN DECISION.

You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. Psalm 119:73

Let’s dive in.

RULE NUMBER ONE: NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST

How many times did you hear growing up, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”?  While I do believe there is some truth to this statement for children, I don’t believe it is true for most adults.

Breakfast is optional my friends.  Actually, I skip it most days. 

I choose to intermittent fast.

What is the number one thing yo...

We all have them.  You know…

• The sister-in-law that one-ups you all the time.
• The mother that never helps out.
• The friend that gets drunk and embarrassing every time you spend time together.
• The husband that never has anything nice to say.
• The child that is strong willed and never obeys.

Those tough relationships.

They are draining.  Mostly mentally, but sometimes physically also. Most of that energy is spent wishing they were some how different.  We just want them to be easier to get along with.

But they’re not.  They probably won’t change.  And all that energy you’re spending wishing, wanting, hoping, is just wasted.

Do you wish you could just feel better about these relationships?

You can. 

This is what you’re signing up for if you want to feel better; you don't get to change the other person.  You can only change yourself and do the hard work of managing your thoughts.

Think you still want to sign up for this challenge?

AWESOME!

I am going to ...

**If you would like to listen to this blog post, scroll to the bottom for the audio version.

“I’m unmotivated.”

I get a little fired up after hearing this. Usually, people say this phrase to me like it is something they can’t change.

Motivation doesn’t magically drop in your lap.  Motivation isn’t a gift that can be given. 

Motivation comes through hard work. The hard work of sticking to what you planned and reminding yourself why you started in the first place. 

The hard work of managing your brain.

Here is a little secret.  I am personally writing this blog for me.  My goal is to get myself fired up again.

The other day, I heard myself say, “I lost my motivation.”

I know it’s not really “lost”.  I know how to find it. 

But finding it and bringing it back takes HARD WORK (you know, what I said above…).

Lately, I have been falling into bad habits.  The plans that I make, I have not been following through on. I’m getting REALLY good at making excuses as to wh...

**If you would like to listen to this blog post, scroll to the bottom for the audio version.

I find that a lot people live their lives inadvertently.

Would you agree?

The most common answer I get when I ask my clients just about any question is, “I don’t know”.

They don’t know …

• how or why they are overweight
• what they are thinking
• why they picked this job, husband, house, etc.
• who can help them
• what they plan to do next

Sure, they may come up with a few excuses.  In the end, most of them concede to the fact that they didn’t really take the time to think about it.  They just did.

I had a friend who wanted to start getting up earlier.  I asked her why? She said, “I don’t know.  That’s what healthy people do.  They get up earlier to work out and do stuff.”

She might as well keep sleeping with that reasoning.

Her goal was to lose weight.  I told her, “Weight loss doesn’t fall in your lap. You NEED to be deliberate.  Not just in exercise, but in all areas of...

**If you would like to listen to this blog post, scroll to the bottom for the audio version.

I live on a gravel road. A quarter of a mile down the road it changes to tar. If you follow it all the way, the tar road will wind around the lake and take you to the highway in about 4 minutes. Or, you can take a left turn where the gravel and tar meet and follow another gravel road. That gravel road will take you to the same highway in about 1 minute.

Maybe you have never lived on a gravel road.  If you haven’t, you are lucky.  Gravel is really no fun.  Believe me.  I lived off of a gravel road 30 out of my 35 years on this earth. 

To make matters worse, I have a white vehicle. 

Needless to say, this white vehicle doesn’t get washed much.  It just doesn’t pay. 

See with three kiddos, I don’t enjoy taking the long way around to get to the highway.  Most of the time we are running a little behind, so an extra 4-5 minutes would make us VERY behind. 

And I hate being behind!

 So, gra...