Day 24-25

1. Read the daily proclamation day and night.  Done, again- this is the part I like the least about this challenge.  I don't know why but I do not like reading things aloud. 

2. Compliment someone each day and say nothing negative about anyone. Thursday, I complimented the bagger at Kroger.  When I think I am only going in for a few things, I tend to not get a cart and carry my bags.  Well, I filled my bags to the brim and she was able to re bag it after it was scanned to fit nicely in the recyclable bags.  I have noticed most baggers will not take the time to do this and start using their own plastic bags instead.  I was appreciative she took the time to bag it correctly and I told her how awesome she was! 
Friday, I complimented my father.  He quit smoking on Dec 7th.  He has many health issues, one of them being emphysema.  His brother died of that last year.  Dad has been coughing non stop for about a year and is upset that the cough won't go away.  Dad has been smoking since he was 14 and we just celebrated his 70th birthday.   He has tried on and off to quit but always returns to it.  I stopped by his house last night and it didn't smell like smoke in the house.  I told him how proud I was to see that he was still not smoking.  Sometimes, the house smelled so bad that I would not walk in but stand on the porch to talk to him.  I am excited that I can stop by and visit now.  I pray that he continues to be successful. 

3. Stop eating BEFORE you are full. Follow the special body cleansing program- I am eating a vegan diet. I am only allowed raw foods for this week. 

Yumm- bought more grapefruit!!!

I am doing well with the eating. Someone was concerned that I wasn't eating enough.  Trust me, I feel like I am always eating.  Last night, I made a version of "Chunky Monkey" in my vitamix.  Here is the normal recipe-
1 cup almond milk
1/2 c dates
1Tbsp peanut butter
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa
2 frozen bananas
 
Here is what I did
2 frozen bananas (you can use regular and add ice if you don't have frozen)
handful of almonds and cashews
1 cup water
1/2 cup dates
1tsp unsweetened cocoa
handful of unsweetened coconut.

It was DELICIOUS!!!  Just the treat I needed!!  I'm not sure technically if the cocoa is something I should have since I can't walk into the garden of Eden and find it but it was just a single ingredient item.  There is nothing else in it.  I'm not going to be too picky on this because I also know I can't walk in the garden and pull out a can of black beans.  I need to adapt some. I think I am doing well with the challenge and I feel good about it. 



4. Do not get angry, curse or complain. Do not gossip about anyone.  All good here.

5.Give someone something material each day.  Thursday I bought my friend Kim lunch.  (I just realized my gift for the last 3 days went to 3 different Kims!)  She texted me that she was in town and wondered if I wanted to do lunch.  I had a few errands to run, but then we met up at Round the Clock.  She has lost 25 pounds now and is looking fantastic and feeling great!  I asked the waitress for a raw salad, any veggie she could load on there...no cheese, croutons or meat.  Kim ordered the same.  It was sooooo good.  I just never get tired of a good salad! 
Kim said something to me that I think we all can benefit from.
She has tried to rethink her way of eating out. She said when going out to eat, she focuses more on the company than the food.  I realized I have been doing this since I know before I get into a restaurant that I can't eat whatever I want.  I already know I will be having a salad so I don't focus on the meal as much and focus on the company more.  I cannot say I used to do that.  I'm all ooooooh what am I going to eat.....food......food.....I go all cookie monsterish.  You know what I'm talking about. 
Next time you go out to eat, take a moment and notice if you are more grateful for the food or the company. 
Friday, I gave my daughter a card and a Reese's Peanut Butter egg to give to her friend Hannah.  I haven't seen Hannah for a while and I know she is about to have surgery on her knee.   When I was checking out at the grocery, I saw the eggs- "Oh such delicious eggs".  My first thought wasn't "wouldn't Hannah love a Reese's egg"  My first thought was...."Ohhhhhhhh I want to EAT that!"  Then I thought of Cari- she loves them as much as I do....then I thought of Hannah.  Give me some credit here!  I will have to say that I got A LOT of flack from Cari because she is trying eat healthy and now she has to drool, smell, sleep with, carry it all the way to school to give to Hannah.   I wasn't worried at all.  I did get a confirmation text from Hannah thanking me for the goodie!  Whew it made it!



6. Pray and read scripture for your age in minutes daily.- I pray for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 minutes at night. I also listen to an audio bible for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 at night. Done

7. Drink half myweight in ounces of water.- done I have to drink 72 ounces of water. Done. I have been drinking way more water because I got a new water bottle.  It is made of glass and I have been doing my best to not use plastic containers or bottles due to BPA.  I watched a documentary on the BPA but I can't remember the title.  I will write more about BPA dangers in a future blog.  It's something that we all need to become more aware of.  Stay tuned....
Anyway- I suggest you eat and drink off plates, glasses or utensils that you LOVE!  Stop eating off paper plates or using the "kids" cups.  I find that if I eat from nice plates and drink from my favorite glass, I enjoy it more.  I know it's all mental but it's true. 

8. If you are doing any of these stop. Stop flirting, having affairs, committing fornication, looking at pornography, or communicating with a person who is not your spouse. Nope

9. Wash my face before bed. This isn't part of the challenge but I made it part. I need to get back into the habit! Done-  I have also started taking better care of my skin all over.  It has been SO dry here that my skin is begging for help.  I have started using body oil on my entire body before I exit the shower.  I don't dry off but let the water absorb while the oil dries.  I found an oil that I love at www.thewoman.com called the miracle oil.  It has done the job and my skin is feeling so much better.  I know it's hard to get dressed when you are all oily but I just put my robe on and do my hair and makeup.  By the time I am done with all that, it has absorbed enough to get dressed. 


My weight is as follows-
Day 1. 146.1
2. 144.0
3. 142.3
4. 142.6
Restart day 1. 143.8
2. 144.2
3. 142.7
4. 142.3
5. 140.9
6. 140.6
7. 140.4
8. 139.8
9. 139.8
10. 137.6
11. 138.9
12. 138.3
13. 138.7
14. 139.6
15.137.6
16. 135.6
17.136.3
18.135.8
19. 135.8
20. 137.3
21. 136.9
22. 135.8
23. 133.7
24. 135.4
25. 133.1
 

Day 23

Health Advice #1  Breathe.  Seriously friends.  As babies we know how to take deep breaths but as we become adults we take tiny shallow breaths.  When we are in stressful situations or even in everyday life, we hold our breath.  Take a moment right now and inhale in your nose for a count of 8.  I want you to feel the full expansion of your lungs.  Hold it.  Slowly, ever so slowly exhale out your nose.  Take twice as much time to exhale as you did to inhale.  Notice how your body starts to relax.  Repeat often!

On day 43, I just want you to know, I will be waking up to a HUGE cup of Salted Caramel Coffee.   (Yes that is a HUGE CUP)  I'm going to savor it and bathe in it!  I am dying for a cup of coffee.  It's not the caffeine but the taste I crave.  My friend Katie told me about this site  www.teeccino.com  It is herbal tea that taste like coffee.  I did order the variety pack to try!  I'm excited to taste it. 



1. Read the daily proclamation day and night.  Done

2. Compliment someone each day and say nothing negative about anyone. I stopped at Al's supermarket today to just grab a few things.  I don't normally shop there because Kroger is my choice of markets.  I was heading home and remembered I needed some things so I chose to pull in on the way.  I found some things I needed that were on sale but I needed that fancy card they give you to scan at the checkout.  I know I used to keep one but since I don't visit that store often, I must have gotten rid of it.  The gal at the checkout was so helpful.  She stepped away from her register and got me the information I needed to fill out.  She then filled it out for me and gave me my card.  She did it with such a helpful, happy attitude.  I knew right then she was getting my compliment for today.  I thanked her for being so helpful and pleasant.  She looked at me like I was crazy and said "This is my job!"  I said "not everyone does their jobs so well."  I have to say at Kroger....wait, I can't say anything negative.  Never mind.

3. Stop eating BEFORE you are full. Follow the special body cleansing program- I am eating a vegan diet. I am on the Eden diet.  Only allowed foods that would be found in the Garden of Eden.  No cooking allowed, all raw.  I had a juicy grapefruit for breakfast.  I don't eat them very often and every time I do, I wonder why I don't eat them more often because they are delicious!!!  Note to self, buy more grapefruits. I had a salad for lunch and again, munched on fruits, veggies and nuts the rest of the day.

4. Do not get angry, curse or complain. Do not gossip about anyone.  Today was a stressful day.  I didn't complain or curse but I did get upset.  I went to bed with a headache and woke with one and that was not how I wanted to start my day.  It's  day that I am glad is ready to end. 

5.Give someone something material each day.  I gave my friend Kim (not the same Kim from yesterday) a gift certificate for Mucho Mas! (I told you I love that place.) because she gave me a waterfall for my new yoga/pilates room. She said she got it for Christmas and tried to trade it off because she didn't want it but someone gave it back to her.  I was DELIGHTED to get it because I was thinking how badly I wanted one.  I was contemplating putting it out there on facebook world to see if anyone had one lying around that they didn't use and before I could, she approached me asking if I wanted it.  God works in wonderful ways!!  I gave her the gift certificate and told her she would like this better than the fountain.  I hope she enjoys it. 

6. Pray and read scripture for your age in minutes daily.- I pray for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 minutes at night. I also listen to an audio bible for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 at night.  The other day, I reached out to my friends and asked if anyone needed prayer.  I am praying for 22 minutes a day and I'm running out of things to pray about.  Seriously, I must have prayed before this challenge for like 10 seconds.  What the heck is wrong with me?  And that was if I didn't fall asleep in the first 5 seconds.  Bad j, bad.  Soooo, I did get several requests which I was super excited about.  That night, I awoke at 2am.  And never.  Fell back asleep.  Nope.  I tossed and turned and turned and tossed until finally I realized, this was the time I was to pray.  I prayed and prayed until about 4am; I drew a hot bath and turned on my audio bible for half hour.  Sometimes we just have to be open enough to listen to what God is trying to tell us. 
7. Drink half myweight in ounces of water.- done I have to drink 72 ounces of water. Done.

8. If you are doing any of these stop. Stop flirting, having affairs, committing fornication, looking at pornography, or communicating with a person who is not your spouse. Nope

9. Wash my face before bed. This isn't part of the challenge but I made it part. I need to get back into the habit! Yep


My weight is as follows-
Day 1. 146.1
2. 144.0
3. 142.3
4. 142.6
Restart day 1. 143.8
2. 144.2
3. 142.7
4. 142.3
5. 140.9
6. 140.6
7. 140.4
8. 139.8
9. 139.8
10. 137.6
11. 138.9
12. 138.3
13. 138.7
14. 139.6
15.137.6
16. 135.6
17.136.3
18.135.8
19. 135.8
20. 137.3
21. 136.9
22. 135.8
23. 133.7

PV Body

 

I just wanted to share with you an awesome find.  www.pvbody.com   It is a site where you fill out a questionnaire about what kind of workout clothes you like and your size.  Once a month for $49.95 you get an entire outfit.  You don't get to pick the exact outfit but in your questionnaire you tell them what colors and styles you like.  They have a great return policy if you don't like it.  Here is what I got this month!

 

 

 

 

 

It comes in this cute pink bag!!

 

 

 

Wrapped up in tissue....

 

 

 

Ok, so my camera stinks and doesn't take great pics!  Anyway, I got a white top and gray bottoms.  I am excited to try this and weed out some of my workout wear that has worn it's welcome in my closet. 

 

Cheers,

j

Day 22

Health Advice #206  Cook!  Too often we are running through drive thrus when if we cooked our own meals, they would not only be tastier and healthier but less expensive.


1. Read the daily proclamation day and night. Done

2. Compliment someone each day and say nothing negative about anyone. I complimented Becca today.  I told her she is an amazing Yoga instructor and Yoga is definitley her "thing".  She is really great at what she does.  She is very passionate about it. 

3. Stop eating BEFORE you are full. Follow the special body cleansing program- I am eating a vegan diet. I am on the Eden Diet this week.  Raw food, no cooking.   I made a smoothie for breakfast.  Conisted of blackberris, cherries and strawberries with one banana and water.  I made a little too much but ended up sipping on it all morning.  I had a salad for lunch.  I snacked on veggies, fruits and nuts for the rest of the afternoon.

4. Do not get angry, curse or complain. Do not gossip about anyone. Not today

5.Give someone something material each day.  Today is my friend Kim's birthday.  I gave her a Mucho Mas gift certificate.  It's my favorite place to eat!  I'm all about supporting our small businesses in town!

6. Pray and read scripture for your age in minutes daily.- I pray for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 minutes at night. I also listen to an audio bible for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 at night. Done

7. Drink half myweight in ounces of water.- done I have to drink 72 ounces of water. Done.

8. If you are doing any of these stop. Stop flirting, having affairs, committing fornication, looking at pornography, or communicating with a person who is not your spouse. Nope

9. Wash my face before bed. This isn't part of the challenge but I made it part. I need to get back into the habit! Yep.


My weight is as follows-
Day 1. 146.1
2. 144.0
3. 142.3
4. 142.6
Restart day 1. 143.8
2. 144.2
3. 142.7
4. 142.3
5. 140.9
6. 140.6
7. 140.4
8. 139.8
9. 139.8
10. 137.6
11. 138.9
12. 138.3
13. 138.7
14. 139.6
15.137.6
16. 135.6
17.136.3
18.135.8
19. 135.8
20. 137.3
21. 136.9
22. 135.8

Day 21- Eden Diet

Heath Advice #82  Eat to live do not live to eat.

I am three weeks into my challenge.  Halfway there.  I now start the Eden Diet which consists of raw foods, nothing cooked.  Basically raw fruits and veggies and nuts and bean, etc.  (is there really an etc?)

My friend B told me she has started the 42 day challenge.  I am excited for her.  Good luck B!!!


1. Read the daily proclamation day and night  Done

2. Compliment someone each day and say nothing negative about anyone. I just opened classes at the New Carlisle Wesleyan Church.  Monday night was our first class.  We had a good turn out and I left feeling very good about it.  I called my instructor Sue afterwards to thank her for helping so much.  I know I would not have done this if it weren't for her helping pull everyone together.  I think she is awesome and passionate and she LOVES jazzercise.  I let her know how awesome she was!  She also is getting over not feeling very well and she still taught last night.  She is a trooper!

3. Stop eating BEFORE you are full. Follow the special body cleansing program- I am eating a vegan diet. I will be on the Eden diet for the next week.  I am only allowed raw food.  No cooking.  I had fruit for breakfast and a yummy salad for lunch.  When I got home in the evening, I really wanted something warm but am only allowed raw.  I decided to put a can of rinsed black beans and no-salt tomatoes in the vita mix long enough to make it warm.  My husband called a "foul".  C'mon let me at least have it somewhat warm. 

4. Do not get angry, curse or complain. Do not gossip about anyone  This reminds me of my trip to the foot doc.  He gave me a cortisone shot and said the next step is alcohol shots (which are the worst thing in the WORLD).  I have a neuroma and have had one in both feet over the last several years.  I had to have all the shots and they did not work, eventually having two surgeries to remove each nerve.  He said surgery is the next option.  I didn't curse but I wanted to.  Frustrated!

5.Give someone something material each day.  I gave one of my clients, who just got a puppy, a book about cute doggy stories.  She has a Yellow Lab and just bought a Rottweiler.  From one dog lover to another. 

6. Pray and read scripture for your age in minutes daily.- I pray for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 minutes at night. I also listen to an audio bible for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 at night.  Lots of sacrifice going on in the bible.  Seems like every other sentence is an animal being sacrificed for a sin or an offering.  I am a vegetarian also because I do not like the thought of killing animals so it isn't my favorite part of the bible.  I did just read about how we will be sentenced to death if we work on the Sabbath day.  You know what I'm doing Sunday.  Nutin.

7. Drink half myweight in ounces of water.- done I have to drink 72 ounces of water. Done.

8. If you are doing any of these stop. Stop flirting, having affairs, committing fornication, looking at pornography, or communicating with a person who is not your spouse. Nope

9. Wash my face before bed. This isn't part of the challenge but I made it part. I need to get back into the habit! Yep


My weight is as follows-
Day 1. 146.1
2. 144.0
3. 142.3
4. 142.6
Restart day 1. 143.8
2. 144.2
3. 142.7
4. 142.3
5. 140.9
6. 140.6
7. 140.4
8. 139.8
9. 139.8
10. 137.6
11. 138.9
12. 138.3
13. 138.7
14. 139.6
15.137.6
16. 135.6
17.136.3
18.135.8
19. 135.8
20. 137.3
21. 136.9

Day 18-20 Friday-Sunday

Health advice # 202  Don't use your fork and spoon to dig your grave.

My husband and I met my father, my brothers and their significant others at four winds to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday Thursday night.  We met at the buffet.  I wasn't very hungry because I had a late lunch and had that delicious apple pie impersonation late afternoon.  When we got there, I asked how much one ticket was and they said $27.50.  Ouch!  I decided not to eat because I didn't want to pay that for barely eating anything.  Tommy decided he wasn't that hungry and my dad followed suit.  So we sat down next to my brothers and sister-in-laws while they ate.  They were a little upset that we weren't eating.  This is something I have found through this challenge.  People want you to eat and not be different than them.  It's ok if I don't eat, or if I don't eat a particular item.  I'm still me.  I actually felt good that we were able to to gorge ourselves like we tend to do at a buffet. 

1. Read the daily proclamation day and night-  Done, I only have to read the bold print now since it has been more than a week.  Bonus!  I have to admit, this is the part of the challenge I like the least.

2. Compliment someone each day and say nothing negative about anyone. I'm taking too many days between blogging and can't remember who I complimented.  I know I did but I didn't write them down and now my memory is toast.  I know one day I did compliment my husband because he did an awesome job working on the garage.  Since he hurt his leg, he has been unable to get a lot of things done that he would normally keep up on. The garage was one of them.  We still had boxes and such in there and it prevented it from being as organized and he likes.  I also complimented my Vet for being awesome!

3. Stop eating BEFORE you are full. Follow the special body cleansing program- I am eating a vegan diet. I am only allowed to steam my food. No cooking on the stove or microwave. 

I made quinoa with sun dried tomatoes in the steamer over the weekend and it was delicious!  I had to force myself to not overeat it! 

My husband and I took our motorcycles out for a ride on Saturday.  I did NOT want to go because although it was nice out, it was not warm enough for me.  He did buy me this awesome leather coat that I have not been able to wear yet, so off we went.  We decided to stop at Mucho Mas on the way home.  I asked them if they could steam my veggie like they did a week or so ago.  Their response, "We don't steam veggies here."  What What??!!  Frank, the owner said he could last week.  Well, Frank is out of town and we don't know how he did it.  Ugh!!  I NEEDED something HOT to eat as I was ccccccold!!  I decided on a fajita bowl which had grilled veggies in them.  I was told they put soy sauce on the veggies when they grill them (that explains the water retention the next day) so I asked them to hold the soy sauce.  So I did eat grilled veggies that day.  I had them hold the white rice and cheese.

This was my last "hot- cooked" meal for the next three weeks.  This was Sunday nights meal.  I put sundried tomatoes on my potatoes.  Starting Monday, I am on the Eden diet for a week.  I am only able to eat Raw foods, nothing cooked.  I have to stay within the limits of "if I could find it in the garden of Eden, I can have it"  Next week, I do a juice fast and then back to the Eden Diet.

4. Do not get angry, curse or complain. Do not gossip about anyone I complained yesterday.  I didn't really mean to and I tried to pass it off as a statement but I know it was a complaint.  My hip is back to hurting and I am having problems with my foot.  I have had problems with my foot since summer but it is just getting worse and I don't understand how since I cannot jazzercise.  Anyway, yesterday was not the best day for not complaining for me.

5.Give someone something material each day  Friday I had to take the pups into the vet.  I stopped at Meijer and bought a fruit tray to give to the staff.  They do a terrific job in there and are always sooo busy, so I thought it would be nice to offer something healthy to eat.  They were all very excited about getting something healthy, instead of junk food.  Saturday, I gave Summer a gift certificate to Mucho Mas for her birthday...Sunday I bought my daughter Jimmy Johns for lunch.

6. Pray and read scripture for your age in minutes daily.- I pray for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 minutes at night. I also listen to an audio bible for 11 minutes in the morning and 11 at night.   I fell asleep watching tv one night and missed my reading and praying.  I doubled it up the next day to make up for it.

7. Drink half myweight in ounces of water.- done I have to drink 72 ounces of water. Done I'm pretty sure I'm getting more water in than my requirement

8. If you are doing any of these stop. Stop flirting, having affairs, committing fornication, looking at pornography, or communicating with a person who is not your spouse. I had lunch with my friend David on Friday.  We have been friends for years and I don't consider it flirting or having an affair when you have a friend of the opposite sex.  We don't see each other but about once a year and it was nice to catch up on our lives.

9. Wash my face before bed. This isn't part of the challenge but I made it part. I need to get back into the habit! I fell asleep watching tv one night and didn't wash my face.  I woke up feeling gross!  Mascara had flaked into my eyes, which does not feel good.  I'm so glad that I am washing my face more before bed, it helps me to feel less gross in the morning!


My weight is as follows-
Day 1. 146.1
2. 144.0
3. 142.3
4. 142.6
Restart day 1. 143.8
2. 144.2
3. 142.7
4. 142.3
5. 140.9
6. 140.6
7. 140.4
8. 139.8
9. 139.8
10. 137.6
11. 138.9
12. 138.3
13. 138.7
14. 139.6
15.137.6
16. 135.6
17.136.3
18.135.8
19. 135.8
20. 137.3