Lately I have been thinking about what it means to be 'healthy and strong'. I have noticed that this is a very common phrase uttered in the daily prayers of my little boys. I love that they want to have the blessing of a strong and healthy body and I wholeheartedly join them in that desire, but I started to question if I was doing my part.
A quote that I had heard long ago came to mind about how we should pray like everything depended on the Lord and them get up and work like everything depended on ourselves. I like that idea. Faith is important but so is our actions!
The last few weeks I have made a conscience purposeful effort to live more healthy and strengthen my body. I can already feel a difference physically and spiritually. I do feel more 'healthy and strong' without feeling overwhelmed. I started with some small changes that have made a big difference in my energy levels and motivation to nourish and strengthen my body better.
A quote that I had heard long ago came to mind about how we should pray like everything depended on the Lord and them get up and work like everything depended on ourselves. I like that idea. Faith is important but so is our actions!
The last few weeks I have made a conscience purposeful effort to live more healthy and strengthen my body. I can already feel a difference physically and spiritually. I do feel more 'healthy and strong' without feeling overwhelmed. I started with some small changes that have made a big difference in my energy levels and motivation to nourish and strengthen my body better.
I know that it is always so much easier to stick to a goal when you have friends doing it with you. I wondered if anyone out there --my friends and family or anyone else who happens to stumble upon this little blog --would want to join me in a Living Healthy and Strong Challenge?
We could commit to 8 weeks of Living Healthy Strong together. Every week I will share a new challenge to focus on for that week. And we could make these changes together and report to each other in the comments section on how we are doing and any tips that have helped you so far.
What do you think? Does anyone want to join with me? I hope so:)
We could commit to 8 weeks of Living Healthy Strong together. Every week I will share a new challenge to focus on for that week. And we could make these changes together and report to each other in the comments section on how we are doing and any tips that have helped you so far.
What do you think? Does anyone want to join with me? I hope so:)
Here is the first one that I have been doing recently...
Living Healthy and Strong Challenge #1
Replace processed food with real whole foods in your diet.
Go for more fruits and veggies, wholegrain breads, cereal, and pasta and lean protein. Foods that are fresh (or frozen) colorful and whole are a good source of natural fiber, nutrient rich and energizing!! Create simple meals and snacks from real food.
Living Healthy and Strong Challenge #1
Replace processed food with real whole foods in your diet.
Go for more fruits and veggies, wholegrain breads, cereal, and pasta and lean protein. Foods that are fresh (or frozen) colorful and whole are a good source of natural fiber, nutrient rich and energizing!! Create simple meals and snacks from real food.
See if you don't feel a difference! This has been my focus lately and it feels great!
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18 comments:
Hi Melanie-
I'm in! I've already done #1. :-)
Sounds great.
Ashley
Hey Mel,
we are on the same page. I have been trying to be better at just that (your #1)! Now that I have some one to be accountable to, it makes it even better! Count me in!!
I'm in! I have already been doing this, my kids are complaining because it seems to them that our cupboards are bare! I've been trying to teach them the new places our 'better food' is located.
Now when we are in the grocery store, they ask if something has 'the bad sugar', high fructose corn syrup. I refuse to buy a product now if it contains HFCS. Has anyone realized how difficult it is to buy yogurt??? It either has HFCS or the diet sugar. We have switched over to organic yogurt. Not as many yummy flavors, but we are getting used to them.
Thanks for the challenge, I look forward to reading your blog every week anyway!
Here's a great recipe to get started!
Sweet Potato, Corn and Kale Chowder
1 TBS grapeseed oil
1 sm onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
3 carrots, diced
3 med. sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
3 C corn, fresh or frozen
2 tsp dried thyme
2 C vegetable stock
2 C rice milk, plus more if needed
2 TBS cashew butter
1 bunch kale, chopped into small pieces
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
In a lg. pot over medium heat, saute onion in olive oil until soft (about 3 minutes). Add celery, carrots, sweet potatoes, corn, thyme, and stock, simmer 5 minutes. Add enough rice milk to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until vegetables are soft (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat and add cashew butter. Add kale, return to heat, thin to desired consistency with water or stock and cook until kale is tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.
It is so yummy!
me me!! i found your through your cooking blog that i love. i am already working on #1 anyways. i am doing body for life right now and it is just easier to have wholem nutritious clean eats around!
amy- try the chobani greek yogurt. it is delicous! it is more expensive but my kids love it too. it is our splurge. you can find it at costco or target. and we also make our own yogurt and add fruit and other flavors in.
I would LOVE to do this with you! I love reading your blog and checking your meal plans every week, so this will be so fun. Thank you!
Yay--I am so happy to have all of you on board so far!!!
Dear Mama Monster,
I have been hearing so much about Chobani yogurt/greek yogurt. I hear it is a great source of protien too! The price turned me off--but it sounds like it is worth the splurge! Thanks for the great idea!
Dear Burdick Family
That soup sounds good!! Thanks so much for sharing:)
I'm in too! accountability would be great. Im excited to know others that are eating clean! I always feel great when I eat clean! I'm committing to elimate sugar other than natural for at least the next 4 weeks. Sounds like fun ladies!
I am with you on this challenge. I am doing Abby Welker's weight lose challenge and have been at the gym 5 times a week for for the last eight weeks!! Now that I've got the exercise part down, i need more recipes to make for ma and my family.
I love this!
And thanks for the Larabar recipes. I desperately need to have some quick snacks ready to eat when I get munchy.
Yep, I'll give it a go:)
We would love to join you. Thanks!
Hey Melanie, I meant to tell you that I tried your granola recipe and loved it! Last time that I made it, I put quinoa in it and subbed agave nectar for the sugar. It is so very tasty!
I've already been trying to switch over on most things--not everything--but getting there. :)
Is that bread you posted homemade? I would love your recipe if so...
OK, I have GOT to get back into healthier living and eating patterns, so I AM IN! I am a week behind, so I will have to double up with Week #2. I'm excited! Thanks for the "little push". I love the recipes and ideas of those who are commenting.
maybe we can post a link to our meal plans every week? that way we can get ideas/be held accountable? i post mine every monday.
Am I too late to join in? I don't really know what all 8 weeks will include, but I already have tried to eliminate processed foods from our diet. Occasionally I will buy something "packaged" but I always check the label and I put it back if it has hydrogenated oil or HFCS or dyes. It takes work, but I believe it's worth it to be healthy.
well somehow I missed this post a week ago! But I would love to do the challenge too! The thing I have been working on lately is not eating anything after 8pm... it is desperately hard for me!! :) baby steps I know! But I love the idea of doing this all together. I'm excited about your #2 challenge too - I know I need to work on that. I am so hungry all day but nothing sounds good and then I totally binge at dinner and then snack all evening when the kids go down. It's very bad. SO thanks for the inspiration sis!!
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