Wordless Wednesday - Coming Soon

Won't be much longer!

Hydration - Got Water?

so dry

So, today I was out in the backyard picking up toys that were laying in the summer sun.  The plastic was bleached, and the cheapest toys from the dollar store...I don't have to tell you how brittle they were.  They broke in my hands as I picked up all the pieces.

It made me think of a video I saw just this week by Dr. Mommy. She talks about the importance of staying hydrated, including some new information I hadn't heard before about the internal systems of the body. I really liked it because most of the time we hear about the symptoms of dehydration (tired, grumpy, dizzy), not the internal long-term consequences (kidney function and brain support). Our focus is on how we feel, not the other more serious effects.

In some respect, it's like the way we live our lives.  We know we need daily refreshment from God to stay spiritually hydrated.  The symptoms of  spiritual disconnect (lack of peace, joy, kindness, etc.) remind us to do something about it.  We can't forget, however, the system-altering effects of  long-term disconnect (a brittle spirit, a broken faith).

There is great hope and life in Jesus's words:
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 
John 7:37b - 38

Are you dry and brittle?  Do you break internally at a mere touch? Jesus offers daily living water.  All we have to do is drink.

Blessings for Balance,
Steph

P.S. Make sure to watch Dr. Mommy's video on hydration below. So important!



Health Tip: Water ~ It Does a Body Good from Daisy Sutherland aka Dr. Mommy on Vimeo.

Wordless Wednesday - Backyard Devotion

Dear Father God,
In the heat of life

protect my heart from being scorched.

I reach up to you,

the only source of real fruitfulness.

Thank you for keeping your eyes on me (as you do the sparrow)

and providing an oasis in your shelter.
Amen.

Hazelnut Cappuccino and Orange Julius Protein Shakes

So, who loves the taste of protein shakes?  Yeah, me neither.  We all know we need lots of protein after a workout, but come on...we've already exercised discipline enough!

Here are the recipes for the shakes I whipped up this morning.  It's good that I'm writing them down here, because I never remember my spontaneous kitchen creativity when I'm ready to repeat the yummy! Be forewarned, though...you may gulp them down so fast, you'll end up with brain freeze.  : )

Hazelnut Cappuccino Protein Shake
In the blender, pour 1 cup of skim milk.
Put on the blender lid, leaving the top hole open for adding the other ingredients.
Start the blender, adding these ingredients in order: (have them ready to go)
1 T Toasted Hazelnut Cappuccino instant coffee (Maxwell House International Cafe)
1 serving vanilla flavored protein shake
1 egg (optional)
1 cup crushed ice
Blend until ice has been reduced to a milkshake consistency.
Top with a dash of nutmeg

Orange Julius Protein Shake

In the blender, pour 1 cup of skim milk and 1/8 cup orange juice concentrate. 

Put on the blender lid, leaving the top hole open for adding the other ingredients.

Start the blender, adding these ingredients in order: (have them ready to go)

1 serving vanilla flavored protein shake

1 cup crushed ice

Blend until ice has been reduced to a milkshake consistency.

By the way, my favorite tasting protein shakes are Advocare meal replacement shakes and are yummy by themselves. Chocolate is my favorite. The protein is actually broken down to be used instantly by your muscles.

Enjoy a protein shake after your next workout and let me know if you try one of my recipes!

Love and Blessings for Life Balance,
Steph

Lazy Days of Summer...come back to bite me every time

I love to sleep in.  I'm not going to lie.

Staying up late is one of my favorite guilty pleasures, so morning often comes too early for me. During the school year I'm mostly out of luck, but during the summer Duane doesn't mind fixing breakfast for the kids and supervising morning tv watching. However, eventually around 8:30 or so the house fills with cries for mommy and I can't ignore the new day or the sudden emotional neediness of my youngest 3 kids.

For the rest of the day, I feel like I'm playing catch-up and realize -- once again -- it's just not worth it.

Staying up late only serves to borrow energy and productivity from the next day.

This week I read a blog post called 10 reasons NOT to get up early.  The title caught my attention because normally these bloggy moms are all about efficiency and productivity.  I thought, "See?  Someone thinks I deserve to get a little me time and extra rest."  Funny, I was well into the list before I got the tongue in cheek tone.  ; )

Here are a few of my own reasons not to get up early, ripped from the pages of my actual life story:
1 - I love it when my children bound onto the bed (and me) before I've had time to pee.
2 - I get warm fuzzies from the weird dreams (aka nightmares) as I drift in and out of sleep.
3 - Showers are always more fun with an audience.
4 - It's awkward eating breakfast while the hubby is having his mid-morning snack.
5 - When it comes to good habits, I think the mantra "Do as I say and not as I do" is always the best policy.

Needless to say, I have signed up for the free eBook Maximize Your Mornings and am now allowing God to school me on this subject.  I know the early bedtime, early morning routine maximizes my potential.  I've experienced it.  I'm ready to make it a life goal this time because frankly, my 10 reasons for not getting up early aren't all that funny.

Blessings,
Steph

Fun Friday - Easy Dressing/Marinade

This yummy balsamic vinegar dressing and marinade is extremely versatile and good for you too! I make it in small batches and we enjoy it fresh. It's the favorite go-to dressing around our house.  : )

Ingredients:
1 T balsamic vinegar
1/2 T extra virgin olive oil
1/2 t minced garlic (I use the jarred kind)
pepper to taste

Stir ingredients together and pour over:
cucumbers and tomatoes
pasta salad
green salad
cous cous salad

Or, use to marinate chicken or beef. Just substitute the extra virgin olive oil with a higher flash point, like olive oil, extra light olive oil, or canola.

Note:
This recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, or more.  The rule of thumb is to use twice as much vinegar as oil.  Increase the garlic accordingly, or to taste.

Enjoy!

Thar She Blows!

Are you on overload, about to blow?  Join the club, sister!  Sometimes I feel that if someone just looks at me wrong, it'll all come spilling out in a flow that could drown us all.

So how does one contain all that stuff boiling over the edges of our heads -- great ideas (yet realized), prayer needs, tasks undone, things we need to write on the calendar?  We don't!  Dump it!  One of the best techniques I've learned recently is the "brain dump" from HeatherO.  You can read about it in her blog. The idea is that you spend a few moments writing down all the stuff you have swirling around in your head, then take a few more moments organizing it into tasks that are easy to accomplish.

I've even started using this concept to help with my overflowing heart.  When I'm feeling overwhelmed emotionally, I can deal with it much more easily if I pour it out onto paper and look at.  Name it. Pray over it. Release it. It's a great tool.  I encourage you to try it.  Heavy minds and heavy hearts are hard to carry around.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (New Living Translation)

Blessings,
Steph

Wordless Wednesday - Zoo Trip

the artist and her protoge 

mischief

My brother Chis and Annie <3

adventuring!

a beauty, even in 104 degree heat

I see you, Chris!

my pride and joy

precious, both of them

How to get your kids to help tidy the house…and have fun doing it! (Part 2)

Here's the second half from last week's post.  The results can be worth the effort!

Make each child successful - 

-Little ones can do lots of basics, like putting all of one type of item in a container.  Building blocks, playing cards, puzzle pieces, and even game pieces can be sorted individually into a pile by you or an older child, then put into a large box or tub by the younger child. After that, you can transfer the toys to the proper container, which may be harder to manipulate.

-Young elementary children can put away specific types of items (all of the stuffed animals, plastic toys, clothing, etc.) with prompting.  For some kids, it's especially important to allow them to focus only on one kind of item, as they can be overwhelmed by the disorganization of messiness.

-Older elementary kids and teens can take care of miscellaneous items and things which require decision making, like whether a piece of clothing is clean or dirty.  They can also be asked to vacuum or dust after the team cleaning is over.

General Things to Remember:
-It's best to give the kids a heads-up before starting clean-up:  "After snacks, we're going to do some pick-up and earn some quarters, okay?"  Then, at snack time:  "When we're done, we'll do our clean-up and make some money...very exciting!"

-Choose a time when everyone is fresh and no one is hungry or out of sorts. 

-Stop when you feel the momentum slowing down, especially the first couple of times you try it.  If the memory of "fun tidying" is actually fun, it'll be easier to convince everyone (including yourself) that working as a team is the way to go.

Reality Check.  

The day I was originally supposed to post this blog, I had plans for the kids and myself to tackle the house and "have fun doing it."  It was a disaster!  The kids were tired, I was irritated, and we only picked up one room of the house...begrudgingly...instead of the several I had planned. Life works to keep me humble, that's for sure!  But, I'm happy to say we tried again a couple of days later and we were back in our groove. 

I'd love to hear how it works for you...keep your chin up, give grace, and remember...it doesn't have to be perfect!!

Blessings,
Stephanie

Wordless Wednesday - Pear Flower

This is probably the best picture they've ever taken
together!  And all for a pretty pear flower.

Brother is not to be left out!! Grab while the getting is good.

Act fast now.

This is her favorite funny face.

My cute boy!!

Happiness = food, lol!

How to get your kids to help tidy the house…and have fun doing it! (Part 1)

Prevailing upon the children to help with tidying the house can be a chore in itself.  How many times have we moms resorted to doing all the clean-up alone because frankly, it's not worth the hassle?  With a few new ideas in the mommy supply closet, however, it might not be as sweat-inducing as feared.

Here are some ideas that have met with some success around our house: 

Quick bursts - I set the timer for 5 - 15 minutes (depending on the size of the task) and we focus on a particular room or project.  We all work as quickly as possible to see how much we can get done.  I try to keep the tone light, but urgent.  "Hurry, what else can we pick up?"

Reward at each break - When the timer goes off, we assess our progress.  There may be a couple more things to pick up or do, but I try to stop as quickly as possible.  Then we do something fun -  like the chicken dance - or I pass out dimes or quarters.  Stickers or M&M's are also fun and easy.

Work as a team - When everyone is working at the same time, no one feels especially put out.  It's been a learning process for my kids to help clean up each other's rooms and closets.  It feels great to give and receive help...no matter whose mess it is.

Make a game out of it - If there's more than one area to be tidied, we sometimes write them down on strips of paper and the kids take turns picking them out of a hat.  Rewards for the breaks can also be drawn, adding a sense of suspense.

Look for more ideas on Friday's blog about how to tailor the clean-up process to meet the needs of your child's age range.  Also, tips for success and my humbling "get real" moment...

Until then, let me know if you try any of these ideas and how it goes...I'd love your feedback!

Blessings,
Steph

Wordless Wednesday - The Little One Making Frozen Energy Treats

She helped mash the bananas, chocolate
protein powder, and Grape Nuts together.  

In go the peanuts.

Stir it up.

Clean up, Clean up, Everybody, Everywhere

Oops! Did that bite fall to the floor?

Mmmmm
Note: the recipe is on yesterday's blog.

Recipe: Frozen Energy Treats

A summer favorite with my family, these healthy frozen treats are one of the few snacks I'll freely give my kids when they come begging for "sweets"!

These are very easy to make.  Check back tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday to see pictures of little Christine making them.

Frozen Energy Treats

Combine all these ingredients in a bowl:

2 mashed, ripe bananas
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 pouches (or servings) of chocolate protein powder or meal replacement shake powder
1/2 cup Grape Nuts
1/2 cup peanuts, optional

Stir until all the ingredients have become thoroughly combined.  It will have a slimy texture for now. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cups.  Ladle about 1/4 cup mixture into each cup. Depending on the size of the bananas, you'll end up with 8-12 treats.  They will have a hard, creamy, crunchy consistency when frozen.

Note:  This is a forgiving recipe.  It's easily doubled, halved and stretched with extra bananas. It's a great way to get rid of those pesky overripe bananas that seem to multiply in the summer time.

Enjoy!

Stephanie Ray
New Life Balance for Women

Find New Life Balance for Women on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Life-Balance-for-Women

Parenting with Balance, Retro-style!

Ok, so I learned a new term today from Dr. Daisy Sutherland, also known as DrMommy:  Retro Parenting.  It's "practical parenting with a twist...bringing back the good from the past and incorporating it into our families today." Intrigued, I started thinking about the way I parent naturally, and I think I've morphed into a Retro Parent without knowing it.

Let me explain. Much of parenting today revolves around entertaining, scheduling, and pacifying children, making sure they have plenty to keep them busy and developing properly. I have to admit, I once thought this was best.  I seriously tried to parent this way, but as our brood grew and our family continued in ministry, we found ourselves with less time and money to enroll our kids in ballet, soccer, art classes, etc. We said "no" to the latest video games. We felt bad for awhile, but you know what? They haven't missed a thing.

What do my children do? They look for bugs outside, build forts with the couch cushions, draw enthusiastically, and play Winnie the Pooh Candyland.  The older ones read to the "littles". They help each other clean their rooms and earn quarters by doing chores for mommy. Yesterday the 8 and 5 year-olds learned to sort, wash, dry, fold, and put away their own clothes; the 16 year-old has done this for a long time. Even the 2 year-old helps with laundry, and loves it. Perhaps my favorite bonding time with the children, aside from bedtime reading, is preparing for dinner.  Everyone helps as they can, even though I'm sure it takes longer than it should and often makes a real mess!

There was a time when I worried my kids wouldn't be adequately prepared for life because they aren't experiencing many of the "foundational" activities some suburban families embrace. In pondering what's truly important to adulthood and real life, my eyes are opening to a new truth - that they're getting just the foundation they need.

Here's to Retro Parenting!

Blessings,
Stephanie

For more information about Retro Parenting, visit DrMommyonline.com or find Retro Parenting on facebook.

Is Life Balance a myth?

Some people have said to me that Life Balance is a myth, not possible.  I think it all depends on one's definition of life balance.

Can we achieve high levels of performance in every area of our lives, keeping faith, family, self, work, finances, and health balanced in terms of proper time and attention? If so, it's probably not often.  In my world, a porcine creature might just be flying overhead.  In fact, it sounds like a lot of work for naught. I'm not interested in that.

Definition matters.

I believe Life Balance means being one with God as we go about our day, putting into practice what we've learned about faith, family, self, etc., along the way. This is a restful place to be, as Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30)  Rather than fretting when my world starts to tip on it's head, I'm learning to open my mind to accept a greater truth...I only have to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying in this moment and take a step in that direction."Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' " (Isaiah 30:21)

More and more, I'm finding that listening gets easier as I align my attitudes and internal dialogue with who he is.

Some might say that my definition is harder than the first, but I would say nothing is impossible with God.  (Luke 1:37)

Here's a video on balance that proves great things are possible if we stick with the process.




Thanks for reading.
Love you all!
Steph

Life Balance is a Juggling Act

Tim Sanders—former chief solutions officer at Yahoo! and author of Love Is the Killer App—shares the following thought about establishing priorities: 

Take your life and all the things that you think are important, and put them in one of three categories. These three categories are represented by three items: glass, metal, and rubber.

The things that are made of rubber, when you drop them, will bounce back. Nothing really happens when these kinds of things get dropped. Things that are made of metal, when they get dropped, create a lot of noise. But you can recover from the drop. Then there are things made of glass. And when you drop one of these, it will shatter into pieces and never be the same. Even though you can piece it back together, it will still be missing some pieces – Glass issues ultimately are your marriage, your family, your friends…God.

I love this illustration. It's one of my favorite stories shared by a pastor friend, and it's written in the back of my Bible for reference. You see, there have been times in my life when juggling the metal items...those that make the most noise when dropped...were the ones that took priority in my life, even if it meant I was in danger of dropping a glass one. Over and over, there was a direct correlation between the number of people potentially affected by my possible failure and how hard I worked to ensure success. If asked, I'm sure I'd have said that my children, my husband and my own self-expectations were far more important, but my actions spoke differently. Glass issues dropped in private didn't hold the same fear for me as the noisy public metals ones.

I'm glad for the heart check, as uncomfortable as it was.  Looking at oneself in the mirror isn't always easy, but to walk away transformed makes it worth the effort.  

So, what are the rubber, metal, and glass objects in your life? If you were forced to choose between catching a noisy metal issue and a glass one, what would happen? Take a moment to look in the mirror. I'd love to hear your feedback on this subject.

To Better Life Balance,

Steph

(Catch Tim's fascinating blog at http://www.sanderssays.typepad.com.)

A special thanks to pastor Bruce Smilie at CrossPointe Church for researching the source of this illustration.

Turning 40 - Life in the Balance

Yesterday I turned 40.

40 is significant because in theory, it marks the half-way point in a person's existence on earth.  If I live to be about 80, my life is half over...so today, May 30, 2011, is the balance of what has gone before and what is still yet to come. Very exciting, and yet daunting at the same time!

Here in the balance of past and present, I know that my choices matter.  Listed below is what I'm choosing to pursue as I walk the "second half" of my life:

My husband and children
My family is not a stumbling block to my purpose. They are God's personal and precious gift to me. I choose to take the time to enjoy them, thankful that God is revealing my purpose in his timing.

Connections with other women
Women need to bond.  That's just a fact.  When I try to go at life without the influence of other like-minded women, I become myopic and dissatisfied. I choose to connect to friends--and potential friends--because I am not an island!

My health
I choose to have the energy to do life, as best as I can.  I thank God for my good state of health, and I will protect it with exercise, good nutrition, good supplements, and quality sleep.

The guidance of the Holy Spirit
If I think I'm the one in control of my universe, I'm just kidding myself.  I'm so thankful I don't have to figure it all out and manipulate things into being. I choose to open my heart and mind to what the Holy Spirit is leading today.

Today in the balance of turning 40, I choose a Life of Balance. May the important things  (the "Big Rocks" from the previous post) provide meaning amidst the tasks of the daily grind.

Now I ask you, regardless of your age today...
Is your life in balance?
What do you choose to pursue in the midst of the daily grind? 


Now, take a step in that direction.
I'd love to hear how it goes!

Blessings,
Stephanie

Life is short

Last night as we watched the devastation from the tornado in Joplin, MO, I was once again struck with the message: life is short.  


Tragedy and death tend to effect me the same way each time.  I look at my life and do an evaluation of priorities; What are the things I focus on and spend my time doing? What really matters in life? 


I want to share a familiar story about priorities.  This version is my favorite, and I think it bears another look. 


One day, an old professor of the School of Public Management in France, was invited to lecture on the topic of “Efficient Time Management” in front of a group of 15 executive managers representing the largest, most successful companies in America.  The lecture was one in a series of 5 lectures conducted in one day, and the old professor was given 1 hr to lecture.


Standing in front of this group of elite managers, who were willing to write down every word that would come out of the famous professor’s mouth, the professor slowly met eyes with each manager, one by one, and finally said, “We are going to conduct an experiment”.


From under the table that stood between the professor and the listeners, the professor pulled out a big glass jar and gently placed it in front of him.  Next, he pulled out from under the table a bag of stones, each the size of a tennis ball, and placed the stones one by one in the jar.  He did so until there was no room to add another stone in the jar.  Lifting his gaze to the managers, the professor asked, “Is the jar full?” The managers replied, “Yes”.
The professor paused for a moment, and replied, “Really?”


Once again, he reached under the table and pulled out a bag full of pebbles.  Carefully, the professor poured the pebbles in and slightly rattled the jar, allowing the pebbles to slip through the larger stones, until they settled at the bottom.  Again, the professor lifted his gaze to his audience and asked, “Is the jar full?”


At this point, the managers began to understand his intentions.  One replied, “Apparently not!”


“Correct”, replied the old professor, now pulling out a bag of sand from under the table. Cautiously, the professor poured the sand into the jar.  The sand filled up the spaces between the stones and the pebbles.
Yet again, the professor asked, “Is the jar full?”


Without hesitation, the entire group of students replied in unison, “NO!”


“Correct”, replied the professor.  And as was expected by the students, the professor reached for the pitcher of water that was on the table, and poured water in the jar until it was absolutely full. The professor now lifted his gaze once again and asked, “What great truth can we surmise from this experiment?”


With his thoughts on the lecture topic, one manager quickly replied, “We learn that as full as our schedules may appear, if we increase our efforts and prioritize, it is always possible to add more to our day.”


“No”, replied the professor.  The great truth that we can conclude from this experiment is:
"If we don’t put all the larger stones in the jar first, we will never be able to fit all of them in later."


The auditorium fell silent, as every manager processed the significance of the professor’s words in their entirety.
The old professor continued, “What are the large stones in your life?  Health?  Family?  Friends? Your goals? Doing what you love?  Fighting for a Cause?  Taking time for yourself?”


What we must remember is that it is most important to include the larger stones in our lives, because if we don’t do so, we are likely to miss out on life altogether.  If we give priority to the smaller things in life (pebbles & sand), our lives will be filled up with less important things, leaving little or no time for the things in our lives that are most important to us. 


 Because of this, never forget to ask yourself,
What are the Large Stones in your Life?

We can use smart phones, instant meals and shortcuts to cram more into our days. We are busier and more efficient than ever, but what is filling our days? Do we make room for the large stones? If we're not intentional about pursuing the important things in life, it may all just end up being a pile of pebbles and sand.

Yesterday morning Duane and I were discussing something that seemed very important at the time...even life-altering.  But later, in the wake of the Joplin tornado news report, the tension I had felt over the subject melted into peace.  We have our home, our family, and our health. In that moment, the big rocks were all that mattered.


Our prayers go to those who have love their homes and their loved ones this week.

Life Beyond the 24 Day Challenge

Wow, a lot has transpired since January 25, when I started my journey with the 24 Day Challenge!  I have to be honest, I've put off continuing this blog because there's so much to share.  I hope it'll be like watching a long-awaited "Previously On This Show" clip. It's worth it, because you get to catch up on the action and move forward with the plot!

First of all, the last 5 months have brought numerous life changes. Not everything can be attributed simply to the Challenge, but God has used my new-found physical and mental energy to bring about some radical (indeed, miraculous) things.

Physical - For the first time since I can remember, I don't have physical cravings for food.  I know it's because I'm getting all the nutrition I need, but it still feels like a miracle to me. At my last weigh-in, my weight-loss totaled 14 pounds, 10 of which were body fat. I have amazing energy...also miraculous.

Mental - I love how my brain pops these days.  Funny, I thought I remembered being a sharp thinker at one time, but it was so long ago, I wasn't sure.  I had pretty much given up on getting my PC (pre-children) brain back. Now sometimes it's hard to turn it off, lol.

Emotional - This part is hard to explain, but when you feel better and you're thinking more clearly, the world can tend to open up.  Recently I attended the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs annual conference, and I've since been able to apply the inspiration and knowledge I received in unprecedented, bold and brave ways. In fact, I've started writing a book about perfectionism and plan to launch a new business benefiting women in the fall...more to come on that!

Spiritual- Like dominoes, one change brings about another.  I was so discouraged before the Challenge, I felt ashamed as a mom. I wasn't measuring up to what I knew God was calling me to be, but beyond prayer, I didn't know what to do about it.  It was that heartfelt cry to God that brought change to our family. I praise him every day for the new life I see in my dear hubby Duane (current weight-loss: 53 pounds!).  I'm also learning many spiritual lessons related to fear, perfectionism, and life balance. He's been so faithful to take my faith to a deeper level in the last months. It's very humbling. (Thank you, God. You are the one who gets all the credit.)

Thanks to anyone who made it all the way through to the end of this blog!  I hope you can feel my heart when I say that the last 5 months have been truly life-changing - no exaggeration. I'm so excited to get back to blogging and sharing what God is putting on my heart in all sorts of areas - health, parenting, personal growth, and faith.  Who knows what will happen next?

Love all of you!
Steph

Day 24 - The Results

Day 24 of the Rest of My Life

My Journey through the 24-Day Challenge

(Or, Why am I Doing This Crazy Thing?)

The Results

The Advocare 24-Day Challenge certainly earned its name, as it took effort to get the maximum results.  However, I must say that over-all,  it was easier than I thought it would be. The products helped to eliminate cravings and supported my new, healthier habits.

And now for the results...

Drum roll, please...

I lost:

9 pounds, including 5 pounds of body fat

7.25 inches overall, and

3.25 inches in my waist alone

Also:

I no longer have trouble with heartburn, 

My muscles are firmer, and 

I'm sleeping better.

Finally, after a time of wondering..."Can it be?", I'm pleased to say that my hair is noticeably thicker. Yes! Anyone who knows me well understands this is a big deal, as my hair has been thinning for years.

So, what now?  

As I continue on the products, I'm enjoying the post-Challenge benefits of a controlled appetite and no cravings.  After a life of yo-yo dieting (good intentions being sabotaged by cravings) I'm very, very pleased.  

I would recommend the 24-Day Challenge to anyone who desires to be healthier, especially those who need to lose weight. If you're tried before and failed, this may just be what you're looking for.

For more information, you can click below to see videos on the Cleanse Phase and the Max Phase.

http://www.advocaretraining.com/24_Day_Challenge.html

If you'd like to ask questions or see how you can get started, please feel free to contact me.  If you don't have my contact information, you can find me on Facebook under Stephanie Niles Ray.

Blessings!

___________

Next Friday:

Life After the Challenge

Day 23 - The Announcement, Conclusion

Day 23 of the Rest of My Life

My Journey through the 24-Day Challenge

(Or, Why am I Doing This Crazy Thing?)

The Announcement,  Conclusion


Previously, on "As the Blog Turns"...
Duane has decided to lose 100 pounds in 2011 and things are starting to change...things that have been the same for a very long time.

Then, it happened...
Duane strode confidently into the room. "I started my blog and just posted it on Facebook.  I told everyone I'm going to lose 150 pounds by your birthday next year."  My jaw dropped. "What!?" I said. He seemed confused at my reaction, as this wasn't entirely new information. In that moment, I realized his goal had been wishful thinking in my mind, like hoping to have a beautiful dream when falling asleep.

Later we had a heart-to-heart.  Duane shared the goals he felt God had given him for this year:
1.  Lose weight and get healthier.
2.  Spend more time with the kids.
3.  Change the dynamics of our family.

I restrained myself from searching under the beds for the body snatcher pods. Who was this imposter, and what had he done with the man I'd lived with for 20 years? But knowing God's power and understanding the transformation that was taking place before me, I allowed his words to resonate with my own heart.

Duane and I weren't just speaking the same language; God was rewriting our life story through him.

I leaned forward and responded the only way I knew how.  By whispering into his ear my own dreams of growing old together and of him walking our youngest down the aisle. The thoughts were too fragile to speak out loud, and we both felt the gravity of the moment.

Since that day, 7 weeks have passed and Duane has lost more than 34 pounds. His resolve is strong, and his blog is an inspiration to many people. His example is why I started my own 24-day Challenge. We're growing healthier together.

I'm starting to believe. 

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Coming Soon: The Results of my 24-Day Challenge. Amazing!

Days 13-22 Out with the Cleanse Phase, In with the Max Phase!

Days 13-22 of the Rest of My Life

My Journey through the 24-day Challenge

(Or, Why am I Doing This Crazy Thing?)

So, it's what you've been waiting for...more about the challenge!

Out with the Cleanse Phase
Here's the bottom line on the first 10 days of the 24-day Challenge, the Cleanse Phase -
It felt great to do a reboot on my system, cleaning out the toxins and resetting my body to receive the best nutrition. I found myself sleeping deeper at night and feeling better over all. I could definitely tell it was working.

In with the Max Phase
The Max Phase is quite a bit different, because it's more about building the body up.  It's really just a focused time of eating healthy while watching the supplements change my body composition.  It's absolutely amazing, to be honest. There are no more cravings, so I can make good food choices for myself and my family.  In times past, I would really give all my effort, but my body's cravings for sugar and fatty foods wore me down. The afternoons and evenings were the worst, when I would turn into this Binge Monster, eating everything in sight..."Me. Want. Food. Now!"

Before starting the challenge, I documented my weight, basic measurements and body fat.  I'll be very interested to get my results soon. I know I'll be pleased, as I can already see changes in the mirror, in how I feel, and in how my clothes fit.
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Coming Soon:
The Announcement, Part 2
The Results

Days 10-12, The Announcement

Days 10-12 of the Rest of My Life

My Journey through the 24-day Challenge

(Or, Why am I Doing This Crazy Thing?)

The Announcement

We've all made them, only to break them...New Years Resolutions.  The desire to turn over a new leaf is strong...sometimes stronger than our will to see it through.  Who knew leaves were so heavy, anyway?

So, when my dear hubby Duane started talking weight loss at the end of last year, I took it in stride. He declared, "Next year, I want to lose 100 lbs." It's a good and lofty goal, for sure, but we've been at this crossroads before--both of us.  We start off running, but we never seem to get within sight of the finish line.

But as January approached, some things started to change. Duane began learning more about nutrition and how others have lost over 100 pounds and kept it off successfully.  He would keep me updated on new little tidbits as he found them..."Did you know that if you eat more of your calories early in the day and fewer calories at the end of the day, it's easier to lose weight?"  Yes, I did know this.  But to hear Duane say it out loud somehow made it more exciting and meaningful.  It was like discovering your true love not only speaks your secondary language (English), but also your primary language (Food).

I began to hold my head higher, ready to catch the whiff of changing winds.  I had no idea...

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Coming Up:

Out with the Cleanse Phase, In with the Max Phase!

The Announcement, Part 2

Days 7-9 The Confession, Conclusion

Days 7-9 of the Rest of My Life

My Journey through the 24-day Challenge

(Or, Why am I Doing This Crazy Thing?)

The Confession, Conclusion

So, to recap:

I was having a hard time being "single mom" to the kids while Duane was away each week, and as hard as I tried to improve the situation, I had hit a wall.

Enter Spark.

If I was to enumerate all the benefits, you probably wouldn't believe me.  But I'm going to give you the bottom line:  I feel as good as I did 10 years ago, before my last 3 pregnancies.

I'm the better version of me...a nicer and more energetic mommy, all day long. No more blow ups.

Why would I share this 3-part confession?  Because the law of averages says there are other people out there like me, and I'm all about sharing things that have changed my life.   My personal mission statement is to offer hope to people who are searching, even if it makes me uncomfortable.

Of course I want to share about how Spark has helped me, but this is about much more than that. What change are you searching for today? Do you need to "come clean" with a trusted friend?
Turn away from a nasty habit?  Or perhaps listen to a nudge that says you should try something new that could possibly change things forever?

You might just find that it's not as scary as you think.

It may be time to take a step.
I know you can do it.

With Love,
Steph
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Coming Up:
Read about the announcement that rocked my world and brought me to tears...
Also:  Out with the Cleanse Phase...in with the Max Phase!

Days 4-6 The Cleanse

Days 4-6 of the Rest of My Life

My Journey through the 24-day Challenge

(Or, Why am I Doing This Crazy Thing?)

The Cleanse

The Cleanse Phase of the 24-Day Challenge has been a good experience. I've wanted to do a cleanse for a long time and I feel like I'm doing something healthy for myself.

The 3 stages of the cleanse are clearly explained in the packet instructions, but I'm going to keep it simple and show you what an average day on the cleanse looks like, for me at least:

Wake up - take PrioBiotic Restore pills, sip on Spark
Breakfast - eggs, oatmeal, or a meal replacement shake
Mid-morning snack - a piece of fruit and some almonds
Lunch - lean protein, a complex carb, and at least 2 fresh fruit and/or veggies
Mid-afternoon snack - fruit and/or veggie with almond butter or a small portion of lean protein
Dinner - take OmegaPlex supplement; eat lean protein (typically fish), steamed veggies, fruit or a small amount of complex carbs
Before bed - take Hearbal Cleanse pills

All in all, it's a pretty healthy diet.  Combined with the Omega 3 supplements and the various pills to clean out the system, it's a win-win.  I've felt relatively normal, for the most part.  At times, I've had lots of energy with a spring in my step. When I feel myself dragging, I usually realize I haven't had enough water or I'm late eating my snack.

As far as the elimination process goes (I know you're wondering!), it's not a big deal.  I probably wouldn't choose to be on a long flight or attend a 6-hour seminar and sit in the middle of a long row, but otherwise it's all good.

I know this was pretty general, so I'd be happy to answer any specific questions. Or, you can find more information on www.teamdestinyusa.com.  You'll see the 24-Day Challenge section on the scrollbar on the left-hand side.
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Coming up:
The Confession, Part 3 (conclusion)
The Surprising Announcement

Day 3 - The Confession, Part 2

Day 2 of the Rest of My Life

My Journey through the 24-day Challenge

(Or, Why am I Doing This Crazy Thing?)

The Confession, Part 2

Before I say what's changed in the last two weeks, I should mention some things I've tried in order to be the patient Mommy I want to be.

- No more calling my kids "high maintenance". Even thinking it steered me in the wrong direction.
- No cokes or tea in the morning. Forget coffee. The crash in the afternoon just wasn't worth it.
- No more chocolate after dinner.  An hour later it made me agitated.
- Better sleep. I tried, but this one was very hard.
- Prayer.

All these things helped, but at the end of the day I was still in over my head.

Two weeks ago Duane came home with an energy drink, Spark. I wasn't interested. But when he told me it was different--productive energy and better mental focus without the crash and burn--I figured it was worth a try...
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For those who want to know more about the challenge itself, Day 4 should answer some of your questions.  Thanks for reading!!!