Online Silent Auction: Dec 1-8

Remember Oak's story?

If you've read that post, please re-read it. I've since learned that I had a few of the details wrong and have updated that post.

If you haven't read it, please do! :-)

So, how can you help?

Visit our Online Silent Auction and bid on one of our items! 

We have over 100 items being auctioned off and there is something for everyone at every price range. We have: photography, personal training, party rental items, babysitting, handmade walking/hiking sticks, handmade greeting cards, gym membership, handmade holiday decor, sunglasses and handmade jewelry, tree decorating lessons, wall mural painting, dance lessons, gift certificates for dining-makeup-itunes-nails-jewelry, handmade candle holders, handmade crosses, handmade games, autographed baseball, sheet cakes, movies, books, massage, swim lessons, and MORE!!!

Tell your friends!

Auction ends December 8th, don't miss out!

Erika & Oak, in Haiti

Bring Oak Home!

Dear Readers,

My friend Erika, and her husband, Jason, are in the process of adopting a beautiful baby boy from Haiti. His name is Oak and he is 5-months-old.

Since July, Erika has been living and serving in Haiti as she oversees the job-creation and youth mentoring programs of 3seams, a ministry established by her family (www.3seams.com). Though she went to Haiti to serve and help raise families out of extreme poverty, she was approached about intervening in the life of a newborn baby who had lost his mother. Erika and Jason were asked to adopt and rescue him from an unsafe situation, in a country that is profoundly broken.
The process has been swift and because of the circumstances, there was no time to plan or save money, only to act immediately as God directed them. Though they have scraped together the funds needed through the early parts of the adoption, the costs of the attorney and the orphanage were more substantial than they expected.

As they neared the completion of the process, they were informed that the process could not be completed, and Erika would not be able to return to the US with Oak, until nearly $10,000 was raised to cover the final expenses...and thus began the “Bring Oak Home!!” campaign.

In the meantime, Erika and Oak are living in conditions far below standards considered acceptable in the US. The personal living space for the two of them is one 10’ x 10’ room. Running water and electricity are sporadic. The water and much of the food is unsafe for consumption, so water must be boiled for cleaning and purchased for drinking, and food must be shipped in with missionaries. They have no car or personal means of transportation, and when they are sick, they’re access to reasonable health care is extremely limited…and far from US standards. This was particularly scary, for example, when Oak was spiking fevers of 105 degrees. Being a new Mom is difficult enough; could you imagine having to do it alone in a country like Haiti?

Please consider making a donation or visiting our silent auction from December 1 - December 8th at: http://32auctions.com/bringoakhome

It's Ok To Take A Break.

I have a confession.

For the past few weeks, I've slowly fallen farther and farther off the healthy train.

I lost my mojo.

I just wasn't inspired to eat healthy, nor to exercise.

This happens every so often and every time it does, I've beaten myself up.

Until now.

I've realized that it's okay to take a break.

Leading a healthy lifestyle, is not a destination. You won't "arrive" at the place when, for the rest of your life without wavering, you'll exercise daily and never put a morsel of processed food in your mouth again. I'm just being realistic here. Birthdays happen. Holidays happen. Vacations happen. PMS happens.

While, I'm in no way condoning yo-yo dieting, in fact I downright think it's unhealthy, I am saying that sometimes, it's okay to take a breather. It's okay to indulge from time to time. It's okay to let your body rest for a few weeks. It's okay to let your hair down and not worry so much about every little thing you're putting in your body.

The truth is, leading a healthy lifestyle, especially when it doesn't come naturally, can be downright stressful. If it becomes more of a burden then a help, that's when you know that it's time for a time-out.

Now, here's the key, make sure you get this... you can't stay there.

Healthy eating is a journey. You have to pick up your knapsack and keep trudging forward.

The way I start to regain my mojo and find some inspiration, is by reading up on some of my favorite bloggers! Nothing motivates me like reading about all the delicious yummy food that I want to be eating (and that I can be eating cause it's healthy). Or reading about all the races they're running in. Makes me want to be running right alongside them!!!

Also, I know I need to examine my mindset. I used to have black-and-white thinking.

"Well, I just ate brownies for breakfast. There goes my diet. Guess I'll just eat whatever I want today."

"Well, I missed a workout, guess I've screwed up the entire 8-week plan. Guess I can just stop working out now."

I've worked really hard and by the grace of God, I've been able to change this way of thinking...

"Well, I just ate brownies for breakfast. Those were nummy. Better make sure I make healthier choices the rest of the day." or "Oh man, my tummy hurts after eating brownies for breakfast. Guess I won't be doing that again!"

"Well, I missed a workout in the plan. Perhaps my body needed the rest. Tomorrow I'll keep going!" or better yet "Well, I missed a workout in the plan. There's still hours in the day! I'll do it tonight instead of this morning, like I had planned."

This mindset had helped me to take breaks without guilt and also to stay on track!

I also know, that I know me. I know that I need a plan. I need to plan my meals ahead of time, so I don't have to think about "what do I feel like eating" in the moment. For me, that leads to poor choices. I know that I need a workout plan to follow. If I try to fly by the seat of my pants and decide the day of what I "feel like" doing for my workout that day, the workout won't happen. I also know that I need accountability, because it's too easy for me to say, "I'm too tired. I don't feel like working out." or "that doesn't sound good. I'll eat brownies instead."

So, here I am. Feeling refreshed from my few week break and ready to get back on track!

The plan:

• Workout: I've decided to give P90X a try. I may substitute a few of the workout videos for classes at the gym, or a home workout, or do the weights videos with free weights in the gym. I also would like to keep up with my running, so I may add in a few runs during weights days. Then again, I may not. It all depends on how my body is holding up. I am battling endometriosis, afterall ,and that can be unpredictable. Realistic goals, ladies, realistic goals.
• Diet: I will not be following the P90X diet, as it doesn't line up with what's best for treating my endometriosis and PCOS. I won a lifetime membership to YU and have received a number of meal plans already planned out for me. All I have to do is shop for the ingredients and make the food! Easy peasy. YU is vegan and therefore, follows closely The Endo Diet rules.

In addition to tracking my workouts and diet here on the blog, I'll also be tracking on myfitnesspal.com. Feel free to follow me and offer words of encouragement or a swift kick in the pants, if I need it! ;-)

Readers: Have you been taking a break? Have you made the switch from black & white thinking to being more flexible? How do you stay on track? What motivates you to get back on track? Do you need a new diet & exercise plan or does flying by the seat of your pants seem to work for you?