Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother...

These are my parents!

I look like my mom, and I act like my dad...

I didn't realize how true this statement was until I saw this picture! LOL

... I also have my dad's health. Thanks Dad. . .

My dad passed away 5 1/2 years ago, and recently my mom decided it was time to move to independent living at Legacy Retirement Village. . . She's almost 93 . . . and got tired of cleaning the house and PULLING WEEDS! That woman's a beast!

She is also the one who taught me how to clean.

And I'm not saying "clean" but "CLEAN".

It wasn't done right until the CORNERS were clean!

UGH!

So Yesterday, my sister Pam and I went up and finished cleaning the house to get it on the market to sell. By finish up, I mean the top floor. My sister Susan and her husband cleaned the bottom floor and garage.

The Top Floor . . . FOR SEVEN - 7 - SEVEN HOURS!

My name is Erlyn . . . and Scrubbing is my hobby.

Thanks Mom . . .

While I was scrubbing the tub I reflected on the blessing that my dad left my mom. He worked hard to pay off their house in 15 years instead of the 30 years on their mortgage.

He contemplated doing a reverse mortgage, but decided against it.

And now I was cleaning this very same house that I grew up in, and he paid off early, so that my mom could live the rest of her life in security, comfort, having meals prepared, housekeeping and maintenance taken care of, and people around her that lived in her generation and can talk about WWII and know how it FEELS to have gone through that, have kids the same age, and someone to check on her daily.

I didn't have to worry about my mom anymore being broke into (she always kept her back door unlocked) and being harmed, or falling down the stairs and no one there to help her. 

As I reflected on this blessing that my dad provided for my mom, I just breathed a "Thanks Dad" as I felt him near.

Parents are a blessing in our lives . . .

Whether or not we get along 24/7. . . 

And if you're a crappy parent, make things right... NOW.

I didn't always get along with my dad. Our personalities were too similar. But in his later years, every time he saw me he told me how grateful he was that I came into his family. (I'm a bonus baby). He made sure that I knew that he loved me, and told me how awesome I was. That made me feel good after so many years of not getting along with each other.

I think it was having kids that put such a stress on our family. After I married and moved out, my parents got along great. So if you're in this boat, hang in there. AND forgive each other. I know that there was a lot of forgiveness on both my parent's sides. It helped make my siblings and my adult lives more stable, and a great example of marriage for all of us.

My parent's were married almost 70 years when my dad passed. What an achievement!

Because of time constraints, and an aching body, I counted scrubbing floors, cupboards, cabinets, bathrooms and the kitchen as a good replacement for my yoga.

. . . except I don't hurt like this after yoga . . .

I could hardly wait to get home and take a bath! Not only to get clean, but to relax my muscles!!! Yay Epsom Salts!

One could say that I felt as much joy as this!

I think that picture pretty much explains things!

Today I actually got up at 9am! instead of noon to 2pm that I was planning on! WHAAAAT????

That is so odd! But I can say that I have been drinking the Shakeology every day. Again, I think that there is something to this Shake. . .

I was able to get up this morning, earlier than expected, and do my yoga and actually MOVE! even though I woke up stiff!

I am going to have my Shakeology after I write this blog, and then I'm going to clean my OWN house! 

Heaven only knows Mom's house smells way better than my own! So I'm going to take the training my mom gave me on cleaning and apply it here! FINALLY!

My hubster is hopeful, and says he'll believe it when he sees it. Smart Alek!

(He usually proves me wrong... I hope he's not right today)

So to conclude, I just want to post a few pictures that I took with my faithful selfie-stick! Pam and I took my Mom down to Saint George, Utah last summer for a trip to Tuachan to see the shows, a drive to Virgin City to see where Mom's Great-Grandfather, Alexander Wright, helped settle the Cotton Mission with the Mormon Pioneers, and to happen upon the greatest wood-fired pizza! YUM! We had a wonderful time with my mom and am so grateful we took the opportunity to spend that time with her! This summer would have been too late. The trip would just be too much for her to handle right now.

Pam, Mom and I at Tuachan, playing with the selfie stick!

Being "Sexy" at Tuachan

Whoops! I found the "fish-eye" lens! Let the FUN Begin!

I am having WAY too much fun! We started making faces in this
fish-eye lens, and then got the kids sitting in front of us involved.
.... Selfie Sticks can reach through crowds y'all!!!

Zions Canyon I believe...???

We found the wood-fired pizza on the side of the road. Since we were
on an adventure, Pam yells out from the back seat,
"Go see what that is!" as we drove past.U-turns are
in my repertoire' so we headed back! So glad we did!

Mom with PIZZA!!!

In Virgin City, mom pointing to her grandfathers name
 "William Walters Wright" on a city monument.

Close-up of Mom pointing to her grandfathers name

Mom thought this was the home where her
great Grandfather might
have lived in Virgin City, Utah.

Mom and I at the Virgin City Cemetary at the grave of
Alexander Wright
a Mormon Pioneer
and the first LDS missionary to Scotland.
Companion of Elder Mulliner

I am so grateful for my parents!

They gave me life, they gave me a great heritage of which I am proud to be a descendant of.

But most of all, they gave me Love.

Thanks Mom and Dad. You are AWESOME!

and I love you!

Alice Taylor Groneman and Earl Rose Groneman Jr.

I hope you take this day to be grateful for your parents and your family. There is good in all people. Sometimes we just need to look a little bit deeper, be a little more grateful, and express our love first. It makes miracles happen. Trust me on this. The blog post is long enough.

I am off to my Shakeology and scrubbing my own house!

Here's what I'm making today!

Shakeology of the Day:

in a blender add:

8-12 oz cold water or *almond milk

1 scoop Chocolate Vegan Shakeology

1 small or 1/2 large banana

1/2 tsp almond flavor

1/2 tsp Cinnamon (helps with inflammation)

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1-2 cups cubed Ice

Blend until Ice is slushy and you have a "shake" :)

*1 yellow

1 purple

1 red

Drink to your health!

**** if you would like to try or buy shakeology, you can go to my website, http://www.shakeology.com/en_US/?sn=fibrocoach

Have a great day! -Erlyn

Stop Being Sad, Start Being AWESOME!

Hey All!

Today is my Sabbath again, and I just wanted to share a little somethin' somethin' with you!

We all have a power within us called Agency, Free-Will or the power to Do What We Want.

This is a precious gift, and it's given to every single person on this earth.

With much power comes much responsibility. Our ability to control our own Happiness or our own Destiny is AMAZING!

No other creature on this earth has this ability! Do you realize that!

And yet here we are, imperfect souls floating in space on a beautiful world with everything that we need, surrounded by people who care for us, and the ability to choose to be Happy, or to be Sad.

While life isn't always perfect, we CAN choose the better part! We CAN choose to look on the bright side of things and be thankful that we don't have a harder trial than what we are dealt! We can choose to not be offended, or to not have certain people or situations in our lives.

WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!

or we can choose to not be happy.

When we choose happiness, we become empowered. 

We learn to stand for the things that will make us stronger. We are good to fight the good fight!

That's truth right there! We DO have the power within us!

Sometimes we are scared to whip that sucker out because it intimidates others, and sometimes it intimidates us!

But do you know what that power does?

It dispels fear!

It allows us to go a few more steps,

or hold a pose a few more breaths,

or eat one more bite of vegetables!

It encourages us to drink one more glass of water before that diet soda!

It encourages us to be the first to say Hello!

Or to help someone in need when our needs are just as great!

It helps us look up in gratitude, instead of down in defeat.

It gives us confidence and self esteem!

It allows others who aren't happy to light their own happy and be a beacon for others.

It breeds HOPE.

And... it lets us know that we are of GREAT WORTH!

My daughter made this for me when my father passed away five years ago. I have it hanging on my wall in my sewing room so I can see it all the time.

So here's to a NEW start to a NEW week with a NEW attitude!

GO OUT AND BE AWESOME!

-Erlyn

Before Pictures and Bad Days

 Sixteen Days Ago I started with the Shakeology and Beach Body Programs. 

Normally I wouldn't take pictures this close together, but I am already starting to see a difference in my appearance. It is also apparent to my hubster!

I know it's not a HUGE change, but it is for ME!

in 16 Days I have lost 6 pounds and 3 inches off my body. If you don't think this is HUGE, then talk to any friend you have with a chronic illness and see how hard it is to lose weight! Especially THIS FAST!

I am proud of me.

I am also able to do this!

The yoga poses might not look like much to you, but they represent an amazing growth and range of motion to me! And you will notice that I am NOT falling over! Yay!

This is also a huge step for me as I have spent this past week being in a flare with multiple migraines, nausea and stiffness with pain from Fibromyalgia.

As I was going through these trials, I was able to keep a pretty good positive attitude about me, drink my shakeology and stay on the program. I did my yoga, and tried to rest the rest of the week. . . Until Yesterday.

Yesterday I hit the wall. . . or rather, the wall fell on me and buried me!

Chronic Illness Flares can feel like this!

But the world sees this!

After a week of feeling like crap and giving it my all, I gave up for a few hours yesterday. I felt hopeless because of the pain, and I didn't want to try anymore because of the fatigue and nausea. . . So I didn't.

I allowed myself to rest, I drank my shakeology because it's the only thing that was quick and nutritious. I didn't exercise. I didn't write my blog because I didn't care. I wasn't nice to my ever-patient hubster, And I spent the day feeling sorry for myself. I didn't know how I was going to coach others when I couldn't even inspire myself. Basically, I let the Fibro win. . . 

for a day.

Well, guess what!

I allowed myself to rest and not feel guilty. I gave in to my fatigue and spent til 1am looking on Pinterest pinning Fibro pins because of the Pain-somnia, (pain + Insomnia = you can't sleep because of the pain), and sleeping in today. 

It was a wise choice. Maybe not food wise, or exercise wise, but it was good for ME wise. It was good for me body wise, depression wise, fatigue wise, blog wise, and attitude wise. Sometimes those of us with chronic illnesses have to march to a different drummer than what the world wants or expects. and you know what?

IT'S OK!

I hope that you take opportunities to rest when you are weary, and laugh when you are down.

I love this picture. It's of my dad! He took his teeth out and was wearing a pirate hat. My mom about died! but my dad was having fun. I grabbed my camera! I promised him that I was displaying this picture at his funeral. After he passed, I couldn't find the picture anywhere! Turns out my daughter stole the picture! Thankfully it's floating in cyberspace and I was able to reclaim it! Laugh during the hard times!

I was too weak yesterday to write a blog, but I kept thinking that I needed to write SOMETHING! Especially if anyone is following me along! 

(Who knows - no one comments! but that's ok. I just want to inspire others with chronic illness that they can do something to become healthier than they are now!)

When I am down, I just want to laugh. It helps me through the hard times. My kids have given me the gift of laughter, and the appreciation of funny sarcasm. 

Because of their serious committment to laughter, I want to share a gem with you, to make up for yesterday. If you go to my daughter's blog (the one that stole the picture of my dad) you will totally understand the above meme. . . 

and You're Welcome.

www.dearpersonreadingthis.blogspot.com

Shakeology Recipe of the Day:

Double Chocolate Banana

In Blender Combine:

8-12 oz cold water

1 scoop chocolate Shakeology

1 Tbs organic cocoa

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 small banana

Scoop of Ice

Blend until Ice is combined

*1 Protein, 1 fruit, 1-1/2 water on Fix containers

Drink to your health!

** IF you would like to join me on my journey, or would like more information, comment me! or like my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BB.FibroCoach/

My Father in Law is Getting Married!

It's Today!

at 5pm. My Dad-in-Law is getting Married!

He's spent this last year alone after my mother-in-Law passed away from dementia. It's been a lonely year for him and I am so happy that he found someone to enjoy his life with. After 15 years of caretaking, I think he deserves this. He is one of the best old men I know! I am so happy to see him happy. 

And his finace' soon-to-be-wife is a sweetheart also. She too was a caretaker and lost her sweetheart right around the same time. It's fun for me to see them both so happy and giddy and giggly. Just like people who are engaged and dreaming of the future should be! Age here is not a factor. Happiness is.

So one would wonder WHY this is on my blog about my health struggles and my journey to get healthy, eat healthy, and live healthy...

IT'S A WEDDING FOLKS!

There is unlimited food and cake. . .while I am trying to be healthy. . . I'm pretty sure that there is a little bottle somewhere that has liquid calories that they add special to wedding food. That's the only way to explain wedding poundage. . . yeah. You know what I'm talking about! 

I'm like....

And I learned a long time ago in this family- that this is the way to get the pickin's....

So you see my dilemma here!!! There is a buffet, with people that LOVE buffet's, and a cake at the end. A homemade cake might I add...

...except I just realized that I'm Gluten Intolerant...

...So I guess I don't have to worry about the cake now. pooh...

When we are faced with challenges in life, we are also faced with choices in how we are going to handle those challenges. We can choose to just "wing it" - I've had a lifetime of that. Or we can choose to "Plan ahead". I don't care what diet you are on, or if you even are on one. I don't care if you are underweight, or morbidly obese. The choices are the same. 

I said before, Getting Healthy is a mind game. 

are you in or are you out?

If you chose to be in, then REMEMBER WHY you made that choice in the first place! (it is a good idea to write your "WHY" down and post it somewhere you can see it to remind you of your goals.)

Here are some tips that I have learned over the years to help you get past challenges like this:

• EAT before you go!

• Take a treat, or food that you can eat, with you!

• Use my health as an excuse if you want! I'm gluten Intolerant so I can't eat that! (wink, wink)

• If you want to eat something not on "plan", drink a full glass of water first and wait for 10 minutes.

• Move more to cover those extra calories. Dance like no one is watching. They might be filming, but they are definitely not watching. If they are, ignore them and enjoy yourself! Be the life of the party instead of the wallflower! As a former wallflower, trust me on this!

• Realize that social situations are just that. Social. Not a food trough. It's tough because we use social situations as reasons to eat instead of socialize! TALK to People! and get your nose out of your phone! Enjoy the celebration!

• Take a smaller dish, and leave the outside rim clear. Only fill up the inside, and use 1/2 the space for steamed or fresh veggies, 1/4 for carbs and 1/4 for protein. and LOTS of water! 

• Alchohol has a lot of empty calories. So does Soda. Even diet soda can be detrimental to your health! (Look at this study!)

• Use H.A.L.T. which means: Are you HUNGRY, ANGRY, LONELY or TIRED? If you are Hungry, then eat. If you aren't but are one of the others, then deal with that emotion or need. DON'T EAT YOUR FEELINGS!

•  Be Happy with who you are! If you eat a piece of cake, eat a small piece of cake! The first bite tastes just like the last bite, except you don't feel as crappy. So just eat a bite and then throw the rest away, or smoosh your napkin in it or pour a drink over it to make it inedible. (dont' put milk on chocolate cake... that makes it MORE edible AND you have cake AND chocolate milk at the end... I mean a bird told me that...) 

• And last but not least, If you screw up, Forgive yourself and move forward. This is probably the hardest one to do, and the easiest to make a habit of. the key words in this advice is FORGIVE AND MOVE FORWARD. You're not a pig, so don't wallow. move.

My plans for tonight? I am saving my Shakeology to drink as we drive to the wedding. It will fill me up and give me the energy I need to CHOOSE to stay on Plan, and to keep on my road to healthy! 

Wish me luck!

IF you would like to join me on my journey and have questions about Beach Body or Shakeology, I'd love to chat with you. Just leave me a comment with your email. You can also reach me on facebook.

Today's Shakeology Recipe:

in Blender add:

8-12 oz cold water

1 scoop Chocolate or Vanilla Shakeology

Purple container mixed berries (frozen make a thicker shake)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

scoop of ice

Blend on high until mixed. Drink to your health Friends!

YOU ARE AMAZING! ... remember that!

Sometimes as I go on my pathway through life, I can forget who I am. Life gets so busy that I just take the smoothest pathway and go with the flow of life. When I do that, I go into "mom mode" and take care of everyone around me. It's just what I do. I'm a mom.

And moms are not told enough how freakin' awesome y'all are! Neither are dads! And I'm going to put teens in there as well. We all go on our way thinking we are ordinary folk with troubles that no one can see except us! At one time or another, we can all feel alone on our journey in this life. 

So I just want to tell you:

YOU ARE AMAZING! YOU ARE A LIVING MIRACLE! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! 

I was on a phone call last night with a friend, and she commented how her kids were just about ready to be done in her "nest", and after all these years she could finally take some time for herself. She could finally get healthy again, and focus on her needs. As an observer I was emotional listening to her, and my heart hurt for her that she had to wait so long to be able to take care of herself.

 This morning, I am reflecting on that call, and I looked inward at my own life, and I am living the same life! Why do we do that? Why in our quest to not be selfish and to please and take care of others, not to mention avoiding conflict, do we allow ourselves to be used as doormats to do others bidding? Even our own children... our GROWN children? 

I am living the life that I was emotional about in someone else. That's a problem!

I find that on my journey to get healthy, it's easier to succumb to other peoples wants. It's a mind game to be able to stand up for yourself without being over-bearing and un-agreeable. I still haven't found that happy place where I can be taken care of and my family can be happy. I fight it every day. Thankfully some days are easier than others. 

I don't have a solution yet, except this:

I am worth fighting for.

I am the warrior that has to do the fighting.

I have to be strong mentally as well as physically.

It's also a spiritual journey. Thankfully God is always there when we need Him and reach out for help.

It's ok to cry and rest - but don't give up.

I am worth fighting for.

And so I will.

I fought this morning. Once for me doing my daily Yoga Retreat, and once again with my daughter who is visiting. She kicked my butt! 

It was interesting doing that second round of the 3 week yoga retreat. I did it on my first day, and now 6 days later I did it again. I found that I am more flexible than I was that first day. My balance isn't perfect but it's better. And I can do a full plank! Not for long, but I can do it. I never thought that I would be strong enough to do that! 

BUT I DID IT!

That surprised me! 

Life gets tough, but keep going! It's worth the work, the tears and the TIME! If I can do it, then you can too. And don't think you can't! 

YOU CAN. . . BECAUSE YOU ARE AMAZING!

And now, I'm going to go have my Beach Body Shakeology! I think it's starting to make a difference!

If you would like to join me on my journey, or would like more information about the program I'm following, comment me below. 

Shakology Recipe of the Day:

Mint Chocolate Shakeology

In a blender, or shaker bottle add:

8-12 oz water

1/2 teaspoon Mint extract

1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology

Ice to blend, or ice in shaker bottle to cool.

Shake or blend and then ENJOY YOUR DAY FRIENDS!