Elephant Dung and A Dog's Energy . . . Yes Please!

I've been doing a lot of research the last couple of days for a healthy, somewhat equivalent nutrient dense shake that I can replace my shakeology with. While I didn't get the sustained energy boost from Shakeology that I was hoping for, my body DOES like the nutrition my gut can absorb from a nutrient dense shake! Sometimes it's tough to be able to absorb all the nutrition you need with chronic diarrhea from not having a large intestine due to j-pouch surgery. (TMI??) The shake has been awesome that way. . . just not $130/month awesome. . . not without the energy of a dog or a 2-year-old boy!

Facebook is LOADED with advertisements for the 310 shake. Advertising works so naturally I looked at that one first. Advertising good, shake not the best... although I DID like the price! After checking them out I started looking at different websites and blogs to see comparables between the different shakes available.  The best blog that was updated with WAY more information than I can process with fibro-brain is this one. I took all my new-found knowledge and went to amazon to read the reviews. 

I ended up choosing

Garden of Life Meal Replacement - Organic Raw Plant Based Protein Powder, Chocolate, Vegan, Gluten-Free

I read the BEST WORST review of this product and am going to copy it here because it's too funny not to share.

Customer Review

3.0 out of 5 starsThe difinitive review of...whatever is actually in this tub.

ByJDL303on March 28, 2014

Flavor: Vanilla|Size: Large|Verified Purchase

First off, the short version: This is the worst tasting stuff I've ever actually put in my mouth, and I just ordered another tub.

It's amazing what the human body can get used to. Seriously. The taste is bad. Like ground up elephant dung mixed with sand.

A little about me: 38, used to be in shape, then got kinda fat and decided to do something about it which entailed T-25 and an improved diet. I also waited to write this review until after I had finished my first tub of Raw Meal and went to regular protein powder instead so that I could compare the results. Let it be known that I am not a raw foods, vegan, vegetarian, health or excersize nut or anything like that. Just a regular guy trying to correct years of eating and drinking whatever it occoured to me at the time to consume.
Part of my diet is a breakfast smoothie, which is where this product came in. I read the reviews (just like you) and decided to give it a go because I had no intention of drinking it straight, but instead was planning to mix it as an ingredient in my smoothie. The other things I blend in my smoothie include ice, juice, almondmilk, frozen berries, ground flax, and chia seeds. The first day I added this to my smoothie, I thought someone must have mixed up at the Raw Meal factory and put ground up latex paint in a tub and sent it over. Awful. Really bad. Anyway, I got that choked down, and decided to try it again the next day...and the day after that...and so on. Every day it got slightly less bad and eventually became something I got used to like paying taxes, going to the dentist, or spending time with my in-laws.
The problem started one day when I made my wife's smoothie too thick (Did I mention that I make a smoothie for both of us in the morning? The only difference between them is that she refuses to drink the Raw Meal and instead gets regular vanilla protein powder.) and had to drink it down a little to put more liquid in. OMG. It tasted like licking angel tears off a unicorn's horn. I couldn't believe it. So good. Then I mixed up my Raw Meal smoothie and cried.
I finished my Raw Meal about 2 weeks ago, and went back to regular protein powder. There really is no compairison when it comes to taste. The only way they could make the Raw Meal taste worse would be if they somehow added durian fruit to it. New problem is that taste isn't the only thing to consider here. With the protein powder, I'm HUNGRY in an hour. With the Raw Meal, I wasn't hungry for lunch until early afternoon. Now whether this is because it keeps you from feeling hungry because it's so great, or because it makes you a little nauseous for several hours is up for debate. All I can say is that I'm eating a bunch more food now than I was when Raw Meal was part of my diet.
Now lets do some Pros and Cons:
Cons:
Absolutely everything that has to do with sensory percetion of Raw Meal. Taste, smell, sight, texture, etc. They are all really bad. Have I made that clear? Only some vegan who'd given up on life would think this stuff tastes good.
Pros:
Everything else. Feel better. Full for longer. Eat less. Poop better. Etc.
It's really a good product, it just tastes like the south end of a north bound rhino.
A couple of things I've found to make it tollerable:
Mix it with more liquid than it reccommends. This stuff is THICK and gets thicker the longer it sits. If you were to let it sit for an hour, you could probably lay bricks with it.
Never mix a banana with it. Bananas make it WAY thicker than it already is. You'd have to eat it with a spoon.
Drink it kinda quickly. No need to sit around and sip this stuff.
I never even tried it without mixing it in a smoothie, and I never will. Do yourself the same favor, and at least put some juice or something with it.
In conclusion, if taste is important to you, look elsewhere. If you can deal with putting this in your mouth and are more interested in the nutritional benefits, you can't beat this product. Understand that your body will get used to it if you force it to. You'll probably be glad you did.

Oh my gosh! This makes me laugh so hard!

Well, needless to say, I ordered myself a large tub of chocolate elephant dung mixed with sand. It should be here right before I run out of my chocolate shakeology. I'll keep you posted...

A Quick Post...

Just a quick post! - no pretty pictures today!

I have been doing an experiment on my health using BeachBody/Shakeology products. I lost 10 pounds in a month, (but nothing since - although the inches are less) and the Shakeology gave me added energy, although it didn't take away the pain or flares of my Fibromyalgia. 

For the last three weeks I have been in a pretty ornery flare, with a lot of nausea, sweats and chills, pain, back spasms and fatigue. While I did drink the shakeology during this time, it didn't take any of the symptoms away, or improve them that I could tell. It did however give me good nutrition during the times that I couldn't cook or feel like getting "real food" besides a nutritional supplement. 

I was so hoping that this would be a magic bullet and that all my wildest dreams of being healthy again would come true. Sadly, that wasn't my experience. At least not totally. And not enough to continue to spend $130 month on a nutritional supplement. 

I am continuing my subscription to the Beach Body on Demand though, as I like their yoga programs. I will re-visit the program question when my year subscription is up next July. Until then I'll enjoy the yoga programs. I find that they are gentle like I need, and I like how I can change up my workouts. I do feel stronger when I exercise. . . when I have enough energy to do it! Not so much the last three weeks. 

While I am sad that I didn't find something that would work long term through Beach Body / shakeology, I am not through fighting. I have learned that I feel better when I am active, but that I need to do gentle exercises for my body. I have learned that I need to eat well and clean, and that water, water, water is a key to detoxing my body and keeping weight off. I have learned that there are awesome people in the world that I didn't know before, and I love celebrating their weightloss milestones with them, and seeing them regain their health. I just can't keep up with them. And I was stressing myself out trying to!

I have learned better how to pace myself. . . a never ending lesson! I have learned that I need to put my health on a front burner instead of the back burner, and that's it's ok to make time for myself to be healthy. I have also learned that there are a lot of Fibro-Warriors out there that are looking for the very thing that I am looking for. 

And like you, I am not done fighting. I am not done looking for something to give me back my life. I am also not done writing this blog! Let's just say that I am just getting started!

While the blog may go through a metamorphosis, it will still follow my health and things that I am trying. Since this blog is ad-free, I don't feel a "need" to write when I don't feel well. So there may be times that this blog will go into a lull, but I'm not going away. I have found that the voices out there that speak to Fibro-Health are few at best. The news is old, and pinterest has all the same old articles with new pictures on them. But I am willing to share what I find, when I find it.

With that said, I hope that everyone has a wonderful day. I hope that you stay positive, and know that someone is praying for all of us that struggle with Chronic Illnesses. (it's me). 

-Erlyn

Cardio is Fun?

A week ago I finished my 3 Week Yoga Retreat. I loved those exercises, even though they were hard.  I could feel my body getting stronger. I lost over 10 pounds and 9 inches with that 3 week retreat (don't let the name fool you. I have Fibromyalgia, and that 3 weeks was more like 4 1/2 weeks...) but I finished it. I reported it on Team BeachBody, and then I decided to try a new exercise session. . . and I wanted the t-shirt and the bragging rights that went with it! So I decided to go with "21-Day Fix". 21 days. Another 3-weeker. (4 1/2 weeker wink wink). The promise of a free t-shirt reward. I found my next exercise.

I started with Day 1- Total Body Cardio. Not bad. A little sore, but not bad! 

Day 2 - Still Sore. Oh Good. Upper Body. I can handle this.

Day 3 -  Someone who shall remain nameless forgot to take their meds and now can't walk. No Exercises today!

Day 4 -  Can't walk. No exercises for me today!

Day 5 -  Still can't walk well, but am tired from just sitting around. My BRAIN isn't sick. just my BODY hates me. Oh Good. Pilates.

And then Today...

Day 6 - Cardio Fix. . . NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

And So It Begins...

C - Cats. Because cats are way better than cardio. They smell better and they are all cuddly. No one wants to cuddle after you do cardio! Because you stink! Cats don't mind if you stink though. . . in fact, I think they like it...maybe it's just the salty after-taste.

A- Arms. Have you ever noticed that cardio can't be done without waving your arms all over kingdom come?? It's like your heart won't beat if you don't flag down the passing train! My heart beats hard enough just getting out of bed in the morning! 

R- Rosy Cheeks are a must when one does cardio. I think it comes from holding your breath while trying to keep up with the modifier! 

D- Death Wish. Does this one really need explaining?

I- I want this session to end please . . . and then you hear "Push Yourself!". Uhh.... nope!

O- Oh My Gosh, I'm going to die! I really meant it when I said, "I want this session to end please!" It is also the shape my lips make while trying to breathe!

I- I am wondering if I made the right choice of exercises, because I am dying here! I have to modify the modifier, and I'm still having a hard time. Man this Fibro has totally turned my life upside down! . . . I really want that Free t-shirt! If nothing else gets me through these sessions, this awesome t-shirt promise will!

S- Sucker! Autumn Calabrese and her *BONUS* exercises. Today she was saying how we know she likes to throw a bonus exercise in there! "It's not optional. It's a bonus. Get off your booty and get to work!" I showed her though. I sat on my booty and waved down the passing train!

F- Fetal Position. It's the position I want to take when instructed to take "child's pose" for that 3 second rest I've earned! I don't though. I take a 5-second rest instead. Pretending that I have to "watch" the modifier to see the whole move. 

U- Underwear. Either pick them out or don't wear them. I'll let you decide. 

N- Not your Richard Simmons Cardio! Beach Body Cardio on the 21 day Fix is not Richard Simmons sweatin'-to-the-oldies. It's New Age kick your butt cardio with a swim-suit competitor as the drill sergeant! Richard Simmons was kind to old ladies. Autumn Calabrese doesn't care what your age is. She put a modifier in there for a reason. Get off your booty and MOVE!

And so I finished the whole 30 minutes with not one swear! It's probably because I couldn't breathe. but I finished it! I found that it wasn't as bad as the first Total Body Cardio - who has two thumbs and remembered to take their medicine! 

I even did the dishes when I was done! That's all the energy I had for the day, but I did them. 

I am finding that even though I am in a flare right now, the shakeology is helping with a little added energy. It's also helping me feel a little bit better than I normally do. 

And...

It's getting me one step closer to that sweet free t-shirt! If that isn't a reason to kick my butt .... I mean move my booty every morning, I don't know what is!

Just Kidding!

. . . But I really do want that t-shirt. 

Hard Days and Stupid People

A recurring theme I keep seeing over and over today on different areas of social media, is what to say and to NOT say to someone with a chronic illness. The posts are pretty much the same, varying with the authors personality. And they make me laugh. 

I ask myself repeatedly WHY do people try to tell others how to be well? It seems especially rampant with those that are healthy telling those of us with chronic illness what to do and to not do. Here are a few of my favorites that have happened to me personally...

If you would only try eating Vegan then all your troubles would go away.

This comment cost me a friend, but she wouldn't drop it! She had Type 2 Diabetes (caused by food) so OF COURSE eating healthier made her feel better! After trying to explain 4 different ways to her that I can't eat all that food due to no large intestine, and that I get ... tired blood ..... Fibro fog y'all. sorry.... and need to eat red meat, she got really upset and rather rude. THAT is what the "block" button is for on social media. Some people that cause that much stress in your life do not need to be in your life. Stress averted!

If you would just try *insert supplement name here* then all your troubles will magically disappear. I did it and it worked for me.

Do you know how many pills I already take??? Unless I see/feel/determine a need and my doctor that is monitoring all those meds agrees, I am not adding another pill to my repertoire'. Thanks. but no thanks.

If you would just exercise more... 

This one is just laughable. This last weekend I started on a new round of exercises called 21 day fit. It's for beginner/beginning intermediate NORMAL people. I modify the modifier. After just two days, I woke up Sunday and found out I. Couldn't. Walk. .... neither could I muster the strength to sit on the toilet! Oh how I wished that I had handicapped hand rails in my bathroom. Needless to say I came out in tears from the pain of just trying to stand back up after the pain of trying to sit down. People just don't get it! Exercise does NOT energize us. IT STEALS OUR ENERGY RESERVES! Now I'm not saying be a lump on the couch! Do what you can do, but for heaven's sake, don't over do it to tell people that you DO exercise! They don't understand that exercise isn't refreshing to us. Sometimes it's a death blow.

If you would just push yourself a little bit harder then your body would react and you'd find yourself being able to do it easier!

Please. Just. Please. We are already perfectionists and mourn what we can't do already. We don't need the guilt that comes from your judgments. It doesn't get easier. We may get stronger for awhile, and then we crash, start again, get back up to the strength that we might have had, crash, start again. The task for us is to have the courage and the strength to get back up and keep doing the same thing over and over. . . do you know the definition of Insanity?  Well, we are the walking poster child of the definition.

If you went to this doctor, they helped my *insert relationship here* and they are better now.

Each person, and each disease that affects that person is individual. It's called "co-morbidity". EVEN IF we have exactly the same diseases, in the same areas at the same time and our last name is the same, it is different. We are different. How it affects us is different. How we react to the meds, procedures, stress levels, etc are all different. Allow us to be who we are. Chances are we know more than the doctors do about our own cases anyway. Just because your *relation* got better doesn't mean our bodies will react the same way. We are happy and excited for your relation. Offer instead to scrub our toilets. That would make us giddy!

Maybe if you got a maid your house would be cleaner and it wouldn't stress you out so much.

"Maybe you could offer to be my maid." That'll shut em up! :) hahahaha it needed to be said. As if a maid can clean and have your house stay magically clean. Chances are that the money we would use for a maid is already being spent on medicine, doctors, and therapists for people who say stupid sh**! So there isn't money left over for a maid.

If you'd just tell people 'no' more, then they wouldn't bug you so much (as they ask for only a "small" thing - which most times they don't even realize they are asking!) 

I personally just groan inwardly and roll my eyes. The absurdity and irony is totally lost on these people. 

If I could say one thing to them, and not be the kind of person I don't want to be it would be this...

Won't you be my neighbor?

Lest you think all my people fall into these categories, they don't. Only the obnoxious ones. The others are very kind. They ask how I am doing, and if I need help. They don't get offended by my cancelling plans. Again. They pick up the pieces when I fall apart and run with whatever needs doing.

And my favorite person brings home dinner when I'm too tired to cook after folding two baskets of clothes all day. He is also the same person that hugs me when I cry from pain and frustration. He's also the maid I don't want to afford, and carries me to escape when life gets too "lifey". He's also my chauffeur on days it's too exhausting to drive, my best friend when I feel like everyone just wants another piece of me, and is content to just sit by me quietly and enjoy the day because noise, lights, smells, people and stress get to be too much. He is my bodyguard with sword in hand to protect me, but allows me the graciousness of letting me fight the demon. He knows that he can't fight that fight. That the fight is mine. He is very courageous that way. I know he would fight it if he could. 

If you want to know how to help someone with chronic illness, be like my favorite person. He's got it down. And for that, I love him all the more. 

Thanks Brad. I love you!

INSOMNIA!!!!!

It has been a TOUGH week!

This week hasn't been so pleasant health wise. I've had my share of migraines and fibro-pain, but the thing that threw my week into a whirlwind is the stupid

Man! When that hits me, it just throws me into a loop!

I wake up ANGRY that I didn't get any sleep! At least it feels that way to me!

I'm pissed off the whole night because I toss and turn, and WANT to sleep, but I just CAN'T! Have you ever woken up angry? It just seems to last the whole day!

And I sleep next to my cuddly hubster and he falls asleep within MINUTES of his head hitting the pillow! 

Do you know what it's like to not be able to sleep, while you are laying there by someone who is stealing your zzzz's?

Yeah. It's not so fun!

I woke up so ticked off that my first thing to do was to look up

"ugly people" on google images to be able to post a picture of what I felt like. . . Not a great idea. I felt worse than that and it wasn't fair to those people to post their pictures on a post where I am ranting!

So I looked up insomnia cartoons on pinterest. That was better. I wasn't labeling people and some of the cartoons made me laugh, which was just what I needed!

Although I woke up feeling crappy, I was disciplined enough to do my yoga. I actually had missed a few days due to just feeling wiped out from the Fibromyalgia and Migraines that I started the 3rd week over. I'm so glad that I did. 

After stretching out and warming up, I already felt better, and it helped with the migraine that I had from lack of sleep. Yoga and a medical cocktail that is. (Thank you Dr. G!)

By the time the yoga was done 30 minutes later, I felt better than I did when I got up and was able to go about my day. I thought I'd sleep better but....

.... I stayed up til after midnight again because my brain was too awake from lack of sleep! I know that sounds so backwards, but that is INSOMNIA! It's a wicked little brain trick. . . my brain won't shut off. . . 

When I have insomnia, I lay there, and do this!

At that point I do one of a few things. 

• Turn on the TV

• Pin Pinterest on Insomnia, Migraine or Fibromyalgia, because I KNOW what is coming in the morning...

• Go eat something. Sometimes I don't realize I'm hungry. It takes energy to sleep. These are the times that I think of the little ones that have to go to bed without food. It makes me sad. If I can't sleep because of this, and they are in the same situation, how do they function and learn and grow. . . which makes my insomnia worse. Prayer helps.

• Turn around on my bed so my head is facing the bottom, and turn on my heating pad to keep my feet warm.

• Cuddle with the hubster. I like this one.

While I was doing my insomnia research, I found this graphic above. That's a scary thing for most of us. I think Insomnia is pretty wide spread, and I don't think people realize how serious it can be.

There is help out there. My neurologist has given me some help. I am not a medical expert, neither do I fancy being sued or held accountable for other peoples medical problems, so if you need medical help with this, go see your doctor.

But I can pass on the advice my doc gave me:

• go to bed at a set time every night

• turn the lights down low 1 hour before bedtime

• don't watch t.v. in bed, or read, or anything electronic

• stop all electronic devices when you turn the lights down low

• sleep in a cool room

• don't consume caffeine . . . AT ALL

So, it's been three nights without a good nights sleep. My fibro and migraines are having a party in my body. 

BUT

I have kept up on my exercises for those three days

and I have drunk my shakeology.

I grog around my house until about 8pm, and then I wake up.

But guess what?

And that is my plan!

Although I am on a health and fitness journey, I have to allow my body to rest when it needs it,

eat nutritious food and learn to say "NO". 

(I have a really difficult time with that last one!)

But when this flare is over.... I'm coming back as the FIRE!

Have a great day everyone!

Shakeology Recipe of the day:

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter

In a blender add:

8-12 oz cold water

1 scoop chocolate vegan shakeology

2 tsp natural peanut butter or other nut butter

1 green container spinach

1/2 tablespoon natural cocoa

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (anti-inflamatory)

ice

Blend! Drink to your health!

No Harvest if You Don't Plant the Seeds!

I have spent the last week travelling through North Dakota and the rolling hills and beautiful farms. It has been so pleasant and lovely! I love it up here!

I have the opportunity to come up here every once in awhile because the hubster works with the oil fields. While he works, I get to read, paint, sleep, rest, this time - workout, and enjoy the bounty of nature and history while we transverse this beautiful country. 

As I was eating breakfast this morning preparing to fly home, I was reading my scriptures and found these verses that talk about planting seeds, and what you can expect from the harvest from the seeds you plant.

If they are good seeds, then you can expect good things. If they are bad seeds, they won't grow and therefore you won't get anything for all your work. These scriptures also talked about US and how we have to plant our seeds with faith.

When you plant seeds, you have to wait to see if they will sprout. That waiting and patience takes faith. Because right now all you have is a dirt field or plot. . . and a lot of sweat! (And you know how I feel about sweat!)

After the seeds sprout, is the work done? NO! Now the real work starts! Weeding.

If you don't weed that garden and nourish and water those baby plants, they get overcome and they die. Again, if you don't take care of them, no harvest!

Does it end there? Nope!

More water, more weeding, and now you get the little critters that will be so happy that you planted a buffet for them! At least that's how it is at my house on the mountain! I tried a garden the first season we were there. The deer were thrilled. I was pretty pissed off. Now I grow weeds, and I'm very good at it! . . . who are we kidding. I used to tell my boys to go "mow the garden" when they were younger. A green thumb was not in my package of gifts I received at birth!

But I digress...

With enough faith to plant those seeds, care when the seedlings are tender, water and feeding of the plants and fruit of the vine, we finally get to the HARVEST!

Now that we have grown our garden the vegetables and fruits are so happy that you have given them life that they will pluck themselves right from the mother plant and march into your kitchen and preserve themselves! Right????

What? No? What the....

Dang! After all that work you have harvested MORE WORK?

That seems so unfair!

...until winter comes...

Then all that work seems legit. It's worth the sweat and care and time and sacrifice. It is the gift that sustains you, and gives you a better and healthier life. Right?

It gives you options when others might not have as many.

And it brings peace of mind.

Of course, it will bring more work as you use that harvest to make future meals. You might even use it to bless others. But the work is worth it.

Those were my thoughts this morning as I read that story, and reflected on my travels through the farms, and the beautiful fields of sunflowers. 

But what does it have to do with my journey to get healthy?

Well . . . pretty much everything if you think about it.

Don't we all start with a hope (seed) that we can do something to better our health and our lives? We do.

And then we act in faith when we decide to follow on that hope! We WANT something to happen, and we have taken action to make it happen. We have planted the garden, or started the journey, to better our health and our life!

So lets stop. We have taken the actions and we can just hang back now and watch, right? Heck NO! Just like in the garden, our work has just started! I do NOT have a green thumb like my dad did. I know it has to do with weeding! I really don't like weeding. If I could do it once, it wouldn't bother me, but man! Those suckers come up every. single. day. If you don't stay on them, they just ruin the whole garden!

Like weeds, workouts need to be every. single. day. 

I mean....

YAY! WE'RE GOING TO EXERCISE!

Weeds can be anything that derails you from your goals. Failure to plan, fear of success (like me), negative thoughts, feeling like you aren't worth the bother, don't want to commit that much time or patience to see results... These are all weeds. Pull them. Stop making excuses and start making results. Be positive and get rid of the weeds! 

Workouts, when one starts, can also be viewed as a weed! 

Weeds with deep roots and are hard to pull out! Exercising our bodies when we first start - especially after being dormant - is HARD WORK! But guess what happens when you pull out those hard weeds? You get stronger. And stronger. And you get stronger than that weed. Your body gets stronger and you can endure the exercises. You might have to take a rest and wipe the sweat off, but you finish that weeding and that workout. And for some reason, just like in the garden, we feel accomplished! There is a FEELING that comes with working out. And with practice that weeding ceases to be a chore, and it becomes a motivation for a great harvest!

So you've started your journey, planted, planned for critters that might derail you and steal your harvest, weeded out negative thoughts, started your workout, and now it's time to feed and water!

FEED YOURSELF HEALTHY, CLEAN, FOOD! 

Without the right kind of fuel, plants won't grow. Without the right kind of fuel, your body won't be healthy. Period.

• Stop with the sodas! They are chemicals.

• Stop with the unnatural sugars! They are addicting, and also chemicals!

• If you can put it under hot water, and then eat it after, it should be ok to eat! So cake? um... no.

• Gluten Free Ginger Cookies Erlyn? um.... no. (but they are so good! dang it!)

• I try to only eat natural sugars. ie; pure maple syrup, raw sugar, raw honey, agave, etc. I know I feel better and not as sluggish when I do this, and my body likes it too. Am I perfect? no. Do I try every day / hour / minute? yes.

• Eat things in as natural a state as you can get them and afford them. The last time I checked, McDonald's wasn't on that list. Just sayin'

• I drink Shakeology every day. It is dense nutrition, and is proving to be something that my body can absorb nutrition from! I am seeing it in the energy I have and the ability to do activities for a longer period than I was just a month ago. It is proving to be a great fuel!

AND

Remember to water the garden.

YOUR BODY NEEDS WATER!

Right now I drink 96 ounces of water a day.

• I don't include the water I drink during the night because the amount varies depending on if I can sleep. or if I celebrate insomnia once again. (who can get up to pee 100 times per night if you don't drink after every bathroom visit?)

• Nor do I include the water I add to my dense nutrition shake, the wonderful Shakeology that is making a huge difference in my health! Who knew! Oh wait. My patient coach did. lol. Thanks Cindee!

• I don't include any other liquid. I only count my water! That is a lot of water! But I do it. And I do it because it's one of my goals. BOOM!

• Water flushes toxins, makes your skin glow, makes you poop easier, 

• and I read somewhere that you can be 20 years younger if you drink more water. I plomise! ;o)

• Drink half your body weight in ounces of water! (yes, you should be drinking that much water EVERY. DAY.

Here's how to find out how much water to drink:

Body Weight divided by 2 = how many ounces you should drink.

150 pounds / 2 = 75 ounces of water or 4 1/2 water bottles

(Oh if I only weighed 150!....)

I can only do plain water so much. I do love to put in natural flavors, and these are some ideas to get you started! My personal favorite is orange, lemon and strawberries. I just put them in a PLASTIC or GLASS container, preferably one that has an infuser included. DO NOT add citrus to metal water bottles. The weak acid will dissolve some of the metal into the water. It tastes nasty and your water bottle will retain that flavor for awhile. . . Don't ask me how I know this information so thoroughly! Just trust me on this one!

So! We now have:

Got the Plan (seeds). Check!

Got the Workouts (Faith = action!). Check!

Weeded negative thoughts. Check!

Got the Food. Check!

Got the Water. Check!

Keeping the critters out???

Here's where getting healthy gets hard. The critters up by me are sneaky little things. You plant something that is supposed to be critter proof . . . which it is . . . but they have to "taste" it. Just to make sure that they don't like it.

Which would be fine if they were the only ones that would take a nibble. But they aren't. EVERYONE has to take a nibble. and they nibble it right down to the roots! The fact that the poor plant has been pecked to the ground caused it to fail and die. Sadly, we are the same way if our personal critters get the best of us!

What are some of the critters in your life that stop you from harvesting and reaching your goals?

 I know some of mine are PEOPLE who want me to spend my time doing things for them or with them when I should be working out or taking the time to eat healthy, or get my rest. Or they don't support my goals, or heaven forbid try to SABOTAGE my efforts. Sometimes that's me, and sometimes that's other people!

Another critter of mine is TIME. I don't take the time to plan ahead. Fibromyalgia has been a curse in this area and has taught me some bad habits! Seems like when I make plans my body laughs and laughs and then I wind up in bed without the energy to make healthy food or exercise. I just lay there and watch my personal critters favorite movies. If I took the time to plan ahead I would be able to eat healthy because the meal prep would be done. That is on the goal-to-do list! I just need to find out what all this "meal-prep-Monday" is about!

So be wary of the critters trying to harm the harvest, or your goals. Sometimes we have to "exterminate" them! Be they thoughts or others - put a little space between harmful behaviors and your goals.

And Finally, the Harvest!

As we traveled, the farmers had mowed the alfalfa and were harvesting it. Beautiful stripes of ocher and burnt sienna flowed over the harvested landscape. Sunflower heads hung heavy with seeds that are almost ready. It was beautiful!

 .... Like the sunflowers, I'm still in my growing season. I'm figuring out what I need to do to achieve my harvest. I am working for the day when I can take my measurements, and weigh myself and look in the mirror at a healthier me. That will be my harvest. After a very long, frustrating, and sometimes lonely growing season! (the last 5 years!)

A few verses that struck me the most on my journey today, are these:

"If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, 

which are true."

and...

"Now, as I said concerning faith - that it was not a perfect knowledge - even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, anymore than faith is a perfect knowledge.

"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than DESIRE TO BELIEVE, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."

and finally - 

"... ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."

And that, my friends is the harvest. Seeing yourself come off victorious! Seeing the results of your labors! And enjoying the accomplishments of the time, workouts, and sacrifices you have made. 

Enjoy the fruits of your labors in your successes!

Plan for maintaining that success by planning for the future and continuing to do the things that brought you that success in the first place! 

Farming isn't a one season thing. It's a lifestyle.

So is living a healthy life!

And just so you know... You ARE worth it!

Have a great day everyone! I hope you enjoyed the Solar Eclipse today! I watched it from the airport while I drank my shakeology and waited for a delayed plane! lol

Shakeology Recipe of the Day:

In a blender bottle:

go to the cafe in the airport and get 8-12 oz cold water and some ice! :)

1 pre-measured scoop chocolate Shakeology with

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Put the lid on and shake, shake, shake while you smile at people walking by because you have delicious Shakeology and they do not! ;)

Smile at the hubster because you have delicious shakeology and he spent $7. on a dry sandwich. Yeah baby!

Drink to your health!

-Erlyn

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