Life Doesn't End With 50!

I don't speak much on skin care, or not near enough!  I'm always comparing my skin to those of my peers (women my age).  I often wonder, if anything, how much of my aging is genetic, life style, or the elements I've been exposed.  Who knows, for sure.  My grandmother lived to be 100 years old.  She lived by herself, and died at home, in her sleep.  She lead a healthy life, eating nuts and berries right from her yard.  She had at least four varieties of apple tree growing in her yard.  She grew her own nuts, figs and strawberries.  I remember along her garden was a row of muscadine vines, and along side that was her clothesline.  She always had food in her pocket.  Most of the time, dried fruit in a baggie, or nuts she'd gathered and shelled.  Sometimes you'd catch her eating a handful of fresh green beans, she'd picked straight from the garden.  If it was fresh, she'd eat it.  Her hair, skin and nails were always beautiful, smooth, and fresh looking.  She was rarely ever in the hospital due to the common illnesses, which affect most older adults, gardened until she could no longer see, and made her morning stretches routine.  Water was her mainstay.  She rarely EVER drank soda.  Having a soda to my grandmother was a treat, and something she only had once in a blue moon.  She'd drink her morning coffee, and a cup of tea at meals.  She was a healthy woman, and it showed in her beautiful face, eyes and skin.  What do you do to maintain perfect, healthy skin, hair and nails?  Is it what you eat that keeps you looking younger? 

They have said, since Arnold's time, that white sugar was toxic to the body, and caused premature aging.  I've done my share of damage, obviously.  Teaching my children the lessons my parents failed to teach me is vital to living a full and healthy life.  Good food, and exercise, fresh air and a well balanced life means more than topical, quick fixes.    Once the damage is done, all we have to correct them are topical treatments, dietary changes (as eating clean), exercise, and of course, let's not forget surgical procedures. 

I've asked friends, and family members what products work for them.  Several friends visit the local Ulta store, order proactive and other commercial products.  I've seen on the show, The Doctors that the panda blue light therapy can rejuvenate collagen and prevent further damage.  I've also heard the red light therapy can reduce acne. 

A friend of mine shops at our local ULTA Store (Anderson, SC).  I would love to share the online store.  Nothing wrong with visiting your local store.  It offers you the chance to touch, feel, smell and try products, that you may not get to try online.  The good thing is, Ulta offers free shipping on orders over $50, PLUS 3 FREE samples.  Once you purchase online, you also have an opportunity to become linked with other special offers that aren't offered through the store.   You also have an opportunity for up-to-date product and special offers!

A friend came by the other day to help out with some things.  She's a very positive, motivated individual!  I was so happy and inspired by her positive outlook, and abundance of useful tools in how to manipulate one's desire for a better life.  She recommended I look into this useful site called inner talk.  So I did.  And this is what the site told me about inner talk;

"It has been demonstrated that many difficult situations in our lives keep occurring because of the "unaware" information in our minds. This "unaware" information makes itself known by mirroring our self-doubt in negative self-talk.

Everyday we continue to receive negative information which informs the mind of fear, failure, and so forth. This messaging reinforces the negative thought patterns and thereby we continue to struggle to change even the smallest part of our lives.

Whole Brain -- technologies were developed and patented by Eldon Taylor to offset negative information by inputting positive messages directly into the subconscious. The original Whole Brain -- patent consists of 105 claims. 105 unique and remarkable methods to facilitate change. Do they work? Whole Brain -- technology has been studied in a variety of scientific applications and been repeatedly demonstrated to be effective. " 

What are you gonna do about it?  My friend asked, so I looked into ordering my own set of inner talk dvds.  If you'd like to check out another method to the madness, a positive outlook and information on talking positively to yourself, check out this link: 

I'm a FREAK when it comes to saving money.  As a mother of three, stay at home mom, child care...blah, blah... household of five, well... I can't afford to NOT be frugal.  Instead of putting all my focus on expensive cosmetics, and product, I try to find the most natural way possible to maintain health and beauty.  Topical agents, are just that; topical.  Topical agents only deal with the outward affects of our environment.  We all know, and have learned that what we eat, drink and do is what affects our overall health, more than external elements, or simply put; sun!  Aging comes sooner for those who live an unhealthy lifestyle, lack proper nourishment and exercise.  Of course genetics does play a HUGE part in how we age, but doing something to prevent aging is way more than battling external elements.  It's battling the internal ones as well!

The presense of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid contributes greatly to the positive affects of coconut oil.  Coconut oil has properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.   Other health benefits of coconut oil include; hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength.  The Lauric acid found in coconut oil is converted into monolaurin which has been said to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV.   It also has been said to help in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.  There has been research done through the  Coconut Research Center.  They have compiled various references on scientific research done on coconut oil.

Overall, general health; I recommend Coconut oil!  Get yours today at sunfoods!

  Find it at:  http://www.sunfood.com/left-nav/oils-butters/coconut-oil-extra-virgin-32oz-organic-raw.html

Per SUN FOODS: 

Coconut Oil/Butter consists of 90+% raw saturated fat a rare and important building block of every cell in the human body. Unlike long-chain saturated animal fats (that have been associated with creating poor health), Coconut Oil contains healthy, healing, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs support the immune system, the thyroid gland, the nervous system, the skin, and they provide fast energy as well. The MCTs in Coconut Oil help increase metabolism and therefore help with weight loss. Historically, farm animals fed Coconut Oil were never found to be obese. When fed partially hydrogenated soybean oil, and other rancid fats, the animals quickly gained weight.

MCTs are known to have antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. For this reason, Coconut Oil/Butter is one of the best dietary fat sources for individuals on anti-candida diets.  

My family of five enjoys a wholesome breakfast; eggs, sausage, pancakes, and syrup! 

I've discovered that there's a way to enjoy the traditional pancake breakfast in what I consider, a truly traditional way!  Seriously; think about it.  Years ago, before foods were being massed produced, run through machines, mixed with stuff we cannot pronounce, breakfasts consisted of traditional stone ground wheats, and flour.  Fresh grits, grains, and oats were being served.  Eggs were fresh from the hen and not stored for months in a cooler.  Syrups and grains were straight from the source.  Because they didn't have the convenience of electric refridgerators, most foods such as vegetables, meats, grains were served fresh.

After reading Tosca Reno's book "The Eat-Clean Diet, Recharged' I've been paying much more attention to content.  Not Nutritional Facts, which can sometimes be deceptive... but CONTENT/Ingredients.  From what I gathered, from reading the book, the fewer the ingredients, the better!  I decided to challenge my family by incorporating what I learned.  The challenge wasn't making changes to our traditional, and always healthy, homecooked evening meals.  It was to our morning breakfasts.  I have three children, and each of them eat different things.  My son has suffered with allergies and can't eat what's in most traditional breakfasts.   For him, this meant NEVER enjoying pancakes.

While shopping at our local grocery store, my husband picked up a box of Hodges Mill Buckwheat Pancake mix.  Wow!  Something new!  I already had traditional pancake mix at home.  My husband and I are always looking for foods my son can eat, because he is allergic to such an extended list of food items; egg yolk, milk, nuts (most everything).  We were excited to find this pancake mix, because my son has never had pancakes.  I cook several different items at home, one for the non allergy eaters, and the other for my son.  For once, we could ALL sit down and eat the same menu.  Not only can he have the pancake mix, it's much more healthy than the traditional mix which contains egg, and milk ingredients. 

Comparing the two boxes:  Hodges Mill Buckwheat Pancake Mix had a total of 5-6 items in their ingredients, where as Hungry Jack Complete Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle mix has... I stopped counting at 18 items, and over half of them I could NOT pronounce.    Needless to say, the old pancake mix is OUT!  The NEW, more traditional mix is our new family fave!  HODGES MILL BUCKWHEAT PANCAKE MIX... w/ agave nectar,  YUM!

Good Healthy Wholesome Breakfast?

Buckwheat pancakes made w/ ricemilk and egg white

Egg whites

Agave Nectar

Give it a whirl and see what you discover!  Eating clean can be good for the WHOLE family!  Find other Healthy food items at sunfoods!  Get your agave nectar, and coconut oil Click here!

It's been a long, almost two years since I started on my journey to complete and total fitness.  I hate finding myself in a rut, don't you!  Running and moving quickly (Cardio) is my activity of choice.  Recently I hurt my hip.  I'm thinking playing touch football and a quick tackle to the ground, landing on my hip and a huge rock may have played a huge part.  I didn't want to give up, and continued to run, although the pain in my hip permeated my entire body.  Who'd thunk it!  Me... giving up!?  Well, it's been three solid weeks of rest, and I feel all my motivation has been shot to the wind.  My eating habits rocketing downhill rapidly, as my weight goes in the opposite direction!  Are you with me?  I did better during the holiday, than I am now!  Reading my Oxygen Magazine has certainly helped matters in the past few weeks, but I found new motivation through looking at the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.  I know, glutten for punishment.  I'm over 40 years old, and I realize I'll never be a swimsuit model... but it helps motivate me to think I CAN do better!

Now the pain in my hip has completely disappeared, I'm ready to get started back to where I'd lost myself in this pain and misery of making myself miserable.  I can't blame my hip completely, nor the bad snowy weather, the cold... There are too many things I can accomplish from the comfort of my home, to be making excuses!  Look forward to my posts, because as of TODAY, I'm a NEW woman.  I'm inspired by God... because He is ALL inspiring to me.  He gives me the cause, and beautiful people, fit people, family, (mainly my husband and children) give me the motivation!

Let's call this Day 1 of a NEW day.... as each day really is a NEW beginning, a NEW opportunity to strive for something better, and accomplish those things you've/we've been setting aside to do!

I have a date to work towards.  Unfortunately, this hip pain is returning.  Took two weeks off due to horrible (unless you love snow... ok... I loved it!) weather for running!  I did do some bomb sledding down our huge hill, and had an eventful time with my beautiful children.  I was sore, and bruised from all the sledding, but none-the-less, tromping up and down the hill in the slippery, thick snow... really gave me a workout!  It was fun!

Monday, January 24th, I began running again.  Day 1 (Monday) went well.  Tuesday, did the same thing, but my hip began hurting again!  I really NEED a plan to prevent this pain from recurring.  I've read it could be caused from running a hill.  So, I'm seeing more 'flat' terrain!  Hopefully... let's say... EVENTUALLY, I WILL find it!  Praise God!

I got into a general discussion on my facebook page about fitness and finding things that work.  After years of making excuses, being miserable... get my drift... I decided, "I CAN... and I WILL"... so I did.  This is how I feel about my running.  It will happen, and I will succeed! 

I want to say something to all... to ALL the women out there... Please, don't let your insecurities prevent you from helping and supporting other women.  WE ALL need one another, because no matter how hard we try to be different... we are all the same.  I love life... love my family and have an overwhelming desire, just like everyone else, to be accepted socially.  We do all we can for those we love, and feel threatened when a beautiful woman comes into the room.  From my experiences, even the most beautiful struggle with at LEAST one insecurity.  They may not admit, but it's obvious sometimes by how hard they try to obtain attention, nurture, or even if it's cover their smile, look away, blush... the insecurities are visible... though we think we've got them covered in wool!  It's there!

Blessings and much success to EVERY woman out there!  YOU CAN... and YOU WILL... if you SO DESIRE IT!

Love,

Devine

I don't know what the heck I'm doing.  Sitting here checking out Runner's World, and didn't realize there were so many types of shoes to run in!  Wow!  The idea escapes me in disbelief.  I have been running in a pair of Nike Tennis shoes for over a year now, and ... I'm suppose to change shoes after about 300-500 miles or so!  Ok, I have seen the odometer on cars, but... quite honestly, I didn't know I had one.  I just know I set my goal weekly for the distance I want to run, determine how far that would be (how many laps on the track) and get out there and DO IT!  So there ya go!  I'm some crazy country chic who's clueless on all these modern conveniences.  NO, I'm not afraid to admit it!  When I say I'm gonna run a mile, I know three laps on the track I run, is a mile.  A man actually got out there and measured it with one of those thang-a-majeegs that looks like a bicylce wheel on a stick. 

Back to knowing how many miles I actually run, and when I'm suppose to trade in my shoes for a new pair.  What have I been thinking?  Well, I ran a mile this week, and I'll try to run a mile and 1/2 next... that's how I've been doing it.  A beginner's log would be a great tool!  Not only would it tell me the mileage on my shoes, but it would also show how much progress I've made.  I wish I'd known all this ages ago, but I was so excited over the few pounds I'd lost, how far I'd come... was pretty obvious... at least at the time!  Ya know!

Any tips you seasoned runners could share, are always welcome!  I'm being true to who I am now (Did I say that correctly?  Who, or Whom)... Oh well, it's all about running!   

I'm going to try something else before I give up on the pain in my hip.  It's much better now, and I'm going to try running straight instead of on an incline.  I'm almost positive it could be the angle in which I am running.  If it doesn't seem to get worse... then I'll know it was the hill.

Ok... well, yesterday started out wonderfully!  I had my supper made, so when my husband came home hungry he wouldn't have to wait for me to prepare his meal.  I was so proud! 

Then, I got my children dressed in their coats, and hats and we headed outside.  I sent my youngest (3 yr.) child to the play area, while my son and daughter played chase in the larger portion of our yard!  WHEW... so far, so good!

I stretched out ~ and began jogging around my yard.  My house sits on an acre with a good side hill... it's on a dang good incline!  I made ten minutes running as hard as I could, pushing myself and breathing in smoke from the neighbors outdoor trash fire (YUM... love the country!).  I'm not really sure if my throat was burning from the smoke, or the cold air... either way, it became almost uncomfortable.  I didn't let that stop my attempts, though! 

My alarm sounded, letting me know I'd made my ten minute mark.  But as I was topping the hill for the 12th or 13th time, I noticed pain in my right hip!  Ok... I stretched... what's going on?  Could this pain be caused from running on an incline?  When running around my yard, two sides will either be up, or down the hill, depending on the direction I'm running.  When I run across the hill, my right leg is higher than my left.  Could this be contributing to the pain?  It became unbearable... and when I say that, because I can push myself through almost anything... I mean, it was really unbearable.  I decided to stop running and walk.  Even walking caused a bit of dull... extremely uncomfortable pain.  My son recruited me to play with him for a few minutes, after I'd completed my 25 minutes...  although I was in much pain, I played with him as much as possible before retreating to the warmth of my home, and escaping the darkness of the evening.

Any of you runners know what could have caused this pain in my side, please help! 

We'll try again, Wednesday.....

Okay... It's Day one!  The fastest time for the Dam Run was obtained by a teenage girl, and it was 19 minutes!  The next to the fastest time was 20 minutes, and was obtained by a 45 year old woman!  What am I shooting for:  19 minutes!

First, Stretching out!  It's Monday, and I want to be strong, and capable.  Right now, I'm running up and down hills and cross country (my backyard - it's in the country - does that count?)!  I haven't started my workout yet, and I'm hoping some facebook friends, and twitter tweeps can help me find the tools I need!  Maybe there's someone else out there starting their own training session for a Race!  Who knows!  I just know, I'm going to do the best I can do, and share my journey with everyone else!  JUST maybe, maybe ... I'll inspire some other tired old housewife, mom, child care provider... to get into the groove AND show them, IT CAN be done.  Children aren't handicaps!  There's a will, there's a way!  I have three children.  During the winter months my husband works until 5:30 pm or later.  It is always DARK before he ventures home, so I try to get my workout in before he gets here.  What do I do with my 3, 7 and 9 year olds?  Hmmmm.... well, I send them to the play area, and use what I have:  A partially fenced back yard!  LOL!  I run around and around my house, and as people drive up and down the road looking at me... probably wondering what the heck that woman's running from.... I just throw up my hand and keep going!  FUN!  All the while, my children are in the back yard riding their bikes, playing and doing healthy activities in the fresh air, just like me! 

Tonight's the NIGHT!  I'm so excited to get started.  I've got my running pants and tennis shoes already layed out!  Now, I just need help from seasoned runners!  What can you do to help a 42 year old mother of three, with limited time and resources?  LOL!

Blessings.....

I cannot believe it's JANUARY 2011 Already!  Where did last year slip off too!  I find myself in the best shape I've been in, in MY LIFE... and I wonder... why I waited soooo long to get started!  It hasn't always been easy, my comfort use to be food!  Not any longer.  I put my faith in GREATER things, and leave everything that use to cause me pain, and misery in the hands of GOD.

My spirituality saved me, and I focus on that...

With that said, I decided NOT to have a RESOLUTION this year, but to focus on setting obtainable goals! 

Daily, and as always, I look forward to eating a clean diet, exercising, working and spending time with my family.  That's my routine... and I'm sticking to it!  It's NOT a diet... it's not a gimmick, it's not a trick to quick fixing my fitness or fitting into a pair of jeans, reaching a weight milestone, IT IS A LIFE STYLE~!

With that said, my goal for this year is training for a 5k run!  They have a local run yearly, and I've been wanting to run in it for a long time!  First, I decided... I want to win... win for myself is trying to beat last years best time.  Can I do it?  Well, I won't know until I get to work, and focus on obtaining that time... and we'll see if I do it on race day! 

Some of my other goals are to work on my business, and homeschooling my children.  Get more done in a day!  The only way I can accomplish these goals is to set smaller obtainable goals and as I achieve those smaller goals, check them off my list, and keep going until that what right now seems a unsurmountable goal, is accomplished.  I know I can do anything... and all things are possible... with prayer and preserverance!

How about you!  What are you goals for the year?