All Categories - Williams Innovative Network (W.I.N.)

Individual Apple Crisp

1/29/2019

One of my greatest struggles with healthy living is I love sweets! I am learning how to take the things I love and make them healthier. One of the things I change was my apple pie. I created a crumble that I use instead of crust (see the video below).

Some alternatives that you can use is to replace the sugar with Stevia or other baking sugars that are sugar replacement. I stopped purchasing regular white sugar some years ago. I either get organic sugar or some of the sugars that are more brown in color and coursers, so you have to mix well when using them.

This recipe is for individual dishes, but I also do this as a bigger pie. I have done it for so long that I don't have the actual amount of the ingredients, I tend to look at it for the consistency I want. I like the crust to be more oatmeal than flour. If you make it let me know what you changed or if you used it as it was. I actually liked the tart and sweet with the oatmeal. Enjoy!

Barbecue Cauliflower Pizza

1/21/2019

Someone recently asked me was I vegan or a vegetarian. I am not. However, several years ago I did make a change in how I eat. One of the things I determined to do was to eat more plant-based and to make overall better choices with my health. I've done fairly well.

However, like many the holidays get me off course so I tend to detox my body at the beginning of the year to give myself the opportunity to get rid of any extra weight I picked up. One of my recipes I want to share with you today is my cauliflower pizza (See video below).

I give you the details in the video, however, I do want to say I am really horrible about measuring sometimes so I tend to do things to taste. I seasoned my cauliflower mixture before putting in the egg so I could get a taste I like. I also like cheese so I will use different types of cheese so I can get different taste from my crust. Also, the actual sauce was the barbecue sauce. I like a certain brand, but use the one you like!

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or ask me. If you try it let me know what you think or how your pizza came out.

Ginger Zinger Smoothie

1/18/2019

It's been a while but I am still here working at keeping my life together holistically; emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I wanted to share one of my refreshing smoothies I make for myself. What I like about this smoothie is it gives me an energy boost. It isn't very sweet, but you can always adjust it as you need. You can add more pineapples or sweetener. I hope you enjoy it!

Lessons from Swallow Cliff

9/9/2015

This past Monday, Labor day, I went with my family to accept a challenge given by my nephew. The challenge was to climb the stairs (125 one way) at Swallow Cliff in one of the suburbs of Chicago.

My nephew asked each of us a question. He ask who barely worked out, those he gave the goal of climbing the stairs at least two times. He then asked for the grouped that worked out some times, that group he gave the goal of completing 4. The last group he gave the goal of 6, then he changed it to going for at least 10 (I accepted the 6).

The first lesson is we have to always assess where we are before we can begin to make changes. For example, a person that was accustomed to working out would not really be meeting a challenge by only doing 2 rounds, where someone that doesn't workout at all is challenged. The first lesson is be willing to press yourself a little further. Whether this is in your health pursuits or your spiritual pursuits. Don't get comfortable where you are, continue to seek to grow.

The second lesson came when I got to the base of the stairs. When I looked up, the thought of completing 6 rounds seemed impossible. However I heard God's Spirit say to me, look at the step right in front of you and then shift your eyes to the next one before you step. Also the people were all over the stairs and inf you focused on anyone person, you could get confused. So I focused only on the steps and not the people. Before I knew it I was in a grove and it was if I was the only one on the stairs. When I got to top for the first time, I was amazed at how quickly I was able to get there. The lesson I learned was we can have a vision (the big picture of climbing to the top of the 125 stairway) but in order to complete the vision, we have to take things one step at a time. When we don't focus on what everyone else is doing, we don't get distracted and lessen the possibilities of a mis-steps. Whether your goal is to lose 10 pounds or finish a class, it will take you focusing on your goal, but taking the step-by-step process to accomplish the big picture. Furthermore, you and I can't focus on what others are doing because they can cause us to drift after them instead of staying focused on what you called us to accomplish.

The third lesson I learned came when I had finished the first 4 climbs. I felt myself getting a little tired. I got to the top and some of the people in my group had completed their goal of doing 2 or 3 rounds, and the temptation came that I could go back down with them and wait for the others to finish. But I remember saying that's good but I've got to finish 6. I didn't focus on the 4 I had already done, I focused on the 2 others I needed to complete.

Sometimes we can get distracted by others success and say, that's good enough. However, what's good enough for someone else can't be how we make our decisions. Also, it is good to be excited about what you have accomplished, but again we can't stay comfortable there. Yes, I was able to make the 4 rounds, but I couldn't rest until I had completed the entire challenge. I learned as I continued that I had some strength I didn't realize I had. That's what happens when we challenge ourselves. When we press ourselves to do more than we thought we could do, we find we have more strength than we thought we did.

When I finished the challenge I felt excited about it. Now this is the final lesson. It is now a few days later and I still can fill in my leg muscles the work I did. I can tell I've worked out these muscles. The key to keeping my legs from becoming really sore, I had to keep working them out, stretching them out and using the muscle so it wouldn't lock up, so to speak. It's the same with everything in our lives. Don't let the fact that you accomplished a task be the end of the process, but the beginning of the next challenge. Otherwise you'll find yourself getting "stiff". If you've lost 10 pounds, or changed your eating habits, or accomplished a stair challenge, then what will be the next thing you accomplish? Everyday wake up with something you want to accomplish. What goals are you setting for your day? Then don't let anything stop you from accomplishing your goal. Go and climb your stairs!

Are you ready to coach?

2/23/2015

It has been a while since I last wrote. I've been busy with family, school, ministry and life in general. Yet, I have learned some things in these last few months that I want to share with you.

It has been two year since I started my health journey. While I do not believe I am an expert, I do believe I can help others with their journey. For others, you may be even more advanced, depending on what training you took to get to your healthy weight. So what do you do with all that knowledge and understanding? You use it to help mentor/coach others.

Do you remember how you felt when you began your health journey? I know I do! I didn't know where to start and it really seemed like an overwhelming task to undertake. Yet, with reading, advice and learning along the way I figured out a groove that works and is still working for me.

So how do you start. I found out there are some really neat ways to become a mentor or a coach. In fact, some businesses are promoting that like Beachbody. That are turning their customers into their coaches. It's not uncommon, weight watchers and other systems are doing it as well. If you want to do something on that scale, you can look into those particular companies. But if you aren't looking to make this career but just want to give back, keep you ears open for individuals you know that want to get healthy but don't know where to start.

Some tips:
1. Become a shopping buddy ~ Sometimes people have difficulty changing because they don't know what to buy or how to prepare meals. Help a friend out by helping them create a healthy menu and then go shopping with them to take the frustration out of what to buy.

2. Be an accountability partner ~ Sometimes people just need someone to hold them accountable so they will get to the gym, eat right or do what they have committed to doing. I tend to tell people up front, if you want me as accountability partner, I am going to challenge you to keep up with your goals and then I do it.

3. Be encouraging ~ Even though I can be a little tough with people about their goals, I also know when to encourage them when they don't make it, especially if you see they are trying. You remind them to keep going and don't let any set backs put them out of the pursuit of their goals.

4. Mentor ~ Sometimes people need to see the lifestyle and activities of a person they admire. You can be that living example of what it looks like to have a healthy lifestyle. Model to those you are mentoring the right kinds of healthy behaviors. These speaks volumes!

5. Teach ~ Be willing to teach someone what you learned or to share tools you have found helpful. Make sure you let others know what works for one person may or may not work for another. Sometimes things have to be tweaked a bit, but overall keep sharing what you have seen work. When you share it, remember to say "this is what worked for me, but you try it and see if it works for you. If not, we'll keep looking for the right......"

6. Teamwork ~ The greatest way you can coach someone is to help them feel like you are part of their team, they are not in this alone. Think about how hard things are for you when you have to do it all by yourself, especially if it is something you have never done before. This is how others are feeling and having someone on their team, makes them feel like they have already succeeded because they are not alone.

7. Celebrate ever success ~ When the person goes 1 week without eating poor foods, celebrate! When the person you are mentoring loses their first 5 pounds, celebrate. Whatever the success is celebrate (not with food). That celebration can be in simply telling them you are proud of them and you know they will do it, or with some pampering or whatever works, simply celebrate the success!

8. Be spiritual support ~ This is the last entry, but it really is number one. Sometimes individuals are dealing with more than an extra 10 or 20 pounds, sometimes what is burdening them the most is the burdens in their lives and on their souls. Be willing to have a discerning ear to really hear what the person is telling you about themselves. You may not be able to help, but you can pray and encourage that person to seek help if additional help is needed above what you can offer. But most importantly, is be there for support.

Who will you begin to journey with as they seek to WIN in health?

21 Day Challenge - Financial Look

1/12/2015

This week as we continue our 21 day challenge to a healthier lifestyle, our focus will be on our finances. I can only image someone reading this and saying, what does this have to do with my weight? Let me venture to say here that our unhealthy habits don't stop with what we eat, they spill over into how we see our own value and the ways we try to sooth those broken places.

What I mean is if many of us look at our finances we might be surprised to find out that a great portion of our over spending is related to us trying to sooth those hidden places in our lives. We've charged more than we should have for ourselves and others because of some hidden places that needed to be soothed. Some of those places were related to bitterness, disappointments, or even past treatments and life circumstances.

So as we continue on this 21 day challenge, this week we need to examine our finances. Are you making emotional purchases? Are you spending too much money eating out, no matter what the reasons, is this your situation? Then this week decide what things you need to cut out of your spending to bring your spending back into a healthy range. In order for this to be effective, you will need to continue to do that inward look as to why you were spending in the first place.

Additionally during this week continue to eat better than you have been as well as continue to get in your exercise. I have been hearing from many individuals that say I hear you, but I am just stuck. My schedule is busy. My kids require a lot of me. I work late and I don't get home in time to eat right or exercise. And so many other reasons why individuals don't change their lifestyle.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but I have to same this as simply as I can. Until you and I realize our value and how valuable it is for us to take care of ourselves and our families, we will not change our choices. Insanity as I've heard many define it, is doing the same thing expecting different results. If we want to have a healthy lifestyle we are going to have to change what we are doing, and making those first steps are often the hardest to do. Yet we need to do them, if we want to see a change in our lives.

Now the good news is you don't have to change everything at the same time. I think this is why many get discouraged because of the unrealistic expectation we put on ourselves. As I've written in other post, pick one thing to work on and then work on that for the first 15-21 days. Once you get use to that one thing, then change the next, and so on, and so on. You'll look around and see that you have changed every aspect of your life that you wanted to change.

The same thing is true with changing your finances. Maybe start first with cutting out how many times you eat out. Maybe you eat out 3 or 4 times a week. Take it to 1 or 2. Once you get use to that, then try to cut it to once a month. In the meantime, plan with your family the meals you will prepare (if you have older family members give your children the weekend dates to prepare dinner, to give yourself a little break). Same thing with exercise. Maybe you don't work out at all, then add a day or two where you do something. Walk for 30 minutes, or do a workout tape, or go to the gym. Start slow and after you have gotten that routine down, then increase. Cutting out eating out so often works on two of your goals, it cuts down on your spending, but it also helps you in your health goal because it gets you in the kitchen preparing your own meals.

So until next week remember you can accomplish your goals. It doesn't matter how quickly someone else got there, you are an individual and you have your own unique situation and circumstances. If you see positive results then you know you are moving in the right direction. If for 3 weeks you don't see any improvements, then you know your body has gotten use to what you are doing and you may need to make some adjustments. But the goal is to get started. Continue to do your best, as you seek to W.I.N. in health.

21 Day Challenge - Inward Look

1/5/2015

As we continue to look at changing our physical health, we have to take the inward look. I believe it is going to be difficult to lose pounds if we don't first really understand what makes us "tick." What emotional things have you left unsettled? What relationship problems do you have heavy on your heart? These things and our inability to see our value keeps us unable to invest ourselves in giving our bodies the best they need. If you don't think you are valuable, that will show in how you take care of yourself.

What steps are you going to utilize in your life this year to help you have a healthy emotional life? If you don't really understand your emotions you won't be able to really understand if you are eating because you are hurt, lonely, or disappointed. This inward exploration is vital. The way I did this inward emotional journey was I looked at my relationship as a wife, mother, aunt, sister and friend. Where there any brokenness in any of these places and if so, I needed to begin to handle them. I found in this journey that the more I handled the emotional things in my life, the better I understand some of the reasons why I ate. I ate a lot of sweets because that was my way of masking my bitter places. Once I understood that about myself, I was then able to make the changes in my life to deal with my disappointments in my life in a healthier way. So instead when something difficult happened, instead of grabbing a candy bar, I would pray and then deal with those situations head on. What was the outcome? I have healthier relationships as well as a few less pounds from the over eating of junk.

How does this relate to our weight goal? It is important that we understand this life walk includes our entire self; mind, body and soul. So as you begin to change your diet and add in workout routines, make sure you are preparing your emotions for the new change. Until next time, continue to WIN in health.

The 21 Day Challenge

12/29/2014

I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas and I pray you have a blessed New Year. As we draw to the last few days of December, I often become quiet and reflect on the year. I reflect to see what things I have learned and what my focus should be for the upcoming year.

As we embark on 2015, what I continue to hear is this will be the year of manifestation. How that applies to you depends on what things you planted in 2014. However, I don't think it's too late to be able to receive the manifestation, the harvest in the new year.

How can you do that? It is said that it takes about 21 days for something to become a habit. I would suggest that you challenge yourself for the first 21 days of January to help kick start your goals; whether they are spiritual, financial or physical. There are many ways to do this. Let me suggest a few.

1. Spiritual 21 day Challenge - I was just looking at my Bible through the year on my smartphone. I saw there is a 21 day Bible challenge. Why not look of some Bible plans (Bible Gateway has on online one) either on your phone or do your own. For the first 21 days of January prepare yourself for success. While someone reading this may not be a Christian so you may not see the importance of this, however I think it is a good idea to really look at yourself; good and bad to help prepare yourself for the success you are seeking in your life. As a Christian, my go to resource is my Bible. What things do you need to work on? What emotional areas need help? What hurts, or brokenness needs healing? Somethings we don't know because they are hidden and we need help having them revealed to us. You may be thinking what does this have to be with weight loss? It means a lot for many people. If a person has hidden areas of hurt, bitterness and brokenness, these areas can be a hindrance to successfully losing and keeping weight off. Some people handle stresses in life through those broken areas with food, others with drugs or drink, or other unhealthy ways which are not good for your body or wellness of your life in general.

2. 21 Day Financial Challenge - I mentioned the spiritual challenge first because sometimes if we are not whole spiritually or emotionally it effects the other things we do, one of those areas is our finances. If we are honest with ourselves, how many of us have shopped to ease our hurts, disappointments or depression. We spent money we didn't have to only find that temporary high replaced with anxiety because we find ourselves unable to pay our bills and we are watching that work havoc on our finances. I know, I've been there and still working my way out of that. So for the first 21 days of January, I suggest you take an honest look at what you have. Write down all your outgoing expenses as well as what those balances are on your credit cards. Then on your spread sheet write down what you actually bring in. It might be a little depressing at first, when you see that you are spending more than you make. Some may be pleased to see you do have enough to pay your bills, however you just haven't been using that money wisely. Wherever you stand, prepare to do some cutting. Just as you may have needed to cut some emotional baggage from your life, you may need to cut somethings from your financial life. I was once $1,000 short every month. I looked at what I was spending. I began calling all my creditors and renegotiating my payments. Some I cut services, others were willing to lower my monthly bill while allowing me to keep the same services. When I was done, I was able to cut out over $900 in my monthly expenses. What things do you need to do to get your finances on track for the next 21 days? Your goals should be to begin saving something. We all need to have at least 3-6 months of our income for emergency purposes. We need to began to cut back so we are living on only 80% of our income (10% for tithes and 10% for savings). My goal is to get that even lower with an additional 10% for long term goals/personal items. I'm not there yet, but if I never have a plan I'll never get there. My plan for 2015 is to work on getting rid of all credit card debt. I was able to completely pay of some in 2014, the goal is to aggressively attack the rest. I will be debt free and I'm living that plan out.

3. 21 Day Physical Challenge - I left this last on purpose. I tend to believe the extra weight we carry is more a symptom of some other underlying causes. If we don't look at our emotional health as well as to make sure there are no medical reasons in our lives, we really will find ourselves on a diet roller coaster. We'll lose some weight, get happy with the results stop our diets and go back to the same lifestyle. What will happen? We will find ourselves in the same places and sometimes even gaining more than we lost. So how do we get off this roller coaster? First I have to say I am not against a person using what they need to get the weight off. If you need to join a Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers to keep you accountable, do it, it's for you. Don't worry about what people say, "Oh you didn't lose the weight you had help." That had to be the craziest thing I ever heard someone say to me regarding people using weight loss services. So what if you had help, who doesn't need help? If you go to the gym and get a trainer, that's help. If you join a support group to keep each other accountable, that's help. Get whatever you need to make sure you will be successful. Now, I do understand people need to be careful with the claims of take a pill, don't change anything in your life and you'll lose 50 pounds in 2 months. Yes, we want to use wisdom with whatever you decide to use to help you. I suggest taking supplements to your doctor to ask him or her if they are safe for you. Do your homework.

Now the key is, you still have to do the work no matter what help you get. Many don't know where to start. How about trying to take baby steps. For the first 21 days of January try increasing whatever you do. If you don't do anything, then try working out one or two days a week. Walking, low impact aerobics, some of the challenges you see on Black Women do Work out. When I started my journey in 2013 I printed off some of the different challenges and used those. Find something you will do and do it for the next 21 days. If you already work out, then try increase the weights you use. To build your muscles you will have to use heavier weights. You may cut the repetitions, but increase the weights. So if you are doing 15 reps of a arm movement with a one pound weight. Go to 3 or 5 pounds and start by doing 10 reps. As you are able then increase them to 15. And when those weights get easy move to 8 or 10.

4. 21 Day Eating Challenge - This has to go along with the physical challenge, otherwise you are really wasting your time. Do not think of this as a diet, because it isn't. This is a life change. If you don't think about your eating as a way of life, it really won't work for long. For the next 21 days, try changing how you eat. If you don't eat many vegetables, try for example eating 1 or 2 vegetables with every meal. The way to get veggies in for breakfast is add some vegetables to an egg scramble or omelet. Or add veggies in your smoothies. Also try cutting out as must junk food as possible. We love our chips, cookies, etc. But for the next 21 days, try eliminating pop (soda, depending where you live), any fast foods, any junk food. Instead drink water, at least 8 cups a day. If you find yourself wanting some "junk" food or something sweet, eat a handful of nuts (or make your own trail mix) or a piece of fruit. The goal for the next 21 days is to try to increase vegetables in your diet (raw are better. You can eat them in a salad). Cutting down on fast foods and junk food. Try cooking at home as much as possible. And increasing your water intake. Try working on those three things and once you have gotten good at that, then challenge yourself to something new. I also suggest that you make sure you are getting enough vitamin supplements. It is nothing wrong with taking vitamins to help make sure your body is as healthy as you can be. I am glad to say I have not bee sick since 1/2013 when I first started this journey. That's saying a lot for me since I use to be sick all the time. Even now, when my family has gotten sick, I was able to nurse them and keep at bay anything from hitting me.

The goal of the 21 day challenge is really to get you thinking and moving in the direction to help you keep your 2015 life goals. So I pray that you are able to obtain the healthy life you are seeking. Remember it doesn't come over night and there will be sometimes you simply want to quit, but don't remember one day at a time and before you know it every area of your life will be a lot healthier because you refused to quit. Until next time, remember to W.I.N. in Health.

If you are interested in learning more about supplements from Plexus, e-mail me DrJewelWilliams@PublishTheVison.com

Healthy Life

12/22/2014

When I woke this morning I began to think about what the new year would hold. As I thought about 2015, I also thought about what I would write for today's post. I know many people make New Years resolutions only to find themselves forgetting about them come mid-April. So what should we do? Is making a determination to do better wrong? Or are we going about obtaining it in the wrong way?

I believe it is a good think to reflect on past behaviors. In fact, past behaviors are a good way of determining what potential future behaviors will be. If for example, you look back at 2014 and realize that when you were stressed you ate, it is a good chance you will do that in 2015 unless you make some modifications to your behavior. I believe however you can't simply change your behavior, it has to first start with a change within your heart. This means you must be willing to look at yourself to understand the reasons why you do the things you do. Is there some emotional things that have yet to be dealt with?

So how do we start 2015 with the goal of getting off the present road that has been leading to unhealthy choices (both in eating as well as emotionally and/or spiritually)? Let me give a few suggestions for that you may want to think about.

1. Self-Reflection ~ I suggest the first thing you should begin to do before you make any healthy decisions for 2015, is to really examine yourself. How would you rate your emotional health? Are you a emotional eater? Are you an emotional runner? I know I was! When I had to face difficulties, I would hide myself emotionally. I would not deal with those things that upset me. I felt as if running would keep me safe, but in reality it was only adding to my unhealthy choices. So take the time to look at your choices. The way you can tell if you value yourself is how well you take care of you. Do you make sure you get the proper rest? Do you eat what's right for your body? Do you exercise? Do you take time to talk to people that will receive the gift of you and help you to stretch yourself to become the best you? If any of your observations show some lack, then 2015 is the year for you to begin to place value on yourself.

2. Clean my house ~ Can I say this, you will never begin to make healthy choices if your house is unhealthy. What I mean is this, I was never able to stop eating all the Oreo's with several packages of Oreo's in the house. I had to begin to gradually change my house. And I had to be honest about what I was doing. See I was a "vegetable purchaser" but I realized I wasn't a vegetable eater. Be honest and patient with yourself. You don't have to come into your house and throw everything away, but little by little you can began to shift the things you purchase. In this last year, I stopped purchasing white sugar. I shifted mostly to organic products. I eat more vegetables, fruits and whole grains. We have stopped purchasing pre-made items, cutting down on sodium and things my body doesn't know what to do with. In doing these things for myself, I was also doing them for my family. We stopped eating out as much. As we enter 2015, I will look at other ways to make changes for my family to continue to help us on this road to a healthy lifestyle (physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially).

3. REST, REST, REST ~ I have to admit, I am still working on this part of the plan. I know I don't get enough sleep, but I am truly taking steps now to make that better. My plan in 2015 is to really make sure I am getting enough rest. This doesn't only mean sleep, but rest and refreshing. There are many reasons we don't get enough rest. Some times its our lack of money so we don't think we can get away. I even suggest if you can't get away to a resort or hotel to still make some time for yourself. Take a reading holiday, a stay in my pj day. Whatever you do, make it about you. Sometimes when we do take a vacation day, it ends up being you spending time cleaning, or answering e-mails for work, or some other work that has you still tired at the end of the day. So for 2015, be mindful about how to get the true rest your body needs.

4. Family time ~ Part of having a healthy life is making sure you have healthy connections with your spouse or children. Yes, as a mother I know sometimes that I want to pull the covers over my head and wish away all my conflicts and problems. However, I look at my children now (they aren't perfect, but neither am I) and am grateful that I haven't given up. We have our battles (who doesn't with teens), but overall we are working on a healthy relationship. I look at my youngest daughter especially. We had some battles when she was in lower school. Yet, as things progressed we realized there were some things we needed to face and I was willing to admit my part in her personal frustrations. One thing we have to be willing to do is be active in making sure our families are healthy. This is part of having a healthy life, because it's more than just eating right, it's us living right.

What I am trying to say in this post is to make sure you set yourself up for success for the new year. We often think about losing weight or getting into a specific size as our goal. So what generally happens? We end up going on a diet and we do all the things we think we need to do to get that. Sometimes we do reach that weight or that size, then what do we do? We get "off" our diets. Or we stop the procedures we were doing to get there. So what happens is we end up finding ourselves back where we started. I know the temptation. I have to remind myself daily this is a life journey. When I don't want to go to the store, or cook dinner, or eat healthy, I remind myself Jewel this journey is for your life, this isn't a diet you get to quit. I also allow myself a few "cheats". Sometimes I may want some french fries. So I allow myself to have that (in my own way), without guilt but also without this becoming a normal thing in my life. So I pray that as you embark on 2015 that you began to examine your life to see what things you can do in this new year to help you draw closer to the healthy life you want. Until next time, remember we can W.I.N. in health.

What have you done for you lately?

12/15/2014

Can you believe we are hitting the mid-way point of December? I remember as a child I thought it would never get to December 25th, Christmas day. Now as an adult it seems as if we are in December for 2 days, and then it's the holidays.

Well last week I reminded us about being intentional in our spending and eating over the holidays. Today, my blog is in line with that same thought process. Today I want to ask you a vital question, what have you done for yourself lately? When is the last time you pampered yourself? Had a spa day? Got your hair done, or your nails done? When is the last time you took some "me" time?

Now before you answer, I know the many excuses we give ourselves.We don't have time or the money, or even yet we tend to feel guilty if we do things for ourselves (especial mothers, because we begin to think if we do things for ourselves we are in some way short changing our children). The truth is if you don't take care of yourself, there won't be enough of you to go around for your family.

So maybe you don't have the money to go to a spa, who said you can't make it an at home spa. Light some candles in your bath room, soak your toes or yourself in a hot bath and allow yourself to relax. Or do something that you enjoy. Watch a movie you have been wanting to see. I know I love the old holiday movies. I curled into bed last night and watched "It's a Wonderful Life." Take a personal or vacation day and make it your "pajama day."

Or get out in the sunshine or to met friends, or even have a friend over for lunch. The whole point is, what do you need to help you stay encouraged on your journey? I was looking at another site that gave some tips on ways to de-stress your life. The article, 30 Days, 30 Ways to less Stress, suggest something as simple as taking time to have a cup of tea to having a movie night with yourself. The whole point is, make some time to take care of you. Healthy living is more than what foods you put in your mouth. It's about the entire you. Are you healthy physically, as well as emotionally and spiritually. Are you caring for the entire you. Have you stopped to make sure you are emotionally well and that you are honoring the growth going on in you?

Are you celebrating your steps and accomplishments? It is difficult for many to think of taking care of themselves or spending time for themselves as anything other than being selfish, but with a negative connotation. In order for us to get past this feeling of guilt we have to understand there is a difference between being selfish, not caring about anyone else and caring enough about others to first take care of yourself.

The truth is I realized sometime ago that I could not be the right kind of wife, mother, sister, friend, minister, mentor or neighbor even, if I didn't take care of myself, my entire self. I needed to take better care of my physically so that I could be a good example to my daughters about how important it is for them to take care of themselves. I couldn't be the right kind of wife if I was always sick, tired, frustrated and cranky because I wasn't feeling well do in part to my lack of self care. In turn, if I couldn't manage taking care of my own home, how would I be able to have enough energy or desire to help anyone else? Oh, I was trying the best I could to wear all these hats, but at times I would get frustrated and it would mess with my emotional state.

It wasn't until I realized I was not doing a good service to those that needed me, nor was I doing well for me. Since January of 2013, I have make taking care of me a priority.I make sure I take care of me by making the right food choices. I take care of me by making sure I get in my exercise. I no longer give any excuses for not getting my workout in. I make sure when I am feeling overwhelmed or tired that I stop and take some me time. I have a day set aside called "No Talk Thursday" where I don't take calls and I focus more on myself. I shut off the television and I use it as a day to clear my head. Sometimes I do different things. Sometimes I'll have lunch with a friend or I may even invite a friend to my house. If I have had a really busy week with with family and ministry, I may use it to get a little extra sleep. I'll do the things I have to do, but I'll go get under the covers, play some music and rest.

Since doing this, I find I don't have too many times (rarely any) where I'm cranky or mad, or frustrated. And if I do, I know what I need to do to calm myself and get rid of that stress. So today, I simply wanted to remind some and get others to thinking, what can you do to help your health journey? What things do you need to begin doing to help you be successful not only through the holidays but for your life journey to health? I suggest getting started right away, doing some nice things for yourself. Until next time, continue to W.I.N. in Health.

Author

I am a wife, mother, Pastor and the owner of Tri-Production Publishing, Inc., just to name a few of my many hats I wear. But like many of you, I was so busy doing all these different roles that I forgot to take care of myself. I had to learn how to WIN with my healthy so that I could help others WIN their battles.

Archives

January 2019
September 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014

Categories