Do you want to: lose weight + save $ + no extra exercise + be healthier?

Who doesn't, amiright?   But what hits all these points? AND f-r-e-e??

Did you know most people don’t take advantage of free stuff?

no matter how great/big the $ value it is...

I'm goin' to share with you the #1 f-r-e-e thing no one wants to take advantage of...

but yet everyone wants the results this thing does for you...are you ready for it?

First ask yourself...what am willing to give/give up to lead a stronger + healthier life?

It doesn't cost a thing yet most people don't want to hear this...

One way that my family and I try to live - and have been for the past 12 yrs...

(I have not been perfect for 12 yrs straight!)

Is no junk food during the week...And no restaurant food or alcohol during the week... 

we try to save that stuff for the weekend...

like I said, I haven't been perfect at it, but just keep trying...

the next meal is the next opportunity to succeed!

I suggest between now & Easter you try this: Eat junk food, restaurant food + alcohol on 1 day a week.

If you stick to ONE day a week = you can eat ALLLL you want! triple servings if you want!

If that (1 day a week)

seems too much of a change for you + family then make it "junk food weekend"...

but don't "make up" for what you didn't eat during the week and over-splurge during the weekend...

on the weekend, if you want it, have it in the same amount (1 or 2 servings) as you normally would

This time of year is a perfect time to try it, too, between now and Easter, that's less than 40 days...

Is it a Coincidence it takes 40 days to create a habit? (I don't think so!)

Have you heard of Lent? (more on that later)

Is it another Coincidence it's 40 days?

You can approach this in many different ways but do it for your overall health benefit if for nothing else...

with the goal of using this time to form a healthier lifestyle & continuing the "junk food weekend" or "junk food Saturday" way past Easter...

Why would you do this? 

if you have 1 "junk food day" or "junk food weekend" 

instead of eating out 3-12x/week

you'll:

1. Lose weight
2. Save money $$$
3. Not add more exercise
4. Become healthier

and everyone needs that...I need that...do you need that?

You can make this a personal challenge...

or you can offer these junk food sacrifices (fasting) to God...

there is no sacrifice too "small" 

Trying to deny ourselves something we want is a difficult thing...

Adults don’t want to hear this b/c  "I'm an adult, I can do what I want when I want"

"I say what's best for my life"

"you do you & I'll do me"

While I agree with those statements it's only to a certain extent...

I'm a Christian (Catholic denomination) so I can't do WHATEVER I feel like in life because that's not what Jesus taught...

He didn't preach "you do you" ...

He gave me commandments...those aren't optional...

one of which is in the New Testament: to love others, including my enemies/people who don't like me...

 to do HIS will + follow His example...

that's not always whatever I want...

and it's not an easy thing to do...

(so pray for your girl!)

We are to have a spirit of temperance, of self control and that means sometimes we have to deny ourselves...

sacrifice in big and/or small ways...there are a lot more "smaller" ways

or  a more accurate word is DAILY opportunity...

as a mom you sacrifice for your children

+ your family

+ your friends

+ your coworkers all the time...

and you serve them well 🙂 

I know you do because you care <3

...you and I may not do it perfectly but you and I are trying!

so let’s not leave our bodies behind...

I understand there’s a winter storm crisis still going on  + grocery stores are out of food...

if you can't cook and/or you STILL don't have power then by all means please don't go hungry! eat WHATEVER is available!

I'm not saying starve! 

but after this has passed & you can cook at home for yourself + your family then try to hold off the restaurant/junk food for the weekend (or one day a week).

you don’t have to be perfect at it!

if all you do is make Tues + Thurs = 0 fast/junk food days... 

= that’s beautiful!

+ you're on your way to being a healthier + stronger YOU!

Catholic Christians started this practice of prayer + fasting in some way (called Lent) last Wednesday (Ash Wednesday).

(You don’t have to be any kind of Christian to do this)

Jesus fasted and prayed 40 days in the desert...

that’s where this practice comes from...

it’s 40 days of prayer and fasting (in some form) + it's all supposed to lead you closer to God...

How? 

You build self-control (discipline), perseverance which are things we need in everyday life...

look at those times you gave in to whatever you wanted (you fill in the blank b/c I don't know every detail of your life) 

what did it produce?

now look at the times you exercised self-control (discipline), perseverance (you fill in the blank) even though you didn't feel like it...

what did it produce for you in your life?

I'm willing to bet the self-control + discipline choices lead to better results than the times you thought "screw it!"

besides... what God can do for you in 40 days is unlimited & far better than anything on earth, if you choose to go the sacrifice route.

Join me as I get “back on track” and push the junk food into the weekend... 

this winter storm week had me eating things I normally don't eat (even tho I didn't eat EVERYTHING I wanted to)...

(bad excuse...but hey...I'm human too...

my next opportunity to do better is at the next meal!)

Here’s to a stronger YOU in mind, body + spirit!