It seems to me this year is already flying by way too fast. This past weekend, I was having a coffee and thinking back on the past year — trying to remember if I did all that I wanted to do. Did I end the year not finishing what I said I was going to do.?
I made a new list this year of things I wanted to achieve. I feel I need to try to finish what I set out for last year while I am striving to do my new list. I thought I would share a few items on that list, along with what goes on in my life.
Every year I strive to get closer to God. I feel it is very important. We are human and fall short every day. Therefore, we have work at this. We do need to make God a priority in our lives so that we can get all that He has for us. I want God’s will in my life and strive to do his work. To do that, I need to take “me” out of the equation.
Another thing I had on my list is to get healthy. Well, I believe I have reached that goal. That being said, once you reach a goal like that, you can’t go back to your old ways. It seems to take less time to get unhealthy that it does to get healthy.
People need to realize when they want to get healthy, it isn’t diet. Diets end and most people go back to their old ways. We need to fuel our bodies and not feed our bodies.
Understand, I truly love to eat. How do you think I became so unhealthy? I realized I wasn’t going to live a long life if I kept on this way.
I have learned that eating six small meals a day versus two-to-three big ones is better. I have been told that by several doctors, but never told why. The program that worked for my husband, son, and I, teaches you what to do and why. It helps you understand, so through the process, you get your mindset ready. Then, when you reach your goal, you transition properly.
Why lose all that weight if you are going to go and put it back on again? That is very hard on your body.
I am not saying you can never eat the foods you love. You just have to be careful and not do it all the time. Another thing is to really research your food. Things in the past that we thought we were eating healthy were not.
Some “healthy” things were so unhealthy, we might as well have eaten hamburgers and fries.
Healthy living doesn’t have to be hard. You just have to be consistent in what you do. Find what works for you and stick with it. You will feel so much better and could even get off medicine like I did.
I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and taking eight different medicines. You know when you take that kind of medicine they counteract with each other and could make you more sick. You never know.
Aside from healthy living, I will share one more thing with you. I have decided each month I wanted to learn something new. I need to do something I have never done before or learn something that I have always wanted to do but too scared to do it. I won’t share just yet what they are because I have a list. Some are far fetched but hey, I am dreaming big this year. The sky’s the limit. With God anything is possible!
I am ready to tackle this year. So, I challenge you today to think back over your past year. Then think ahead and dream big.
Set some goals for yourself that seem impossible, and strive to do you best to get there. Remember failure isn’t failure. It is learning. There are so many people that failed several times before they got it right. It’s a teaching moment. Enjoy your year.
Here is a lean and green chili that you will love. You won’t miss a beat! I promise!
Crock Pot Chili
Ingredients:
25 oz cooked 93% lean ground beef (5 Leans)
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Great Value Italian diced tomatoes (7 Greens)
1/2 cup Great Value natural tomato sauce (2 Greens)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup green peppers, diced (1 Green)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (1 Condiment)
11/2 tbsp. chili powder (8 Condiments)
1 tsp cumin (2 Condiments)
1/2 tsp black pepper (1 Condiment)
3/4 tsp salt (3 Condiments)
1 packet splenda or stevia – optional (1 Condiment)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a crock pot.
Cook on LOW for 8 hours.
5 Servings with 1 Lean, 2 Greens (need 1 more Green per serving such as 1/2 cup green beans or 1 cup lettuce), 3.2 Condiments and no Healthy Fat required
Tina Specht is co-publisher of the Minden Press-Herald. She shares her thoughts and recipes each Thursday.