Category: Physical Health and Wellness

Health and wellness for the body

Step up your water game

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I have been doing a great job of drinking more water. I notice the benefits: better skin and more energy just to name a few!

After a while plain ole water gets a little boring. I decided to spice things up (actually sweeten things up) by making my own flavored water.

It’s fun to try different combinations. While I’m not a huge cucumber fan, that is one of my favs. There is no denying the refreshment!

Some of my most liked combos so far:

Strawberry, blueberry, mint

Orange, mint

Lemon, lime

Cucumber, mint

Strawberry, blueberry, cucumber, mint

Strawberry, lemon

You really can’t go wrong adding some mint leaves.

I like to drink within 1 to 2 days. Anything longer than that was a little too overpowering for my liking.

Mix it up and let me know some of your favorite combos!

My New Lunch Find

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I’m always struggling for quick and easy lunch/dinner ideas. I tend to eat the same things over and over. Any health nut will tell you variety is key! So I expanded my search and found Harvest bowls by Green Giant.

Frozen lunches are not my first choice, but some days it is the easiest thing to eat.

These bowls are high in fiber and protein, and low in fat. Like most frozen lunches, they are a little high in sodium, so take note if you are watching your sodium intake.

There are a few varieties available. I recently tried the Italian Style (pictured above) I love that it has a lot of ingredients I would not normally eat, such as wheat berries, brown lentils, and eggplant. I’m not a huge fan of tomatoes either but I was able to eat them in this dish since they were mixed in with other ingredients.

Fooducate gives them a B+ score which is the highest they offer for frozen meals. It has a decent amount of potassium, iron, and calcium. It’s a low sugar, low cholesterol meal as well.

I’ve also tried the Asian style which is good too!

They taste good, are reasonably priced, and keep you feeling full longer thanks to the fiber.

You can check our their website here for more info. It looks like most of the big name retailers carry them. I found mine at Meijer.

Let me know what you think!

Spring Cleaning for the Body, Soul, and Mind

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Spring is here. Sort of. I live in Michigan so spring is a relative term. Monday it snowed. Tuesday it was 60 degrees. Michiganders have learned to go with the flow. After this never-ending winter, spring really is on the horizon. Birds are chirping. Days are getting longer. The sun is getting warmer. All good things!

We spend time cleaning our homes and cars, but what about us? Spring is the perfect time to give yourself some TLC.

Spring Cleaning for your BODY

If you live in a harsh winter climate, your skin is probably showing signs of suffering. Cold weather does a number on our skin. If you don’t already, this is a great time to start dry body brushing. You can read more about that here. Slough off that dry, dead winter skin!  After sloughing, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Coconut oil is my favorite body moisturizer. Putting on a thick layer before bed from neck to toe makes for a great night’s sleep. Warm it up first to make it feel even better!

Don’t forget about the rest of your body. Remember your toes that haven’t seen the light of day in 3- 6 months? Treat them to a pedicure. I have a history of ingrown toenails (gross I know) so I get pedicures regularly.  But the first one in spring is always the sweetest.

Sunscreen. We have a love/hate relationship. I love sun-kissed looking skin, but I hate wrinkles, lines, and sunspots. If I could rewind life and fix one bad habit, it would be my lack of sunscreen in my youth. Now I wear it every day and you should too! The sun is starting to feel warmer and the damaging rays are intensifying, so find a sunscreen you like and apply at least once a day. I like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 45, 3 fl. Oz (Pack of 2). In the winter I use SPF 30, in the summer SPF 45. I have extremely oily skin and this is the one sunscreen I’ve found that doesn’t make me look extra greasy.

Get back on track with good habits. Get outside. Your whole entire being will thank you! A little fresh air goes a long way! Cleanse. I love the idea of a cleanse, but I hate doing them! So, if you’re like me and don’t want to jump in with both feet, try a modified cleanse. Cut out refined sugar and add lots of water. If you think water is boring, spice it up by adding lemon wedges or orange slices. Simply making those 2 small changes will benefit your body immensely. If you need help reducing sugar, try Sweet Defeat. It works great at reducing sugar cravings. Even if you cave in and eat something sweet, it changes the taste and I promise you won’t want more!

Spring Cleaning for your SOUL

It’s no coincidence that Easter falls during springtime. This is a great time to renew your focus on what’s really important. If you haven’t already, find a routine that works for you. Start praying. Make a list of things you are grateful and thankful for. Read the Bible. I promise this is time well spent and you will reap the rewards. When springtime rolls around, you don’t simply step outside and plop flowers into the ground. You must take time to cultivate the soil and prep. A healthy routine will form the perfect foundation for the seeds you wish to sow.

Find a church. If you don’t already have one, start searching. Big. Small. Contemporary. Traditional. With all the choices today, there’s something for everyone. It doesn’t matter as long as the message is the same – Jesus died for us to pay the price for our sins, then rose again. Believe and you will have eternal life.

Let go of past hurts. This can be a toughie, but you can’t move forward into tomorrow when you are dragging all of yesterday’s baggage. If you don’t feel like you can do this alone, find someone to talk to. I am a firm believer that the whole wide world could benefit from therapy. Just saying.

Spring Cleaning for your MIND

Oh, what a downer a cluttered mind can be! Spring is the PERFECT time to rid your mind of the negative thought patterns that have found a home. Kick them out. Turn OFF the negative voice and turn UP the positive voice. For some of us (ok fine, for me) this can be a full-time job. Don’t give up. It IS possible. My mind can’t rest when things are a mess, so for me, spring cleaning my mind is a by-product of spring cleaning my home. Get rid of things you don’t need. The less clutter, the more room to relax, literally and figuratively.

Find a mentor. When I hear the word ‘mentor’ a few names come to mind so I am extra lucky. If you don’t have one, pray for one! I would say “find one” but I’ve found from past experience it rarely works that way. Mentors tend to find YOU instead of the other way around.

Detox from social media and technology as much as possible. If I added up all the time I spend, or should I say waste, on social media, I would probably be shocked and ashamed. Put your phone down and read a book instead. My goal is 12 meaningful, helpful, educational books this year. So far I am on track to exceed my goal. I love learning and reading is a great way to learn.

“Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or weeds.” -Unknown

The bottom line

Spring is here. Plant the seeds of change now and watch your healthy habits bloom!

“Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed…Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.” -Henry David Thoreau

What are some other ways you can get your whole self ready for spring? I’d love to hear your ideas!