ASK ME MONDAY! #9

" Why should I buy organic? What is the difference between that and regular veggies? How do I know it's really organic?"

Great question! I had the same question several years ago. I am so happy to be buying 90% of our produce organic. Some things just aren't available organic in the stores near me. I live in a "food desert" so-to-speak. Getting healthy organic food requires trips to 3 grocery stores for us to get our weekly groceries.

However, it is worth it.

What is so great about organic?

1. No toxic pesticides
2. Not GMO ( it hasn't been genetically modified in a lab)
3. No chemicals

These are 3 really important reasons to buy organic. Pesticides, chemicals, and genetically modified food can be dangerous to our health. 

Organic food is food the way it was meant to be eaten, pure and clean from the earth.

When looking for organic foods whether it be fruits, veggies, milk, meats, etc. Look for the words "certified organic". 

This symbol is important:

not my photo.
image from http://www.ecologycenter.org

It means that the food has been grown under strict standards. You can trust that food with this label is organic.

Don't just take my word for it though. 

Do some research of your own.

Here are some links to help get you started:

http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/whybuyorganic.html

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=323

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-buy-organic-dairy-meat.html

http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/slowfoodorganiclocal/a/organicproduce.htm

http://www.greenster.com/magazine/why-buy-organic/

http://www.nofanh.org/whyBuyOrganic

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

I am not a Dr. These are not suggestions. I am sharing what has worked for me and my personal opinions on a topic. See my disclaimer tab for more disclaimer information. When seeking lifestyle changes always consult your physician.

GOOD addictions or BAD addictions? Which ones rule YOUR life?

not my photo image googled from the web.

Plain and simple. I am going to be real with all of you.

Getting healthy is as simple & as difficult as controlling your addictions. 

What does it mean to be addicted?

According to dictionary.com addicted means "devoted or given up to a practice or habitor to something psychologically orphysically habit-forming (usually followedby to )..."

The weak minded don't tend to succeed while the strong minded push forward to their goals.

Truth is, we all have the ability to be " strong minded", if you really want to. The word is determination, or maybe even persistence.

After all persistence does pay off.

What has happened to some people when it comes to changing their lives? Well, they let addiction take over & throw determination out the window.

We all have addictions in our lives, whether food related or otherwise.

Different obvious addictions are:

Power

Perfection

Sports ( think football fans )

Health ( yep!)

Alcohol

Cigarettes

Drugs

Sex

Food: Sugar, Pop...think cravings.

Etc.....

Not all addictions are bad, though many on this list are.

I am and was an addict. I am addicted to taking care of my body, addicted to being healthy, addicted to being my best, addicted to the feeling of a great workout. These are GOOD addictions.

I used to be addicted to cigarettes, alcohol, and fast food. I also used to be addicted to tv. I was addicted to crash diets. These are BAD addictions.

What is the difference between good addictions and bad addictions?

GOOD addictions build you up. Make you better. Make you feel good. I like to call good addictions , HABITS.

BAD addictions have a temporary pleasure but ulimately leave you feeling worse, and they tear you down. Some even hurt those around you.

What do this have to do with being healthy & losing weight?

A lot.

Truth is, when some one craves cupcakes and gives in to cupcakes regularly, it can be said that they are addicted to cupcakes, or even addicted to sugar.

Sugar takes its toll on the body in many dfferent ways including obesity & possibly even cancer.

Now break that addiction by saying no to cupcakes. It's not easy. But if you avoid the item you are addicted to and never give in no matter how badly you want it, eventually you don't want it so much anymore.

Here are addictions I have broken with determination & sheer willpower:

Cigarettes

Alcohol

Coffee

Sugar

Bread ( I didn't know I had Celiac consumed various forms of baked goods like it was my job)

Disordered eating/crash dieting

TV

Product junkie ( I was constantly buying make up & any hair product I could in search of perfection, now I choose many natural ways to care for my body, without consumerism)

Soda Pop

These are the major ones. It was hard, but I did it one at a time. I broke my addictions.

How did I do it?

I started by replacing each BAD addiction with a GOOD habit / activity. I started exercising. Then I started eating healthy. I cut out gluten (out of necessity). I stopped smoking. I started drinking more water. I cut out pop. I started cooking at home. I cut out alcohol. I found out I like green tea. I cut out triclosan & chemicals and replaced with natural products like coconut oil & Dr. Bronner's soap.

I never looked back. I said I can't have this, but I CAN have this.

The CAN is the key.

Anyone can break the bad addictions that weigh them down!

I no longer find junk food appealing, however I find myself craving fresh fruit instead.

I no longer want to sit around, I want to be active & do stuff instead of being lazy.

It takes persistence, determination & sheer willpower in the beginning, and over time it gets easier.

Your body and mind change to want the good things.

Humans are creatures of habit. Start a good habit & eventually you will crowd out the bad ones.

You are worth taking care of yourself. You can do it.

I did. I would never go back.

Let go of the addictions that control you. Any addiction that controls you is BAD. However, if you are in control of your thoughts and your body, then you won't let addictions control you.

Control your addictions, not the other way around.

What healthy habits are you creating in your life today?

Be Happy, Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

I am not a Dr. These are not suggestions. I am sharing what has worked for me and my personal opinions on a topic. See my disclaimer tab for more disclaimer information. When seeking lifestyle changes always consult your physician.

Christians: Your Body Is A Temple.

Ok, so I have been thinking this a long time. Anyone who knows me, knows that I always bring my points across with the best of intentions. 

Also anyone who knows me, knows that I am passionate about health.

What I am about to write is in NO way an attack on anyone, only merely my personal opinion and feelings on an issue. I hope that it will be taken as that. 

We are all entitled to our own opinions, and this is mine.

With the sugar series being posted on this blog recently, and then reading this blog post here. I could not keep my thoughts to myself any longer.

Growing up in churches my whole childhood, and coming from a convserative protestant family, I have seen a lot of church events... and a lot of food. A LOT OF FOOD.

The church events that I have been to could put a Superbowl party to shame with the amount of garbage food spread across the table. 

The amount of soda makes me shudder. The fruit salad that no longer has nutritional value because of the sugary syrups and junk mixed in .... is a staple at almost every church event.

The cakes, cookies, ice creams, lasagnas, wings, pizza, etc. Oh, how the church loves their soda and greasy pizza...and they love to feed it to kids and teenagers. Yuck.

I was the kid that grew up in the church, I was the kid addicted to food.

Isn't gluttony a sin????

The church preaches against addictions, yet they cater to the largest addiction in the country ( in my opinion ).
Gluttony.
 The addiction to food.

The church may be a building where people fellowship, but there doesn't seem to be much fellowship without potato chips, popcorn, cupcakes, etc.

What about the food God created? The kind that doesn't come in a box or can. The kind WITHOUT man made chemicals.

Let me elaborate and tell you that I don't eat junk food anymore. I am not a church goer anymore ( for different reasons). Yet I love God with all my heart, I worship in my home and in God's creation, and I consume food God created. 

I am happy. I treat my body like a temple. I am a physically healthy Christian.

Let me further elaborate.

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)says:

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"

Ezekial 16:49 (NLT) says:

"Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door."

Proverbs 23:20-21 says:

"Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags."

My point is this: The church is a building where Christians fellowship. A building that humans created. God built and created our bodies with love to be temples for His Holy Spirit. Shouldn't we take care of those bodies?

I find it HIGHLY hypocritical to be a protestant Christian who gorges themselves on bad food to the point of obesity, and justifies it all in the name of Christian fellowship.

Yet, I have been judged for no longer going to church, although I have a clean and healthy temple, and worship God and spend plenty of time in prayer.

How can it be that it has become acceptable to be this way?

It is my opinion that God would not want his children hypocrites, sickly, and addicts of food. 

Much less judgemental of each other.

I am not saying this to judge in any way, in fact I am posting this to bring to light the biggest sin I have seen in the churches I have been to.

It is sad. 

So, why not gather in fellowship over some yummy leafy greens, some fresh veggies and water to drink. Maybe even eat some grilled chicken without the sauces, and some brown rice. For dessert, some delicious berries and fresh fruit. 

Yum.

Guess what?

God created those foods, and they are good.

My beliefs.

You may share your thoughts below.

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli