~Rockin' This!~



Google Images

I've completed the first day of this Juice Fasting experiment that I'm on, and let me tell ya... I'm feelin' gooooood!  Yesterday was day 1 (even though I snuck in my first juice drink for dinner the night before).  I was working, which I'm not sure is the smartest idea I've had so far because  I swear, I was a looney tune!  I felt quite sluggish, nevermind the fact that to me working in the ICU equals a Venti, Sugar Free Vanilla, Soy, Chai Tea; sometimes twice in a day, along with an occasional soda just to keep up!  That and take away my morning oatmeal and wrap of some kind for lunch.  I know, I'm a creature of habit.  It's ok!  I know what I like!  I did have quite a headache and it seemed that my actions took a little extra effort to do.  Even though I felt awkward, I stuck to my plan and had only my juice drink and water, the entire day.  I haven't eaten anything since my banana 2 nights ago and in the break room there stood a can of peanuts which imagined consuming. I WANTED to eat them but I didn't.  I'll be honest, the juice is good, but after drinking a few glasses, it's sometimes difficult to swallow it all down right now. 

In my quest to find more tasty options, after I got home from work I watched some You Tube videos of Joe the Juicer, and he mentioned to drink the fruit juices in the morning and the vegetable juices throughout the day.  I also have the desire to make a spicier drink later on today but this morning I made an orange, banana and frozen fruit smoothie (I know, it's a smoothie, not juice, but I'm blending, remember?).  It tasted more like italian ice cream!  It was SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!  If there are more drinks like that, I'm thinking that I will do well with this!  Currently my goal for juicing is for at least the first week.  If I feel good, I'll do 10 days.  If I'm still feeling like taking on this juicing thing, I'll go for 30 days.  If I'm STILL feeling great, I'll go for 60.  Don't worry... I think that would be my limit.





Scottsdale Healthcare Employee
Newsletter, January 2012

A few weeks ago, someone came into the ICU and asked me a few questions about what I was going to do to be healthy in 2012 and such.  I was taken back when she asked to take a photo and I quietly dismissed it thinking, "she won't use it. She'll find someone else's to use... and what is this FOR, anyway?!"  I never asked.  She had a SHC badge and I didn't give it much thought... until a dear sweet friend sent me a text message saying I was in the newsletter and this is the picture she sent with it!  I was slightly mortified.  I mean, REALLY?  How did I get to this point that my chunky mug is featured in the newsletter?!

Scottsdale Healthcare Employee
Newsletter, January 2012

So... If there's anything that lends me support to get through this fast, it will be my side pains, current lack of energy, foggy mind and the "brick house" that I'm sportin'.  The fact that I will lose weight is a bonus, not the reason why I'm juicing.  I am looking to cleanse and heal my body from the inside out and overall, have a healthier body.  I'm expecting my skin to look better, my body to function better and this annoying side pain to go away.  It's no secret that I need to make healthier decisions and by restarting my palate, allowing my tastebuds to desire healthier foods will help me make better decisions regarding my choice of foods.  Here's to DAY 2!



~Juice Fasting~

I have decided to do a juice fasting experiment for at least the next week.  I decided this because I've had some pain in my left chest / upper abdominals for a few months.  If I knew that I wouldn't have to pay a $500.00 bill after having an MRI, which I know my primary physician would order, I'd go right to his office and let him evaluate me.  I'll tell you what, it's a good thing that I have double insurance coverage between my husband's and my employment (insert sarcastic tone here), so that I don't have to worry about it.   Josh is at a training class right now so I wouldn't be subjected to all of the foods that I love being cooked in the house during the day.  I figured it's as good a time as any to start a new habit.  Plus, I think I'd end up saving money in the long run regarding the many times I/we eat out.  It's a win / win!

I also want to do this experiment because I need to get healthy, eat healthy foods and get down to a healthy weight. The past few lab values I've had done for my annual physical or for my employment have come back abnormal.  Upon retesting they came back regular but the fact they weren't like I was used to seeing them, bothers me.  I recently joined a program through my work that allows us a price break on our insurance rates if we make it a goal to live a healthier lifestyle and actually have progression to show it.  My initial body evaluation came back saying that I am, "obese".  Now, I hate hearing those words since I don't see myself as obese... until I look at a few pictures.  Why do pictures look so different from what I see in the mirror?  Anyway, I am currently 180 lbs, my blood pressure is in question and my cholesterol is borderline.  My waist line was I think 46".

A couple months ago while surfing Netflix, I stumbled upon a documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, and it opened my eyes to the fact that there really is something that I could do about my health regarding the things that I put into my mouth.  The people from this video made unbelievable life changing adjustments to their bodies and overall health that it's absolutely encouraging!  Juicing isn't eating but it's something I can do easily that shouldn't cost an arm or a leg and I can prepare it at home and take it to work.  I looked into the juicers and realized how expensive they were.  I became slightly discouraged.  That is until today.  I found that I could still juice, I just have to strain it.  Easy enough, right? 

So, I went to gather fruits and vegetables and began tonight with my first juice meal.  I found some recipes online and made something called "Fresh Garden".  It called for 3 oz. Spinach, 3 oz. of Romaine Lettuce, 3 oz. of Celery, 4 medium  Carrots, 2 medium cucumbers peeled and said it made approximately 16 oz.  Well, blending the ingredients and adding a splash of water (so the blades would do their job), I ended up with just about 8 oz.  This is also after I pressed the water out of the vegetables for about 15 minutes, trying to get more volume.  I downed the glass as fast as I could and tasted it afterwards.  It didn't taste bad at all!  The only thing... I was still hungry and didn't want to start from scratch to make up the difference so I ate a banana.  =)  I figured it is my first meal and that tomorrow I will start my journey into juicing. 

Now all that I need is an actual juicer.  Anyone have one laying around that I may use?!  =)

~Resolution Schmezolution~

Each year I think of the many things I'd like to change about myself or add things to do to the list of my New Year's Resolutions.  I for the most part will keep up for a short time but that's about it.  I fall off of the proverbial wagon within a month or so.  Come to think of it, I can only stand change for about that long in the first place before I revert back to my old ways.  The realization of the New Year being upon us and what I would like to resolute about, I've refrained.  I hate to fail.  It frustrates me to no end.  Therefore, I've decided not to proclaim a New Year's Resolution at all. 

The definition of a Resolution is a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.  The definition of a Goal is the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.


So... I've decided to make a list of goals instead with the hopes that I will actually follow through with it. 

1. Read my Bible every day.
2. Pray every day.
3. Forgive quickly.
4. Love my family.
5. Live life with a stronger purpose.
6. Work on building and maintaining relationships with others rather than the social media way.
7. Keep stress at a minimum.
8. Do well in school
9. Take away distractions that are not needed.
10. Work on being less messy and more organized.
11. Get to the gym at least 3 days a week and work towards a healthier lifestyle.
12. Lose 30 pounds.
13. Finish the next 2 semesters strong by knocking out at least 20 credits.

And there you have it.  My list for 2012.  I may add to it.  I may subtract from it.  Either way, I plan to stick with it.

~The Ending Of An Era And The Turning Of A Page~

It's humbling to look back on this year and everything it means to me personally and professionally.  It is a year that encapsulates love lost, financial difficulties, friendships that were damaged by decisions that I made, changing of professions, diving back into school to better my future, family moving away, building new relationships, repairing old ones, building stronger connections with others, but still, we made it through.

I have so many regrets this past year. If only I had made a better decision regarding 'this' or I wish I had thought 'that' out a little better or I wish I could go back and change the outcome of 'that' situation.  Here's some very valuable lessons I've learned over the years,  Everything happens for a reason, I can't control anyone but myself, my happiness lies within me and I'm the only one that can control it.  I believe that life is truly what  I make of it. It doesn't matter what I go through that makes me who I am, but how I get through it that really matters.

I saw this picture on facebook last week and it holds within it such a profound statement of my feelings for this year. I almost can't wait to wash 2011 away and work past the hurt and damage it left behind, yet embrace all it has meant regarding change, growth and perserverence to push through regardless of the outcomes.  I have become a stronger, more level headed and thoughtful person because of the lessons it has taught me. I have made plans to work through some of the mistakes I made so that I may never make the same ones again.

I can't help but think about Ecclesiastes 3 and how it talks about the many seasons of our lives, and believing that this too, is just a season.  Each day is a new day.  It doesn't have to start with a new year.  That is what I will focus more on in the very near future. It just so happens to be 2012 starting in 2 hours and 6 minutes.  =)

So, that is my ramble for the night. My thoughts for the ending of 2011.  May God bless you and keep you close. May he reveal himself through our difficulties and allow us to grow from our mistakes and failures. May we learn to count our blessings before we name our troubles.  Here's to a new day... along with a new year to boot.  =)

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

¹ There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹ What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

¹⁵ Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.  And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

¹⁷ I said to myself, God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”

¹⁸ I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. ¹⁹ Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰ All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. ²¹ Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

²² So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

~The Waiting Game~

I swear, waiting is the hardest part about trying to have a family.  I've become the woman who charts, adds, subtracts, and divides the days, pays attention to my every body change to the point that I'm obsessed with getting pregnant.  This month, I purchased an ovulation kit and found that my body was showing me it was ready when I in fact wasn't.  My ovulation is almost a week and a half off.  Really?!  No wonder why I've had 3 missed pregnancies...

So... tomorrow is the day the ole "relative" is supposed to come pay a visit...

I hope she misses her flight.

Don't worry, I won't hold it against you.

But, if you do...