Deals for Weight Loss in the New Year

Before I get into the meat of this post, I want to direct you to my older posts.  I have been listing ways that we can help provide aid to those suffering in Haiti.  Take a few minutes to read and donate where you can.  We have so much here in America.  Take a little of the money you have saved through bargain hunting and help those in need.

I posted this same post yesterday on my other blog.  I feel that it applies here as well.  Healthy weight is so important to being healthy in general.  Our bodies are temples that we need to care for.  These offers and books can help us in the struggle to become more healthy.

Now, I know that one of the top New Years Resolutions is to lose weight.  I have often made that same resolution.  Right now, I can't!  I am struggling to gain the weight I need to have a healthy pregnancy (it's hard to keep weight on when breastfeeding and chasing a busy toddler).

Since I have struggled with my weight over the years, I know how it is to start a new year's resolution.  By about this time in January, I'd already be losing steam.  I chose to delay this post to the two-week mark to help spur you on!

I always use an alternate email address when doing the freebie offers just in case they generate any junk mail.   I like to keep my main email nice and clean.

Here is a free Weight Loss eBook!  These ebooks are great. 



Free trial for Curves



I just love free samples - especially when it is for things that can benefit my health!



Now for some great cookbooks!  Yum!

  200 Recipes under 200 calories!  The author was just on Rachael Ray today with some fantastic tips!  One tip, for mixed drinks, substitute either diet tonic water or club soda for tonic water and save up to 90 calories!

100-Calorie Snack Cookbook

Cooking the Real Age Way - great ways to use diet to turn back your biological clock and to help your body behave younger!

YOU on a Diet.  This is an all-time favorite of mine.  I love how they explain how our bodies work in relation to food.

The Maker's Diet.  I love this book, however, I simply cannot afford a lot of what is recommended.  If you are looking for insight into Biblical eating and it's impact on health, this is a fantastic resource.  I have enjoyed reading it several times and have been able to apply some of the principals into our lives.

Gardening Help

Ok, blog readers.  I need some help.  I don't know much about gardening and I know even less about container gardening.  In the spring, I would love to start a garden.  We have a small city lot, so I would not use our yard, but would use containers on my deck.

What can I put in my containers?  My desires would be:

• strawberries
• potatoes
• grape tomatoes
• watermelons
• pumpkins
• peas
• beans

Just looking for any insight!  Thanks!

Healthy Eating

I desire to eat healty food.  I desire to eat the food God intended us to eat.  I don't often eat what I should.  Why?  Soooo many reasons!

• I'm lazy.
• I like how bad food tastes.
• I find better deals on processed food than on healthy food.
• My husband hates veggies.
• I like chocolate.
• I like sugar.
• I like salt.

I read the book The Maker's Diet several years ago.  It completely gave me a new perspective on food.  Our bodies were designed a certain way to work their best.  We come along and start messing with what God created as our fuel and we cause all sorts of problems.

I will say that following the Maker's Diet as outlined in the book just isn't financially possible.  Instead, we are taking baby steps.  I enjoyed a segment on the Dr. Oz show today regarding the "10 Major-Agers."   Now, I am not concerned about LOOKING older (I wouldn't MIND looking 10 years older - maybe I wouldn't get kids menus anymore! Pictures here.) but I want to care for my body (and my family's bodies) so they are equipped to do the work God has for us.

Here are our baby steps for this month.

• Begin limiting sugar consumption.  I realized I was eating something sweet at least 3 times a day - I'm talking CANDY BARS! There are much more effective ways to nourish my body as I continue to nurse Baby.
• Begin limiting high fructose corn syrup.
• Start making my own bread again - I can control the ingredients and will not have the preservatives that commercial breads do.
• Get rid of the home fragrance items.  I got a ton for free or nearly free.  They will make great stocking stuffers!

I have one quick recipe to share.  It is for my Grandma's delicious BBQ sauce (this may be a Betty Crocker recipe or something like that - I am not sure).  Grandma wasn't known for her cooking, but she made a mean BBQ sauce and fantastic fudge.  Goodness, I miss her.

She is in the foreground in the gold sweatshirt.  (I'm on the same side the third person back in a green rayon shirt with bangs and an attempted 80's hair puff)

Anyway, I have some ideas of how to tweak it to make it healthier, but I would love input on other ways to make this even better for us (BBQ sauce is a staple here).

1 1/2 cup ketchup (I will substitute with natural ketchup with no HFCS)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chili sauce
2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 Tablespoons liquid smoke
1 Tablespoon lemon juice (from a REAL lemon)

Combine ingredients in saucepan on stove.  Simmer for 10 minutes.

I want to thank my friend, Erika, for her heart on the issue of eating for the glory of God.  Her passion on this subject has rekindled my desire to take action.  Check out her blog for lots of yummy recipes!