Is Sugar Addictive? Many of my conversations through the day involve talk about sugar or sugar addiction. Many of us know we eat too much, but we don’t know what is a reasonable amount and we might struggle to truly change our habits. Sometimes, people tell me they are “addicted” to sugar. I am not convinced that this is a term we should use. Yes, sugar does have some addictive properties, but as with many pleasures in this world, sugar is a delightful gift from the Lord. Have you ever…
Comparison Starts Young Starting at a very young age, we begin comparing ourselves to others. My daughter started talking about what her friends are wearing and wanted to wear clothing similar to them when she was 4 years old. My son, often talks about his school work by comparing his work to others. But why wouldn’t he? He is constantly being compared to his classmates by his teachers and the others that work at the school. The doctor compares growth in weight and height at each visit. You can see,…
What do you like about your BODY? Many of us struggle with liking our physical body. Consider this, what do you like about your physical body? Your answer may not be associated with your physical body. You might say, “I am kind”, “I am servant hearted”, “I am empathetic”, “I am organized”, etc. We often focus on what we don’t like about our bodies, and fail to recognize what we do like. I encourage you to take a minute now and think about what physical characteristics you like about your…
What is the Goal? The Lord calls us to be stewards of our physical bodies. That means we endeavor to take care of them to the best of our ability so that God can use us. Taking care of our bodies well can be a challenge. Maybe we lack planning skills, or we don’t have time, or maybe we just don’t always care enough. The Battle Begins It is a battle. A battle of choices in how we will nourish our bodies. We are often unprepared especially if we don’t…
Encouragement to One Another I want to take some time today to encourage you. God tells us to encourage one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” I hope you are enjoying the new you! How are you feeling? Are you proud of what you have accomplished with the help of our Lord? You should be. I am guessing you have made some amazing changes related to your health that have helped you feel stronger, more confident, healthier,…
Filling The Holes We have all been there. When we feel discontent and down, like something is missing. We often try to fill these holes with more things, a bigger house, a nicer car, a better job, tastier food, weight loss, the next new diet, and the list goes on. The hole seems to be filled temporarily, and then like a pot hole, it collapses again at the first sign of a heavy weight or an intense storm. Did you know that I used to work in the weight loss…
Finding Joy in Eating “Diet” is a Four Letter Word Have we lost the joy of eating? I think many of us have. We are so accustomed to restricting, counting, and limiting that we have lost the joy in eating. When we adopt a dieting mindset we loose much of the pleasure in food. It seems restrictive, not fun, not delicious, a burden, and so much work! First, you should know that I dislike the word “diet”. A “diet” in the American culture is defined as a short-term restrictive way…
Health at Every Size®: Is it Biblical? Let me preface this article by saying that I only wish to comment on the principles of this movement. Below you will find an outline of the 5 main principles, a description of common misconceptions, and finally, an evaluation of the principles as they relate to the bible. I hope you find it helpful to establish your thinking to be pleasing to the Lord in all things including taking care of your body. Blessings! Jenn Principles of Health at Every Size® (HAES) Weight…
Lunch Bowls! Clients ask me all the time, “what should I eat for lunch?” I have found that if it isn’t easy to throw together, they won’t do it no matter how healthy it is! This is why I love lunch bowls! I often eat these myself using a variety of vegetables and leftovers that are already prepared in my refrigerator. Below are 4 different options and ideas to create your perfect lunch! You can follow the chart horizontally to stick with similar flavors, or you can mix and match…
Asian Flavors Dressing This dressing is a wonderful addition to any salad or bowl or you can use it as a marinade for shrimp, pork, or poultry! Yum! Once you discover how easy it is to make your own, you will never buy store bought again! When you use it in a bowl, you can combine tons of veggies for a flavorful and high antioxidant lunch option! Ingredients 1 Tbsp Fresh Lime Juice 1/4 cup Olive Oil 1/4 cup Soy Sauce 2 Tbsp Sesame Oil 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup 1…
