Hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, interesterfied???

I was surprised and intrigued to read interesterified soybean oil on a label of margarine the other day. I had not come across it before and so I looked it up. According to Wikipedia, "Interesterified fats are oils that have been chemically modified." Definitely I would like to choose to avoid 'chemical modification' if at all possible. Being that most modified foods are not easily recognized by our bodies to digest and may be perceived as toxic to our bodies and treated as such, thus causing all the side effects that go along with this kind of toxicity.

I then began to question what is so wrong with butter and the naturally occurring saturated fat it has? Again this lead to another search and I found The 20 Health benefits of Real Butter. I had already been referred to using butter with a 1 to 1 mix with extra virgin olive oil by my holistic doctor as well as butter as an accepted fat on Dax Moy's Elimination Diet, and Organic butter references from other nutritionists, I have decided to turn to the 50/50 butter/olive oil mix, but I will use organic butter and in moderation and not only will it be economical, but it will be a healthy and beneficial fat that I can add to my diet.

Don't own it! - clubFYM post July 8, 08

If you don't want it, put it back. If it's not who you want to be, don't own it!

I can't remember when and where this phrase came about, but it has been a while now. As a young girl, my mom would hear us say something negative and counter it with the opposite. For example, if my sister was getting down on herself about not understanding something and call herself stupid, my mom would intercede and say "Oh NO hunny! You are smart! Don't let anyone tell you different!"

So I would begin to OWN the things I wanted. "I AM beautiful!" (that's my big time "OWN" statement) "I AM smart!" "I AM fit!" And everyone believed it as well. Not only was it believed, but I also lived it out. It became part of me and who I wanted to be.

Many times I catch those around me making statements about the things they want to change, but the way they speak of the things they want to change about themselves are "Own it" statements......'I will never get this',..... 'I am always messing things up',....... 'I am a failure', etc. And as my mom did for me and my sisters I have paid forward in the statement "Don't own it!" If you don't want to be that, then don't own it. It's not who you are or who you want to be. Own what you want to be.

"I am not lazy!" "I AM considerate!" "I AM humble!" "I am loving!" "I love myself!" "I have a great smile!" "People want to get to know me!" "I make a great friend!" "I really DO care about my health!" "I care about others and the influence I have on them!" "I won't poison myself!" "I am fun to be around!" "I am a leader!" "I ENJOY the life I live~!"

There are so many little things in who we are that we can apply this to, and as we keep owning the things we want, it only gets better and better.

I want my children to love who they are and be confident about the life they are living. The one way children learn the best is through the example of their parents. "I am setting positive examples for my children to model in their own lives!"

I had enough of beating myself up and have others do the same to me and around me......I had to BREAK that mold and step out with a new pair of shoes....made for walking forward and not kicking me when I was down. Let's be mindful to positively go after the change we want in our lives. Let's strut in these new shoes! "I AM a positive, radiant woman!" ....Just OWN it!

Pride of Ownership - ClubFYM post Oct 11, 2008

I was watching TV and a phrase popped into my ears and stuck there....Pride of Ownership! It was referring to a home that was well taken care of and reflected the love that the owner had put into it.

I got an email from the city councillor that I have been in contact with over the last week (well her assistant) and it turns out from what they have suggested that I do, I have taken every avenue to try and get this situation resolved. Now it feels as though I am just waiting for it to come through the wall in the kids room now. The signs have already started as what happened before, when we had discovered a mold issue in our kids room on the window wall (quality windows are a good investment....quality installation is a key component). The boys don't want to sleep in their room and won't sleep through the night anymore (on top of the fact that they are sick). And of course, my "spidey" senses can smell that same smell and going into that room triggers my asthma. I am hoping that I'm just being sensitive, but if it has made it's way through, it will be quite the undertaking.

I can't help but to think about the topic of neglect. I am an advocate for love and coming from a past that was filled with neglect, I can't imagine any other path to forge forward with. But when it comes to putting something off to the side and not giving it the due love, and respect, whether it be a home to maintain, a child to raise, or to stay healthy and fit, you could be encouraging something negative and unknown to foster. Without putting the love into what you do, you can not expect to get in return positive results. Want a nice, clean house? Put in the love to get it there. That house in return is going provide you with shelter and a place to be together as a family. If you don't take care of and maintain a home it could come down around you. Want a fit, healthy body? Put in the love into what you do to get it there. Love up on your workouts and being active. Don't think of giving up food or taking on the responsibility of being thoughtful about what you put in body as a burden, but rather as the due respect and love your body, YOU, require. How else are you going to get healthy than to live it. Live the lifestyle.....being unhealthy or thoughtless about the care of your body (and the environment around you) leads to many negatives, from pain, reduced quality of life or even no life at all. And if we put in to ourselves the attitude of "pride of ownership" we will help to shape not only our lives in a positive way, but our children will have that example to live from as well.

So back to loving up on this home and hoping for the necessary fixes to take place so that everyone (including the home) can return to an improve state of health and respect and continue to serve into the future.

We have so much to give

We have so much to give

December 7, 2008 at 12:21 AM

It is my hope that everyone will have an encouraging and enriching time over the holiday season with family and friends. Share your smiles and laughs, look for ways you can help to help those around you, and be rich in heart and spirit, having peaceful and loving thoughts flow through your mind. There is beauty to be enjoyed in so many of the things around us. Open your eyes and appreciate it. And share your thoughts of gratitude with those around you as it can encourage, and inspire others.

Have a wonderful time over the next month and set the ground work for more positive and inspiring things to come in the New Year.

Living the metaphor - Club FYM post Nov 12, 2008

I struggled today. Struggled to have energy and strength....I am not well and not sure what is ailing me. My chest has been hurting me and it is quite painful. And I thank God for the reminder to do as I want to do in the moments I do have as I am not guaranteed the next.

After sharing at a women's midweek service this evening I spoke with one of my friends and asked how she was doing with her fitness journey. She used the phrase "I can't get the food part down." And I shared with her this thought.......everything we do in life is a metaphor for our relationship with God. She then went over all that she had said in our conversation about fitness and saw the connection to our walk with God. She then said to me "Why didn't you just say that to me in the beginning!" (she had come to me to help her with her weight loss goals).......Then I said "I guess you have to live the metaphor to understand it."

Living my life as a Christian has given me great joy and revelation. I can see so many connections in everything we do in life and how it relates to my ultimate goal. And the metaphor of our weight/fat loss journeys are included as well. How many of us were "slim" before and didn't appreciate it? Or didn't even work for it? Or ate whatever we wanted and were still slim? And then when it was "gone", we are now fighting to get it back. The fight is the living part and that's what is great about this journey. Now we are gaining knowledge and wisdom through experience and association, and we are growing on the inside and glowing on the outside. Regardless of where you think you are at in your goals, you have already succeeded in growing as a woman, because you are living the metaphor.....walking the journey.
So look for those connections in your life....through parenting or marriage, through your relationships with co-workers or family and see how you can learn from what doesn't work to make what you want to work in your life a success!

Giving our presence not just presents during this Holiday season - ClubFYM blog post Dec.3,'08

As many have been reflecting on all the "to-do's" on their lists this holiday season some are experiencing a level of stress, perhaps based on perceived expectations of having to produce a gift that was specifically requested for or preparing a meal and ambiance for a feast and Christmas card experience. Either way you are expected to be present in that moment. How about making your presence the present you give?

Try sharing cost effective (or free) ways to love up on those around you. Encouraging letters or notes, Hand-written cards, an updated photo of you or your family, if you are spiritual, share quotes or scriptures of encouragement, put together an arrangement of songs and music. It takes as much time to go shopping for that gift as it does to put the thought and effort into something more personal.

So think of ways that you can give your personal touch to those around you in a way that they will remember for years to come and will help to make a difference in their lives. This is not only applicable for this holiday season, but throughout the year.