Saturday...In the Park

Not sure what the weather is like at your place, but let me give you a little encouragement this Saturday to get outside and boost your Vitamin D stores. Most experts these days are agreeing that the majority of adults have low levels of Vitamin D due to our lack of outdoor activities and use of sunscreen. Low levels of Vitamin D are associated with depression and fatigue. I was recently diagnosed with low levels and have been supplementing throughout the winter. Winter is the most common time to have low levels because we are naturally inside more often. But now that the days are getting longer and warmer, take some time to get outside and get some Vitamin D the way your body was intended to...Sunshine! A mere 15 minutes a day of direct sunlight exposure will go a long way to boost your stores and improve your overall mood.

Today I have to work another wedding, but tomorrow is planting day! I can't wait to share our gardens with you. What are you planting this year?

Happy Saturday!

Happiness is True Friendship

I spent last week sitting in the hospital beside a dear friend (Mrs. P) who has been a second mother to me for the last 10 years. It has been a roller coaster of emotions: anger, sadness, confusion, exhaustion, helplessness...I made the long drive because this family has been such a blessing to me over the last 10 years. We have made an unbreakable bond, and I felt compelled to be by their sides through all of this.

But this isn't about patting myself on the back for being a good friend. This story is about 4 women who have taught me the true meaning of friendship. I drove half-way across the country, not having seen any of these people in nearly two years. Yet when I arrived I was given a place to stay, treated to unlimited coffee (a must when sitting around a hospital for a week), encouraged, and strengthened. Three friends came to the hospital and visited, not having ever met Mrs. P. One is a nurse practitioner, another is a physician's assistant. They unhesitatingly gave Mrs. P their direct numbers and have been helping with her care. Then they stayed to encourage her as well.

They say you never truly know who your friends are until the worst happens. This past week was living proof. I am so grateful to have a network of friends who are truly family, and I can only pray that one day I can return the favor.

So I challenge you today. How can you touch one person's life this week to ease their burdens?

Happy Living!

A Little Perspective

I went for a walk along the river with my husband was struck how just a few months prior I was not able to walk to the bus stop and back. Yet, here I was walking four miles.

So often we are tempted to get in a bad place and give up: on our health, on a relationship, on life. There is nothing so far beyond our reach that isn't worth one more try. Giving up is always an option, but regret is the most bitter pill to swallow. There were times when I was in pain and did not feel like even getting out of bed to go to therapy. There have been times when hurtful words were said to me that I wanted to never forgive. There have been times when all seemed lost.

Still, here I am fighting for my life and my family. Because giving up is simply not an option. When the race is over, I will know I have given it my all for myself, my family, and others.

I walked a little further into the woods, and pain started to return to my body. I had to take a break and stretch on a nearby bench. This is what I found: a tribute from one lover to another. They undoubtedly walked many miles together in his 88 years of life and obviously never gave up on one another, even after he was gone. As I stood up to walk another mile with my husband at my side, all I could feel was an overwhelming sense of thankfulness and love.

So today, let me encourage you to Never Give Up, not on your health, not on your body, not on a loved one, not on your dreams.

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." Harriet Beecher Stowe

Monday Motivation - Kindness Boosts Happiness

This is a great interview by Gretchen Rubin with Sonja Lyubomirsky. Both women are masters at honing a lifestyle of happiness.  When asked what one thing we can consistently do to make us happier, Sonja's answer is simple: acts of kindness.  Think about it.  When was the last time you did something nice and unexpected for someone?  How did it make you feel?  I can say that, personally, it made me feel amazing!  Set aside some time today to stop and do something special for someone, maybe even a stranger, completely anonymously, and see how it truly makes your day awesome!  Stay happy!

Please check out the highlighted links for more great info from both ladies.

Today is a New Day

Wow, what a difference 2 years make!  For those who don't know, I will give you a quick run-down of the past 24 months in our lives.

Jan 1, 2011: Job Change

My wonderful husband, Brent, took a new job in Atlanta, and we would finally be back near family.  One tiny problem...he had to start immediately which left me with a 15 and 4-year-old alone at home to remodel and sell our house in Louisiana.  We spent the next eight, long, stressful months apart, and the blog would have to wait.

Summer 2011: Complete Chaos

The house was sold.  No, it wasn't.  Yes, it was.  No, it wasn't.  Yes, it was!  That left us only 2 weeks to find a house in Georgia and 2 weeks to move and 2 weeks before school started.  I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

August 2011: The Move is On

I should have known that Brent would get called out to fly while the movers were unloading the truck in Georgia.  Heck, I had done everything up to then myself, what's a little more? (You HAVE to keep your sense of humor during stress like this!)

September 2011: Settled At Last

We sort of settled in to a routine, but the last 8 months would finally begin to take their toll on me.

Those who have followed me know I had dropped close to 60 pounds in the Fall of 2008 and into 2009.  That is when I began my changing my lifestyle, transforming my nutrition and exercise and starting to growing a lot of our own food.  But trying to sell a house you are remodeling and living in throws all of that out the window.  Sure I was getting plenty of exercise, but eating Taco Bell 4 nights a week is anything but healthy.  I miraculously maintained within 6-7 pounds up until the move.

Then something terrible happened.  My low back began plaguing me again, and I found out I had 3 ruptured vertebrae.  And then my knees started acting crazy.  I found out I had patellar tracking disorder.  I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and severe insomnia. I am not even 40, and I seemed to be falling apart.

So without giving you all the details here (saving some of that for later posts) I have been through a lot of doctors and therapy in the last 18 months.  The fibromyalgia and insomnia are basically gone, and the back and knees are strong enough to start some serious rehab.  I am 23 pounds heavier than my lowest weight I achieved in 2009, and I have lost LOTS of muscle strength.  I have miles yet to go.

But Today is a New Day!  I am finally back on track and want to share my journey, ups, and downs with you all: more recipes, more fitness, more gardening (you won't believe what my father and I have been up to), and more ways to truly enjoy life.  We will eat, laugh, and live along the way. I am so glad you have hung in there, and welcome to all who are new.  Trust me the best is yet to come!

Hungry, Happy, and Back on My Way to Healthy,

Amy

Another Second Chance...Don't Pass This One By!

I find myself in the unenviable position of a major set-back.  Raise your hand if you are there or have been there.  Two years ago this month marks the anniversary of a big change in my life.  I finally made a quality decision to take care of myself for good.  This was not a New Year's Resolution that lasts a week or two.  This was to be a life-long change.  I dropped 50 plus pounds (at some point you just quit weighing), but more importantly, I started on a road to becoming the fit, energetic, and positive woman I knew was deep inside me.

Then it happened.  Last Thanksgiving I took a long roadtrip to visit family and took a break from my regular menu and exercise.  The menu was not the real problem.  I could control my portions.  The exercise break, however, was a BIG mistake.  I started a downward spiral of back injuries, knee injuries, illness, and more that has led me to where I am now.  On the floor.  Literally.  See, I'm typing this while laying face-down on the floor because that is one of the few positions that does not cause me immense pain.  The verdict: a degenerated disc and muscle strains and sprains from my neck, to back, to knee... you get the picture.  I'm a mess.

I had moments in between that first injury and now where I tried to resume some normalcy, only to end up with another interruption or another injury.  Did I try hard enough?  Maybe, maybe not.  But, now I have to deal with where I am and what got me here to prevent this ever happening again.

Maybe you are here too and are wondering, "What do I do now?"  First, we are going to quit feeling sorry for the shape we are in.  Second, we are going to look back only long enough to figure out where the mistakes were made and learn from them.  Last, we are going to pull ourselves up and start somewhere.  I refuse to spend one more day on this floor feeling sorry for myself.  I managed to get strong once, I can definitely do it again, and so can you!

While I wrote this post as much for myself as I did for you, I want you to know I am with you every step of the way.  That is why I started HungryHappyHealthy: to help others achieve what I had and even more.  I refuse to live anything except an extraordinary life!

So you have to ask yourself one question.  Will you make that quality decision to pick yourself up and become all you were meant to be?  Are you truly ready?  Who's with me?!?!!!!

Dinner with Mom

It doesn't get any better than this: dinner at Mom's.  I have never had a bad meal from my mom.  (Okay, the fried Spam doesn't count.  I would actually eat that stuff as a kid.)

My mom has always been a great cook from a line of great cooks, and I am so thankful that she passed that passion along to me.  Tonight we tried Ina Garten's (Barefoot Contessa) Company Pot Roast.  Boy, was it good!  We also made her Baked Potatoes with Yogurt and Sour Cream.  Of course no Southern table would be complete in the summertime without a bowl of fresh field peas and sliced tomatoes.

Now this is what I call a spread.  The only thing that makes it better is the hands that prepared it and my family I get to share it with.  I dearly miss cooking with my mom and am so thankful for any chance that I get to do so.  Have you called your mom today?  Tell her you miss her and thank you for all she means to you.

Another Reason to Set a Goal

A few weeks back I posted about the importance of setting goals, whether they are personal, physical, or financial.  Would you be more prone to set goals if you knew your life depended on it?  One study suggests that it may.  Check out this article: "A Live-Longer Strategy That Starts in Your Head."  While you are there, sign up to receive the Real Age newsletter.  It is packed with lots of great health, nutrition, and fitness ideas by none other than the brilliant Doctors Oz and Roizen.  They work hard to keep you abreast of the most cutting-edge science and discoveries related to health and wellness.  They have a whole section dedicated to setting your weight and fitness goals.  Set time aside this weekend to assess where you are and where you want to be.  It's the first step toward life-long success!

Monday Motivation - Maintenance

No, the site wasn't down for maintenance.  I was.  I have started taking Mondays to catch up, slow down, and focus on myself and my family.  I know Sundays are typically a day of rest, but after church, lunch, family time, and preparing for another week, it never quite seems restful.  Somewhere along the line, I started using Mondays as my day to recoup.  Today was filled with some light gardening, mowing the lawn (yes, I actually enjoy it), some pool time with my little man, and a well-deserved, intense yoga session.  Finally, I spent the evening at a Marriage Made Strong seminar with my handsome husband.

The older I get, the more I realize the importance of quality over quantity.  I was reminded of this after hearing about the death of an old family friend today.  He was in his 90's, had lived a long, exuberant life dedicated to serving God, and had been married some sixty plus years.  The point that made this so poignant was that his wife had passed not two weeks before.  Both had been in declining health and required a full-time caregiver.  The caregiver told the family that when she came in to tell him his wife was gone, he went to her room, gave her a loving smile, and said, "Well, I guess you made it before me."

This couple lived an extraordinary life, living every moment to the fullest.  No doubt the hundreds of people that attended their funerals, whose lives they touched along the way, are a testament to how we are to live lives of quality.  Many days I forget how wonderfully blessed I am to have my husband, my daughter, my son, my parents, in fact all of those who I love and are close to.  Today, I am thankful to have slowed down long enough to reflect on the priorities in my life.  I made a quality decision to make the most of each fleeting moment.  I encourage you to do the same.

Everybody Needs a Goal. Do You Have a Goal?

Last year while losing all that extra weight, I set some very specific goals that I wanted to achieve.

1. Reach my goal weight of 135.
2. Have enough energy to keep up with my family without becoming tired.
3. Be able to run a 5K.
4. Get down to 18% body fat.

I managed to complete the first two goals. My knees and lack of good running shoes held back my running, and I peaked at 20% body fat. So, now I am focusing on completing the last two goals. I'm not just wishing that these goals will happen. I have a plan: daily caloric intake, amount of exercise, daily water consumption, amount of rest, etc.

So my question to you is, "Do you have a goal?" Once you have a goal, then it's time to make a plan. I'm not sure who said it first, but I love the quote. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." It is so true. Good intentions will not get you to your goal. Only a plan will.

Over the next several weeks I will be posting on how to set your goals and how to map out a plan to meet them. While I will be focusing on physical goals, you can use the same principles in any area of your life from finances to relationships. The key is to start somewhere and start today. Our pastor always says, "You have to make a quality decision to change." That is the start. The plan is the follow-through. I can't wait to see you achieve your goals. Please post your successes for others to celebrate with you. You are worth it!

Quick...what movie does the post title come from?  I have a cookbook prize for the first correct entry on the blog or on Facebook.

Sweet, sweet success...starts with digging a hole.

I awoke this morning, groggily, as usual, stumbled out of bed, and poured my first cup of coffee.  I then took my early morning stroll through the garden to see what wonders had sprouted overnight.  When what do my blurry eyes behold, but my first tomato?  It was like Christmas all over again.  Something about seeing all that hard work, time, and patience pay off is like winning the lottery to me.  It is seeing the fruits of your labor in the simplest, most pure form.  You dig a hole, you plant a seed, and something wonderful and delicious comes from it.

It's kind of like life.  Only this is what really struck me this morning.  Before you see any fruit, you have to dig a hole.  Anything, when first begun, requires you to dig a hole and get in it.  It's pretty dark down there.  No one is around except you and a plan and God.  Yet, somehow, when you put in the effort and make a start, God steps in and lifts you out of the hole completely transformed for all the world to see.

So my question for you today is what seed do you have sitting on the table that needs a hole?  Go ahead and trust God, dig that hole, and jump in with enthusiasm.  You're not going to believe where He takes you!

Back on P90X

Well, tomorrow I will try it again.  P90X will shape me, but it will NOT break me.  I encourage all of you to step out of your comfort zone physically tomorrow.  Step up your intensity in the spin class, run an extra mile, or even walk your first.  Set a goal, and make it a reality.  Just do something you can be proud of when you rest your head at night.  I'm rooting for you!
DISCLAIMER: This is not my body....yet.  It will be in 90 days!

Waste Not, Want Not

It came to me as I was taking a soothing bath with my little bar of hotel soap: a big problem with most people going over their means is simply waste.  Take my little bar of hotel soap, for instance.  I could have used it once and left it to be thrown away.  Instead, I took it home and will get at least a couple of weeks use out of it, probably only the equivalent of about 25 cents worth.  That doesn't seem like much.

Now think about the last time you went to a restaurant.  I have to say, seeing all that food going to waste almost ruins the experience for me.  I have to refrain myself from packing everything up and shipping it to some deserving children in a third world country.

The Great Depression generation had some hard and fast rules about waste.  DON'T!  I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up, and it was a cardinal sin to leave food on your plate.  In the south, cleanliness is next to Godliness.  Right after that is the necessity of feeding everyone within 100 square miles until they bust!

Now, let's add a little balance.  We now know that stuffing ourselves at every sitting is bad for our health, waistline, and frankly, pocketbook.  But, since we're adults now, we can fix ourselves smaller portions and still clean our plates with a clean conscience.  If you are out to dinner, box half the plate for lunch tomorrow, or, my personal favorite, split it with someone at the table.  Try using white, bleachable kitchen towels instead of a gazillion paper towels.  Make one trip to the grocery store a week instead of three.  It's all a mindset.  Waste really boils down to time and money.  It drains both.  If you really want to make a change that will affect every area of your life, take some time this weekend and determine where you can eliminate waste from your life.  Remember, every little change you make is one more victory you can celebrate!

Here are some more practical ways to reduce food waste in your life.

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

I've been spending the morning in the garden, and I have to say, this is one of those days when you KNOW there is a great and wonderful God out there.  The sun is shining; the breeze is blowing; and there is hardly a cloud in the sky.  LB (my little one) is playing in his new pool.  The cat is loving his 'nip.  We call it kitty crack.  And, best of all I get to watch my handsome husband working up a sweat!

Can I make just a little suggestion to all of you out there?  My life right now is as uncertain as most.  But, maybe God is calling me and you to take a minute and be thankful for all we truly have.  When you really pause and start to make a list, you will be surprised at all there is.

Getting started!

I kept waiting for a great time to start, but there is no time like the present.  Today will be my first day starting P90X!  Woo-hoo!  I can't wait to feel the burn!  Yesterday was a big gardening day.  I replanted the field peas and kicked up some extra dirt around all the seedlings.  Today I found my first strawberries.  I can't wait to eat those instead of the store-bought.  So here I go.  I will try to keep you informed of how I make the most of my crazy life by keeping healthy, eating well, and taking care of my family, all while remaining sane.  Keep reading!