1. Articulate “Who You Want to Be” Each Day

It’s important to articulate who you want to be (i.e. calm, patient, kind, loving) each day so you can frame your actions and words within that context. If you want to be more patient, for example, allow yourself to bring patience into every interaction in your business as well as into your communications with your family. By seamlessly integrating “who” you are in each environment, you’ll begin to feel better and experience more ease.

2. Clarify Your Work and Family Vision

With a clear vision, you can take clear action as you juggle your activities throughout the day. Begin by writing down your top three business goals and your top three family goals (they may be weekly, monthly or even annual). Give yourself time to clearly articulate your vision and create an action plan. Without this vision, you may feel as if you are running a race that has no end.

3. Know Your “High Impact Activities”

Review your vision and identify the high-impact activities for yourself (i.e. those actions that will bring the greatest results and place you closer to your goals). When you determine these, you gain a greater level of discernment about how to spend your time and energy. You can then “outsource” or eliminate the things that won’t produce results that are consistent with your vision(s).

4. Identify the Top Three Things to Complete Each Day

Choose the top three things you want to fully complete each day. Most people feel stress as they juggle work and family because so many things are incomplete. I want to challenge you to pick three juicy actions eve ry day for both your business and family (six total) and complete them with vigor! When you do, you’ll feel a deep sense of ease and satisfaction.

5. Enlist the Help of Others (Colleagues, Assistants and Family)

Women often tend to feel they must complete everything on their own. It’s simply not realistic. Look for new ways to save time, money and energy by enlisting the help of others. It may be a friend, colleague or family member. A mentor once said to me, “When you tell someone where you are trying to go, they’ll help you get there.” Allow others to help you meet your goals. With this support, you’ll naturally create more ease for yourself. I wish you well as you begin to look for ways to juggle work and family with more ease.

About the Author

As President of Amplify Leadership http://www.amplifyleadership.com, Athena has worked with organizations globally to increase leadership development, resilience, productivity, profitability and achieve a sense of ease at work. She integrates practical business principles with mind-body medicine.

Once you have forgiven yourself, just as God has forgiven you through our Lord Jesus Christ, then you start the process of losing the 100+ pounds. Your body is a precious gift from God and even though your body is plus-sized, that does not make it any less precious. There are several factors that landed you in the position to need to lose 100 pounds.

Now days, foods are highly processed and chemically treated to enhance your hunger and make you crave more.

We are not as active as we used to be, many job positions require sitting sedentary in front of a phone or computer. By the time we get home from work and finish caring for the kids, we’re so wiped out that we have no time or energy to exercise.

We don’t cook fresh wholesome meals at home as much anymore. There are fast food restaurants on very corner and it is so easy an inexpensive to eat while on the go and forgo the homemade time-consuming meals.

We’re stressed, depressed, in debt and worried — with one out of three girls having experienced some sort of sexual abuse before turning age 18, divorce rates at 80% and women having to raise children on their own, today’s Christian woman is in a distressed state of mind which can lead to overeating. Many women are on the verge of a nervous breakdown. However, there is good news: we can rely on God’s strength to make it through the day!

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Through God you are made strong, therefore you are a survivor. You’ve been through a lot and yet you’re still here. That in itself is a great accomplishment. God has sent you here to accomplish much much more, and it’s time to take “Victory Steps” to get this weight off so you can regain control of your life. I claim healing in your body right now in the name of Jesus; you will not be defeated by high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke or cancer. You will get healthy and feel whole as a person again because by His stripes you are healed!

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities’ upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

(Isaiah 53:5)

You have to trust and believe that God has your best interest at heart, and the hardships that you are going through right now are going to serve you and many others at a later date in the future. Hold on and be strong!

Guard my life and rescue me; Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

(Psalm 25:20)

I’m sure you’ve already tried the celebrity endorsed weight loss plans on TV. You’ve tried the diet pills, shakes, juices and powders. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Stop the insanity and get started with a realistic eating and exercise plan that fits into your day to day life.

If you want to lose 100 pounds you have to forgive yourself for gaining weight, you have to educate yourself on what works and you have to but yourself in a more positive environment so you can get the guidance and support you need to succeed.

In my anguish I cried out to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.

(Psalm 118:5)

One of the best ways to put yourself in a better environment is to join a faith-based weight loss support group and get a Christian weight loss coach to help you stay accountable to a healthy diet and workout plan that’s specially made for a plus sized woman of faith.

Far more than just a motivational program, Victory Steps Christian Weight Loss Coaching allows women to connect and create relationships with like-minded women in ways no other entity has embraced. Get started with Victory Steps today! For more information, visit www.victorysteps.net.

Becky Harmon, left, and Bonnie Mechelle.
Photo special to the MDJ

A series of personal setbacks led Marietta resident Becky Harmon to God. A friend led her to running marathons. Harmon combined her newfound faith and fitness and released “Success Not Sabotage: Bold Physical Identity,” which she hopes will encourage others.

Harmon was plagued by issues in her past, such as childhood trauma, depression and insecurities. In 2005, she faced a host of personal setbacks, including a million-dollar identity theft which involved the FBI.

“That one year was very defining for me,” she said. “It was epic.”

She said she started crying out, and she needed a new shift, a new identity. “I can’t take it anymore,” she said, remembering her feelings at the time.

Although she led prayer at her church, Harmon said she had to take care of herself first and get her head back in a clear and confident place. “I had to shift into where God has called me,” she said, not expecting it would involve a major lifestyle change.

When a friend from the neighborhood invited Harmon to run, the wife and mother of four declined. “I’m a walker, not a runner,” Harmon recalled telling her neighbor. However, she still felt unsettled about her decision.

As a longtime asthmatic, Harmon said there were times when she couldn’t laugh without coughing, much less run. This history combined with her age — Harmon is 47 — had her “terrified” to run a marathon. She said, “I was afraid to fail.”

Her husband of 25 years, Jay, asked her what would it mean to finish. She replied, “I would feel like I could do anything and be successful.” With prayer, Harmon decided to give running a chance.

“It was really a revelation for me,” she said. Within six months, Harmon ran a half marathon. Four months later, she ran her first marathon.

“It was more like a trot,” she quipped. “I’m not doing it to finish at a personal best time. I’m doing it to stay in shape.”

Her accomplishments inspired her to start her business — Success Not Sabotage. On her website, www.successnotsabotage.com, Harmon’s speciality involves helping her clients to invest in strategies that

to keep them focused practically and prayerfully for long-term success; learn how to grow in personal authority; and earn how to communicate simply and powerfully in order to transform lives.

Harmon co-authored her latest book with Bonnie Mechelle, the executive producer of WAEC 860 AM Healthtopia Radio and creator of The Victory Steps 6 Week Christian Weight Loss Coaching program. The ladies met at a summer prayer breakfast and formed a fast bond.

“We connected like peanut butter and jelly when we met,” Harmon said. “It was such a great fit.”

Mechelle said, “I told her that I was working on losing my postpartum pounds, and Becky asked me to do a half marathon with her. We began to walk together at Roswell Park, more people started to join us, and we developed a team of Christian runners to train for a half marathon.”

Harmon uses her Bold Physical Identity system to inspire and motivate others. She defines it as overcoming past feelings of victimization and failure, losing between 10 and 40 pounds, and being able to transform other people’s lives by doing a half marathon.

Mechelle said they developed the system with videos, coaching assignments, personal testimony and helpful tips to successfully run the races. She said, “We shared all of the challenges and rewards of learning how to run and created a BPI as a guide to build spiritual, mental (and) physical toughness.” Harmon said her business has been powerful and life-changing.

“I have people who never thought they were successful,” she said. “When people finish a half-marathon, they feel like rock stars, enthralled. It’s a lot of fun.”

While she is passionate about helping Christians build a strong identity, Harmon’s system is open to everyone, regardless of faith. “I work with everybody. I’m just real clear about my faith,” she said. “Don’t worry about the Jesus factor. The system in itself is a powerful system.”

Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal – Have a little faith fitness Marietta woman overcomes setbacks inspires others

 If you’re local to Atlanta, you will be meeting the Bold Identity Team at the Riverside Park (575 Riverside Road Roswell, GA 30075) on Saturday mornings at 7am for your long runs. During the week, (and you will find the training schedule in your system) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we suggest you grab a partner, sign them up to build a BOLD IDENTITY  and do your mileage in your neighborhood at o’dark thirty in the am:)

This team begins training Saturday, December 31st. at 7am at the location pictured here by the Bathrooms.

If you are out of Atlanta or reside in another state, you can still join us for training. There are millions of races to train for and we will be more than happy to get you started and provide the support for you to stay consistent and paced.

There are two options for you. One is to purchase email coaching for 19.99 a month for three months and receive unlimited email support as you train and the other is to actually schedule your own personal BOLD IDENTITY time and go through the material for eight sessions at 102.00. If you have had decades worth of sabotage, this is highly recommended as if you don’t get to the core of WHY your sabotaging your own success, you will lose the weight and gain it right back. If you decide to do the eight sessions, you do not need to purchase the system separately.  Email Becky@successnotsabotage.com if you have any questions.

Maisha McGee Childs created The Soulful Slimdown as a 40 day journal designed to guide you through a successful Daniel fast. Each day of the journal focuses on a personal reason to fast. The daily meditations in The Soulful Slimdown book reinforces more accountability and provide thought-provoking journal entries to help keep you on track with your Daniel Fast.

This journal is designed to create a healthier you both inside and out. It is also a guide to cleanse your mind, repair your relationships and lead you on the path to freedom. By focusing on the life God wants you to have and using The Soulful Slimdown fasting journal as a compass to overcome obstacles, you will break from your fast leaving body fat and bad habits far behind.

By the end of the forty days you will be a better parent, spouse, friend and overall person once your body is mentally and physically free of toxins. So join the health secret that millions of successful, happy people have practiced for years and do something good for yourself and the people you love; do the Daniel fast for a better you and new life!

Where does the Daniel fast come from?

When the Babylonians conquered Judah, Daniel and his three friends were deported toBabylon. The four men (including Daniel) were placed into the Babylonian court servant program where they had to learn Babylonian customs and laws.  These customs and laws included the diet and beliefs of the Babylonians. Daniel was against the Babylonian diet because the King’s food had been offered and sacrificed up to false gods and idols, therefore, making it unclean and not acceptable in Mosaic Law.  Thus, Daniel requested that the four of them be excused from eating meat and drinking wine:

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

(Daniel 1:8)

“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then compare our appearance with that of the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”

(Daniel 1:12-14)

Note*

The Daniel Fast is not something required of Christians but is a way to cleanse your body of toxins and get closer to God within your prayer life.

Daniel Fast Recipes:

Breakfast-

1) Hashbrown potatoes, veggie sausage, toast, juice

Use fresh not frozen potatoes with olive oil instead of margarine. Clean and slice potatoes, put potatoes in pan and coat with olive oil and seasoning, brown on each side.

Use peanut butter with no preservatives from the health food section on wheat toast instead of butter

Veggie Sausage patties (Morning Star is my favorite)

100% fruit juice

2) Bowl of Fiber one cereal with soy milk and fresh blue berries or oatmeal with fresh blue berries (half of teaspoon of olive oil spread, table spoon of soy milk, teaspoon of honey or raw sugar in oatmeal to enhance taste)

Lunch-

3) Veggie chicken pattie on whole grain/whole wheat bread. Use avacado as a substitute for mayo and spread on the bread with lettuce, tomato, and a slice of veggie swiss cheese

cup of potato soup with veggie sprinkle chedder cheese on top and chives

cup of 100% fruit juice

4) Veggie burger or black bean burger on whole wheat bun with grilled onions, avacado, veggie sliced American cheese, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, and tomato

slice on potato, mix in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper; line cookie sheet with foil and bake fries on foil at 375 until golden brown about 20 minutes

ice tea sweatened with natural sweetener (stevia, agave)

Dinner-

4) Spaghetti with whole grain noodles and veggie sprinkle cheese on top of meatless spaghetti sauce, mixed steamed vegetables, slice of wheat bread baked with olive oil spread and sprinkle cheese on top to make a cheese toast

5) Veggie tacos with veggie crumbles (substitute for ground turkey/beef), taco sauce, corn tortillias, lettuce, tomato, veggie sprinkle cheese

(either bake hard corn tortillias and add ingredients or warm soft corn tortillias on both sides in a frying pan with a table spoon of olive oil)

side of black beans or refried beans with veggie mozzarella sprinked on top over brown rice

Snacks

6) Frozen fruit blended with cranberry, mango, or orange fruit juice for a nice fruit smoothie (spoonful of peanut butter optional blended in for richer taste)

7) Natural granola bars

8) Juice carrots, apples, mango, with a small half teaspoon size of ginger root for a refreshing drink

BUY THE SOULFUL SLIMDOWN BY MAISHA MCGEE CHILDS TODAY

10 Tips for Eating Healthy During the Holidays 

For many of us, the holidays are the most difficult time to eat healthy foods. With lots of parties, big feasts, and sugary treats everywhere we look, how can we keep from making food choices we regret later during the holiday season? Thankfully, it’s not as hard as it seems. Here are ten tips to help you manage your eating habits this Christmas.

1. Avoid fast food. Even if you don’t visit fast food restaurants on a regular basis, it can be tempting to go through the drive-through while you’re out shopping or traveling to a relative’s home. Bring healthy snacks along with you when you’re on the go to avoid those desperate cravings.

2. Eat before attending parties. Even if a meal will be served at a party, it’s always a good idea to eat a snack or a light meal before going to the party so that you don’t overeat when you get there – especially if most of the food is unhealthy.

3. Drink in moderation. In addition to dehydrating our bodies and impairing our judgment, alcohol can contain lots of calories. It’s tempting to drink lots of alcohol in a warm festive atmosphere, but having too much on a regular basis over the holidays can be fattening and dangerous. Drink in moderation and opt for low-calorie options when possible.

4. Feast on fruits and veggies. At holiday feasts, we usually expect to eat a lot of food, which causes us to load up our plates. However, if you cover 75% of your plate with fruits and vegetables, you’ll consume fewer calories and won’t feel stuffed at the end of the meal.

5. Cook with low-fat ingredients. If you are planning on doing some holiday cooking yourself, look for ways to make healthy foods. Steaming vegetables and grilling meats are better alternatives to frying in oil. Even cooking sweets with whole wheat flour, egg whites, and low-fat oils can reduce calories.

6. Buy healthy snacks. To avoid snacking on Christmas cookies or candies when you get a craving, stock your house with healthy snacks to eat instead. If you’re traveling to someone else’s home, bring healthy snacks with you so that you always have a healthy alternative.

7. Plan ahead. If you know you have a party or a big meal coming up, try to eat healthier meals in the days leading up to the event in order to balance your eating habits. By managing your diet in this way, you can indulge a little without ruining your healthy eating routine.

8. Don’t skip meals. Some of us may be tempted to skip meals in preparation for a big meal. However, this causes the blood sugar level to drop and may cause us to overeat at the meal itself. Graze on low-fat, healthy snacks throughout the day in preparation for the meal to keep your metabolism up.

9. Bring a healthy option. If you are asked to bring a dish to pass, try to choose a healthy option like vegetables or salad. This way, you know that there will be at least one healthy dish for you to eat. Even if you are asked to bring meat or a dessert, you can opt for lean meat or a low-calorie dessert option.

10. Only eat when you’re hungry. It’s not impolite to kindly refuse food offered to you if you’re not hungry. Nor should you feel obliged to clean your plate at a meal just out of principle. It takes about 20 minutes for our stomachs to realize they’re full, so eating slowly and paying attention to your body will keep you from eating when you don’t need to.

Joseph Morris has been a professional chef for over 20 years. He also owns the site Culinary Arts College for students interested in getting a degree in culinary arts.

The Bible tells the story of when Jesus went on a spiritual fast and Satan came to him and tried to tempt him with food. Jesus told Satan: “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4). Christian women (and men) are being tempted to overeat and become addicted to food. Many Christians forego drugs, alcohol and cigarettes but depend on overeating food as an easy, socially acceptable escape from the fear, stress and anxiety of life. Food can become an idol in our lives because it is a socially acceptable, easily assessable and inexpensive substance to be addicted to…

As Christian women, when we find ourselves repeating gluttonous sinful behavior that can lead to an untimely death, this is a BIG sign that we are operating outside of the will of God. Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God made food to be a gift to nourish, heal and re-energize our wonderfully made bodies. God did not make food for us to use as way to replace God and forget God when times get tough and we’re going through tough trials and tribulations.

Many Christian women find themselves turning to food for comfort and peace because unhealthy food is a very cheap, quick, tasty fix that is not looked down upon, but encouraged during celebrations at the church. Every time there is a gathering for fellowship, you’ll find a vast array heart clogging fattening foods to choose from and it’s very hard to resist the temptation to overeat when everyone around you is indulging in these fattening foods, plus you have people encouraging you to partake in foods that can lead to a serious binge.

If you replace the God and the Holy Spirit with a physical substance like food, drugs or alcohol, you’ll never fill the void in your heart or heal the source of the immense pain you feel in your soul. Eating fatting, sweet sugary treats is not sin, but the overindulgence of unhealthy food is sinful because it will lead to obesity, depression, diabetes, heart attack, cancer, strokes plus more devastating illnesses.

Our Lord, Jesus Christ died to forgive you of your sins and free you from sickness and disease so please do not condemn yourself for using food to replace God when you were feeling lonely or sad. Do not condemn yourself if you are now afflicted with a disease like hypertension or diabetes because of the weight you gained from overeating. You have to forgive yourself as God has forgiven you; this is the first step to being set free.

John 8:36 says, If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

All you need to do now is ask God for forgiveness, forgive yourself and accept the Lord’s freedom in your heart and renew your faith. It’s time to pray and recommit your life to God, and release the bondage of food idolatry, obesity, sickness and depression in your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you up where you feel empty and rebuke the addiction to food and the strongholds of low self-esteem, fear, anxiety and stress in Jesus’ name.

You can and will be victorious if you stay consistent with your prayer, Christian fellowship and the studying of God’s Word. It’s not easy, but when you have a supportive network of caring Christian’s around you to pray for you and encourage you, all things are possible. Proverbs 27:17 says Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

God wants you to enjoy what you eat, but please be aware of Satan’s attempts to tempt you to hurt you with unhealthy food so you will forget about God and the destiny He has in store for you. Don’t let unhealthy food trap you into a web of weight gain, illness, doubt, fear and hopelessness any longer.

If you don’t love the way you look and feel, stand up and do something about it today! Make a choice to eat healthy nutritious foods that will nourish your body and soul starting right now. Don’t get discouraged, take it day by day and don’t give up on God or yourself.

Get the Help and Support You Need Today from Bonnie Mechelle

Victory Steps Christian Weight Loss Coaching offers faith based wellness coaching to women who struggle with weight gain, divorce, single motherhood, eating disorders, chronic illness and depression. If you’re ready for one-to-one faith-based weight loss coaching, get started at www.victorysteps.net

• Having a clear and consistent discipline technique
• Having close, emotional bonds between all family members
• Having alone time, or what moms refer to as me time.

I found that if these 3 areas were fully present, parents stated that being a mom or dad was great and not very stressful. Tiring at times, yes, but not stressful. They also mentioned that the fun and joy they experienced with their children far out numbered the negative times when their kids misbehaved or didn’t listen.

Families that were experiencing frustration always commented on how stressful parenting was, how exhausted they felt, how they yearned for me-time and that they felt they spent most of their time and energy on discipline or trying to manage their children’s behaviour.

In my experience, the stress of parenting CAN be avoided or extremely reduced. There is a way that joy and ease can be present in families about 80-90% of the time and discipline only 10-20%.

I have found in my work as a stress-free parenting coach to working moms as well as in my own life as a mom, that having a consistent form of discipline, making time for connection through traditions and rituals as well as giving myself the gift of me time has been the winning formula to achieving stress-free parenting. It’s definitely a three piece puzzle though and when one piece is missing, the dynamics of one’s life and family life is disrupted – guaranteed, everytime.

But…keep these three pieces glued together and you have just found the antidote to the stress of parenting! Try it, I guarantee you’ll see a dramatic difference to the way you feel about your life, your children and your job as a mother.

About The Author: Erin Kurt, B.Ed, spent 16 years as a teacher and nanny around the world. Now, she applies her expertise as a parenting expert and author of Juggling Family Life and The Life Balance Formula. You can learn more about Erin and her simple, loving parenting method, and subscribe to her weekly parenting tips e-zine at erinparenting.com. You’ll also receive Erin’s free video series “8 Secrets to Stress-Free Parenting“, packed with parentings tips!
]]> http://bonniemechelle.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/how-to-cure-the-stress-of-parenting/feed/ 0 The WeiGht LOss CoaCh stressed mom http://bonniemechelle.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/getting-rid-of-the-excuses-for-not-eating-a-healthy-diet/ http://bonniemechelle.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/getting-rid-of-the-excuses-for-not-eating-a-healthy-diet/#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:51:28 +0000 bonniemechelle http://bonniemechelle.wordpress.com/?p=692 ]]>

I’m ashamed to say this, but I can’t recall ever eating a salad for dinner when I was growing up. In our household, we ate vegetables like green beans and collard greens but they were cooked to a pulp to where all of the precious vitamins and minerals were all gone. I remember suffering from chronic constipation as a teenager, and having no idea that the fatigue and menstrual issues that I was dealing with stemmed strictly from my terrible diet.

I suffered from obesity and high blood pressure like my great grandmothers, grandmothers and mother. Then I saw my young daughter picking up some of my bad habits like eating too fast and craving sweets eating when upset. That’s when I decided that it was time to end the generational curse of bad eating habits in my family. The eating habits that were passed down to me was detrimental to my health and the health of my immediate family because I was the one buying and cooking food for everyone.

I noticed that my health, my husband’s health and my children’s health was at stake, and it is for you and your family also. Long story short, I eventually turned my life around by making healthier lifestyle choices like drinking plenty of water, limiting fast food and paying attention to my portion sizes. Theses small changes lead to more energy, lower blood pressure and a physically fit curvy body. I became a holistic nutritionist and life coach and I started helping other women to have this wonderful transformation of weight loss, self-confidence and personal peace.

This month I am launching a 30 day fruit and vegetable challenge to encourage you to include 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings in you diet for 30 days. When you sign up for this challenge you’ll get a weekly email for 4 weeks giving you the most amazing tips on how to save money on groceries and how to incorporate more fresh produce in your diet. I have some great tips to share with you today… right now!

Here is some motivation to eat more fruits and vegetables

Most people are at least somewhat aware that eating fruits and vegetables is healthier for their bodies, yet in theU.S., less than one third of American adults ate at least two servings of fruit and three or more servings of vegetables a day according to research from the Centers for Disease control.

That means that roughly 80% of Americans do not eat even the most basic recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this article is to motivate you to change that statistic in your household. My goal is to provide you with lots of facts about how healthy it is to eat more fruits and vegetables, how to make it easy to work them into your diet, and even how to find ways to save some money on your grocery bill.

Why should I eat more fruits and vegetables?

There are dozens of really good answers to that question, but I am going to focus in just three of them here:

1. Eating more fruits and vegetables (along with a plant-based diet) can prevent and reverse diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension and cancer.

1. Eating more fruits and vegetables can help you manage your weight.

1. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables gives you more energy.

If the disease prevention reason did not motivate you to change, then the weight loss or improved energy and sleep should appeal to you.

What are some of the excuses that people come up with when it comes to trying to motivate them to eat more fruits and vegetables?

• I’m not used to cooking at home with fruits and vegetables.

Take a cooking class. Borrow a few vegetable cookbooks from your local library. There are tons of websites that have free, healthy eating recipes that you can try.

The Mayo Clinic’s Directory of Healthy Recipes

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/RecipeIndex

• I don’t really like fruits and vegetables.

You might be saying that you don’t like fruits and vegetables because of they way they were prepared and served to you when you were growing up. Be adventurous and try buying a new, fresh vegetable each week when you visit the grocery store. You are bound to find lots of healthy foods that you will actually enjoy eating.

• We eat out at restaurants a lot

Choose restaurants that have healthy eating options on their menus. Start your meal off with a healthy salad and ask for the low calorie dressing on the side. Order a side vegetable order to add to your entrée. Try ordering the vegetarian option just once and see how you like it.

• I buy produce and then it spoils before I get the chance to use it.

Plan your meals ahead and buy only what you need for the recipes you have chosen for that week.

• My kids refuse to eat vegetables when I serve them.

Try some kid-friendly recipes, and let your kids choose which vegetables they want to try. Be patient and don’t give up on getting them to eat healthier meals.

• Fresh fruits and vegetables are too expensive.

There are many ways to maximize your benefit from fruits and vegetables without breaking your budget. The CDC offers 30 ways in 30 days to Stretch Your Fruit & Vegetable Budget while staying healthy!

Eating more fruits and vegetables involves developing new habits, which takes discipline and motivation to stick with. You must find a big enough “Why?” in your life that will motivate you to take care of your body and to teach your children how to develop healthy eating habits of their own.

About the Author

Bonnie Mechelle is the author of the best seller: Overcome Compulsive Overeating… Now, and the executive producer of The Healthtopia Radio Show in Atlanta, Georgia . She has lost over 120 pounds naturally on her own and now empowers women who struggle with weight gain, divorce, single motherhood, eating disorders, chronic illness and clinical depression. See her latest movie, The Inner Weigh and subscribe to her Christian Women’s e-Newsletter at www.myhealthtopia.com. If you’re ready for one-to-one faith-based weight loss coaching get started at www.victorysteps.net.