I'm breaking down the top 5 “health rules” that I BREAK.  Today we talk about number three.

One thing that I pray for you is that you never take any person’s opinion as fact.  While some of these “rules” might work for you, I would say the majority of people it is actually hurting rather than helping them.  Even when I tell you my opinion, you need to decide for yourself if you will benefit from this or not.  You need to test it out by applying it your life, listen to how your body reacts and then make YOUR OWN DECISION.

The last two "rules" were never skip breakfast and eat every couple of hours to keep your metabolism going.  I’d love to hear your opinions so don’t forget to stop by my Facebook page and leave questions or comments!

RULE NUMBER THREE: Eat when you’re hungry. 

Lately, if you follow any of the “natural” health movements, you have probably...

For 5 weeks, I will be breaking down the top four “health rules” that I BREAK. 

One thing that I pray for you is that you never take any person’s opinion as fact.  While some of these “rules” might work for you, I would say the majority of people it is actually hurting rather than helping them.  Even when I tell you my opinion, you need to decide for yourself if you will benefit from this or not.  You need to test it out by applying it your life, listen to how your body reacts and then make YOUR OWN DECISION.

Last week’s rule was Never Skip Breakfast.  I’d love to hear your opinions so don’t forget to stop by my Facebook page and leave questions or comments!

Well, this week’s really follows along in this similar direction.

RULE NUMBER TWO: EAT EVERY 2-3 HOURS TO KEEP YOUR METABOLISM GOING

Humm.  Heard this one?  Have you said this to yourself before when you really want a...

For the next 5 weeks, I will be breaking down the top five health "rules” that I BREAK. 

One thing that I pray for you is that you never take any person’s opinion as fact.  While some of these “rules” might work for you, I would say the majority of people it is actually hurting rather than helping them.  That being said, you still need to decide for yourself if YOU will benefit from this or not.  Test it out by applying it your life, listen to how your body reacts and then make YOUR OWN DECISION.

You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. Psalm 119:73

Let’s dive in.

RULE NUMBER ONE: NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST

How many times did you hear growing up, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”?  While I do believe there is some truth to this statement for children, I don’t believe it is true for most adults.

Breakfast is optional my friends. ...

We all have them.  You know…

• The sister-in-law that one-ups you all the time.
• The mother that never helps out.
• The friend that gets drunk and embarrassing every time you spend time together.
• The husband that never has anything nice to say.
• The child that is strong willed and never obeys.

Those tough relationships.

They are draining.  Mostly mentally, but sometimes physically also. Most of that energy is spent wishing they were some how different.  We just want them to be easier to get along with.

But they’re not.  They probably won’t change.  And all that energy you’re spending wishing, wanting, hoping, is just wasted.

Do you wish you could just feel better about these relationships?

You can. 

This is what you’re signing up for if you want to feel better; you don't get to change the other person.  You can only change yourself and do the hard work of managing your thoughts.

...

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“I’m unmotivated.”

I get a little fired up after hearing this. Usually, people say this phrase to me like it is something they can’t change.

Motivation doesn’t magically drop in your lap.  Motivation isn’t a gift that can be given. 

Motivation comes through hard work. The hard work of sticking to what you planned and reminding yourself why you started in the first place. 

The hard work of managing your brain.

Here is a little secret.  I am personally writing this blog for me.  My goal is to get myself fired up again.

The other day, I heard myself say, “I lost my motivation.”

I know it’s not really “lost”.  I know how to find it. 

But finding it and bringing it back takes HARD WORK (you know, what I said above…).

Lately, I have been falling into...

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I find that a lot people live their lives inadvertently.

Would you agree?

The most common answer I get when I ask my clients just about any question is, “I don’t know”.

They don’t know …

• how or why they are overweight
• what they are thinking
• why they picked this job, husband, house, etc.
• who can help them
• what they plan to do next

Sure, they may come up with a few excuses.  In the end, most of them concede to the fact that they didn’t really take the time to think about it.  They just did.

I had a friend who wanted to start getting up earlier.  I asked her why? She said, “I don’t know.  That’s what healthy people do.  They get up earlier to work out and do stuff.”

She might as well keep sleeping with that reasoning.

Her goal was to lose weight.  I told her, “...

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I live on a gravel road. A quarter of a mile down the road it changes to tar. If you follow it all the way, the tar road will wind around the lake and take you to the highway in about 4 minutes. Or, you can take a left turn where the gravel and tar meet and follow another gravel road. That gravel road will take you to the same highway in about 1 minute.

Maybe you have never lived on a gravel road.  If you haven’t, you are lucky.  Gravel is really no fun.  Believe me.  I lived off of a gravel road 30 out of my 35 years on this earth. 

To make matters worse, I have a white vehicle. 

Needless to say, this white vehicle doesn’t get washed much.  It just doesn’t pay. 

See with three kiddos, I don’t enjoy taking the long way around to get to the highway.  Most of the time we are running a little behind, so an extra...

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I’m in the river right now. 

I am swimming hard to get to the other side, but honestly, I feel like I’m getting nowhere.

What river you ask?

Well, the river of misery.

“You aren’t supposed to be miserable!  You just started this coaching thing full time.  Most of your time is spent at home and with your kids.  What do you have to be miserable about?”

Yes, I have many blessings.  That is for sure.  But it doesn’t mean I am not miserable sometimes.

Guess what? I actually embrace my misery. 

If any of you live in a northern region, you know what I am talking about when I say the “river of misery”.  See, here in Minnesota we have COLD and snowy winters.  They are MISERABLE.  You will find a few people that may actually enjoy wintertime, but for the majority, we dread it. 

Why do...

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The day after Mother’s Day, I get to wrap up this beautiful series I have been writing about for the last six weeks.  I wanted to use this blog post today to review, but also to give a few final thoughts that I pray will help you on this crazy, beautiful journey of motherhood.

 Let's dive in...

The first essential I discussed is by far the most important in my book.

Love yourself. 

You can’t truly love others unconditionally, if you don’t love who God made you first.

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37

My best...

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One of my favorite things to do is hike.  The best hikes, in my book, are the ones in which you get a view at the end. 

The last hike I did was in a little town in Minnesota called Red Wing.  It was a short, straight up the hill climb to the top of a bluff. The top was beautiful.  The view was expansive and invigorating.

The hike itself was nothing special though.  A whole bunch of trees with the occasional view of the busy highway. I’m glad it was short because the actual hike was pretty boring. Once I was at the top, I realized I had to make the tedious trip back down. I told myself that at least down is easier and I already know the way.

I think about this when I talk about perspective with my clients.  When we start coaching I have them come up with goals.   Not because I need my clients to hit them, but...