Maximized Living or Mick's Up Life

Let's do a throwback. 

How did Mick's Up Life begin?  It all started with Maximized Living. 

Getting the word out about the importance of families changing their lifestyles to healthy living was the main goal, the main focus.  

That was a decade ago. 

It is still that important today. 

The difference... healthy things are more accessible than they were at the start. 

I also might not be quite so adamant about people seeing things the same way as I do.  Most don't like that.  Most don't understand all the information.  Most get pushed away with aggression.  

Instead, I put the information out there, and people can come see it if they want.  If they don't, I can't force them to. 

Do I wish we all could be perfectly healthy physically and mentally, so we can all get along without emotional problems?  Yes, I do.  It's not up to me, though.  

Besides, this information is getting quite widespread these days, which is great!  Those who have not heard about healthy living sure aren't tuned in to the wellness fads and food options around them. 

My point of this writing is to bring us back to the 5 Essentials® that Max Liv is based on.  

1. Maximized Nervous System (chiropractic care)
2. Maximized Nutrition
3. Maximized Mind
4. Maximized Oxygen (exercise)
5. Minimized Toxins

To quote the Max Liv website, let me explain.

1) Optimizing nerve supply through spinal correction unlocks your body’s natural potential for your best performance and faster healing.

2) Nutrition involves choosing a healthy diet focused on whole foods that supply your body with all the nutrients it needs to keep you in peak performance on a daily basis so you can achieve better health overall to last a lifetime.

3) We believe a healthy lifestyle supports nutrients for optimal brain function, stress management, and good sleep patterns.

4) Exercise helps your body increase oxygen levels and lean muscle, helping reduce fat and improve performance while increasing your ability to fight stress, anxiety, and other illnesses. 

5) Good health and longevity depends on regaining your body’s natural balance and helping it detoxify itself. 

If you look at any wellness information, you will see at least some of these points touched on.  The thing with Max Liv is they put them all together.  The best part is that they help you and coach you along your journey.  Not all of us are blessed with a Max Liv office nearby, but we can still keep informed.  

Read up on it.  Watch videos.  Purchase what items you need to be prepared for your new start.  Get an accountability partner.

Your body is God's temple, whether or not you know it/believe it.  It's extremely important.  Take care of it.  It's the only one you'll ever have.  

Be at the top of your game.  Be your best at work and in your relationships. 

Remember, though: It took you a while to get to the state you're in, so be patient with the time it takes to get you to where you need to be. 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit,

who is in you, whom you have received from God?

You are not your own;

you were bought at a price.

Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Fun With A Mick's Up

As we begin a new year, let us be looking for the good in the bad.

Beauty among the scary

I hope you have many good memories of 2020. 

Although people will say it has been a strange year, and some may even say it’s been awful, our God is bigger than anything in 2020. 

I pray you are safe and healthy, with no worries of finances or food or shelter.

I first had the thought of writing this at the start of the pandemic lockdown.  I was enjoying the view from my home office window - the pink flowers on the tree in the Spring.

It was wonderful to watch the families enjoying the freshness of the new season, while walking and biking together down our street.  Our neighbor rode his wife's pink bike as his only mode of transportation, so he could go on a bike ride with his rambunctious little boy.  (I did notice in later weeks that they got a new bike or two.)

Real men ride their wives' pink bikes!

Before I knew it, the seasons were changing again.  We, as a family, got involved in home projects... or just spending time together in various ways.  The world had interesting things happening.  I got pulled into my work and other goings-on more than previously.  Our country was making major decisions.  Friends were needing extra prayer.  My daughter's senior year was well underway, as were her preparations for next year's move to college.

Sign of times changing

I noticed the pretty pink flowers were no longer there, and the green leaves were soon replaced with orange.  The birds were still playing among the branches, singing up a storm!  (I figured out I have become an amateur bird watcher.)

It wasn't long before we were spending more time shopping online for gifts to give out over the Christmas holiday! 

All this to say, time is going to move forward, whether or not we like our current situation, and especially even if we're not ready.  We need to remember to take time to see the beauty among the scary.  We need to keep a good attitude, looking for the good things that might be hidden under what seems to be only bad.  

One of the 5 Essentials is a healthy mindset.  

If things are going well for you, this might seem like a simple task, but it's still an important reminder. 

If you are going through really difficult times, I am so sorry!  I wish I could take them away for you.  Please share with me or someone near to you, and ask a prayer warrior to help you take these concerns to God.  Our Lord wants to spend time with you, His creation.  Do you know Him as your Father?  If so, remember you are His child.  Climb up on his lap, snuggle up in His arms, and cry your tears of sadness.  He wants to take care of you.  

If you do not know God as your Father, please consider praying to Him.  When you are ready, admit to Him that you are not perfect, and humble yourself enough to admit you have sinned.  Believe He has provided a way out of those sins and that life that is empty without Him, by offering to you His gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, and His death on the cross as punishment for your sins, and His resurrection from the grave, to give us hope for life with Him in heaven.  Then claim that gift as your own.

It seems impossible to me to have a healthy mindset without God and a relationship with Christ.  I am praying you know Him.  If you want to know more, please contact me.

Have a 2021 that outshines your 2020 in more ways than you can imagine!  

Blessings!  

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P.S.

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Today on social media were a few posts good enough to share here.  Enjoy!

"As we look back on 2020 and prepare to start a new year, we are grateful that the Lord is faithful and completely trustworthy no matter the circumstances." - @uvalleyforge 

"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. May your pages be filled with growth, love, and gratitude." - @accordochiropractic

"I still don't know what I'm wearing to the living room New Year's Eve.  I might not even go." - @CoastalVaMag

"Command those who are rich in this present world

not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,

which is so uncertain,

but to put their hope in God,

who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

1 Timothy 6:17 NIV

Mick's Up With the Numbers

Life has a very strange "normal" right now.  A lot of things have changed in the past couple of weeks.  There are good things coming out of it, though.  For instance, our daughter has lots of thyme on her hands (see image). 

Great hibernation = thyme on our hands

We've enjoyed cooking together, walks together, chilling together.  Although we are still keeping busy with full days of working from home, and our daughter is keeping productive with school work and hobbies and helping with housework, we are doing well at using face-to-face time more than we would be able to otherwise.  We are not interrupted by other responsibilities, since most things have shut down for a time. 

There are great reminders out there about personal hygiene (as if we didn't already wash our hands a ton) and distancing ourselves from others, in order to stop the spread of a virus that is constantly mutating.  My favorite reminder, especially in a time when money is tighter:  "I will not touch my face.  I will not touch my 401k.  I will not touch my face.  I will not touch my 401k."

I heard it put well recently:  The face is the door for the virus to enter your body.  So, touch your face less, and when you are tempted to touch your face, make sure your hands have been washed since the last time you touched something else.

Our chiropractor has a healthy outlook, one which we all should have:  It's not about killing the germ/virus, as much as it is about strengthening the host.  If we have this mentality, we can fear less.

Moreover, if you are a Christian, you should have no fear.  God is bigger than anything.  A church in our hometown shared a good reminder through Scripture (as all Bible preaching churches do): "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:2)

Now that I shared some funnies, reminders, and encouragement, here are some numbers.

Making the graph accurate

Don't let the hype of the media lead you.  Look into things yourself.  One social media post I saw clears up a comparison.  The media wants us to believe the spread of the virus is as bad here in the USA as it is in Italy.  However, putting the numbers in a more accurate graph, we see that population/size of the country plays a big role.  Check out this comparison.


You can be informed by visiting the CDC website yourself.  There, you will find all kinds of information, but be aware that this all started out with fewer tests being done (1000 tests) versus an increase of tests available (10,000 or so).  That alone can sway the numbers!  Also, weed through the scary stuff to find the positive things, such as the fact that the number of new cases has started decreasing per day... (meaning we hit the peak already)... and use the numbers to see for yourself that the fatality rate is .01% in the USA. Granted, some states seem worse off than others, but you can check out your state's stats on the CDC website... and, overall, we will weather this storm. 

Want more numbers?  A study shows cases involving 10,000 flu patients under medical care versus the same number under chiropractic care.  Under medical care, .095% died versus .0025% under chiropractic care.  When comparing 10,000 pneumonia cases each, .64% died under medical care versus .01% under chiropractic care.  That's a huge difference.  I would certainly rather be under chiropractic care and wellness coaching, in order to be strong, in case I end up being host to a virus.

Please be wise, be safe, be healthy, and be empowered.  Also, please pray for the families being negatively impacted by disease, whether this virus scare or any other illness.  Especially pray for those dealing with loss and hurt and heartbreak.  Call, text, email, or snail mail your family and neighbors.  Be kind, and check in on someone today.  Maybe we will develop some really cool habits from this hibernation.   

"I know that you can do all things; 
no purpose of yours can be thwarted."  

Job 42:2

Mick's Up on the Hype

Weirdness.  That is what I call all that has happened this month over germs.  I wish I could just yell out to the insanity and hype, "Stop!"  Then I'd see the craziness finally die down, and we all go back to our normal lives.  

Seriously.  Canceling the SAT, which students (including my daughter) have been preparing for, changing their schedules for, and anxiously awaiting, so they can finally get it over with?  That is just plain cruel!  I might just add, "dumb," too. 

Yes, my family came down with some sort of sickness that includes respiratory discomfort, coughing, symptoms of fever, fatigue, etc.  We are still recovering, but that's just it:  We're recovering. 

Did I have myself following a healthy lifestyle?  Yes, I did.  Unfortunately, my chiropractor is terrible at neck adjustments, which would have certainly helped my immune system (and a great neck adjustment is something I could really go for, after days of coughing and laying in terrible positions in an attempt at being comfortable).  

So, that is one strike against me. 

Another strike is that we got a sweet (literally) surprise from our parents.  I went against my better judgement, and ate some of the sugary items in the package.  That little bit led to a little more somewhere else, and even though I didn't go overboard, it was sugar being added to my body, giving fuel to the germs that were trying to attack. 

Granted, I probably would have had to mindfully fight the germs at some point, but my defenses could have been better prepared. 

Instead, I had a few days of feeling a bit on the lousy side, and a couple of sick days from work, so my cough wouldn't scare people.

Overall, though, while recovering, I've succeeded at avoiding sugar, getting rest, keeping hydrated, and eating even more fruits and veggies.  This has allowed me to keep the germs at bay, for the most part.  My symptoms were not nearly what they could have been, and my recovery time is much shorter than expected.  (Hubby, on the other hand, can't keep from putting sugary things into his body, and is having more of a struggle with recovery.)

I am truly saddened at what our country has shown itself to be, during the hype.  We look frightened, easily swayed, cowardly, and panicked.  

Hearing how our U.S. of A. is viewed by an acquaintance of ours, who is from another country, I can hesitantly say that maybe there is need for panic.  Apparently, from this different perspective, it seems there is sugar in the air.  Everywhere you turn, there is something sweet.  It is so true.  That is why I have tried to convince people for the past nearly 10 years that we need to back off from the sugar.  This obsession (and might I say, "addiction") is killing us Americans.  

What do we do to make ourselves feel better in this confusion and chaos caused by the hype?  We comfort ourselves with sugar, like doughnuts or soda or sweet coffee concoctions. 

So, how about you join me and say, "Enough is enough!"  Let's make a promise to be good to ourselves.  Let's take the best care of our bodies we know how to.  Let's be strong for those around us who are unable to be.

Oh, and I almost forgot:  Remember, God's got this!  There is no reason to panic.  Let your faith be in God, not in the media.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, 

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Why Mick's Up With Fasting?

UPDATE:  I have done more research to confirm that long-term fasting is easier on men's systems than on women's.  So, please beware, if you are a lady wishing to attempt fasting.  If your body is sensitive to drastic drops in calories, be mindful, and listen to your body.  There is a range of seriousness associated with its possible side effects, from mild alterations in monthly schedule, to severe in terms of causing premature menopause.  Again, ladies, listen to your body, be informed through research, and be kind to your body.  That is not to say that there is no good fasting.  This is just a warning of side effects.

I was reading about the advantages of fasting, and after 3 days (only water and no more than 15-20 calories per day, which means like lemons and stevia are it... no more!), there are a lot of great benefits.   

So...
Yes, I have done better, but am still not totally maximized in my living.  The family is even more on board now.  When some issues that are more than just minor ones pop up, it gets people's attention.  It's not great, but it is a good thing to get someone motivated to do better. 

I decided to try a fast... at the start of the new year... and to invite the family (mainly the hubby) to participate.  We did it!  Well, we aimed for 5 days, out of the blue, without ever doing it before and without prepping (not recommended!), and we made it through 3 days!  Wow!  Even though I expected to make it through 5 days, I am so pleased that we made it 3.  

Don't get me wrong.  There are benefits to any amount of fasting, but some major ones start kicking it at 3 days, and continue to do more and more for the body through 5 days, which is why I had that goal.  I was happy to know, though, that nothing was wasted when our attempt ended with the 3 day fast. 

Where I did the research for the fast was through Dr. Jockers' website.  I follow him on social media, and I saw some interesting things coming through in his posts. 

He was even part of a Fasting Lifestyle Summit recently.

I recommend everyone take a look at the information.  Do the research.  See if it is something that you consider beneficial to your body and your health. 

A few reasons for my desperate attempt are: 

1. I want to fit nicely in my Mother-of-the-Groom dress in May, and look a bit more healthy, fit, and even younger.
2. A major milestone is coming at the end of the summer, and being a fit and healthy 50-year-old is as big a goal for me as 40 was, when I was first introduced to this Maximized Living info.
3. Hubby has lots of issues, which are not being properly handled, and so this was a shot in the dark, wondering if something so drastic could shift his mindset.

Are you at a point of desperation?  Maybe you could try something new.

Many wishes to you for a great year and great successes! 

Now, it's time for me to prepare for my February fast!

“When you fast,

do not look somber as the hypocrites do,

for they disfigure their faces

to show others they are fasting.

Truly I tell you,

they have received their reward in full."

Matthew 6:16 (NIV)

Feeling Like Some Mick's Up

So, it's been YEARS!  Really, literally, it's been years since I wrote anything on this blog.

I gave in.

I gave in to the hum-drum and the lackadaisical nature of those around me.

We have not lived as a Maximized Living family for quite some time.  I've gained all the weight back, and even more.  I feel like a failure.  I'm not happy with myself.

I'm ashamed.

So, instead of giving in more, and giving up totally, I'm going back to the basics.

What is it Inigo Montoya says in The Princess Bride?  "Go back to the beginning!"

I need a proper mindset.  Even if the family is not on board, and wants to wallow in its own misery, I will trudge forward with what I know to be right.

I need proper chiropractic care.  We have continued with adjustments over these years, but with no Maximized Living doctor nearby, we settled for less than the best.  We thought we found someone special, but the doctor has dwindled in effectiveness and focus.  So, I will seek out someone closer to the Maximized Living intensity.

I need proper nutrition.  Yes, the sweet tooth is difficult for me to tame, and it's even more so when there is a baker in the house who uses regular sugar and flour most of the time.  It's time to take charge of my own eating habits, whether or not anyone else in the house wants to join me.

I need proper oxygen and exercise.  I have tried to keep up an exercise routine, but with different issues (or excuses), I am not as intense nor as focused as I once was.  It's time to change that and revisit what worked.

I need proper avoidance of toxins.  That is one thing that I have been really good at doing, but I'm sure there are some things that can improve, and so I must re-evaluate.

Is it time for you to "go back to the beginning," too?

Come on!  Join me!

"In the beginning..."

Genesis 1:1

Mick's up with the Positive

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive:

Debbie Downer, Negative Nellie, Gloomy Gus, or however they are affectionately known by you, they are there.  We’ve  all heard them, and we’ve all been them at one time or another.

Good news!  This is the month to set them free! 

These poor souls don’t need to be shackled by their misery any more. 

Why? 

It’s Positive Attitude Month!

Encouragement:  

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” (C. S. Lewis)

Do you wonder if you are considered successful?  Take some advice from author/poet Maya Angelou, as she reassures us, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

Are you feeling like you’re stuck or too stressed with all that you’re trying to accomplish, take some advice from Chris Brown of Stewardship.com (host of the podcast Chris Brown’s True Stewardship).  He encourages, “Getting distracted? Happening often? Go back to the mission. Go back to your goals. Go from there.” 

He also reminds us, “Joy is rooted in our hearts, not our circumstances.  So we get to choose joy, because it’s a product of who we are, not where we are.”

As we grow, we have the opportunity to gain wisdom, and then with that wisdom, improve our character.  Well-known poet, Robert Frost, puts it beautifully, when he says, “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”

Challenge:  One Day with No Complaints  

Yowzers.  Have you ever tried that?  It’s not easy.  The Stewardship Team at Stewardship.com authors the blog article by the same name as the aforementioned challenge.  They encourage us with the thought, “Control what you can, even if the only thing you manage to change is your attitude.”  Ask yourself how you really feel.  Then mean what you say.

Remember, the most difficult battle you will face today is with yourself.  So, give yourself a break.

Your attitude adjustment just might be the only thing that helps you survive in this world of stress.  When you’re surrounded by others who haven’t gotten the message yet about Positive Attitude Month, keep smiling.  ;)  We can’t make people change.  As Andrew Carnegie says, “You cannot push anyone up the ladder, unless he is willing to climb.”

Parting Thoughts:  

Most importantly, remember who you are!  Better yet, remember whose you are.  You are a child of God!

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” 

Philippians 4:8

It's a Springtime Mick's up with the Sweet Tooth

Now that the holidays and the worst of winter are over, you might be wanting to find ways to avoid sugar while still satisfying your sweet tooth.

Springtime can be a difficult season to set this goal, especially if you are looking to fill Easter baskets. 

Now's the time for your creative juices to get flowing!  Who says baskets need to be filled with candy? 

Well, OK, if you insist on those sweets, then try some alternatives.  No, I'm not saying look at "sugar-free" candies.  That label does not always mean "healthy."  Avoiding neurotoxins is just as important as avoiding sugar, for those of us who want to be at the top of our game, thinking clearly, working productively, and improving our overall quality of life. 

Have you heard of Xylitol?  There are plenty of sweets made with this sugar alternative. 

Try some healthier candy

Some places to look:

Dr. Johns Candies

Xlear Candies    

This Spring, as everything around us becomes new, enjoy exploring a fresh, new world of alternative candies and Easter time fun!

The angel said to the women,

“Do not be afraid,

for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

Matthew 28:5-6 (NIV)

Wait! What? Mick's up with a Fad?

Those who know me know that I do not like to go with the norm... not punk style... just unique.  If something is a fad, I stay far, far away.  

Recently, I was chuckling at my kidderz and their uniquenesses.  They don't purposely do things to rebel against society, or at least I don't think they do.  It's just part of them.  

What do you think of as a pasttime for a nice winter day?

For example, one unseasonably warm and gorgeous day this winter, my son said, "I'm going to go string up my hamock."  He was curious at my amusement.  What struck me so funny is that I don't know anyone else who would think, "go string up my hamock," when saying, "what a beautiful day it is."  Some may want to go lay in their hamock, but to him, the "hike" accompanied by the process of stringing up a hamock is the attraction.  

Similarly, I like the adventure of being my own person.  Tell me I'm following some trend, and I actually take it as an insult.  

That's why my heart was saddened when it finally hit me that I'm doing a typical thing for people my age... the over-forty crowd.  We've lived (and eaten) the way we want to for quite a few years (most-likely because we've gotten married and comfortable), and now we woke up to the fact that we won't live forever.

It becomes a time of looking seriously at taking care of ourselves, to improve our quality of life, to "be there" for our kidderz and grandkidderz, to ward off chronic disease and the "c" word, and to look better and feel better about ourselves.  

                      Those of you who have started this change early in life... 

                   Good on ya!  

                      It's best to start early and kick all the bad habits 

                    before they become so ingrained that you feel like 

                    you've punished yourself for the life you lived.  

                      For those of you who are closer to my age
                     (and maybe even in an older generation)... 

                  Don't think it's too late!  

                     The way we've lived in the past does not have to be who we are.  

                     (That goes for spiritual lives, as well as the physical and mental.)  

                     It doesn't have to define us.  

Oops.  A pep talk popped in.  

Now, back to the fad idea.

As you can tell from the above statement, "it finally hit me," I was not in this health kick for the trendiness.  It was to be a lifestyle change to improve my hubby's quality of life (and as a bonus, my own) and teach my kidderz the better way to live and the right choices to make.  However, the fact that some people look at it as a fad has discouraged us as a family.  We are now working our way back to what we know to be truth and health.  

Please don't let this be a passing fad for you.  Please don't just be "in a phase" at this particular point in life.  

Realize how important it really is, if you want to be the best you can be for your family, for God, for your friends, for your employer, for keeping your job, and for yourself.  

Don't worry.  We won't be part of a fad for long.  It'll blow away eventually, but we know what really works, and we'll be all the healthier and stronger for it.  We might not be "in style" any more, but we'll be wiser.  

In the words of Dave Ramsey:  

"Live like no one else,

so that later you can live like no one else!"

~

“Enter through the narrow gate. 

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, 

and many enter through it. 

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, 

and only a few find it."

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

An Honest Mick's up

I am human... Just thought I'd clear that up.

I want to be honest about being normal...  (after all, I did only learn this lifestyle stuff a few years ago)... and I want to share some things to encourage you.


There's nothing juicy here, just some simple truth about every day life.

Ready?  Here it goes.

Healthy eating takes work.

Surprised?  Probably not.

My secret?  I hate that healthy eating takes work.  I am a scheduler, but I hate meal planning.  Do you despise planning meals, too?

I really, truly wish I didn't have to pack lunches every day of the school year (but I do it to offer the healthiest options possible to my children).   I know, I know:  Someday, too soon, I'll be an empty-nester and wishing I still had kidderz at home to pack lunches for.  I'll try to remember that and not complain.

I wish I didn't have to cook breakfast and dinner every day, trying to please the family, while keeping things healthy and simple, feeling like the only thing accomplished for the day is feeding everyone.  Then comes the dreaded phrase, "We're having that, again?"  (I guess that means I need to add a bit more variety, which, again, takes work.)

I remember what it was like when we didn't know better.  True, I still had to come up with ideas of what we'd eat each day, but buying something pre-made or mostly made was a lot easier than cooking from scratch... and it is the normal thing to do.

It's not that people aren't smart or are too lazy, but some families haven't gotten all the information they need to make wiser choices.. like us in the past.  We consumed more processed foods back then.  I thought we were making healthy choices, but I didn't know then what I know now.

Sometimes I wish I still didn't know the dangers.  Sometimes I wish life was easier.

However, there ARE simple and quick recipes that ARE healthy AND tasty.  In fact, I use more spices now than I have our entire married life to this point.  There are some mighty delicious recipes that we can prepare without adding all kinds of junk... and the family approves them.

Please note:  I am not an amazing cook, by any stretch of the imagination.  There is nothing exceptional about my work in the kitchen.  Anyone can do what I do.  Follow a good recipe, and you'll surprise yourself!

I am also not a great baker (really not very good at all).  I always said I'd have to hire my brother to be my baker and gardener, because he was born with those skills and I wasn't.

I can follow a recipe, and if I find something that works for my family, it's a staple.

However, without using "normal" flour and sugar, things aren't working out so easy for me.  Sure, I share yummy recipes I come across... but I can't always get them to look and/or taste nice.

There are many wonderfully talented bakers and cooks out there, and I recommend you look up recipes and tips from them... such nutritionists as:
Elise Scwartz
Kimberly Roberto
Lin Hardick

Though I am not a nutrionist, nor officially certified in anything, I was trained in nutrition and fitness in three different (awesome) jobs, receiving job-specific certification in nutrition and fitness for one of those companies.

The reason I started this blog was to continue the coaching that I was enjoying so much at that office.  Yes, I was a nutrition coach... and to this day, if you sincerely ask me, I'll be glad to give you some pointers.

People look for someone they can use as an easy resource for these things... someone who is (or has been) where they are, understanding the challenges and frustrations.

It was mostly moms asking for help in the office, and so some of my writing (No, I am not a mommy blogger!) might tend toward moms.  However, it's not just moms that need to be informed.

It's important for everyone to stop believing the lies, and take a different angle to managing health... to be empowered!

One way our family has done this is by considering our chiropractor as our main doctor.

Our plan is to use our physician for crisis care only.  You know: if an arm is falling off, or blood is involved somehow.

Years ago, my kidderz were at the physician's office a lot, and they were prescribed medicine all the time... but... since late 2010, I have not bought any medicines for them, and that means we have not used any over-the-counter pain relievers nor cold medicines.  That's nearly THREE YEARS!  For two adults who popped ibuprofen at the slightest discomfort, that's a major deal!  3 Years!

However.... here comes another secret... more honesty...
As I explain in Our Crazy Mick's up Summer, that summer we had a few strange issues in our family, and I cracked.  I admit it!

I was desperate to get relief from my poison rash that had spread to every limb.  Realizing the aloe wasn't allowing it to dry, and without doing any research, I bought the only thing I knew (because of childhood experiences): Calamine Lotion.  Since then, I looked up information to find that our parents and grandparents certainly did OK by that.  Whew!

However, I'm not so happy with my decisions for my son's swimmer's ear.

I became a normal mom, wanting to do whatever was necessary to make my "baby" feel better.

First, I tried my best to use home remedies, like peroxide, rubbing alcohol, garlic and olive oil.

Then, worrying myself silly, I took my son to the physician.

My main concern was to be sure his ear was not being damaged.

I was relieved to find out everything was fine, besides the fact that he had inflammation and pain.

However, the doctor prescribed antibiotic/steroid drops for the ear.

I fought myself over the decision to buy or not to buy.  Much against my better judgment, I gave in to the medical model, and I paid way too much money for something that ended up just sitting unused.

OK... I confess: I did put a drop in his ear that first day or two, but after that, the medicine just sat, and my son was absolutely fine without it.

Am I proud of this decision?  No.  Am I embarrassed?  Yes.  Would I make that same decision again?  No.

Do I understand moms and their worries?  Yes.  I'll say it again:  Yes!

So, please take heart that we are all human, and we might make mistakes now and then...  but we must move on and seek wisdom and discernment in all situations to make the best decisions we can make for our families.

... Oh, and I cheat, too.  It's not much of a secret, but since I'm being honest here...
I still like my cheats: chocolate once in a while, and pizza ANY time (my downfall!).

The difference now versus before healthy living?  At least now I know with cheats come consequences, and I prepare myself for those consequences:  stuffy nose and sinus issues, headaches, stiff joints, tight muscles, grumpiness, fatigue, lower performance in exercise, slower brain function, and maybe even weakening my immune system to the point of allowing a cold to take over my body.

Because I know what'll happen, I do my best to only enjoy these cheats at times when I am not needing to be at "the top of my game..." and that is usually only once or twice per week, at the most.

Do you have some things to be honest with yourself about?  Do you have some guilt for some wrong decisions?  Stop worrying about them.  Face them.  Get back up.  Then move on.  You will learn from those mistakes, and who knows... you might just be able to help someone else because of what you went through.

"We lose our way. We get back up again.
It's never too late to get back up again.
One day you will shine again.
You may be knocked down, but not out forever."
(Toby Mac)


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"An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips."

Proverbs 24:26

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