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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Mick’s up with Emotional Toxins

We have learned that stress can come from all different areas, and it can affect our health.

We kind of touched on this with Mick’s up with Accountability, but let’s take a look at how the people we hang out with can be toxic.  Not only can they influence us in our eating patterns and our fitness, but they can also influence our attitude.

I’m sure you’ve heard about it.  A very popular topic that has been around is Toxic Friendships.

Like I’ve said before, I do believe that God wants us to be a blessing to everyone we encounter.  So, I’m not saying you should be selfish and think only of yourself and your own well-being.  However, it is important for you to stay as healthy as you can, so you can keep on efficiently doing work for God as long as possible.  You do not want to have to take time away from what God wants you to do, all because you didn’t take care of yourself to begin with, and then you have to concentrate on yourself more, so you can heal from being sick.

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“Those who fail to take the time to be healthy

will ultimately have to take the time to be sick.”

(Dr. James Chappell)

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You know all the warnings we give our kidderz about being careful in choosing the types of people they hang around.  Why should it be different for us?  We can be bombarded by emotional toxins (negativity, discouragement, pessimism, worry, fear, put-downs and verbal abuse, etc.), just as easily as chemical toxins. 


At the same time, true friendship can be a great antidote to what ails us.  What a blessing!

Be a friend to those who need a friend, but make sure your relationships remain healthy, so that you can remain healthy.

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

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Mick’s up on Stress

“Chiropractic is Proactive.“

(Dr. Patrick Gentempo)

We all deal with stress of some kind in our lives.  We are faced with any one or a combination of the three stresses, which are physical, emotional, and chemical.
 
Physical stress can be a variety of things, from sleeping in a weird position to being in a car accident.

Emotional stress is obvious.  We worry.  Our feelings get hurt.  Tragedies happen.
 
Chemical stress is anything from seemingly harmless caffeine, to pollution, to drugs.
 
The Central Nervous System, which consists of your brain and spinal cord, lies between stress and illness.
 
“Stress is managed and processed through the Central Nervous System.  That means how you handle stress is dependent on the condition of your nervous system and how well it can manage the stress you are under.  If there is interference, its ability to handle stress will be hindered, and you may find yourself in ill health.  Chiropractic offers lifestyle support to help better address whatever your challenges might be.  If you want a healthy lifestyle, chiropractic is a critical component.” (Dr. Patrick Gentempo)
 

 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

 

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A Mick’s up of Mountains

Do you ever hear a song that takes you back to another time and place?  I have a song like that.  Toby Mac’s "Burn for You" helped me hike a mountain, and I remember that experience every time I hear the song.

It was a climb that took me 2000 feet higher than the starting level of 6530 feet of elevation I was already not used to.  The place was Colorado Springs, and the mountain was the  Manitou Springs Incline.  Amazing!  It was quite a workout, going that high in the span of 3/4 of a mile, in less than an hour, and in air thinner than my lungs are used to.  We hiked the Standard Loop, jogging back down the mountain in rocky terrain.  What a rush!

That kind of sounds like life, doesn’t it?  We might find ourselves in unfamiliar circumstances, climbing and working hard to reach the summit, but it seems like forever while it’s happening.  We don’t know what to expect when we get there.  What does God have in store for us?  Why are we going through this trial?  We are huffing and puffing.  We are stopping part way up, trying to get the cramps out of our muscles, trying to keep from whining about the pain.  We might have someone there by our side, cheering us on, motivating us to keep moving, because it’s worth it when you reach the top.  They know, because they’ve been there.

Sometimes knowing someone is there along side of us helps.  We'll take all the help we can get.  We want to have secure footing on the heights, don't we?  Maybe you've heard of a book with a similar story:  Hinds Feet on High Places  Don't let things distract you.  Don't let discouragement drag you down and cause you to bail out.  Keep with it.  You'll feel great when you finish!

When you finally take those last grueling steps at the top, you turn and see a beautiful sunrise.  Think about it.  Would you have seen such a spectacular sight, if you hadn’t gone through what you just did?  You’re seeing the sunrise sooner than you would have if you stayed at the bottom of the mountain.  What a treat, and what a relief!

Now that you reached the top, don’t collapse and lay there doing nothing more.  It’s time to use that momentum to go on to the next stage of the journey.  God just might be using that experience to send you on to someone else going through something similar.  It could be that you’ll be cheering and coaching a brother or sister in their journey.

Whatever the mountain you’re climbing today, hear me and others around you saying, “Keep climbing!  It’s worth it!  You can do it!”

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.”

Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)

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The fun after the climb

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Mick's up Weather

Here is a view of the road from my parents' driveway during flooding.

Craziness.   There are wild fires in Texas and floods in the Northeast.   Who would have thought there could be such irony in the devastation across the country?

Keep your cool.   Keep your wits about you.   Don't do anything rash.   You know what?   God is still in control.

God does not make mistakes!   Isn't that an amazing and comforting thought?   He is reliable.   He is steady.   He is consistent.   He is unchanging.   He is all-powerful.

When you really realize God doesn't make mistakes, then you can begin to realize you don't need chemicals and medicines to heal you and keep you healthy.   God put an amazing healing power inside you... inside each one of us.   He didn't forget anything.   Living 5 simple essentials will aid you in following a lifestyle to take care of the temple God gave you.

Even when the weather outside or everything inside seems all mixed up, don't get washed away with worry.  Hold onto God!  Hold onto the promises in His word and the hope that we have in His Son.

My family is praying for strength for all those across the country dealing with catastrophes and clean-up!  May God work miracles throughout.