Mick’s Sum up with Toxins

Blah!  Blah!  Blah! 

Is that how you wish you could respond, when you hear people start talking about toxins? 

Me, too!

The problem is, I've learned too much in the last 1 ½ years to allow myself to ignore it.  It's a slow, agonizing death, to plead ignorance. 

Do I want my kidderz to end up like typical Americans:  sluggish and unmotivated, at best; fighting chronic disease, most likely; or worst-case, suffering and dying from cancer?  No way! 

I've found I can do something to try to help them avoid living like that, and so I'm on a mission to do so.

Recently, I overheard someone say, when approached by an Isagenix distributor talking about toxins, that they believe if we eat right, we can avoid toxicity, and so a detox is not a necessity.  Oh, dear!  If they only knew. 

That is what triggered me to write this post.  I want to offer some information, and put some resources in front of you, so you can make an educated decision for yourself.

Yes, eating right is one great way to keep the level of toxicity lower in the body.  However, most of us have already put toxins in our body since a young age, and we're still being bombarded every day with more!  Because of that, our bodies get overwhelmed with toxins, and they do their best, but still end up with challenges.

"With the increase of toxins within the environment and foods we eat, it is not surprising that the majority of people are at a level of toxicity that is past the point that the body's own natural detoxification system can cope with." - ecomall

As I listed out in Mick's up on Toxicity, there is a multitude of challenges you could be facing, due to toxicity.  Inflammation plays a big part.  Plus, our bodies are meant to be in a neutral state, but we tend toward acidic.  Toxins, food choices, etc., increase the acidity, and so nutrition can help with swinging the pendulum more toward alkaline.  However, that is not the topic I'm focusing on at this point.

Not only is it the obvious stuff that causes toxicity in our bodies, but it's the sneaky stuff, too:  candy and sugar, artificial sweeteners, fillings, chemicals, vaccinations, antibiotics and other medicines, grains, processed foods, deoderants, soaps and detergents, cosmetics.  The list goes on and on, but don't get overwhelmed.  Just start somewhere!

Do you want to go days, weeks, months without a headache?  Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?  Do swollen, achy joints drag you down?  Are you living in a fog?  Does the thought of living with Alzheimer's scare you?  Are you wondering if... when... you will hear the doctor say the word, "cancer!?"

You don't have to sit around and let these things happen to you.  You are not a victim, or at least you don't have to live like one.  Take some precautions, and make some first steps to changing your lifestyle for the better.  I won't lie.  It's not easy... but it can be simple.

Why do I believe you can't just rely on eating the right foods to keep you from being toxic?  "Your fat cells can accumulate numerous types of toxins." - Tom Venuto

"Body fat functions as a storage mechanism not only for things you need -- such as essential vitamins -- but also things you can do without: environmental toxins, for example. A significant loss of body fat sometimes evacuates some of these stored toxins into the blood or tissues. While it's not possible to avoid environmental pollutants, the benefits of body fat loss far outweigh the potential risk of releasing toxins from the fat cells." - Emma Roberts (Livestrong)

"The highly intelligent immune system will not allow the removal of excess fat and water if the level of toxins that is stored in the fat and water may put your life in jeopardy by their release into the bloodstream." - Healing Naturally by Bee

What this is telling us is that the toxins are stored in our body, unless we do something to get rid of them.

So, what is a person to do?  One thing, the person I mentioned above was correct in saying, to watch your food intake, BUT I must also add... detox your body.  Because I know I'm surrounded by toxins, and because I know I splurge now and then (eating sugary foods), I prefer to detox on a daily basis.  I mention some resources in in Mick's Sum-up for the Week.  (Hint: The picture in today's post has something to do with an ingredient used in most detox protocol.)

I encourage you to look into it.  My hope is that you're not still thinking, "Blah!  Blah!  Blah!"

On a side note, but not at all less important, I must go on to say...

Even though we work hard to live healthy lives, we do eventually die.  (It's worth doing our best to live at our best, so we can pass on the message of the Gospel and build up the kingdom of God.)  So, we must put effort into planning for our eternity, too.  We might suffer here on earth, but we don't have to suffer for eternity.  Make the right choices now.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In his great mercy he has given us new birth

into a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 

who through faith are shielded by God’s power

until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In all this you greatly rejoice,

though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith

—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—

may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

Though you have not seen him, you love him;

and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him

and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 

for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.



1 Peter 1:3-9

~

Mick’s up with a Golf Ball and an Ice Pack

Do you know what I fear most?  I fear readers will view my blog as written by an arrogant person with a know-it-all attitude, avoid it, and thus hinder any possibility of total wellness for themselves and those around them.

Why would I want to take time away from family, work, and other life responsibilities to write about something unimportant or make believe?

Just like the header on this blog says, “... it's just THAT important to get this information out to YOU!”

Looking back on various phases in my life, I remember receiving health advice, which I shrugged off, just like a lot of people still do these days.  Don't let your loved ones make the same mistake!

Now, I’m paying for it, and THAT is why I am so adamant about getting the word out on wellness.  I want to save my readers from suffering similar or worse challenges my husband and I have dealt with.

For me, it's nothing compared to what so many people out there are going through, but it doesn't mean I don't want to save others from even my small ailments.  I’m now living with the consequences of not wearing the proper shoes for all my miles of walking and years of exercising, nor stretching consistently.  Dealing with a heal spur for more than 6 months and plantar fasciitis for much, much longer… and now seeing how bunions are going to torture me as they get ever-increasingly worse as time goes on… I am in constant pain and discomfort.  Even though I’m using all the remedies I know of, minus the medications and surgery, my symptoms have not subsided.

Not only that, but I can’t count how many times my parents warned me about incorrect and heavy lifting.  Even after years of chiropractic care, I still suffer terrible pain, because of over-usage of my back while still in the uncorrected stage.  If I had listened, and if I had had proper care of my spine early enough, I might not be experiencing this seemingly downward spiral of my wellness at this age.

Do you get it yet?!  Sure, there are people out there suffering a lot worse than I am, and I do count myself as very blessed to have the health I have… but do you see?  I’m trying to save you… or if you think it’s too late for you, then save your loved ones!  I don’t want anyone else feeling doomed to waking up every morning, wondering if they can get out of bed without having to catch their breath because of the pain, after an extremely uncomfortable night’s sleep.  I don’t want anyone else thinking they’re old before their time.

I want newly-weds to enjoy their first 15 years of marriage, instead of having the tension and worry of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.  I don’t want them wasting their money on medications, nor their date nights on doctors’ visits.  They should be putting their time, energy, and resources into maintaining their first house they are so proud of, not on maintaining their sanity and self-esteem.

How many people do you know make the comment that they don’t have enough energy to keep up with the kidderz, whether they mean their children or grandchildren?  That’s not the way it has to be, just because we’re used to hearing it.  If we take care of ourselves early on, we can live a full life, and run around with the children and grandchildren… and even great-grandchildren!  I already bragged on my grandmother, who still runs around with the great-grandchildren, even sledding down snowy hills in the dead of winter.  I wish I could be like her!

Don’t be like me.

Take the advice, when you receive it.

I’m not perfect.  I’ve made lots of mistakes and have seen the other mistakes made.  Read what I have to say about it.  Learn from our mistakes. Don’t make the same mistakes.  Allow the changes to be made in your life and your family members’ lives now, so you can enjoy the benefits before it’s too late.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
   love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
   Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
   embrace her, and she will honor you.

Proverbs 4:6-8

~

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)

 

~

Mick’s up for the Weekend

Weekends are a great time to combine family time with exercise.

A walk in the park or a bike ride -- how can you combine family time with exercise this weekend? – Curves

With the holidays coming up, you might be blessed with some extra free time.  If so, why not get a boost of endorphins to improve your mood during your time off?  If your family has some time to spend with you, then why not take the advice above and combine family time with exercise.


Just like the below video advertisement says, “Maybe strong is just what you have left, when you've used up all your weak.” (saucony)  I like to think of it another way, too:  Maybe your strong (motivation to exercise) is just what you have left when you've used up all your week (and it’s the weekend… or vacation!).

I have a challenge for you.  Instead of looking at vacation as a time to crash and be lazy and do nothing, or just stay inside and catch up on things you don’t have time to do during regular work weeks, how about you plan a few minutes each day, whether it’s morning, mid-day, or evening, and move a little more and a little differently than usual.  Get some exercise.  You'll find yourself laughing with your kidderz and hubby/wife, while you're being silly with your exercises or hiking or biking o whatever activity you choose.  Remember, it only takes a few minutes!

Have a great strong… oh…. ummmm… I mean weekend!

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:11 (NIV)

~

What’s a Good Read, Mick’s?

Driving in the car and running errands this morning was refreshing, as I listened to some great stuff on the radio.  It was a wonderful way to start the week.  Getting a good mindset on a Monday morning can mean nothing but a positive outlook for the rest of the week.

Setting goals, like we did in the meeting I attended this afternoon, can get the week off to an excellent start.  What do you plan to accomplish this week?  How about this month?  Take some time now to block out segments in your calendar to adequately get you on your way to success.

I have recently set for myself a goal of reading one nonfiction book every month - preferably on management, leadership, or lecturing - especially since a business acquaintance highly suggested it.  I plan to stick to it.  Being a mom, wife, and business lady, I run into challenges with the scheduled reading time.  I know you know how it is.  You probably have more challenges than I have.  I can almost guarantee it.  However, we owe it to ourselves, and those we are taking care of, to do our best to reach these self-improvement goals.  I’m going to do it!

"Nourish the mind like you would your body. The mind cannot survive on junk food." Jim Rohn

I’m going to start making a list of books and blocks of time.  I’ve already considered Dave Ramsey’s suggested reading list, as well as other good reads I hear about and write down.

A book mentioned on the radio this morning is “Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild.” I would not normally pick a book like this myself, if I just read the cover and brief introduction, but the reviews are good.  I might have to look into it.

Later on the radio, I was reminded of another book that has been suggested to me several times:  “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Deluxe Edition.”  I guess it’ll have to get put on my list, too, especially after I enjoyed reading a similar book this summer:  “The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life beyond This World.”

You might have some other goals in mind.  Write them down.  Visualize them.  Imagine the feeling of accomplishing the goals.  Use the formula I heard about today that is from an inexpensive e-book titled, “The God Formula.” 

Whatever you do, be sure to allow time in your schedule for you!

Mmmmmm… A nice cool evening is a great time to curl up with a good book!  What do you think?

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;

meditate on it day and night,

so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

~