2018… Interested or Committed?
What will you be committed to in 2018???
Healthy in 2018- Winter foods and goodness….
Healthy in 2018…..
WELL Looks like we have officially moved into WINTER….
I have a question for you. “Does the Winter Season tend to make you GAIN WEIGHT?”
Fall came and went and the Holiday Season is closing and we are all feeling alittle FULL. The holidays always bring with it the opportunity for us to INDULGE in a lot of foods that we love, but probably don’t need.
The holiday season usually means lots of calorie-laden foods, like egg nog, turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cookies, cakes, candy, drinks and chips. For many, this means weight gain. And just when you think it will slow down, Christmas is gone, leading us into New Year’s Eve with more celebration with food and drinks.
Many people also go into hibernation mode due to dropping temps and begin to eat heavier foods. They gain (more) weight. They cozy up and hunker down. I know with todays weather I have sure wanted to stay inside.
Seems we have about 6 weeks of continuous indulging and mindless eating and possible drinking.
So, how are you going to handle the arrival of winter?
Fear not. Winter is a great time to detox, leading into the lightness of spring.
Don’t forget to get your vitamin D. The days get their shortest come winter. Researchers at Aberdeen University found that obese people had 10% less vitamin D than people of average weight. The study also found that excess body fat absorbed vitamin D so the body couldn’t use it. Scientists now believe that there is a direct correlation between obesity and low levels of vitamin D. With that, get out there, even in the cold, and get your sunshine, if only for 10 minutes per day.
Move your booty and continue exercising regularly. It can be as simple as taking a walk or coming to YOGA.
Also don’t forget… even when it’s cold remember to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Enjoy winter foods. Move toward the more warming winter foods and also emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings including ginger and peppercorns.
Here is a list of the seasonal foods of winter:
Avocado, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Endive, Escarole, Fennel, Grapefruit, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kiwi, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Leeks, Lemons, Mandarin Oranges, Onions, Oranges, Parsnips, Pears, Persimmons, Potatoes, Radicchio, Rutabaga, Satsumas, Shallots, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Turnips, Winter Squash*
Enjoy them all. Try new things. Just remember, don’t let the couch lure you into curling up with the unhealthy comfort foods like creamy soups, chips and dip or mac and cheese.
Yoga starts back next week, January 8th. If you’d like to follow along with “healthy information, meal plans, weight loss information”, please go to www.kathystephens.com and subscribe. I will be bringing some tips and tricks your way for a healthier you in 2018.
When My December Changed….
WHEN my December changed.
December has always been one of my favorite times of the year. It’s my birthday month, Christ Birth, Santa comes, my house is filled with lights and sparkles, beautifully wrapped gifts appear, fabulous food shared with friends and family and when I was a little girl we would usually make our way to Kentucky for Christmas with my grandparents. TRUTH is December always brings joy to my heart. I remember the stockings that my mother would always make for us. They seemed to be a MILE long and filled from TOP to bottom with trinkets, fruit and of course money.
The first year Dennis and I moved into this “ole” house I put up 5 Christmas Trees. It was pure splendor. Truth is however it was during Christmas that I saw Dennis sorry lose his cool. One of those RARE moments. We went Christmas tree shopping in the woods.. (ALERT.. you can’t tell how big they really are in the woods) I had chosen one, it was gorgeous and about 14 feet tall. He was telling me the whole time, “its not gonna fit”. That was a fun evening. Ha
On December 2, 2014 my December changed. It changed forever. This December is no less painful in remembering the night I lost the “love of my life”. He was an amazing man. It seems crazy that he has been gone for 3 years. I’m sure my friends are probably tired of hearing about Dennis, but talking about HIM keeps him Alive. Many have ask “why do you stay in this BIG OLE house?”, well see, staying here helps me remember our time together.
I’ve had so many questions over the last three years but the one thing I’m sure about…… is that GOD has used this tragedy in my life to grow me, to mold me, to draw me closer to HIM and to restore my soul. My heart
(broken) will never be the same, but my LOVE for CHRIST will never waiver.
Things I’ve learned from that December.
• December is a time for settling in
• December is a time for reflection
• December is a time for rest and healing.
• December is a time for renewal and restoration.
• December is a time to STOP, pause and prepare your heart for new things. You know it won’t be long before spring comes.
* Cherish the LITTLE THINGs, they are what matter.
• December is a time to celebrate LIFE and to get STILL before the Lord.
As I ponder over December, it includes all the GOOD times we had through the years YET, the heartache of grief. Grief is a monster and a teacher all at the same time. It can kill you or it can grow you. It can mold you in ways you never knew existed inside of you.
This December I am so thankful for CHRIST first and foremost. For HIS love and unwavering comfort. I am thankful for family and friends that always seem to have my back. AND last but not least, I am thankful that Dennis gave me all he had…. Not just in life… but continues to in spirit. One of these pictures that i’m posting is one of my favorites cause it is actually made in front of one of our Christmas Trees. It’s a sweet reminder that DECEMBER is a great time.
“Hope is somewhere between take off and landing…”
“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing with hope.”
-Romans 15:13