The goal is to be healthy and fit. Which is a very vague statement! Because what does it mean to be fit and healthy? What does it take? There are alot of theories out there regarding what it takes. Multiple diets and multiple fitness regimens. I have some theories of my own.

I have never had major weight issues, but I have the serious potential to have major issues! I have always been one to eat what I want as long as I did it in moderation. But as I get older, it is harder for me to stay at the weight that I feel comfortable at.

Youth is wasted on the unwise. I say this, because I really should have took better care of my body when I was younger. Been more health conscious with what I ate and my physical activity. It would have been so much easier to train my muscles for ROCK Hardness!!!

I grew up in a family that did not make that a priority. With Mom and Dad working long hours 6 days a week. Dinner was usually fast and easy. Although, my sister and I would sometimes eat dinner with my Grandma and Papa T. Let me tell you, it sure was Good Southern fare!

And  Excercise....Oh Please! So after I had my babies and not being happy with my post-baby figure, I started with inconsistent work outs. It began with the occasional work outs at 0600 Dennis Austin work outs on Lifetime. Then I proceded to walking, slimfast and Lean Cuisine meals. Now, I have ran several 5k's, 1/2 and full marathons. Plus done the P90X exercises ~ I, however, am not as chiseled as I want to be.

Back to the Question: How do you become and stay healthy and fit? It is Very Very Frustrating...............
My theories are: MODERATION!!, Try to drink LOTS of Water, lots of fruits and veggies, 1600 calorie daily, DECREASE all processed food consumption.
   MAJOR FOOD CONGLOMERATES (Con-Ag, etc..) ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS!

So on my journey I go....to learn the best of my ability how to stay healthy and fit!!

New Spring!!

Yesterday was March 20, 2012. The first day of spring, which I welcome with open arms. I am not a winter person. I love the light, the green and the colors of nature. The tulips have bloomed out, my hydrangea has new growth. I am so ready for!!

My Mom, Dad and my nieces came from NC to stay the night on the 16th. I am very glad they did.They have visited several times over the years, but have never stayed. It was very nice to just hang and relax at home visiting them. On friday night, I fixed my chili and cornbread. Saturday morning, I actually fixed breakfast.(I never fix breakfast, Jimmy always cooks my breakfast) I even made biscuits. Have not done that in over 6 yrs. 

Monday evening, I was so surprised with company. My prodigal daughter came home for a 2 hr visit. I fixed pasta for dinner before she left. Maybe, just maybe, we can bridge the grand canyon that is between us. I would really like to have peace with her. She still has some growing up to do and she will.......

I have recently read the Hunger Games. Those novels blew me away. I really can't wait for the movie. They have a great story line that resembles our current culture. Very potent!!! 

I really am so very blessed by the Lord above!!  

The Blessed Life!

 On March 4, 2012 : Our family got up early and meet up with my Best Bud and her daughter at The Lost Sea in Sweetwater, Tn.  It was a cold sunday morning, but it was warm once we got inside. The cavern stays at 58* year round. It was a very interesting tour.  The experience was a gift that we where able to share with our daughters and our friends.

Here are a few photos of the cave's inside that I took with my phone camera.   The underground lake photo's did  not turn out well. : ( !!

Check it out: www. thelostsea.com

 So I am experimenting with adding photos. The top photo is of the actual soup that my husband loves. This recipe is from the Weight Watchers Momentum cookbook. The best part of this is it is ZERO points, plus it is very versatile.







My Mother is not a cook. So I did not grow up with the benefit of learning how to plan a menu and cook accordingly. So I have a couple of goals to accomplish by the end of summer.
 1) Learn how to menu plan.
 2) Save money by menu planning.
 3) Utilize the coupon and local sales to facilitate these goals!
                                                                 4) Eat healthier and cleaner.

2012 Total New Year

So I haven't done very well with the blog thing. : ( Life gets busy and in the way. Between work, children, exercising, and wasting tons of time with facebook and my new obsession Pinterest and Polyvore!! I just haven't. Plus I wonder what it is that would be interesting to write about. I am a jack of trades while a master of none. I don't know if I have A.D.D.  or what. My focus is only getting worse as I get older.....squirrel!! So I'm gonna try again.
 So to recap 2011~ I am still working at MMC. This February makes 5 years. The girls are both in middle school. Jimmy is still at Cornerstone, though his position has changed. I have read several books this year. Boo started playing basketball. Chey is attending modeling classes.  The year has been very disorganized and disjointed- birthday cards late, decrease in church visits, sinus infections, injured hamstring, nontraditional thanksgiving dinner and Christmas. However, we did provide a very big Christmas for the girls.
 Now we are into 2012! We are wonderfully and graciously blessed. Both Jim and I have signed up for the Knoxville 1/2 marathon in April. So we are training for that, this past week however~ we haven't trained very well. Jim has injured his left shoulder/neck area. So he has been seeing a chiropractor. I do believe my sinuses will be the death of me. Makes me feel all blah. As well as the running, we have been doing the P90X again.
  Also for diet control, we have been trying to eat better utilizing Weight Watchers. One of the recipes that Jimmy loves is the vegetable soup. So I have fixed it many times for him. On valentines day, I fixed another WW recipe of  Slow Cooker Tuscan Soup. Man, did it taste good. (If I can figure out how to load pics, I will show both soups.)

The Busy Life!

'Tis the season, that life gets so busy. My resolve to blog weekly has fell by the wayside. It has been a couple of months now. In November, Cheyenne, Jessica and my Mother have birthdays. So on saturday,Nov. 13, my parents, sister and her children came to Tn. We celebrated everyone's birthday with chili and birthday cake. Immensely enjoyed each others company and went shopping. The girls grabbed up treats from Aeropostle`.
  I worked Thanksgiving day,so we enjoyed thanksgiving dinner with our close friends that following sunday. Our bounty included an assortment of vegetables, bread, desserts and a 22lb Turkey. Jimmy deboned the turkey for me, which is a lot harder than it looks on the Food Network. Everything was very tasty and the company was grand. We are all very blessed.
  Christmas day, Jimmy and I  woke up to a layer of white. We drove to North Carolina to celebrate with our family. Spent time with Mom and Dad,my three girls, Tina and her children. Doug was the only member missing. He was out on call working for the NCDOT, trying to keep the roads safe and clear.
  New Years day was celebrated at home with our little family. We watched the ball drop with Dick Clarke's special. Christmas and New Year's have came and went. And now, we are in the throes of winter.
  It snowed yesterday, so school was canceled again, much to Minnie's dismay.  Time will only tell what else the New Year of 2011 will bring.  I pray, Many Blessings for all my Family and Friends!!

Happiness, part II

Ironically, the pastor at church touched on this subject as well on 9/4.  Anyway, back to my thought process of the book's contents. The happiest people are those that have put themselves out there win or lose, they have the fewest regrets. They tend to be Positive-thinkers, shifting away from negative thoughts. Unfortunately, inaction paralyzes great dreams and desires. This thought is a bases in insecurity. Sometimes one has to fake it until you make it, acting and thinking happy.