One of my passions

I discovered my new passion the other day while surfing on facebook.  I found a page that is called "Hypothyroid Mom" - this page is great.  It is a mom that is wanting to help reach any and all people with thyroid issues.  I have read so many of the posts on there and my heart just goes out to each of them.  I want to help ALL of them. 

I suffered for so many years with no energy.  I truly know how they feel.  People that don't have thyroid issues just don't understand.  I know they try to but how can they really get it?  People think we are lazy because it is hard to get up off the sofa or out of bed.  We find it extremely hard to exercise, we want to, but we just don't seem to have the energy to get up and get moving.  People say, "If you would exercise you would have more energy."  Well, not necessarily the case ....

Then there is the issue with losing weight.  We can eat the right things but for some reason the weight just don't want to come off.  I have found for me the best lifestyle is the lower carbs.  I found for me this is best and has helped me lose weight.

The spark is the number one product for me.  It has 21 vitamins and minerals in it - including B12 & B6.  I use to get B12 shots and they never worked for me, but the spark drink does work.  I can NOT make it through my day without my spark, in fact, I have one in the morning and then another mixed with Rehydrate in the afternoon.  I believe in this product so much.

I do use other Advocare products and here is my list:  Spark drink, Bio-charge, MNS 3, Joint Promotion, Formula W, OmegaPlex, Rehydrate, and Slims.  
You can visit my Advocare site to find out more information about the wonderful products - www.advocare.com/120323051 or contact me for more information.  I would love to share what Advocare has done for me and my family. 

I loved my devotion for today.  It really hits me because of so much stuff that I have been going through over the past couple of weeks and even month.  It was fitting and so hit the spot.

I have had to make decisions that were not easy ones to make.  In doing so I have come under personal attack.  I have been offended and hurt by people. We have to take a stand when things aren't right, even if it means we are blamed for other people's down fall. 

 Here is my devotion today ... Joyce Meyer

Go to God First

One time a member of my extended family did something that really hurt me, and I felt rejected as a result.  After it happened, I was sitting in the car in a lot of emotional pain and I said, "God I need you to comfort me.  I don't want to feel like this.  I don't want to get bitter or develop resentment.  I've experienced this same kind of pain from this person before and I don't want my day to be ruined by it.  But I'm having trouble handling it and I have to have your help."

Do you know what happened?  God took the pain and all my bad feelings went away!  But how many times, instead of running to Him in prayer, do we turn to other people, mistakenly thinking that telling them all about what happened will comfort us, but it doesn't.  The truth is that talking about something that hurt us only stirs up the pain in our emotions more and makes it more difficult to overcome.  We tend to do everything we can think of before turning to God, and nothing ever changes the situation.  We would be so much better off if our first response to every emergency and every kind of emotional pain were to pray.  If we will depend totally on God, letting Him know that we need Him more than anyone or anything, we will experience major breakthroughs in our lives.

I so believe this.  This is something that God is showing me, right this minute.  These words just jump right out me.  Especially where it says that it makes it more difficult to overcome - that those words have meaning to me and are shouting at me. 

So, this morning I have been praying for the people who have offended me and/or hurt me in any way.  I pray that God will give me comfort and allow me to forgive them.  I am letting God take this pain and give me peace. 

 

Making Changes ....

I have been thinking for the past couple of days the word "Change" and what does it really mean.  I also asked myself what changes in my life do I want to make. 

In order to make a change you have to find an area in your life that you want to change.  For me, there are many areas that I would like to make changes.  Some smaller than other but none the less - changes. 

Of course, the first one being losing weight.  I have been on this journey for a couple of years.  Yes, I have lost weight but there is still more to go.  So there in lies one of my questions to myself - "What changes can I make to lose more weight?"  "Am I eating the best and healthiest that I can eat?"  "Am I taking my Advocare products like I should, every single day?"  My answers are yes and no.  These are areas that I do need to make changes in ...

Another area is my finances.  Yes, we are getting out of debt - and that I am so thankful for the bills we have paid off.  I am also so thankful for the jobs that we both have - and for my Advocare business to be able to pay extra on our debt.  However,  there are some spending changes that I am sure that me and my family can do. 

I am sure some other changes that I could make ... my house cleaning duties, trying to keep a balance in my jobs and making more time for quiet time with God. 

In taking a look at things that you need to change - don't be too hard on yourself.  Be thankful for the changes that you have made over time. 

One small change at a time ... One small step at a time!!

Super Bowl

I am a huge football fan.   I do like college football more than pros, but I love to watch the Super Bowl.  This year is no exception. 

I am a big Peyton Manning fan.  I have been one since he was quarterback for TN Vols. 

 

So I guess you know who I am rooting for during this Super Bowl - Broncos vs. Seahawks?  Your right - Broncos. 

 

 

Who are you cheering for -  Broncos or Seahawks?

 

 









On my facebook page, www.facebook.com/sparked4life.   I will be doing some giveaways during the Super Bowl game on Sunday Feb. 2nd.  So, go to my page - vote for your team and share to be entered to win.  

If you haven't liked my page - please show me some love and hit like!!  You will have more changes to win the giveaways!! 

I can't wait to see who wins the Super Bowl and who all wins some giveaways!!! 

changes

On a journey, especially one losing weight, it is hard to not get bogged down with how much we still need to lose or the changes that we still need to make, but we have to look at things differently. 

We need to see the changes that we have already made, whether big or small.   I have a hard time with this one because I get so mad at myself for not making the best or right choice for a meal.  Just like the other night, I ate a very small piece of pizza.  Now for some of you that isn't that big of deal, but for me it is a big deal.  I knew that the pizza, no matter the size, would give me a headache from the carbs, but I choose to eat it anyway.  And yes, I ended up with a big headache. 

Instead of looking at that moment of failure, I have to learn to see it differently.  At one time in my life I would have eaten more than that very small piece and not thought twice about it.  I would have eaten 3 or 4 pieces and paid the price later.

Or my addition to Dr. Peppers that I had at one time.  I was drinking 6 to 8 per day, and some days it was more.  However, 4 years ago, I walked away from them - cold turkey.  (not sure that was the best choice, but I did it and made it though the withdrawals) I haven't had one since that day. 

Other milestones, I have cut my carb intake way down, even though I still have my  moments I do really good with keeping my carbs down.  I don't think this is for everyone but I have found this is for me.  My body just can't handle all the carbs.  Find what works best of you and your body.  And as always, please consult your doctor before starting a diet plan. 

It is all about the small changes that we make ..... one step forward ....

Small Goals

As I was reading my daily devotion today out of "Made to Crave, Devotions", it was talking about setting smaller goals.  I got to thinking about this point of view and it does seem to make since and makes you feel better. 

I can't control my circumstances, but I can control my choices.  Setting mini goals - physically and spiritually - positions me for victory.  Set mini-goals.  Faraway goals are hard to hang onto when life drains us. 

So I set out today to see just how many mini-goals I could set for myself and how many I could accomplish.  I am quiet pleased with myself.  With each small goal that I did I count that as a victory, before you know it you have a whole day of victories.  That is an awesome feeling!!  Too, it doesn't seem so bad when I don't meet one of the goals or I forget it - it isn't as big - so you don't feel like such a failure. 

One of my big accomplishments today was - not eating anything from the vending machine at the middle school.  Not that I eat from it everyday but today was big for me.  Two other driver's bought and ate the cupcakes from the machine.  They looked so yummy while they were eating them until I read the package - for both 400 calories & 70 gr of carbohydrates.  That is not good at all!!!  It really didn't look as good to me after that.  Victory for me!!! 

So, with making mini goals each day or each week we can be victorious even when the distance between your present reality and your desired goal seems so far apart. 

Setting Goals

I am working on setting my goals for 2014.  Let me be honest, I have not been good at setting goals.  I just have never really done them before.  I say them in my head but writing them down has never happened. 

So I ask myself, "Why?"  Why have I never been more serious about writing them down.  I guess that way if they don't happen then no one will really know or I can change it from my original goal. 

Not only would I not write them down ... I would never ever tell anyone about my goals.  Oh my gosh ... NO!!  Now, that would have been horrible if someone had heard me say my goals, but if they had seen them wrote down .. the world might have stopped. 

So I guess one of my top goals for this new year, 2014, should be to actually write down my goals.  Baby steps .... one step at a time.  I will work on writing them down this week.  I might even bring myself to posting them .... ok .. one step at a time.