Goal-Setting; Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
Health Tip:
Many people make New Year’s Resolutions at this time. To help prevent early discouragement, make one small change. Once that has become a good habit, add another change. Small steps add up. No one said you have to make all those changes in one month! Make 2025 your YEAR for change!
Monthly Article:
Where is Your Focus?
My experience in the gym has actually been very similar to my journey to be a mother. I joined the gym 2 years ago. I wanted to increase my fitness and lose weight but I told myself the main goal was actually to get stronger and not hurt myself in the process. That goal has made all the difference with me continuing to exercise on a regular basis.
If I had made my reason for working out only about how I looked physically, I would have gotten disappointed very quickly and even stopped going all together. I have not actually lost any weight or gotten smaller from working out at the gym. But I AM stronger! I have been able to increase my strength AND not injury myself in the process. I continually increase the challenges in the gym and even outside the gym to meet new goals which still come under the main goal of increasing my fitness and not hurting me in the process. The goals I have now would not have been possible without the foundation of those 2 years already under my belt.
Not only am I now stronger, I have increasing confidence in my body and what I can actually accomplish. Along the way, I’ve been able to motivate friends and help them to show up regularly and help them boost their journey in health. I get to help them learn how to push themselves to get stronger and also not hurt themselves in the process. I get to be a cheerleader for them and it is such a joy.
In my journey to be a mother my goal started out a little different than the gym. Obviously, the goal is to get pregnant and to have a baby. But I also added the last part of my goal for the gym: I didn’t want to hurt myself in the process. At least I had the second part. The first part of concentrating on just getting pregnant set me up for massive disappointment because of my focus. When the mark of success is only on 2 little lines, the longer that takes to happen the more we see it as failure. After 10 years of waiting, I have had to change my focus.
What I’ve learned to do from my gym experience for my fertility journey is that though I have been striving for the end goal of a baby, I have seen many other improvements. In choosing not to “hurt myself in the process” I have focused on improving my overall health so that my body is more likely to conceive. I’ve focused on getting stronger, helping my body heal. This helped me not gain weight and have more muscle. My hormones are more balanced than 10 years ago and I go into perimenopause more protected against those horrible symptoms that I want no part in. Digestive things have gotten better, skin has improved, and fatigue is greatly improved. Is everything perfect? No. But, I truly am in a better place than when I started. I have learned so much about my body and how I can help heal as I continue on in this life. I have also had the honor of helping other families grow. I get to be a cheerleader for them and it is such a joy!
So, what can you take from my experience?
First, set a goal that you actually can control. Weight loss and pregnancy is not always something we can control. But, we can set ourselves up to make this more likely.
As we get the basics down, then we can make other goals to be built on that foundation.
You can also set those BIG goals….just don’t hang your hat on them as if your life depends on them…. Those BIG goals will get you to think a bit different and stretch you in ways that the initial goal cannot. Being leaner is always in the background of my fitness journey and it keeps me moving in the right direction….I just don’t have it as my main focus.
Don’t forget, I am here to help you with your goals! Nutrition testing and chiropractic are wonderful ways to help support your body healing. If it has been awhile, what are you waiting for? What can I help you with? I love being a cheerleader for you!
If you know of a family that is wanting to grow, please pass this on to them as encouragement.
Recipe of the Month:
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
A cooler weather crop, now is a great time to buy Brussels sprouts fresh. The sprouts have gotten a bad reputation but it is more than likely the way in which they were cooked that is responsible for this. I personally don’t like boiled Brussels sprouts but just love them sautéed. Try this method of cooking them and see what you think. Brussels sprouts are great veggies for your liver and the rest of your body. They help detoxify and are great anti-cancer veggies.
Clean sprouts and trim bottom of sprouts. Remove the outer leaves (they should fall away after trimming).
Cut the sprouts in half and place them, cut side down, in a preheated pan that has a thin layer of butter, bacon grease, or avocado oil on the bottom. Sprinkle sea salt over the top and cover.
Cook over medium to low heat for about 7 minutes, just until the bottoms are lightly browned and the sprouts are bright green. (Watch them to avoid burning and over-cooking. Dark green sprouts are over-cooked and, in my opinion, don’t taste as good.)
Upcoming Activities and Announcements:
Roots to Health talk: Please sign up at the front desk. Bring a friend and write a question! This is a casual time to learn about the real Roots to Health!
Saturday January 18 at 10 am
Tuesday February 4 at 6:15
Saturday February 22 at 10 am
We are saying “farewell” to Angie at the front desk. She is going on a mission trip with YWAM. Please pray that her Visa is approved on time and for financial provision while she is gone. Pray for safety and that she would hear from God clearly what He has for her to do next. (Taylor said she is being deported… lol)
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