I'm here to admit that I'm not a runner!  Not at all...actually.  But, I run.  Stick with me, and I will get to my point.  You see, running just isn't that interesting to me.  I have a personality that is shaped somewhat slightly ADD...where it is hard for me to sit and do THE SAME THING for long periods of time.  The same is true for running.  It has always been boring for me.  BUT...my body loves it!  It feels refreshed, recharged, healthy, etc.  And, quite frankly because I get amazing results when I do run, it makes me want to run more.

Over the past several years I have challenged myself in the area of running.  Not because I like running...but because it stretches me, it pulls out different potentials inside of the depths of my spirit, and it helps me pray, think, and achieve goals that I might never achieve.

One of my goals for 2014 is to run a half marathon.  Remember...I'm not a runner!  So, this is a lofty goal, and one that I will take my time on.  I am going to follow a 9-10mo. plan to train for this half marathon, and I cannot wait to post on here about my journey with this training.  I realize that the first step to this goal, is dedication, over coming obstacles like the thoughts that run through my head "maybe tomorrow", "I'm just not feeling good today" or a good one for me is "I need to be with the kids"...the list could go on.  All the excuses in the world are going to need to be put to the side as I travel on this path.  I must come out on top and not let anything get in my way!

I am going to be using a running app on my phone called runkeeper!  If you would like to follow my daily routine I will be posting my schedule soon!  Start with me!  You don't have to make your goal a 1/2 marathon, what about a 5k?  or a 10k?  Its up to you...but I would love the company!  And...I would love to hear your progress as well.  Your health matters!  Maybe we could encourage each other in our goals!  I hear that is the best remedy for those bad thoughts that discourage us!  Let's do it!

Cheers to an Amazing Start!

Jamie

For those of you keeping up with our house improvements thanks for checking in!  I'm getting excited and a bit nervous as everything I picked out is beginning to come to fruition which can often lead to questioning decisions made roughly 7mos. ago!

Anyway, here are some pictures to keep everyone up to speed.  Cabinets and trim is up - but I will have to save more detailed pictures for another day.  Soon, I will take you on a virtual tour!

We continue to praise God for this awesome place we are about to call home!  My daughter starts school in just a few weeks and I can't wait for that too!

The tomatoes are out and you are probably wondering what to do with them.  It is from a previous blog post here in 2011. I also updated it to fit our new recipe cards!  Enjoy!

 You can view the original post here with the recipe information.  OR click on the recipe card for a FREE print!

The past several weeks were pretty boring as they put in plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas, cable, etc.  But, things just got exciting again!  We are thrilled!  And, continue to be more and more excited!

So far we are on target to be moved in pretty soon after my daughter starts her first year of kindergarten!

Its the 4th of July!!  And...what better way to celebrate than a sale that benefits your health and wellness!




A Simple Bite's Vitamin Shop is having a sale!  Our largest sale ever!!

OPC-3 Our extremely effective antioxident is 40% off for a 90 day supply!!

Multivitamin - With all active ingredients is 40% off for a 90 day supply!!

All other supplements are 14% off!!

HEAD ON OVER TO OUR SHOP

JULY 4th weekend ONLY!!  Using coupon code JULY4

I wanted to post something {simple}, but delicious!  Snap peas are in season, and look amazing and make the perfect ingredient for summer stirfry! After making, sprinkle some sesame seeds on there and voila!!  YUM!  If you love the recipe as much as I do, don't forget to pin it!

Many of you have been following our story on Facebook or Instagram or here on this post or this  post.  For those of you just following along our now 3 1/2 year journey to sell and buy a house has been quite the journey.  One that has been trying not just for me personally but for my family.

I have appreciated so much the support, prayers, and encouraging words along the way!  It has been amazing.  But, I wanted to post some pictures of our progress on the house we decided to build.  But, before I do, I really want to shed light on how God is just pouring out his graciousness on us as we wholeheartedly trust Him with the plans that He has for us.

Back in March we decided to purchase some property in a neighborhood that was not even on our radar.  The piece of land was unavailable at first owned by a different family until we got a phone call from our agent.  She said the couple backed out of their contract and wondered if we were interested.  It was a great piece of property located in a great neighborhood on a cul-de-sac.  After 2 other attempts to buy property (either we didn't feel peace or our offer was not accepted) we felt a crazy sense of peace about this one.   And God continues to unfold some great surprises - amazing neighbors, kids galore, community, and the list continues.  I feel so loved, so incredible blessed, and ever so grateful that our patience, perseverance, and prayers are coming to fruition.

Here's a sneak peak at what is going on at the house so far!  This will also be the NEW home of A Simple Bite Wellness Solutions!

Maybe I should re-title these posts "Summer Bucket List"!  I am having so much fun with my kids and my own summer projects.  Here is a project I have been waiting to do since I was given this chair back in 2008 when my grandfather passed away.  It was my great grandmothers' passed down to my grandmother and then to my own mother.  She used it as a vanity chair.  The yellow and green fabric was the one my mother chose for her room back in the early 70's.  Underneath you will see the original fabric which was a shade of blue, then underneath that I found the original batting.  It was made of pure cotton and very small cedar chips.  After doing some research I found out the chair's real age of over 100 years old!  After a very thorough cleaning, I knew that I wanted to restore it to its original color but change the fabric to a more modern, yet age appropriate fabric.

I did give my facebook fans their chance to vote on the fabric and the winner was the one you will see below.

I had so much fun restoring this beautiful piece to her original state.  It was actually easy, but slightly time consuming.  I am so happy how she turned out and I am now looking forward to how she will look in my new house once its built!

Do you have any items on your summer bucket list?

Found this plate as I was walking through a store searching for forks for my children.  Thought it was a GREAT idea and one that I wanted to share.

Some people think all I do is talk about health and wellness...well, sometimes I do, but part of being well is also filling your time up with things you love.  There is a lot I love about summer, the pool, spending time with the kids, family vacations...list continues.  BUT...what I really enjoy is my summer projects.  I lay out these projects each summer for a chance for me to GROW personally.  This summer I have several things on that list but one of them was making summer dresses for my daughter.

Both of my grandmother's sewed.  One sewed in a factory for a living.  And, I was SO blessed that both taught me how to sew!  I pulled out my sewing machine, dusted it off, went shopping for fabric and created a few fun dresses for my daughter to play in.

Here are some pictures.  I added adjustable straps at the top for her comfort.

I had a blast!!  And...completed a summer project!  Do you have summer projects?  If so, what are your they?

I love this quote!  Thought it was a great reminder for a Tuesday!  If you have something that you are saying "I Can't" to, write it down, and then rewrite it with "Can".

Our little life got flipped upside down about a month and a half ago.  It hasn't really been too comfortable with our house being on the market for so long.  We were the family who couldn't have too many family pictures up for fear of looking to "personal" in our home.  But, at the point you put your house on the market, it really isn't your home any more.  You have to disconnect emotionally from it.  I did that about 2 1/2 years ago so when moving time came, it was actually pretty easy to give the keys over.  The house had tons of great memories, ones that I have shared in more ways than one.

But...now we have closed on our house and are living with family and friends while we build a house!  Yes, I said build.  After tons and tons of searching, we finally landed on a property that we felt peace about.  It resides in a quaint section of Fort Mill, SC right next to the strawberry fields.  For those that know me, know I am a city girl through and through.  I would live in the high rise if we didn't have kids!  This however is a great compromise as it backs right up to the city!

This is also one of the reasons I haven't written in SO long.  Our family is in a a serious transition state.  The one where sometimes time can't seem to go fast enough so that it can be over.  However, God is really doing a good work in me during this time.  Here are some things I am learning:

1.  Pray a lot!  And...I don't mean just a lot, I mean a LOT!  For everything!
2.  Be patient!  With the people you are around, your husband, your kids.
3.  Learn to live with just the basics!  Most of our "stuff" is in storage, and guess what??  Our kids are still happy!!
4.  Spend quality time with one another.
5.  Go on vacation.
6.  Rely on your friends!!
7.  Weed out bad friends who don't understand your particular situation.
8.  LOVE on each other!
9.  Serve others!
10.  Find some time somewhere where you can have some alone time.

For me, these 10 things are getting me through this 8-9mos. moving journey!  I will do my best to do a better job at posting pictures of the progress on our house.

Our property

A Multivitamin, Activated Vitamin B Complex, Calcium, and OPC-3 which is an anti-oxident should all be a part of your daily supplement essentials!

Try it here and fill your cart with the "Daily Essentials Kit" at our new SHOP and get 20% off using Discount Code:  SPRING during the month of April!

(Multivitamin comes with or without Iron)

Want more info?  Check out this awesome video on these 4 Daily Essentials!

A Simple Bite now has a shop!  We would love it if you stopped in, browsed and tried something!  Questions??  Email us at info@asimplebite.com.  If you don't see something, just ask by emailing us...AND...make sure you enter in Discount Code SPRING to get that extra perk as our gift to you for stopping by!  Don't forget to choose your shipping options - Here's how they work:  Anything 0-$99 is $5.00 flat rate and anything $100 and over is FREE!  Or you can get it free by choosing pick-up and you can swing by the office and pick them up!  Here's to getting well! CLICK HERE to go to SHOP!

My sweet girl...my have you grown.  In just five short years you started out in my heart with this complex love I totally didn't understand (How could I?  I was a new mom), but it was a deep love that started at your birth and only grows deeper each day God gives me with you!  You, Paige are this amazing gift!  It has been the biggest joy to both me and your dad to watch your personality blossom into this wonderful little girl.

As I was rummaging through pictures, it is amazing how somethings are the same with you...you are so hilariously silly!  You absolutely love to make people laugh, smile and bring joy.  Well...you bring a sense of joy when you walk in the room.  You are so loving to people...doesn't matter who they are.  You share, you give of yourself, and you are such a servant.

I read a blog from a mom, just like myself and she made a list of things that she wants to teach her daughter.  I want to do the same for you.  So, besides presents this year...I want to give this to you as a gift.  As a promise that during the time that I have you in my life, I hope to teach you these things.  Some maybe similar to hers as I love how she put things.  And...they are in no particular order.  Happy, Happy Birthday sweet girl.  She did 100, I did 50...I'm sure I will add as the years go on.  This is a start.

1.  Beauty is a state of mind, and a state of the heart, not a state of the body.
2.  Loving your friends where they are is one of the best gifts you can give a friend.
3.  "There will always be mean girls.  But that doesn't mean we find a tower and Rapunzel ourselves away from the world."
4.  Your daddy has loved you so well.  Use that love as an example when you start to like boys!
5.  Your brother and daddy will teach you how boys should treat you.
6.  You are always welcome in my closet.
7.  The world needs your point of view.
8.  Food should be fuel for your body to do great things.
9.  Your body is capable of doing so much more than you can imagine right now.
10.  Do things because you love to do them, not because someone said you were meant to do them.
11.  Pray.  As much as you can.  Communicating with the almighty God is more powerful than you think.
12.  Dance...even at odd times...it makes all mundane tasks seem more fun.
13.  You will never be too old for me to rock, hug, or snuggle!
14.  The world needs your story!
15.  No prayer request is ever to small, to silly, or too embarrassing to share.
16.  Your family are your teammates...God has brought us together for a reason, and we stick together.
17.  Blue eyes really do melt hearts.
18.  Home is not where we live, but who we love.
19.  Your name was chosen for a reason and hold special meaning to us.
20.  Inevitably, I will disappoint you, but we will work it out together.
21.  Reading books to you, with you, or for yourself is never time wasted.
22.  The best way to never worry about people gossiping about you is to not gossip about anyone else.
23.  Saying sorry first is a sign of strength, not weakness.
24.  I'm on your side, especially when it doesn't feel like it.
25.  "Your body is not just yours.  It is a gift to your husband.  I promise, it is a gift worth unwrapping together."
26. Marriage is an act of courage, commitment, a ton of selflessness, and sacrifice.  But it is the most fun and fulfilling relationships you will ever have the pleasure to enjoy!
27. God says that He made all things good...that includes you.  You are so beautiful and precious.  No matter how you feel about your body.
28.  "I love the curves you and your brother added to my body."
29.  Please cry...sometimes its needed, and sometimes it encourages the heart and says your human.
30.  Christian women aren't immune to sin, bad habits, and cliques.  Love on regardless and forgive graciously.
31.  Pursue your goals and think big.  Even if you fail...at least you tried.  "Failure is just feedback."
32.  Be a great friend.
33.  You can't control what others think of you, so let it go and move forward.
34.  Stop for the small things in life.  Soak them up.
35.  Your dad has lots of things to teach you.
36.  Ask lots of questions.  There are so many great things to learn.
37.  Love waits.
38.  Patience is never wasted.
39.  Don't just Instagram your life, live it.
40.  Real life is always better than online.
41.  Don't be afraid of a broken heart, you will learn so much.
42.  I'm more interested in your growth than in your happiness.
43.  Challenge yourself.
44.  Jesus loves you more than anybody on this earth ever will.  Once you grasp that...love becomes eternal.
45.  Womanhood is a gift.
46.  You are never too old to play.
47.  I will never be tired of being your mother.
48.  I will always come when you call.
49.  You will always be my little girl.
50.  Writing handwritten notes means more to people than you will ever know!

Well, my family is about to embark on a new chapter in our lives, and I honestly can tell you I am at peace.  It feels really good.  Unusually good.  Lots of people have asked what we are doing next, where we are going, etc.  Honestly, I don't have much of an answer.  Our original intent was to build a house in Tega Cay...we put down some cash for a property, but after much thought and driving around, praying, we just didn't feel at peace.  Strange...as it would have been a great setup.  Great neighborhood, great amenities, great school, great everything!  But, there was some unsettling feelings that both Wayne and I were feeling separately, and when we came together during one of our Saturday night date nights  we both just said we need to pull this idea...we just weren't feeling peace.

I will admit, I was a bit frustrated by this feeling because it would have made things a little easier with school and such as registration for Kindergarten starts tomorrow for Paige, but until we have a contract on a house, we cannot register her!  We have a plan B in place, as we weren't even sure if we would sell our house in time, so we feel peace there, as it is a GREAT plan B.  But, I never knew how stressful house hunting could be too...especially when you want to make the right LONG-TERM decision for your family!

Have I ever mentioned I am slightly a "planner, ocd, perfectionist" type of person?  Yeah, well...I try and steer my urges in honorable to God directions, but my control tendencies can often get the best of me, especially when I just don't know!  I'm usually ok with things if I can see or project the future outcome.  Can I say just out loud, that God is really pushing me with this, but even still, I feel at peace!  I haven't really shared this with many people, mostly because it is between me and God, but one of my New Year's resolutions was to practice being quick to listen and slow to speak.  What I really think this has meant for me is to be prayerful in all things.  In fact, I have looked back at our last couple of years as a small family, and prayer and patience has been such a HUGE part of our lives, almost a lifeline.  So, although, slightly reluctant, I needed to release my anxiety about our next steps to Jesus.  Because I was anxious!

So as we leave Hamilton Green today, I know my first steps are to be utterly grateful to God for providing such a great place to live, a roof over our heads, a safe haven for my kids, some amazing memories, all of the guests from the seminary that have stepped through our door to stay with us, the missionaries that we were honored to host because we had the room to host them for short and long-term, the friendships, and just a starting place as Wayne and I were merely newly weds when we bought this house.  What a journey right?

Hang tight, because I KNOW God does amazing things to people that wait for his timing, as hard as it is to wait, to be patient, to NOT know anything, I know He will show up, and He will blow us/you away!

What have you had to wait for and be patient for, and then God has blown you away?  Or...maybe you are waiting too?   I would love to know!

I realize it has been 6 years since this day.  Many people have forgotten that we even had a son before our other 2 sweet children.  But, I can't forget, I still feel the hurt, the pain, the anxiety that went with our particular situation.  I still remember the doctors visit, the ultrasound when the nurse did not say anything or point the monitor in our direction.  I still remember the doctor telling us the condition that he had was one that was gradually making him die inside my belly and that he would not survive much longer.  I remember Wayne and I having to make this tough decision that I can't believe I had to make.  Crying and throwing up in the parking lot of the doctors office....and then the day came, the horrific day, and I will spare you many details, but then he arrived, dead in my arms, but so alive in spirit, I could feel it!  And...I held him, and although deeply hurting inside, I remember feeling peace too!  It was so strange.



He was our first child.  I had no idea at that point if I would be blessed with more children.  Although assured by the doctor that this was a mere fluke.  He had what was called Potter's Syndrome (I found comfort and met some great women on the link provided) which is a condition when something during the formation of the baby the kidneys never develop.  Rare condition, but yet so real to me knowing that a human can survive with only 1 kidney but not 0.  So we delivered our sweet son, and walked out with a box full of treasured material, but yet I never imagined I would leave the hospital empty handed.  I agree with a sweet friend of mine, who lost a son on the same day, said there is a numbness that God uses to protect our heart from some really deep hurt.  The numbness lasted at the funeral home, then signing the papers at the funeral home, but then the day came to pick up his remains and I remember I couldn't do it.  I couldn't see the funeral home or step inside even to pick up my own son.  My mom volunteered to do it, and I was so grateful.  I remember the day like it was yesterday when she pulled in the driveway.  Throughout this whole experience, I was never angry at God, definitely upset because I missed him, I wanted to get to know him and it was frustrating but never angry.

Fast forward six years later.  I have two beautiful children, healthy as can be.  Lively, full of spirit, and some amazing qualities that I just tear up thinking about.  I didn't know why all of that happened on February 21, 2007, but I remember trusting God with my whole heart that He would use it to do something amazing.  I remember asking specifically for it, because the hurt was so deep, that if something good didn't come of it, I would have felt it was for nothing.  The hard part is not knowing what good will come of it, and maybe never knowing.  It is this thing called having faith that there is something far greater than we could ever imagined with the story.  That was what kept me going, persevering  and continuing to believe, that there is a bigger picture, that I may not understand, but I have to trust the one true God to make use of it.  My pain from missing him is still there, but I admit time does heal the broken heart.  That experience, has made me who I am today, who I am to my children, to my husband.  I am more compassionate to loss, more loving to other mommies who lose babies, and I have a strong desire to share our story when God sees fit.

This is our daughter sitting by the stone that we got our son when someone gave us a dogwood in his memory.

I look back at how God  has used our story, and some I have no idea and will never know (its ok with me), but one of the ways is our daughter, who would not be here if our sweet son had made it.  Her life wouldn't exist.  You see, we conceived her on his original due date.  And...I know God has a purpose for her life! God has also put so many women in my life to connect with on this level, and I cherish those relationships like family.

Oh how I miss Jacob.  I miss holding him, and I miss his sweet fingers on mine.  But his little life made an impact.  And, I pray the story will continue to bring God glory!

For his birthday I decided to make a free print  in honor of his life and a friend of mine's two sons.  I don't make prints normally...so you won't see a blog full of them or an etsy shop, but please feel free to download this print as a birthday present from me!

Guest Blog Post by:  Elizabeth Haen 

2011 was a tough year for our little family, my 3 year old daughter, my husband and I.  We spent the year waiting.  Waiting for the baby we were hoping to adopt, that is, waiting for to be approved, waiting for the phone to ring with opportunity, waiting for either the phone call to scramble to the next step or the email that always started with the same d*mn sentence (So and So has chosen a family and unfortunately it wasn't yours…blah, blah, blah…it didn't really matter past the first sentence), waiting for babies you already loved and thought you would raise to be born, waiting to recover when you learn you won’t, waiting to feel like you can face people again, waiting to start the whole process over again, waiting to find out if the ending to your story was a happy one. 

Is it possible to eat dessert and not feel guilty?  Recently I was challenged by a client of mine who I had to limit sugar and sweets to her diet asked the question, "do I have to not have dessert for the rest of my life?"  Well...its  a great question, and the answer is no - so I wanted to find some tasty recipes that should appeal to most so that when you are trying to lose or maintain weight these will be an enjoyable treat!

Most of these are low GI but if you are diabetic or have medical issues pertaining to glucose sensitivity, please ask your doctor or nutritional professional.

Oven Fried Bananas!

Strawberry Clouds

Almond Stuffed Pears (YUM!)

Flourless Apple Cranberry Crumble

Low GI Carrot Cake

If you try any of these...PLEASE let me know how they come out!

I had a couple of wonderful grandmas.  One could cook pretty good southern food, the other was an amazing Polish cook who baked like a mad woman.  Both loved the kitchen and had crazy talents in that area.  I was blessed to at least be in their presence while they cooked, but even more blessed when they wrote their recipes down.  I'm sure it was difficult for them to do because they knew everything by heart!  It was awesome!  Do you have any wonderful "Grandma Recipes" to share?

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!  Of course you know they are the healthier type of southern recipes and within Glycemic Impact eating.

1.  Sausage and Peppers



2.  This is a slight variation to my Grandmothers meatballs - but it is because I like lower fat meats.  We used bison instead of the ground chunk.  Love this recipe!  So easy and everyone loves it.

I wanted to write about freedom today.  Its inauguration day of the 44th president of the United States and a day that also marks a time in history when Martin Luther King Jr., a pastor and advocate for the civil rights movement gave a very profound speech about freedom for all people.  I love the word freedom.  I take advantage of it every day.  I live in a country where I can go outside in peace, that my kids that even though exposed to the fall of the world, can still ride their bicycles without fear.

I know we are a divided nation, and right now, freedom can take on so many meanings.  Especially when we feel that some of our freedoms are being taken away.  But, as we move forward in this nation, especially as a believer in a Jesus that gives more freedom than we can ever imagine - we must believe that freedom begins with our heart.  Jesus must be the foundation of where freedom really comes from.  Otherwise we are bound up more than any government, job or other worldly restraints.  I am hopeful, that as a Christian, we can be a huge influence on this country, more than any government leader, or Hollywood star.  That we can teach freedom the way that Christ intended it from the very beginning.  That freedom would be a love language instead of a right that we have.




I am so glad that they sing this song on most days like today.  It is a beautiful hymn written by a seminary student, Samuel Francis Smith and was performed for the first time for an Independence Day celebration for children, at Park Street Church in Boston, MA.  There are 5 verses, written by the original author, I challenge you to read them all.

God is always at the center of real freedom!  We take him out, and freedom loses its power.  As we charge forward as a country, I am challenging myself, to remember that any idea, belief, or government initiative that takes God out, is not Truth, and defies the opportunity for the freedom that is so graciously offered to us.  I challenge you to do the same if you too are a believer in a great and mighty God that extends freedom to each of us, freedom that we really don't deserve but is God's love language to us all the time!

1

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From ev'ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!

2

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.

3

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet freedom's song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

4

Our fathers' God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom's holy light,

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God our King.

5

Our joyful hearts today,

Their grateful tribute pay,

Happy and free,

After our toils and fears,

After our blood and tears,

Strong with our hundred years,

O God, to Thee.

WhooHoo!  I am so excited to announce our local weightloss challenge competition.

I have numerous people asking me how do I do this, how do I sign up!  Great questions!  Now, I get to answer them.

The starting point is to email me!  We work with a proven weightloss solution that tries to regulate your bodies natural metabolism.  We do it through developing new habits, looking at your body composition (everyone is unique), behavior modification, and lots of support!

The competition is 6 weeks, in the beginning, we will measure inches, and weight.  The person who has the most dramatic weightloss will win the top prize, AND ALSO, the top 10 people will be entered FREE for the 12 week Corporate National Challenge for 50k!  So this local challenge is to help you jump start your weightloss goals.


Step 1:  Email me!  info@asimplebite.com - we will schedule a time for you to come to my office to weigh, measure and get you started!  This cash prize is for local or Charlotte area only...BUT the national competition is for anyone, that will start in March.  Must register with me by January 31!

Step 2:  There is a $20 subscription fee - which includes either a book OR 8 weeks of our online innovative system - its great because I can see what your doing, setup your menu plan, etc.

Step 3:  Find an accountability partner - someone who will do this with you!

Step 4:  Every 2 weeks, you can either schedule a weigh in and measurement session with me, or you can do this on your own.  It must be entered and logged in either the book or the online management system.

Step 5:  If you have a hard time losing - we will help you!  Don't get discouraged.  Most of weightloss is learning how your body functions.  Remember, as we age, as we have kids, etc.  our body is changing, so you may not lose the way you once did.

That's All!  Questions:  info@asimplebite.com

Start date of competition is:  Feb. 5th, game on!

Looking forward to giving that $500 away!

I wanted to talk about Leptin this week because it is a very large hormone that most of us don't realize we have.  But, with a good number trying to lose weight in January, it is a very good hormone to understand.


It has been labeled before as the obecity hormone, and it is true.  It is the hormone that the brain uses to tell your body when your hungry, how much you should eat but MORE IMPORTANTLY it is the hormone that tells you when to STOP eating!  I love how WebMD Dr. put it:  "Leptin is the way your fat cells tell your brain that your energy thermostat is set right," Lustig says."Leptin tells your brain that you have enough energy stored in your fat cells to engage in normal, relatively expensive metabolic processes," he says.


However, when people go on a diet, the amount of Leptin produced becomes less, because most people begin to eat less resulting in their fat cells losing some fat.
The simple truth is that there are certain Leptin thresholds that occur, which are different person to person.  You can only have so much and you can only have so little.  When you are over weight you typically will produce high amounts of leptin therefore resulting in what is called Leptin resistence (its when your body is so used to large amounts of Leptin that it no longer responds to it properly).  The same happens when a person starves themselves or is too thin your body simply does not respond the way it was intended to respond.

So why this information??  Its January!  Everyone is trying to spring forward on some kind of healthy resolution.  If its weightloss great, if its just to be healthy great!  I love them both - but its my job to help educate you.  There are plenty of marketing tactics out there - that's their job is to market to you, their customer or prospect.  However, as an educator and professional its my job to teach you what you need to know so you can make good decisions.

IF you have not identified yourself with what is called Leptin sensitivity - than great!  Your body is wonderful it is producing leptin as it should and things are where they should be.  However, if you feel when is available and you are nibbling all day, you crave breads, pastas, pastries, chips or other foods in these catagories.  Or, if you feel bloated or gain weight around your waste.  These are all signs, but you can easily check with your health care professional about your specific situation.

There are several supplements that can help you they help with Leptin Sensitivity, manage hunger, etc.
LeptiFit:  Contains LeptiCore 600mg, Green Tea Extract at 150mg, and L-Theanine at 150mg Servings are 30 and price is:  $56.20 (Studies have shown that you do not need this much LeptiCore to get the same results as others that have less)

Life Extension Integra-Lean Irvingia:  Silica, Integra-Lean Irvingia, Gabonensis Proprietary Extract 150mg Servings:  60 Price:  $90.30

Sensa Weightloss System:  Green TEa Leaf Extract, Garcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract, Acai Berry 4:1 Extract, Pomegranate Fruit Extract, Mangosteen Fruit Extract, Pyruvate, Inositol, Choline, Bitartrate, PABA (Para-Amino Benzoiz Acid), Uva ursi (Leaf), Citrus Bioflavonoids, Bio Perine Fruit Extract, Turmeric Root Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Polygonum cuspidatum Root Extract, Vanadyl Sulfate, CoQ10 - Servings:  Month 1 and 2 Shakers Price :  $89.99  

Nutrilite Carb Blocker:  Kidney Bean Extract 500mg, Soybean Extract 300mg, Parsley Concentrate 30mg Servings are 30 Price is:  $42.85 (The problem with this one is that it is a carb blocker, which is never recommended)

Alli:  Orlistat 60mg (Carb blocker which is never recommended)

TLS Core Fat and Carb Inhibitor:  Chromium 100mg, White Kidney Bean Extract 8:1 445mg, LeptiCore Propietary Blend 300mg, Green Select Phytosome, Green Tea Decaffeinated Extract 150mg. (This is the one I recommend to my clients with Leptin Sensitivity because it supports it, helps manage hunger, stimulates fat burning, inhibits amylase enzyme and slows the absorption of carbohydrates but does not block them and it is not meant to be long-term, it is there to stimulate a process that is just off balance until it gets balanced again.  I also love that it has Chromium in it, which an added bonus).  Servings: 60 Price: $69.95

I know this is a lot of information, but if you want more detailed information please email me at info@asimplebite.com  I would love to answer questions or point you in the right direction.

Friends...I'm choosing this topic because as I wrote last week, we lost a great friend in Amy last week to cancer.  After processing, and attending her funeral, I can't help but write about friendships.  It hit me harder than I thought.  Mostly because I miss the friendships I once had in my teenage years, and although I knew I was blessed back then with great friends, you don't realize how great they are until you don't see them as often.

Growing up in the 90's was a fun and unique period.  Let's see, grunge, alternative, computers, Pearl Jam, techno, got any more??  I had a wonderful experience (not perfect) but I grew up with a group of friends who stood by each other.  We all went to different schools, we often times didn't talk every day, but we connected on Wednesdays and Sundays at Forest Hill Church, here in Charlotte, NC.  It was awesome.  We gathered, socialized, did probably pretty stupid things sometimes.  We sang, learned about Christ, and followed our youth leaders around like we were disciples or maybe more like ducks following their Mamas.  I have so many fond memories.

But, what I want to say is there were several points that stuck with me at the funeral Wednesday.  The first is my desire to be a GREAT friend to people not just a Good friend.  One of the girls was by my friend's side the ENTIRE time she battled cancer.  She served Amy so well! Unconditionally!  The second was a trait Amy had with her friends and that was to be constant and consistent.  The final and last quality or who I want to strive to become is a person who trusts God unconditionally.  It was described at the funeral regarding Amy, that she had NO CHOICE but to trust God with her daughter and her husband.  She had to let go and just completely leave it up to God...her situation was completely out of her control, and she LIVED like she trusted God.  I must admit that I like to hold things close.  Do you?

I wanted to say to these friendships, I was so blessed to have in the 90's,  you all are the foundation of my walk with Christ.  It started with you!  Your friendships were the first that I was able to process my walk with God with.  I feel so blessed seeing a number of you at her funeral.  I often take the friendships in my life for granted.  And, many of them I pass by.  They take work, and require being selfless which can be hard.  I desire those kind of relationships, I think it is what God wants us to experience in real community.

Lord, help me be a  good friend to the friends that I have around, may I be consistent and constant, may I learn to trust You in all areas of my life by letting go to things (people), I hold close.  May You have all the glory for who You have molded me to be, but make no mistake friends, God used each one of you to help me with my journey!

Us Now.

Fresh green beans are the absolute best!  They are green, they are fresh...am I stating the obvious?  They are just delicious.  As I was sitting, snapping my green beans for the week, I thought "there are so many different ways to prepare green beans!"  I take mine, snap them, and then freeze them for later.  But, here are some ways that I use green beans when the "later" approaches.  I'm linking to some great recipes that I have tried.  I hope you enjoy them too!  If you have some ways you have used green beans, please share them with me!  I would love to try yorus too!

1.  Baked Green Beans (On bar pan, drizzle olive oil and parm cheese and sea salt).
2.  Toasted Almond Green Bean Salad!  Seriously its yummy and easy!  Low GI too...for those of you that know I am a firm believer in low GI foods.
3.  Honey Balsamic Green Beans.  A healthy and not fried recipe from Paula Dean.  But, just a slight twist on normal green beans, which I like.  Makes a great side!
4.  Crispy Sesame Green Bean Fries...you will die...they are so delicious!  I do cheat a little on the homemade bread crumbs...because less face it, there is just not enough time in the day, but she also provides a gluten free version.  But these are totally low GI as well and make a great snack for even your youngest lovely. (You'll love her blog too! )
5.  Green Bean and Artichoke Casserole - I think this makes a fantastic side dish with some chicken.  Just another unique way to prepare your green beans.

This was Amy when we were in highschool.

A friend of mine passed away this past weekend of breast cancer.  She fought the greatest battle I have ever seen when it comes to cancer.  3 years was her battle, I'm sure others have been longer.  She has a tremendous story.  One which she shared so openly on her blog Marginalia and her Caring Bridge Site.  I am still processing, and feel unqualified, small, and a bit misplaced when I write about her.  How did I know her?  Well, I was 13 and attended youth group for the first time at Forest Hill Church. My parents wanted to find a church I connected with and it was my first Sunday.  Which happened to be picture Sunday.  So I was forced into a youth group picture with a bunch of folks I didn't know. Amy happened to be in these pictures.  I remember her laugh.  It was loud.  I remember her smile because she did it all the time.  After my parents decided to attend there regularly I saw her regularly.  We did go to different schools.  But, every Sunday and Wednesday evenings we were present in the same room, singing youth group songs, laughing and learning about Jesus together.  It was great.

I thought for this first Friday of my blog I would give a small tutorial on knitting.  I LOVE to knit!  It was something my grandmother taught me, and I picked it up quickly, but also read books on how to get better at it.  In college, I would knit scarves, hats, socks, blankets, I almost joined a knitting club with some ladies in the small town where I went to school so that I could sit at their feet as they knitted far greater projects than I could dream of, but they met on a night I couldn't meet.

Before my grandmother passed away she knitted me several scarves.  I have kept them, and some of them were too small for my taste, so I passed them down to my daughter, who wears them regularly (I wish my grandmother were alive to see how much she loves them).  This week, my son (age 3) requested a scarf, and I could not find a boy colored scarf from my grandmother, so I rummaged through my craft closet and found my knitting needles and some green yarn just dying to be used!  I had not picked up my needles in almost 6 years...but it came back rather quickly and within a few hours, my son had a new scarf.  I hope he treasures it like my daughter and I both treasure the ones made for us by my grandmother.  In fact, I wish I had a picture, because at her funeral all of us grandkids wore the scarves she had made each of us individually.

So in honor of my grandmother who passed away December 17th, 2008 here is a video tutorial I found on You Tube.  My suggestion BTW for yarn is to get baby yarn to start with, it is soft, works great, easy to manage, and stretches.  I use several different size knitting needles but the ones I make scarves out of (which is a great way to start) are size 6 and can be found at Walmart.

Anyone else knit??  I would love to see or hear about your projects or any other tutorials you can share!

I am processing "rest" this week.  It is a topic that I barely understand.  I'm a wife, mom, entrepreneur, bible study leader for other moms, etc.  I have WAY too many hats to R-E-S-T!  However, God has been speaking to me about it lately.  Mostly boundaries in the area of rest.  I want so badly to do better in this area in 2013!  While on detox this week, it allows me to process other changes that need to be made.  I mean, it is a time for setting goals right?

Just a small bite:  Owning my own business, I have come to realize that it is difficult to get away.  Each time we schedule something, a client of mine "needs" me in some way shape or form - and my rest or vacation is interrupted.  It can be quite frustrating, and doesn't really allow for much rest for me or my family.  Especially, since most of the business is on my shoulders (I don't have employees).   But, I think rest goes beyond vacation doesn't it??  Why do we wait for vacations to rest?

There are two verses that come to mind when I think of rest, and I can't help but think that God has something very important to say in these verses.   "Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).  Personally, when I don't rest, I not only feel disconnected, but I feel tired, heavy with worry, anxiety circles around me, and I have a hard time focusing.  Sometimes the opposite can happen too, where I just literally feel like doing absolutely nothing!  I am completely not engaged with my family (husband, children, etc) and life just gets blah.  Not quite depression, but a great sign that I have not had rest.  Rest isn't just 8hrs. of sleep a night.  No, for me it goes far beyond that.  Rest is being able to spend time alone (I am really an introvert who loves people), spending time in God's Word, spending time doing hobbies I enjoy, and spending time with my family.  When I don't have these, I feel weary and I feel not rested.

I was reading in Hebrews, did you know the book alone has 14 words that relate back to rest??  But, one of the words was translated "restored" and I noticed the word "rest" in the word "restored"!  (Hebrews 13:9) YES!  That is how I feel when I am truly well rested!  I feel like a new person and I feel God and my family, and the women I am blessed to serve, get my best. There is a piece of the wellness puzzle that cannot be forgotten, especially for us busy ladies, it is REST...in the many areas of our life.    I want to be able to be my best and give my best so rest MUST become a priority.

What about you?  What makes you feel well rested?