Is your diet actually bad for your body? It’s possible! Diets that restrict calories, and even some fad diets, can be harmful to your health in many ways. Don’t let the appeal of quick weight loss take trick you into harming your health.
A starvation diet is where you don’t consume the required calories and nutrients your body needs on a day to day basis.The fad starvation diets that are popular now include the Master Cleanse, the Ultra Extreme Calorie Restriction Diet, and the Clear Liquid Diet. Among other health concerns, each of these diet plans can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition can cause emotional swings in the near term and liver and heart issues in the long term.
As an alternative to a starvation diet, you could try a healthier detox diet. Some of these include the Dr. Oz’s 48 Hour Cleanse, Clean Program Diet and the MediFast Diet.
But let’s be honest, diets suck. Here is a general rule of thumb to help you know if the food you have on the plate in front of you will contribute to your weight gain, or help you lose weight: The more humans have monkeyed around with your food, the worse it is for your body. By that statement I mean, is your food processed? Does it contain ingredients on the label you can’t read easily? Is the expiration date on the package past the next scheduled Olympics?
To lose weight, and keep it off, don’t overthink it. A balanced diet of fresh foods containing healthy fats, protein and carbs, mixed with a little exercise will do the trick every time.
This guest post was written by Michael Volkin, inventor of Weight Loss Stack 52, the most unique and fun way to lose weight.
I have been out of town enjoying a much needed vacation and spending time with my family. Great fun and eye opening!
Be on the lookout for posts about my trip, coming soon!
Through Faith Village, I have the opportunity to review books. I am reading right now, The Measure of Success by Carolyn McCulley and Nora Shank.
I often have had questions about feminism and Christianity.
Can you be a Godly woman and be a successful woman? The answer is yes you can.
The authors provide detailed backgrounds of their lives and what they had to go through in their personal and professional lives.
On the back of the book questions are asked.
“Can a woman be feminine, godly, and ambitious?
Should a woman work?
Is work only for women who need the income?
Is there any sanctified ground between the stay-at-home mom and the aspiring executive?”
Some of other questions that come to mind have been:
Is a woman considered less successful if she has a career; but is child free?
Can a woman still be successful and be submissive to her husband?
McCulley and Shank address some of these questions and give detailed history and examples of women lives and how they achieved success from a biblical perspective which is so refreshing to me.
One of my favorite statements in the book is that a woman’s worth is not based on what you do, our purpose is to be a light and shine that light. Value and my worth is in Christ alone and daily putting him first in my life.
So many times we get caught up in our value for having this title, making this sum of money, riding this car, having a home in this trendy area and the list goes on. It is nothing wrong with having these things; however your sense of worth is not because of attaining them.
“Jesus says the day we should live for is when we hear, Well done thy good and faithful servant.”
I found that when I read the book I had to reread chapters sometimes because I wanted to make sure I understood what point was being addressed. Be prepared to underline in your book if you get a hard copy or highlight if you have a tablet.
One example that I reread in the book that stood out to me was the Chapter 7 on Identity.
“When your work is your identity, change can shake that sense of identity.”
Identity and sense of self worth?
The best identity to have is to be a follower of Jesus Christ. I totally agree with the authors that developing and cultivating a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior gives me the ability to manage all the different roles I have from day to day.
The scripture in the book resonates this message:
First Corinthians 4:7
“For who makes you superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?”
The book makes you think about what really matters and really takes you through self-examination.
The book is planned out in three sections and flows very well.
The Story of Work
The Theology of Work
The Life Cycle of Work
I would recommend this book because if gives an overview of women and feminism from a biblical perspective and speaks to all women no matter what stage of life they are in at any given time.
People have heard it time and time again, but how many actually listen when they are told that they need to keep a closer watch on their alcohol consumption? It’s likely that many people reading this will be aware of the dangers of excessive drinking and yet it is also highly probable that they will not know exactly what constitutes ‘excessive’.
Would people, for example, be able to tell precisely how many units are in a glass of wine? Chances are that they wouldn’t if they think that they could as there are so many variants involved in such a calculation. Things such as the size of glass and the alcoholic volume of the wine must all be taken into consideration in order to accurately measure the amount of units being consumed.
Whether it is a diagram from a medical stock illustrations specialist or a photograph of the damage done to the liver, it is easy to see just how badly alcohol abuse can disrupt the performance of this vital organ. And yet so many people continue to drink excessively without even knowing that we are doing so. According to UK guidelines men should not exceed 3-4 units per day, while women should only consume a maximum of 2-3 units. This only amounts to 1.5 pints of 4% beer for men and a single pint for women per day, far less than you think.
So what can be done in order to start making a change in our drinking habits? Well, the fact that if people are reading this article, that is a great start as any knowledge that they can obtain will help to make a change in their lifestyle. However, what they can do next is far more important:
1) Calculate the intake – Finding out just how much that they are actually drinking may come as a bit of shock but that should be seen as a good thing. If it shocks, then people need to know that they need to start making a change in your drinking habits. There are numerous online alcohol calculators available that will give people their seven day intake amounts. Use this figure to find out how alcohol is affecting the body and also as a barometer for change. Once people have their current weekly figure, they will have a target to work towards lowering.
2) Monitor the intake – Now that people have their seven day intake amount, keeping track of all of the alcohol that they consume will give them an insight into whether or not they are on course to lowering consumption. It will also give them a new target to work towards breaking.
3) Lower the intake – Once people have a few weeks of statistics to work with, they can begin to consciously set themselves achievable goals if they have not already started to do so. Lower the amount of alcohol that they consume at home by switching a fridge full of beer and wine to some soft drinks instead. Make sure that they have some completely alcohol free days too, as this will give the body an opportunity to recover as it progresses to a healthier lifestyle.
Following these steps will help people become more aware of their daily, weekly and monthly alcohol consumption. If people feel as though they need further help with your drinking there are plenty of options available to you. Speak with a doctor or medical professional; they can advise and suggest how to lower the intake healthily. Stick with it and do not regret it, the time to make a change is now.
Can you stand up to what you believe in? If someone says to you God is Dead and completely nonexistent what would you say to them? Tough questions, yes.
I am excited about a new film that will be coming out March 21st in theaters called “God’s Not Dead.” Those questions above made me think about my own faith and if I were to stand up to the microphone. What would I say?
I am not perfect and I am a work in process.
In order to stand up for what I believe, I know I have to read and study God’s word. But there’s an important key I have to talk to him and develop daily my relationship with him.
Has your faith ever been tested? When you want to say something about why you believe in God and nothing came out of your mouth because you didn’t know what to say.
This movie focuses on faith being tested and why we have to stand up for what we believe in.
Take a look at the trailer here:
You will see some familiar faces in this film. Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Dean Cain (Superman) and David A. R. White (Brother White).
Also special appearances from the Newsboys, Willie and Korie Robertson.
Tell your friends and everyone you know to come out and show this film support.
This film is rated PG for brief violence and an accident scene.
Thank you for stopping by my lovely boutique blog.
Sit back, relax and enjoy.
All I hear around me is talk about the weather.
It’s snowing? It’s raining? It’s a wintry mix? Is it spring yet?
I will get to the outfit post;
but first I wanted to offer a little food for thought.
Thank you God for protecting me, leading me and guiding me. Each day I want to be better, do better. I heard a saying that many of you have heard that quitters never win and winners never quit. I don’t ever want to give up on my dreams, goals and aspirations in life. This last two weeks have been like a whirlwind; but praise God He is still on the throne. My goal is to seek Him more and more each day. I looked at this scripture from my Joyce Meyer calendar
Proverbs 18:20 A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words
he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].
So I declare that I will do my best to purpose to speak positive words from my mouth. Is it easy?
No way. Do I have what I say? Yes. Speak Life!
My outfit that I wore to work or church is so fun and carefree. It brightens the darkest of days. My boots were a recent purchase from HSN that I got at a real good deal. The Joan Boyce “Emily” Sequined Boot with Faux Fur Lining retailed for $69.90 but I bought them for a whopping price of $24.95 (with free shipping). I am not one to usually be shy when it comes to what I wear; but these boots were shining bright like I need to wear shades. Well you know me, so I wore them to church. Way cool! Not only are they an eye catcher, but the boots are also very warm and cozy. I received so many compliments on these boots that it was like they had there on fan following.
Another bonus is the shoes have a side zip and a rubber sole with great traction. This outfit was a bit of this and that, pulled together. I purchased the ribbed turtleneck from Macy’s last year. The skirt was gifted to me from Lettuce Stitch Skirts, I am linking its Facebook page because its site is not active. My Dooney and Bourke Vacheeta leather handbag has become one of my favorites. My two-year-old burgundy tights from Marshalls coordinated and finished the look. It all came together and Vinny, my sweet doggie, is my trusty photo buddy.
My necklace is from the Missouri History Museum gift shop. I liked the different textures used in the necklace. Textures of metal, crystals, crochet yarn, glass beads, pearls and a timepiece.
I wear bracelets every day, it finishes my look. I am giving another cudo to the Missouri History Museum gift shop. I bought this silver cameo bracelet about three years ago and I got such a good deal on it.
My watch is a must every day. I collect watches and this one is a ceramic Isaac Mizrahi watch. It is so versatile and has become a classic on my accessory list. The sterling silver cuff is is by Judith Ripka. The gold Jacqueline Kennedy bracelet was an wedding anniversary gift from my hubby. I love this bracelet so much that I will be doing a future post about it.
I mentioned that we should speak life. This latest video from Tobymac really speaks loud about how we should treat each other.
Ten musical acts, one pastor.
Five hours of ministry, one mission.
The Winter Jam 2014 tour stormed into the Gateway City last night and left the 18,000 concert-goers with a message of hope for the future and God’s enduring love.
Billed as one of the largest concert tours of the year, now in it’s 19th year, Winter Jam features many of today’s biggest and newest acts in the Christian music scene. I had not been to many Christian concerts. However, when our friends Eugene and Roxanne invited us, we immediately jumped at the opportunity when we saw that the performer list included Newsboys, Lecrae, Plumb and Newsong. By going to the concert, we were introduced to Derek Minor, Everfound, Love & the Outcome, Colton Dixon, Thousand Foot Krutch, and Tenth Avenue North. It was mixture of hip-hop, rap, pop, rock and heavy metal. Not your typical mixture of musical acts, but than again, this not your typical concert.
It was awesome to see, in total, ten musical acts take to the stage during the five-hour event. Each act took to the stage and performed between fifteen and thirty minutes. Keep in mind that this was much more than a concert with chart-topping singles and Grammy-winning performers. The artists and their music will pull you in. However, when the artists share with you their message about how important God is in their lives and how He has changed their life, you know that this is much more than a concert. It is an opportunity for you to see and to experience that same joy and peace of knowing God and His Son Jesus Christ. The performers offered their testimonies on what brought them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pastor Nick Hill also gave a brief lesson on The Prodigal Son, coming to Christ and ministered salvation. People stood up all over the hall, accepting Christ in their lives.
What an awesome and beautiful sight to see!
Lecrae
Another blessing, concert goers had an opportunity to learn more about Holt International, an organization that helps families adopt needy in foreign countries for over 60 years. They also provide sponsorship a child in a bridge program that prepares the child for adoption. The bridge program allows you to sponsor a child for $30 a month, which will help if the child with necessary surgeries or shots before the adoption is finalized. Holt’s motto is, “every child deserves a home”. It was special to see a local family who was brought on stage to share about how they adopted six children. Holt International had volunteers at the Winter Jam concert. If you would like be a Holt International volunteer please check out its site. To learn more about adopting a child or helping a child by sponsoring a child through the bridge program please click on HoltInternational.
Plumb takes to the stage.
Concert organizers want to make the event available to as many people as possible. So, instead of charging a high price tag, tickets were only ten dollars, payable at the door and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. VIP tickets can also be purchased prior to the show. There are two levels of VIP tickets, one for the individual rate ($50) and one for the group rate ($40). With a VIP ticket, you get a concert ticket, a T-shirt, access to the hall an hour before it is open to the genera public with first-choice of seating, and a question-and-answer session with some of the performers. A third option is available for ($30), if you do not want a T-shirt.
I would recommend that you consider the VIP (Jam Nation) ticket if you are planning to attend a future Winter Jam concert, for a couple of reasons. 1) You have your own red-carpet entrance into the hall and you can avoid standing in the general admission lines. We arrived an hour and a half before the start time and there were already at least a thousand or more people waiting. 2) You can get into the hall early and not have to wait outside, especially now if you are in a winter weather climate. 3) If you are planning to purchase a T-shirt at the show, the price already includes one for you. 4) You get early access to the merchandise tables if you would like to purchase additional T-shirts and CDs.
One insider tip if you have a VIP ticket for a future show: you will want to find out where the VIP entrance is. When we arrived at the concert and parked in the garage and walked towards the hall, lines were forming all around the building. However, we saw no signs that indicated where we needed to go. We stood in a line thinking it was for all of the VIP ticket-holders. However, as the line started to move and as we got closer towards the entrance, some people were being moved into another line and the VIP entrance came into view; and we got in with no problem. As we entered in and were checked in, security checked our bags to made sure that we did not bring any food or cameras into the building. We picked up our T-shirts and lanyards because we purchase a last minute pass online. We found a great seat and settled in. It was only a little after four o’clock. And the general admission ticket people would be coming in for another 45 minutes.
Paying a little extra was well worth it.
JT enjoying the concert!
Jay helping with the offering near the end of the concert.
The Winter Jam 2014 is just getting underway and will be on the road until at least the end of March. Check here for tour dates and time of the shows in your area. If the tour is coming to a city near you, you don’t want to miss it.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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