How Simple is this?

Today, I want to mention a bit of wisdom that I feel is most often missed. That is the value of "simplicity". Seems like everyone wants or needs everything "simple" and "convenient" to make their lives "easier", but do we really stop and ask ourselves "Is this really simplest in the long run?" Everything is so fast-paced, high tech, go, go, go, type of lifestyle, only getting more complex as we speak. Just about the time you go and buy the latest computerized gadget that is being advertised, you get it home to find out, that there is another gadget coming out in another month that is much more high-tech than the one you just unboxed, that would "make things even more easier", and the item you just bought and have yet to figure it all out, will soon be obsolete! UGH! So, in order for things to be even easier, you have to unload your new gadget off on someone else and go get the "new one"! Its an never ending cycle.

Food choices are much like this. We want something quick! Now! FAST!!!!! So, what do we do? Race through your favorite local "fast food" line, to order our favorite food, cram it down our throat because we are racing to the next appointment or back to work, only to realize, that the burger or pizza we ate has barely had time to digest and we are already hungry again. In an hour, we are sluggish from the terrible carbs and hungry for more "munchies" to ward off that feeling of sluggishness. Our sugar levels are up and down. Our thyroid has bottomed out because we only fed it junk and it can't work right, and who knows how long it will be before we actually get some "good nutrition" (maybe at supper if we are lucky?) Plus, we are all frustrated because we have been killing ourselves at the gym and being really dedicated, but that stupid scale will not budge!! What is going on???? Then what happens? We talk ourselves in to dropping our calories so low, that our bodies go into "starvation mode" afraid that it won't EVER get good nutrients again. When this happens, you may as well give up on losing any bodyfat or weight. Your body just goes into "shutdown mode". All because you just had to have everything "convenient". Now, not only can you NOT lose weight, you've placed yourself in a pre-Diabetic state, self induced high-blood pressure, self inflicted hypothyroidism, and the list goes on, and on. All from this "fast, convenient" living. So, now, we are making doctor's appts. to try to figure out what is wrong, why we feel like we do, taking tests, getting scripts filled, and compounding life ---all because of what was suppose to be "convenient". Now ask yourself, is this "really" what I had hoped for? Am I making my life more convenient? Probably not, right?

In Jeremiah 6:16, the bible tells us "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the old ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."

It seems so simple to me that if we would just look at nature and the things that God has prepared for us "naturally" and use those things, that we would be MUCH, MUCH healthier and things in the long run would be much more convenient. It certainly will be much healthier for you! Your body can work as it was designed to do, if you will eat the way God designed you to eat! So, what does that mean? Well, I sum it all up and call it a "farmers diet". Think about how your grandparents "use" to cook when you would go to visit. There was usually somekind of good meat, lots of homegrown (maybe home canned) vegetables, sweet potatoes, and maybe some homemade rolls. Now, grandma didnt know that those homemade rolls and cobblers were a problem, because the farmers of the past were hard, laboring workers. Most of us dont work like they use to, so we are not going to burn off as many of those carbs. Try to stick to simple, clean meats, unsalted fiberous vegetables, and some good fruits (like berries, apples, peaches), not bananas, grapes, raisins, that are all packed full of natural sugars. Avoid processed breads & pastas or grains that are not in their simplest forms. Oatmeals, barley, whole wheat, rye, and grains like this will make the best choice. Ridding yourself of all the "man made foods" like Donuts, cupcakes, packaged foods, etc.....while get you back on track to eating the way God intended. Raw foods like celery, green beans, broccoli, etc....actually are better than canned foods. It takes more calories to digest them & you dont have all the added sodium and preservatives. All of the processing that our foods go through prior to packaging, robs the foods of all their valuable nutrients. Foods in their simplest forms are usually in their best form.
Try growing your own vegetables & canning or dehydrating them for longer storage. We do that every year and love it. You can visit our home website at www.rinneranch.com to get some ideas of natural living. Also, when making your food chioces next time you are shopping, try to buy everything in it's natural state! Your body will thank you for it. It may seem a little pricey on the front end, but as you become healthier from eating that way, you will save TONS of money on the long end, not having so many doctor visits, tests, prescriptions, and sick-time taken from work.

Happy eating healthy!!!

The Beginning Stages of Growth

Hello All,
Glad you could make it back to join me in this next phase of my life as someone striving to grow healthier in all areas of my life. If you haven't read my "Introduction" page, I encourage you to do so, so that you may understand why I consider this "my next phase", or chapter 2.

The earlier years of my life were spent doing what I thought was right to be healthy, as a physical being and spiritually as well. BOY! Have I had a rude awakening. Isn't it funny, how we can look at ourselves in the mirror everyday and justify ourselves?! We look at ourselves in the morning, with our hair a wreck from the night before, bad breath, mussed up clothes, and dark circles and think "Hmmmmm, I dont look so bad! I just need to freshen up a bit!"......Oh quite the contrary! We are a mess! We don't want to see ourselves that way, but we are. Just think back a few years ago, and ask yourself "What has changed about me and have those things changed for the better, or for the worse?" Don't make excuses for yourself. Challenge yourself to do your best, and then some! Whether you are a Christian or not, you always have choices. Christians have the responsibility to make "the best choice", according to the Word of God. Now, does that mean in everything? YOU BET! That means in your body, your soul, and your spirit; in your work, in your friendships, in your decisions, even in the simplest decisions. We should strive to make "the best choice". Set that in your mind. Tell yourself, "From now on, I will make the best choices available to me in everything that I do." Next, it is up to you, to find out what ARE the best choices available? That's where this blog comes into play. No, I'm not claiming to have ALL the answers, but I will, along with you if you follow along, work on making "the best choices" for myself in all things. Every post will address a subject that the Lord is or has dealt with me and my family on, and will discuss how we made the decisions we made, based on His Word. Prepare yourself though, not all choices are easy choices. Infact, most of the "right" choices, are the hardest ones to make. That is where you get "growth"----from the resistance of hard training!
You will need a few things to get you ready, to make it easier. The first and most important thing, is a King James Bible, and a notebook to take some notes. I know, I know, for those of you who are not so "spiritual", you may be thinking, "I"m not going to sit here and get preached at", but wait. I think you'll appreciate the perspective that we will use to further our own physical growth, if you understand the spiritual application behind it. It will just help it to make much more sense in the long run. If you aren't weak stomached, or thin skinned, I challenge you to stick around a little longer, before you make your decision to go elsewhere. Oh, speaking of "thin skinned", you are going to need to borrow some thicker skin, if you can't take a little criticism once and awhile. I don't candy coat much. I've learned to appreciate criticism, as honesty and being forthright, gets you to your goals quicker. If I say something that offends you, instead of being offended, how about you just asking yourself "Does she have a point?" "Is there truth to what is being said?" "Can I learn from this?" Ok, now that I'm not basing my decisions on my "feelings", what do I do now, to improve myself for growth? As far as the things you will need from here on out, they are minimal. You can acquire things as we go, depending on your needs.
Now, are we ready??? Good! Get on your mark, get set, Go!!!! You are now a part of the team!!! Our goal is to work hard, eat good, grow in the right direction, and finish like a good soldier! The training here will get you prepared, the course will be hard, but the reward in the end, will be PRICELESS!

See you all back here next time, when we will be off to the races, ready to win the PRIZE!

:) Me