Sunday 31 January 2021

Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Barrett and Allison

 


Trim Healthy Mama Plan was recommended to me from a friend, and we read it simultaneously, but not together. Despite meeting up fortnightly to discuss the book, we've discovered that this method didn't really work for us, so we have now gone back to reading a set number of chapters each week of a book, and meeting up weekly rather than fortnightly.

The blurb says:

Forget the Fad Diets, Join the Food Freedom Movement!

Counting calories is out. All the food groups are in. Becoming trim and healthy doesn't have to be difficult or painstaking anymore. After trying almost every fad diet out there, Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett, creators of the Trim Healthy Mama movement, took matters into their own hands. Through trial and error and much research, they created the Trim Healthy Mama Plan, the breakthrough lifestyle program to help readers of all ages and stages get healthy, slim down and keep off the weight once and for all.

Based on the authors' successful self-published book, this simplified, improved, practical plan shows readers a unique way to lose weight and get healthy by eliminating sugar, and still eating hearty, delicious food. The biblically-sound and highly effective eating approach centers on Satisfying meals (which include more fats and protein) and Energizing meals (which include more carbs and protein), as they are the key to success.

Scrumptious whole, unprocessed foods, including fats, blood sugar friendly grains, proteins, fruits, and vegetables, are eaten in a way that boosts metabolism, yet still fits into anyone's hectic lifestyle. It's family friendly and effective for pregnant and nursing mothers, pre or post- menopausal women, and also those without weight or health issues--even men and growing children.

The book includes menu plans, a list of key super foods to eat on plan, time-saving tips, and pantry stocking and lifestyle advice to help readers successfully reach their goals.

Join the Trim Healthy Mama movement and along with thousands of others, and discover the groundbreaking, easy-does-it, and delicious way to eat for health and weight loss.

From the blurb, we thought this eating plan would dovetail nicely with the 2B Mindset book, You Can Drop It! and the fact they were writing from a Christian point of view is an added bonus.

The essence of this book is that there are two types of meals (S meals which are fat-based, and E means which are carb-based) which your body digests and processes differently.  To stop your body going into a rut or being overloads, you need to mix up these types of foods whilst ensuring a long enough gap between meals/snacks to that your body is being fuelled only by either S or E foods at that sitting.

It is worth noting at this point, that I only had the plan and not the accompanying cookbook.  The book regularly says about recipes that are in the cookbook, or that they can easily be found online (such as on pinterest) for free.  There are a few recipes written within this book, but it is more the theory side of things.

The theory seems sound (to an uneducated person like me), however, when you look at the recipes, there seems to be much need to buy specialist foods.  Rather than sugar, you need stevia, and not only one kind of stevia, but differing blends depending on whether the use it to be very sweet or medium sweet.  Apparently these mixtures are detailed in the cookbook, or you can buy the premixed versions direct from https://trimhealthymama.com/.  Not only sweeteners, they also recommend you buy specific flour blends, collagen, gelatin, glucomannam, whey powder, lecithin, dietary fibre, nutritional yeast, and a host of other oils and flavours to be used in your cooking.  I do believe them when they say this is all natural and good for you, however, I'd rather eat whole foods that provide this or that (even if it's deemed as "less healthy") rather than have a kitchen that is stocked like a Chemistry lab.

So, this diet or eating lifestyle isn't for me.  There are plenty of stories online about how this is amazing and it has worked for them, so if this review hasn't put you off, then it may be worth trying it.

Friday 29 January 2021

The Daily Message by Eugene H Peterson

 


The Daily Message is a Bible-in-a-Year using The Message version.  I have not read much of The Message version before, but I do like it's simplicity to understand.  It may not be the most accurate in terms of specific words used from the original language, however this translation means the Gospel is more accessible as it gets the meaning across.

The other thing I particularly liked about this book, was that every 7th day was a rest day for reflection on the previous week - for me, this was a catch-up day, so even if I fell behind slightly, I knew that by the start of the next week I would be all caught up.

The blurb says:

The Daily Message is the perfect one-year reading Bible, allowing for both flexibility and time to let the readings soak into your heart and mind. Arranged into six readings per week, this simple, easy-to-do plan will revolutionize your daily quiet time with God. Features include:

  • Discipleship Journal’s “Book-at-a-Time” reading plan
  • Inspirational words from Psalms or Proverbs and thoughtful questions for deeper reflection
  • Alternative reading plans that allow you to start any day of the year and read at your own pace

If you have considered trying to read through the Bible in a year, but thing the task is too mammoth or the language is too antiquated, then this is the book for you. 

Wednesday 27 January 2021

The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience by Stormie Omartian

 


This was a free download that I got a few years ago, and though it took me some time to get around to it, I am glad that I read this book.  It is only short - a few pages to read each day for 7 days - but I found it helped me to focus back on God and on my prayer-life.

The blurb says:

The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience is a free eBook from bestselling author Stormie Omartian, developed using excerpts from Prayer Warrior and Prayer Warrior Prayer and Study Guide. Are you equipped for spiritual battle? Take the next seven days to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Join Stormie as she explains the pieces of armor, what they mean, and how they can help you be a prayer warrior in your spiritual battle. With devotional thoughts, suggested prayers, ways to dig deeper, and opportunities to connect with Stormie and a whole community of prayer warriors, The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience will empower you with the truth that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

What I liked about this book, is that to be a good warrior, we need good armour, so rather than focussing on the same quotes about the importance of prayer, this book goes through the armour of Christ from Ephesians and applies that to our prayer life.  At the end of each short chapter, there is a prayer and some suggestions for further reading, so you can go much deeper if you have more time.

I recommend this free book to all Christians.

Monday 25 January 2021

Weekly Update

 (Ignoring that I seem to be doing them fortnightly atm.)

I weighed myself for the first time since December today and I was only* 94.2kg! (*only, compared to the weight I thought I was.) I am still reading The Diet Trap Solution, and have actually been doing the exercises.


I am also trying to be more mindful about what I am eating.  I am still keeping track of what I eat, but trying to remember to sit at the table and eat slowly.  (Not that I think there is anything wrong with eating not at a table, rather that I tend to do something else at the same time when I'm on the sofa, even if it's watching TV or playing on my phone whilst eating.)

Today I made miso and noodle soup for lunch, which was delicious.  I need to remind myself that taking an extra 5min to cook myself something proper, rather than just having toast and butter, is definitely worth it in terms of taste, calories and nutrition.


Recipe for 2 people (or 4 as starter):

  • garlic clove
  • shallot/onion
  • ginger
  • miso paste
  • mirin
  • tahini
  • stock
  • green veg
  • 1 nest of rice noodles
  • boiled egg
Blitz the first 6 ingredients together to form a paste.
Cook the paste for 2-3 min in a saucepan so it is fragrant but not burning.
Add the stock, green veg and noodles and cook for 5-10 min on a gentle simmer.
Dish up into bowls, and serve with a boiled egg on top.


Wednesday 13 January 2021

Weekly Update

I have finally finished decorating my study!  Well, the big bits, anyway.  It is painted and has furniture, so though there are a few extra bits and pieces I'm waiting on, it is useable.  And I have been using it all morning, and it is fab!


I have been keeping up tracking my food and exercise. I'm still plowing through the chocolates that I was given for Christmas (I hope I have finished them now) so I've not been dieting as such, merely keeping a note of what I have been consuming.
I am not walking as much as I'd hope, either atm.  I really am quite busy during the day and when it's dark and dreary or wet I cba.  Hopefully the evenings will start to noticeably lighten soon, and that will change.

I have started (re)reading a new book - Diet Trap Solution by Beck and Beck.  I read it before a few years ago, and it's really good.  Very practical, so I need to actually find the time to do some of the exercises, rather than just reading them and moving on.

I have started doing some FutureLearn courses though.  These have been focussed on education, activism and my current course is all about propaganda and mythology.  I managed to do a few in a few days over the Christmas break, but now life is back to normal, I have set aside Monday afternoons to do a week's worth of study of one course (that's usually 2-6 hours, depending on the course).

I still have my book reviews to write, and I'm not reading at all enough compared to what I'd like.  The other half of my room now has a sofa bed in it, so I can hide away up here and read when I want.  The negative of my dog thinking I'm her mum is that she suffers with separation anxiety if she's away from me.  When I'm tutoring, I have her by my feet in this room (she's quieter that way) whereas right now, I have left her downstairs so I can try and build up her tolerance to me not being around ALL the time.  Working from home, I am around most the time, but I already have my own shadow, and I don't need another one, lol.


Monday 4 January 2021

Weekly Update - Happy New Year!

Today is the first day back to work/school for many people and I'm feeling pleasantly optimistic.  I'm not entirely sure about what, exactly, but it feels good. 
Possibly because I woke up at a decent time this morning so feel like I have loads of time today? 
Possibly that I have nearly finished painting my new room (which will be my study) so I can soon buy some furniture to go in there (I'm using up paint from the house, so have one wall left, which I hope to paint today)? 
Possibly because, admittedly only 4 days in, I have managed to track my eating and exercise every day of the year so far?  I am still not weighing myself, but am trying to ensure that I track everything I consume.  I have also started rereading The Diet Trap Solution by Beck and Beck, as I find this book really practical.

Christmas decorations were taken down yesterday, and though they haven't been put away yet (they need to go into DD1's room, but she's doing pandemic schooling in there atm) the living room looks tidier and more spacious already; and it will look even bigger when the sofa bed is moved into my new room upstairs!

I also bought myself a new toy after Christmas (no, not that kind! Lift your mind from the gutter, lol) - an easy dryer 3000!  Actually, the real name is eezy dry 1300 or something like that, but I think 3000 sounds better, lol.  Our washing machine is a washer dryer, so that means in the winter months (when I can't hang washing outside) I can only wash and dry 1 load of washing each day.  Now, I am getting through a minimum of 2 a day (I may not have done any washing at all over the Christmas period, so have a lot to catch up on...) and there is the added benefit of the house smelling of clean washing.

So, happy 2021.  I pray this year is an improvement on the last one xx