Updates and a Wishlist

These are bell pepper cut up.

Today, I am mixing it up with updates and a wishlist.  I am wanting to record our progress as a family, within several areas.  

Updates:

First of all, I think the weight has stayed level.  It's kind of hard to tell at times because I weigh myself at different times of the day.  I do think that I have stayed at a good number.  I think as long as I stay away from potato chips and soda, I will not gain extra weight.

Second, my sanity hasn't left me.  Our chores are coming along.  We are on our second week.  I must admit that I didn't keep up with signing them everyday like I wanted.  Still, the kids did most of their chores.

Third, we had takeout only once last week.  It was hubby's birthday.  I was exhausted.  Hubby didn't want leftovers.  Let's just say I didn't enjoy our pizza.

Fourth, I cut up some veggies for the coming weeks.  I cut up some bell peppers of all colors and stored them in the freezer.  Wow!  They were so pretty.  I went ahead and cut carrots, zucchini, and cucumber, too.

Here's my wishlist for the coming weeks:

1. Get more sleep.  Quit seeing Netflix at night.  That makes the hours pass by so quickly that I forget to go to sleep.  Must change that!

2. Prepare for school.  Getting the chores going is likely to help transition into schooling.  A sort of schedule is already emerging.  This past weekend, we bought some material for my eleven year-old's sixth grade.  We also bought a student planner for my high schooler.

3. Research cooking methods.  I want to find ways to cook safely.  There are always alternatives.  Perhaps I should cook with better pots and pans.  Boiling and steaming over grilling is healthier.  Information like that is what I want to compile for a possible ebook.

4. While on the subject of compiling, yes, I want to compile lists like for our food pantry and/or household cleaners; we already have some running lists.  I need to get uber-organized.  I never know what's up ahead.  I'm thinking of writing a romance novel in November.  Hopefully, my organization will help me squeeze some time for that.

Well, thanks for reading our updates and my wishlist about things I would like to accomplish.  I appreciate it very much.

How about you, my readers?  How are you all doing?  Have you struggled with organizing yourselves?  Or are you comfortable with your household management?  I encourage you to consider bite-size changes in your life, gradually accumulating the better habits in your life.  If you need to improve your health, in any form, please ask God to help you.  Surely, He will, if you pray for His guidance.

This is an entry for Medical Mondays.  For past entries, click here.

Healthy Vegetable Soup to Aid Weight Loss

Ingredients I used for my healthy soup.

Before you read the rest of this blog entry, please see the results of my attempt to use this soup.  You might rethink trying this soup.

I did not try the lemon detox drink.  Instead...

I read on Facebook that one of my fellow homeschooling friends would be using a 7 day diet called the Sacred Heart diet.  It had been recommended to her because she had been exercising and not losing weight.  Of course, I kept my eyes on this conversation and others to follow.  I wanted to see if she would take up the challenge.  I also wanted to see her progress.

I loved what I saw.  She lost weight!  I was sold.  I googled the Sacred Heart diet and found the following website:

Sacred Heart Diet

I bought the ingredients for the large batch of soup.  It was a challenge finding all of the ingredients.  I chose to find low sodium for some of the products like the green beans and the beef broth.  I already knew to seek low sodium alternatives to pre-packaged products.  Years ago, I had been diagnosed with high blood pressure and learned I should stay away from salt or sodium.

Closeup of ingredients for Sacred Heart Diet

At Walmart, I bought the following ingredients for the recipe:

__2 packages of precut green onions
__1 package of 2 lbs. of precut baby carrots
__2 bell peppers
__2 cans of unsalted green beans
__2 cans of stewed tomatoes
__1 package of precut stalks of celery
__Lipton chicken noodles
__1 box of beef broth low sodium 
__I added about 4 cans of water, too

Closeup of the spices and flavorings I used for the soup

I already had the spices:

__Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper
__Parsley flakes
__Sea salt
__McCormick Hot Madras Curry Powder

I made the soup last night (Sunday), and it smelled wonderful. I knew right away that I had used a lot of the curry. It was thick in the air. Anyway, I couldn't keep myself away from the soup; I had to eat some right away. Well, actually, I ate two bowls last night.

Also, last night I searched for answers to questions about this diet; I found controversy behind it. Supposedly, this is a hoax type fad diet. On the internet the rumors that this diet is used at hospitals is disputed. I found this out after I had made the soup. I decided to go forward with this diet.

If I can't do this diet beyond three days, I will stop there. I hope to lose weight, but I like the healthy feeling more than anything. The soup does have healthy components. The fear with eating this diet long-term is the need for protein and carbohydrates. If I made this again, I would include a little bit of chicken and some potatoes.

Given that this diet is controversial, I will let you, my readers, determine whether you would like to try it. Like I said before, I had been eating too much junk food. That was starving my body of much needed nutrition.

I feel more energy right now,
and that means a lot to me.

This morning, I woke up more refreshed! This hasn't happened in a long time. I can't believe what I've been missing out on. I realize I've been starving my body of nutrients to help my productivity. I've been able to tackle many of my to-do items off today's checklist.

I've eaten three more bowls so far and one apple. I drank a black coffee and lots of water. I have also danced and used my 2 lb. weights, too. I finished a writing assignment and printed it out already. I also needed to do this blog. What else will I accomplish today?

How will I be affected by this diet?
I don't know.

At this point, I feel more energetic. Could it be the placebo affect? I wonder how I will feel later. Will I feel sick? Will I have to run to the bathroom? Only time will tell.

Well, next Monday, I hope to update on how I did on this 7 day Sacred Heart Diet. Please pray for me, my friends.

How about you, my readers?  What diets have you tried?  Would you consider trying this 7 day diet?  Would you still use a controversial diet such as the Sacred Heart Diet?  I encourage you all to do your research to figure out what is right for you.  You should also inform your doctors before trying such a diet.  At best you can detox and feel more energy.  At worst, you won't lose any weight.

 
To learn more about the diet I'm using, visit Sacred Heart Diet

This is an entry for Medical Mondays.  For past entries, click here.

Disclaimer: The viewpoints that I discussed here are just my opinions.  Please consult your physician before altering anything relating to your health.  I am only suggesting here to take charge of your health.  Don't just leave your health in the hands of your doctors; become your own advocate.  You know best how your body is doing.