My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

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My Husband’s Story

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In October of 2011 when I began this journey I wasn’t traveling alone. My (incredible, amazing, loving, smoking hot, crazy, considerate, passionate) husband joined me. After my first conversation with Eileen (my plant-based coach) he told me he would be supportive but he wasn’t going to change everything I was changing. One day I had a few minutes before going to an appointment so I turned on “Forks Over Knives” then paused it to go. When I returned home my husband was watching it, completely enthralled. He looked at me and said, “We are doing this!”

You can read more about my story and why I decided to begin a plant-based diet here. Today I really want you to hear his story, so without further ado meet JIM!

In the last few years my health had taken somewhat of a downward turn.  I was sick a lot, I was heavier than I’d ever been, I felt run down, etc.  At one point, I was at two hundred and tooooo many pounds and at the doctor’s office…  again.  I was tired of it.  I decided to try some things that I’d heard of…

In the following months, I started exercising and “eating healthy” or so I thought and although I lost a good amount of weight and was more fit and theoretically healthier, my stomach also hurt a great deal of the time.  It seemed like the normal doctors remedies weren’t working so I went to my Chiropractic Doctor friend Steve and asked him.  The problem was what I was eating to make me healthy…  was making me sicker.   AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH!  I stopped eating that way, I slowed the exercise and the weight came back with a vengeance.

I would try a few more times at excercising and “eating healthy” only to end up in the same crummy place again.  THEN I finally saw “Forks Over Knives” which my Doctor friend Steve had recommended to me before but I just “hadn’t gotten around to it”.  I guess I’m kind of a typical guy from the perspective that you’ll need to show me before I believe something…  As many of you know, the movie is an extremely well done film that provides data that is way too good to be rationalized away.  An old Pastor of ours, Pastor Gary had a message on “rational lies”  (pronounced the same way), his premise was very clear on the potential for us as humans to lie to ourselves and call it something else.  The data presented in this movie is just too clear for that…

So my best friend and I started on this rocky and crazy journey together, six weeks after we started I had a checkup scheduled with my doctor…  Not only was I down about 25 pounds from my peak, I felt great and my bloodwork was through the roof!  My cholesterol went from high to 171 and my blood pressure was in the “AthleteChild” range…  Yeah baby, now we’re talkin’

Well here we are many months after that doctor visit and from my peak I’m now down over 40 pounds…  without excercise…  I’m even below my high school weight.  Praise the Lord that now I can kiss the yo-yo weight loss weight gain cycle goodbye for good.

Next step excercise!


Gratituesday: New Relationships

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Over the last several weeks I have had the opportunity to meet several new friends. Some of these friends I haven’t actually “met” but I’ve been conversing with them online. I know that sounds kinda creepy but I assure you it’s not. Some of these new connections have been through my blog or through My Plant-Based Family on Facebook. Mostly they have been amazing women who are friends with Amanda, my friend who had a stroke 3 weeks ago.

Others I have met and we even had lunch together. Later this week I’m getting together with an acquaintance, but since she is such an amazing women I hope we become fast friends.

Most of these new relationships will probably stay casual friendships or even just acquaintanceship; but a few have the potential to be something more. Before moving to Arizona in 2006 I had a few really good friends. My friend Autumn since junior high, Crissy since high school, and Jessica who I worked with after college. We didn’t talk often but we appreciated each other and knew we could depend on each other. Since moving here I have made some friends that I believe will be life long friends. I know I can depend on these friends no matter what.

It’s exciting to think that right now may be beginning of a life long friendship. So this post is to all my new friends out there…Kelli, Krista, Breht, Angela, Melodee, Lisa, Susan, Heather, Nancy, Kathy, Angie, Danica, Kris, Ashley and the others that I am forgetting… today I am grateful for you.

Have you wondered why I post Gratituesday each Tuesday? It is because I like taking one day a week to share what I’m thankful, grateful for. Laura at Heavenly Homemakers has been doing it for years and she gives other bloggers an opportunity to “link up” their blog too. I enjoy clicking through the links and being encourage by what other people are grateful for, and seeing how God is working in their lives. Last week I had a crazy dream that Laura emailed me asking to stop commenting! I told you it was crazy! I think about what I’m going to post for Grati(Tuesday) all week-long. So all week I’m thinking about all of the things I am thankful for. You don’t have to blog about it but feel free to leave a comment so others can be encouraged.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

 

 

Gratituesday: Progress

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There are so many things I am grateful for today. There are two things that pale in comparison though.

First is the progress that my friend Amanda is making in her recovery. If you are just tuning in, a little over a week ago my 29 year old, super fit, health conscience friend who is a mother of 4 with one more one the way had a stroke. Yes I know it doesn’t seem possible. She would be the least likely person I would ever imagine to have something like this happen.

Yesterday I posted a quick update and said I wouldn’t be mentioning her all the time but when I think about what I am grateful for she is one of the top things I think about. Even in the last 24 hours or so she has made more progress, she was able to lift her left leg and eat real food. I saw her last night and she was smiling, laughing and talking so much better.

The second thing I am incredible grateful for is my husband. Yesterday we celebrated our 7th anniversary. My husband is such a great man who honors and supports me. I can’t imagine life without him. He is a great father to our boys and seeks to honor the Lord in all he does. He is a blessing to me.

What are you thankful for today?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

I’m Here, Kind Of…

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Hi friends,

I’ve been absent and will continue to be for a while. 

My dear friend Amanda had a stroke late Sunday night. Let me tell you about Amanda. She is in love with her husband and kids (4 with one on the way), she LOVES Jesus! Amanda is a runner, a homeschooler, and one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met. 

She will overcome this! She will preserver and be victorious! 

If you pray, please pray for her and her family. Can you imagine? I can’t get my head around it either. When something like this happens it makes us reexamine our priorities, and for now I’ll take a little blogging break and try to be there for my friend.

If you are moved to help and would like to send a gift card to this family email me or like My Plant-Based Family on Facebook and message me there. I’ll answer the Facebook messages a lot faster. 

Thank you friends,

Holly

The Liebster Award

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I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award by Fine Frugality. If you haven’t stopped by Fine Frugality in a while you should. She has been very busy de-cluttering during the month of May (I know I need to do it too) and is pretty busy exercising her powers of frugality day in and out.

The Liebster, which means favorite in German, is a way to recognize your favorite blogs that have fewer than 200 followers. What a great way to get the word out about up and coming blogs!

When you receive the Liebster award, you are supposed to do the following:

  •  Choose five up and coming blogs to give the Liebster award to.  Blogs must have less than 200 followers.
  •  Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
  •  Post the award on your blog.
  •  List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites.  Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know they’ve received the award.
  •  Share five random facts about yourself.

I am picking 5 blogs (with less than 200 followers) that I have recently discovered. If they are new to me they will be new to you too, right?

  1. Veggies Not Wedgies-Aly shares her family’s journey beginning a plant-based and gluten-free diet.
  2. 12for2012– This is unlike any blog I have read. This blog choronicles the bloggers attempt to learn 12 new things and do 12 charitable deeds this year.
  3. Vegan Sparkles – Rebecca post awesome recipes and witty repartee, she is a brilliant photographer as well.
  4. The Educated Life-Clara shares reflections as a busy wife, mom and Ph.D. student.
  5. Toxic Vegan-What can I say, she had me at Toxic Vegan. I love this authentic blog about good and not so good for you food.

I also have to share 5 random fact about myself.

  1. When carrying groceries into the house I’ve been kicking off my sandal and opening the door with my foot. (I’ll also headbutt the button to close the garage door).
  2. It drives me crazy to start a movie and not finish it, it doesn’t matter how horrible the movie is, I need closure.
  3. There is a 15 year age difference between me and my husband.
  4. I got certified to scuba dive when I was a teenager but only got to go a few times. It was never anywhere tropical, mostly lakes in Oklahoma.
  5. I am a horrible housekeeper, I have to invite people over regularly as an incentive to keep things tidy. Having two little Tarzan’s determined to work against my progress doesn’t help.

Gratituesday: Weakness

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Years ago, when we lived in Oklahoma, we had a really tall tree in our backyard. Our kids would occasionally climb it but there was a point in the tree that if they got any higher they would get stuck. When they got stuck they would get scared and call for their Daddy. My husband does not like heights even if it is just a tree but he would climb the tree, cradle his scared little child in his arms and climb back down.

My tree climbing days are (probably) over but sometimes I get stuck. I feel like I can’t get down to a safe spot, I feel insecure where I’m sitting, and I need someone strong and safe to rescue me and take me home.

 But he said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

In these moment’s of weakness I call to God. He rescues me. I may still be in my situation but I find strength in Him. So whether it is a financial hardship, a broken relationship, a broken body or despair that overtakes you, maybe even everyday frustration from which there is no escape. When you are weak, He is strong!

Lord, I pray that you would comfort my friend reading this today. That you would show yourself to be real and powerful, able to provide a way of escape from burdens that are too much to carry. Amen

If you need someone to talk to you can call 1-888-NEED HIM or click here. Thank you for sharing today with me. When we don’t truly know someone we often put them on a pedestal thinking they really have it together. I assure you I don’t and I’m betting you don’t either. When we are open about our weakness we allow other to come along side and encourage us. So Be Encouraged Today! 

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!