Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

What is Prediabetes? Three Lifestyle Changes You Can Implement Now to Help You Fight Back!

What is prediabetes? How can you delay or prevent a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis? I must admit that I had no idea there was such a thing as prediabetes, also called borderline diabetes. Until that fateful day in my doctor’s office when she informed me that I was prediabetic. I thought this was going to be a routine checkup and blood draw, but it proved to be otherwise. I was devastated. First, because I had always thought of myself as a healthy person who took pride in the way I treated my body. Secondly, because I saw firsthand the devastating results of having Type 2 Diabetes first by watching mom’s daily battles with the disease, and then losing a beautiful neighbor who passed away due to complications from the disease. I knew what laid ahead in my future if I didn’t get my prediabetes under control which could include daily insulin injections.

Today’s post is for informational purposes only; it is not a substitute for you seeing a medical professional and getting a complete checkup.

In today’s post, I want to break down for you precisely what is prediabetes and provide you with three pretty easy lifestyle changes you can make to protect yourself from a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis. These are the same lifestyle changes I made to get healthier, and I still practice all three of them today. According to the CDC, 100 million people in the US are prediabetic or Type 2 Diabetic.  “Diabetes could become the new epidemic of the 21st century, if we continue living a sedentary lifestyle and partaking of poor diets 50 percent of Americans could be prediabetic or Type 2 Diabetic by the year 2020,” Dr. Sanjay Gupta The sad thing is that this disease can be prevented or controlled by making simple lifestyle changes.

To give you a complete picture of the disease, let’s breakdown the different types of diabetes:

Today we are talking about prediabetes. If you are prediabetic, that means that your blood sugar or glucose levels is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetic. A prediabetic person has trouble processing enough insulin to control blood sugar after eating. To diagnosis you, your doctor will perform one of these three blood tests.

Fasting plasma glucose test: If your doctor selects this test, you are asked to refrain from eating and drinking for eight hours before taking the test. If normal, your blood sugar will register less than 100; you are considered in the prediabetic range if your blood sugar is 100-125 and diabetic if your blood sugar is 126 or higher.

Hemoglobin A1C or Average Blood Sugar Test: This test will provide your doctor with a history of your blood sugar levels over the past three months. Your doctor can use this test to determine if you are prediabetic or if you have diabetes. Also, if you have diabetes, this test will help to determine if your diabetes is under control. If your test results show a blood sugar level of 5.6% or less, you are in the normal range. If prediabetic, your blood sugar will be 5.7% to 6.4%, and if you have diabetes, your blood sugar will measure 6.5% and above. This test may be repeated if you have another condition such as anemia or liver disease.

Oral Glucose Test: This test has two parts. First, you will take the fasting glucose test, and then you will be given a sugary solution after a two-hour waiting period your blood will be drawn. Normal results will show a blood sugar level of less than 140 after the second test. If you are prediabetic, your blood sugar level will range between 140-199 after the second test. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar will be 200 or higher after the second test.

While getting a prediabetic diagnosis can be scary, research has shown that by implementing these three lifestyle changes, controlling your weight, exercising regularly, and improving your nutrition, you could delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. So, let’s look at each one of these tools. 

Controlling your Weight:  The CDC research study found that when prediabetics reduced their weight by as little as 5% to 7%, they were able to delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. Don’t try something drastic like going on a liquid diet or telling yourself you will never eat a cupcake again, those tactics don’t work, and you could end up regaining more weight than you lost. Start by keeping a food journal and making one small change a week. For instance, if you have a large coke or coffee every morning, start with 16 ounces of lemon water and medium coffee or Coke. When you are ready, increase to 24 ounces of lemon water and a small coffee. The lemon water will promote hydration, it’s a good source of vitamin C, it supports weight loss and improves your skin. Reducing your Coke or coffee size will help you to cut calories without that feeling that you are missing something.

Incorporate Exercise into Your Daily Life: Your exercise plan does not have to be daunting, take it from someone who always overdid it and ended up sore and disillusioned. You can start with just 30 minutes of heart-pumping activity, try cycling, swimming, running, or a brisk walk after dinner. If you are currently sedentary, please see your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Get Your Nutrition in Check:

When planning your meals include lean protein, non-starchy vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or steam cabbage and carrots. Consider cooking more at home and take leftovers for lunch. If you cook at home, you will know exactly how the meal was prepared and all the ingredients that went into it.

Prediabetes can be controlled by making simple lifestyle changes that include weight control, exercise, and eating more nutritious whole foods. If you need help making these changes reach out to me, I completed the Prediabetes certification program Prevent T2 created by the CDC. I can tell you this program is fantastic if you would like more information to shoot me an email at info@reneereid.net The important thing is that you decide to make the change today. This decision is not something you can put off until next Monday.

Please share this post with a family or friend who could use this information; there is nothing more powerful than women helping women.

Missed an episode of the Welcome To Your Life Podcast: You can catch up on all the episodes here.

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If you are looking for a group of women who understand what its like to struggle through hot flashes, self-doubt, hormonal surges, and hard to lose belly fat.  Join the Courageous Women’s Network our free Facebook group, in this group you will receive love, support, and a little kick in the pants when you needed.  Plus, you’ll get outstanding training from me that will help you cut out the guesswork and get to your wellness goals.

REQUEST TO JOIN TODAY https://buff.ly/2AKoTIB

Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

5 Strategies to Survive the Holiday Parties And Stick With Your Wellness Goals

With a little planning you can keep your wellness goals in check!

Can you believe it, the holiday season is upon us, and for some us this can be the most stressful time of the year as we try to navigate the office parties and family gatherings while trying to get stick with your wellness plan.  It can be especially daunting in midlife, because the weight just does not come off as quickly as it used too, believe me I know. It’s crucial to stick with our wellness plans so that we don’t have to keep starting over, which can play havoc on us both physically and mentally.  I want to share with you five strategies that you can use to have fun this holiday season without stressing over what you’re going to eat.  Now, whether you decide to use one or all five, I promise you won’t regret it. 

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away, and the holiday office gathering s have already started.  If you’re like me the holiday season has always been both a blessing and curse.  I admit that it wasn’t just the time spent with family and friends gathered around the Thanksgiving table, the happy giggles of my children as they raced to open their Christmas gifts, the fancy drinks at the New Year’s Eve Party and my mom’s pork roast (when I ate meat) and black eye pea dinner that made me giddy for the holiday season.

     It was actually the relief of kicking whatever eating plan/diet I was on aside and throwing myself holiday appetite first into the delicious and delectable foods of the season.  This was the one time of the year when overeating was not only acceptable, it was expected.  I told myself it was my right to take a break from counting calories, weighing my food, and logging every morsel of food I put in my mouth.  And like the millions of fellow dieters around me, I promised myself that I would start over again January 1st, or 2nd.

     Then I became prediabetic, and I realized that my yo-yo dieting had to come to an end if I wanted to reduce my chances of becoming type 2 diabetic.  Because ladies, prediabetes is reversible just by making small lifestyle changes.  You can use these five strategies to get you through the holiday season, but you can also use them to stick to your wellness goals throughout the year.  No more yo-yo dieting.  Yeah!  

 Our first strategy is my favorite, and this really helped me to learn how to plan my meals and eat what I wanted. 

Strategy one: Stop Classifying Foods as Good or Bad and Begin to Eat Mindfully.

 Foods are neither good nor bad, it’s how we consume them that puts us at risk wreaking our healthy eating plans.  Approach your meal mindfully, this will reduce your anxiety, take your plate and fill half of it with fresh fruit, veggies, and salads-on the other side enjoy a small serving of your favorite foods, remember the holiday season lasts six weeks at least,  so you don’t have to eat everything in one sitting.  Eat slowly and savor the experience, it can take at least 20 minutes for your brain to signal that you’re full. 

Strategy two:  Don’t and Skip Meals

It can be tempting to try to save all your daily calories for one big meal.  In my mind, I was actually doing myself a favor.  But, actually, I was starving myself and making it easy to overeat during my one meal of the day.  I was so hungry and ate so fast that I sometimes didn’t even enjoy the food, and ended up with indigestion or an upset stomach.  Instead of skipping meals, try to stick to your regular eating schedule. This will prevent your blood sugar from dropping and your body from going into starvation mode.

Strategy three:  Don’t Skip Your Exercise Routine

It can be easy to put off exercising during this time of year. Who has time to fit in a workout during the never-ending scheduled festivities? According the CDC, “your workout will act as your secret weapon; it can help make up for eating more than usual and reduce your stress levels during the most stressful time of the year.”

Strategy four:  Get Your Rest

The holiday season is lovely, but it can take its toll physically.  When you’re sleep deprived your body will crave foods high in fat and sugar to provide you with the energy you need to get through the day.

Strategy five:  Take Your Own Food

If you’re invited to a party and you want to ensure that there are healthier food options, bring your own dish.  This year I will be bringing some tasty vegetarian/vegan dishes to add to the feast.  Bringing your own food will take stress out of what you’re going to eat, and you can share your healthier food options with everyone in attendance.

These tips can help you stick to your wellness goals throughout the year.  Wellness is a lifestyle, not a temporary state of mind. To be successful, we have to plan for success.  To recap:

  • Eat mindfully and, enjoy experience and savor your favorite foods- stop when you’re full
  • Don’t skip meals aim at keeping your blood sugar steady all day this will help you to prevent overeating
  • Don’t skip your workout:  short on time break your exercise routine into two 15-minute intervals.
  • Get some rest: the holiday season is stressful maintain a regular sleep pattern will help you to continue to burn calories and build lean muscle
  • Bring your own food: invited to a party bring a dish, you can enjoy your healthier options and so will the other guest.

You can enjoy the season and with a little planning, stick to your wellness goals.  You have the power to succeed.  I believe in us!

 Join the group: https://buff.ly/2AKoTIB

If you are looking for a group of women who understand what it’s like to struggle through hot flashes, hormonal surges, and hard to lose belly fat.  Join the Courageous Women’s Network our free Facebook group, in this group, you will receive love, support, and a little kick in the pants when you needed.  Plus, you’ll get outstanding training from me that will help you cut out the guesswork and get to your wellness goals.

REQUEST TO JOIN TODAY https://buff.ly/2AKoTIB

Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

What Are the Dangers of Being Skinny Fat? Four Strategies to Getting Healthy

What does it means to be skinny fat? How dangerous is it for you? How can you learn to protect yourself?

I found this topic really interesting because, as a health coach I encounter women in midlife who are so proud of the fact that they’ve never had a weight problem their whole lives. “I am already at my ideal weight,” they love to tell me.

I know that we live in a culture that bombards us with diet plans designed to help us lose weight and finally live the magical lives waiting on the other side. Because we have been brainwashed to think that the skinnier we are, the healthier we are- and that is simply not true.

While so many women between the ages of 40-59 look absolutely fabulous in their clothes, they could still have a high percentage of body fat compared to lean muscle, which can lead to osteoporosis the weakening of the bones, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes

The medical term for being skinny fat is metabolically obese normal weight or MONW or normal weight obesity, it occurs when women who are normal weight or underweight, are inactive, have an imbalanced fat to muscle ratio, or who partake of a diet high in fat and sugar.

These women could have a higher percentage of visceral fat, which is extremely dangerous, it can settle around organs and the abdominal cavity. 

Dr. Mark Hyman, the author of The Blood Sugar Solution 10 Day Detox Diet, defines the phenomenon this way, “Skinny-fat means just what it sounds like: You look thin but inside you are fat. You’ve got organ fat (the more dangerous type of fat) coating your liver, kidneys, and other organs. You are under-lean but over-fat, meaning not enough muscle and too much fat (especially belly fat).”

How can you tell if you are skinny fat ?  Ask yourself the following question:

  • Is weight training part of your exercise routine?
  • Are you getting 150 minutes of heart-pumping cardio each week?
  • Is your daily food consumption high in processed foods, sugar, carbs, and low in protein-rich foods?
  • Do you suffer from fatigue, the inability to focused, or concentrate for long periods?
  • Do you suffer from inflammation?
  • Do you have excess fat around your middle?

If you answered yes, to one or all of these questions, you could be suffering from MONW.  The only way to know for sure is to see your doctor.  Make sure that in addition to checking your glucose level and cholesterol that he/she checks your percentage of body fat to ensure that your body fat percentage is within the acceptable range.

As I mentioned before, some of the dangers of being skinny fat are osteoporosis, or weakening of the bones, heart disease, and diabetes.  Some other risks include muscle deterioration; if you are not strength training a minimum of three times per week, ladies you should be weight training.  Remember building lean muscle will help us to burn more calories and get us to our wellness goals.  If you are not sure where to start, shoot me an email at wtylwellness@gmail.com.  I would happy to help you get started.

The other thing I want you to watch out for is not visible to the naked eye; it is the decline of your mental health.  While being skinny does not automatically mean you are in good health, it also does not automatically mean that you are happy.  If you are not physically active, you’re subjecting yourself to a poor diet, and combating health issues, in time this could affect your mental health.  Depression and anxiety are just two of the diagnoses that I’ve seen in the past ten years as a mental health practitioner, health coach, and women’s health advocate.

So, what can you do to turn MONW around?  First, schedule an appointment to see your doctor today.  A little tip, because we know that doctors do not have a lot of time to sit with us to discuss our concerns be prepared.  Write down what you would like to discuss, mention it to the nurse when she takes your vitals so that she can put it in your medical chart.  The other four tips I have for you are:

  • Exercise regularly- according to the Centers for Disease Control, you should be getting 150 minutes of heart-pumping exercise each week.  That’s just 30 minutes five times per week.  Lace-up your trainers that’s what they call sneakers in the UK, can you tell I have been watching a lot of Britbox.  Put on your favorite podcast, which is this one of course, and go for a walk around your neighborhood, on your lunch break, or at the gym on the treadmill.
  • Include weight training:  your exercise routine should include three days of weight training.  Make sure that you are lifting weights that are heavy enough to break down the muscle tissue.  If you can do three sets of ten with ease, its time to lift heavier weights.
  • Plan your meals:  I’m not talking about dieting but planning what you will eat each day.  Making sure that your menu includes servings of fruit and fresh vegetables, lean proteins such as salmon, chicken, for you vegans/vegetarians, your protein choices can consist of beans, lentils, and whole grains, just to name a few.
  • Manage your stress:  high levels of stress are not suitable for your mental or physical health.  Physically it produces chemicals that force your body to hang on to visceral fat, remember that is the bad fat that clings to your organs and deposits itself into your belly. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and boost your mental health, as is meditation or prayer which can be done anytime throughout the day.  And if at all possible, simply avoid stressful situations.  You do not have to provide the answer to everyone’s problem.

The good news is that just by making simple lifestyle changes, you can change your life and live the life you deserve.  You have control!

The first step to getting healthy is merely acknowledging that there is a need. Too many of us are walking around with undiagnosed ailments, and that has to stop if we want to meet/exceed our wellness goals.

Share this post with someone you love, and don’t forget to check out our free Facebook group, The Courageous Women’s Network, to get the love and support you need to maintain the faith and keep you moving forward. 

I will talk to you guys soon; remember you are stronger than you give yourself credit and more blessed than you know. 

Join the group: https://buff.ly/2AKoTIB

If you are looking for a group of women who understand what it’s like to struggle through hot flashes, hormonal surges, and hard to lose belly fat.  Join the Courageous Women’s Network our free Facebook group, in this group, you will receive love, support, and a little kick in the pants when you needed.  Plus, you’ll get outstanding training from me that will help you cut out the guesswork and get to your wellness goals.

REQUEST TO JOIN TODAY https://buff.ly/2AKoTIB

Save the Date! November 24th, I will be opening the doors to join the Courageous Women’s Network Academy.  You can work with me and learn how to exponentially increase your self-love and self-care because losing weight is only half the battle. 

Talk soon,

Renee

Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

Using Prayer to Recover Life’s Joy

prayer 2png

Today is Faith Friday. We are delving into how to use our spiritual weapons to regain our joy. This is the first part of our four-part series, Recovering Life’s Joy -Using Our Spiritual Weapons to Reach Out to God series. Joy is a small but powerful word, being joyful doesn’t mean that we walk around without a care, it means that we have made a conscious decision to lean on the word of God and follow his lead. Christ told us in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” This scripture is not new to us, but it can still be hard for strong minded women who are used to solving their own problems or living with their problems in silence to let go and let God handle it. So today we are going to talk about why joy is important and look at our first spiritual weapon is prayer, keep reading to see how having a strong prayer life can help us recover our joy.
How many of us dread getting out of bed in the morning. Facing the same old problems that don’t seem to have a solution. You can’t see me, but I am raising my hand. Mornings for me use to be the worse. I knew nothing in my closet was going to fit me, and I would end up wearing the same black yoga pants and one of my four oversize shirts. I knew that I did not have the money to pay all of the bills sitting in the little tray in my office, and I knew that traffic was going to be horrible going to work, and that would ruin my entire day. I was broke, overweight, and un-happy and I felt like there was nothing I could do about it. Now, mind you at the time I was teaching women’s bible study at my church, And I have to say it is still one my most favorite memory. Teaching those women every month gave me the gave me the boost I needed to keep going. The problem was, that while I teaching these marvelous lessons on faith, love, and casting our cares on the Lord. I wasn’t really living it.

prayerI was still trying to save myself as my grandmother use to say. There were places in my life where I did not let God in and because of that I had lost my joy. Just to be clear, Now I am not talking about depression, sadness or loss of joy is an emotion, and even though we may feel that our sadness is overwhelming and has taken over our life. We should still be able to find moments of joy in our families , friends, or work. Depression on the other hand is a mental illness, and if you have feelings of sadness that has caused you to change the way eat, withdraw from activities you use to love, if you have trouble sleeping, or if you are constantly irritable. Please see your primary physician or a licensed therapist.
Feeling sad is a human emotion that everyone feels at certain times in our lives. We lose our joy for a number of reasons, I mean the world can be cold, scary, and just plain sucky at times. But, I think at the foundation of all of that is that we feel helpless. Nothing zaps your joy like the feeling that you do not possess the tools or resources to help your current situation get better. We can sit on our church pews Sunday after Sunday and leave still feeling helpless and hopeless. That’s because we are focused on the circumstances of our situation and not on the holy solution. But, why is joy so important you might be asking yourself, my can’t I just mine my own business and let other people do the same.
The eyes of the world are on the Christian woman, and they are not interested in what we wear or how we style our hair. They are watching our actions, reactions, and associations. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that “we are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (NIV) More than the crosses and bumper stickers we display it is our attitude that attracts the unbeliever first. Our daily attitude is a true indication of how much we believe in what we preach. How can we win souls for Christ, if all people see when they look at us is an unhappy woman being defeated by the trouble and strife in her life? A woman who is so filled with condemnation over her past that she spews out anger and bitterness to everyone she meets. Who would want to be part of that?
It is imperative that we safeguard our joy the same way that we guard our designer bags. Joy is a powerful weapon. In the natural, it conveys to our observers that our faith is strong even if the truth is we are afraid. In the spiritual, it connects us to God, defeats the enemy, and gives us peace in the midst of a world gone mad. If we maintain our joy during trouble, and humbly accept conviction from the Holy Spirit then we will attract the unbeliever to the Christ that lives within us.
Being joyful does not mean that we are immune to hurt, disappointment, or anger. We are human. The good news is that our joy does not come from a natural source. We derive our joy from the innate knowledge, that in Christ, we are victorious. James 1:12 reads, “blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (NIV) Sisters, don’t let the enemy steal one more day of joy from you. Remember, “in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8: 37 (NIV)
What is joy? The dictionary defines it as, “the emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune.” We do not have to look far these days to know that joy or a feeling of well-being remains an elusive part of life for many people even Christians. It is very difficult to remain joyful in a toxic climate. . To avoid the feelings of anxieties that when we lose control, many of us spend our days using a variety of remedies to create joy, self-medicating in an attempt to eliminate the pain.
. To avoid the feelings of anxieties that when we lose control, many of us spend our days using a variety of remedies to create joy, self-medicating in an attempt to eliminate the pain.
. Or, We place the burden of our joy on the shoulders of mere mortals who are unable to withstand the weight of our request. They will inevitably fail us. What we need to realize is that finding and maintaining joy is our responsibility, no one else’s, not even God. God has already made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our joy. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with his stripes (that wounded) Him we are healed and made whole.” Isaiah 53: 5 (Amplified) Sisters, it is time for us to stop sitting around waiting to be rescu While God intended for us to be happy, He also knew that we would encounter some difficult times while we are here on earth. Jesus said in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have (perfect) peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer (take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted) For I have overcome the world. (I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you).” (Amplified) The world may be crumbling around us, but we were meant to have peace in our spirits as we wait for Christ to return.

You will not find a scripture in the bible that says you will not have trouble, while we wait for His return. Hundreds of scriptures tell us we that have the power to endure, to have peace, and to succeed. Many of us make the mistake of running from God when we are in pain. When in fact, we should be reaching out to Him and making Him our number one priority.
How can I regain and maintain control of my joy? Well, I am glad you asked. You do not have to complete some arduous plan to be joyful. But, it does require work on a consistent basis. You may have to give up some behaviors that in your mind brought you comfort. You are going to have to reach out to God and perfect the use of your spiritual weapons. They include prayer, meditating on God’s word, praise, and fasting. Today we are going to dive into prayer. These interrelated tools or spiritual weapons enable us to maintain our joy and claim victory. Each one will assist you with reaching out and connecting to God as never before, to hear His voice, and reclaim your joyfulness. You cannot have real deliverance from what ails you by just embracing one or two you must embrace them all.
The first thing we need to do when we find our joy levels floundering is to check our prayer life. Ask yourself is my prayer life strong and consistent or is it just a task I check off my daily to do list? Prayer is an open communication with God and when pray we can tell him what is bothering us and know that he hears us. He promised. In Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Praying God’s word is not only a powerful weapon, but also a powerful joy tool. When I submitted to God and stopped trying to fight the enemy with my own power I gained peace in my spirit and the enemy had to flee. (Read James 4:7)
If you are serious about maintaining joy in the midst of trouble you must have a vibrant prayer life. We do not fight against flesh and blood. Ephesians 6:12 reads, “we war not against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities, against the rules of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV) Knowing that our enemy is not flesh or blood we must realize that conventional weapons will not work. No amount of yelling, crying, or cussing, has the power to make the enemy flee like the power of God. Prayer should be our weapon of choice. So, why is something as simple as talking to God so difficult to do on a daily basis?
To check the depth of your prayer life ask yourself these questions. Do you wait until lightning strikes before you activate your eternal life line to the Lord? Is your prayer life an ongoing dialogue with God or is it something you run through so that you can check it off your daily list? Your truthful answers will gauge your relationship with the Father.
James 5:16b “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (NKJV) Our prayers are not effective if we do them once in a while. But when we are fervent, avid, enthusiastic, and persistence about the time we spend with God we become powerful adversaries.
Prayer is a powerful weapon. It connects us to the Lord and allows us to hear from Him, to enter into His presence and get to know Him personally. Not as the God of the Old and New Testaments, or as our grandma’s God, but as OUR GOD! However, the Lord is not going to fight through the chaos of our lives to speak to us and if we are not careful we could miss His voice. When speaking to the Jews in Jerusalem Jesus said in John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (NIV) In 1 Kings 19:11-13 when the Lord spoke to the prophet Elijah he did not come to him in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in a still small voice. Can you recognize the voice of God when He speaks?
If you are a little rusty with your prayers than do what I did create a string prayer and Pray God’s word back to him. I wrote down three scriptures to string together and pray to the Lord. My string prayer included Romans 8:37, 2 Chronicles 20:15, and Philippians 4:6.
“Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.” The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
There will come a time when you have to be your own prayer warrior, when you are in the thick of battle and cannot wait to get to church on Sunday to have the mothers pray for you. Building a relationship with God through prayer will diminish the time we spend worrying, and our own doing or due to the enemy’s attacks, we will commence to praying. Having established a relationship with God through our prayers this will be as natural as breathing.

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Being a courageous woman doesn’t mean that you have no fear, it means that you are determined to move through the fear and live the life you deserve. and that you always choose your faith over fear… even when it’s hard. This is a support group for women who need help re-energizing their relationships, wellness goals, faith, and parenting. We are all about self-love and spiritual renewal. If you are ready to get out of your slump and live your best life now, then join the Courageous Women network and surround yourself with high-vibe, like-minded women who are ready to support, love, and give you a gentle kick when you need it. . When you join The Courageous Women Network, you not only have access to the support of other successful, like-minded women, but you also have access to FREE trainings and resources from me! Sounds good to you? REQUEST TO JOIN! The Courageous Women’s Network

 

Posted on by Midlife Made Easier

Is Happiness a Choice?

 

Happiness is not something really made

Hey guys, how are you? I hope that you are doing well, I am doing well, I went to the doctor for my annual checkup, and I’ve lost 12 pounds since 2016. I know you’re probably thinking, oh my gosh what is taking you so long. But, when I saw how over weight I was, and my doctor told me I was prediabetic and prehypertensive, I panicked like many of you and started dieting, prepacked meals and shakes. Then I realized, I am just going to this belly until it slowly disappears, so I switched to regular exercise and good food. But I am so off track, and I am sorry. Because. Today I am asking the question, do you believe that happiness is a choice.
In the field of social services, as a health coach and as a parent advocate, I have worked with some of the most amazing women you will ever meet. We usually meet when they are in crisis, they are overwhelmed, either by health concerns, parenting concerns or both. I ask them all the same question I am posing to you today. There answer to the question lets me know where we need to get started. Many of them did not believe happiness was a choice they were able to make for themselves. They thought that life was out of there control. In other words, you live, you died. Things happened to you in between some good some bad, and you kinda roll with the punches.
I understand how why they would feel that way. I had a rough childhood, so I learned from an early age, that you had to fight happiness. And it wasn’t going to always be easy, but you couldn’t give up. Because, I wasn’t just fighting for happiness for happiness sake, I was fighting for me, and increasing the depth of my resiliency. Now I know better than anyone that things will happen that you have no control over, like the death of someone you love, the loss of a job, a marriage or relationship that ends. I have suffered all these things. These life events are out of your control. You must make the decision to focus on what is in your control.
I want you to consider three things that you can do to increase your level of happiness. Don’t panic, you don’t have to do them all at once, pick one thing and work on it for 21 days, that seems to be the standard time, all the gurus espouse as enough time to begin to promote habit change, and allow them to take root. First, creating a real self-care plan, second, take a good look at who is sharing your space, and third, giving back to your community, and finally, don’t wait to lose weight before you live.
Self-Care: drink more water, figure out how much sleep you need and get it, turn off the television and read a book, create an evening routine that allows you to take a step back from your day and unwind.
Who shares your space: but make sure that everyone who shares your space brings positive energy to your life. Sometimes, friendships run their course, family members are not always supportive, nothing will zap your happiness like having to explain. It can be hard but don’t expect you to be walking around giddy all day.
Give Back to Your Community: Some of my happiness times were delivering meals to the elderly or mentoring young women who were first generation college students. When you spend time helping someone else to discover their purpose or live their dream. You can’t help but feel a little bit more satisfied with your life.

But What I want you to know deep in your spirit, that your level of happiness is directly linked to the choices that you make. So, then the question becomes, what are you willing to do to create happiness? How proactive are you willing to be to seek happiness in your own life?
Are you willing to give up a relationship that is causing you pain?
Are you willing to get up earlier so that you can walk 30 minutes before going to work?
Are you willing to spend some time organizing your household so that it runs more smoothly?
Are you willing to do the work on yourself that will help you heal?
You are the only one that can answer those questions and while you may be able to manufacture happiness by drinking, shopping, eating, or etc.
You will not be able to find real happiness until you began to work on you. Your happiness is defined by taking control of what you can control.
Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe. I don’t want you to miss an episode and share this podcast with someone you love, someone you know is struggling, especially now that the holiday season is upon us. A lot of our sisters will be struggling through the holiday’s, and we need to be there to life them up until they are able to stand on their own. Let’s be friends, you can find me on Facebook and Instagram @iamreneereid or by email reneereid@reneereid.net
Wishing you peace and love, Let’s talk tomorrow.

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welcome to your life

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Doing It My Way!

Maya Angelou

Hello everyone, I know you guys are probably wondering where have you been Renee. I know, I know, it’s been a minute since I upload a post. To tell you the truth, I had to back up for a minute and regroup. You know when you start a new venture, and you want to do it the right way; you listen to all the successful people who have come before you but listening to their great but sometimes conflicting advice left me with a headache, a belly filled with self-doubt, and the loss of your own voice.
My intention when I started this blog, was to provide a place where the community takes root, a place where I extend the olive branch of love, support and hope to woman who join our little family. But the experts told me I was doing it all wrong, that I couldn’t possibly succeed with the content I wanted to present. I took a deep breath, said a lot of prayers and decided to relaunch with the content that is close to my heart, and from the conversations, I’ve had with some of you close to yours as well.
Now I am not sure if this experiment in my own version of manifest destiny will be successful, but when I decided to in the words of Frank Sinatra to do it my way, the self-doubt disappeared, and I was free to carry on. I am sharing this with you first because I don’t want you to think I forgot about you. Secondly, I am hoping that my experience will give you the kick in the pants you need to stop messing around with your version of manifest destiny, to stand firm and listen to your own voice. I am not saying that listening to expert advice is a bad thing, but sometimes you just must go with your gut. Ask yourself this question, is there something in my life I want to pursue but everyone is telling me that it won’t work? If that is the case, I want you to take a deep breath, write down your intention for this project, and then get to work. It might fail, and then again maybe it won’t. But, would you rather be filled with regret over the chances you didn’t take, or learn the lessons that will take you to the top of your game.
So, truth-seekers welcome back to The Welcome to Your Life/Live the Life You Deserve Blog 2.0 Stay Tuned! We will be launching our new website very soon. Stay Tuned!
My intention is still to create a community where I can extend the olive branch of love, support, and hope. Where we can grow and thrive together as we navigate this journey called life. The new version of the Welcome to Your Life Blog bring you thoughtful and exciting information six days per week. We will discuss everything from relationships to faith, to parenting, to food, and everything in between.
I am so excited to be able to connect you with each day, you can find me @iamreneereid on Facebook and Instagram.
Leave a comment, I’d love to know what you thought of today’s post.
You can also drop me a line at reneereid@reneereid.net I answer every email.

Remember to own your own truth, wishing you peace and love.

Let’s talk tomorrow.

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You Are Stronger Than You Give Yourself Credit!

2 You are Stronger than you give yourself credit

I woke up this morning not really happy about my life. It wasn’t that my candidate hadn’t won although I still question the validity of the race. It was a feeling of not having control over my life that put me in a deep funk. I had made big plans for 2018 which included starting my own business, writing several books, increasing my social media footprint and crafting a slamming body. But, as the year draws to a close, I realize that the scope of what I had imagined for 2018 might not come to pass.
Of course, I had to snap myself out of this funk because allowing it to linger would have me in a total mental meltdown lying on my sofa, eating food not particularly friendly to the girth of my hips. I had to remind myself that I had accomplished a lot this year. I did, in fact, start my own business, I became very clear on my message and what I wanted to offer my friends/clients. I stop listening to other people tell what I should be doing and decided to follow my gut. I created a workout plan for myself and lost 10 pounds without dieting or starving myself. And I built a foundation for 2019 that will take me to personal and professional heights that will be astonishing if I do say so myself. And I do!
As my aunt Maggie use to say, this is no time to waddle in self-pity. It’s time to move. What I am learning more and more as I travel this journey called life. Is that we are stronger and more resilient than we give ourselves credit. We can if we refuse to give up on ourselves and our dreams to accomplish some unimaginable feats. You many feel like I felt. Like what you wanted in your life for this year has not materialized. But you still have time to start planting seeds that will act as your foundation for 2019. A strong foundation will take you to heights you have only dreamt of, I believe in you! I believe in us!

 

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Who Controls Your Attitude?

 

Health-Quotes (17)
How many times have you heard this your attitude will make or break your day. Too many times, we let some one else’s behavior dictate how we are going to feel. You know I’m right. How many times have you started the day off happy and excited only to have your good mood crushed by someone cutting you off in traffic, taking the last cinnamon raising bagel (okay maybe that was just me), not saying good morning back when you walk into the office. Or, having a customer yell at you because the thing they ordered is not what they expected. Once any of those things happen or a hundred other things you have no control over your attitude goes into a slump. This week don’t take everything so personal, people have bad days, that does not mean that you have to join them. Be the light, that you would like to see in your part of the world. Say good morning with a smile, even if the intended recipient doesn’t say it back. Wish good things for the person who cut you off in traffic. When you set your intention to give light, love, and peace the other person’s behavior has no effect on you. It may not happen overnight, but darkness can’t beat the light of a good attitude. Try it and tell me how it goes.

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Three Things To Do When Your Doctor Tells You To Lose Weight!

Health-Quotes (16)

Three things to do when your doctor tells you must lose weight!
I want to share three tips that worked for me.

1. Don’t panic: take a deep breath and create a plan that begins with a small step.
2. Start small- choose one activity, set a time, and do it every day. This will help you build momentum and consistency.
3. Don’t stop living until you lose weight. Treat yourself weekly on this journey. Choose rewards that do not center around food and go for it, it will only make you feel special and valued.

     You get a bad report at your annual physical, and suddenly you realize that you must get your butt in gear and do some real work to get your body in shape. This is what happened to me, even though I lost my grandmother, my dad, and my younger brother to heart disease. I walked out of my doctor’s office in tears. At 218 pounds I was obese. I was prehypertensive, pre-diabetic, and my cholesterol was over 200.

     Don’t overdo it like I did. My workout plan mirrored that of a Marine Corp recruit. Start small, I started walking 30 minutes every morning and drinking more water, I added weight training, yoga, my walking turned into a jog, my body began to tell me what it wanted. One day, I put on a dress that I have not worn for seven years, and it fits perfectly.

 

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Are You Praying In Faith or In Fear?

 

God is already there

I admit that although I accepted Christ more than 25 years ago, for most of that time I have been praying in fear and not in faith. For some reason, and I cannot for the life of me tell you why I just didn’t believe that the blessings of God belonged to me. Even though I believe in him and in the sanctifying saving power of his grace. I just did not think that he could overcome my genetic code and save me, change me into the woman he needed me to be to teach his people. Maybe I just did not think I was good enough, after all, I was a poor nobody with no connections. Who was I to hear his voice and teach his word?
So, when obstacles came my way, and sometimes it was as though they were non-stop. I worried and tried with all my might to change my circumstances using my own power. I did not want to trust and believe only to be let down because my prayers were unanswered, or God said no. This behavior not only decreased my ability to get a prayer through to the Lord. It also reduced the depth of the relationship I so desperately wanted to have with him. Hebrews 11:6 reads, “and without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” My fear of being let down and disappointed made it impossible for me to please God and to obtain the rewards he so wanted to give me.
I do have to tell you that even in my disbelief and disobedience the Lord continued to love me and bless me beyond anything I could hope for or imagine. You would think that this would be enough to move me from fear to faith. But it was not. Albert Einstein said, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” That is precisely what my life had become, a wild roller coaster ride of me wallowing in fear and then trying to use those fear-based emotions to change my situation.

Insantity

It wasn’t until I was at a dead end that I begin to listen to the Lord. I was out of money, unemployed, and alone. I cried myself to sleep at night, and when I allowed myself to think of what my children must think of me, fresh tears emerged, and I had no strength left in me to turn them off. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “acknowledge him.” I thought to myself, what have I got to lose. I have nothing. No income, no connections, no resources. Looking back, I see how backward my thinking had become. I thought God wouldn’t bless me, because I had nothing. And here I was with nothing, and there he stood with his arms open wide waiting for me to just acknowledge him. “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6 Oh, the time I wasted.
I am praying that you learn these lessons quicker than I did. First, the Lord did not give us the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 You will probably always feel a little bit of fear, or maybe even a lot as you move in your purpose and began to do things that you never thought you could do. Just know that it is normal and that God is with you all the way. Nothing significant happens in our comfort zones. Great things occur when we move beyond what we thought possible.

The good news is that our creator knows what we can do because he has equipped us with all the gifts and talents we need. The prophet Isaiah proclaims, “Listen, far-flung islands, pay attention, faraway people: GOD put me to work from the day I was born. The moment I entered the world he named me. He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate. He kept his hand on me to protect me. He made me his straight arrow and hid me in his quiver. He said to me, “You’re my dear servant, Israel, through whom I’ll shine.” Isaiah 49:1 (The MSG)
Secondly, faith is not an emotion. Faith is not something you feel, it is something you do. Even when you cannot see the outcome, you must have faith that God knows what he is doing and that nothing that happens to you will take him by surprise. The just shall walk by faith. (Romans 1:17) Because, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith requires you to move sometimes without the benefit of a safety net that you can see, but our God who has written your name in the palm of his hands will not let you fall. Isaiah 49:16 You do not need a lot of faith, just a small amount of faith that is strong and true can move mountains. (Matthew 12:20)

disobedience to the lord
Three, disobedience is never an option. Even when you are afraid you cannot disobey God. Disobedience brings only death and destruction. It separates you from God and moves you out of his will. It delays your progress and your success. It delays the message that someone is waiting for you to deliver. Disobedience cancels out faith and has dire consequences. Just ask the Israelites who wondered in the desert for 40 years because they did not listen to the Lord. (Joshua 5:6) They died without seeing the promise land. Are you willing to risk that in your or your family’s future?

Four, God loves you. This is by far the most important revelation. Knowing that he loves you will strengthen your faith and lower the possibility that you will be disobedient. Because of his love, you will want to please him. You will look forward to waking up each day without regret. Now, all this sounds wonderful, but I will not be the one to sugar coat this journey. It was hard getting from fear to faith. I had spent many years walking in fear. I had to put myself and my emotions aside. But, each day it gets easier. Just do one thing each day that the Lord has asked, you to do and you will move closer to him.
Remember he loves you. Pray in that love, pray in the knowledge that no matter what you have done, no matter where you are in your walk, that God loves you and that will never change. His love is perfect and perfect love casts out fear. Pray in faith, and your fear will diminish. (1 John 4:18)

Courageous Women

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