Allow me some leeway in this imagery and metaphor.  In life there are two groups of people. Some are simply surviving.  Others, well they truly thrive. Now these two groups can be compared to crows and eagles. A crow hangs around with the majority of everyone else (the 99%).  Crows sit together on the power lines waiting for some random animal to get killed on the road, so that they can eat. Sometimes it’s a skunk, cat, dog or a deer — but the crow does not get to decide what it will have for dinner.  Mr. Crow has to eat whatever comes along.

Then there are the eagles (the 1%). Eagles are solitary. They stand alone. They are different. They are NOT like everyone else. They are unique and special. When they get hungry, they decide what they would like to eat and they search long and hard until they find exactly what they want. It’s not easy, but they are free to choose and they don’t quit or give up until they have succeeded.

An eagle will travel 50-100 miles to get exactly what he wants, whereas the crow will travel 1-2 miles to take what they can get. The crow eats whatever life gives him. The eagle eats whatever he wants and decides what life will bring him. Crows wait for opportunities to fall into their lap. Eagles create opportunities because they go looking for what they want and don’t stop until it has been acquired.

In this life, we get to decide – every ding dang day -will we be an Eagle? Or, will we hang with crows?  It is not by what we say, declare, post or dream about … but rather what we actually DO, that determines our destiny. You are what you do; not what you say. Got a goal? Write it down. Create a plan. Make it happen. If you’re waiting for someone to hand you your winnings … just remember, it is actually yourself for whom you wait upon.

Carry on.

As always, make champion choices!
The Healthy Habit Lady

Well I wouldn’t dare name the blog post Fifty Shades of Grey now would I?  People might talk, but then again — let them. Besides, that’s an entirely different conversation for another day.

It’s New Year’s Day today.  2023. What are you thinking about? Are the brain gears burning and churning of all that’ll you do this year, accomplish – abolish – etc.

Many folks think of fireworks, fun parties, fancy clothes or tuxedos and what not. Or maybe you’re thinking of the hangovers 🙂 Then there are those that think … Hurry up, eat all the junk food in the house.  Drink all the alcohol.  Get it out of your system. Party hard!  Because of course; starting on the magical New Year’s Day, on the ever elusive January 1st, that mystical day of transformation, you are going to eat perfect. You will work out like a Greek Goddess.  You will have perfect portion control and macro nutrient timing down to a Science. You will be the envy of all the gossiping gazelles from the sidelines waiting to start their diets after the New Year’s rush dies down. They’ll join the gyms when the enthusiastic short-timers clear away. They’ll start on Monday, after the next Monday, or that next Sunday, or on the first. OR – maybe they’ll start when they get paid, or when they’re not stressed, or when they feel better, or when they look better. Some swear to start when they have more money, when the junk food is gone or when the in-laws aren’t visiting. But what if you find yourself at the next New Year’s Eve party swearing off resolutions because they never work. Then you vow and promise to get rid of the pounds that crept up over the last decade of failed and false starts. But wait – there’s still Christmas cookies in the jar.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with starting something new, with a new year or a new week, or even a new day … but with that, you must start it with a new mindset.  Why are you doing this? Is it a lifestyle?  Or is this some silly tradition or gimmick or cool kids’ table sorority initiation type thing? Well hey, all the OTHER mamas are doing Keto, so I should too, right?  

First of all; stop assigning emotional value to food.  There are not good foods vs bad foods.  Food is food.  It should be fuel for your body, period.  Some food will fuel you better than others.   Some food will make you feel like crap; well that’s a given. Try not to beat yourself up and turn that into this whole diatribe about how you’re a horrible person because you ate a bag of chips that gave you diarrhea and made you feel like poop – LITERALLY.  So, um, okay – chips are not good fuel. Move on.  Some people swear by broccoli.  Well, that doesn’t work for me.  I can’t eat broccoli.  If I eat broccoli, I get very ill. That is not good fuel for Deb.  That is very BAD fuel for Deb – but not in the world of fitness and clean eating per se. Everyone hails broccoli like it’s a God or something.  Not in my world.  Thus is my point. Eat for YOUR body, not your neighbor’s.  Eyes on your own plate people. Not everything is black and white. There are a thousand shades of grey to mitigate.

The rules are sketchy and murky and ever-changing.  Why?  Because the only rules that matter are the rules that apply to you and your body, your health and lifestyle. Of course there are general ones that apply to most; like everybody should be drinking water! Meanwhile, guess what … your body will change.  Yup.  It changes all the dang time.  As I’ve become smaller; my rules have changed. Oh my word, Menopause changed the game big time.  I can’t do the same thing or eat the same way, I have to adapt. If your body changes, the rules change. And everybody’s physical tent is constantly changing and aging. My workouts have to change.  I’ve got to pay attention.  That is why I can’t just jump on every silly band wagon hippy fad magazine hype that hits the airwaves as if they’re the magic ticket.  

Also … mental health plays a huge factor. Stress and anxiety, or insomnia, create havoc in our bodies and work against our best efforts. For me, grief has been a bombshell I was never expecting. The death of my daughter in 2021 affected me in ways I never thought possible. Between surviving a pandemic, surviving the death of a child, mitigating menopause and now battling anemia… I basically have to start over. Back to basics. I know what to do. I know how. I’ve relentlessly studied the human body, physiology and nutrition. But like my mama used to say about the Bible – – knowing the ten commandments and obeying them are two entirely different things. So yes, I know what to do. I just have to be consistent in doing such. Notice I said ‘consistent’ – NOT ‘Perfect’! Perfection is an illusion. Don’t fall for that trap. Hang out with me and you’ll see me start, fail, fall down, get up, crawl, climb, walk, jump, inhale fresh air, pray, sing, dance, stumble and stretch. Then rinse and repeat.

People come to me for advice all of the time.  That’s always welcome. I’m excited to do it; but all I’m really going to do is ask you a laundry list of questions to get to the heart of YOU.  One of two things happen:  The person gets excited and answers the questions, self reflect – and takes action – – or they disappear.  That’s fine, that means they were either ready or they were not.  No worries, I’m not going anywhere.  For those who are eager and want to join me in my ongoing journey… I’m still here. In the meantime; I’ll be in my corner of the world learning to walk and breathe again.

New Year’s Eve 1999 vs. New Year’s Eve 2014

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

Lord knows my husband and I love to take off on road trips, explore things off the beaten path, find local faire whenever possible and just enjoy seeing new places. However, in all of our jaunts, our very favorite wine tasting room/winery is only 30 minutes from our house in Sulphur Springs, Texas. If you are ever in the area, you should definitely check out Phinessé Farms Winery. Their story is one right out of a romantic novel almost, and someone should make a movie about them. Seriously. Love these people. The owners and staff are amazing. This is now a cherished spot for our date nights close to home. Here is their website: https://www.phinessefarms.com

I am incredibly picky when it comes to trying new things regarding food/beverage, as most of you know. This is especially true of wine or alcohol. However; this winery has honestly earned the title of favorite in my book – and the fact that their wines are low sulfates – even better. I am starting to think I am going to be doing a lot of Christmas shopping here. They sell hand painted wine glasses, created by the owner’s mother, who is in her 90’s I think. Exquisitely impressive.

Also noteworthy – especially since I’m the Healthy Habit Lady – is that they create and sell a wonderful supplement. Phinessé Farms currently produces muscadine powder from the skins and seeds of the Noble muscadine grape. Research has shown tremendous health benefits associated with the muscadine grape with the highest concentration of antioxidants in the skins and seeds. Their muscadine powder is sun-dried skins and seeds which is then milled and ground into a fine powder. One half teaspoon a day of this healthy gift of nature gives the body a healthy dose of antioxidants for helping to fight many ailments. Review the research on the web and determine for yourself if muscadine powder may be right for you. If so, consider purchasing the product at Phinessé Farms. You can’t go wrong with just pure muscadine skin and seed powder with no fillers. Here is a link to their online store: https://www.phinessefarms.com/store.html#/

The first time we visited this place, I left my jacket there. We didn’t return again for a few weeks, and I had no idea I left my jacket at the winery. I had looked everywhere, assuming it was long gone. When we returned for our 2nd visit, the ever-so-pleasant lady remembered us and brought me my jacket. She even remembered I loved the blackberry wine. I was impressed (and hooked). We now return often.

Meanwhile, here are a few photos from this quaint and friendly spot. We like it so much we joined their wine club, and I never thought I would do that anywhere 🙂

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

Recently, a friend of mine asked me how I ever became involved with high school foreign exchange students. She didn’t know me back then and wondered how I started down a path that would lead to hosting over a dozen different teenagers from all over the world (not concurrently, mind you).

Well, the year was 2003. I was very pregnant. We had just moved into a new house and boxes were everywhere. I also had a foster daughter in the 1st grade that we were in the process of adopting. Meanwhile, my husband and I were both working full time and he was taking college courses at night. To say we were busy — would be an understatement.

Through a friend of a friend, typical networking, we found out about a young lady coming to the United States from Russia. At the last minute, her volunteer host family fell apart. It happens. A wonderful woman, named Tanya, was scrambling to find a place for this teenager to stay. I remember telling Tanya that we did indeed have an extra bedroom, but it was filled with boxes and I was very pregnant, still working, etc. However; she didn’t miss a beat. I was willing to open my home so she was willing to help. She literally helped me unpack boxes and get that room ready. She even went with us to the airport to pick up our student upon arrival. That young lady from Russia stayed with us for the school year. She says we changed her life; but I say she changed mine. All in the most wonderful and profound ways.

This experience launched a path in which I had NO idea would evolve into global friendships and even a career. That first exchange student we hosted from Russia was 15 years old back then. Present day she is married with children ~ and we still keep in touch. Meanwhile, Tanya and I have remained good friends and are connected in so many ways. I truly consider her a dear friend and someone I am honored to know.

Working with high school foreign exchange students and volunteer host families is a unique experience that has shaped my life in many ways. Not just mine, but the lives of my children. I even have a video where I interviewed my daughter about what it was like being raised with folks from other countries living in our home. Here is a link to the YouTube video if you are curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQu-7obfKIg&t=24s

Meanwhile, here is a photo of us at the airport with our very first foreign exchange student from Russia and my friend Tanya, the local coordinator at the time.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about what it’s like living with — or working with –teenagers from around the world, please reach out to me. Or visit this link!

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

(aka Deb)

Host Family Referral Form – complete this form and if the family you refer is new to Greenheart and ends up hosting a qualifying student, you will earn a $200 Visa gift card!

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