Monday, April 13, 2009

Acts 17:28

"In God we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28

Isn't this a great bible verse? I just happened upon it and I really like it!

In GOD
We LIVE
We MOVE
We have our BEING

I like it!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Map This Walk, Run, Ride!

I've posted the link here before, but consider it well worth repeating! I really like MapMyWalk.com. You can easily chart your walk, run or bike ride on the map and it tells you how far your route is. It's got a great training log and you can even track calories burned and weight if you want.

Turned out my little jaunt the other day was a whopping 4.53 miles! Awesome!

MapMyWalk.com Check it out! I like it!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Fudge...UNPUDGED!

Hungry Girl (hungrygirl.com) has done it again. Armed with nothing but pumpkin, some brownie mix and a VERY lowfat PB, she’s whipped up a version of chocolate peanut butter fudge that's so low in calories and fat, it'll make you cry tears of joy. Here's the secret recipe...

Ingredients:
2 cups canned pure pumpkin

1 box Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies Mix (the 18.3-oz. Family Size box)

2 tbsp. Better ‘n Peanut Butter, room temperature

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine pumpkin with the brownie mix in a large bowl; stir until smooth (do not add anything else). Spray a small baking pan (8" X 8" work best - no larger!) with nonstick cooking spray and pour in the mixture. Spoon 2 tbsp. of Better ‘n Peanut Butter (room temperature) on top and use a knife to swirl peanut butter around. Cook for approximately 35 minutes. The batter will remain very thick and fudgy, and it should look undercooked. Remove from oven. Cover with aluminum foil and let cool in fridge for a couple of hours. Cut into 36 squares and serve.

Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 1.3 oz.)
Calories: 63
Fat: 1g
Sodium: 56mg
Carbs: 13.5g
Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 9g
Protein: 1g

* 1 Point!

Building A Network of Support is Key....

This is what Mayo Clinic has to say about it:
It doesn't take a scientific study to show that surrounding yourself with supportive family, friends and co-workers can have a positive effect on your mental well-being, but there's plenty of research to confirm it. A strong social support network can be critical to help you through the stress of tough times, whether you've had a bad day at work or a year filled with loss or chronic illness. It's never too soon to cultivate these important relationships — and your social support network can never have too many good friends.
What is a social support network?

A social support network is different from a support group. A social support network is made up of friends, family and peers, while a support group is generally a structured meeting run by a mental health professional. Although both can play an important role in times of stress, a social support network is something you can develop when you're not under stress, providing the comfort of knowing that your friends are there for you if you need them.

You don't need to formalize your support network with regular meetings or an official leader. A coffee break with a friend at work, a quick chat with a neighbor, a phone call to your sister, even a visit to church are all ways to reduce stress while fostering lasting relationships with the people close to you.
Benefits of a social support network

The positive effects of a support network include:

* Sense of belonging. Spending time with people helps ward off loneliness. Whether it's other new moms, dog lovers, fishing buddies or siblings, just knowing you're not alone can go a long way toward coping with stress.
* Increased sense of self-worth. Having people who call you a friend reinforces the idea that you're a good person to be around.
* Feeling of security. By reaching out and sharing yourself with others, you have the added security of knowing that if you start to show signs of depression or exhibit unhealthy lifestyle habits, your friends can help alert you to the problem.

Cultivating your support network

The first step toward developing a strong support network is an evaluation of your own behavior as it relates to building and maintaining friendships. After all, relationships are a two-way street. The better a friend you are, the better your friends will be. Here are some suggestions for nurturing your relationships:

* Stay in touch. Answering phone calls, returning e-mails and reciprocating invitations let people know you care.
* Be proactive. Don't wait for someone else to make the first move. If you meet someone you think could be a good friend, invite him or her for coffee. Or be the one to strike up a conversation while in line at the grocery store.
* Know when to say "no" and when to say "yes." Spending time with people who aren't supportive can add stress and take away valuable time. On the other hand, don't decline an invitation because you feel shy or insecure.
* Don't compete. Be happy instead of jealous when your friends succeed, and they'll celebrate your accomplishments in return.
* Be a good listener. Find out what's important to your friends — you might find you have even more in common than you think.
* Challenge yourself. Keep looking for ways to improve. Maybe it's by complaining less, being more generous or forgiving others' faults.
* Don't overdo it. In your zeal to extend your social network, be careful not to overwhelm friends and family with phone calls and e-mails. Save those high-demand times for when you really need them.
* Appreciate your friends and family. Take time to say thank you and express how important they are to you.

Adding to your support network

Ready for more friends, but not sure where to find them? Here are some ideas for extending your social network:

* Visit the park. Whether you bring your dog, your kids or your running shoes, you'll have something to talk about.
* Volunteer. Pick a cause that's important to you, and you're sure to meet others who share a similar value system.
* Ask a friend. Next time you meet a friend for lunch, ask him or her to bring along someone else.
* Go back to school. A local college or community education course puts you in contact with others who share similar hobbies or pursuits.
* Look online. In-person relationships may be best, but if you're living in a small town or living abroad, you might find added support through chat rooms or online bulletin boards. Many good sites exist for people going through stressful times, such as chronic illness, loss of a loved one, new baby, divorce and other life changes. Just be sure to stick to reputable sites, and be cautious about arranging person-to-person meetings.

A cautionary tale

Remember that the goal of extending your social support network is to reduce your stress level, not add to it. Here are some things to look out for when evaluating your relationships:

* Manage obligatory social ties. Some evidence shows that the negative consequences of maintaining obligatory relationships, such as with certain relatives or co-workers, can outweigh the benefits. Although you may not be able to cut ties with a nagging in-law, look for ways to manage the relationship so that it doesn't become a stressor for you.
* Beware of codependents. A support system with people who are engaged in the same unhealthy behaviors that you're trying to overcome — whether it's substance abuse or simply a negative attitude — can be damaging to your well-being.
* Avoid a sense of duty. The best support systems have no strings attached. If your peers are constantly demanding repayment for their efforts, or you feel pressured to conform to their beliefs, you're probably better off without them.
* Pick the right supporter. If you need help through a hard time, consider carefully which friend or family member to ask. A sibling might not be the best choice, for example, in dealing with grief over a lost parent because he or she too is affected by the loss.

The bottom line: More friends, less stress

It's always a good time to make more friends or improve on the relationships you already have. Whether you're the one getting the support or the one doling out the encouragement, you'll reap the rewards of comfort and compassion.