Inspiration Friday

Ever since finding out gluten was a big no no for me I have been on a mission to improve my health.

A couple of weeks ago I showed you a before and after image of myself prior to going gluten free vs me today. It's true that I have lost over 30 pounds since going gluten free however you have to understand this is not a fad diet for me nor am I doing it to lose weight. I am gluten free in order to LIVE. Period.

Many people ask me, my Mom being one, if I think my weight loss is the diet or the running.  I always respond with...it's a combination of the two. They go hand in hand for me. I can not do one without the other.  See before, I didn't feel like doing anything. I was tired all the time, had no energy and simply didn't feel like being active at all.  Once I stopped consuming gluten my body started to heal and I started to feel like I could run again. So one day I took off running and I've never looked back.

Even though you can see a big change in my appearance it left me wondering what was really going on inside my body? So under the advice of my doctor I had my blood tested again to see if the highs had declined and if the lows had increased and I got some AMAZING news today when I met with my doctor to go over the results.

Take a look!!

My Vitamin D is way up! It was 20 before it's now at 47!! Huge improvement considering it's most beneficial to be between 50 -80 to help wart off diseases. So I'm super stoked about this reading.

My Cholesterol has been high for a long long time and I am so excited to report that my LDL dropped 36 points, down from 167 to 131. While my HDL increased 5 points to a whopping 78!!! Overall my cholesterol is still considered high by looking at my total, but I have made awesome progress. I couldn't be happier with my improvements. Keep in mind this has all been attained naturally and with no harsh Cholesterol lowing meds! All my results are from eating a healthy diet that is right for me, exercising and also taking a Niacin supplement. 

The only bad reading I had last time that really wasn't corrected was my Ferritin levels which were a measly 4 last time we tested and this time it only increased to 5.9 and it should be around 40. So it's still way to low and I have now been placed on iron to help increase this.

So where is the inspiration in this post??

I'll tell you where...

It's inspiring and empowering that we can heal our bodies naturally by nourishing them with foods that do not make us sick.  I honestly believe that many of our ailments can been corrected by making simple changes in the foods we eat. Trust me I have been told so many times that I need a drug to improve my health and every time I have responded with "No I can do this on my own!" And now I have!!! 

I hope after reading this you are inspired to continue working towards a healthier you!

No matter what your goals are continue to work hard to attain them.

and

Remember... if you believe it...you can achieve it.

Sparkling Summer Waters

When you grow up where I did, which happens to be the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina, the water is so crisp, pure and refreshing you can't help but fall in love with it.

I remember one of the things I most enjoyed  as a child and well into adulthood was getting lost in nature with my Papa. He had a large amount of land and together we would go and explore the world around us.

One stop we always made was to take a long drink of water from the spring on his land!

Standing there under the shaded canopy of the forest we would quietly have a sip of cool mountain water while taking in our surroundings and listening to the beautiful mountain orchestra of birds, wind and the constant beautiful trickle of water from the spring.

I still remember it so crystal clear and every time I visit my parents I still have to stop and take a drink when we pass it.

The water comes from an underground spring and is a constant bone chilling 52 degrees. 

Crisp, cold, pure and refreshing mountain water.
Pure perfection.

 My precious grandpa has since passed however the wonderful memories we shared will always walk with me. And the land my Papa held so near and dear to his heart is now owned by my Mom and Dad. So I can still take those lovely walks but now I go with my Mom and Daddy and take my sweet little girls along with me. 

And we are kinda creatures of habit. 

We do the same thing and stop at the old spring for a cool refreshing sip of water.

But what do you do if water isn't your thing and you want to up your intake?

Or if you're tired of drinking plain water and want to jazz it up a bit.
You know, without the added calories or the yucky stuff that companies love to add that really defeat the purpose of nourishing our bodies by drinking water in the first place.

You flavor your own water naturally!!

And lucky for us there are very simple and affordable ways to do just that. It's easier than you think to naturally infuse water with wonderful flavors, without added calories and minus all the gross yucky stuff you don't want to place in your body in first place.

 Trust me you will be left refreshed, hydrated and yearning for more.

One of the things I love most about water is how easy it is to dress it up and morph it into something different.

If you get tired of plain water just add some fresh fruit or herbs to it and you have a new refreshing flavored water.

For example. I made Crisp Mint Cucumber, Mint Strawberry and Lemon Clementine over the weekend!

All were awesomely flavored after sitting in the fridge overnight!

Pretty easy hu? And what a pretty presentation as well.

These will be great to have in a bucket of ice for summer gatherings!

I will be making these all summer long. I totally promise you that.

{PS. I got the bottles at IKEA $3.99 each}

And they hold a whopping 32oz so you can pour a refreshing drink for several people from one bottle!

 

Now go kick-off your summer with a nice tall glass of naturally flavored H2O!

Did you like this post? If so, tell me!

Do you make flavored waters yourself? Then share your favorites with me. I'd love to hear what combinations you've tried and loved.

:)

I think this speaks volumes and really reflects how we should all think and live each and every day of our lives.

Live life like there is no tomorrow and with no regrets.

:)