You Cannot Heal In The Same Toxic Environment That Made You Sick: Ten Tips To Go From Merely Surviving To Thriving

March 11, 2024March 11, 2024 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood8 Comments

Five years ago, I was drowning in a toxic environment that suffocated my mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. The negativity and toxicity were like chains, binding me to a life of self-inflicted misery. I felt trapped and out of control! I wanted to feel better, but nothing I was doing seemed to help. I reached a breaking point and that is when I knew it was time to make a life changing choice to break free, to heal, and to thrive. I realized it was time to leave the toxic environment that was making me sick.

Making significant changes in my life, I let go of what was holding me back and embraced a new way of living, a new way of thinking. Once I made those drastic changes I realized just how much that previous environment was negatively affecting me. I now choose to surround myself with positivity, embrace healthy habits, and nurture my mental health and spiritual growth.

Choosing to make those changes wasn’t easy; it required courage, resilience, and determination. Yet, with each step forward, I felt myself becoming lighter, stronger, less anxious, and more alive. I wasn’t just surviving, I was starting to thrive. Now, five years later, I stand in a completely different place—a place of peace, joy, and fulfillment. I’ve learned that you cannot become well in the same toxic environment that was making you sick.

Here are some tips on how to let go of what is holding you back from thriving:

1. Identify the source: Recognize what exactly is holding you back. It could be negative thought patterns, toxic relationships, self-doubt, fear of failure, or past traumas. Understanding the root cause is the first step to overcoming it.

2.Practice self-awareness: Pay attention to your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Notice when you’re feeling stuck or limited by something. Awareness empowers you to take action and make changes.

3.Challenge limiting beliefs: Question the beliefs that are keeping you trapped in a cycle of negativity. Replace them with empowering beliefs that support your growth and well-being.

4.Set boundaries: Learn to say no to things that drain your energy or bring negativity into your life. Set clear boundaries with toxic people or situations and prioritize your own needs and happiness. Be willing to cut ties with relationships that are holding you back.(This is extremely difficult , but absolutely necessary!)

5.Practice forgiveness: Let go of resentment, anger, or grudges that are weighing you down. Forgiveness doesn’t mean condoning the actions of others, but rather releasing yourself from the emotional burden of holding onto past hurt.

6.Focus on what you can control: Instead of dwelling on things outside your control, focus on the actions you can take to move forward. Break your goals into manageable steps and take consistent action towards them. One day at a time makes an enormous difference with consistency!

7.Surround yourself with positivity: Surround yourself with supportive and uplifting people who encourage your growth and well-being. Seek out inspiring books, podcasts, or activities that nourish your mind and spirit.

8.Practice self-care: Take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Make time for activities that bring you joy, relaxation, and fulfillment. Prioritize self-care as an essential part of your daily routine. Self care is not selfish, it is essential!

9.Seek support: Don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you’re struggling to let go of what’s holding you back. Whether it’s through therapy, counseling, or talking to a trusted friend or family member, seeking support can provide valuable guidance and perspective. We are not meant to do things alone! A burden shared is a burden lifted. When we open up to others and share our struggles, we allow them to offer support, understanding, and perspective.

10.Celebrate progress: Celebrate your successes, no matter how small. Acknowledge the progress you’ve made and the steps you’ve taken towards letting go of what’s holding you back. Celebrating your victories reinforces positive momentum and motivates you to keep moving forward.

While I was suffocating in that toxic environment I thought that was just how my life was always going to be. Change is scary. The unknown is frightening! I was drained, mental, physical, and spiritually exhausted . Choosing to change required courage and resilience, but through embracing the change, no matter how frightening, and letting go of what held me back, I discovered a newfound sense of peace and fulfillment.

Is my life perfect now? Absolutely not! But I now have equipped myself with better tools to navigate life’s challenges. By equipping myself with these better tools, I am better prepared to face whatever comes my way. While my life may not be perfect, I have learned to embrace imperfection and view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.

Surrounding myself with positivity and prioritizing my health allowed me to grow stronger and happier. True healing can only happen when we are willing to take that first step towards leaving behind toxic environments and embracing the unknown. Today, I stand as proof that transformation is possible, leading to a brighter future filled with joy and endless possibilities. The temporary discomfort was worthwhile!

Resources that I have found to be helpful:

A book that has been instrumental in helping me set healthy boundaries is incidentally called “Boundaries” written by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. Townsend. Reading this book was absolutely an eye-opener for me. Their insights and practical advice really resonated with my own experiences, and it helped me see the importance of defining healthy limits in all aspects of my life.

The book highlights the significance of recognizing our personal limits and how it’s okay to say “no” when something doesn’t align with our values or makes us uncomfortable. It gave me the courage to put myself and my family first and prioritize my well-being without feeling guilty about it.

When Narcissism Comes To Church Chuck DeGroat | lookingjoligood.blog

When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse by Chuck DeGroat. This book explores the issue of narcissism in the church. DeGroat, a counselor who has worked with many victims of narcissistic abuse, argues that narcissism is a growing problem in the church, and that it can have a devastating impact on individuals and communities. 10/10 recommend!

**Affiliate link:

When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse https://go.magik.ly/ml/1yiuy/

**An affiliate link is free to the user. It is a unique URL provided by an affiliate program or network to their partners, such as bloggers or website owners. When someone clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase or completes a desired action at no additional cost to them, the affiliate partner earns a commission or other form of compensation. These links are specifically tracked to attribute sales or conversions generated through the partner’s promotional efforts. In summary, an affiliate link is a specialized link that allows partners to earn commissions by driving traffic and sales to a particular product or service.**

Disclaimer: The experiences shared in this post are based on my personal experiences and perspective. I am not an expert, but I was part of a high demand community for the majority of my life. I acknowledge that I am on a continuous journey of growth and self-improvement. I am aware that I don’t always respond or behave in the perfect way, as I am only human. While I may stumble along the way, my intention is always rooted in creating positive interactions and demonstrating consideration for others. I hold firm to the belief that treating people with kindness and respect is of utmost importance. While I chose to leave the IFB to find a more gracious and loving path, it is important to acknowledge that individuals may have different experiences and find happiness within the IFB or any other religious institution. The decision to leave the IFB does not imply a loss of faith, as faith is a deeply personal and subjective matter.

I would love for you to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

Lifestyle

How Injuring My Arm and Gaining Weight Changed My Life and What Else I Gained In The Process

February 3, 2020February 3, 2020 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood

It was a freezing cold 9 degree January morning last year when I found myself on the ground in the parking lot. It all happened so fast I didn’t realize that I had slipped on ice and fell until I was on the ground. My first thought was that I hoped that no one had seen me fall, my second was I was afraid I had broken my new pyrex dish in my lunchbox. Don’t worry, the pyrex was safe…my arm on the other hand…not so much!

What I thought was going to be a simple sprained wrist has turned out to be a year-long road of recovering with no definite end in sight.

The healing and recovery process has been very humbling. I’ve been forced to learn so much and grown so much through all of this! I’ve learned to take things one day at a time, one task at a time. There have been lots of tears along the way. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in over a year. I’ve learned the extremely hard lesson of asking for help. Let me tell you, it is unbelievably hard to go from being a “strong” person to having to ask for help for everything from putting on a bra, to taking off a shirt or opening a tube of toothpaste. My husband and children have been such a support and help throughout this whole thing.

Sadly for me, due to my arm injury, I have been unable to exercise. Previously, exercising was my life, my identity. I literally didn’t know what to do with myself once I couldn’t exercise! Also due to my extreme decrease in activity and my enormous increase in cookie consumption, I have steadily gained weight over this last year. I think in total I have gained about 20+ lbs… but I’m not exactly sure because I have not been weighing myself.

benefits of weight gain | lookingjoligood.blog — Lucky for me I get to wear this beautiful brace when I sleep at night

If you had told me last year that I would have gained 20 lbs due to my injury, I would have been devastated. Devastated!!! Gaining weight was my biggest fear. The thought of even 5 extra pounds was terrifying, never mind 20! I strived daily to be healthy, fit, and trim. I spent hours working out and weighing my food… Fast forward a year, my temporary disability has given me a new perspective, as well as new priorities.

There are so many things I have gained this year besides weight. I have grown in ways that can never be measured on a scale.

1) I have gained a new priority for listening to my body.

Pain is not the problem, pain is the warning sign to stop and make a change. I tried for months to work out, regardless of my injury, only be to be met with increased pain, regression of progress, and sleepless nights. I learned the hard way that I physically cannot grow my muscles right now. It is not my time to get stronger, I am in a season of rest, healing, and recovery. For everything there is a season, and right now for me, this is a season of forced rest. I’m working on growing roots instead of blooming flowers. I have curves now where muscle used to be and I don’t mind it.

2) I have gained a new respect for being the patient in the healthcare worker/patient relationship.

I love being a nurse, I HATE being a patient. Having to place your trust in the care of others is not an easy thing to do. Part of my treatment has been to go to Occupational and Physical therapy. I have never felt more humbled than when I was given a 1 lb weight and had to admit that I could not lift it. Trusting the people that were assigned to give me care was a hard thing for me to do at first. I was constantly leaving my appointments and googling what they had told me. As time went on and I grew to know them, trust got easier, but being in the vulnerable position of being the patient is still hard for me. This experience will definitely make me a better nurse due to the fact that I have now walked a mile in shoes as a “chronically ill” person.

Doctors office | lookingjoligood.blog — This is the amazing view from my orthopedic surgeon’s office. I could get used to looking at that every day!

3) I have gained a voice of advocacy for myself.

I’ve never struggled to stick up for people I feel are being mistreated. I am an amazing advocate for the patients that I care for. Unfortunately, sometimes I forget to stick up for myself… After I fell, due to perceived pressure from my manager, I worked my entire shift that day. The next week I then worked three more full shifts with numb fingers, an immobile wrist, and huge bruises on my elbow, hip, and thigh. Not being an advocate for myself immediately after the incident as well as continuing to work, not only put me at risk of further injury but also was unsafe for my patients. As I sat in the doctor’s office, a full week later, I promised myself that from that day on I was going to be an advocate for myself. Since then have learned to speak up for myself when I don’t agree with the decision being made for me. Personal advocacy is not being selfish, it is a right that is necessary!

injured arm | lookingjoligood.blog — The face of a person who has finally admitted to herself that she is indeed not getting better and in fact getting much worse.

4) I have gained a love for my current body exactly the way it is.

This is probably the biggest thing I have gained. Do I miss my strong legs, muscular arms, defined shoulders, and a flat stomach? You betcha, absolutely! But even more so, I love that I have learned to love myself just the way I am right now. I don’t need to look like I did a year ago because I am not the same person I was back then. For the first time in my adult life, I feel content with my body. I am thankful for this vessel that carries around my soul every day. This body has been through a lot with me over the decades, and until now, I have never appreciated her.

5) Throughout all of this, I have gained a soul that is peaceful, a happy heart, and a content mind. No more constantly pushing myself to be a “better” version of who I was yesterday. No comparison, no competition. No more deprivation of delicious things. No more constant movement to burn just a few more calories. Just contentment, happiness and peace.

Injuring my arm and gaining weight may have had a negative impact on my physical health, but the positive effects on my mental health have been 100% worth the pain and sleepless nights.

No one cares about the 20 lbs that I have gained.

No one has even noticed.

I’m hoping to eventually make a full recovery, but for now, I still have to take it easy. Progress at times has been extremely slow, but progress is still progress. It’s hard to watch muscles shrink and strength decrease, but I’m not meant to be blooming right now, I’m meant to be growing deeper roots. Roots for future blooms… blooms that might look completely different than the flowers I used to grow.

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ditch the Diet: I’ll Have What She’s Having…

February 16, 2018February 10, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch The Diet~

Here is another great devotional from the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst

ade to crave Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog

I’ll Have What She’s Having

James 1:3-4

3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

“One problem with trying to eat healthily is when you sit down next to a skinny girl who wolfs down everything on her plate. It makes me want to say, “I’ll have what she’s having.” A similar frustration pops up when Ms. Petite picks up her kids in a cute tennis outfit that I could never wear.

The paradox of comparing ourselves to other people is that we become blind to what we already have in the face of what we don’t have. Our hearts are drawn into a place of assumption. We assume that everything is great for those who possess what we lack.

But here’s the kicker. Everyone has not-so-great aspects their lives, things that they will have to learn to surrender or sacrifice. Sure, my size-two friend could eat all the snacks she wanted, but she’s got other struggles for which she has to depend on God.

For instance, consider that skinny girl in your life who eats whatever she wants and makes you think, “How unfair.” Yet listen to what she might say in return, as someone once shared with me: “I am one of the skinny girls, but don’t mistake skinny for healthy. I battle depression, self-esteem issues, and verbal abuse. The list seems endless. Being little doesn’t make a person any more happy or faithful or joyful. The struggles are similar, just in a different size package.”

Life as a Christ follower will always be a learning process of depending less on our own strength and more on God’s power. James 1:3-4 says,

The testing of your faith develops perseverance, and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature, complete, not lacking anything.

Why not make this a daily prayer, first thing in the morning: “God, I recognize that I am made for more than the vicious cycle of being ruled by food, body image, and comparing myself to others. I am thankful that You made my body unique in ways that I can serve You and in ways that turn my reliance upon You. I need to eat to live, not live to eat. So I keep asking for Your wisdom to know what to eat and Your indwelling power to walk away from things and thoughts that are not beneficial for me.”

Oh, sweet sisters, this truth should be the cry of our souls and drown out Satan’s lie that “she has it easier.” Our taste buds crave many things to satisfy, but only persevering with God will make us truly full.”

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Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ditch the Diet: But I Never Feel Full…

February 9, 2018February 9, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

It has been a while since I have written a ditch the diet post!

Despite the fact that I constantly preach that “ditching the diet” consists of a lifestyle of making healthy choices, I had not been following my own healthy living advice. I got to a point where I needed to give myself a chance to rest and mentally reset. Basically what that means is…I wasn’t exercising and was eating a diet of mostly cookies.

While I used that time to give myself a break, I knew fully well that there was a definite end to the cookie eating spree. I’m now back on track and making healthy choices… with an occasional cookie or two thrown into the mix.

To help myself stay focused (and stave off those tempting cookie cravings), I have been reading daily devotional excerpts from the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst I really enjoyed this one and I wanted to share it since I found to be really helpful:

But I Never Feel Full

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19

For years, I walked around with a little heart-shaped cup in my soul, holding it out to people or things trying to find fulfillment. Some of us hold out our heart-shaped cup and expect a husband to love us in ways that rights our wrongs and fills up our insecurities. Sometimes, we expect our kids to be successful so that we look good and feel validated by their accomplishments. Or, we hope that a successful career will confirm that we are a valuable human being.

At times, I have asked the impossible of all of these. But my consistent “friend” of choice over the years has been food. Imagine my little heart-shaped cup as a candy dish, using sweets and snacks to soothe my emotions.

However, if we are going to replace destructive cycles with lasting changes in our lives, then we have to empty ourselves of the lie that other people or things can ever fill our hearts. Instead, we have to deliberately fill up on God’s truths and stand secure in His love. Here are some examples of how we can do that:

Old lie: “I am such a failure when it comes to my diet.”
New truth: “I am not a failure. I am a lavishly loved child of God. Part of my right as a child of God is to operate in a power beyond myself. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to me. So it is possible for me to use the self-control I’ve been given.”

Old lie: “I need these Oreos!”
New truth: “The thought that these Oreos will fill me is a lie. They will taste good for just the few minutes it will take to eat them. Then that hollow feeling of guilt will rush in as soon as the chocolate high dissipates. If I truly need a snack right now, I am capable of choosing a healthier option.”

Old lie: “God seems far away and French fries are right around the corner at the drive-thru.”
New truth: “French fries don’t love me. And the only lasting thing I get from them is the cholesterol and cellulite they inevitably leave behind, which will just compound my frustration. God’s love is here in this moment and in many more to come. His love is true and carries with it only positive residual effects.”

Examine how you can replace the lies and rationalizations in your mind with the truth of God’s love. Experience the power of renewing your mind and learning that food was never meant to fulfill the deepest places of your heart. And, as Ephesians 3:19 reminds, may you understand that the only way to true satisfaction is to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

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Ephesians 3:19 | lookingjoligood.blog — And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ponder The Path by Francie Taylor

August 4, 2017August 4, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

My Mom, sisters and I have been reading through this book Ponder The Path by Francie Taylor. It’s been great so far and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a daily devotional.

I wanted to share one of the devotionals with you that I have found to be convicting yet also applicable to this series of “Ditch The Diet”.

Happy is a man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding Proverbs 3:13

We’ve been tricked!

Women today are being duped into believing that their physical appearance is the key to happiness. Add in the myth of “anti-aging” and we’re caught in a trap, and we’re passing the Baton of insecurity to young women running the next leg of the race. Now they are also striving to have the image that supposedly makes life complete.

But does it?

I met an 80 something-year-old former beauty queen and tap dancer. “I was really famous in my day,” she told me with great pride. It was almost as if she felt the need to validate her presence by describing her past. Did you know that there are a lot of former beauties in nursing homes?

God doesn’t value the currency of good looks. In fact, it must make him shake his Heavenly head as he watches all these organized piles of dust wearing “powder and paint to make a woman what she ain’t.” Sigh.

Happiness doesn’t come from having flawless skin, stylish hair, and a size 2 figure wrapped up in fashionable clothing. All those things are temporary. You will wake up one day at 80, when it will seem to you that it was just yesterday that you were 20, like the former beauty queen, if God grants you that many days.

Happiness is a benefit of wisdom. When we find wisdom from God’s word, we are able to see life through clear lenses, understanding and comprehending that there are far more important issues in this life than whether or not people are impressed with our appearance. Cutting a fine figure is no substitute for being a wonderful human being.

To be happy is to be blessed. Find wisdom. Get understanding. It’s far more valuable than being able to wear a size 2 at age 82.

Happy is a man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding Proverbs 3:13
Read Proverbs 3.

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Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Eat This… Not That!

July 21, 2017June 17, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

Instead of starting the morning off with a bowl of your favorite granola cereal, try replacing it with a delicious bowl of oatmeal. Not only will you cut out unnecessary sugar and fat, but you will also gain much-needed fiber. Try adding some fresh fruit and chia seeds for added vitamins and protein.

Instead of eating pre-sweetened yogurt, try plain low-fat Greek yogurt and add in some fruit. You will be getting less processed sugar and more natural sugar along with fiber.

Instead of cows milk, try using unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk. Not only will you save on calories and unwanted fat. I have to admit, I really enjoy cows milk so much more than I do almond milk, but when I am really trying to cut calories, this is one place that I make a sacrifice! (It actually tastes quite good with Honey Nut Cheerios and half a cut up banana.)

Instead of drinking a glass of processed juice, try making a homemade smoothie or even just eat a piece of fresh fruit. You’ll get less sugar and more fiber especially if you eat the fruit’s skin.

I have some great recipes and tips that you can find by clicking HERE and HERE

I LOVE ice cream, it is completely kryptonite to me! Instead of full-fat ice cream, replace it with Halo Top** ice cream. If you follow me on Instagram you already know that I am completely in love with this sweet treat! By replacing regular ice cream with Halo Top you’ll be getting less sugar and more protein.

I love them all but my favorite flavors are PB Cup and Oatmeal Cookie! The PB Cup has only 320 calories in the entire pint and 6 grams of protein per serving! Eating these two together is a match made in Heaven!

**While this post is not sponsored, Halo Top did give me free ice cream for consideration. (Who am I kidding though, I was already in a fully committed relationship with them before they even sent me the “golden tickets”)

Keep in mind everything in moderation! Even a chocolate chip cookie is ok every once in a while.

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Does Anything Taste As Good As Skinny Feels?

July 14, 2017April 29, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch The Diet~

In an interview with fashion magazine WWD in 2009, Kate Moss said her famous motto “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”

Both fans and critics have been quoting her ever since…

While, yes, as women, we love to feel “skinny”, and the culture around us puts so much importance on our outer appearance. It is very easy to get caught up in the “Thin Is In” mindset.

But at what cost?

Is it more important to be thin than to be healthy? Is being skinny more important than being able to enjoy your life? Is being skinny worth the price of your joints and kidneys? Is being skinny so important that it is worth starving for?

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20** That your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and that we are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

God tells us that we need to take care of our bodies because not only do they belong to Him, but they are also the house that the Holy Spirit lives in.

Don’t buy into the lie that being thin at any cost is more important than taking care of the body that God gave you to live in.

So while Kate Moss may have her motto, here is my motto “Skinny Never Looks As Good As Healthy Feels!”

**1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Are you enjoying these Ditch the Diet posts? You can read more by clicking HERE.

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Caught in the Food Fixation Trap?

July 7, 2017April 26, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch the Diet~

Here is a great devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu that I found to be very helpful!

Caught in the Food Fixation Trap?

We live in a world that both worships and vilifies food. A quick glance at Pinterest or Instagram reveals our society’s fixation with food, from scrumptious recipes that make your mouth water (often known as “food porn”) to scathing articles about the origins, sustainability, and ethics of the ingredients that make up our meals. For something as mundane as what we eat, food has become an increasingly complex issue that causes many of us to feel guilty, overwhelmed, and even hopeless.

For those of us who have spent years on the roller coaster of dieting, food fixation adds another layer of complexity to our journey. It’s tempting to dwell in the land of if-only’s: If only I could overcome my sweet tooth. If only I would develop a craving for carrot sticks. If only God would miraculously transform the calorie count in blueberry streusel muffins…. then I could finally overcome my food struggles.

e become so fixated on the food we eat—or don’t eat—that we fail to realize that food itself is not our enemy. Food is a good gift from a loving Father, given to turn our hearts and minds to Him in worship.

God could have created our human bodies to subsist on energy-dense flakes. But in His goodness, God chose to create a veritable cornucopia of foods with unique colors, textures, tastes, and smells to both nurture us and delight our taste buds. Seen in this way, food is a thoughtful gift from a loving Father.

So for those of us struggling with our food choices, our journey toward overcoming food fixation begins with recognizing this first basic truth: food is a good gift and it is not our enemy. And as we’ll see in the next few days, the fullness we seek in food can only be found in Jesus.

Food is a good gift from a loving Father,

given to turn our hearts and minds

to Him in worship.

Hold tight to the truth of Scripture and celebrate God’s goodness through His gift of food.

Reflection Questions: Have you ever heard the implicit or explicit message that food is bad? How has this type of thinking influenced your relationship with food? What are the implications of the truth that food is a good gift meant to turn our hearts toward God?

Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Food Is Not The Enemy

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Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Smooth Operator…

June 30, 2017April 26, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch The Diet~

You are trying to be a healthier version of yourself! Instead of eating donuts and bagels for breakfast you have been proudly making smoothies instead. Good job! I am proud of you for making a positive change!

You have really been enjoying your healthy morning smoothie, but you expected the weight to just drop off. Why haven’t you seen any changes on the scale? What is going on?!

Here are some reasons why that morning smoothie may not be doing you any favors….

Yes, having a smoothie made solely from a variety of fruits is much healthier than eating a bagel with cream cheese! Keep in mind that even though fruit smoothies do have fiber and nutrients, they still have calories. and are still full of natural sugars.

I cannot even tell you how many times I have filled my blender with all the healthy ingredients that I can think of. Before I knew it, that yummy healthy smoothie has turned into a 650+ calorie breakfast.

Unfortunately, just because a food is nutritious doesn’t mean it’s low in calories. Certain foods such as avocados, dates, nuts, nut butters, whole milk yogurt, and oats can tack on a hundred calories each!

Even fruits like apples, pears, mangoes, cherries, and bananas can quickly add in extra calories. Don’t shy away from these healthy nutrient-rich ingredients — just use a small amount of each.

Making your morning smoothie with all kinds of different fruits could quickly turn your healthy smoothie into a high-calorie meal! Instead pair your fruit with a protein source such as milk, yogurt, protein powder, soft tofu, beans, nuts, or nut butter.

I have learned the hard way that instead of eyeballing and adding all kinds of tasty ingredients, measuring out ingredients is essential!

You will really want to keep the calorie count down especially if you’re pairing your smoothie with something else like a slice of toast or muffin.

Your smoothie should aim to have:
Calories: 300 to 400
Fiber: 5 to 10 grams
Protein: 13 to 20 grams
Carbs: 40 to 55 grams
Healthy fats: 10 to 15 grams
Sugars: 36 grams or less

The protein will give you lasting energy, the carbs give you quick energy, the healthy fats and fiber will keep you full longer. Sticking to this “formula” will help you to make a smoothie that will not only be filling but also help to maintain your blood sugar.

Ok, so you’re thinking thanks for all the info, that doesn’t help me when I am making my morning smoothie…

Here is what you really want to know, how do I make a smoothie that meets all of these requirements?

Here is a recipe that I love…

Chocolate Strawberry Banana Smoothie (365 cal)

5 frozen strawberries (50 cal)
1 frozen banana (90 cal)
1 cup spinach (7 cal)
6 ounces plain Greek yogurt (100 cal)
1/2 cup chocolate unsweetened almond milk (25 cal)
1/2 tablespoon peanut butter (95 cal)

Total: 53g carbs, 32g sugar, 8g fiber 8g fat, 26g protein,

This is another combo that I make the most often:
2 cups of greens (25 cal),
1 banana (90 cal),
1/4 cup blueberries (20 cal),
1/4 cup mango (50 cal) ,
1/4 avocado (80 cal)
1/2 tablespoon chia seeds: 30 calories or 1 tablespoon flax meal: 40 calories
total 295-300 cal.
I will also add some sort of protein either greek yogurt 100 cal, 1tbs PB 95 cal, or protein powder 130 cal

Here’s the calorie breakdown of other healthy ingredients you might want to add to your smoothie:

1 cup unsweetened soy milk: 80 calories
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk: 40 calories
1 cup coconut water: 43 calories
1 serving (about 35 grams) vanilla protein powder: 110 calories
1/2 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt: 83 calories
1/2 cup vanilla soy yogurt: 105 calories
1/2 cup coconut milk yogurt: 90 calories
1/2 tablespoon chia seeds: 30 calories
1 tablespoon flax meal: 40 calories
1 serving soft tofu (1/5 package): 60 calories
1/4 cup cannellini beans: 50 calories
1 tablespoon almond butter: 95 calories

I hope this is helpful and that you continue to enjoy your morning smoothies!

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Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Baked Kale Chips

June 16, 2017April 26, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

I am always trying to broaden my leafy green horizons.

So while “This kale salad tastes like I’d rather be fat!”…these baked kale chips taste so awesome that I cannot stop eating them!

Here is a delicious, simple, and quick recipe for baked kale chips:

Ingredients

1 bunch or 1 bag of kale
1 Tablespoon olive oil (I prefer grapeseed oil)
1 Teaspoon seasoning of your choice (Mrs. Dash is great!)

Directions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F

Line a non-insulated cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper.
With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear or cut into bite-size pieces. (don’t skip this step, these things taste nasty!)

Wash thoroughly and dry kale with a salad spinner.

Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt.*

*I prefer to add my oil and seasoned salt to a gallon sized zip top bag and shake it up until the kale is completely covered in the oil mix.

Spread out evenly on the foil lined baking sheet.

Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 15 to 20 minutes.**

**I like mine to be extra crispy so I bake the kale for 20-25 min (10 minutes on each side. Then mixed up and an additional 5 min.)

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

Looking Joli Good

Kindness is beautiful!

Tag: healthy

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