Unlimited Challenge - Week 4

We took a little hiatus, but hopefully you're still out there and waiting for the next chapters in our journey of self-discovery!

This week, we have another THREE chapters to read! So because of that, we are going to take 2 weeks to complete this. I know this was supposed to be a 6 week challenge, but you know, when you are trying to better yourself, it is better for you to be able to take your time reading and working through the workbooks rather than being rushed and not getting everything out of this that you can. So, two weeks for this next section.

We are reading Chapters 6, 7, and 8, and we are focusing on attitude and self-esteem! My favorite quote that I've ever heard is by an unknown person, but I love it! "Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, 'I'm Possible.'"

We are only as good as the attitude that we carry with us. If you are constantly in that state of mind where you are wondering, "Why me?" all the time, and you can't seem to pick yourself up no matter what, then guess what? You're never going to achieve the wonderful things that are out there and within your reach! Positive thinking breeds positive actions. Henry Ford had another great quote, "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."

So let's focus these next two weeks into cultivating positive energy and thoughts. No matter what happens, try to stay positive, and think positive things. It will work as long as you stay positive. The minute you slip back into the woe is me way of thinking, you may as well stop reading. You have to be able to believe in yourself in order for you to have the life you so rightly deserve and desire.

With that being said, let's dive in to Week 4!! When you're ready for the workbooks, head on over to our Facebook page and look under the Notes section!

Good Luck!

Wheat Flour...The Complex Carb

They say whole wheat products and brown rice are better for you, right? So you go to the store, pick up a bag of white flour and whole wheat flour, and you read the ingredients to see for yourself. Only, you find that once you are reading, that the specs are pretty much the same. So you get to wondering, if the fat, carbs, sugars, protein, etc., are the same between both bags, what makes the whole wheat flour so much better? A carb is a carb, is a carb, right? WRONG!!

Without boring you with so much science and detail, here's the bottom line. White flour breaks down immediately (simply carb) and spikes your blood sugars immediately, making your body have to work overtime to control your blood sugar. Wheat flour breaks down over a longer period of time (complex carb) keeping your blood sugar more steady allowing your body to process the sugars with more control. So while you don't see the difference between intake as far as all the stats go, your body notices a difference in how it handles things.

Let's also remember, that certain diseases, like diabetes, can't afford for your body to work overtime trying to control your blood sugar spikes. It already takes a lot of effort to keep your body stable and maneuvering most of the time, having to deal with uncontrolled spikes just tortures your body a little more, exhausting your organs in the process.

So the next time you reach for flour on the shelf, make the switch, and pick up a bag of wheat flour. It will be worth it in the long run. :)

QUICK TIP: Whole wheat flour and products are more satiating, too! Which means your body feels fuller longer after having eaten a muffin made with whole wheat flour as opposed to white flour.

CONVERSION NOTE: When swapping out whole wheat flour for white flour in your favorite recipes, remember that you cannot swap these two cup for cup! You only need 7/8 of a cup per cup of white flour called for in a recipe. So pull out your calculator and do the math for the best results!

For example: Recipe calls for 2 1/4 cups white flour. Take 2.25 divided by 8 multiplied by 7, and you get  1.96875. So instead of 2 1/4 cups of white flour, you only need 2 cups of whole wheat flour. :)

Healthy Bites Recipe Calendar!

Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous is partnering with Coree Casinger Photography in making a Healthy Bites calendar featuring 12 DELICIOUSLY healthy recipes. I am very proud of being able to take my favorite recipes and turn them into healthier and tastier versions. So this month I am running a contest!

All you have to do is go to our Facebook page (Click HERE!) and upload a picture of your favorite recipe, and tell me what it is. There's no need to write out the entire recipe! I will notify the winner via a message and get the recipe that way. The recipe doesn't have to be healthy! In fact, I encourage you to put up a picture of your favorite meals that are a bit heavy on the calories, so I can show you how to make YOUR favorite recipes healthier, too! You can post as many pictures as you want! What does the winner get?

One winner will be chosen from all the photos submitted. I will take the winner's recipe and turn it into a healthy version, all while preserving the great taste you are used to. The winner's healthy recipe will be featured as one of the recipes in our Healthy Bites calendar, and you will also receive a FREE copy of the calendar!

So what are you waiting for? Scoot on over and start posting away!!