Keeping Fit- Part 2

So,I have mentioned what I am doing for food.Here, I will outline the exercise side. It IS easier for me to fit it in, as I have teens to help. However, I always make priority, and make sure I do 3 times a week at a minimum. Usually 30, or 50 minutes, and sometimes 5 times a week. It usually totals to 2 and a half hours which is ample, but 1, and a half hours is great, too. To be honest, even sacrificing something else you like to do, like reading a book, etc. It is well worth fitting it in.

So, I had done Rosemary Conley's videos for years, but find Davina Mcall's much more challenging, and suited to whole body work outs. They are not easy, but it is possible to trade the high impact moves for low impact moves, and then build up. High impact, is not recommended after 3 months of pregnancy, and the first 4 months post partum.

I actually feel great, and often play badminton with the children, and go for long walks. I find I don't tire quite so easily, and am building good muscle tone. Of course, muscle burns more calories than fat, so it is win win.

So, what is the point in keeping fit?
Well, it says in the Bible that bodily exercise profiteth little, and in proverbs 31, when describing the Proverbs woman, it quotes, ''She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.''
If you are like me, and useless at sewing etc, then there is no excuse for making ourselves ready for our tasks, unless we have an illness. Just about everyone can incorporate exercise in their routine. I always feel better for being fitter, and healthier too. I find if you are tired a lot, you can't really accomplish a lot. I am not so tired when I do exercise, and it really does help at THAT time of the month. Research has proven it, and I will testify to it.

Keeping Fit

Earlier on in the year, I decided enough was enough, and I was going to keep fit, lose weight, and stick to my guns. I often wax lyrical about keeping fit, and how it gives you so much energy. However, I was beginning to sound lame, for failing to keep at it consistently.
So, what's changed, have I lost weight, and am I still at it?
The answer is, yes!
I have learned loads of things along the way, which may be useful to others in the same boat, not to mention the 14 pound loss, and 5 inches from my waist, and 5 inches from my hips. I will explain how I have done it.
1) A normal breakfast, which is normally a bowl of cereal with full fat milk. (yes, you read that right, although at the end of the month I sometimes use almond milk, as I have found it helps my yeast issues.)
2) lunch is just 2 slices wholemeal, or rye bread. This will be cheese on toast, beans, fish, salad. Anything you would have in, or with it like soup.
3) Dinner is just whatever is cooking, plus a sensible sized pudding portion.
2 snacks allowed a day, one biscuit, and a piece of fruit. I sometimes need a couple slices of marmite on toast, but this is usually at certain more active times.
So, that is what I have been eating. I also home bake a lot, reducing sugar by 20% or more. No one misses it! Wholemeal whenever, and loads of variety. A typical menu may look like this:
Monday- beef casserole with lentils, served with roasts done in the actifry.
Tuesday- Home made veg pizza, served with cous cous, and wedges made in actifry, and side salad.
Wednesday- Lasagne, home made, served with actifry home made chips, and peas, and runner beans.
Thursday- beef stir fry made in thai style with stirfry veg, and noodles.
Friday- roast chicken, with roast potatoes, and 4 veg.
Saturday- stew, made from chicken stock, veg, and lentils.
Sunday- Shepherd's pie

Week 2
Monday- home made fish pie, with roasts in the actifry, and peas.
Tuesday- Chilli con carne. Home made, with basmati brown rice.
Wednesday- Pasta bake, with peppers, courgette, and tuna.
Thursday- Home made beef curry, with basmati brown rice.
Friday- lentil soup, home made, and served with fresh home made rolls.
Saturday- Quiche, with salad, and pasta.
Sunday- roast beef, and roast potatoes.
As you can see, I try and include different meals for at least a fortnight, as it keeps variety, and means you are benefitting from the different food groups. TO BE CONTINUED

The Best is definitely Free, and we don't Deserve it

Now it is Easter, that time of year again, when we can look forward to the coming summer, and to remember why Jesus came onto the earth.
I have to work hard at keeping fit. It means a few hours of working out every week.
I have to work hard at staying healthy, I have to watch I moderate the right foods.
I have to work hard at looking after ten children, making sure they will be educated, fed, and clothed.
If I didn't work hard at those things, then most likely I would not have those things I have attained for; fitness, health, educated, clothed, and well fed children. Obviously, the Lord gives me the strength to do these things, but that doesn't mean I don't have to work for it.

However, the best things in life are free. God's grace is free. He has offered us a salvation which is free. He died on a cross for the sins of the world. When we realise our sinfulness, acknowledge him as Lord, and saviour,and repent He gives us heaven. Free......what's more we don't work for it, we didn't earn it, we didn't deserve it, it is God's free gift to us!
That is why John Newton wrote amazing Grace. It was his soul song, he was once a wretch, was blind, but through God's free gift he was now free.
Salvation isn't dependent on what church you go to. What clothes you wear, what works in the community you do. None of us deserve it. We can think we are good moral people and deserve heaven. We don't, no one does. We can think we can work to earn God's favour. We can't. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in His sight. If we do good works, it will be out of love to God. We love Him that first loved us.
Until we can see our sinfulness, and humble ourselves, we will not be saved. ''God didn't call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.''Luke 5:32
The ''righteous'', in the verse are the ones who see themselves as morally good already.
'' Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:'' Rom 3:24
Check out the whole of Romans 11.
Meanwhile, have a happy Easter.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.'' Phil 2:8

Feed a family of 12 for under £2

It irks me, when I read reports about parents, and children not being able to feed themselves properly. It IS possible to manage to feed a family a healthy diet on a low budget, if you have to.
Here is a quick recipe, we love. It doesn't contain meat, but is full of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and is very filling.
Lentil, Carrot, and Potato Soup
250g lentils pre rapid boiled ( I get 2 kilos from Tesco for £2.99, only £1.99 when they are on offer.)
4 large, or 6 medium carrots, chopped.( I used organic ones.)
2 onions chopped
4 medium sized potatoes.
2TBS curry powder
1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
stock to cover the veg.

Fry up the onions first, then add the stock, lentils, and the rest of the ingredients. pressure cook for 30 minutes, or you can slow cook for 4 hours.
Use a potato masher to make it all smooth. Serve with buttered bread. I like to make my own for this.
You can do some great variations on this recipe, and is especially good with butternut squash added. Also, trying different herb combinations, or even mexican flavourings.

Everyone Should Homeschool?

Interesting statement. This was the general summary of RC Sproul junior's book on homeschooling, which is called, 'When you rise up'.
To be honest, there are many things I agree with in this book. Without being legalistic, he argues that every parent should home educate. He argues it is a duty, as we are commanded to teach our children, and cites deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.''
I have always been one for preferring a more informal approach to teaching my children the Bible. I think they can learn more from conversations, than ever by formal teaching using a catechism. The key here, is learning to apply the Bible in every day situations, rather than parrot fashioning stuff off, without even understanding it.
If we are blessed with children, then we have a responsibility toward them. They are not ours, but are on loan from the Lord. He has entrusted them to us, and I really think it is negligent of us to think lightly, when it comes to their education. Many will be thinking, Oh, I want the best education for my child. Doesn't everyone? However, we should be thinking more on the lines of what does God require of us?
In the book, RC argues we would never dream of sending our children to a Catholic, or muslim school. My thoughts exactly, but hey, who said education in state schools was neutral? It most definitely isn't. In fact, I was reading just recently, that Gove has banned teaching of creationism, and intelligent design from schools. This in effect stifles any debate, and pushes the secular humanist agenda. Also, the redefinition of marriage will mean more unsuitable materials are pushed in the name of equality. When we consider a school for our children, we should reflect on what sort of environment is it, and the first question must be, is it God honouring? If it isn't, how do we justify ourselves?
I am not totally against the idea of Christian schools. I am however, increasingly seeing problems within these. Sadly, many calling themselves Christian and most definitely are not reflecting that.
I have heard a million objections to home schooling. Here are a few....1) I am not qualified.
2) I would never have the time.
3) I don't have the patience.
4) I have to work.
I find these quite absurd, as we are talking about our precious children. No one is perfect, and I would say it would be the exception rather than the rule that a parent was incapable of home schooling. After all, many parents aid their children in speech development, and teach them to read.
So, I would encourage parents to think carefully, on what they are going to do with their child at school age. This can start as soon as the child is born. I don't believe it is something that should be taken lightly, and we should be very prayerful seeking the Lord. After all, many of us pray for guidance on much smaller things. Surely, our child's future is on the priority list?
Also, it is more important that our children are trained in the fear of the Lord, academic excellence should not be our goal. If i was to choose the two, it would be the former. The Lord did not say to train our children in academic excellence, or the ways of the world. Would we rather a fool, or a servant of the most High?

National Trust Membership for Home Educators.

I don't know if many are aware of this. I do know the family membership is running currently at £90 a year. unaffordable for many home educators, who are already on a tight budget. For £37.50 you can have a home educator's membership. However, as always there are strings attached. You only can visit in term time. This means no weekends. You also have to book the day before. However, in my opinion, you are still getting a lot for your money! http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/membership/educational-group-memberships/

Meal Planning

Why meal plan? I used to ask that question. However, there are quite a few good reasons to plan meals in advance. 1) It helps you to budget. 2) It helps you to get through the week, without running out of something for dinner. 3) It really does save time. Dinnertime can often get boring. I can remember as a child, always having liver casserole, and mash on a Wednesday. Saturday was our roast day, but I loved that. What I didn't love, was Wednesdays! To avoid boredom with meals, I rotate around 30 different meals. I follow a process each week, which ensures only a few real favourites are repeated. I also like to make sure red meat is not more than 4 times, and at least one meat free meal per week. Here's how it works: 1) We always have at least one minced beef meal. (for this I use lean minced steak, as it has not got the extra fat, and yukky taste) This is done in rotation of lasagne, bolognaise, tortillas, cottage pie, and chilli. 2)We usually always have chicken, and the second day I pick bones off the chickens, boil up and make a stew. Now, every stew I cook is different. I sometimes add Indian, sometimes Mexican, Chinese, or just traditional. I don't always add the same veg either. I do add lentils, or beans for extra protein, but use whatever veg I have, or whatever is in season. 3) On Sunday, it is either a roast, casserole, lamb chops, or cottage pie. Again, in rotation. 4) Once a week, the non meat meal will be pizza, (home made of course;) pasta bake, or quiche. 5) If you are counting, you will see I have 2 meals to fill, now this might be curry, sausages, fried beef, fish pie, salmon fillets, fish fingers and wedges, risotto, egg chips, and home made beans, or meat pie. To vary this, the pie may be beef, or just cornish pasties, the casserole might be beef, or lamb. Again, I always add different flavours. So, this makes it really easy to plan in advance, and if I see offers in the supermarket, I can tailor the menu to meet that. I make sure I always have a few emergency meals on hand in the cupboard. I can save money buy using pasatta, instead of sauces, and buying sauces on offer. These can be stored for long periods of time. Beef joints, can be bought when half price, and frozen. We are still eating the ones I froze before christmas! I also love to look at cookery books for inspiration, and often incorporate ideas into a meal I already use.