"It's Not You, It's Me"

Ever hear the phrase, "It's not you, its me"?  Maybe you've even said it before...gaaasp!  Recently, I found myself questioning this phrase and exactly what it means.  Once again, I'm the "new girl" and I have a confession...being the "new" girl is something I have really struggled with.  The older I get, the more I long for roots.  Unfortunately, I am still in the stage of my life where I am the "new girl" just about every 2 years or so and it really stinks sometimes!  All of my military spouse girlfriends, can I get an "AMEN"!!!  Learning to fit in, wherever and however I can, as soon as I can, has become an important skill that I am still working on.  There are times where I have felt right at home and met some beautiful people.  Some of those beautiful people have turned into lifelong friends, friends that I cherish with my whole heart.  For that I am grateful, however, I have met some folks who have really thrown me for a loop and challenged me as a person.  

I have always tried to model myself after my Mom.  She is the most genuine, caring and selfless person I know.  She will do everything in her power to make you feel comfortable, even at her own expense, sometimes.  I adore her heart for others and if I could be half of the amazing woman she is, I will be doing well.  Because I want to be like my Mom {when I grow up}, I do work hard at making sure the people around me feel comfortable, included and wanted.  When it comes to people in my home, it is always my goal that each guest always feels welcome, no matter what.  I want people to feel at ease, kick off your shoes and prop them up on the coffee table, it's what I want!  It's who we are as a family...comfortable.  Personally, I also try to portray comfort, ease and friendliness in my everyday attitude as well.  Sometimes its not easy and can often be uncomfortable, especially when the feelings are not shared.  Sometimes to my detriment, I open myself up too quickly and I get hurt.  When that happens I start to question myself.  Am I too open?  Am I scaring people away?  What is it about me that I need to adjust?   You see, I am a "what you see is REALLY what you get" kinda gal.  I am genuine in my kindness and try to be delicate in my honesty.  Unfortunately, I don't do superficial well, at all.  I like to get to know people and take interest in learning how others work and what makes them happy.  I have found myself, recently, in a couple situations that have made me a bit uncomfortable and have caused me to do some introspective thinking.  I recently read this quote and I'm thinking I will adopt it for a bit...

"No matter how well you think you carry yourself, if you do not value yourself, it will show.  And you will be treated by what people perceive you as.  Know who you are and be confident in it.  Know your worth and act on it."

It's not ME, its YOU...I am valuable and I intend to show you!!  

Cheers,

Krista

Good News...

Hey hey!  Its been a long time since my last post, so I thought I would try and get this thing restarted again!!  I hope that you enjoy reading and will continue to follow!

I want to share some exciting happenings in the Artis house!  As most of you know we moved this summer and well, starting over isn't easy for anyone.  In August, the hubs started on his Masters program, my daughter started back at school {and boy was that a change} and I was left with a quite house.  Both of my loves were deep into school work and really didn't have much time to do anything extra {with me}.  My husbands schedule was pretty crazy, it started early and ended late. He found himself studying all the time and didn't really have much time to spare , so I sunk myself into making sure he had everything he needed, breakfast, coffee and lunch every morning and dinner every evening.  That meant, I was up with him at 4:30 every morning!!  After he was out the door, it was my daughters turn...Breakfast {check}, Lunch {check}, School {check}.  By 8:00, I was on my own to clean, do laundry and blah blah blah...it wasn't really "fun", but necessary!  Fast forward to December...my daughter was offered an opportunity to work with and half-lease a horse.  It's something we've always wanted to do for her, but we were never really in a position to.  After meeting the horse and taking her for a "test" ride, we decided to move forward with the lease.  I made my husband a promise in order to help finance the lease, I would get a job!!!

I wanted to find a job that I could love, a job where I was excited to work and be valued and appreciated.  I prayed about it and while on a lunch date with a friend, I saw a sign..."NOW HIRING"!  There is was, it landed right in my lap.  It was at a store called The Paper Source, right up my alley, right!  So I applied and long story short, I was offered a job to start on January 30th!  So, the good news...after working at the store for a few short months, I was offered a position on the management team!!  I am so excited and I've been wanting to share the news for a while, but have been waiting for the right time.  I'm excited to be a part of such an awesome team and company that inspires people to be creative.  The company's motto is "Do Something Creative Everyday" and I love that!  I will be working more hours, making a little more money, but most of all I get the opportunity to make a difference.  I am beyond grateful!

Wait there's more!!  I also submitted myself to be considered to photograph a Faith based fitness shirts and got ACCEPTED!!  I am super excited to be working with Fit Darlings and hope to create some beautiful images!!

In all, I know this will be an adjustment for our family, but I know its going to be a good one.  I'm looking forward to the changes and greet them with open arms!!

Lots more coming on the blog...

Cheers,
Krista

Throwing Down the Gauntlet...

Hey, hey!!  I wanted to put out a quick post to share a little about the "Fit For Fall" 24 Day Challenge.  I'm really excited about this one and I'm hoping to get a few folks on board to do this with me {come on, you know you want to}!  Here's a little more info about the challenge and the products in the bundle...

The 24-Day Challenge® is a comprehensive supplementation and nutrition program designed to give your body the jumpstart it needs to help you reach your goals. There's something for everyone – whether you are looking for weight management, energy, overall body composition or overall wellness.

The 24-Day Challenge Bundle will Include
·24-Day Challenge Daily Guide
·One box of Herbal Cleanse
·One box of AdvoCare® Fiber
·One bottle of OmegaPlex®
·Two boxes of AdvoCare Spark®
·One box of MNS® 3, C or E
·One box of Meal Replacement Shake 

Along with the bundle of goodies, you will have access to meal planning and nutrition, a grocery guide, a daily planning guide, access to the 24 Day Challenge App and ME to help encourage and support you along the way!!  As a thank you, for each of my friends who take on this Challenge and purchase a bundle, I will send you a copy of the AdvoCare's workout series, CU24 (Level 1) Workout DVD's!  These workouts are perfect for those who are on the go and don't have a log of time to the gym.  Each of the workouts are 24 minutes long and there a great way to get your body moving!  I've done them and I love them all!

If you're ready to take on this awesome challenge and feel better in the fall, message me at kamemories@aol.com or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/krista.artis) and lets get you going!  You can also go to my site to learn more.  Go to www.advocare.com/140858759 and click on "shop", then click on "24 Day Challenge".  This really is an awesome program and AdvoCare has changed my life in more ways that I could have imagined.  

XOXO,

Krista

H20...

Water...water...water!!  We've all been told that we need to drink our daily dose of water to be healthy.  There's quite a bit of research and even more "opinions" published about exactly how much our bodies need.  It can be confusing when you scroll through the pages and pages on the internet, do I need it, how much do I need, when do I need it?  These are all great questions.  These are my thoughts...each of our bodies are different, but yes we all NEED to stay hydrated.  How much your body requires may not be exactly the same as what I need, but with all the hot temps around the country, its even more important for your body to stay hydrated.  If you're sitting still most of the day or active, the one thing remains...ya need to fill your cup!!  Wanna know how much should you drink?  Here is a suggested formula...

Daily Water Requirements:  

Drink 50-75% of your body weight in ounces.  

Sedentary people: 50%;  Active people: 75%

Have trouble drinking straight water? Here's what works for me!! Get yourself a cute little cup!!  I swear it makes the water taste better {insert silly smiley face}.  My husband "loves" it when I come home with another cup...NOT!  I have quite the stash {I do share sometimes}, but my favorites are my tall 24oz. Turvis for when I'm headed to the gym {Bed, Bath and Beyond has a great selection}, my sassy pink or purple Hydroflask and my Yeti {Dick Sporting Goods carries both} for when I'm at home.  I personalized my Hydroflask and my Yeti and they just look so cute!!  Another suggestion {for real now} is to add a little something to your water.  Some like lemons, some like to infuse their water with various fruits.  I like to add a little Spark to my water {especially the new Blue Raspberry...shameless plug, I know!}  The point is, try to find something that you like that makes drinking the water a little easier, preferably something with no or low in sugar.  

FYI, in case you didin't know, water is not just consumed by drinking it...yes, you can eat it too.  Lettuce, Broccoli, Watermelon and Grapefruit are just a few foods that have a high amount of water in them!!  So go ahead, give it a try...take a leap and fill up your cup!!

Happy Hydrating!!!

XOXO,
Krista  

Eating for Life...

Several years ago, a friend introduced me to the Body For Life program by Bill Phillips.  I really liked the program and it helped me to loose quite a bit of weight.  One of the things I liked the most were the recipes that were complied in the companion book, Eating For Life Cookbook.  I am always looking for quick yummy and health things to fee my family and I so I thought I would share one of our favorites.  Its super easy and great for a busy night when you just need something fast yet delicious and nutritious!  

Sloppy Joes

Servings 4

Prep Time 25 minutes

Ingredients:

4 portions lean ground turkey (about 1 lb)

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 can (8oz) no-salt added tomato sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 bbq sauce

1 tsp chili powder

Dash of hot pepper sauce 

4 wheat buns or rolls 

4 lettuce leaves

Directions:

1.  In a large skillet, combine ground turkey, black pepper and onion.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the turkey is no longer pink.

2. Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup BBQ sauce, chili powder and hot pepper sauce.  Simmer for about 10 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture has thickened.  

3. Place a wheat bun on each plate.  Top each with a lettuce leaf and a portion of turkey mixture.  

Serve and Enjoy!!

I love feedback so comment below if you give it a try!!  :o)

XOXO,

Krista

I'm Still Alive...

Hello, I'm back!!!!

It's been a long time since my last post and I really didn't intend to drop the ball like that!!  So much has happened and I would love fill you in and share some thoughts at the end!

Since my last post was May 1st, we will start there.  Mid-May brought the beginnings of change for our family.  We found out late last year that our plans of staying in Texas, retiring and planting some "roots" was going to change.  When we got that news, I felt like I got hit by a truck.  I was devastated and my attitude wasn't all that great.  I struggled with why this was happening, why did I have to leave my family and how on earth could I be happy anywhere else?  I did a lot of crying, complaining {internally} and had plenty of moments of bitterness and fear.  I knew the possibility of us moving was a real one as we were only "promised" two years, but our family was ready to stay put and stick around and I had gotten used to that idea.  Long story short, my husbands job in the area wasn't going to extend, so we had to start looking for our next set of orders.  In talking with his detailer, the Hubs was given the opportunity of a lifetime.  The Navy offered him the opportunity to get his Masters which is something that he has always wanted.  This was an offer that he couldn't resist and it would keep him off the boat!  {we were trying desperately to avoid another carrier tour}  The downside for me was that the school was going to take us to the DC area.  I wasn't excited about that, but it would be life changing for the Hubs and my sweet girl still has lot of friends in that area making the transition a little more bearable.  So, I did what military spouses do, I put on my big girl undies, wiped the tears away {for the moment} and worked on adjusting my attitude.  I had to trust that God has something there for me too!  

Fast-forward to June...We got to enjoy seeing my eldest nephew graduate from high school.  I even got to help with his grad party...that was fun and a great distraction from our pending move.  The Hubs fired up the smoker and smoked a TON of meat!!  It was such a wonderful time for our family and I was so glad we were able to be there to see him graduate.  The rest of June was spent being with family as much as possible and we enjoyed every minute of it!  June 28th, we said a very difficult and tearful goodbye, loaded up the suitcases, the dog, the cat, the kids {yes, KIDS....we kidnapped my younger nephew :-)} packed the final box in the car and headed east.  July 1st, we arrived and received our household goods at our new home in Virginia.

 Two weeks later, my nephew and I headed back to Texas. AdvoCare National Success School was the second week of July and I was pumped to be able to attend.  I learned so much in the 3 days and left Cowboy Stadium feeling refreshed and energized!  

After Success School was over, I was able to stay several more days to spend more time with family.  Mom and I got to celebrate our birthday's together and checked an item off our bucket list...Dad took us on a trip to the Magnolia Silos...oh my goodness...it was amazing!  If you don't know, Magnolia is owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV's Fixer Upper!  

We didn't happen to see them at the Silo's but it was still SO much fun!!

So, now here we sit at the end of August.  Hubs is about three weeks into his Master's program.  It's a lot of work for him, but in the end, it will be so worth it.  My girl and I have spent a lot of time at the gym.  We got ourselves on a routine and have done a good job at staying committed to our workouts. My daughter is such an encouragement to me and inspires me to keep going and keep working at making my health a priority.  She goes back to school September 6th and I'm going to miss her!   Its going to be a busy year for her as she has a full load of Honors and AP classes.  She is such a smart cookie, I know she's going to kill it this year!  

I'm going to wrap this up and get this posted, but wanted to leave you with this quote that I found...

There have been so many times when I was motivated....motivated to find a better me, motivated to work out, eat right and take care of myself.  I have learned over the years that being motivated isn't always permanent and often times just not enough!!  Life gets in the way and the motivation fades.  The process doesn't really work until you commit...commit to change!!  Two years ago I was fed up, I'd had enough.  I was tired of feeling bad and I was ready to really commit for the long haul.  Something was different this time.  I knew it meant that I had to give some things up, change my mindset and commit to giving myself the time and grace to run this race in the long term.  It hasn't always been easy and I have fallen off the wagon a time or two, but only for a minute.  I have always been reminded one way or another of my commitment.  I've had to get myself up, dust off the discouragement, doubt and fear and get back to it!  I'm certain there are going to be more times where life throws my a curve ball, but I will get back up because I am worth it...I am commited!! 

Have a great weekend...until my next post!

Enjoying the Process!

XOXO,

Krista

Getting Over the Numbers

It's 1:00 am, I'm in bed trying desperately to fall asleep and I just can't.  There are so many things swimming through my head right now.  This happens occasionally when I'm excited or worried about something.  I've been wanting to make a post for the past week and it just kept getting moved down on my "To Do" list.  I simply can't wait any longer, I have to share.

When I started this process to find better health, I started at the doctor's office.  I needed to have all my numbers looked at.  I thought maybe its my thyroid, or maybe there is something else making me gain weight and the reality was, it was ME that was making me gain weight.  All my numbers were good and it was a reality check right smack to my face.  I had to start making changes and I needed to do it now!  I knew it was going to be hard and I was going to have to put aside some things I love, cake, donuts, breads and more.  I started on a low carb diet along with my AdvoCare supplements and off I went.  I go each month to my primary care physician for a weigh in and a "mini" check up just to see how things are going.  From my start date, I have lost weight at every appointment.  At first I started of with significant numbers and slowly that tapered down to about 2 lbs a month.  Well, two months ago, that changed and I FREAKED!!  I knew that I hadn't been as good as I could be about food, but that was about the time I really dedicated to making time to work out.  At that appointment I gained 4 lbs.  In talking it over with the doc, I told her that I had increased my exercise tremendously and she said that I was gaining muscle and that she wasn't worried.

Fast forward a month and I gained another 2 lbs...I am being honest with you, my heart sank!!  Again the doc came in and we talked about what I was doing and again she said "it's muscle" and that I need to look past the numbers.  She asked how my clothes were fitting and quickly whipped out a graph {one I get every month}.  The graph shows my weight loss progress everything month and she pointed out that in November of last year, I weighed in at 139.  Again, I am being brutally honest and open here {no judging allowed}, at that time {November 2015} I was in a size 8, not all that comfortable, but an 8 no less.  Last week, I weighed in at 139 and I am in a size 4, a comfortable size 4!!  I realize the difference and I really should be good with that, but I still struggle with that stupid number the scale shows me when I jump on!!  Its so hard sometimes to let the numbers go and just focus on what happening with my body.  I know I can eat better and I am stepping up my game with that {I'll share on the next post}, but the bottom line is, my body HAS changed and the numbers on the scale shouldn't define me.  I hope by me sharing this {very} personal information that you will not only decide to stop letting the scale define you, but if you haven't already, take that first step.  Make a small change even if its just a change in the way you are thinking.  I won't lie, its not always easy.  I don't "love" to workout yet, but I know I have to "pay myself first".  I have a vision and I am the only one who can get out and make that happen.

Here's to a better way of thinking and "Getting Over the Numbers"!!

Enjoy the process...always!!
Krista