AMY's Morning Routine
Want to walk out into the world like the royalty you are? Here are my tips to get you going:
Start your day with The GOOD Life Journal~You will affirm yourself in who and whose you are! Don’t forget you are a daughter of the Almighty King~Sis that makes you ROYALTY! Put on that tiara, pink lipstick, whatever it is you need to remind yourself of this, but start with your affirmations in your GOOD Life Journal (It only takes about 5-15 minutes and think how much your life will change just by giving HIM your first 15!)
Drink 16 ounces of lemon water or celery juice to rehydrate the beautiful being you are.
MELT your hands and your feet and if you only have a few seconds just friction the H-E-double hockey sticks out of your feet and get the fluid flowing!
Turn on the music and dance a little bit before you leave the house (no-one is watching!). Dancing before you leave the house will change the way you walk out into the world! TRY IT BOO! I dare you!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Is it Odd or is it God?
Have you ever wondered, “Is it odd or is it God?” A very wise soul said this to me about four years ago when the Berry Storm hit and it has stuck with me ever since. “Is it odd or is it God?”……sit on that for a moment.
There have been so many beautiful things that have come out of our storm that hit a little over four years ago September 27, 2018. A day I will never forget. The day my life seemed to be going up in smoke, but changed for the better.
Our marriage survived for starters and not only did it survive, it is thriving. Our children are doing well for the most part. I have found peace and serenity. A peace and serenity I can honestly say I have never felt before.
Have you ever had a time like this? A tumultuous, scary time in your life when you had no clue what the outcome would be only to find peace. Funny thing is, we are still not sure what the outcome will be in many ways. There are still so many unknowns right now, but I have peace.
When I look back I see God had and has a huge hand in this thing called life and when I finally surrendered to Him and truly let go I started breathing again. I started living and I have not stopped.
Was it easy? Hell no!
Did I feel alone? Yes, at times I did.
Was I scared? Scared to the point of being frozen sometimes.
I remember friends coming over and feeding my kids and darn near forcing a chip with guacamole down my throat to get some kind of nutrition in me. I was frozen.
I don’t think I danced for two solid weeks, which anyone who knows me knows is not normal.
I stayed in bed for 8 solid days only to come down stairs and get on the couch to get under the covers just so I could hide.
I think the last time I hid under covers was when I was down with pneumonia and the time before that was when we lost our baby.
Even when my mom died I got out of bed. It was a very dark time here in 2018 and 2019. But as I look back I can 100 percent say to you I would do it again to get to the miracles we have experienced.
Why do I tell you this?
Because I know so many people who are suffering right now.
How do I know this?
Well, some of you share your stories.
Some I see on your faces…you don’t have to say anything. I see me, four years ago in your face, and truth be known I see pain.
Some I hear from friends.
Some I see on TV….the sad truth is….The world has pain. That is just reality.
AND…
We saw pain with our Savior Jesus! Jesus had pain.
His friends betrayed him. He was poor. He was gossiped about. People did not believe him. They mocked him. And they crucified him on the cross. They nailed his flesh and bone to the cross AFTER they drug him through the dirt and spit on him. Throwing rocks at him and laughing at him. That my friends sounds like pain. Emotional and physical.
These past years I realized that is why HE CAME!
To lead the way for me and for you through the painful times we have experienced. To bring us closer to Him in the pain and suffering and when we learn to endure it….We learn to run with him! BUT first we have to learn to surrender to the suffering AND to the joy AND to ALL that He has for you and for me!!!!!
This is hard! Surrendering is hard. To surrender is uncomfortable. It goes against what the world says. The world has us thinking we can be in control of it all….if we work hard enough, hustle long enough, and push and fight until you have it.
But…
The minute you surrender….the minute you truly surrender you will have a spiritual awakening like never before.
I promise you this. I will also make this promise to you…..
Surrendering is a daily, sometimes minute to minute deal. It does not happen just once. You have to work at it every day.
How do I know this?
Because some days I fail at surrendering. Somedays, I think I know what is best and how things should go and I move back into my manipulating, hustling, and controlling ways. Want to know what happens then? Chaos, confusion, exhaustion, sometimes pain, and it is never good.
So how do you begin to surrender?
For me it starts every morning with some quiet time. I get up one hour earlier than anyone else in my family. I get my coffee and I sit with God. On days when I do not do this, well, those are the days I am less at peace. It is funny….days I get up, sit in quiet with God and really get still and surrender to Him….no matter what Satan throws at me, I feel more at peace…..
So I will ask you this, “Is it odd or is it God?”
Why don’t you try it for a month…
Get up before the rest of your family. Sit in the quiet and have a cup of coffee with God and watch what happens!
I dare you and I know God yearns for you too!
Until Next Time,
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
July Book Review
It’s been a while since we have done this…
Today I have two reviews and I am happy to report they are both awesome! One is a doozy and the other is….well, honestly the other is too! Both of them have catty gals who you just want to choke out and wonder if people really act like this….sadly I think there really might be people like this in the world….So we learn from our characters here how not to be and how to handle these nasty people.
First up…If you are looking for an easy, quick, brain-less read, that will leave you laughing and cringing. I have the book!
Wolves in Chic Clothing by Carrie Karasyov
Yall, this book was shallow, funny, entertaining, and honestly had me thinking….hmmm…I wonder if this is reality in the upper class. Because sister, if it is….WOWZA!
There were tons of shallow remarks like, “Rule number one: tight lips, tight hips, tight ships.”
What does that even mean?
I think the theme of the book is exactly what it means:
This story takes place in a high end department store owned by a very wealthy family. The daughter is part of the “golden ovary club” and literally runs the marketing and philanthropy for the company. She lives by the motto, “Rule number one: tight lips, tight hips, tight ships.” with her teammates AND her close knit friend group.
Tight lips-no gossiping
Tight hips-no overweight or big hips (wait until you have children honey!)
Tight ships-everyone works well together
But the tight lips…ya, that does not really happen and honestly reading this book showed me how shallow women who gossip are. And YOURS TRULY here is guilty. But, after reading this book, I am going to lock that nonsense up. It is not appealing and it only leads to hurt hearts and friendships. But, it is funny to read it and watch the train wreck as it unfolds. And that is exactly what happens in this book.
This train starts out slow and speeds up quickly. Before you know it, well it is headed for disaster!
But in true form, this author does an incredible job of showing how we all make mistakes. It is what you do with the mistake afterwards that matters. If you learn from it and grow, bravo, if you do not….well…that is on you and you may find yourself on a train to nowhere.
In a nutshell this book is quick, easy, cute, funny, and entertaining. So if you find yourself going on a little weekend, get away or heading to the beach, grab it. It will have you laughing and cringing, but cringing because wow, the elite may have a lot of money, but it shows money ain’t everything kid!
Grab your copy here and tell me what you think!
Next up Is Kristan Higgins Out of the Clear Blue Sky….Great read that has a great story line, but if I am being honest my heart hurts for our main character Lillie, but only for a bit! Good overcomes in the end!
The story starts out with what seems like a typical family of three. Life is tooling along and everything seems to be going great and out of the clear blue sky something or someone throws a wrench at this sweet family.
Before you know it, Lillie finds her picture perfect life upside down and she is having to hold it all in and together for her kiddo. I am not sure I agree with how Lillie and Bradzilla (her awful husband) handled the situation with their kid, but in true form, everything works out, it just is sticky for a while.
Along the journey, Lillie discovers who she is and that she is a lot stronger than she thinks. The really cool thing is, once Lillie rediscovers who she is….Out of the clear blue sky something wonderful happens!
Super fun, easy to read, lots of laughter, with a cute little Cape Cod setting…the perfect recipe for a summer book read!
Grab Yours Here!
Until Next Time,
XO,
Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
Here is a crazy thought for you today:
You will watch an entire Netflix series EVEN if and when the first episodes drag on and on and on….
WHY?
Because someone told you “Don’t worry, it gets better! I promise”
THINK ABOUT THAT….
Now let’s apply this to your life.
What if you looked at your goals the same way and watched your life get better?
These goals…these dreams….they may be dragging on and on….BUT
IT WILL GET BETTER! I PROMISE!
Sister….the cost of not believing in YOU….well, that is just to high! And I promise you this….you have so much more to offer than Netflix!!!
You my friend are Worthy!!!!
XOXOXO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Pain, Pain...Let's Get You Out of that Pain!!!!
Last week I left off introducing you guys to the idea that:
Pain 100% of the time is produced by the brain and if this pain becomes chronic, you have an issue with your connective tissue!
We started looking at what the connective tissue is, what it does, and how we need this architectural matrix of fluid functioning efficiently. When it is not, that is when we experience the pain.
When there is pain and we do nothing about it, the connective tissue, (the hair net I described last week) is fluid based like a river. Think of it as a one huge hair net underneath your skin. This hair net is like a river with fluid running through your body. When we do nothing with the pre-pain signal, sediment is accumulating in that river and doing nothing about it, well it settles in and before you know it you hear joints cracking, you are constantly having to adjust yourself, you’re stiff, tight…bottom line, you have pain!
It’s like a back up of sorts and we all know back ups in plumbing systems wreak havoc and back ups in rivers bring dried out, dehydrated river beds. It is the same with your body.
When this back up happens we either ignore it or do something like pop an Advil, which either case can cause bigger problems…more on that at a later date.
So these signals are coming from our nervous system and our nervous system is literally relying on our connective tissue (the hair net)…when the connective tissue is in trouble our nervous system cannot manage issues like it was made to do.
Pain happens, stuck stress happens, and this will literally exhaust your nervous system if we do nothing about it.
Why?
Because it will have to work harder and harder and harder. The more exhausted your nervous system becomes, well, you might see issues like:
Trouble digesting food
Mid day exhaustion
Insomnia
Cannot fall asleep
Getting up to pee in the middle of the night
These are all symptoms that your nervous system is working really hard.
If we ignore them a cascade of problems happen;
Pain
Chronic pain
Sudden Pain
Aging process speeds up
Sleep issues
And much more
AND
If you are having sleep issues…wow! What can happen is wild! I could probably do a chapter in a book on that, but the most important point here is:
Sleep is where cellular repair is happening. No sleep, no repair….
I know this all feels like bad news, but I do have good news!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
You can treat yourself and your connective tissue which is the missing link to optimal health in my opinion.
AND
I can teach you all of this! By using the 4 R’s of Melt,
Reconnect, Rebalance, Rehydrate, and Release
I can teach you how to identify what stuck stress is, what it is doing, and where it is living in your body so you can address it before you are in pain or worse chronic pain.
WHAT ARE THE 4 R’s OF MELT
Reconnect is just what it sounds like: I will teach you how to use body sense and reconnect with your body.
Rebalance is a beautiful 10 minute sequence, it is personally Trey f’s and my favorite! In the Rebalance Sequence we are literally helping your nervous system and your autopilot challenge itself to help you go back into balance so your auto pilot can do what it does best. If your nervous system is working fairly well, you will feel these results immediately. I like to describe it as, “I feel like I melted into the ground like a snowman and it feels AHMAZING!”
Rehydrate is literally what it sounds like. We are learning to rehydrate the connective tissue to get it functioning efficiently. I will teach techniques called glide, shear, rinse, and really cool lengthening techniques that look like stretching but it is not stretching it is you literally lengthening your fascia. So cool and so relaxing.
Last is Release- We will release your neck and low back and oh my goodness it is exactly what it sounds like. A release that is I don’t know how to explain it other than heavenly!
What you find really odd at first is if you tell me you have neck pain I will say great, let’s start with your feet and hands. We don’t go to the source of the pain and we never land on the pain. We go above or below it. I know this sounds wild, but it works! I am living proof of it and honestly so is my family!
SO……
If any of this has piqued your interest all you have to do is email me at amy@worthyheart.com and we can get you on my schedule. I can do all of this over zoom if you are not in Dallas and if you are in Dallas I can come to you or you can meet me at FBH which is a full service wellness studio who offers all kinds of modalities from Pilates, Chiro, MAT, and now MELT!!!!
So as you can see…..
I have all kinds of options and would love to chat with you and help you on your healing journey to a healthy ACTIVE PAIN FREE Life!!!!
Just shoot me an email and we will get you going! I cannot wait either! This has been a game changer for me and I just know it will be for you too!!!!!
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
Xo,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Pain, Pain, Go Away!
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish there was a way to get out of pain and stay out of pain?”
I know I have! The old me would just pop a pill, go to a doctor who would treat what was hurting, iron or roll the pain with a hard foam roller, beat it, red light it, do whatever I could to get out of pain!
The problem is that it is a temporary solution and some of the solutions are doing more damage than good.
What I have found in my studies with MELT is that in order to get out of pain, you have to get to the source of the pain….and sometimes the source is far away from the pain. #truestory
The truth is everyone will more than likely experience some kind of pain at some point in life.
Problem is, pain comes to us differently:
Injuries, accidents, surgery, illness, emotional pain, heartbreak, and the list goes on and on.
When we experience pain, whether emotional or physical, our brain literally sends a signal to our body saying:
“Something is not right here! Take Action!”
In a sense, that is a good thing because if we listen then we rest, maybe elevate the injury, ice it, pop an Advil, wrap it, nurture it by talking through it, if it is emotional, the point is; if we listen we take action.
We hear “Time Heals All Wounds.”
The question is, “But how come sometimes pain comes and goes, sometimes it just stays, and other times it comes on abruptly out of nowhere!”
What do I mean by that? Have you ever woken up after a great night’s sleep to have your neck stiff and screaming at you? Or your shoulder feels as if you tore your rotator cuff? Ya, that’s what I am talking about….that feeling of, “Are you kidding me, as we age we injure ourselves in our sleep!?” Anyone know what I am talking about? Not fun!
Our brain sits there racking itself wondering how the heck did this happen, why did this happen, and why won’t this pain go away for Pete’s Sake!?
Here is the deal…I learned this from THE BEST TEACHER EVER!
Pain 100% of the time is produced by the brain and if this pain becomes chronic, you have an issue with your connective tissue!
Problem is most of us, myself included until recently, have zero clue what the connective tissue is and the problem with that is that we do not understand we can actively, on our own, treat the connective tissue to get out of pain! Yes, you can learn to heal yourself!
But… we have to understand what the Connective Tissue is.
I personally like to think about it like this:
We have a hair net literally the shape of our bodies that is holding everything in place. This net is literally supporting, protecting, and stabilizing all aspects of our body. Everything from our cells, blood vessels, bones, muscles, organs, all of it!
The “hair net” is a three dimensional, fluid based, architectural matrix.
We need this “hair net” to be functioning efficiently for us to not have pain.
The problem is daily living can and will cause cellular dehydration which is the catalyst of causing pain and this pain can become chronic pain.
And whether you like it or not, we all have experienced cellular dehydration. An example of this is when you stand up after a long drive or after sitting for a long period of time….that stiffness you feel…that is literal cellular dehydration. Do you ever wake up in the morning to find your feet hurt or your joints hurt like you aged 35 years overnight…again cellular dehydration and these aches are literal pre pain signals. Think of it as your body saying to you, “Hey ___Your Name____! Your connective tissue is not doing its job and you are susceptible to joint compression.” AKA…Pain
Most people, once they start moving, the pain goes away. Awesome! Right? Unless you do nothing about it, which is what most people do! They don’t listen to the warning signs, but honestly, we have not known that we should listen to this, until now.
Now we know we need to listen.
These feelings of stiffness, tight muscles, cracking joints….these are warning signs that if we don’t listen a number of things might happen. Pain, chronic pain, accelerated aging, and so much more.
So why am I telling you all this?
Because, I am going to take you on a journey! A journey to help you prevent this, heal it, or reverse it.
What is it?
Pain, stiffness, aging, cracking, inflammation, cellulite, bunion issues, and so much more!
If you are like most Americans and fall into one of these or more…follow along….and see if MELT might be an answer for you. Lord knows it was a gift from God to me and I want to share this gift with you!
Stay tuned!
Until Next Time!
XOXOX,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
If today you are feeling insignificant may I offer the following:
If someone drinks coffee from the favorite cup you gave them~ you are remembered.
If someone hears a song on the radio that reminds them of you~ you are thought of.
If someone reads the book you recommended~ you are heard.
If someone smiles after a rough day, because they remembered the joke that you told them today~ you made an impression that stuck.
If someone loves themself a little bit more, because you gave them a compliment~ you are influential
NEVER think you have no influence whatsoever!
The trace you leave behind with every good deed, no matter how large or how small, that trace… that trace cannot be erased!
YOU ARE WORTHY!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
College Bound
It’s that time of year. So many of you will be sending your kiddos off to college for the first time. I remember sending my first born, Will, like it was yesterday.
I was a mess.
We were still wearing masks, there were so many unknowns, and I was expected to send him to another state 5 hours away and be ok with it. I was not, but I got there, and you will too.
This is such an exciting time for your kiddo and for you really. What you will find is your relationship will change.
Somedays the relationship will feel more mature, some days you will be hitting your head up against a wall wondering where you went wrong, and other days you will be thinking to yourself, “I guess he just has to learn the hard way, because, I KNOW I TAUGHT HIM BETTER.”
AND
Sadly there will be those days where you are on the floor in fear and worry, but you will get through it mama and the sun will come up! I promise!
Your emotions and feelings will be all over the place. The one thing I can tell you is: If you made it to this place, the place where your kiddo is earnestly ready to leave the nest, you did good!
That was your job.
Keep them alive and get them ready to fly.
So give yourself a pat on the back and maybe do what I did. Sit down and write your child a letter. A letter from the heart. You will find it is very healing and they will go away knowing how proud you are and how loved they are. There is nothing better than those two feelings!!!!! Here is my letter to Will back in 2020. I still get choked up reading it and I still stand by all the advice given that day. So Will, if you are reading this, click here and remember what I said. LOVE YOU MOST SAID IT LAST! LYMSIL, Mom (And JP, YOU TOO! This all applies to you as well my love! And remember: Shine Bright! The Stage and The Camera need your light!!!! So does this world! IWALY)
To all my moms reading this: YOU DID GOOD AND YOU ARE WORTHY!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Macaroni and Cheese To Truffle For
I have been on a mission for quite some time!
The Mission to The BEST Macaroni and Cheese Truffled out there!
I think I nailed it!!!!!!
How about this….why don’t you try for yourself and if I did, tag me on social or leave a comment below! I will be anxiously awaiting your results!
Macaroni and Cheese Truffled!
Ingredients:
16 ounces of some sort of little noodle (elbow, bowtie, twizzly! Point is your choice!)
2-4 tsp truffle oil (I may have used a little more)
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter (We love Kerry Gold over here)
1/3 cup all purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 cups sharp white cheddar shredded
2 cups Gruyere cheese shredded
1 cup of parmesan shredded
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
Salt and Pepper (Salt for the water to boil and salt and pepper for taste)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375.
Lightly grease a large 3 to 4 quart baking dish.
In a large bowl combine your cheddar and gruyere cheeses.
Cook pasta until not quite al dente, about 1-2 minute less than the package instructions.
Drain and transfer to your pan. While the pasta is still warm, drizzle with the truffle oil and stir well.
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat melt your butter. Add the flour and paprika. Whisking until no visible flour remains. 1 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk, heavy cream, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and stir in your bowl of cheese until smooth.
Pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni and stir well. Add salt and pepper per your liking. Top with as much parmesan as you like.
Bake until the top is lightly browned and the sauce is bubbly. 25 to 30 minutes.
Let sit for about 5 minutes then serve this deliciousness up!!!!!
Bon Appetit!
Amy
aka~Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
Hopes and dreams always start as a seed.
A seed of thought. A word spoken to you that falls on your heart and mind. But a seed and that seed gets planted into your heart.
Seeds take time, nurturing, and love to grow.
You have to water the seed, pull weeds that are sprouting around it. Cover it from freezing temperatures.
Getting impatient will not make the seed grow faster.
What is and will be for you will show up at the right time.
Keep trusting that your planting is consistently producing, even when you don’t see it.
Give your seed time to push through the dirt.
YOUR TIME IS COMING AND YOU ARE WORTHY!!!!!!!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
My Healthy Amazon Finds
It’s been a while since we have had an Amazon Finds Post
So what do you say we do a little healthy Amazon Finds!
These are some of my current faves! I am on this health journey and if you find yourself embarking on a health journey, these may serve you like that have me!
So check them out and let me know your thoughts!
First up we have my famous whip cream maker! Thanks to my friend Cathy who knows her stuff and really cares about me I invested in this little bad boy and I am so glad I did. I have whip cream in my coffee everyday and Cathy was concerned because of the ingredient carrageenan.
What is carrageenan? Carrageenan is an additive used to thicken, emulsify, and preserve foods and drinks. It's a natural ingredient that comes from red seaweed (also called Irish moss). You'll often find this ingredient in nut milks, meat products, and yogurt. And hear me it is not good.
Side effects of carrageenan are: inflammation, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome and IBD, glucose intolerance, colon cancer, and food allergies just to name a few. AND most of what I have been fighting is inflammation, which honestly is probably the number 1 side effect we are all fighting silently. So if you like whipped cream as much as I do, invest in one of these little bad boys! And literally all I put in mine is one pint of heavy cream and some vanilla for taste. No sugar, no anything, and it is so good!
Full disclosure you will need the little whip it things to make it and they do not come with it, so I have added those below. (Be careful with these though as they have been used by kids to get high)
My next find is Collagen. Since I have been studying MELT I have learned so much about our connective tissue including our joints, muscles, and bones. Collagen is super important. We do not get enough in our standard diet so I have found a way to include it in my coffee. It is delicious and creamy. So I add this to my coffee, stir it up really well, and top it off with some homemade fluffy whip cream! I get coconut, but it comes non flavored and mocha too, I bet vanilla as well!
Now, if you are anything like me you have a little sweet tooth. I have found an incredible little secret weapon and it works! MID DAY SQUARES for the win!!!!! I LOVE the chocolate and peanut butter one! You have to try these to believe it!
And last but not least my adrenal cocktail. We moms run on empty. We go, go, go, go and our adrenals are shot. This little concoction really does hydrate and heal. Try it. My recipe is: One Scoop of jigsaw, juice from one lime, coconut water and a splash of orange juice. Yall it is so good and refreshing! And WAY better for you than caffeine in the afternoon!
On days I teach dance I have found a killer electrolyte drink! It has ZERO sugar and no artificial stuff! So if you live in Texas or you work out a lot, you really should check this stuff out! It is the bomb! My favorites are the Raspberry Salt and the Watermelon Salt, but they are all really good. I can’t say I have tried the Chocolate Salt, because that just sounds terrible to me, but the others are great with the exception of the non flavor. I do not like that one at all. But you might, so give it a try!
So there are just a few of my new health secrets that have me feeling great, my skin looks great, and I am sleeping like a champ!!!!!
Happy Shopping Kids!!!!
Amy
aka~Worthy
Trey's Success on Keto
Last week I posted an incredible Keto Lasagna recipe.
First question for you is: Have you tried it?
AND
Second: What are your thoughts?
Good huh! And so easy. If you missed it, you can click here and check it out.
Today I want to talk about the Keto diet, because this recipe is keto friendly and some of you have asked, “What is the point in making lasagna if you do not have the noodles?” Old Amy would 1000 percent agree. It sounds kind of like coffee without the caffeine and I am in the camp of what’s the point if there is no caffeine? So, I totally understand if that is what you are thinking. If indeed that is what you are thinking, I would like to encourage you to, “Don’t knock it till you try it…” .Because….it is that good!
Why keto? And What is Keto?
Let’s discuss the What Keto is first.
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate mainstream dietary therapy that in medicine is used mainly to treat hard-to-control epilepsy in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates.
Or for our purposes:
“Ketogenic” is a term for a low-carb diet (like the Atkins diet). The idea is for you to get more calories from protein and fat and less from carbohydrates. You cut back most on the carbs that are easy to digest, like sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread.
In a nutshell and pretty much how I understand it: VERY LOW to zero carbs (impossible unless you don’t eat). More than usual protein, high healthy fats, and tons of vegetables, but not just any veggies, only those lower in carbs. Yep…you heard me. Vegetables have a carb count! Wild I know and again this is why it is impossible not to incur carbs in a day…And fruit. You might as well hang fruit up because on this diet your body converts the natural sugar to a carb and fruits have a carb count. Blackberries in small amounts are safe we are finding, but again small amounts.
Let me repeat: this is my understanding of the keto diet.
So why would one do this diet? Simply put, to lose weight. Trey started this diet back in May and I am happy to report he is almost 30lbs if not more. Now, like any diet out there, it all depends on the individual. How strict you are, do you workout with it, sleep, DNA, where your starting point is versus someone else’s, and so many other factors. But, from what I have seen with Trey and my friend Cathy, it works if you do the plan. So in other words this is a good diet for male or female because from where I am sitting most diets work really quick and easy for males and honestly I don’t know the reason other than women’s bodies were made to hold fat for child bearing years and I guess that just never leaves us, but this diet works on females because I have seen it first hand in Cathy.
How it works:
When you eat less than 50 grams of carbs a day, your body eventually runs out of fuel (blood sugar) it can use quickly. This typically takes 3 to 4 days. Then you’ll start to break down protein and fat for energy, which can make you lose weight. This is called ketosis. In the beginning Trey literally peed on these sticks to ensure he was in ketosis. Any time he cheated he knew he would be thrown out of the fat burning stage of ketosis and it would take him 3 to 4 days to get back. These sticks were a huge incentive and really made him think twice before he cheated. If considering this diet, you might want to invest in these sticks to help you as well.
There is a wide range of food you can eat on Keto:
Fish and seafood, Low-carb veggies, cheese, avocados, chicken, eggs, nuts, seeds and healthy oils, plain greek yogurt and cottage cheese, and we have found all kinds of little snacks to help Trey get through times when he was starving.
Some of Trey’s snacks include: nuts, but not just any nuts. Almonds, pecans, macadamia nuts, and walnuts are all lower in carbs than cashews. He loves Italian meats wrapped in mozzarella, and Mid-Day Squares are really helpful when he has an urge for sugar. He has also discovered Keto friendly cereal on amazon that helps with those urges.
Another little tip: This cookbook has been a lifesaver, 5 ingredient keto. Easy quick recipes that pretty much the whole family will enjoy.
So as you can see, Keto is doable and there are some rescue remedies when you are really fighting to stay on track, but one of his biggest secrets is: drink water and go for a walk and see if that urge passes. It usually does!
So if you are wanting to lose weight or thinking keto might be a solution for you, try it. You might want to talk to your doctor, but I can tell you I have learned that this particular diet can help with: Alzheimer’s (feeding the brain healthy fat), PTSD (same concept as Alzheimer’s), diabetes, may improve acne, may reduce risk of certain cancers, may improve heart health, can help if you suffer from PCOS. Again, this is just stuff I have found while researching the diet, but it never hurts to ask your doctor if you suffer from any of this. I wish I had fed my father more healthy fats, but you don’t know what you don’t know. So do some research, see if keto is for you and remember…
YOU ARE WORTHY!
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Wednesday's Worthy Word
Vera Wang made her first wedding dress at 40.
Rodney Dangerfield’s break in standup came at 46.
Julia Child’s first cookbook at 49.
Sam Walton opened his first Wal-Mart at 44.
Ray Kroc’s first Mickey D’s (aka McDonalds) was set up when he was 52.
Duncan Hines introduced his cakes at 73.
What’s the point?
IT IS NEVER TO LATE!
Not sure who needs to hear this today…but it is never too late! Don’t give up on that dream!
Did you know Henry Ford established his first car company in 1899 at the age of 36, however, it went broke within two years. It was on his third attempt to set up a car company that he was finally successful in 1903, and his big breakthrough was in 1908 when he was 44! Don’t give up and it is not to late! Keep going! Keep moving forward! Use the mantra:
I am moving exclusively forward!!!!
You got this!!!!! And…..
YOU ARE WORTHY!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
My Healing Journey
If you have been following along on the gram, then you are well aware by now that I have embarked on a new adventure. A healing adventure that is.
The Melt Method
Back story
In November, a co-worker/friend, Christine and I registered for Dallas Mania which is a fitness convention. At the time, I was suffering from severe plantar fasciitis. If anyone has ever had it, you know how painful it is. To teach dance on it was excruciating to say the least. I think I was averaging 1600 mg of Ibuprofen a day. Which is ridiculous in and of itself and awful for your gut. That is an entirely different post for a different day.
The point is, I tried anything and everything to heal it. I paid a doctor $1000 for shockwave therapy. And if you want to know what real pain is….do that…it was worse than labor! AND I subjected myself to it over and over and over again in hopes that it would heal my pain. It did work wonders on my Achilles tendonitis but not on my heel. I purchased all kinds of weird shoes off the internet that claimed they could help. I bought a red light therapy wand. I mean when I tell you I tried EVERYTHING, I tried EVERYTHING!
UNTIL MELT!
At Mania, Christine kept talking about this session, MELT, that she had signed up for and suggested that I should attend it over Zumba. I remember telling her I hated yoga, barre, anything slow, why would I go? She explained to me what she had been learning about the fascia and really thought that it might help my plantar fasciitis. Again, if someone had given me snake oil and said, “Drink this it will do the trick.” I am telling you I might have! That is how awful it was. So I skipped Zumba and went with Christine and the rest was history.
I am not kidding when I tell you I got immediate relief. IMMEDIATE. Immediate, but with discipline.
I listened to Sue, the founder, explain how we brush our teeth daily for fresh breath and to prevent tooth decay or further tooth decay and it is the same with the fascia and our bodies. We need to floss them daily if you will.
I bought the foam roller and ball that day and decided in that moment I would MELT daily and I did. I healed my plantar fasciitis too! Not only did I heal it myself, I registered to get certified to train others to do the same!
Guess What!
I am officially certified! It was a three month journey and it was like going back to college, but I did it! I am so proud of myself and so excited to bring this MELT Method out into my community and to those around the world. I figure I learned it all over zoom, why not offer zoom training?
If you are one of my friends who suffers from chronic pain, wants to erase the signs of aging, maybe you want to prevent pain, and feel fantastic in just 10 minutes a day! I really think I have the secret, thanks to Sue Hitzman and her incredible MELT Method!
I plan to talk about it a lot over on the gram and you will see many more blog posts on the what, why’s, and how’s of it. But for now, know this….there is a breakthrough Self-treatment system that stimulates healing power within your body’s connective tissue and can help relieve aches and stiffness, improve performance, and erase the negative effects of aging! Know that it is also possible to live without pain and transform your body in as little as 10 minutes a day! There are so many more benefits which we will discuss in the future, but here are a few: Sleep, Digestive, Midday fatigue be gone, bloating and weight gain be gone, and are you ready for this…cellulite help! Say goodbye to some, if not all, of the Hail Damage on the back of those thighs! Ladies, if that does not excite you!? Ha!
So be on the lookout and if you want to know more or would like a private session, email me at amy@worthyheart.com and let’s get you started on your very own healing journey.
Until Next Time,
XO,
Worthy
Christmas in July Sale!
I cannot believe we are halfway through July! Crazy how time flies the older you get?
Do you agree? Before we know we will be hearing the countdown to Christmas….
“90 days until Christmas, 60 days until Christmas, 30 days until Christmas!”
Before we know it will be 2 days until Christmas!
Do you have your shopping done? Ha! Anyone know what I am talking about?
I decided to do a little something…..
I decided why not help you get a jump start on Christmas and do a little Christmas in July?
Now until July 31 I am going to offer 50% off of my journal and 20% off of my 4 and 8 week coaching packages! That’s right! 50/20!
Why? Because I know that this year with gas prices, inflation, possible recession, things might be tight! So why not start now?
Start planning now so you can budget and be prepared.
That is my secret.
What I have found is you can spread it out over the next 6 months and not break your bank 2 weeks before Christmas! And trust me, the hubs will be so much more relaxed and grateful.
So if you have someone on your list who could use the gift of affirmations, maybe they love journaling, someone who loves morning quiet time, or just someone that you would like to see them grow in their belief in themselves… give them a journal. If it is someone who you think could benefit from coaching… give them 8 weeks of intense 1:1’s with me. I promise you these gifts are the gifts that keep on giving. Maybe it’s you! Either way, this is a great sale!
Happy Shopping and Merry Christmas in July!!!!!
(And even if you don’t want to start this early….I promise you want to start your list now….especially with the economy like it is….Promise.)
Until Next Time!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
CODES: JOURNAL USE JULY50 and if you are interested in the Coaching package email me at amy@worthyheart.com and I will send you all the details along with the discount.
Wednesday's Worthy Word
The other day I was cleaning out my camera on my phone (if you don’t do this I highly suggest it because you find some real gems!) and I came across this photo.
LOVE THIS! I don’t remember when or where I was when I took it…but this is one of those gems I found
I really don’t remember taking it, but I love it because every morning Trey or I run through a mantra with our boys. Obviously our big boys not so much anymore, but we did when they were younger and I have to believe it planted seeds.
The mantra goes like this:
Start with The Lord’s Prayer….
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory forever. Amen.
Next:
Be a leader
Not a follower
Do your best
Berry’s never quit
Always have fun!
And we close with the serenity prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
What does this do?
I firmly believe that morning mantras, prayers, mediations, whatever you want to call them, are magical! They are words or phrases that are repeated and get you into a certain mindset or increase your concentration. They are amazing instruments for helping you build confidence in yourself and focus up for an incredible day.
Who does not need more confidence and positivity? I know I do and our kids, well, with all the social media and distractions, lord knows they could use some help in learning to concentrate as well as boost in the area of confidence!
So take our mantra, make your own, whatever mantra you do, I promise you when your kiddos have flown from the nest, they will have something beautiful embedded deep within their hearts that they can carry with them on those days that seem super lonely, dark, or out of place.
Trust me, you will use the mantra too! I pull from our daily mantra a lot! So it is a win win for all!
What will your mantra be?
Until Next Time,
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Sana Italian! (Healthy Italian)
Happy Monday Friends! Or as the Italians Say
“Felice Lunedì!"
Ha! I don’t know Italian, but I love how the words sound! So romantic!!!! Do you agree?
I have never been to Italy, someday…God willing. However, I am afraid I would gain 50lbs because I LOVE PASTA! But, I am told over there you walk a lot for starters and their pasta is healthier…something about their pasta is fresh from flour, water, and eggs. They do not get it from a box. They literally make it homemade and it is made from 100% durum wheat, called semola di grano duro in Italian. Basically, it is higher in protein and stands up to the rigors of cooking.
There is your lesson on why Italians can eat pasta daily and not blow up like we American’s. Just sayin….
However, today I don’t have a traditional lasagna recipe. I have a healthy version of lasagna that I think you will love. Full disclosure. Two of my four boys love this and two hate it. Oddly it is my youngest, Graeme, and Trey who love it. My two college boys are like, “Mom, seriously? Add some noodles!”
Back story: Trey decided to go Keto back in late April and lose a few pounds. It has been GREAT for him, but hard for me now with my diagnosis. Keto, if you do not know, is high (healthy) fat, adequate protein, and low carbs. There is a lot of good research on this diet, but when you are fighting high LDL the verdict is out. My motto is: EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. But, while trying to get my LDL levels down I need to watch my fat. So it has been a balancing act over here.
I am happy to report my husband is down 26lbs and feels and looks GREAT!
But, like any diet, check with your doctor before you go “balls to the wall with it.” I will do a post in the future on the benefits of Keto because we have learned a lot.
One thing that we have learned is that it is a very good diet for Veterans who suffer from PTSD. Fascinating right!
More on that in the future!
For today, if you are thinking of going Keto, if you are Keto, or if you are just trying to limit your carbs but love Italian….LOOK NO FURTHER!
KETO LASAGNA
I got this recipe from LOW CARB YUM 5-INGREDIENT KETO and I tweaked it because 5 ingredients was a little bland for us.
Ingredients:
1/2 of a yellow onion chopped
2- 3 garlic cloves minced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 lb. ground meat (or turkey)
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 tub of ricotta cheese (1 and 12/ cups)
1 ball of mozzarella (8 ounces) sliced
1/2 cup to 1 cup grated parmesan (we like cheesy!)
1 (25 ounce) jar marinara sauce (low carb) we use Rao’s
Salt and pepper to taste and if you like add your favorite Italian seasoning
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375
In a large skillet, heat your olive oil on medium.
Add your chopped onion and cook until the onion is translucent.
Add your minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
Add your sausage and cook it through.
Then add your beef and cook it through.
You can add your seasoning here or mix it in your marinara sauce.
Remove from the heat and drain off any excess fat.
Transfer the meat mixture to the bottom of a 9 x 9 inch deep baking pan.
Spread the ricotta on top, followed by the Parmesan.
Then pour the marinara sauce over the layers and top with the mozzarella.
Bake for 25 minutes and maybe for the last 2 to 3 minutes put it on broil and get that mozzarella nice and toasty brown in some spots.
*You can add an egg to the ricotta before mixing and it will be easier to spread and the egg will add a little more protein!
Serve with a Salad and if not staying Keto add some garlic bread!
Bon Appetit!
Amy
aka~Worthy
Take Two
Have you ever started something, put it down, and then found yourself going back to it after a period of time?
Ya? Me too! And that is what brings me to today’s post.
Last year I had this big idea that I was going to take you on a “Joy Ride Through the Bible.” It was and is a great idea! I love where my heart was, but for some reason I put it down.
Well, here I am today picking it up. God has been whispering to me, “Amy, what about that devotional? Why did we put that down?”
I really don’t have the answer. My last post on this literally was in July a year ago. Nothing big or tragic happened, I just put it down.
The lesson here is that it is ok if you put something down for a period of time and decide to come back to it.
Society tells us that if we put something down and we are not in the hospital, on maternity leave, or dealing with a sick family member, then we have failed. That is simply not the case.
Let’s be real – life sometimes gets in the way! Sometimes you just need a mental health getaway or you just want to hit the pause button for a while on whatever it is.
Maybe for you it was your Network Marketing side gig, maybe it was a quilt you started, or a hobby, maybe it was a business on social, whatever it was and whatever the reason is that you put it down, the real point here is:
You owe zero explanation as to why you put it down.
AND furthermore if you want to pick it back up, permission granted by me! Do it!
So here’s to picking back up where we left off in our Joy Ride Through the Bible and here’s to you allowing yourself to pick up where you left off IF YOU WANT TO….NO EXPLANATION NEEDED!
Because….YOU MY FRIEND ARE WORTHY!
Until Next Time,
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Wednesdays Worthy Word!
Today is just another day
UNLESS you decide to make it
EXTRAORDINARY, so
Set your goals,
Do your best to make today
Awesome and to make
Yourself Proud!
XO,
Amy
aka~Worthy
Let Freedom Ring
Happy Fourth of July!!!!!
The Fourth of July is always a good time! Amen?! Parades, hot dogs, watermelons, swimming, fireworks, barbecues, just to name a few things that happen every fourth.
Our little community always has the sweetest parade with popsicles, watermelon eating contest, and fun for all!
The question is…
Every Fourth, do we really grasp what the Fourth of July really is about? Or do we just say, “Whoo Hoo! We are FREE! We are independent! We are America!”
I looked it up and here is what google has to say about the Fourth:
On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.
American Independence!
Independence we know means a state of being independent, but to go deeper it means: freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.
We became a FREE country! When I look at that personally I see good and I see bad….Good because yes we are FREE, but bad because some could and (I would argue do) abuse that. Which is why we need rules. However, I personally think if we could buy into what God has to say about Freedom, our country would be a much better place today! Just my two cents.
What am I referring to?
Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
So many good things there…humble and serving to point out a few things!!!!!
To break it down in Worthy terms here is what I think God is trying to say:
There is freedom that comes with faith in Jesus Christ.
What faith do we need to have in Jesus? Well, for starters we need to believe that Jesus bought our salvation through his blood. He literally died for our freedom, for our salvation, because of His blood we are freed from the slavery to our own sinfulness.
Next thought is what would keep one from sinning if all you have to do is say, “I believe Jesus died for me and I am forgiven, I am free?” Why wouldn’t we just indulge in whatever we want, sex, drugs, rock and roll, stomping on others to get what we want and think we deserve, indulging in too much of something…what keeps a person from doing this if all we have to do is believe?
That is where this verse comes in and Paul, the writer of Galatians, is clearly saying, “Don’t use your freedom in Christ as an opportunity to do whatever, whenever you want, with whoever you want, just because it feels good.” In other words don’t use Christ as an opportunity to selfishly serve your flesh because it feels good to you, because you can, because you want to, because you think you deserve it, because whatever….And he backs that up with…serve one another humbly and in love. BOOF!
When was the last time you served someone humbly and in love?
When I think about this idea I think of all the men and women who have fought and died for you and for me…all so we can be free. Their service to our country is a gift that we do not deserve. We surely do not deserve the gift of forgiveness for all our sins from Jesus… and when I think of all the strangers who have gone to war for you, for me, for this country, and died…. I think WOW! Did they deserve death? No, absolutely not, yet they paid the ultimate price.. and one could argue those of us sitting at home eating our hotdogs and sipping on our beer do not deserve their service. Talk about humbling.
So this Fourth of July….when you think of your freedom, remember those who paid the ultimate price and remember the freedom you are living in through Christ’s blood and remember this….God loves you! So much! So look for His love and strive to serve one another with that same love. If we could all do that….well this world would be a better place. In my humble opinion.
Happy Fourth Friends!!!!
XOXOX,
Amy
aka~Worthy
PS….this Fourth of July remember: The reason we celebrate the Fourth of July is because of our fallen and serving soldiers. These soldiers have fought in the past and many more are still fighting for our country, lives, and freedom so that we can all live in peace. So Peace Be with You!!!! And Happy Fourth!!!!!
Happy Fourth from our Family to Yours!!!!!!