Tina's 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TIPS

On the 1st Day of CHRISTMAS Tips  - We eat a M&M
[sung  to the tune of 12 days of Christmas in your merriest morning voice]

Of course I am talking about a Morning Meal. You knew that, right? WHAT? You thought I meant those cute little round and colorful candies that melt in your mouth, not in your hands? oh, so very sorry! Weeell, While you could have 1 of those every day if you really want them [because we don't deprivate] I wouldn't recommend it as the most wholesome and healthy way to start your day. :-( I know, I know! :-( Was that your shoulders slumping? I just virtually picked up on that!

HOWEVER, I would recommend that your M&M [aka - breakfast] be just as colorful as a handful of those other ones! For example; Here's my M&M today. Much prettier than a drive-thru window bag of crap heart stopping fat or diabetic sugar coma junk food! 
YES-OH. Sure is! Tastier too!

Fluffy WHITE perfectly soft cooked eggs, BROWN hearty and healthy [whole LIVE grains] cinnamon & raisin Ezekial Bread toasted to a warm crunch. Perfect for dipping in that sweet applesauce followed by a dip in soft and creamy GOLDEN YELLOW yolk. BLUEberries on top of VANILLA Yogurt and RED apples in the fruit bowl to finish off my M&M. Just about all the colors except for green. Perhaps next time I will invite Dr. Suess to bring his GREEN eggs. Still, it was a colorful M&M that I ate today! What color was YOURS?

Seriously, ALWAYS start your day out with a good and healthy Morning Meal - BREAKFAST! I like a quick, simple, and hearty M&M requiring only 5 minutes to prepare and cook. Otherwise I will not make the effort to Breakfast at home. Honestly, this M&M FEAST was no more than 5 minutes from fridge, to stove, to table!     ANYBODY CAN DO THIS!

Poaching eggs is your friend. They do not need a babysitter. Just drop them off in a pool of near bubbling water, medium heat, and walk away for a minute or two. Get the rest of your breakfast ready, turning the eggs over, easy does it, so you don't break the yolk, and let the other side cook a minute or two. Drain them well with a slotted spoonula and slide them onto your plate! The result is fried-like eggs without the fat. Clean up is the easiest and quickest when poaching or boiling eggs because there is no splattering mess. Oh Yeah!

In the meantime, you have had the time to toast your bread, get a little jelly, jam, or apple sauce, and if you like, yogurt and berries, [a small portion] a fresh raw fruit, drink, utensils, napkin and a placemat or pretty towel to set your M&M on. [Because we eat with our eyes first, and a pretty presentation is always most enjoyed] Now, grab a seat and eat!

Right down to the last delicious bite of yogurt and berry goodness!

And savoring every sip of that favorite fresh brewed java or tea. Whatever floats your boat!

Then grab a piece or two of fresh fruit on your way out the door to work or wherever it is you have to run off to for the day. Easy to do when fresh fruit is your table's centerpiece!

I hope the photos help inspire you to eat a good meal at the beginning of your day to fuel your brain and body. Even if my M&M for today isn't perhaps your favorite breakfast, I hope the photos motivate you to create your own M&M to enjoy and look forward to each day.

BUT, if that doesn't help you, maybe this scientific info will get your morning hunger bell to start ringing a healthier and merrier tune! Just this morning I read this latest nutrition and weight bearing news that I think is well worth sharing along with this tip!

Health & Wellness Expert Ann Louise Gettleman Ph.D wrote the following; "in my clinical experience, 50 percent of women suffer from severely depleted levels of GLUTATHIONE

during the holidays. This MASTER ANTIOXIDANT binds to toxic waste and tags it for elimination from the body, but when you are exposed to more harmful chemicals than usual, which many of us are, during the Holidays, GLUTATHIONE gets used up faster than the body can replenish it. This allows toxins to accumulate in cells, causing symptoms like fatigue and weight gain".

To remedy this, she suggests a good quality high-protein breakfast. This "provides the amino acids that serve as building blocks for glutathione. Once levels are restored the body will be able to flush out toxins, so excess pounds will melt away and energy levels will quickly climb." She even suggests consuming a high quality protein shake made with good fat flushing whey protein powder. I would accept that for a quick M&M. You can even prepare it and take it with you and eat it on the go. Most of the time, this liquid style meal doesn't do it for me. I need the chew factor! I could sub a snack for it though!

On a personal note, I have proven a more healthy protein meal, to work well. I have been on a plateau recently as many of you know. 32 lbs. GONE since August 20 but only 2 lbs of that in the past few weeks. Lately I have been CRAVING protein BIG TIME. I realized since August 20th my diet mostly contained whole grains and fiber which is good, but I wasn't consuming much protein, in comparison. So, the past week or so I have listened more closely to and followed my body's own hunger and nutritional needs that it has been signaling me with and I am seeing and feeling the difference from making the change of increased lean proteins in the mornings. As is written; "Man cannot live by bread alone" even if it is the healthiest kind you can buy! Sorry, Ezekial, but you know 'tis true! 

I have proof! An exciting WEIGH-OFF VIDEO is coming your way this weekend. RIGHT HERE!
             So, EAT PROTEIN! But make sure it is healthy and LEAN PROTEIN!

Below's a photo of another favorite way I love my eggs. It's called Eggs In A Blanket. I used Regular live grains Ezekial Bread, and egglands best brown eggs on a very old plate that matches a set my mom gave me when I was 12 years old for my hope chest. I can remember that day as if it were today! I still have these dishes and I still have an even older cedar chest that belonged to my Grandmother [Mamaw Riffe] It, like me, is still full of hope!
But the question is: WHICH CAME FIRST! THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG! Or is that a ROOSTER!

Not sure, but I know what disappeared first! Look below!

Whatever your favorite M&M is, remember to give thanks for it and to ask a blessing over it and for it to help you have the energy, stamina, endurance, mental clarity, physical strength, and emotional wellness you need to carry you through the morning and to your next healthy meal or snack that will get ultimately get you through the day and beyond!
Then put a smile on that beautiful or handsome face and get ready to roll. Before you put the gear in drive, have a look in the rearview mirror to see where you've come from!

Yep, that's ME! And in my rearview mirror I see a girl who used to weigh more than 500 lbs and was unhealthy, unfit and needed a miracle to even make it to her 30th birthday. THAT GIRL is no longer looking back at me! This girl is healthier, happier, fitter, [is that a word? IDK but it rhymes] and 6 months away from THE BIG 5-0. A Miracle Girl, that's who I see! A girl who got rid of 335 lbs nearly 20 years ago and saved her life and is fulfilling her purpose to help others, INCLUDING YOU, to reach beyond to life their best life! That is who THIS Tina Maria Adams is!  What about you? What can I help you accomplish? Overcome?
Who is in YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR? Who do you see looking back at YOU?

Even if today is your first day getting started or re-started toward your Promised Land flowing with Milk & Honey [Health & Wellness] take a good look at the woman or man you are leaving behind. Then point your eyes, your faith, and your motivated determination in FORWARD and DRIVE, DRIVE, DRIVE toward your PROMISED LAND!

I'll meet you there to celebrate! See YA! Gotta go! A TRAIL HIKE hath need of me!

Zoom Zoom!

HUGS ~
Tina Maria