Rejected to Rejoicing...Moving past the "R" words to a healthier lifestyle...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs 

Want to lose weight and get fit...

then we have to face our "issues" and live beyond them!

Each month, we get a schedule in the mail that lists all the Special Olympic activities. Garrett and I are very active in our local group as well as regional and state level teams and competitions. It makes a difference for Garrett to be active, his social skills as well as his emotional stability. I am blessed to have a personal scheduled that works around home, work and him. This month's calendar was late arriving due to staff scheduling and it was fine, but Garrett is all about routine. We had planned to go bowling on Wednesday since we didn't have a schedule. This is what we do when golf isn't in season. However, when I picked Garrett up and his bowling ball then we were at the coffee shop getting his "energy" tea, I got a text saying, "Golf at 3:00." I had to tell Garrett. I should video that lol. To change his routine brings on no bad behavior but it does bring 1k questions, anxiety and a transformation in the thinking process. We managed and headed to golf, which is his favorite active we do.

On the golf course, I walk the far edges of the holes we are playing just in case the team hits the ball into the "far land." While walking the edge of the woods, high grass, and waters, I find a number of golf balls left by other players. I feel complete if I find five balls but have found as many as seventy. It's great because our Special Olympic team can use golf balls all year long! This particular day, I found one with "R" on it. My first thought was, "Wow, I found one for "R"ita! "R"ight! Lol then I showed Garrett's partner and coach, Mark English, to which he replied, "...or regrets..." He and his wife know my whole life story... I got to thinking about that...

There a lot of "R" words that come to mind that you and I have experienced. Many life-experiences came to mind and some are hard to read much less to think about...Racism, Railroaded, Rape, Rebellion, Ratty, Ruthless, Repressed, Repulsed, and there are many more, but one I can't type because it turns me completely off even as slang, the "R" word.  Regardless, yet another emotion in itself, we all have felt the sting of words, but the one I want to focus on is "R" ejection.

I knew the reality of rejection, but had not actually faced the it until my husband walked out. It took me a while and through my son's eyes and verbalization to realize that, "Yup, this happened." Hearing the words, "I never loved you," when he walked out handing me papers, unexpectedly, made since to me immediately. I believed him. There is always a puzzle that you can't find that missing piece. Then when you find it...the picture is complete. That was the missing piece that put many situations in my life together. It exposed not only him but other relationships I had at that time but also my whole life. Rejection defined it, not the root of their behavior.

Rejection has the opportunity to plant many emotions and reactions. However, you get to decide what is planted in that soil and what you get from that harvest. I decided to plant and sow in faith. I had to stand up for what was right, to take care of myself and my son; however, also I had to provide in the realistic world as well as to trust that harvest to yield beyond my feelings and live my faith. That is where I decided to do these things every day from day one after this life-experience happened:

*  I wrote three things I was thankful for every day regardless if I felt like it or not.

*  I got up and hour earlier every day and read five different devotionals every morning.

*  I went to my room every night one hour before bedtime and read five other devotionals every night. (Btw, I still have these books and use them often, my devotionals are more personal now).

*  I wrote out my prayers and have them in a notebook today. Why? Because sometimes I didn't have the words to say or know how to pray. God honored and blessed those prayers. 

*  I found a Bible believing, teaching, preaching church and community and got active.

*  I found DivorceCare and Celebrate Recovery. There are more support groups out there, but for me, I needed people. I was married for thirty-four years and needed to know how to speak, react, behave with a child that will always be a child, adult children, estrangement, negativity, court, and even being a foodoholic. I needed to know how to never go back to my past of being with people that chose habits and hangups in their lives over God and their partner and spouse. 

*  I never (not even now) talk about my relationships of the past in my home or in front of my children or my mother, who I am the primary caregiver. Instead I encourage them to see those that hurt me in a positive light and listen to their on pains, channeling them toward a better reflection of how our lives have been blessed and what our home is today with the hopes of tomorrow.

*  Get this if nothing else, social media was not the place I posted harmful, hurtful things during any life-experience. Break that habit regardless what your immediate reaction, emotion might be to any situation you are in. Social media isn't the place to air your drama or dirty laundry, if you will. 

* I was extended love and grace beyond my comprehension, it was time for me to learn to extend the bit I could. I love the people that hurt me, pray for them continuously, however, it is the enemy of darkness, the habit, the hangup I battled, not the person. I had to learn what I was battling. 

** Know these are just a few things I did to change my focus from rejection to rejoicing, rejection to redeemed!

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

During my time of transition, I took photographs

added inspirational words to them to encourage my family and myself.

You may have grown up in alcoholism,  drugs, abuse, food addictions, or rejection. You can change the future, end the cycle, create your today. Rejection is dealt with in scripture. Let's read Lamentations 3:24-26: "...The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him. The Lord is good to those whose hope in Him; to the one who seeks Him; it is good to WAIT quietly."  Sometimes we are called to wait, but the thing is we have our hope in Him and in that the courage. I lived that hope, not in bitterness or regret.  Rejection is an invitation to live in expectation of something more, an appointment, if you will, to make room for tomorrow. You have a choice, regardless how tired you get of me saying that, you have a choice to rejoice regardless of your life situation. What seeds are you planting and sowing? You will reap what you sow from the seeds you plant. When rejections come, sow the seeds of rejoicing, thanksgiving. Moving to a better place, a happy place, one of joy and thankfulness is a choice. I have no excuses to live a healthier lifestyle by moving my stresses to being thankful and rejoicing regardless what is happening in that garden. Weed out the negative, the past, and let it go. 

It's time to live Rejected to Redeemed,

Rejected to Rejoicing without definition 

and with no excuses!

Hugs, Rita

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe...plus a recipe to joy...

Chicken Pot Pie from the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached

Comfort food is cozy, happy and filled with delicious goodness. I would love for it to be a southern thing, but it totally isn't. I have friends all over the world, when they come to visit, I am in awe of the foods they prepare. It is amazing to taste the different cultures and flavors that come together with simple foods, like a zucchini. A green vegetable that grows crazy and multiplies by the tons! I had no idea that you could not only make bread from it, but all the way to breakfast. I will stop there because you need to see how many ways you too can make a dish from one vegetable. 

Chicken pot pie is an easy dish to make and certainly take next door when that neighbor has hip replacement surgery or the neighbor on the other side volunteers to mow your grass. It also freezes well. When you do, cook 3/4 done, then put in the freezer, but when ready to enjoy, thaw and back the remaining time. So, here we go...

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

2 ready made crusts or the Gluten-free Crusts

2 large cans of cream of chicken soup, gluten free

2 15 ounce cans mixed vegetables, drained and rinsed

4 shredded, baked boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 teaspoon ground cilantro

1 teaspoon oregano

dash of black pepper

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Put one crust in a 9" pie plate.

2. Sprinkle the bottom of the crust with 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese.

3. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly except the cheese.

4. Pour the mixture in the pie crust and spread the remaining shredded cheese over the top of the mixture.

5. Place the second crust over the top of the pie. Trim the edges of the top crust from the sides and press the edges, sealing it with a fork. Then prick the top five times with the tip of the fork to allow air to flow from the pie. 

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Serve hot. 

#RitaHutchesonCobbs in the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached

I have heard a series by a minister called "Seasons of Life." Just like this chicken pot pie, we find comfort in what we know, the food that reminds us of something that is good, warm, cozy or that brings us joy. Sometimes there are moments in our life that it is hard to find joy in situations and moments we are living. Joy comes regardless where we are in life. Nothing can be predicted. 

The secret to consistent joy is to carry it with you all the time. When the moments are good, have joy. Meditate on the positive, the good, save it up so that when the bad things come, have stored up the resources to sustain you through the situation. The joy needs to carry you through that time. This minister said that we have to live by faith. I have to add to it that we live by hope. 

It is hard to explain the expanse of my reality of living by hope. I had someone once very critical of my ideal of living in hope. Regardless of how teased or ridiculed I was about living in hope, I continued on because I felt that living by faith I was placing my hope in that faith for tomorrow. I wasn't worrying about the present. I knew that at some point my situation would change if I had faith and hope. God can bring good out of your situation when you say, "Here is all I have, take it and do your work with it." Just give it to Him. 

Joy comes when we learn to live daily thankful and with gratitude. When we do, it changes the way we look at how we behave standing in line at the grocery store to how we handle abusive relationships. Joy doesn't come in the morning as one song says, it comes now by the choice to grab it  and never let go. When we look at our lives through eyes of joy even when we don't feel like it, then it changes the way we see things, people and ourselves. Our joy turns to love, our bitterness turns to forgiveness, and we learn that extending grace not only to others but to ourselves, we give joy away. 

Hugs, Rita

Routine broken...finding happiness even when life throws you a curve...

#MarkEnglish coaches/partners with #GarrettCobbs

at Point Mallard Golf Course in Decatur Alabama

Each month, Decatur Parks and Rec send out a calendar for the Special Olympic activities for the month. This month our calendar was late arriving due to staff vacations, surgery for one, and families getting ready for school to start. Things that made it no big deal that it might be a couple of days late. We didn't know that golf would begin again for the season on Wednesdays. So, as usual, Garrett and I went to do our thing, pickup our "energy drinks" and head to bowling. I got a text in the midst of all that saying, "Golf at 3:00." Not a problem, unless you are Garrett. 

The situation with Garrett is not a whiny story, but one that is a reality. Garrett was born with brain damage that later left him with the diagnoses of Fine-Motor Cerebral Palsy, vision and hearing impairment (without devises other than glasses), Asperger, a mentality of a four-year-old at an average, but with social skills at age level. He has no sense of danger, can't play golf alone or ever drive. This year, Garrett began having seizures, diagnosed as Hypertension Anxiety. These are the basic areas of Garrett's disabilities, but he takes medication for the seizures and blood pressure.

When I told Garrett that the plans had changed and we had to go by the house and swap equipment, there were a hundred questions from getting his things, going by the house, who would be there and if it was going to rain on a perfectly sunny day. I was asked how many holes we would hit and what time we would get back home. Now nothing Garrett dishes out at me can undo me, I have lived with this and more for thirty-years...I have the answers and when I don't, I make them up lol. I never yell and always speak in a happy, positive voice.

#GarrettCobbs with #MommaRita

headed to opening season of Special Olympic Golf!

There are times in our lives that things are uprooted, a curve is thrown. Finding our happiness is difficult. We want to be able to put on our most comfortable jeans and well worn converse tennis shoes and be in our happy bubble for the rest of our days. However, life happens and that routine is broken. We begin running to habits and hangups, the wrong things and certainly the wrong people to feel we have some control over these moments that are out of control. At some point, we have to decide, make the choice to say, "No!" I won't do this again...feel regret over making a bad choice then another. 

There are times, we have to pull away from the situation, take a step back and think about how we really see it. Don't allow our emotions to run our decisions. Don't react with our first thoughts. It may take literally sleeping over our decision and sometimes it may mean waiting, not procrastinating, but waiting while still going about our daily tasks the best we can.

When I was five-years-old, I remember being in my bedroom, playing with my dolls and saying out loud, "I choose to be happy forever about everything." Why would a small child say that? I had witnessed to often grownups arguing so intensely that I was afraid a fight was about to happen during any of the altercations. I knew at a young age that I didn't want to be like them. In my own little space, I knew that I wanted to live happy and positive. Some say that I live in my own bubble, but in truth, I seek the positive, don't worry about things, trust God immensely, meditate on His Word a lot, but at five-years-old, I didn't know any of that. I went to church, but a Sunday/Wednesday faith wasn't much to go on for me. It was a decision, a choice. The Bible says, "...a childlike faith..." Simple. Quick. No excuses. 

Maybe if we went back to the mentality and the reality that believing truths we discovered as a child, we would love differently. Love would be easier, forgiveness would come quicker, trust would be consistent, and happiness would be forever. Sometimes our routine is broken and we are kicked out of our comfort zone, then we are asked to decide if we are going to react and live negatively or positively, sad or happy. The choice shouldn't be that difficult, should it? Just saying...

Challenge for you...keep a gratitude journal.

Write down three things a day that you are thankful for. 

Living a healthy lifestyle begins with an emotional choice to let it go...

It's a choice...No Excuses!

Hugs, Rita 

Grocery Shopping in the Big City...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

Maybe I should do a survey to see how well you know me. Those that know me well, know this one fact about it...I do not like to shop! Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be defined as low or high maintenance. I think both of those statements are straight from the enemy. Sorry, I just do. I like lists, love lists! I am a list maker and my family has always said that I love to make lists of lists. I read an article about people with ADHD that cleared this up for us that even though people with ADHD love technology that there are a few areas of life we rely on paper: making lists, journaling and taking notes. Many of us like to hold the actual book too. I do like my ereader though. Which leads me to grocery shopping. 

My tiny little family knows that if we are out of something or opening the last of a staple item, it needs to go on the grocery list or Momma Rita probably won't get it from the store. I go on Saturday morning and I am at Target on Sundays. These times are about thirty-minutes and that tops it. This particular week, of my story, was a Tuesday that Garrett's activities were canceled. I made a mega list and went into the larger city next door to us and shopped!! Yup...here we go...

Thought I would start with the dessert row...I love to shop at the specialty grocers in Huntsville, Alabama. They have foods that we can't get in our city. It is rather funny to me that with all the health focus, they have a mega dessert section that makes up one-fourth of the store. I don't care that they do, I am happy about this. I just can't eat it. They do serve gluten-free foods and even vegan, but too many people read that as fat-free, foods they can justify eating while losing weight and that may not be the case. Read the labels. It is much prettier to take a photo of a dessert than to take a photo of them on my thighs after eating a bite of them. Just saying...

My grocery list is divided into stores where I get items. One would love to go to one location and get everything; however, that isn't the care. I get coffee creamer from one store, then I get paper products from another store. After that I get the items on my list that are vegan to vegetarian from the stores in the larger city. I go to the larger department grocer for price comparison so that I can get the price while shopping the convenience of one stop shopping. With all that said, it is great to to have a list.

My tips for grocery shopping, 

working a weight loss program, and saving money:

* Make the List! Stick to the List!
* Get only the foods that cover the meals you will cook for the week.
* Don't substitute items...if the grocer is out of the fat-free, low cal item, then wait...
* No time to shop? Order groceries online! I did this way back in the day and had them delivered to my house. It can be done in neighboring cities from me.
* Take cash. Don't overspend. For everything you pickup to buy that isn't on your list, make a note of the amount you would have spent and put it in a jar when you get home. Then at the end of the month, see how much you saved. The scales will reflect this too.
* Eating out? Price the ingredients to make that one meal and see how many plates including leftover lunches you would have if you made that meal at home. Making a homemade pizza saves you money as well and is better for you. Look up the cauliflower crust, it is pretty good and totally awesome in calories. Have you tried the cauliflower mashed potatoes? My family still doesn't know I swapped...well, they probably do now! lol
* Beverages...did you know a gallon of homemade tea, sub the sugar, costs less per glass then buying bottled soda or canned? Price beers, wines, juices... Try making your own squeezed juices.
* Freeze bananas and other fruit that may be aging...use them in smoothies or baking. Making your own muffins takes less than 30 minutes to whip up and bake.
* Shop one time a week and make it a family event. I use to divide the grocery list up among my family members and even give Garrett a picture list since he couldn't read. It brought a realization to the cost of food and made them waste less.

I hope this helps. Coupons are another great savings for you and your family. When you eat out, there are coupons for that too. I have found apps for saving money on groceries as well. I have one for a store that saves me 5% at checkout on my whole shopping experience. Then make it easy and fun. I don't like to shop, but I make it easy. When I have my mother with me or Garrett, I have to create a happy atmosphere so that it is easier for them and for me. Life is too short to worry and stress out over chores that we must do. Make it happen with a list! 

Hugs, Rita

Picnic Lunches...why not revisit this option...

#GarrettCobbs packs it well for his #MommaRita

My daily schedule is pretty routine. Boring by most peoples standards I suppose. I am predictable. The life of a caregiver is like that and only crises of the person you care for or, heaven forbid, an appliance malfunction, will upset the apple cart. ((Is apple cart a southern saying? Curious)) So, when I am driving alone, I usually take "tiny car," my little white Nissan that God blessed me with in March. Then when I get home to take Garrett to his activities, I jump out of tiny car and get in the Silver Bullet, the Dodge Caravan that I have had since she had 11k miles on her and now is about to click over to 319k and is absolutely in beautiful shape. Garrett has her packed with whatever activity equipment we are using that afternoon, golf, bowling, horseback riding, etc and my lunch. If I am out and about, I pull in the driveway, get out of tiny car and get into the silver bullet.

Garrett started packing my lunch about a year ago. I had made the comment one morning on the way to out to work that I didn't have time to make my lunch, but that I would be fine. When I got home, Garrett had my lunch made. Sometimes, I get sandwiches made with lettuce buns, maybe some tortilla chips (if he has done something outstanding and has some dill pickle chips...I have some of those...WOW yup, I eat them) and probably a banana. Other times, Garrett will pack a warm dish of pasta or then a mega salad for my lunch. I always get a real form and plenty of napkins. My salads are loaded with fat-free Italian salad dressing and black pepper, but I eat every bite.

Packing lunches doesn't have to be a chore. Something that we need to revisit. In the photograph above, Garrett obviously packs a creative salad into a container that doesn't have a lid that closes. It is actually a container that you make eggs in the microwave. Maybe it's time we revisit building a picnic lunch around family. Having our kids make our lunch and even their own. What if it has more fruit than protein? It's a learning process. Cleaning out the pantry, fridge and cabinets of all the "illegal" food will take care of the things we don't want on our plates and in our picnic lunches on a regular basis.

When we have treats, like dill pickle chips or strawberry milk, gross I know, it has been a rockin' awesome reason. No more than once in a week or two-weeks does Garrett get these special things. We have pizza on Sundays too. There is no soda in our house and the granulated sugar is well hidden to use only when a bread recipe will not work without it or my son Ethan comes over to make a mega meal, he is a chef.

Six Rockin' Awesome Ideas for Picnic Lunches:

* Notes dropped inside: I use to do this for my family. I would add special quotes or scripture to encourage, make happy faces on the bags inside.
* Make the meals the night before: Always make meals in advance, use Sunday afternoons to do this for the week. Did you know that Peanut or Soybutter sandwiches can be made and frozen? By lunchtime, they are thawed and pretty good actually. Also, lay out all the clothes and accessories you plan to wear the night before to make getting ready the next morning easier.
* Food prep is a must: It is so much easier for working families to go ahead and prep foods when you bring groceries in the house. I make it a family event. It is good for my mother and Garrett to use skills working occupational skills while pealing, chopping, cutting or bagging foods. I tenderize meats prior to them going to the freezer too. I don't meal plan like I once did, but I have an idea what I might fix for the week. Salads are ready as are fruits and other vegetables.
* Beverages ready: I bought a water cooler at a yard sale for $10 and that has encouraged my family to drink water. It was the best investment that I made. You may not find one for that price, but I refill the large bottle with tap. Easy, cheap and quick. I freeze half a bottle of water and then fill it up the rest of the way with water so that by the time lunch comes around, we have cold water to drink. Hydration is important for our outdoor activities. They will get use to drinking water, promise.
* Swap sugars: My family didn't notice when I swapped the sugar in the canister. It was rather funny that Garrett only noticed the texture. I also told him we got new measuring cups when I reduced the amount of sugar he put in the tea. Yes, he loves to help make tea for him and mother.
* Fruits go dark? Dip the fruits or vegetables in lemon juice. I like lemon and lime juice on my fruits and vegetables. Have you ever tried lemon juice on your broccoli? Wow! It gives it a whole new flavor. Bananas need to stay in the pealing I think but it can be sliced as well and dipped in lemon juice.

These are just a few tips, nothing fancy. I have tons of things I have done. Regardless, if you have someone make your lunch, smile and eat it. If it is unhealthy, then that gives you a reason to excuse yourself, pretend to eat it and let it go, share it or it can be composted but never tell. I haven't had that happen. However, I have gone to a luncheon and nothing was there I could eat. I fixed my plate and very easily dumped it with nobody being wiser. A friend says she is allergic, this isn't a good thing for someone like me lol that really is to some things. I usually take something to a picnic regardless if I am asked or not, just so that I can enjoy the food as well. Tell them you are experimenting with a recipe and want to see what they think.

Hope you have a fabulous School Year!

Praying for a successful first day and tremendous blessed year!

Hugs, Rita

Coffee Calories...or any beverage...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

I am forever fascinated by people who can go without food. Seriously, I so wish I was one of them. I am a fast'in failure too. I try to sit and pray, "Lord, don't let me be hungry during this time of us being together to pray about this thing..." He laughs, I hear Him! I don't mean to make light of fasting so please don't send me ugly comments. It is one of the things I have a section for in my notebook, but so don't want to ask Bro. Doug to preach about. A righteous fear, yup, that is what we will call it. However, if I have ever heard of anyone say, they go without beverages, liquids, I don't remember it. Dehydration has to be one of the worse things ever. I have had a partial feeling of this from being sick a couple of times, but seriously, nothing deathly. 

#RitaHutchesonCobbs 

Keeping a food journal is important because when the weight loss stops or you hit a wall, then the food journal is a great place to track areas like beverages when the food is all good. We don't realize the hidden calories in the things we drink. Additives to our water, like the tiny packets to flavor water to hidden sweeteners. Sodas, regardless if regular or diet, will cause us to retain weight. I lost nine pounds coming off both regular and diet sodas. I tell people try going without them for thirty-days, see for yourself. Tea is another one that has hidden calories, but also, tea, coffee and even green tea will cause you to retain water regardless if it is de-caff or not...it goes back to the leaves and beans. Google it...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

Then there is something else...labels. Often the labels on what we get are either wrong or all the ingredients are listed. Did you know that if there isn't enough of an ingredient in an item, it doesn't have to be listed? Peanut butter, for example, is used to thicken canned chili and to close frozen egg rolls, but because there isn't enough in the food item, it doesn't have to be on the label. For me, allergic to nuts, this could be a very bad thing. 

Did you notice the labels on my coffees? Three different coffees, three different times, three different locations and they all "know" me...yup, I am a junkie BUT I also know my ice coffee, calories, points, fats, etc. I tell them when I order, even though they know what I drink, because I am a regular. However, it got put in wrong three different times. Calories AND fat that I otherwise might not have allowed for in my daily food intake was there. The next weigh-in I would have been at a loss as to why I had gained weight or maintained when I thought I had been so very careful.

When living a healthy life-style especially when it comes to food, you have to know what is in your food and beverage even if it is water. Don't get into the politics of it all, just know the basics. It is important to your health and goals to know the ingredients, the calories, the fats, etc, not to your mind what the politics or opinions of a food or beverage might be ((yup, I had to throw that in there, so don't message me!)) I bought a gallon of milk once that had a fat-free label on the front and a 1% label on the back! Seriously! I took it back to the store. The past two Saturdays, the dates on the fat-free sour cream were a month old... better read, know, watch and focus. Also, I will suggest, learn all the big word ingredients. Many of the ingredients have hidden fat and calories. I am a fat focal person. I will eat sugars before I eat fat. Then of course I ask my thighs which they would rather wear. We usually head to the fresh vegetables... They grow heavy as we walk toward them...protesting all the way!

I think being "labeled" is why so many people are going to clean eating, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian...it sounds hard but in truth, it is an easier way to eat and live. You know what you are eating, planning meals is easier and the food has become priced reasonable. Fresh food markets and farm markets are popping up as well as roadside stands. We know people that have small gardens that will share or barter. I have a fabulous girlfriend that has always baked her own breads and now has a building business from it. Who know, "labels" may define you or even what you may be doing to make your life, that of your family or mine better tomorrow. 

...but please, don't take away my coffee...I have two coffee pots and a Verismo...Coffee and water rock my beverage world.  I will ask questions and make sure my labels are right, my coffee is a free reward, but my name can be wrong...just call me for coffee...

Hugs, Rita

Dating God instead of Food! Yup and intrucing my new Boyfriend!

#RitaHutchesonCobbs w/#ChocolateFurCobbs

I think we will just linger on the title of this blog post for a moment. ((Breath in your nose and out your mouth...do it...again!)) Now, let's continue on. You read it right! Dating God instead of food! I will get to the boyfriend part later, you can wait. 

Several yeas ago, I had to have reconstructive surgery on both my feet. I called them Ethel and Louise. I was on crutches for a whole year, having to keep them propped up after each surgery, wearing out three pairs of crutches. It was the only thing, other than the skin I am tightening up, that I had happen due to weighting 450lbs. The bones in my feet separated and had to be put back together, yup, seriously! I had to learn to run and walk all over again. I refused to have the surgery if I couldn't run again. Looking down at his shoes, the surgeon, promised to have me going again. LOL he was way to cute to argue with! Thankfully, he was right and I have had no pain as a result.

During that time, I mediated, read the Word, did various Bible studies, listened to audio books from various ministers and Bible teachers and inspirational music. I was getting to a place that I had no idea God was preparing my heart and life so that I would be ready for a life-experience that would change my life and that of my son. It is funny that when crises happen, we tend to head for whatever will comfort us the most, people, habits, hangups, even hurts that will fill the pain, confusion or frustration. I sat for about an hour before I was face down before God and said, "Let's do this!"

I have had many life altering experiences. When I tell people that they have no excuses to not reach for their goals or get healthy, I am telling the truth. This particular life-experience is just one that brought me to the point of deciding that I would date God and not food. During this situation, I had to grow up, learn to do things for myself, and make decisions for myself. I could have just stayed in bed and covered my head, whined, got on social media and tore it up with negativity, but I didn't. I took this as an opportunity to live joyful, happy and learn to do the things I was never able to do before. 

I could have ate, drank, not workout or run again. It was the perfect time to go back to eating processed food and live on what people use as the greatest excuse of all, "It's cheaper to eat the packaged foods." I did not do these things even though I had to watch my money since I was left with nothing. I am the definition of, "When God is all you've got, He is enough. When God is all you've got, God is good enough." I had nothing but my sons. I learned that everything I had was not what I thought it was including the relationships I had lived with almost my whole life. The reality was wide open for all to see, the closet doors were removed all the way to the attic and the lid was literally removed from the bottles. People saw what my life was like from living conditions to the relationships. 

Things like food can't control your life. People, things, stuff, jobs, or circumstances can't control you. The thing that has to control you is choice. It is a decision to allow your life, mind and heart to be controlled by the negative of life or to be influenced by the joy and happier things life has to offer. God is my source and choice. I decided from the start to date God. I wanted to be sold out to Him, allowing Him to control my present and letting for of my past and future. I wasn't going to worry about any of those areas, give a lot of forgiveness, grace and declare love. I have spent the past years sold out to Him. I have spent time in the Word, doing Bible studies, reading various books from different venues, finding who I am independent of my past. I found a church of believers that plumb lines with God's Word and supports my son as well as my calling to caregiving.

All this may not make sense, but turning to food is not the answer to any problem much less celebration. It is time to think about dating God or something filled with more than our selfish desires. When a selfish desire pops in, go take a walk outside around the house, do it twice...then decide if that is something you should do. Food just like other desires have it's place, but not in place of the ultimate joy of life. I am naturally happy and bubbly. It frightens a lot of people, but I still eat mindlessly, drink coffee all hours of the day, going to bed and sleep easily. I have had to learn to control my choice of what I date and what I entertain. You may better controlled than I am...your 'oholic may not be food, work, hobbies, sports...it may be laziness, busyness, anger, selfishness, control, appearance, talents, education, even church. It may be time to date God too...

My life is totally different today. Living full and happy can be done with food and activities in your life in a way that is balanced, healthy way. God has poured out his blessing since the day my life was altered. I made the decision to allow the changes to happen, live in the present, not worrying about the future. During that time in my life, I maintained my weight, continued my lifestyle plan and made the changes to better other areas of my life that needed to be healthier. Sometimes, we need to find the sources or reasons why we run to such things as food.

Until God brings the Hallmark Movie into my life and drops it into my lap, then I would like to introduce you to my new boyfriend...He is in the first photo...Yup, I renamed my dog, Boyfriend lol... Loving it...

Hugs, Rita 

"My Story" 

Afraid? Need courage to lose weight or get fit? Here you go...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs 2012 to 2016

The middle of my losing over 300lbs

Fear. Anxiety. These emotions will paralyze me. There are so many factors that happens when someone has this happen. It grips, freezes physical abilities, brain goes into fast thinking, blood goes to the head, heart races and our reactions are gone. Not all these things happen, but I have had this happen and it frightened me more that it happened rather than being afraid. I knew that I had to face my fear, the one thing that made me anxious, and deal with it, let it go. I won't put myself in a dangerous place, but I won't let it rule my moment ever again. When that situation happened to me, I was at a medical facility and there was a person in the building that I did not feel was a safe person. Those working went beyond their job and took it upon themselves to make me feel safe. I knew leaving that I had to face this and not allow the person, the emotions I felt or, being a faith person, the enemy control me any longer.

Now, you may not have a physical person to relate to as I did. There may be hurts or hangups that you face. Whatever you deal with that causes you to fear or be anxious to start your journey to a healthy life-style, that is where you have to begin. Fear is the root of every wrong or sin that exists. I use to think it was jealousy; however, it makes sense when you think about it. Fear of someone succeeding or, as my father once said, just being born, brings out the jealousy in some people. The root of why may never be known, but it has to be dealt with. Forgiving is the first step to healing. Then learning to love. Finally letting it go.

When fear steps up to home plate and wants to bat a home run on your emotions and destroy the winning goals of your tournament, then here are some things you can do to be a winner!

*  Fix your eyes on the prize. Create an inspiration board to have the ultimate focus in front of you all the time. Use photographs of what you want to wear or reasons for living healthier.
*  Use inspirational verses or quotes written on index cards (see earlier blog post about this).
*  Listen to uplifting music or worship and praise music to motivate your spirit to a positive place.
*  Step back from the situation and process it. Think twice, as my grandmother might have said.
*  Get a dog, a Bible, and choose not to let this fear erase the courage you have already built!

Pets have proven to lift peoples spirits and even get them moving. They need attention and dogs, especially, need walked.

#RitaHutchesonCobbs with #RomeoFurCobbs

Why a Bible? There are so many passages to encourage, like the Psalms and I Corinthians 13 to love. Choose courage regardless. Self-talk through a crises, but practice when things are good. You can't be ready for the difficulties of life if you are prepared during the good times. My grandparents would plant huge gardens during the summer then can and freeze vegetables. Why? So that during the winter, they would have food for their family. Building your courage is no different. It combats the fear in your life. Fear isn't worth the time or energy it takes to pet, encourage or even create imaginary fantasies about. Courage is love, joy and happiness within your space and that of those around you. 

The people that once frightened me, hurt me at one time in my life, no longer hold me prisoner, I unlocked those chains a long time ago. However, loving God and wanting to live the example of His Son Jesus, I wrote prayers for them. I don't have the strength, words or power  with in myself at times to know what to say or do it, so I wrote my thoughts out on paper. I express to God my thoughts and love and ask for forgiveness for my latest thoughts or yet another hurt they may have caused, if any. You may have to continually forgive and love harder. Life does that sometimes, but it's not the person we are fighting for, it's the enemy, the prince of darkness. Know that fear is from that place too. Courage, hope, and love comes from the Father. He gave grace and forgiveness to me when I didn't deserve it, so why would I not show even more grace and forgiveness. It's because of love that fear changes, so do our hearts and only then can we begin to move to a healthier lifestyle with food, fitness and life as a whole. We have to realize there are no excuses.

Hugs, Rita

Portion Control...Food? Well, that too...

 #RitaHutchesonCobbs 

Portions. Not something we want to talk about. We want to go to the restaurant that gives us the biggest bang for the buck or buy one get one free. Then we go to the human food troughs and eat until we need a wheelbarrow to roll us from the barn. It wasn't until I bought a food scale, measuring cups, ladles with measurements, and began reading labels that I had a rude awakening. I had no idea that I, me, this southern gal who loved to cook, bake and prepare three huge home cooked meals every day with desserts for my family, was in trouble. I repented of many things regarding food, like giving my children soda, sugar, just to name two. I have photographs of meals I use to make... seriously!

It would be easy for me to tell you how many cookies or almonds would be a serving. Then it would be easier for me to tell you that maybe a serving each of apple, orange, banana, yogurt, tomatoes, egg, popcorn might be equal to their nutritional value...or is it. The point it, when you start measuring and weighing, then you find out that you aren't getting enough of the good food, but too much of the bad foods. Portions and balance can make both, healthy choices. Did you hear that right? Yes, you did. Scripture even says that moderation...portions.

A few cookies made of flour, sugar and fat won't sustain your appetite like a food that is delicious in flavor and full of protein will. Everything about your changes when you start realizing that portions being watched and honored, brings your waistline to a healthy place, your skin brighter, endurance longer, oxygen to the brain, soul happier and healthier heart. Then there is this realization I wanted to save...measure a glass of wine or beer. Then count the calories. A lot of people think a full glass of wine is a serving, but it is not. There are a lot of calories even in light beer as well as a serving of wine.

Learn to read labels and the ingredients of food and beverages. I have to know every term for gluten and nuts due to allergies. I won't buy ice cream for special occasions unless I can read and pronounce every ingredient on the label. Frozen strawberries? I went to purchase some because I had ran out of those in my freezer. The first bag I picked up at the store had as the first ingredient, sugar. Seriously! Take your time, read, and be in the know. It can make this much difference....

In this photograph, I had lost 30 pounds in the left photo, 450lbs to 420lbs...

in the photograph on the right, I had reached my goal of 168lbs...

What difference can portions and reading labels make??

Over 300lbs! Just saying...

At some point in your life you have to realize that you hold the scales in your hands. You have the power of not only portion control on foods, weighing each food and beverage, but you have to weight other areas of your life. If you carry anger, resentment, hurt, bitterness of life-experience in your life and blaming this healthy situation on something that happened. At some point you have to face it, forgive it, and let it go. Love does that. Hope moves you forward. You have to find a way to not only take care of your food addiction, but you have to find a way to take care of your emotional addiction. You can continue to feed emotions because then you feed your soul and body with food. This may not be you, but fear is the source of all sin, problems, habits and hangups. From there other things grows. Settle it, deal with it and delete it...move forward. My life has forever changed because in the past three-years, I have learned these very things. You can do it too. The three-hundred pounds of body weight was nothing compared to the weight of burden lifted from my shoulders when I forgave and moved to loving and praying for those who had hurt me. Just do it...deal with it...delete it...let it go! 

Hugs, Rita

Can I eat out while losing weight? Plus when you have no support...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs 

It has gotten so much easier to focus on losing weight, maintain goal weight and to get fit at the same time. However, there are so many plans to lose weight and you have to do your homework. It is the same for eating out. Restaurants have put their menus online with all the ingredients as well as the nutritional values of the foods in the meal, including portions, calories, fats, carbs, etc. So, when a friend says they are going to a particular place to eat, you can excuse yourself to the bathroom, call me as one friend did lol, look up the place and decide what you can eat.

I can always find something even at the ice cream shop to enjoy, even if it means water with lemon! It's the company you are going to enjoy. That is what we as a society have forgotten. We feed everything instead of thinking through our choices. In our family, we have moved from food celebrations and rewards to activities. Less things to dust and less inches on our thighs. Just saying...

One item on many menus that I was surprised to find is oatmeal. I had no idea the number of restaurants, especially that services breakfast at some point in the day, has oatmeal with many variations on their menu. I went to one restaurant that had nothing on their menu I wanted but oatmeal. Did you know that oatmeal can be made without oats? Check and see... This is oatmeal made without oatmeal...I won't tell you anything more...

Eating out menus are available online and through apps. If not, then give them a call. Then if nothing more, focus on lean meats, fish, broiled or grilled chicken, with no seasoning, oil or butter, make sure you ask for those things. Then get steamed vegetables with no seasoning. If you get a salad ask for fat-free dressing or lemon juice. Have water with lemon to drink. You can add fresh fruit from the salad bar to your water, like pineapple, strawberries, blueberries for example. Don't be intimidated by doing this. It has become very popular to do all these things that some restaurants in parts of the world are doing all these things already. I have water bottles with tiny filters (baskets) to hold the fresh fruit! You can be a trend setter.

No support or someone that says, "Oh, one bite won't hurt you!" or "Once won't hurt you," well, at my age, I can't afford to do either or consider a cheating moment. I workout to get the treats I won't, but I usually have iced coffee instead. I do enjoy cake or ice cream but I workout big time for those things and know when they are coming my way. I make a huge southern style breakfast for Christmas, I prepare my body and mind for that dinner. You can plan as well.

I have been where there is no support. I have lived the life that was so dysfunctional that I had to have every meal planned, grocery list exact, every penny accounted for. I don't live that way now. I have basic ingredients on hand, staple items, so that if I plan for certain meals on Monday and Tuesday nights, but decide to have something different, it is a total good situation in our home. If someone calls and asks us to meet for dinner or lunch, then I am flexible to make that happen with our meal plan. I still workout, have our activities of sports and know that we will be alright. The point is, live happy, not stressed out while focusing on losing weight or getting fit. Make it a lifestyle. Lose weight slowly so that it does become a "weigh" of life. 

I have lived every situation this life could bring. People have come to me and given excuses for not losing weight, lack of support, fear of wrinkles, finances to life-experiences... There are no excuses to live healthy. I am living proof of that. Eating out doesn't have to be another excuse. It can be fun! Know that even when you are moving to living healthy, you are living an example. It may be a day to years before others take note and begin supporting you or decided to change their lives as well. Regardless, you may be on your own. It is your responsibility to move forward. It is you that has to make your life changes and you have to make the decision. It is not someone else responsibility to make you happy or even encourage you to achieve this or any goal. You will have to decide to inspire yourself. Make index cards, inspiration board, go to weight loss groups or supports if needed, go to the gym to be with like minded people...you have to find what is best for you. It may require finding a new group of friends and, sorry to say, you may have to find new family. This is an overall healthy way of living. God may not expect you to leave what you know, but change what you knew. It is time to recreate our plate in every area of our lives. Let's do this! 

Hugs, Rita

Confession of a Magazine Junkie...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

Yup, sorta sorry for loving magazines...

I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about people who have become minimalist. This has been something I have been doing for years. A portion of my life was without my willingness to do so. I was forced into shedding, if you will, beyond my personal desire and I did so kicking and screaming in my heart and soul, but didn't let it all come out for all to see. Then life-experiences happened with nature and life. However, regardless why I shed things, I needed it to happen. I have read articles to books about cleaning out emails to computer documents to closets. I suppose that is my love for organizing things and I think I am pretty good at it...but...

I love to have a few things...tooooo many of them. Books. I love books. It doesn't matter what they are about, well, I draw the line at blood and guts to trashy books. I love to read. I did not in school, probably because they made me. I had an English teacher my first year of college that opened the world of reading for me and I have horded books ever since. The other thing I love is magazines. I use to collect them on art and cooking. Now it's on travel and fashion. I love to see the world from my happy place. I get to see all these amazing places, go there in my mind using all my creative avenues and make meals based on the various places I see. Then seeing the younger generation wear some of the most amazing clothing, textiles and fabrics is beautiful. I love to sew, although I have little time to do so. It brings my creativity to the surface for just a short time. 

I take photographs of the things I want to remember, quotes or style combinations, restaurant meals of places here and there. I donate the magazines or leave them at the coffee shops for others to enjoy. I file away the moments of respite and relax in the evenings with my little glimpses of my family of stylish people visiting far away places. However, I know this is all crazed paper, photo-shopped and maybe no real, but...it is my little time in my happy place bubble..."learning how to dress," as my best friend calls it lol, and visiting places that you probably have already been. I smile a lot and have a trip or two down the road...then I shop, finding one snack item I might have seen in another country, right on my grocer shelf...

Bedtime snacking and reading seem to go together, but when I found beet hummus, I about died on the spot. There was carrot too. I can't remember where I had seen this in a magazine, maybe Greece. I will tell you that I have found something else to make at home. Hummus. A great snack anytime and can be made yourself and with a lot less fat...find your favorite ingredients and see what you come up with...

I am thankful for bookstores and coffee shops. I don't visit either often, but I do like to stop by on occasion and flip through the magazines and books. Someone sent me subscriptions to a couple of magazines this past year. Then I got two more last month. I am grateful and have no idea where they came from. Maybe someone is trying to tell me something, just kidding...However, respite and relaxation comes in a thousand ways if we just look for them. It can begin with a list of gratitudes, writing notes to those needing encouragement, reading to an elder person, beginning a journal of happy thoughts, reading the Bible starting with Psalms...whatever your venue is, do it. Start with one-minute then move to five-minutes of allotted happy time. It can make a big difference in your attitude and how other see you. 

I love the smell of a new magazine, but more so of holding and opening a book. There is something about books, old or new. I have an ereader, use it often, but books... ((sigh, cleansing breath))... I challenge you to revisit reading...it's better than eating your way to sleep. 

Hugs, Rita

Getting 7-8 hours of sleep is essential to living a healthy lifestyle!

Set your clock...don't give up...it takes time to make sleep at habit.

Thirty-days...that has always been my goal in adding a new or changing an old habit!

What do I eat? ((Gulp)) Maybe I shouldn't say...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

from the #KitchenWithAHouseAttached

Since the news article the local television station did, I have had a number of questions asked of me. One of the things I have been most asked has been, "What do you eat on a regular basis?" I usually eat vegan, but I do add fish and eggs often. I am not a sold out vegan as one of my closest friends keeps encouraging. I will always love the clean eating side of life, but I so love my eggs. 

Since reaching my main goal weight, I am eating proteins and raw to steamed vegetables focusing on the greens then adding fresh fruit low in sugar. However, the focal eating to lose weight or maintain is a bit more than someone building muscle, which I am to fill up and tighten skin. Three rules I have learned to losing weight are: eat more to lose weight, eat the right foods in balance portions, and have a workout routine. 

I hear people giving up one item or the other, carbs, sugars, etc. I don't like that idea because everything has it's place on your plate. They benefit in someway. With that said, I am just as guilty so I can't judge. I will skip the bread on a burger or sandwich and go for the lettuce bun. I won't intake any fat that is beyond a 0.5 on the ingredients and if it has fat at all, I will weight my options, "Is this really worth it?" I will eat sugar in a food item before I will eat fat. Just saying...

I don't do oil regardless what society or reports say that it is good for me. They can write on. I won't eat something because it has "good fat" either. My thighs disagree as do the scales that any fat is good for my heart, body and soul, sorry people that go to the trouble of writing these things! I will save my "fat" money for coffee thank you very much!

Also, workout before you eat something with calories, fat, carbs, sugar, whatever...then you will think to yourself, "Now, is it worth my workout time and calories burned?" Don't deprive yourself of something you really want. Sometimes you mind craves something your body really doesn't need. Sin is sin and our body is the temple of God...we will stand before Him and give an account for every BLT, bite, lick and taste, good-bad-ugly...along with every social media post we offer...another blog post for another day lol.

So, here is a slip from my food journal, 

which, yes, I keep every single day!

Breakfast:

1 cup old-fashion oatmeal made with fat-free milk

1 banana sliced in oatmeal

1 teaspoon raisins (I don't care much for raisins)

1 egg scrambled

1 cup of coffee, black (you can learn to like it too)

Snack:

celery sticks

carrots

Garrett's Dip  

Lunch:

3 ounces of lean turkey, cubed

3 cups of garden salad mixed with shredded cabbage

1 tablespoon fat-free Italian dressing (I never add much dressing to anything)

water with lemon to drink

Snack:

1 apple

2 tablespoons of soybutter

Supper:

4 ounces broiled wild salmon

1/2 cup steamed green beans

1 cup boiled turnip greens (prepared w/o seasoning)

1/2 beets, cooked

water with lemon (add lime) to drink

Snack:

1 cup of diced cantaloupe/watermelon

1 light string cheese

* I have to have a protein at bedtime or I will be up at 3am grazing lol

Seasonings for food is easier today than ever. Spray butters have no fat! Salad dressings come in a variety of flavors that are also fat-free. A rule of thumb for sauces, salad dressings, or anything to top your foods, it if you can see through it then bother to read the label. Garrett likes the fat-free ranch salad dressing, but I don't. He on the other hand doesn't like the fat-free Italian; however, he has no idea that I use the FFI on green beans. 

Rarely can I eat all my food, so suppers sometimes divided in half for lunch the following day. When I eat out, I ask for a to-go box to but my meal in half before I start eating so that I cut the calories and have the correct portion sizes. There are restaurants that will do this before they bring the meal out to the table. Also, ask the servers to not bring bread to the table and if salad is a staple at that location, ask for dressing on the side or a fat-free option with no bread toppings or added cheese. 

Challenge yourself to eat vegetables as close to raw as possible and without seasoning for thirty-days. You will be amazed at the flavors you will discover. With my family, it became fun to add a new vegetable every week. We food so many ways to enjoy leek, funnel, many types of lettuce and cabbage. I had no idea there were so many types of peppers and rooted vegetables. Spaghetti squash became our new pasta, no calories whatsoever. 

Maybe these tips will help in some way to get you going. I have so many things to share and recipes that I am bursting to tell you. As time goes by, I will get them all out. I love this new lifestyle and you are making your first steps in getting there. Imagine, one month from now, six-months, one-year, five-years...for me it's been almost six-years! SIX-YEARS of making my decision to change my life...three-years of maintaining my weight...you can do this too, just dump the excuses!

Hugs, Rita

Feasting the Mind...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

The mind feasts on what it is focused on. What is your focus? I have heard our pastor, Doug Ripley, say this repeatedly, "When your eyes look at something, it has taken a photograph of it. Then your mind will reply it again and again." I got to think about that during my devotional time one morning. What I feast my mind on, think about, is what I'm devoting my energy, soul, and giving my time to. 

I had to stop going to restaurants that offered general admission to the human food trough. I grazed from one end of the buffet to the other. My parents use to go to one restaurant in their city at 3:45 pm in the afternoon so that they could enjoy the benefits of the 4:00 buffet additions but a the lunch prices. At 4:00 pm, the price was raised. Now, before you belittle them, they got the senior rate which was good from opening to closing. However, many did the same thing I am sure. We usually participated in these buffets on Sundays. Chinese was our favorite usually. 

Just like the buffets, our minds can feast on the good things that will make us healthy and strong or on the bad things that will decline our nature a little at a time. So often, we don't realize that our appetites are hungry and thirsty for something more pleasing until we are too deep in the harsh things until we are waiting in line and buffet is empty and there we stand, waiting for more. It is then that we have a decision to make. Get made at ourselves for making the choices we have made or at those we expect to feed us our pleasures. 

Which is it? Who are you expecting to feed you? Which buffet are you feasting on? The eye takes a photograph that the mind will treasure for a lifetime. We need to refocus our minds on the good things God has blessed us with. We need to make a u-turn and change our direction. We have nobody to blame, no excuses to give. It's a choice. Let's get our minds, souls, hearts and bodies healthy and strong, pleasing to God and pleasing to ourselves. 

Hugs, Rita

Banana Bread Recipe with Pumpkin Seeds

A box of bananas goes a long way when baking!

#KitchenWithAHouseAttached

A friend gave me a box of overripe bananas. I can't tell you how happy this girl was. I love to cook and bake especially since moving into my cute little house. I went five years without a kitchen. During that time, I use a microwave, two-eye burner, toaster over, and sever crockpots! Yup, ask my friends...I was the Crockpot Queen and could absolutely cook anything in those crockpots. I was challenged one year to make the whole Thanksgiving dinner including dessert in the crockpots and I succeeded. However, when I moved, I sold all of them, keeping one that I found stored and it belonged to my mother. When my Sunday School teacher asked me what I wanted her to pray for as I was looking to relocate, I asked her to pray for a kitchen with a house attached. I am a happy girl, but then, it don't take much. Bananas are proof of that. So, when life gives you bananas, what do you do? Make banana bread, banana muffins, banana pancakes and frozen bananas for smoothies! 

The recipe for this banana bread is in another blog post, but I pour the batter into loaf pans instead of a skillet, skip the chocolate chips and top the loaves with roasted pumpkin seeds, shelled. I spray the baking pans with cooking spray. I don't use oil or butter. I do have butter listed in the recipe, but I always use applesauce. Little things like this save calories and the gluten-free factor gives better endurance and lessens body inflammation. I have a friend that likes hot peppers in her banana bread. I made the mistake of laying out a loaf from the freezer for her and a regular recipe loaf for our neighbor. Garrett took the "hot" loaf to the neighbor! Oh dear, goodness...so lesson learned...label carefully especially if you use nuts in your baking. 

I hope you enjoy your kitchen and be thankful for every inch of it. When one doesn't have one, it gives an opportunity to complain and whine or look at it as an adventure of creativity. I turned my challenges into victories and thanksgivings. When there seems to be no light in your moments of time, remember the choices you make because victory is baking. Hope will rise. 

Hugs, Rita