Amarillo Sky

If you have read my previous posts, you know that I usually do extensive research for my posts. Well...

    This one is going to be a little different.😁 This post is going to be completely based on my own experiences and opinions. I want to talk about living without money. 

   I know it sounds crazy to some people, but it IS possible. Obviously, the way things are now, it is hard to live without at least a small amount of money, but do not have to be rich to live a happy life.

As a child, we always had a home and a vehicle. Never anything fancy, but it was shelter and a way to get from point A to point B. We always tell silly stories from when we were younger about how my friends and I used to tell my sister that a bucket full of water was a pool. As an adult, I do not remember everything from my childhood, but I do remember that I was a very happy child and I had a WONDERFUL childhood. It was not until adulthood that I found out my parents were not rich, by any means. 

When we are children, we just assume that if our parents buy us things they must be rich. 😂 In adulthood, we realize that is not the case. Quite often I hear people talking about how they will not help others if there is nothing in it for them. That always drives me crazy. But I suppose that is what most people think life is about these days.

So, I want to tell you about how my adult life has been since my kids were born and I have lived on my own...

Shortly after my daughter was born, her dad and I moved back to PA to live with my parents until we could afford to live on our own. A few months after our son was born, my now ex husbands mother bought us a house to live in. We moved in, he got a new job making a little more money than what he had been making, and we made sure our kids had shelter and we could get them from point A to point B. They were very young, so they did not ask for much, but we did the best to make sure they had what they needed. When our son was a little over a year old, we decided it was best that we separate and go back to being friends, while taking care of our two beautiful children together!

It still to this day can be very difficult raising our children together, separately, but we do the best we can. The kids and I moved out, and we eventually ended up in a low income based housing area. I was unable to hold a job because I was the sole physical provider for my children. We were on Welfare so I was able to buy food with our food stamps and get them medical attention with medical insurance from the state. We shopped for clothes at thrift stores with the money I received from their father as child support. Anything I could buy from the dollar stores I did. Luckily, I am creative so I was able to make a lot of the things I needed from inexpensive materials. 

Yes, I heard the whisperings and saw the faces when I went to the store on my own while the kids were with their dad, and pulled my WIC papers or food stamps out while dressed nicely and having my hair brushed and sometimes straightened or curled. It bothered me a little, but not having money does not mean you have to look dirty with torn up clothes and never have your hair nice. 

Now, I live in a beautiful house with the man I am dating, with my two children and his son. I went back to school for two years to receive an associates degree in psychology. I paid for it almost entirely with grants and scholarships. I will be getting a job soon but it will not change the way I think about money. Even if I get a job making a lot of money, I will still only use the money for things we NEED. Extra's can be nice, but I would rather save and take my kids to travel and let them experience the world, rather than buy everything we want. I will continue to help others and "sell" my crafts for free or for trade. I do everything I can to help others in need in any way I can. 

I know there are people who have a lot of money and can understand where I am coming from, and I know there are people without money that still wish they had more. There are so many ways to live without being rich. 

Jason Aldean - Amarillo Sky ... pay attention to the words :) 

Too Much Food

Lately, I have been hearing from many friends, family, and even strangers, about the diet's and lifestyle changes they have made. I have done extensive research over the past few years on nutrition because I have been put into some situations that required me to change my food lifestyle. I even went as far as to take a nutrition class at my college. So, hearing my friends tell me they are choosing to go on the "Keto diet" or a "Gluten free diet" for whatever reason they have drives me up a wall. These diets may be good for some people, but they are definitely not good for everyone. I have to eat a gluten free diet because I have Celiac Disease, but if I tried to eat the Keto diet I would suffer from malnutrition, and if someone without Celiac Disease or a gluten intolerance tried to eat a gluten free diet, it would not necessarily be good for them. There is no ONE diet, fitness routine, lifestyle that would work for every one. Every BODY is different (inside and out).

Let's start with some useful information about NUTRITION.
  1. What is Nutrition? Nutrition is obtaining the nutrients needed for health and growth. There are many essential and non essential nutrients in the food we eat. The 6 most important nutrients, essential nutrients, are protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Without these nutrients, our bodies cannot function properly. Non essential nutrients are still important to the body, but they are also produced by the body so we do not have to ingest as much unless our bodies are deficient. Cholesterol, vitamin K, and Vitamin D are just a few.
  2. What are nutrients? Nutrients are ingredients found in food that help our bodies grow, repair body tissue, and build new muscle.
  3. What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist? A dietitian has gone to school, gone through an internship and received a certificate proving they know the truth about nutrition. A nutritionist is someone who has researched and found information (most likely online or in books) and is just knowledgeable on the subject.
  4. How do you know what is healthy for you? Always talk to your doctor or a dietitian before changing your diet/lifestyle, have your vitamin levels checked (if your doctor thinks it is necessary), take vitamin supplements if suggested by your doctor, read the label on your foods and pay attention to the ingredients in your food.

Below is a little information on how to read a food Label

 

Somewhere (usually just under the label) you will find a list of ingredients.

When reading the ingredients, keep in mind the first three ingredients are used in the highest quantity.

Below is the difference between a regular vegetable soup and a low sodium vegetable soup.

Notice the only difference in the label is the amount of sodium. This simply means most likely they did not put as much salt in the low sodium version of this soup.

Below are two ingredients lists

These LaraBars consist mostly of Date, Almonds, and Apples. There are no added sugars. These are a great source of Calcium and healthy for someone who is not allergic to any of the ingredients, 

The main ingredients in these Laffy Taffy candies are corn syrup, sugar, and palm oil. The other ingredients consist of some artificial flavors and dyes that are not very healthy for anyone.

It is important to research and know what it is you are looking for on the food label and ingredients list of the foods you purchase. This will look different for everyone based on the type of diet and food lifestyle they need.

Of course, there are a few general things that really are healthy for everyone. Here are just a few:
  1. Whole grains are much healthier than refined grains. Refined grains have been modified from their original state, and in the process of modification most, if not all, essential nutrients are eliminated from the grain.
  2.  Natural sugars are healthier than added sugars. A lot of times people see the word sugar on a food label and assume it is bad for them. However, if you look at the ingredients and find out where the sugar comes from, it may help you decide whether the sugars are bad to eat, or not. If the sugar comes from fruit, it is a good source of sugar. If it comes from cane sugar, it is best to eat it in very low quantities if at all.
  3. Exercise is important for everyone. An exercise routine will look different for each person. Some people prefer to take walk or jog each day, some are body builders that prefer to lift heavy weights, and some like an easy going cardio with a little lifting. Whatever the case may be, exercise is important for our bodies!!! This is something you should definitely discuss with a doctor before beginning, especially if you have any type of disability.
  4. Variety is key. While I love Steak and potatoes, and wish I could have them for dinner every night, that is not going to be nutritionally helpful to my body. Yes, it is healthy for me once in a while, but I cannot get all the essential nutrients I need from JUST steak and potatoes. It is important in everyone's diet, whether you are a super healthy eater or just eat whatever is available, that you eat a variety of foods and be sure you are getting 100% of your daily intake of essential nutrients.
  5. Sleep is important. Some people can sleep for a few hours and wake up well rested, while others need eight to ten hours to wake up feeling well. No matter how much sleep you need, it is important you get that sleep. Sleep gives our bodies the rest it needs to keep us moving. Not getting enough sleep can affect our bodies mentally and physically.

  It is important to talk to your doctor or dietitian about your food and exercise routine, but you cannot go by what they say alone. If you disagree with something you have been told, it is alright to ask for a second opinion from a different professional. It is also important to do your research on any type of diet or lifestyle you are told you should be on. YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE! Something a lot of people worry about (especially doctors) is BMI. BMI is Body Mass Index and is a persons weight divided by their height. There is a chart (shown below) that decides if someone is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on these numbers.

According to this chart, I am overweight. According to my doctor, based on my height, weight, and muscle mass, I am a normal weight. Below are a couple pictures that show exactly why the BMI chart is very wrong and inaccurate.

All six of these women weight 154 pounds. The one on the left looks like she may be a little heavier than the others, and the one on the right looks skinny as a rail.

 These six women all weight 150 pounds. The woman on the right is over five inches shorter than the girl to her left, and according to the BMI chart would be considered overweight. Clearly, this woman is physically healthy and fit. Do not ever let anyone tell you that you are not a healthy weight just based off the BMI chart. 

  Everyone is born with different genetics. Some people are naturally skinnier than others. Some have bigger bones. Some are born with deformities or disabilities. Not everyone is supposed to look, eat, feel, or exercise the same. Do your research and remember to do what is best for YOUR body... not what is best for someone else!

   Here are a few links to get you started on your research: 10 Nutrition Facts  , 6 Essential Nutrients  , USDA  ,  20 Common sense Nutrition Facts


And of course 😁 the song ...  Too Much Food by Jason Mraz