Harmful Food Dyes~ Haley Oscar

Food dyes. They are in most of the foods we eat today and in the skin and hair products we use every day, many of you may know this, but do you really know how those dyes affect us every time we put them in or on our bodies? I’ve recently become really aware of the dyes in my food, and trust me; my heart has been broken many times because of it. My favorite gum is now no longer being bought by me, goodbye Mac-n-Cheese and many other beloved foods!

The bright side to all these goodbyes is relief of allergies and so many more sicknesses.  Here’s a list of all the dyes and the affects they have on your body.   

Blue #1 (Brilliant Blue)

An unpublished study suggested the possibility that Blue 1 caused kidney tumors in mice. What it's in: Baked goods, beverages, desert powders, candies, cereal, drugs, and other products.

Blue #2 (Indigo Carmine)

Causes a statistically significant incidence of tumors, particularly brain gliomas, in male rats. What it's in: Colored beverages, candies, pet food, & other food and drugs.

Citrus Red #2

It's toxic to rodents at modest levels and caused tumors of the urinary bladder and possibly other organs. What it's in: Skins of Florida oranges.

Green #3 (Fast Green)

Causes significant increases in bladder and testes tumors in male rats. What it's in: Drugs, personal care products, cosmetic products except in eye area, candies, beverages, ice cream, sorbet; ingested drugs, lipsticks, and externally applied cosmetics

Red #3 (Erythrosine)

Recognized in 1990 by the FDA as a thyroid carcinogen in animals and is banned in cosmetics and externally applied drugs. What it's in: Sausage casings, oral medication, maraschino cherries, baked goods, candies. Why it’s still allowed in our food and medicine makes no sense to me..

Red #40 (Allura Red)

This is the most-widely used and consumed dye. It may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice. It also causes hypersensitivity (allergy-like) reactions in some consumers and might trigger hyperactivity in children along with anger and attention issues. What it's in: Beverages, bakery goods, dessert powders, candies, cereals, foods, drugs, and cosmetics.

Yellow #5 (Tartrazine)

Yellow 5 causes’ sometimes-severe hypersensitivity reactions and might trigger hyperactivity and other behavioral effects in children. What it's in: Pet foods, numerous bakery goods, beverages, dessert powders, candies, cereals, gelatin desserts, and many other foods, as well as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Yellow #6 (Sunset Yellow)

Caused adrenal tumors in animals and occasionally causes severe hypersensitivity reactions. All Yellow dyes also cause environmental allergies in almost everyone, so if you suffer from allergies, check the food you eat or the products you use. What it's in: Color bakery goods, cereals, beverages, dessert powders, candies, gelatin deserts, sausage, cosmetics and drugs.

 

Every year, food manufacturers pour 15 million pounds of artificial food dyes into U.S. foods -- and that amount only factors in eight different varieties, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

These dyes are so common in U.S. foods -- especially kids' foods -- which parents don't think twice about giving their children rainbow-colored cereal or fluorescent blue "juice," and adults don't consider bright orange cheese puffs out of the ordinary, either.

But you might do a double take if these food packages contained warnings detailing what these artificial food colorings may really be doing to your health, and that of your children.

Well, in the European Union at least, they do. As of July 2010, most foods in the EU that contain artificial food dyes were labeled with warning labels stating the food "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." The British government also asked that food manufacturers remove most artificial colors from foods back in 2009.

In the United States, however, consumers are still snatching up artificially colored foods with fervor, as most are completely unaware of the risks involved … and let me just say, hyperactivity in children is only the tip of the iceberg. . CSPI reported:

"The three most widely used dyes, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, are contaminated with known carcinogens … Another dye, Red 3, has been acknowledged for years by the Food and Drug Administration to be a carcinogen, yet is still in the food supply.

Almost all the toxicological studies on dyes were commissioned, conducted, and analyzed by the chemical industry and academic consultants. Ideally, dyes (and other regulated chemicals) would be tested by independent researchers.

Furthermore, virtually all the studies tested individual dyes, whereas many foods and diets contain mixtures of dyes (and other ingredients) that might lead to additive or synergistic effects.

In addition to considerations of organ damage, cancer, birth defects, and allergic reactions, mixtures of dyes (and Yellow 5 tested alone) cause hyperactivity and other behavioral problems in some children.… Because of those toxicological considerations, including carcinogenicity, hypersensitivity reactions, and

Behavioral effects, food dyes cannot be considered safe. The FDA should ban food dyes, which serve no purpose other than a cosmetic effect; though quirks in the law make it difficult to do so (the law should be amended to make it no more difficult to ban food colorings than other food additives).

In the meantime, companies voluntarily should replace dyes with safer, natural colorings."

 

When foods are processed not only are valuable nutrients lost and fibers removed, but the texture, natural variation and flavors are lost also. After processing, what's actually left behind is a bland, uninteresting "pseudo-food" that most people would find entirely unappetizing.

So at this point, food manufacturers must add back in the nutrients, flavor, color and texture in order to make them desirable, and this is why they become loaded with food additives.

 

Most commonly, additives are included to:

Slow spoilage

Prevent fats and oils from becoming rancid or developing an off-flavor

Prevent cut fruits from turning brown

Fortify or enrich the food with synthetic vitamins and minerals (which are lost during processing)

Improve taste, texture and appearance

In the case of kids' foods, bright colors are also added to attract kids' attention and make the foods appear "fun."  But in most cases, if a food comes in an outrageous color that is not found in nature, consuming it is not a good idea.

Let me make it clear that your diet should include a range of vibrantly colored foods … but these foods should be the ones that are naturally rich in color. Red bell peppers, purple eggplant, green spinach, blueberries and rainbow chard are all examples of healthy foods whose bright colors are signs of the important nutrients they contain.

These are the food colors you need in your diet … not the man-made varieties found in most processed foods. The good news is avoiding artificial food dyes is incredibly easy -- just stick to whole fresh foods and avoid the processed ones.

Also check your vitamins, vitamin companies use dyes in their products often. Make sure you are aware and always check the labels of everything you buy, don't trust the company with your health and your life. 

You're good if you can remember these:

Blue 1 —— Chromosomal Damage

 Blue 2 —— Brain Tumors
 Red 3 ——- Thyroid Tumors, Chromosomal damage
Green 3 —- Bladder Tumors

 Yellow 5 — Allergies, Thyroid Tumors, Lymphocyte Lymphomas, Chromosomal damage
Yellow 6 — Allergies, Kidney Tumors, Chromosomal damage
 Red 40 —— Lymphomas, Lymph Tumors 

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/07/popular-food-dyes-linked-to-cancer-adhd-and-allergies/ 

Did you know that Haley is the older sister of Lilies photographer, Cassie?!?!

Sexting~ Haley Oscar

 

 

 

Sexting is something I’m sure most of you have seen going around either on the news, through your friends, or you yourself have done. So what’s the big deal with sexting? No one’s getting hurt, you’re not doing anything physical, you’re still “Pure”, and it’s just between you and the guy, right?

Do you know that what you send out is never just between you and someone else? I’m sure you’ve heard this said a thousand times, but you need to be wise about what you put out there. With the world we live in today hardly anything is kept private, we have a need to post on facebook , twitter, or text what is going on in our lives each day and it’s there for the entire world to see.

 

So what’s the big deal with sexting and/or sending risqué photos? Most people sext instead of having a physical relationship while dating. You are fooling yourselves if you think that holding off on everything and just "talking" about sex means you're keeping your relationship sexually pure. It's very similar to the couple who thinks doing everything but sex will keep them pure. But that's a very loose, unbiblical, and unhealthy definition of purity. The reality is that you've just discovered a different way of exploring the sexual side of dating. It might not feel sexual since you aren't even in the same room when you're sexting, but sex isn't just a physical activity. All that talk will make it more and more difficult to stick to the promise you've made to not have sex. When you tell each other what you'd like to be doing, it's only a matter of time before you start thinking about actually doing it.

You have to remember that your brain is a very powerful sexual organ, it has the power to turn you on with out any physical action. The bible is very clear on controlling your sexual thoughts,

Matthew 5:28-29 says "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman (or man) lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people” –Ephesians 5:3

For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God... For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.- 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8

So if you’re caught up in this sexting game sit down with you boyfriend and have an honest talk with him, pray about it, and if needed find an adult to help you guys along.

But like I always say, PRAY PRAY PRAY! Be wise about what you send out there, cause you never know who will see it.

Interview with Jessa Anderson

Our very own Haley Oscar got the great opprotunity to interview Jessa Anderson! Read all about Jessa and do not forgot to buy her newest cd "Not Myself Anymore".

What made you want to start your music career? Music has always been my passion--specifically singing. I toured with a ministry team my freshman year of college and realized that it was a lifestyle I really enjoyed. A few years after that I recorded my first CD, and alongside my husband Jordan, started touring full-time. Having Jordan by my side really gave me the courage to trust God with such an unknown path.

What’s your family like? Small and amazing. It's just me, Jordan and our 16 month old Lorelei and I am blessed beyond measure to have them. We are together all the time, which is a unique situation, but I genuinely enjoy sharing so much of our lives together. Life on the road is really fun with them!

How long have you been performing? I believe my first solo was "Jesus Loves Me" at the age of 2. :) I have been performing most of my life in different capacities. It's become the thing that I feel most comfortable doing and it really brings me joy.

When did you come to know Christ as your savior? At the young age of 4, at home with my parents. I've been so blessed to live most of my life on a journey with Christ and I continue to be amazed by who he is as I grow deeper in my relationship with him!

Do you have a message you want to give to teen girls everywhere? Oh, I could write a book here... That Christ is truly the beginning and the end, the All in All. We aren't guaranteed a pain-free life as followers of Christ, but I can promise he will meet your every need in a way that brings him glory. Someday it will all make sense, but even if that's not until we are with him in Heaven, he will never, ever leave your side. He loves YOU!

What’s your inspiration for song writing? Life! Isolation is the worst, and I hate thinking of all the times I could have opened up to someone in giving or receiving and either saved myself some pain, or helped save someone else that pain. Let's live life together, as a community of believers, with the aim to bring God the glory and love one another as he loves us! Songs have a special ability to connect us and bind us together, and I find that both fascinating and motivating!

What was life like for you as a teen girl? It was a roller coaster! I switched from a public to private school and the first year especially was terrible. I was betrayed by a close friend, gossiped about and bullied. However, sticking with my decision to attend that school was the best thing I could have done. My best friends now are the friends I made during those four years. They are loving, godly women who have seen me go through everything from terrible heartbreak to pursuing my dreams of being a musician, and they love me all the same! I learned a lot through my teenage years, but more than anything, I learned that God has a plan that extends far beyond my current struggle and that life just keeps getting better as we follow his plans for us!

How did you over come your hardest struggle? The hard way..ha! I have had to fail miserably (more than once) to realize that I am helpless, and often clueless. God is 100% trustworthy. Truly. Let him guide you, ask him for courage, and face the road ahead. He goes before us!

What is your biggest dream? Right now it's that Lorelei would see Jesus Christ for who he is and serve him with her life. Also, that I would be paving the way now with a legacy that will help lead her there.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not on the road? Domestic stuff- cooking great meals (trying, anyway), working on my sewing skills, decorating the house. I think I love nesting because I rarely have the opportunity.

Random Questions:

~What is your favorite time of day? Evening

~What is your least favorite food? Olives

~What is one thing you cannot live without? Material thing: iPhone

~ If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? New York City

~ What is your addiction? (If you have one!) It's a toss-up between Coffee and Pinterest

Top Six Vitamins Every Woman Should Take~ Haley Pscar

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you should know, vitamins and minerals play a huge part in how our bodies work but it can be hard to even know which ones to start with.  Some of you might just pop a multivitamin every day and think you’re good to go, but does your multivitamin really have what you need , and does it have nasty fillers like mercury or artificial flavors and dyes?  

What vitamins you take can make a huge difference on your health!  I personally take a ton of vitamins every day, but I won’t try to shove all of those down your throat today.  I’m just going to give you the basics for a healthier and happier day.

Vitamin C:

Most of us know of this vitamin, it’s simple and easy to find, but most don’t know really how wonderful it is for your health. Vitamin C it a wonderful   antioxidant, and is needed for growth and repairing bones, teeth, tissues, all over your body, it  helps reduce your chances of getting sick (Great to take when sick) . The body is not able to make vitamin C on its own, and it does not store vitamin C. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in your daily diet. Serious side effects from too much vitamin C are very rare, because the body cannot store the vitamin, but very large doses can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.

Signs of vitamin C deficiency are:

 Anemia, Bleeding gums ,Decreased ability to fight infection, Decreased wound-healing rate, Dry and splitting hair, Easy bruising, Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)Nosebleeds ,Possible weight gain because of slowed metabolism, Rough, dry, scaly skin, Swollen and painful joints, and Weakened tooth enamel.

Vitamin D:

Vitamin D helps your body’s nerves, muscles, immune system, and helps  absorb calcium into the bones.  The sun is one of the best ways to get vitamin D, but since most of us are stuck in school or work all day it’s hard for our bodies to get the needed amount of vitamin D. Vitamin D-rich foods include egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver. Vitamin D is also useful in slowing the reproduction of certain types of cancer cells.

Vitamin D deficiency seems to be common in the U.S. Maybe we are all just spending too much time inside. It is estimated the 25% of U.S. adults have less than 18 nanograms per milliliter of vitamin D (severe vitamin D deficiency). Overall, 40% of men and 50% of women are thought to be lower than the healthy level of vitamin D (28 nanograms per milliliter). The people most at risk are anyone who spends a lot of time indoors , and people with dark skin (dark skin absorbs less sunlight). When vitamin D levels are low, your body just doesn’t seem to work as well. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to high blood pressure, insulin problems, diabetes risk, obesity and more.

If you take this vitamin be sure to take it right away in the morning for an extra boost of energy!

Vitamin E:

This wonderful antioxidant is your skins best friend!  Vitamin E helps the skins aging process, reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scars, burns, promotes faster healing, makes your hair shinier, fingernail growth, and the formation of red blood cells. Vitamin E is Fat soluble, not water soluble and can be stored in the body. However, vitamin E doesn't control physical signs of aging like wrinkles and grey hair. It won't make you live longer, either! But it can help you live better.

It isn't always easy to get enough vitamin E in your diet. Oils and margarines made from corn, cottonseed, soybean, safflower, and wheat germ are good sources of vitamin E. You can also get this powerful vitamin from nuts and seeds, like hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, peanuts, Brazil nuts, and almonds. Fruits, veggies, and whole grains have some vitamin E, but cooking at high temperatures destroys vitamin E. Look for fresh or lightly cooked/lightly processed foods for best vitamin E content.

Vitamin E deficiency symptoms include ruptured red blood cells, abnormal fat deposits, degenerative changes in muscles, skin and nails, and neurological disorders.

Vitamin E deficiency is associated with pancreatic, gallbladder, liver, and celiac diseases characterized by poor nutrient absorption from the digestive tract.

Nervous system problems – sensation loss, pain, and tingling – in the arms, hands, legs, and feet may signify vitamin E deficiency.

Deficiency of vitamin E is a nutritional deficiency and can be overcome by eating a proper diet and taking vitamin E supplement.

 

Vitamin A (beta-carotene):

Beta-carotene is an antioxidant, it is also a provitamin,  because it is easily converted to vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is essential for eye health, skin and mucous membrane health, reproduction and fertility, growth, and immune system function. Beta-carotene is not toxic when consumed in large amounts because the body will convert to vitamin A only what it needs. Side effects of too much beta-carotene include diarrhea and a yellow or orange cast to the skin, especially on the hands and feet. Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant, similar to vitamins E and C. Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by the toxic byproducts of normal cellular metabolism that may cause cancer and other diseases.

The immune system does not function as well with low levels of Vitamin A. A lack of this vitamin affects skin cells, and mucous production in the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts, all of which provide barriers against infections. It is also crucial in the development of lymphocytes, or the white blood cells that fight infection. A deficiency in vitamin A adversely affects hormone production in the reproductive systems of both men and women. Low levels of vitamin A can also affect genes that regulate growth, impeding normal development in a fetus, possibly resulting in birth defects or other abnormalities.

B complex with a little extra B12:

Vitamin B complex is made up of eight vitamins, they were initially thought to be one vitamin because they usually co-exist in the same food but were later found to be different with diverse functions. So they retained the ‘vitamin b’ part in their names. These vitamins include vitamin B1, vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B7, vitamin B9 and vitamin B12. Alongside vitamin B6 these are the vitamins that should be taken daily. All 8 are essential for human metabolism, growth, reproduction, general health, appetite, the normal functioning of the digestive tract, nervous stability, and blood cell formation. B Vitamins are so important they are one of the few nutrients the federal government mandates to be added to foods. The problem is, you cannot rely on your food for enough B vitamin. Intense heat, processing, slow cooking, light, baking soda and baking powder all destroy B vitamins.

When was the last time you went through a day without sugar, processed foods, alcohol, caffeine or stress?  Every one of these depletes your body's supply of vitamin B.

Deplete the body of these compounds and you weaken the nerve and muscle tissue which could result in nerve problems and loss of muscle tone. The loss of brain tissue will affect your memory. Phosphorous depletion will weaken muscle and rhythm function, affecting the rhythm of the heart.

Make sure you are taking this important vitamin, it will affect your future!

Calcium and magnesium:

Calcium is crucial for strong bones, especially for women, who are five times more likely than men to develop bone-weakening  osteoporosis.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a problem that many individuals face. With the use of calcium, however, blood pressure may be controlled to some degree. Studies have shown that diets high in calcium result in a decrease in blood pressure and risk of hypertension

A study analysis performed by professors at Creighton University directly links calcium to weight control and fat loss. Data from several observational studies and trials was collected and analyzed to determine calcium's effect on weight. The results led these individuals to the conclusion that "increased calcium intake results in reduced body weight, mainly by reducing fat mass." It should be noted, however, that calcium is only one player in the weight management equation. Many other factors influence body weight.

Calcium and magnesium are two elements that are highly essential for the body. They are mentioned together because they mostly function as a group. Calcium is the most abundant element in the body and is extremely essential for the growth and development of the bones. However, it is not very easy for calcium to get absorbed within the body and hence most of it is flushed out. Magnesium is the element that helps calcium get absorbed within the body. Refined sugar and alcohol interfere directly with the amounts of calcium and magnesium in the body. Both of these substances eliminate more magnesium out of the body in the form of urine. As a result, magnesium is unavailable for the absorption of calcium and its level goes down too. Hence, people suffering from bone related problems must reduce their intake of both refined sugar and alcohol.

How to find the right vitamin:

Most of the best vitamins are the cheapest ones, don’t go looking for the best and most expensive, just look at the back of the bottle. Look at the ingredients if it has sugar, artificial dyes or flavors, preservatives, or any other listed ingredient that shouldn’t be in that vitamin put it back.

 You want to have one that is free from artificial dyes flavors, sugars, gluten, yeast, wheat, milk or milk derivatives, lactose, preservatives, soy, and sodium.

 

Just taking these six vitamins will help your now and in the future. I hope you learned a little something new and consider going and getting some of the vitamins listed above!

 

Did you know that Haley believes that organic is the way to go?!

15 Winter Date Ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Arts and crafts are always something fun and silly to do together. Your man might not be the most creative out there but making paper snowflakes or any other craft will bring out his playful/creative side!

 

2. I don’t know one guy who doesn’t like to go sledding at least once every year! This date is cheap and easy, all you need is snow, a hill and a sled. Now GO!

 

3. Visit a book store! Go to a book store together and pick out a book together that you both would like to read together. My boyfriend and I enjoy picking out couple’s devotionals and reading them together. It’s a great way to straighten any relationship.

 

4. Volunteer at an animal shelter once a week. Most people are huge animal lovers, so unless you or your date has an allergy to animals this would be a fun and free date idea!

 

5. Movie night with family is a safe date to do in the Winter. Find the nearest Redbox and buy a good comedy or drama along with a bag of popcorn. This is a great way for you and your date to get to know the others family.

 

6. Have a game night, take that game of Scrabble or Apples to Apples and play together or with family and friends. Game nights help to learn more about each other and make great memories to go alone with it.

 

7. Make dinner together. My boyfriend and I always find this one fun. You can cook something out of the old family cookbook or make up your own recipe!

 

8. Make fireplace s’mores! If either one of you has a real fireplace light it up and cook some s’mores!

 

9. Who doesn’t enjoy a trip to the mall!?

 

10. Ice skating is a great way to learn to trust each other a little more. If you’re like me and have never been ice skating and your boyfriend does this date could make for a good learning experience for you!

 

11. Have a video game tournament with him. Nothing will touch his heart more than plopping down on the couch next to him and challenging him to a game Call of Duty!

 

12. Bowling is also another way to challenge your man’s skills!

 

13. Museums a fun way to spend the day together. You can learn together and play together depending on what museum you visit!

 

14. Build a snowman! If you get snow in the winter like I do there’s nothing like going outside, being creative and making a snowman. Use food coloring or spray paint and give old Frosty some color. Visit a GoodWill or other thrift store and buy Frosty a hat and coat. Have fun with it! Paint him your favorite Football team’s colors or paint a bunch of different things on him.

 

15. Go see a sports game. This may be a bit on the pricey side, but nothing beats a local basketball (Sadly not this year) or football game!

 

Whatever you do this year remember to keep it safe and have fun with everything you do. Don’t take things too seriously, if something doesn’t work out the way you planned it make the best out of it. The messed up dates are normally the ones that make for the greatest memories!

 

 

Did you know that Haley loves all animals?!

 

New Year, New You! ~ Haley Oscar

If you’re anything like me, keeping weight off in the winter time can be hard! With all the pie, cookies, sodas, eggnog, and every other fattening food it’s hard to keep your weight from going up. The average American can gain 5 to 15 pounds in the holiday season alone from all the sugar and fatty foods! Gaining that much weight in that small of a time frame can take a horrible toll on your body, and can be hard to lose! From Halloween to New Year’s Eve we eat and eat and eat like we’re preparing to go into hibernation. Sure some people can lose the weight, but most people don’t, we go out and by a new pair of jeans cause the other ones don’t fit, or we pretend those stretch marks aren’t there. And the older you get the hard it is to motivate yourself to keep off the holiday weight. So why not get into the habit now, how about we lose weight this season instead of gaining even more?!

This holiday season let’s do these things to lose weight together!

1. Skip the soda, or holiday drink for water. You will not believe how refreshed and better you’ll feel if you drink 8-10 full glasses of water a day.
2. Also, try drinking a full glass of water 20 minutes before you eat. This will help you to not eat as much.
3. Take small bits of food and eat it slowly. Did you know that it takes your stomach 20 minutes to tell your brain that it’s full? So take your time there’s no contest to win!
4. Skip the French fries or any other fried food, these are horrible on your heart and take your body forever to digest, and once is does digest is turns straight into fat. Try substituting fried foods for a side of fruit or vegetables, you’ll get more energy from these foods and you’ll feel great and burn fat this way!
5. Have control over your calorie intakes – calories mean energy, and so taking calories is very important so that our body would always have full of energy. But when the amount of calories inside our body exceeds over the maximum, then it is now time to burn them out. Always have a control on your calorie intakes, and through that, you can lose weight fast.
6. Cut down the sugar, try limiting yourself to a sugary treat once a week. Trust me, I personally cannot have sugar that often anymore because of health issues. So if I can hold off on the sugar you can. So try to hold off on the sugar and have a planned day to eat it. But on your set day DO NOT OVER DO IT! Over eating sugar can cause your body to go into shock and you get the sugar high and then the crash. Limit it to one piece of pie or two cookies, whatever it is watch your portions! (I know, it’s HARD!)
7. Work out, the one thing many of us (Even me) are ‘To busy’ or to ‘lazy’ to do. Did you know that your heart needs at least 20 minutes of cardio a day? To keep a healthy weight (or to lose it)many of us need to work out at least twenty minutes each day. I personally like to jog or dance. But since it’s the winter months it’s too cold for many of us to get out and jog (Unless you have a gym membership). If you live in a state or country that gets a lot of snow like mine does, shoveling can make for a great cardio work out! If you’re one of the luckier ones who rarely or never get snow another work out you could do for free or fairly cheap is Pilaties. Pilaties is one of my all-time favorites, it’s easy on the body but it’s one heck of a work out! Pilaties is a lot like yoga but works out the in more ways. Pilaties tones and stretches the body to be more flexible and flat. You can find all kinds of work out videos on Youtube or anywhere else on the web!

     8. Eat more! Yep, you heard me right! Eat more…fruits and vegetables, that is.

     Here are 6 ways to add veggies to your daily food plan:

Try a V8 or Naked Juice for your 3 p.m. afternoon snack. This will count as a full serving of fruits or vegetables!

            Toss extra veggies into your soups, stews, and salads.

Use pre-bagged baby spinach (Organic is always nice!) just like you would lettuce, toss it into your soups, or wilt it on top of pasta.

Buy vegetables that are already cut up. I know it costs more, but if that's the only way you are going to eat more veggies, it's worth it. (Skip the $4 cup of coffee!)

Did you know that vegetable soup counts as a serving of vegetables?

Lettuce, tomato and sprouts--oh my! Pile up layers and layers on your sandwiches. You can add a layer of cucumber, too

1. Keep yourself active any way you can. In the winter a lot of us are content sitting on our butts watching the holiday specials or staring at Facebook for hours on end. Get up and move! Play with your siblings, crack out that Just Dance game that has been sitting on your shelf since last Christmas, go sledding, make a snow man, volunteer at a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, animal shelter, ect! Point is, DO SOMETHING! You need to move in order for your body to lose any kind of fat!
2. Your weight, your diet, and your exercise plan are from just one slice of your life’s pie. Permanent weight loss is about living a balanced life always. It’s about looking at all areas of your life – health, relationships, finances, career, fun, creativity, spirituality, physical environment – and creating them so that they support you to have the life you want.
3. Focusing only on weight loss will not serve you well. You may lose weight, but you will most definitely find it again later.
4. Make a commitment to YOU, all of you, every aspect of you. Losing weight won’t fix what’s wrong with your social life, relationships or happiness, just like gathering buckets of money won’t help you gain REAL friends or happiness. Seek balance. Enjoy every aspect of your life!
5. The most important tip to losing weight is to truly love your body, make healthy steps to better yourself and body but don’t hate on yourself for gaining weight. Pray to God about struggles you might have with the way you look and ask him to help you see how beautiful you really are! Remember you are fearfully and wonderfully made! Hating your body will only cause depression and stress which will make you gain more weight.
6. Be comfortable in your own skin, love every inch of you and thank God every day for how beautiful he made you inside and out.
7. Every time you look in the mirror don’t look at the things you hate about yourself, but thank God for something you like. After doing this for a few days I promise you’ll have a better outlook on yourself and your body!
8. Have a VERY blessed and happy Christmas and New Year’s you beautiful woman of God!

Did you know that Haley loves super hero movies but hates chick flicks?!

Gift Gone? Told by Marrisa Brandies Through Haley Oscar

 

 

The story of how I lost my virginity is less than romantic. It was not exactly the experience that is often portrayed in the movies, with candlelight and romance and pillow talk. I was sixteen, and very disenchanted by the world as to what TRUE love was. Before I actually performed the act with my boyfriend, I had it set in my mind that I was capable of “handling it” and it “had to happen sometime”. I spent a lot of time justifying why it was “the next step” and the “only way to show my love”. In my own mind I was convinced that I was ready for it. It also didn’t help that the world was telling me “how mature I was for my age”. Of course I was more mature than most girls my age, I was dealing with adult situations with the mindset of a child- YES, a child.

 

My boyfriend was a few years older than me, and we had been dating for over six months already. I was convinced beyond reason that I would marry him, and we would live happily ever after. I told myself that it would be alright, since he was my first, he would be my last because that’s how it was supposed to be. I was delusional. Logic didn’t matter, and the enemy can be very convincing, especially to someone as young and naïve as I was at the time.

 

After it was over, I felt very empty and disappointed. “That’s it? I don’t see what the big fuss is. It was painful, not pleasurable. Maybe I need more practice, I must not be doing it right.” Once the initial disappointment was out of the way, I felt like I didn’t have anything to lose anymore. My boyfriend and I continued to have sex regularly until we broke up, six months later from a “lack of connection”. He dumped me.

 

From then on, it wasn’t a big deal to have sex with the whichever guy I was seeing at the time. I made sure that we took care to use protection, and I didn’t have “random”sex, as it is defined today, but I was still being rather careless in choosing my partner. I had a very inadequate point-of-view that sex was a vital part of dating, and that was how I could please my boyfriend at the time. I reasoned with myself that sex wasn’t enjoyable, through my own faults. I didn’t want to get hurt again, so I blocked out any emotion that I felt about sex, except the want to satisfy the men I dated so they wouldn’t leave. I figured that if I didn’t show the emotion, or deal with it, it wouldn’t exist anymore. I didn’t cope with the disappointment, the longing for approval, or the sadness that came with having a sex life. I just kept doing it, expecting the same results every time. It was very hollow, and made me feel very unloved.

 

Then I met my husband.

 

I felt like I got struck by lightning. It was sort of like a sixth sense, knowing that he was very special and would be a big part of my life. We started dating, and after a while, had sex. But it was my boyfriend (now husband, Nick) who stopped this facet of our relationship from becoming like every other tryst. He expressed to me his desire to have us be“more than sex”. This concept was so foreign to me, but it was exactly the discipline that I needed. We started practicing abstinence, and were soon talking about marriage. It wasn’t easy, and we were not always successful in keeping our hearts pure, but through the times we were feeling weak, we prayed together. I was all but living with him already, and abstaining while sleeping in the same apartment was a very difficult thing. We knew it was something that we had to do though, to prepare ourselves for marriage. It was through times of prayer and supplication (fasting or abstaining) like these, that my relationships with him and the Lord truly started to flourish.

 

It was an incredible experience, to make love to my husband once we were married. It opened up such an array of emotions and connections to God and each other that we had never felt before. It was such a deep connection, so beautiful that it is indescribable. It had such intensity, and is always getting better the more that my husband and I continue to grow together and involve the Lord in our marriage.

 

 Looking back on my experiences of life, I feel incredible regret. I had to learn the hard way. I did something that could never be taken back, and it hurts to know that I robbed my husband of the one amazing, divine gift that I could have saved just for my him. Remembering the struggles, and the emotional rollercoaster that I put myself on, I really wish I had been a stronger woman, and come to Jesus earlier. If only I had developed a prayer life; I could have avoided searching for love that I didn’t find. I wasted so much time and effort on men who didn’t love me, not knowing that Jesus could have fulfilled what I had been missing. I was imprudent, and not ready for the cost of a sexual connection. I could have saved myself a lot of disappointment and hurt.

 

In retrospect I understand that many lies that were told to me, and see how they are being told today. I recognize the underlying messages that “sex sells”,“sex is the rite of passage to adulthood”, or “sex is the way to express love”.I see how we are targeted as women and a focus on the romanticism and glorification of sex before marriage. Its very saddening to hear these lies from the point-of-view of a Christian who has faltered. Christ died a very brutal death so that we can live, and be free of sin. Yet, everyday young people are suckered into a life of sin, because society says its okay. However, I know that God does not see it in that perspective. Our heavenly Father’s heart has not changed, even if our society says it has. Nowhere in the bible is it written to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince; this is a justification made up by people to justify our own bad behavior. Do not be drawn into this lie. He has given you this precious gift, to be given to your husband exclusively. God CREATED you to be chaste, and keep your heart pure, in honor of the husband you don’t have yet. He created you to be prudent in your decisions, and loyal to the husband that He has picked out for you. This is His command to us. It is our obligation to remain faithful to our future husbands. It is our duty to remain pure in waiting for our perfect union between man, wife and God, as He intended.

 

My advice for you is to honor God! I strongly urge you to make better choices than I made. It will help you to avoid regret and sin. Avoid being in a situation where you could possibly make a mistake. Go out on dates in public. Hang out with family and other friends. Do not leave opportunity for error. In doing so, you are giving yourself the chance to get to know each other freely, without adding the extra pressure of a sexual relationship. If he does care about you, and has a relationship with God, your boyfriend will respect your wish to leave that part out of the relationship until you are married.

 

Develop a prayer life by yourself, and with your boyfriend. Encourage him to pray with you and for you, especially if its getting too hot and heavy. Don’t be afraid to stop in the heat of the moment and pray. God can speak volumes through prayer, and may deter you from making a tremendous mistake. I guarantee that if your boyfriend loves and wants a future with you, he will pray with you and for you. Also, prayer is a really good way of separating the good guys from the total creeps. Think of how your boyfriend will respond if you ask him to pray just before you think about having sex. You may possibly find out in that instant, more about his character than any moment during sex could reveal. I am not saying it will be easy, because it will take strength to stop yourself, but it is to your benefit. Prayer doesn’t only draw you nearer to the Lord, but it also builds character and strength, especially in critical moments. The more you draw closer to God, the less likely you will make a mistake of great consequence. It will also enrich the relationship you have with your significant other, and lay the foundation for a marriage, if that is what you are planning. The most rewarding, and intimate thing that my husband and I practice every day is not sex, but praying together. A relationship with God is what makes our marriage so wonderful, and that kind of connection is worth waiting for.

 

~Marissa Brandies

 

Marissa couldn't have put it any better! I almost can't think of an ending for this, but I will again stress the need for prayer in ANY relationship. Start the habit now so it's natural once your in a relationship with a man. Maybe even buy a devotional book to prepare for dating or to use in your current relationship.Marissa and I hope this spoke to those of you who were thinking about giving in and to those who already have. Marissa and I want you to know that our prayers go out to you! And like always, if you have any questions you can contact me through email at Haleyjadey@yahoo.com.

 

Did you know that Haley hates being alone?!

Don't Take the Abuse~ Haley Oscar

Abuse. Many of use hear about it or are even going through it. Many of us don't know what to do about it either. Maybe you know someone who's in a abusive relationship or you yourself are in one.

These are the facts:

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.

Three to four million women in the United States are beaten in their homes each year by their husbands, ex-husbands, or male lovers.

One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States.

One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.

1992, the American Medical Association reported that as many as 1 in 3 women will be assaulted by a domestic partner in her lifetime -- 4 million in any given year.

85% of domestic violence victims are women.

Police are more likely to respond within 5 minutes if an offender is a stranger than if an offender is known to a female victim.

Battering occurs among people of ALL races, ages, socio-economic classes, religious affiliations, occupations, and educational backgrounds.

A battering incident is rarely an isolated event and battering tends to increase and become more violent over time.

25% - 45% of all women who are battered are battered during pregnancy.

Domestic violence does not end immediately with separation. Over 70% of the women injured in domestic violence cases are injured after separation.

Nearly 7.8 million women have been raped by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.

Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.

Children who witness violence at home display emotional and behavioral disturbances as diverse as withdrawal, low self-esteem, nightmares, self-blame and aggression against peers, family members and property.

One in ten calls made to alert police of domestic violence is placed by a child in the home. One of every three abused children becomes an adult abuser or victim.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found in a national survey that 34 percent of adults in the United States had witnessed a man beating his wife or girlfriend, and that 14 percent of women report that they have experienced violence from a husband or boyfriend.

More than 1 million women seek medical assistance each year for injuries caused by battering. (Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Justice National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS); Horton, 1995. "Family and Intimate Violence")

Nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. 30% of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend in the past year.

Let's face it, those facts are scary! But how do you know that someone or yourself is in an abusive relationship?

Questions to ask yourself:

Have you ever been physically hurt, such as being kicked, pushed, choked or punched, by your partner or ex-partner?

Has your partner ever used the threat of hurting you or members of your family to get you to do something?

Has your partner ever injured or abused your pets?

Has your partner ever destroyed your property or things that you care about?

Has your partner tried to keep you from seeing your family, going to school or doing other things that are important to you?

Do you feel like you are being controlled or isolated by your partner? For instance, does your partner control your money, transportation, activities or social contacts?

Have you ever been forced by your partner to have sex when you did not want to or to have unsafe sex?

Is your partner jealous and always questioning whether you are faithful?

Does your partner regularly blame you for things that you cannot control, or for his/her violent outbursts?

Does your partner regularly insult you?

Are you ever afraid of your partner or of going home? Does he/she make you feel unsafe?

There are other signs of domestic violence that observers might see in a relative or friend who is in an abusive relationship.

They include:

being prone to "accidents" or being repeatedly injured.

having injuries that could not be caused unintentionally or that do not match the story of what happened to cause them.

having injuries on many different parts of the body, such as the face, throat, neck, chest, abdomen or genitals.

having bruises, burns or wounds that are shaped like teeth, hands, belts, cigarette tips or that look like the injured person has a glove or sock on. (from having a hand or foot placed in boiling water)

having wounds in various states of healing.

often seeking medical help or, conversely, waiting to seek or not seeking medical help even for serious injuries.

showing signs of depression.

using alcohol or other drugs.

attempting suicide.

If you're in a abusive relationship, or know someone who is, my heart goes out to you and I am praying for your protection.

Many of us can spot the signs of abuse, but most of us are afraid to act and get yourself or someone else's help. Sometimes the offender is so violent that you're afraid that if you act it could cost you or someone you know their life. Some woman have to slowly make an escape plan, some just simply have to speak up and tell a friend or family member, and others NEED to have the law involved.

How to leave an abusive partner:

Leaving an abuser can be dangerous. In order to do it as safely as possible, you should plan ahead and take the following precautions:

Pack a bag ahead of time that will be available to take with you when you decide it is the safest time to leave. Include items such as extra clothes, important papers, money, extra keys and prescription medications.

Know exactly where you will go and how you will get there.

Call a local women’s shelter or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) to find out about legal options available to you.

While making plans to leave, avoid making long-distance phone calls from home of using a cell phone. An abuser could trace long-distance calls to find out where you are going or intercept your cell phone conversations using a scanner. (In extream cases) Also, be aware that the abuser may be able to monitor your Internet activities and access your e-mail account.In an emergency situation, always call 911 or your local law enforcement agency. If you are not in immediate danger, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-Safe (7233), which provides crisis intervention and referrals to in-state or out-of-state resources, such as women’s shelters or crisis centers.

Once you finally get away, I urge you to seek counseling. Remember to cling to God in this hard time you or a friend may be going through.

If it's your friend reach out to them as best as you can and try to get them help.

As I always say, prayer is the biggest tool you could ever use. God is there with you and can help you through this. Be smart about it and think about the importance of your life. God has so much better for you! If you would like more people to pray for you, please email the LAT staff here and we will defiantly pray for you!

I've listed below some websites that may help you even more.

http://www.thehotline.org/

http://www.safehorizon.org/index/get-help-8/for-domestic-violence-35.html?gclid=CIfBkYnb_6sCFYXrKgodXwG3kw

http://www.ncadv.org/files/DomesticViolenceFactSheet(National)

http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.womenthrive.org/index.php?option=com_issues&view=issue&id=5&Itemid=115

http://www.now.org/issues/violence/stats.html

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_help_treatment_prevention.htm

Did you know that Haley's favorite animal is a white tiger?!