Grateful for the Pain

Last night I read a talk about trials, given by Elder Paul V. Johnson (of the LDS Church), entitled "More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us."

I just couldn't help but think back to when my husband was deployed. So many of the things Elder Johnson talked about were exactly how I had felt at certain points: how at the beginning I pleaded with God to end this madness because I really didn't think the blessings could outweigh the pain of the experience, how it seemed that this test was focused on an area I felt weak in, and then later when it was almost over and I felt that God was proud of me in some way for trying to do what He expected of me.

Although there are many good points in his article, and I strongly suggest that anyone of any faith read it, I want to focus on a few things that I feel can be applied to improving our physical strength as well.

How many times have you caught yourself thinking, "Gee, I wish I could just be naturally skinny and fit instead of having to work out and eat right"? I sure know I have, probably more than I'd like to admit. In health, in trials, in education, in pretty much any aspect of life, we must put forth the effort and endure the pain to get the growth. Elder Johnson said, "Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way." This can, quite literally, be applied to our physical well-being. We have to continually struggle and challenge ourselves to grow. We all want to become something. Whether the goal is to bulk up, lose 5 pounds, run a marathon, get a college degree, or be more independent, we have to do the things that get us to that goal. There is no worthwhile accomplishment that comes for free.

So what if you are, right now, in the process of "paying?" It is easy to hate every moment of a workout when the results aren't immediate or loathe every minute of solitude when your husband is away and you still have 8 months until you see him again. Elder Johnson said, "We must be careful that we don't resent the very things that help us..." We must be faithful in all things. We must believe that the hard work we put in now will pay off in the future. When you are in pain, no matter what kind of pain it is, you must keep sight of your goals and remain determined to succeed. Never resent the hard things you've been through because with each moment of pain, followed by a resolve to be strong, you are brought closer to that goal of being the person you want to be.

At some point when my husband was deployed I started to understand the reasons why it was all necessary for me. There is always something to learn from pain. Just as we must tear our muscles down through exercise so that they can grow stronger, we must also go through a little tearing down ourselves so that we can grow stronger. Whether physical or emotional, our pain is only a small moment compared to what we can become. 

Buy Smart, Eat Smart

With the price of fuel, and subsequently the price of food, on the rise, we must all take a step back and readjust our budgets. Even if we don't necessarily need to save money, I think we can agree that it's never a bad thing.

Oftentimes it is pricier to eat right. There's no denying that. However, when you look at how much you spend on trivial things -- cable TV, movies, the extras on your cell phone plan, and dare I say junk food -- you may notice you are putting your money down on things that are much less important than your health.

While it is important to focus your money where it's most beneficial, there are ways to trim your grocery bill and still be healthy.

1. Frozen vs. Fresh
When it comes to produce, studies have shown there isn't much nutritional difference between the two. I choose to buy most of my veggies frozen because they have a longer shelf life (meaning less waste), are often easier to prepare and cook, and are cheaper. You can buy 5 bags of broccoli if it's on sale and it won't go rotten!

2. Brown rice
Put a little brown rice underneath anything you serve and you can get away with eating a lot less of the other stuff. Brown rice is one of the good carbs, filling you up with complex carbohydrates and keeping you full longer.

3. Slice your meats
If you slice your meats instead of just serving the whole slab you'll find you are satisfied with much less. I don't know about you, but if I eat 3/4 of a chicken breast or a steak and I'm full I have a hard time letting that little bit go to waste, and it seems too small to save. If you start out with slices, chances are you'll load up less on your plate to begin with. And if you happen to have some brown rice under it, even better! (Two days ago I cooked 2 chicken breasts for my family of 3. I cubed it to serve in different dishes, and we still have chicken left for tonight's dinner, and maybe even for tomorrow's.)

4. Plan ahead
My mom would be so proud of me. Make a list and buy accordingly! So much less food is wasted when you know exactly how you'll use it ahead of time.

5. Buy on sale
When it comes to certain products just pick the cheaper option. Sometimes it really doesn't matter. In my opinion, there is no difference between the store's brand of stewed tomatoes and any other stewed tomato. It all tastes the same in my chili. Same with flour or sugar in my cookies. However, sometimes it does matter to you. Try the cheaper option, which isn't always the store's brand. If you hate it, go back to your usual. I've often found that it doesn't matter to me, or that I even like the cheaper one better. You can save a lot of money by knocking off a few cents here and there.

How do you make sure that being healthy stays a priority in your life?