Beware of the easy route - Don't pay for THM menus!

Hello everybody! Today I was a bit uncertain about what the TIP would be... not for lack of tips or areas of opportunity I see ... actually because there's so many tips I would love to share that I don't even know which one to choose... BUT... something made it easier for me to make a decision... and it was a sponsored ad on my Facebook this morning... charging to give you what they call "THM Menus and recipes" ... They have a tiny disclaimer at the bottom of their page saying: "We are not affiliated or endorsed by Trim Healthy Mama" and they recommend you to review their menus/recipes with care! (well, that doesn't save much time... does it?)


what in the world???

First of all... They are charging you for something that IS NOT FOR THEM to charge. This is someone else's BRAND and work. You can find menus, plans and meals for free on several blogs and on the support groups, THM beginners is my favorite, even when I am not a beginner at all on THM I love the fellowship there and I also love that I can welcome many "newbies", encourage them and hopefully help them if they have a question or two (The Admins/Moderators do an amazing job but sometimes someone needs help right away and we all try to pitch in), most of us "seasoned THM'ers" find joy sharing good recipes with others, reviewing their own menus, helping them tweak it if we see the need, etc....

Those who promise to send you plans and menus for a fee are unfortunately targeting people that don't really know how THM works and who think someone else's "plans" will work for them... I think that ... in and of itself is bad!

THM is about learning how foods work... It's about understanding how to mix foods, how much time to leave in between meals/snacks, how to choose best when eating out, changing old ideas about food, changing the way you see it and EMPOWERING YOU by giving you all the knowledge you need to MAKE PLANS that fit your life, etc... This is not a "diet" that will give "the same template" to all women and expect them all to make them fit their lives... If you PAY for plans/meals that somebody else "thought about" you are not learning a thing and you are giving your money away just to find disappointment when the time to "choose" comes or when you want to be freed from paying 7 dollars a month! are you ever going to be able to do this on your own? I don't think so... YOU have to LEARN about how the fuels work for your body... and only YOU can decide how you switch/incorporate them in your life.

I'd say invest the money on the BOOK ... and hang out with us on our FB groups. Take one step at a time and you'll be running in no time! All by yourself! Those 7 dollars use them in better ingredients instead (which you will still have to buy, it's not like they are buying the food for you) and also, you will have the CERTAINTY that your plan will be correct because you will have the knowledge (rather than reviewing someone else's plan with care. 

Honestly... If you see that sponsored ad, run away from it no matter how "good" it might initially sound! Now... I don't make any money from telling you all this! Pearl and Serene might not even know I exist, I am not a THM lawyer of defender of the plan! I care about moms like you! Who might judge the THM REAL plan by someone else's business that more likely than not will NOT provide you with the ideal plan for you and accurate completely on plan recipes.

So... You've been warned... If you still want to support a group that is charging off of somebody else's brand and work... it's your decision but if it doesn't work... then give Trim Healthy Mama a REAL try.(By the way, I just saw one of the recipes they promote as "THM" saying it's an "E" and it's a crossover -on plan but not weight loss inducing- this is just a clear small example of how it can't be trusted)

In their disclaimer they should add "Not only we aren't affiliated or endorsed by but we are completely misrepresenting Trim Healthy Mama"

Instead... Get the real deal:



Edited to add:  If you find a blog that is NOT charging for menus and meal ideas (I often share recipes, meal ideas and even let you see what I ate during my week) those are awesome tools to use as an EXTRA AID in your THM journey... it is just important to remember that they can't "replace" the knowledge that comes from reading the book and understanding how the plan works for yourself.

© Paloma K.

 Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links, this means that you pay the same price, but I also receive a very small compensation. I recommend products I have tried and love.

God is working... Will you join Him?

I think it was about a year ago (or two maybe? Not sure) when I had the opportunity to do the Experiencing God Bible Study with the Ladies Group at my church... It was really, really good... God used it to speak to many of us in such a powerful way that a few even took radical decisions and made drastic changes that would impact their lives and their families.... One recurrent point made throughout this study is that God is at work... always... and we can join Him in what He's already doing... And I just want to share with you about something wonderful that is going on right now in our group....

I am part of this amazing Ladies Bible Study group... We have a different study every Spring and every Fall... The ladies that I serve with are amazing... They truly are a gift in my life! I felt so connected to all of them even from the first time I met them... I knew I was meant to be there! But just recently I started to feel like we should have a "Spanish group" be part of our Study... Now... this is not an "original idea" or something that I can take credit for... This has been done in the past... but for one reason or another it never came to completely take form... Of course ... It is hard! It's not a "Spanish speaking church" ... so that made me doubt it was even a "good idea"... I wondered if it was just "my wanting to do this Spanish thing" just of my own desire... BUT... I checked in my heart and I realized I actually kind of "didn't want to do it" ... I was happy with my group of people I already knew ... I didn't want to get out of my comfort zone! You might think a "Spanish group" would be my comfort zone... but these would be people I didn't know... and I wanted to be with the friends I already knew. Regardless of the doubts I still I brought it up to the Women's Ministry leader (our church is amazing and they support you SO MUCH)... but I even had a condition... I would support the Spanish group if somebody else would do it with me... (I even had a name who I wanted that person to be!) Thankfully that other person (and dear friend) accepted the challenge and even when we both didn't know what this would look like, and we didn't know what to even expect or how many women would sign up we both agreed and said "yes"...

There were a couple of months of "registration" and when the FIRST DAY of Bible Study came, my friend and I were a little nervous (I could actually say I was EMBARRASSED to even have "suggested" to do something like this) because only ONE other lady signed up!

Was this really necessary? Did I just make the "need" of a Spanish group up? Maybe it was just a "wishful thought"? I felt bad for any logistics involved with planning for an extra group and buying BOOKS IN SPANISH for this study... 12 books were bought! 1 lady signed up??? I knew my Spanish speaking neighbor would come too (she said so...) So at least we might have two! My friend and I looked at each other that day and said: "I wonder who else will come" and there we were... Ready to serve the 1 or 2 ladies that would show up...

That day... as we sat in our classroom... We used 12 books... Yes... 12 Books! And as of today we officially have 14 ladies in our group!

That very first day, when we introduced ourselves with one another and shared a little bit about why we were there and what we expected from the Study... the theme was the same... each of the ladies said "I was hoping for something like this" "I was praying for a Spanish group" "I was needing this" "I was looking for this" ... God was at work! Way before I even thought "I had the idea of a Spanish group"... it was His idea all the time! And He had already been working in the hearts of those that would join! All my friend and I did was jump in the wagon that was already moving! (We both did a little happy dance at the end of that day). 


I am tempted to share with you a picture of these beautiful ladies but I already did the "impulsive thing" of sharing it on my personal facebook.... I don't want to go further and share a picture with them on my blog without their consent and don't want to put them on the spot... But these ladies are so beautiful, genuine, witty, open, wise and smart! So thirsty for God and so faithful! I never expected we would have a big, great,  awesome group like this... BUT GOD!

He is working and He'll continue to add the ones He wants to add!

You want to know what Study we are doing? We are doing the Children of the Day: 1 & 2 Thessalonians by Beth Moore. And it's really hitting home in so many areas of our lives! I highly recommend it!

Are you "sensing" God wants you to do something? Is it out of your comfort zone and that makes you doubt? Just pray... believe... trust and obey! ... He's working at it before you even start! Before you even think you want to start! Will you join Him???

Experiencing God Bible Study




Children of the Day Bible Study



Paloma

Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links, this means that you pay the same price, but I also receive a very small compensation. I recommend products I have tried and love.

THM Week Recap and Tip of the Week

Hello friends! Ah! I feel like I have neglected my blog and even friendships in the social media world so much! It seems that I can only get 1 post a week and that's even sometimes hard! Why? I don't know... it seems like I am in the midst of a cloud right now... Filled with so much excitement and at the same time in expectation of what's to come that I am almost paralyzed... but everything is going well... I can give you a little bit of the news in advance though... Just because I can't wait any longer and just because I know you won't tell anyone (LOL!)

So... hubby wrote a book... and it will finally be published in March (God willing) the book is based on the book of Job....  his suffering... faith... everything! I don't want to spoil it for you! Whether you're going through suffering, you went through it, a friend of you is going through it and you don't know how to comfort or what to say... you must read this book! I must say it is pretty amazing... I am a very honest, objective critic... particularly of those I love... and ... this book (and the many times I've read the manuscript) has touched my heart and made me see the situation differently than the way I used to when I've read the book of Job before...  and I just got stuck in the questions of "why did God bring Job up?" or "Why was God even talking to Satan?" It truly is NOT your typical "explanation" on the book of Job or "justification" for the things that happened to him ... wait... I shouldn't share more... you should read it. So... yeah... .. There are other things going on ... very exciting as well but... that's one that I can start sharing a bit for now....

Would you be in prayer for us with it all? Thank YOU!!!

Now... Trim Healthy Mama, right? Well... Usually tending to do  a lot of  some emotional eating... Going through these things in life (even good events can trigger such bad habits) has made it a little harder to not spend the whole day eating, munching, "just tasting" a little bit... So... here comes the tip of the week:

Eat enough and drink your "sippers"

So... yes, eat enough when you have your meals/snacks... Don't skip meals and make sure you have a good batch of Good Girl Moonshine or The Shrinker ... There are other THM meals but those two really help me when I am craving something and I am just in the need of putting something in my mouth... They calm those cravings down and make me feel like I am still "having fun" (yes, I also eat just because it's fun!).... Make sure you buy a good Raw Apple Cider Vinegar I buy this one and it you're still not that crazy about the flavor, play with the recipe a little... I have so much fun varying the flavors... I buy a good box of your favorite teas I absolutely love these until you find your "cup of tea" ... get it? cup of... ? ok... maybe too predictable LOL!

Anyway... that's my tip of the day... If you're just starting on Trim Healthy Mama and you were used to having flavored drinks/juices or soda.. and you're kind of bored of water (I absolutely LOOOOVE water but I know it's not that easy for everyone to drink the recommended amount) then you have to try these drinks that will absolutely hydrate you, make you feel fuller and will also send to your brain that message of 'I am doing something healthy, I don't want to ruin it with chips' that will help you stay on track without it actually being hard... or at least I think so...

Now... if you kind of want to take a look to the things that I've been eating this week... well here I go:

Hopefully these will inspire you:

Cheesecake Berry Crunch: (- S - Trim Healthy mama Book page 373)

Fried Chicken Strips (S) and cauliflower rice (Breading for chicken strips: Salt pepper your chicken strips, pass them through coconut flour, then egg/half-half mixture and then coat with a mix of ground pork rinds and almond flour, fry in coconut oil)

Turkey Bean Soup (E), this time I actually used venison, you can also substitute the meat with chicken breast... here is the recipe: Recipe here

Mrs. Dirinda's Famous baked oatmeal (E), I made it this week but switched the berries for apples, and instead of only 1/4 cup of egg whites I used 1/3 cup. Delish! click here for pin of her recipe

 

Salmon and Avocado Sandwich: I used Joseph's low carb pita bread, toasted it a bit and filled it with a mixture of canned wild caught salmon, avocado, mayo, cilantro, a bit of chopped onions and tomatoes. Salt/pepper to taste and a squirt of fresh lime juice.

 Chicken Salad with Pecans: I used delicious Romain lettuce leaves to serve my chicken salad Recipe Here (the original recipe calls for almonds, you can use whatever you prefer)

Chocolate Cupcakes (S): These were such a big hit! We loved them, I didn't have heavy whipping cream to make whipped cream but I used a bit of sugar free Hershey's Chocolate syrup and strawberries to top them... Recipe by Tonia at "The Sunny Patch" my twist was that instead of xylitol and stevia extract I used 14 packets of Truvia.

Steamed asparagus and eggs (with butter! YUM YUM) - S - : To make these I just lightly steam the asparagus (remove tough ends) until they are tender, then add some butter, salt and carefully place two (or three) eggs on top of the asparagus bed, it all becomes one! Looks pretty too! Cover with a lid and cook until the eggs are done (I like the yolks a bit runny, about 3-4 minutes), side of avocado... Delicious for any meal of the day!

 Of course I ate other things... But I didn't stop to take a picture of everything... I hope this inspired you a bit though! Would you leave a comment and let me know?

© Paloma K.

  Disclaimer: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, this means that you pay the same price, but I also receive a very small compensation. I recommend products I have tried and love.