Snipers Shoot to Kill

Oh, Canada! The incredible feat of a Canadian sniper was in the news recently.  He and his spotter managed to take down an ISIS fighter from 11,316 feet away (or 2.2 miles).  It was such a long distance that it took several seconds for the bullet to hit the poor guy. (Enough time, I'm certain, for the shooter to wonder, to ponder, to pray.  Yep, the ISIS guy was an enemy, but there is nothing trivial nor funny about taking a life). 

Anyhoo, all I could think of was WOW.  The sharp-shooter and his spotter were so incredibly good.  What training! What skills!  What sharp vision! They are definitely assets to the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. Their moms must have cried for joy;  their dads' chests puffed up with pride. 

Let's do it again? Hubby kind-of doused my feelings of awe for these soldier-heroes. He said that they were simply "lucky" since there were many factors involved ( as the article mentioned, there was "...distance, wind, atmospheric conditions and the speed of the earth’s rotation at their latitude").  The victim needed to stand still for the time it took the bullet to reach him.  So, hubby insists that the feat would be very difficult to duplicate based solely on skills, training, and equipment. Thus, the luck element.

Maybe so, I thought.  I am not at all comfortable with the idea of "luck".  The powerful hand of God always needs to be considered. Were there daily, fervent prayers for success?  I wouldn't doubt it. Is God's face set against evildoers? Yep.  The soldiers hit their mark because God opened the door of opportunity, used their training/equipment, and answered prayers. It was also God's will that the ISIS fighter's day of death arrive. (Note: each of us has an appointment with Death. God is no respector of persons).


Link to article -- > Canadian Sniper




Below is a link to an American soldier during the Vietnam War era who COULD shoot well repeatedly, though not on as impressive a distance. Still a hero to me. 

link --> American Sniper


A follow-up to the successful Canadian shooting above. Prayers to the Lord Jesus Christ for safety were definitely answered.

link --> Canadian Sniper Who Set World Record Prevented Oncoming Attack

The only shooting my family has done recently

Healthy Green Drink for Warm Summer Days

Got the idea for this delicious, cold, healthy drink via our breakfast/brunch  at the Westin Hotel.  Ingredients: Cucumber, Lemon, Celery, and Apple.  Maybe it is not as simple as blending the 4 ingredients. Any decent buffet place needs a few "secrets" up its sleeves to have people want to come back.

We didn't overthink it, and went the easy route: Chopped ingredients. Mixed & combined according to our preferred taste. Added plenty of ice and a little Squirt Soda. Blended on high.

Tada ... maybe not as nice-looking, but not bad-tasting at all. Good to the last drop on a muggy Summer day.

Westin Hotel

BOYCOTT List: Companies that Support Planned Parenthood

Link (via 2nd Vote )

Planned Parenthood

is the largest single provider of abortions in the United States performing over 300,000 per year. In addition to these services, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the organization’s political arm, works to implement liberal policies and affect election outcomes across the country.

Of Planned Parenthood’s $1.3 Billion in yearly revenue, over 25% comes from private donations, including corporate contributions.

2nd Vote has compiled this reference list of companies that have directly or indirectly supported Planned Parenthood so that you as a consumer can know if your dollars are funding an agenda that violates your Pro-Life values. We encourage you to reach out to these companies; let them know why you spend your dollars elsewhere. By working together and voting with our dollars, we can turn the tables on this national tragedy. This list was last updated on June 20, 2017.
The following companies and nonprofits have directly funded Planned Parenthood

AdobeAetna
Allstate
American Express
Amgen
Avon
Bank of America
Bath & Body Works
Ben & Jerry’s
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Boeing
BP
Clorox
Converse
Craigslist
Deutsche Bank
Diageo
Dockers
Energizer
Expedia

ExxonMobil
Fannie Mae
Freddie Mac
Frito Lay
Groupon
Intuit
Jiffy Lube
Johnson & Johnson
Kaiser Permanente
Kraft Heinz
La Senza
Levi Strauss
Liberty Mutual
March of Dimes
Microsoft
Mondelez International
Monsanto
Morgan Stanley

Nike
Oracle
Patagonia
PayPal
PepsiCo
Pfizer
Progressive Insurance
Prudential
Qualcomm
Starbucks
Shell
Susan G. Komen
Unilever
United Airlines
United Way
US Bank
Verizon
Wells Fargo

145.06.11.2018

********

Healthy Monday: Counting Macros for Health Goals

How Counting Macros Can Help You Reach Your Health Goals

BY TRACY MORRIS

Macronutrients, or “macros,” are the building blocks of nutrition. You probably know them better as carbohydrate, protein, and fat. Macros are the nutrients you need in large amounts, as they provide your body with the calories it needs to function. (Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals, and although they’re essential for good health, they don’t provide any calories and only trace amounts are needed.)

It can get a little confusing, because people often refer to foods as macros: saying bread and pasta are “carbs,” and talking about meat as “protein.” Those foods contain more of that specific macronutrient than the others. But macros are just the individual elements, and most foods are made up of a blend of all three—pasta actually contains a little protein, and meat definitely has fat!  Understanding macros can help you lay a solid foundation for a balanced diet.

Carbohydrate + Protein + Fat = Total Calories

Carbohydrates: Provides fuel, the energy for your body and brain. It’s found in all plant foods, like grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and also milk and yogurt.

PROTEIN: Helps to build and repair your muscles, organs, skin, blood, and different chemicals, like hormones, in your body. It’s found in large amounts in meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dairy, tofu, and eggs, and in smaller amounts in nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

FAT:  Insulates and protects your bones and organs, acts as backup fuel for energy, and helps in brain development. Healthy, unsaturated fats are found in olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish, like salmon, sardines, and mackerel. Unhealthy saturated fats are found in high-fat beef, pork, butter, full-fat dairy, and processed foods, like cookies and donuts.

How Much of Each Macro Do You Need?

The numbers aren’t set in stone, but you do need to consume a certain amount of each macro within a range. The flexibility allows you to pick a style of eating that suits your needs, food preferences, and health goals. The USDA recommends the following healthy ranges.

Carbohydrate:          45 to 65 percent

Protein:                     10 to 35 percent

Fat:                           20 to 35 percent

Not sure where your eating habits put you? The food logging feature in the Fitbit app can estimate your macronutrients when you log items from the food database! At the end of each day, you can view an estimate of daily totals as percentages, as well as in grams. Which makes aiming for a particular ratio of carbs to protein to fat to build a balanced diet a lot easier.

Balance Your Macros to Reach Your Health Goals

If you’ve ever cut back on carbs to try to lose weight, carbo loaded before a marathon, or upped your protein intake to put on muscle, you’ve been playing with your macros. Working within the recommended ranges above, there’s room to maneuver your macros for different outcomes. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, eating fewer carbs and more protein may help—you could try aiming for the lower end of the range for carbohydrate, with 45 percent carbs, 25 percent protein, and 30 percent healthy fats, for example. Or, if you’re an athlete and need to fuel up for an intense training schedule, you can shoot for a higher percentage of carbs, making the ratio look more like 55 percent carbs, 20 percent protein, and 25 percent healthy fats. Just remember, these numbers don’t reflect the space each food takes up on your plate, but rather the numbers you’ll see when you log your meals.

Again, because most foods contain a mix of carbs, protein, and fat, you can’t completely cut one macro from your diet. That would impossible, not to mention unhealthy—sorry, zero-carb followers!

Quality Trumps Quantity When It Comes to Macros

Bodybuilders in particular are known for counting their macros, relying on eating trends, like If It Fits Your Macros (IIFYM) or Flexible Dieting, which focus on manipulating macronutrients to achieve weight loss or gain muscle. But people following those diets often lose sight of what’s healthy and what’s not. Your macronutrient distribution could look the same, whether you’re eating pizza, burgers, and donuts, or minimally processed veggies stir-fries and grain bowls. Quality wins over quantity when it comes to your health, so don’t get so caught up when measuring your macros that you miss out on the foods your body really needs.

Even if you’re not signing up for a powerlifting competition or an endurance race, and you don’t want to micro-manage your macros, it’s still smart to see where your numbers fall. Getting colorful fruits, veggies, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein on your plate is the most important thing, and balancing macronutrients is just one more way to think about sticking to a healthy eating plan. So try food logging for a few days to see how your macros measure up.  

__________________________________________

This article is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.

____________________________________________

Tracy Morris is Fitbit’s Nutritionist. With a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from South Africa, she’s also an Australian Accredited Practising Dietitian, and an international member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in the US. Over the past 15 years, Tracy's lived in five different countries, inspiring people around the globe to be healthy. Currently, she happily lives in Northern California where she writes, practices Pilates, runs after her three kids, and sips pinot noir with her husband.

Link -- >> Counting Macros to Reach Your Health Goals

QVC: Fixing My 18kt Ring

Note the ring's thin shank above.  The Rose flower design made it top-heavy @ over 12 grams.  Thus, it would wiggle uncomfortably on my finger.  After 7 years, I barely used this pretty piece. What a waste.

No more! I paid a visit to two of my local Jewelers for estimates. I chose the family-owned business that I had used once before and costs lower. The goal was to increase the ring band's width to 4-5 mm for a greater grip on my right, index finger. The better fit meant I could use the ring more often. 

eBay Seller's picture

I felt slightly nervous as I had never had this done to any of my rings. 

I dropped the ring off on a Monday at 11 am. Prayed. Waited. 

Voila, here it is on Wednesday of the same week. Happy dance!

Kitty approved!

Rainbows: Worldwide Symbol Not just for Gays

Saw this whale t-shirt for sale at the same Mall of America store which tried to sell anti-Potus stuff.  I was prompted to  wonder: how many people realize that Rainbows are a visible symbol of God's promise not to flood the earth once again to destroy it; and are not meant to be a symbol of gay PRIDE ?  I bet not very many know.  Here is my chance to spread the word about God's mercy, and to dispel ignorance.

And it shall come to pass, when I [God] bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you [Noah] and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Genesis 9:14-16)

Patagonia Resists President Trump

pc: wikipedia

Breitbart: The CEO of outdoor clothing giant Patagonia is burnishing her anti-Republican bona fides again, this time saying she intends to pledge her entire company to the “resistance” of President Donald Trump...

Why, you ask?  Simply because President Trump had the audacity to severely curb Mr Obama's use of the Antiquities Act of 1908 . President O made an unprecedented grab of 265 million acres of land and water in order to put them under strict federal control. Mr Trump wants the states and the people back in charge -- a firm NO! to governmental overreach (one of the reasons I voted for Mr Trump).  Oh,  the unimaginable horror, right?!!  

Read the rest of the CEO Rose Mercario's  attack on President Trump's decision HERE

The roots of this foolish CEO's decision and the excuse for yet another Liberal meltdown via the President's executive order HERE

If you are like me and have barely heard of this so-called outdoor clothing giant, read about Patagonia HERE

Uh oh. Patagonia and Human Trafficking

List of companies to boycott -- >> BOYCOTT in Support of President Trump

Healthy Monday: Benefits of a Healthy Weight

pc: Shaklee

Making a commitment to achieve a healthy weight is one of the best health decisions you can make. Studies have shown health benefits start to occur at about a 5 percent reduction of initial body weight.¹ For someone starting at 200 pounds, that means benefits could be seen with losing just 10 pounds! So let’s look at some specific benefits achievable with weight loss as documented in research publications:

HEART: Research has shown that a 5 to 10 percent loss of body weight can result in meaningful reductions in heart disease risk. One study of overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes found this amount of weight loss could lower blood pressure by as much as 5 mm Hg (systolic and diastolic). Blood lipids also improved along with a five-point increase in HDL cholesterol levels and a drop in triglycerides of as much as 40 mg/dL.²

BLOOD SUGAR: Many measures of blood sugar control improve with weight loss. In the same study just mentioned, a measurement of long-term blood sugar control called hemoglobin A1C may drop as much as a half point (normal is under 6.5).² Insulin resistance also improves with modest weight loss in people without diabetes.²

INFLAMMATION: Fat cells produce inflammatory molecules called cytokines, and a 10 percent drop in body fat reduces levels of these substances. Losing those extra pounds has wide-ranging effects throughout your body as inflammation is associated with many chronic diseases.³

JOINTS: Every pound of weight lost reduces the stress on your knees by four times. So lose 10 pounds and take 40 pounds of stress off your knees, hips, and ankle joints.

How to get there

Weight loss in the 5-10% range is often achieved through changes to the diet, increased physical activity, and behavioral changes such as learning to self-monitor and how to manage situations that could result in poor diet & lifestyle choices. For this approach, you want a modest calorie restriction, one that will support about 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week. For many women, that means eating about 1200-1500 calories a day; for men, about 1500-1800 calories per day. The use of meal replacements (shakes or bars) has been shown to help improve weight loss outcomes.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: The basic activity recommendation is at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity most days, and resistance exercise twice a week. “Moderate intensity” for many people means brisk walking or something comparable; you should be able to talk but not sing during the activity. Check with your doctor if you have any reasons to be concerned about physical activity.

DIET: A higher protein intake plus exercise will help maintain muscle as you lose body fat; retaining muscle keeps your metabolism higher, in addition to making you fitter. Typically, some muscle is lost when people restrict calories to lose weight. However, in a recent study that combined meal replacements with aerobic and resistance exercise, the subjects actually gained muscle while losing weight.⁴

Key takeaways for you

• Keep in mind you are doing more than changing your appearance—you are building your health! And studies suggest that for as long as people maintain most of their weight loss,the benefits last too.⁵
• Think in terms of permanent change, not quick fix. Take your time, and make changes you think you will be able to stick with.
• Many people find it helpful to track their behaviors and results. Take pictures when you start. Note how your clothes fit. Weigh in about once a week. Log your “winning streaks” of days in a row you get your brisk walk or gym visit in. Your new habits will dictate who you become.

1Alamuddin N, Bakizada Z, and Wadden TA. 2016. Management of Obesity. J Clin Oncol 34(35): 4295-4305. 2Wing RR, Lang W, Wadden TA, et al. Benefits of modest weight loss in improving cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2011 Jul;34(7):1481-6. PMID: 21593294. 3Ho TP, Zhao X, Courville AB, et al. Effects of a 12-Month Moderate Weight Loss Intervention on Insulin Sensitivity and Inflammation Status in Nondiabetic Overweight and Obese Subjects. Horm Metab Res. 2014 Jun 30. PMID: 24977656. 4Westcott W, Colligan A, Puhala, K, Lannutti K, La Rosa Loud R, Vallier S. Exercise and Nutrition Effects on Body Composition and Blood Measures in Overweight Adults. JEPonline 2017;20(1):200-220. 5de las Fuentes L, Waggoner AD, Mohammed BS, et al. Effect of moderate diet-induced weight loss and weight regain on cardiovascular structure and function. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009 Dec 15;54(25):2376-81. PMID: 20082927.

___________________________________________________________

Received above emal via my Shaklee membership

Cocktail: Strawberry Lemonade Drink

Strawberries and Lemons are readily available. What a great, cold drink for warmer weather.  Try it during your next outdoor bar b que. The alcohol is completely optional (do not drink and drive).

pc: MacKenzie Childs

Ingredients

1 container of fresh strawberries

1/2 gallon of fresh lemonade

2 cups of ice

3 oz. of vodka (completely optional)

pc: MacKenzie-Childs

1. Start with a base of fresh lemonade. So make your grandma’s recipe or buy your favorite brand. The higher quality the lemonade, the tastier the final product. Same with the strawberries. The riper, the better!

2. Fill a blender halfway with fresh strawberries. Add in two cups of ice and the vodka. Fill the blender with lemonade so that these ingredients are completely covered.

3. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust ingredients as needed.

pc:  MacKenzie -Childs

pc: MacKenzie Childs

LINK:  MacKenzie Childs Strawberry Lemonade Drink

67.06.2020

**

HEAD to TOE Prayer for Husbands on Father's Day

Father's Day 2017 is almost upon us.  One of the greatest joys of my life is my husband.  He is far from perfect (same here).  I pretty much married a man just like my dad.  Whereas my dad's lack of self-control manifested itself very strongly in gambling; my hubby's weakness is in another area (it's in the top 10 list).

How anyone can deal with life and marriage's daily battles without the Lord's help is beyond me. How does one fight (invisible) enemies within and without? Each of us needs permanent, super-natural strength and  hope that is other-worldly and will not disappoint. The source of our all in all is found only in God manifest in the flesh:  our mighty-to-save, 3rd-fold cord, whose name is Jesus Christ, the risen-from-the-dead, Lord.

As close as my hubby and me have come to divorce (plus, his top-10 weakness is a very sore point in our relationship), it is off the table and not an option only because we pray daily and directly to a mighty God who has kept us from choosing that awful option. 

Here is an example on how to pray for your husband according to God's Word:

Dear Lord, I pray for __________. 

His Mind — That he will have the mind of Christ and think as the Holy Spirit would lead him and not the flesh. (1 Corinthians 2:16) 

His Eyes — That You will keep his eyes from temptation and that he will turn his eyes from sin. (Matthew 6:13; Mark 9:47)

His Ears — That he will hear Your still small voice instructing him. (1 Kings 19:12, Psalm 32:8) 

His Mouth — That his words will be pleasing to You. (Psalm 19:14) 

His Neck — That his decisions will honor You in all regards. (Psalm 25:12) 

In Jesus' name I pray ...


Praying for Your Hubby from Head to Toe

Here's another sample of a prayer for your dear husband: 

Father, give my husband a discerning heart to know Your great love for him and the great plans You have for him and our family. Plans to prosper and not to harm, to give us hope and a future.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

Father, give my husband the mind of Christ, saturate it with godly wisdom. Help him to take every thought captive that is not in obedience to Your Word, and in so doing protect him from pride and temptation. (1 Corinthians 2:16, 2 Corinthians 10:5)

Father, open the eyes of my husband’s heart to understand Your Word, so that he won’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of his mind so that he may know Your good, acceptable and perfect will for his life and our marriage. (Romans 12:2)

Father, help my husband to trust in You with all his heart, not depending on his own understanding, but acknowledging You in all his ways, so he knows what direction our family should take. 

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Father, may the favor of the Lord rest on my husband. Bless and establish the work of his hands and his heart. (Psalm 90:17)

Father, help us to live together in perfect unity by loving, honoring and respecting one another and serving each other for Your glory, honor and praise! (1 Thessalonians 5:13

... in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Pray without ceasing.
In everything give thanks.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

**

20.4.17.19