Happy & Healthy with Jen Blog

When you're constantly doing, rushing from one thing to the next & always on the go, you're putting yourself at risk for burnout. You're likely overstressed, under-rested & potentially even spiritually malnourished!Here's something I want you to really think about...BUSYNESS ISN'T BIBLICAL!The Bible values rest, stillness & peaceful living. Even Jesus intentionally withdrew from the hustle & bustle to spend time in prayer, and He encouraged His disciples to do the same.In Mark 6:30-32, the disciples had just returned from their ministry tour & were excitedly telling Jesus everything they had done and taught. There were so many people coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat!

Spiritual Health is a pillar I added to my original Pillars of Health, and I truly believe it's one of the most important!It came from my own walk with God & finally understanding that He needs to be at the center of EVERYTHING we do, including our health journey.Bringing God into your health journey means you no longer have to do it alone. You don't have to rely solely on your own strength, discipline or motivation to make the changes needed to improve your health.When you learn to lean on HIS strength, seek HIS wisdom & invite HIM into your daily decisions, it is a straight-up GAME CHANGER!Think about it. Eating well, exercising consistently, getting enough sleep, managing stress, setting healthy boundaries & changing habits that no longer serve you can be HARD WORK. There are days when you're tired, discouraged or simply don't feel like doing what you know you need to do.

I want to share a little reminder and some encouragement with you today. Courage doesn't wait for fear to leave. It moves anyway!My cousin was in town last week & wanted to go rock climbing. Now, I'd only ever climbed one wall, one time, over 20 years ago!The way UP isn't a problem for me. It's the way DOWN that scares me! I'm not afraid of heights, I'm afraid of falling.I didn't want to miss out on spending time with him, so I immediately said I was down to go. And you know what? It was SO FUN!! I only had one moment when I was a little scared, but the rest of the experience was absolutely amazing!I was so proud of myself! I even ended up doing a level 2 climb on the tallest wall available & MADE IT TO THE TOP!

Can What You Eat Really Affect Your Hormones & Menstrual Cycle? My Personal Experience With PCOS?For more than a decade, my menstrual cycle was like clockwork. Every 26–28 days, I knew exactly when my period would arrive. So when my period was suddenly 12 DAYS LATE, I knew something was different. More importantly, I knew what had changed in the weeks leading up to it!Let me take you back to when I was 26 years old.After coming off the birth control pill, I didn't have a period for TWO YEARS! I was diagnosed with PCOS, told I was infertile & that I'd never be able to have children. Five different doctors told me there was nothing I could do and that this was simply a lifelong condition I had to live with.

Low-Tox Living: Why Your Everyday Environment Matters for Your HealthWhat if improving your health isn't just about what you're eating, how you're exercising or how much sleep you're getting?What if some of the products you're using EVERY SINGLE DAY could also be influencing your hormones, thyroid function & overall well-being?This is something I wish I'd understood years ago.Because despite making significant improvements to my nutrition, exercise routine, stress management & lifestyle, there was still one piece of my health puzzle I hadn't fully addressed...My everyday exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.This is why I'm so passionate about LOW-TOX LIVING!

Do not let this photo deter you from making these muffins...They are SO GOOD! These are literally my last two! I ate the rest of them and wanted to be sure I grabbed a photo so I could get this recipe out to you.The combination of oat and almond flours with the Greek yogurt gives these a really wonderful soft, moist texture. Not only does the Greek yogurt add moisture, it also gives these a bit of protein as well. Winning!

I realize that we are at the start of summer, not the start of fall, so coming out with a pumpkin recipe may seem like weird timing.However, when a pumpkin craving hits, you just have to roll with it!I don't know why, but a couple days ago I was hit with a craving of some pumpkin bread that I had about 14 years ago, when I made the change to more of a low-carb Paleo type of lifestyle. At the time, I wasn't as bothered to use honey or maple syrup in baking, as most Paleo recipes call for. However, now that I know that, although natural, those two things have the same effect on blood sugar as normal sugar, I tend to stay away from them. 

Brownies are my all time favorite dessert. Well, chewy, fudgey, rich, brownies. Not the dry, cake-like ones!I like the brownies that are only just cooked, so the middle is gooey.When I changed my diet into a low-carb, Paleo type of diet, I tried several types of brownies and they never really hit the mark for me. I originally came up with a Nutella-esque brownie by using hazelnut butter. While I still enjoy those, I decided to change it up a little and use peanut butter and add some cinnamon - the results is divine!

I chose to use almond butter in this recipe instead of peanut butter as I know many people are allergic to peanuts. You can, however, use peanut butter if you prefer. The cookies are delicious either way...

For those who love baking but are committed to a low-carb, Paleo diet for health reasons, finding ways to enjoy sweet treats without compromising health goals is key. Utilizing ingredients like coconut flour and almond flour not only offers a healthier alternative but also provides the body with necessary fiber. This fiber plays a crucial role in managing hormone health by aiding in the elimination of excess estrogen, which is vital for those dealing with conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and PCOS...