Our family spent most of 2012 sick. Waiting to be seen at the doctor’s office. Hoping that THIS was the last illness we would see for the year. From June through December, we had a long list of illnesses and accidents: Roseola, a broken collarbone, Strep Throat, Bronchitis, Walking Pneumonia, Influenza-A, and a hodgepodge of sniffles, sneezes, and snotty noses.
Oh, and how can I forget the weeks when the doctor feared I had cancer? Thank the Lord her fears were ill-conceived! Then, I was diagnosed with a multinodular goiter, had countless tests, and saw God move to change my diagnosis to Subacute Granulomatous Thyroiditis and Hashimoto’s Disease.
I feel like the last year of our lives should be tracked in a medical journal… and I am sick and tired of my family being sick and tired.
Our immune systems are completely shot but I refuse to give up. On the contrary. I have spent a lot of time in prayer and research. I am willing to try ANYTHING to get our family back on the path to good health. From this passion, God pressed this experiment into my head and I cannot wait to see what He does.
Getting my family’s health back
The Healthy Family Project will include 12 months of testing products and theories. Healthy eating and… gasp… exercise. Water-gulping, essential oil-wearing, and vitamin-swallowing.
Each month, I will post a challenge that our family is dedicated to trying in an effort to see our wellness improve. I will be posting book and product reviews (both sponsored and not) and detailing everything I try to give you a better idea of what works and what doesn’t. I hope to divide the myths from the facts and end the year a lot healthier than when we started.
Also, I have signed up as a distributor for Young Living Essential Oils. I plan to tell you a little about what I am wearing every month and any benefits I am seeing as a result of these essential oils.
Fit Momma File
Since my goal for the year is to be a more disciplined person (and I have significant weight to lose), once a month I will also be posting the Fit Momma File, which is a division of the Healthy Family Project. These posts will be a report of any weight loss (or gain) I have seen and how I accomplished that… or didn’t. I will also be taking you on the journey as I visit the doctor each month to track my Subacute Granulomatous Thyroiditis, which should be resolved in some way around March or April… I pray… when I can then begin treatment for the Hashimoto’s.
Well-rounded pursuit of health
Our family is not only dedicated to building our immune systems but also to improving our health in relationships, spiritual perspective, finances, and more. The Healthy Family Project will present a very comprehensive look at how we can better our lives in every way.
Debt makes stress. Stress brings illness. When we make our final debt payment around May, expect a shout and a very, personal series about our financial struggle over the last ten years.
Preview the theme for each month
If your eyes have rolled back and you are mumbling about “another blogger changing to a fitness blog,” take a deep breath. Posts for the Healthy Family Project will only appear a couple of times each month. My regular topics for homeschooling, frugal living, and more will all still be here.
Are you wondering about the topics I have in mind for the year? Take a look at this list with the understanding that I reserve the right to change any theme without notice. After all, this blog is a reflection of our lives and I am unsure what our future holds.
- January ~ Balanced nutrition & portion control
- February ~ Relationship wellness
- March ~ Spring cleaning
- April ~ Autism awareness & therapy ideas
- May ~ Physical family fitness
- June ~ Quitting sugar
- July ~ Food preparation & storage
- August ~ Eye health & annual check-ups
- September ~ Alternative solutions & remedies
- October ~ Women’s health awareness & stress
- November ~ TBD
- December ~ TBD
If you have a topic to suggest or an idea for me to try, I would love to know. Just leave me a comment.
And, by the way, I have created a board on Pinterest for all the fun finds I locate related to family health. Come and follow the Healthy Family Project board.
Will you be participating in the Healthy Family Project?
I’m in! I can’t wait for April.
I know a lot of families will be looking forward to those Autism resources. I pray I can do the topic well.
I am SO excited for the Healthy Family Challenge!! We’ve had so much sickness this year and we are ready for healing & restoration!! Also, good ideas and tips about a healthy lifestyle! 🙂
Wonderful, Nicki! So glad to have you. 🙂
Hi Penny,
What an exciting commitment for 2013! We, too, are recommiting to a year of increasing health and vitality.
I am excited to hear more about your essential oils and look forward to those posts, in particular.
I’m going to step out on a limb here and offer some unrequested advice :). My family is impacted by ADHD, Autism and Celiac Disease and in 2011, God made it very clear: “I don’t like the way you eat!” After much prayer and research, here is our story and the step by step process we followed to turn our kitchen upside down: http://lifeasarinnagade.blogspot.com/p/so-what-do-you-eat-anyway.html.
I pray that your family is strengthened and encouraged by your commitment to the healthy family project!
Thank you, Cindy. I think you will appreciate the post tomorrow from the Fit Momma File. I am putting a huge emphasis on nutrition. 🙂
Hey! Hopping over from the Health Habits link-up. June looks like a fantastic topic. Cutting sugar is a great key to regaining health – I’m quite passionate about that!
Giving up sugar is going to be tough since I am addicted. Notice that I had it AFTER Valentine’s Day. That was planned. 😉
Doing it in June is a good idea. It’s kind of the start of fruit season with strawberries, blueberries, and such. I’m hoping to utilize fruit to overcome my sugar addiction. We can do it! 🙂
And watermelon!!! Yum. Now I am ready for summer. LOL
I feel for you, I really do, and I admire you greatly. What a wonderful project to undertake, and I will definitely want to follow your progress. I found out a year ago that I have Hashimoto’s. Thanks for sharing and I’ll pray that 2013 brings renewed health with a powerful testimony.
Thank you, Kathy. This is definitely an adventure and I am nervous… excited… all at once.
Cut out the white stuff. Not only sugar but white rice, potatoes, pasta, bread, hips, etc… I’m down 15 and feel so much better. More energy and heartburn is gone.
Thanks for the suggestion, Rona. We are primarily a whole wheat and brown rice family already but I am sure we have room for improvement. 🙂
I’m in! My family has spent a lot of time sick this year too. I’m ready to see us all healthier (and lighter would be awesome too). I look forward to following along.
Isn’t it miserable being sick all the time? ugh. I am determined to finish this year stronger (and skinnier) than I started it. 🙂
I’m with you! 🙂
With such focus and determination, plus the support of others on their journey, 2013 will prove to be a healthy habit year for many of us! Joining arms with you and celebrating the start of a great year.
I LOVE YOU…ha. I just found your page and am soooooo happy I did. You and I have had a similiar 2012. Sick kids EVERYWHERE!!!! I do have a question….Where will your healthly habit things be posted??? Here, facebook or pinterest? Thanks
LOL. Thank you! I will be posting everything here on the blog although I am keeping up with ideas on Pinterest too. http://pinterest.com/MeetPenny