Monday, September 10, 2012

B-12 Deficiency and Older People

Studies show that elderly people with weak intake of vitamin B-12 have significant amount of neurological damage. In one study of 2,300 people, of age seventy two or greater, roughly 7 percent had deficient levels of this crucial vitamin. When one is lacking in this vitamin, there is less sensitivity to touch and nerve impulses traverse much slower. The recommendation is to take 2.4 micrograms in fortified food or in multivitamin, which are better absorbed than from natural foods.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Praise to God for my new identity in Christ

Primarily my identity is not in the fact that I am a diligent home educator, devoted pastor’s wife, passionate registered dietitian, or a physically fit personal trainer but that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. Being spiritually dead in my sins, without God and without hope in this world, God infused in me new life when I repented and believed on Christ. Out of the richest of His mercy, God completely forgave me and gave me the gift of the Holy Spirit to abide in me. When I was a poor depressed soul, the Father who is all loving and sovereign chose to make me His child and started to radically transform me into the image of His Son and enabling me to call Him, “Abba Father.” I have new confidence to enter His majestic throne because of His shed blood on the cross. His resurrection power in me enables me to live as a citizen of the Kingdom not a citizen of this world. What a debtor I am! May I praise this gracious and awesome God since everything beautiful I have comes from Him alone!

Monday, July 4, 2011

Pfun Run 2011

Early this year I again decided that my kids and I should run the 2011 Pfun Run. I don't think some of my children are getting enough cardio training with baseball and basketball- so I decided to go for it. To my surprise they did not complain much. We ran four times a week three miles. One of those days we did interval training. In the middle of the training I decided to enter the race. I never won any race during my high school years but a thought entered my mind that not many women my age regularly run. On the day of the race, thanksgiving and joy entered my heart- that God has allowed me time to exercise and to be in shape. To my surprise, I won- second place and my oldest and youngest son won second and first place. I was very proud of them. May we glorify God with healthy bodies.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Gardening- benefits

Have you ever thought about getting started in gardening? In the midst of my busy schedule, I make time to garden. Food straight from the garden is packed with nutrients and flavor. Gardening is a time of relaxation for me, but more than that- there are many benefits: non- pesticide/organic foods, fresh and nutritious- the longer food sits on the shelf and thousands of miles most foods have traveled depletes much nutrients. It tastes far better. My boys will not consume many vegetables but from the garden they will eat peppers and bell peppers and other vegetables- because it tastes far better. It is a hobby that is worthwhile developing. This year I gave each of my boys a plot to call their own and this is now part of their chores. Through gardening, they are learning patience, a skill they can use for the rest of their lives. We have started out small and gradually our gardening is getting bigger. They are having success growing squash, pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, okra and herbs.

Pfun Run

Few weeks ago my kids ran the Pfun Run. I did not intensely train my kids but we just ran regularly together 4 times a week for almost 6 months. We made it home school p.e. It was difficult training the kids for they did not enjoy the running as much as I did. I have wondered if I should encourage them to run regularly when they are in their teen years instead of during grammar years. Anyway the race is over and I was very proud of their accomplishments. My youngest, Truett- age 8 placed first in the 5k for 9 and under division with the time of around 25minutes 30 seconds. Caleb finished 6th place with time of 24:40 and Grant- my 10 year old with the time of little over 25 minutes under the division of 10- 14 years of age. I have always enjoyed running for I get the most amount of cardio exercise in the shortest amount of time. I hope they will grow up to enjoy it as much as I do.

Monday, February 1, 2010

How i am Raising Fit Kids

I had this up on my Facebook but posting it here with some modifications.

I don't mean to boast- but I realize that my children are very fit and athletic. They all run faster than me and Caleb can even stand and do squats on a stability ball. Caleb learned to bike before age 4- I never taught him how and the other two learned how to bike before age 4 1/2. I knew that my children were fairly athletic, but not how much-until I put them in baseball last year- first organized sports they have been in. The coach immediately put Caleb, my 11y as a short stop and a pitcher. Caleb ended up going to the All star team One and pitched one of his best- winning 11 to 1. Grant advanced well in batting- he now is able to hit almost every ball and known as one of the faster runner. Truett 7y excelled also- his team did not do well and did not enter the championship tournament, but Truett got invited to be part of a team that won the championship. He ended up with 2 baseball uniforms at the end. Caleb often goes to to recreation center and plays with other boys on basket ball teams, but he is able to beat many of them.
I was really surprised how well they did- because I myself am not a superb athlete, never was and never cared for my children to be one. I just wanted to develop an lifestyle of moving / loving sports and exercise. There are somethings I did to promote that. I believe that they are athletic not only because they are gifted but they have had plenty of opportunities to move while growing up. Every spare moment Caleb and Truett are involved in active play. Grant loves to also but not as much as his brothers. Caleb testifies that he would not have his athletic ability if not for what I did for him. I give God thanks for the wisdom He has given me.

1. I tried to make room for the kids to do active play. I keep little furniture in our living room and children's retreat. In Texas, because of the heat it is impossible to go outside and play at times. I know boys have need to play and be active all the time as I reflect on how my brother Sam grew up. I had little living room furniture and hung no pictures on the wall. I let them play ball, basketball, ride scooter, toy bike, rollerskate inside the house (their uncle provided the hard floors). I have room for them to play indoor baseball, and wrestling. I don't mind the noise- I know moving is good for them. Most kids today grow up sedentary and putting themselves at risk for all kinds of diseases.

2. I modeled a love for exercise before my children. During our family vacations, we are always going on a hike- long ones. We recently went on 6 mile hike at Stone Mountain Georgia twice and for my anniversary, 7 1/2 mile hike. Exercising is my relaxation time.

3. I do not over protect the children. I know most parents are afraid to let their children play outside on their own- I can not always be their for them- I have to trust God to take care of them. When Caleb hit 9/10 - I let him go outside play with neighborhood kids- basketball, football, biking. I also let Caleb and his brothers go to the creek by themselves and catch fish and do nature study on their own. They have to walk a very steep hill when coming back home.

4. Started a garden at the community garden. It is the children's plot- so I pay them a little for their harvest. When I told them I have to charge them $.50 for driving them there, Grant wanted to start biking there which is 2 1/2 miles away. So we are doing that now. They also have their own plots in our backyard. I want to give them a very practical hobby that they can carry with them for a life time.

5. We have a trampoline, dome climber in our backyard (again provided by generous Uncle).

6. Currently, the boys run 2 1/2 - 3 miles a day with me 4 days a week. they all run faster than me now.

7. We have a limit on TV and videos - no more than 1 hr on the weekends. TV watching, video games is highly correlated with obesity and developing sedentary lifestyle in children.


I don't know what God will do with their athletic skill- but I pray God may be glorified through their gifts. I heard of one man going down to the poor and setting up sports clinic for the kids and then building relationship and sharing God's Word with them as well. Maybe something like this? I don't know. I place them in His hands.

Not all children can be athletic, but can be fit and healthy with help from mom and dad!

Be Lean and Be Energized at PRC

-- thank you to those who showed up for my weight loss/ health improvement seminar. We did not have time for questions and answers so I am considering to have a follow up seminar to better apply what we have talked about and to answer questions. Thank you to my moms' fitness class for suggesting handing out outline- was helpful and helping me out with publicity. I wrote this to the PRC director:


"Thank you LeAnn for letting me speak at PRC. It went very well. 16
showed and first five got their free book. Here are some of the
comments on the evaluation sheet I had them fill out........'wonderful,
good, very good, excellent--Great Job!, good review..., Great,
Excellent info.., super fantastic, very good, good, excellent', and then
the last 3 rated it a 10 ( on a scale of 1 to 10) but no comment"

To those friends who did not make it to the seminar, I hope you can come out to the next one. My former client came and though she does not need to lose weight, told me she benefitted much and gave it a 10 rating. Next time I will have it on a Saturday afternoon, stretch it out to 2 1/2 hr session with a stretch break in between. My heart is to especially help God's people. Should not Lordship of Christ extend into every area of our lives and we ought to glorify God in every aspect of our lives. I hope I can see more home educators there- because my talk is geared more toward you guys than anyone else.