Several months ago, a reader named Donna sent me the following request: “I’d love to hear your summary or take away of how not to diet but lose weight."

So on this week's episode, I'm discussing Dr. Michael Greger's book, How Not to Diet, and the amazing effects implementing his suggestions have had on my health, weight, and energy levels.

Psalm 139:16 - "Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."

How Not to Diet - by Michael Greger: "The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss"

How Not to Die - by Michael Greger: "Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease"

How Not to Age - by Michael Greger: "The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older"

nutritionfacts.org - Michael Greger's informative website (excellent!)

Daily Dozen App - use to track progress on your smart phone (on 12 foods &/or 21 tweaks)

Daily Dozen free printable chart - I keep this one posted on my refrigerator as a reminder

Episode 52: Helping Your Husband Make Better Food Choices

Episode 70: Unwrapping Cancer for Christmas

Garlicky Lentil Soup Recipe - a Flanders' family favorite

Winkie’s Tonic - a natural antibiotic with an apple cider vinegar base

Bigelow Matcha Green with Turmeric - my favorite green tea (I drink 3 cups daily)

M is for Mama - my friend Abbie's website (w/links to her books & podcast) - hope you'll check them out!

- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies - (weekly themed link lists of free resources)

- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content

- Shop my books: Flanders Family Store

- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, free printables)

- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so that’s what I’d like to discuss on the podcast this week. Even if giving birth to you is all your mother ever did, she would still be worthy of your gratitude and respect. But for most of our moms, the end of labor and delivery was when the real work began.

Ephesians 6:2-3 - "Honor your father and your mother --which is the first commandment with a promise--that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

Proverbs 31:28-29 - “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her saying, ‘Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.’”

Leviticus 19:3 - “Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.”

Proverbs 23:22 - “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”

Matthew 15:4 - “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’”

1 Corinthians 12:17- 18 - “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? [Or] If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.”

EP 2: Dealing with Difficult In-Laws - the wonderful relationship we enjoy today makes me glad I didn't give up

BBC Documentary with Miriam Margolyes - scroll halfway down this post to view our 12-minute segment

A Christian Home - the hymn I sang at the end of this episode

- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies - (weekly themed link lists of free resources)

- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content

- Shop my books: Flanders Family Store

- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, free printables)

- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)

Much of the material from this week's podcast comes from a blog post I wrote on cultivating contentment over a decade ago, but the same strategy still works today. If you've ever found yourself fixating on your problems, stewing about things over which you have no control, or struggling to "rejoice in all circumstances," this episode is for you!

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.....”

Philippians 4:11-12 – “... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances....”

2 Corinthians 12:10 - “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships....”

Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have....”

Proverbs 19:23 – “The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

Proverbs 14:30 – “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

Proverbs 15:15 – “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

Ecclesiastes 6:9 - “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have....”

Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied....”

Luke 12:19 – “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy....’"

EP 10 – We Find What We Look For

EP 19 - Amazing Stories of God's Provision

EP 51 – Waiting in a Way that Honors God

EP 61 – How to Handle Deep Regrets

EP 81 – When You’re Barely Treading Water

Free Printable - Empty Nest List

Free Printable - Do It Now List

- Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies - (weekly themed link lists of free resources)

- Instagram: follow @flanders_family for more great content

- Shop my books: Flanders Family Store

- Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life (parenting tips, homeschool help, free printables)

- Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home (encouragement in your roles as wife, mother, believer)