Oh my goodness where do I even start? Well how about some personal background and testimony? Let me see I was born a California girl, yep, beaches, bikinis, tans, and vanity. Never ever thought I looked as good as I needed to, always thought I was chubby even though I wasn’t. Is a size 5 chubby? Of course not, but I thought so, not perfect enough. Had a serious self absorbed problem. Lots of diets, Lots of gimmicks, lots of worry. Then I got into some serious exercise. Met hubby in a gym, yep the healthy version of a nightclub in the 80’s. Seriously, we met in a gym. We actually were both involved in competitive bodybuilding. Yes, yes it is true, and no I will not post pictures. Those of you who know me as a TN girl can stop laughing now . Anyway, then my career took off and I was very successful, then I had a knee injury and surgery, then after 3 years of marriage I we were expecting our first child. Somewhere in between all that I got born again and gave up the self absorbed vanity thing. Then the Lord blessed us with 7 more children and all 8 of them I would not trade for anything in the world. All that to say I have done the diet thing, I have done the over achieving athlete thing, I have done the vanity thing, I have done the workaholic thing, I have done the live for my children at the cost of my own health thing, I have done every extreme there is. And I had had enough heartbreaks over the years to do the depression thing if it were not for the love of Christ. And somewhere along the way I really did get chubby. Very chubby. My biggest problem over the years is the all or nothing thing. Either I do it big or I wait until I can. But we cannot do that with our health. We are only given one body and has to last. And it is up to us how we treat it. So. 2 years ago when one of my daughters who had been taking care of an elderly neighbor with serious health problems looked at me very seriously and said “mom, please don’t ever let yourself get unhealthy” I knew it was time for a change. And not one of my typical, overthrow the government changes but just a gradual, sensible change. So even though I had an extensive history with studying nutrition and fitness, I went back to square one. You can read more at my fitness blog here. I started eating more, yes more, because when I was busy or bothered I did not eat. I started journaling my eating and exercise everyday, and I started specifically praying that the Lord would show me what I needed to change. He did.
In the last 2 years I have lost over 60 pounds and seriously increased my endurance and overall fitness. I have learned lots of new things, and many of them are included in this book, even though we were not comparing notes. Don’t you just love when the Lord shows you something and you know that you know it is Him so you follow, but then He shows you why? Well I love when He does that. And this book contains lots of the why’s.
Let me say that I know both of the authors personally, and they are beautiful, absolutely beautiful. But not skinny beautiful, they are trim yes, but they are healthy beautiful. Skinny is not healthy looking and many of todays fad diets will get you skinny but not healthy. These girls have a beautiful mom and good genetics, but that will only take us so far, we HAVE to care for our bodies to be healthy looking.
So, now you know why I liked the book, lets tell you a bit about it. It is more of an encyclopedia than it is a mere book. It is a HUGE book and worth the price. The table of contents is impressive enough, and yes in the Kindle version it is clickable!! That is a very big plus in my busy world. In fact as much as I like print books, I will also buy the Kindle version of a favorite if I plan to use it for reference simply for the clickable table of contents and index. This book also has TWO indexes! One for recipes. The recipe index is also clickable in the Kindle version. Does it get any better than that?
Trim Healthy Mama covers everything from forwards by the Authors’ husbands to what the bible says about fitness, to personal testimonies, to nutrition and food combining, to alternatives to sugary drinks, to health problems and thinks like insulin and glycemic levels to hormones and even marital intimacy. They cover exercise and skin care, vegetables and grains, proteins and gluten free meals. If you have ever had a “Mama care need” thought they have probably covered it. And covered it in detail.
The recipes are mostly ways to make yummy meals that work. My personal favorite was eggplant lasagna. I may not follow it exactly but the shear thought of using eggplant instead of pasta made me really happy, I love eggplant! I can confidently say that whatever you love is probably in there too. They do use some strange ingredients, have to look into that konjac root stuff, but not all the recipes call for unusual items. I am not a big sugar substitute person so you will have to study that one yourself, but overall things looked good and mostly doable. I did learn a LOT! And I am 50 years old so this is not new stuff yet I still learned a LOT! We were invited to a local brunch teaching some of this plan and my daughters blessed me when they described it as, “you know mom, the basics like you have always taught us”. Well yes this covers the basics but more of the whys to go along with it. Soooooo…….. who wants one???????????????
They are available on Amazon, see the pic above, or at their website here. http://www.trimhealthymama.com/ or of course you can win one.
This contest is open for entries until midnight Sunday March 17th. US mailing addresses only please
Here is how you can win, start by leaving a comment saying why you want this.
Please list each entry in a separate comment.
You will be able to gain extra entries by doing the following, and leaving a comment saying you did
- follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrimHealthyMama
- like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrimHealthyMama
- go to the Website: http://www.trimhealthymama.com/ and join the forum discussion
- you can get an extra entry if you subscribe to my bookstore mailing list on the front page
- an extra entry if you “like” my facebook page here
- you can get an extra entry if you subscribe in a reader to my blog Subscribe in a reader
- you can get an extra entry if you follow me on twitter
- and an extra entry DAILY if you tweet about this daily
- you can get an extra entry if you befriend me on my personal facebook and post about this
- you can get an extra entry if you post about this on your blog and give a link https://pennyraine.com/blog
~ disclaimer, I am a pro blogger, my opinions are my own, I was supplied with a free product to review and yes if you click on my links I do benefit but so will you
Michelle says
I have this book on my wishlist. I have read a ton of health and nutrition books but this one seems to have it all and in one location! Thanks for the chance to win!
Jane M says
I would love to read this book! I wish the price was a little better, but I suppose the book is big.
Jane M says
I followed on twitter. @mennonitemomma
Jane M says
I liked them on facebook! 😀
Jane M says
I liked Penny Raine on FB! 😛
Jane M says
I followed Penny Raine on twitter!
Christy S. Lube says
We have been working on a journey to better health for a little over a year. I have hit a plateau that I can’t seem to shake, and this book has been on my wish list since it released. We have just had some budgetary changes, however, and I just can’t swing it right now. It would be a huge blessing to win a copy 🙂
Christy S. Lube says
I am following THM on Twitter 🙂 (@MotherDiva)
Christy S. Lube says
I already follow you on Twitter 😀 (@MotherDiva)
Christy S. Lube says
I already like THM on FB.
Christy S. Lube says
I have been on your bookstore mailing list for a long time, love it! 🙂
Christy S. Lube says
I also already like you on FB.
Christy S. Lube says
I subscribe to your blog in my Google reader 🙂
Christy S. Lube says
I tweeted about the giveaway.
https://twitter.com/MotherDiva/status/308754894586789888
Penney Douglas says
I want this because I need this! I’m 49, and I’ve been struggling for the last few years with weight gain and a big belly that won’t go away and balance problems like vertigo. I think some of it may stem from my thyroid, but I’m sure that the information in this book would help me a lot!
Penney Douglas says
I tweeted this giveaway.
Chelsey Hall says
Let’s just say 8 kids and an undisclosed amount of lbs later…. I need this book! 🙂
Chelsey Hall says
I am following Trim Healthy Mama on Twitter
Chelsey Hall says
I am subscribed in reader! 🙂
Chelsey Hall says
I follow you on Twitter!
Tamara says
I’d like to have this book in my library as I have six daughters and I want them to have the right nutritional information earlier rather than later as opposed to what I had.
Diana says
I like you on fb!
Diana says
I would love to win this. I am 50, very out of shape, have a 12 year old I’d like to see grow up and am helping to raise my two little granddaughters.
Diana says
I already subscribe to you bookstore.
Tamara says
I follow TrimHealthyMama on Twitter!
Tamara says
I like TrimHealthyMama on FB!
Tamara says
Joined the discussion forum!
Tamara says
Subscribed to bookstore mailing list!
Tamara says
I like your FB page!
Tamara says
Subscribe to your blog with Google Reader!
Tamara says
I follow you on Twitter!
Tamara says
I’m friends with you on your personal FB page! (And, am sharing. 😉 )
Tammy says
I “like” THM on FB!
Tammy says
Joined the forum!
Tammy says
I’m on your mailing list!
Tammy says
Liked your FB page!
Tammy says
Subscribed to your blog!
Tammy says
Friended you on your personal FB!
Tammy says
Forgot to tell you why I want this book. I’ve carried eight sweet babies in this body, and never seemed able to recover well between each pregnancy. The excess weight I’m carrying today is affecting my overall health, and I know it is time for change. I’m asking the Lord if this book has the info I need to start making changes so I can be a healthy trim mama for my family. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway, Penny!
Rebecca B. says
I am VERY interested in this book! I have recently lost several pounds and really want to learn how to prevent them returning! I want to provide a good example to both of my kids (a girl and a boy) and healthy meals to my family!!!
Courtney says
I have been wanting this book for a long time and would love, LOVE, LOVE to win it! I have and really enjoy Serene’s earlier book about health and it’s outstanding. This one looks amazing and thorough.
Courtney says
I liked the FB page. 😉
Courtney says
I joined the forum discussion. 😉
Courtney says
I joined the bookstore email list.
Courtney says
I liked you on FB. 🙂
Courtney says
I follow them on Twitter.
Courtney says
I follow you on Twitter. 😀
Katy says
I have really wanted this book…but it’s a bit pricey so I haven’t been able to get it yet. I have been on a journey of health to glorify God and not live sinfully with my eating and such. I have lost 62 pounds so far and have only 11 pounds to go until I reach my first goal weight (weighing what I did when I graduated high school). I think this book would be a wonderful read and help me as I continue on my journey!!! :o)
Katy says
I like Trim Healthy Mama on facebook! Katy A.
Katy says
I already like/follow you on facebook! Katy A. 🙂