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
Katy says
I already follow you on twitter! @KatyLMA
Katy says
I am signed up for your bookstore email! 🙂
Katy says
Daily tweet! https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/309240467944513537
Katy says
I am already a personal friend of yours on facebook and I shared your post about this giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/KatyLMA/posts/103207233202762
Sandy says
Penny,
I totally feel the same way you do about having the book but wanting the ereader as well. I have been holding off getting the ereader because I try to be frugal and felt this might be a bit over the top, but I now know that I’m not the only one to have this desire 😉 I have entered via #’s 2-6 and 9 from above.
I enjoy receiving your emails and reading your comments on FB. Thank you for offering. Have a great day.
Sandy
Katy says
Daily tweet!
https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/309602732896047105
DeAnn O says
I would love to win this because both my husband and I need to shed some pounds. After a crazy, scary year last year (I almost died from Sepsis), it’s time to get healthier! This book looks great and I’d love to try it!
DeAnn O says
I’m following THM on Twitter.
DeAnn O says
I liked THM on Facebook 😉
DeAnn O says
I like You on Facebook (Penny Raine).
DeAnn O says
I am following you on Twitter.
Sandy says
I liked THM on FB.
Sandy says
I joined THM’s discussion board.
Sandy says
I subscribe to your bookstore mailing list.
Sandy says
I “liked” your FB page.
Sandy says
I subscribed to your blog.
Sandy says
We are “friends” on FB, that’s how I heard about your review of THM and this wonderful give-a-way. 🙂
Katy says
Daily tweet! 🙂
https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/309962261093564417
Katy says
Daily tweet!!! 🙂
https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/310329470127075328
Katy says
Daily tweet!!! 🙂 (Trying really hard to win!)
https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/310708333785010176
Katy says
Daily tweet!!
https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/311035631214161920
🙂
Joni Owada says
I have some friends who have this and even have a special page on FB to talk about it. They all sound like they love it and I would love to get it too!
Joni Owada says
I like you on FB
Desire' H. says
I’d love to learn a healthier eating lifestyle!
Desire' H. says
I “liked” Trim Healthy mama on Facebook
Desire' H. says
I joined THM Forums.
Desire' H. says
I am subscribed to your bookstore.
Desire' H. says
I “Liked” you on Facebook.
Desire' H. says
I am your friend on facebook.
Katy says
daily tweet! 🙂
https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/311397603168374784
Jessica Stewart says
I would love to win this for a Birthday gift for my Birthday this Saturday! I’ve read about this book for a little while now from Above Rubies but never had such monies for the book. Would love to see if they have dairy free recipes too…as I can’t have dairy. I’ve lost 55lbs over the last 2 years and am always looking for more nutrian info!
Faith Y says
I have admired this book, but can’t afford it, so would LOVE to win it!!!
Patti says
My dad is a diabetic and very unhealthy. I am now 50 years old, quite overweight, and desiring to get in good shape in a healthy manner. We are new missionaries to Argentina, and I would like to be in good health (also a good size) before we go to Argentina in a couple of years. Losing weight and being healthy would be good stewardship of the life and body the Lord has given me. Not only that, but I feel so much better when I am healthier! (I am starting to work on it anyway, but the book with its helps would be such an encouragment.)
Faith Y says
I liked THM on FB!
Faith Y says
I’m subscribed to your blog!
Faith Y says
I liked you on FB!
Lori Duncan says
Have been wanting to read this book!! As a busy mom of 7 I have been learning that healthier living is so good for me. Really would enjoy reading this book!!
Val says
I’d love to get this book because, ever since I discovered I have gallbladder problems, I’ve been trying to improve my diet in order to avoid having my gallbladder removed. Serene and Pearl’s book sounds like it would be a wonderful resource for helping me to enjoy healthy eating.
Lori Duncan says
I am a subscriber to your bookstore mailing list
LOVE LOVE LOVE your books!!
Heidi says
I befriended trim healthy mama on Facebook.
Heidi says
I befriended trim and healthy mama on twitter.
Heidi says
I befriended you on twitter.
Heidi says
I tweeted about this giveaway on twitter.
Heidi says
I liked your penny raine facebook page and posted about the giveaway.
Katy says
Daily tweet!!
https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/311765877840302080
Karen L says
I would love to get a copy of this book.
Thanks!
Karen L says
I am on your mailing list.
Katy says
Daily tweet!
https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/312124063306878976
Katy says
Daily tweet! https://twitter.com/KatyLMA/status/312481179301453824
Donna K says
I am wanting to lose weight.