NatalieMcLarty getfitstayfitforlife

2011-03-23T07:58:00.001-07:00

As I travel on this road called life, I am constantly writing new chapters along the way and making memories that I will never forget. These chapters and memories are never the same, nor are they totally different. They consist of the amazing experiences that have made me the person I am today. Being Mrs. Texas has been one of those experiences. It is and always will be very special to me. As I look back on this past year, I have to start with the night the crown was placed on my head. Having my name called as Contestants choice, Mrs. Congeniality, and the new Mrs. Texas International was one of the most amazing moments I have ever experienced
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away. Well, this was definitely one of those moments. I knew at that moment that I had been given a gift and I wasn’t going to take it for granted. I was going to do everything and anything I could to use the crown as a megaphone in order to be a positive role model to inspire others and to spread the message of Get fit, Stay fit for life to help people get healthy and stay healthy for life. I first need to recognize the glory of God and his plan for my life. “For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This scripture I have held close to my heart for some time. God has shown me his word to be true and in his time.
Everyone needs help and support to be successful. My husband and 4 children have been that support. My husband and my boys have been my biggest fans. My daughter Saige has shared this year with me and I will always be grateful for this time. I also want to thank the rest of my family for always being there for me. In order to have the year of your life, you have to be surrounded by fabulous people. Kristin Koether you deserve to be director of the year every year in my book.(Thanks for making my year one that I will never forget.) I also want to thank all my sponsors, trainers, and mentors for all they did for me this year. Last but not least I want to thank my sister queens. Sydney I have enjoyed this year with you and your mom so much. You are the little sister I never had. You are going to do amazing things in your life and I can’t wait to watch. Ashley you are such an example of inner and outer beauty. You have already accomplished so much in your life but I am sure you are just beginning. Bonnie I am so glad you were the one who placed the crown on my head. You have been such an inspiration to me and have given me so much guidance and helped make my year great.
To all the contestants here tonight dare to dream big and never stop dreaming no matter what. You have all made huge contributions to your communities and have been a great example to so many. To the young lady I get the privilege of placing the crown on, make your reign spectacular. Remember the gift you are being given and don’t ever take it for granted. You will never forget this year. So as I take my final walk across the stage tonight I will remember this experience and all that it has taught me. I hope I made you proud. I am honored to have been your Mrs. Texas International 2010.

2011-02-22T09:54:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to talk about the Red Dress style show and luncheon that I helped host in my hometown of Victoria, Tx. We had scheduled to have it on Feb.4th, 2011 National Go Red day.The weather ended up forcing us to move it to Feb. 18th, 2011. At first we were worried about moving the date but I am so glad it was moved because it gave us extra time to get ready and the weather ended up being perfect. I had the best time and really enjoyed the day. Everyone who came really seemed to enjoy the event and we had a wonderful turn out. I was so inspired by the whole day. It is one of those days I will never forget.I hope to continue to spread the message of living a healthy lifestyle to my community and all across Texas.

Febuary=heart month

2011-02-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

If you're a women, you may not believe that you're as vulnerable to a heart attack as men--but you are. Women account for nearly half of all heart attack deaths. HEART DISEASE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS FOR WOMEN: Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest.
Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body,including arms,back,neck,jaw or stomach.
Other symptoms, such as shortness of breath,breaking out in a cold sweat,nausea or light-headiness.

If you feel heart attack symptoms,do not delay. Minutes matter!!

2011-01-03T09:09:00.000-08:00

Well 2011 is here and now is the time to start making your goals a reality. If you have getting healthy in 2011 as one of your goals check out this great website to help you get started. 2011 is the year to set your goals high and get in best shape of your life. Let's get healthy together.

Natalie

http://www.fromcouchto5k.com/

2010-12-27T09:57:00.001-08:00

Getting ready for the holiday season was great this year. I love Christmas because it is a time to reflect on the year and to spend quality time with the ones you love. I spent November resting and getting ready for the holiday season to begin. I started December off with a bang and did several appearances in my hometown of Victoria. The first event I did was the Victoria Christmas parade.I got to ride in the back of a Cadillac convertible and it was beautiful. Amy Brzozwski Miss Victoria International 2011 rode with me and we had so much.I loved seeing all the familiar faces. It was a great parade. It was a great way to kick off the holiday season.I then traveled to Houston to participate in an event put on at Intercontinental airport called "The North Pole". I was joined by Miss Teen Texas Sydney Datcher. At this event they bring in children from local hospitals to come and enjoy. They turn an entire hanger into a winter wonderland. they have all kinds of activities from horse carriage rides to train rides. Santa was there too. The kids were great and I really enjoyed seeing their eyes light up over and over again. I then enjoyed myself singing with my daughter at Christ Kitchen of Victoria. I was asked to come and sing Christmas carols for the people that would be coming for their Christmas dinner. I invited Amy Miss Victoria International to sing with us and she did a great job. I loved seeing their faces while they sang along to the Christmas carols.I then got to enjoy seeing more familiar faces at the HEB Feast of Sharing at the Victoria Community Center.Miss Victoria International and Mrs. Victoria International were also invited to attend. We had fun walking around and visiting with all the people and helping pass out presents to the children. This is such a great event that is put on every year by HEB.They bring in their mobile kitchen and cook and feed around 3,000 people in about 4 hours. It is so great to see these families enjoying themselves and sharing in the Christmas spirit. I have really had a great time this holiday season and I am so grateful for all of these experiences. I am now getting ready to bring in the New Year. 2010 was such a great year. I am excited to see what 2011 holds for my future. Happy New Year to everyone. Love, Natalie

2010-11-19T08:59:00.001-08:00

I ended October appearances with the beautiful Mrs.Idaho. We spoke at a church to around 100 girls ages 8-12.Rachel spoke to the girls about knowing who they are and that NO ONE IS A NOBODY.I had the honor of speaking to the girls about something very special to me...Goal setting and achieving dreams. What a great topic to share with young girls. The month of November began and I realized that it was time for some rest and relaxation. I have been going pretty much non stop since last September. I have spent the last couple of weeks with my family and have really enjoyed every minute. My children are growing up so fast and I don't want to miss any of it. God has blessed me in so many ways and I am so thankful for it. With the holidays fast approaching I am sure it will continue to be fast paced but I am so excited to continue on my journey as Mrs. Texas International 2010.

2010-11-04T07:11:00.001-07:00

RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Chili
Ingredients (Serves 8)
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 large tomatoes (or 2 cups canned, unsalted tomatoes)
4 cups canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder or to taste
Water, as desired
2 tablespoons cornmeal
Jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped, as desired

Directions
In a soup pot, add the ground beef and onion. Over medium heat saute until the meat is browned and the onion is translucent. Drain well.

Add the tomatoes, kidney beans, celery, sugar and chili powder to the ground beef mixture. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Uncover and add water to desired consistency. Stir in cornmeal. Cook for at least 10 minutes more to allow the flavors to blend.

Ladle into warmed bowls and garnish with jalapeno peppers, if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Analysis
(per serving) Calories 254 Cholesterol 40 mg
Protein 20 g Sodium 348 mg
Carbohydrate 27 g Fiber 10 g
Total fat 8 g Potassium 378 mg
Saturated fat 3 g Calcium 74 mg
Monounsaturated fat 3 g

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2010-10-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went all the way to Grapevine, TX. This was an event that I was asked to do back in April. It seemed like so far away when I was asked to attend but boy did the time fly. It was called the Drop rock and roll chili cook off. It benefited the area fire departments. I attended it with my sister queen Miss teen Texas Sydney Datcher. My other sister queen who is now Miss International was not able to attend with us because something came up so we invited a local titleholder Miss North Texas Rachael Burns to join us. We signed autographs and walked around and visited with the booths and the contestants in the chili cook off. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the beautiful day and the chili. I had the opportunity to introduce myself and share a little about my platform "Get fit, stay fit for life" promoting healthy lifestyles for families in order to prevent heart disease.It was a great event and I hope they raised lots of money for the fire departments.

2010-10-21T06:50:00.001-07:00

On the morning of October the 9TH I went to the Sweat Equity challenge which benefited the Habitat for Humanity in Victoria, TX. It was held at Riverside park special events area. They had a obstacle course that was about a mile long and around 15 other events for all ages to participate in. I did the welcome and started the games. They had a great turnout and my son Logan and I had a great time taking a tour of the obstacle course with the National Guard in their Camo truck. It so great to see so many people out in the community helping others.

2010-10-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

Later the same day on Oct 2ND 2010 I drove to Edna,TX to co-emcee the Jackson County Fair pageant with Mrs. Victoria 2011 Christina Cook. Early in the afternoon was the Little Mr. and Mrs. Jackson County Fair King and Queen pageant. The kids were so cute and it was so much fun interviewing them on stage. They seemed to really enjoy themselves. Later that evening the Queen Jackson County Fair pageant began. The girls looked beautiful and were so excited to compete. They had written essays about themselves and Christina and I took turns reading them to the audience while the girls were on stage modeling in their western wear. The essays were really good and you can tell they took their time writing them. The judges picked two really great girls and I am sure it was a hard decision because all the girls were great. What a long day but so much fun.

2010-10-21T06:23:00.001-07:00

I was so excited when I was asked to come speak to a group of girls that would be participating in a drill team camp. The girls were ages 5-18 which was a broad range of ages. I spoke to them about the process of achieving your dreams and how it's not about actually achieving your dream that matters but the process and journey to achieving your dreams. I really enjoyed sharing this message because it is very near and dear to my heart. Having dreams and goals is what makes us who we are and builds are character. I don't ever want to stop dreaming and I hope they won't either.

2010-10-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Another busy weekend. I had a great time at the Jackson County Fair Queen pageant.

2010-09-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Life has been really busy for the last month. I have been getting into the swing of things and settling in nicely to a routine. I have done several appearances this past month.I went to a fundraiser benefiting the Texas Zoo called "Tales and Tunes" .Check out the snake on my shoulder. I have to admit I don't really like snakes but I decided to try and overcome my fear. I just didn't look at the snake while it was on my shoulder.

I also had the opportunity to participate in a couple of walks/runs for different causes. All three were great events and they all had so much community support. The first one was called an (Apraxia) walk which was for children with speech and learning disabilities. It was the first Apaxia walk to be held in Victoria and it was a great success.

The next walk/run was hosted by Bonnie Hubert Mrs Texas 2009.It was a 5K for CASA. This cause is Bonnie's life's passion and now I see why. CASA is an organization that does everything they can to protect the children who have no one to speak up for them.This was the first 5K to be held in the Woodlands area in Jones State Forrest. It was a beautiful place to hold the event and I had such a great time helping out.

This past weekend I went to San Antonio to walk in the Buddy walk with Team Texas Queens. The Buddy Walk is for children with Downs Syndrome. I was amazed at the turnout at this event. They had around 400 people come and participate in the walk. I had the privilege of walking with two lovely ladies who both have down syndrome but you would never know it. They both were so full of life and I really enjoyed getting to know them both.

I really enjoyed all of these events and am so grateful for this opportunity I have been given to wear this beautiful crown and be a blessing to others.

2010-09-07T08:15:00.001-07:00

10 Tips for Healthier Food Choices
You don't have to be a kid to benefit from these 10 simple tips that will guide you in choosing healthier, tastier foods:

1.Choose meat, poultry and dairy products with no added hormones or antibiotics. Read the label carefully, or choose organics to be sure.
2.Fish around for safer, more sustainable seafood. Know the source. Ask about mercury content. When choosing farm raised, look for no added hormones or antibiotics.
3.Trade hydrogenated oils and trans fats for healthier fats, including olives, nuts and nut butters, avocados, seeds, eggs and certain types of fish.
4.Favor fresh fruits and veggies, particularly organics, and eat a rainbow of colors. When you need a shortcut, choose frozen over canned.
5.Skip the artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and sweeteners. Savor the taste of unadulterated real foods.
6.Lighten up on refined sugar. Satisfy a sweet tooth with fresh or dried fruit or sweeteners like agave, honey, maple syrup, pureed fruit and other natural, unrefined alternatives.
7.Avoid high-fructose corn syrup You may be surprised where you find it, so always check the label.
8.Go for whole grains instead of white flour. You'll get more fiber, and in many cases more protein and essential vitamins.
9.Say no to genetically modified organisms when you can. The easiest way to avoid them is to choose organic.
10.Nix the nitrates and nitrites added to meats. Whole Foods Market offers meats with no added nitrates or nitrites.

Check your heart

2010-08-25T17:08:00.001-07:00

The 3-Second Test
All it takes is a tape measure to monitor your heart health at home—no blood draws or X-rays required. The magic number is…35

Knowing your waist circumference can save your life. "Waist size is the new stethoscope," says Lori Mosca, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. "It can predict hypertension, abnormal cholesterol and heart disease risk." Belly fat is associated with arterial inflammation and hardening, insulin resistance and hypertension: all heart stressors. To measure your girth, wrap a tape measure around your waist at belly button level, let out an easy breath, then look. In general, your waist should be no more than half your height; and most women should make less than 35 inches their goal.

Once a year, have your M.D. measure all your numbers. Aim for…

• Total cholesterol: less than 200

• Body-mass index: less than 25 (calculate yours)

• Blood pressure: less than 120/80

• Blood sugar: less than 100 mg/dl after fasting

Keywords medical issues , natural health

2010-08-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone.What a busy couple of weekends I have had the past two weekends. I have had so much fun and had the opportunity to do these events with my sister queens.I am really enjoying my year. The weekend of August 7th I had the pleasure of attending a great event in Wichita Falls, Tx called Deer Fest. It is a hunting expo that has everything to do with hunting and fishing and the things that go along with it. The purpose of Deer Fest is to raise money for the Adopt A Box program which provides boxes full of personal hygiene items for underprivileged children in over 20 counties. I feel very blessed to have been apart of this great event.A special thanks to Dawn Thompson of Spa Bella for inviting us and for having such a big heart for these children.The event was a huge success and I am glad I got to do my part in helping out. This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending and helping out in my hometown at The Miss Victoria pageant.Sydney Datcher and Ashley Smith my two beautiful sister queens came down and were judges of the pageant. They did a great job and then we had the opportunity to go out for dinner afterwords for my birthday.I am really enjoying getting to know them and their moms. Great queens for sure.

2010-07-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

I have more photos to share from my amazing experience in Chicago at the Mrs. International pageant.

2010-07-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, I just got back from Chicago representing my great state of Texas at the Mrs. International pageant. I had an amazing time and met some of the most amazing women ever. I loved every minute of it. I was able to share the message of Get fit, Stay fit for life. I am so ready to continue to motivate and inspire fellow Texans to get heart healthy for life.The American Heart Association has so many valuable tools and tips to help all of us along this journey. Our families are depending on us as women to be an example and show them how to do this. We can all get healthy together.Thanks for every one's support and encouragement this past week. Love, NATALIE

2010-07-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of being a special guest at the Dallas Go red for women luncheon this past June. I took this picture with one of the nurses that were there doing heart assessments. It was such a great event and it really inspired me more than ever to help to spread the message of heart disease and the many ways it can be prevented. The American Heart Association has so many valuable tools online to help us all with keeping track of our heart's health.

Wear Red Day

2010-06-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Wear Red Day

We all can make a difference by showing our support of Women's heart health by wearing red.

2010-05-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

Heart Attack - Coronary Heart Disease - Metabolic Syndrome Risk Assessment

Learn YOUR Risk!
Do you know how these controllable risk factors affect your risk of heart disease, stroke and metabolic syndrome?
smoking
high blood pressure
high blood cholesterol
diabetes
being overweight or obese
physical inactivity
It’s essential that you measure your risk of heart disease and make a plan for how to prevent it in the near future.

2010-04-23T11:55:00.001-07:00

I am gearing up with my platform Get fit,stay fit for life. My first event is being planned with the American Heart Association. We will be hosting an American Heart brunch/style show.I am very excited to be bringing the American Heart message of heart disease to Victoria, TX. I will also be working on getting a Heart Walk planned for the fall.Heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States and many people are not aware of their heart's condition.Help me help others to hear this message and make lifestyle changes that will reduce their risk of heart disease.

2010-04-01T20:05:00.001-07:00

2010-04-01T10:57:00.001-07:00

This past weekend at the Texas International pageant in San Antonio, Tx. I met so many amazing women who had the most amazing stories. I was truly inspired by them. I hope I have the opportunity to stay in touch with them throughout my reign as Mrs. Texas International. This was a photo of some of the amazing women I met.I am so ready for this exciting year ahead of me. Natalie McLarty Mrs. Texas International 2010.

2010-03-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

I am the new Mrs. Texas International 2010. I am so excited. I can't wait to continue inspiring others through my reign and my platform "get fit stay fit for life. This photo is at the pageant after I was crowned. Natalie McLarty Mrs. Texas International 2010.