Jennifer

These days I am afraid to eat and for a variety of reasons and some are not obvious, I have no energy to exercise.  Obviously some days I have less energy because I have not eaten so much, but then other times I feel like I have so much energy and I have eaten only a little.  This does not make for good health to be up and down.  But for too long now it seems that I will eat something and suddenly I am weak and have horribly sore glands.  It seems the less I eat and the more whole it is the better I am.  Sure I do not have energy to workout for a lengthy amout of time, but less seems to be better.  Yah, next week I see my first allergy specialist.  I feel like I should be able to figure this out, but alas, no.  Is this the problem?  I hope so.

 I recieved my letter from the prevention program for cervical cancer and my Pap was NORMAL… great news.  

SO, at times I feel depressed and completely mental, but I am not going to go down that road: Depression.  No, no, no.  I am going to continue to eat what I think my body is asking for, take certain vitamins and herbs (and I will even try REMEMBERING THEM) and do some gentle exercise.  These days, rice, fish, most veggies and many fruits, some seeds and nuts do not make me feel bad.  So I am going with this.  Note: will snap if it is shown that I am sensitive or allergic to chocolate!  Haha…

THIS WEEK….. 

Monday: 30 minutes walk

Tuesday: blah…. I was a bum.  Nadda. 

Wednesday: 15 minutes of pilates, abs, Wii boxing

Have a great day everyone! *hugs*

AND YES, LET’S REMEMBER TO LAUGH OR BEHINDS OFF…. RIGHT OFF.  Humor does heal most things.

Check out this GORGEOUS picture.  A buddy sent it to me and I needed to share because it is so beautiful and I want to feel this way.  Plus she is holding a little tree and it seems that all the possibilities in the world are in her hands.   Cheers.

If you do not have a problem with constipation, then great.  But anyone who has a problem knows how uncomfortable it is and dealing is ESSENTIAL - both for your sanity/comfort and for your health.  I write this here because it has come to my attention that a number of people are having issues.  I have to work very hard to be regular and happy too.  I also think that Dr. Oz who has been on Oprah is awesome.  Though I have not read his book(s) he was brilliant when doing the poop talks on her show and so I can only assume the books are fantastic!

The purpose here is to help people who are stuck.   Happiness is the goal.  Somethings might be worth a try and then some will say, life is not worth living without that X-food or beverage or whatever.  We must enjoy and find the balance for our unique selves.   Usually the smallest changes can help.  Also, I come from a natural means of healing though in my life I am very much a middle ground thinker.  I am not of the allopathic vs. homeopathic camp.  There are good things to be taken from both schools.  I clearly think we are the sailors of our ships and our health though. 

What I know causes constipation for me and others things that can cause constipation:

-heavy meals - slows digestion

-lack of exercise

-inability to digest bread and dairy and prolonged consumption can even make it worse - good to have a varied diet. Plain active bacteria yogurt is better then milk.  I kid you not and I am getting use to it, but instead of milks, more and more I am adding yogurt and a little water or some kind of milk to my cereals.  I add different things to make it taste good like raisins, cut prunes, seeds, nuts, pineapple, ground flax or hemp seed, etc.).  I am even starting to prefer it and the results, though I had to convince myself it was good for me at first.  Actually I believe early on there was no milk of any kind in the house, so I tried it.  It grew on me….  :) 

-early intake of cow’s milk  (I share with you now, I have been constipated for the majority of my life and this is one of the reasons I chose to study Natural Nutrition.  Also intersting, babies who are breast fed ted to have less digestive issues.) 

-Early inappropriate foods and continued abuse of our guts creates a system that may not be able to function well.  Luckily our bodies are pretty forgiving.  A book I recommend to anyone who has digestive issues is Eating Alive by Dr. Matsen.  It is written in a fun way, but the information is serious and helpful.   MORE IMPORTANT THEN FOOD COMBINING IS CHEWING WELL! 

-chocolate, especially when combined with nuts - my weakness…. *sigh*

-constinuous meals and snacks that do not adhere to the principles of food combining - especially large amounts of meat that because all meats have a significant amount of protein and most have a moderate-high fat content, it really slows digestion and when mixed with carbs slows it down even further and may create fermentation in some individuals.  (yeast problems?   Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition….)

-a lot of fluids with meats (diluting hydrochloric acid -HCl) or not enough fluids with high fiber foods.  HCl in our stomach decreases with age.

 -impropper digeston beginning with not enough chewing - food should be a paste BEFORE swallowing, mixing as much saliva as possible. (25-50 times, may seem tedious, but it is your health!) This begins carbohydrate-sugar digestion and this is very important in not welcoming fermentation.

-high fat diet - fats slow down digestion more then carbs (fast) or protein (about 4-6 hours to digest)

-tea and coffee as they act as diuretcs (Though caffeine can also stimulate some people’s digestion. ??? - Still it is more diuretic I think.) 

-many medications (Tylenol, some heart and depression medications, … so many)

 -calcium without magnesium, and iron supplements

-aluminum (yikes - get that out of the diet or certainly reduce! Aluminum foil that comes into contact with food, pots/pans, antipersperants/deodorants,baking powders, bleached flour, processed cheese, antacids, breathing in dust when sanding from aluminum oxide sandpaper, beverages from aluminum cans)

-starchy fruit like bananas and some sources say cherries (though some say the opposite for both).  We are unique. 

-avoid tea with meal or high protein meals. The tea acids can toughen the protein and slow digestion  (I do like my tea….)

-avoid intense exercise, sleeping, bathing or walking around a lot after eat a meal. Right. *rolls eyes* Anyways, these all interfer with the bodies ability to digest propperly because blood is moved away from the middle of the body. Still I think if one is chewing well and not mixing huge amounts of fluid, one should be able to LIVE after eating….lol

-stopping smoking as nicotine can have a laxative effect.

-VARIOUS health problems

 -prolonged sress

-change in hormones

-pregnancy

-traveling

WHAT HELPS….The goal is to speed up digestion. Not decrease the ability of the body to absorb, but to allow the body to DO IT’S JOB! -digest, absorb and elliminate!

 -small meals are better

-limit sweets

-regular and small amounts of water over the course of the day. The standard 6-8 glasses is usually a good start. But water is individual and based on activity, climate, temperature, body weight etc. What is right for one, may not be right for another.

 -not mixing continual high carb and big protein meals or at least keeping the portions smaller. -limit breads if you think you might have problem digesting. NOT forever, but just for a month or so. Add back slowly. I find open faced sandwiches to be easily digested.  Though for awhile I am avoiding wheat.-limit cow’s milk/dairy except low fat quality yogurt (avoid thickeners) - get the real stuff. Ingredients should include milk and bacteria. NOTHING else. Fat free yogurts usually have thickeners. The last thing one needs is cornstarch and caragenum gum plugging you up  - yuck!

I listened to the little voice today and it lead me to some wise blogs.  I learned so much that I must share.  I do not want to lose site of two important things.

1. Sometimes we need to step back and look at The Bigger Picture.  What do we want for ourselves?  The time has come for me to toughen up a little, stop acting like a child who just wants and wants and mindlessly indulges.  I want something and my choices now have to reflect that future image.  And so the bigger future and smaller me picture helps me to re-focus.  This week I do not deny as much as I really ask myself if I REALLY WANT it and will ENJOY it as much as I will enjoy that future me I have in my mind.   And yes it is a realistic one.  It’s even more realistic then the one my doctor seems to think is okay.  After all, I know my body.

2. Our choices now can make us sad and moody OR they can help us to feel good about ourselves.  We Choose Happiness with every little choice.  Happiness is not something that happens to others and boo hoo.  Sure things can be tough, but every moment we have an opportunity to do something well or better.  Tis a choice!  Happiness!!  This week I make a choice to eat more whole foods.  This is for my well being and happiness.  Must leave out the wheat for awhile too.

This is my guide for the week.  Intuitive Eating is another guide, but if I do not follow the principles of The Bigger Picture and Choices For Happiness, then I might not see anything at all.  These ideas are immersed in Intuitive Eating, but I needed to see it from the human experience.  I have been walking blindly, but thanks to a wise voice in my head that I actually listened to (”go read this ladies older blogs”), I have some guidance and can see things again.

Must give thanks on this Sunday to a lady here named Stacey.  She has much to do in her life and yet she shares here and inspires.  Thank you to her and Buddyslim.

This week if I have had a good week (based on intuitive eating, these 2 principles stated here and general feeling of peacefullness), then I will have motivation that continues for a long time.  I apparently am getting some gift from David too.  I said I need something as I was desperate to motivate myself.  Now a gift.  But I wanted to find that internal motivation and in my search I found it.  Brilliance is everywhere.  Sometimes it just takes me bending over to lift a rock to unvail a naturally radiant seeking worm dancing like Stevie Wonder.  (Just feel like listening to Stevie Wonder for some reason.)  Other times it just takes me listening to the voice.  The voice in my head that is more wise then the fear and the sadness that holds me back.

Turn over a new leaf or a rock….

International Rock-Flipping Day 

Have a great day everyone.

So I found a fantastic new show (new to me) and I love that it is only 20 some minutes to watch one episode and yet it is nearly 20 minutes of smiling and laughing and this feels so wonderful.   Increased SEROTONIN !!!

The Big Bang Theory is so fantastic!!!  I laughed my behind off. 

It is early to talk about my experience with St. John’s Wort, but I like it.  I do not take it early in the day because I would feel tired all day.  But I take it minimally and I feel comfortable starting out small.  I sleep so well and wake up refreshed.  I am not constipated at all THANK GOODNESS.  What I have found is that I have had a decreased desire to emotionally eat or eat out of boredom.  I feel more content to just be still.  I was feeling a little OCD before, but I feel good.  It is too bad that it interferes with the birth control pill because it could potentially be helpful for people who experience mild to moderate depression.  It is so awesome to have not cried this weekend and truly, that says something.  It was a good weekend and many things have increase my serotonin.

After my fasting blood test yesterday I was so hungry and I ate and ate yesterday.  Seriously I rarely go 14 hours with out eating.  I kind of felt like I might faint, but did not.  YAH.  I am not judging what I ate or how much, but I did eat a lot and I know this because I felt FULL.  Not sure how many  calories or points and I am good with this.   So I am maintaining and my spirits are good.  Though this week I would like to see some progress (any) because I finally feel a little better.  Energy is not optimum, but still it is time.

Love the new tub and more and more baths with candles……..

Whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, etc.), fish, fruits and vegetables, water, good healthy fats (salmon oil, hemp seeds, flax, nuts and seeds) vitamins, treats in moderation and light-moderate exercise (6/7 days).   David and I have decided no eating out until the end of the week.  No sugary desserts and instead we are chosing fruit.  I know this is not really a principle that Intuitive Eating believes in, but my sweetie suggested it (not me who usually says such things), so I think he has been feeling a bit like he wants to see changes for himself.  It will be good for both of us.   I also will be continuing to respect my full feeling……

Have a wonderful week Buddies!  Chamomile tea cheers.  *clink*

So I want to write something quick and yet do not know what to say. It feels like I am just now talking to a new friend I have not seen in awhile. What to say?

I have been frustrated and I do not want sympathy, please! But just wanted to share that I injured my knee again, same thing and they will not do anything for it, they can’t they say. SO I NEED TO BE CAREFUL! No I was not even doing a sport, I was climbing up one very high step of a bleacher to watch a baseball game and just twisted it wrong. Not only that, instead of resting it properly I went a little hard with life when I should have just sat on my butt for awhile. So yesterday was a sit on my butt day drugged out on some most pleasant medication that actually helped me to keep my behind glued to the couch and bed. Seriously I felt drunk for much of the day. It feels so much better today. BUT I KNOW I MUST BE CAREFUL.

I have had some other health issues that have lead me to need to do a bit of a cleanse. Nasty cravings!! I am using food and as much activity as I can to cleanse/detox and get better. One way to really detox is to sweat a lot and work the big muscles (I can not work my quads…. *tear, tear*). Well since I am trying to take it easy with any kind of impact, this is tough. I am looking to the Wildcat activity chart and giving it my all, with in reason. Seriously I have been slacking and it is time to work on my strength and flexibility a little. Could I have re-injured myself because I have let certain activities fall from my routine? Perhaps. Could be just an old injury (my Mom has the same thing I just found out - weird!). Matters not now. Now it is time to get at it and make it better.

Study, workout, read blogs at lunch time, study and go to book club tonight. Missed Canadian Idol last night. Yes I am watching it and loving it like the older gal I am. I hear from some young people that it is so yesterday……lol Well I guess I never use to watch it, but now it is a part of my week. I should be able to see it soon. *grins*

So have a great week everyone! It is time for a loss

Well I ended up twisting my knee awkwardly last night while playing tennis. Though it did not seem so bad, it is a little inflamed today. I am taking it easy for awhile since it does not feel so comfortable. This means the only activity I can do is upper body weights (which I have stopped in order for my lower body to catch up) and maybe some crunches, I am sure I can do crunches. The intake will surely decrease due to my decreased outtake *sigh* I will be eating foods that decrease inflammation, NOT CAUSE IT for the next few days. That is my commitment to a speedy recovery.

Well I slept in a little because I did not sleep well through out the night. However Oscar the little brat had no compassion and was biting my feet. We gave him extra food so he would not be screaming this AM (meowing, like a freak) but still he wanted me up early and after much ignoring I got up. My body just did not want to move. He seems to have forgiven me. He just wanted fresh meat! lol

But I tell you this, ALL IS RIGHT IN THE WORLD ! Lidecka has a new picture up of her precious darling girl, Berenika….. Oh my, what a sweetie! Life is good!.

Prayers for those who are struggling with Mother Nature.

Hugs….

So, I have had one excellent day. In all ways things have gone well and I feel accomplished. But then it is after supper and I feel a little like I could have that little something to munch on even though I am not hungry. The feeling is just there, ya know? And then I see that some idiot is online from my past. Fascinating how you can recall being that fat person way back then and recall the memories of a person who thought that they can treat you like that stand-in while they waited for someone better to come along. Well, here is the thing. I was deserving of respect then (when I was all Romantic Period Hot - largely curvatious and unhealthy) and I am so deserving now! I have to make the correct choice because I am the one who must respect me first! I could go and chow down on something and regret, but that is the old me. I am fresh and full of ways to treat myself like a goddess. Eating because of boredom or loneliness is just a poor option.

I made a simple and nice meal and even had some dessert. That is it. Thank the heavens that I had a balanced diet today (carbs, protein and good fat….lots of small mini meals) because I could actually say no. Sure I said NO WAY AM I GOING TO EAT STUPIDLY after seeing that old mistake, but it was because of the balance through out the day that I could say, I am so glad I have finally got my goals and thoughts together. But this is the thing with me, my moods are entirely dependent on having balance like I said and getting all the nutrients that a proper diet provides. No chemicals or preservatives, just goodness. A great mood. With a poor meal choice, my mood can just as easily be altered. I hear this is not so uncommon.

So today, is one of those days where I toot my horn because I did great!

So the batteries are reading low on the scale and there are no 9 volt batteries to be found at this early morning. Ha! Great. I do have my tape measure. The first number is the number recored today. Neck: 12.75 - 13, chest: 35 - 35.5, upper left arm: 11.5 - 11.75, hips: 40.5 - 41, waist: 30 - 31.5, left thigh: 23.75 - 24, calf: 16.5 - 17. That is a decrease of 2.75 inches (lol) but I did not try that hard About 3 weeks? Not sure. I would guess about 95% vegan but the least dairy in my life. So, I have not at all been dieting to lose lately. Rather it seems I have been enjoying life - eating (a few too many sweets and I MUST take care of this as I can feel the affects and not enough veggies) and exercising (doing it all) and recording nothing. Now this is not good for keeping me in that line I so love to be on, but it is good for my well being.

I have an indicator that we are eating too much processed and junky foods. Recycling!!! When I/we have had a bad week the recycling bins are loaded. The guys come by to pick up our paper, plastics, glass, tetra paks, tin, etc every two weeks and there was a couple weeks where there was almost NO recycling and I had to think, DID WE EAT OUT? No, it was just a good week. That was when I first started eating this way. Anyways, time to get back to more whole foods and less recycling.

Last night was great! At noon I put on a vegetarian chili (tomatoes, mushrooms, corn, 2 kinds of beans, spices, soy ground ground - most of which was left overs from the freezer), made some multigrain pasta and had a big green salad. That was fine. But this week I have been reaching for the simplier carb (popcorn and rice cakes) snacks and that is a no no of course if you want to lose. So, I will think fruit (it at least has fiber and better nutrients), nuts/seeds (measured), veggies, and I am on the search for something higher in protein that is not soy. I will find something. Tis my mission!

So my mom has high cholesterol and seems to be very weird lately. Of course it could be that she is getting older (53 is NOT THAT OLD), but I think it is here meds that are making her have not such good balance and be VERY forgetful and other things. We are talking on the phone and I ask her how many fruits and veggies she gets in a day? 2-3!!!! Ok I went over with her all the ways she could increase here intake because this is simply too low for someone who is really needing those antioxidants. Did I mention she smokes? Yeh well I have learned that there is no changing this, so I thought I could maybe get her to eat more life (F&V) at least. All one has to do is add more into their day to feel the benefits, but I guess it does seem weird to aim for 6-8. Well it is a start. I DO WHAT I CAN. It is very difficult when the answers seem clear. But I do not have all the answers. Yesterday I felt helpless as I listened to the news and heard them saying how unhealthy most canned foods are. The lining of cans tend to be lined with a toxic substance called bisphenol A (BPA). The research never stops! The vet says feed Oscar more wet/canned food, so I do. Well what is one to do for their loved ones? I guess organic and fresh are the ways to go, but grief it is so frustrating to listen to the news. I sometimes think living in a bubble would be the way to go, but then alas, no flowers. I need flowers. So, we do what we can right and I know my issues. Stress! Dealing……

Has not been easy lately. We are waiting on a plummer to come by and fix a leaking pipe in the kitchen. I am really not pleased but I also know that it will not help to yell at people. So, I feel today is the day. We have been waiting for 6 days now and there is always some reason, some screw up. I thought this new management would be better, but this is it. I can only handle how I see the situation and it is not worth screaming. Neither one of us wants to leave the condo, so I am going to work this AM and then he will go to work later this PM. Luckily we have some flexibility right now.

Starting today, this is tough with the next 2.5 days being weekend days, I am thinking about getting real with progress. Workouts and good meals/snacks. I also need to drink more water even though I do not seem to be sweating. I think I just need to drink more. Hopefully we can go play tennis because WE NEED SOME OUTDOOR FUN!

Go Penguins Go!!! Ok, my Oilers are out and then all Canadian teams, then my Dallas Stars (how many more years will we see Mike Modano??? *sigh*)

Note to self:

Non vegan foods that I liked eating- red salmon, organic yogurt (it was OK really), bottled clam juice (good in my soup and very high in iron), eggs

Non vegan foods that were not so fine- too much honey, and butter *sigh* BLAH!

ALL IN ALL… I have seen what makes me feel good and what does not. So I will try to hold onto this over the weekend and beyond. If David tempts me with Tim Hortons I may give him a kick in the behind. But I will tell him of my goals and thoughts since that is only fair. I feel fiesty and full of energy today.

More whole grains, fruits, veggies, measured nuts and seeds/nut butters/almond milk (they really satisfy the need for those healthy fats, vitamins and minerals and you only need a little)…….. PORTIONS.

So, I am going to try and be really good because I want to see some inches GONE, but when I am not so ideal, I will enjoy and smile. Remembering, portions. Eventually…………………………………….. Oh yeh, and I will try and decrease the recycling load. One bin instead of two? Well we will try.

Have a super healthy and happy weekend all…… Life is wonderful from most perspectives. *adjusts*

Things have been going well lately for the most part despite being away for awhile. Hehe….Sometimes it does not always go this way. I have had some time to reflect and I really like where things are at. I have come to terms with the fact that weekends will just be relaxed days where I do not concern myself with diet. That with out saying I am still conscious of portions or otherwise I know I will feel stuffed like a pig and that makes everything unbearable. I am also fully aware that as I ease up a bit with trying to be on plan on the weekends, I am actually doing my metabolism good but giving it a little more. It is so hard with those last few and so I am happy to say that I am thinking health (not a shock to many of course) and just taking care of this precious body. My shape is changing and I could not be more pleased.

We enjoyed that game of tennis last week and I won. The funny thing was I was so into the fun (I really liked the new courts that we found) I hardly noticed the score. The fact was, we are in such better shape then we were last year and that makes it so fun and of course less painful. Ha! Good times.

I am keeping my diet around 85-95% vegan and my body loves it. Thanks to a buddy, I did look into some hemp seed butter which is so much higher in protein then almond or peanut butter. I thought David might be sick at the site of it’s color, but I thought it was cool… GREEN! LOL….. It is no almond butter, but it was a great purchase. Just aiming for variety and enjoying. I also am much more aware of how critical trytophan (”happy” neurotransmitter and amino acid) is in the diet and I am making sure I get plenty. I was a little down and this has helped tremendously in basically, all ways… Thank goodness.

Not diet related: So my little fury gal, Meeshka was getting so old. Meeshka, our hamster was getting to the point where she could not do the same things she once did.  Oh she had spurts of energy lately, but only a few.  When we returned from Walking with Dinosaurs (it was AWESOME) on Sunday she was bleeding and could not get into her little bed. She took some water, but that was it. I just could not stand to see her suffer so I checked the phone book and there was one vet open at the university so I called them. They said to bring her in. Made her up a box with some new bedding and left. They were so awesome there. The vet said it was good we brought her in because she did have a tumor and you could tell from the size of her middle. She was euthenized and it was more difficult then when we euthenized our sick angel fish.   I guess it is different when you can hold and play with a creature.  Anyways, it was so much better then how it could have been.  Freedom from her suffering was indeed a great blessing.  How crazy but she was a part of our family.  So, all is well. What is it about fur that is so comforting? They are the best.

So, back to the purpose of the site, good healthy food, good eating and fantastic exercise! Oh yah!!!  Better and better each and every day.  Helping each other…. ;)  Hope you are having a fabulous day!  Cheers to life and peacefulness. *hugs*

I have to say first off, it is COLD here. Forget about the actual number, the wind is so nasty! Ok. Dealing with this. These reporters from one of the news stations comes up to me the other day and asks me if it is going to storm. I thought he was nuts. So my remark was basicaly whatever, whatever, all will be good. Well the joints are feeling it today. Burrr! The sun shows it’s face and thank goodness for this.

So, we have been eating out a lot, not such bad choices actually, but back to the basics this week. And the poem works. Most of the time just letting the cravings and wanting pass really works. But I thought of something else that worked for me today when I was just wanting for a moment. Over the weekend I heard a story about how there will not be enough food for many countries and this got me thinking about my consumption. How can I eat in such excess when others have none or so little? Clearly my days food does not affect a child elsewhere, but it did change how I was thinking. Not guilt. Just a realization of what I need, what is good for me and what is just shear habit, poor habits.

So, I am thinking food combining is not so bad when I do it most of the time and still allow for some treat type foods. I am eating moderately and exercising moderately as well. I call myself a tortoise today (thank you Kama) and am darn proud of it. The scale went up and I could not see the meaning of it at all. My shape is wonderful with some tweaking to come, but I can not in good faith complain. Complaining is energy not well spent and no one should have to hear about how I have so few to lose and seem to not be able to get there. ALL IN GOOD TIME….. THE RIGHT TIME. My time. The moment is great.

Happy Earth Day everyone! I tell you, even the numerous pregnant robins outside in the trees look mighty confused as to what is happening with this weather. I think they should huddle up, but they seem content to remain on their own, shivering. Strange. Personally, I would go find some shelter. Well, this is where my mind is at this moment. Thoughtful about birds and Buddyslim. I hope those who are here are doing well and finding creative and healthy ways to enjoy their moments…. For those who are not here and are doing their thing as life does call us to do sometimes, I am thinking about you too.

I heard this on Oprah, but of course have heard it on blogs and in life before, if you want to experience goodness and want others to have goodness, give. Give without wanting. And maybe this Earth can someday experience more bliss then bullshit chaos (Montreal!…for instance). Focusing on the good right now Off to make a multiveggie salad and in a bit some halibut for us…..fresh pineapple for dessert.

This week I really work on feeling each moment instead of blindly walking through this life…..hehe