For Health, Wellness, and Fitness.....It's a mindset....

For Health, Wellness, and Fitness.....It's a mindset....: Tips and Tricks Healthy Weight Loss

2015-11-20T07:15:00.001-08:00

For Health, Wellness, and Fitness.....It's a mindset....: Tips and Tricks Healthy Weight Loss: Here are some great tricks to help with weight loss! 1. Use chopsticks while eating. You can get a nice pair and carry them with yo...

Tips and Tricks Healthy Weight Loss

2015-11-20T07:13:00.002-08:00

Here are some great tricks to help with weight loss!

1. Use chopsticks while eating. You can get a nice pair and carry them with you when you go out. These will slow you down while eating allowing your body to register the food so that you will eat less and feel full sooner there by cutting your portions.

2. Use a salad plate instead of a regular sized dinner plate at home always!

3. Don't go back for seconds, or at least wait 15 minutes. Give your LEPTIN a chance!

4. Don't eat out. Ok this is unrealistic, right? Just ask the waiter to work with you. Order your dressing on the side. Steer clear of loaded potatoes, frys, and oily rice. Some types of fat are ok, but seriously unless a restaurant boasts about using olive oil, coconut oil, or some other healthy fat in their dishes, then they probably use what's in the budget.

5. Plan your meals ahead of time. No plans can lead to "fast high carb/bad fat food." Not good.

6. Keep healthy snacks prepared in the fridge so if you are starving you won't grab junk. Some suggestions would be any raw veggie you like. Have some bone broth or any clear soup you can heat up. A small portion of healthy raw nuts( about 16-17 nuts is portion). Read the label on the nuts! Nuts are rich and high in fat and calories. It is good fat but remember, calories in, calories out.

7. Throw out all processed food from your pantry meaning anything with more than 3 ingredients. Don't be tempted to buy more. Keeping them around for the kids is not an excuse, they don't need it either!

8. No white foods meaning white rice, white potatoes, white bread, white flour. Ok so I splurge on sushi occasionally!! It's my weakness..

9. No carbs after 2-3 in the afternoon, including fruit.

10. Be a label reader, if it has more than 3 ingredients, stay away.

11. Stay away from alcohol. Alcohol cheats your metabolism because it needs to be processed first there by sending your food to be stored in your thighs, stomach, or wherever you keep your fat. Not to mention a buzz causes us to make bad food decisions. I know this may be a sacrifice for some but If you can do it while you are actively trying to lose weight it will really help. So, maybe set a goal for 6 weeks.

12. Eliminate all dairy while you are trying to lose weight. Exceptions would be full-fat yogurt with fruit instead of dessert. The best is dairy is from a farm that does not process their milk and farms organic and free range. You may need to do some research to find these.

13. Eat a high protein/fat breakfast to help your body feel satiated and help your hormone balance. This actually works!

14. Eat organic, grass fed, free range, wild caught proteins.

15. Eat often, about every 3-4 hours. The Ketogenic Gurus will tell you different but unless you are trying to go into ketosis and you are eating almost all fats and almost no carbs(less than around 25 grams per day) you need to eat small balanced portions (300 calories) more frequently in order to "stoke the metabolic fire."

16. Exercise. If you have a lot to lose, just walk, work your way up to more and always check with your Doctor before starting an exercise program.

17. Eliminate all processed foods from your diet. Be a whole food foodie!

18. Read books about nutrition. Watch videos about nutrition. There are some great video links on this blog from previous posts. Educating yourself can help you to internalize the information and will help the information stay in your subconscious which will affect the choices you make.

19. If you work at a desk job, eat a small healthy lunch and go for a walk or do some light exercise during your lunch hour. Try standing up more often if possible. Click here for more information.

20. If you have cravings, once a week take a day off and have whatever you want, just get back to your healthy habits the next day. Many people find that once they start getting results they don't want to "take a day off."

Incorporate these things into your life and you will be amazed!

photo credit: 090920-40286-LX3 via photopin (license)

Why Alcohol is Really Poison and Sabotages Weight Loss

2014-02-22T09:56:00.001-08:00

I know we are all on the battle of the bulge. I know it's a constant battle for me. I wanted you guys to read this article. It really explains the role of alcohol in our weight loss efforts. One fact I didn't realize. It reduces testosterone in men up to 23%, and increases estrogen. The estrogen increase is well publicized because of the breast cancer increase in women caused by alcohol consumption. I believe it increases the incidence of breast cancer by 50% in women drinking more than 3 -5oz glasses of wine per week, or 3 servings of 1.5oz of liquor, or 3 beers. Men can get away with a little more but it all boils down to the same thing alcohol is seen by the body as a poison.

I hope that doing all this research is going to get me to stop completely one day. No promises but I am working towards this goal. Go CARLY for stoping for 1 year

Here is the article: http://www.builtlean.com/2012/11/26/alcohol-weight-loss/

Women, alcohol, and breast cancer: http://community.breastcancer.org/livegreen/alcohol-and-cancer-you-cant-drink-to-your-health/

Overview of current issues in nutrition and good reads and video

2013-11-16T13:58:00.001-08:00

After having a lovely couple of days to visit with two of my family members that I love very much, and finding out about the struggles with nutrition of some of my family members I decided to write down an overview of my thoughts and conclusions for them. This blog certainly does not cover all facets of nutrition but only a few current and controversial issues.

You probably already know that nutrition is a hobby of mine and I have done tons of reading so thought I would send you some stuff to "chew" on since you are in a "get healthy mode." Here are some books and videos you may want to watch and read.

These books are not in the order of priority, just how I thought of them. They are good reads and very informative with some good research to support themselves.

Eat to Live

The No-Grain Diet

Going Against the Grain

The China Study-plant based By T. Colin Campbell.

Dr Esselstyn Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. www.heartattackproof.com -plant based. Dr. Esselstyn and T. Colin Campbell basically did the similiar research from different backgrounds but leading to the same results.

Any book on the paleo-diet, they all preach the same thing.- lots of meat

The Engine2 Diet-plant based---Dr. Esselstyn's son- he's a firefighter in Austin,TX.

The 17 Day Diet is what Mike used to lose 30 lbs. I lost 10. This works but you have to maintain the healthy life style. There is too much protein for long term (for my taste)but if you are healthy starting out with no medical conditions it will get your weight off, and fast. If I were trying to lose weight quickly this is how I would go just to get the weight off.

The Ultra Mind Solution-by Mark Hyman- This book got my oldest daughter off her meds. She has Bi-Polar II. The medications she was taking are responsible for destroying the delicate chemical balance around her nerve synapses and is why she reacts so violently to stress and some allergens. She is actually still getting used to having emotions. She walked around in a stupor for around seven years. I am so proud of her for doing this, it was not a walk in the park. It is amazing what you can accomplish with good nutrition.

Videos:

The Weight of the Nation- There are 4 parts. This is an excellent series about our diet in this country

Forks over Knives- Made by the China Study Dr. who by the way, was raised on a dairy farm.hmmmm

The Last Heart Attack- Title speaks for itself. Great video and not too long

Supersize Me- Most people have heard of or seen this one.

The China Study- This is great if you have heart disease caused by high cholesterol, but with some issues because it is so extreme. Many may find it hard to follow due to it's strictness and end up with deficiencies that can cause problems.

It's important to note that getting enough protein and B complex, especially B-12, as will as omega-3 fatty acids preferably from Flax Seed NOT fish oil is extremely important. Sources like tofu, tempeh, whole grains, small portions of nuts, and seeds, and healthy fats from plant sources are necessary for our body's nervous system and cells to function properly. Nutritional yeast is loaded with B-12 and can be sprinkled on many foods with it's nutty cheesy flavor. The China Study talks in detail about the dangers of dairy food. I agree that we are not cows, so why do we drink their milk and products of their milk.? The research shows that the casein in other animals milk can contribute to and feed many types of cancer. This makes perfect sense to me.

There are many books on the paleo-diet claiming that we should eat like our ancestors but it is important to note that our ancestors ate meat periodically. They were hunters and gatherers. Meat was not consistently available. Even the indians killed buffalo while following the herds and many times would wake up and find that the herd had moved on putting them again without a meat source until they found another. During this time of scarcity, which could be days to weeks or longer, they survived on plants, roots, seeds, and fruit, thus balancing out their diet and cleaning out their arteries. The cave men had the same type of access to meat and animals. In America the availability of any type of food at anytime is what is killing us. The typical American diet consists of some type of meat and many times dairy at every meal.

People in Asia have the lowest rates of cancer and heart disease for a reason. They consume more non-gmo soy products, plant foods, fish, little to no dairy from cows or any other animals, and meat is used as a garnish in very small amounts and certainly not at every meal, and sometimes not at all.

Just as importantly eating whole unprocessed foods is key. Anything out of a package should be avoided. I'm not talking about products like Quaker Oatmeal that has one ingredient. I am talking about products such as sugary cereals, packages snacks. Most packaged foods have umpteen preserving ingredients, which I won't address because that is a whole other subject. But you get my meaning. Cardiovascular disease is attacking our children for a reason.

Last but not least. Avoidance of alcohol. Alcohol slows the metabolism and makes it more difficult for our bodies to burn fat, and contributes to hormone production and certain cancers. This is more important for women than men. Men lose weight easier and faster than women any way. Turkeys@!!

Anyway hope you find something in here that is of use and will help you on your healthy lifestyle journey!

Obama Care?? We need new medicine, not just more pills

2013-10-16T05:25:00.001-07:00

Forks Over Knives(Cookbook also)

Vegucated

The Last Heart Attack

The Weight of The Nation

Supersize Me

Books:

Eat to Live

Engine2diet

Skinney Bitch

Our food addiction is killing us! Please watch these videos when you have a chance. The weight of the nation has about 3 parts I think. It has been a while since I watched it so not entirely sure. They were all well worth my time to watch. Our eating habits effect every aspect of our lives, not just our health but the environment, and the cost of medical insurance in this country. Here we are in the throws of a government shutdown because of Obama Care when we really need to do something about why health care is so expensive. Could it be because we are so desperate for it? Because so many Americans are so sick!

We heap the problem of our health on our healthcare system when what we really need to do is take responsibility for our health. Stop gorging on the wrong foods. Put money into growing more vegetables and less into the meat and dairy industry. If we didn't eat so many animal products it would reduce the effects on the environment, stop disgusting animal treatment, heal our fatty hearts and livers thus encourage less heart disease, and possibly even less cancer. This is where research money should be going. Want to cure cancer? How about trying to starve it? Dr. Campbell's research is genious! Even macrobiotics has been around forever. Why has this not been explored?

I am now trying the (plant based diet) vegan diet even though I grew up on a beef producing ranch. If I can go against my upbringing so can you. Lets do what we can as individuals to improve our own health and live productive lives.

Let nutrition be they medicine. Hipocrates

Leavin on a Jet plane......

2013-09-09T21:40:00.001-07:00

going too leave for 10 days on Thursday for a fall foilage cruise from New York to Halifax Canada and back. I will miss my pups so much and wish they could come with. They would love the cool weather and the cozy cabin which they would stay in most of the time. All we would need is a grass patch.

Choose Life through Nutrition: Not for nothing but.....Sobriety Can.........

2013-09-06T09:32:00.001-07:00

Choose Life through Nutrition: Not for nothing but.....Sobriety Can.........: So, I'm writing this because I believe some people may want or even need to know. If there are any males that read this, I apologize ah...

Not for nothing but.....Sobriety Can.........

2013-09-06T09:14:00.001-07:00

So, I'm writing this because I believe some people may want or even need to know. If there are any males that read this, I apologize ahead because you will probably think TMI. I don't know but maybe there are similar symptoms for a male which I am going to research and put out here too. Of course with different equipment you have different problems and that goes without pointing out those specifics in today's blog.

Today I will only talk about my case in hopes that someone will say hey, I experienced something similar and my experience went something like....... The interesting thing is that many of these symptoms crept up on me and could even be attributed to something else but now that I have stopped drinking and gotten my hormones evened out, many of the symptoms have decreased or gone away completely. By the way my sober days are now 116 days and counting, very close to 4 months. According to research, it takes 6 months just to reset your body to your BA(before alcohol) state, and one year to reach full benefit. So, I am not even to 6 months in yet and am looking forward to experiencing that feeling.

So, as for my improvements. I have to say that because of my age (54) you may say to yourself, well those things are from age, not alcohol use. However the combination of both can pack a wallop. First the symptoms:

THE BAD STUFF

Constant peeing(I told you it was embarrassing). Yep I was the potty expert. I never went to a place where I didn't have to go. Shopping, a restaurant, during the middle of church, a movie, whatever or where ever I knew where all the facilities were. It got to where people would ask me before we left if I needed to go. I mean really, how old am I?

Hot flashes, oh yes ladies mine were the worst, or at least so I thought so. After trying Amberen for three or four rounds, which by the way worked to a certain degree, but not while you are drinking, I began searching for other, better solutions. On the nights I had my habitual glasses of wine I would catch fire. Not only the next morning but within 30 minutes of consuming alcohol the inferno began. Every sip of wine was like throwing a log on the fire. The hot flashes were unbearable.

Puffy eyes

Dry skin

Did not feel like exercising most days, because of headache and fatigue from waking up several times every night sweating.

Carbohydrate and sugar craving

No doubt when I was younger my body healed faster,was more tolerant, and recovered easier from the alcohol use. But not anymore.

IMPROVEMENTS!!!!!!

I have to say that now all of these things have either improved or gone completely. I no longer have to find a bathroom immediately or often(I can hold my tea/coffee), my hot flashes occur rarely and are not severe(I use bio identical hormones). Important note: When I first started using the bio-identical hormones, although on a regular basis they help tremendously, I noticed that when I drank alcohol I still got hot flashes and slept terrible if at all.

An extra benefit has been that I lost 12 pounds. Yes, I changed my diet but I find I don't crave carbs and sugar anymore so the change came naturally, and I eat less because I need less. I did not go on a diet. As you probably already know alcohol interferes with fat metabolism. A liver can only do so many things at one time people.

I am exercising again, almost daily. I miss it when I don't!

I sleep like a rock.

I have energy.

I notice I heal better and faster from cuts and bruises.

Best of all I wake up feeling good, and ready to take on the day and I seem to tolerate stress better.

Well that's it for today. Got to get moving, would love to hear of your experiences out there and how your sobriety is going, if it's going........My encouragement to you every day because it really is "One day at a time."

Coconut Milk Yogurt

2013-03-20T13:32:00.001-07:00

Ok so I tried this but I either did something wrong or coconut should not be sour. Even the pre made stuff I bought at the whole foods store did not taste great. I guess it is a good alternative for someone that just cannot eat any dairy. My understanding is that if you get whole milk from a cow that has not been pasteurized then it is possible that even a lactose intolerant person can digest the milk and the yogurt made from the whole milk because the probiotics and the natural bacteria in the milk naturally help to break it down and do some of the work your body is unable to do. Ok so I am going to find some real milk and make some real yogurt. Watch for my video!!

Gone Grain Free and the 17 Day Diet

2012-08-05T19:32:00.001-07:00

Ok so by default I have gone grain free. This is probably the best thing I have ever done and the best adjustment to my diet I have ever made. Ok I lie I have had the occasional gluten free oatmeal. I do not have Celiac but I do have some sort of wheat allergy that causes me to rash, so I know that the possibility is there that it could get worse.

I recently decided to do the 17 day diet. This diet is pretty good and does promote a grain free diet at least for the first 2-3 phases. In phase 4 or the maintenance phase you can add in all the foods you used to eat within reason. They really encourage no carbs after 2pm, and they encourage unprocessed home-cooked meals. Eating out really makes it hard to stick to this diet.

Yeah and alcohol is carbs people no matter how you shake it(or pour it!) it is restricted at least in phases 1 and 2(accelerate and activate). Then in phase 3 (Achieve)you can have a wine in place of a fruit.....wow, before 2pm?? HMMMM how does that work???

Dry.....

2012-08-05T19:31:00.002-07:00

I am currently alcohol free. I will be starting another blog with the main theme of why alcohol is one of the worst, most numbing,and depressive drugs around. And they say that marijuana is a gateway drug. I've seen just as much or more damage from alcohol. My mother, aunt, and grandfather were all raging alcoholics. I truely believe that even though my mom was a recovering alcoholic for 38 years that it still killed her from a distance so to speak. I participated in sponsoring alcoholics with my my mom who worked the AA 12 step program, was in alanon, and was an alateen sponsor. I will be posting my new blog from this blog when it is set up! Click Here!

Take The First Step to......

2012-07-15T17:18:00.001-07:00

Really want to get healthy? I mean really??? Are you sure? How determined are you? Do talk to yourself about getting started on a healthy lifestyle and maybe losing weight but never really pick up the ball and run with it? Do know how to start? What is motivating you? Do you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure or some other debilitating disease that is motivating you to attack your weight or lifestyle?? Are you realizing that somewhere down the line your lifestyle habits will affect the quality of your life when you are older?? Do want to set a good example for your children, see them grow up, watch your grandchildren graduate from high school....etc???? Honestly answer these questions to yourself!! America is getting fatter and fatter and fatter, so......
Here are a couple of things to watch:

Fat Sick and Nearly Dead
Super Size It
The Weight of the Nation This one especially!

Everyone should watch "The Weight of the Nation." This film is really educates about how we as a nation got where we are today and how it will affect the next generation. If you have all ready seen any of these documentaries, please comment!

Health in America....the obesity epidemic is just devastating us as a race! Although it started rather innocently....it started.

Yoga Yoga Yoga

2012-07-06T08:51:00.002-07:00

So......hello to everyone. It has been some time since I posted so just to update everyone, I have been very busy! On the health scene I have been exploring yoga! Specifically Bikram, but I would like to explore other types as well. Damn that room is hot! Anyone like to comment on their experience with hot yoga??? I would love to hear what you think and any benefits you have had from your practice. My verdict is not in yet. I know that when I come out of that room I feel drained and can barely move for a few minutes. As I come out of the room and look around me I see that everyone else seems to have the same reaction.

If you are unfamiliar with Bikram Yoga. It consists of 26 poses in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit at 40% humidity for 90 minutes! Whew.....But for some reason, I keep going back?????

Stephanie McDaniel

Real Estate Consultant

HomeLife Results Realty

http://stephanie.spring-katytexashomes.com

832-347-1949

Going Grain Free- Be A Caveman

2012-05-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

Heard of the Paleo movement, or grain free living?

I have been experimenting with this phenomemon because I know that I am allergic to something but don't know what exactly. I believe that many of our ailments are food based. Problems such as obesity, diabetes, IBS, celiac disease, skin rashes, hormonal problems and probably dozens of other health problems can be attributed to what we put in our body. Our society has put processed food on the frontline, and more people die in America due to obesity than famine. Very sad, since so many other countries are starving to death.

I believe that nutrition should be a required course starting in elementary school! Ok, off my soapbox!
About going grain free... this is what it consists of and why it works.
NO flour or grains and that includes all kinds of flour. Here is what you can eat-------

•Meat
•Fish
•Plants
•Vegetables
•Fruits
•Nuts and Seeds
NO soy or dairy. Although I do a little goatcheese

Excuse me but do you see, pasta, corn tortillas, or even rice!? This lifestyle is also gluten free so if you have a gluten allergy you are good to go! If you are trying to reduce your size this is definitely for you! A few people include things such as buckwheat and quinoa in the diet but a true paleo diet does not include these pseudo- grains. Make no mistake no grain enthusiasts are not Atkin's lover's, in fact they promote very small amounts of animal protein while encouraging lots of veggies, nuts, seeds, and small amounts of fruit if you need to be careful of your sugar intake. Of course meat and eggs should be grassfed and organic. I am including a couple of websites with more of the science and some recipes if you are interested. The biggest improvement I have noticed is my energy levels have improved, my blood sugar is stable, and I have less aches and pain. Grains are related to imflammation as you will discover. This diet originates from the thought that we should eat more like our paleolithic ancestors before processed food existed. They just were not into cupcakes and bialy's back then..yep not discovered yet. Check these sights out if you want to learn more and improve your health for the better!
http://www.livingpaleo.com/the-paleo-diet/
http://healthylivingwithmelissa.blogspot.com/2011/04/grains-go-against-grain-for-healthy.html
http://www.elanaspantry.com/ (for recipes)

Here are some grain free pancakes!

Why are baby teeth so important???

2012-02-25T11:09:00.000-08:00

Wanted to address something with all you new mom's and dad's out there. As you all probably already know I am a Registered Dental Hygienist by profession and have been practicing for 20 years. In all those years one of the most common statements I hear from parents when told that their 5 year old has mulitple cavities is , "Well it doesn't matter because the baby teeth will just fall out anyway!"

Your baby's teeth

Well guess what, it does matter! Without the baby(deciduous teeth) there is nothing there to hold the place(or position) for the permanent teeth to erupt. Kids lose their last baby tooth at about 12. So, if your child loses those teeth too early and the space is not held by a space maintaining device until the permanent tooth is developed and ready to erupt, the permanant tooth can become impacted or come in just wrong......(malpositioned or crooked)

Unfortunately to fix the result of early loss of baby teeth, it can cost money, extra time at the dental office, more pain and discomfort for your child, and extra time in orthodontics when the child gets older. So, the bottom line is maintain your baby's mouth. Take them to the dentist early(by 3 yrs old) and regularly(every 6 months). Brush their teeth twice a day, and floss( yes floss!)once per day. Limit sugar, juice, junk food ,and take away the bottle during the night(water is ok). Take away the binky as soon as you can as this can alter jaw development, and speech development. According to pediatricians, at 18 months the pacifier and the bottle should be gone altogether. To many it may seem difficult to take away your baby's bottle and pacifier because it is a comfort for them and easier for you, but in the long run you will be helping them tremendously and they will be thanking you later. I promise.

Adult teeth

Coke, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, etc…..

2012-02-19T21:21:00.000-08:00

Diet and regular sodas have been associated with kidney damage, cancer, obesity, diabetes in adults and kids, and regular soda has even been linked to high blood pressure. Soda has also been linked with pancreatic cancer, now that is scary! According to the American Association of Cancer Research as little as 2 sodas a week can raise your risk for pancreatic cancer by 90%, those are not good odds!

Soda in general contains sugar (or with diet a sugar substitute), Phosphoric Acid, flavoring, caffeine (or not), sometimes citric acid. The amount of phosphoric acid and caffeine in the soda can leach calcium from your bones and cause osteoporosis.

Soda has an acid Ph and our blood is naturally slightly salty or alkaline. So, you can see that drinking excessive amounts of soda would cause an extreme imbalance. Common sense says that anything that will melt corrosion off your car battery probably isn't good for your body! Water is sounding better and better>>>>>!

Still Hungry?

2012-02-14T17:49:00.000-08:00

This sun has nothing to do with leptin,
I just like the pic!

Do you know anyone that can eat a whole pizza, chase with beer, and still be hungry for ice cream? If that person is overweight it may be because their leptin receptors are down. The more fat we have on our bodies the more leptin we are supposed to secrete. Leptin is the hormone that signals our hypothalamus that we are full and to stop eating and start burning fuel. This would make you think the more fat, the more leptin, the better! But, what really happens is similiar to diabetes. Just like insulin receptors, the leptin recepters function less efficiently when there is too much leptin. The process is very similiar to how insulin receptors do not let insulin communicate with our cells to use the sugar in our food for fuel, instead the receptors are bombarded and so they shut down. As a result an overweight person's body(hypothalamus regulates hunger and metablolism) is not telling him/her to stop eating. Like Type 2 diabetes losing weight, eating right, and exercising can reduce fat cells, therefore reduce the amount of leptin produced to a normal amount, therfore reversing leptin resistance.

INSANITY - A 60 DAY TOTAL-BODY CONDITIONING PROGRAM put on DVD - click here

Caffeine

2012-02-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

Is all caffeine the same or is it different depending on where it comes from? That is the question my husband posed to me the other day and I decided to find out. According to my research all caffeine is the same. It is a chemical compound that is mostly found in plants, but can be produced in a lab just as easily. The only difference is that some plants have more caffeine than others. I know, a lot of you are saying, "Well, duh, I knew that!" But did you know that green tea actually has more caffeine in it than regular coffee by dry weight? It does, but we get less out of it because we only steep it for a few minutes and the servings are usually much smaller.

The main reason we experience such a wide range of effects with the caffeine in different plants is because other plants can "also contain widely varying mixtures of other xanthine alkaloids, including the cardiac stimulants theophylline and theobromine, and other substances such as polyphenols that can form insoluble complexes with caffeine." (Balentine D. A) This could be why we are more addicted to the caffeine found in coffee and not so much the caffeine found in weaker teas.

Since this is a chemical, albeit a natural one, it is still considered a psychoactive drug and it would be best to not consume it. (Yes, I know that research has shown that it is harmless in moderation, even over a long period of time, but it is still a CHEMICAL that you are putting in your body!) If you are struggling with fatigue and rely on caffeine to get you through the day then you need to find out what is wrong with your body. If you are getting enough sleep, exercising and eating a whole foods diet you shouldn't need caffeine just to stay awake. If you are still tired then you should look into finding out why because another health problem could be the cause.

In my case, for instance, I am taking a liver detox supplement and by just doing that my energy has increased exponentially. I'm still tired by the end of the day like a normal person but I am finding it easier to wake up in the mornings and after I work out and eat a healthy breakfast I feel energized instead of wanting to go back to bed.

Source:
Balentine D. A., Harbowy M. E. and Graham H. N. (1998). G Spiller. ed. Tea: the Plant and its Manufacture; Chemistry and Consumption of the Beverage.
Via Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine#Sources_and_consumption

The Deadly Choking Game that Teens Play

2012-02-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

So while I am on the subject.......Here is a common game young teens play that involves no drugs but is very deadly. Another party gig that my teen has informed me of is the "choking" game. The kids actually do this at parties for fun. The kids actually have another kid cut off their oxygen until they pass out in order to get a high! Many kids play the game because there are no drugs involved, so they think its ok. The choking game is extremely dangerous, deadly, and always kills brain cells. What is really scarey is that once they get hooked on the game, they start playing it alone. Many times they hang themselves because there is no one there to help them when they pass out. Here is some good video and audio of a real case of "choking gone wrong." http://www.gaspinfo.com/en/flash_vid.html

If you have children or teens, please read and watch!

2012-02-09T10:17:00.000-08:00

If you didn't catch this on the news last night, please watch the video. I believe you need flash player to view the video so it may not be available if you are using a mobile device, but definitely worth watching. Teens today are using and abusing prescription drugs and it's becoming increasingly more popular. I personally have a sixteen year old girl that has mentioned on numerous occasions that when she has been together with friends she has had the opportunity to partake in illegal prescription drug use. Thankfully she has not done this to date. However there are teens out there stealing their parents prescription drugs, then selling them, or giving them to their friends at parties. Please do not think that your kid is not, or will not be exposed to these drugs because they will at some point. It is important that you educate them on what is out there and the potiential consequences of experimenting with these drugs or acts for whatever reason, whether it is out of curiosity or just to be cool. Here is the video.....

My Alternative Medicine Experience

2012-02-08T08:33:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I went to see a doctor who specializes in alternative medicine. After reading Dr. Mark Hyman's book (The Ultramind Solution) I had a good idea of what I needed to do. I was hoping that this doctor could reaffirm the concerns that I had and could help me move forward. He did.

The first thing we talked about was my bipolar medication. I am currently on Wellbutrin XL, Lamictal, and Abilify. My main concern in seeing him was the fact that my pharmacy had told me that the Abilify could cause diabetes. He said the reason for that is because Abilify increases your appetite and causes you to crave sweets and carbs (wow, he was right about that). He also said that Abilify was a very aggressive anti-psychotic and that if my bipolar symptoms were not that severe he wasn't sure whether or not they were necessary. He also said that Wellbutrin is pretty benign and that is probably why I was put on Lamictal because it was not working. The Lamictal then made me really restless and anxious so they put me on Abilify. This is a problem that most people with depression experience. They put you on one med and in order to counter it's side effects they put you on another med and so on and so forth. Before you know it you are taking 5 or 6 different things and not feeling any better. I was there at one point and am fortunate to only be on 3 different things right now. However, there is mounting evidence that anti-depressants don't work and that they usually only make things worse. (Which is why there are suicide warning lables on anti-depressants)

This doctor suggested that I work with my psychiatrist to slowly (and he emphasized slowly) wean myself off the medication. He said that if I quit cold turkey I might feel better at first, but then I would crash and could have a major crisis.

The doctor also mentioned that I should try supplements as I wean myself off the medication. He gave me a plan to follow and said that there was no harm in the supplements he was giving me being mixed with my meds. He said once I was off my meds if I needed more help with the depression then I could try neurofeedback. Neurofeedback and brain mapping, "...uses computerized EEG technology to identify areas of dysfunction in the brain and then trains the brain to correct them." (http://doctorvolpe.com/neurofeedback/) He said there was a lot of evidence towards it's success and it was best to do it when I was off the meds otherwise the results won't be as easy to distinguish.

Another problem I had come to see him about was my constant fatigue. I go to bed early and when I wake up I don't feel rested and a few hours after getting up I feel exhausted. He said that it could be my liver that needs to detox. He gave me a supplement to try and told me that in his experience, and in the experience of many of his colleagues, a lot of physical problems lie in the liver. He said once doctors start paying attention to the liver a lot of problems can me solved. Here is an interesting article written on Dr. Sandra Cabot's website (she is the one who created the supplement he gave me). http://www.liverdoctor.com/index.php?page=liver-detoxification.

So, I will start taking his supplements and see how I feel. He warned me that it might be a process. I might not feel perfect at first because my body will be detoxing a lot of waste and the plan he put together me may not be exactly right for me. So I will keep everyone posted on my progress. Oh and by the way, he also recommended a gluten free, dairy free diet with lots of protein, vegetables and good fats. More on that to come.

Red Rasberry Ketones

2012-02-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

If you watched Dr. Oz yesterday(2/6/2012) you probably heard about "Red Rasberry Ketones." The RRK supplement is supposed to make your body "think thin." Here is a video that explains the science, seems the whole red rasberry ketone trick has been around for awhile!

Why Antioxidants? What are they anyway?

2012-02-05T09:09:00.000-08:00

The most important antioxidants are vitamens C, E, Bioflavenoids, and Betacarotene. Anitoxidents can be found in fruits, vegetable, oils(olive oil, or sesame seed is the best), seeds, and nuts. In the majority of articles read although meat has some antioxidant properties, most of those properties can be found in other foods....that's why a mostly vegetarian diet is highly recommended. More about what meat does during digestion later(its not good). Antioxidants are said to be free radical scavengers in that they go around completing those outer shell electrons and in the process they have the ability to stay stable themselves, thus reducing the amount of free floating radicals in our bodies. Tissue saved!

Another important factor about free radicals is that free radicals are a natural part of our immune system. Free radicals attack viruses and illnesses, its when there are too many that our tissues and organs are damaged.

Free Radicals? Can Cost us our health.

2012-02-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

Free radicals are not exactly free, except that they are free to roam around our bodies and reek havoc. Free Radicals are caused by many things, some natural and some from environmental factors. The environmental factors are the causes we need to exert some control over because of the long term consequences. Many of us expose ourselves to too much radiation(sun), pesticides, cigarettes, alcohol and other heavy metal toxins on a daily basis.

Here is the simplified explanation without too much biology. The molecules in our cells are held together by the bonding of atoms. Molecules are atoms that fit together like a puzzle and complete each other(see picture). When the electrons in the outer shell of an atom become weak and let go of the electron that completes its shell, it causes the atom to look for another electron to complete the circle, and to make it stable again.When the outer shell of an otherwise stable molecule is broken, it is called a free radical. Many times in order to complete the circle of electrons it breaks apart another atom's outer shell trying to snag that electron that it needs. When this happens again and again, it causes a snowball effect, lots of broken bonds, hence more free radicals. Can you see how if free radical damage is allowed to continue the damage to our cells and tissue could be extensive and ongoing? We do have a weapon against free radicals, but that is another blog! Tomorrow, how antioxidants can help......yay! Click here to read more.

Are all Calories Created Equal?

2012-02-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

So, what is a calorie? Are fat calories equal to carbohydrate calories? Nope, not the same!

A calorie by definition is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree celsius from an initial temperature(just leave it at that, it gets complicated), at 1 atmosphere pressure. Here is a link if you want more splaining! http://www.answers.com/topic/calorie

Ok so that's the science of it. Bottom line, that heat is expended in energy by our body at a certain rate ... sometimes fast...sometimes slow, but generally the faster the better. To burn calories faster we have to move! Thats a blog for another day.

Today I just want to talk about fat calories vs. carbohydrate and protein calories. Many of todays diets are based on how many grams of fat we should have daily(about 30%) and how many grams of carbohydrate and protein we should consume daily . For instance a gram of fat has 9 calories, whereas a gram of protein or carbohydrate only has 4 calories. In case your interested alcohol has 7 calories per gram. So, if you are reading a label on the back of a packaged food, it really helps to know how to calculate how much of that food's calorie make up comes from fat, that is if you are watching your fat grams, which I believe we all should. When you are looking at a label just multiply the number of fat grams by 9 and you will know how many calories are from fat.. On this label it comes out to 108 which is not what is stated on the label....hmmmm. Why is that you ask? Because according to the FDA they don't have to be exact on the labeling, they are allowed to "round it off." So when something says O grams of fat, it's not necessarily so. If you want to know the exact rules you can go to the FDA website here. Happy label reading!