The Flow On Three Lakes

Who Wants To Be High School Skinny Anyway

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:43:00 +0000

The weekend I attended my 30 year high school reunion, Dr Oz published the post, "28-Day High School reunion Weight-Loss Plan. He cites that, with a 1 lb a year weight gain, you could easily weigh 25lbs more than on graduation day. I discovered that Dr Oz was right - most of us had gained 25 lbs and more!

I confess that I weigh about 20 lbs more than my graduation day. Yet, at 48, I am much healthier than I was then. In high school, I was so underweight there were fears I was suffering from a new diagnosis, anorexia. I wasn't but a diet of sodas, cigarettes, chips & dip and candy bars wasn't doing me any favors. Today, I consume nutritious, whole foods that I prepare from scratch. I haven't smoked since I was 18. Chips & dip are still a favorite, but I don't eat them more than once or twice a quarter. Cheap, empty caloric sweets have been replaced with quality dark chocolates.

The Dr Oz plan consists of eliminating sugars, eating global spices, selecting rainbow foods and exercise. These are sound recommendations and his "28...plan" will better prepare people for their high school reunion "reveal". What is preferable is a commitment to healthy lifestyle changes that readies us to embrace any occasion with very little thought to our weight.

Given Dr Oz's status as one of Oprah's all-stars, I am a bit of a contrarian to Dr Oz's guidance generally. I have some all-stars of my own that enabled me to just reach into my closet and grab something to pack before the big day. They include:

Dr Cordian is the leading expert on paleolithic eating. I adhere to the Primal Blueprint, a version of the modern philosophy inspired by our pre- agriculture ancestors. I can't help but wonder if all my classmates would be thinner, healthier, happier and live to attend our 40th and 50th reunion if we would remove grains and reduce or eliminate sugars and dairy from our diets.

"80% of your body composition will be determined by your diet" - Mark Sisson

Our reunion committee did an excellent job of planning our event, including the buffet selection. While there were starches galore, I was able to eat colorful and nutrient dense foods, particularly from the Jambalaya station...asked for the meat and vegetables...said no to the rice! Since compliance is not absolute, 89-90% works best for most rather than the unattainable 100%, the cupcake was a nice treat at the end.

I don't know about the rest of my classmates but I have arrived at a time in my when I am seeking simplicity and authenticity. With regards to my diet, I buy lots of fresh foods at vegetable stand and seafood markets. I frequent natural food shoppes. Since meat and vegetables are the foundation of my meals, I can whip up most meals in under 45 minutes. My go to is a grass fed rib eye seared with roasted asparagus on the side for dinner and scrambled eggs with zucchini or strawberries for breakfast.

Outside of the paleo diet and cookbooks, Michael Pollan pretty much sums up the guide to eating in modern times. In Defense of Food, he suggested we eat what our great-grandmothers ate. Sage advice, if you ask me.

One advantage I have over most of my classmates is that I am a fitness professional - Certified Pilates Teacher, in fact. I get plenty of exercise. But, now that my classmates and I headed into our 5th decade, we all have to be concerned how our weight and muscle mass will have an impact on how we age and our longevity.

The latest research shows that interval and resistance or strength training are the most effective exercise approaches. We can all grow old with Pilates but our heart and muscles need the challenge that comes from bursts of effort and pushing and pulling. I supplement my Pilates/Yoga wellness practice with bodyweight workouts, such as those of ZuzkaLight, the former host of BodyRock.TV. I think it's important to be active in ways we enjoy, so barre workouts like Physique 57 and Booty Barre are fun and invigorating to me. The guys we watched throwing around a football may gravitate to Ultimate Sandbag Training while the ladies with and without the pom-poms may like UgiFit.

It has been graduation since I last saw many of my classmates. There isn't much I can do about the wrinkles that have appeared. And the tah-tahs and derriere have lost the perkiness they had in the 80's. Frankly, I don't think any of us was so superficial as to fixate on outer appearances. It was wonderful just to renew acquaintances with those we have shared history. My hope is, rather than the Dr Ozs' of the world tempting us with quick fixes, my Class Of '81 will live wisely day to day so that we may all enjoy our middle age and senior years in good health.

Good Fats Bad Fats

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:21:00 +0000

The Primal Blueprint

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:25:00 +0000

"If all you do after reading this book is cut back on grains, you will dramatically improve your health."

"Doctor visits today are a direct consequence of lifestyle choices that misaligned."

"Our last decade or two (until we reach the average life span of about 78 yrs.) is usually characterized by inactivity, excess body fat, assorted medical conditions, and a host of prescriptions."

"27% of us will die from cardiovascular disease and another 23% will die from cancer."

"...70% of that is spent on lifestyle-related chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. "The sober reality is that today's technological age i enjoyed by the fattest, laziest humans in history."

"Considering all the comforts and medical advancements of modern life, we could easily argue that we currently exist in a state of devolution."

"Genes don't know - or care - whether environmental signals promote or compromise your long term health; they simply react to each stimulus in an effort to sustain your short term survival."

"Human genes are adversely affected by sugar ingestion for two weeks."

"Your lifestyle behaviors can either destroy or support many aspects of your health."

"Ideal body fat levels and stabilizing appetite and energy levels. Hint: it's all about moderating your insulin production."

Insulin

"It's all about insulin."

"The insulin story is perhaps the most health-critical in the book."

"When blodd insulin levels are high, those same fat cells store not only the excess glucose but the fat you ate at your last meal."

"High insulin signals the fat cells to hold on to the fat and not release it for energy."

"Realize how important exercise is to increasing insulin sensitivity."

"Frequently empty your liver and muscle cells of glycogen with brief, intense workouts."

"If you are routinely eating 150-300 grams of carbs per day (USDA), you will likely gain weight."

"Success depends on how aggressive you are in keeping dietary insulin levels moderated, thereby extracting more of your caloric needs from fat stores."

"Carbohydrates control insulin; insulin controls fat storage."

The Primal Blueprint Laws

Eat Lots Of Plants And Animals

"Ramp up your fat metabolism by eliminating processed carbohydrates from your diet to minimize your body's insulin production."

"Eliminate not only sugars and sweets but grain products, including wheat, rice, pasta and corn (yep, corn is a grain, not a vegetable."

"More insidious as dietary "poison" are processed grains (wheat and flow products, such as bread, pasta, crackers, snack foods, baked goods, etc., as well as rice, corn, cereals, etc.)."

"You cannot reduce body fat on a diet that stimulates excessive-or even moderately excessive-levels of insulin production-period."

"Eating fat - healthy fat - will help you lose weight as well as regulate your daily energy levels."

"Vegetables and fruits are a central component of the PB eating strategy."

"Lowering your average carb intake to 50-100 grams per day will allow you to easily drop 1 to 2 pds of body fat per week."

"If you have excess body fat, it's directly reflective of the amount of insulin you produce from your diet combined with your genetic predisposition to store fat."

"Your ability to reduce excess body fat and maintain desirable body composition is directly reflective of your ability to moderate insulin production."

"There is no physiological reason for you to consume high levels of carbohydrate."

"Carb intake level is the decisive factor in your weight-loss success or failure."

"Eliminating grains and sugars from your diet could be the number one most beneficial thing you ever do for your health!"

"Eat to the point which you are full, but the point at which you are no longer hungry for the next bite."

"Plants (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices) and animals (meat, fish, fowl, and eggs) should represent the entire composition of your diet."

"The fact remains that no culture or society has ever survived for an extended period of time on a meatless diet."

"Fat is your friend."

"Fat has little or no impact on blood glucose levels and insulin production."

Avoid Poisonous Things

"Dispel the conventional wisdom tenet that grain products are healthy."

"Other foods to avoid include legumes, processed foods and sugars."

"If you have the urge to indulge, do yourself a favor and choose a high fat, fresh made, premium-quality treat instead of a store bought product."

Move Frequently At A Slow Pace

"Emphasize explosive movements over deliberate pace."

"Conduct full body, functional exercises."

"Finish most sessions in 30 minutes of less."

"Go barefoot frequently to develop natural balance, flexibility and leg strength "

"Learn why millions of joggers and gym-goers put in the time and effort to lose weight yet routinely compromise their health and accelerate the aging process."

"Blend of frequent, low-intensity energizing movement (walking, hiking, easy cardio), regular short, intense strength-training sessions, and occasional all-out sprints."

"Fat is the main fuel used for low-level aerobic activity."

"Strive to accumulate two to five hours per week of low-level exercise."

"The movements that dictated how our genes evolved were simple: squat, crawl, walk, run, jump, climb, hang, carry, throw, push, pull and more."

"I cannot emphasis enough the importance of slowing down the pace of your cardio workouts to improve your health and fitness."

Lift Heavy Things

"Following a strength-training program featuring natural, total-body movements (squatting, lunging, push-ups, pull-ups, etc.) helps you develop and maintain lean muscle mass and increase metabolism."

Sprint Once In A While

Occasional "Primal" max efforts (including sprints) promote optimal gene expression, hormone flow and organ function = delay of aging process."

"Sprints on hills, grass or beach; plyometric drills; and intervals on a stationary bike."

"Sprinting is a physically stressful activity that requires a significant fitness base, muscle strength and flexibility."

Get Adequate Sleep

"Humans have adapted to obtain great benefits from even brief naps."

"Fast-moving, flickering images on the screen (0ften violent or otherwise arousing) caused irregular stimulation to Ken's retina."

"It's more likely that emotional factors, lack of sufficient vigorous exercise, and poor dietary habits (sugar binges, caffeine intake, lack of healthy fats) are to blame..."

Play

"Time to read, day-dream, free associate, or gain an adequate understanding of currents events, history, and other mainstays of cultural sophistication goes by the wayside..."

Get Adequate Sunshine

"Vitamin D intake might be more critical than calcium to bone health."

"Bag some rays in your lounge chair might be better for your bones than drinking a glass of milk and swallowing a bunch of calcium pills."

Avoid Stupid Mistakes

"Hyperviligance and risk management were premium skills hone to perfection every day."

"Devote a little more attention and energy to risk management in your daily choices so you can enjoy a long, happy life."

"As society continues to modernize exponentially, we arguably exhibit less and less common sense in avoiding stupid mistakes."

"...deep down, we know we can afford to make them...safety nets of modern society has compromised our capacity to take responsibility."

"Each of us must admit that we have brought various levels of misfortune and trauma into our lives from lapses in concentration or critical thinking."

Use Your Brains

"Opportunities for intellectuals stimulation are everywhere in daily life. Commit to some personal challenges, such as learning a new language, playing a musical instrument..."

"80 percent of your ability to reduce to excess body fat is determined by how you eat, with the other 20% depending on proper exercise, other healthy lifestyle habits, and genetic factors."

Francis Mallman's Chimichurri

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:24:00 +0000

Conde N'ast Traveler names Argentinian Chef Francis Mallman as one of Latin America's pre-eminent chefs. He owns a very chic restaurant in Garzon UY, in the same Maldonado department where we own property.

The NY Times declares that EL Garzon is one of 10 restaurants worth a plane ride. We didn't make it to his restaurant on our last trip and we don't customarily jump aboard a jet to have dinner. However, we do own his grilling bible, Seven Fires, Grilling The Argentine Way.
One of more memorable dining experiences in Uruguay was at the Estancia Del Puerto. Along with the superbly simple grilled meats, red pepper and provolone, we were served red and green sauces on the side. It was so good that I ate at least half a cup of the chimichurri by myself.

Recently, buying grass fed, pastured beef direct from the farm reminded us of the flavor of the great grills we had all over Uruguay. Of course, I wanted to replicate them so I pulled down our copy of Seven Fires from the kitchen shelf. Only, in my little coastal hometown, I need a permit to have an open fire if I want to bbq like the Argentines and Uruguayans. And we don't own a grill. Also, it is hotter than Dante's fourth circle of Hell in Florida this July. But Mallman's chimichurri sauce over a rare steak cooked in a cast iron skillet I can do. Be warned: a taste of this authentic sauce and you may have hallucinations of gauchos and tango.

Francis Mallmann’s Chimichurri

Photo credit: ecleticcook.com

1 cup water
1 tbs. coarse salt
1 head garlic, separated into cloves and peeled
1 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 cup fresh oregano leaves (I used 3-4 tbsp dried with good results)
2 tsp. crushed red- pepper flakes
1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the salt, and stir until it dissolves. Remove from heat, and allow to cool. Mince the garlic very finely, and put in a medium bowl.

(1) Mince the parsley and oregano, and add to the garlic, along with the red-pepper flakes.

(2) Whisk in the red-wine vinegar, then the olive oil. Whisk in the salted water.

(3) Transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and keep in the refrigerator. Let the flavors mingle for at least a day, and serve with grilled meats. The sauce can be kept refrigerated for up to 3 weeks

Uruguay: Montevideo

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:00:00 +0000

We have been on a search for a place we could make an expat home for a couple of years. In Uruguay's Montevideo, we found what we have been looking for.

Montevideo is home to 1.5 million residents. We arrived at the city's new international airport on a direct flight from Miami that was just under 10 hours.

We discovered the beautiful Ciudad Vieja, with it's colonial architecture, vibrant port and thriving financial and business district. We jogged the Rambla. We strolled the neighborhoods of Pocitos and Punta Carretas. We experienced the musicians and dancers of the Tango. We were charmed by Parque Villa Biarritz and hope to make our home in its vicinity.

It is not enough to say we ate well in Montevideo. Sugar Loaf treated us to a 5 star experience at the Rara Avis. We made the pilgrimage to the Estancia Del Puerto, made famous by a visit from Anthony Bourdain. We indulged in port whilst watching Tango at the Barr Fun Fun, circa 1985. Ultimately, it was the tea time and coffee breaks at Bonafide and Amaretto that sealed the deal. Our assessment of the Montevideo people came to rest on the superiority of their cappuccinos, the best in all of South America.

As great friends, lovers and travel companions, we are happy to make our way on our adventures together. Yet, our trip was so enriched by the expats we met we could not imagine Uruguay without them! Alex Garcia is an unparallelled resource. And for the small price of some stateside chili powder, Carolla of Feligreta (Ellauri & Brasil) will introduce you to her friend, Robert.

Robert will open his home to you on a day's notice. He pours you a coffee or wine, hosts you at dinner, ensures you make the rounds to the expat meetings and helps you make his friends your friends.

Charla hears you are a Pilates teacher and immediately books a lesson with you. She invites you to Sunday brunch and you pass several hours eating delicious food in pleasant company.

Hank explained how 9/11 was an inside job, Mark reported on the Japanese fall out radiation levels in Wisconsin and Irene educated us on the Obama deception . They may have been the most fun of all!

In Uruguay, we accomplished what we came to do. We established that Uruguay is ideal as a foreign investment and expat locale. The funding process for our farming operations and appreciation syndication is progressing ahead of schedule. Before long, we will make our way back. And in the not so distant future, we will make a home in Montevideo.

GrasslandsUY Farming & Investing Update

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:54:00 +0000

Doug and I have produced a video highlighting the UY farms we visited for acquisition by GrasslandsUY.

What you will see in the video:

Description of the CONEAT map, which determines the soil productivity for each farm
Aerial view of Montevideo, UY, a modern and cosmopolitan South American capital
The criteria GrasslandsUY is using to assess properties
View for yourself the richness of soil in UY
Brief reference to the innovative zero tillage farming methods employed by the Uruguayans and Argentines.

To inquire about investing opportunities in GrasslandsUY's farmland operations and appreciation, contact Doug Bell at 813.992.8885 or douglassbell@gmail.com

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:29:00 +0000

In June, I blissed out at a series of workshops with Master Movement Educator, Pat Guyton. I developed my Pilates knowledge, skills and abilities with my dear mentor. I was once again moving and growing under the presence of one of the best Pilates teachers in the country, my friend and former boss, Aida Zorrilla. I had the opportunity to work alongside Dana Bell as we have for many years now, striving to be the best Pilates students we can be. And when we weren't working, the Pilates Mafia was lifting our wine and margarita glasses in honor of how far we have all come.

All this made me yearn for a studio I could call home and fellow teachers I could collaborate with and be inspired by. In short order, I found just such a place. I am now a teacher at Suncoast Pilates and Personal Training.

For many days, sending my resume, doing phone interviews, chatting in follow up meetings and attending to all the social media that is necessary for small biz marketing has eaten up all my time. It's been a bit exhausting but it has all been worth it.

Joining a studio is just one of the steps I am taking as a professional after being with Pat. Dana and I are venturing out to become certified stretch and flexibility therapists in October. Aida and I will be following Pat's path with the Franklin Method by beginning Level 1 Teacher Training in November. Suncoast Pilates has the CoreAlign system, so I will also becoming familiar with this core controlled aerobic training apparatus.

Like I told Doug many years ago, "I've put a few things in motion."

Uruguay: Piriapolis & Punta Del Este

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:46:00 +0000

Farming and investing was just part of our objectives for our recent trip to Uruguay. Evaluating Uy as an expat refuge was high among our priorities as well. As with farming, we found much to appreciate in Piriapolis and Montevideo.

Our first days in Uruguay were as guests of David James and Alex Garcia of Sugar Loaf Ocean Club & Spa. We ate and drank, ate and drank some more, and got a feel for the UY beach destinations of Punta Del Este and Piriapolis.

Punta reminded us of Southeast Florida, with high rise condos and upscale shopping on every inch of its peninsula. Piriapolis was more low key, with a pretty half moon bay. Just a couple of miles up from the beach and you are among serene cattle pastures.

Doug fell in love with this uninterrupted panoramic view of Piriapolis and the ocean. This property sits towards the top of Sugar Loaf mountain, one of the highest elevations in UY.

Should we ever decide to build, our patio will look very much like this. One of us is going to have to learn to cook with fire.

This kitchen shows we aren't exactly going to be suffering down in South America.

A morning ride on the mountain to remind us of the Hill Country...at about a third of the cost.

Uruguayans use their beaches about 2 months of the year, Jan and Feb. There is a bit of use for the shoulder seasons but you will find the condos, the beach houses, the shops and the restaurants mostly closed unless the summer sun is shining.

There is an organized expat community in Punta and Piriapolis. They are distinct and different crowds, to say the least. The meal we had at the expat meeting in Piriapolis was the worst of the entire trip. Yet, we had a fabulous time at a party held in the home of the owners' of Punta's Mexican restaurant.

After our days in Punta and Piriapolis, we felt as if we had a firm handle on what UY beach communities had to offer. Next up comes our sampling of South American city life in Montevideo.

Uruguay Farming and Investing

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:01:00 +0000

"Uruguay is a good place to be in the farming business."

writes PathFinder International Executive Director, Ronan McMahon, in this article that just posted to my Facebook feed, "A Good Business To Be In."

After our 3 week scouting trip in Uruguay, we have to agree.

"Tucked between the farming giants of Argentina and Brazil is little Uruguay."

One Uruguayan referred to her country as a "big farm." After leaving the city limits of Montevideo, it is evident why. Once you leave the populated areas of Montevideo, Colonia and Punta Del Este, all you see is "agri rich" farmlands. We visited the departments of San Jose, Colonia, Soriano, Florida, Durazno and Rocha in search of farms suitable for our farm operations and land appreciation syndication. In truth, we saw all but 3 of UY's departments and they would be unsuitable for farming.

"Uruguay has good land." I would add "and the most advanced farming methods in the world."

A hedge fund manager, reviewing our investment, asked why we would farm in UY.

The Ogallala aquifer, which yields 30% of all US ground water is drying up. The entire of Uruguay sits on the Guarani aquifer and it is untapped. Adequate rainfall provides for the crops of UY while the US is irrigation reliant. Arable lands in the US are being lost to urban sprawl while only 1M hectares of 3M are currently cultivated for agriculture in UY. Uruguay's agriculture industry is less than a decade old and adopted the zero tillage, mechanization and logistical infrastructure of the Argentines. Conventional US farming has diminishing productivity with irreparable damage to the soil. Uruguay's methods are cost effective and sustainable while US methods are expensive and thought to contaminate the environment. The US farmer makes enormous investments in machinery while the UY farmer uses outsourcing for cost containment. US conventional farming techniques release carbon and other greenhouse gases while zero tillage is recognized as a conservation practice and farmers may sell carbon credits to energy corporations. UY farmland is price based on a scientific soil type classification and productivity index (CONEAT). US farmland uses a USDA system transferred from the Soil Conservation Service in the 1950's and may be inferior to the CONEAT. US "custom operated" farm management is a less desirable operating arrangement (versus crop share or direct management) while similar services of seed and planting to harvesting and exporting are routine operating arrangements in UY. The US climate restricts farms to single planting season with the exception of LA. The UY climate allows for "double cropping" or two planting seasons annual, thus making the farmer twice the gross income for the same acreage. The US farmer relies on subsidies to be profitable as products such as soy are sold below cost of production while the UY farmer does not. US farmland sells at $3638 per acre where UY farmland sells at $2633 per hectare ($1066 per acre for 2.47 acres). Finally, US farmers must hold assets in US dollars while UY banks offer the Dollar, Euro and UY Peso as depository currencies.

The question should be why would you farm in the US.

"As food prices continue to rise, so will the price of agricultural land. And when there are concerns about inflation and the value of paper money, agricultural land prices rise."

Investors in our farmland operation and syndication, a UY corporation, receive an annual dividend from the income of crops or rental of farmlands. Additionally, as the land appreciates in unison with commodities, the investors capital grows as well. While crops must be protected and risks managed, investors can expect an 8% ROI and 15% in land appreciation annually.

Our business plan is to have 3 ventures raising $5M each. Minimum investment is $200K. Each venture will own 3-4 farms in several departments to mitigate climate and other perils to crops. Each venture will provide the founder with 15% stock, a syndication fee of 1.5% and a modest annual general administration and management fee.

"Uruguay has good land. Of course you need good land to raise cattle or grow soya. But you need more than that to make the business work."

Weather and human error are the threats to farm profitability. Weather risks can be insured against. More than one farmer told us prayer is integral to the cycle of the crops.

Industry standards are known. They must be adhered to. The same skills that once managed, at the time, the 3rd largest Supercuts franchise will be applied in operating farms successfully.

"Uruguay is peaceful and stable. The economy is strong, and the people well- educated."

The best law firm in Uruguay. A landowner and farmer as consultant and broker, whose family has been in UY farming for generations. The most respected agronomists, farm managers and facilities. Accountants and tax attorneys specializing in international clients.

Investors can be confident not only in the founders but in every professional that works with the farms.

The devaluation of the dollar. Food inflation. Housing and asset deflation. These are just a few of the reasons why we changed our minds about investing in a First Choice Business Broker franchise. Uncertainty about availability of capital due to mounting US debts and deficits and tax implications of healthcare reform are others. We began to search for investment opportunities without these adverse conditions. Our search led us to South American and Uruguay.

Uruguay uses the dollar. But you can hold Euro and UY Peso currencies instead. The UY real estate market is robust, with Montevideo growing 18% last year. As one "big farm", all the food is grown "locally" and sustainably. Uruguayan beef is the most prized in the world. Uruguay's leftist president, Mujica, demonstrates himself to be pro-business, works with his adversaries and has even spoken of learning from the mistakes made in revolutionary times. Best of all, Uruguay is effected very little by either the economies or policies of the US or the EU.

Our visit to Uruguay verified what is reported . The political and economical environments are stable. The streets are safe and clean. The people are friendly and educated. The food is delicious and grown or raised in the most healthy way possible. The "investor migration" is encouraged and the people of Uruguay welcome working with international partners to improve their prosperity.

Uruguayans have been some of the best beef producers in the world. Their agricultural partnerships with their "cousins", the Argentines, rendered them some of the best farmers in the world as well. The Texan in us can't wait to join them.

"The future is in the land."

Two weeks to Uruguay

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:10:00 +0000

"Where?" This is what people ask about first we when tell them we are traveling abroad to Uruguay. I asked the same thing when Doug returned from an International Living conference and proposed Uruguay as a place to investigate for living and investing abroad.

Uruguay borders Brazil to the North and Argentina to the West/Southwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the Southeast. There are many distinctions that set Uruguay apart the rest of Latin America: Uncorrupted politicians and bureaucrats, stable economy, 98% literacy rate, low poverty, little crime, without natural disasters, cows outnumber people 3.8 to 1 and its economy is agricultural.

Piriapolis is to the west to the internationally acclaimed Punta Del Este and the first destination in our journey within Uruguay. Here we expect to find white sandy beaches, fresh caught seafood and a bit more laid back lifestyle than Punta.

While researching living options in Punta/Piriapolis, I discovered the Sugar Loaf Ocean Club and Spa development. We will begin our travels as guests of David James, its Texan developer. Both the lifestyle of Sugar Loaf and potential rental income peak our interest. We expect to find it somewhat like Vanderbilt Beach of Naples, FL...at a quarter of the price.

Montevideo is Uruguay's capital city with 1.5 million residents, half of the country's population. Here we will meet with residency, tax and agrobusiness attorneys. Additionally, we will seek the assistance of experts in establishing a farmland operation and appreciation syndication that Doug will oversee.

Buenos Aires might be the birthplace of Tango but on weekends the streets of Montevideo fill with the dancers of "Street Tango". I can't wait to try this sexy form of partner dancing with Doug.

The US has the cheeseburger. Uruguay has the chivito. Filet, ham, bacon, egg, tomato, mozzarella and olives are piled into a bun with mayo. The low carber in me relishes a chance to gorge in the paradillas. Since 88% of Uruguayans descend from Europeans, the cuisine has variety. There will be German pastries, Latin American empanadas, Italian pasta and gnocchi and Spanish churros.

Once you leave the urban Montevideo, ritzy Punta Del Este and historical Colonia, you enter Uruguay's vast farmlands, home to the gauchos. While the Uruguayans are friendly, the beaches renowned and cost of living on par with the US, it is the opportunity to own arable lands that beckons us to Uruguay.

Our trip will last just about 3 weeks. We can hardly wait to see what Uruguay holds for us as expats and investors. We are putting a few things in motion. Who knows, we might come back soccer fans!

San Antonio Pilates

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:28:00 +0000

Beloved San Antonio. April 6-11 found me there for a workshop with my Master Teacher, Pat Guyton, at a the studio I was formerly employed by, Studio A Pilates. I also enjoyed a few extra days catching up with dear friends and shopping at favorite haunts such as Central Market and Lululemon Athletica Quarry Market.

Best of all, I got to stay with one of my best friends, Dana, with her new husband at their new creekside home in Boerne.

My first night there, Bill and Dana hosted the "Pilates Mafia" - Dana, Jean and Martha, with a true Texan bbq.

I met Mary Permann on her lunch break at The Cove. Mary was one of my teacher-in-training clients that became a friend ... and go-to girl for Doug!

Jill Tarpey is a lovely woman I met when she was performing ballet and teaching NIA. She has since moved into the world of yoga. She made time to give us a class at her new in home yoga studio before we began our Pelvic Power workshop.

Our workshop began with a Franklin Method Pelvic Power class. Pat Guyton uses brilliant props and imagery to teach functional movement. This participatory exercise taught us about our pelvic floors.

These are the cookies by Lily's Cookies that Studio A served at the break during the Pelvic Power workshop. I resisted because I removed grains from my diet this past Jan. I also was beginning the Xtreme Fat Loss diet and exercise program the next day. If I knew then what I know now, I would have eaten the cookie.

All Pilates and no play make for an unbalanced life. It was our duty to meet up at Paloma Blanca after a long Saturday session for some margaritas and Mexican food.

On Sunday, Pat demonstrated how she conducts a private session with a client. Here she increases the complexity of Mermaid by having the client in a tripod stance, increases the benefit by having the client rotate as well.

The trip was made complete when the Aguirres met me at the Henderson Starbucks for a face to face catch up.

The best part of this trip is knowing I get to do it all over again in June!

Cuenca Ecuador

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:37:00 +0000

A $3 taxi ride delivered us to the Hotel Casa del Aguila where we spent our week in Cuenca.

This restored colonial home was splendid. The rooms were modern, the linens were luxurious and the complimentary breakfast featured scrambled eggs each morning.

Cuenca is recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site and the colonial architecture did not disappoint. Our favorites were the churches. Cuenca is reputed to have 52 of them!

We ate well in Cuenca. In fact, the variety and quality of the cuisine is a big factor in Cuenca's appeal for an expat lifestyle. We can recommend: Kookabura Cafe, Hotel Alcazar dining room, Sucre Sale Cafe, Tutto Freddo, El Yogur, California Kitchen, La Vina Pizzeria, Inca Lounge, Wunderbar, and the spectacular, Tiesto's.

We transversed the Rio Tomebamba daily. We happened upon a parade of the Indigenous, kicking off the Carnival festivities. We took the tourist bus up to Turi for the panoramic view of the city.

Ultimately, this visit was about assessing Cuenca as a possible location for our future expat lifestyle. We found a perfectly suitable condo for less than $500 a month just south of the Rio Tomebamba, about 10 blocks from Parque Calderon. We found the area surrounding the Hotel Oro Verde to be most attractive to us with plentiful options for mid rise condos or typical Ecuadorian housing.

We were blessed to have dinner companions almost every night with which to contemplate all things expat. Jon was a buddy we were introduced to in Cuenca and we enjoyed his stimulating conversation on more than one occasion. The Kimblers were one of the expat couples who graciously met with us to help us get real world experience about an overseas move. Meeting up once again with friends made in Quito was icing on the cake.

As always, trips come to an end. Here we are on our last day up in Turi with all of Cuenca spread out before us, incredibly happy. Cuenca gets our vote should we elect to expatriate to Ecuador.

Cotacachi Ecuador

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:43:00 +0000

After leaving Quito, we took a 2 hour car ride to Cotacachi. This is a small town nestled in between two beautiful mountains. The town enjoys a pretty main square, plenty of dining options, in and out of town living and not much else.

Prices dropped dramatically,about half, from Quito. Lunch was now $3.50 and dinner $5-6. Wine is expensive - as much as an entree. Our room rate dropped considerably as well.

We stayed at the Land Of The Sun Inn, US phone 336.792.4767. Besides ourselves, the hotel was full with guests attending the Morya Ecuador Discovery real estate tours. Among them were the Mattoxes, who we made fast friends with. Rhonda is a hairdresser and Rick is a character, both an absolute delight from AL.

The hotel itself was comfortable and the staff impeccable. Our room was in no way as roomy as depicted (rooms definitely vary) and anything happening in the hotel was heard. They provided room heaters since Ecuadorians do not typically have temperature control in their buildings. Oh, and the church only rings the bells about 40 or 50 times (Rick says 100) each morning, sometimes as early at 5:45 am! We would return here in a heart beat.

Our new friend, Rhonda, didn't care so much for the food. I can empathize - Ecuadorian food is somewhat bland and often served with multiple starches such as rice, potatoes and plantains. They do serve a type of salsa (salsa di aji) that adds spice and flavor. The "locro" was consistently tasty. We appreciated the reasonable portions. During this trip, Doug and I ate our own entrees for the first time in years.

Along with La Turista, we also dined at the Inn ( lunch and dinner, with more than our fair share of coffee breaks), Serendipity (expat owned), Solid Rock (fabulous tacos), La Mirage (cocktails in the garden) and El Lenador (great meat!). We were pleased with all our dishes. You won't find better tasting avocados. We regret not getting to D'Anitas or Bocaditas.

We spent one day touring with the agent for Adobe Made. Despite the quality product of Adobe Made, we found the San Miguel development most to our liking. Within the development, we were lucky to tour one on the homes featured on House Hunters International. It was a stunner and we wouldn't mind having our own abode in the neighborhood. Our agent, Carolina Denapoli, was a pleasure to work with...cdepoli@gmail.com .

We were having computer problems since we had arrived in Ecuador. Mauricio, a former Land Of The Sun employee, was able to arrange for it to be fixed on a Sunday for $10. gbsmaury@hotmail.com.

Cotacachi was exactly as depicted: clean, safe, affordable and walkable. Housing developed for expats have all the features of home with prices on the high end (likely too pricey for Ecuadorians). We would be interested in touring in town residences to see how the real estate market compares. Besides Carolina, Lee and Peggy Carper are a great resource for rentals, home purchases and real estate investments (a message can be left for them at the Inn). The expat community appears to be close knit. Cotacachi is a short bus ride away from Otavalo and Ibarra, where you will have to go for any kind of shopping, recreation and night life.

Cotacachi convinced us that a life in South America was possible. Practically anyone with a pension or Social Security could live comfortably there. The air is pure, the streets are clean, the people are friendly, the surroundings are spectacular and the atmosphere is peaceful. Now, on to Cuenca.

Quito, Ecuador

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:44:00 +0000

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was the locale for the International Living Ultimate Event. The conference was very productive in our consideration of an expat lifestyle and international investing. Best of all, we met some incredible people whom we hope to enjoy lasting friendship.

Highlights of Quito

Locro de Papa - a potato cheese soup that is ubiquitous in Ecuador.
Azuca Latin Bistro - Plaza Foch, Latin flavors and good cocktails.
Le Ingelsia de la Compania de Jesus - Church in historic Quito. 7 tons of gold leaf decorate this Baroque church of the Jesuits.
Plaza de La Indepencia - Central square where Socialist President Correa addresses the public on Fridays.
Quicentro - Modern and upscale mall in Quito. The food in the court is restaurant quality. They have a restaurant named Menestras del Negro. This popular national chain is named after the enterprising founder nicknamed "del negro" by his family because he is so dark and "Menestras" for the beans meal that is the main dish, his creation. So Mr. Obama and the left can relax - Ecuadorians aren't racist and there is not an outbreak of TEA partiers!
Coffee Tree - We visited the Plaza Foch location. This cafe chain serves authentic espresso drinks.
Magic Bean - Serving Ecuadorian and American meals in the La Mariscal district.
Madonna Statue - The Virgin of Quito is winged and watches over the city from high on a hilltop.
Gianduja Chocolate - Visited this chocolate maker early in the trip. Almost none of the chocolate treats made it home!

Throwing toilet paper in the trash takes getting used to. Just because you see barred windows doesn't mean its dangerous. You likely need an umbrella every day. You can get a meal consisting of a soup, entree and dessert for $10 - and that's considered expensive.

South Of Zero

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:51:00 +0000

"South of zero" refers to the middle of the world, where Ecuador exists. It is also the name of a blog that is a gateway to Xpadorians living and retiring abroad. Each morning, Mary Beckman, aka Posterdog, compiles the latest posts of Ecuador expats and wannabes with charming introductions. It is one of the first sites I check in the morning.

I will board a plane for the center of the earth this weekend. I will be making my way a little more traveler and a little less tourist this time. I am staying at comfortable hotels but exploring by foot the public parks and squares will be my gym. I won't be having the national dish, cuy, but I am looking forward to the al muerzos for under $3 (ketogenic diet be damned). I will see more housing than museums and monuments. I will carry my own toilet tissue, trash not flush, but I am armed with antibacterial wipes. I will endeavor to speak the little Spanish I know.

al muerzo

Presidente in Quito

Cotacachi casa gringo

Cuenca organic cooperative (Coopera)

Illuman Equinox Ceremony

"The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes sight-seeing." - Daniel J Boorstin

Two weeks to Ecuador

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:03:00 +0000

My friend, Crystal, isn't too sure about my upcoming exploration of Ecuador. "Why are you going?...Is it safe?...Tell me why are you going, again?" To be fair, Crystal lives in southeast Florida and knows one is already a gringa in Miramar or Miami, USA -one might wonder why one would actually fly abroad for more of the same!

Our Ecuadorian adventure was prompted by International Living's Ultimate Event, which is being hosted in Quito. IL provides publications, services and events for those interested in living and/or investing internationally. Ecuador was chosen #1 on IL's 2010 Index of Global Retirement Destinations. Doug and I decided to extend our stay past the conference and check out a few of the expat gems in Ecuador.

Most people know about Ecuador's natural beauty. Fewer pay attention to the Socialist antics of President Correa , such as puffing up his clash with the police protesting budget and salary cuts or his threats to nationalize the oil industry ala Chavez. Sadly, third world Ecuador is no more violent than first world Memphis, Buffalo, Detroit or Oakland. All in all, expats seem to feel that the pros far outweigh the cons in their zero latitudinal paradise.

The mountain village of Cotacachi in the north, culturally rich hilltop Cuenca and the southern coastal town of Salinas are the areas that Doug and I plan to explore for a future extended vacation, residential Spanish program or real estate investment.

Everything we read in publications, expat forums and blogs as well as international real estate newsletters points to Ecuador's exciting potential. However, as Jessica reminds us, we are tempering our excitement because one man's first world in a third world is another man's dangerous slum. This we discovered about Panama...looks great on paper but not so great in 3D.

We don't know what will come of our trip, which is over 3 weeks. A few of the highlights we are looking forward to are:

We are arriving in the country's capital, Quito. We will celebrate Valentine's Day with a visit to a US trained chocolatier and hunt for the prettiest famous roses of Ecuador that we can find. We will also attend a 4 day conference on living and investing abroad.

Cotacachi, population 9500, is popular with expats and boasts its own world class Relais & Chateaux resort. Cotacachi is nestled within natural splendor; it enjoys close proximity to Lake Cuicocha and the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Preserve. In the markets, you will find leather goods and fruits and vegetables watered with the volcanic mineral rich water of the Northern Andes.

We'll be staying at the hotel own by South Florida expats, The Scotts. We expect we will run into more than a few IL attendees and other Americans shopping for real estate.

Next up will be Cuenca, Ecuador's colonial capital of art and architecture. Population is about 600,000 with an historic town center and suburbs with a newly built Boston Medical Center affiliate hospital, shopping malls and strip centers. The opposite of Cotacachi, here we expect to find more comforts of home such as a variety of restaurants, a cinema and good espresso.

Cuenca has a thriving expat community and we have plans to meet up with a few at the local english bookstore, the homestyle California Kitchen restaurant and the Kookabara Cafe. We elected to stay in a restored colonial mansion in the old town...hoping it reminds us just a little of Perugia or Malaga.

Salinas has been dubbed "The Gold Coast", no doubt by enterprising real estate agents fresh off their Florida or New Zealand vacations. Both Ecudorian-Americans and expats are snapping up condos and beach proximal housing in this area that is the yachting playground for wealthier Ecuadorians. It also has some of the best residential coastal prices in the world, "$100 sq ft or less".

We are here for a week...in a condo renting by the week for about the same as a 3 night stay at our marina/hotel in downtown Dunedin. Here we will truly be on our own, more vacation like, although a meet up is in the works with a couple I met through their blog of Salinas living.

Generally, the draw to Ecuador is eco-tourism. Quito is a stopover on the way to the Galapagos Islands. Travelers are more likely to fly into Guayaquil, head south to Vilcamba and through the jungle to Peru. Most miss the tranquility of Cotacachi, the rich cultural history of Cuenca and the high rise haven of Salinas. But Ecuadorian travelers are not just hikers, climbers, divers and kayakers anymore. There are also Latin American trend watchers, global real estate speculators, international developers and continental individualists all seeking to be ahead of a boom.

Likely to the dismay of readers of Lonely Planet and backpackers everywhere, retiring boomers are also finding their own reasons for making their way to Ecuador. We are all looking for our own little piece of cielo.

Ask: Can't We All Get Along? Answer: NO!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:16:00 +0000

"There has been a great effort this week to come to grips with the American left's reaction to the Tucson shooting." - Daniel Henninger

You can say that again.

Doug and I were stunned to discover that an assassination attempt had been made on the life of a recently reelected Democratic Congresswoman and that constituents were wounded and killed. The first details about the shooter were that he was a white, male twenty-something that attended Pima CC and enjoyed the writings of Hitler.

With only that to go on, before the victims blood was dry on the Safeway parking lot, the media, leftist bloggers and Democrats began attributing the actions of this obviously disturbed man to supposed incitement on the part of the TEA party, Sarah Palin, Fox News and various talk radio hosts on the right.

Major newspapers (NYT, LA Times, Washington Post, etc) and network news (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, etc) attacked the right, days on end, even as every bit of new evidence revealed the shooter as being criminally insane. Not to be outdone by the reporting, Democratic lawmakers joined the fray, including the Sheriff investigating the crime! Even a week later, newsmakers and lawmakers have yet to acknowledge they were, excuse the pun, dead wrong.

Polls showed that most Americans didn't buy the false blame gaming being orchestrated by the left. Well, 60% of them didn't. That leaves 40% of Americans who are either poorly informed or will believe anything if the narrative is that the right are monsters.

This week was pivotal for me as a citizen, a second time for me. Previous to the second Clinton administration I wasn't all that interested in politics. I voted Democrat. However, Clinton's derelictions of duty, not to mention the whole Lewinsky affair, were just to much. I switched parties and was determined to be more active in politics. I have served my Republican community, educated myself on our political process and am a insatiable consumer of political news and commentary.

"After Hofstadter, (author of the 1964 essay, The Paranoid Style of American Politics) the American right wasn't just wrong on policy. Its people were psychologically dangerous and undeserving of holding authority for any public purpose." DH

Watching the ungrounded attacks on the right and watching the general populace sit back and accept this has changed me. There was a time when I felt it was responsible to read and learn about the liberal perspective to be fair. There was a time when I have moderated my words and behavior to be more pleasant around a liberal. There was a time when I might later view my discourse with liberals as overzealous and regret it. There was a time when I overlooked that friends and family are liberal and love them anyway. There was a time when I believed Americans share different perspectives and somehow what's best for the country would prevail. Not anymore.

"The divide between this strain of the American left and its conservative opponents is about more than politics and policy. It goes back a long way, it is deep, and it will never be bridged. "
DH

This tragedy has shown me who liberals in America really are. Not just the leftist media, bloggers, elected officials and ideologues but the common liberals and Democrats they represent that I interact with in my everyday life. After such a display, the foundation of my relationships with liberals and democrats has changed. I now see that the only getting along with liberals and democrats is to go along with them. And I just can't anymore.

"Hell is a place with no reason." - Michael Savage

Happy New Year 2011!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:23:00 +0000

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2010

Relocating to Tampa Bay
Functional training with Dr. Michael Norwood
FAMI workshop at Mt Sinai with Dana and Jean
International Living Conference - Panama
Hula Hooping
PiYo Gold certification
Three Principles Retreat with Pransky and Associates

POSSIBILITIES FOR 2011

Exploring expat living in South American and Europe
Barre certification
30 year high school reunion
2nd language
Jessica relocating to Tampa Bay

READING IN 2010

The Survivor's Code - Sherwood
America Alone - Steyn
Emperor Series - Iggulden
Genghis Series - Iggulden
Garden Spells - Addison Allen
In Defense Of Food - Pollan
One Second After- Forstchen
Pursuit Of Honor -Flynn
What The Night Knows - Koontz
The Help - Stockett
International Living Magazine

WATCHING IN 2010

Expendables
TheTudors -Netflix
Flyboys
My Life In Ruins
#1 Ladies Detective Agency - Netflix
Doc Martin - Netflix
Daniel Deronda - Netflix
Bluebloods
V
Flash Forward
Letters To Juliet
Crazy Heart
Time Traveler's Wife
Secretariat
The Secret Of Oz -Youtube

LISTENING IN 2010

Rumba Foundation - Jesse Cooke
Dennis Miller
Ron White
Cafe Cody - Internet
Three Principles Lectures - Banks

Ruling Class

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 12:33:00 +0000

Angelo M Codevilla wrote an article for conservative publication aimed at explaining why those in power of both political parties will not take the American people's objections to buying toxic assets, bailouts, stimulus bills, government expansion disguised as "health care reform", signing bills without reading them and bipartisan backroom deals seriously. Our politicians think, look, and act as a class. They began to be called the Ruling Class. The article was expanded to include the differences of the Ruling Class and the Country Class.

Excerpts from The Ruling Class:

"We believe in merit. We rise or fall based on merit. This is not true for the Ruling Class. In fact, for them, merit is looked down upon."

"They have certain strange beliefs. One of these is that the United States is the problem in the world. Another is that those of us not in the Ruling Class haven't got the smarts to know what's best for ourselves."

"These people are threatened by the private sector. They couldn't compete with the average successful person in the private sector."

"The Ruling Class has a fear. They know that they are a minority, and they know that their time is coming."

"Political clashes over individual issues are so bitter because each represents the attempt of the Ruling Class to lock down the controls already established on its subordinates, and what the subordinates feel may be their last chance of escape."

"best left to professionals...more and more of what ordinary people think of as private decisions that concern medical care, the use of energy and water, even the consumption of food, should occur within guidelines firmly set by experts like themselves."

"It confuses its own opinions with 'science'. Americans pray to the God who created us in His own image, our Ruling Class prays to themselves as saviors of the planet and shapers of mankind in their own image."

"The Ruling Class accepts no standard it cannot control."

"American people do not want partisan government. They want self-governance."

"...they realized that America's rulers had become a self-contained, self-referential class."

"Differences between the Bushes, Clintons and Obamas are of degree, not kind."

"The Republican Party did not disparage the Ruling Class, because most of its officials are or would like to be part of it."

"This means that Democratic politicians are the Ruling Class' prime legitimate representatives."

"Ruling Class is as hostile as it is incompetent has solidified."

"...while most Americans pray to the God 'who hath created and doth sustain us', our Ruling Class prays to itself as saviors of the planet and improvers of humanity."

"Today's Ruling Class, from Boston to San Diego, was formed by an educational system that exposed them to the same ideas and gave them remarkably uniform guidance, as well as tastes and habits."

"America's Ruling Class speaks the language and has the tastes, habits, and tools of bureaucrats."

"...privileged people demographically is that, whether in government power directly or as officers in companies, their careers and fortunes depend on government. They vote Democrat more consistently..."

"...Ruling Class. Like a fraternity, this class requires, above all, comity-being in with the right people, giving the required signs that one is on the right side, and joining in despising the Outs."

"For our Ruling Class, identity always trumps truth."

"The top schools select for compatibility, not excellence."

"These schools have been national leaders in grade inflation. At Stanford, where the most common grade is an A..."

"...our Ruling Class recruits and renews itself not through meritocracy but rather by taking into itself people whose most prominent feature is their commitment to fit in."

"...our Ruling Class stunt itself through negative selection. Each succeeding generation is less competent than its predecessor."

"Its first tenet is that its members are the best and brightest, while the rest of Americans are retrograde, racist, and dysfunctional unless properly restrained. How did this replace the Founding Fathers' paradigm that "all men are created equal."

"...modern laws are primarily grants of discretion, all anybody hs to know about them is whom they empower. This defines 'crony capitalism."

"Our Ruling Class' economics aim not at making us wealthier, but at making us more dependent."

"The US labor movement now consists almost exclusively of government employees, employees of companies doing government contracts, or companies that are subsidized by government...they trade political contributions and votes for guaranteed contracts."

"Disregard for the text of laws, for the dictionary definitions of words and the intentions of those who wrote them, in favor of the decider's discretion has permeated out Ruling Class from the Supreme Court to the lowest local agency."

"...the power to decide when words mean what they say and when they do not is the power to do so whenever one wants, for whatever purpose."

"If government can decide that the constitution contains things that it does not, and allows things that it forbids, then adieu to the rule of law."

"...'families', meaning mostly households based on something other than marriage...husbands are held financially responsible for the children they father, while out-of-wedlock fathers are not...forces those couples who raise their own children to subsidize childcare for those who do not."

"Since unmarried mothers often are or expect to be clients of government services, it is not surprising that they are among the Democratic Party's most faithful voters."

"...school nurses who could not administer an aspirin to a child without the parent's consent, the people who run America's schools nowadays administer pregnancy test and ship girls off to abortion clinics without the parent's knowledge."

"Consensus among the right people is the only standard of truth."

"...shares above all the desire to be rid of rulers it regards as inept and haughty."

"The Country Class is not anti-government, just nongovernmental...as the result of countless private choices rather than as the consequence of someone else's master plan."

"The Country Class knows the government is there to serve the strong: the Ruling Class' members and supporters."

"The former wants the company to grow by producing a better product at a lower cost. The latter wants it to grow by moving it as close to the feeding trough as possible."

"Members of the Country Class who want to rise in their professions through competence alone try at once to avoid the Ruling Class' rituals while guarding against infringing its prejudices."

"Persons who were brought up to believe themselves worthy as anyone, who manage their own lives to their own satisfaction, naturally resent politicians of both parties who say that the issues of modern life are too complex for anyone but themselves."

"Since when and by what right does intelligence trump human equality? Moreover, if the politicians are so smart, why have they made life worse?"

"Ruling Class and its underclass clients..."

"One out of seven sets of parents has already abandoned the public schools, and many more wish they could."

"Millions of parents recognize the Ruling Class' idea of education is different from theirs."

"Utah gets 2.1 SAT points per dollar, while the District of Columbia, which spends three times as much as Utah, gets only .07."

"The result is that SAT scores for home-schoolers hover around the eightieth percentile. How did those dumb, violent racists achieve results like that?"

"...attack the premise of the laws than the bureaucracy."

"Seldom does a Democratic official or member of the Ruling Class speak on public affairs without reiterating the litany of his class' claim to authority, contrasting it with opponents who are either uninformed, stupid, racist, shills for business, violent, fundamentalist, or all of the above."

"...re-training rulers grown accustomed to treating their own desires as laws."

"Reducing agencies' budgets is unserious. If a job should be done and the agency is doing it, why cut? But if it is not, why not abolish it?"

Ideal Protein

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:00:00 +0000

My fellow Pilates Teacher, Karen Mirlinbrink at Dunedin Pilates Studio, just announced that she will be facilitating a new weight loss program, Ideal Protein. I am intrigued by the attention paid to building muscle, losing fat and balancing insulin.

I am considering starting the program in January since I have hit a plateau in my fat loss despite my nutrition and fitness regimen. I am also recommending a few special to me to try it with me who are struggling with insulin insensitivity and metabolic issues. My biggest barrier to trying the program is the processed food.

For more info, follow the links to Ideal Protein and Dunedin Pilates Studio.

Jackie's How To Get Thin Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:20:00 +0000

"Being fat is a problem, staying fat is a disaster."

"There's nothing loving, acceptable, or positive about eating your way to unattractiveness, fatigue, cancer, depression, and other terrible problems."

"...recognize that weight gain is a result of out-of-whack hormones, excess sugar, and poorly functioning organs."

"You've got to give up the trans fats, cheap sugar, excess sodium, and unpronounceable additives dumped into junk food)."

"We are a nation of sick, unhealthy people wasting away and mutating into sad, fat, and lethargic people, just getting fatter and sadder by the second. We are an out-of-control nation with out-of-control waistlines."

"You're appearance, health and fitness are as important as anything else."

"We make a choice every day to get either strong or weak. Let this be your day to get strong."

"Fat control has largely to do with hormones."

"When blood sugar is low, your body pumps out more human growth hormone. The best way to capitalize on this situation is to keep your carbohydrate intake low in the evening."

"Eliminate sugar and highly processed foods. Look for organic meat and dairy products that are certified free of hormones. Boost your intake of whole grains, plant-based proteins, good fats, colorful fruits and vegetables, green tea, and good sweeteners such as Truvia, which is a stevia-based sweetener."

"Sugar is the devil."

"Choose foods with 5 grams or less of sugar."

"If you want to lose weight, you could enjoy a healthy, low-calorie meal like a grilled chicken salad with low-cal dressing. Or you could chow down on high fructose corn syrup, yogurt flavored coating, partially defatted peanut flour, honey corn syrup and the other ingredients in some of the popular nutrition bars out there."

"The third reason you're getting fat is your organs: an overworked liver, a sluggish thyroid and exhausted adrenals."

"Always try to combine carbs with protein in a meal to slow the digestion of the carbohydrate food."

"Processed foods...chemical cuisine."

"Metal tubings to dispense diet soda eroded so quickly that they had to be replaced monthly. What do you think that same sweetener is doing to your insides?"

"Your behavior is consistent with your identity."

"The last six letters in attraction are action. Successful people are intensely action-oriented. They move in the direction of their desires."

Excerpts from...

Pasta Al Forno - David Rocco

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:45:00 +0000

The launch of The Cooking Channel renewed my interest in food tv. One of my favorite shows is hosted by David Rocco. The "Boot Camp" episode featured a recipe for Pasta Al Forno. It was so "delizioso".

A pound of pasta is unthinkable us...I reduced the pasta to 1/3 of a 1 lb box (I had penne in the pantry so that's what I used)... a medium eggplant and 2 med-large zucchini. It was surprisingly flavorful with the smoked cheese, olives and sundried tomatoes. I skipped the layering...added the smoke cheese to the sauce and used the mozzerella on top.

Political Spectrum

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:34:00 +0000

Source: Zombie

Pumpkin Gingerbread

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 20:40:00 +0000

I came across the prettiest sugar pumpkin at our local produce stand. I put it in my eco-friendly shopping bag confident of finding a way to utilize it.

To make fresh pumpkin puree:

1. Wash, split in half vertically and scoop out the center.
2. Place in a roasting pan, cut side down, and pour in enough water to cover the edges of the pumpkin 1/4 inch.
3. Roast until you can easily pierce the flesh and skin with a fork.
4. Scoop out pulp and puree.

Pumpkin Gingerbread

Combine 2.5 tsp cinnamon and ginger, 3/4tsp nutmeg, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/4 tea salt.

In a separate bowl, add 2 eggs and 1 egg white, 1/2 c almond or other oil and 1/2 c raw honey or molasses. If you want a very sweet cake, add 1/3 c brown sugar. If you are watching your sugar intake, omit it, as I did. To this mixture, stir in 1 cup fresh or canned pumpkin puree.

Optional: 1/2 c chopped walnuts or other nut and 1/4 c crystallized ginger, minced. Add to wet ingredients then fold in dry ingredients.

Pour into 9x9 pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Bake at 350 F for 35-40 min, looking for the gingerbread to pull away from the sides of the pan and an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean. Serve warm or cool on a rack.

Real Food Has Curves

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn Bell) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:48:00 +0000

Excerpts:

"It's processed, packaged, ridiculously sweet, unbelievably salty, mass-produced in such plummeting quality that it'shad to be shellacked with fat and artificial junk just to make it palatable-not to mention pumped with preservatives and emulsifies to keep it on the shelf well into the next Ice Age..."

"Elves don't make cookies. Uncle Ben doesn't convert rice. And Mrs. Baird doesn't bake bread."

"The road to Hell is paved with fake food."

"It's not that we love food to much. It's that we love food to little."

"Resolution aren't plans."

"You don't really want boxes, mixes or frozen entrees. You want ripe, gorgeous tomatoes; chicken with a crisp, brown skin; and a fruit crisp with a fulfilling allure..."

"A key part of finding real food: preparing it."

"...pantries of ready-to-eat meals we call restaurants."

"If a peach doesn't smell like anything, it won't taste like anything."

"Step away from all that is processed, packaged, low nutrition and poor quality. You just started down the road to enjoying food more, weighing less and being more content with your life."

"Taste: a seriously underrated sense."

"Taste's only rival may well be sexual arousal."

"When we talk about the texture of food, by and large we're talking about how quickly it becomes bolus..most of what we eat is soft. It becomes a bolus very quickly."

"People who chew more eat less. Chewing more means more time at the table. Chewing is the first step to good digestive health."

"Why are they called cheese food and not cheese?"

"Ideally, look for a small restaurant where someone is not just cooking but actually creating dishes in the kitchen. You want a place without corporate recipe development."

"What can I order that has lots of texture?"

"Do you really want to eat something that won't spoil until after your birthday next year- or even the year after that?"

"Since we don't eat real food anymore, we have had to add essential ingredients where they don't naturally occur to make up for the deficit. These additives are replacements for natural fats and proteins, all of which eventually go bad or rancid."

"Shelf life has become more important than taste or nutrition."

"BHT (organic compounds that preserve fats) is also used in jet fuel, exfoliating creams and embalming fluids."

"Sodium Benzoate (a salt that slows growth of mold and bacteria in salad dressings and soda) is also the stuff that makes fireworks whistle."

"Salt water injected into the meat as well as artificial flavorings...what would the chicken taste like if they didn't add flavorings?"

"Many canned broths are stocked with MSG...beef flavor."

"No one has tested all those additives and preservatives for long term use. They were given a human trial of forty days, three months... no one knows what those chemicals do in combination with each other."

"one draw back to real food is price."

"Fat free is not real food."

"When people say they don't have the time to make real food, they really mean they don't want to spend the effort."

"The amount of effort we put into making real food will pay off in better health, better weight maintenance, and better all-around contentment."

"People of normal weight spend more time shopping for and cooking food than people who are overweight."

"Cooking itself can be enjoyable, a way to experience life fully and to be creative."

"If our goal is to lose weight, we need to stop boiling dinner in a bag, or going on the fat flush purge, or doing any of the other unspeakable things all those diets require."

"In 2010, it's projected that the average American will spend EIGHT MINUTES a day preparing food at home - not per meal, but for all three meals, snacks included."

"Only 58% of our meals use at least one raw ingredient. Milk on cereal counts. Which means 42% of foods cooked at home did not include even one raw ingredient."

"If you're serious about taking control of what you eat, you start to find it really hard to go out."

"Imagine yourself as a person who slows down, who takes time with what you eat."

"Calories may be equal in science but they're not in our bellies. Protein and fiber leave our stomachs slowly."

"We don't just need to slow down; we must also choose foods that will stick with us for longer periods of time...protein and fiber."

"Foods are more than a vehicle for salt, fat and added flavors."

"Ever make cookies at home? Ever had them sit around for a month? If they don't mold, they'll probably rocks. But not those packaged ones"

"Why do people butter their bread? Or dip it in olive oil? Because it tastes good. You'll never see anyone corn-oiling their bread."

"soothing fears...calm down...that's not the point of food, that's the point of a bath, walk or favorite movies while snuggled down in the den."

"Food must not anesthetize, it has to stimulate."

"No part of a turkey, chicken, or pig looks like a football."

"Always push for the better alternative, buying the best you can afford."

"Why is it so difficult to add more vegetables? Because most require preparation."

Mark Scarbrough also writes the blog Real Food Has Curves.