Sick and Tired No More!

Wheat: The UNhealthy Whole Grain-Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:56:00 +0000

Waist and Weigh-in

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:35:00 +0000

January 2012: I made it through the holidays with no setbacks. No baked goods - can you believe it? I did have a couple of pieces of candy - those dark chocolate-covered cherries are hard to pass up. I'm down a few more pounds - five to be exact - and still feeling pretty good. My waistline measurement has not reduced by much, maybe another 1/4 inch, but at least it's not increasing as it has in the past after every holiday.

The biggest change I've made - and I think a habit that sets me up for healthier eating the rest of the day - is to have Greek Yogurt and fruit for breakfast or cottage cheese with fruit and walnuts. I bought Stevia to sprinkle on the unsweetened fruit. In the 'old days' (last October?), I ate some type of so-called 'healthy' bar every morning. And then got ravenous within a couple of hours of eating.

Trying to find wheat-free foods, especially while eating out, is difficult, but not impossible. My birthday is in March, so I'm hoping by then to feel much better. The pervasive soreness I've dealt with for the past few years has abated, and for that, I'm very thankful.

Till next time...!

December 2011: Finally! I'm starting to see my waist shrink. Down 2 inches. Whew! And I'm down about 11 pounds, although that's not my focus. My waist measurement means more to me as a gauge of my health. Now if I can make it through the holidays holding steady, I'll be starting the New Year on the right foot!

Dr. William Davis (Author of Wheat Belly) Interviewed on 700 Club

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:45:00 +0000

Do You Have a Wheat Belly? Interview with Dr. Davis.

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:45:00 +0000

Do You Have a Wheat Belly? Interview with Dr. Davis.

Holiday Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:23:00 +0000

There is way too much good food around right now to even think about dieting. But no - we don't talk about dieting, do we? We refer to being healthy instead. That has been my goal for a while now. Slowly, but surely, I am seeing my way back to feeling, if not healthy, at least a bit better. I'm drinking more water, less Diet Coke, and more tea. I've started drinking chamomile tea in the evenings which has helped me sleep. I still can't make myself eat beef or pork, but I am eating chicken or turkey at least three times a week and salmon once. I love salmon. Have you been to Lonestar Steakhouse? They have a Sweet Bourbon Salmon that's like eating candy.

My son keeps after me to exercise, so tonight I did. I'm not sure how this will set with my rib condition (costochondritis), but I got on my old Cardio Glide. Remember those? I have one in my basement and went down and glided (why it's called that, I'll never know) for about a half hour. Pray I can still move tomorrow!

I've heard many times that people gain weight during the holidays, but I've always had the exact opposite happen because I'm so busy this time of year, and this year is no different. Perhaps if my gliding works out, I can keep it up and keep the scale going down. I haven't measured my waistline lately. That's really my best gauge.

So, I hope you're making it through the holidays without going crazy with the sweets and goodies that abound this time of year. My mother-in-law made me a fruitcake, and of course, I have to eat it. I wouldn't want to hurt her feelings - and besides - it has fruit in it. I can also find an excuse to eat one more Buckeye - it has peanut butter and peanuts are full of protein. Ha! Now if I could just explain away the butter and milk chocolate. But I don't want to get too carried away with the excuses. Before long, all that sugar really would give me the holiday blues. I've been feeling better, and want to keep on my path to healthy living.

I hope your Christmas and New Year are blessed and full of joy. We'll travel this road to health in spite of all the dinners and parties, won't we? At least, let's try!

(Originally posted 12-09, but not much has changed. :)

Illustration courtesy of Kit Grady, who illustrated my picture book for children, Bradybug.

Thanksgiving Day Healthy Menu Plan and Shopping List

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:46:00 +0000

The "Wellness Mama" shares her menu plan, recipes and shopping list. I hope it will be useful to you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Day Healthy Menu Plan and Shopping List

Image: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Wellness Mama

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:48:00 +0000

A good friend of mine called yesterday and told me about a blog she follows where she has learned a new way of eating. In five weeks, she has lost 17 lbs. Impressive. But the important thing is, she has arthritis and she is feeling much less pain. Now that's what I call a impressive!

So, here's the link. Check it out. Let me know if you follow the plan and have success with it, too. I'm trying to re-program my mind to think of sugar and flour as toxins for my metabolism.

Here's the link to The Wellness Mama: http://wellnessmama.com/

Crunch Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:51:00 +0000

Okay, people. It's crunch time. I would like to feel good and enjoy this wonderful time in our lives. Instead, I'm suffering with plantar fascitis. At this point, I have to limp. No cute shoes for me.

Here are the causes of the condition:

•Tighter calf muscles that make it difficult to flex your foot and bring your toes up toward your shin
•Obesity
•Very high arch
•Repetitive impact activity (running/sports)
•New or increased activity

Hmm....well, I'm not running and my arches are fine. Yep, you and I both know what's happening here. So, I look at September almost like a New Year. This extra weight is really hurting and making me sick - in more ways than one.

Today, I will dig out that tape measure. I won't bore you with my starting number, but I will post progress as my waist size goes down. That will be my gauge. Not weight. My waist AND how I feel.

Here we go...again.

Image: kongsky / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ouch! Golfer's Elbow?

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:07:00 +0000

I said in an earlier post that I was going to give the Pilates Power Gym a try. Well, I did what I always do - I overdid it. Earlier this week, I noticed a burning sensation and occasional pain on the inside of my elbow. It's kind of like when you have blood drawn and then you feel sore in that area, but I had the added element of occasional pain shooting through my arm. When it didn't go away immediately, I did what most of us do these days - I Googled it. Unlike 'tennis elbow' which hurts on the outside, 'golfer's elbow' hurts on the inside. As I continued my search, I ended up in a forum for bodybuilders, and it turns out that using too much weight or improper form when doing exercizes for biceps can cause the condition.

So, even though I love the machine I've been using, I'm going to have to be more careful. In the past, when I hurt myself overdoing, I would quit. "What's the use?" I'd say. "I always get hurt." Well, I'm not going to let myself fall into that trap this time. I'm determined to continue.

Have you tried something new lately? How are you doing with your goals?

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How I Said Good-Bye to Sugar

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:50:00 +0000

Are you able to stay away from sugar? That could prove to be very difficult. Here's one woman's account of her struggle and eventual victory over sugar cravings.

How I Said Good-Bye to Sugar

Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Trying Something New - Pilates Power Gym

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:42:00 +0000

A new year. A new machine. Well, almost new. My friend, Teri, bought the Pilates Power Gym and I got a great buy on it used (Thanks, Teri!). I just had to order the workout DVD. Now that I have the DVD, I have no excuse. I must utililize the machine. So, today is my first day to try the basic workout.

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:48:00 +0000

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Ten Tips for Dining Out

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:36:00 +0000

"According to an article published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, larger portion sizes and eating too much fast food have both contributed to the prevalence of obesity in the United States. The research showed that women who ate more fast food meals had higher calorie and fat intake and more body fat."

Unfortunately, I can attest to this. In this article on the CBN.com site, Beth Reinke gives tips for dining out without pigging out. I like that! I'm already splitting my portions in half and saving it for lunch the next day, but I need to work more on getting sauces and dressings on the side.

Dining Out Done Right

Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tired of Being Tired?

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:50:00 +0000

Interesting article on CBN.com:

Tired of Being Tired?

Drug Worse than the Malady?

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:39:00 +0000

I just saw another one. A commercial for a drug touted to relieve the symptoms of a serious illness. The funny (or not so funny when you think about it) thing is that the side effects mirror the symptoms of the illness the drug is supposed to treat. I know you've noticed this. The announcer has a bright, chirpy voice for the first two-thirds of the commercial telling you of the miraculous healing you'll receive. Then for the final third, the voice over artist takes it down a notch, lowering his or her pitch and in rapid fire fashion lists the side effects. By the time the commercial is over, my head is spinning. Will it help? Will it hurt? Will I be worse off for taking something that's supposed to help? Good grief.

Tripping Down Memory Lane

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:30:00 +0000

Here's the other picture my husband found. You'll notice I'm standing behind a table laden with sugar. Back then, I don't remember eating one donut or drinking one cup of punch. And I didn't even drink coffee back then. What a thought! I'm a Starbucks junkie now. Think all that caffeine, sugar, and cream might explain my expanded waistline and depleted energy? Hmm...something to ponder.

Aha! There's My Waist

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:03:00 +0000

My husband was searching for information in an old book and found two pictures of me tucked inside. There I am - young and healthy. I started to add 'skinny,' but being skinny was automatic for me back then. What I remember about my eating habits is that I consumed food, but thinking about, preparing, and eating food did not consume me. I ate to live, not the other way around.

I found my waist again, but in a very old and slightly yellowed picture, not in real life. I'm still working on that!

Seeing Myself on Video

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:42:00 +0000

You know how you can fool yourself into thinking you look pretty good - as long as you don't look into a full-length mirror or see candid pictures of yourself? Wait until someone records you and puts it up on YouTube! We have a new media minister at church and so far, he has put up 3 or 4 videos of me singing. I didn't mind until this last one when I didn't have a large wooden pulpit to hide behind.

The thing is - after watching it a couple times, I could get my mind off of my appearance and enjoy the song and the message. I'm enthused and joyous while singing about My Redeemer and I think that shows.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've struggled with a lot of pain in my ribs as well as generalized pain all over. That particular morning, I had struggled to get ready for our Resurrection Sunday service, but once I start singing, I feel no pain. Please continue to pray for me. I'm almost resigned to start taking the injections into my ribs. The thought of that really freaks me out, but if I can endure momentary pain for weeks of relief, I'm sure it would be worth it.

Here's the video. I hope you are blessed by the song.

Remove Life's Clutter

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:03:00 +0000

A link to a great article: Remove Life's Clutter

I've been making a dedicated effort to start paring down. I think if I can get more of a handle on things around me and lighten up, then it will naturally flow into my way of eating and taking care of my body. What do you think? Sound like a plan?

Healthy Holidays - Health - CBN.com

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Healthy Holidays - Health - CBN.com

Never Too Late

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:31:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago my son and I were eating in a restaurant when one of my friends from my bowling days came in. I could hardly believe it. She looked like she had lost a good forty pounds. And yes - it did her good! She looked like she had the body of a 35 year old, and she and I are nearly the same age.

I blurted out, "You've lost so much weight!" She looked confused at first and then realizing I hadn't seen her in a couple years, replied, "Oh, yeah. I started running." Running? At our age? Again - something totally off my radar.

It turns out that she and her husband have started running races, and they're doing well. She also had participated in a competition for people who had received organ transplants and won that, too. Get this - in the 50-yard dash and the long jump!

Yes, you read that right. About fifteen years ago, this woman stood at death's door. She had to have a liver transplant. When I first met her several years ago, she was still getting used to the idea that she had someone else's liver. I remember her saying she left all the worrying about it up to her family and focused on getting her body healthy again.

So now that she's healthy again, she's on to bigger and better things. Well, if this was the second part of her long-range plan, it's been to her advantage. That night, she and her husband had stopped in for a bite to eat before they competed in a couple's bowling leage. Her average is 172.

A decade ago, my friend's main goal was to get healthy and try not to reject this gift of life in the form of a healthy liver. Now she's using her body every day in ways she thought impossible a few short years ago. It was quite inspiring. Her example tells me it's never too late to get healthy.

Am I going to start running? Umm...I don't think so. But walking? That I can manage!

An Out-of-Control Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:18:00 +0000

I watched Joyce Meyer this morning. She taught on "An Out-of-Control Soul." Very practical and inspiring. I urge you to watch the podcast. The entire series on boundaries would be worth your time. I know I intend to watch this again. I also downloaded the study notes. Here's that link: http://www.joycemeyer.org/jmmweb/broadcast/programs/091709/notes.pdf

Eat Healthy on a Tight Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:24:00 +0000

In my last post, I asked if it is possible to eat healthy on a budget. Carrie shared some tips that I wanted to highlight. She says, "Yes! It is possible." Here are her great tips:

Prepare ground meat, baked or grilled chicken, etc. in bulk.
Freeze the meats in meal-sized portions so all you have to do is grab from the freezer.
Same goes for fresh veggies, fruits, etc.
Spend your time on the front end and mass prepare when possible.
On the back end, grab what you need, add seasonings, veggies, etc. and your meal is about 30 - 45 min. away from serving.
Bulk rice stores in freezer, as does flour, if you find bargains on larger quantities than you need.
If freezer space is at a premium, store rice, flour (grains) tightly sealed as possible in plastic or glass with a bay leaf. Bay leaves are wonderful deterrents against bugs!

Thanks for those timely suggestions, Carrie!

Is It Any Cheaper to Eat Healthy?

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:13:00 +0000

I'm teaching a class during the Sunday School hour using Bill Hybels' small group study book, Getting a Grip. So far we've discussed getting a grip on life, our schedules, and our bodies. During yesterday's session, we got into a spirited discussion on whether you can eat healthy on a budget.

One couple contends that it's very difficult to buy healthy food when money's tight. My argument was that even when money is tight, it's more cost efficient to buy foods good for you because you are satiated by it. Why buy a bag of potato chips when you can buy a 10-lb. bag of potatoes for about the same cost?

I did make one concession in the argument. It takes more time to prepare the fresh foods. And of course, more effort. We can dive into a bag of chips in no time flat, but it takes more work to prepare the fresh potatoes.

How do you eat healthy on a budget? Is it possible?

Heart Surgery News

noreply@blogger.com (Donna J. Shepherd, Author of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap") — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:07:00 +0000

I'm always on the lookout for good news regarding heart surgery since my husband had quintuple bypass surgery a few years ago.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2009/September/New-A-Fib-Procedure-Combines-Specialties-/

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