A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy LIfestyle

Recipe: Yummy Low Carb Chocolate Nuggets

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:06:00 +0000

Ingredients
3/4 cup Melted Coconut Oil
9.5 Tbsp. Almond Butter
3/8 tsp Liquid Stevia
3 Tbsp. Cocoa
9 Tbsp. Melted Salted Butter

Fill 24 candy or mini-muffin silicone molds.

Place candy mold on a cookie sheet, and then fill it, then put it in the freezer.

Freeze for at least 30 minutes, then pop out the chocolates and store them in a bag or other container in the freezer. You can keep them in the fridge, but as soon as you hold one with your hot little fingers, it will melt really fast. Frozen, it melts slower.

Nutritional info per chocolate nugget:
145 calories
14.7g fat
1.53g protein
1.67g carbs

Thanks for reading!

© 2013 Thanks for taking the time to read A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle. Please feel free to peruse my blog for more great content.Mine and My Husband's Other Websites: HealthyPickyEater.com | PaulsHealthBlog.com

Fat Head - The Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 15:37:00 +0000

Tom Naughton, writer and creator of the documentary, 'Fat Head', uses this film to drive home his thesis that most of what we know about "healthy eating" is wrong.

Thanks for reading!

© 2011 Thanks for taking the time to read A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle. Please feel free to peruse my blog for more great content.Mine and My Husband's Other Websites: HealthyPickyEater.com | PaulsHealthBlog.com

USDA: Kids Need 5 to 9 Fruits and Veggies

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 20:54:00 +0000

To learn more about BarleyLife Xtra™, click here.

Thanks for reading!

If Giraffes Ate The Food We Eat…

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:12:00 +0000

Would they look like this?

Thanks for reading!

Non-Dairy Coconut Whipped Topping

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:41:00 +0000

Coconut Whipped Topping

One can of full-fat coconut milk 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/4 tsp Stevia (or use sweetener of your choice)

Directions

1. Place the can in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight, to separate the cream from the water.

2. Place your mixing bowl and beaters in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to starting -- this will help speed up the whipping process.

3. Open the can of coconut milk and carefully scoop out the cream into your mixing bowl (the top 3/4 of the can will be cream and the bottom 1/4 of the can will be water). Make sure not to include any water, as any amount will harm your results.

4. Add vanilla and Stevia and whip until it reaches the right consistency.

Eat with any berries of your choice for a delicious, no-guilt dessert that is low in carbs and very healthy. Makes 1-1/2 cups of whipped topping (9.6 carbs total).

Thanks for reading!

2 Week Progress Report

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:59:00 +0000

I lost 3-1/2 pounds this week for a total of 13 pounds! I'm very excited and I feel great! I took my measurements again and I lost an additional 3 inches for a total of 5-3/4 inches!

One thing I noticed this week was a decreased appetite so I only ate two meals a day: breakfast and dinner. And by dinner, I really mean a late lunch... around 4:00pm. I haven't been the least bit hungry for lunch and when I eat my last meal of the day, I stay satisfied well into the evening. I'll let you know if this pattern continues.

Another thing: I don't think I'll be able to continue drinking the AIM ProPeas® and fit ’n fiber® Shakes. If you like smoothies etc., you might like it. I'm just not a smoothie or fruit juice drinker. Perhaps I just didn't give myself enough time to adjust to it but the truth is, I've never been a replacement shake-type person. It's just not my thing. Many years ago, I did Slim-Fast®. I used to make myself drink those horrible chocolate shakes. I can still remember the taste. Also, several years ago I did the Body-for-LIFE® 12-week challenge and drank EAS® protein shakes. Again, I just made myself drink them because the program required it. The only kind of shake I like is a chocolate milkshake... the real stuff! And I can't drink that if I want to reach my goal. Thankfully, I'm not craving them either! My sweet treat is my Low Carb Cheesecake Cupcakes and they satisfy me my sweet cravings.

I am still taking AIM BarleyLife® capsules daily and it is a huge help. I believe taking BarleyLife® is one of the reasons I'm not hungry at lunch time or experiencing any cravings. BarleyLife® also ensures I'm getting all the vital nutrition my body needs.

Until next time...

Thanks for reading!

© 2012 Thanks for taking the time to read A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle. Please feel free to peruse my blog for more great content.Mine and My Husband's Other Websites: HealthyPickyEater.com | PaulsHealthBlog.com

When You Eat Right... It Works!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:57:00 +0000

Here's my 1 week Progress Report: I've lost 9-1/2 pounds! That's right, folks, in one week, I have lost an entire dress size!

Being curious, I took my measurements this morning just to see if I had lost any inches.

Would you believe I lost an inch from my waist and an inch from my hips?! In total, I lost 2-3/4 inches! I was shocked but excited to see these results in only 7 days!

And the best part is, I didn't suffer doing it. There was not one time when I felt depressed or deprived. Like Tony the Tiger says, "I FEEL GREAT!!!"

Following is a typical day of what I ate this past week:

An hour before Breakfast: 7 - AIM BarleyLife® capsules

Breakfast: Spanish Omelet with Sausage Links

In Between: 7 - AIM BarleyLife® capsules

Lunch: AIM ProPeas® and fit ’n fiber® Shake

In Between: Nothing but water! I actually stayed satisfied.

Dinner: Chicken Tortilla Soup (without the tortillas of course!)

Dessert: Low-Carb Cheesecake Cupcake

And whenever I was thirsty, I drank water. No coffee (me no like), no soft drinks, nothing but cool, refreshing water. Sometimes I added a wedge of lemon to it. After doing this for only two days I found that I didn't miss drinking soft drinks at all. I was and am ecstatic! You see, I was in the habit of drinking a Diet Coke each and every morning... my coffee. I thought I was doing good -- drinking no-caffeine Diet Coke but the truth is, aspartame is terrible for you and even though I knew that, I drank it anyway... too much of it. Simply stated, I was addicted.

I feel great knowing that the only things I'm putting in my body are things that are good for me: Good supplements, good food, good meal replacements, and good water.

I feel very positive about what I achieved this last week and consequently, I am motivated to continue. Daily, I am faced with opportunities to eat something I shouldn't and yet I have abstained. This too has made me feel good about myself. It makes me feel confident thinking I can really do this!

Thanks for reading!

A New Way of Eating

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:06:00 +0000

Guess what? I started a new way of eating today! I'm excited to see the results and I will share my progress along the way.

Here's my plan:

1.) Take 7 BarleyLife® capsules.

2.) Breakfast: Eat bacon and eggs.

3.) Lunch: Drink a ProPeas®/fit'n fiber® shake.

4.) Take 7 BarleyLife® capsules.

5.) Dinner: Eat a low-carb meal or if short on time... drink another ProPeas/fit 'n fiber shake.

6.) Drink lots of water.

7.) Dessert: Eat one Low-Carb Cupcake. I mean, life isn't worth living without dessert!

Following is some background as to why I am taking AIM's BarleyLife® as well as ProPeas® and fit 'n fiber®.

My husband and I have taken BarleyLife® for over 12 years so I know very well what a wonderful supplement it is. BarleyLife's primary ingredient is young barley grass, which is an incredibly complete source of nutrition, containing a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins, enzymes, chlorophyll, and phytonutrients. You can read how I believe BarleyLife® helped improve my vision here.

I also took BarleyLife® throughout the 9 months of my last pregnancy. Shortly after Brady was born, we began to supplement his breast milk with BarleyLife Xtra®. Five years later, Brady still loves BarleyLife Xtra® and drinks 4 to 6 cups daily. Since Brady is a very picky eater, we feel blessed that he is getting the nutrition his little body desperately needs. You can ready more about what we believe BarleyLife Xtra® has done for Brady here.

My husband and I have done much reading on the subject and believe that eating animal protein along with low-carb vegetables is the healthiest way to eat. We have eaten low-carb for many years and when done properly have been pleased with the results. Unfortunately, I am loathe to admit that I have cheated by eating too many sweets and too many high-carb foods. As a result, I have put on more pounds than I'm happy living with. In addition, my doctor recently informed me that I am borderline diabetic and need to change my diet. So it's back on the wagon I go!

In addition to taking BarleyLife® and eating strictly low-carb, I am taking AIM's new weight management products: ProPeas® and fit 'n fiber®. ProPeas® contains 12 grams of protein per serving and uses allergen-free, non-GMO pea protein as its protein source. AIM fit ’n fiber® contains 12 grams of total fiber per serving, including 10 grams of heart-healthy soluble fiber. The two products complement each other by decreasing the appetite, making you feel full longer, and boosting metabolism. Everything I need to succeed!

I am excited and will definitely keep you posted of my progress.

Thanks for reading!

Recipe for Low Carb Lasagna

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:49:00 +0000

Following is an example of how you can take a favorite 'high-carb' recipe and transform it into a wonderful low-carb dish.

What I did is substitute spinach for the lasagna noodles. My family loves it so consequently, I make this yummy dish once every other week.

Another great thing about this recipe is that it makes 2-9x13 pans of lasagna so you cook once and have dinner for several nights. And trust me, no one complains about eating these leftovers!

Low Carb Green Chili Lasagna

5 pounds Ground Chuck
Salt and Pepper to taste
16oz fresh Mushrooms, sliced
1 stick Butter
4 - 8oz cans Tomato Sauce (with Basil, Garlic & Oregano)
2 tsp Garlic Powder
15oz carton Ricotta Cheese
8oz carton Sour Cream
8oz pkg Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup Green Onions, chopped
3 - 4oz Green Chilies, chopped
2 - 11oz pkg Baby Spinach leaves
5 oz pkg Parmesan Cheese, shredded
4 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

In a large pot, brown ground beef. Drain beef, then season meat with salt and pepper to taste.

Saute mushrooms in butter until tender. To the ground beef, add mushrooms, tomato sauce, and garlic powder. Simmer on medium-low.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together Ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, green onions, and green chilies. Set aside.

Grease 2-9x13 pans with butter or non-stick spray.

First Layer: Spinach

Open one of the packages of baby spinach leaves and divide the spinach equally between the two 9x13 pans.

Second Layer: Meat Mixture/Parmesan Cheese

Put a very thin layer of the meat mixture on top of the spinach in each 9x13 pan. Keep in mind, you will need to split this meat mixture up into four parts (2 layers x 2 pans). Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top of the meat mixture.

Third Layer: Green Chili/Cream Cheese Mixture

Divide the mixture evenly between the two 9x13 pans and place the green chili/cream cheese mixture on top of the meat mixture.

Fourth Layer: Spinach

Open the second package of baby spinach leaves and divide the spinach equally between the two 9x13 pans, layering it on top of the green chili/cream cheese mixture.

Fifth Layer: Meat Mixture

Divide the remaining meat mixture equally between the two 9x13 pans, layering it on top of the spinach.

Sixth Layer: Parmesan Cheese/Mozzarella Cheese

First, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top of the meat mixture in each 9x13 pan. Then top each pan of lasagna with 2 cups of Mozzarella cheese.

Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and if the mozzarella isn't quite melted, cook for another 5 minutes, uncovered.

Makes 12 servings.

Carbs: 6.5 per serving.

The amount of carbs in a lasagna made with pasta is 36.5 per serving. And believe me, you won't miss the pasta.

Bon Appetit!

Thanks for reading!

The Craziest Thing I've Ever Done

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:36:00 +0000

Well, I didn't win anything, but I did accomplish something. If anyone ever asks me, "What's the craziest thing you've ever done?" I can tell them, "I was stuck on a truck for 62.5 hours!"

I went into the competition prepared to win. Along with my shorts and 'Stuck on a Truck' t-shirt, I wore compression socks (much to my husband's chagrin) . I bought a back brace, though I never had to use it. I had three pairs of tennis shoes, a pair of Timberland's and a pair of Crocs flip flops to rotate throughout the contest. But the most important thing I did (and the reason why I hung in there for 62.5 hours) is I snacked on low-carb, healthy foods, drank mostly water, and took lots and lots of BarleyLife^TM.

I also had an amazing pit crew. I know I wouldn't have lasted more than 24 hours without them. My pit crew members were my husband-Paul, my daughter-Rachael, my son-Dylan, my mom, Joloyce, my sister-in-law-Cathy and my brother-Jeff. They made sure I had something to eat and drink and was rested. They also sat in the bleachers and interacted with me, to keep me awake and alert.

I took my first nap at twelve midnight, Sunday morning, on one of my fifteen minute breaks. My husband told me he would wake me up two to three minutes before it was time to get back on the truck. Instead of the nap refreshing me, it unsettled me more than anything. When I got back on the truck, I was shaking from head to toe.

Then about fifteen minutes later, the bank staff informed us that due to the thunderstorm, they were moving us inside the bank for safety reasons. We then all laid down on the floor and went to sleep.

Two hours later, they woke us up and led us back to the truck. By this time, my feet were killing me. All I could think of was that I was in pain. I felt miserable. Shortly after returning, I took both hands off the truck... I was done. My husband and daughter were there to take me home. They both said I acted like I was drunk. I don't remember much about those last few moments.

'Stuck on a Truck' was a great experience, though I will never do it again. I was told by a good friend of mine, Tim Secor (previous Stuck On A Truck competitor), that competing in this contest would be the hardest thing I have ever done. He was right. It was so much harder than I could have ever imagined!

I thought I was tough and I guess I still am. But I can't be stuck on a truck long enough to win one. As I write this blog post, there at twelve people still 'Stuck on a Truck'. Almost eighty-six hours... unbelievable!

Since coming off the truck, I have slept twelve hours. I'm still not caught up though, so I'm going to bed to get some more sleep!

Thanks for reading!

It's On... Thursday, 4/28/2011 is the Big Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:03:00 +0000

Hey everybody!

Tomorrow is the big day! In less than 14 hours I will be 'Stuck on a Truck'! The Toad Suck Daze festival actually kicks off at noon Friday but the Stuck on a Truck contest starts a day earlier.

I have spent the last two and a half weeks preparing for the big event. I bought a 9 ft x 10 ft tent, an inflatable mattress, a lantern, and other paraphernalia.

The reason why I need all this stuff is so that on my breaks, I have a place to rest. All the contestants get a five minute break every hour and a fifteen minute break every six hours.

I am gathering everything together to take down to the Centennial Bank parking lot tomorrow morning. All of the contestants have to be onsite at 8 o'clock in the morning to take a drug test.

All 25 of us contestants appeared in the Log Cabin Democrat paper this morning with a short little bio about each of us. You can read the bios here: http://www.stuckonatruck.com/contestants2011.php

I am excited! Be sure to check my progress at http://www.stuckonatruck.com/index.html. You can click on either 'Contestants' or 'Webcam' to see how I'm doing.

Wish me luck! I'm going to need it! :)

Thanks for reading!

It's Official... I'm a Stuck On A Truck Contestant!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 03:03:00 +0000

I went to Centennial Bank Monday night to find out if I would be an actual contestant.

The bank lobby was filled with Stuck on a Truck wannabees and their friends and families.

After passing out Stuck on a Truck t-shirts, we waited for the 25 contestant names to be drawn.

After hearing so many names called before mine, I was getting a little nervous. You can imagine my relief when the lady said, "And the 25th contestant is... Laura Eilers!" Whew... that was a close one!

Naturally, I took it as a sign. The last name called... the last person standing! :)

Wish me luck! I am soooooo excited! You can read the newspaper article here.

Thanks for reading!

I'm a Stuck On A Truck Contestant!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 04:09:00 +0000

Well, one step closer to being a contestant anyway!

At 5 o'clock today, I heard The Point 94.1 announce my name over the airwaves. I promptly called the radio station and claimed my spot.

I'm so excited! I have to go by Centennial Bank tomorrow and make the claim official.

The Point 94.1 has already announced 16 names and will call out 44 more over the next two weeks.

On April 18, 2011, Centennial Bank will draw 25 contestant names and 2 alternates. So I'm not an official contestant yet but hopefully, on April 18th, I will become one.

Thanks for reading!

© 2011 Thanks for taking the time to read A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle. Please feel free to peruse my blog for more great content.
Mine and My Husband's Other Websites: HealthyPickyEater.com | PaulsHealthBlog.com

I'm Baaaack!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:53:00 +0000

So, how do you get back into the blogging thing? Just do it! :) I've been meaning to get back into the swing of blogging for a while now but just kept putting it off.

I've been busy rearing my toddler (Brady turned 4 years old yesterday... can you believe it?), taking care of the rest of the family, working some insane hours at my 8-5 (yeah, right!) job, and in my spare time - playing with my iPhone!

I admit it. Having an iPhone has changed my life. I've been using it for about a year and a half now. I didn't care for Facebook at all... until I got an iPhone! I absolutely love the Facebook app. I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping up with all my friends and family through Facebook. It's so cool! I have tons and tons of apps. So in short, I'm hooked!

I don't know if you remember me writing about Toad Suck Daze or not. But it's a pretty big deal in Conway, Arkansas! :) It's an annual festival that occurs the first weekend of May and one of the highlights of Toad Suck Daze (for me anyway) is a contest called 'Stuck on a Truck'.

I have often wanted to be a contestant on 'Stuck on a Truck' and this year is no exception. I started registering at many of the sponsor locations last weekend. Little Rock radio station, The Point 94.1, started calling out names a couple days ago and I've been tuning in to listen for my name to be announced. If I become a contestant, I will do a blog post and let everyone know.

Well, that's all for now. I'll do my best to post something every now and then. I've just got to figure out how to blog using my iPhone.

Thanks for reading!

© 2011 Thanks for taking the time to read A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle. Please feel free to peruse my blog for more great content.

Mine and My Husband's Other Websites: HealthyPickyEater.com | PaulsHealthBlog.com

At The Beach in North Carolina!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 01:51:00 +0000

Laura, Paul, Dylan and Brady

Thanks for reading!

© 2008 Thanks for taking the time to read A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle. Please feel free to peruse my blog for more great content.

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

How To Lose Weight: A Brief Summary

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:02:00 +0000

Several years ago, in an interview with Sports Illustrated, Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden gave the following weight loss advice: "Before the beginning of every football season, in order to lose weight, I had to cut out the foods that I like - bread, the pasta, the sugar, sweets, potatoes and white-floured foods, and I didn't have any trouble losing weight."

It's hard to lose weight by simply restricting calories. Eating less (and exercising more) does not automatically cause you to lose weight.

Low-calorie, high-carbohydrate diets generate a series of biochemical signals in your body that will take you out of the balance, making it more difficult to access stored body fat for energy. Result: you'll reach a weight-loss plateau, beyond which you simply can't lose any more weight.

Diets based on choice restriction and calorie limits usually fail. People on restrictive diets get tired of feeling hungry and deprived. They go off their diets, put the weight back on (primarily as increased body fat), and then feel bad about themselves for not having enough will power, discipline, or motivation.

Weight loss has little to do with will power. You need information, not will power. If you change what you eat, you don't have to be overly concerned about how much you eat. Sticking to a diet of low carbohydrate meals, you can eat enough to feel satisfied and still lose weight - without obsessively counting calories or fat grams.

Following is a brief weight loss summary:

Eighty percent of your ability to reduce excess body fat is determined by what you eat. The other twenty percent depends on proper exercise, lifestyle habits and genetic factors.

Effortless weight loss is all about insulin. Manage your production of insulin, which is a storage hormone, by eliminating sugar and grains (yes, even whole grains) and you will lose excess body fat without dieting. You'll also improve your energy level, reduce inflammation and reduce your risk of disease.

Just remember this: Carbohydrates control insulin. Insulin controls fat storage.

Carbohydrate intake level is the key to your weight loss success or failure. For optimum fat burning, keep your carbohydrate level below fifty grams per day. For steady weight loss of one to two pounds per week, keep your daily level between fifty to one hundred grams.

Eating meat, eggs and a diet high in fat is not only healthy, but the key to effortless weight loss, a healthy immune system and boundless energy.

When eating meat, eggs or poultry, try to eat grass-fed meat. It's not necessary, but if you are able to do so, it's a healthier option. Make sure you consume enough good fats, like real butter, coconut oil, and animal fat. Real eggs and avocados are good sources too. Good fats satisfies and decreases appetite.

Take a good whole-food supplement to make sure you don't have a vitamin deficiency. Deficiencies cause cravings, among other things.

Drink a lot of water. Use Stevia for sweetener when drinking things like tea.

As for exercise, doing less cardiovascular workouts and instead, do brief (forty-five minutes to an hour) resistance/weight training exercises gets the best results for weight loss. Walking on a regular basis and all-out sprints once a week produce fitness benefits far superior to workouts that are much longer and harder. You'll also be less likely to burnout.

For Health and Weight Loss, You Can Eat:

1. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and any natural animal fat. Grass-fed sources are best.

2. Vegetables, including leaves, stems, bulbs and roots

3. Limited amount of fruits and berries (includes avocados and olives)

4. Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and coconut

5. Herbs and spices

Avoid (Order of Importance)

1. Sweeteners, including sugar (white, brown, organic, whatever), maple syrup and rice syrup

2. Vegetable oils other than extra virgin olive

3. Cereal grains and grain products (bread, pasta, pastries, corn)

4. Legumes (beans and peas, including soy and peanuts)

5. Dairy products

Here is a list of the unnatural foods that you should not eat when you need to lose weight. Note that a couple of these foods listed are vegetables. Although most vegetables are good for you, some contain too much starch and carbohydrates. Foods to avoid or cut back on:

Bread – including white, wheat, rye, barley, sourdough
Honey – also too high in sugar
Popcorn
Bagels, muffins, donuts, pastries and cakes
Crackers, chips and rice cakes
Pizza and pasta
Beans
Rice – white and brown
Oats
Lentils
Potatoes
Dry cereals
Any foods containing corn, wheat, or white flour
Corn
Milk, whole, 2% and non-fat
Chocolate and other types of sugary candy
Cottage cheese
Yogurt
Ice cream
All cheeses
Soft drinks, colas, or soda pop with sugar
Processed cold cuts – packaged, ham, bacon
Beverages containing high fructose corn syrup (Gatorade, Vitamin Water, Coke, Pepsi)
Diet soda – it's all chemicals
Alcohol, including beer, wine, and hard liquor
Dried fruit – although natural, the sugar content is too high
Pancakes, waffles and french toast
Peanut butter – bad for your immune system – makes you susceptible to skin problems
Unripe bananas – when a banana is not ripe, it is also a starch

By avoiding or greatly cutting way back on the foods listed above, you will lose weight. Guaranteed.

What You Can Eat

Fish with scales and fins
Fowl/Poultry/Chicken
Red Meat
Eggs
Bacon (No added nitrates is best.)
Butter
All fruit (limited) except unripe bananas and dried fruit
All vegetables except corn, beans and potatoes
All raw, unroasted nuts
Water – try to drink filtered water
Healthy salad dressings

Final Point

You will be eating enough protein and fat to speed up your metabolism. The eating of refined, unnatural foods slows down your metabolism and causes your body to release too much insulin, which causes water retention. You'll also have a lot more energy by eating this way and your mind will be sharper.

A Typical Day

First thing in the morning after I wake up, I drink filtered water and take a whole-food supplement. After thirty minutes or so, I'll eat bacon and eggs for breakfast. Some mornings I skip breakfast because I'm not hungry. Depends on how I'm feeling.

For lunch, I'll eat a salad with either turkey or chicken.

For dinner, I might eat several hamburger patties with a small salad or cooked vegetables.

For a snack, I might consume some blueberries. (One to two servings of fruit per day is plenty.) Nuts are a favorite too, particularly almonds.

Several times a week I skip dinner and do a short, overnight intermediate fast. Not only does fasting aid in weight loss, but in overall health and longevity as well.

The Bottom Line

You will not lose fat effectively with exercise-driven weight-loss efforts, unless your eating habits control insulin production. Keeping your insulin levels low is the absolute key to weight loss.

Finally, weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. Losing two to three pounds a week is a solid, realistic goal. This will help you change your habits and in six months to a year, you'll be looking good!

Whole-Food Supplement

BarleyLife Xtra™

Recommended Reading - Books

Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It

Protein Power

The Six Week Cure For The Middle-Aged Middle

Good Calories, Bad Calories

The Primal Blueprint

Fathead (DVD)

Recommended Reading - Blogs

Fat Head - Tom Naughton

Protein Power - Dr. Mike Eades, M.D.

Why We Get Fat - Gary Taubes, author

Mark's Daily Apple - Mark Sisson, author

Wheat Belly Blog - Dr. William Davis, M.D. (Cardiologist)

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Everything I say in this report is simply my opinion. The information in this report is based on research and personal experience by the author and is presented for educational purposes only. This report is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. You should always consult with your physician before using this advice or these products. Please do not use any dietary suggestions in this publication if you are not willing to assume the risk.

Thanks for reading!

Recipe for Seven-Layer Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:24:00 +0000

When the family gets together for Thanksgiving and Christmas, one of the things I make is a seven-layer salad. It is always a hit and quickly consumed!

Following is how she makes it:

2 pkgs lettuce of your choice
½ cup bell pepper, finely chopped
½ cup celery, finely chopped
¼ cup green onion, finely chopped
16 oz. frozen green peas, thawed
1 cup mayonnaise
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup real bacon bits

First, layer bottom of dish with lettuce. Then layer the following: bell pepper, celery, green onion, and peas. Next combine mayonnaise and sugar and spread over the top of salad, sealing the edges. For the final layers, sprinkle cheese and bacon over the top. Serves 8-10. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Status Update and Low Carb Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:30:00 +0000

You thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth, didn't you? Well, I've been extremely busy and just haven't taken the time to blog.

I've been low-carbing it for over 7 weeks now and have lost 20 pounds! I have also been running on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays so I know that has helped me a bunch with the weight loss.

Following is a recipe for low-carb cheesecake cupcakes. The cupcakes don't look like the picture above, it was just the best looking picture I could find of a cheesecake cupcake!

Low Carb Cheesecake Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
3 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese
1-1/2 Tblsp. Stevia (or 1 cup Splenda)
5 eggs
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. heavy cream

Filling:
8 oz. sour cream
1-1/2 tsp. Stevia (or 2 Tbsp. Splenda)
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Place cream cheese in a bowl and add one egg at a time beating with a hand mixer. Slowly add the Stevia and vanilla. The batter will be thin. Pour into paper cupcake liners about an 1/8 inch from the top.

Bake in a 300 degree oven for 30 minutes (or until large cracks appear on the top). Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.

For the filling, add the Stevia and vanilla to the sour cream. Add a teaspoon on top of each cupcake and return to the oven for 5 minutes.

Cool for 5 minutes and then refrigerate.

Notes: These cupcakes can also be frozen. You may add lemon juice and lemon zest to the sour cream filling (though I only recommend this if you are making the regular cupcakes and NOT the chocolate ones - unless you like the taste of lemon with your chocolate!).

Chocolate Version:
Add 1 pkt Nestle Choco Bake Pre-Melted Unsweetened Chocolate Flavor and 3/4 Tblsp. Stevia to cream cheese mixture.

Makes 18 cupcakes. Cupcakes are 1.92 carbs for vanilla and 2.36 carbs for chocolate. What I do is fill 9 cupcake liners with white, 9 cupcake liners with chocolate and then the remaining chocolate I put on top of the white and swirl them together.

Paul and I love these cheesecake cupcakes so much that I make a new batch every weekend. It's wonderful to be able to eat something sweet and not feel the least bit guilty about it.

Thanks for reading!

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10 Super Foods to Energize Your Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:57:00 +0000

The specific foods that should be included in a list of 10 most healthy could be debated, but here are some that would have to be considered for that list. Common features among these foods are that they are packed with nutrients and have proven health benefits.

1. Sweet potatoes contain high amounts of fiber, vitamins C and E, folate and potassium. Their color is an indication that sweet potatoes are high in the antioxidant beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Foods high in this antioxidant have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. As a bonus, they are fat-free and relatively low in calories.

2. Almonds, like all nuts, are a great source of protein. They are high in fiber, vitamin E and contain more calcium than any other nut. Most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated, which can help in lowering LDL cholesterol and reduce your heart disease risk.

3. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids - a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots that may cause heart attacks. Other reported benefits of Omega-3s include decreasing triglyceride levels, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of stroke. The "wild" variety as compared to farm raised is preferable since it is thought to contain fewer contaminants.

4. Broccoli is packed with phytonutrients, plant compounds that are beneficial in preventing heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. Broccoli is also a good source of vitamins A and C - antioxidants that protect your body's cells from damage.

5. Olive Oil, and in particular, the minimally processed, "extra virgin" type, is considered to be a healthy source of fat. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat that is considerably healthier than the saturated fats that come from animal sources. Epidemiologic studies have shown that those who get more of their fat from monounsaturated sources have lower incidences of heart disease and diabetes. A double benefit comes about when olive oil is substituted for saturated fats in the diet.

6. Spinach is loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, magnesium, iron, lutein, and phytochemicals. It's also a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B-6, calcium, iron and magnesium. Eating spinach can provide protection against developing osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, and arthritis. Spinach is also an excellent source of iron, a mineral that it particularly important for menstruating women, who are more at risk for iron deficiency.

7. Apples have earned the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" honestly. Apples are extremely high in antioxidants and contain high amounts of vitamin C and fiber. Research in animals and humans has demonstrated benefits from eating apples in cancer prevention (lung, breast, colon, liver), diabetes management, Alzheimer's disease prevention, and cholesterol management. Because of pesticide contamination it is best to choose organic varieties if possible.

8. Red Beans are an excellent low-fat source of protein, magnesium and potassium, all needed for muscle function and health. Beans are also a great source of dietary fiber which helps lower your cholesterol, promotes satiety, so that you'll eat less, helps with constipation, and may help in preventing diabetes.

9. Blueberries contain large amounts of antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins. This plant pigment is responsible for the color of blueberries as well as for several of the health benefits. Blueberries are good sources of vitamin C, manganese, and fiber also. Some of the health benefits linked to blueberries include decreasing one's risk of heart disease, improving nighttime visual acuity, lowering the risk of developing of age-related macular degeneration of the eyes, and reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

10. Whole-grain breads contain both wheat bran and wheat germ and offer impressive health benefits. The germ is the vitamin and mineral rich embryo of the wheat kernel that is removed during the refining of whole wheat grains to white flour. The bran is the fiber-rich component of whole wheat. In many studies, eating whole grains has been linked to protection against atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and premature death.

Other contenders for the healthy food hall of fame include yogurt, quinoa, tofu, tomatoes, fat-free milk, citrus fruits, and rice. Try to include as many of these "super foods" into your diet as possible and reap the health benefits.

Source: here

Thanks for reading!

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Whassup?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Whew! I took a three week vacation from blogging but I'm back! Let me fill you in on what's been going on in my exciting (not!) life.

While vacationing on the beach in North Carolina last month, I hurt my left hamstring walking down four flights from the beach condo. I still can't believe I got hurt walking down stairs! Anyway, I hurt my leg bad enough that it took three weeks to heal. I've been walking instead of doing any running. I planned on running last Monday but my left knee hurt too much. I think I hurt it in my sleep. It's weird. Every once in awhile, out of the clear blue, my knee will start hurting. Sometimes I feel like I'm falling apart!

I've been eating low carb for the last ten days. Last Monday was a week on the plan and I had lost 5 pounds. Yea yea yea! My goal is to lose 2 pounds per week.

My son, Dylan, and I went to see Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince last Sunday. It was awesome! I thought it was so good, I'd like to see it again but will wait until it comes out on DVD.

The special effects were incredible. It is definitely the best Potter movie to date. My favorite parts of the movie are the scenes between Ron and Hermione. Oh, young love! I cried when Ron was lying on the hospital bed and he called out Hermione's name. I know, I'm a sucker for love stories. Dylan's favorite part of the movie was when they were playing Quidditch. He said, "Man, why don't they have more Quidditch scenes!?" I had to agree. The Quidditch scene was so cool! After watching the movie, I've decided to read the books, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows again. Now to find the time!

My husband, Paul, and I are leaving Entrecard. I will remove my Entrecard widget Friday night and Paul is removing his tonight. A big THANK YOU! to all the Entrecarders out there. Paul and I both appreciate all the drops and are thankful for all the friends we've made.

Thanks for reading!

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If Vacations Are For Resting, Why Am I So Tired?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:35:00 +0000

We had a wonderful vacation in Eastern North Carolina, but it's always good to be home. Our little toddler, Brady, was a trooper on the airplane. On the way to North Carolina, he was super-hyped up, which kept him from sleeping. But thank the Lord... he did sleep on both legs of the flight back home.

Running around after Brady kept me from being able to lay out by the pool or on the beach (insert lots of sympathy here). Brady had a blast playing on the beach the first day. But after he gulped down some salt water, he decided to stay out of that salty-wet-stuff altogether! The thing Brady enjoyed most about the beach was burying his big brother, Dylan, in the sand.

Brady didn't think much of the swimming pool either. Every time we tried to get him in the pool, he thought the water was too cold. Paul finally took him into the pool, but with all the fussing and crying, we decided it wasn't worth it. Brady liked being pool-side so he could push his brother and cousins into the pool.

Staying at the condo was, of course, the highlight of the entire beach trip. Everyone loved the convenience of being able to come and go to the beach or pool as often as we wanted. And you can be sure none of us wanted to leave Thursday morning! Now, more than ever, I want a beach condo when I grow up!

My favorite part of the beach trip was the hour we spent scooter-pootin' around Morehead City. I love that little town! It was fun looking at all the beach houses. We also drove to the house where my husband, Paul, lived when he was about 3 years old.

We went out on the town Tuesday night and had seafood at the waterfront Sanitary Restaurant in Atlantic Beach. We went to Sanitary last summer and decided to make a return trip. No one was disappointed. Yum! After buying a couple T-shirts, we went for a walk along the waterfront and let the kiddos run around.

On Wednesday, we took the kids to nearby Fort Macon. You can watch a short news video about Fort Macon here.

From the top of the fort, you can see the ocean. The view is absolutely beautiful! It's the best state park I've ever visited. You can take a tour of the fort and afterwards enjoy some time on the beach!

After leaving Fort Macon, we went back to the condo for some lunch. Later that afternoon, Paul's first-cousin, Susan, came for a visit. She lives in Raleigh and it was neat getting to meet her - she's a real sweetie. For dinner, we all went to Jordan's, in Emerald Isle. Though the restaurant is nothing particular to look at, the food is good. This was our second visit to Jordan's. The first time we ate there was a couple years ago, when we stayed at the beach condo around Christmas.

Thursday morning, we left the beach condo. Paul's mama left in her car with our nephew and niece and headed back to Rocky Mount. Paul, Dylan, Brady, and I left in our borrowed car (thanks again, Butch!) and headed to Greenville. We'd only been on the road for about 30 minutes when Paul got pulled over by a state trooper. He wasn't speeding so we figured the car must have a tail-light out or something.

The trooper said he'd pulled Paul over because he was not wearing a seat belt. Paul was wearing a seat belt but he always keeps it under his arm for more comfort. The trooper explained to Paul that according to North Carolina law, you can't wear a seat belt that way and he was going to issue a citation. To tell you I was angry is an understatement. I was boiling! When the trooper handed Paul the ticket and told him that the fine would be $100.00 I thought I would come unglued. Paul remained calm and told the trooper that he has not received a ticket in over ten years and asked why he was ticketing 'one of the good guys'. I, however, was not calm. I was yelling at the trooper saying, "This isn't right! I can't believe you're doing this! Thanks a LOT!" I have never been that angry with a policeman before in my life. I think the reason is because I have always deserved every ticket I've received. This incident just felt like pure harrassment. It was a tough thing to get over (we're still irritated about it) but Paul now wears his seat belt in the law-abiding way.

On the way back to Rocky Mount (my hubby's hometown), we made a stop at Greenville to have lunch at B's Barbecue. Unfortunately, they had run out of their famous barbecue, so we decided to get a cheese steak at Cubbie's instead. They've got the 'good ice', which is always a winner in my book!

After lunch, we stopped by East Carolina University, my husband's alma mater. We went inside the college bookstore to browse around. We were in line to pay for the T-shirts, when Paul came up to me with Brady in tow, wearing an ECU 'adult-sized' football helmet!

You kind of need to know the background here. See, Brady LOVES football. He talks about football all the time, wants to 'play' football in the living room every chance he gets. Nine times out of ten, he would rather watch football movies (Rudy, Radio, Facing The Giants, and The Waterboy) than watch iCarly, Thomas the Train or Yo Gabba Gabba! He's only 2 years old! Can you believe a 2-year old can be nuts about football? Well, he is! At home, Brady takes his sister's bike helmet and turns it around and puts it on his head. He then wants his sissy to put the other bike helmet on her head and play football with him.

Anyway, when I saw the helmet on his head, I looked at Paul and said, "Uh oh!" I told Paul that I was planning on getting Brady a football helmet for Christmas. The man-sized football helmet was so heavy on his head that it made him topple over. So Paul and Brady went searching to see if they had any children football helmets. Well, they did! And Brady got an early Christmas present! He was so excited, as you can probably imagine. GO PIRATES! :)

Once we got back to Rocky Mount, we unpacked the car and then just hung out at Paul's Mama's house, relaxing. Around 11 o'clock that evening, Paul and I slipped out to his Mom's restaurant, The Hunter Hill Cafe', to work on the menu. It had been about a year since I worked on it last, and her menu needed to be updated. If you happen to ever cruise through Rocky Mount, check it out! She serves delicious food, cafeteria-style. Our favorite food at The Hunter Hill Cafe' is their scrumptious Eastern North Carolina barbecue! Yum!

On Friday (our last full day in North Carolina), we hung out at the house and got everything packed and ready for our early Saturday morning departure. Saturday, we left the house a little after 7:00 a.m. and arrived at the Raleigh/Durham airport an hour later. Our departing flight was about an hour late, but since we had such a long lay-over in Dallas, it didn't matter. Once we arrived at the DFW airport, we had lunch and then took Dylan to his gate. He flew from Dallas to Houston to spend a week with his dad. Then Paul, Brady, and I found our gate and waited for the flight to Little Rock. We finally got home around 5:30 p.m. It was a long day and we were tired, but Paul and I both agreed it was much better than a 17-hour road trip!

On Sunday afternoon, Paul, Brady, and I took a four-hour nap! When I woke up, it felt like I'd been asleep about an hour. Hahahaha! I still can't believe it. Anyway, it feels good to be home. What did I miss most? My pillow - most definitely!

Monday morning, Paul, Brady, and I left the house at 5:15 a.m. to get Brady to Arkansas Children's Hospital for surgery. Brady was born with small preauricular pits in both ears. On his right ear, he also had a pit located on his outer ear lobe. Brady was also born with a branchial cleft sinus (a hole in his neck). Apparently, all these anomalies happened during the 5th week of gestation.

Brady had the branchial cleft sinus removed when he was four months old. Dr. Bower told us he didn't think any of the ear pits would need to be removed but that he would keep an eye on them. Well, the pit on Brady's right earlobe got infected and after a doctor examination, we all agreed the pit should be removed.

The surgery went exceptionally well and now we've just got to wait on his little earlobe to heal. The doctor also put tubes in his ears to keep his ears free of any fluid.

When Brady was born in Conway, the hospital gave him a hearing test. Brady passed his right ear, but failed his left ear. We later found that he had a slight hearing loss in his left ear. Dr. Bower told us Brady should live a perfectly normal life, since he has 100% hearing in his right ear. He said the hearing loss in Brady's left ear is mild, and it shouldn't cause him any trouble. He went on to say his right ear would compensate for the loss in his left ear. Dr. Bower said he would continue to test Brady's ears to monitor his hearing.

Brady failed his next two hearing tests miserably (over a six month period). Both times, he had fluid in his ears, which didn't help matters. On one hearing test, Brady was sleepy, irritable, and uncooperative. The other test, we could tell Brady was distracted and not interested in cooperating. The doctor then surmised from the hearing test results that Brady probably needed hearing aids. Paul and I couldn't have disagreed more. We told the doctor we saw no evidence of a hearing loss. However, Dr. Bower told us parents are not good judges when it comes to their child's hearing.

When we told the doctor Brady's earlobe pit had gotten infected, he prescribed an antibiotic and scheduled the surgery. He told us he would also have an ABR done on Brady - which is a hearing test done only while a child is under anesthesia. This test takes behavior out of the equation. So Paul and I were excited that Brady was #1 - going to have the earlobe pit removed and #2 - Brady was going to have a hearing test that would accurately show us what he can or can't hear.

The good news is the ABR test results showed what Dr. Bower had originally told us... that Brady has 100% hearing in his right ear and a slight hearing loss in his left ear. Dr. Bower said at this time, he doesn't see a need for Brady to wear a hearing aid. Whew, what a relief! We knew Brady's hearing was good, but it was great to see the test results prove what we believed all along.

So, it's been a busy week and a half for us. How was your week?

Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

Headed to the Beach!

Counting Down The Days Until Our Beach Vacation!

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Headed to the Beach!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The picture above is similar to our view from the condo. If you look straight across, you can see the balcony of the condo we'll be staying in. We leave for North Carolina tomorrow and we'll be gone for a week.

In lieu of dropping, Paul and I will be frolicking on the beach with the family. Don't be too jealous! Hehehehe! It will be hard leaving eastern North Carolina and going back to Arkansas, that's for sure! What do I want to be when I grow up? A beach bum!

We will spend four days at the beach condo and the remainder of the time, we'll be hanging out at Paul's Mom's house in Rocky Mount and trying not to eat too much Eastern North Carolina barbecue at her restaurant, The Hunter Hill Cafe'!

By the way, I'm up to 90 seconds jogging! WOO HOO!!!

Thanks for reading!

Related Post:

Counting Down The Days Until Our Beach Vacation!

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You Have To Walk Before You Can Run

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:30:00 +0000

Last week, I ran on Wednesday and Friday. For this week, I ran Monday and again this morning. I didn't run Wednesday morning due to a work conflict. Unfortunately, my job sometimes requires me to log on from home at odd hours of the night. So as it turned out, I had to do some work at 2:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Since I need more than four hours of sleep to function properly, I decided to wait until this morning to run.

I am always amazed at how quickly the human body adapts to exercise. When I first started running (June 1), I could only run for 45 seconds at a time and as I went on, my running time kept decreasing! The first time I ran was 45 seconds, the second time I made it to 40 seconds, then eventually it dropped to 35 seconds! A couple days later, I was able to run for 45 seconds each time. Last Friday, I was able to run for 60 seconds a couple of times, then it decreased to 45 seconds. Monday and this morning, I was able to run for 60 seconds each time I ran! Pretty cool, huh? Another interesting thing was that, for the first time since I started running, it seemed like the 20 minutes flew by - instead of me saying, "Ugh! When is the 20 minutes ever going to be up?!"

I am following Coolrunning.com's "Couch to 5K Running Program". You can take a peek at Weeks 1-3 to the right. As I mentioned in my previous post, my daughter - Rachael, is doing this with me.

Well, I guess Rachael and I are considered "Pre-Couch" (LOL!) because we can't quite keep up with the plan as it is laid out. So instead, we are using it as a guide to measure our progress. You have to crawl before you can walk, right? Well, you have to walk before you can run too!

Although we're on Week 2, we are only doing a 20-min. workout of 60 sec. run/90 sec. walk. So our next goal is to be able to do a 20-min. workout of 90 sec. run/2 min. walk -- however long it takes us to get there.

Instead of jumping from 60 seconds to 90 seconds of running, we are going to inch our way there. For example, when we run on Saturday, we will run 70 seconds. Then on Monday, we will try to run for 80 seconds. Hopefully, by Wednesday, we'll be running for 90 seconds at a time!

While googling last week, I read that beginner runners should sign up for a race as soon as possible - to help solidify their goal by having a date on their calendar.

So I signed up to participate in Soaring Wings Half Marathon, here in Conway on October 24^th. Rachael is also planning on signing up to run in the race. I'm so excited!

If you runners out there have any tips for Rachael and I, please let us know!

Thanks for reading!

Related Post:

Running: From Thinking About It To Actually Doing It!

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Running: From Thinking About It To Actually Doing It!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:59:00 +0000

Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about running.

My background in running involved a very short stint as a long-distance runner on the track team. I dropped out due to my hatred of long-distance running. I wanted to run the 100- 200- and 400-meter dashes. But alas, I didn't make the cut.

I kept thinking about how much running all the contestants on The Biggest Loser do. Though they work out with weights and do body-weight exercises - for the most part, they do a lot of running. In fact, the moment their fat-butts hit the ground of The Biggest Loser campus, they are running. Seeing them run always inspires me because it takes away all of my excuses.

And I've been thinking about my dad, who is a runner. He's been running for about 15 years - and guess what? Ever since he started running, he's never had a weight problem. Amazing, huh? Come to think of it... how many overweight runners do you know? I sure don't know of any. If they are overweight, they won't be for long!

Speaking of which - a coworker of mine quit the company last year and he was obese at the time. He was recently hired back on with the company, looking slim and trim. In fact, everyone did double-takes wondering if it was the same guy! I asked him what he did to lose the weight and guess what he said? He started running! He said he runs 3 days per week. I don't remember the number of miles he said he runs each week, but I do remember how good he looked. After seeing him and being inspired by him, I kept thinking about starting a running program of my own.

Unfortunately, even though my 'want to' was there, my plantar fasciitis was holding me back. While at the Ideal Feet store, last Monday, the foot specialist told me that with their arch supports, I could start running whenever I wanted to. I was shocked (but thrilled) to hear that because I thought I'd have to wait until my plantar fascitiis went away.

Excitedly, I decided to get started. I called my dad this morning (he's currently at the Kerrville Folk Festival chillin' out with fellow singer/songwriters) to get his advice about how to start a running program.

Dad gave me lots of good pointers such as:

Run at the McGee Center. They have a padded track, which he said would help my feet. Also, since it's an indoor facility, weather can never be used as an excuse not to run.
Do some basic stretching before starting.
Run 3 days per week (he said that's all he's ever done). He said if I want to, I can do 30-minute walks on my 'off' days.
Start out slow and easy. Walk a little, jog a little, until you reach 30 minutes. He told me to run at a slow and relaxed pace... easy does it. He said the last thing you want to do is get injured because then your running program is over before it has started. Keep track of how long/far you run so you can measure your progress from day-to-day. Eventually, you'll be running the entire 30 minutes.

After I hung up with Dad, I googled "beginner running programs" to see if there were other tips that would help me get started and I landed on Cool Running's site. I clicked on their Couch-to-5K Running Plan and got a good idea of how many minutes I should try to jog/walk. Their plan recommends starting out by first doing a 5-minute warm-up walk, then alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking, until you reach 20 minutes total.

So, after I got home from work, I changed my clothes and the whole family headed out to the McGee Center. My daughter, Rachael, and I ran/walked together while my husband-Paul, my son-Dylan, and toddler-Brady, played basketball.

The funny part is that I got confused and thought I was supposed to alternate 60 seconds of walking with 90 seconds of jogging. Anyway, turns out it didn't matter because neither of us could run for 60 seconds - much less 90 seconds! Hehehehe! The most we could do was 45 seconds of jogging at a time. I know... pretty lame. But before you know it, I'll be saying, "I can run for 30 minutes without stopping!"

I can't tell you how good it felt to be able to walk - much less run - without heel pain. These Ideal Feet arch supports are great!

While googling, I found out that today was also the first annual National Running Day. Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks for reading!

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3 Things I Learned About Heel Pain

Biggest Loser Final 4 (Running a Marathon)

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3 Things I Learned About Heel Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:50:00 +0000

My Personal ~~Hell~~ Heel Experience

As some of you know, I've been experiencing intense heel pain for over a year. I injured my feet last spring, running high school bleachers with my kids, Rachael and Dylan. The following day I could barely walk - my heels were throbbing!

Before this injury, I had never experienced foot pain. So I thought my feet would eventually heal on their own. Even though the pain subsided from a '10' to about a '6', it was still enough pain to make me thoroughly miserable. My heel pain was most intense upon getting out of bed in the morning and again at the end of the day, but also flared up after walking around for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Nine Months Later

It was around Christmas time when I began to worry that my feet weren't getting any better and I wondered whether I would have heel pain for the rest of my life. I was fearful of going to the podiatrist because I thought he might recommend surgery. Crazy, huh? Anyway, I stewed on it for another month and finally made an appointment.

I remembered at our family Christmas party, my brother, Jeff, showed me some exercises I could do to help my feet but I couldn't remember the exercises he showed me. So I decided to google "heel pain" to see if I could find some illustrations of the exercises Jeff showed me and perhaps find some other exercises for heel pain.

Heal My Heels!

I stumbled upon a website by orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. James Amis (who advocates a natural solution to treat heel pain). Since Dr. Amis has been in practice for over 20 years and the video cost only $17.99 to download (and had a money-back guarantee), I decided it was definitely worth the investment. So after downloading the video, I decided to cancel my doctor appointment. I figured if Dr. Amis' treatment didn't work, I could always make another appointment.

What I learned in the video made a lot of sense to me, so I started the treatment right away. I continued the program for 4 months and was amazed and thrilled to discover that I no longer had heel pain in my right foot! However, there was no change whatsoever in my left foot. This caused me to worry that I had done something irreversible to my left foot that Dr. Amis' treatment couldn't fix.

So I reluctantly made an appointment with a podiatrist. I went to see Dr. McClendon a couple of weeks ago. After the $115 doctor visit, he told me I had plantar fasciitis and all I needed to do was trot down to Wilkinson's and buy 'total support' sole inserts. It's times like this when I feel like a complete idiot.

I did learn something while at the doctor's office. Dr. McClendon told me that if I wear Birkenstocks, I don't have to wear sole inserts, because Birkenstocks already have excellent arch support. So I plan on buying a pair soon for me to wear to work.

The doctor told me that although my plantar fascia was torn, he said by wearing the arch supports, my feet would eventually heal (though it may take up to 6 months). Dr. McClendon said he wanted me to wear the arch supports at all times (except for sleeping and showering) until my feet are healed. I was bummed about this because I normally 'live' in my Crocs flip flops but couldn't wear them because the inserts fall out!

Dr. McClendon said he didn't expect to see me again but if I failed to see a noticeable improvement after wearing the sole inserts for awhile, to come back and he would fit me with custom-made arch supports. After leaving the doctor's office, I went to Wilkinson's and bought the $30 sole inserts the doctor recommended. I noticed some relief to my heel pain right away but after wearing them for several days, I felt like I needed more arch support.

WOW... No More Heel Pain!

Last week, I happened to catch an 'Ideal Feet' commercial which showed many happy customers testifying how their 'Ideal Feet' arch supports had completely healed their feet. Then while leaving Wild River Country Saturday evening, a lady overheard me complaining of my foot pain. She said that she had terrible foot pain (due to a car accident) but that she went to the Ideal Feet store and that the arch supports completely changed her life and how she never wanted to be without them. She was so thrilled with the results that she offered to do a radio commercial for them for free to testify about how pleased she was with the results. Well, listening to her testimony did it for me. I decided to go to the Ideal Feet store in Little Rock yesterday to buy the arch supports. I'm amazed already at how great my feet feel! I have no heel pain when I wear the sole inserts.

I bought the whole package which consists of the trainer sole inserts (these have much more arch support) and maintenance sole inserts (these inserts have great arch support - plus - you can wear them in flip flops, sandals, high heels etc. Total cost? $400.00! Thankfully, I had the money in my HSA so I just paid for the inserts out of that account. I figured having pain-free feet was definitely worth it. It would have cost me half that if I'd only bought the maintenance inserts but I decided to get the trainer inserts as well to make sure my feet heal completely. He said it should take me about 2 weeks for my feet to be healed and back to normal. 2 weeks! Can you believe it? And here I've been suffering with foot pain for over a year!

He said once my feet get used to the trainer inserts (I only wore them for an hour yesterday, 2 hours today etc.), I will wear them all day. After my feet are healed (2 weeks!), I will wear the trainer inserts as a preventive measure. I wear the maintenance inserts around the house since I'm always in flip flops at home. I can't believe how good my feet already feel wearing them! It's a wonderful thing to not have foot pain.

What Did I Learn From This Experience?

Doing Dr. Amis' heel pain treatment three times daily can heal plantar fasciitis. And doing the treatment twice daily can prevent plantar fasciitis, thus keeping you from ever experiencing heel pain. I also learned having proper arch support makes all the difference in the world!

Thanks for reading!

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