Update on My Sister “It Took a Scare” January 22, 2008

My sister Renee is amazing! She stabilized her sugar level to average around 80-100.  She took responsibility for what she was doing in her life and made changes.  She is no longer in need of any medication. In fact the doctor says she is the healthiest he has ever seen her and he has been her physician for over 20 years now. 

What she did, is really what we all know we are suppose to do.  She made a life change in the way she eats and looks at life:

• She started with  journaling what she was eating and then what her sugar level was – this helped her to figure out what triggered her sugar to rise.  (Rice is her one of her biggest culprits) 
• She cut 95% of the sugar out of her diet and realized that many food items are really good without sugar. For a sweetener  she uses honey or agave
• She added more vegetables and fruit.  She has even started to buy organic now. 
• She reduced her intake of trans fats almost completely
• She does not deprive herself – a treat she loves now and then keeps her on the right path
• She started to eat breakfast
• She does not eat after 7:30pm and works on making it earlier each month. (5 to 10 minute increments)
• She experimented with different flours and different types of healthier food until she found what she liked.  She knows that if she likes it she will stick to it. 
• She started to take exercise seriously – working out 2 to 3 days a week and walking 2 or more days a week. 
• She brought her family along the journey with her and now they are all feeling healthier and happier.  Emily, her teenage daughter, lost 2 pant sizes and  her face has cleared up.   Leland, her husband, began walking with her and appreciating her more, making Renee happier all around.

 Renee has lost about 10lbs and many more inches, but most of all she lost a crutch she used to use.  A comfort food she would go to instead of dealing with issues.  Now she says she is forced to face them and that is making her a better person. 

What I appreciate about me sister is that she is the one in the family that does not like change.  But she did it.  It required a lot of self discipline for her to make these changes, but it is so worth it.  She is healthier then she has been since she was a teenager.  She is more positive, more out going and she does not let things bother her as much.  She has inspired me, her younger sister.

Is Hoodia the Answer? December 29, 2007

I was just reading a bunch of posts about Hoodia – the new diet wonder drug of choice. It seems to be true that so far they have not found any side effects and that it has been around for 100’s maybe 1000s of years. But I can’t help but wonder why is it that we keep looking outside of ourselves for enforced boundaries. We want other people or thing’s to put limits on us. Where is our responsibility? Where is our self discipline? Where is our freedom? Can we not make better choices?

There really is no excuse we all know how to lose weight. We just keep looking for easy fixes – but the good old fashion way is the best and the most successful. We need to work through your issues (easier said then done I know), but true success comes with an all around healthy mind and body. We need to make better choices, take responsibility, enforce self discipline, love oneself and exercise (that just means you have to perform some form of activity.) It does not take a drug, it does not take a surgeon, it does not take a magic wand – just good old fashion work and effort.

The Mind Body-Fat Connection December 20, 2007

I just read   The Mind Body-Fat Connection – by: Sara Lauritzen and I was so excited that others have the same experience.  I have heard it many times  and I believe that being over weight has nothing to do with food and Sara describes her experience so well I had to write about it. 

She notes that “Negative mental thought patterns were(are) apparently responsible for making us all fat!” She continues with wondering whether they are psychologically symbolic or a real biological connection that affected our metabolism. She became disappointed and frustrated when she couldn’t pin point, precisely, which of her thoughts and feelings made her weight go up and down. 

I can relate to this feeling of disappointment and frustration.  We hold on to weight because we hold on to negative emotions.  Emotions that for some reason we choose to have and keep instead of moving past them and letting go.  We try to define ourselves through these emotions.  We determine our own self worth through these emotion.  When all we have to do is choose to be more positive.  Choose to be healthier.  Choose to be active.  Choose to be self disciplined, to live our lives based on our values and be in balanced – mind, body and soul.

You can find Sara’s book The Mind Body-Fat Connection eBook, at www.mindbodyfatconnection.com 

Ad Council December 8, 2007

I just read a posting from Matthew R. Lee regarding ads for the Ad Council that promote heath and making better choices.  I enjoy the way they use humor and creative ways to gain your attention.   They help to start conversations with those you are watching them with and those you want to discuss health issues with.  Here check them out Good Stuff From The Ad Council.

Self Discipline December 6, 2007

I have almost forgotten about these words – Self Discipline.  What is the meaning of self discipline? According to wikipedia - Self-discipline refers to the training that one gives ones self to accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of behaviour, even though one would really rather be doing something else. Self-discipline is the assertion of willpower over more base desires, and is usually understood to be a synonym of self control. 

A lack of self discipline is the answer to many questions I have.  Why does it take a scare for us to make changes? (Changes that we know we should make.)  Why do we make bad choices when it comes to food, exercise and health?  Why is it that we know the answers like moderation and consistency yet choose alternative unhealthy options? Again the answer is a lack of self discipline.

We live in this fast paced, give me everything now world.  Since we lack self discipline and self control we look to others to do it for us.  People sue McDonald’s for making them fat – who walked through the doors?  Who placed the orders?  Who ate the food?  People look to surgeries, pills and miracle diets to make them thin -  again who made us unhealthy, over weight and unhappy?   We did.  We blame our past, our present and our future – but it is our lack of self control, lack of willpower, lack of self discipline that has really caused the problem.

Developing self discipline takes energy, focus, time and consistency.  It takes accountability to one self and others.  It takes learning to love yourself.  It takes honesty and humility.  It takes giving up bad habits and replacing them with healthier and happier ones.  It takes being in the moment and taking responsibility for everything we think and do.  Self discipline takes living a life of character with no regrets.

Holiday Season Plan December 4, 2007

Now that we are into the Holiday Season, what are we going to do? In most years I eat my way through the season. I get wrapped up in the buying and eating and buying and eating. I can tell you in words what the season is all about, but I didn’t live what it is about (which ultimately uncovers the truth that I didn’t really believe what it was about.) Now, I think I am finally to point of believing what it is about and I am not going to play the “Holiday Game.”

The Holiday Season is to celebrating the birth and life of Jesus Christ. A gift given to us, a life that leads to eternity. A life lived for forgiving, loving and accepting. Accepting the person (maybe not their chosen life style, but the person.) A life of giving to the poor, sharing time with the hurting and caring for the children and widows.

My plan this year has been around for years, a simple approach really – I am going to love those I love, love those I don’t love and love those I might even dislike. I am going to give time to those that are important to me and those that need it, those I want to share with. I am going to make something special for those that I care about. I am going to enjoy each day – each crisp winter day. I am going to exercise and walk two to tree times a week with my sister, even if it rains. I am going to read to my friend’s husband who has had a heart attack and is lying in bed, so my friend can take a walk. I am going to hug everyone I have the opportunity to hug and cry when I feel the need, especially when I miss my mom who passed away a while ago. I am going to smile at the children programs even when they are the same songs as last year. I am going to skip the shopping and enjoy the season.

What is it about the Holidays? November 26, 2007

What is it about the holidays that make people want to eat everything in sight?  Why is it that the average American gains 3 to 20lbs over the holiday season?  Is it the stress?  Is it debt?  Is it the thought that it may never come around again?  What is it about the holidays?

 We all know the truth and how not to gain weight -  Do not eat more calories that you burn.  We all know moderation is a key word – not starvation or deprivation or denial – just moderation.  Then why again is it so hard to not gain weight during the holiday season?  The answer is much deeper than food – much deeper then the pounds put on – much deeper than the sadness that we feel once our pants don’t fit. 

 The answer is happiness.  When we over eat we get a sense of euphoria and sometimes go into a form of a sugar coma – nothing bothers us, until we drop – then we eat again to get that same feeling.  (Does this sounds just like a drug user?  Yes it does, we just replace food as a more acceptable addiction.) We over eat looking for happiness, looking for a ways to escape.  We try to escape the here and now, the past, the future and ourselves.  What we need to do is find contentment in who we are, what we are doing and where we are going. 

Enjoyable Thanksgiving November 26, 2007

So how many of you pigged out on Thanksgiving?  This year I looked at Thanksgiving differently – no pigging out – no food free for all – just good, enjoyable food with activities planned after we ate.  We played many rounds of table tennis, changing partners, changing sides, cheating when ever possible, then we had desert, then more table tennis topping the evening with a  couple games of pictionary.  No extra pounds gained, no rolling ourselves out to the car to go home, just a healthy wonderful dinner with family.  I think this is what Thanksgiving was meant to be.

GreenFestival in San Francisco November 11, 2007

Have you ever felt the texture of the clothes and material made from bamboo?  This was my first introduction to it and I was won over – so soft and comfortable.  It will definitely be on my wish list.  Now that is not the only thing I walk away with after visiting the GreenFestival in San Francisco – I was educated on sustainable economy, ecological balance, social justice, alternative power, alternative vehicles, and green careers.  I had the chance to sample organic, hemp, soy, and other types of nutritional bars, teas, drinks and supplements.  Experience the feel of 100% organic cotton clothes, hemp clothing and bamboo clothing.  What amazed me about the event is how nice everyone was.  There were a lot of people there but I was not bumped with out an apology or push so someone else could try something or ignored because I might not buy something. . . people were nice . . . there was respect and consideration amongst strangers. . . smiles were found everywhere and the atmosphere was calming.  Uhmmm I wonder if they have something that most of us don’t?  Are people who truly live “green” more content?  More accepting?  Less rushed?  I believe there is something to it, don’t you?

It Took A Scare October 30, 2007

Wow! Blood Sugar level of over 400!  I could not believe what I was hearing.  One of my sisters has not been feeling very good, not really bad but not good. She was fatigued, had headaches, was not sleeping well – then she became dry mouthed and thirsty all the time.  After much persuasion she finally tested her blood glucose level and it was above 400.  She tried to ignore it, went on with her day and waited until afternoon until she told us.  We urged her to call her physician and they told her to get to urgent care.  There her blood glucose was still over 200.  They gave her some medicine to help bring it down and the physician told her that she needs to gain muscle mass, lose fat and exercise more regularly.  She also needed to reevaluate her diet.  Now, my sister strength trains 3 times a week, walks 2 or more miles 2 to 3 times a week, and has removed sugar out of her diet.  She is now loosing weight, gaining strength, has more energy and seems to be happier.  All it took was a scare.  Why do we wait to be scared?