OH MY ACHING (wheat) BELLY!!

I am tired of dieting….I just want to be healthy! When I go to the store, there is such a dizzying array of choices: Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Low Carb, Low glycemic index, low fat, high fiber, all natural, organic, sulfite free, sugar free…..lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!!

On my journey for a healthy diet and a healthy relationship with food, I have tried a lot  different things. So I thought it would be interesting to write them down. Please bear with me as I self indulge. I hope you might find some truths and help as you read:

1. Eating low carb: (Atkins, Southbeach)This consisted of cutting out everything that had an abundance of carbohydrates. Not that carbs are bad; it’s just that we tend to get carbs from sources that are not good places. Cutting out the breads, pastas, some cereals, potatoes, candy, cookies, crackers….this was not such a bad way of eating. It forced me to eat more salads, proteins like eggs, meat, fish. Lots of vegetables, some fruit but not over the top. The biggest drawback was that I could go over the top on cheese, butter, cream and artificial sweeteners (to get my sweet fix). I also found that once I went “off” the diet, any weight loss came back quickly.
2. Weight Watchers -- or Counting Calories….same thing. Weight Watchers is a really nice way of keeping track of your food without actually counting the calories. They have a system. Back when I did it, they gave you recipe ideas and weekly meetings which helped you stay on track. The drawback was that I hate keeping track of what I eat. And it took me a while to figure out that although they don’t limit you; you can eat anything you want, you had better switch over to vegetables and protein or you will soon run out of calories to eat for the day.
3. Low Fat -- which was a trend a decade or so ago. Many diet gurus embraced it, companies started producing all kinds of low-fat versions of real foods that persist even today. Unfortunately, in order to make something taste good low-fat, additives are needed, usually in the form of sugar. What we found is the culprit isn’t the fat, it’s the sugar. My dentist believes everyone should be drinking whole milk, not skim.
4. Sugar free - Sugar is a big culprit in our obesity problem. I am a self proclaimed sugarholic, which some will say is sugar sensitivity. That means the more sugar I eat, the more I want. It’s a difficult merry go round to get off. Sugar triggers insulin production, which in turn (through a complicated process) creates more fat in our bodies.(and after the blood sugar spikes, it drops, leaving you with wanting another sugar fix). Interestingly, bread, crackers, cereals and pastas are all part of the sugar issue.
5. THE PLAN - I tried this diet; the author believes that there are certain foods that each of us reacts to, setting ourselves up for indigestion, inflammatory issues and diseases. Then there are certain foods that are “friendly” that our bodies like. We are all different, therefore it is a trial and error type approach. She takes you through step by step starting with some of the most “friendly” foods and then adding others in. I found that kale tastes pretty good when fixed properly. I discovered flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and nuts (I love nuts. I always thought they were too high in fat. Same with avocados!) I also found that I felt pretty good eating this way. I also learned to drink more water. The drawback is that it is very specific what you have to eat, and you have to weigh yourself every day (what a lousy habit to get into.) I also don’t like having to plan ahead with everything I eat, or worry about eating out, a big challenge on this plan. It is also very low in sodium (a good thing!) but difficult when eating out.
6. Gluten Free - There is a cardiologist that wrote a book called Wheat Belly which he explains is why so many of us fight the obesity/diabetes problem. According to him, our wheat is NOT the same as what it used to be. Producers have tampered with our wheat over the last 100 years so that it is not anything like the wheat of yesteryear. And nobody bothered to test it to see if it was safe for humans. Wheat is in so many things - not just the typical places like breads, pastas, cereals, crackers, baked goods…but also in candy, canned soup and condiments, places you wouldn’t think to look. Now, wheat free is not gluten free; gluten is also in barley and rye. Although it is challenging to go wheat free, it’s not impossible. I am not a big fan of replacing your gluten with processed gluten free foods, though. They contain things I would rather not ingest! The author of Wheat Belly agrees; he suggests staying away from corn starch, potato starch, tapioca, etc which are used in most gluten free prepared foods.
7. Vegetarian and Vegan - not eating meat; or not eating meat, eggs, milk, cheese, etc. Many people swear by their choice and if it works for you, then go for it! I have not explored these avenues myself; I have people in my life that choose eating this way, and they seem very happy with it. Having read Wheat Belly, I would have a hard time giving up all this and wheat. I respect you for your choice, however.
8. Eating Organic -- Knowing where my food comes from. This has been an ongoing trek for me. I try to support my local farmers. How nice it is to put a face to the products I’m eating. If not local, then organic, then USA. I live 5 miles from an organic farm that produces cheese, yogurt, beef and vegetables. I feel very lucky to have that at my fingertips. Canned goods are tricky- unless you know the codes,  it's hard to tell where it comes from.
9. I CAN MAKE YOU THIN another book: I read it, and it includes a hypnotic CD that you listen to. I can tell you this; I am finally free from the entire calorie counting, list making, eat this but don’t eat that kind of thinking! His plan is simple. Eat what you want, eat only when you are hungry, stop before you get full, and eat slowly and consciously. He addresses food cravings as well. He helps you love your body. The drawback: if you don’t have a solid understanding of what is good food, and what is not, this won’t help. I don’t think he had in mind that we choose cupcakes and Twinkies as a mainstay. For me, it was the perfect ending to being a slave to diets, and a beginning to a freer, happier self.

DO you see a pattern? I DO! I am continuing on my journey towards a healthier lifestyle which includes exercising at least 3 times a week, and drinking my Reliv shakes which covers my bases for the things I may be missing in my diet (see below). But here are some of the things I am trying to do. Thank you for letting me indulge. I hope you found something here that may be helpful. I am still learning. Remember this is my mantra...yours may look differently...

1. Eat local and organic as much as possible. At least stay away from the dirty dozen.
2. Drink at least half your body weight (in ounces) in water every day before 8 p.m.
3. Cut out or down on wheat. That includes less bread, pasta, wheat cereal (I try to choose oatmeal, rice cereal, etc) Eat more ancient grains like quinoa, brown rice, amaranth, buckwheat.
4. Cut down on sugar. This goes along with the reduction of bread/pasta anyway. No cola, (not even diet cola). Less desserts, baked goods. Dark chocolate and red wine as a reward instead. (from the book, The Plan) There are some good sugar substitutes out there - stevia/rebiana, erythritol, xylitol are among the sweeteners that will not impact blood sugar levels. (from the book, Wheat Belly)
5. Eat whole foods whenever possible. No boxed meals, frozen pre-made stuff. Buy stuff with ingredients you can pronounce. Good old fashioned vegetables that you cut up and prepare yourself. (I don’t eat a lot of potatoes, they seem to keep me from losing weight.) More green stuff. Eat grass fed beef, venison, organic chicken and eggs, wild caught fish. Drink whole milk or almond milk. Fresh or frozen fruit.
6. Add flax, pumpkin, sunflower, chia seeds to salads. And eat a lot of salads. Avocado and Nuts too. The good kind of fat. Olive and Coconut Oil, yum.
7. Listen to your body! If after eating a meal, things are not feeling so good, take note. There may be something that is “unfriendly” for you. (from the book, The Plan)

Here are 4 very good rules to live by that goes very well with the rest of this

1. Eat S.L.O.W.L.Y and consciously. Not in front of the computer, TV or reading material.
2. Eat what you want (I am trying to follow my other guidelines, but I am happier not getting too nit picky with myself)
3. Only eat when you are hungry
4. Stop when you are full. You can always come back for more later.

Polar Bears and Vitamin E

IS IT SPRING ALREADY? DID YOU KNOW that Polar Bears have black skin under their white fur? They live in one of our planet's coldest environments, and their thick fur and layers of fat are essential for survival. The white fur blends in with the snow, but their black skin soaks up the warmth from the sun's rays.

Although I love polar bears, I don't want the layers of fat on me! I find winter to be a tough time of the year for many reasons. Less activity, dry skin, high fat comfort food and not enough sun!
Here's one vitamin that we need to make sure we add to our daily diet: Vitamin E



Researchers have identified a significant drop in the usage of Vitamin E, noting that more than 90% of Americans aren’t getting their recommended dietary allowance (RDA.) What is this considerable group of Americans missing out on, exactly? In addition to improved brain health, Vitamin E offers several health benefits your body needs.

What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is more than a single vitamin. It’s a group of eight fat-soluble compounds. These compounds can be divided into two groups; tocopherols and tocotrienols, either of which can be alpha, beta, gamma or delta tocopherols. Researchers are beginning to find each of these eight members of Vitamin E has a very important role to play in our bodies in their own, individual ways.
What can Vitamin E do for you?

• Skin Saver: Researchers have discovered that Vitamin E will protect your skin, significantly reducing skin sensitivity to UV rays from the sun. For best results, combine Vitamin E with Vitamin C (you can get both of these in Reliv products).
• Pain Reliever: Studies have found that Vitamin E, in addition to prescription medication, may actually reduce the painful effects of rheumatoid arthritis. The combination of Vitamin E and the medication showed better results than medication on its own.
• Healthy Heart: Vitamin E thins your blood, which keeps blood platelets from building up and clogging the circulatory system. When you include the proper amount in your daily diet, you ward off coronary artery disorder and many other heart diseases.

Lacking Much
The Vitamin E deficiency that more than 90% of Americans have can wreak havoc on their bodies. Without a proper supply of Vitamin E, people can develop skeletal and retinal myopathy (persistent or acute damage), impairment of the immune response, red blood cell destruction and more.
Guard Your Sources
Foods like eggs, nuts, sunflower seeds, vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables and sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin E. Make sure you’re getting your RDA of Vitamin E by supplementing with Reliv products.
 Your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to optimally function. To keep your body running in top shape, it’s important to keep some key vitamins in your system. One of these crucial vitamins is Vitamin E, which is found in Reliv products like products like Reliv Classic®, Reliv Now®, Fibrestore®, SoySentials® and Reliv Now® for Kids.

LOUD ADVERTISING -- Calm the inner spirit...

Only ___shopping days left until Christmas! Blah! Panic time! And now is the time to get inundated with commercials....

Do you get this a lot?….”Have you signed up for our rewards program?”

HOW many times have you heard that when you are out shopping? It seems that every store you walk into today wants you to sign up for their email coupons, special offers and discounts! The young man or woman behind the counter can never understand why you wouldn’t want to take advantage of being a “preferred customer”!! Yea, just what you need - yet another plastic card to carry around on your key chain, or worse, in your wallet. “Just 10 visits, (with a $50 purchase) and you’ll receive….”

I know we all like to feel special, and definitely want to get the best deal we can when we shop. But I sometimes feel so inundated with LOUD ADVERTISING that I want to go hide under the bed!

A few years ago I stopped watching the news on a daily basis. Horrors! My friends cannot understand how I can function without knowing what’s going on in the world! Well, guess what? I find out the important things anyway. Either through facebook, seeing and talking to people, etc.  I have tried to calm the outer chaos so as to calm the inner spirit. I have a friend who refuses to get an email account. If you want to talk to her, or send her a message, you have to text her, or call her. I used to think she was nuts (and you know she won’t be reading this!) but I really think she is onto something. Yea, she doesn’t get all the alerts on her accounts, nor is part of a forum, or get all the jokes forwarded or important messages from her business associates, or the accountant, etc. But she also doesn’t get the SPECIAL DEALS that are offered TODAY ONLY at Macy’s…..hmmm…less chance of spending money needlessly??? Less junk piling up in her head???

What can you do to calm the inner spirit?

• Turn off the TV.
• Turn off the computer.
• Turn on some good music.
•  Choose what comes into your life.
•  Go outside. Sit on the porch; go for a walk (without the iPod).
•  Sit on the floor, close your eyes, meditate.
• Read a good book.
• Spend time with real people (facebook doesn’t count!) Join a group that nourishes your soul.(Book group, spiritual group, creative group, dance group)
• Eat from your local farmers’ bounty rather than the pre-packaged stuff.
•  
• When your body and mind are nourished, your spirit will feel better too.

AND…speaking of special offers…

www.reliv.com

Help nourish your body and keep it healthy this winter. Save 20% on your first order of Reliv products. I won’t shout, but there it is….

Call 207-318-5036 or email me jwaterm1@maine.rr.com and I’ll help you decide what’s right for you. And by the way, no minimum order, no monthly commitment, nothing. Just a discount and 30 day money back guarantee. And no plastic card to carry around!

Julie

The Plastic Brain

When I was in my early thirties, I was diagnosed with a lung disease. The lung disease is called Sarcoidosis, and after my pneumonia went away, I was left with asthma. The asthma slowly got better over the years with the help of positive thought, diet (including high quality supplements) and exercise. I was one of the lucky ones - the disease never progressed or migrated into my eyes, liver or other organs.

What was scary at the time of diagnosis was the possibility that it could be lung cancer, something far worse; and 20 years ago, the prognosis for that was grim.

I had 2 little ones at the time; I was scared that I wouldn’t live to see them grow up. I don’t like to think about all this now, because it happened so long ago.

I did as much research as I could find on the disease at the library, combing medical journals (remember, the internet didn’t exist 20 years ago, computers were not mainstream and there was no such thing as Google). One of the things I searched for was anything I could do to get on the path to healing. I came across a book by Norman Cousins called  Head First- the Biology of Hope and the Healing Power of the Human Spirit.

The book was brand new at the time, and I gobbled up the scientific breakthrough that the mind and the body are connected, that one could help oneself in the healing process with laughter and positive thinking. Today, it seems silly that we once believed what we thought had no effect on our bodies!

Did you ever think you had control over you’re your brain? I know you probably know you can control what you think about - we’ve all done that. But actually, there is even more evidence that we can actually rewire our brains to perform functions we thought impossible.

You probably know that during a child’s early development, there is a critical stage of learning that makes is easy for them to learn at a rapid pace. Many people thought that once this stage had passed, there was nothing that could be done to rewire certain aspects. That has proven to be wrong -- there is a lot that can be done; studies have shown with the right kind of mental exercises, kids with learning disabilities can have a profound effect on their brain wiring. (the program is called Fast ForWord).  Studies have also shown that stroke victims can make huge steps in recovery with the right kind of exercises (physical and mental) that were never thought possible. Even patients who had a stroke years before can rewire their brains using the right treatment, and make significant improvements.

Our brains are amazing. We need to keep learning into middle age, so that the neurons don’t die off. See positscience.com for exercises.

 I used to think that psychotherapists were just for “talking through your problems” . Not so -- the right kind of therapist can actually help a patient rewire his/her brain to “unlearn” the undesirable event, problem, action; and “relearn” or turn on genes in our neurons that are desirable.

All this information can be found in the book The Brain that Changes Itself  by Norman Doidge, M.D.

Another interesting supplement has come out that also has some positive effects on the brain and the body. Lunasin -- it is the first dietary ingredient found that can actually turn good genes on, and bad genes off. Green Tea and Resveratrol (from red grapes/wine) and sulforaphanes from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are among other food nutrients that work at the epigenetic level. Want to learn more? Go to www.lunasin.com 
 

To order -- please go to reliv.com/buy and use the VIP code: myshot

365 Less Things

Compliments of Marrissa Joy Photography

As I sit inside writing on a summer day in Maine, I am looking around at the things that we have accumulated in our lifetime. My youngest just got married this summer; I realize that it's just the 2 of us now. After 29 years of marriage, raising 2 children, and moving only twice since tying the “knot” we have managed to fill our 4 bedroom house with lots of memories….and things….and stuff…and junk…

How did that happen? When the boys were young, we would get to the point that outgrown outfits, toys that weren’t being played with, and old school papers needed to be purged. Usually it would happen when we started going through last year’s school clothes and realized that most of them didn’t fit anymore. Why they grow more in the summer, is beyond me!

The purging took place with a resignation on my children’s part, that they wouldn’t be allowed to go outside and play until it was done. I’m not sure whether they felt a sense of accomplishment or not, but I sure did.

But as good as I was at keeping their rooms updated and cleaned out, I can’t say that all areas in the house received the same kind of attention. Over the years I have redecorated, (which means I have things that don’t go with the new décor); have been given unwanted gifts I don’t dare throw away, gained weight, lost weight, (hence, a closet full of clothes) collected books, craft projects, well, you get the picture.

Finally, it is time to start simplifying. It is a daunting task. Then I am reminded of what a friend told me when we were selling our first house and moving across the country… ”how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time..” I didn’t understand what she meant until later. How do you begin a huge task? Break it into small pieces. Sometimes beginning is the hardest part.

So if you’re feeling the need to de-clutter, purge, organize, simplify and don’t know where to begin; or if you are hanging on to things “just in case” I might need that “someday”…..here’s a good place to start.

Check out Colleen's blog www.365lessthings.com She lives in Australia.

And happy de-cluttering!!

Oh, and if you're looking for something to de-clutter your brain, check out 24K -- it has recently been awarded a US GOVT patent, which means there is NOTHING like it on the market! Energy, mental clarity and focus.

To order: go to www.my24kvip.com and use the code: myshot

How do you eat an elephant? ONE BITE AT A TIME!!

Do you ever feel like some projects are so overwhelming, so big or even frightening, that you get paralyzed before you even start? I have seen this happen in my business with people who say they want to build a business but never leave the starting gate; I’ve also seen this happen with individuals who want to be more active but don’t know where to start.

I started riding a bicycle again. It wasn’t really my idea; I inherited a bike from my younger son who, after college graduation, didn’t want it anymore. Then a friend encouraged me to go on rides with her. Yikes! Really? I wasn’t even sure how I felt about getting on the bike, let alone riding it for more than a few minutes. But last year, little by little, I started feeling more comfortable with it.

This year, when I got the bike out again, I didn’t know if I would have the strength and cardiovascular endurance to get to the top of our road! Now, if you live on or near me, you know what kind of road it is, so I’m not being a wimp. The road is a mile long and is a gradual incline the entire way -- no flat area to coast, no rest, just continuous peddling.

At first, I thought, no way. I won’t make it. My goal was a 6 mile round trip to and from Pineland, with a workout in between. The first day I got up the road without stopping, but had to walk up one of the other bigger hills to get to Pineland. But here’s the thing; even if I have to walk that hill several times, by the end of summer, I will bet that I can get up that hill without having to walk.

This is called, one step at a time. One bite at a time. The slight edge. It’s not that you can’t do it. It means that you may have to take it a little bit at a time. Whatever your goal -- whether it’s a business goal, a financial goal, a fitness goal; they all start with one step. Too many times I think we expect instant success! The big break! The lottery! The million dollar client! The six pack abs. Tomorrow! Life isn’t really like that. Most of us have choices everyday that will take us forward towards our goals, or backwards into mediocrity. Every little decision that seems insignificant TODAY, is not insignificant over time. Do the little things every day, and they will add up to big rewards. A good book to read is “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson.

And if you see a hippy woman riding a bike, give her lots of space as you pass her!! (she wobbles sometimes)…


The woman in the picture isn't me, but it is a fellow rider of a friend who is on the BIG RIDE -- a trek across America 3300 miles!!  To check out his blog, go to  https://jeffsloanbigride2013.wordpress.com/

Is Diet Soda bad for you?

I have a friend; When we go out to eat, she orders a salad and a diet coke. Every time. She is heavier than I am, so I began to wonder…is the diet soda really doing her any good? Now, when I was younger, I loved cola. I was addicted to it. And no, I never made the switch to diet drinks. Although over the years I tried to get used to them, I always hated that aftertaste. As the years went by, and I did more research on sugar and carbonated beverages, I realized that soda (or pop if you’re from the Midwest) is not only NOT good for my waistline, it was doing a lot more harm than I had realized. It was setting me up for osteoporosis, diabetes, kidney disease and other nasty things. I have since given up soda altogether but, I always wondered about my friend. Was diet soda just as bad? Or not?

It’s zero calories, zero sugar. How can that be bad? If I’m not consuming calories, it seems that it shouldn’t affect my weight. Our bodies are more complex than a simple calorie in, calories out formula. I didn’t find definitive reasons for the fat diet soda drinker. Dr. Weil’s opinion is that if the brain is getting a message that sweet calories are coming and they don’t arrive, the void may set you up for cravings that ultimately lead to consuming more calories.

Quite frankly, eating or drinking anything artificial is just going to do damage to your body. Studies have linked diet soda drinkers to greater risk of diabetes, stroke, heart attack and decline in kidney function.

I have another friend that gave up her diet soda and lost 5 pounds in 2 weeks. Now, that would motivate me!

Bottom line is this: Soda in general can do more harm than good. Switch to green tea (you’ll get your caffeine) and it’s good for you. Little changes can add up to big rewards in our life. In the book, “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson, he explains that what you do today is not going to make a difference. But do that same thing over time, and it will move you toward better health (or better finances, etc). Think about 5 years worth of drinking green tea vs. drinking soda….now THAT’S a big difference!

For another alternative, take a look at Reliv’s Innergize - a sports drink that not only delivers the hydration and electrolytes, but also has antioxidants that protect the cell membranes against damage including the skin from environmental stress. It has ingredients that support the immune system. I have had fewer colds since starting on Innergize! To order go to my24kvip.com and use code: myshot