Hello. It's been a long time since I posted here. Not sure how long, but, I know it's been a weird, wild time. Mostly, I was busy having my house robbed, again; babysitting my grand-nephew, being unwillingly wooed by a Vietnam Vet; and, of course, being lightly victimized by (probably) transgenered witches.
You know, same old, same old.
Part of the reason I haven't been posting, besides my computer getting stolen again (repeatedly) is that I simply had nothing interesting to report. I would lose a pound here, gain a pound there, but, nothing much really changed since I posted about it last.
Until, possibly, now. It's still early days, but, as you probably know, I both do a lot of research and a lot of praying, as regards my health issues, and, sometimes, as a result, I find another piece of the puzzle.
There are two things I have really started working on, which, from what I can tell, are finally taking me past my long-lived plateu.
To be fair, if I had been under less stress, if less people had stolen my groceries so that I had to rely less on things I was given for free from people who visited food banks and such fare as can be gotten for free from convenience stores clearing out their older foods, if I had been eating fresh fruit and vegetables as much as I would have liked (cooked or raw), then, I might have still been losing weight. So, let us not growl at the plateau. It is a form of progress. Because, I was having a bad, bad time, and, yet, by doing the best I could with what I had, at least some of the time, I have not gained the weight back! That's something!
When I weighed last, the scaled said I was 249.5 lbs. That is all it said, because, it was out of order. Maybe, by the time I get paid again, it will be working. I do like to have my informational tickets from the GNC scale!
Anyway, I started doing squats, just every now and again, and, even though that has been mostly all the exercise I get (beyond just walking about to get a few things done around the house, or, going swimming once), I have gained muscle from it and, apparently, even in my chest and shoulders and all sorts of other places.
So, I looked up some information and found that some people claim squats cause an anabolic reaction for the whole body. Apparently, it's something to do with how things shift around because of the position. I don't know ... but, I do know that one time when I weighed, it said I had only lost like 1 lbs or something silly, but, when I looked at the total of how many pounds of me is actually fat, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had lost several pounds of fat. The rest was gaining muscle.
No, I am not just imagining it. I feel way stronger. Plus, I was watching my nephew's dogs and I got to playing around with his medicine ball. It disappointed me, just a little, because, he had a heavier one, before, and, I don't know why he had such a lightweight one. It didn't even feel half as heavy to me!
Then, later, I was looking up medicine balls, because, that was still fun. I had been doing squats while tossing it up in the air, so that I was catching it as I squatted. The dogs were amused, too. Anyway, no money, right now, but, I thought I could at least get an idea of how much a medicine ball would cost. Turns out they have a lot of different weights and prices. So, I wrote to my nephew's wife and asked her how much that medicine ball weighed, because, I wanted something at least a little heavier, but, I wasn't sure how much it weighed.
Turns out it is the same one he always had, the 25 lb'er. I'd just gotten stronger, so it felt lighter.
So, that's one thing that I found that is going to be very helpful to my cause. I am going to do the squats more purposefully, now. Though, I am going to try not to stress myself out whilst doing so.
Today, I did 20 squats, 10 at a time, hours aapart from each other.
Also, I am working out a schedule for myself, kind of for all aspects of life, but, with an emphasis on healthy activities, like grocery shopping, food prepartition, exercise of varying types at varying times, and reminders about when to eat. That's not what the other thing is, though. It's just related to it.
The other thing is that I read some information on food combining, more than one kind, actually, so, maybe there are three things. I haven't tried one of them, yet, though, so, two it is.
Anyway, I started out following one piece of advice on food combining, only, because, having read about the program outined in the book I was reading, and, finding reviews regarding it, I had reason to believe that certain aspects of the program might be the missing link in the chain to my good health. Because, even when I was losing weight and feeling so much better, that was not the same thing as actually feeling good.
Food combining is not about losing weight. It is about getting healthier. Which means, probably, losing weight. That's what I want, though, most: to be healthier.
So, first I tried one thing and my stomach hurt less. I found there was some truth to what the program said about body cycles. So, I tried, yesterday and today, to be more thorough in proper food combining. I felt way better today than I have in a long time -though, I woke up feeling goopy and I was sweating a strong odor out of me all morning. Not a horrible odor, just a strong one. But, that's good. That's called detoxing.
I had most of my fingers and one thumb popping or cracking, more than once, today. Just a little bit ago, my beleaguered knee, which had been hurting for days, just popped and began to feel much better.
I've had more regular bathroom activities. I won't go into detail, but, trust me, it's a good thing and I am definitely detoxing!
So, I think I am going to continue with the food combining, possibly work in the other food combining technique, tighten up my schedule and my plan ...
Which means, I don't know how much I'll be around here, as I'll be doing stuff out there in the real world. But, I do intend to keep some progress notes here, if I can. Hey! I have to write them somewhere, for the book, so it may as well be here. Right?
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Hello Poisoned Girls (and, gentlemen)
It's been a long time since I posted on here. Mostly, because, if someone hasn't stolen my computer, then, the internet is out or there is a family emergency that keeps me away from home, and/or I've had no money for food or supplement experimentation.
I have lost a bit of weight, since the last time I posted, but, I don't really know how much, just when, ettc.
What I do know is that, in the last two weeks, I tried glutamne. Perhaps you read about it, maybe even in the same magazine I did. It was in either Firt or Woman's World, being written about as a great tool for losing weight.
I looked up information about it, and, I found out htat it is used for help with digestive problems (which, I definitely have) and the treatment of ulcers (which, I suspect my son has). So, I decided to buy some and try it out on us both. My son never let it get near him. Ah, the joy of Asperger's! I took it all, instead.
One thing about glutamine is that they said it stops sugar cravings. Now, I noticed my stomach felt better almost immediately and I felt a bit more energetic, which it is also supposed to do, but, I was having extreme sugar cravings, which was not supposed to happen. Instead of giving up on it, immediately, I decided to do some more research.
Found out, about a week and a half into taking it, that it is used by ranchers to give to cattle to balance their intestinal flora after it goes out of whack due to being ill and/or them having been given excessive antibiotics. That is the only information I could find regarding if glutamine killed off the bad bacteria in your guts. I was looking for it, in all sorts of health sites, about humans, because, that seemed to be what was happening to me, and, silly me, I thought someone else, maybe one of the experts on such things, would have noticed it, if that's what was going on, and, made mention of that effect, as well. But, no, on the human sites, it was all about muscle growth, energy, and, especially, weight loss.
Since I found that out, I decided to keep going, at least until I ran out. It lasted me almost exactly two weeks for a $14.95 jar, and, it might have lasted longer if I hadn't had my teaspoons stolen. I think I was actually taking too much, often, because, I was guesstimating.
I got it at VitaminShoppe.com, by the way, if you care to check it out. They sell it online at several places, for comparable value, but, I didn't find it for less, unless it was by getting a cheaper jar and ordering a large enough quantity that I c uld get free shipping and handling. Since I didn't know if I would even like it, yet, I elected to buy it from the actual store, for about the same price as it would have cost for the cheaper jar plus shipping and handling, and, which would allow me to start it more quickly. If I decide to do it, some more, I will order a larger quantity, so I can get free shipping and handling and save a little money (about $4 per jar).
Anyway ... at first, I was not impressed, because, I felt icky and had sugar cravings and was not losing weight. But, I kept an open mind and did my research, and, found out that the sugar cravings were a sign of progress in another area. And, in the meantime, I started feeling like something else was happeing.
Yesterday, I confirmed it. I went and weighed at GNC, and, found out I only lost about 2 lbs. from the month before. Yet, when it did the fat analysis, it said my body fat was down by about 7 lbs. Which means, I lost 7 lbs of fat and gained 5 lbs of muscle. And, the fact is, I did have sugar cravings, I did go crazy on brownies, candy bars, did not each much else that was healthy, and, yet, I lost 7 lbs of fat and gained 5 lbs. of muscle.
Do you know how excited I am? Do you know how good that could have been, if I had avoided the brownies and eaten fruit, instead?
This week, I read about Vitamin D3 and why, despite the hype, it didn't work out as well, for so many people, as it was claimed it should. It amounts to the fact that you need a certain level of Vitamin D in the blood, and, it should be Vitamin D3 you are taking instead of Vitamin D2 (which is often taken or prescribed, instead), because:
1) Vitamin D3 is what our body makes for us. Vitamin D2 is from plants. So, Vitamin D3 is more readily used by the body than Vitamin D2 when taken in supplement form.
2)Vitamin D is absorbed into fat cells and, only after the fat cells are filled up, does it spill out into the blood. Therefore, the more fat cells you have, the bigger your fat cells are, the more Vitamin D3 you need to take to get the Vitamin D in your blood up to the proper level for weight loss.
They said the easiest way to make sure you are getting enough is that you multiply your current weight by 25. That will tell you the IU's needed per day. They also said that you can take the Vitamin D3 every day, bi-weekly or just once a week- whatever works best for you- and, you will get the same results. Then, recalculate for every 20 lbs . you lose. So, it would go like this:
250 lbs = 6.250 IU's per day 21,875 bi-weekly 43,750 per week
230 lbs = 5,750 IU's per day 20, 125 bi-weekly 40,250 per week
210 lbs = 5,250 IU's per day 18, 375 bi-weekly 36,750 per week
190 lbs = 4,750 IU's per day 16, 625 bi-weekly 33,250 per week
I believe you can get 2,000 IU pills and I know you can get 5,000 IU pills. 5,000 IU's is what I have. So, unless other ones were bought, I would be taking 45,000 IU's every week for the first two 20 lb. losses (9 little pills), and, then 8 pills for the next 20 lbs. loss, then, 7 pills for the next 20 lbs. loss.
I decided to experiment, since I already have Vitamin D3; also, because it was bought for my son and he doesn't take it. So, yesterday, I took 9 pills and weighed. Next week, I will try to weigh again, on the same day, and see if anything happened. And, I will try to let you know more promptly.
I have lost a bit of weight, since the last time I posted, but, I don't really know how much, just when, ettc.
What I do know is that, in the last two weeks, I tried glutamne. Perhaps you read about it, maybe even in the same magazine I did. It was in either Firt or Woman's World, being written about as a great tool for losing weight.
I looked up information about it, and, I found out htat it is used for help with digestive problems (which, I definitely have) and the treatment of ulcers (which, I suspect my son has). So, I decided to buy some and try it out on us both. My son never let it get near him. Ah, the joy of Asperger's! I took it all, instead.
One thing about glutamine is that they said it stops sugar cravings. Now, I noticed my stomach felt better almost immediately and I felt a bit more energetic, which it is also supposed to do, but, I was having extreme sugar cravings, which was not supposed to happen. Instead of giving up on it, immediately, I decided to do some more research.
Found out, about a week and a half into taking it, that it is used by ranchers to give to cattle to balance their intestinal flora after it goes out of whack due to being ill and/or them having been given excessive antibiotics. That is the only information I could find regarding if glutamine killed off the bad bacteria in your guts. I was looking for it, in all sorts of health sites, about humans, because, that seemed to be what was happening to me, and, silly me, I thought someone else, maybe one of the experts on such things, would have noticed it, if that's what was going on, and, made mention of that effect, as well. But, no, on the human sites, it was all about muscle growth, energy, and, especially, weight loss.
Since I found that out, I decided to keep going, at least until I ran out. It lasted me almost exactly two weeks for a $14.95 jar, and, it might have lasted longer if I hadn't had my teaspoons stolen. I think I was actually taking too much, often, because, I was guesstimating.
I got it at VitaminShoppe.com, by the way, if you care to check it out. They sell it online at several places, for comparable value, but, I didn't find it for less, unless it was by getting a cheaper jar and ordering a large enough quantity that I c uld get free shipping and handling. Since I didn't know if I would even like it, yet, I elected to buy it from the actual store, for about the same price as it would have cost for the cheaper jar plus shipping and handling, and, which would allow me to start it more quickly. If I decide to do it, some more, I will order a larger quantity, so I can get free shipping and handling and save a little money (about $4 per jar).
Anyway ... at first, I was not impressed, because, I felt icky and had sugar cravings and was not losing weight. But, I kept an open mind and did my research, and, found out that the sugar cravings were a sign of progress in another area. And, in the meantime, I started feeling like something else was happeing.
Yesterday, I confirmed it. I went and weighed at GNC, and, found out I only lost about 2 lbs. from the month before. Yet, when it did the fat analysis, it said my body fat was down by about 7 lbs. Which means, I lost 7 lbs of fat and gained 5 lbs of muscle. And, the fact is, I did have sugar cravings, I did go crazy on brownies, candy bars, did not each much else that was healthy, and, yet, I lost 7 lbs of fat and gained 5 lbs. of muscle.
Do you know how excited I am? Do you know how good that could have been, if I had avoided the brownies and eaten fruit, instead?
This week, I read about Vitamin D3 and why, despite the hype, it didn't work out as well, for so many people, as it was claimed it should. It amounts to the fact that you need a certain level of Vitamin D in the blood, and, it should be Vitamin D3 you are taking instead of Vitamin D2 (which is often taken or prescribed, instead), because:
1) Vitamin D3 is what our body makes for us. Vitamin D2 is from plants. So, Vitamin D3 is more readily used by the body than Vitamin D2 when taken in supplement form.
2)Vitamin D is absorbed into fat cells and, only after the fat cells are filled up, does it spill out into the blood. Therefore, the more fat cells you have, the bigger your fat cells are, the more Vitamin D3 you need to take to get the Vitamin D in your blood up to the proper level for weight loss.
They said the easiest way to make sure you are getting enough is that you multiply your current weight by 25. That will tell you the IU's needed per day. They also said that you can take the Vitamin D3 every day, bi-weekly or just once a week- whatever works best for you- and, you will get the same results. Then, recalculate for every 20 lbs . you lose. So, it would go like this:
250 lbs = 6.250 IU's per day 21,875 bi-weekly 43,750 per week
230 lbs = 5,750 IU's per day 20, 125 bi-weekly 40,250 per week
210 lbs = 5,250 IU's per day 18, 375 bi-weekly 36,750 per week
190 lbs = 4,750 IU's per day 16, 625 bi-weekly 33,250 per week
I believe you can get 2,000 IU pills and I know you can get 5,000 IU pills. 5,000 IU's is what I have. So, unless other ones were bought, I would be taking 45,000 IU's every week for the first two 20 lb. losses (9 little pills), and, then 8 pills for the next 20 lbs. loss, then, 7 pills for the next 20 lbs. loss.
I decided to experiment, since I already have Vitamin D3; also, because it was bought for my son and he doesn't take it. So, yesterday, I took 9 pills and weighed. Next week, I will try to weigh again, on the same day, and see if anything happened. And, I will try to let you know more promptly.
Monday, June 16, 2014
My Kapha brings all the boys to the yard ...
Ah well ... maybe not. Still, I do find the ideas and advice interesting and, in some cases, helpful.
| Your scores are Vata: 2 Pitta: 4 Kapha: 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Based on your results, you are a KAPHA-PITTA: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kapha Characteristics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kapha is the principle of protection, nourishment, and stability. It is associated with the earth element. People with a predominance of Kapha in their nature tend to have a heavier frame, think, and move more leisurely, and are stable. When balanced, it creates calmness, sweetness, and loyalty. When excessive, Kapha can cause weight gain, congestion, and resistance to healthy change. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kapha Characteristics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitta Characteristics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitta is the principle of transformation represented in our digestion of ideas, sensory experiences, emotions, and food. It is associated with the Fire element. People with a predominance of Pitta in their nature tend to be muscular, smart, and determined. If balanced, a Pitta is warm, intelligent, and a good leader. If out of balance, Pitta can make us critical, irritable, and aggressive. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitta Characteristics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||
| 22 | | 21 | |
| ||||
| 17 | | 16 | |
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| 24 | | 20 | |
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A Question of Balance
Section Two provides a snapshot of your current mind body state. The mind body principle that scores the highest number of points in each section, is the one requiring the most attention at this time.
Invoke Your Inner Pharmacy
The first step in regaining balance is to recognize that the environment around you has a profound influence on how you feel. Paying conscious attention to what you hear, touch, see, taste and smell can help create peace, balance and vitality in your mind and body. A harmonized daily routine that engages the five senses with nourishing impressions is one of the most important steps towards achieving Perfect Health.
Accumulated Kapha
Out of balance Kapha leads to heaviness, sluggishness and congestion. Stimulation and movement help overcome the resistance of accumulated Kapha. Think activation and invigoration. Here are some tips to maximize balance and well-being:
Body
Accumulated Vata
When Vata is out of balance, change and movement agitate the physiology resulting in a sense of instability. Balancing Vata requires introducing more grounding and stabilizing influences. Think routine and consistency. Here are a few tips to encourage balance and well-being:
Mind
Section Two provides a snapshot of your current mind body state. The mind body principle that scores the highest number of points in each section, is the one requiring the most attention at this time.
Invoke Your Inner Pharmacy
The first step in regaining balance is to recognize that the environment around you has a profound influence on how you feel. Paying conscious attention to what you hear, touch, see, taste and smell can help create peace, balance and vitality in your mind and body. A harmonized daily routine that engages the five senses with nourishing impressions is one of the most important steps towards achieving Perfect Health.
Accumulated Kapha
Out of balance Kapha leads to heaviness, sluggishness and congestion. Stimulation and movement help overcome the resistance of accumulated Kapha. Think activation and invigoration. Here are some tips to maximize balance and well-being:
Body
|
When Vata is out of balance, change and movement agitate the physiology resulting in a sense of instability. Balancing Vata requires introducing more grounding and stabilizing influences. Think routine and consistency. Here are a few tips to encourage balance and well-being:
Mind
- Meditate twice a day to quiet the mind
- Look for opportunities to create rhythm and routine in your life
- Go to bed and awaken at about the same time every day
- Wear Relaxing fragrances
- Listen to slow and relaxing music to calm Vata
- Minimize heavy reading, eating, or watching TV right before bed
- Diffuse relaxing fragrances into your environment
- Favor mild pastel shades and earth tones in your environment
Friday, June 6, 2014
Food Journal (first week of Step One)
Don't get confused by the labels. I am trying different things, and, trying to organize myself. I have a new step one, now, which I am sure of, and, which I will keep strict track of for a week before adding anything else to.
I am already doing some strength training exercises twice a week, but, they have not helped me lose weight. In fact, I have gained weight since beginning them as a regular thing. I think I gained about 6 lbs, so far. That's also while taking the magnesium supplements and probiotics, that were to help heal my gut and to lose belly fat.
I did lose a little on my waist, briefly, but, now it is gaining again, and, my belly is almost always hard, inflamed and I am almost always dehydrate and constipated. The heat could explain some, but, not all, of that. As of right now, I am still taking the supplements, but, I have decided on a new Step One, which I had done by accident, before, and found very effective. It is eating on a schedule. I won't bore you with the details, because, you can find your own information and do your own experiments online, if you can't weight for the book; and, I do need something to put in the book, that isn't in this blog, or, why would anyone want to read it?
Anyway ....
Today is the first day of Step One.
Day One:
For breakfast, I had half a bagel. It's not plain, but, I don't know what it is. It's spiced with something. 1 Kroger Brand Beer Braut sausage, lightly sauteed in a little olive oil with 1/2 Roma tomato, some peppers and onions.
For lunch, I am having the same, as I made a bowl up for my son and he hasn't shown up, yet. I am also having an unmeasured amount of cantaloupe and honey dew. I would guess about 1/8 of a medium melon, each. It might be less.
For dinner, I had one chicken drumstick (skin on), one baked potato, a little olive oil, and, some frozen green beans.
I finished eating around 4 p.m. It was hard, for the first couple of hours, not to go find things to nibble on, just to feel the feeling. I wasn't hungry. After a while, I quit noticing. I did take a Chem-Defense tablet and I think that helped, because, it's sublingual and that means a lot of shifting about.
After a few hours, I could really hear things moving around. My stomach felt flatter and less gassy than usual, too.
Day Two:
Woke up this morning, early, but, not hungry. Finally ate breakfast at around 7 a.m. I still wasn't feeling hungry, but, I was feeling that I had better get on with things, before the day wore away and I hadn't time to eat. This is a bad feeling that I must fail to give countenance to, on future days, as I did eat quite a bit, today.
For breakfast, I had oatmeal made with a little honey, a little coconut oil, fresh sauteed papaya and pineapple, and raisins. I measured nothing out, really, but, I'm guessing about 1 cup of oatmeal and maybe 1/2 cup of pineapple and papaya, and, it was a little wee box of raisins, like they give kids for snacks. However, I did not eat all of the fruit, as I made more oatmeal than I ate, so there is about half of it left for tomorrow morning.
For lunch, I had one very small and one medium-small baked potato with a squeeze of lemon, sea salt and ground peppercorns. two small chicken drumsticks (skin on) and the rest of the green beans that were cooked yesterday.
For dinner, I had approximately 1/2 a (scanty) can of tuna with white onion and apple slices and an onion bagel.
I finished eating right around 2 pm.
When I woke up this morning, I still felt a little full from yesterday (or, a little inflamed, anyway), but, I did feel better than if I had eaten later, and, I did .. *ahem* .. use the facilities in a more gratifying manner than usual.
I've still been taking my magnesium supplements. I think I will quit. Regardless of what that H.P. says about magnesium being a cure for constipation, I read evidence to the contrary before visiting her site, and, I experienced the truth of it, for myself, as well.
Maybe she meant magnesium rich foods, but, what I read was "magnesium". Of course, there is Phillip's Milk of Magnesia, which would argue in favor of her way of thinking, I guess. Hmm ... No, it does not. I just looked at the ingredients, and, while there is 1200 mg of magnesium hydroxide, or some such, it also has sodium and is made from sea salt, and, anyone who ever read (or, especially tried) the Master Cleanser Diet plan in regards to cleaning out one's bowels, knows that sea salt is very good for that.
A Japanese study showed that constipation can be linked to eating too little magnesium rich foods and taking in too little water. Didn't show taking magnesium supplements helped, though.
Dr. Oz said that taking magnesium supplements can cause constipation, so, to drink plenty of water. I've had it almost ever since I started taking them. It could be that the one I take has some sneaky calcium. Calcium tends to bind one up.
Whatever the case, I was snubbed by H.P. when I tried to ask her a question, and, I have constipation where none out to exist, according to her, and, so, that's two wrongs against her. I win!
Hahah?
It's around 10:40 p.m, now, and, I have felt no hunger pains or wild urges to chomp down on things. I have had mild urges to make strong, sweetened tea; but, that's mostly because I am headachy and that is probably from not having sugar.
Day Three: Saturday
Today, unless anything weird happens (or, maybe, despite it) I should be going to the gym with my sister. I had a stuffy-headed semi-wakeful night, but, better sleep than I have been having, lately, except for the night of the Valerian Root. Sounds scary, no?
This morning, after I drank some more water and moved around a little bit, I had a bowel movement that wasn't terribly painful or entirely disappointing. I am beginning to think that all the numbness of limbs associated with eating things really is about the pressure of gas and whatever happens with constipation. I have been feeling tired and numb and tingly, in the way I would if I ate cheese, but, without any of the other problems associated with it.
Today, for breakfast, I am eating the rest of the oatmeal, fruit, seeds, coconut oil combo with honey , that I made yesterday.
For lunch, I sauteed the two leftover potatoes, from yesterday, with a little olive oil, chopped leeks, peppers and white onion, and two eggs, along with some garlic, pepper and sea salt. This was split between me and my son. Plus, I had most of a green apple.
For dinner, I had brown rice pasta and black olives, mixed with some pasta I had made before, plus some extra spaghetti sauce (canned, premade stuff). So, there was a little ground beef and a little other vegetation. Oh, and, I chopped up a zucchini to put in it, too. Plus, I had a grapefruit.
What I have realized is that, right now, my stomach/intestines always swell up and get uncomfortable when I eat anything. Booh! Anyway, finished up around 2 pm.
Day Four,Sunday; Five,Monday; Six, Tuesday; 7,Wednesday. ....
I tried to keep track of things, but, I didn't have time to log in and type it all up.What I can tell you is that I did follow it, still, today, on Thursday, aka: Day 8. I did not really follow it on Wednesday, though,as I was feeling a bit queasy and drank a 7-Up outside of the eating window.
I also had some doughnuts on Wednesday. What I learned from all this Wednesday sugar is that eating sugar really does make me feel worse than not eating it. When my son and I went on a walk, today, I was really suffering and slogging, compared to the last walk I went on.
I have not weighed yesterday or today, yet, to see what might have transpired, because, truthfully, I hadn't realized that the week was up, until just now. I have been told by someone, today, that I look like I lost weight, though.
-------------
Okay, today is Friday, June 6, aka Day 9, only I am done counting in that way, since, really, I just wanted to do a mini-experiment for a week, to see what would happen. Now that I've had a fairly decent night's sleep and recovered from my walk in the torturous sun, I shall attempt to recreate the days I so blithely skipped over last night.
Day Four,Sunday;
Busy day. I believe I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, on cut rate bread and including high fructose corn syrup as the main ingredient in the jelly, for breakfast, followed by a hot dog, soda and half a small bag of potato chips for lunch.Circle K was where I was offered food and it was already getting late, vis a vis my time window, so, I pounced.
Then, for dinner, I had half a regular sized Snickers bar and a banana.
Day Five,Monday:
I don't remember breakfast, but, I do remember having lovely pasta for dinner, which was a mix of wheat spaghetti noodles and rice penne noodles.
For lunch it was one tuna sandwich, cut rate bread, with onions and mayo. Very tasty, in fact. I added a touch of dried dillweed and some black pepper and sea salt.
Six, Tuesday;
A description of my breakfast, which I posted on FB:
"I am eating oatmeal that you want to try, though. Mmm ... It's got pumpkin seeds, peanut butter, banana, an egg, oatmeal (of
Still, you want to try it. Don't know that you would need the egg, but, I felt the need for extra
protein that didn't annoy me."
course) all stirred up and cooked together, utilizing the appropriate amount of water. Oh,
and, cocoa powder with a little
honey.
That's as close as I get to a recipe for it, as I almost measured out the oatmeal and water,
but, measured nothing else.
For dinner, I had two smallish baked potatoes with sloppy joe mix (ground beef, canned spaghetti sauce, a little ketchup,some peppers and onion) over them.
Day Seven, Wednesday:
A bad day, indeed. What did I eat on Wednesday? I drank a 7-Up, most of a full 2 litre, full sugar drink and I ate approximately half a package, each, of Hostess powdered sugar and chocolate glazed doughnuts. No vegetables, no fruit, no other carbs, no protein.
Day Eight, Thursday:
A few bites of leftover chocolate-banana oatmeal The rest of the 7-Up, for breakfast.
2 value menu chicken sandwiches and one value menu hamburger, plus value fries and water for lunch / dinner.
Followed by a Propel water,on accident and some Diet Coke with fresh lemon juice, on purpose.
So, there we are.
Now, for the news:
On approximately the 22nd of May, 2014, I weighed at GNC. I had gained weight, again, and was up to almost 264 lbs. Something like 263.7. It did not say that I gained any body fat, though. At any rate, I had not lost weight, and kept it off, for several months of stress and bad eating.
As you can plainly see, above, last week was also some fairly bad eating. I will let you know that it was an extremely hot time with no swamp cooler, followed by a crying jag after I had to ask my dad for help because the person who promised he would fix it simply left the water on to pour off the roof which I cannot access. So, yeah, stress.
This morning,I weighed and measured my waistline(s).
The scale said either 255 lbs or 256 lbs. I cannot be more accurate than that, as my eyesight is poor and the lines are tiny and way down by my feet. Let's round up to 256 lbs and down to 263 lbs as my previous weight, because I know that I hadn't lost weight (before beginning this week long experiment) and I might have gained some. So, even shaving off a little of how much I actually weighed at last official weigh in, and, knocking off one possible pound of weight loss, that's still 7 lbs. lost, in one week, without even trying to eat really healthy or counting calories, or etc. Simply by eating within a set window of time, and, even then, I messed up on some days.
My waistline (right below ribcage) was measured, this morning, as being 44", My waistline (right above hip bones) was measured as 49".That's okay, though, as I can see, when I look in the mirror, that due to weight loss and skin that is looser, there are things that used to be up higher on my back that are now down lower.
Now, I was exercising at the gym this last week and went on a couple of walks, but, I was also doing those things during periods of weight gain ,while eating healthier.
Please be aware, I am not suggesting that you eat Hostess doughnuts and drink soda to lose weight. Nor am I suggesting that what you eat does not matter. I am saying that, especially if you have digestive issues that cause your food to move more slowly through your body, WHEN you eat is also of great importance.I am sure if I had eaten healthier, this last week, I would have lost even more and I would feel better, right now.
Still, I am happy with the results, and, I feel even more ready to do marvelous things for my health.
I am already doing some strength training exercises twice a week, but, they have not helped me lose weight. In fact, I have gained weight since beginning them as a regular thing. I think I gained about 6 lbs, so far. That's also while taking the magnesium supplements and probiotics, that were to help heal my gut and to lose belly fat.
I did lose a little on my waist, briefly, but, now it is gaining again, and, my belly is almost always hard, inflamed and I am almost always dehydrate and constipated. The heat could explain some, but, not all, of that. As of right now, I am still taking the supplements, but, I have decided on a new Step One, which I had done by accident, before, and found very effective. It is eating on a schedule. I won't bore you with the details, because, you can find your own information and do your own experiments online, if you can't weight for the book; and, I do need something to put in the book, that isn't in this blog, or, why would anyone want to read it?
Anyway ....
Today is the first day of Step One.
Day One:
For breakfast, I had half a bagel. It's not plain, but, I don't know what it is. It's spiced with something. 1 Kroger Brand Beer Braut sausage, lightly sauteed in a little olive oil with 1/2 Roma tomato, some peppers and onions.
For lunch, I am having the same, as I made a bowl up for my son and he hasn't shown up, yet. I am also having an unmeasured amount of cantaloupe and honey dew. I would guess about 1/8 of a medium melon, each. It might be less.
For dinner, I had one chicken drumstick (skin on), one baked potato, a little olive oil, and, some frozen green beans.
I finished eating around 4 p.m. It was hard, for the first couple of hours, not to go find things to nibble on, just to feel the feeling. I wasn't hungry. After a while, I quit noticing. I did take a Chem-Defense tablet and I think that helped, because, it's sublingual and that means a lot of shifting about.
After a few hours, I could really hear things moving around. My stomach felt flatter and less gassy than usual, too.
Day Two:
Woke up this morning, early, but, not hungry. Finally ate breakfast at around 7 a.m. I still wasn't feeling hungry, but, I was feeling that I had better get on with things, before the day wore away and I hadn't time to eat. This is a bad feeling that I must fail to give countenance to, on future days, as I did eat quite a bit, today.
For breakfast, I had oatmeal made with a little honey, a little coconut oil, fresh sauteed papaya and pineapple, and raisins. I measured nothing out, really, but, I'm guessing about 1 cup of oatmeal and maybe 1/2 cup of pineapple and papaya, and, it was a little wee box of raisins, like they give kids for snacks. However, I did not eat all of the fruit, as I made more oatmeal than I ate, so there is about half of it left for tomorrow morning.
For lunch, I had one very small and one medium-small baked potato with a squeeze of lemon, sea salt and ground peppercorns. two small chicken drumsticks (skin on) and the rest of the green beans that were cooked yesterday.
For dinner, I had approximately 1/2 a (scanty) can of tuna with white onion and apple slices and an onion bagel.
I finished eating right around 2 pm.
When I woke up this morning, I still felt a little full from yesterday (or, a little inflamed, anyway), but, I did feel better than if I had eaten later, and, I did .. *ahem* .. use the facilities in a more gratifying manner than usual.
I've still been taking my magnesium supplements. I think I will quit. Regardless of what that H.P. says about magnesium being a cure for constipation, I read evidence to the contrary before visiting her site, and, I experienced the truth of it, for myself, as well.
Maybe she meant magnesium rich foods, but, what I read was "magnesium". Of course, there is Phillip's Milk of Magnesia, which would argue in favor of her way of thinking, I guess. Hmm ... No, it does not. I just looked at the ingredients, and, while there is 1200 mg of magnesium hydroxide, or some such, it also has sodium and is made from sea salt, and, anyone who ever read (or, especially tried) the Master Cleanser Diet plan in regards to cleaning out one's bowels, knows that sea salt is very good for that.
A Japanese study showed that constipation can be linked to eating too little magnesium rich foods and taking in too little water. Didn't show taking magnesium supplements helped, though.
Dr. Oz said that taking magnesium supplements can cause constipation, so, to drink plenty of water. I've had it almost ever since I started taking them. It could be that the one I take has some sneaky calcium. Calcium tends to bind one up.
Whatever the case, I was snubbed by H.P. when I tried to ask her a question, and, I have constipation where none out to exist, according to her, and, so, that's two wrongs against her. I win!
Hahah?
It's around 10:40 p.m, now, and, I have felt no hunger pains or wild urges to chomp down on things. I have had mild urges to make strong, sweetened tea; but, that's mostly because I am headachy and that is probably from not having sugar.
Day Three: Saturday
Today, unless anything weird happens (or, maybe, despite it) I should be going to the gym with my sister. I had a stuffy-headed semi-wakeful night, but, better sleep than I have been having, lately, except for the night of the Valerian Root. Sounds scary, no?
This morning, after I drank some more water and moved around a little bit, I had a bowel movement that wasn't terribly painful or entirely disappointing. I am beginning to think that all the numbness of limbs associated with eating things really is about the pressure of gas and whatever happens with constipation. I have been feeling tired and numb and tingly, in the way I would if I ate cheese, but, without any of the other problems associated with it.
Today, for breakfast, I am eating the rest of the oatmeal, fruit, seeds, coconut oil combo with honey , that I made yesterday.
For lunch, I sauteed the two leftover potatoes, from yesterday, with a little olive oil, chopped leeks, peppers and white onion, and two eggs, along with some garlic, pepper and sea salt. This was split between me and my son. Plus, I had most of a green apple.
For dinner, I had brown rice pasta and black olives, mixed with some pasta I had made before, plus some extra spaghetti sauce (canned, premade stuff). So, there was a little ground beef and a little other vegetation. Oh, and, I chopped up a zucchini to put in it, too. Plus, I had a grapefruit.
What I have realized is that, right now, my stomach/intestines always swell up and get uncomfortable when I eat anything. Booh! Anyway, finished up around 2 pm.
Day Four,Sunday; Five,Monday; Six, Tuesday; 7,Wednesday. ....
I tried to keep track of things, but, I didn't have time to log in and type it all up.What I can tell you is that I did follow it, still, today, on Thursday, aka: Day 8. I did not really follow it on Wednesday, though,as I was feeling a bit queasy and drank a 7-Up outside of the eating window.
I also had some doughnuts on Wednesday. What I learned from all this Wednesday sugar is that eating sugar really does make me feel worse than not eating it. When my son and I went on a walk, today, I was really suffering and slogging, compared to the last walk I went on.
I have not weighed yesterday or today, yet, to see what might have transpired, because, truthfully, I hadn't realized that the week was up, until just now. I have been told by someone, today, that I look like I lost weight, though.
-------------
Okay, today is Friday, June 6, aka Day 9, only I am done counting in that way, since, really, I just wanted to do a mini-experiment for a week, to see what would happen. Now that I've had a fairly decent night's sleep and recovered from my walk in the torturous sun, I shall attempt to recreate the days I so blithely skipped over last night.
Day Four,Sunday;
Busy day. I believe I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, on cut rate bread and including high fructose corn syrup as the main ingredient in the jelly, for breakfast, followed by a hot dog, soda and half a small bag of potato chips for lunch.Circle K was where I was offered food and it was already getting late, vis a vis my time window, so, I pounced.
Then, for dinner, I had half a regular sized Snickers bar and a banana.
Day Five,Monday:
I don't remember breakfast, but, I do remember having lovely pasta for dinner, which was a mix of wheat spaghetti noodles and rice penne noodles.
For lunch it was one tuna sandwich, cut rate bread, with onions and mayo. Very tasty, in fact. I added a touch of dried dillweed and some black pepper and sea salt.
Six, Tuesday;
A description of my breakfast, which I posted on FB:
"I am eating oatmeal that you want to try, though. Mmm ... It's got pumpkin seeds, peanut butter, banana, an egg, oatmeal (of
Still, you want to try it. Don't know that you would need the egg, but, I felt the need for extra
protein that didn't annoy me."
course) all stirred up and cooked together, utilizing the appropriate amount of water. Oh,
and, cocoa powder with a little
honey.
That's as close as I get to a recipe for it, as I almost measured out the oatmeal and water,
but, measured nothing else.
For dinner, I had two smallish baked potatoes with sloppy joe mix (ground beef, canned spaghetti sauce, a little ketchup,some peppers and onion) over them.
Day Seven, Wednesday:
A bad day, indeed. What did I eat on Wednesday? I drank a 7-Up, most of a full 2 litre, full sugar drink and I ate approximately half a package, each, of Hostess powdered sugar and chocolate glazed doughnuts. No vegetables, no fruit, no other carbs, no protein.
Day Eight, Thursday:
A few bites of leftover chocolate-banana oatmeal The rest of the 7-Up, for breakfast.
2 value menu chicken sandwiches and one value menu hamburger, plus value fries and water for lunch / dinner.
Followed by a Propel water,on accident and some Diet Coke with fresh lemon juice, on purpose.
So, there we are.
Now, for the news:
On approximately the 22nd of May, 2014, I weighed at GNC. I had gained weight, again, and was up to almost 264 lbs. Something like 263.7. It did not say that I gained any body fat, though. At any rate, I had not lost weight, and kept it off, for several months of stress and bad eating.
As you can plainly see, above, last week was also some fairly bad eating. I will let you know that it was an extremely hot time with no swamp cooler, followed by a crying jag after I had to ask my dad for help because the person who promised he would fix it simply left the water on to pour off the roof which I cannot access. So, yeah, stress.
This morning,I weighed and measured my waistline(s).
The scale said either 255 lbs or 256 lbs. I cannot be more accurate than that, as my eyesight is poor and the lines are tiny and way down by my feet. Let's round up to 256 lbs and down to 263 lbs as my previous weight, because I know that I hadn't lost weight (before beginning this week long experiment) and I might have gained some. So, even shaving off a little of how much I actually weighed at last official weigh in, and, knocking off one possible pound of weight loss, that's still 7 lbs. lost, in one week, without even trying to eat really healthy or counting calories, or etc. Simply by eating within a set window of time, and, even then, I messed up on some days.
My waistline (right below ribcage) was measured, this morning, as being 44", My waistline (right above hip bones) was measured as 49".That's okay, though, as I can see, when I look in the mirror, that due to weight loss and skin that is looser, there are things that used to be up higher on my back that are now down lower.
Now, I was exercising at the gym this last week and went on a couple of walks, but, I was also doing those things during periods of weight gain ,while eating healthier.
Please be aware, I am not suggesting that you eat Hostess doughnuts and drink soda to lose weight. Nor am I suggesting that what you eat does not matter. I am saying that, especially if you have digestive issues that cause your food to move more slowly through your body, WHEN you eat is also of great importance.I am sure if I had eaten healthier, this last week, I would have lost even more and I would feel better, right now.
Still, I am happy with the results, and, I feel even more ready to do marvelous things for my health.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Day Two Step One
Since this is really only the second day that I have taken the supplements in the right amount, at the right time, according to package directions, I am considering this day two of step one, despite the week or so I was taking them before that.
Since my sister prefers to weigh later in the month, and, I'd like to have at least a week with the supplements, before I go weigh again, we shall probably be weighing next week. That way, I can see if taking the supplements has helped, at all.
However, I can tell you that I did my two waist measurements, today, and was fairly pleased. Two waist measurements are taken, in case you don't remember (or, haven't read that post) because the doctor who wrote the Hilton Head Metabolism Diet says to measure for calculating your B.M.I., you need to measure directly above your hip bones for your waist measurement. However, where my waist actually is, the natural indent, is up a bit higher. Not a lot higher, though, as I have a bit of a short torso.
Anyway, as I said before, I measured them one morning and they were 46"(natural) and 49" (above hipbone), but, later that evening they were 49" and 51" . Today, in the afternoon, they were 46" and 49". So, I count that as good news!
I do feel flappier, this week. It's a horrible feeling, in a way, but, it's also a really good feeling in another way, since it is the feeling of progress. My hands were creeping me out, though.
I had wiggled my fingers around, watching the bagginess of it all, and, then I noticed that the .. hmm .. I don't know what you call it. You know, I could have totally freaky hands and be cluing you into my circus people genealogy, or whatever, by saying this stuff! Anyway ...
On my hand, at any rate, there is a rather large part under the thumb, where the thumb actually has the rest of its bits that attach to the hand proper. Over the bone is a whole lot of padding. So, when I move my thumb in toward the palm and fingers, that padding, now looser, bunches up and makes the thumb and itself look rather like a very sad, old penis.
See?:
And, here is my same baggy hand, sans penis:
It is a good thing, masquerading as a bad thing.
Same thing with other parts of me. Of course, by my saying "other parts" breasts are inferred; but, not only those. Still, I am constantly amazed when I find that I still have enough fat left there to lose anything, since, every time I lose weight, I lose more of them .Seriously! I was not Dolly Parton to begin with, you know? And, either was she, after she lost weight, until she got surgery.
My belly does feel more like it's partially made out of rubber, so that it bounces along as I walk. Or, move at all. Today, I was trying to read a book, but, I had put my legs together, laying on my back, and, was doing a wee bit of some sort of laying down, pretend belly dance, abdominal exercise and then, I don't know .. I was just flapping my thighs together, after a while, for my own amusement.
Hey! If you can't have fun, why do it? Any of it? Flapping your thighs together may not be normal, but, it is self-entertainment and it is exercise. So, I say, why not?
The real point of all that, above, is that I do feel as if I have probably lost weight and the measurements seem to indicate that some of it has come off my belly. Yaye!
Here is another photo for you, just because. Enjoy my flappy face and insouciant hair!
One of my sisters has these uber large eyes (though, I am not sure if she is aware of this) which still look big, blue and flashing, even though she is, currently, larger than I. Whereas my eyes are not so easy to spot, especially as light hurts them and I keep squinting.
To make up for it. I have these lips, you see? Think about it. I am 45 years old. I am overweight, so, my lips look small compared to my face size. People do not generally get fat lips from getting fat elsewhere, you know? No, but, they usually get them from calling other people fat!
My point is, lips get thinner as you age. They look smaller in a fat face. I do not use lip plumpers. I have gotten no plastic surgery or weird injections. Those are my natural, unenhanced lips that look as big, blue and flashing as my sister's eyes do! Err .. well, you know what I mean!
They are a source of happiness to me, because, as a child, I was afraid of being thin-lipped; and, I know that is a fear that is most unfounded.
They are, also, a source of amusement to me. For, while I do enjoy a good set of full lips, it freaks me out when I lose weight on my face, and, it tightens up enough to look like it, and, my lips, thusly, look bigger than they did. Sometimes, to me, it looks like nothing else has changed and it is only that my lips have grown.
Hahhahaha!
Hmm ... if I had a choice between that or being thin-lipped? Hmm... . tough choice. I guess I'd just stop trying to lose weight.
xx
Since my sister prefers to weigh later in the month, and, I'd like to have at least a week with the supplements, before I go weigh again, we shall probably be weighing next week. That way, I can see if taking the supplements has helped, at all.
However, I can tell you that I did my two waist measurements, today, and was fairly pleased. Two waist measurements are taken, in case you don't remember (or, haven't read that post) because the doctor who wrote the Hilton Head Metabolism Diet says to measure for calculating your B.M.I., you need to measure directly above your hip bones for your waist measurement. However, where my waist actually is, the natural indent, is up a bit higher. Not a lot higher, though, as I have a bit of a short torso.
Anyway, as I said before, I measured them one morning and they were 46"(natural) and 49" (above hipbone), but, later that evening they were 49" and 51" . Today, in the afternoon, they were 46" and 49". So, I count that as good news!
I do feel flappier, this week. It's a horrible feeling, in a way, but, it's also a really good feeling in another way, since it is the feeling of progress. My hands were creeping me out, though.
I had wiggled my fingers around, watching the bagginess of it all, and, then I noticed that the .. hmm .. I don't know what you call it. You know, I could have totally freaky hands and be cluing you into my circus people genealogy, or whatever, by saying this stuff! Anyway ...
On my hand, at any rate, there is a rather large part under the thumb, where the thumb actually has the rest of its bits that attach to the hand proper. Over the bone is a whole lot of padding. So, when I move my thumb in toward the palm and fingers, that padding, now looser, bunches up and makes the thumb and itself look rather like a very sad, old penis.
See?:
And, here is my same baggy hand, sans penis:
Same thing with other parts of me. Of course, by my saying "other parts" breasts are inferred; but, not only those. Still, I am constantly amazed when I find that I still have enough fat left there to lose anything, since, every time I lose weight, I lose more of them .Seriously! I was not Dolly Parton to begin with, you know? And, either was she, after she lost weight, until she got surgery.
My belly does feel more like it's partially made out of rubber, so that it bounces along as I walk. Or, move at all. Today, I was trying to read a book, but, I had put my legs together, laying on my back, and, was doing a wee bit of some sort of laying down, pretend belly dance, abdominal exercise and then, I don't know .. I was just flapping my thighs together, after a while, for my own amusement.
Hey! If you can't have fun, why do it? Any of it? Flapping your thighs together may not be normal, but, it is self-entertainment and it is exercise. So, I say, why not?
The real point of all that, above, is that I do feel as if I have probably lost weight and the measurements seem to indicate that some of it has come off my belly. Yaye!
Here is another photo for you, just because. Enjoy my flappy face and insouciant hair!
One of my sisters has these uber large eyes (though, I am not sure if she is aware of this) which still look big, blue and flashing, even though she is, currently, larger than I. Whereas my eyes are not so easy to spot, especially as light hurts them and I keep squinting.
To make up for it. I have these lips, you see? Think about it. I am 45 years old. I am overweight, so, my lips look small compared to my face size. People do not generally get fat lips from getting fat elsewhere, you know? No, but, they usually get them from calling other people fat!
My point is, lips get thinner as you age. They look smaller in a fat face. I do not use lip plumpers. I have gotten no plastic surgery or weird injections. Those are my natural, unenhanced lips that look as big, blue and flashing as my sister's eyes do! Err .. well, you know what I mean!
They are a source of happiness to me, because, as a child, I was afraid of being thin-lipped; and, I know that is a fear that is most unfounded.
They are, also, a source of amusement to me. For, while I do enjoy a good set of full lips, it freaks me out when I lose weight on my face, and, it tightens up enough to look like it, and, my lips, thusly, look bigger than they did. Sometimes, to me, it looks like nothing else has changed and it is only that my lips have grown.
Hahhahaha!
Hmm ... if I had a choice between that or being thin-lipped? Hmm... . tough choice. I guess I'd just stop trying to lose weight.
xx
Monday, May 5, 2014
Lesson learned
So, here I am, taking my supplements, and, waiting out what I thought was a bad reaction that developed from eating the Greek Yogurt. I mean, I expected it would be from the Greek Yogurt, though, I was a bit surprised that it started happening after not having eaten them for a few days, at all; but, you know, I have super slow digestion at times, and, when it comes to my milk intolerance, sometimes, it starts out being just a little bad and then blooms to full blown torture over the next week or so.
That wasn't it, though. It's been plenty long enough that I should have been over it, if it was the cause of my troubles, and, instead of getting better, I've been getting worse. As in, constant rash on my face , neck, shoulders and upper back, starting to get itchy in other places, stomach swollen up, and, other nasty things you just don't want to know about, at all.
I know what I've been eating and none of the food I had contained any sort of milk at all. Okay, there was some bread, but, there's never been a problem with eating bread, so long as its good quality, before now.
So, I go to look up the ingredients on the supplements I've been taking. Turns out the probiotic has wheat in it, which is a little alarming, since, part of balancing out your bacteria is avoiding wheat, if at all possible; but, I wasn't that concerned with that issue, yet. They also have milk in them! I have never bought a probiotic with milk in it, before now, or, even heard of one; but, that's what's in the one I got from Wal-Mart.So, now, I have a several month supply of poison. Yaye!
I haven't been able to sleep, feel like I can't get going on cleaning or anything else, and, in the last couple of days my rash got really bad, I started seeing spots in front of my eyes and blacking out. I'm about 100 percent certain that's why.
Nothing like buying something that's supposed to be helping you get healthier and finding out that it contains things that make you more ill than just about anything else. It's got my thyroid acting all cranky, too.
I bought the probiotic so that I could get the good results of eating yogurt or kefir, without having to have the milk that comes with it. Grrr!
Update:
Well, things just got weirder. Turns out that the probiotic USED to have milk in it, and, Wal-Mart just doesn't update their site often enough. It does have wheat, though, which is still not good, but, not terrible at this point. Also, even though I was looking for a one-shot supplement, I found out both the magnesium and probiotic really should be taken three times per day. (sigh)
It might be the magnesium that has the milk. Apparently, most magnesium supplements have milk in them. It doesn't say it has milk, but, either do other ones, on Vitacost.com, which do not show up in the search as soon as I search for ones without lactose.
Update, again:
It's true that the magnesium probably has some lactose in it, but, I have, since my last posting on the subject at hand, learned other things that are probably more important.
Most especially, I learned that magnesium tamps down your digestive juices. Since I already have low stomach acid, this is not even remotely helpful, even if other aspects of magnesium make it very good to take.
It might be that it is the fact that milk and cheese are so hard to digest which cause the most harm (when whey is not a huge factor), because, I was feeling just like I was snarfling mass quantities of cheese. Then, I drank some apple cider vinegar, with a little water, and, I felt much better.
If you'll remember from things I typed up, earlier, apple cider vinegar is an aid to digestion, among its other qualities, and, I have found it especially beneficial, in that respect, for me.
Since I found out both that this helps and that I need to take more of the pills to get the effect Dr. Oz was having people aim for, I went ahead and took the next dose at the time I first used ACV today. I just did both, again, and, am now going to eat a salad for dinner.
That may not be all of my dinner. Not sure, yet. It's a good, tasty thing, though, which I am looking greatly forward to, even if it is mainly just iceberg lettuce.
xx
That wasn't it, though. It's been plenty long enough that I should have been over it, if it was the cause of my troubles, and, instead of getting better, I've been getting worse. As in, constant rash on my face , neck, shoulders and upper back, starting to get itchy in other places, stomach swollen up, and, other nasty things you just don't want to know about, at all.
I know what I've been eating and none of the food I had contained any sort of milk at all. Okay, there was some bread, but, there's never been a problem with eating bread, so long as its good quality, before now.
So, I go to look up the ingredients on the supplements I've been taking. Turns out the probiotic has wheat in it, which is a little alarming, since, part of balancing out your bacteria is avoiding wheat, if at all possible; but, I wasn't that concerned with that issue, yet. They also have milk in them! I have never bought a probiotic with milk in it, before now, or, even heard of one; but, that's what's in the one I got from Wal-Mart.So, now, I have a several month supply of poison. Yaye!
I haven't been able to sleep, feel like I can't get going on cleaning or anything else, and, in the last couple of days my rash got really bad, I started seeing spots in front of my eyes and blacking out. I'm about 100 percent certain that's why.
Nothing like buying something that's supposed to be helping you get healthier and finding out that it contains things that make you more ill than just about anything else. It's got my thyroid acting all cranky, too.
I bought the probiotic so that I could get the good results of eating yogurt or kefir, without having to have the milk that comes with it. Grrr!
Update:
Well, things just got weirder. Turns out that the probiotic USED to have milk in it, and, Wal-Mart just doesn't update their site often enough. It does have wheat, though, which is still not good, but, not terrible at this point. Also, even though I was looking for a one-shot supplement, I found out both the magnesium and probiotic really should be taken three times per day. (sigh)
It might be the magnesium that has the milk. Apparently, most magnesium supplements have milk in them. It doesn't say it has milk, but, either do other ones, on Vitacost.com, which do not show up in the search as soon as I search for ones without lactose.
Update, again:
It's true that the magnesium probably has some lactose in it, but, I have, since my last posting on the subject at hand, learned other things that are probably more important.
Most especially, I learned that magnesium tamps down your digestive juices. Since I already have low stomach acid, this is not even remotely helpful, even if other aspects of magnesium make it very good to take.
It might be that it is the fact that milk and cheese are so hard to digest which cause the most harm (when whey is not a huge factor), because, I was feeling just like I was snarfling mass quantities of cheese. Then, I drank some apple cider vinegar, with a little water, and, I felt much better.
If you'll remember from things I typed up, earlier, apple cider vinegar is an aid to digestion, among its other qualities, and, I have found it especially beneficial, in that respect, for me.
Since I found out both that this helps and that I need to take more of the pills to get the effect Dr. Oz was having people aim for, I went ahead and took the next dose at the time I first used ACV today. I just did both, again, and, am now going to eat a salad for dinner.
That may not be all of my dinner. Not sure, yet. It's a good, tasty thing, though, which I am looking greatly forward to, even if it is mainly just iceberg lettuce.
xx
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Alternatives and Substitutes
I am not a big fan of substitutes, but, I am a big fan of alternatives. What does that mean?
Take, for instance, low carb bread. What's the point of it? So, you can feel as if you are eating bread, without really eating bread as it is intended to be. Or, margarine: something weird, pretending to be something it's not and can never hope to equal. The only way margarine can be anywhere near as good as butter is if you encase it in butter.
Turkey bacon. Some people love turkey bacon, I have recently learned, by meeting one who feels this way. There is nothing inherently wrong with turkey bacon, if you want to eat turkey bacon. If what you want to eat is beef bacon or pork bacon, turkey bacon will never do and there is no point in pretending otherwise.
Artificial sweeteners are the worst. What you want is sweet. What is sweet, when you want sweet? Sugar, maple syrup, honey; maybe agave nectar or date sugar; raisins. What do you get when you take in artificial sweetener? Do you get the same taste as any of the actually, naturally sweet things of sweetness? No. You get a weird, unnatural tasting sweet, that's all chemically weird. Why pretend anything else is the case?
Yogurt. I have read recipes for "yogurt" that involved mixing plant milk or animal milk with a thickening agent. That was it, really. There was none of the benefit of yogurt. It was just goop, pretending to be yogurt. Now, if you want goop, that's fine, I guess; but, if you want yogurt, it's not going to work for you.
Tofurkey scares me, especially when someone actually molds it into the shape of a turkey. Tofu, with flavoring, pretending its meat. Gross! Choose, please, do you want tofu or do you want meat? Act accordingly!
Now, alternatives are often called substitutes, but, they are different. What's the difference? Substitutes are when you feel you should have "the real thing", but, you are stuck making do with something else. Alternatives are when you make an active choice to not eat something and to have something else, instead.
Back to bacon. An old man sits at his table, peevishly picking at his plate. His daughter, on advice from his doctor, has thrown out all his favorite foods and substituted them with things that resemble them, in some way. Just thinking about this scenario is getting me all worked up over eggs, but, I must not digress! On his plate is turkey bacon.
"Why can't I have real bacon?" he cries.
"Because, Dad, it's not good for you. Eat your turkey bacon. It's just as good." she says, both sighingly and lyingly. Don't judge her too harshly, though. She means well.
There is no point in giving him turkey bacon. He hates it. It taunts him, because, it looks like what he loves and tastes nothing like it. If it does taste like it, that's because someone processed it in some foul (no pun intended) way to make it so. That can't be good for him! Either thing can't be good for him.
Why not give him a bowl of oatmeal, instead? Or, a really good quality piece of bacon, that's less fat, and, far more tasty and enjoyable than most bacon he's likely to have encountered; but, just the one piece? Or, a small piece of lean pork or steak? Why torture him with pretense?
I use olive oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, and, when I can get it, I use sunflower oil and sesame oil. I'd probably use avocado oil and macadamia oil, too, if I could afford them. I say probably as I never have used them, so, I am not sure I would like them. What I do not do is use them because I can't eat butter. Although, it is true that I absolutely should not eat butter. Still, I use them, because, I wanted to try them, I did try them, and, I like them.
I use unsweetened applesauce in things like muffins, to make up for the butter and/or sugar that I left out. I even have used it to make "oven-fried" chicken. I don't do it because I can't have sugar or greasy chicken. I do it, because, in the case of the chicken, I read a recipe that was in a magazine article dedicated to one of Oprah Winfrey's earlier weight loss plans, and, it sounded good. It is good! Too bad I don't still have the recipe. I could figure it out, again, though, if I really wanted to make it. I do it, when it comes to muffins, because, I like the taste and I like the way I feel after eating such a muffin better than the way I like the way I feel after eating some oil-laden, sugar-infested monstrosity of a muffin.
Experimentation is fun. Forced substitutions are not. Honest, more healthful eating is fun and leads to experimentation. Pretending that life is the same, when you have lost foods you love, and, whipping up horrible alternatives to them and forcing them down your throat, while your taste buds quietly rebel and make plans to kill you in your sleep: not so fun!
Most of the time, I drink unsweetened tea or water. I was, for a while, buying Stevia. I can't do it, anymore. It was really brought home to me how far off it was from its original form (much more so than processed cane sugar is) when I put it in a pan as one ingredient in a sauce to go over pancakes. It lumped up, pretty much just like this one CD did when I pan fried it because I decided it was too negative and worldly, and, I didn't want to accidentally inflict something I thought was wrong to listen to on someone else. (There are a lot of dumpster divers in this neighborhood.) I, also, didn't want someone seeing it in the trash, asking why I scratched it up, and, generally harassing me about it, as it was something that I knew I should get rid of, but, also, still wanted. It would have hurt to see it, again.
It lumped up into a sad little plastic pile, folding in on itself and leaving a nasty residue in the pan, which was very hard to get clean again. CDs are not made to eat. Things that cook up like them shouldn't be, either.
Now, agave nectar and honey, the real things and not the sugar that is pretending to be them, are lovely. I would probably, sometimes, still use them for that reason, if I could afford them. I can't. There are times I will use sugar, probably. I like unsweetened tea, though, and, I like oatmeal that is sweetened by pure vanilla extract, apples, pineapple, and/or raisins, so, I really don't have need of sweetener, most of the time.
When I was a kid, Mom used to make tea with milk and sugar. It was lovely. I can't have it, now, because, milk makes me very ill and sugar appears to be not that good for me, either. Sometimes, though, I want a hot, creamy beverage made with tea, that's sweet. I have tried nut milks and found them satisfying. I have tried honey and agave nectar and found them satisfying, at times. At other times, they would disappoint. At those times, I either forego the hot, creamy tea beverage or I make it with the nut milk and sugar. There is an alternative to sugar and to milk, but, there is no substitute for sugar.
Now, on to eggs. Egg substitutes. I have no idea what they are made out of, but, I suspect they come from some aborted science experiment attempting to replicate bewetted plastic diaper covers in a laboratory setting. They are nasty! Egg whites of three, in place of eggs of one or two. No thank you! Why? Look, egg whites have their place, in the world of baking, and, they do very well there. Eggs that are supposed to be eggs, but, have been dismembered and had all the best tasting parts of them thrown out, do not do very well, anywhere - not on the plate, not on the tongue, not on the stomach.
It is my personal belief that if you want bacon and eggs, and, you are used to eating them most every day, and, then your doctor says to stop it, then, you should stop it. Stop what? Stop eating them every day. Maybe have them once a week, or once a month, and, find alternatives that you enjoy for the other days that you are not having them. Maybe have them twice a week, but, only one slice of bacon and one egg at each of those meals. Whatever the case, don't torture yourself!
Yes, I know, like turkey bacon, egg white omelettes have their devotees. I can't understand it, because, they are completely unsatisfying to me, but, I know it's true and its not my place to judge.
Another thing I like to do, though I haven't in quite a while, now, is to make a baked potato and put safflower oil and Canadian Steak seasoning on it. I used to put plain, non-fat yogurt on it. Neither are a good substitute for sour cream or butter, but, both are excellent alternatives
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