What a Year!!

I realized as I pulled up my blog it has been over a year since I wrote on it.  At first I thought "Bad Laura!" and stopped myself.  I stopped myself and begin to think back over the year.  It was indeed a growing year for me. I had alot of challenges last year.  In the beginning of the year when I tried to do something about my health, it seemed things got worse.  I had a cortisone shot in my knee for my arthritis and the next week I was so sick with throw up for two days.  Not my idea of getting healthy. I tried to go off the Gluten for a while and was feeling better, but other things seemed to overtake me and I was back on the Gluten and sugar again.  There were days I had no energy, motivation or the ability to get out of bed more than going to the couch.  In the process of it all I lost my job and had no income for six months.  It was only by God's Mercy I survived.  So here I am again....once again trying!  Never give up!

This morning I started Day 6 with no wheat, gluten, sugar or soda.  I can tell you this is the best I have felt in many many months.  I think it is so crazy that what we eat affects our daily life so much!  How can you celebrate a birthday without a birthday cake?  Or Christmas without all the Christmas Goodies?  I have to learn how.

This morning I decided to revitalize my blog, because of the changes I have seen in my own body and life in just six days.  Let me take you back to last Thursday.  I had a Rice Krispy square.  I needed a little something to hold me over as I went to the Family History Center for three hours to volunteer.  A little over two hours into my shift, my stomach began cramping, and gurgling, and I got very gassey.  Because it was a slow day I was told I could go home, which I did. Then I felt like my stomach just exploded as I had runs so badly and my stomach was still gurgling and gassey.  I cried.

I cried for two reasons.  I hurt and didn't know how much longer I could stand of this who stomach issue.  And two I cried because the next day I was to meet a child hood friend that was in town from Iowa. But after a prayer and really pondering the whole issue, I just felt like I would not be well enough to meet them for lunch the next day.  I had to cancel.  I looked at my life and all the things I had recently missed because of my legs and my stomach and it made me mad.

I had a new cleanse I was going to try but was going to wait until Monday to start it, but decided on Thursday night I was going to start it the next morning.  The cleanse it said was to remove the trigger foods in your body that makes you crave the sugar, wheat and gluten.  I thought yeah right.  But I guess it was my last hope, so I did it.  Within a couple of hours it was going through me and the first thing I noticed were my knees were sore but didn't hurt as much.

I emailed the site I got it from and they said that sometimes the cleanse does work that quickly.  I really tried to put my mind frame into eating meat, fruits and vegetables instead of the processed food we all love.  So here it is day 6.  Here are somethings I am noticing.

1) Out of the last five days I have over half those days I have had some pretty descent sleep.  One night even sleeping six hours.

2) My feet are beginning to get wrinkles in them.  YES!!  They have not seen wrinkles in the last year!  That means the lymph fluid is moving.

3) I am not as tired as I was -- it seems as of all of the last half  of 2013 and 2014.  I am actually getting things done, like going back to my writing.

4) I think more clearly, am more emotionally stable (not crying all the time), and see a bit of hope and brightness in my life.

5) The best thing is I have not had any sugar, wheat, gluten, or soda for five days going on 6.

I am going to document my journey through this blog, and also my own private journal I am keeping.  I just want all to know there is hope and we can all do this together.  Someone once told me the reason they were fat was because they were a loser and had no self control.  I don't believe that. No overweight person I have ever talked wants to be overweight.  But sometimes we just have to fond what works for us.

I remember when I was in Texas and gave up the sugar and soda. A friend told me I inspired her.  She couldn't do the "No Soda and No Sugar" thing, but she found her own journey.  She began exercising.  It was an hour a night faithfully.  She told me the first year she lost 24 lbs. Then she found an eating program that worked for her.  In the year she has started her eating program she has lost over 100 lbs.  Go figure!!

My legs are very troublesome to me and they will only do so much until I get frustrated.  So I decided to go back to the other approach what I eat.  As much as I tried to control it I couldn't, until I did the cleanse, then I could stay away from the processed food.  I know I won't be perfect, but I do need to find alternative ways to eat the things I love and I think there are ALTERNATIVES.  I just have to find what works best for me!!

If you are struggling with a weight issue, take one area and start there.  Maybe you have decided you are not ready to give up chocolate or sugar, but you can sacrifice the exercise portion of it. Start out with a small step and keep building.  Let me know how you have decided to change your life and get healthy!! 

Sleep and Sugar--AreThey Related?

Have you ever stopped to think about when you get tired?  What is the first thing you reach for?  Something to pop your energy level up to give you more energy?  Next time stop and think about how you slept the night before?  If you say, I got the same amount of sleep I always do, 6 hours then you may have just stumbled on to something. 

Doctors have preached for years we need 8 hours of sleep to rejuvenate our bodies.  Our bodies have the ability to heal themselves for the most part if we allow them.  I am not saying quit going to the doctor, we all need doctors!!!  Consider this, I have a friend who stays up until Midnight or 1 in the morning and then up at 5.  Their excuse is, "I don't need 8 hours of sleep".  But when I watch them, I see how they are always  down (depressed), no energy and very agitated all at the same time. I also see how everything has to go on their schedule and everyone has to accommodate them.  So is this someone who doesn't need 8 hours of sleep or someone who just THINKS because they can survive on 5 hours sleep, they don't need the 8 hours of sleep? Trust me, they need EIGHT hours of  sleep!!!  LOL

There is a direct link to weight loss with sleep habits.  Recently, I found an article by Samantha Gibble entitled "10 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Lose Weight Naturally.  Will it surprise you if I told you the #1 change was eliminating liquid sugars such as soda, and the #5 change was sleeping?  According to Ms. Gibble, when we do not sleep enough our appetite magnifies. This is interesting to me, because I TRY to go to bed at 10.  99% of the time this does not happen.  Yet if I do not wake by 7 I feel as though my day is wasting away, and when I get up I start eating.  But I can see how when I get to bed sooner than midnight and sleep 8 hours, I feel better, not as sluggish and not eating everything in sight. 

Another thing I noticed with me, several years ago when I eliminated sugar and carbs, I slept very soundly through the night.  Most nights I am up a few times to go to the bathroom.  The first time I slept through the night I did not know what was happening.  That had never happened before!! I thought, so this is what it is to not be tired.  So I know there is a correlation between sugar, sleeping and how it all affects you and whether you are "tolerable" the next day. When I say tolerable, I am meaning are people able to stand being around you for the day?  Been there, done that one too!!  LOL

I can tell you from someone who have lived 50+ years on an emotional roller coaster, it is not fun and very exhausting.  So with all that said, I am going to find ways for me to eliminate MORE SUGAR from my diet. I have a book I want to share with you in the future on how to get more sugar out of your diet.

But for now, know you all have done BEAUTIMOUS!!!  I am so proud of everyone!!!  Just keep going and don't get discouraged!!!  It will all come!!!

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Class

I just returned from a woman's conference at my church.  The theme was Simply Joy. Basically it was finding many different ways that brought us joy. One class was titled Chocolate Chip Cookie and yes I attended.  We all love chocolate chip cookies, especially when they are still warm.  Yes they handed out chocolate chip cookies in class.  I had already made up my mind to turn the cookie down, but they ran out before they got to the back of the chapel. I also knew there were cookies and brownies for lunch and chose to stay away.  For me this was all a good choice.  I was in a good spot today.

In the Chocolate Chip Cookie class it was basically on things we have learned and been taught that bring us great joy. Some of it was related to food, some to outdoor activities, and some to learning a new hobby. Maybe something that was not our first choice, but once we got though the learning phase it was not so bad.   The point is, IT probably put us in a good spot of joy.  Remember how you feel when you get to that spot?  You feel like taking on the world because you know you can.

So it is with life.  We have to make choices.  Good choices are just as easy to make as bad choices - I think?  But it really depends on where we are at that moment. Notice I did not say life, but at that moment.  I believe there are some keys to have and be aware of to be in control of the choices at the moment.  If you are not in a "soft place" you are probably going to make some choices you will be kicking yourself for later.  A soft place is not being in turmoil, mad, upset, frustrated or out of control. It is that peaceful, warm safe feeling and you know if you needed to you could conquer the world.  Or at least what ever life throws at you at the moment.

So I thought about the things that I have learned that truly brought me joy.  I actually thought of one sitting in another class.  There are several, but the one that I think I will use as my soft place is learning I am loved in this life. Shortly afterward Candida's mother saw me and said, "Laura!!"  As she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a big hug and kiss.  This is a lady I met at Christmas.  And it was truly the unconditional love of a mother. Someone confided to me today, she first felt unconditional love when she met her new mother in law.  In her home she was expected to be perfect and when she was not, they let her know.  So she felt like she was never good enough.  She like me had to learn to be loved in this life. This is my soft place.  The spot I can go back to when I need to feel safe.

My challenge to all of you is to find your "soft place".  That memory or place that you can go back to in your mind and know you are happy, completely safe and in control of you.  If I can remember to do this, maybe I can continue to strengthen my relationship with food and not let it be my crutch and escape. 

I have the No Sugar and No Soda thing licked, it is all the other stuff I still need the help with.

By the way, the reason it is called a "soft place" is because it that peaceful place.  Think about getting in an argument with yelling and screaming.  How different would that argument be if you conversed in a softer voice than one of anger and turmoil?  You can call it what ever you want but for me it is my "soft place".  And on that note I know there will be faced with treats tomorrow again.  But I am ready!!!

Getting Healthy--All The Way!!

Much has been on my mind this week. One day I slept in until 8:30 and thought what is up with that!  You all heard about the scale escapade!  For me I know this is all a mind game and I am trying so hard to get my mind in the right spot and learn to eat better than I have in the past.  Last night I got an email from someone I did not know.  I opened it because it had an ancestor's name on the subject line.  Conversing back and forth with Dana sent a million emotions through me.  

Uncle Lee

I have shared some of my stories here so you can catch a glimpse into my past.  To make a long story short, I found out just this past year a great uncle had two marriages. You are probably asking, "What's the big deal Laura?"  If you are doing genealogy it becomes a VERY BIG DEAL.  It usually unlocks answers and helps you bust through brick walls you never thought you would get through.  My grandfather's family was just that, a solid brick wall.  It wasn't until I started researching his siblings that answers began to unravel.  With my Uncle Lee I found a document that he was married to Lizzie Westbrook.  My first thought was that is not his wife, then realized he had two marriages.  When I found the marriage record, the book opened to the page their record was located.  Anyway, I blogged about it and last night someone found that blog and contacted me. Dana's friends are his descendants. So once again here were cousins I had never met, never even knew  existed and we are connecting.  It is the same story it seems over and over again with me.  But then this afternoon I had an email from my aunt-an aunt I just recently connected with in the last month.  She told me what she had heard of me leaving home.  I had run away and joined a cult. Just for the record, that is not true!!  If you want to read my story, here is a link to Kathy's Blog-Laura's Journey (sorry if I have shared it before). I will admit, I broke down and cried and cried, BUT I didn't go for food.  I let the emotion and the pain come out.  And then I went to my stress reliever which is writing.

I think more anything I saw something today that was both in me and my mom--we both ran from the hurt and pain inside us. For me I took most of my comfort in food. Today a friend sat next to me in church.  She is someone I have come to love a great deal, because she was the one who said, Say it!  Say it!  Tell yourself you love yourself!  Today I felt like I could be there for her, little did I know her love and support would help me get through an email that was so painful.  Through it all I see myself getting healthy step by step.

Some of you have said, they do not see the pounds coming off yet. I have also heard you are replacing the sugar and soda with other things.  I do that too.  But today I decided it was okay if I did that sometimes, because I was breaking habits and cutting back in small ways.  And it is all those small things that will begin to add up to big things.

Kathys' blog a few days ago had some excellent ways to cut back on things and I wanted to share them with all of you. For those who follow Kathy's Blog....it's a repeat but knowledge is power right and the more ingrained into us, then the better off we will be. You can skip to the bottom if you would like.  Here is the list of ways to cut back:
 
1.   Serve dinner on a 9 or 10 inch plate (you'll eat up to 22 percent less).
2.   Serve popcorn in a small bucket instead of a huge bucket (you'll eat 34 percent more if popcorn is given in a very huge bucket).
3.   Use tall, thin glasses instead of short, wide ones (you'll pour 29 percent less).
4.   Store all your snacks in small single-serving food-storage bags (you'll eat up to 20 percent less).
5.   Keep the main serving dishes on the stove or counter (you'll eat 19 percent less than if you kept the food on the table).
6.   Move potato chips to the back of the pantry. (I buy the $1 bags or so and when they are gone they are gone. I don't buy the huge bags!)
7.   Include a fruit and vegetable with your lunch and dinner.
8.   Don't eat white foods at dinner.
9.   Use the half-plate rule (fill half your plate with salad or veggies).
10. Have a sweet or salty afternoon snack only if you first eat a piece of fresh fruit.
11. Drink one glass of water before every meal or snack.
12. Use the Restaurant Rule of Two: Limit yourself to two items other than your entree.
13. Never eat in front of the TV. (My problem is my car!!!)
14. Eat a piece of fruit on the way to work every day.
15. Freeze half of what you make, and serve the other half.
16. Save desserts for weekends. 

This article was written by Brian Wansink who is the director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab and author of Mindless Eating.

I think there are some good ideas in here.  I like the smaller plate idea.  Last year I would get a burger and salad. Now I know that sounds like it is not healthy, BUT I didn't have seconds and leftovers and it really helped me to cut down on my appetite.  I am trying to have a salad every day, I have a 64 oz bottle I fill with water I try to drink every day.  There are many ways we can take these and incorporate them into our own plans.  Because I don't eat sweets, I think I am going to take it and apply it for pasta one day a week.  I do love a good plate of spaghetti!!!  Just remember if it doesn't work the first time, don't give up!!  This week is going to be a better week for me and you!!!  

Here is to more healthier us!!! We all can do this!!!

Happy 1/3 of the Way Eve...

to No Sugar, No Soda Valentine's Journey!!

Oh if only it was this easy!

Do you know what today is?  It is 1/3 of the way eve, No Sugar, No Soda to Valentine's Day!!!  Tomorrow when most of you will probably be reading this it will be January 15, 2011 and you would have been following this crazy idea of No Sugar, No Soda for 15 days.  You thought you could not even do it for one day!!!  Yea for all of you!!!  I know there are those that are struggling, but I think in some ways we all are.  For me, not so much with the whole sugar and soda thing because as Kathy brought to my attention (Gee Thanks Kathy!!!  <g>  Hugs) just because you give up one thing does not mean you can eat whatever you want.  And yes that is what I did.  As I stated yesterday, it is all a learning process.  I feel for me, it is more to break habits and addictions than anything.  I know what I SHOULD be eating, but other things just seem more appetizing.  And yet, when I eat them was it really all worth it?

One thing I have noticed is that I don't snack or munch as much as I used to.  Part of it is because I don't have it with me to munch on.  But trust me when I do, I EAT IT ALL (see yesterday blog about Strawberry Cremes).  Tonight my choices for dinner were: have a sandwich ( I really wasn't in the mood for one), have a pizza (I really wanted a pizza and so Pizza Hut was on my mind), or go to the store.  I drank some water, and didn't feel as hungry but still needed to eat.  Then I spotted it!!  A small can of Chef Boyardee spaghetti I picked up the other day to see if I liked it. So I tried it and it was okay, but probably not a staple on my shopping list.

The first thing I thought when I began to eat it was tomato sauce and tomato sauce.  Both Pizza and Spaghetti have a tomato saucy part of it so I was hoping it would fill me up enough tonight so I would not think about the pizza. Well, it did something! I am okay with not going to get a pizza or heading to the store tonight. For me this is all a mind game, and I have got to keep telling myself and tricking myself how to go about all this.  I know if I even let myself "slip" once and have a small piece of candy I am a GONER.

When Kathy found some good stuff in the AARP Magazine (ha ha it pays to get old!! I am saying ME not you Kathy) I had to check out their site and found something interesting on how to cut calories.

1.  Don't drink a calorie, eat one!!  Loved this!!!  Instead of having Apple Juice or Orange Juice eat an apple or an orange.
2.  Drink a glass of water when you are hungry.  I try to do this, because I have heard if you are hungry it could mean you are really just thirsty.
3. Rehydrate with water.  Yeah we all kind of know that!!!
4. Eat regularly.  Yeah we kind of know that too.
5. Replace oil with applesauce when baking.  According to ehow.com you substitute straight across the board.  So if the recipe calls for 1/2 cup Oil, use 1/2 cup Applesauce instead.  Also this is for oil based substitutes, not for butter or margarine.  Oil is considered a liquid, butter and margarine are not. (That is what the article said.  I am just the messenger not the Sugar or Recipe Police!!!)

I really liked the first two ideas and am going to put them to use for me. It is amazing sometimes how we forget that all those little things add up to big things.  And because I am doing a lot of little things, I hope it results in the big thing which is a smaller me and a healthier me.  It's hard.  I remember a story I heard and try to remember when my road seems so long and there is no end in site.  If you are driving from California to New York at night, you need to use your headlights.  You may only see a couple hundred feet in front of you at a time, but you know if you keep on that path eventually you will get to NY.  So it is with this journey, we can only see so far down the road but hopefully this will remind us to keep going and eventually we will get there.

What are other small changes you have done?

 and  

Happy 1/3 of the Way Eve to No Sugar, No Soda!!!

Learnnig As We Go!!!

Okay, it is story time right off the bat!!

STORY TIME

When I was six years old, my mom tried to teach me to tie my shoes. She tried (kind of), but I just could not catch on the couple times I remember her trying to show me how to tie a bow. She would be come so frustrated, she just told me to get up on the couch and she would do it herself. Of course when you are six and knowing you displeased your mother, then I was unhappy too and it just made matters worse.

I started first grade and did not know how to tie my shoes. Just for the record, I never went to Kindergarten so I didn’t learn there either. But I had a wonderful first grade teacher, Mrs. Fagan. Of all my teachers, she still remains my favorite. I still remember the afternoon we were going out for recess and she told me I had to tie my shoes before I could go out and play. I bent down and pretended to tie them as best I could, enough to get by with a glance and off I went to play for recess. When it was time to go home, she called my name and asked me to stay after school for a few minutes to talk to me. “You need to tie your shoe before you can go home”. I looked down at the floor and quietly said, “I don’t know how”. I was so ashamed because I didn’t know how to tie my shoes, but more importantly I had disappointed someone I cared about.

She grabbed my little chin in her hands, and pulled upward to make me look at her. “It’s okay” she said, “I will teach you.” So for 15 minutes every night after school for two weeks, she patiently taught me the process of how to tie my shoes. On the night I was finally able to show my mom, we were getting ready to go to the bowling alley. “Get up on the couch so I can tie your shoes!” she yelled. I looked at her and grinned, “I already did” and then proudly showed her my nice neat bows on my shoes. “How did you learn how to do that?” “Mrs. Fagan taught me.” I don’t remember the rest of what happened with this conversation, only that I learned to tie my shoes thanks to my first grade teacher.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So what has this got to do with No Sugar, No Soda you ask? Ha Ha I love reading your comments. Thank you, first of all for opening up and sharing your struggles and triumphs with us. I know often times that is not easy. Second of all I am learning (just as all of you are) we all don’t have the answers and we need to pull from one another for ideas and things that have worked for others.

Yesterday, I was frustrated because a stupid scale told me I was too fat to get on it. Why did I get upset over that? Someone else made a comment (maybe on Kathy’s Blog) that they thought if they gave up the sugar and soda we could have anything else we wanted. We can’t? (Ha Ha) But the point is, 

WE ALL HAVE TO KEEP TRYING!!

I think one of the things that really set me off with the whole scale thing (yes this is the rest of the story!) is that I discovered these wonderful New Sugar Free Strawberry Crèmes that are delicious!!! They are made by Russel Stover in case you are curious.  I was so confident in myself I bought some as a "treat".  Then when I got home and the scale wouldn't weigh me it set me off.  So my one little one I was going to have yesterday turned into a few little ones. I felt as though I failed so miserably TWICE yesterday.

I think it is odd for me, I can sit there and not get angry at someone who I felt was judging me (see earlier post about Challenging Day) yet I can get mad at a stupid scale.  Go Figure. Someone mentioned they would have laid into the lady, but the one thing I have learned to control my anger and temper because YES I DO HAVE ONE!  I have learned I have to stay somewhat calm and even keeled or watch out!  My whole life has been like an emotional roller coaster ride.  I was once told I was Jekyll/Hyde and they never knew which one of me was coming out that day. I have only recently learned how to control my anger (I think) anyway.  I learned that when ever I was in drama mode or turmoil that is when I would get frustrated, upset and then get just plain mad.  I saw in giving up sugar, that I did not have the emotional roller coaster in me that has lived for so long.  The moment I went back on sugar the ride started again. 

So why is it, I can handle people okay but not a stupid scale? I think I have decided it is not time for a scale yet, so I am going to take it back and let someone else enjoy it.  Tying this all into the beginning, this whole weight loss, dieting, life style change - what ever you call it is a journey. There is not wrong or right way to do something, just what works for you. We are all just learning as we go!!  My friend Shaleen reminded me when my mom passed away, "Laura, if you were never taught how to love or how to give--then how do you know how to do that?" She made me realize that everything is something we have learned some way.  So it is with this journey.  There are so many good ideas on how to help each of us, different options for different lifestyles, food likes etc that we can do this. I had a very patient first grade teacher who taught me to tie my shoe, just like all of us (including myself) need to be patient with ourselves as we try to learn what works for us.

With all that said, what is it that has surprised you the most that you have learned so far?  It can be anything!!!  Just think, tomorrow is January 14 and we will have been doing this for 14 Days!

Good Job Everyone!

Are Our Emotions Eating Us Alive?

Being overweight is a touchy subject.  People have told me bluntly, "If you know you are overweight, why can you just lose weight?"  One friend even told me, "You are only overweight because you want to be."  This weight issue has always frustrated me, because it was my excuse and scape goat for EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE that went wrong.

I have never known what it was like to be small.  For me I came into this world over weight at almost 13 lbs I was told.  It frustrates me.  A friend once said when she saw my chubby baby pictures, "I love chubby babies, they are so cute!"  Why is it acceptable to love chubby babies, but not chubby adults?  Why can't people just accept us as we are?  The truth is as adults we are not accepted into society, because the people who are quick to judge have most likely never been in these shoes.

Before, all this would overwhelm me to the point I would give up and learned to live within society's snickers and laughs.  I have asked myself since beginning to drop weight, what changed this time?  I wish I had an answer, I think I would be rich!!!  Ha Ha  I don't, but I have seen a few observations.

There were two things I had to come to grip with.  One I had to accept the fact I was "obese" and not just overweight, big boned, or fat.  I was obese.  That was a hard word for me to say.  After all if I was considered overweight at only 20 lbs above my ideal weight, then maybe being called obese at this size was just a society thing and I wasn't really obese. Right? I could still walk and take care of my self and obese people I had seen on the news could not even get out of bed.  Yeah, I was playing with my mind.  So first of all I finally had to accept and tell myself I was obese.  According to reference.com, a person is considered obese if their BMI is 30 or above.  Between 25-29.9 is overweight.

I thought admitting I was obese was hard to do, but it was not as hard as the second thing. The second thing is not just one big thing, it is a million little things all together. But it all ties back to one thing, emotions.
I have a friend who has watched my weight loss journey unfold.  She talked to me about her daughter and her struggles with weight loss.  She made me stop and take a look back at life--again!!  Have you ever felt:

• Angry? 
• Hopeless? 
• Out of control?  
• Unappreciated?  
• Bored?  

If you have (and I am betting all of us have) what do you do?  I was all of the above.  The one thing that got me going was the "out of control" trigger.  Giving up sugar and soda was the only thing I could do to begin to have some control over my life.

Now I can go back on my life and see other areas I need to get a grip on and work on those as well.  My anger has pretty much dissolved by leaving the sugar alone it seems.  The hopelessness, with no job for almost two years (it gets hairy at times) but somehow little miracles show up and I am okay for another month.  I probably have the hardest time with unappreciated, I know I am appreciated and loved but I have a very hard time telling myself this.  A couple of weeks ago a friend at church called me on the carpet for it, "Go ahead say it!!  Say it!"  I just teared up,  "Say you love yourself Laura" I couldn't.  I am trying, and it is very hard for me.

I try to tell every person that will listen to me, this journey is not all about the food and exercise you do or do not do. Everyone has the perfect diet for me to try,  I remember I am on a journey and this is a life style change not a quick fix. It is only one piece of the puzzle.  We need to remember there are many pieces, and we have to continue to find those pieces we are missing and those pieces we have found where they go in our lives. 

This was me at 18.  Do I look like I am an animal?  Or that I need to lose 100lbs?  That's what I was often called and told.  At this size, I was referred to, as a cow, horse, ox and bull in a china closet.  I was about 190 at the time, so I thought everyone was suppose to weigh 100 lbs.  So as my life progressed, my weight was always an issue.  I was never good enough for anyone or anything.  Do you now see how emotions play such an affect on the whole weight loss cycle?

For those that have been losing weight Congrats!!!  For those who are struggling and not losing what they think they should, don't give up.  Take a look at these five emotions.  For me, I think that I need to tape them to my fridge as a reminder to me of why I am eating.  Remember this is a work in progress.  If sugar and soda overwhelm you, go with one.  Then the next step, is maybe to eliminate another.

I just want you all to know,  I know this is not an easy journey but the rewards at the end will be so worth it.  I was telling a friend today, one of my next steps is to get my hair cut and go back to wearing make up etc. She looked at me as though she wanted to ask "Why not now?"  and I said, "Because I am not there yet."  This is your journey!!  Don't let anyone else tell you how you are going to do it.  All I ask is that you not give up.  And if you get to the point you want to--remember to give back!  Find a way to serve.  I promise it will boost those emotions and put you back on track!!!

Don't forget to take before pictures to refer back to on this journey.

Thank you again everyone for reading the blog!!

The Good, Bad, and Evil of Sugar

You didn't know sugar had three sides to it did you?

The Good -- I saw the good last night of what sugar can do for a person that needs it.  I hear every Sunday about being prepared, having knowledge, having faith, and believing in miracles.  Last night, I saw all of them come together in a matter of minutes when my friend went into diabetic shock.

The Bad --Everything has sugar.  There are good and bad sugars and we need to educate ourselves on them, how they affect us, and what to do for others when they are in trouble.

The Evil -- Addiction.  Sugar gets the bad rap because it is an addictive legal drug.  I know, you are not addicted to sugar right? If you can pass up that piece of cake or candy you really want for a week then I can probably side with you. But if all you are thinking about right now is the piece of cake you want, then I would be re-evaluating the whole sugar addiction thing.

What happened?

For those who know me or have been reading my blog, you probably know I love Family History.  It's just part of who I am.  I was looking forward to last night because I would get to see my friend from the FHC (Family History Center).  Last Thursday we got into a discussion about soda and her blood sugar levels, and part of me felt a bit guilty.  I knew she was a big girl and I decided it was not my "right" to come down on her.  That changed last night. As her friend, I am glad I called her out on when I saw a change in her last week.

As we were sitting in our FHC meeting last night, I noticed she tilted her head back.  She then moved it back down, and a few seconds later she tilted it back again.  The first thought that came to me, was "something is not right."  I had seen her before sitting at a computer before and tilting her head back to read the monitor, but this was a large screen.  The third time she tilted back, her friend next to her leaned over to talk to her.  Her friend gave me the "something is wrong" look and I looked over to my other friend Karen.  Let' me just say I am so grateful these two ladies were there last night.  To make a long story short, our friend went into a Diabetic Shock.  I had no idea what to do!!

I knew about the Glucose tablets and we gave her one, but it was not working.  We learned later, we needed to put it under her tongue. So I am curious, if you were in my situation last night, would you have known what to do?  Have you ever been there before?

A few things we learned:
We learned how to give a glucose tablet. Just putting in the mouth does not work you need to get it UNDER the tongue.

Call 911

Luckily our church building was packed with people and in the midst of all these people were a doctor and a nurse.  A miracle they were there!  My friend's bishop (like a pastor) had her information for the paramedics and EMT's. He knew how to contact her husband. I saw some incredible and knowledgeable people at work last night.

We were asked, do you have sugar packets? Do you have any Orange Juice? We had none.  They gave her an IV of sugar and water.  This saved my friend. 

Here are things I now KNOW from last night:

1. Orange Juice – A Diabetic's friend.  Make sure you have a small can on hand (with a straw). It acts fast into the blood stream. If you are diabetic, do you carry one in your purse or in the car with you?  If you are in an office, do you have a can or two on hand for emergency purposes?
2. Stress-- Stress can cause blood sugars to rise and nose dive.  Rep. Giffords who was shot in Tuscon over the weekend, is my friend's cousin. I am sure part of the reason for her diabetic shock was her worry for her cousin.
3. Behavior Change – Are they agitated? Have a glazed look? Unresponsive or short answers such as “yeahh” “ noooo”. Something could be wrong. Keep asking questions to keep them alert and get as much information as you can. Remember it is always better to be safe than sorry.
4. Prepare – Ask your diabetic friends what you need to do in order to help them should the time arise. Do they wear a glucose pump? Do you have emergency contact numbers? Do you know how to give them a glucose tablet? Do they carry tablets with them?

If you think this is not your problem, you are wrong.  We need to be there for each other, even when some of us think we can do it on our own.  I have many friends who are diabetic, and I never really thought of any of this before. I need to know how to be there for them if this happens and I am there. Ask your friends what you need to know and do, if this should happen to them. If they tell you not to worry, make them humor you!!! Be persistence!! Not mean, but persistence and then share this story!!!  My friend wears a pump, I have no clue how to work the pump, but tomorrow we are getting together so I can learn how.  Last night it was the EMT's who knew to turn it off.

Sugar is a big part of our lives, both for the good and the bad. We need to be educated on it and what are the affects it has on us. Not only what the signs are for us, but what they are for someone going into shock and what can we do till they get their sugar level back up.  As much as I think sugar is not my friend, last night I realized it was.

I know we all need some kind of sugar for our bodies.  There are different kinds we can get and my whole purpose of this blog is to just help us do the best we can with the sugar and soda in our lives.  There is alot of natural sugar in fruits.  I often see where bananas are not a "dieter's friend" due to the high level of carbs and sugars.  But at the same time, it is a better alternative for me than sitting down with a bag of M&M's (and yes I can eat the whole bag!) We all need to educate ourselves on our limits, and what sugar and soda do for us.  I saw the good of sugar last night, and maybe there is some good in soda as well.

In the beginning stages of my blog Bev shared her story as a mother of diabetic children.  I feel it needs to be shared again.  This is her story of being a Mom with diabetic children.

Bev's Story

Again, thank you Bev for shsaring your story!  By the way, I am looking for Guest Bloggers!!!  If anyone has ideas and would like to be a Guest Blogger please email me. I know you all have some great ideas!!!

Week 2--Seeing Any Changes Yet?

This week my friend and I were talking about the affects that sugar play on us.  She is diabetic and all of a sudden I could tell a huge difference in her temperament and how she was handling small things.  I asked her if she had checked her sugar level?  She glared at me and scowled a bit and then checked her blood sugar.  A few months ago I had begun to notice a change and when she checked her blood sugar she found it to be low.  I suggested she bring a snack with her to keep her blood sugar up.  So today when she checked it, she came and said, "you think you are so smart don't you?"  and grinned.  Her sugar was low again.  She turned to me with a very confused look and said, "How did you know?"  I said, "Because I saw your temperament go from calm and sweet to very agitated."  This was not my sweet friend I loved, I knew something was out of sync.  And so it is with all of us.

 I know we all think we know ourselves better than anyone else, and for the most part we do.  But there are  times that we change and do not recognize it, but others do.  We all do this!!!  I suspect one of the biggest culprits of our yo yo of emotions is our sugar levels.  When I was off sugar I was pretty even keeled, not getting agitated, stressed or impatient.  I realized a couple of days into back on my sugar I was on a emotional roller coaster ride again.  I had been off it for so long, I forgot what it was like to be on it!!!  It is not a fun ride. I had more nights of tears than I care to ever remember.  I was so ready for January 1st to start to go back off the sugar and soda, I could hardly wait.  But I didn't realize how bad the sugar affected me until I was talking to my friend.

I have been asked if I have more energy by going off the sugar and soda.  Some days I do, other days I don't notice it as much. The thing I see more change than anything is my temperance. I know this sounds crazy, but let me tell you a little story.

STORY TIME

At one point in my life I was taking a different approach on weight loss and started attending a diet clinic.  Every week you were weighed and your blood pressure taken.  Interesting enough each week my blood pressure was "different". One week it would be really low, and the next week sky high, then low again and then sky high.  After three or four weeks of this, they had me see one of the "boss's" of the clinic.  She looked at my file and looked at me and said, "You are 46?"  I said "Yes". Then came the list of questions. How much did you weigh when you were born?  Are you tired all the time?  Do you feel like an emotional roller coaster?  The one I remember when I saw the light bulb come on was when she asked me if I had ever had blood work done?

To give you a bit of background on this, at one time I worked for Vanderbilt University in the OBGYN department of the medical school.  I had the best and most knowledgeable doctors there.  I had blood work taken THREE times because they were shocked with my results.  I was told my blood work was perfect and people would pay me good money for my results.  After all blood work doesn't lie does it?

In another time in trying to take off the weight and discussing this with a dietitian she said, "Oh no someone did something wrong."  They were having a cholesterol screening at her clinic and challenged me to get  free testing done.  I tried to explain they would not find anything but she insisted that I be tested, which I was --- THREE TIMES!!!  Why?  Because they could not get a reading out of me.  And they too told me there was nothing wrong with me except basically I was very obese and had to find a way to take the weight off.

So back at the clinic where I was being asked if I had ever had blood work done, I related the scenarios above. "Ahhhhhh, let's go chat."  I got scared, because I knew for the first time in my life someone was going to be able to tell me what was wrong with me and it was just not all in my head.  I had been told all my life if I just ate less and excerised more I could lose the weight.  No wonder I beat myself up over weight loss!

She explained I had what was called Estrogen Dominance.  Most women will have a 50-50 balance and I had a very elevated level, more like a 90% instead of a 50%.  Due to the high level of Estrogen she thought it masked my blood work.  So it may be I have diabetes or high cholesterol and once I began to lose weight it would more than likely show up.  When I asked her how I could lose the weight, she told me by leaving the sugar, soda and carbs alone like the pasta, potatoes, bread etc.  I sat there in amazement!!!  Because when I had done that and everyone told me how wrong it was.  "For you" she said, "It was the best thing you could have done."

So you are asking yourself, well duh Laura if you know this why are you not doing it?  Because it is so hard to give it up! I also forgot how much better I felt.  As I said earlier, I realized really today how much better I was feeling being off the sugar.  So I am just wondering if any of you are seeing changes yet?  Now that we are starting week 2, how does everyone else feel and do you see any changes?  I know Wendy S has lost 10 lbs!!!  For me I can sure feel a difference.  Mainly the roller coaster and emotions have stopped!!!  Yeaa Me!!

I know seeing less pounds helps us know that we are doing something right, but sometimes the biggest changes are not in the pounds but in emotions or clothes?  Anyone seen a change?  Please share!!!

Is It Really Day 7?

It seems hard that we have been doing this No Sugar No Soda for an entire week now!!! Congrats to all!!! Other than the one small challenge on Tuesday I have not really been tempted at all by all the other stuff because I am finally beginning to see the changes I made before are coming back very easily to me now.

So here is my question for you today? Looking back on your week, what were your challenges? How did you overcome them? I really believe that no matter who you are and how you feel you did, others can relate to you. Whether it be you had to have a soda this week, or that one piece of sugar, or you were perfect to a T. I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts of how your first week went.

On Kathy's blog someone had asked if Diet Soda was okay. Again I am not the Sugar Police, but I can tell you, part of the reason we are all so addicted to Sugar and Soda is because of the ingredients used to make us addicted. As I have said before, we often think of addiction as drugs, or tobacco, or alcohol. WRONG!!! So many things whether good or bad can be addictive. Is that a bad thing? What are you thoughts?

Going back to the no sugar and no soda thing for me, once again I am doing what works for me. I will have a future blog that discusses the affects of sweeteners and carbonation on us. I like to think that when the various sodas were made, they were made with the intent of satisfying a soul on a hot Midwestern summer day. There was nothing like getting a Big G

ulp full of ice and your favorite soda and playing the rest of the day. I feel very fortunate I got stuck with the 7-UP's and Root Beers growing up. Maybe that is why me getting off the soda is a bit easier for me, because I never had the headache withdrawals that others have spoken of.

So today I really want to hear from you! What were your challenges? Your most triumphant moment? Have you been able to inspire someone else this week? And before I forget, make sure you take a BEFORE picture so you can compare it to yourself on Valentine's Day!!!

Open Floor....let's hear it!!!

Let's Learn to Substitute!!

Bev inspired me yesterday when she said she had a craving for Hot Chocolate, but didn't like the Sugar Free hot chocolate packets so she was going to crochet instead. It is great that she found an alternative to stay away from the sugar.  But I know those feelings. As much as you try to suppress them,you still think about it and want.  (Sorry Bev for ratting you out!!! You inspired me though!)

My background is computer technical support.  Whenever you have a problem with your software and call into a help line....that would be me.  I know you are all wondering "Why can't you just fix the problem!"  Because all problems are different.  And when you work in technical support, if you are a good technician you will ask questions and learn to think outside the box. 

STORY TIME

This is an incident that was related to us on how to think outside the box on a printing problem.  An office had to print all their documents in the morning by noonish or so, otherwise their printer would stop printing.  That is what they knew and what they saw and how they dealt with it.  It was very frustrating not to be able to print all day long.  Any documents they got after the 12:00 noon deadline was a hit and miss and had to wait to the next day, or go somewhere else to print.  I am sure you are like I was the first time I heard this and laughed thinking those stupid people!!  They were just doing something wrong!!! Printers cannot tell time.  No, the printer couldn't tell time, and no the people were not stupid.  How did they fix the problem?  The printer sat next to a window.  When the sun began to set in the afternoon it shined through the window, overheating the printer and so the printer would not work.  In the morning the sun did not come in that window, therefore the area was cooler than in the afternoon when the sun shined in.  They resolved this problem by simply closing the blinds a bit to take the sun away from the printer cooling down the printer and the work area.  This story is about 20 years old and technology has come along way since then.  But you understand how you need to be able to think outside the box to resolve a problem?  As crazy as it seems, while at Vanderbilt University I ran into something similar.  One of our networks would go up and down all day long.  I mentioned this story to our technician and discovered when ever anyone got on a certain service elevator the network went down. It had something I believe to do with the electricity in the air, or magnetics or something.  None the less once it was discovered what it was, problem resolved.

So when Bev said she wanted hot chocolate, I went on a mission for her to find a substitute on how she can still have hot chocolate, crochet and stick with her No Sugar No Soda Challenge.  Here is what I found!!  It came with rave reviews so I thought I would share it here as a reminder, if there is something you want, step back and see how you can have it within your guidelines.  

Years ago when I did Weight Watchers, I loved Bacon Cheeseburgers but of course they were not on the menu.  I looked at what I had to work with, and I could still have the hamburger patty, and cheese in small amount and bacon bits.  So that is how I made my Bacon Cheeseburgers.  If you have something you have been struggling with please share with us.  Maybe if we all put our heads together we can come up with a substitute for you!!!

Here is the recipe I found, I am not a hot drink person.  Years ago I burnt my throat and mouth and so I get leery of hot liquids.  I have tried, but it is very hard for me so I just don't go there any more.  Here is the recipe, I understand you can change the pudding out with different flavors so I would be interested to hear what you try and what you think if you make it.  The link to the website where I found it is at the bottom of today's blog.

Fat Free Sugar Free Hot Chocolate Mix

Ingredients

• 3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
• 1 cup Splenda granular (or other sugar substitute)
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 (1 ounce) package fat-free sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
  

Directions:

Prep Time: 1 mins
Total Time: 2 mins

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Store in airtight container.
   

Add 3 Tbsps mixture to mug
Add COLD water (helps with clumping)
Heat to desired warmth


Fat Free, Sugar Free Hot Chocolate


Let me know what you all think!!!

Combatting The Sugar Portion....

Why is it we feel as though we must have that candy bar right then and there? Have you ever done that? Standing in line and right there is your favorite candy bar. We all have a favorite and it is most likely at the checkout stand as we are leaving. You hear it and it is screaming, “Wait you forgot me!!”

I was talking to a dietitian once and told her about my giving up sugar for a period of time. She found that interesting and asked, “Why do you feel you need to give it up?” I tried to explain to her my addiction to sugar and her comment to me was, “There is a piece of chocolate cake I have had my eye on now for two weeks in the cafeteria and it is still there. I know when I go back, there will be a piece of chocolate cake if I want it. So I tell myself, “I don't want this today, maybe tomorrow.” 

Two things I learned from her this day:

1. Those candy bars are ALWAYS going to be there the next day, I don't have to have one today for fear they won't be there tomorrow.
2. Do I have to have that candy bar or do I want that candy bar?

When I go through a checkout line and hear that Three Musketeers scream at me, “Hey Laura!! Here I am! Come get me!!” I think these two things, it will be there next time and is it something I have to have? The answer to those things usually help me get past the candy to the checkout line.  And just in case you are wondering, yes that Three Musketeers really talk to me! Ha!

Now don't get me wrong, I am in no way cured!!! I am far from it!!! But what I have learned is that I can control that sugar addiction and attraction a little bit more by creating new habits. I do ask myself these two questions and if I still feed the need for chocolate, I find sugar free chocolate to satisfy me.

Sometimes, GASP! I am not in the mood for chocolate but still want a “treat”. With that I do one of two things, nuts and fruits. I love Walnuts and I can get a small container for a couple of dollars. I also look for some fruit that looks tasty. On the days they have fresh pineapple samples, SCORE! I love that!! Sometimes, that is all I need to satisfy that craving--a sample. This Christmas I was given a dried berry mixture that was quite tasty. There was not the fructose and processed sugar content in it, although there were some sugars listed. I am just trying to find ways to break my habits and give me alternatives to the whole sugar addiction.

Another thing I have read that works for some is to limit your sugar intake to drop pounds. For me just limiting does not work, I need to find ways to cut it out completely. But if you are saying you want to try this No Sugar, No Soda thing but can't do without the sugar, try taking your Grams of Sugar down to about 30 or so a day and see if that helps.  Does that seem doable? 

Well that does mean you need to look at labels. So there are some options for you on No Sugar Thing. I have found lots of interesting articles on the net about this, that I will share along the way.  I am too lazy to do that, so I will just cut it out and live with it.

I have a little exercise for you.  We have all heard about healthy foods or what we think are healthy foods.  This is one of my favorite foods that I THOUGHT was healthy.  And it is healthier than most things, but when I saw the sugar content, I thought WHOA MAMA!! And my focus is cutting down my sugar content.  If I was to limit my Sugar Grams to 30, this would just about do it for the day.  Any guess what it is? 

 What do most of you have a harder time with the No Sugar? Or No Soda? What are your ideas on how you are going to combat this and succeed at it? Anyone have any major breakthroughs? I want to hear from you!!!

Just remember Day 2 is almost over and you all thought you couldn't get by one day!!! Yeaaa Us!!!

Are You Ready For........

It is New Year's Eve and all I can say is GOODBYE 2010 – Hellooooo 2011!!! What a year and not in a good way. I am trying to remember than when we focus on the bad things all those “bad things” just seem to multiply. To kick off 2011 I am going to focus on the good things starting with So Long Sugar!! I am going to celebrate in leaving the sugar and soda behind!! How?

First of all, doing this blog and all your support has gotten me very excited and motivated. It is one thing to have a blog and a few followers, but our little group is growing. Now I have some accountability to me. If I fail, then I let all of you down and I can't do that.

Back in 1992 I heard a song called “Life's a Dance” I literally stopped dead in my tracks when I heard it on the radio because I felt someone had truly taken my life and put it into a song. I realized from that day that forward somedays I would be a leader, and some days I would be a follower. Today is my life's motto. Last year when I decided to give up sugar to gain some kind of control over my life, I never dreamed I would be able to inspire people just by giving up sugar.

Each week I have people come to me and tell me they can tell I have lost weight. It is a nice surprise in giving up the sugar and soda for 86 days and the weight loss, but that was really not my intent when I started. It was simply to gain some control in my life.

Then I thought maybe it was just a fluke. On Kathy's Blog One Bad Apple Dish Sue mentioned she had been off sugar for 4 months and lost 32 lbs!! So is it a fluke with both of us? I think not. Thanks Sue for the confirmation of the no sugar concept and the affect of weight loss.

Sugar is such a part of our lifestyles we think we can't do without it, but we can. We can find excuses, substitutes, work arounds (sorry I have done Tech Support for over 20 years ...there are always workarounds to things!) even variations of the things we truly like. We just need to start somewhere and begin with baby steps!! It's only a baby step!!!

My challenge to you is to give up sweets and soda till Valentine's Day – that is 45 days. Can you do it? I will start off by having some nuts, oranges and a couple of bottles of flavored water handy. Then if I crave sugar I will head for some Sugar Free Chocolate. Remember this is a great time to get some holiday stuff for cheap including Sugar Free Chocolate Marshmallow Santas!!!! LOL Okay I might get a couple, but I need to hide them!! You know make them harder to get to than in a sack by the computer?

So what are your plans for combatting this now that the New Year is upon us?

What do you all think about having a Countdown Calendar on the blog? Not sure if it is possible...but thought I could try it. And remember if you slip up, don't beat yourself up!!! Get back up, brush yourself off and try again. You only fail when you quit trying!!

Remember “Life's a Dance You Learn as You Go!” Here is a video with the song and lyrics if you have never heard the song...Life's A Dance

I'm Laura and I'm a Sugarholic....

Sad but true. When a friend first told me I was addicted to sugar I laughed! “I am not addicted to anything!” I boldy told her. After all addicts were all about drugs and alcohol, right? None of which I did. “Prove it then” she said to me.

“If you are not addicted to sugar, then you will have no problems giving it up for two weeks, right?” I thought piece of cake!!!

She challenged me to go on the Atkins diet for two weeks, just meat and vegetables. I took that challenge and learned a great deal about myself. I was indeed addicted to sugar. My first three days on Atkins I lost 21 lbs, could sleep all night long soundly, and went from having a hard time walking the driveway to my mailbox and back to walking a mile – all within three days. That was over 10 years ago and today I still battle that addiction.

Over the years I have learned a few things: when I tell people I am going off sugar they tell me I won't last and I normally don't. But I have had some successful runs, my longest being six months. This past year I decided to go off sugar and soda and simply gave up chocolate, sweets (pies, cakes, etc) and candy, as well as the soda. My last run was 86 days, and I am sorry I ever took that first bite of sugar again.

So here it is almost a new year and I am going to go at it again....are you with me? In my 86 days of being off sugar and soda I had people ask me how much weight I loss!!! Someone could tell I lost weight? Woo hoo!!! For me the only way I can lose weight, is by giving up the sugar and soda. It was a such a simple thing to do that I was not overwhelmed.

When I have gone on diets before, I think of all the things "I can't have". I see now I am focusing on large amount of "cant's" where when I give up the sugar they are all grouped together in two groups and it is less overwhelming for me. It's a step right?

Here are some pictures of the last year. What do you think?

The photo on the left was taken October 2009, the one on the right October 2010.

This was taken December 18, 2010.

One of the reasons I decided to give up sugar in September was because I felt my life was so out of control and that was the only thing I could control. I made it through Halloween with no candy and through various parties and other events passing each time on the sweets and candy. I know if I can o this so can you!!! So beginning January 1, 2011 we are going to start again, one step at a time and one day at a time.

There are a few ways we can do this, in quarters like businesses do? For holidays? I have not decided which way I am doing yet. I do know with the support here, we can all do it together. I have a favorite saying (I made it up myself) “Alone we cannot win the battles, but together we can win the wars.” This is a war we are fighting and we need to ban together.

If you want to join us, please come introduce yourself and

WELCOME!!!!