A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle: 3/1/08

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Brady is one year old today!

We had fun celebrating our little boy's birthday today!

We had originally planned to have Brady's party at a neighborhood park, but the weather didn't play nice. So we had the party at home. There were 26 of us crammed into our little house, but everyone had a good time.

We ate lunch, and then had Spongebob birthday cake and ice cream. Since the rain kept us inside, the kids as well as some of the adults had fun playing Rock Band.

It's been a wonderful year, little man. Happy Birthday!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Tight Jeans May Be Key To Flat Abs

Mind Tricks Part Of Four Daily Flat-Belly Meals
Darlene Dunn, Staff writer
UPDATED: 7:56 am EDT March 25, 2008

Aisha Anderson keeps size 29 jeans that don't fit anymore.

"I'm going to fit into those jeans again," said the 28-year-old mother of three. "I've been lazy. I have lost weight, and then I'll just stop working out and eating right and end up gaining all the weight back."

Anderson recently found out a new diet fad that is meant to get rid of the extra weight around her midsection --without doing any crunches.

According to the authors of the Flat Belly Diet, those skinny jeans that Anderson has

held on to may be the key to shedding pounds. Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Prevention Magazine, and Cynthia Sass, a registered dietician and nutrition director of Prevention Magazine, said a mind trick should be a part of every meal. This means arranging cut flowers in a vase or keeping too-small clothes on a hanger in full view.

The authors of the diet tout that getting a flat belly is about food and attitude. The mind tricks "serve as mealtime reminders that you have embarked on a new way of life -- a new way of living with and caring for your body," Vaccariello writes in the book.

The cornerstone of the diet is to follow a meal plan of four meals of 400 calories a day. Each meal should also include a monounsaturated fatty food to help get rid of flabby bellies. The diet also stresses the importance of not allowing more than four hours between meals.

Eat Chocolate

Prevention.com says the five flat belly diet foods are oils, nuts and seeds, avocado, olives and dark or semisweet chocolate.

Oils include canola oil, flaxseed oil and olive oil, while nuts and seeds include almonds, almond butter, Brazil nuts and chunky natural peanut butter.

The diet claims that brand-new research reveals that monounsaturated fatty acids make weight loss not only easier but target belly fat specifically.

The diet begins with a four-day anti-bloat jumpstart that is designed to eliminate swelling and get the body and mind ready for the 28-day diet. During this period, "sassy water" -- water mixed with ginger -- is consumed, as well as a prescribed list of foods and drinks that will "help flush out fluid, reduce water retention, and relieve digestive issues," the book says. Sassy water is named in honor of one of the founders, Sass.

Meals on the 28-day portion of the diet include things such as shrimp and snow pea sesame pasta, according to FlatBellyDiet.com. Online support and customized daily menus are also available at the subscription-based Web site. The dish, which is 354 calories, includes shrimp, sesame oil, snow peas, sesame seeds, celery and scallions.

Lifestyle Change Shrinks Tummy

Liz Guscott, a personal trainer in Lakewood, Ohio, said that a lifestyle change is necessary to get flat abs."

If you do not currently have flat abs, then you probably do need to change your diet. Rather than go on a diet, it's best to think in terms of a lifestyle change," she said. "This is the way to eat most of the time."

Guscott suggested a baseline approach. This involves cutting out starchy carbohydrates such as grains, breads, cereals, potatoes, crackers, chips and pretzels."

If you drink alcohol of any amount, then keep in mind that it will simply collect as belly fat, so just stop drinking it if you want good results," she said. "If you eat or drink sugary things, then it's time to stop. Sugar is responsible for belly fat, among other unwanted effects."

A combination of behavior, genetics and nutrition will help to achieve flat abs, Guscott said."

The single most important factor to obtaining flat abdominals, above and beyond your genetic fortune, is proper nutrition," Guscott said. "The second most important factor is burning calories through activity. Certain kinds of resistance exercises, like crunches or twists, help with improved definition."

Whether you are in search of a flat belly or want to shed a few pounds, you caloric intake will have a bearing on achieving a slimmer physique.

The physical activity may be the icing on the cake. Chapter 1 of "The Flat-Belly Diet" is available online as a .pdf.

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Monday, March 24, 2008

Students Turn a Profit from Candy Sales

Rachel Byrd, Staff Writer
March 20, 2008 - 3:27PM

VICTORVILLE — With candy sales banned on school campuses, sugar pushers are the latest trend at local schools. Backpacks are filled with Snickers and Twinkees for all sweet tooths willing to pay the price.

“It’s created a little underground economy, with businessmen selling everything from a pack of skittles to an energy drink,” said Jim Nason, principal at Hook Junior High School in Victorville.

This has become a lucrative business, Nason said, and those kids are walking around campus with upwards of $40 in their pockets and disrupting class to make a sale.

Schools have been individually banning junk-food sales for years, and enforcement was increased in 2005 when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger passed legislation to combat childhood obesity, according to the office of the governor.

Since then, schools have slowly adjusted by offering more healthy alternatives, such as baked chips and granola bars.

But Nason said that he sees just as much candy and soda as ever, because students still bring it from home — for lunch, and to turn a profit.

“I think it’s original purpose was pretty good, but it doesn’t seem to be making that big of a difference,” said teacher Rolayne Allen of the junk-food ban.

Teachers are instructed to confiscate candy when kids have it in class, Nason said, and the punishment for making sales can be detention.

But confiscating candy all the time can be challenging, Allen said, especially around the holidays when students bring more of it to school.

Daryl Bell, principal at Apple Valley Middle School, said that he also sees an increase in candy around the holidays, but that for the most part, students steer clear of sodas and buy juice and water from the vending machines.

A few candy sellers are caught each year there, Bell said, but he does not see it as a problem on campus.

Since Hook moved away from junk food years ago, Nason said he has not seen a change in student health.

“I think they get a good nutritional lunch here, but looking at our kids and looking at physical education scores, I don’t see how it’s been a highly effective program,” Nason said.

One way around the problem is the school’s lunch accounts, Nason said. Parents can monitor what their kids are eating by putting money on their lunch cards to buy school meals instead of handing them cash.

But as long as kids can get candy, from the store and at home, they will continue to bring it to school, Nason said.

Rachel Byrd can be reached at 951-6232, or by e-mail at rbyrd@vvdailypress.com.

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Good Week for Fun - Bad Week for Weight Loss

Monday: Free Day - It was all good.

Thursday: I went with the girls from work to La Huerta Mexican Restaurant for lunch. We celebrated a coworker's birthday and had a going away party for another coworker. I had a plan: eat one shrimp fajita and drink water (no tortilla chips, beans, rice, guacamole or sour cream). Unfortunately, I failed to tell my waiter to hold the extras that come with the meal.

There are times when I have self control and great discipline. Yesterday was not one of those days. When he set down a plate of beans, rice, guacamole, and sour cream I knew the gig was up. A minute later, he brought a sizzling skillet filled with shrimp, onions and bell peppers. I ate three fajitas, some beans and rice and I even ate a few tortilla chips. It was really good and I was really bad.

It's kind of funny, but at the time I was eating, I really didn't feel guilty. In fact, I enjoyed every single bite! One of my weaknesses is when I make a mistake on my eating plan, I scratch the whole day and say to myself, "You blew it at lunch, you might as well forget eating right the rest of the day." That's exactly what happened. For a dinner appetizer, I ate a couple of raw oysters and saltines and after that, a handful of potato chips. For dinner, I had a steak and sweet potato fries (with melted cheddar cheese on top). Finally, I had yogurt for dessert.

Friday: The junkfoodaholic within came to the surface today. We had a team outing this afternoon at Oaklawn in Hot Springs. I had so much fun! I started out with $50 dollars and when I got home I had $14 dollars. That's a good day at the races for me!

Now for the bad news: I didn't even try to eat healthy today. It was a total blow out. I had a cheeseburger, fries, and a large Coke for lunch. A couple of hours later, I got a Coke refill. On the way home, we stopped at a convenience store to go to the restroom and got a cold drink. Being dinner time, I was hungry. So naturally, I bought a healthy meal: crackers, a Snickers bar, and a Coke. See, I told you I was a junkfoodaholic. Pitiful, I know.

Well, the good news is that my eating extravaganza week is finally over. I have read many testimonies of people who have lost 100 pounds or more and many of them said they had moments when they blew their diets. They all say the same thing: "When (not if) you fall off the wagon, pick yourself up and get back on track. Just keep going and don't give up."

So I'm looking at this past week as a scratch. It was a learning experience and I'm hoping I don't make the same mistakes again. I do know that I am very determined to lose this extra weight.

Over the past four weeks, I've lost twelve pounds. I have fifty-eight more pounds to go and hope to be at my goal weight by the middle of October. The reason I don't tell you how much I weigh is because my husband reads my blog. Do I need to say more? I will give all the gory details when this horror story is finally over. I will be thin, full of confidence again and not care how much I used to weigh.

I know it sounds corny, but I really believe, "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". I remember how good it felt to be thin. I want that feeling again, much more than I want to continue being a junk-food junkie.
Laura

Monday, March 17, 2008

I've lost another 2 pounds!

That makes a total of 12 pounds in four weeks. I'm very excited!

I have been exercising the past three days as well. On Saturday and Sunday, the whole family went to the high school to walk/jog the track and also run the bleachers.

Saturday: I walked/jogged 2 miles and ran bleachers four times. Total: 1 hour.

Sunday: My right heel was hurting. So rather than jog, I did a fast-walk of 1.5 miles and walked the bleachers five times. Total: 1 hour.

Today: I fast-walked around the neighborhood. Total: 30 minutes. Today was my free day (meaning I can eat whatever I want) and I enjoyed myself. :)

I had a doctor's appointment today to have my thyroid checked. Curious, I looked at my chart to see if I had lost any weight since the last time I had been there and found that I actually weigh 2 pounds more than I did last October. That let the air out of my balloon because I was expecting to see something positive.

When I go back in three months to have my thyroid checked, I'll be excited to get on the scales. The doctor will have to wipe the smile from my face. :)
Laura

Study: Video game slows weight gain, boosts confidence

By Shaya Tayefe Mohajer, Associated Press Writer - March 16, 2008

Ryan Walker, 12, is shown playing "Dance Dance Revolution Extreme" in December in Martinsburg, W.Va. Walker started playing the game in 2005 and averaged 1 to 1-1/2 hours every day on the game which has helped him shed approximately 20 pounds. AP PHOTO.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - After weeks of bopping along to the video game Dance Dance Revolution, Ryan Walker is trimmer and stronger and for the first time the 12-year-old feels comfortable in his own skin.

"Before, he didn't want to play with kids, go to school dances or any of those functions and now he wants to do things," says his mother, Tammy Walker.

Ryan's transformation occurred over the 24 weeks he participated in a West Virginia University study that hoped to determine if the exergame could be used to combat the nation's child obesity problem.

The study, funded in part by West Virginia's health insurance program for public employees, took 35 overweight children between the ages of 7 and 12 and asked them to gradually increase the amount of time they played the game. Each child was medically considered overweight according to his body-mass index, a measurement of body fat through a height and weight ratio.

What researchers found was that participants who regularly played and continued to eat fatty foods were able to slow down but not stop their weight gain. Researchers are calling it a "stall in weight gain."

Children who relied on the game as their sole source of exercise gained 2 pounds during the study. Those who did not play the game gained an average of 5.3 pounds.

"We didn't even attempt to change their diet, which is another reason that we didn't see significant weight loss," said WVU researcher Emily Murphy.

Instead researchers found that in addition to better artery expansion, some participants developed physical self-esteem.

The game's addictive nature, and capacity to lead to greater physical activity, earns it a comparison to drugs, with WVU researcher Linda Carson dubbing it a "gateway physical activity."

"The first night I did it about 30 times in a row, I didn't want to stop," Ryan said.

The game is played on a dance pad with eight arrows pointing forward, backward, left, right and diagonally. Players press the panels with their feet in response to arrows displayed on the video screen that are synchronized to the beat of a chosen song.

Success is measured by the player's ability to time and position his or her steps.

The study directed participants to work their way up to playing 25 songs equal to about an hour of playtime a day and researchers called weekly to check on progress.

But simply introducing exercise into lifestyles that include french fries as dietary staples won't correct obesity, researchers said. That's unfortunate news for West Virginia, where nearly 21 percent of state residents under 18 are considered overweight, according to Trust for America's Health.

The state's rural nature, which hampers the development of exercise-oriented infrastructure, is partly blamed for the problems with obesity, state nutrition officials say. Poverty also plays a role as it affects nearly 1 in 4 West Virginia children.

Even staying after school to participate in athletics or extracurricular activities is a challenge because for many students a bus ride is the only way to and from school. Because of declining populations, many boards of education have consolidated schools, forcing students to catch long bus rides back home to isolated rural homes.

"In many of our rural areas there just isn't a way to make a safe route for children to walk to school along roads that coal trucks and other fast traffic travel on," said Melanie Purkey, executive director of the state's Office of Healthy Schools.

Those are some of the reasons why the state has integrated Dance Dance Revolution into West Virginia's 160 middle schools and is encouraging school administrators to make the game available to students during free periods before and after school, Purkey said.

My daughter, Rachael and I, are going to buy this video game. It looks like a fun way to

exercise and lose weight.

Read how Rachel Bailey lost 40 pounds in 2-1/2 months!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

The Calories You Need For Weight Loss

I am a big fan of The Biggest Loser. I read the following from Prevention Guide's The Biggest Loser: Couples Weight Loss Planner and thought it was worth sharing.

Calories Count

No matter what you've heard, weight loss boils down to two basic factors: calories in and calories out. If you don't eat fewer calories than you burn, you won't lose weight. If you want to continue losing weight, you have to eat fewer calories, exercise more, or both.

The chart below gives you an idea of how many calories you need for weight loss, depending on your current weight:

CURRENT WEIGHT	CALORIC NEEDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
150	1,050
160	1,120
170	1,190
180	1,260
190	1,330
200	1,400
210	1,470
220	1,540
230	1,610
240	1,680
250	1,750
260	1,820
270	1,890
280	1,960
290	2,030
300	2,100

If you weigh more than 300 lbs., start by eating 2,100 calories a day. If you weigh less than 150 lbs., plan to eat around 1,050 calories a day.

On The Biggest Loser diet, you learn to focus on the quality of the calories as much as the quantity. Avoid white flour, sugar, and processed foods, which are high in calories and low in nutrients. Also, be sure to eat a variety of whole, natural foods. When you eat more of the good stuff you'll find you want less of the fatty, greasy, sugary foods that helped you pile on the pounds in the first place.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

I Started Exercising Today!

Yup, sure did. I'm feeling it too. So when I wake up in the morning, well, let's just say it could be interesting.

Last weekend, my daughter and son went down to the local track and ran the bleachers. I felt like I should have gone with them, but I was busy on the computer. My baby was awake too, so it just wasn't a convenient time. (Sound familiar? Excuses, excuses.) I really felt guilty about it. I decided I would go with them the next time, no matter what. Well, that day came today.

It turned out to be a family affair. Paul pushed Brady in the stroller while Rachael, Dylan and I ran on the track. Well, I didn't really run. It was more like a walk/jog. A slog. Truthfully, it was more like a shuffle. Paul said to Brady, "Look at the funny Mommy!" I'm just proud I finally got movin'.

In high school, I was on the track team. I loved to run. (Can you believe that?) I wanted to run the shorter sprint events, but I wasn't fast enough. So the coach put me on the cross-country team. I quit track after that year. Long-distance running just wasn't my thing.

Today, after a warm up lap around the track, we headed to the bleachers. Paul had a good laugh watching me. I ran up and down the bleachers four times! Rachael managed seven times, while Dylan did it fourteen times. I just can't believe I'm so out of shape!

With it being Daylight Saving Time, I have decided to go to the track every day after work. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". And a few bleachers too.

Click here to see my Progress Report (all posts about my weight loss journey).

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

What I'm Doing To Lose Weight

On January 1, 2008, I made my final resolution to lose weight. I am so tired of making that pledge. Year after stinking year. I am finally ready to change my junk-food eating ways.

On February 18, 2008, I put my healthy eating plan (HEP) into action. It's been 3 weeks since I started and I have already lost 10 pounds! Yea me! The great thing about this is that I am finally doing it the right way.

What am I doing? Here's my daily routine:

fresh vegetable juice blend of carrots, apple, tomato and celery (8 ozs. per day - read how my eyesight was restored)
one Pop-A-Purple in the morning and one Pop-A-Green in the evening
lean meats (one fist-sized portion per day)
unlimited vegetables (no potatoes, corn, or peas)
unlimited fruits (no more than one ripe banana per day)
keep dairy to a minimum (I eat no more than 1 serving of lowfat cottage cheese or lowfat yogurt per day.)
five green olives per day and an occasional avocado (good fats)
handful of almonds per day (good fat, good protein, heart disease & cancer fighter)
water (3-4 20 oz. bottles per day - more if exercising)
no bread, no flour, no pasta, no white rice
no sugar
no caffeine

My goal is to lose 2 pounds a week. If I lose more than 2 pounds that will be great. If I lose less than 2 pounds, then I will take a look at what I did the previous week and make changes accordingly. I know as soon as I start exercising, I'll lose even more weight.

I want to be fit and trim. Once I lose this weight, I want to maintain it and never have to go through a challenge like this again. I know it won't be easy, but with much effort and great determination, I will reach my goal.
Laura

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Hello. My name is Laura and I'm a Junk-Foodaholic.

They say the first step to recovery is being honest about your addiction. Mine is junk food and I know I'm not alone. America and many other nations are suffering with a growing obesity epidemic.

I have gained and lost weight many times in my life. However, I was never an overweight child. The first time I remember gaining weight and being concerned about it was when I was 15 years old. I noticed that my jeans were tighter than usual. Since I never weighed myself, I'm guessing I probably gained 5 or 10 pounds. By the time spring and summer rolled around I lost the weight easily.

When I lived at home, my mother would keep me in check. She cooked healthy meals for me and my brothers. If she thought I was gaining weight, she would mention to me that I needed to do something about it.

In 1981, I became pregnant. I gained 30 pounds during the pregnancy, which put me at 182 pounds. Once my daughter, Rachael, was born, I lost the extra weight by drinking Slim-Fast. This is when my dieting roller coaster began.

By this time, I am newly married and living hundreds of miles from my mother. I ate whatever I wanted... however much I wanted. I gained 30 pounds over a period of three years. I then decided to do the Atkins low-carb diet and lost 20 pounds.

In 1986, my husband and I decided to separate. My daughter and I moved back to Texas to live with my mother. Shortly thereafter, I read a book about fasting that my mom recommended. We decided to do a 7-day fast together. We broke the fast by getting on the cabbage soup diet. I lost weight with each thing I tried, but eventually I gained the weight back. Being 30 pounds overweight again, I decided to try NutriSystem. The diet worked and I lost the weight. You know the drill by now... I slowly gained back the weight.

There were times when I lost weight by eating less and exercising daily. But once I started eating what I wanted again and stopped exercising, the weight came back. It's a vicious cycle, but I've learned many things along the way. I've learned that losing weight is the easy part. Keeping the weight off is the real challenge.

I have learned many things about myself while on this journey. I discovered that I love junk food. I love good food. I even love healthy food. The truth is I love food a little too much. Instead of treating food as a necessity for the health of my body, I have a love-relationship with food. Food is my friend, my very very close friend. I am an emotional eater. I eat when I'm happy and I eat when I'm sad. I also eat when I'm bored. But I seldom eat when I'm hungry. I may think I'm hungry at the time, but often I simply want to eat because it tastes good. Food makes me feel good.

I love Ding-Dongs, chocolate donuts, and powdered donuts. I love chips. I love Schlotsky's sourdough bread. I love French bread. Come to think of it...I just love any kind of bread. I love Snickers, Milky Ways, Butterfingers, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I love lasagna. I love Mexican white cheese dip. I love Pizza Hut's pan pizza. I love cheeseburgers with fries. I love Coca-Cola. I love Dr. Pepper. I love an ice-cold IBC root beer. I love fried shrimp and fried oysters. I love eastern North Carolina barbecue. And that's the short list! I like a lot more junk food than what I've listed here. If I took enough time to list it all out, it would probably shock you.

In 1990, I remarried. Three years later, I had a baby boy. I was 189 pounds when I became pregnant and I had gained 35 pounds by the time my son, Dylan was born. He weighed 10 pounds, 4-1/2 ounces. Six weeks later, I lost all the pregnancy weight. I didn't diet to lose the weight, it just came off. I breast-fed my baby, so I know that helped.

Unfortunately, my marriage was rocky. We had just separated when I found out I was pregnant. We stayed separated until our son was born and reunited as a last-ditch effort. By the time my son was 13 months old, we separated again and eventually divorced. I was overweight and miserable. My daughter, son, and I moved in with my mom. She helped me lose the weight by dieting and exercising with me. I felt so good about myself, I decided to take acting lessons and even posed for some Glamour Shots.

However, I was soon back on the roller coaster ride again. It took a year and a half, but I succeeded in gaining all the weight back. In October 1995, my divorce became final so my mom, daughter, son, and I decided to move to Arkansas to be near family.

Over the next four years, I lost and gained weight several times. Then I watched the movie, You've Got Mail and decided to give online dating a try. I was 30 pounds overweight, but wanted to check it out anyway. I posted a really nice picture of myself on my profile, thinking it might help attract interest. Well, it worked! I met my husband, Paul on a Christian matchmaker site. Of course, he thought I looked like the picture I posted on my profile! His first email to me said, "Wow." I said to myself, "Uh oh".

From the moment I received his first email, I knew I had better lose the weight. What did I do? I started a fast. For the next 30 days, I didn't eat a speck of food and I exercised every day. By the time we met (a month after our first email to each other), I had lost 30 pounds and looked great. We married four months later in November 1999. I know it's crazy, but we were in love! We still are, thank the Lord.

After Paul and I married, I did a pretty good job of keeping the weight off. Paul introduced me to juicing and whole food supplements. Though I was doing some things right, I eventually gained the weight back. I heard about the Body-for-LIFE program, so I bought the book and read it from cover to cover. I decided to do the Twelve Week Challenge. I followed the program religiously. Along with dieting, I did cardio and weight training six days a week. I managed to lose 30 pounds in 12 weeks. I was thrilled! Do you think I stuck with the program that was delivering such fabulous results? No, I sure didn't. I sure wish I had, though. I was really looking good.

On January 1, 2003, I made my annual resolution to lose weight. I did the Atkins diet again. I lost 20 pounds, but eventually gained it all back. I couldn't figure out why I was not losing weight, even though I was dieting and exercising.

After a routine pap smear, my gynecologist asked me if I had anything I wanted to talk to him about. I told him that I was very concerned about my weight gain over the last year. He referred me to my family doctor to have my thyroid checked. My doctor tested my blood and confirmed that I had hypothyroidism. In case you don't know, your thyroid helps to regulate your metabolism. The doctor explained that my thyroid was under-performing. He put me on thyroid medication and I still take it every day. I thought that by taking this medication, my weight problems would be solved. Boy, was I wrong. Instead of losing, my weight continued to climb. Keep in mind, I was eating whatever I wanted and that meant junk food. I reached a point where I just didn't care about losing weight anymore. I was disgusted.

In July 2006, I found out I was pregnant! It came as quite a shock. I thought I couldn't have a baby because of the perimenopausal signs I was experiencing. I was 42 years old! Well, God has a sense of humor. Even though I was overweight and as the doctor put it "of advanced age", I was delighted to be having a baby. My husband, Paul, was thrilled that he was going to be a daddy, as this was his first child.

The pregnancy went exceptionally well. Two weeks before my due date, I was at my OB appointment and was told that my blood pressure was too high. The doctor sent me to the hospital so they could monitor me closely. After an hour, they decided to admit me. Labor was induced the following morning but things were not progressing as expected. Because the baby was large, my doctor advised a C-section. Brady Thomas Eilers was born March 29, 2007, weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces. Six weeks later, I lost all the pregnancy weight. I breastfed Brady for 9 months, so I didn't diet during that time.

On January 1, 2008, I made my final resolution to lose weight. I am so tired of making that pledge. Year after stinking year. I am finally ready to change my junk-food eating ways.

On February 18, 2008, I put my healthy eating plan into action. It's been 3 weeks since I started and I have already lost 10 pounds!

My goal is to lose 2 pounds a week. If I lose more than 2 pounds that will be great. If I lose less than 2 pounds, then I will take a look at what I did the previous week and make changes accordingly. I know as soon as I start exercising, I'll lose even more weight.

I want to be fit and trim. Once I lose this weight, I want to maintain it and never have to go through a challenge like this again. I know it won't be easy, but with much effort and great determination, I will reach my goal.

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Saturday, March 8, 2008

I Don't Wear Glasses Anymore! How My Eyesight Was Restored.

I had 20/20 vision all my life until I was 27 years old. I first noticed a problem while driving at night. It seemed like I was experiencing double-vision. So I went to an eye doctor and was told that I was nearsighted. I don't remember what my prescription was but the doctor told me I would need glasses to drive, go to the theater or any outside sporting events.

Since I was now wearing glasses, I had to go to the optometrist every two years to have my eyes checked. Sometimes my eyesight was worse, while other times it would be the same.

Eight years later, Paul and I married and he introduced me to juicing and taking whole-food supplements. I had never juiced before in my life, so I was not eager to jump on board. After watching him juice for a month or two, I decided to try it. I discovered I actually liked the taste of carrot juice (Green Giant carrots are my favorite). We juiced carrots almost every day (5 to 6 days a week).

A year and a half later, while driving to work one day, I noticed that my vision was blurry. I hadn't been to the optometrist for a couple of years so I naturally thought my eyesight had gotten worse. But for the heck of it, I took my glasses off to see how things looked. I found I could actually see better with my glasses off! I haven't worn them since (it's been 8 years now).

I credit the recovery of my eyesight to our juicing regimen as well as taking whole-food supplements. I haven't gone to the optometrist to have my eyes checked, but I'm sure they are 20/20. We are still juicing a blend of carrots, apples, celery and tomatoes as well as taking The Pops. Paul and I believe this is one of the foundations to good health.

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Friday, March 7, 2008

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My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Comment Policy

I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to add comments to my blog. I have adopted a "Do-Follow" policy for comments which ensures your links are indexed by search engines.

However, I do occasionally receive comments that are left purely for the link value and not to contribute to the discussion. I reserve the right to delete a link from a comment or to delete a comment all together if I feel it’s necessary. Also, if you leave keywords instead of your name in the name field, your comment will be deleted automatically. If I end up deleting the link from a comment that was well-intended, I apologize in advance! I'm sure you understand my reasons for having done this, and will not be deterred from leaving your comments in the future.

If you have any questions about my comment policy or anything else, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you for your understanding,

Laura

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

The Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies

Vitamins and minerals are not optional for good health, they are necessary for good health. Yet most Americans do not get even basic, recommended amounts.

Research shows that:

93 percent have inadequate intakes of vitamin E
56 percent are not consuming enough magnesium
75 percent do not meet recommendations for calcium intake
44 percent are lacking adequate intake of vitamin A
31 percent do not get enough of vitamin C
73 percent do not get adequate intake of vitamin K
Less than 5 percent gets an adequate intake of potassium

Seven out of ten people die of heart disease, cancer or stroke. In the United States, ninety-six percent of the population dies of a disease.

So do you still think we're getting proper levels of nutrition?

Sources: American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Diabetes Association.

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

What Do Vitamins and Minerals Do For You?

Vitamins and minerals are necessary for good health. They build up your immune system, increase your energy level, enhance your appearance, expand your intelligence and more.

MAGNESIUM is needed for protein, fatty acid and bone formation. Magnesium is also used in making new cells, in relaxing muscles and in the clotting of blood. It helps form ATP, which gives us energy. It helps prevent muscle spasm, heart attacks and heart disease. It aids in lowering blood pressure and eases asthma. It also helps to prevent osteoporosis and regulate the colon and bowels. Symptoms of Deficiency: nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness and twitches, irregular heartbeat, leg cramps, insomnia, eye twitches, constipation, headaches and coronary spasms. Fifty-six percent of Americans are deficient of this nutrient.

CALCIUM About ninety-nine percent of your calcium resides in your bones and teeth. The remaining one percent circulates in your blood and carries out the critical function of regulating muscle contraction, heart contraction and nerve function. Calcium gives you strong bones and prevents osteoporosis. It even lowers blood pressure and can decrease your risk of colon cancer. Symptoms of Deficiency: Calcium deficiencies can result in leg cramps, muscle cramps and hemorrhage, since it is essential to blood clotting. If you do not consume enough dietary calcium, your body will eventually cannibalize the calcium from the bones to maintain calcium levels in the blood. This leads to porous bones and osteoporosis. Seventy-five percent of Americans are deficient of this nutrient.

VITAMIN A This vital nutrient protects against cancer, heart disease, prevents night blindness and other eye problems. It helps the skin repair itself and helps the formation of bones and teeth. Vitamin A is important for the immune system, protecting against colds, the flu, and infections of the kidneys, bladder, lungs and mucus membranes. Symptoms of Deficiency: Lack of vitamin A in your body can cause dry hair and skin, dry eyes, poor growth, frequent colds, skin disorders, sinusitis, insomnia, fatigue and respiratory infections. Forty-four percent of Americans are deficient of this nutrient.

VITAMIN C helps maintain and give structure to bones, cartilage, muscle and blood vessels. It also plays a role in wound healing. Symptoms of Deficiency: Vitamin C deficiency causes weakness, fatigue, swollen gums, nosebleeds, and in extreme cases, scurvy. It is also reported to reduce the risk of cataracts and retinal damage, increase immune function and decrease heavy metal toxicity. Increased intake of vitamin C is linked to a reduced risk of cancer of the cervix, stomach, colon and lungs. It also contributes to the reduction of plaque buildup in the arteries and supports healthy blood pressure. Thirty-one percent of Americans are deficient of this nutrient.

VITAMIN K is important in blood clotting, bone mineralization and helping regulate cellular growth. Vitamin K has been shown to be supportive in preventing calcification or hardening in the arteries. It also lowers the incidence of kidney stones. Symptoms of Deficiency: Deficiency is associated with easy bruising and bleeding and increased risk of osteoporosis. Seventy-three percent of Americans are deficient of this nutrient.

POTASSIUM This mineral helps muscles contract, maintain fluid balance, sends nerve impulses and releases energy from food. Potassium is needed to regulate blood pressure, neuromuscular function and levels of acidity. It helps regulate fluids in and out of the cells of your body. Symptoms of Deficiency: Low potassium intake is associated with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, wheezing and asthma, weakness, nausea, insomnia and fatigue. Less than five percent of the population gets an adequate intake of potassium.

DIETARY FIBER Dietary fiber helps to prevent gallstones, control irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and almost any intestinal disorder. It also helps to control cholesterol, blood sugar and prevent colon cancer. Studies show that ninety-six percent of Americans do not have an adequate intake of fiber.

Source: "The Seven Pillars of Health"

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Disclaimer

Legal Stuff

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

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

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