Health and Wellness 4 U!!

Weight Loss Tips Part 1

2009-02-01T21:50:00.000-08:00

I am on a self journey to better my life, and part of this journey includes loosing weight. As I embark on my journey, I would love to share everything I learn.

*Quick disclaimer: These tips are solely tips, and while they may have worked for me, they may not work for everyone. Always make sure that you see a doctor during your weight loss plan, to make sure that you are doing what is right for your body.

So with that, here's Part 1!

Protein.

Consumption of protein goes beyond physical appearance and muscular strength, whether you are aiming to loose weight, gain weight, or maintain your weight. Protein is an important component for all body types; it contains 22 amino acids, which are well known as the building blocks of life. Without protein, our bodies would not be able to get essential oxygen or grow and repair muscles and organs. It is an essential nutrient that we need in large quantities. It is recommended that your protein intake be anywhere from 10-30 percent of your total daily calorie consumption.

In weight loss, protein has been proven to help control hunger. That is why there are so many "high protein" diets. Protein sends a signal to your brain that will diminish your hunger pains. It also helps accelerate your metabolism to help conserve your muscle mass. For diabetics, adequate protein intake helps slow down the sudden "ups and down" of blood sugar levels.

Of course, when you talk about food, there are foods that are high in protein, but there are also foods that are high in protein but may also be high in other areas that you don't want them to be such as saturated fats. Here is a small list of protein rich foods that have been recommended by doctors for years (includes how many and how much protein):

egg whites- 7 whites= 25 grams
cottage cheese (fat free)-1 cup= 28 grams
fat free yogurt (sugar free)- 6oz= 5 grams
fat free milk- 1 cup= 10 grams
chicken breast- 3oz. cooked= 25 grams
turkey breast- 3oz. cooked= 25 grams
shrimp, lobster, or crab- 4oz cooked= 22-24 grams
tuna- 4oz packed in water=27 grams
beans (black, pintos, etc.)- 1/2 cup cooked= 7 grams
lentils- 1/2 cup cooked= 9 grams
tofu-1/4 piece= 7 grams
soy bacon- 4 slices= 21 grams
whole wheat bread- 1 slice= 3-5 grams

Those are just some examples.

Again, no matter what your goal is, it is essential to consume a good amount of protein per day. You will need to intake no less than 10% of your total caloric intake as protien. As I mentioned before, it is recommended that you consume 10-30% of your total caloric intake per day. Here's an example of one plan I followed for a week:

Total Calories per day=1500

Breakfast= 1 unit of protein and one fruit. I ate 7 egg whites and 1/2 of a grapefruit.

Morning snack= 1 protien snack. I had 1/2 cup of roasted soy nuts.

Lunch= 1 unit of protein+ 2 veggies+ salad+ 1 grain + 1 fruit. I ate one 6oz chicken breast with 2 cups corn, 1/2 cup whole grain rice, 1 large orange, and 4 cups mixed greens with light italian dressing.

Afternoon snack= 1 protien snack and one fruit. Again, I had 1/2 cup of roasted soy nuts, but I also had one medium sized apple (I'm partial to Gala's and Fuji's!!)

Dinner=- 2 units of protien + 2 veggies+ salad+ 1 grain + 1 fruit. I enjoyed an 8oz fillet of sole with a light teriyaki sauce, 1 cup of steamed spinach and one cup of steamed carrots, 1/2 cup of whole grain rice, 1 cup of sliced cantelope, and 2 cups of mixed greens with a light balsamic vinagrette.

I followed this 1500 calorie plan, which also focuses on protien, for one week, and I actually lost 5 lbs. I didn't feel as hungry as I normal do, which is one thing that eating protein is supposed to help do. But because I did that in the beginning of my weight loss trek, I didn't last too long. I actually needed to intake more calories because I was also going to the gym daily. Your intake will vary depending on your lifestyle. But remember, make sure you doctor knows.

Looking Ahead to After Pregnancy-Foods to Avoid while Breastfeeding

2008-08-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

Should I breastfeed or not? That is a common question for many new moms. If you choose to breastfeed, there are some things you should be aware of that can affect your baby. Not all women though will have these problems, or will need to watch what they eat:

By: Carrie Lauth

Women in our culture are sometimes advised to avoid spicy or "gassy" foods when nursing. Or they are told that chocolate, citrus, carbonated beverages or dairy causes problems in all nursing babies.

As a breastfeeding educator, I often see women warning other Moms that they need to avoid certain foods while breastfeeding. There are also websites that give unproven breastfeeding advice that claim that women must eat a certain kind of diet in order to make quality milk for her baby. So what is the truth?

Does a nursing Mom need to restrict her diet?
Are there foods that a Mom should avoid while breastfeeding?

Generally speaking, a nursing Mom does NOT need to restrict her diet.

Obviously, drinking heavily or excessive caffeine consumption (meaning several cups of coffee a day) is a no-no, but other than that, there is no reason for a breastfeeding Mother to assume that she needs to avoid any foods.

So called "gassy" foods do not affect the nursing infant because the undigested carbs that cause gas in Mom do not pass into breastmilk. It is literally impossible for "gassy" foods to cause gas in babies except in the rare case of an infant being allergic to one of these foods.

Interestingly, according to the La Leche League (considered the world's foremost authority on breastfeeding) website, "In Italy, mothers are often told not to eat garlic, cauliflower, lentils, and red peppers. In India most mothers eat all these things and breastfeed very happily. Actually, in parts of India they believe that garlic helps a mother to breastfeed successfully!"

There are even a couple of studies that showed that babies nursed longer and with more vigor when their Moms ate garlic.

The advice given to a nursing Mom varies according to local culture and the popular "old wive's tales". Women all over the world eating a wide variety of foods produce good quality milk and have thriving babies. There is not a shred of evidence that supports the idea that eating a special diet helps make breastmilk "richer".

Consequently, there is no one food that all breastfeeding Moms should avoid. Breastfeeding women should eat a variety of healthy foods, just as they did while they were pregnant.

The only exception would be if your baby has food allergies/sensitivies, which is rare but not unheard of. If your family has a strong history of allergy to a specific food (such as peanuts), you might consider avoiding that food while nursing and during pregnancy.

Enjoy nursing your baby!

Carrie Lauth is a Mom of 4, breastfeeding educator and the owner of www.TheHappyBreastfeeder.com, a free newsletter for Moms who want to breastfeed their babies.

Looking Ahead to After Pregnancy-The Weight Loss

2008-08-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

I found this article on a forum I frequent. Since I myself am coming close to having my third child, I felt this article would come in handy to save as a guideline for myself. Of course, if I feel I can use this information, other women would appreciate this info as well!

By: WittyArticles

Weight loss following pregnancy and hanging up the tent sized maternity clothes is something all new mothers look forward to with anticipation. For most women, but for others, the baby fat is a bit more difficult to shed. Each woman is different and there is no "one size fits all" formula for shedding the weight gained during pregnancy. However there are a few weight loss guidelines to follow that will have the new Mom back feeling great and wearing her jeans once she gets her strength back.

How much weight did you gain during pregnancy?

The 25 pounds the average woman gains during a pregnancy are spread out more or less like this:
-Baby-8 pounds
-Placenta-1.5 pounds
-Amniotic fluid-2 pounds
-Breasts-2 pounds
-Uterus-2.5 pounds
-Fat, blood volume and water retention

If you were already a little overweight when you first became pregnant, remember that the numbers on your scale kept going to go up almost every time you stepped on it. Fasting or Weight-loss fasting diets following pregnancy are absolutely not a good idea.

A Latino tradition following pregnancy

One of the best Latino traditions during the time right after childbirth is cuarentena, or the quarantine. The mother will spend forty days resting with the newborn after delivery and only worry about taking care of the baby. The new mother doesn?t even consider weight loss issues during this time. Other members of the family will keep house and watch over the other children. While this may not be practical for most new mothers of today, if you do have relatives who live nearby, it would be a good idea to follow some version of this tradition. You'll feel like a new woman after those forty days of recuperation (or even twenty).

A nutritious diet is more important than weight loss for the first six weeks.

Pregnancy is a magical and mysterious time of life and many women worry about how to achieve weight loss after they give birth. During the first six weeks of postpartum, a healthy diet is much more important than a weight-loss diet. Continue to eat a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, calcium, and iron. Whether or not you're breastfeeding, your body is still recovering from the pregnancy and birth, and a nutritionally balanced diet will help you heal and feel better much faster.

Your care provider or doctor may recommend that you take an iron supplement for the first six weeks postpartum, while your body recovers. If you're breastfeeding, it's even more important to eat a well-balanced diet, since you're still sharing all the calories you're consuming. If you count calories, a breastfeeding woman should consume the same amount as she did before pregnancy to maintain her weight plus about 500 calories. For many, this means about 2,500 to 2,700 calories a day, which will support milk production and allow for moderate weight loss of half a pound per week.

Continue to avoid fish that are high in methyl mercury in your weight loss plan. Other foods, such as sushi, raw milk products, and deli meats, are less risky these days, but you should still take reasonable precautions to avoid food-borne illnesses. Precautions include cooking meat and poultry all the way through, washing all cooking utensils thoroughly, washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and only eating raw foods like sushi from a dependable source.

Healthy weight loss

Other than feeling good and having more energy, there are many motivators for systematically striving for weight loss following pregnancy. If you carry extra pounds, you have an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Losing weight will improve your health not only now but it can also influence your weight in future years to come. Studies have shown that women who breastfed beyond 12 weeks and participated in postpartum aerobic exercise had lower weight gain 15 years later. Excess pregnancy weight gain and failure to lose weight in an appreciable time are indicators of obesity in midlife. Weight loss following pregnancy involves three things: Nutrition, exercise and scores of patience. It?s generally difficult to lose weight without exercise being part of your weight loss program.

If you're breastfeeding, a good bit of the pregnancy weight will come off fairly quickly. But this isn't a time to try to lose weight. Whether or not you're breastfeeding, your body won't recover as well or as quickly if you cut back drastically on your portions or calorie intake. If you ate a lot of sweets or treats during your pregnancy, you can start to cut back on those. But otherwise, there's no need to add the extra pressure of dieting to an already stressful period pf taking care of a newborn baby.

Cautions of exercise

The six-week postpartum visit is a simple check-in with your caregiver or doctor. You'll be weighed, have your blood pressure taken, and you'll be asked about any problems. You will probably be given the green light on exercise.

Most caregivers recommend waiting until the six-week postpartum checkup before starting vigorous exercise, but that's a somewhat arbitrary time frame, based on the typical model of obstetric care. If you?re stitches seem to be have healed, and if you want to be more active. Moderate exercise before the six week postpartum visit shouldn?t be a problem

Listen to your body. Don?t push yourself hard. Start out slowly, and if you find you?re tired or uncomfortable, take your activity level down a notch. There is no reason to rush the healing process. There will always be time to exercise and address weight loss.

If you suffer from obesity, your doctor will tell you what kind of diet and exercise you should follow following the childbirth for weight loss.

Eating for one

When you were pregnant, you may have eaten more than usual to support your baby's growth and development. Proper nutrition is still important after the baby is born - especially if you're breast-feeding - but your needs and goals are different now. Making wise choices can promote healthy weight loss after pregnancy. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Foods high in fiber - such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These foods provide you with many important nutrients while helping you feel full longer. Other nutrient-rich choices include low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk, yogurt and low-fat cheeses. White meat poultry, most fish, beans, and lean cuts of beef and pork are good sources of protein, as well as zinc, iron and B vitamins. These foods will help in your weight loss program.

1. Avoid Temptation- Buy healthy foods at the grocery store and don?t keep junk food in the house.
2. Eat smaller portions - Don?t try starving yourself or skipping meals. Just cut back on the portions.
3. Eat only when you are hungry - Distract yourself with an activity if you are constantly hungry.
4. Drink water before meals.

Beginning exercise

It's a good idea to start taking short, easy walks as soon as it feels comfortable for you. If weather permits, simply load up the baby in the stroller and take brisk walks to the park, library, neighborhood coffee shop or anywhere that makes the exercise walk enjoyable. If you have a reliable baby sitter, joining a local gym would be an excellent idea.

The most important factors in weight loss after pregnancy will be patience and consistency, along with a sensible, healthy diet and an exercise plan. It generally takes about 6-12 months to achieve the total weight loss following pregnancy.

The Weight Loss Research Center is where you can read Independent Information and see consumer ratings on weight loss pills, diets, exercise programs and trainers. www.yesweightloss.com/

Thank you for the comments!

2008-07-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Healthy changes have been happening in my life, but I have not had the opportunity to share or update on prior posts in a long time due to computer issues. But have no fear, there is tons to discuss!!

As I was going through my old posts, I came across this comment on my post from April of 2006 (found here: http://healthnwellness4u.blogspot.com/2006/04/cellulitis-and-staph-infections.html).

Anonymous said..

I am currently recovering from a Cellulitis based Staph Infection on most of my face. I just spent 4 days in the hospital on IV antibiotics. My skin is still itchy but I feel a lot better minus the lack of energy.
I was wondering if you have had any signs of it returning since this happened to you?

December 01, 2007 3:10 PM

Here's my answer:

What I encountered after the round of Vanco was recurring fungal infections. When I was in the hospital the last day I started to get a fungal infection on my hands and feet. Apparently I had a mild case of athletes foot before my staph infection, which didn't go away completely. The vanco, of course, knocked my defenses out, so the altheltes foot just took a hold and caused much undue pain and suffering in my hands and feet. It caused my feet to swell up dramatically- I couldn't walk or put normal shoes on, it was that bad. And unfortunately, as we all use our hands to put the anti-fungal cream on our feet, I had some of the fungus stay on my hands. Obviously hand washing after applying the cream wasn't as effective as I thought.

The doctor prescribed me a powerful anti-fungal cream to dry it up, which thankfully worked. However, I came to find out that certain things would cause it to flare up. Processed sugar being one. That was the prompt for me to post about the dangers of processed sugar (http://healthnwellness4u.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html).

It took me over a year to completely recover from the effects of the staph and vanco. My energy level was what took the longest to recover. To this day I watch all my cuts and immediately wash them and put an anti-biotic ointment and cover them. Thankfully I have not had a recurrence of Staph, but I know that it's lurking out there. I pray that I never have to deal with it again!

In Honor Of Congenital Heart Defect Week!!

2007-02-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine posted about this in her work at home forum. The following is from her post:

As you all know my daughter has a Congenital Heart Defect. She just turned a year old and is going well. This week in Feb. very important to me. I wanted to take one big donation from the At Home Resource boards to donate to Congenital Heart Information Network. I want the donations to start today and end Feb 5th. I will donate all the money to help out these very special little children. I am currently trying to get the Govenor of Maryland to pass a bill to support goals and ideas of this week. If you are interested in donating you can send payment to paypal at athome@athomeresources.com Thanks!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An international coalition of families, individuals, non-profit organizations, support groups, and health professionals participate in a campaign to increase public awareness of Congenital Heart Defects and Childhood Heart Disease.

In November, 1999, Jeanne Imperati, organizer of the Awareness campaign, encouraged members of our online support groups, visitors to our site, and interested health professionals to write to their governors, requesting that February 14, 2000 be proclaimed as A Day for Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day™ in their state.

Within several weeks of her initial announcement, Mrs. Imperati and members of our online community received proclamations from forty-four states!

In 2006, well over 100 hospitals, practices and organizations throughout the world participated in awareness activities, celebrations, media events, and local press interviews.

Congenital Heart Disease is considered to be the most common birth defect, and is a leading cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide.

Despite the fact that CHD affects millions of families, a relatively small amount of funding is currently available for parent/patient educational services, research, and support.

By sharing our experiences and providing information, we hope to raise public awareness about conditions that affect approximately 40,000 babies each year in the United States alone.

It is our sincere hope that efforts to educate the public will result in additional funding for support and educational services, scientific research, and improved quality of care for our children and adults. http://tchin.org/aware/index.htm

Erin will actually be accepting donations continuously!! Visit her forum at www.athomeresources.com to get more information!

My next posting will be ways to protect your heart!! Keep your eye out for that!! ;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Resolutions and Exercise

2007-01-11T19:57:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, the new year. Resolutions. Bet you made a resolution to exercise more... wanna know how to really get over that hump and stick to it?? Here are a couple tips, courtesy of the Your Health and Happiness Newsletter provided by Beliefnet.com:

Leave Dieting out of it: We need to first figure out why we resent exercise. It's not really all about dieting anyway.

Make it Fun: there is too much emphasis on loosing weight. So what if we don't look like the magazine- I doubt they had fun getting that thin!

Click here to view the rest of the article: Six Steps to Overcoming Exercise Resistance.

Need help with becoming motivated to exercise?? Read this article, Motivation to Exercise: Where Does It Come From?

Would you like to receive more health tips such as this? Try subscribing to Beliefnet's newsletter too! Just go to www.beliefnet.com, click on newsletters, then Your Health and Happiness. Great tool by the way!! I've learned a lot from this newsletter!!

I'm cutting out refined sugar!

2006-09-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Here's why: I think I have discovered the reason for one of my problems. Every once in a while I've been getting outbreaks of the fungus that I got after my heavy antibiotic treatments in April from that staph infection. I think I have had about three outbreaks since the first one in May. I have been drinking tons of green tea even before my infection, and tons more lately, with sugar and honey. But I've been using the sugar in the raw for my tea and local honey. Well, I decided to buy another 1/4 lb of tea to make at home, to try and save some money. Three days later, I am now getting another outbreak on my fingers. I realized today that the refined sugar I've been putting into my tea is the culprit. That is the only thing that I have changed in my daily tea drinking routine, actually in my total daily eating habits, since buying my bulk green tea. I was warned a month ago that the fungi thrive on sugar, when I complained about the last breakout I had. I didn't see it then, but I do see it now. The last breakout was under the same circumstances. So BUH-BYE REFINED SUGAR!!! I'm looking for either xylitol or sugar in the raw to use from now on.

I highly reccomend that if you have ever had a skin allergy or other skin problem, that you find out whether or not it is a food reaction. It very well may be!!

The Healthy Mom Resource is UP!!!

2006-08-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

Now my site is more or less complete! I am extremely happy with how it came together! Now I am looking for more readers and feedback from all of you! So please take a few minutes to read through my site, sign up for the newsletter, and sign my guestbook!

The Healthy Mom Resource!

Never fear, I will not stop gathering information and posting here!! :o)

Exciting News!!

2006-07-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of creating a website. What's so special about this one, you say? I am dedicating the site to becoming healthy and wealthy!! The site is tentatively called The Healthy Mom Resource! There will be links to health related sites, health advise, and health products. I will also be featuring different business that are health conscious and also sell healthy, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly products. So watch for the official launch of The Healthy Mom Resource this fall!!

Osteoporosis and Calcium

2006-06-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

This is a subject that all women worry about- bone loss and the potential of getting osteoporosis. For me that is a stark reality. I have never been able to take in the required amount of calcium, due to the fact that I am allergic to nearly every dairy product around. My mother has osteo-arthritis. She has to take a large amount of calcium supplements and do a little exersise each day to combat the effects. But there is hope for people like us!

I get periodical research reports from RM Barry, who is affiliated with that amazing health and wellness company I am partnered with. The most recent report came to me this week, and I was astonished to read the findings. Read for yourself:

http://www.rmbarry.com/research/calcium.html

I am now pleased with myself that I have at least undertaken a few of the suggestions in the report to combat my potential problems. I hope that what I am doing now will prevent the onset of osteoporosis for me in the future!!

In short, take good care of yourself no matter what. ;)

Help with battling the summer heat!

2006-06-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

We have a bad heat wave here right now- the city was 102 degrees Wednesday!! That's extremely unusual since the city is surrounded on three sides by water. But considering it was 102 there, it was nearly 106 here in my town. Now that summer is officially here, I though I would share with everyone some tips I came across in the July edition of Family Circle (FC), as well as a few things I do myself to keep cool.

Sunburn solutions (from FC) :

For the itchy sunburn- dry oatmeal wrapped in cheesecloth. Run it under cool water, then wring it out and apply to the sunburn.
Reducing the redness- soak a washcloth in buttermilk, then apply to the spot for 20 minutes. This should be repeated every two hours.
For your sunburned eyelids (yep it can happen!!)- make yourself some cold black tea or green tea! Use two tea bags, soak them in the water, then squeeze them and place the bags on your eyelids.
General pain- Draw yourself a lukewarm bath. Pour 1/4 cup baking soda or cornstarch, then get in and soak yourself!

A great solution from me: just three little words- TEA TREE OIL!! This is a product I swear by!! When I spent the day at my husband's soccer game last summer, I unfortunately burned the heck out of my upper back and neck. Luckily I had some tea tree oil on hand. Liberally apply the oil to all affected areas, minimum twice a day. You may want to apply it more than twice a day, but make sure you do apply the oil immediatly after taking a shower. Tea tree oil has some amazing healing powers, and will keep your skin soft, and help reduce the healing time. Not to mention that your skin is less likely to peel!

To keep yourself cool- make sure you drink plenty of liquid, water is the best. When it comes to your kids, the recommendation is that they should be drinking 6 to 8 ounces of water every thirty minutes. I would recommend that for everyone, not just a child.

Most importantly, stay out of the sun during the hottest hours of the day. That is normally between 10am and 3pm, or so I've heard. I take my kids swimming in the early evening, like around 5pm, so that there is not as much sunlight reflecting off the pool. Luckily the pool where we live has a number of trees that create a nice shady area. Make sure that if you do go swimming that you apply a strong sunscreen. I've been told to apply an SPF of 30 at least thirty minutes before going outside, and apply again after one or two hours of swimming. Despite what the label says, no sunscreen is totally waterproof, or sweatproof for that matter. Younger children should have a higher SPF sunscreen, and babies should not be in the direct sunlight at all.

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!! Stay cool and sunburn free this year, and your body will thank you for it later on!! ;)

Toxic Products in Your Home

2006-05-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

The Safe Shopper's Bible
By David Steinman and Samuel S. Epstein M.D, 1995

A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics and Food

Which products are safe and which may be harmful? Many items you buy every day contain ingredients that can cause allergic reaction, breathing difficulty, dizziness, cancer, birth defects, and other problems. Here, at last, is a comprehensive guide to answer all your questions about thousands of brand-name household products, personal care products, foods, and beverages.

According to this book, here is a list of common household products that contain known carcinogens and/or neurotoxins. Carcinogens are chemicals that cause cancer. Neurotoxins are chemicals that adversely affect the nervous system reducing emotional well being, mental alertness, coordination and other functions associated with intelligence.

Lysol disinfectant (all scents), Renuzit Air Deodorizer, Bon Ami Foam Cleaner, Citri-Solv, Fantastik All-Purpose Cleaner, Formula 409, Pine-Sol Multi-Action Spray, Pledge Household Cleaner, Simple Green, Spic & Span Cleaner, Scotts Liquid Gold, Lemon Pledge, Tilex Soap Scum Remover, Glass Plus, Ajax Cleaner, Gillette Foamy Skin Conditioning, Speed Stick Deodorant, Soft Soap, Secret Deodorant ,S.O.S. Ammonia Glass Cleaner, Dawn Sureshot,
S.O.S. Vinegar Cleaner, Joy Dishwashing Liquid, Windex Glass Cleaner, Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid, Shout Aerosol & Stick, Sunlight Dishwashing Liquid, Spray & Wash Stain Remover.

Kleen King Alum.& Copper Clnr, KR2 Spot Lifter, Behold Furniture Wax, Depend-o Blue Toilet Cleaner, Endust, 3M Aerosol Spot Remover, Formby's Lemon & Almond Spray, Most Home & Garden Pesticides, Old English Furniture Spray, Dove Soap Bars, Right Guard Deodorant, Ponds Dry Skin Ba,r Palmolive Skin Bar, Lady Speed Stick, Lever 2000, Irish Spring Deodorant, Lifebouy Soap, Jergens Liquid Soap, English Leather Deodorant, Ban Roll-on, Caress Body Bar, Camay, Ultra Brite Toothpaste, Cepacol Mouthwash, Crest Tartar Control, Listerine Original & Cool Mint, Arm & Hammer Toothpaste, Colgate toothpaste, Scope Mouthwash.

Makes you think twice huh? This awesome book can be found in nearly any bookstore. Amazon.com has the book for a great price! I urge you to get a copy of this book for yourself!

2006-04-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

This is a great arcticle that I found about our eating habits. I hope it inspires you as much as has for me!

Some people say that “there is no such thing as a “good food” or “bad food”, just bad diets”. Usually after that they say something about another kind of low-fat, balanced diet which will let you reach your 100’ birthday in good health. Most of this “wonder diets” became sooner or later another dietetics mistake and are replaced by new ones, which, after some time, are also replaced, because of the new revelations in the dietetics. And so it goes on and on, making people who want to live healthy life more and more frustrated, but still believing that the most important thing is not what lands on their plate, but the amount of it. Today, when there are so many kinds of food on the market, we should not only care for the calories, but also look carefully at what we are actually eating. Difference between organic, conventional and genetically modified food We all know that organic food is healthy, conventional food is accessible and genetically modified food can be solution to the food problems around the world, but when asked for details only few people can answer precisely what this is all about. Organic food is produced using ecological methods of farming. That means no pesticides or fertilizers with synthetic ingredients for the plants and no growth hormones and antibiotics for the animals. When you buy certified organic food, you can be sure that all of the above won’t land in your stomach and affect your organism. However because of the slower production process and lesser efficiency this kind of the food is more expensive and even if all the farms would start its production it wouldn’t be enough to feed people all around the world. Conventional food is produced using almost all available technologies provided by the science, save genetic modifications. Still, because of the intense production process, many chemicals and medicines are involved to guarantee that crops or animals will grow at the appropriate rate. Some of these “stimulants” can be found in the final product which we buy and may affect our health (notably the growth hormones in meat). Anyway, conventional food can be found in almost every kitchen around the world and some of the scientists start to wonder how could we feel without this additional dose of antibiotics and artificial poisons which we involuntary eat. Genetically modified food is the most controversial. The process of growing it is similar to the conventional, the only difference is that in GM food a part of the DNA is transferred from another species in order to change its characteristics into desired one without some long-lasting and sometimes in vein inbreed process. All scientists working on GM food projects say that everything is under control, but a few accidents when transferred genes didn’t behave as they predicted show us that it may not be as safe as they want. The real advantages and flaws of the GM food will be known only after long time, all we know today is based only on theory and laboratory tests, not the real life.

Steven Cox is an expert on the quality of the food we eat. He educates via seminars and his website by promoting healthy eating habits rather than diets. Visit http://www.berkeleyfood.org to find out more about sustainable healthy living.

Cellulitis and Staph infections

2006-04-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

Many people may have never concerned themselves with staph, medically known as staphylococcus aureus. You should be. Staph is a common bacteria that lives on the surface of our own skin, but the amount varies per person. When that common bacteria enters the skin, it can cause a nasty infection. It can enter the skin through any type of break in the skin like a paper cut or an irritated hair follicule.

Why have I brought up the topic of staph? Because I, unfortunately, am currently battling an infection of staph which has caused another infection called Cellulitis. What is that? Well, I have my entire left thigh red, swollen, hot as heck, and blistered, as if I had a severe sunburn. It may have started with an irritated hair follicule. My infection is in a common area, the leg, but cellulitis can be on the face or anywhere else on your body. If I hadn't gone to the doctor two weeks ago, I could be facing potentially life threatening consequenses.

I went to the doctor on April 17 with a rash on my leg that was red and itchy, and seemed to be getting larger. So she took a culutre, which she sent to the lab to check, and put me on an antibiotic. I was told to make a follow up appointment with the dermatologist to check the rash. I went back on April 20. The derm took another culture and sent it to the lab. The first culture came back negative for bacteria. He put me on two antibiotics and told me to stop the first. If the rash were to get worse, Iwas suppossed to call them right away. Well, I didn't. It got worse. By Tuesday, April 25 my leg was swollen and the rash had extended from my hip to my knee, and wrapped itself around my leg. I hoped that it would get better so I didn't go in until my scheduled follow up, April 27, yesterday. When the doctor that saw me the first day saw my leg, she told me to go straight to the hospital. The second culture had come back positive for staph, and I needed an antibiotic through an IV. I'm trembling even now as I type this.

So I spent my Thursday at the hospital for 5 hours with a treatment of vancomycin. Don't ask me what that is becasue I really don't want to know. I did however get a "normal" reaction to the antibiotic, something the doctors call "red man/woman" syndrome. It started with the worst itch I have ever had in my life- starting on my scalp and going down to my chest. At the same time my skin turned sunburnt red. A dose of Benadryl took care of the effect, but knocked me out for 3 hours! Finally I was let home, but with instructions to return for another dose of vancomycin the next day. I was also prescribed a third oral antibiotic, clindamycin. Luckily it seems to be doing the job. The only side affect I am having is slight nausea, and a little light headedness. I will need to have two more days of IV treatment. Besides the IV treatment, I have to take the clindamycin, and I was also instructed to either eat as much yogurt as possible, or buy some acedophilus, to prevent possible yeast infections. Obviously, I am on a combination of two powerful antibiotics that are killing both good and bad bacteria. I'm on a long road to recovery.

The important thing to remember about both staph and cellulitis is that the bacteria staph is the cause of cellulitis. If it is not taken care of immediately, it can be life threatening. A friend of mine was hospitalized for 4 days last year with a severe staph infection. She was quarantined the whole four days, it was that bad. I remember reading about the actress Rosie O'Donell when she had a serious staph infection in her hand, but I cannot remember how long ago it was. This is not something to play around with. My discharge instructions tell me: with antibiotic treatment the size of the red area will gradually shrink in size until the skin returns to normal. This will take 7-10 days. If the infection is on your arm or leg, keep the part RAISED as much as possible. Limit your use of the affected extremity. If the infection is on your leg, walk as little as possible during the first few days of the treatment. That will be extremely hard to do in my household, however I do not want to prolong this treatment.

Please, be extremely careful when you get a scratch. Wash your hands as often as possible, and if you cannot wash, make sure you have an antibacterial hand gel/sanitizer with you at all times. Especially wash your hands (or sanitize them) after you touch your nose, the staph bacteria is most prominently found there. I found more information on both staph and cellulitis on the MayoClinic website. They have a photo that illustrates what cellulitis looks like, and that is exactly what my leg looked like yesterday. Don't take a small scratch for granted- clean it and put an antibiotic ointment on it and cover it as soon as possible. You would not like it at all if it developed into a staph infection. Seriously.

Cancer prevention info for Women!!! ;)

2006-04-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

No matter what kind it is, everyone is affected by cancer. Whether you know someone who has a cousin who's daughter's niece has breast cancer, it affects everyone! I found some great tips in the May 9 issue of Woman's day that I have to share with everyone. Personally, My uncle died in February of lung cancer, a childhood friend died at age 24 of lymphoma lukemia, and my grandfather is currently battling prostate cancer. I also worked with an incredible woman who was a 2 time survivor of breast cancer, and another close friend battled cervical cancer and survived. So it truly affects everyone. These are the most common female cancers:

Cervical Cancer

Most at risk are women who have certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), but it typically afffects women over 30.

Possible signs: abnormal vaginal bleeding, spotting or discharge, bleeding after sex
Preventative measures: among others-Regular PAP smears, no smoking

Uterine Cancer

Most at risk are women who are obese, infertile, or have menstural problems; also those who have a family history of uterine cancer. It is most common after menopause, especially between age 60 to 75

Possible signs: unusual vaginal bleeding, spotting or discharge; heavy mentrual bleeding; postmenopausal bleeding or spotting
Preventative Measures: Avoid prolonged exposure to unopposed estrogen, lose excess weight

Ovarian Cancer

Most at risk are women who don't have children, or haven't used birth control; women who have history of ovarian or breast cancer in the family. It occurs most frequently between ages 50 and 75.

Possible signs: unexplained bloateing, pelvic discomfort, abnormal vaginal bleeding, pain and swelling of the abdomen, changes in bowel function (ie consitpation, diarrhea, or gas), mild nausea. Quick note- by the time those symptoms show up, the cancer is usually in an advanced stage, and there are few symptoms early on.
Preventative measures: use oral contraceptives, breastfeed for as long as possible when you do have children.

Breast Cancer

Perhaps the most common cancer, at least the most talked about. Women who have a family history of breast cancer are at risk, as well as women who have gone through puberty before age 12, or gone through menopause after age 55. It is most common in women over 65.

Possible signs: A lump in your breast, spontaneous nipple discharge, changes in the skin on your breast
Preventative measures: regular exercise, weight control, limiting alcohol, diet, homone therapy (only discussed with your doc.)

There is more info on each in the magazine. Please pick up a copy of the May 9 issue of Women's Day, or go to www.womansday.com to subcribe to the magazine.

Also, if you have been affected by breast cancer, my friend Jennifer has been trying to raise money to donate to a breast cancer charity. Please check out Pixels for Breast Cancer and donate today!! 50% of each donation will go to breast cancer awareness!

This post is sponsered by www.askgeekgirl.com

New info on Vioxx!!

2006-04-07T17:44:00.001-07:00

I was soooooo happy to read something about Merck & Co!! A jury awarded a former Vioxx user, who had a heart attack while using the drug, $4.5 million!!! The jury said that Merck failed to adequately warn about the risk factors linking the pain killer to heart attacks and strokes. The company faces about 9,650 lawsuits in regards to Vioxx.

Score one for those of us who promote health!!

Kinda OT (off topic) but kinda not!

2006-04-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, I was reading my friends blog My Mothers Fault and she was talking about a thermostat problem with her DH. I love to stay warm, but I'm energy concious so I try to keep the thermostat warmer at night and lower during the day time, when we are not always in the house. That helps keep your electricity or gas bill low. But what she was talking about was the fact that her DH insisted on keeping the thermostat at 58 degrees no matter what. That's really cold. The recomendation is around 65 during the day and 75 at night. Don't quote me on that, though. That's what I do. But there can be health problems if you are constantly cold. For some reason, my body temperature is slightly more elevated than a "normal" person, therefore I feel the extreme in change of temperature. I'm often sweating when people are shivering and vice-versa. My doctor had recommended wearing heavier clothes during cold weather to avoid getting the extreme changes. Just the other day I was sitting at my computer and my hands were freezing despite the fireplace roaring. Everyone else in the household was sweating and I had the chills.

Just remember that when you experience major temperature changes that you don't go from one extreme to the other. Example, it is snowing outside and you have the heater on full blast in the car, warm enough that you are in your tshirt and pants without the jacket and scarf and hat. Even if you bundle up right before you get out of the car, the extreme change in temperature can affect your breathing and your throat. The same can happen with having your air conditioner on and the weather blazing hot outside. I speak from experience, and I have gotten sick enough times to realize that layering in the winter is better than blasting the heat and getting sick from the extreme temperature change!

Drug Dangers

2006-04-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

Well, we are slowly finding out about how prescription drugs are doing us more harm than good. Especially when it comes to a subject such as pain killers and arthritis medication. I encountered a great warning from a friend regarding Vioxx. What I didn't know about Vioxx is that there are lawsuits against the maker of the arthritis drug. My friend knows someone who is a lawsuit participant and wrote on her blog about a very serious situation with the Vioxx lawsuit. This information astounded me, as I used to take Vioxx myself, as well as my own mother. We didn't experience any problems with it, in fact I started sleeping through the night for the first time when I took it. Alas, I only had it for three months, then I was unable to afford a refill of the prescription. My mother was put on it about six months before the scandal broke loose, and was immediately taken off of Vioxx and put on something else. Now the real issue here is whether or not the other prescription drugs may have the same effects as Vioxx did. I was really concerned about it when I heard everything. So for myself, I have found a great, safer alternative to Vioxx, which includes natural ingredients, no chemicals, and works the same as Vioxx did! No more back pain for me. But getting my mother to accept something that is not prescribed by her doctor is impossible. Oh well. So remember, taking prescription drugs can be more dangerous for your health than you think. Just take a look at what happened to Vioxx, (click on the link above) and you will want to do what I did, find something more natural and effective, without the side effects.

Dealing with Diabetes

2006-04-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I personally don't have diabetes, but it has affected my life. My own sister was diagnosed at the young age of 6. Diabetes is a scary disease to deal with, if you don't know anything about it. I know many people with diabetes, and a few of my friends have children that have diabetes as well. One of my friends blogs about it in her blog dedicated to her son: Kids with diabetes. The post that I linked you to is a basic rundown of what diabetes is. Here is some more information about diabetes:

This taken directly from Diabetes Journal.org
Diabetes is one of the most costly and burdensome chronic diseases of our time and is a condition that is increasing in epidemic proportions in the U.S. and throughout the world (1). The complications resulting from the disease are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and are associated with the damage or failure of various organs such as the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are also at a significantly higher risk for coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke, and they have a greater likelihood of having hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity (2–6).

Two early reports (29,30) suggested that changes in lifestyle can prevent diabetes, but weaknesses in study design limited their general relevance. Recently, however, four well-designed randomized controlled trials have been reported (31–35).
There is now substantial evidence that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. Individuals at high risk of developing diabetes can be identified easily. It is not yet known whether the successful interventions will cost-effectively reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. Diabetes prevention policies that focus on lifestyle modification, specifically modest weight loss and increased physical activity, are also very likely to have additional health benefits. Public health messages, health care professionals, and health care systems should all encourage behavior changes to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Further research is necessary to understand better how to facilitate effective and efficient programs for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Individuals at high risk for developing diabetes need to become aware of the benefits of modest weight loss and participating in regular physical activity.

Some cancer prevention info

2006-03-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

I got this information from Curves. They usually have some great info posted around the place, and I really liked this one.

At least on-third of cancer deaths may be preventable

Unfortunately, advances in cancer treatement have not been as effective as those for other chronic diseases. Part of the reason is that effective screening methods are availalbe for only a few types of cancer.

More than one-third of cancer deaths are attributable to nine modifiable risk factors. Primary prevention through lifestyle and evironmental interventions are the main way to reduce the main burden of cancer.

The leading risk factors for death from cancer worldwide and in low-and middle-income countries are:

Smoking
Alcohol use
Low consumtion of fruits and vegetables

For women in low- and middle- income countries, sexual transmission of human papilloma virus (HPV) is also a leading risk factor for cervical cancer. Smoking, alchohol use, and overweight and obesity are the most important causes of cancer in high-income countries (ie USA).

Reduction of exposure to key behavioral and evironmental risk factors would prevent a substantial proportion of deaths from cancer.

Source: Lancet 2005;366:1784-1793

I think I mentioned cancer prevention in a previous posting, but correct me if I'm wrong. It is really important to also look at your own home as a cancer causing environment- there are many products on the market that have ingredients that are only being tested now and labled as cancer causing ingredients. Try going organic, or research a company that sells non-toxic products. There are many companies out there that really do have products that are chemical free. You just need to do your research to find the product that will work best for you.

In Honor of National Poison Prevention Week

2006-03-20T16:12:00.000-08:00

There is so much information to share with you all about preventing household poisonings. With the start of the National Poison Prevention Week, I will share with you what I know. Here's something of immediate importance for you to look through...

News from CPSC
U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20207
For Immediate Release
March 16, 2006 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
Release # 06-115 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7800
National Poison Prevention Week Launch: Young Children Remain Most
Vulnerable for Unintentional Poisonings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the past 45 years, National Poison Prevention Week has worked to
educate and inform consumers of the dangers of unintentional poisonings. These efforts have
contributed to a significant decline in injuries and deaths.

But there are still about 30 children younger than 5 years old who die from unintentional
poisonings each year. Most of these poisonings are from products commonly found in the home.
About 85,000 young children visited U.S. hospital emergency rooms due to unintentional
poisonings in 2004.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Poison Prevention
Week Council, and the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) today
reported these deaths and injuries at a news conference to kick off National Poison Prevention
Week (March 19-25, 2006).

“Back in the 1960s, the number of deaths each year from unintentional poisoning was 15
times greater than it is today,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “Now there are literally
thousands of young people alive today who would have died without child-resistant packaging
and other measures that protect children from poisoning hazards.”

To further reduce the number of unintentional poisoning deaths and injuries, CPSC
recommends that the entire family do its part. Parents should keep items in their original
containers and leave the original labels on the products and read labels before use.

Grandparents should use child-resistant packaging and keep all household products and medicines locked up, out of sight and out of reach of young children. Older children should be aware of the dangers associated with poisonings and help their parents keep younger siblings in sight; this means taking them along when answering the phone or doorbell.

In addition to the poison prevention tips above, parents and caregivers should follow these
safety tips to reduce the risk of unintentional poisonings.

1. Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after
each use or, if available, choose child-resistant unit packaging, which does not need to be
re-secured.
2. Call (800) 222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning.
3. Do not put decorative lamps and candles that contain lamp oil where children can reach
them. Lamp oil can be very toxic if ingested by young children.
4. Always turn the light on when giving or taking medicine so you can see what you are
taking. Check the dosage every time.
5. Avoid taking medicine in front of children.

“Proper and safe storage, use and supervision of all household products can substantially reduce
accidents in the home,” said Nancy Bock, Vice President of Education at The Soap and
Detergent Association, and chair of the Poison Prevention Week Council. “Take away the
opportunities for accidents to happen and you can literally save lives.”

According to AAPCC, poison control centers nationwide received about 1.2 million calls
about poison exposures involving children 5 years and younger in 2004. Among the potentially
toxic household products referenced in calls to the poison control centers were:
• Personal care products, including baby oil and mouthwash containing ethanol;
• Cleaning substances, including drain openers and oven cleaners;
• Over-the-counter pain relievers – including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin – and
cough and cold medicines;
• Hydrocarbons, such as lamp oil and furniture polish; and
• Adult-strength vitamins and supplements containing iron.

“While we recognize the significant strides that have been made in poison prevention,
every day there are new parents, grandparents and childcare providers who may not be aware of the potential for poisonings,” said Kathy Wruk, president of AAPCC.

To get a free packet of poison prevention publications, write to “Poison Prevention
Packet,” P.O. Box 1543, Washington, DC 20013, or visit www.poisonprevention.org.

For additional information about poison prevention and poison control centers,

visit www.aapcc.org.

That being said, there are many different products on the market that are labled as "safe" yet still contain chemicals. Be extremely cautious when you purchase your common household products and be aware of the ingredients that are listed. Also know that not ALL of the ingredients are listed- and the ones not listed are the most harmful of all.

At the moment, there are a few companies that do sell safer products, products that are environmentally friendly. The least known companies are registered with the DSA, or the Direct Selling Association. I cannot list them here, but chances are that if you are reading this, you may know of one or two of them already! I am involved with one, which I have mentioned in previous posts. From what I know of the other companies, thier products are extremely comparable to the ones I use, but each has it's own formulas for safety ingredients. Each company will have one particular product unique to them. So do a search, research the products if you have time, and you will find great quality products that are safer to use in your home than the ones you see at Target or Wal-Mart. I promise!!

Finally a new post!!!!

2006-03-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

Whew!! I'ts been a while, but I finally took a minute to check in with everyone!! Lots have been going on here at home, and I've not been on the computer enough lately. I'll update my other blog in a while, but in the meantime read this neat article on diets that I found.

by Debbie Overstreet and Susan Daniel

For the person who wants to shed a few pounds (or even a lot of pounds), there are many choices of diet programs. To pick the best one for your tastes and lifestyle, you need to look at the attributes of each diet plan. A listing of just a few is below.

L. A. Weight Loss

L. A. Weight Loss is based on a unique combination of regular foods that you purchase at your local grocery store or in a restaurant. Each diet plan is personalized and includes one-on-one counseling.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers includes eating regular foods that you purchase at your local grocery store or in a restaurant. However, there is no pre-set combination of food for each day. Foods are assigned "points". As long as you do not exceed your points each day, you can eat whatever you want. You will of course want to vary your food to include all of the food groups in your daily diet. Group meetings or internet tracking is available.

Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig includes food that is already prepared and pre-packaged for you. This saves you time and makes choosing what to eat very easy. They also recommend physical activity as a way to accelerate your weight loss. You meet with a personal counselor each week to discuss successes and challenges.

Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem food that is already prepared and pre-packaged for you. This saves you time and makes choosing what to eat very easy. You can order your foods on-line, and they are delivered right to your door. Most of the food includes low Glycemic Index carbohydrates which make losing weight easier. You have the option of calling or emailing your counselor so that you do not have to attend any meetings.

Finding the right diet program can be easy if you do your research. The important thing is to get on a program and stick to it. Diet, exercise, and counseling seem to provide the proper ingredients for lasting weight loss.

Copyright © 2005 Susan Daniel and Debbie Overstreet About Susan and Debbie: Susan and Debbie are internet marketers. You can review more articles and Web sites on diets and weight loss by visiting http://www.thedietstartstomorrow.com.

I'm not active in any of these diet plans, but maybe I should be ;) I know many people on Weight Watchers who are very successful in thier weight loss, and they work out at Curves too. There are other diets that are not listed, such as the South Beach, the Atkins, and more. As these two wonderful ladies who wrote this article said, do your research right and you will find the right diet for you!! GOOD LUCK!!

Some Scary information I dug up...

2006-03-04T20:38:00.000-08:00

And it concerns our food! I often have been told that when you are looking at food, if there is something listed as an ingredient that you cannot pronounce, chances are that it's bad for you. Well, I decided to do some research on a few ingredients that I keep seeing on a few things that I eat and drink on a normal basis.

1. Carrageenan, xanthan gum (basically all words that end with "gum")
This excerpt is taken from http://home.howstuffworks.com/question315.htm
Lots of foods can contain some pretty weird-sounding stuff. That's because processed foods have some amazing things they have to do. For example, a cookie might get made in Texas, trucked across the country in the middle of the summer, sit in a warehouse for a couple of weeks before it is sold and then ride home in the trunk of your car. And when you open the package, you expect the cookie to look perfect. Not an easy thing to accomplish, it turns out...

Things like liquids and cheese can be even more problematic, because their natural inclination is to separate, foam, melt, precipitate, et cetera, especially after they bounce down the road for a thousand miles.

That's why many foods contain chemicals known as gums. Two gums that are pretty familiar are gelatin and corn starch. If you look at processed food, you see all sorts of other gums like carrageenan, xanthan gum, cellulose gum, locust bean gum, agar, and so on. Food scientists (not cooks -- food scientists make processed foods) use these substances for four main reasons:
They thicken things: Ice cream, marshmallow fluff, pancake syrup, etc., all benefit from thickening.
They emulsify things: They help liquids to stay mixed together without separating.
They change the texture: Generally, a gum will make something thicker or chewier.
They stabilize crystals: A gum might help prevent sugar or ice from crystallizing.

These are all handy capabilities when making food products that have to look good for several months after trucking them across the country. The reason why a normal cook usually does not need to use things like carrageenan or xanthan gum is because the food a normal cook makes gets eaten quickly and is not mistreated. A cook can also use less expensive things like gelatin, flour or eggs because the time span between cooking and consumption is so short.

Carrageenan, by the way, is a seaweed extract. This particular type of seaweed is common in the Atlantic Ocean near Britain, Continental Europe and North America. You boil the seaweed to extract the carrageenan. In that sense, carrageenan is completely "natural" -- it's not much different from tomato paste in its creation.

Ok, all fine and dandy, then I found this one:
2. Guar Gum
Found on http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/guar_gum.html
Guar gum is a polysacharide (a long chain made of sugars) made of the sugars galactose and mannose.
Some other familiar polysacharides are starch and cellulose, which are made of long chains of the sugar glucose.

Guar gum comes from the endosperm of the seed of the legume plant Cyamopsis tetragonolobus. Cyamopsis tetragonolobus is an annual plant, grown in arid regions of India as a food crop for animals.

Uses:
Guar gum is used as a thickener in cosmetics, sauces, salad dressings, as an agent in ice cream that prevents ice crystals from forming, and as a fat substitute that adds the "mouth feel" of fat.

In pastry fillings, it prevents "weeping" (syneresis) of the water in the filling, keeping the pastry crust crisp.

It has a very high viscosity (thickness) even when very little is used. When mixed with xanthan gum or locust bean gum, the viscosity is more than when either one is used alone, so less of each can be used.

So aren't polysaccarides bad for us? Uh Huh, that's what I thought... That particular ingredient kinda worries me. Especially since it is widely used in cosmetics as well as ice cream...

3. CALCIUM PHOSPHATE TRIBASIC

Now a little note on this one before I get into the info I dug up. This is listed as an ingredient in my milk. I drink LACTAID. I cannot drink regular milk because I am lactose intolerant (have been since birth). I've been drinking LACTAID since before I can remember. So read very carefully on the information I dug up about this ingredient.

MSDS Number: C0490 * * * * * Effective Date: 10/12/04 * * * * * Supercedes: 08/10/04
1. Product Identification
Synonyms: Tricalcium phosphate; Calcium hydroxy apatite; hydroxyapatite, Precipitated Calcium Phosphate.
3. Hazards IdentificationEmergency Overview -------------------------- WARNING! DIRECT CONTACT WITH EYES MAY CAUSE SEVERE IRRITATION OR BURNS. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED.
Health Rating: 1 - Slight Flammability Rating: 0 - None Reactivity Rating: 0 - None Contact Rating: 3 - Severe Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES & SHIELD; LAB COAT & APRON; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES Storage Color Code: Green (General Storage) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potential Health Effects ----------------------------------
Inhalation: Causes irritation to the respiratory tract. Symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath.
Ingestion: Causes irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Skin Contact: May cause irritation with redness and pain.
Eye Contact: Direct contact with the eyes is irritating and may cause corneal damage. Chronic Exposure: No information found.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions: No information found.
4. First Aid Measures
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention.
Ingestion: Induce vomiting immediately as directed by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Skin Contact: Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes before reuse. Get medical attention if irritation develops.
Eye Contact: Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally. Get medical attention immediately.
9. Physical and Chemical PropertiesAppearance:
Fine, white powder.
Odor: Odorless.
Solubility: Practically insoluble in water.
16. Other InformationNFPA Ratings: Health: 1 Flammability: 0 Reactivity: 0 Label Hazard Warning: WARNING! DIRECT CONTACT WITH EYES MAY CAUSE SEVERE IRRITATION OR BURNS. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. Label Precautions: Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing.Wash thoroughly after handling.Avoid breathing dust.Keep container closed.Use only with adequate ventilation. Label First Aid: In case of contact, immediately flush eyes or skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. If swallowed, induce vomiting immediately as directed by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. In all cases, get medical attention. Product Use: Laboratory Reagent.

Ok THIS ingredient is added to my MILK? HOW IN THE @%&*# DO THEY GET AWAY WITH THINGS LIKE THIS? I mean, there cannot be another ingredient by the same name that is not what is listed here? I think not. So if this ingredient is hazardous in it's powder form, then how is it in the other forms, if there are other forms? There must be if it is listed as and ingredient in my milk!

4. Phenylketonurics (always found in sodas)
I've always wanted to know what that warning label meant "Phenylketonurics - contains phenylalanine" that is on every can of soda that we imbibe. Well here you go:

"Phenylketonurics" is the term used to refer to people that have the metabolic disorder Phenylketonuria, or PKU for short. The warning on diet soda cans is included merely to inform people that the product contains aspartame. People that have the disorder PKU cannot consume any product that contains aspartame.

Phenylketonuria is a metabolic disorder that results when the PKU gene is inherited from both parents. When babies are born in the United States, a heel stick blood test is done to test for various disorders - PKU is one of the disorders that is tested for. It is very rare, in the US an average of 1 in 15,000 babies is born with the disorder (this number varies from region to region). If a baby is tested positive for PKU at birth, a follow up test is done a few days later. Out of 500 babies which do test positive for PKU on the first test, on average only one will actually have the disorder.

So, what is PKU? What happens to people that have it?

People with PKU have a deficiency of an enzyme which is necessary for the proper metabolism of an amino acid called Phenylalanine (i.e., the component in diet soda included in the warning). Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid and it is found in nearly all foods which contain protein: meat (of all kinds), dairy products, nuts, beans, tofu... the list goes on and on. Additionally, phenylalanine is found in aspartame, the sweetener found in most diet soft drinks and sugar-free candies/gum, hence the need for the warning on the labels of these products. Those of us that have PKU must follow a strict "low protein" diet to avoid all food sources that have high phenylalanine content. To get adequate amounts of other amino acids found in protein (without the damaging phenylalanine), people with PKU also have to take a special formula which is usually in the form of a liquid beverage.

If those of us that have PKU do not follow a strict low protein diet, phenylalanine is not adequately digested in our bodies and it builds up in our blood in the form of an acid called phenylpyruvic acid. High levels of phenylpyruvic acid damage the brain and can cause an array of side effects - mental retardation, the loss of pigmentation in the skin/hair/eyes (people with untreated PKU often have light skin, blond hair and blue eyes), a mousy odor, muscle aches and pains and in extreme cases, even seizures. Depending on the severity of the PKU, babies who were not treated for the disorder and put on the special diet at birth run the risk of suffering irreversable mental retardation within the first year of life.
Phenylalanine is absolutely, 100% NOT cancerous! It is in virtually every food you eat, it is one of the 8 essential amino acids that comprise a complete protein. If you don't have PKU, you would become protein deprived and seriously sick if you never ate phenylalanine!
However, the synthesized chemical called ASPARTAME is the artificial sweetener that is used in many kinds of diet soda and other sweets. It has phenylalanine as an ingredient, but is itself a completely different chemical. Apartame can cause a wide range of side effects and is considered to be very unsafe by many people (including medical professionals). Some people complain that they get headaches, cramps, severe vomiting, seizures, etc... Indeed, when aspartame is heated it breaks down into a chemical that is comparable to wood alcohol (Don't ever drink a warm diet soda or consume any warm food that has aspartame in it!).
http://www.sweetpoison.com/phenylalanine.html

I worry about other ingredients too, but these just happened to be closest to me in the last few days, so I had to check them out. The consequences? Who knows. But if you have any problems, have them checked out soon. Especially if you have been told you have PKU and you drink any kind of soda, even if it is once in a blue moon. And take a look at www.sweetpoison.com to get more information about aspartame and splenda- you'll get a shock there too!

Weight Loss Tips from Mom-Defrazzler

2006-03-01T17:59:00.000-08:00

Great info here!! I agree with nearly everything she says in this article!! Go ahead, read it and let me know what you think:

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook” Julia Child

I hate dieting. It doesn’t matter what diet I follow, I gain weight. It’s so frustrating! If I do find one that works, I usually find that right about the time I’m getting used to the diet, my life ends up creating situations where I need to be eating out a lot, or spending time with friends and food. ARGH! I’ve stopped dieting now. I’m just working on healthy lifestyle habits that I can work with anywhere, at any time and that allow for “life” to happen, so I don’t need to panic. Now, believe me, I’m no expert, so check with your doctor before you follow ANY of my advice – I’m just a fellow mom, trying to get back into pre-baby clothes! I have found some things to be consistent in the myriad of ever-changing diet/health rules, and I’d like to share them with you here. So ladies, if you want to lose those extra 10 pounds (or more) that just refuse to disappear, here are some tips that are finally working for me: Pick Your Time Weight loss involves very personal issues for most people, and is closely related to their self esteem. It is crucial that you attempt to lose 10 pounds at the appropriate time - at a time where you otherwise feel good and satisfied with your life. If you try and lose 10 pounds during a period of time in your life where you have a lot of stress or other distracting things going on, you drastically increase your chances of failure, which will only make things worse. Do It With Friends A great and fun way to help you stick with your plan is to undertake your project of losing 10 pounds with a friend. Not only will you be able to provide support for each other and track each other's progress, but you'll be able to engage in fun exercise activities together. Make Your Plan Realistic It's important that you set achievable goals for yourself. For example, with just some basic changes in your lifestyle and eating habits, you can lose 1 pound a week. There's no need to be in a huge rush to lose weight, and trying to lose weight quickly often requires a regimen that is difficult to keep up. For most people, it is healthier to lose weight slowly than with drastic dietary changes. Exercise in the morning on an empty stomach There are two main reasons why you can more easily lose 10 pounds by exercising in the morning. The first has to do with the fact that it is much easier to build into your daily routine. One of the keys to losing weight by exercise is to do it regularly, which many people find difficult: it's always hard to find time. So a great reason for exercising in the morning is that you'll have very little distraction. In many ways, you are literally "making time" for the exercise by starting your day earlier. The second reason is that if you exercise in the morning on an empty stomach, you're burning energy at a time when your body's carbohydrate levels are the lowest, and therefore more fat will be burned with the same amount of exercise. There have been studies that suggest over 250% more fat is burned when you exercise in this state. Balance Your Diet Try as much as possible to balance your diet. This doesn't mean that you have to starve yourself -- rather make a point of getting no more the 30% of your calories from fat. Eat more fruits and vegetables and try to add as much variety to your diet as possible. Try new things, and new meal ideas. A great rule of thumb is to take a 9” plate and divide it into quarters. One quarter is starch/carbohydrate (potatoes, pasta, rice), one quarter is protein (meat, beans, tofu) and half is vegetables. Keep Track Of Your Progress The problem with dieting for many people, especially in the early stages, is that even if the diet is working they can't see any results. It's hard to really notice if you lose 1 pound. For this reason it's important that your track your progress, so you can have a good sense of the accomplishments you've made. Don’t just track pounds, make sure you are also tracking inches by keeping track of the measurements of the main body areas: bust, waist, hips, thighs, calves, and even your upper arm. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine Another good idea is to try and get some exercise while you're at work. Think how often you end up staying in your office on your lunch break. Instead, why not take a walk? It may not seem like much, but if you did that every day, you'd be walking 5 hours a week, which is a pretty great start towards getting some more exercise. On the weekends and in the evenings, take up a sport or an active hobby like hiking. The key is to find ways that you can get exercise while also doing things you enjoy. You can lose 10 pounds fairly quickly by starting a serious exercise regimen, of course, but that's not necessarily the best way to do it. If you make your exercise like work, it'll start to feel like work, and it will become tempting to put it off and avoid it. If you incorporate exercise into your daily routine, however, it won't seem like work at all - it will be fun. And the best part of all is that the more you exercise the more energy you'll have: instead of being tired when you come home from work, you'll feel like doing something active. Before you know it that 10 pounds you lost might become 20. So, there you have it! Try implementing one tip a week and making a habit out of it. You’ll drop those pounds in no time! Tipping the scales in your favour! Darlene Hull www.mom-defrazzler.com P.S. Want more weight loss ideas and a community to share frustrations and triumphs? Check out Darlene’s March 2006 blog entries at her “Mom-Defrazzler Blog” http://mom-defrazzler.com/Mom-DefrazzlerBlog/nfblog/ (There’s a contest, too!)

The info just doesn't stop coming!!

2006-02-25T18:15:00.000-08:00

It seems like everything heart related is popping out to me! And I'm not even purposely looking! But I cannot pass up "passing" around this information. It's too important to "pass up!" Ok, enough.

Sutter Health Organization publishes a newsletter called "your health" for Northern California. The Spring newsletter just came yesterday, and there was an excellent article about heart disease, centered on women. Here is the top 10 symptoms that Women should know:

Chest discomfort
Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, arm or jaw
Discomfort or pain between the shoulder blades
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Nausea or vomiting
Indigestion or gas-like pain
Dizziness or fainting
Unexplained weakness or fatigue
Sense of impending doom

This is no laughing matter. If you feel you have the majority of the symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor right away.

They also listed 8 questions that you should ask your doctor:

What screening or diagnostic tests for heart disease do I need?
If I have a close family history of heart attack, am I at a greater risk?
What are my numbers and what do they mean? Include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body mass index and waist circumfrence.
If I smoke, what is the best way for me to quit?
How much physical activity do I need to help protect my heart?
What is a heart-healthy eating plan for me?
What are the warning signs of heart disease or a heart attack?
If I experience signs or symptoms of a heart attack, what steps do I need to take?

Also, nutrition-wise, there is much you can do to prevent heart problems in the future. Starting in your 20's, developing good habits will serve you well throughout life. Excessive carbohydrate intake will raise triglyceride levels: keep the intake off alcohol and simple sugars to a moderate level. And exercise regularly!! In your 30's, watch what type of fat you eat. Try and switch to olive oil and canola oil for cooking, which increase HDL. Omega 3 oils protect the heart by lowering the overall triglyceride levels and reduces blood clots. In your 40's, a higher intake of foods rich in B vitamin folate can reduce homocysteine levels in the blood. Elevated levels can damage the blood vessel wall lining and increase the probability of blood clots. 50's and older: reducing your salt intake to less than 2,400 mg per day can help reduce blood pressure. For everyone it is recommended that a plant-based diet rich in hole grains, fruits, and veggies will nourish and protect us for life.

All this is in the newsletter which is a joint effort between Sutter Novato Community Hospital and Sutter Marin General Hospital, here in Marin County, California. For more info please visit www.novatocommunity.sutterhealth.org, www.maringeneral.sutterhealth.org, and www.hearts.sutterhealth.org.

More Heart Awareness Info...

2006-02-24T15:26:00.000-08:00

According to the CDC, every 34 seconds someone loses their life to heart disease. The AHA lists six major controllable risk factors:

1. High blood cholesterol
2. High blood pressure
3. Smoking
4. Diabetes
5. Physical inactivity and obesity
6. Stress

There are three uncontrollable risk factors also:

1. Gender
2. Heredity
3. Age

It is shocking to hear that men have a higher risk than premenopausal women; the risk is more equal after menopause.

I've already mentioned ways to prevent high cholesterol in the previous post, so I don't need to get into it here.

The AHA reports that people without heart disease live an average of seven years longer than those without.

Here's another thought- your diet also plays into the risk factors, although it doesn't seem like an immediate threat, it can be a long-term threat. So watch what you eat, as I have mentioned before, and add exercise to your daily routine. Don't play games with your heart! This is the most valuable asset that anyone has in the world, no matter what you think. If your heart is not healthy, then you are not doing the right job taking care of yourself. Think about it.

(my source- the USA Spring 2006 Melaleuca Catalouge, pp 9-11)

Heart Awareness

2006-02-22T15:25:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot that February was National Heart Awarness Month. I should have remembered based on my emails. Oh, well. But I found some great information that I had to share with everyone.

In the March issue of Fast Company (go to www.fastcompany.com/keyword/103fc and enter access code FCMARANNIV to read more) there is an article on the body. Some good news they shared: If you were born after 1970 your life expectancy is 71.1 years. If you were born after 1995, your life expectancy is 75.8 years. And if you were born this year, 2006, your life expectancy is 77.3 years. That means that we are living longer lives. But those added years may take a toll on us too. Between 1997 and 2003 the number of cardiac surgeries went up from 3.23 million to 3.55 million. Could it be our fast food diets causing this increase? Or could it be that the increase in surgeries and added life expectancy can be linked to our drug and supplement use? According to the number of prescriptions filled, maybe prescription drugs cause more harm than good: in 1994 only 7.7 prescriptions were filled (this is per capita), but by 2003 11.1 were filled. Fairly large jump. But how about the number of supplements used? 10 years ago, barely over $12 million dollars was spent on supplements. By last year- nearly $21 million!! That is in the sales of non-FDA approved supplements. That's good news for the health and wellness industry!! But also, it means that companies such as Pfizer have good competition. The New York Times reported in November (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/16/business/16pfizer.html) that the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor has not proven itself statistically to the world yet. They compared the drug to Zocor. This information was also published in The Journal of the Amereican Medical Association at the same time. The study was conducted by Pfizer itself, and found that thier drug did not experience fewer coronary events during a period of five years when compared to Zocor. Both drugs had the close to the same number of coronary events, including nonfatal heart attacks and nonfatal cardiac arrest, which showed that the difference was not statistically significant. So we go to one of the fastest growing companies that sells incredible supplements. There are so many personal success stories that I could share with you that I've read, but I won't tell you all of them. In fact, I will only give a little info, because I don't want to get into trouble.

One older lady was about to be put on Lipitor by her doctor, but she refused, and said that she had an alternative that she wanted to try first. Her cholesteral levels were tested two months later, and they had startling news: her levels were amazingly lower than before.

Here's the breakdown:

Total cholesterol: from 264 to 181

LDL (bad): from 140 to 88

HDL (good): from 67 to 69

Triglycerides: from 287 to 119

Well, needless to say, her doctor told her to keep it up and continue those supplements.

Here's another:

This man's triglyceride level was 768!! His doctor wanted him to lower his numbers within one month or he would have to go on Lipitor. His son bought him these supplements, and when he went back the next month his triglyceride level was 75!! He had only been using these supplements for 26 days, and his overall cholesterol went down from 211 to 206.

One more:

This man had been using Lipitor since 1998, since having a triple by-pass operation. His total cholesterol levels stayed between 150 and 200, despite a change in diet and exercise. When he got the supplement he was screened for his levels. After a month he had his doctor check his levels and both were amazed.

Total cholesterol: from 184 to 141

Triglycerides: from 179 to 104

LDL: from 104 to 77

Ok, maybe one more and that's it:

This woman had extreme triglyceride levels: her doctor had never in his entire life of practicing medicine levels like hers.

Triglycerides: 1750

Total Cholesterol: 425

After four years of taking different statin drugs (Lipitor, Pravachol, Tricor, and Zocor) she successfully lowered her total cholesterol, but her triglycerides never went below 525. Her daughter in law was a registered nurse and mentioned that one of her patients was taking these supplements, and had much success (he faced surgery in his neck to open clogged arteries, but was able to decrease the clogging with the supplements). So she bought some for herself and her husband. After four years of different drugs, she had her tri levels tested again, after she started taking the supplements. Her triglyceride level had finally gone down to 350 and is slowly decreasing even now!!

"So, what in sam's hill are you talking about?" you may ask. Provex CV and Phytomega, two incredible supplements from Melaleuca. I myself take them, although I have not had my levels checked because I'm still young :) (actually I'm afraid of the doctor, but that's a whole different story). These supplements are the only heart healthy supplements on the market to contain both phytosterols and the essential fish oil omega-3 fatty acids. Lipitor does not contain either. The Vitamin shoppe supplements only contain 1000 mg of fish oil. The Twin Labs Cholesterol Success only contains 900 mg of phytosterols. Phytomega contains 1500 mg of phytosterols and 1000 mg of fish oils. AND it costs less than all of them. Go to www.melaleuca.com to get more information- or contact me if you want more info.

So that being said, it's important to watch your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. I'll get mine checked- sometime this year, just to be on the safe side. I'm pushing 30, so I really need to be careful of my health. Oh, and stop eating so much chocolate chocolate cake....

This is another great source of information!!

2006-02-21T14:43:00.000-08:00

This is another great source of information!! I subscribe to this newsletter, and I love the information that my friend Wendy has! Here is a copy of the latest newsletter:

ASK YAK
Wendy: Yak's Healthy Lifestyles

Every now and again I am asked questions by my readers. I encourage this because if one person has a question or concern I just know that there are more women out there with the same or similar question.

QUESTION:

How do I know if I am wanting to eat out of hunger or boredom?

ANSWER:

As far as physical hunger, that occurs if you are doing some vigorous work, or if you havn't eaten for 3-4 hours. Other than that, you are more than likely wanting to eat due to boredom or stress. Fill those times with fruit and veggies only and as much as you like. You will be giving your body nutrients that will give you long lasting energy. You can also fill those times in with some of the gifts and talents God has blessed you with. What is it that turns your crank? Is it writing, painting, you and God can fill in that blank. I do want to add one thing here about water. If you are feeling tired, you may be a little dehydrated. Drink a glass of water or two and you'll feel a little more energetic.

QUESTION:

I know I need to slow down when I eat. My parents were always in a hurry to finish dinner when I was younger. This is a habit I need to break. How do I relax and slow down on eating and give my body time to feel full so that I donâ€™t end up eating too much?

ANSWER:

Half the battle is knowing what your problem is. Which you do. Iâ€™m sure most of you have heard of chewing each bite 25 times, try it because it works. Also, only put a reasonable amount of food on your plate and eat only that. If youâ€™re still hungry have seconds of your salad or grab a piece of fruit or two in place of a second helping of your meal.

If you have any questions please Ask Yak and see your question answered in the next issue.

WendyYakâ€™sPersonal Trainer/Lifestyle Coach http://www.yakattack.myeweb.net/

Areas of expertise: fitness, nutrition, marriage, family issues, pms, de-cluttering home and life.

If you are interested in receiving these newsletters too, visit my friend Wendy's site as listed above. It's a great site, and full of great information!!!!

2006-02-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

As I was browsing the internet I came across this interesting article in the America Heart Association journal- Circulation. Only the abstract is posted:
If you want to view the entire article, click on the link below: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/104/15/1869

Dietary Protein and Weight Reduction
A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Nutrition Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism of the American Heart Association Sachiko T. St. Jeor, RD PhD; Barbara V. Howard, PhD; T. Elaine Prewitt, RD DrPH; Vicki Bovee, RD MS; Terry Bazzarre, PhD; Robert H. Eckel, MD; , for the AHA Nutrition Committee
Abstract
Abstract— High-protein diets have recently been proposed as a "new" strategy for successful weight loss. However, variations of these diets have been popular since the 1960s. High-protein diets typically offer wide latitude in protein food choices, are restrictive in other food choices (mainly carbohydrates), and provide structured eating plans. They also often promote misconceptions about carbohydrates, insulin resistance, ketosis, and fat burning as mechanisms of action for weight loss. Although these diets may not be harmful for most healthy people for a short period of time, there are no long-term scientific studies to support their overall efficacy and safety. These diets are generally associated with higher intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol because the protein is provided mainly by animal sources. In high-protein diets, weight loss is initially high due to fluid loss related to reduced carbohydrate intake, overall caloric restriction, and ketosis-induced appetite suppression. Beneficial effects on blood lipids and insulin resistance are due to the weight loss, not to the change in caloric composition. Promoters of high-protein diets promise successful results by encouraging high-protein food choices that are usually restricted in other diets, thus providing initial palatability, an attractive alternative to other weight-reduction diets that have not worked for a variety of reasons for most individuals. High-protein diets are not recommended because they restrict healthful foods that provide essential nutrients and do not provide the variety of foods needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. Individuals who follow these diets are therefore at risk for compromised vitamin and mineral intake, as well as potential cardiac, renal, bone, and liver abnormalities overall.

It is interesting to read that last statement. Based on my current eating habits, and exercise routine, I'm supposed to be on a high-protein diet (according to my Curves Member Guide). But this diet is not meant to last forever. At least while I am actively working out, I should be eating more protein. This article has different tables that describe relations of protein to your diet. The first table lists how much protein you should intake daily, based on your energy intake. It shows that your protien intake should be between 10% and 30% of your total caloric intake. The average diet is 15%. There is another table (#3) that lists 5 different popular diets, and what each diet entails foodwise and in practicality. It's an eye opener if you are considering one of these diets. It makes me wonder about the practicality of other diets not listed too.l

My Weight Loss Journey Update

2006-02-19T12:24:00.000-08:00

Wow, I feel better now than I have in a long time!! The energy level I have now is amazing. So I started going to Curves November 28, 2005. I weighed in at 185lbs!! My doctor said that I was close to 50lbs overweight- that weigh in proved that I was 60lbs overweight(picture me crying). Between 11/28/05 and 1/11/06 I lost 4 lbs. Weigh in on 1/11, down to 181lbs. Not bad for getting a cold and not working out for two weeks straight. The 12 week challenge started 1/16/06, and I started becoming more serious about loosing weight and eating better. I eat more protein, less sugary foods, more fruit and yogurt, and walk everywhere if I can instead of driving. That combined with Curves has worked so far. Month one weigh in was Wednesday, 2/15/06. Down to 177lbs!! Five more lbs lost between 1/11 and 2/15!! And I got sick again, this time with the flu, and missed one week of workout. 9 down and 51 more to go!! Do you think that I can make it to at least 150 by April? We'll see!

In the Febuary 20 issue of US magazine, they investigated how much celebrities weighed. Also published was a chart for you to find what your healthy weight should be based on your height. I'm 5'3". So according to this chart I should weigh anywhere between 107 and 135 lbs. The ideal weight for someone at 5'3" height is 113lbs. I think that depends on your bone structure also. My weight goal is 125 or 130.

I also feel that the supplements that I am taking are helping me to succeed. What I am taking is called Daily for Life, from Melaleuca. They come in convenient AM/PM packets, which I love. Each packet contains 9 vitamins; the AM packet contains 2 Vitality for Women (multi vitamin and minerals), 2 Vitality Mineral Complex (time-release formula with a 1,000mg blend of calcium sources), 1 Cell Wise (broad-spectrum antioxidant derived from whole foods), and 4 ProvexCV (flavonoid to help prevent LDL oxidation). PM packet has 1 Vitality for Women, 1 Vitamin Mineral Complex, 1 Cell Wise, 1 Florify (to fortify and detoxify gatrointestinal tract with healthy probiotics), and 4 Phytomega (the only heart supplement with Omega3 fatty acids and phytosterols). Of course, I do tend to forget to take both of them daily, but I do take at least one packet a day. Which reminds me...

Another thing that I am using to help loose weight is another awesome Melaleuca product. It's called the Access bar, which is a fat conversion activity bar. One bar has 150 calories, and I only eat one before I go to Curves. It has been tested and proved to enhance fat metabolism, minimize muscle fatigue, and maximize endurance. I can attest to endurance and fatigue- the first week I went to Curves, I felt completely wiped out after the first ten minutes of exercise. By the evening I felt sore from exercising. I remembered that I had some Access bars at home, and decided to try them out the second week. What a difference!! I did not get tired at all, in fact I wanted to keep going past the 30 minutes! And I did not get any muscle cramps at all or soreness. So now I make sure I eat one on my way to Curves. They come in four incredibly mouth watering flavors, but my favorite is the mint chocolate. Peanut butter is not bad at all either.

I think I may have mentioned this before... supplementing with vitamins comes highly reccomended. But it is not for everyone. Taking supplements is completely dependent on your eating and exercise habits. I have to supplement, because I have never eaten properly, and I am at risk for osteoporisis and a few other things. So my doctor said that I can keep using what I am using, and keep up the exercise. I see this everywhere, on all supplements no matter what company you buy them from: " These statments have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your doctor before using this product." There may be too much of one ingredient in a supplement and your doctor may say that you shouldn't have so much. Its better to be on the safe side than cause yourself more harm than good.

Part 2- Eye Openers

2006-02-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

I've been sick with the flu. But here is the rest of the information that I promised from the PTA meeting with the nutritionist.

WHAT WE SHOULD BE EATING

Organic food!

A great arcticle in Parents magazine explains it all! If you read that mag, then look in the March 2006 issue on page56. If you don't, here's the quoted article:

Organic Benefits
Feeding your child organic food can significantly lower his exposure to pesticides, says a study funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. After kids ages 3 to 11 were switched from a conventional diet to one with organic frutis, vegetables, and other foods, there was an immediate, dramatic decrease in two pesticide by-products in thier urine. Although the exact health risk of these pesticides is still unknown, they may be especially harmful for children- because kids' bodies are smaller and their brains are still developing, says researcher Chensheng Lu, PhD., of Emory University, in Atlanta. Dr. Lu recommends choosing orgainc when possible but especially with produce that tends to have greader pesticide residue such as apples, spinach, peaches, pears, potatoes, and strawberries.
from Parents magazine, March 2006, p 56

What I can say about organic produce, it is much tastier than regular produce. Finally we will have a Trader Joe's and a Whole Foods opening in town, so it will be much easier for me to buy what I really like. Since both my children love fruit more than chips or candy (yeah, I know it doesn't seem real, but it's true!) it's nice to be able to buy them healthy snacks.

When I was at that PTA meeting with the nutritionist, the organics came up, but also the trend of using supplements. The owner of my local Curves had said that she wholly supports supplementing for this reason: we've depleted the essential vitamins and minerals from the soil, so even if we go organic, we won't be getting what we need. Therefore, taking supplements is essential. The other side to this is that supplements are not for everyone. It depends on what your body needs. But also, there are supplements out there that actually can do you more harm than good. I won't mention their names, but I can say that there is one place I found that the supplements are natural, with no synthetically derived ingredients. I've had much sucess with taking those vitamins, and I have found myself to feel better emotionally and physically when I remember to take them ;). The company is called Melaleuca, and they have an incredible 20 year track record. They also sell other products, such as cleaning, bath and body, and beauty products that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. To see some of their products go to www.saferforyourhome.com. Contact me if you want to learn more about the company and how to purchase the products for yourself.

Some Eye Openers About the Food We Eat

2006-02-01T21:39:00.000-08:00

Tonight I went to the school PTA meeting. We had a guest speaker, who is a Metabolic Nutritionist, Christine N. Hardy MA, CNE (certified nutrition educator). Before our meeting, a parent survey came out to find out what we wanted to learn from her. So tonight the she came extremely prepared with 6 pages of answers to the survey questions. What she discussed were extreme eye openers.

FOODS TO AVOID

There was a list with explanations on why we should avoid these foods.

1. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils/trans fatty acids: These would be oils such as soy, corn, sunflower, canola, and peanut oil, also known as polyunsaturated or monosaturated vegetable oils. These have been processed to indefinitely extend thier shelf life. During processing the structure of fatty acids are irreparably damaged in a way that they lose whatever nutritional value they origionally had, therefore becoming toxic in our bodies.

Someone had asked "How bad are those oils really?" Her answer: they disrupt the function of the cell membranes, interfering with the ability to transport nutrients into the cell and lets metabolic wastes out. This process is called "gumming up" the cell membranes, which can lead to auto-intoxication at a cellular level, disrupting the ability of cells to produce energy. She also stated that these hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils interfere with the production of omega-3 and -6 (essential fatty acids), compromise the efficiency of the immune system, increase the size of fat cells, lowering the levels of HDL cholesteral (which by the way is the good cholesteral), increases inflammation and blood clotting, and are implicated in the development of cancer!! HMMM, now let me see here- canola oil isn't as good as we previously thought then, so I must get rid of it now, but what can I use to replace it? Well, I already got that answer from my forum friends at Womans Day, and my workout friends from Curves: Coconut oil. But the nutritionist brought up two others that can be used, virgin olive oil and sesame seed oil.

2. Soft Drinks or Sodas: well what is there to know that we don't know already? It's been said to us many times, often from our doctors or health club trainers, that sodas are empty calories, and too sugary to do us any good. Yet we still crave those Pespi's and Dr. Pepper's. But did you know that most sodas contain 8-10 teaspoons of sugar per can? How about this: even though it says no sugar it still will contain an artifical sweetener that have been linked to neurological problems like headaches and seizures. (try aspartame and acesulfame)

3. High fructose corn syrup: this is just another name for sugar, which I didn't know about until tonight. Another thing I didn't know about sugar in general is that it tends to stick to protiens, forming nonfunctional hybrid molecules that speed up the aging process and tissue destruction. This is not to say that we absolutely have to avoid any kind of sugar, in moderation it's good for us. Just think about fruits and vegetables: they are good for us and also contain sugar, in it's good ole natural form, not a processed form that has no vitamins and minerals. Oh, and one more thing: the processed sugar that is common in packaged foods now will deplete your immune system for up to 5 hours after ingesting it! Makes you think, now doesn't it?

4. White flour products: Basically this is any food that is the color white. White bread, white rice, potatoes, crackers, pasta (though it's really off-white, she still has it on the list). Most of those, with the exception of potatoes, are "bleached" in a sense to make them white. In other words, refined. During the refining process, the b-vitamins, essential fatty acids, fiber, and amino acids that are naturally found, are lost, leaving behind the starch. These products also deplete our storage of zinc, which gives us our taste. So supposedly if we cannot taste anything or we don't have interest in food in general it's because we are zinc deficient. So we already knew that too much starchy foods will make us gain weight, what's the big deal? We get the same effects as sugar. We loose the energy that we need. Go ahead, look it up on the internet. The information is there if you don't believe me.

5. Anything that is labeled low fat or non fat: somewhere we were led to believe that drinking whole milk was wrong. So we started a whole new culture craze with the "non fat" "low fat" diets and food. Dairy that is designated those XX fat lables have been heated up to a degree where all the fat, protien, and vitamins are destroyed, basically leaving water and sugar. Our best bet to get the nutrients from milk- drink organic whole milk. For those of us who are lactose intolerant, like me for example, she recomends coconut, rice, almond, or goat milk. Not soy milk, which surprised me. So I had to ask her why not soy? Soy has become a processed food, and is no longer an organic product, even though it is labled as organic. It's what is done with the soy when they make the different products that come from soy. Ok then, so much for my soy lattes!! Maybe that explains why I have worse cramps when I drink soy milk.

I can go on, but I am really tired, and I need to get a few hours sleep before having to wake up agian.

The outcome of this meeting with the nutritionist will have to come tomorrow, or the next day. It depends on how tired I am (I think I need to stay away from food in general!!)

PLEASE READ THIS!! DONATE IN THE NAME OF CANCER!

2006-02-01T10:56:00.000-08:00

As most have known, this month is national heart awareness month!!

There is also another great cause that I've already made a donation to, and I'd appreciate everyone taking the time to do the same: Cancer.

In the last two months, I've lost two close family friends to cancer. Just recently joined a WAH forum, in which the site creator has created a wonderful project. It's called "Pixels for Cancer"

Basically it goes like this- you can donate a banner ad, or small picture and 50% of your cost will be donated to a cancer charity. Depending on the size of the banner or pix you will pay $1 per pixel. Mine was 100 pixels so I paid $100, which means $50 will go to the cancer charity.

PLEASE!! I BEG YOU! DO YOUR PART AND DONATE!! IF YOUR BUSINESS COULD USE A LITTLE MORE ADVERTISING, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO "KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE" SO TO SPEAK!!

Go to www.mommyjobs.com and click on the "pixels for cancer" button on the right hand side of the page. There, you will find all the information you need to understand this project better!! Don't wait- go now!!

Hiking in rain!!

2006-01-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

I took both the kids hiking today with my son's cubscout troop. It was fun, even though the whole time it was raining. We went to China Camp State Park, in San Rafael, CA. The trail we went on was beautiful!! It's a great way to get exercise, but I didn't walk at a fast pace. I read somewhere that walking at a slow pace burns more calories then walking at a fast pace. I have no idea how many calories I burned today. In total, the hike was close to a mile roundtrip. I want to go agin, with a friend, and follow the trail longer.

As for loosing weight: no change in lbs from last week. Could be the time of the month , or could be I didn't work out hard enough. OR it could be that I'm still not picking the right foods to eat daily. Oh well, there's still 10 more weeks for me to loose weight in the challenge.

Before and After Exercise: Part 2

2006-01-26T16:07:00.000-08:00

Whew!! Took a while for me to get back on, but here is the After part.

AFTER:

Since 11/28/05 I've lost 4 lbs!!
2 of those lbs were lost between 1/11 and 1/20!!
I don't get dizzy bending down.
I looooooovvvvveeeeee yogurt now!
Headaches? What headaches?
I CAN TOUCH MY TOES!!
I go to Curves Monday to Friday, rain or shine (or ice)
I can do 15 crunches without my back hurting!
I am constantly moving around.
I can finally dance with my daughter without loosing my breath!
I discovered that I like exercising.
I have ENERGY!!
My husband has noticed the small differences! ;)

AND

I FEEL SOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER ABOUT MYSELF AND WHAT I CAN ACCOMPLISH!

If only I can apply this newfound energy to my home business, then we really will be rockin!! But that's a whole 'nother story, another day, another time.

Now comes the hard part: eating right, watching calories, and keep melting away the fat, and keep it away!!

I have to make dinner now for the kids.

I feel like shouting to the whole world that I feel good!! OK then:

I FEEL GOOD!!!

Before and After Exercise

2006-01-25T15:44:00.000-08:00

Ok I think I have enough time before the scheduled outage here.

Before Exercise:

I got winded doing a load of laundry.
Getting in and out of the car both winded me and made me dizzy.
Going up stairs took my breath away.
I couldn't touch my toes.
I couldn't bend down without getting dizzy.
I had waaaaayyy too many migranes.
I ate lots of junk food.
I was a size 14.
I weighed 185lbs.
I slept a lot.
I ate lots of chocolate.
I never ate at home.
I was addicted to diet sodas and Carl's JR.
I was also addicted to McDonald's and BK.
I had to super size everything when possible.
I would eat like I was starving.
I was a couch potato.
I stayed at home and never went anywhere w/out my entire family.
I was sick 350 days of the year.
A cold would last three months.
The cough would last twice as long.

Dare I go on?

The Weight Loss Journey is HARD!!

2006-01-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

I found this great arcticle on www.internetbasedmoms.com. There's a section where people post thier free reprint arcticles.

Make A Weight-Loss New Year’s Resolution And Stick With It All Year Long Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions each year. We all start with great intentions but after a few weeks, we fall back into our usual unhealthy lifestyle and the weight we did lose creeps back on. Let’s take a look at what steps to take to make sure we still stick to our weight-loss resolution at the end of December. Determine your “Why” and write it down. Think about the reason why you want to loose weight. Is it to look better in a bathing suit for that vacation in July? Is it to be healthier and get your risk for heart disease and diabetes down? Do you want to be able to enjoy a more active lifestyle? Do you want more energy to play catch with the kids? Be as specific as possible. Now take out a sheet of paper and write down your big “Why”. Set and write down sensible weight-loss goals. The next important tip to being able to stick to your weight-loss goal is to set a sensible goal to begin with. You shouldn’t expect yourself to loose more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. Look for a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator online to help you determine whether you are underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. The higher your BMI, the more weight you can expect to lose in the long run. If you are in the normal range, but feel that you should lose weight, you may not want to aim for more than 5 pounds. On the other hand, if you are obese, than losing 50 pounds this year may be a good goal for you. I would also like to encourage you to consult with your physician before starting any weight loss program. He or she can give you an even better idea on a good goal for you. Make a plan you can stick with all year long. You know yourself better than just about anyone else. Most likely you’ve been on a diet or two (or more). So you already know what doesn’t work for you. You’ll be most likely to stick with something common sense making small changes that you can live with from here on. Eat healthier and consume fewer calories, but also get more active. Set small goals along the way. Look at where you are at now and at your goal for the end of the year. Now break it down into several small goals. You want to break your weight loss journey down into small chunks that seem more attainable. Focus on the first “mini” goal until you reach it and then move on to the next one. Keep track of your progress. Keep a journal and record what you eat and how active you are during the day. If you chase the kids around the yard for 20 minutes, record it. Writing these things down builds accountability. You’ll find yourself thinking, “If I eat that cookie, I’ll have to write it down. I better skip it”. Or if you haven’t been a couch potato all day, you may be motivated to take a quick walk around the block so you can jot it down in your journal. Celebrate each small goal. Remember those small goals you planed out? Make sure you celebrate each goal you reach – but not with food. Reward yourself with a new blouse, a manicure, or a good book. Pick something you truly enjoy. This will build some positive reinforcement that will keep you going until you reach the next goal. Keep your “Why” in mind. Don’t loose track of the big picture. Remind yourself daily of your big “Why”, the reason why you want to lose weight. Keep the sheet of paper with your reason for losing weight close by and read it every morning or every evening. This is another big motivator to keep you going all year. Losing weight can seem like a daunting task, especially if you have a fair amount to lose and you are just starting out. Don’t let it intimidate you though. Take it one step and one pound at a time. Before you know it, it will be the December and you will be 5, 10 or 50 pounds lighter. I know you can do it! Susanne Myers invites you to discover a healthier you. Think healthy cooking is hard? Or expensive? Think again. The Healthy Menu mailer makes it easy by providing you with a week's worth of healthy dinner recipes and the grocery list to go along. To find out how you can save time and money and still fix delicious and nutritious meals visit http://www.healthymenumailer.com

It's too true. As long as I am reminding myself why I want to loose weight, then I can keep my schedule. My "why"- I want to be able to keep up with my kids, and fit back into all my clothes again!!

On another note:
A pal of mine who goes to Curves also decided that we should go for hikes after our workout. I think we will do it Monday's and Wednesday's. I'm proud of being a Curves member!! Since I had been an exercise-a-phobic, this change is dramatic for me. But it's been well worth it. Not much in my life has changed. The only changes have been adding exercise to the day, and cutting down the amount of sugary foods and corn tortilla's, and adding more fruits and veggies. You may say that's alot, but it doesn't seem like it. But like I said before, it's been well worth it!! I starte Curves on 11/28/05, weighing 185 lbs (ouch!). Between then and 1/11/06 I lost two pounds!! Then I weighed myself today, and I have lost another 2 lbs!!!! I now weigh 181!! OOOHHH, but it feels AWESOME!

More to come next week. See ya!

Too much to do!

2006-01-18T17:33:00.000-08:00

Wow! The last few days have been hectic. It actually is harder than I thought to try and stick to a "diet." I workout at Curves. They have a suggested diet to follow that works with your eating habits and workout. I took a test to determine which diet I should follow. There are three parts to the test. In the first, I had to check off symptoms that I experience on a regular basis, such as nervousness, fatigue, depression, headaches, and cravings for starch and sugar rich foods. There was a total of 20 symptoms, and I hit on 17. That was a test of symtoms of carbohydrate intolerance. The second test is a total of 8 statments. I checked of 5 of them, one including "you are more than 25 pounds overweight." OOOOHHHH is that ever true!! I am actually 50 lbs overweight for my age and height. I am 5'3", under 30 years old, therefore I should be an ideal 130lbs. Not the case at all. The last test did not apply to me. It was for people who didn't answer any statements of the second.

Based on the results, I should be on a high protein diet. I will go over that in another posting. Right now, my kids need to eat, so I will go make them food.

Welcome!!

2006-01-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

HI and Welcome to my first post- the first of many to come!!

You ask- "What do you mean by Health and Wellness?"

Answer- You are concerned about your health, are you not? Nearly everybody in the world is concerned to a degree, some more than others. Let's face it- your health is important to you. Without good health, you would not be able to do many of the things that you currently do, i.e. exercising, working, and basically enjoying life. Your Wellness plays a part of your health. Total wellness is achieving success in four different areas of your life- Physical wellness, Financial wellness, Environmental wellness, and Personal wellness.

The Four Areas of Wellness

1. Physical Wellness:

My making sure you are well physically,

you are ensuring that you will live a longer, healthier life.

2. Financial Wellness

This is where you make sure that your financial future is safe,

and that you are completely debt free.

3. Environmental Wellness

Your home and work environment play a humongous part in your health.

Clean out your home and office, use less chemically deriven products,

and give back to the environment.

You are not the only one who lives on this planet (but you already knew that!).

4. Personal Wellness

You want to achieve total balance, freedom, and peace of mind

in your personal and family life.

By working in all four areas of wellness,

you

CAN ACHIEVE

TOTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS!!

In the future, this blog will contain links to point you in the right direction, arcticles on how you can achieve such total wellness, and much, much more!!

Watch for weekly and monthly updates.

In the next blog:

Start your year off by successfully exercising and eating right, and loosing excess weight.

I'll show you what I personally am doing on my own weight loss journey, and I'll have links for you where you can find weight loss recipes, places to workout, and where I found other helpful tips to succeed. See you then!!