ten pounds!

I have gained ten pounds since the last time I weighed.  I'm not sure what that time period is, but only a few months, I think.

This gain puts me over my upper limit.  I allow myself some fluctuation room, but this puts me over the top of what is acceptable!

I know exactly how it happened, too.  This summer I have been eating just about anything I want.  And here's what I've discovered happens when I do that:

I become insatiable.  I just eat and eat and eat.  When I am avoiding the foods I know I should, I can eat a reasonable amount and then be satisfied.  But not true when I am eating the things that my body can't handle.

I gain weight!

I fall asleep every afternoon.

I have worse PMS symptoms - the emotional symptoms.

I am more depressed.

My body hurts worse.

I have heart palpitations.

My stomach bothers me a lot.

So... I am back off the sugar and yeast and chocolate and will soon also go off the wheat and egg yolks and everything else that I am sensitive to.

I am going to do a cleanse.  I will pick it up from the store tomorrow.  It is a short one, but a good start, I think.  I will also start drinking lemon juice in a big glass of water each morning, dry brushing my skin, and taking salt baths.  If the rec center has a sauna, I may go spend some time there.

After that, I may do a more intensive yeast cleanse.  That would take several months and exclude fruit, honey, potatoes, etc.  Maybe after Christmas?  What's Thanksgiving and Christmas without mashed potatoes?!  Meanwhile, I will be avoiding all of the things that are bad for me.

I have to get my mind back in the right place, too.  I have to stop allowing myself to feel deprived because of all the things I can't eat.  

So, I know that Mel and Julie both are working on this.  Let's all encourage one another.  It is difficult.  I really would love to eat a pie right now!  LOL  But I am fed up with feeling so lousy!  And I want my pants to fit again!

Cancer prevention

Beans- may prevent colorectal cancer.

Berries - may prevent skin, bladder, lung, esophageal, colorectal, and breast cancers.

Cruciferous vegetables - may prevent many types of cancer.

Dark leafy greens - may prevent mouth, pharynx, larynx, stomach, breast, skin, and lung cancers.

Flaxseed - may prevent colon, breast, skin, and lung cancers.

Garlic (and other allium vegetables such as onions, scallions, leeks, and chives) - may prevent stomach, colon, prostate, bladder, skin, lung, esophageal, and breast cancers.

Green tea - may prevent colon, liver, breast, prostate, lung, skin, bladder, stomach, pancreas, and esophageal cancers.

Pomegranates - may prevent prostate, lung, skin and colon cancers.

Red and purple grapes - may prevent lymph, liver, stomach, skin, breast, and leukemia cancers.

Soybeans - may prevent breast and prostate cancers.

Tomatoes - may prevent prostate, breast, lung and endometrial cancers.

Whole grains - may prevent colorectal cancers.

This information came from Delicious Living magazine.

More good reasons to get our fruits and veggies!!

caffeine

Coffee, Coke, Tea... what's your poison?

I personally have almost zero tolerance for caffeine anymore.  But I read an interesting article and want to pass on what I learned.

Coffee itself contains more antioxidants than other beverages.  It can possibly lower the risks of liver cancer and type 2 diabetes, whether it is caffeinated or not.  Caffeinated coffee may reduce incidence of gallstones and lower the risk of Parkinson's.

Caffeine in any form can improve focus, memory, reduce fatigue, and possibly stave off Alzheimer's.  There are a lot of claims as to the benefits of caffeine.

So enjoy your daily cuppa whatever and don't feel guilty about it.  

But we do need to remember that caffeine is a drug.  You need to decide how much you are willing to be controlled by that substance.  If you can't say no - then it is controlling you.

The article I read suggests that if you need the caffeine to function then you likely have an underlying problem that should be addressed.  Poor sleep, bad diet or perhaps a thyroid or other metabolic problem.

It is recommended that you take breaks from your caffeine habit on a regular basis.  Cut back gradually and eat a more alkaline diet, which would be more fruits and veggies and less carbs, cheese and meat.  Increase your vitamin C, B complex,  and calcium and magnesium to help you through the process of quitting.

Like every good thing, we need to maintain moderation.  So enjoy your coffee, coke, tea, or whatever, but you be the one in charge.