I have done such a good job with my eating habits this week and my exercise and find myself not feeling well tonight. Eat right, exercise and get sick. That's just not fair is it?
125 though. Sleeping well. I started a contest with my husband this week, to see who can lose the most weight (percentage) before my high school reunion. Ok, so it's early, but I'm winning! :) He already looks fantastic though, so I'm sure he's just trying to motivate me. And boy do I need motivating!
I just finished reading this month's LifeExtension magazine. A lot of the material is over my head, but I am so intrigued by it that I just keep reading. I figure that one day it will sink in and I will health-smart. I would love to go back to school for a Master's in Health and Nutrition. First things first though, get my own health back on track. I'm having my blood panels done this Saturday. Hopefully it won't take too long to get the results.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Article- Crave Man in The Washington Post
My brother-in-law has a link to this article on his Facebook profile. It's a a good read. I have cut and pasted what I thought were the most critical insights...
Crave Man
David Kessler Knew That Some Foods Are Hard to Resist; Now He Knows Why
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 27, 2009
His resulting theory, described in his new book, "The End of Overeating," is startling. Foods high in fat, salt and sugar alter the brain's chemistry in ways that compel people to overeat. "Much of the scientific research around overeating has been physiology -- what's going on in our body," he said. "The real question is what's going on in our brain."... Instead of satisfying hunger, the salt-fat-sugar combination will stimulate that diner's brain to crave more, Kessler said. ...And the food industry manipulates this neurological response, designing foods to induce people to eat more than they should or even want, Kessler found. ...His theory, born out in a growing body of scientific research, has implications not just for the increasing number of Americans struggling with obesity but for health providers and policymakers. ..."The challenge is how do we explain to America what's going on -- how do we break through and help people understand how their brains have been captured?" he said. ...Now I know, we have the science that shows, we're eating to stimulate ourselves...."Highly palatable" foods -- those containing fat, sugar and salt -- stimulate the brain to release dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with the pleasure center, he found. In time, the brain gets wired so that dopamine pathways light up at the mere suggestion of the food, such as driving past a fast-food restaurant, and the urge to eat the food grows insistent. Once the food is eaten, the brain releases opioids, which bring emotional relief. Together, dopamine and opioids create a pathway that can activate every time a person is reminded about the particular food. This happens regardless of whether the person is hungry....Not everyone is vulnerable to "conditioned overeating" -- Kessler estimates that about 15 percent of the population is not affected and says more research is needed to understand what makes them immune..Deprivation only heightens the way the brain values the food, which is why dieting doesn't work, he said. ..
Kessler is best remembered for his investigation of the tobacco industry and attempts to place it under federal regulation while he was FDA commissioner from 1990 to 1997. David Kessler researched part of "The End of Overeating" by diving into dumpsters behind restaurants to look for the nutritional labels of menu items high in fat, salt and sugar. (By Eric Risberg -- Associated Press) "My weight was yo-yoing all the time," said Kessler, who estimates that 70 million Americans struggle with conditioned hyper-eating. "And I never understood why."
Crave Man
David Kessler Knew That Some Foods Are Hard to Resist; Now He Knows Why
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 27, 2009
His resulting theory, described in his new book, "The End of Overeating," is startling. Foods high in fat, salt and sugar alter the brain's chemistry in ways that compel people to overeat. "Much of the scientific research around overeating has been physiology -- what's going on in our body," he said. "The real question is what's going on in our brain."... Instead of satisfying hunger, the salt-fat-sugar combination will stimulate that diner's brain to crave more, Kessler said. ...And the food industry manipulates this neurological response, designing foods to induce people to eat more than they should or even want, Kessler found. ...His theory, born out in a growing body of scientific research, has implications not just for the increasing number of Americans struggling with obesity but for health providers and policymakers. ..."The challenge is how do we explain to America what's going on -- how do we break through and help people understand how their brains have been captured?" he said. ...Now I know, we have the science that shows, we're eating to stimulate ourselves...."Highly palatable" foods -- those containing fat, sugar and salt -- stimulate the brain to release dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with the pleasure center, he found. In time, the brain gets wired so that dopamine pathways light up at the mere suggestion of the food, such as driving past a fast-food restaurant, and the urge to eat the food grows insistent. Once the food is eaten, the brain releases opioids, which bring emotional relief. Together, dopamine and opioids create a pathway that can activate every time a person is reminded about the particular food. This happens regardless of whether the person is hungry....Not everyone is vulnerable to "conditioned overeating" -- Kessler estimates that about 15 percent of the population is not affected and says more research is needed to understand what makes them immune..Deprivation only heightens the way the brain values the food, which is why dieting doesn't work, he said. ..
Kessler is best remembered for his investigation of the tobacco industry and attempts to place it under federal regulation while he was FDA commissioner from 1990 to 1997. David Kessler researched part of "The End of Overeating" by diving into dumpsters behind restaurants to look for the nutritional labels of menu items high in fat, salt and sugar. (By Eric Risberg -- Associated Press) "My weight was yo-yoing all the time," said Kessler, who estimates that 70 million Americans struggle with conditioned hyper-eating. "And I never understood why."
Monday, April 27, 2009
Better to go slow, than not to go at all...right?
125.6 this morning. So in keeping with my Monday goal I set out to do 2 of 3: run faster, longer, farther.
I did none. Sigh. But at least I went. Not including warm-up, stretching and cool down. I did a run/walk interval of 5 mins run/ 2 mins walk and went 2 miles in 25 mins and 46 seconds. Awful, nearly 13 mins to each mile. Turtle power.
Slept 7.5 hrs, not great eating today. Waited til nearly 11:30 to eat anything, but had a 'Health Nut' smoothie from TSC (mango, blueberry, banana, almonds, and whey). Nothing else to eat, went on the run about 3pm.
Read about HGH (Human Growth Hormone) today in 'Ageless' by Suzanne. "...a protein hormone released by the pituitary gland in the brain. It is responsible for telling our bodies to grow cells, bones, organs, and muscles and is beneficial to the brain, cardiovascular system, the immune system, aerobic capacity, body composition...enters our bloodstream in bursts during sleep, particularly after midnight...heads to liver where it is converted into insulin growth factor...primarily responsible for the growth and regeneration of every cell in our bodies...symptoms of deficiency include: thinning , sagging wrinkling skin, thinning bones, loss of muscle strength, accumulation of fat tissue, decreased heart function, lowered immunity, thinning hair, loss of libido, decreased stamina and vigor, depression, anxiety, fatigue..
blankety-blank hormones@#%!
I did none. Sigh. But at least I went. Not including warm-up, stretching and cool down. I did a run/walk interval of 5 mins run/ 2 mins walk and went 2 miles in 25 mins and 46 seconds. Awful, nearly 13 mins to each mile. Turtle power.
Slept 7.5 hrs, not great eating today. Waited til nearly 11:30 to eat anything, but had a 'Health Nut' smoothie from TSC (mango, blueberry, banana, almonds, and whey). Nothing else to eat, went on the run about 3pm.
Read about HGH (Human Growth Hormone) today in 'Ageless' by Suzanne. "...a protein hormone released by the pituitary gland in the brain. It is responsible for telling our bodies to grow cells, bones, organs, and muscles and is beneficial to the brain, cardiovascular system, the immune system, aerobic capacity, body composition...enters our bloodstream in bursts during sleep, particularly after midnight...heads to liver where it is converted into insulin growth factor...primarily responsible for the growth and regeneration of every cell in our bodies...symptoms of deficiency include: thinning , sagging wrinkling skin, thinning bones, loss of muscle strength, accumulation of fat tissue, decreased heart function, lowered immunity, thinning hair, loss of libido, decreased stamina and vigor, depression, anxiety, fatigue..
blankety-blank hormones@#%!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
From Real Age~ The Camera Phone Diet
Could your camera phone help you lose weight? One study seems to suggest so.
When people in a small study snapped a picture of everything they ate for 1 week, something interesting happened. They took better stock of their meals -- and ate less or ate more healthfully because of it.
Snap Your Way to Slimmer Hips
Just think of it as a digital version of a food diary -- but better -- because it forces you to think about what you’re eating before you put it in your mouth, instead of after. With written food diaries, it’s too late -- people log their choices after the fact.
oooh, should I try it?
When people in a small study snapped a picture of everything they ate for 1 week, something interesting happened. They took better stock of their meals -- and ate less or ate more healthfully because of it.
Snap Your Way to Slimmer Hips
Just think of it as a digital version of a food diary -- but better -- because it forces you to think about what you’re eating before you put it in your mouth, instead of after. With written food diaries, it’s too late -- people log their choices after the fact.
oooh, should I try it?
Much too little to be this big.
That's my Weird 'Sherry' (instead of Al) version of Garth's' Much Too Young (to feel this d*** old)'
5 ft 3/4 inches. 126.6 lbs. There. Now I've said it. I was about a buck.five when I got married at 21. My most consistent non-pregnancy weight (reminding reader that I've had 5 babies) has been about 110....up until the birth of the last child (who is now 5 1/2). Postpartum, crazy hormones, rx drugs to control it and birth control and now fat follows me around like a lost puppy.
My 20 year HS reunion is this summer and I declared to my sweetheart that those folds in my back have gotta go. Really. Especially since last spring he has lost 40 lbs and developed a consistent exercise schedule and he looks really hot. I can't have him hangin' around little miss not.
Today he has made up a spread-sheet and challenged me to a contest to lose the weight. Oh my. Here goes. (So vamanos lost puppy.) I also got my blood work orders from Life Extension in over the weekend, so I hope to get that done this week.
5 ft 3/4 inches. 126.6 lbs. There. Now I've said it. I was about a buck.five when I got married at 21. My most consistent non-pregnancy weight (reminding reader that I've had 5 babies) has been about 110....up until the birth of the last child (who is now 5 1/2). Postpartum, crazy hormones, rx drugs to control it and birth control and now fat follows me around like a lost puppy.
My 20 year HS reunion is this summer and I declared to my sweetheart that those folds in my back have gotta go. Really. Especially since last spring he has lost 40 lbs and developed a consistent exercise schedule and he looks really hot. I can't have him hangin' around little miss not.
Today he has made up a spread-sheet and challenged me to a contest to lose the weight. Oh my. Here goes. (So vamanos lost puppy.) I also got my blood work orders from Life Extension in over the weekend, so I hope to get that done this week.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
It's a new, beautiful, day!
So I don't know what happened yesterday, but I spent all of it dragging. Had 7.5 hours of sleep last night, woke up at 7:30 this morning and felt good. Had a 100 calorie 'Designer Whey' protein shake, waited awhile, did some stretching, laced up the running shoes and ventured out into the Florida sunshine for some vitamin D, fresh air, and some exercise. Spent 45 minutes on brisk walk/running 3.59 miles. Ran a distance of 1.51 for 17 minutes of it. Not too bad considering it's been probably a month since I last hit the pavement with probably a couple of months off before that. I need consistent good feeling days to keep up a consistent exercise schedule. I'm signed up to run a 5K with my daughter for 'Girls On The Run' in a couple of weeks. So I need to step up to the plate! Goal~ Monday: Do 2 of the 3, run longer, faster, farther. :)
Thanks to David Cook for todays 'accompaniment' on the walk/run. And thanks to my husband for unknowingly (yet) sharing his 'Endurox R4' recovery drink. Yummy.
Thanks to David Cook for todays 'accompaniment' on the walk/run. And thanks to my husband for unknowingly (yet) sharing his 'Endurox R4' recovery drink. Yummy.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Dragging
Had a few nights this week that took me a couple of hours to drift off. Last night I tried to prepare for sleep earlier, added a cup of chamomile tea, and an herbal sleep aid supplement that contains valerian extract, calcium, chamomile flower, blueberry fruit extract, hops flowers extract, and passion flower. I took it while my husband was on his way home from a ball game, knowing he would shower when he got in and that we would watch, 'The Office' using the dvr in hopes that it would go to work and have me drifting off right after the show. Well my efforts went to work too early so that by the time he was done showering I was drifting off. Slept great all night and now so far in this day I'm dragging, after a great night of sleep starting about 10:30 and waking at 6:30ish- 8 good hours. What's up with that? Had a good breakfast, drank lots of water, took my vitamins, have been out in the sunshine, volunteered at the elementary school. Sigh. And the bottom eye-lid of my right eye has been twitching on and off for about a month, really ON today.
Can't wait to get the orders from Life Extension for that blood work...to see any deficiencies and especially checking those hormone levels.
Can't wait to get the orders from Life Extension for that blood work...to see any deficiencies and especially checking those hormone levels.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
I'm following Suzanne Somers on Twitter now
Started following her yesterday and tweeted her letting her know I had read Breakthrough and now reading Ageless, and that I ordered blood work through Life Extension. Then Tweeted again because I'd love to see her write a book to encourage kids to eat healthier, help them understand why it is so important. I can tell my kids that doritos are just putting a bunch of chemicals into their bodies and fruit or some nuts would be a better choice. and they look at me like with their "like I care" face on. But if I could explain to them on their level what was happening in their bodies and the impact those chemicals from the doritos have. It may not make them want to stop eating them right then, but the knowledge would stay with them, especially as I continue to reinforce the teaching.
Anyways, best news is that I woke up today and had an email in my inbox saying that Suzanne is now following ME on Twitter. How cool is that???
What I did for my health today... took my multi-vitamin, Omegas, a good liquid sub-lingual b complex, some acai, drank lots of water and some orange juice. I'm going to exercise, brisk walking and a little bit of running for at least 30 mins.
Anyways, best news is that I woke up today and had an email in my inbox saying that Suzanne is now following ME on Twitter. How cool is that???
What I did for my health today... took my multi-vitamin, Omegas, a good liquid sub-lingual b complex, some acai, drank lots of water and some orange juice. I'm going to exercise, brisk walking and a little bit of running for at least 30 mins.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sleep and Cortisol
Cortisol is one of the major hormones of the body. Many hormones are made in various places in the body. Cortisol is one of the ones that is only made in the adrenal glands. An adrenal gland curves over the top of each kidney. Cortisol helps give you energy. It also goes to work in a fight or flight situation. The body will secrete excesses of cortisol in situations of stress. Cortisol is directly connected also with sleep. Excess levels keep you from a good night of sleep. Cortisol also reacts to light. The body secretes higher amounts during waking hours, lower amounts in dark. There is a cortisol connection in gaining weight. Higher levels make you insulin-resistant so that your body converts sugars and carbs into fat instead of burning it as fuel.
Stress management becomes very important when understood in this "light" (ha ha). I checked my room and found that I had about 20 little lights. Camera and phone chargers, computer lights, tv lights, printer lights, not to mention the digital clock lights (and I can't live without being able to see the time if I wake up). Just little lights, but I believe enough to effect my sleep. There was a study done, mentioned in the Breakthrough book, a sleep study where a small pen light was put on the backs of the knees of some of the patients in the study. Cortisol levels rose significantly higher in those patients. Interesting and something easy to fix. I put black electric tape (one of Suzanne's suggestions) on many/most of my little lights and I really swear I sleep better.
Stress management becomes very important when understood in this "light" (ha ha). I checked my room and found that I had about 20 little lights. Camera and phone chargers, computer lights, tv lights, printer lights, not to mention the digital clock lights (and I can't live without being able to see the time if I wake up). Just little lights, but I believe enough to effect my sleep. There was a study done, mentioned in the Breakthrough book, a sleep study where a small pen light was put on the backs of the knees of some of the patients in the study. Cortisol levels rose significantly higher in those patients. Interesting and something easy to fix. I put black electric tape (one of Suzanne's suggestions) on many/most of my little lights and I really swear I sleep better.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Fatigue
It's been a month and 2 days since I had the mirena IUD removed after having it for over 5 years, nursing a newborn 3 months prior, and of course 9 months spent pregnant. Since the mirena IUD takes away a woman's normal 'cycle', it has been quite a while since my body did its own normal functioning. 6 weeks ago I could hardly stay awake through the day, when awake I was dragging so much, I was miserable. Doing nothing different but removing the mirena has me feeling so much better and I can stay awake all day.
From Dr. Michael Galitzer from Breakthrough answering Suzanne Somer's question: Why is everybody so tired?
MG: I think it's a combination of lifestyle, unhealthy nutrition, toxicity in the environment (or in my case an instrument altering the function of my body), and a lack of understanding of how to get rid of these toxins. The liver, kidney, and lymph systems are the organs of elimination. These organs get rid of the toxins. When they are overwhelmed they put in a call to the hormonal systems: adrenals, thyroid, etc. Hormones aid the liver, kidney, and lymph systems, but eventually the glands that secrete these hormones get tired, and at that point you've got a toxic person with tired hormonal glands, which are the setup for being fatigued and not feeling well. People are on the go all the time.........(people are consuming) too much coffee, and alcohol, too many soft drinks, too much sugar, not enough water. Add to this mix that people are not taking enough vitamins and supplements, and when you put it all together this person does not feel "well".
From Dr. Michael Galitzer from Breakthrough answering Suzanne Somer's question: Why is everybody so tired?
MG: I think it's a combination of lifestyle, unhealthy nutrition, toxicity in the environment (or in my case an instrument altering the function of my body), and a lack of understanding of how to get rid of these toxins. The liver, kidney, and lymph systems are the organs of elimination. These organs get rid of the toxins. When they are overwhelmed they put in a call to the hormonal systems: adrenals, thyroid, etc. Hormones aid the liver, kidney, and lymph systems, but eventually the glands that secrete these hormones get tired, and at that point you've got a toxic person with tired hormonal glands, which are the setup for being fatigued and not feeling well. People are on the go all the time.........(people are consuming) too much coffee, and alcohol, too many soft drinks, too much sugar, not enough water. Add to this mix that people are not taking enough vitamins and supplements, and when you put it all together this person does not feel "well".
Monday, April 20, 2009
Life Extension
After reading Breakthrough by Suzanne Somers I joined Life Extension and now receive their monthly magazine full of articles by cutting-edge doctors and the latest on health and nutrition. I love it. I am taking advantage of the Blood testing sale they have going on now through June 1st. I ordered their Female Life Extension Panel and Female Hormone Add-on panel today and for the first time in my life I can't wait to go get my blood drawn.
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