Check out this article from HealthDay Reporter via Yahoo News. Apparently the more excess weight a woman who is past menopause carries, the worse her memory is. Just one more reason to get the weight off. Looks like I have a few years yet before this particular side effect hits. Because 39 years ago today my mother gave birth to a baby with such chubby cheeks that all the orderlies in the hospital called her "Chipmunk", and that would be me!
And by the way, I'm closing in on one month sugar-free. I've only lost a few pounds but I still feel so much better; it's totally worth it.
Have a fab day, everybody.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sugar-Free Me
Hello again, peeps. Hope all my U.S. readers had a fun and safe 4th of July weekend. I know I did! We spent Saturday with family who lives on a lake. There was lots of good company and fun in the sun.
I know I've been MIA for a while. I have had no energy for what seems like months. And my weight-loss efforts have been just about nil for several weeks, maybe two or three months. I've been coming to terms with the fact that while my health is good, for several reasons I am heavily predisposed to developing diabetes. And with my weight slowly creeping up again and my 39th birthday on the horizon, I knew it was time to make some serious decisions about doing what I can to avoid this disease.
So after doing some research, talking to my doctor and saying goodbye to white bread and refined sugar, I've gone sugar-free and low-carbohydrate. I'm 14 days in to this new way of eating, and I'm still alive. Who knew?
With the exception of yesterday and today, because I've experienced some challenges while travelling over the holiday weekend and have been very tired because of not sticking to the food-plan... except for the last couple days I have felt great! I've had no cravings, and so much more energy. I wake up before my alarm clock goes off and am ready for my day. I don't have energy highs and lows. I no longer get sleepy mid-afternoon; I just start getting a little tired in the early evening and become steadily more tired until bedtime.
I've avoided bread, potatoes, pasta and rice. I'm eating alot more salad and vegetables. I've fallen in love with raw zucchini, which is much better than the way I've always had it, cooked. It has a fresh, delicate flavor and if my stomach is upset, raw zucchini is just the ticket to soothe it... way better than saltines, and I never would have discovered that if I hadn't turned over my new sugar-free, low-carb leaf.
Besides the zucchini, I've found some other good substitutions. Many low-carb websites recommend using portobella mushroom caps as a base for pizza, so I gave it a try. I used a very low-sugar pizza sauce, turkey pepperoni and some mozzarella on the olive-oil brushed bella cap, and it was fab! Not quite the finger food that pizza on a crust is, but I eat my pizza with a fork anyway. And I've rediscovered the peppery crunch of celery sticks, and the mild sweetness of raw broccoli. Much better than cooked broccoli!
So that's where I'm at and what I'm doing. I've lost a few pounds but it's probably just water-weight. I'm thinking this week I may put my new found energy to work at the gym. We'll see.
Have a fab week!
I know I've been MIA for a while. I have had no energy for what seems like months. And my weight-loss efforts have been just about nil for several weeks, maybe two or three months. I've been coming to terms with the fact that while my health is good, for several reasons I am heavily predisposed to developing diabetes. And with my weight slowly creeping up again and my 39th birthday on the horizon, I knew it was time to make some serious decisions about doing what I can to avoid this disease.
So after doing some research, talking to my doctor and saying goodbye to white bread and refined sugar, I've gone sugar-free and low-carbohydrate. I'm 14 days in to this new way of eating, and I'm still alive. Who knew?
With the exception of yesterday and today, because I've experienced some challenges while travelling over the holiday weekend and have been very tired because of not sticking to the food-plan... except for the last couple days I have felt great! I've had no cravings, and so much more energy. I wake up before my alarm clock goes off and am ready for my day. I don't have energy highs and lows. I no longer get sleepy mid-afternoon; I just start getting a little tired in the early evening and become steadily more tired until bedtime.
I've avoided bread, potatoes, pasta and rice. I'm eating alot more salad and vegetables. I've fallen in love with raw zucchini, which is much better than the way I've always had it, cooked. It has a fresh, delicate flavor and if my stomach is upset, raw zucchini is just the ticket to soothe it... way better than saltines, and I never would have discovered that if I hadn't turned over my new sugar-free, low-carb leaf.
Besides the zucchini, I've found some other good substitutions. Many low-carb websites recommend using portobella mushroom caps as a base for pizza, so I gave it a try. I used a very low-sugar pizza sauce, turkey pepperoni and some mozzarella on the olive-oil brushed bella cap, and it was fab! Not quite the finger food that pizza on a crust is, but I eat my pizza with a fork anyway. And I've rediscovered the peppery crunch of celery sticks, and the mild sweetness of raw broccoli. Much better than cooked broccoli!
So that's where I'm at and what I'm doing. I've lost a few pounds but it's probably just water-weight. I'm thinking this week I may put my new found energy to work at the gym. We'll see.
Have a fab week!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
It's A Rough Day For Wildlife In These Parts
First a baby bird falls out of its nest onto our deck, and then a snake gets caught in the bird-netting on our strawberries. The baby bird actually fell out of the nest while I was on the deck. Mama followed it down and they chatted for a bit until she flew off. I retreated so as not to disturb them. She seems to be keeping an eye on him; I hope she can keep him safe from the neighborhood cats and from the old owl until he can fly.
Just a little bit ago J asked if I wanted to see a snake and showed me this guy, who at the time was caught in the netting over our strawberries.
When I said I would help get him out of the netting, I didn't realize he was over three feet long... but we got him loose without any incidents, and set him free by the barn. And I put the netting away; the berries are done for the year; no need to risk more animals getting hung up in that stuff. I hope the snake manages to steer clear of the owl, too. I love the owl, but I'd just prefer he not snack on these two particular critters. They've had a rough day.
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