Where I've Been: Recovery and Repair

On morning after my last post in September, my toddler son's stomach began churning.

At first, it seemed nothing more than an upset stomach. By the late afternoon, as his vomiting increased in frequency to every ten minutes, I knew we had a problem. Since the clinic was already closed, off to the ER we went.

Although his stomach soothed for a while, things went from bad to worse in my house.

Accurate self-portrait of my 5 year-old for about five days.
 



My husband, my five year-old, and the little one were all stricken with sickness over that weekend. My husband was better within a few days, but the boys fought the stomach flu for the next week. They couldn't keep anything down. I think I was washing three loads of sheets, clothes, and pajamas every day.  I was constantly changing my shirt as my little one got sick on me. Blogging about food was the furthest from my mind.

The next few weeks were all about recovering, both my sanity and my home.

Then, our neighbors put their house on the market.  I told my husband by telling him one day that our lack of maintenance on the exterior of our home would likely drop their selling price. He immediately cleaned up the front and back yards. We started scraping, priming, and painting trim. I worked my way to peeling off loose paint on the rest of the house and touching up the siding. My husband peeled of the frayed carpet on our porch. He replaced our front door. We started spending half a day each week in Menards, buying supplies and planning our next project. Last weekend, Mike built new columns and a friend helped him replace the ugly wrought supports on our porch.

We have been busy.

Before and during.
Ignore my crooked camera shots.

So now that my work outside is done for a while and my family is healthy [fingers crossed], I'm going to do my best to get back blogging again.  Thanks for bearing with me.

My Affordable Health Care Reform

Today is a big day for healthcare in this country.

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled the Affordable Health Care Act is constitutional.  Whether they are for or against "Obamacare," nearly everyone can recognize that healthcare in our country will change as a result of the ruling today.

It is also a big day for me.

For the first time, I am posting my "before and after" pictures on my blog.  Actually, they are both "during and during," since I still want to lose another 38 lbs. and I actually started at 212 lbs. 

(My highest weight was 242 lbs., my weight immediately before birthing my son last July.  I lost 30 lbs. by the time I came home from the hospital three days later.)

The first picture is of me at 192 lbs., right before I started following the Forks Over Knivesdiet (similar to the The Engine 2 Dietand Dr. McDougall's The Starch Solution).  I had already lost 20 lbs. from August 2011 to January 2012, but I hit a plateau and lost my resolve to lose weight.  I was eating lots of protein (thinking I must to lose weight), fruits, and vegetables.

The second picture is of me a few days ago.  I hit 173 lbs., nearly 20 lbs. lost from February when I began a vegan plant-based diet. 

I'm not vegan 100% of the time, but I try to eat lots of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and soy products a few times a week.  About once a month, I eat beef and twice a month, I eat chicken.  I eat dairy products a few times a month.

I still have a long way to go, but it is great to see the changes in my body.  By reducing 10% of my body weight, I have

• Reduced my LDL ["bad"] cholesterol
• Improved my glucose tolerance
• Lowered my risk for cardiovascular disease
• Increased my energy level
• Reduced my risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Further, by losing 10% at a slower pace, the weight is more likely to stay off since it is a result of my lifestyle change, not a crash diet.  (WebMD)

The greatest health reform that I can see is in the mirror.

I'm almost finished with the recipe for Spicy Black Bean Quinoa!  Check back today and tomorrow for this versatile gluten-free, dairy-free dish!

First Pick of Our Garden

I'm a backyard farmer.

I started a few years after my husband and I married.  Our lawn in Northwest Missouri was filled with weeds.  It didn't seem like we could ever grow grass.  Fed up, I decided we should plow up an 8' x 8' section to make a vegetable garden.  It wasn't terribly productive, but it was a start.

After we moved from Missouri back home to Nebraska, my vegetable garden has evolved, somewhat.  I first planted at my brother Kenny's house outside of town before we bought our house.  My brother and sister-in-law, Sheryl, provided the space and the water, but it was my job to weed and put the water on the garden. 

When we moved into our home five years ago, I wanted a gardening plot of my own again.  I think it is probably 10' x 10'.  I've had a vegetable garden all but one year since we have lived here (last year, I was due to have Benjamin mid-summer).  I have learned along the way, what works and what doesn't. 

It isn't 100% organic, like I hoped, but at least I know what is going into the foods that I'm growing.

Here is a picture of the first produce of the year, a zucchini.  Over the past few years that I have tried to grow plants of the squash family, boring vine moth larvae have destroyed them.  I am spraying them with insecticide weekly, deciding that growing zucchini and winter squash is more important to me than growing organic.

My tomato plants, green pepper plants, eggplant, buttercup squash, purple pod beans, and raspberry bushes are growing well.  The peas are just peaking through the ground (I know, it's late to be growing peas).  My garlic needs constant weeding (as there is no black plastic down through the rows) and the volunteer onions from two years ago are getting large enough to eat.  I need to get my onion sets planted this weekend when my husband is home to help with the baby.

My five year-old loves helping in the garden with me.  I think it is really good for him to see how food grows.

Are you a backyard farmer, too?

SNOW DAY!

It finally snowed here today.  We had a dusting earlier this year, but this is the first real snow.  I love snow when my loved ones can be home and everyone is safe.

Here are some photos of our day.

 Matthew attempts to make a snowball,

 but instead makes a big pile of snow.

 My husband made him a snow fort.

 I didn't get a picture of the finished fort. 

He made it taller than our son.

 I decorated cookies with Matthew.

I used (eek!) store bought dough.

I didn't have time to make cookies from scratch.

They are cute, but they don't taste very good.

I guess I'm spoiled that I always make homemade cookies.

I'm sending them to the holiday promotion

at my husband's work tomorrow.

Hopefully, the customers are used to store bought cookies!

Are you PRO SNOW?

or NO SNOW?

JOURNAL: Why Can't I Stop Eating Candy?

I never buy Halloween candy early.  I always wait until a day or so before the 31st to stock up on treats we will pass out to the neighborhood kids.  If I buy any candy before then, we eat it.  My husband eats it, so I hide it from him.  I know where it is, so I eat it.  I try to hide it from my four year-old son, too, but if he sees me eating it, he wants some. 

Then I have to buy more, which we will eat.

This time I wasn't the one who bought it early.  A well-meaning friend of ours surprised me on Friday with a bag of Snickers Peanut Butter Squares.  It was my birthday last week.

They were all gone by Saturday afternoon. 

I had a moment where I thought to myself, "Why can't I stop eating candy?"

Then, I remembered.

The food industry is very good at creating foods that are addictive.  There are specific flavor combinations that trigger the same parts of the brain as illegal drugs:

1.  Sugar-fat
2.  Salt-fat
3.  Sugar-fat-salt.

Think for a moment about those unhealthy foods that you may find addictive. 

Potato chips: salt-fat
Ice cream: sugar-fat
Cookies: sugar-fat
French fries: salt-fat
Cheese: salt-fat
Chocolate: sugar-fat


Investigate further since starches actually break down into sugars, especially if they are refined starches.

Potato chips: fat and salt on sugar (potatoes convert to sugar easily)
Cookies: sugar and fat and sugar (refined flour converts to sugar easily)
French fries: salt on fat on sugar (potatoes convert to sugar easily)

Some candy companies are very good at creating these combinations.  They also add textures that are enjoyable, like caramel that coats the tongue or the crunch of a cookie.  The companies intentionally create food that is addictive.

Back to those Snickers Peanut Butter Squares:

No wonder I couldn't stop eating the Snickers Peanut Butter Squares!

So what to do?

1.  Don't start. Once I start, I have a difficult time stopping.  Remember, this is the same part of the brain affected when drug addicts use drugs! 
2.  Figure out what part of the candy you are craving.  If you want something creamy and sweet, have a glass of almond milk.  If you want something crunchy and salty, have some celery sticks.  Be creative and find an alternative that isn't addictive!
3.  If you do start and can't stop, get rid of the candy.  Give it away or throw it away.  You can't eat it if it isn't there!
4.  Fill up on your favorite fruit or veggies.  The fiber and water content of them will help you feel full and satisfied.
5.  Warm beverages also can help a person feel full.  I drink a lot of decaf coffee, but herbal teas are also helpful.
6. Remember that you can always have the candy later.  This piece (or bag!) isn't the last piece in the world.  You don't need to eat it now.  Today, you are going to make your body feel good instead of feeling guilty or getting in the sugar-fat-salt addiction cycle.

For more information on the sugar-fat-salt in foods and how to stop compulsive eating, read my review of The End of Overeating by Dr. David Kessler.  You can order the book here or at The Way Store.

What food do you find addictive?  What combination of sugar-fat-salt is it?

JOURNAL: Blood tests back today!




(ambro freedigitalphotos.net)

 

As I mentioned in a previous post, I gave birth to our second child this summer.  During the pregnancy, I succumbed to my cravings and ate fast food nearly every day.  Since we already met our insurance deductible this year, my doctor thought it would be a good idea to do a blood draw to check my cholesterol and triglyceride levels.  Both of my parents are also his patients, so he knows the risks I carry of developing hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, and stroke. 

I wasn't expecting the results to be very good.  I still eat a small amount of meat several times a week, usually in the form of a high priced freezer meal.  I also have 30 lbs. of pregnancy weight to take off.

This is what the letter I received in the mail stated.

"Your thyroid function is perfect...normal blood sugar, normal liver and kidney functions."

I expected those to be fine.  My blood sugar has always been normal (not even gestational diabetes), so no surprises there.  The cholesterol levels were what made me really happy:

"Your [total] cholesterol is wonderful at 131."
Triglycerides are 46.
HDL (good) cholesterol is 59.
LDL (bad) cholesterol is 59.

So what should these levels be?  This is what I learned from the Mayo Clinic website.

Total cholesterol of 200 and below is desirable.
Triglycerides below 150 is desirable (American Heart Association lists below 100 as optimal).
HDL cholesterol of 60 and above is best.
LDL cholesterol of 70 and below is ideal for people at very high risk of heart disease.

WOW!  I'm so excited about these results!

There are easy things that I do every day to keep these levels in the healthy range.  I'm not a doctor or a health professional.  I know there is debate in the news about whether supplements are harmful, but I prefer to use my own experience with my own body as a guide.

Some of the things that seem to help with my blood counts are

1.  Flaxseed Oil.  I take a flaxseed oil capsule every night.  The Omega 3s in flaxseed oil may improve overall cholesterol and trigylceride levels. (medicinenet.com)

2.  Avoiding saturated fat and transfats.  Most of the meals we eat are vegetarian.  When we do eat meat, it is usually fish or chicken for supper, only eating red meat once every two weeks.  Sometimes I cook with olive oil, but we do use butter and never margarine.

3.  Staying away from fast food.  I've only eaten fast food about three times since my baby was born.

4.  Eating plenty of fiber every day.  In addition to eating mostly fruits and vegetables every day, once a day I take either psyllium powder (Metamucil) or Fiber Choice tablets.  Fiber apparently works like a sponge that soaks up cholesterol in the bloodstream.  (webmd.com) 

5.  Soy protein shakes most days.  Most afternoons, I drink a soy protein shake made with almond milk and soy protein isolate.  According to a study cited at latimes.com, a diet high in foods like soy protein may lower LDL cholesterol better than drugs or a lowfat diet.  (Try my coconut protein shake).

I know I'm not in perfect health, but it is great to see that what I'm doing is working. I still need to get back to the gym and start exercising, plus the doctor mentioned I still have weight to lose for a healthy BMI.  It seems like I am predisposed to so many health problems, that I know I have to take care of my body every day instead of waiting for the warning signs of a major condition.

What do you do to take care of your health?

JOURNAL: Healthy Eating in a Hurry

I have a four year-old son and a 10 week-old son.  Although I am able to stay home with them both, I still find I have very little time!  My eldest needs more attention and nurturing as he adjusts to not being an only child.  My newborn needs breastfed, diapers changed, put to sleep, cuddled and played with, etc.  I do my best to keep the laundry and dishes done, the house relatively clean, and my family well-fed.  There seems to be little time to do anything else.

When my husband is home in the evenings, I make my family a fairly healthy supper. However, I don't prepare meals for myself during the day.  First of all, it would likely take me hours to make a dish from scratch with all the interruptions from my sons. Also, my routine is based around their routines, so I don't eat at a set time in the morning or afternoon.

Although I ate fast food most days when I was pregnant this year (Did I mention that I put on 65 lbs.?), healthy eating is important to me.   

Eating the same things for breakfast and lunch keeps me from having to think about what to eat and from having to plan ahead.  Shopping is much easier also, since I always stock up on the same things: fresh or frozen fruits, almond milk, and Green Giant Healthy Colors Steamers. 

My favorite variety of Healthy Colors, Valley Blend.

I start my day with a glass of almond milk.  I usually don't eat breakfast, so this gives me some easy-to-digest calories for producing breastmilk. 

In the mid-afternoon, I eat two servings of fruit.  For the past two months, I have relished the nectarines that are in season at the grocery store, but I also sometimes have a banana or a pound of fresh strawberries.  Today, I ate frozen blackberries that I thawed in my fridge for most of the morning.  

Next, I eat a bag of Green Giant Healthy Colors Steamers.  There are four varieties, but my favorite is Valley Blend with carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli (yes, it's fancy California blend!).  Each variety is lightly sauced.  I know it would be better if I cleaned raw vegetables and steamed them, but time is the issue here.  I can carry my baby in one arm and take a bag of Green Giant Steamers out of the freezer and throw it in the microwave with the other hand.

In the late afternoon, I have an almond milk soy protein shake, full of calcium.  You can find one of my recipes here.

When my husband gets home, I make a quick dinner for my husband, my son, and myself.   Most nights I have a frozen fruit bar and a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich.

I'm still trying to lose weight, however, I know I need to eat well for my baby, too.  I lost 30 lbs. with the birth of the baby and have taken 15 lbs. off eating this way since we came home from the hospital.  I'm glad I have found a way to eat convenient food that is good for me, too!

How do you eat well when you don't have time to prepare food?

Yes, I'm alive

When I look at blogs which haven't been updated in many months or years, I wonder to myself, Is this person still alive or did they just stop writing for some reason? 

If someone I cared about died, I doubt I would worry about his or her subscribers.

Yes, I'm alive.

In fact, more life is in our home now: our second son, Benjamin, was born on July 31.

I'm adjusting to life as the mother of a newborn.  My husband and four year-old are learning to live with the baby, too. 



My husband, Matthew, and Benjamin



Mothering this baby is much different: I know better and can do better.  I remember struggling for hours with Matthew.  He had thrush which led to painful nursing which led to low-weight gain.  We ended up having to supplement with formula for the 18 months I breastfed him.  I also remember being exhausted, frustrated, and crying with him.

B is a much healthier and happier baby.  I still spend 23 or so hours with him a day, but I treasure that time.  M has grown so much and so fast; it makes me want to hang on to this precious time with B.  If B wants held, I hold him.  It will only be for a short time in our lives.  The dishes will always need washed, the laundry will always need folded, but B is only a baby for a little while.

Benjamin, born July 31, 2011

B and I sleep together at night, giving me the rest that I need to parent the two children alone while my husband is working.  B is gaining weight like a champ and has only had 1 oz. of formula his entire life.  M is in love with his little brother and is finally starting to leave him alone. My husband is a wonderful daddy, once again.

We are very much alive.

Thanks for reading!

JOURNAL: Scariest part about Halloween?? Sugar addiction! EEK!

[flickr.com]

Last week the evidence surrounded my laptop: clear, crackling wrappers of Sweet Tarts.  They taste almost identical to Smarties, another vice from elementary school.  They are sugary sour goodness!

 

Although I attempt to keep Halloween candy out of our house by teaching my son to hand sweets out to other trick-or-treaters instead of going door-to-door, I fell into temptation at Target and bought two bags of sours.

 

A week later, I could feel the enamel wearing off of my teeth and the extra acid in my stomach.  The Sweet Tarts and Nerds were gone and so was my resolve to avoid refined sugar.  I felt awful and managed to put on a pound or two just from the candy.

 

In brief, why sugar is so harmful:

• Sugar depresses the immune system
• Sugar can decrease growth hormones (think premature aging)
• Sugar can raise triglycerides and cholesterol
• Sugar (glucose) feeds cancer tumors
• Sugar makes blood thick and sticky, making it difficult to flow through capilaries
• Sugar increases candida in the body (yeast feeds off of sugar)
• Sugar triggers weight gain
• Sugar causes fatigue and hyperactivity; the rollercoaster effect wears a person out

Did I mention that it is extremely ADDICTIVE!

 

Here is what I'm learning about quitting sugar on The Way:

1. If I eat refined starches, sugars, or even fruits, I end up craving sugar the rest of the day. 
2. Making sure I get enough vegetarian protein, helps me stay full between meals and keeps me from feeling hungry after meals.
3. Sugar-fat-salt combinations are the most addictive! 
4. Sugar has a lot of aliases.  Watch out for:



•Agave nectar

•Brown sugar

•Cane crystals
•Cane sugar

•Corn sweetener

•Corn syrup

[stock.xchange]

•Crystalline fructose

•Dextrose
•Evaporated cane juice

•Fructose 

•Fruit juice concentrates
•Glucose
•High-fructose corn syrup

•Honey

•Invert sugar
•Lactose
•Maltose
•Malt syrup

•Molasses 

•Raw sugar

•Sucrose 

•Sugar

•Syrup

 

After I have been off sugar for a few weeks, I'm going to gradually re-introduce fruits back into my diet. 

 

What I would like to know about you:

 

Have you had problems with sugar addiction?  What was your food of choice?  How did you kick the habit or are you still struggling with it?

JOURNAL: How you inspired me to blog again.

[freedigitalphotos.net]

Toward the end of September, I stopped blogging.  It started when I lost my camera.  My husband and I also started a part-time job together which because of the early hours (4:00-6:00am) often leaves us exhausted. 

For a long time, I struggled to find the motivation to blog again.  I usually only receive a few comments a week and I began to believe that no one really cared about my journey or what I'm learning on The Way.

But you changed all of that.

When I decided to start writing again, I was very surprised to see how many people read my posts.

I love to read what you are thinking.  I learn from your ideas and value your suggestions.

You may not always tell me you are listening, but I now know you are there. 

Thank you for inspiring me!

Elle

JOURNAL: Matthew's Birth Story

I substitute teach occasionally for the high school my husband and I graduated from.  It is a great way for me to get out of the house, earn a little extra money, and keep up my teaching credentials. 

One of the classes that I substituted for was studying childbirth.  I was horrified to learn that schools teach high school girls that childbirth is a medical procedure that requires numerous interventions and is always extremely painful.  At one time, I was one of those girls, threatening my mother that I would always remain childless because I was afraid of the pain involved.

This is my son's birth story, written a few days after he was born.  In part because of the preparations I took, my son's birth was easy with minimal pain with little to no interventions.

Matthew's Birth Story

My pressure waves (contractions) began nine days after my "guess date."  I was frustrated and tired of waiting; I started false labor (Braxton-Hicks contractions) two weeks before my guess date (due date) and everyone was calling asking if we had the baby yet.

To naturally assist the birthing process, I started on evening primrose oil (EPO) and black cohosh (suggested doses on the bottles) early in the morning on Friday at 2:00am (my husband works nights). I couldn't sleep, but finally got about an hour or so of sleep by the time the intense pressure waves started at 6:30am.

By 8:30am, my pressure waves were about 2 min. apart. I called the clinic and we decided to go in. By the time we got there, they had slowed back down to every 4-5 min. (it is a 45 min. drive to the office and hospital). The dr. checked my cervix and I was only between 1-2 cm. and still at 50%!  I had been at 50% and 1 cm. for three weeks!  She recommended we not check in to the hospital yet and I'm really glad we didn't.

We walked around the mall for an hour and an half. By the time lunch came I was exhausted. The pressure waves were still 4-5 min. apart, but still only lasting for around 30-40 sec. We went to a park to walk
and rest in the car for a while and finally decided by 2:30pm to go home. I was so tired, which I'm sure was keeping the birthing from progressing.  After I got home, I was able to sleep for about three hours

between and through some pressure waves.
   

Matthew's first picture with me

When I awoke later in the day on Friday, we decided to stay in a hotel in Kearney for the night (the city where the hospital and clinic are); the weather forecast called for heavy rain, turning into snow.   We arrived

at around 10:30pm and my husband was asleep before 11:00pm.  I was still having pressure waves about 6-7 minutes apart and couldn't sleep.  I read, sat on my birthing ball, took another dose of both black cohosh and evening primrose, and drank a few cups of red raspberry leaf tea (another natural method to assist birth).

All through the early morning the pressure waves remained around 6 min. apart while increasing in duration to one min. and in intensity.  I used my self-hypnosis with each one and it worked great!  By 4:30am I was getting very sleepy and I tried to lie down for a while.  I think I slept for about 20 min. during the time I was in bed.  At 8:00am the pressure waves were getting very intense and only 3-5 min. apart.  I called the answering service for my doctor and she told me to check into the hospital.

My husband and I checked out of the hotel and into the hospital at around 8:30am on Saturday.  The doctor checked my cervix and I was 90% effaced,  3 1/2 cm. dilated, and the sac was bulging.  She thought it would break at anytime and then the birthing would progress quickly.  I felt great that I was finally
going to birth my baby!  I tried to sit on the birthing ball, but the nausea I was having made it impossible.  I ended up vomiting and feeling much better. My husband gave the nurse a copy of my birthing plan. 

I ended up lying on my side during most of the birthing because it was the most comfortable for me.  After about an hour I started to lose my focus (I had only slept for just over 4 hours in two days) and the pressure waves began to hurt.  My husband reminded me to use my Hypnobabies self-hypnosis, which really helped.  I imagined my anesthesia was like gray spray paint and I used it to cover the areas of pain.

When my doctor checked my cervix again at 10:30am, I was at only 5 cm. dilated and 100% effaced.  The amniotic sac had been bulging for over two hours and still hadn't ruptured.  She asked me if I wanted her to break it and I told her I didn't know.  I had lost my focus and ability to use my self-hypnosis.  After learning how little I had slept recently, the nurse suggested giving me a sedative to let me sleep for a while before breaking the sac.  I told her that it sounded like a good idea; I didn't know how I would get through the birthing with so little energy. My doctor suggested that she come back later in the day and break the sac if necessary. 

When the nurse came back with the sedative she also brought my birth plan and apologized for
suggesting the medication.  I told her that I thought she was right, that I did need rest before continuing on with the birthing.  After the sedative was administered I ended up sleeping for several hours.  The
pressure waves continued, but I was able to use the mental anesthesia and self-hypnosis.  I listened to my birth guide while I slept.

By 2:30pm, I was fairly well rested by the time my doctor came back to check on me.  She asked if I wanted her to break my water and I said yes.  At this point  I was 5 1/2 cm. dilated.  She said the most difficult part was getting to 5 cm. dilated and after the sac was ruptured the baby's head would quickly open up the cervix. The pressure waves became very intense at this point, but I continued to use my self-hypnosis and anesthesia.

At 3:00pm, I became extremely uncomfortable, exhausted again. I  had a really hard time focusing on my and couldn't get myself into hypnosis.  My husband tried to help me, but it didn't work.  By 3:30pm, the nurse checked my cervix and I was fully dilated.  She called the doctor and began getting the room ready for birthing.  Right before 4:00pm I couldn't fight the urge to start pushing even though there wasn't anyone in the room to attend to the birth. 

When my doctor arrived, I was so uncomfortable and in pain that I didn't care how I birthed as long as I did it soon!  My husband tried to remind me to push between pressure waves, but I told him "I'M TOO TIRED!". The nurse took over since I didn't know what I was doing and I wanted someone to tell me what to do.  After around 15 pushes (ten seconds long) I pushed my baby out.  Matthew was born at 4:27pm. I felt great and my first words were "I just birthed a baby," in disbelief.  My second words were "I hope his head is going to change otherwise people will think he 'came from France.' " 

I was tired, but felt so exhilarated that I did it without an epidural and without tearing or an episiotomy.  The nurse said it was the best birth without an epidural that she had seen in a very long time (she had been working there for 24 years).  My son nursed a few minutes after being born and had a great sucking reflex. He also scored an 8, then a 9 on his APGAR.

Matthew, only hours old

I hope that women understand that most of the time they can have whatever birthing experience they want.  Complications are rare, unlike the television shows and movies.


Read more comfortable birth stories at Enjoyable Births.

If you have birthed a child, what was your experience like?  Did you feel like you had choices?

JOURNAL: What I Learned from (being) Joan Holloway

"Joan Holloway"

There is only one thing that I like about Halloween: dressing up.

This year, I came up with a great costume: Joan Holloway, my favorite character from AMC's Mad Men.

After dyeing my hair red, sitting while my mom created a perfect beehive hairdo, painting my nails red, and applying flawless make-up with bright red lipstick, I donned my little black dress.  To transform it into 1960s era, I added a belt and a bright brooch.  Button earrings completed the outfit.

Suddenly, I was not just dressed as Joan, but transformed into her, walking like her, talking like her, and getting ogled like her.


This is what I learned from (being) Joan Holloway.

1.  Sexy isn't slutty.

Masquerading as someone else can be really fun, especially if that person is completely different from me.  Instead of choosing a naughty nurse, I went with the modest costume, which is more my style.  What really surprised me is how many more men checked me out!  I had more looks than I can imagine without feeling the need to explain I really am not a tramp.  I also didn't feel the need to drape myself with a tablecloth to cover up too much exposed skin.

2.  Posture is everything.

Good posture can make the difference between looking unkempt and looking stunning.  My posture isn't perfect, but immediately after I was transformed into Joan, I stood taller and pushed my shoulders back.  In addition to displaying greater confidence, I noticed how much standing up straight enhanced my curves and made my chest seem larger.

3.  Women should have curves and men want them.

One of the things I love about Joan is that she isn't a spindly or emaciated.  Somehow Joan's character (brilliantly played by Christina Hendricks) has reminded America of how sexy curves are (think Marilyn Monroe's size 8 body).  Instead of aspiring to be pencil thin, she looks like she eats.  Women need more fat for pregnancy and lactation, plus our bodies store fat more easily than men and it is harder for us to burn it.  Men can't help but be intoxicated by those parts of us which are supposed to be round and insinuate fertility.

4.  I deserve men to open doors for me.

My husband has always been pretty good at opening doors for me.  It isn't that I can't open them myself, but one way he shows me respect; I shouldn't have to open them.  When I was Joan, I had more men opening doors for me and showing me the old-fashioned chivalry many twenty-first century women never experience.  I felt like royalty.

Me as Joan

5.  Blonds don't always have more fun.

Red hair is a must for putting on the character of Joan Holloway.  When I looked for temporary red hair dye, I couldn't find any.  So I went for it: Pomegranate by Garnier.  The last time I dyed my naturally blond hair red was when I was in junior high.  Though it was a slight strawberry blond, I was so terrified I would get teased about it I spent the entire night washing it with Pert shampoo to try to get the color out.  Although it may be because I live in one of the Swedish capitals of Nebraska, men notice me because of the red hair.  I am amazed by how many looks I get even when in a T-shirt grocery shopping or with disheveled hair at the gym.

Instead of Halloween bringing me a few extra pounds, this year it brought me confidence.  I'm keeping the red hair for now, wearing the classic femininity and poise without the beehive and button earrings.   


1. Did you dress up for Halloween?   What did you dress up as?  Did you like it?  How did you feel in the costume?


2.  Do you think that women have lost anything in the past 50 years?  Why or why not?

JOURNAL: Pampering and DE PLAGUE! DE PLAGUE!

[photoxpress]

On Friday, my husband gave me one of the best gifts I've ever been given: a spa afternoon with my best friend, Kathryn!  We received a 2 1/2 hour massage and facial at A Healthy Choice Massage and Day Spa in Lincoln, NE.  AAH!  I was amazing!  Neither of us had a massage or a facial before and we were each awed by how great we felt afterward!  We both lost all sense of time and felt extremely renewed by the experience. 

Another thing that surprised me about the massage and facial is they made me want to care for my whole body.  I wanted to drink smoothies, eat greens, and really care for the inside of my body as well as the outside.  Usually I eat all kinds of junk food and fast food when traveling, but instead I stopped at Super Target (wow, another first and I'm in love!), picked up a large container of organic spinach and some fat-free basalmic vinagrette (with all recognizable ingredients), a few bananas, and a bottled vegan smoothie (not raw, but better than french fries and a soda!).  I felt so good when I got home instead of bloated, tired, and sick from all the greasy, processed food I usually eat when on the road.

I think that it was Divine Inspiration that also steered me toward these foods.  When I got home, my son's cold had turned into the flu.  My husband also started getting sick a few hours later and at one time I thought I may have to take him to the ER because he passed out a later had what appeared to be a small seizure.  I received a text message from Kathryn and she had the flu.  After a call to my parents (who we spent Saturday afternoon with), I learned my mom was also ill.  Uh oh. Since I was the only one in my family to see Kathryn, apparently I was the one spreading it, though I felt great!

Determined not to get sick like the others, I ate raw fruits and greens and drank as many smoothies as I could.  I completely avoided dairy and meat.  I also insisted that our roommate, 19 year-old Clay, drink smoothies and eat raw fruit before eating anything else (he's an omnivore and eats like a typical teenage boy). 

Although I had lots of muscle aches, fatigue, and a headache yesterday, I still haven't thrown up or had diarrhea, both violent symptoms of this strain of flu.  My three year-old has vomited about five times over the past four days, but his illness seems mild compared to that of the others.  I believe this is due to his vegan diet with lots of fruits and little processed food. 

I hope you can use your diet to prevent illness too!

Have you ever noticed how you stay healthier based on the food you eat?

Have you had a massage or a professional facial?  Are you addicted to them like I am now?

Elle

JOURNAL: Steps to Change

Like I keep writing, this blog is about my journey.  No, I'm not there yet, and neither is my family.  My three year-old and I are mostly vegan, my husband is about 50% vegetarian, and we have a 19 year-old omnivore roommate.  If I decided to go 100% raw with my family, I would get locked in the closet while they went out for cheeseburgers and fries!

However, I still take steps toward health and wellness.  Little transitions can make a difference in our health.  Here are some examples of steps we have taken.   

[flickr.com]

 

1. From POP to TEA. My husband almost refuses to drink water.  For a while I was buying him canned pop or 2 liters of pop, then I switched to Kool-Aid (no high fructose corn syrup, no carbonation or caffeine), and recently I switched to fresh brewed ice tea.  Yes, he and our roommate still put sugar in it, but now they don't get the dyes or chemicals from the Kool-Aid packets and the tea has antioxidants, especially when I use a mixture of black and green teas. 
2. From COW'S MILK to WATER.  Speaking of drinks, my son has only had pop 2-3 times in his life, however, we used to give him a lot of cow's milk.  A year ago I switched him to soy milk at bedtime and 100% juice during the day.  Running out of frozen juice a few weeks ago prompted us to start giving him only water during the day. 
3. From "FRUIT" SNACKS to REAL FRUIT SNACKS.  I used to buy my son "fruit" snacks (those jelly candy-like things).  After I stopped buying them, he started asking for bananas and raisins! 
4. From PROCESSED BREAD to FRESH GROUND WHEAT BREAD.  My in-laws gave me a bread machine six years ago.  Since then I think I've only bought store bread (funny we call it that!) less than ten times.  First, I learned the traditional white bread recipe.  Since buying my Vita Mix this spring, I started grinding wheat berries to make my own 100% wheat bread.  I haven't ventured into raw breads yet, but I'm sure it is better for my family to have whole grain bread without the preservatives or sugars.
5. From OPENING A BOX to PEELING, CRACKING EGGS, and MIXING.  I grew up in a home where Hamburger Helper was considered "poison," so I may have been given a head start.  However, after I married and especially after I had our son, I started getting boxed food on sale and throwing it together in a hurry.  Over the past year, I've eliminated most of the processed foods from my family's diet.  Yes, it takes much more time and I still keep Tombstone pizzas in the freezer, but most of the time I make everything from scratch.  My family loves the change.  I save time by using tools like a food processor, my Vita Mix, a crock pot, and my Kitchen Aid.  I also try to make as much as I can ahead of time.
6. From BROWNIES to "WINI" WHEATS CEREAL.  We crave sweets in our family.  For my husband, chocolate is his vice.  I started buying Frosted Mini Wheats (or as my three year-old calls them, "Wini" Wheats) instead of making brownies.  At least they get fiber and less sugar with the cereal!

The rewards from these small changes really add up.  My son rarely gets ill and neither do the rest of us.  I have lost 20 lbs.   I aspire to be 95-100% raw and I hope that my whole family can be vegan someday.  I know that we have a long way to go, but it is great to see the progress that we have made.

What stage are you in with your family?  How have you improved your diet and that of your family?  Do you have any tips to share?

JOURNAL: Vegetarian dinner from the garden

It seems like today has been so busy.  I guess the past few months have been really busy, but nonetheless, I feel like I must apologize for the short posts!

Tonight I finally made supper.  I know this may not seem like a lot, but since I have been off solid food for the past few days, I have been relying on leftovers for dinner for the family.  Today, I figured that I should finally make something!  I didn't want to go to the store and I have lots of produce from the garden to use, so I got creative.  Sometimes this is good and other times it can be a little scary!

MENU

Mexican Eggplant Bake
Ingredients: Eggplant, onion, crackers, mozzarella cheese, pureed canned corn, serrano pepper, green pepper, garlic.  I wanted to make it vegan, but this was as close as I could come with what I had in the house!  I'm working toward a vegan diet for my carnivorous husband and vegetarian son, so this was at least progress.  (The corn casserole recipe that inspired me called for corn, crackers, eggs, butter, onion, and evaporated milk.) 

"Green" Beans
I snapped, then boiled purple pole beans. 

Fingerling Potatoes
I scrubbed these and lightly coated them with oil, celery salt, and white pepper.  I roasted them on a cookie sheet in the oven.

Though not quite vegan, it still made a very veggie dinner!  It was about 80% organic.
The eggplant, garlic, onion, peppers, and purple pole beans were all from my organic garden and the fingerling potatoes were given to us by a friend.  I canned the corn last fall.

Cost:  $1.50 to feed 4  ($0.25 for the crackers and $1.25 for the cheese)! 

I will try to post pictures and the recipe for the eggplant bake after I make it again this weekend.  I wanted to take photos while I was making it, but I can't find my camera!  I would like to blame it on our three year-old, but I can't guarantee he is the one who hid the camera.  I probably put it somewhere hoping he wouldn't lose it or break it!  Ha!

JOURNAL: Lots of work and liquid feasting day!

I posted a few days ago about giving and the blessings that come from it.  I believe as a direct result of all the giving we have been doing this summer, we were given LOTS of work last week which equals more income for our family!

I am a stay-at-home mom. I substitute teach instead of teaching full-time since we have chosen to keep our son out of daycare.  Surviving on only one income can be tough sometimes, especially in a recession.  To make ends meet, I have been housecleaning, catering one day a week for up to nine people, and caring for an elderly friend of ours.  My husband and his family own a commercial cleaning company, but since businesses have adjusted to the poor economy, new cleaning contracts have been tough to acquire.

The same day this week that I was offered a part-time job, my husband's business was offered nearly double the accounts they have serviced.  WOW!  Things will get crazy around here very soon!

My first instinct when stressed is to eat.  After reading Dr. Kessler's book, I now understand how sugar-fat-salt combinations give me a sedating effect and drag me down.  The more tired I get, the more I want to eat these types of food. 

Since I find myself back eating processed junk food once or twice a day again, I decided I should have a few days of liquid nutrition to clean my system out and get out of the habit of snacking.

TODAY:

Breakfast:  Green Lemonade Smoothie
Lunch:  Spirulina "juice" (1 Tb. of Spirulina Powder & 2 c. water)
Supper:  Soy protein shake (1 scoop Soy Protein Isolate & 2 c. of soy milk)

The protein makes me feels full and really calms my cravings for sugar-fat-salt.

(More about spirulina and how amazing it is!)


Special savings for my blog readers!


10% OFF any order at Puritan's Pride Vitamins! 
Enter code: LABOR10 at checkout. Hurry!  Offer valid for 9.01.10 - 9.07.10 only!

I have been a Puritan's Pride customer for over four years. In that time, I usually take advantage of the Buy 1 Get 2 Free sales. This is the first time I remember seeing a B1G2 sale with a coupon!