Thursday, December 2, 2010

Jorge Cruise and Dr. Oz talk about Sugar



Sugar in the morning, sugar in the evening... 
sugar at supper time.... !  

AHHH SING IT Baby!
just don't eat it!   

I'm not going to "sugar coat" this blog.... but here is some great info on "Sugar"






 I LOVE  Dr. Oz's  7 minute talk and hope EVERYONE can see this clip.  I was googling info Jorge Cruise after hearing from Friends and Family, their success on this diet.   But, Jorge's diet is not that  new or unique... it's just promoted and marketed well.

Because..... I had already heard something similar this past year.
....while  I was flipping channels  on TV,  I caught  an interview on CBN with this man Doug  Varrieur .

   I heard him saying that all his life he was severely overweight.  When his Doctor told him he had developed diabetes, he ask what that meant.  The Doctor told him, that means he has too much sugar in his blood.  So being a simple man he sought out to  remove "sugar" from his diet.

He discovered some astounding facts about how sugar is  "hidden"  in our food.
(I may have already blogged this past year on this,)  It's worth repeating.....

**********************************************************************************




Sugar adds up




Doug Varrieur lost more than 100 pounds eight years ago and kept off the weight by drastically decreasing the sugar intake in his diet. Varrieur said people are surprised when they find out how much sugar is in every-day foods:




Breakfast
  • 2 cups of corn flakes: 12 teaspoons of sugar
  • 1 normal-size banana: 6 teaspoons of sugar
  • 2 pieces of toast: 8 teaspoons of sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of jelly: 7 teaspoons of sugar
  • 4 ounces of milk on cereal: 1.5 teaspoons of sugar
  • 6 ounces of orange juice: 5.5 teaspoons of sugar
Total sugar intake: 40 teaspoons

Fast food lunch
  • French fries: 12 teaspoons of sugar
  • 24-ounce soda: 19 teaspoons of sugar
  • Hamburger Bun: 6 teaspoons of sugar
Total sugar intake: 32 teaspoons

Pizza for dinner
  • Half a supreme pizza: 7.25 teaspoons of sugar
  • 24-ounce soda: 19 teaspoons of sugar
Total sugar intake: 26.25 teaspoons
That is over a cup of sugar in a day!  
**************************************************************************************************************
This is how I feel about  going on a "DIET":   

You can train for a marathon,

and then run in a marathon.... 

but you don't live a marathon.

Why do you think there is always some "new diet" that is the "answer".....  
Check out this list of about 100 diets!   
Some had their day in the sun! Just like Jorge's  diet is right now. Go to:

Again don't misunderstand what I'm saying..... Jorge Cruise is "right on"  about counting "sugars" / carbs...  but there is still a fundamental problem with DIETS.    
THEY never address the ROOT problem.   Like, why did you gain the weight in the first place?  I'm not talking to someone who needs to lose weight after having a baby.  I'm talking to the people (me included) that gained weight over time.  Slowly creeps up.... until your sporting a size 16!


As a Registered Nurse in Family Practice/Internal Medicine,  I will always say...
   PLEASE LOSE THE Extra WEIGHT!
That is a priority for your health.  

Yet.... losing weight is only a PART  in  obtaining  HEALTH and WELLNESS
Your body can survive,  but it will be weak and suffer illnesses and diseases when it lacks the proper nutrition:  Vitamins and minerals 
Many symptoms can be linked to  vitamin or mineral deficiencies 

You can lose the extra 30 pounds and still be suffering with an ulcer.  
You can get to the perfect size Jean and still battle depression.  
You can  Look Fantastic and get looks as you walk down the street and still have Migraines


             get my point?
You can change the foods you eat, 

but how about changing the food you give your mind! 

Or the food  your spirit is craving  for but doesn't get. 

How else can I say it?   .... ok..... how about this :  BALANCE yourself 
Because it's about "Balance"  
           of our Physical, Mental and Spiritual being that brings us Health and Wellness.  


When you discover a new attitude towards eating for "nutrition" and not just pleasure 
When you discover the freedom and energy  that Exercise and activity brings you
When you discover the peace and joy of getting in touch with your spiritual being


                 You'll lose weight!  effortlessly 






Ok,  now.... "get off the sugar!"


Ciao 


Salute! To your Health and Wellness


PLEASE send this "You Tube"  of Dr. Oz talking to a friend or family member, do it for their Health... do it because you care.





             

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Still to much of me or Straw that Broke the Camels Back


........... I came here from Provence, alone, uneducated. 
For 8 months - no more than that - a year, 
I sat in a café, I drank coffee, and I wrote nonsense in a journal.
 And then somehow, it was not nonsense.
 I went for long walks and met myself in Paris
You seem embarrassed by loneliness, by being alone. It’s only a place to start
A line from the Movie - SABRINA

Sometimes it does take a stressful situation, a change of events... 
the unexpected -  for us to reach out for answers.  

And when we come up empty
                          we hopefully turn and  reach into our soul to find the answers.

Reach deep into our soul - for only we have our answers.  

 It takes 21 days to form a habit.... So when you desire to make a change in your 
life start with going in reverse.  Do you recall the expression :
The Straw that broke the Camels Back
I see the straws on the Camels back as:
      1.  poor/bad  habits and behaviors that we have developed
      2.  commitments and responsibilities that we are saddled with.
It's a wonder some of us can even "walk".

Take one thing you'd like to change or one thing you'd like to start doing and commit to doing it for 21 days in a row.    Just one thing!  

One thing at a time  
One straw at a time  
One habit at a time  
One pound at a time  
One behavior at a time  


My title is "still to much of me".  


This is the thought  I had today that pierced me  at my core.  I was  dealing with a stressful situation and I  felt my emotions take hold of me physically (as they  will ALWAYS will do).  
 I heard myself say (chronic self monologue going on)


 "hey, it's still ME reacting like I've always done"
  
And there I was  attempting to justify my reaction.... 
    No matter what reasoning I had to justify my reaction...  right or wrong..
    the domino affect occurred:
    my mind, my body and my spirit went into a tail spin -  I was out of balance!




I want to be more like "HIM" and less like "ME"
  
When I balance me in Him..... then I will find ME in HIM!
I will find my peace and "act" in a situation.... not "react". 
               I will discover the person I was created to be.


I've been attempting since Last Year to find  the "real me"
                  .... A little like the line in the Movie "Sabrina".


The Me that I feel has been sat on, yelled at, dis-respected, turned down, rejected... faced a million tons of rocks in the road and walls to climb... (waaa, waaaa, waaa.... can you see me playing my tiny violin?)  Freak, I have had my share of troubles!  I have my scars to prove it.... that's why it's a challenge to change my thinking, behaviors and direction. 

                        I WILL NOT ALLOW MY PAST TO DICTATE MY FUTURE


What I truly, truly found is.....  "I need to balance"   then and only then, can I have love, success and peace.   


And to balance something is to first recognize what is OUT OF BALANCE.   


It is kind of like tires on a vehicle.  Gotta find which one's are out of balance so it can be fixed.  Well, Missy.... this gal had to get a Re-alignment! 


 So, I choose this journey that started officially January 1, 2010....  




I think the sign on my forehead should read:


If I look back over the past year of blogs and "21 day thing"  I've done many, many times,
I can see how I have had  to take one straw at a time off my back....  


the weight of the bad or poor habits  
I had developed over the years  
that have weighed me down much toooo long. 


I'm still removing straws on my back so that the
                 "one more straw" won't make a difference and cause me to fall (aka Fail).


Still plugging away.... oops!  I mean Still blogging away..... 


Don't forget....... 
             Mangi
                       Passeggiata
                      Amora 

Salute!   To your Health and Wellness


I believe everything God created is and has an energy.  
(learned this in science class that all matter is an energy)


When we need to stop a bad habit, we must replace it with a good habit.  
Because, the energy of the bad habit must be replaced with the energy of a good habit.  

Nature will "always" fill the void.... That is because the energy that has left must  and WILL be replaced.  


That is not your choice... it will be replaced with something.
But,  it is your choice that allows the void to be refilled with
 the old habit (that is why habits are so difficult to stop) 
or replace the old habit with a new habit.  

Food for thought..... 
  








Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Just a little....Wine

NOTE: 
This blog started due to my struggle to lose weight - So, I am preaching to myself each day through this blog





A Piasano of my mine, 
who's name was  Thomas Aquinas,  was born 1225 In Aquino Sicily. He was a Priest, Philosopher and Theologian.  He was one that took a more expansive view of gluttony,[10] arguing that it could also include an obsessive anticipation of meals, and the constant eating of delicacies and excessively costly foods.[11] 
Aquinas went so far as to prepare a list of six ways to commit gluttony,

The word Gluttony  Now I sound like the Father on "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
Derived from the Latin gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow, gluttony (Latin, gula) is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In the Christian religions, it is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food or its withholding from the needy 
Depending on the culture, it can be seen as either a vice or a sign of status. Where food is relatively scarce, being able to eat well might be something to take pride in. But in an area where food is routinely plentiful, it may be considered a sign of self-control to resist the temptation to over-indulge.
 *
  • Praepropere - eating too soon, or at an inappropriate time
  • Laute - eating too expensively, luxurious, exotic, or costly
  • Nimis - eating too much eating food that is excessive in quantity
  • Ardenter - eating too eagerly  
  • Studiose -  eating food that is too daintily or elaborately prepared
  • Forente - eating wildly (boringly)

I'm not trying to be a philosopher like my ol Piasano,  
but I'm going to go a step further in this discussion.

Gluttony, sin or no sin.... is a "health hazard" in two ways:

First,  (Physically)  it contributes to obesity and as we all should know leads to diseases, illnesses and an early death

Second,(Mentally & Spiritually) ....go with me for a moment.... food can be an idol    

I know, I know..... you're saying that is a crazy idea that food can be an idol.  But take a moment and think about how "focused" some people are on eating.  Everything is set aside for "eating".  How much Money is spent on eating out?  How much time and effort are focused on what, when and with whom they are going to eat. And the Risk of eating foods that are restricted due to health issues (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidema...etc).  

An addiction ! Yes, 
food can be "addiction" for some.  
A disease! Yes,  I said Addictions are a disease.
Gluttony is an epidemic today in America.... Gluttony Lives!

 It is astounding the statistics today on people in America 





U.S. Obesity Trends

Trends by State 1985–2009

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. BMI is calculated from a person's weight and height and provides a reasonable indicator of body fatness and weight categories that may lead to health problems. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. In 2009, only Colorado and the District of Columbia had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%.
Thirty-three states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; nine of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.
The animated map below shows the United States obesity prevalence from 1985 through 2009
-------------------------------------------- take a moment to read the  full article : http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html 
          ********************
          So you say ..... I know I "shouldn't eat the dessert" but 
I only have a little piece once in a while.
GOOD FOR YOU if you only have a "little piece" once in a while.  
But, if you have a little here, and a little there... here, there, EVERYWHERE, 
and your overweight,  or have issues with hypertension, elevated lipids, 
"borderline Diabetes".... than WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?
John 2:1-11
Jesus at Cana when he turned water into Wine -


Jesus at the last Supper

God created us not only for His pleasure,
but provided for our pleasures


Our Sight and Taste allow us to enjoy the Fruits of our Labor


 
  
 First Miracle and Last Supper 



were both centered around an event of Eating together

Nothing wrong in our gathering to eat and enjoying food

it's just that.....

We are  OUT OF CONTROL when it comes to our "pleasures"
and I have to say as Christians.... 
You can shoot me now cause I'm going to say it
Obesity can be symptom of an Unbalanced Walk with the Lord.
there.... I said it.

FOOD is not the Problem, it's the uncontrolled obsession 
with the Pleasure of Eating.


Everyone wants to ignore this problem
just like facial hair growth on Women... 

it's a fact!

Being over weight CAN be one of the symptom of an unbalanced life. 
ok,   Ask the person who say's they have a thyroid disorder and that's why they have a weight problem...  ask them when is the last time they ate ice creams, candy, ..... how many minutes a day do they exercise! 
  It is very RARE that weight gain is not associated with poor eating habits and lack of exercise.
 I know I'm being rough but it's a dishonor to yourself to lie and seek out excuses.  
Did you ever think that a  thyroid can be whacked out because  of  weight gain?  It's the chicken or the egg.  Which came first.  Hormones out of whack due to weight gain or weight gain due to Hormones out of whack.... HUMMMMMM "food" for thought. 

You may then say... "hey, I'm balanced"  Really?  Maybe you are... but first Ask some tough questions to get the answer.

can you.....
Physically:   Do 10  or more  push ups, or leg squats or run a few blocks  without being  too weak or out of breath...    Be honest with yourself.  Do you exercise every day?  How about 3 x's a week?   I mean really break sweat exercising!    And then there is the question of : How many servings of vegetables and fruits did you eat yesterday?   How many glasses of water have you drank today?    Being balanced means your physically fit - internally and externally.

Mentally/Spiritually:  Then examine your heart and ask this questions:  is  there someone you have anger, resentment or bitterness towards?  Do you fly off the handle at little events?  Do you have problems falling asleep, staying asleep?   How often are you taking an "antacid"?   Do you have frequent headaches (Migraines), bowel  problems?
Do you have issues with some of the signs of Gluttony as described above ?*
I know I'm being tough, but I'm being straight up about it. 

How about coming to a place where you say.... 
"I don't want that" 
instead of
 "I can't have that"
or it's ok to eat just a little...  (when you know you have a health problem or weight problem) 
There is such a freedom in changing your attitude about eating and food.  
There is such a freedom you experience when you choose to HONOR yourself and your body, mind and spirit.
Eating to nourish your body  
Finding joy in eating Healthy  
Desiring a big bowl of blueberries over a blueberry pie.   
(Allora....  a little whip cream on the berry's, that'sa ok) 

Make your own apple pie filling with fresh organic ingredients.  
Not some store bought packaged frozen pie....   
Ok.... Allora....  make  wise decisions on what holiday dessert and the amount.... 

Again, there isn't any thing wrong with a wise portion of dessert 
if it's made fresh and with love  (hahaha)
But know this....
There is such a freedom when you stop making bargains with yourself 
every time  you eat a large portion of a  high caloric treat. 
Like the Bargain of "oh, I'll start my diet tomorrow... 
or I'll exercise later to make up for this".


 When you balanced in your life 
you'll experience being satisfied with
a "Little Piece"  
 .It is my dearest hope that you discover the freedom in Balancing your life 
Physically, Mentally and Spiritually
....so you may find the Love, Joy and Strength to live a life of Health and Wellness.  
This is my quest and journey.

Ciao
 Salute!  To your Health and Wellness

PS again let me say this
Nothing wrong with dessert IF it is a wise portion, Not part of every meal and snack and best if  made with fresh wholesome ingredients.  Like my Mama's Cannoli's!  
Mangi
Passeggiata
Amore