The Sweet High

Today's blog is a little disconnected....  as I blogged I had an epiphany which took me a different direction.

Crazy, but it's something I had read.... "food is a drug".... but it really hit home with me today as I blogged, when I realize it answered a BIG QUESTION I  have had since I started blogging

WHY do I reach for food I KNOW I shouldn't eat?  All the while saying "don't do it"... and still eat it.

----------here is where I started my blog today-----------------

I've attached a Portion of a site I believe worthy of thought.  It captivates me when I come across confirmation of a Truth I hold on to about Balance. The impact of our emotional/thought life on our health and well being (highlighted in red).

A Professional Physician's approach Management of Health and Well Being

(click on the line above for the link to the web site used in this blog)

...FIVE  basic questions must be addressed when a  poor health condition exist: 

• 1.  Is the condition caused by deficiency of something (what must be done to get better)? (e.g. magnesium, electrolyte, B-vitamin or essential fatty acid deficiency)
• 2.  Is the condition caused by something to avoid (what is making it worse)?(e.g. wheat or milk allergy, processed carbohydrates, caffeine, etc.)
• 3.   Is the condition caused by something that needs to be eliminated/detoxified? (e.g. cadmium or lead intoxication, parasites, destructive job or relationship, etc.)
• 4.  Is there a maladaptive emotional behavior or a core belief that impedes persistent progress/recovery? (e.g. excessive worry to the point it is detrimental, eating the wrong foods repetitively even when you feel poorly afterwards, believing you are not worthy of wellness or success).
• 5.  Is there an interference field that is preventing healing/restoration? (e.g. a scar from an infection, trauma, burn, surgery, vertebral subluxation, or emotional event that has been imprinted into the autonomic nervous system)

Recently I have been in a conversation about a health issue with family, friends... and it surprises me that I have developed a consistent approach.  "BALANCE".  

Yes, explore the medical (traditional western medicine) implications of the symptoms and rule out a metabolic, physiological explanation.  

However, ALWAYS explore  the mental and spiritual  influence of one's self in relationship to the illness/condition. 

This brings me to a conversation I  had this morning on the phone,  where something I HEARD  transformed my heart, mind and soul into a state of distress.  

A physical manifestation of something I processed in my thoughts.  


My heart racing, digestive system in a "tissy".... I'm sure my blood pressure was elevated and I had a surge of tense energy.  

I found myself not resisting to eat when making my husband some breakfast. 
 I already ate my breakfast.  But in my stressed state I ate "a little something"  while not being hungry and not needing to eat and asking myself.... WHY am I eating this?????
--------------
(late post..... revisiting this blog:  I was explosive and irritable this morning because I "splurged" on chocolate covered toffee last night.  SUGAR! I guess I was needed a "fix" this morning since I was coming off a sugar high from last night)  I was soooo surprised at my reaction to something so benign. Now I understand what happened

-------------------

Here is the interesting thing:

Our body (due to our culture) seeks (unconsciously desires) Carbs when we are stressed out or "need to relax".  Like taking a drug?

  

Think about this:

Sugar and highly processed carbs release natural opioid in the brain. 

Ever heard of "runner's high"?  This euphoric sensation occurs when exercise stimulates the brain to form endorphins.  These neurotransmitters are similar in molecular structure to the morphine but are much milder.  They activate the brain's pleasure center.

Like exercise, sugars and highly processed carbohydrates are also able to trigger the release of such endorphins (activating the opioid receptors). 

In addition to activating the opioid receptors, sugar and highly processed carbs also have a physiologically calming affect because of the release of serotonin in the brain.  When the brain's serotonin level is increased after you have eaten sweets or a refined starch, you typically experience within twenty to thirty minutes a significant emotional relief.  

 It improves your mood, helps you to relax and contributes to an overall feeling of well-being.

However,  Sugar and highly processed carbs (ice cream, pastries, candy, breads) are like a drug that we can become dependent on.  

Oh, right!  Now I get it!  (here is where I had my epiphany)

That is why I was baking Chocolate Chip cookies at 10 pm !  

Even though I heard myself saying

.... "no, no... don't do it... you're trying to lose weight.... it's not healthy to eat late... 

oh, I'll just have one... oh... it's not for me it's for my family as a treat... "  

ahhh the conversation I would have.

Yet, like as if my body was detached from my mind, I would still make and bake and EAT the dang cookies (and usually, not just one!).  Oh, the guilt.  

Now I finally understand!   It's taken a year of blogging to get this!  

IT IS AN ADDICTION! ......Sugar is a drug!  

I use to say  "Lord, I'll give up white sugar if you heal my loved one of their addiction" But I NEVER was able to give up foods that contained WHITE SUGAR.  Now, I understand WHY.

It is real!  The body's "craving" for sugar is like an addict that seeks out a drug KNOWING the consequences of their actions.  
Even though they WANT to stop, they struggle to say no.

I would see that when I eat sweets, candies (See's Candy for SURE)... the next day I lack energy, feel depressed, IRRITABLE ... difficulty with coping.  TRUE! 

That is why I have found that my strength to change my eating habits 
have needed to COME FROM THE STRENGTH OF MY WALK WITH GOD!   

I've known for sometime now that I have had a life of seeking satisfaction and comfort through "food"... dahhhhh   I'm American/ITALIAN!  But now I see that simple Carbs and Sugars have an affect like a drug.  And that's why I crave and seek out Carbs when Stressed.

During this past years Journey I have desired

to find satisfaction and comfort in my relationship with God 

(always feel well and whole after time in prayer and reading Gods word) 

to   find satisfaction and comfort in  Exercising 

(always feel great after I exercise!)  

So, I have elevated my awareness 
to accepting that I've lived a life of being unbalanced 

THAT HAS NOW CHANGED! 

 When we accept the 

FACT that Sugar is a  Drug 
Fact that Simple Carbs are a Drug

we will treat "eating" with more respect

 When you CHOOSE to be healthy and well... 

When you become PASSIONATE about having Health and Wellness....  

When you acknowledge you are BODY, MIND and SPIRIT and 

when you seek to BALANCE yourself....

You will discover a new world of Health and Wellness to live in...

Ciao

Salute! 

How does that Sand Taste?

 I'm currently attempting to study and understand the "physiological" aspect of weight loss, healthy eating and health issues associated with foods.  


It's complicated and mind boggling how the body works. 


      However,  


Animals instinctively know what and how much they should eat.... 
and WE SUPERIOR beings also know the truth..... We live in a world of Information at our finger tips

However,  this is where my Word  "Balance" comes into play. 

Human, Superior Beings have "free will to choose". 

 We are Free to be smart in our choices or to be stupid in our choices. 

When we are IMBALANCED in our Lives 

we make choices that reflect the Imbalance.

  

The evidence of our choices is sometimes in our Waist line measurement!  

The evidence of our choices is in our blood test results.  

The evidence of our choices is in our relationships.  

The evidence of our choices is in our pocket book.  

The evidence of our choices is in our Zest for Living ! 

(ok, Zest is a weird word... replace with Energy, Excitement... Joy)

When we are Spiritually, Mentally and Physically  unbalanced -
we choose to eat unhealthy foods
we choose to be in active,
we choose... we choose.... we choose

DID YOU HEAR ME!   W E   C H O O S E  !

We choose to close our eye's and stick our heads in the sand because WHY?

Every MORNING we  can choose to take a bite of the "apple"

                                       Making excuses,  holding on to bad habits,  being selfishness,
                                                            living in gluttony, being laziness

Open up our eye's to see what and who is really deceiving us
it's something inside us..... something that needs to be changed

               

 We CAN choose to say "NO,  I WON'T BE DECEIVED" any longer

 and choose to balance ourselves 

                

It's not just eating the wrong food

It's not just "not exercising"

It's not just ...

It's why we CHOOSE the wrong foods

It's why we do not exercise

It's Why.....

Our Choice

Now, my question is  WHY oh WHY do I make the choices I make?

That is why I blog
That is why I'm seeking to balance my being Physically, Spiritually, Mentally
      Spending equal thought, time and energy on ALL three

PS
Did you wake this morning thinking.... "hummm what will I have for breakfast?"

What if you woke this morning and said "hummm, what will I feed my Spirit this morning?"

Have you ever wanted a second portion of "devotional time"? (like you do when you eat?)

Have you ever wanted a second session of "exercise"?

Think about it.... cuz I am

Stop it or I'll give you something to cry about

Just what  Mom would say when you were whining!

Not because she didn't love you, but she knew you needed to be "shook up" so you'd get perspective on what was worth crying about.

So, you go to put on your favorite Jeans and ..... what? .... You have to lay on the bed so you can button or zip them up!

Oh, right.... they shrank in the Dryer!  oh sure.... start CRYING!

Then you start whining..... I just can't lose weight.... I try, I try, I try.

AHHH stop it, ya whining baby.

YOU HAVEN'T done what YOU KNOW you need to do!

And why not?   Because you don't like yourself!

It's not you being over weight that makes you not like yourself....
       you're over weight because you don't like your self.
             You have NO respect for YOU!  You treat yourself like "%Q#(%"

(you may not realize this.... but I'm having a conversation with myself)

     Stop beating yourself up over this.  

Cry about what is really wrong.

Don't cry because you can't fit into your Jeans... 

Cry because your life is NOT BALANCED  

If it were, you'd respect yourself.  

If it were, you'd treat yourself with respect

If your life was balanced you'd fit into your Jeans

Oh ya... well I've heard all the excuses (used some myself).... it's menopause, it's a thyroid problem, it's  stress.... ahhh ..... oh come on now and face it...  No matter what the blood test shows:
YOU'RE NOT EXERCISING everyday....
YOU'RE eating High Sugar, High Carb foods!
            GET real yourself.

Unless you say you exercise faithfully three times a week for at least 60 minutes to 90 minutes with cardio and weights - Don't tell anyone it's ALL because of going through menopause or a hormone imbalance or your thyroid is under active.

WHO are you really hurting by not being honest and truthful?  ONLY YOU

If you saying.... I have a hard time saying no to myself when reaching for the cookie jar...
You're right on "you have a hard time saying no to yourself"
   Why, because you're fighting inside yourself.

 Me, Myself and I are at war with each other!

Me = the physical part of you
         hunger, appetite, hormones, chemical reactions in your cells
Myself = is the mental part of you
         oh the years of being conditioned to see food as "comfort", soothing, a TREAT
I =  the spiritual part of you
        "Eve" wanting to take the Apple, being deceived ... hiding from a
         relationship with your God, because you "want to do it yourself"

It's time to get angry and passionate about YOU taking care of YOU

      

Here is the web site with helpful info on Menopause and excess weight.
Mayo Clinic is one of my favorite sites for reference:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/menopause-weight-gain/HQ01076 




This blog was brought to you by a person who needed a butt kicking tonight- ME!

Ciao and Salute! To your health and wellness and honesty

I needed a laugh.... this is way too funny

Laughter is the BEST medicine

Waist line or Waste life

Belly fat
Most people think of fat tissue as being inactive tissue, but that is far from the truth.  Fatty tissue or fat storage areas, such as belly fat are active endocrine organs that produce numerous types of hormones.  The more fat cells you have, the more estrogen, cortisol, and testosterone your body produces.  When your fatty tissues are spewing out all these hormones-most likely raising your estrogen testosterone, and cortisol levels-and producing tremendous inflammation in your body, there is only one result: weight gain

Across the board, studies show that fat deposited in the abdominal area leads to the greatest amount of inflammation.  Conversely, when you decrease your body's inflammatory response, you will also lower your weight as well as your waist size.
Resourse: Dr. Colbert's "I can do this" diet. 




If the goal in 2011 is to lose weight because you can't fit in your Jeans..... switch it up!


Seeking a size 6 is shallow  (ok.... I'm a little shallow) BUT, the right Jean size is not the right motivation to CHANGE lifestyle choices.   

LIVING a healthier life, 

having energy, 

joy and a sense of well being 

should be the ultimate GOAL.  

Make the goal in 2011 to "OBTAIN OPTIMAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS"

Mayo Clinic: Belly Fat in Women
click on to this link for more useful information

Tone your tummy. While you can't "spot-burn" belly fat, you can firm up your abdominal muscles and get a flatter belly. Traditional sit-ups aren't the most effective way to firm your tummy, however. Instead, use these exercises to target both deeper and lower abdominal muscles:

• Deeper abdominal muscles. Target deeper abdominal muscles by doing "abdominal hollowing" or "drawing in the bellybutton." First, get down on all fours. Let your tummy hang down as you take a deep breath. Let your breath out, and at the end of your exhalation, gently draw your bellybutton inward and upward toward your spine. You should feel a slight tightening around your waist — think of it as trying to squeeze through a partially closed door. Hold for 10 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. Work up to 10 repetitions. During each effort, your spine position shouldn't change and you should breathe freely. Eventually, you'll be able to do this exercise standing up. It's so subtle, no one should be able to tell you're doing it.
• Lower abdominal muscles. Tone your lower abdomen by doing pelvic tilts and pelvic lifts. To do a pelvic tilt, lie on your back on the floor with your knees bent. Flatten your back against the floor by tightening your abdominal muscles and bending your pelvis up slightly. Hold for five to 10 seconds. Repeat five times and work up to 10 to 20 repetitions.
  For pelvic lifts, lie on your back with your knees bent up toward your chest and your arms relaxed by your sides. Tighten your lower abdomen and lift your buttocks up off the floor, with your knees aimed toward the ceiling. Hold for five to 10 seconds. Repeat five times and work up to 10 to 20 repetitions.
  
  
  Your core muscles, which are in your abdomen, back and pelvis, are involved in almost every move you make. Strengthening this muscle group through core muscle training will help 
• prevent (or diminish if you already have) low back pain, 
• improve balance and give a boost to your energy level.
  • When core muscles are strong, it makes each task we do easier. Sitting, walking, bending, lying down or getting up, all everyday normal movements, are made easier when the core muscles are strong 
• Lot's of good reasons to EXERCISE daily

Exercise your spiritual walk too -  
        When you resist  exercising or  you are making poor  choices with your eating.... 
        Have a Talk with Your Creator, HE has the answer why you're not 
        taking care of   yourself.
Exercise you mind:  See it in your mind, say it, believe and then you'll DO IT


Well balanced thinking (thought life) , eating (nutrition) and exercising (activities) 
          is the ANSWER to a cranky, irritable... explosive behavior
          Coffee Robs people of Vit B which is needed for coping with Stress
          BALANCE your diet with the proper nutrition!


Ciao!
Salute to Your Health and Wellness and Balancing your life in 2011

Google and the Bible: Answers to Life's Questions

What do you control?
What can you not control?
What can you change?
What can you not change?

The questions are not deep..... but the answers are very deep.

I control what time a get up in the morning.... right?  So, then why do I hit the snooze button when it's time to get up?  Why do I go to bed at night with a plan to wake at 6 am only to hit the snooze button... until 7 am?

I can not control time as it ticks away - tic toc tic toc...
But I can control what I do each second that the clock is ticking....

So, why do I waste a second of time?
There is Always time to Exercise, stretch, Pray... Extend myself to love someone.

Questions of the ages?  Or Questions of the "pudding heads"?

After a year of doing this (journey to balance my life)
             I'm still befuddled what the heck is my problem

Guess I better hit the road of self discovery and find the answers.  

I'm pretty sure most of them can be googled and the a great % of 

answers can be found when I wait upon the Lord

Proverbs 1

Wise Sayings of Solomon

A Manual for Living

 ^1-6 These are the wise sayings of Solomon,

   David's son, Israel's king—

Written down so we'll know how to live well and right, 

   to understand what life means and where it's going

A manual for living,

   for learning what's right and just and fair;

To teach the inexperienced the ropes
   and give our young people a grasp on reality.

There's something here also for seasoned men and women,
   still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—

Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
   the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Have a Great Day.... because I am EXPECTING to have fantastic day.


See it
Say it
Believe it
DO IT!

Ciao and Salute to YOUR HEALTH and WELLNESS this new year 2011!


PS
Eat a  balanced breakfast - check those calories/carbs and fats
Drink 8+ Glasses of Water today
Find moments in your day to stretch & exercise
Check your thought life - Check your words against God's word
Find someone to help today