3/14/12 Day Fourteen

Have you ever watched that show The Biggest Loser?  Much of what the people in that show experience is extreme, but there are some realities that happen to just about every one of us that make the commitment to lose weight.  One of those realities is the two week plateau.  If you've watched the show, you see them have tremendous results during the first weigh in, and maybe the second weigh-in, and then they have that dreaded weigh-in where their weight stays the same, or they even gain a pound or two.

I'm at the dreaded weigh-in stage.  I know beyond all doubt that I am eating better and exercising more.  I am taking better care of myself overall than I have in several years (for those of you who don't know, I ran a marathon in '06 and a half-marathon in '07).

That being said, there have been a couple of days during the past week where I actually gained back a couple of pounds.  Whether it's muscle, whether it's hormones, or whether it's my body going into panic mode because I'm eating less, I can't say.  This morning, it's starting back down again, and I think in the next couple of days it will at least go back to the weight loss I had accomplished and at best, go beyond that.

A little bird [my mom] told me not to give up even though it's been a really frustrating week.  So, I haven't as of yet.  I haven't had any cravings for sweets, nor have I jumped on the soda pop wagon.  Yesterday, Brent encouraged me to go for a walk/hike, even though I didn't want to.  I know when we go climb the mountain it helps to strengthen his lungs and reduces the problems he has with asthma.  When I walked out the door, I was going for him.  We climbed it once, walked up another valley, and then the second time we walked it, it got easier.  And then, I walked it again with my mom, and it got even easier.  By that time, I was very encouraged, and I decided to see how far up the hill I could run.  I made it about 2/3's of the way to the top [compared to about a third to a half last week when I attempted it].  I'm excited that I'm gaining muscle in my legs and that I can breathe better as I go.  I hope to make it to the top next week. :)  Many thanks to my darling husband for asking me to go out there in the first place.  Without him, I probably would not have exercised as hard - or even at all.

I still haven't measured my inches.  I will make it a point to do that today, and then I will measure each Sunday to determine if I'm losing inches.

I'm still taking the Diet 360.  I've noticed that my appetite is drastically reduced when I take this before each meal, and I don't really get hungry in between.

I'll keep you posted.  I'm determined, and I know I'm working at all the things I need to work at to be successful.

3/14/12 Day Ten: SSDD

Same stuff, different day.  We ended up hiking yesterday for about 40 minutes, and then we spent an hour in the garden planting strawberries - but the garden time doesn't count.

So we're at about 160 minutes of exercise for the week already, and still the weight stays the same.

I'm going to start measuring inches.

3/13/12 Diet 360: Day Nine

No weight lost when I stepped on the scale this morning.  Grr.

3/12/12 Day Eight

No weight lost.  Suffice it to say that I am getting a little frustrated at this point.  I'm hoping my body is doing something funky and that I'll lose a pound here in a day or two.  No exercise today because it was a long day at work.
If nothing changes tomorrow morning, my next post will be extremely short, as well.

3/11/12 Diet 360: Day Seven

I've made it a week.  And today was the most beautiful day!!  We were able to get out and hike and hike and hike...we also worked on clearing some of the roads on the place so that we would have an extra couple of trails/hills to hike.  The dogs were worn out.  As soon as we got to the house, Blue crashed by the front door.

I've hit a standstill.  I've been stuck at the same weight for several days now.  I'm not sure if my body is freaking out because I'm eating less, or because I'm exercising more, or if it was purely an increase in exercise that caused the weight to be lost.

At any rate, I've still got 23 days to go, so we're going to see this to the end.  I did manage to get an hour or two of exercise in - I am totally counting the time we spent clearing brush.  I'm already at 120 minutes for the week!  Wow!  What a start!

3/10/12 Day Six: Watching Paint Dry

I admit it.  I am well aware of the fact that there are some things farrrrrr more interesting that reading a blog about some woman in Kentucky trying to lose a few pounds.  However, I'm also inclined to think that maybe, just maybe, something that I say might give someone just the right amount of hope, or the realization that they aren't the only one struggling.  And selfishly, I admit that I am blogging for the simple fact that I feel I have made a public statement and that I need to be accountable for what I have said.

That being said, I do not yet have more exciting news.  Brent and I walked a great trail today at the neighbor's place.  So I was able to complete my 150 minutes for the week - if you count last Sunday [the day before I started this whole deal].  I'll be out and about again tomorrow, too.  No weight lost, but none gained, either. 

We pushed pretty hard today, and I'm tired.  Tireder than I've been all week.  I've also been less hungry - we had deer chili for lunch about 2pm this afternoon, and I had a salad this evening.  I've honestly been more thirsty than anything today.

My stats for the first six days weight-wise:
Total weight lost: 1.4 pounds
Pounds left to goal for Phase One: 3.6
Minutes exercised (since Sunday): 190
Minutes exercised (since Monday): 145

We'll see what tomorrow brings. 

3/9/12 Day Five: Holy Smokes, Batman!

Well, after a day of questioning comes the day of reckoning.  When I weighed this morning, I had lost a full pound (in addition to the 0.4 lost the other day!).  I honestly thought that this morning would show a gain.  I didn't exercise long yesterday, because it was rainy and yucky outside.  I managed to climb the stairs to the loft (and return the bottom, rinse, repeat...) for ten minutes or so.  I made vegan cookies and ate several of them before I could stop myself.  We had mom's famous meatballs for lunch, and a kale/romaine/avocado salad loaded with Caesar dressing.  I felt like yesterday was a fat day.  And then lo and behold!  The blessed electronic scale showed a pound lighter!!

Lesson learned: never give up.  When you least expect it, a triumph will manifest itself and encourage you to stay with the challenge a bit longer.

Shortly, I will be heading outside to take advantage of the beautiful day.

Total pounds lost: 1.4
Pounds to goal in Phase One: 3.6
Total exercise on Thursday: 10 minutes
Total exercise for the week: 115 minutes

Tune in tomorrow.  Same bat time.  Same bat channel.

3/8/2012 Day Four: Has it come to this already?

Ah, perseverance.  How I yearn for it, yet in the same breath, I despise it.  Here's my love/hate with the "p" word, and I think many of you can relate to this, as well.  Perseverance is really easy when it's something that you are into.  But when you're not...well...it's a little more challenging.  With this whole 30 day shenanigan, I had fully expected to make it a whole week into it before the mental crash.  As it is, I barely made it four days.  Ish. So when you get to the point that you want to cheat, what do you do?

1. Blog.  Publicly.  And let people you know be aware of it.  Mortification can be a great motivator to keep going with something.
2.  Find a buddy that you have to answer to face to face.  Use that relationship to encourage each other.
3. Cheat.  But remember that you have to live with the results of your decision.  There's no one at fault but you.  So far, I haven't broken down and had sweet tea or Chips Ahoy or (omigoodness) Little Debbie Nutty Bars.  But Easter is still several weeks away...so who knows at this point?
4.  Find a substitute.  Not eating sweets?  Carrot juice is amazingly sweet (I know that example sounds lame, but for real.  It can do the trick!), and it's within the boundaries of my particular challenge.
5.  Ask somebody who has been through it before you.  Sometimes, when it is a person who has done it, and can understand, you realize that you are not alone, and that you can make it through.

In the meantime, I am going to head out somewhere rainless so that I can exercise a bit.  It brought my spirits up the other day - perhaps it will again.  There's only one way to find out.

3/7/12 Day Three

So...today is Day Three.  Yesterday I had all this incredible crazy energy, and today...well...today was okay too.  Part of yesterday's energy probably came from the excitement about the weight change.  Today it held steady, so it was kind of...meh.

Food hasn't been so bad - we've fixed a couple of favorites the past couple of days.  Last night we had kale and chickpeas - we don't normally fix the quinoa with this dish because it's too much for us!  For breakfast, Bob's Red Mill Ten Grain Cereal, lunch was Mexican Food [cheese enchilada and mexican rice and unsweet tea!], and then tonight, we had quinoa and black beans.  I added green chiles to give it a little more flavor.

Total exercise yesterday was about 45 minutes; I went on a 15 minute walk on my lunch break, and went on a 30 minute hike with my husband yesterday afternoon (Have I mentioned that he's the best?!).  Today was spent grocery shopping - it's senior day at Kroger, so mom gets 10% off her grocery bill at Kroger.  Woo-hoo! 

Sorry this blog post is so short and boring.  It's been a long day.

Weight Lost: no change
Pounds to go for Phase One: 4.6
Exercise: 45 minutes of walking and heavy hiking yesterday; Grocery marathon today.

3/6/12 Day Two: Sometimes the Smallest Victory is the Biggest

Well.  I finally broke the blasted 3 pound mark.  When I weighed in this morning, I had lost 4/10ths of a pound.  Now, this may not seem like much, but for someone who has been trying to get back to where she was just a couple months ago, it's huge.  I had been at the lost-three-mark for several weeks.  I did not exercise yesterday, but I was careful about what I ate.  I bring my lunch to work each day, and I had BBQ chicken breast tenderloin, gluten free shells n' cheese, and strawberry spinach salad.  Brent had made a goji-cacao-date energy bar, and I snacked on it, and I had a glass of carrot juice.  For breakfast, I had munched on flax seed crackers I made in the dehydrator, and for dinner last night?  Tuna patties, more gluten free shells, and carrots.  That's also my lunch today.  Breakfast so far was a pound of strawberries (Sound like a lot?  Not really.  175 calories and about 9 grams of fiber!  Mmm-mmm-mmmmhhh.....)

One of the other women taking the Diet 360 told me that she noticed her energy tanked after a certain period of time and she was hungry.  Maybe that's why it's supposed to be taken three times each day.  I haven't experienced that as of yet.  As for what I have experienced, here's the report for yesterday: I felt like a racehorse.  I don't know how many times I had to run to the bathroom and pee, but it felt ridiculous to me - and  I was so thirsty all day yesterday!  I know I got in my eight glasses of water in.  I'm still pretty thirsty today, but I guess I've progressed from the racehorse stage. lol.  We've made plans to go walking during lunch time, so I hope to get in at least 30 minutes then.  If I have time, I'll hike the hills on our place at home for awhile this evening.  I feel like I need the muscle-building aspect to help move things along.

Last night, at dinner, it was very challenging to me not to eat a second helping.  Tuna patty night is one of my favorite meals.  But 20 minutes after I put my plate in the sink, I was so full, I didn't feel like having anymore.  I didn't even have a slice of toast with honey last night.  Woo-hoo!  But I still had the fully loaded coffee this morning.

All in all, I consider Day One a success.  We'll see how day two pans out. ~Summer

Day One:  lost 0.4 pounds
Remaining for Phase One:  4.6 pounds by April 4th.

3/5/12 Day One: Diet? Or Lifestyle change? 30 days using Diet 360

My husband and I both have an insatiable sweet tooth.  If there is something sweet in the house, we are likely to graze on it until it is gone.  Over the course of the holiday season, from November through January [we celebrated Christmas during the last couple week of January while on vacation], I have gained about fifteen horrible pounds.  I have been less active, I have eaten food because I enjoy it (instead of looking at it as fuel for my body), and I have consistently made excuses as to why I can't/won't change that.

At least, I have done that until the last couple of weeks.  Lent started February 22nd.  Although our faith is Church of Christ, the premise behind Lent is good - it offers the opportunity to gain control of an addiction (like SUGAR!!).  I asked Brent if he want to participate, and he said yes.  He also didn't realize that Lent doesn't end until April 5th - he thought it would only be like a week. lol

So, since February 22nd, we have not eaten a single candy bar, cookie, nutty bar, soda pop, cake, or anything of the sort.  Our rules state that if we make a sweet snack at home, it must be of a healthy nature, such as fruit roll ups in the dehydrator or vegan chocolate chip cookies.  Ezekiel bread toast with a bit of honey is permitted, and the allowance that I begged for is to fix my morning coffee to my liking, with sugar and creme...although I may in the near future switch to stevia powder.

That being said, I seem to have lost three pounds.  Whether it's water weight or sugar weight, I don't know.  Either way, I don't like it.  I was slightly over my  ideal weight to begin with.  So, I have enlisted the help of a non-prescription diet pill.

I typically have an aversion to diet pills, for the simple fact that they are loaded with caffeine and "fat burners" and "metabolism boosters" and "appetite suppressants."  We have recently started selling a few Garden of Life products, and Garden of Life offers Diet 360, a holistic weight loss support supplement designed without stimulants.  I have decided to try this for 30 days to see what kind of benefit I can derive from it, if any.  I am hopelessly skeptical about many things, including diet pills, and so trust me when I say I will be the world's harshest critic.  There are a couple of other women that I know who will also be trying it at the same time as me - one has gained some weight because of menopause, and one simply wants to lose weight so that **hopefully** she can stop taking some prescription meds that she is on.

My goal is to lose 5 pounds in the next 30 days.  Here is my general plan to do that:
- Use Diet 360 as directed
- Take my handful of other supplements that I use faithfully during that time
- Exercise at least 150 minutes per week, spread out over at least 3 days each week
- Continue to avoid sugar
- Continue to reduce the wheat we eat (we've been gluten-mostlyfree lately, which has made TREMENDOUS impact on Brent's asthma)
- Eat smaller meals that are both enjoyable and designed to fuel the body

Much of this we already do.  The Diet 360 and the exercise are going to be the biggest changes for me right now.  But I want this.  I need this.  So hang in there with me - or join me if wish, and I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm going to go eat a flax seed cracker now.  Cheers.  ~ Summer

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Assam & Darjaleeing Tea

Assam - A highly sought after black tea that is rich in anti-oxidant

 Darjeeling Tea (First Flush) - also a highly sought after black tea is unique in appearance and flavor.

Kola Nut For Energy And Weight Loss!

Kola was once the main ingredient in cola drinks. Sound familiar? But before it was added to sodas, native to the Rain Forests of Africa, Kola Nut for a very long time has been chewed or made into a type of drink. Today many people create tinctures from Kola Nut as well as tea and grinding it into powder to have put into capsules. Kola Nut Powder is helpful in capsule form but the chunks of kola nuts contain much more caffeine than the powdered form. Kola Nut is also thought to increase male potency and is a popular energy tonic. When you pick up a natural weight-loss product, you may see herbs included such as guarana, kola nut, and yerba mate. These herbs contain caffeine and are known to increase energy. This has been known to be helpful in weight-loss.

Purchase Kola Nut by clicking here!

or

Purchase Kola Nut Powder by clicking here!

The information found on this blog is for educational purposes only.

This information has not be evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This information is not indented to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

WHAT'S CACAO?

In case you didn't already know, Raw Cacao comes from the Cacao Bean. Most of us know this as the "Cocoa Bean" that chocolate comes from. The natural chemical Theobromine is found in chocolate which produces a "feel-good" effect in your brain. This has been known to help with cardiovascular exercise and also in  reducing caloric intake. Its high chromium and coumarin content both help assist the body in weight loss.

In the opinion of many smoothie lovers, adding a little Raw Cacao to a smoothie not only enhances the flavor but also provides lots of energy to help get you going. Raw Cacao is popular today because of its high levels of antioxidants (oligomeric procynanidins, resveratrol and the polyphenols: catechin and epicatechin). Also found in Raw Cacao is vitamin C, and Omega 6 fatty acids, tryptophan, and serotonin. Heating raw cacao will destroy the vitamin C and can cause the omega 6 to become rancid which can cause inflammation in the body.

For a lovely smoothie/shake recipe:

• 3 tbsp Hulled Hemp Seed or Hemp Protein Powder
• 1 cup Almond Milk
• 6 tbsp Raw Cacao Powder or Raw Cacao Nibs
• 3 tbsp Maca powder
• 1/4 cup Raw Agave Syrup
• Pinches of Nutmeg and Cinnamon (Optional)
• 1/2 Banana
• 3 cups of Ice

To Purchase Some High Quality Raw Cacao Powder, Click Here!

The Herbal Way To Quit Smoking!

Lobelia (pictured above): Also called, "Indian Tobacco" is a powerful herb that (used with caution) is known to help calm the mind and relax the body. Many smokers have found that it helps control their cravings for nicotine. Lobelia is closely related to the nicotine plant family and is said that the chemicals take up the nicotine receptor sites in the body reducing the cravings for nicotine.

St. John’s wort: One of the best known herbs for its ability to promote a positive mood which always helps when beginning a smoke free life-style.

Black cohosh root: Though it is most commonly used for menopause, it is also known to be a safe sedative that relieves nervousness and/or anxiety, which becomes useful for the irritability one may experience while quitting smoking.

Catnip: As an antispasmodic, it is useful for abdominal cramps as well as chronic coughing. If not having a smoke is making it difficult for you to sleep, catnip can be found to be useful in relaxation and reducing mental stress.

Oat straw: One of my favorites, also one of the best herbs for stress, nervousness, and exhaustion, especially when associated with depression due to the process many smokers experience while quitting.

Skullcap: Another one of my favorites, Skullcap is known to help the brain produce more endorphins. These endorphins are naturally occurring chemicals that promote feelings of well-being. Skullcap nourishes and revives the central nervous system while relaxing and calming the body.

Valerian Root: One of the top-of-the-line herbs for tension, stress, anxiety, and insomnia has been shown to act as a muscle relaxant. This is shown to be a very helpful herb when quitting smoking.




For more information on this list of herbs go to: www.refuahnaturals.com

An Interesting Spice For Your New Year Weight Loss Plan

You'd be surprised how many people are unfamiliar with Fennel Seed and don't even realize they've eaten it. Found in sausage, various Italian, Indian food, and as an ingredient in many other foods as well as natural flavored candy and desserts. Similar in taste to Anise Seed, one may find that once sweetened, reminds them of a black licorice flavor. Some of you may not prefer the flavor of black licorice but do enjoy other foods that fennel is found in. Fennel Seed is found growing native to the U.S. and is also found in several other countries.

If you are interested in it for the sake of loosing weight, Fennel Seed can help suppress appetite, boost metabolism and in fact aid in weight loss. You may sprinkle (if you'd like) a little Fennel Seed Powder over a food item of your choice or you may choose to brew a simply fennel seed tea. The most simple way seems to be by steeping 4 tsp. of seeds or seed powder in 2 pints of boiling water. Then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 - 10 minutes, and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. The strained tea can be drunk 4 times daily. Remember, exercise is always a big help when trying to get fit!

Precautionary Information: Though Fennel is great for colicky infants, fennel seed oil should never be given infants or young children due to the danger of spasms of the throat.

Interested? Get your Fennel Seed by clicking here! 

or click here for Fennel Seed Powder!

Try Adding A Little Super Green Protein To Your Diet!

Don't judge so quickly, a little "Super Food" may be just what you need to start out your day this New Year! One of the reasons that Spirulina has become so popular is because of its natural ability to control body weight. This herb belongs to the single-celled blue algae family. As a rich source of nutrients, it contains a total of ten types of vitamins, eight minerals, and about eighteen amino acids (essential and non-essential).  Spirulina is high in iron and proclaimed to be the best source for beta-carotene but is mostly famous for being 70% protein.

A heaping teaspoon of spirulina powder an hour before your meal is said to help satisfy some (if not most) of your body's appetite. Qualified physicians have recommended a daily dose of about 5 grams or 1 - 2 tablespoons. It is also said that for adults, if desired to skip out on a meal, may choose to supplement the meal with spirulina. For children between the ages of 2 and 10, parents have found it easier to blend into juice or a shake. Spirulina is a great source of Glycogen which, for the most part, is stored in the muscles and liver. Athlete's usually consume 2 tablespoons of spirulina powder with a glass of water half an hour before their workout.

Refuah Naturals Organic Spirulina Powder

Feel free to get your Spirulina Powder by clicking this link!

WANT TO CUT DOWN ON YOUR SWEET CRAVINGS?

Gymnema Sylvestre is found mostly in mainland India and several parts of Africa and has a deep history rooted in Ayurvedic medicine.
What is most interesting about gymnema is that it has a molecular structure like unto (glucose) sugar. Studies show that it blocks and inhibits a large percentage of sugar absorption and has the incredible ability of slashing ones desire for sugar, therefore making it seem as if you've gotten your sugar fix.

A Study from Physiology & Behavior tested its effects on fasting patients with normal weight. Gymnema Sylvestre was given one hour before eating. The results were that they ate less food and fewer sweet foods than patients who had not consumed Gymnema Sylvestre.

Although Gymnema is safe for most people, it is not recommended for the following individuals such as pregnant and lactating women, people taking anti-diabetic medication, people taking antidepressants, and individuals with milkweed allergies.

These following herbal supplements should not be taken with Gymnema Sylvestre. St. John's Wort, White Willow Bark and Aspirin can enhance the blood sugar lowering effects of Gymnema resulting in Hypoglycemia.

On a positive note: The National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health do accept these following studies. Gymnema has been shown to improve the ratio of HDL to LDL Cholesterol which is one of the most predictive developers for heart disease. Gymnema has been known to lower triglycerides and bad cholesterol. Though further studies are desired to be done in order to verify more information on weight loss, Gymnema may be what you are looking for if sugar is your weakness.

Get your Organic Gymnema by clicking here!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

For those of you who are starting off fresh with a New Year's resolution to lose weight, we will be posting helpful suggestions throughout the month of January. 

Ceylon, a delicious reddish organic black tea, is a great choice to start the New Year out with. Ceylon tea comes from partially fermenting young tea leaves and is loved throughout the world as a classic black tea with a smooth taste that is not too bitter. The Ceylon Teas that Refuah Naturals carries is a  deeply aromatic Fair Trade® product harvested in Sri Lanka.

Trying to lose weight? Reach for a cup of tea instead of a diet beverage. If you consume 2,000 calories per day and don't gain or lose weight (you're in energy balance), an increase of 4% would translate roughly into an 80-calorie daily difference. Over a year, this could result in 89 pounds of weight loss. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)


Typically brewed for 3 - 4 minutes.


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