happy almost summer!

August 23rd, 2008:  i started this post back in June of this year!  i figured i might as well finish it up…so enjoy the time lapse sequence! haha!

yowsahs!!

i can hardly believe it’s been almost 2 months since i’ve posted. :-O

what’s funny is that every so often i’ve stopped by, checked out my stats, started a post, and then said to myself, “blehblehblehbleh…”  LOL…i just havent been able to even write down a simple, “hola! i’m still here!” hehe!  i’ve been been out of blogging mode i guess!

so to answer rolando’s comment on my last post, YES, i’ve still got my nose stuck in books! hehe!  i feel badly, because my blog buddy, amy, had asked me a few months ago if i’d want to do a book review blog with her, and i told her i just havent been into reading.  and i’ve read consistently since then!!  LOL!  i suppose she lit the spark in me!

welp, after i read A Series of Unfortunate Events, i read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.  yeah, can you believe i never read it as a kid?  well, now i know where Long John Silver came from.  and the funny thing is that he was the ship’s cook! LOL! (and he was deadly, just like the food at LJS…hahaha…)  too funny, huh!?  the story didn’t end quite as magnificently as i’d imagined, but to think that it was written over 120 years ago is very cool.

then, i randomly plucked a book from the library’s new release shelf.  i like to do that once in a while to keep things interesting.  of course, i always read the back so if it’s way out of my league i dont want to take a chance. :D  but this time, i grabbed The Ex-Debutante by Linda Francis Lee.  i had a great time reading it!  other than a random bit of language and a few very short and somewhat humorous sex escapades, the story was fun and the reading hilarious!  it’s probably the most modern novel i’ve read as far as containing current pop culture allusions and a conversational style of writing close to how we casually speak today.  i quite enjoyed it!

just last week i finished the first book in the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery.  *** TWO MONTH PAUSE…LOL! ***  okay so now i’m on book 6 of the series. hehe!  i LOVE them!!  yeah, i know, they’re old-fashioned and goodygoody.  but hey, that’s me, and i am thoroughly enjoying them!  i’ll give a review once i’m done with the whole series :)

so now, while still reading the Green Gables books, i’m also reading The Yeast Connection and Women’s Health.  it’s not necessarily what you’re thinking; it’s about how an overgrowth of the candida yeast in our digestive systems can wreak havoc on your health and cause symptoms that doctors just can’t pinpoint.  and it’s caused by our DIET! (too much refined carbs and sugar!)  some women (AND men! so think about it, too, guys) live in unresolved and undiagnosed misery for years when finally they discover through their own research they may have candida overgrowth.  it happens to have a connection with endometriosis, too (which as you may or may not know, i have).  i’ll talk more about this one soon as well!  in the meantime, i recommend this book to any woman who isnt in perfect health!!  and men, check out The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough.

so that wraps up MOST of my summer of reading!  i’ve read more, but i picked out what i’ve enjoyed the most. :)

OH and i also became a member of goodreads.  VERY cool website.  if you read at all, you should check it out!  feel free to add me!

what have YOU been reading this summer?? :)

~josey~

an (un)fortunate reading experience

hi everyone!

wow, where’ve i been? hehe!  well if you ask my husband, i’ve had my nose stuck in books and magazines the last few weeks! hehe! 

i have this strange habit of reading several different books (plus 2-3 different magazines) at the same time.  i donno why.  maybe because now that i go to the library all the time and the books are free (i used to belong to book clubs and buy them all the time!  egads!), it’s easy to grab a few and then just read them as i’m in the mood throughout the day/evening.

just last night i finished reading Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. many of you have probably seen the movie, like i did, starring Jim Carrey.  i saw it not too long after it came out.  it was okay—but a bit dark and creepy for me considering it was supposed to be a kids’ movie!   if you havent, in short, it’s about 3 orphaned siblings and their woeful story of being shuffled from guardian to guardian, all the while a sinister man trying to steal their family’s fortune.

but then i found out it was based on books and was curious to read them.  there’s 13 (juvenile fiction) books in the series, and the movie only covers the first 3 (therefore, doesn’t tell the whole complicated story!).  so, last summer i read 8 of them.  but then i could never get ahold of book 9 or 10—they were always checked out! hehe!  so i gave up until just last week, when books 9-13 were in.  so i checked them all out and like i said, finished them last nite.  i actually read the last two books both yesterday! LOL!

i have to admit when i first started reading them last summer, i was a bit disappointed.  in fact, i kept thinking to myself—i dont think i’d want my own child to read these!  they are very morbid—and usually more than one person dies during each book and always in a quite um, unfortunate way.  

fortunately, they arent very gruesome at all—but as the author always warns at the beginning of each book and also in a letter to the reader on the back cover, you should never expect happy endings:

Dear Reader,

Unless you are a slug, a sea anenome, or mildew, you probably prefer not to be damp.  You might also prefer not to read this book, in which the Baudelaire siblings encounter an unpleasant amount of dampness as they descend into the depths of despair, underwater.

In fact, the horrors they encounter are too numerous to list, and you wouldn’t want me even to mention the worst of it, which includes mushrooms, a desperate search for something lost, a mechanical monster, a distressing message from a lost friend, and tap dancing. 

As a dedicated author who has pledged to keep recording the depressing story of the Baudelaires, I must continue to delve deep into the cavernous depths of the orphans’ lives.  You, on the other hand, may delve into some happier book in order to keep your eyes and your spirits from being dampened. 

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

The Grim Grotto, Book the Eleventh

but of course his fair warnings only curiosify! hehe! :)

i’m not much of one for book reviews that give too much away, but let me say that i was very hooked to this series, especially once more mysterious (and unfortunate!) events kept creeping into the plot.  i’m a sucker for stuff like that.  and UNLIKE most adult fiction mystery books i read—i DIDNT figure this one out!

in fact, i’m so curiosified that i put The Beatrice Letters by Lemony Snicket on hold at the library. hehe!  it’s supposed to help clear up a lot of the loose ends and questions readers might have about many of the secret circumstances that surround the Baudelaire’s lives.

i was also interested in finding out more about Lemony Snicket himself!  while that link was interesting enough, i found that reading about Mr. Snicket’s uhh, representative, Mr. Handler, quite intriguing now that i’ve read the books! 

however, DONT look up Lemony Snicket himself on Wiki, unless you want more secrets revealed to you that could spoil the fun in reading the books.  i purposely waited until i was finished with them, and i’m glad i did!  but, if you’re like one of those little kids who MUST find his Christmas gifts where they’re hidden in the closet before Christmas morning, then by all means, read about Lemony Snicket and his secrets! LOL!   

i was also quite impressed with the amount of information packed into each book, and how the author is very consistent with his facts between books.  as you continue to progress in the series, there are many references about past events to help you connect it all together into one big, cohesive account of the characters’ lives.  

in fact, i almost find myself missing the Baudelaires! hehe!  kinda like how i felt after reading The Chronicles of Narnia (my fave books of all time!).  you become very attached to the characters because the books reveal so much about their personas that they seem like real people. 

if you enjoy easy-to-read fantasy that’s a bit dark and humorous yet with witty (and very sad and true) tales of the human condition all wound up and concealed in a juvenile fiction form, then i definitely recommend this series of books!

ANYHOO…this has once again got my creative juices flowing for my own juvenile fiction writing.  yes, i’ve been interested in it for years!  i’ve not yet completed a book, but i’ve got plenty of little stories on the side.  in fact, here’s a short one (based on a true story from my own life!) you may enjoy called crinkle crinkle scoop.  i suppose it might be more suited to an audience of adults born in the 70s moreso than kids tho. hehe!!

alrighty, off i go…to write while the pen’s hot!!

enjoy your monday!

~josey~ 
 

monday's mexican nite!

hola!! :D

most monday nights, we have mexican fare for supper.  usually its tacos or taco salad, cause i'm not daring enough to try to make chimichangas, which is hubby's fave. hehe. 

in the last few years, i've pretty much eliminated any pre-packed form of food in the house unless its a whole food or organic (the organic is important to me because i know there's no harmful preservatives and i can pronounce all the ingredients!).  so, one of the things i DONT use anymore, is store-bought taco seasoning.  its actually really easy to make at home!

now i'm not claiming to be the next food network star, here ;)  im not well-versed in authentic cuisine and spices or anything. hehe!  i just look around online for recipes to replace things i discontinue to use, and then adapt it to make it my own.  its fun! 

here's a quick recipe for seasoning for 1 pound of ground meat.  (if you make it in bulk, a little more than 3T is about what you need for 1 pound, at least to start with.)  its my basic recipe--but sometimes i add more of some of the ingredients if im in the mood for a diff taste! 

oh, and its not super spicy, so just play around with it til you get the taste you want.  this is just a starting point! of course there are plenty of other spices you could add as well. 

and if ya dont like mine, i still encourage you to replace what you currently use with something homemade.  its one simple step toward a healthier diet :D  i just dont know why i never thought of making this on my own before.  its easy and MUCH healthier than pre-made.  NO MSGS!!

Taco Meat Seasoning

Combine all ingredients and add to browned ground meat along with 2/3-3/4 cup water.  Bring to a boil then simmer until desired consistency, stirring often.

• 1T chili powder
• 2t onion powder
• 1t ground cumin
• 1t garlic powder
• 1t paprika
• 1t sugar
• few dashes cayenne
• 1/2t corn starch

another way i've spiced up meat for our mexi-meals is using a recipe for red enchilada sauce i got out of Nourishing Traditions.  it's made with dried Ancho chiles and tons of other supernummiful fresh stuff.  it's something you make a batch of, and then freeze it in cupfuls, and use one of the cups per pound of ground meat.  its DELISH and VERY healthy!! 

anyhoo...then i take soft corn tortillas and lay them lightly in a pan with a touch of olive oil, flip it over, spoon in some meat and fold it in half and brown both sides so its crunchy.  YUMMY!!  hmmm...i guess if i can do all that, i could probably make a chimi, too!  guess i'll have to try that next time :)  

of course then top them with your fave stuff--sour cream, green onions or pico de gallo, monterrey jack, guac, lettuce, salsa!

speaking of, time to get it started!  have a great monday night :D

buenas noches!

~josey~

what's your type?

tall, dark and handsome?

 

cute, bubbly and chatty?

 

whoooaaaa wait a minute here!  im not talkin about your type of date...*teehee* 

i'm talkin about your blood type ;)

i know, i know, how mean was that??  super CHEESEY, guh!!  well dangit, i had to get your attention somehow!  LOL!!!  you know all i do is yap about food and health, so how could you possibly believe i was going to yap about something as exciting as your date type?? hehe!!

i'm reading Eat Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo.  both naturopaths i've seen this year follow this theory of diet personalization.  back in april when i saw my first naturopath, i checked the book out from the library and turned to the type A section, read it, and promptly dropped it in the return bin saying, "I DON'T THINK SO!" 

i read that A types are best suited as vegetarians!?!?! :-O  hello, i was raised in small town Indiana--meat and potatoes, please!  TOFURKEY??  BLECH!

so there i was, thinkin i'd never have to go there and read that again. hehe.  this time around, i'm a little more desperate to find what foods really do work best for me.  since i have endometriosis to throw in and change it all up, it's been that much harder to decide what i should follow.

to educate myself on what sort of diet i should adopt for the best healing, this year i've also read:

• Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition
• The World's Healthiest Foods, Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating
• Wild Fermentation:  The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods
• Eat Fat, Lose Fat:  The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats
• Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats

in some ways, all of these books have something in common.  in other ways, the last two (maybe even three) books are much different than the rest.  this is where im having some brain clutter.  the biggest difference is that the blood typing diet steers type A away from saturated fats.  the last two books (written by Sally Fallon) say that high quality saturated fats are what we are lacking and that vegetariansim is unhealthy!  im torn!

i know what you're thinkin--just keep trying until you find what works for you!  well, i've been doing that for like, oh, 5 years now. LOL.  obviously i havent found it yet!

hubby and i were chatting about the "eat right for your type" diet during breakfast this morning.  i was getting discouraged because for type A, there's some things i should try to avoid eating AT ALL.  foods that're staples in my daily grub--like butter, tomatoes or any tomato product, black pepper, oranges, bananas, anything coconut, peppers, potatoes, wheat, and any meat except chicken or turkey.   

there's good reason to avoid these foods, explained in logical scientific detail in the book.  and it does makes sense--i will even admit to being a bit sensitive to many of those foods!  but they TASTE good...so duh, i wanna eat em!! :P

anyhoo, i told hubby that this time i just have to buckle down and follow this dietary change.  too many times in the past i just throw in the towel if i cant believe in a nutritional plan 100%.  but who can??  well, at least i can't!!  i'm just notta one-size-fits-all kinda gal when it comes to my food!!

so, in order to find some continuity in my health and healing of endo, im gonna try to stick with this.  BUT, im not going to jump in head first, either.  the book itself even recommends NOT doing that.  i think that's smart!

since right now my supplement program is focusing on detoxing me--that's including removing all the crap that's built up in my liver, gall bladder, and digestive system to start with--it's important that i eat foods that wont upset that delicate procedure. hehe. 

now mind you, my detox is not one of those, "scuse me, i gotta use the lil girls' room!" kinda detoxes. LOL.  its a slow process, gradually integrating nutrients (via supplement) that my body needs to rid itself of heavy metals, gunk and more gunk, in addition to giving my body lots of chances to be able to utilize nutrients that support my endocrine system.  cause right now, my endocrine system is saying NO WAY to uptaking any sort of nutrient it needs.  i am so TOXIC that my body rejects some of what it needs.  man, that really sucks!

i feel that Eat Right For Your Type is closely related to Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition, so that makes me feel a little better.  when i read the latter, i felt like i had found all my answers.  that book is a MUST READ for anyone with endo...it not only educates you, but comforts you as well.

but i also want to follow what my naturopath suggests for now, so when i go back in a few months for a re-balancing they can get a good picture of my progress.  so, im hoping as i reread the former i can somehow integrate it into the latter and satisfy that need of not following just one single program ;) LOL!  am i pathetic or what! HAHA!

yikes, okay this post has been a lot of randomized rambling!  i'm sorry if you're lost and confused! LOL!  i suppose i am just trying to reason with myself and tell myself that IT'S OKAY to question these things, and that it's not going to kill me (hopefully. LOL.) to follow a plan for a while and see how i feel. 

before i know it, it will be a year since my diagnosis, and it has been my goal to see a marked change in my health by then.  so ive gotta get my bum in gear!!

thanks for attempting to follow along my very disorganized train of thought tonite!!  teehee :)

ttys!

~josey~    

i'm a coco-nut!

hahaha! (this is my cat cali, AKA "coco"-lander...derived from cali-CO...how original! haha!!)


okay, so i am a big fan of my cat cali coco-lander, but that's not what this post is about! hehe!! i wanted to drop ya'll a line and let you know the book i am currently reading-- "Eat Fat Lose Fat" by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. its mostly about how using coconut and coconut oil (not cali "cocos" heheh...altho pets do help keep us healthy, but that's another blog topic! ;) pardon the mid-sentence tangent! but hey, you're used to it...hehe!) can help you get healthier--lose weight, recover from illness, etc... well, im not one to fall for fad stuff or things that seem to good to be true, and i was skeptical when my hubby decided to check this book out from the library, especially when i saw the cover of the book said something about "coconut diets!" :-O



so let's back up a bit. as i have progressed along my journey to better health and have become more educated about current studies and opinions on food and nutrients, i have really changed my own view about FATS in general.



i mean come on, when you're fat, it seems like fat is the last thing you should be eating, right?? WRONG!



for the last year or so, i've been focusing on eating more healthy fats and trying (let me stress TRYING *lol*) to get away from eating those addicting trans fats. olive oil, nuts, eggs, fish/cod liver oil, primrose oil, flax oil (usually ground seeds, not the actual oil--its too unstable and goes rancid quickly), coconut oil--those are all ones i consume on a pretty normal basis.



i have NOT gained weight from it, having even up to 40 or 45% of my calories coming from these fats on some days. i have noticed clearer skin (coconut oil is now my ONLY moisturizer for my face and body), softer hair and my dry skin is gone. woohoo!



and it goes WAY further than the weight issue or outward stuff. because of the low-fat craze of the 80's, most of us dont have a clue that healthy fats are not our enemies. sure, people lose weight going the low-fat route cause they are consuming hundreds of calories less.



however, they're also robbing themselves of nutrients, and in addition losing out on many other nutrients they are taking in from their salads and slim-fast bars because our body needs fats to use many of the vitamins in minerals in our foods.



(fyi--any salad you have should contain at least 8g of fat so those greens are actually worth eating!! LOL so if you MUST have low-fat or fat-free dressing, throw some walnuts and pumpkin seeds on that salad!)



we need fat to make hormones, lower stress (hormone related!), have energy, feel full, aid digestion, and heck, we need fat to BE HAPPY! everyone who's gone on a fat-free diet knows that! ;)



anyhoo...back to coconut oil! we have actually been using coconut oil off and on for a few years in our smoothies and to cook with. its solid at room temp--yep, its a saturated fat! now, dont freak out! ;) here's some of the great things about coconut oil:

• its VERY stable (takes a LONG time to go rancid/slow oxidation) and has a high smoke point, which makes it great for cooking/frying at low/med temps

• the saturated fats in coconut oil are medium-chain--which means our bodies use it differently than normal saturated fats (for example, butter). it is metabolized more quickly, which is why it also helps boost your metabolism! in addition, it's not converted into cholesterol like animal-based saturated fats are in excess.

• it's rich in lauric acid, which is anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal! this has given coconut oil a good name in the treatment of many diseases and also prevention. (it even helps clear up acne and get rid of warts!! i speak from personal experience!)

• and most of all, it enhances and supports our immune system with the nutrients it contains! (and boosting your immune system will solve many-a-physical ailment, as i have personally experienced in the last few months!)

so, ya think my list is boring and bookish? 8-) check out this site for an interesting and humorous read on the benefits of coconut oil! (side note on this link: at the end she mentions Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. that's what i use!)



so ta kinda summarize my point of this post...it will take me a few more days to finish this book, but i can tell it is going to be a great source of information on getting healthier in general, and i am starting to see how adding a little more coconut oil (and a LOT less trans fats) will really help me with my recovery from endometriosis.



(i love to read all sorts of health books--even if they are somewhat one-sided--so i can take out of it what i feel applies to me and just add it to my opinions and use it!! anyhoo...hehe...)



i need to lose weight, which will help my body get rid of all that extra estrogen being stored in all my excess body fat! coconut oil will help boost my metabolism and help me feel satiated so i dont crave junk. and this means i will want less fast-food-evil-trans-fatty crapola, which will indirectly help my immune system function properly!



and with my immune system purring like a kitten, my poor adrenals can normalize and my anxiety will lessen even more.



oh and one other thing, the book reallly loves cod liver oil, especially when taken with the coconut oil because the nutrients in each help the body use the other. i take cod liver oil every day and it has greatly reduced my anxiety, among countless other benefits! (the best brand IMHO--Carlson's!)



one last thing! the other day i was reading thru the website of one of my fave places to get skin care (every once in a while, for a special treat!). and found an interesting concoction i am going to try starting tomorrow! it's called "morning brew." here's the recipe (also in the link):

• 2 tea bags of organic white tea

• 1 T cold pressed organic virgin coconut oil

• 1 T organic unsulphered black strap molasses

• 1 T organic raw honey

• 1 T organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar

however, im going to use fresh lemon juice instead of the apple cider vinegar (personal preference lol). since im not having smoothies much these days, i thought this might be an easy way to get some coconut oil while i have my tea every morning. plus, i've read lots of good things about blackstrap molasses in helping women with reproductive issues by providing extra iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium! all stuff i need!! i'll let you know how i like it ;) haha!



there's so much info out there about why we need fat to be healthy, so if my blabblings intrigue you, PLEASE go out and do some of your own research and see what works for you! :D you will be healthier for it!!



and remember, even for the most healthy of foods, MODERATION is the key. getting a great variety of whole foods (AND FATS!) will give your body a chance to heal itself of all of what we consider "normal aches and pains," function at peak performance, and live longer more fulfilling lives!! and that's what we all want, right?



~josey~

more food blabblings ;)

yep, im back again already =)



welp, i woke up today feeling all cry-y.



yep, another hormonal fluctuation of some sort! i wont go on and on about it, but thankfully i have a sweet and understanding hubby who doesnt make me feel even worse on days like today! he is just his calm, comforting self and doesnt say or do much extra, except the little things (which ARE the most important!) like extra hugs and checking in on me...



...and im finding that's the best thing for me. it keeps me from feeling like i deserve "super special" treatment all the time, which would probably promote childish whiny behavior if i know myself! hehe! instead it just leaves a neutral aura for me to deal with my fluctuations and by the advice of my naturopath, i am just going to lay low for the day. she told me a while back that if i can, just stay home or do whatever i need to to ride it out...take it for what it is and dont worry about tomorrow and how i'll feel, because most likely i'll feel fine.



so, even tho i wanted to eat junk today for brekky, i was very good and just finished two eggs over veggie-stock sauteed kale, shiitakes, and garlic. i know, you're saying YUCK! well, i'll tell ya, its actually pretty dang good ;) (believe me tho, it took me a LONG time--like a few years!-- to get to this point of eating these kinds of things!!) i got the idea from my World's Healthiest Foods book and it only takes about 10 minutes to make.



i have never been much of a mushroom girl, especially fresh ones, but cooked this way they really blend in with the texture of the egg so they dont bother me. they are actually kinda cute *hehe* and they are soo good for your immunity as is the garlic!!



i prefer sauteed swiss chard or spinach, but i had some kale i needed to get rid of so i used that instead. its a great way to get a couple servings of veggies out of the way--a few cups of raw greens cooks down to almost nothing! and the best thing of all is that the method of cooking these foods as shown in the WHF book preserves the nutrients and in fact, boosts them in some ways depending on the food.



and i had some fresh, organic LOCAL strawberries to wash it all down. *drool* i've read eating fruit at the end of your meal really aids in digestion from the fiber and all the enzymes fruit contains. AND for me...it prevents the bad-for-me carb/sweet craving i sometimes have after meals! WOOT!



another thing the WHF book suggests is having green tea w/lemon before your meals. its a great punch of antioxidants and the lemon makes it a potent detox as well. i have been having it almost every day for about 3 weeks now, and i have to say im quite enjoying it :)



normally i drink Numi brand organic gunpowder green tea, but it is a little pricey to drink 2-3 times a day (esp if hubby is drinking it, too!)...so, i found a diff kind at WalMart called Uncle Lee's Organic Green Tea for only $2-something for 40 tea bags. that's really good! i was worried about the taste quality, but so far its great! i just make sure to boil the water and steep for 3.5-4 min MAX. turns out great every time :)



oh, and i always use FRESH organic lemons (nothing bottled), and just squeeze about a tsp in to the cup. very good, very healthy!



okee well i think im headed out to the garden for some outdoor/vit D therapy i have a cherry tomato plant that is out of control! its almost 5ft high and about 4ft wide. i have it on a mini-trellis, but its getting so big its blocking sun for my cukes and pole beans *hehe* have a great morning and let me know how you like the breakfast if you try it!



ttfn!!



~jos~

tuesday chit-chat :)

heeeeeeeeeeey :)



how ya'll doin?? gosh, i cant believe i havent written in a few weeks! the time has gone fast--a lot has happened around here in that short bit of time. its been a crazy busy summer so far, and its not letting up anytime soon. i really cant complain, tho...being busy is much better for me right now than just lying around on my bum! hehe!



so well first, i have to say that things are goin perty durned good on the food and exercise front here. in fact, i have broken a few of my own records!! normally a good food or exercise habit for me absolutely never lasts more than 2 weeks, and if it even gets to 2 weeks that's a miracle.



BUT...*DRUMROLL* i have been going to yoga for almost 2 months now! YAY! AND...i am on my 3rd week of pretty good eating!! (not perfect, but pretty good! and hey, that's pretty good! LOL! ) my "The World's Healthiest Foods" book and website are providing a lot of motivation for me and showing me how easy it is to prepare healthier meals.



yeah, some days are hard, and i have a lonnnnggg way to go, but i am feeling super good about it! we have done sooo much traveling lately, and i've been trying to take fruit and nuts for snacks, and choose better at fast food places. just yesterday at wendy's i got their black forest ham frescatta, a side caesar salad and small frosty. its not perfect, but its much better than the baconator, fries and pop!! baby steps!!



ive also been reading the book "What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Premenopause: Balancing Your Hormones and Your Life from Thirty to Fifty" by John R. Lee, MD. my naturopath had recommended it to me, so i snagged a used copy for a few bucks off amazon. and it has been very eye-opening!



much like the book i had read about healing endometriosis thru nutrition, this book has helped me to better understand how my body works and how the choices i have made to better my health are really going to benefit me. it's also reminded me that it TAKES TIME...that i wont see immediate changes...and even tho i know this, the reminder is good cause dang, some days just suck and are tough to get thru (as you may see from some of my more recent posts LOL).



the author is also a big advocate of natural progesterone cream, which i have been using (Arbonne Phyto Prolief, green label, to be exact!), and there is a lot of information in the book about it. it has helped ease some of my concerns about using it and has actually encouraged and comforted me in many ways!



obviously im not in premenopause yet, but this book is PERFECT for any woman in her 30s, 40s, or 50s who has not yet gone thru menopause. you may find by reading this book that some of the changes/weird symptoms you are experiencing are hormonal, and there are drug-free and inexpensive ways to balance it all out. i highly recommend reading it!!! heck, even the men who are with these women could read it and it may help you understand what we girls go thru :D hehe!



okay so enuff girly stuff!



i went to my uncle's funeral yesterday. he was 60.



im not sure if i had mentioned it before, but he struggled with lung cancer for the 3rd time in a decade. he was such a neat person, leaving behind a wife in her 50s and two sons in their 30s, and a few grandkids. i am convinced had he stopped smoking after his first bout with cancer that he'd still be here today.



it makes me so sad, and angers me, too, that people are so selfish that they cant make choices in their lives so they stay around longer for their families. i myself do not smoke, have never even tried a cigarette. sometimes i find myself really mad at my parents and my sister for not being able to kick the habit themselves.



but lately i have realized that i have to stop and think about my attitude toward them--even tho smoking is obviously horrible for your health (and unfortunately those around you), many other habits debilitate us as well--like my own issues with food!



we all have our vices, the things that contribute to our ill-health, and eating junk food is no better than smoking cigarettes in the long run if you look at it from a broad perspective. i need to stop judging them and being so critical and look at my own choices as far as my health goes.



they arent going to change until they are ready--i was at that point in other areas of my life not too long ago myself until my health issues convinced me otherwise. but still, its a choice every day.



one hope i have is that one day soon i can be a better example for my family, that they might see how beneficial it will be to choose a more gentle, healthier lifestyle that includes quitting smoking, eating less fast food and getting a little more active.


maybe that's selfish of me...because i want them to stick around longer...but i also dont want to see them suffer thru cancer like my uncle did. my aunt was there for him almost 24/7 for the last several months and i cant imagine the toll its taken on her. he was in so much pain for so long, and no one deserves to die like that. now my aunt is a widow, only in her 50's.



one of my grandmas and aunts died of lung cancer as well, so it just drives me that much more to want to avoid cancer altogether!! i just love my family so much and want them to live good quality lives, not short, painful ones. (one piece of good news, tho...my dad hasnt had a cigarette for over a week now...i am so happy for him...even tho he is super grumpy he is toughing it out!!)



welllllllp, i guess i should go for now!! i have a lot on my mind today, but overall things are good :) i will check back in soon!



enjoy the day!



~jos~

movin' on up! (mooooovin' on up!)...

heyyyyyyyyyy! (how do ya like the old-school chiropractics? hehe!!)



yep, i'm movin' on up (mooooovin' on up!)...to the eaaast side *lol* hehehe okay, well i'm not moving to a deluxe apartment in the sky ...but, i feel like i'm finally making some headway in the health department, and that's somethin i am sure celebratin!!! the last 6 months, and especially the last few, have been some of the roughest emotionally and physically i've ever had. fortunately, i've had the support & prayers of my husband, family and a few close friends to drag me thru it all!! cause believe me, i've been kicking and screaming!



...yep, kicking and screaming, like a little baby! *LOL* well i digress, i wasnt THAT bad, but if i was, it would be my hormones to blame. really. im just all messed up inside!!



before my laparoscopy, i happened upon a wonderful website which helped me understand i had other options than drugs for the treatment of my endo. then someone recommended this AWESOME book to me by Dian Shepperson Mills & Michael Vernon called Endometriosis: A Key to Healing Through Nutrition.



talk about a revelation!! if you or someone you know has endometriosis, this is a MUST READ. not only will you learn SO MUCH, but it is written so compassionately and many times i've just sat there and cried while reading it, saying to myself, "that is me...that is what i've been feeling and experiencing..." and it has felt SO GOOD to know that someone understands!! and most of all, to know i'm not going crazy. or being a hypochondriac. or clinically depressed! because some days have been horrible!



that book, coupled with the website, has given me oodles of hope and inspiration, and more knowledge than i ever imagined to take control of my own health.



in fact, a few weeks ago i went back to my family doctor and had blood tests done to check everything, including my cholesterol and thyroid. she said my thyroid was fine, but i had my doubts because of the way i've been feeling and some symptoms i've had (thinning hair, dry hands/legs, foggy memory, fatigue, moodiness...), and in addition, thyroid issues run on my mom's side (mom, grandma, and great grandma all have/had problems--great grandma even died of goiter!!).



so...where am i now? well, after coming to the conclusion i wanted to try a drug-free approach to treating my endo, i decided to see a naturopath.



so last week, i had an appointment with the naturopathic practitioner. interestingly enough, one of the first questions she asked me was if i've recently had my thyroid checked. according to her observations, (which i most definitely agree with!) my thyroid IS on the decline (but to a general doctor, if its within the levels, even if its low, they wont offer treatment or suggestions...), and guess what? the thyroid gland is one of the reproductive hormone glands! GO FIGURE!



so that directly works into my hormonal imbalances and the endometriosis. its hard telling which problem came first--but either way, im working on balancing it all out again. it will take several months--not as quick as a drug--but it will be something that makes me healthier all around and that i can live with with NO SIDE EFFECTS.



im on a couple herbal tincture supplements (one to jump-start my thyroid and one to "clean up" the endo), and i also am taking magnesium and a special B-vitamin complex. those two will help my body recover from all the stress ive been under--lots of stress whacks out hormone levels, too! so sheesh, it's all related.



and one more thing--i have some major diet changes. no dairy, no wheat. fortunately i've been cutting wayyyy back on them anyway (esp dairy), so hopefully it wont be too bad.



and losing weight is the #1 priority to normalize the hormones--especially because i found out from my blood tests that i am pre-diabetic!!



so God is really piling it all on right now, telling me to take care of myself!! SO I AM!! hehe! i have already been taking fish oil, evening primrose oil, a black cohosh supplement and a good multivitamin, so as long as i really really stick to the good diet, i am DEFINITELY gonna see some results.



i know, it seems like a lot of pills and junk, but i dont care because i know they are healthy for me--not a drug with side effects, just treating symptoms! and the pills and supplements are only part of the equation for holistic treatment!



OH and also, she told me i MUST MUST MUST get out of the house more and be around other people. my stress levels from just sitting around, worrying about myself, etc... are a major factor in my hormone imbalances. when you are stressed, your adrenal glands produce a lot more cortisol, which lowers progesterone, which means estrogen is dominant.



the B-vits im taking will help my adrenals recover since they are sucking up the little bit i get in my diet, but i have to put some effort into lowering my stress levels too, or i wont get any better. so, im looking into taking a yoga class once or twice a week. im pretty excited!



soooo anyhooooo...sorry for all the babbling! i actually SPARED you a lot of details, if you can believe it. (im sure you can--you know how talkative i am LOL)



for me, it is a wonderful feeling to understand how are bodies are created to heal themselves if we provide the right nutrients and support. now that i know a lot more, i realize my poor immune system has been sooo abused, probably for the last decade especially. i know im young, but people are getting chronic and even terminal illnesses much younger these days.



our world bombards us with toxins and chemicals that we arent made to deal with long term--and its not just in our air, its in our water, food and all the junk we put on our bodies. it takes a lot of open-mindedness to understand and even believe that the things we have come to know as commonplace arent always the healthiest or created with our longevity in mind. most companies are out to make money--not make us healthy!



(i wont even go there! LOL *hides the soap box from myself* heheeh )



if you get a chance, visit my the blog of my friend melissa. she recently posted some AWESOME info about convenience foods that may open your eyes!



seeing her posts made me happy that there are parents who are not only trying to improve their own health, but taking responsibility for what their child eats as well. its a super tough job raising children these days, let alone making sure they eat for wellness! that's another soapbox of mine! hehe!



i truly believe what our children eat affects their behavior, grades, and a host of other things. along those lines, last summer i watched jamie oliver's school lunch project series on TLC, and it intrigued me!! check his site out. its a very VERY important subject!



okay, im realllly gonna go now! we're having soft tacos for supper, and im starving. it'll be my first time trying brown rice tortillas!! LOL!!! (no wheat, remember!?)



take care and be well!!!



~josey~

the day after

hallllo!



and just how are you today??? pretty durned good here! hubby and i had a great valentine's day and he made reservations at a local steak house for our dinner. it was AWESOME!



we enjoyed crabcakes for an appetizer (im notta big seafood person at all, but these were HEAVVVV-ENNN!), then we both had salads and a petite filet (6oz) with potato and a few spears of asparagus for our entree. there was even a complimentary glass of red wine! YUMMY!



and of course, being valentine's day we had to have dessert! they had this cute heart-shaped pastry/crunchy thing with lightly flavored lemon custard, sliced strawberries and chocolate syrup drizzled over the top. a great end to a great meal!!!



of course, i overate, but not half as bad as i usually do on special occasions. slow but steady progress!! the sad thing was, since i have lately been trying to recognize when i am actually FULL, i noticed after the appetizer that i really could have stopped eating and been full... HAHHAAH! that was even before the pre-entree salad! it really is crazy how much we eat!! ;)



i was telling hubby earlier how from eating all that food yesterday, i just feel BLEH today, like my whole body is "all stuffed up!" i feel a bit sluggish and my head is, well, slow, to put it simply. hehe! and i feel like i need to drink tons of water and exercise hard for a long time and sweat like crazy. *LOL* you know, to detox or something! (kinda like how you feel better after you blow your snotty nose! HAHAH!)



anyhoo, he said at least we arent craving more junk--instead we are craving a good day! and he is so right!! THAT is an improvement...progress for sure. physically AND mentally. woohoo :D:D



oh and one other thing...in my hubby's vday card to me, he thanked me for all my efforts to help lead us toward better health *awwwww* (he used much better wording! hehe) that made me feel SO GOOD. not only do i want to be healthier, i want him to be, too! he doesnt realize it, but he helps me a lot. he's got a great, positive attitude and his calm personality is a blessing to me!



anyhoo...good health is something we can strive for together, and i love him so much! YAY ME cause i've got the best guy EVER! (okay you might think that was all cheesey, but i dont care :P hahaha)



so what are you reading these days? welp, like i've mentioned, i finished the Body Clutter book, and also last night i finished Sink Reflections (also by FlyLady). both GREAT books that i'd recommend to ANY woman (men can also read them, but will need to be much more open minded).



a week or so ago, i returned a library book i'd finished--Mariel Hemingway's Healthy Living from the Inside Out. VERY GOOD BOOK!! i dont really care who she is (the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway) or what she's previously done in Hollywood. she wrote a wonderful book and is very honest about her own shortcomings and what now works for her.



i'm sure i will get the book again so i can put more of it to good use, but the things that stood out the most to me were how important it is to BREATHE (i'll talk more about this in another post!), and how making your home a sanctuary can really improve your health. i have already "redone" our bedroom by removing all the extra unnecessary furniture & clutter, banning the pets (day AND night!), and adding lots of plants!



i got a beautiful algerian ivy hanging in the window and some other ivies and a snake plant on wall shelves. since then, we've been reading and relaxing in there every night before bed. its GREAT!!! all the greens in there are very calming to me, and with less pet hair and air-purifying plants, it just smells and feels cleaner. my next room mission is the office!!



i am also still reading Dr. Weil's Eight Weeks to Optimum Health. this book is my background project! it will probably take me more like 16 weeks *hehe* but that's cool.



there is just something about Dr. Weil that is calming to me. *lol* i think its his balanced way of thinking and living. he really stresses that so many areas of our lives are important to our overall health and well-being, not just food and exercise!



he, like Mariel, stresses how important BREATHING is. okay yeah, we know we have to breathe to live ;) but we really dont realize how shallowly we breathe because our lives are so rushed, we have horrible posture, we have fat guts that restrict it, etc...*lol* im not talking about meditating, either. (that can be quite intimidating to the midwest-countrygirl-what's'OM'mean-kindachick. LOLOL)



its really just about clearing your mind by focusing on your breathing so your body can actually get the oxygen it needs to work! okay so anyhoo, once i get this downpat i'll write more about it and let you know what i think. hehe!



okay well i guess i've rambled on long enuff! time to go move my sluggish body for 15 minutes! im also going to do more stretches each day. it just feels good!!



have a great thursday!



~jos~

inside-out

hey happy monday!!!



well last nite i finished Body Clutter.



here's the main thing i learned--my perfectionism is holding me back.



in pretty much every area of my life! :-O



ya know, 10 years or so ago i always bragged about being a perfectionist. it made me feel good--perfectionism meant i was thorough, precise, on-the-ball, diligent, & a good delegator & leader. so wow, those things sound GREAT...right?



HA!!! what euphemisms in my life!



okayokay, i wont say those things arent excellent attributes in and of themselves, but so many of us are perfectionists in a way that hurts and hinders us, and we dont even realize it. we usually place the blame on something or someone else when things dont go our perfectionistic way. when in reality, it's really because we have our lives in a perfect little box, and everything we do, say, breathe, eat, sleep and exercise has to fit in it--and if it doesnt, we either project the blame or think we can fix it (and usually endlessly,fruitlessly try...and then feel guilty, beat ourselves up, give up...the perfectionist's cycle!!).



we are so inflexible even when we think we are laid-back...if something doesnt go according to a well-laid-out plan, we are stuck like a pretty maiden tied to the railroad tracks (and in this case, her hands are NOT tied...hmmm!).



okay that was a dorky allusion, but hey its the first thing that popped into my head :P she might think she is stuck but her hands are free--so why doesnt she untie the freakin rope??? *LOL* instead she is going to lay there and suffer when she has a perfectly good means to remedy the situation!! she just cant think outside her perfectionistic i-always-do-it-this-way-its-not-by-MY-book attitude!!



whew okay, enough of my ranting. here's some things i highlited in my Body Clutter book that really struck home for me...

"You cannot give to others something you don't have, and if you don't have love for yourself, how then can you truly love others?"



"What are we doing when we hide in the car and scarf down doughnuts or a big greasy burger and french fries? Who are we kidding? No wonder we can't lose weight; we don't really want it bad enough. We set ourselves up for failure because we are dishonest with the most important person in the world. If we can't tell ourselves the truth, then what have we come to? I know you want to curl up in a ball right now and feel sorry for yourself, but that is what this kind of sneak eating is all about--feeling sorry for yourself."



"For a new habit to become automatic, we have to cheer ourselves on and not depend on the feelings or words from others."



"...we must first forgive ourselves for our past and quit punishing ourselves for every little mistake..."



"Guilt is the lack of forgiveness manifested in physical anxiety."



About moving our bodies... "Our fear of not doing it right keeps us couch potatoes."



"From the time we were little children, we have been told that if you can't do something right, don't do it at all. This kind of thinking is what got our home and body in the chaotic state that seems to overwhelm us. This is perfectionism!"



"In our perfectionism, we tell our husbands that their help is not good enough. If our ugly words do not deflate their loving gesture of folding towels, our action of refolding them will tell them loud and clear that their help is not good enough. Our children have to deal with this all the time, too..."

In the "Excuses, Excuses!" chapter, they listed several common excuses we use to keep ourselves safe behind our Body Clutter. here's a few of mine they listed:

"My husband loves me for me! He loves me just the way I am, not for what I look like. This may be true, but that is no excuse for not taking care of yourself. That sweet man loves you and for that reason alone, you should love yourself enough to be on this earth with him as long as you can."



"I really do love my chocolate. Do you love your chocolate more than you love yourself and life? When we deprive ourselves, it is no wonder we have to eat the whole box to get satisfied. It is not the chocolate we are craving, it is the love we feel when we eat it."



"After all, I am healthy: I have good blood pressure and I have no problem with my cholesterol. ...You are not healthy if you are obese and sedentary."



"I don't want to 'deny' myself. Would you rather feed your face than deprive yourself of good, healthy food? The truth is you are denying yourself good health."

sooooooooo...with all that said, those really hit deep with me when reading Body Clutter. my brain is pretty chock full of things to chew on now! heheh!!! but ya know, i feel good about it.



i think more than anything, the mental clutter of being overweight has weighed me down more than the physical weight all these years. im definitely ready to start throwing junk out!!! im sure once i start ridding myself of all the negative crap, that will make room for me to focus on things that matter so much more to me--like loving and caring for my husband, home, pets, and staying in better touch with my friends & family.



i know that all sounds so simple--but as im sure some of you can empathize, when you have mental clutter bogging you down it's hard to focus on anything else. it consumes us and affects nearly everything we do.



whew okay!! hopefully that wasnt too much of a downer. i think its all definitely a BIG step in the right direction im really starting to understand that getting healthy is just the opposite from what i thought it was--its not losing the weight and then being happy...its dealing with the inside and then the outside follows



until next time...



~josey~

i'm not going to over-analyze thinking of a good title for this blog entry...;)

hey!! :D



i hate it when i sit down to blab to ya and suddenly this strange haze comes over my brain. i suddenly start thinking...yeah, i start thinking. that's the problem. HAHA!



im a chronic over-analyzer, as anyone who knows me well can attest. *45 second pause* (whew, i almost even over analyzed that trying to think of 3 or 4 different ways to say chronic over-analyzer...hehehe!!)



anyhoo, hey, how's your week goin?? =D



things are spiffilicious here! yep, the last week or so has had its ups and downs, but mostly just because of me, myself, and i. (technically should that be me, myself, and me to be grammatically correct in a prepositional phrase? HAHAH!! okayokay, i'll stop. just bein a dork :P )



im really going thru a phase in my life where im trying to figure myself out--my habits and what drives them, my motivation and what feeds it, my attitude and how i can change it. its GREAT!



yeah, im sure i drive my hubby nuts with all my psychobabble but im pretty sure he loves me anyway. its all for a greater good. and i think its ALWAYS a stellar idea to break up complacency when possible.



HAHAH! for the heck of it, i did spell check on this entry so far. i never do that--cause online i never use correct spelling or grammar and i make up a lot of words. (dont tell me you havent noticed! :P )



i cracked up at the suggestion for my word "spiffilicious..." they suggested "superfluous." i reallllly had to laugh because that is quite true also! about 3 days of the last week i definitely went on an eating spree. stupidly, i made a pan of brownies--are you seeing where im goin here?? yep, they showed up for dessert, dinner and breakfast (with some vanilla ice cream i might add).



talk about emotional eating. GUH. estrogen sure sucks some days, don't it?? (guys, count yourself lucky...or i donno, maybe its harder dealing with us than if you just had it yourself... heheh...)



ooo okay, so one more thing before i go. talking about emotional eating, im reading a book called Body Clutter. it's written by two women who aren't PhDs, not experts in anything, just normal people like you and me.



its basically about getting to the root of why we have body "clutter..." aka excess weight AND mental clutter about it. im sure you are now putting 3 and 3 together and saying ah yep, part of her "quest to figure herself out." you got it!



hey, i figured it cant hurt to figure out the mental reasons why i eat so much. i mean, i know its because im lazy sometimes, junk food tastes good, im not active enough...but those to me are shallow excuses when i really think about it. im hoping this book helps me get one step closer to being more consistent in my goal to be KINDER to myself--and my body--this year. i'll keep you updated!



enjoy the day...soak up some sunshine when you get a chance. be thankful for where you are at this very moment!



ttfn!



~jos~

living healthy

good evening (=



zooooooooom! *insert cute race car icon here* hehehe! that's how i need to take off with my lifestyle change this year. pretend im inna super speedy car, take off, and never look back! hehehe!



well, obviously most of us have prolly THOUGHT we've done that one time or another, have been all motivated and excited and said to ourselves "this is it!!" but this time is different for me. these last few months have really been the first time in my life ive had REAL pain, possibly encouraged by my lifestyle choices.



i may possibly have endometriosis, and will find out more the end of this week and sometime next week. i just cant stop thinking about how i dont want a low quality life, feeling so much older than i am like so many of my family & friends simply because they just wanted to do what they wanted to do. a lot of them say, "life's too short to not enjoy it!" i have to wonder if they ENJOY being unhealthy and miserable...



so yep. 2007 is the year and i just know it. something finally clicked in my brain and i dont hear that little voice saying "if" anymore. i know im not going to be perfect, and it's gonna take some patience to undo 32 years of bad habits.



my goals for january are simply to be BETTER than i have been. to make wiser food choices and be active EVERY day. of course i DO want to enjoy myself!!! and i want to enjoy the process, not just the end results.



i honestly feel that taking it slow and consciously thinking of each and every food and activity choice, instead of going cold turkey, is the way to go for me! that way i LEARN and CONNECT a good feeling from every good choice.



so now for my always biggest hurdle--CONSISTENCY!



welllllllp, ive got a plan for that, too :D in my yahoo group we are now in the middle of a two-week consistency goal challenge! once it is over, we will start again--with a new reward at the end of each two weeks! i donno about you, but 2 weeks is usually about all i end up being consistent for when im trying to make a change for the better.



if you are reading this and you're not in my yahoo group, take a look at it and consider joining us! even if its for a challenge or two. we're a small group so dont worry--you wont get lost in the shuffle! hehe! i know i can use all the encouragement i can get and i love to give it as well!!!



just today i started reading Dr. Andrew Weil's 2006 edition of Eight Weeks to Optimum Health. its awesome! its ideally the kind of diet to which i'd like to transform mine. i wont go into more detail...i could go on for days about nutrition. hehe! i also ordered two of FlyLady's books--Body Clutter and Sink Reflections. i've been a part of her yahoo group for about a year now and it's done wonders for my house--and ME! i'm greatly anticipating the enjoyment of reading those two books! (geez, dont i sound like sucha gooby nerd! )



alrighty, i should go for now...thanks for stoppin in!



be well!



~jos~