pass me the olden days, please

howdy <):-)



i do a lot of reading--books, magazines, articles, websites--about health, nutrition, and just about anything and everything related.



i'm not really sure where my unquenchable interest in gaining knowledge in this area comes from; i think its mostly my personality. im one of those kindsa peeps who has to know the intricate details of how things work, and i ask a lot of "why...?" questions!! its just interesting to me to know the "behind the scenes" details that the average joe (or jo-sey? LOL) usually doesnt think about, or even care about. it makes me feel secure knowing exactly how things are--like when i go to the dr., i make sure i get my $20 copay worth of information! LOL!!!



anyhoo, tonite i was reading some stuff about water. it was just an article slamming one of the major soft drink companies and their version of "purified" water. ya know, the normal stuff. hehe ;)



of course they were saying how sometimes bottled water is really just tap water...and some of it is, btw...and how the plastic from the bottles leeches into it and the host of health issues that causes...and also how all the plastic is piling up in our landfills and polluting our ground water and wildlife!



AND how much all the shipping/trucks/delivering is contributing to air pollution and globabl warming, not to mention being a large source of depleting natural resources...and it goes on and on and ON...really ON...



so drinking water is just one thing to think about when we're trying to get healthier. at the same time, want to be responsible stewards of our finances (i mean, who can afford to pay a couple thousand for a whole-house water filter?), we want to be contributors to a better earth and future for our kids, grandkids, etc...



...and just to have plain old healthy water to drink we may feel inclined to consider all these complicated, political, ethical and financial things i mentioned in the previous paragraph??!! INCONCEIVABLE!!! (no but seriously, think about it! its absurd.)



sometimes i just get so mad at the world today. we have screwed things up so badly, and there are some things we can reverse and some things that can never be repaired. technology has brought so many blessings to our lifetime, so many awesome things for us to experience and be thankful for. but it has all happened so fast, and no one can ever predict the impact those conveniences might have on our world hundreds of years later--or even as little as decades!



its really easy to get overwhelmed and just say SCREW IT, or feel really hopeless like there's no possible way our generation can have a long, healthy lifespan. all the cancer, diabetes, obesity, disorders, addictions, heart disease, and heck even just everyday health issues we deal with like allergies and skin problems in my opinion have all developed from a multi-faceted source of pollution, preservatives, petrochemicals, antibiotics, and synthetic hormones that bombard our bodies everyday!!! ARRGGHHHH!!



*raises hand* pass me the olden days, please!



dealing with my endometriosis has led me to educate myself so much on things that i put in and on my body, or come into contact with in other ways. im sure that's why this year especially, my thirst for knowledge in health and nutrition--especially naturopathy and alternative health--has taken a good deal of my free time.



i have come to feel that the generally largely published research/studies on these subjects aren't much to be trusted, especially from maybe the past 75 years or so...(yes, 75 years!)...because so much of the motives behind publishing those studies is to drive CONSUMERS.



yes, consumers! not PEOPLE, with lives, children, feelings, health issues, looking for answers, wanting truth and integrity. so many institutions/companies/governments are just finding sneakier ways to empty our bank accounts and fill theirs up. to me, this is so easy to see!!!



just look at the rate of disease in this country!!! look at the sucky quality of health care, and how so many people hop from doctor to doctor, pill to pill, feeling miserable, helpless, and BROKE!! i mean, this isnt even scratching the surface!!!



whew okay, dont get me started :-O oh yeah, you didnt ask for my soap box. ;) LOL! well, im hardly a political type person, so i will be the first to admit that i'm not too good at defending my own opinion with tons of citations, resources and junk like that...



honestly, its just a gut feeling. i read and hear all sorts of opinions--like AND unlike my own--and take it all into account. what i believe is a bit here and a piece there that fits my gut feelings, and no, its not the easy way out; i think its smart to listen to all sides and then form an opinion that fits your life, your ethics and morals, and your needs.



i get tired of hearing all the "important people's" opinions (important according to the media!) and how they try to push it on everyone else. to me, going back to simpler times when life was more free of complication, disease, and greedy companies presents plenty of sound "research" for me to follow my gut. putting it into play into our modern-day lives is the challenge.



to me, the olden days sure seem like common sense. dont you think?



what happened to good, old-fashioned whole foods? what happened to kids knowing where their food really comes from--and its NOT from a plastic bottle or designer box or the best fast food joint's toy selection, but instead from the garden or a tree or a cow in the barn!!



what happened to YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT??? (sadly, that means most of us are MSG, high fructose corn syrup and trans fats!!)



personally, i think the modern food industry is getting really scary--we are depending on farms across the globe for some of our food, shipped in who knows what dirty truck, handled by who knows who, sprayed with who knows what, and mixed and preserved with ingredients we cant pronounce...contaminated with deadly who knows what...



if we would make more of an effort to buy locally we wouldnt have to worry about any of that! *DEEP BREATH*



dang, i wish somehow i could live like, lets say, Laura Ingalls Wilder did, only with the best of her world and the best of ours. is that even possible? i know, i probably am living in a bit of a dream world, but i see little pockets of it in the small community where i live in WI. this town and surrounding area is very eco-minded, with responsible local biodynamic and organic farmers. there's a lot of sustainable farming and living even, and tho a lot of folks (maybe even you!) see it as stone age living, i see it as such an opportunity!



its so sad more people dont see how it can benefit our health, our happiness, and then even farther-reaching--our communities, our water and earth, and future generations.



okay, so all this was a little heavy of a topic for me...maybe boring for you? LOL! let me know what you think!! im not always good at putting down exactly what i think, but hopefully you got the gist of it. hehe! i probably left a lot of things unsaid, but hey, my fingers can only type so fast ;)



anyhoo, this is all something i think about nearly every day--as part of living, learning, and searching for betterment of body, mind and spirit and i figured i'd share it with ya!!!



nitenite.



~josey~

i'm back!

wow, its been quite a while since i've written...but to me, it seems like only a week or so ago!! hehe!



well, all our guests have come and gone...in quite a blink of an eye 8^| we had an AWESOME time, first with my sister, hubby, daughter and son staying with us for 4 days...then the kids stayed for the following week.



then, while the kids were still here, one of my hubby's old buddies was passing thru town, and his wife and kids stayed with us for the weekend. during that time we had a cookout/get together for the "crew" of old friends since the one was back in town...so that was a blast having everyone over! :D



so, over the span of 2 weeks, we went from just me and hubby (and the pets of course LOL) to as many as 6 more people staying in the house...plus around 15 for the day when we had the cookout. we had so much fun and im so bored now that everyone's gone! HAHAH!!



okay well, so not to be a downer, but this week my motivation has been NIL. it sucks!! i havent eaten well, i havent even showered every day! i've been watching tons of tv, which i rarely do, and havent really been a very good domestic princess! LOL! ;)



i know most of it is because i went from being so busy and organized while everyone was here--which i loved--but then BAM! they were all gone, so now its back to the old routine and it is so slow-paced *hehe* i know i would be so much happier having a kid to take care of or SOMETHING...!!! hopefully one day that will be true :)



then, in just a few short weeks is my bday! i was reallllllly hoping to be under 200 (aka my 10% loss goal) for that. i still might, if i get my act together ASAP. i dont want this to be another bday where i say..."if i'd have only stuck with it i could have reached that goal!!" ah well. i guess i cant whine...because i HAVE lost about 20lb this year, and that is something to be proud of, right?? RIGHT! :D



well i did manage to get some things done around the house today...sheets washed...clean clothes and towels put away...beds remade...and ive got a few other things in progress...and i do feel better :)



i just feel like im starting to get too hard on myself, cause for some reason if i lose my motivational groove then i eat junk, start to get all hermity, and start feeling sorry for myself. you know, all that mean self-talk like "you are a fat slob! look at all those other pretty women!" and "you are such a bad wife...you have all day to keep this house clean and you havent done a thing!"



and the worst one for me..."you'll never be healthier, so why even bother??"



welp, im telling myself now that i am NOT a fat slob, that im a GREAT wife (im pretty sure hubby thinks so! ), and i AM healthier than i was a year ago...baby steps!!!



hmmm i guess this post is turning out to be a cheer-up letter to myself. LOL! well, im allowed to do that so dangit i am!! :) i suppose cheering ourselves up is something we're not really programmed to do, is it?



many times we expect others in our lives to be RIGHT there, anytime we need something (esp our significant other). well...sometimes they are...but if they arent (putting aside the reason!), we cant just curl up in our own ball of self-pity and play the martyr just to have an excuse to do nothing and whine!! this is typical of me!!



i rarely say it out loud, but its what goes through my head and sometimes its really damaging. not only does it push me deeper into my pity party, but then i treat others around me in a negative way.



that's not fair. no one's perfect, and when i need a pat on the back or some encouragement and there's no one there to dispense it, i need to give it to myself!!



im finding that's part of growing up i dont like it, tho. LOL. but i am doing it right now, because i know there is no reason to keep choosing to feel that way, when i have so many other things to be thankful for and happy about. so THERE, bad mood! BE GONE!! (LOL, i know, im a freak LOL)



okay, well its time for me to skedattle for now! we are going to hubby's company party for the summer later today, and im making chicken quesadillas. should be a great time!!



its almost the weekend...ENJOY!!!



~jos~

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~

almost...there...!

hay, happy monday =)



gosh, can you believe summer is half over??? it has flown by!! i sat here eating my brekky (which btw was oatmeal w/blueberries, walnuts, ground flax, cinnamon and a touch of real maple syrup! ), thinking how many months this year my goal was to get to "one"derland...below 200lb...and hmmm, i think it was probably the last 4 months. LOL!!!



i have been sooooo close, just hovering around 205 and im positive my body is saying, "are you kidding?? if you get me under 200 that means i have to lose more!!"


well, somehow by the grace of the Almighty, my scale said 204.2 this morning!! that is the official lowest weigh-in of the year! WOOT :D i keep telling myself if i just stick to eating all those nummy fruits, veggies, homemade bread, nuts, good fats, eggs and a little meat i should EASILY meet that goal this month.



but i dont wanna get my hopes up *teehee* so, im just gonna keep on truckin and if i dont quite make it for july, i will just give myself an AWESOME bday gift by reaching the goal for my bday at the end of august!! hehe!!



by the way, i never told you how my bread turned out a while back! well, since it is not 100% "wheat," there's less gluten to give it that airy texture like store-bought bread, but honestly i LOVE dense bread as long as it is chewy and not dry.



i have been using oatmeal, oat bran, and whole spelt flour. spelt is what they call an "ancient" grain--it is the ancestor of modern wheats. so, its essentially wheat in its most primitive and best form :) it has a slightly nutty flavor as compared to wheat, plus it is more nutritious! its a great source of B vitamins, fiber and protein, and even those who are sensitive to gluten may be able to have it as a wheat substitute.


dont worry tho, if you wanna try it it is easily available! to me, its not really one of those hippy trendy health foods like so many are...its something that's been around for thousands of years. but of course, all us over here in the West take a while to catch onto these things ;) hehe!



anyhoo, i have made 2 batches of the bread so far (it makes 3 loaves!) and the second was better than the first...so hopefully it keeps getting better! each time you make it, you remove a chunk of it to add to the next batch, so the flavor and texture is supposed to improve over time. i think i may add a little more yeast to this next batch, to help it rise a little more and reduce the density just a tad bit.



my hubby likes it, and i do, too, and it does make great little sandwiches and toast. so, i'll keep on making it! it freezes great as well! if you are feeling adventurous and need a good upper body workout ;) here's the link to the recipe! (the only difference is that i substituted the whole spelt flour for the bread flour.)



wellllll, i should get going!! we have a lot going on at our house in a few weeks--LOTS of visitors!!--and i have oodles of projects and a list of to-do's that need to be tackled. have an awesome day and enjoy some sunshine!!



~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~

gettin it together this week!

good morning :)



well geesh, its monday again already. but ya know what--im kinda excited! now before you think im some sort of freak since im glad its monday, let me tell you why!


okay...well...its a little anti-climactic, but im glad because its the last week of the month and i am going to try really hard this week to stick to my guns with food and exercise. my hormonal issues last week, i believe, are a direct result of all the crap i'd been eating. sometimes i hate WI...bombarded by all this friggin frozen custard that is SO ADDICTING!! heheh!! durn you, Culver's!!!



so, this week i am not going to tell myself "no, you cant have that" but instead, "oooohh you should eat THAT!" *points to yummy fresh nutritious organic fruits and veggies*



normally i dont go to yoga on mondays, but this morning im going! after the crappy last week ive had, i really need it today. one of the great things about yoga is how it cleanses your body...AND mind. i always feel so much better when i go and really focus on perfecting the poses and breathing.



strangely enough, when you do the breathing correctly, you almost forget about the little aches and pains of balancing and even more strangely, its EASIER to balance. its like the karate kid or something *LOL* ;) you just totally blank everything else out. its so good for my mood; it gives everything a rest from the normal daily trains of thought and rejuvenates me!



now remember, im definitely not a yoga-bodied-looking-gal :D (did that make sense? LOL) so if you're overweight and think you cant do it, YES YOU CAN! i weigh over 200lb and if i can do it, anyone can at some level. of course your size and fitness level will determine what limitations you have, but that's okay. doing anything that's good for your body and mind is...well, good for you! hehe!!



so if you're not a strenuous exercise person like me, i recommend giving it a try! go to a class if you can, tho. its much much much better than a video, especially if you're a newb like me. having someone there to help with your form is really important.



and dont worry, im finding that yoga class isnt like other exercising where people are looking around and comparing themselves. people do yoga for a lot more reasons than looking good!!!



for the last several months i've been using a website called the World's Healthiest Foods and it is awesome! last week i got the book the site author put out. its amazing. i am finding out things about certain foods that i never knew!



did you know that romaine lettuce is one of the healthiest lettuces out there? i mean, knew that it was better for you than iceberg ;) but seriously, its a great source of folic acid, vits A, K, & C and some trace minerals that are hard to find in other foods.



heck, even potatoes (dont cringe, low-carbers! hehe!) are great for you in moderation...they have lots of B6, C, fiber and potassium. steam some up with some olive oil and garlic, and you have a super-healthy, super-yummy side dish!! okay okay, i'll stop talking about food--its making me hungry! hehe!



i should prolly head out...i need to get to yoga class :) i hope you all plan to have a healthy, active week and are enjoying all the awesome and delicious fruits and veggies that are now in season! (can anyone say spinach and strawberries?? YUM!)



talk to you soon!



~josey~