• 29Oct

  Can Aloe Vera Juice Heal This Ulcer?

  Personal No Comments

  I just spent a lot of money on supplements. I figured either that or another Dr’s appointment. I got some Magnesium to help with sleep & energy, GABA to help with anxiety and depression, B12 to help with energy, Aloe Vera Juice to help heal the ulcer in my stomach, and buffered vitamin C to switch to while the ulcer is healing.

  8 months ago I had a baby. 5 weeks after I had my gallbladder removed. 4 weeks after that Dr’s found an ulcer in my stomach. 3 months after that my skin broke with an itchy rash from head to toe. That was all 3 months ago. My body was practically screaming at me to make some changes. That was right about the time I started this blog, and make some necessary changes.

  The ulcer symptoms have increased over the past month, ever since I cut the medication to half. I’m pretty sure that anxiety plays a huge role in aggravating this ulcer, and I know that diet does too. I’m going to stop taking the medication (since I was suppose to discontinue use two months ago), and I’m going to try using aloe juice for the next three months and see how that works. If my symptoms get worse I will stop immediately and call my Dr and see what he recommends.

  I’m also going to take the other supplements I bought to help with energy, anxiety, depression, immune system, and sleep (all which play a roll in ulcer symptoms, and healing). I know I can’t just go out and buy a cure. I’ve already tried that. I’ve also made some serious life style changes. However it just doesn’t seem to be enough. Healing ulcers just takes time.

• 27Oct

  Re-Focus & Re-Commit

  Personal 2 Comments

  OK, I’ve talked about changing things up a bit, and here it goes. I want this site to be a great resource for others. I always tend to do better when I’m focused on helping others. Deep down I think that I’ll probably get the most out of this, but you never know.

  ”Goals in stone, plans in sand”

  Goal: Get fit and go surfing
  Plan: Take actions necessary to make changes in four main categories of fitness.

  Main Fitness Categories: Mental, Physical, Social, and Financial

  Mental: Stay focused, positive and motivated. (Mind before matter.)

  Physical: Eat healthy and exercising regularly. (This would be the matter.)

  Social: Build positive, healthy real relationships. (This would be the blogging.)

  Financial: Make smart, healthy financial choices. (This is the $2000 I’ll earn to go to San Diego and take surfing lessons.)

• 24Oct

  Ego and Ignorance

  Personal No Comments

  Recently a fellow blogger Roni asked, “Do your friends and Family Help or Hurt Your Efforts?” It made me think, and I wanted to share my response.

  “My husband has his own weight loss goals, which is great. He’s trying to gain weight (muscle). I just have to watch my portions and realize that my goals are completely different. The food we both eat however isn’t that different. He knows that if he’s not careful he could gain the wrong kind of weight. I think he looks great as is, and he’s always saying the same thing about me. We both realize that we both have goals of optimum fitness & health. We should work harder to support each other. It’s hard when were both struggling. Most of the time it’s great. Recently, (at my request) he’s stopped offering to go buy me chocolate when I’m having a bad day.

  My family knows nothing of my blog and it seems like the most overweight people in my family make fun of weight loss and healthy living the most. My family is full of sarcasm, which is really just a “funny” way for them to say mean things. I’m aware that I have a little sarcasm at times, and I’m working on being more sensitive, and open-minded.”

  This got me thinking about how much my family can hurt my efforts…if I let them. For whatever reason I care about what my family thinks. Ok… It’s not whatever, it’s because I love them, and I know they love me. It’s been hard to realize that although they love me they don’t always know what’s best for me. Loving someone and telling them how you think they should live their life are two completely different things. Many times unknowingly they will hurt my efforts. It could be out of ignorance or even ego. Thinking that anyone healthier then them must be obsessed, or unhealthy, or focused on the wrong things in life.

  Many people are unaware of their ego and how it affects others and themselves. I recently realized that I have a huge ego, and that’s part of why I care so much about what others think of me. I’m also very ignorant at times and say very wrong things. Either way just by recognizing I have an ego, helps it get smaller. By recognizing my ignorance, I can either not say anything or learn something.

• 23Oct

  I Plan on Snacking

  Personal No Comments

  Sorry, I haven’t shared everything I found about serotonin. I’ve been trying to apply it a little to get my energy levels back up, and level out a little. Here is the basic outline I’ve been doing the past two weeks.

  Breakfast – Protein, Carbs, & Fruit
  Snack – Carbs
  Lunch – Protein & Vegetables
  Snack – Carbs
  Dinner – Carbs & Vegetables
  Snack – Carbs

  I only eat the snacks when I’m feeling hungry. First (if I think of it) I drink a tall glass of water to make sure it’s not just dehydration. When I snack I eat my complete snack. Even if I don’t feel hungry I’m still eating at least one snack between meals. Ideally I eat the snack an hour before my meal and at least three hours after eating any protein.

  Lately I’ve been eating more like 4-5 snacks a day with two snacks between lunch and dinner. That’s when I hit my low and that’s when I crave the most.

• 22Oct

  Binge Eating Related to Serotonin?

  Personal 2 Comments

  A fellow blogger Inny wrote a recent post with many great resources listed that explain why we have cravings, and how serotonin is related.

  I need to take the time and find the exact source for the following research. All I know is that in the 1970’s MIT did a lot of research with rats in relation to serotonin. In one study they had two groups of rats, and with out changing their caloric intake took out the carbs from one group and replaced them with more vegetables, fat, and protein. After some period of time they gave both groups of rats three plates of food. One plate had only carbs on it. The group of rats that had been deprived carbs immediately went to the carbs and basically had a rat version of binge eating, while the other rats just ate a little from each plate.

  Something likes that at least. That explains why dieters on a low carb diet do fine as long as they never go off the diet. So, what is a healthy recommendation of carbs? I know it has to be different depending on each individual, their lifestyle, the rest of their diet, and possibly their genetics. I have so many questions and not enough time toooo…. ok no excuses. I can make time. I’m going to start getting some answers, apply them, and share it all.

  For now check out this post for a lot of great facts, related links and resources. “On carbs, serotonin and why we binge” by Inny

• 21Oct

  Gracie’s Gear Giveaway

  Personal No Comments

  I never enter contest.  But this was too good not to share.  What girl couldn’t use another bra? And, check this one out. It solves so many problems.  Some one got everything right with this one. It also gives great support. Gracie’s Gear knows their stuff and their clientele.

  Here it goes.  Cross my fingers and hope i win.

  I entered the Gracie Gear Giveaway!

  Check out Roni’s Weight Loss Blog for more information.

• 21Oct

  Exercise and Sleep

  Health/Fitness No Comments

  I know that exercise is suppose to lift your mood and help you sleep. Well, I haven’t slept very well in a long time, and it really did make a difference. In fact it was as if my body was now ready to catch up on all of the missed sleeping as well. Either way it was great. I enjoyed a long night of deep sleep with normal dreams. All thanks to a really great bike ride. I still read while I was biking, but I made sure to get my hart rate up right at the beginning and keep it up. I did 30 min and I really sweat.

  

  The only thing is, i was ready to go to sleep at 3pm. Today i think i’ll try to workout 2hrs before i go to sleep. Giving my heart time to slow back down, and use exercising to prep me for sleep and clear my mind. Evenings are when my mind tends to fester wander the most.

• 20Oct

  Today

  Personal No Comments

  Today I’m going to put thought and care into everything I do and everyone I meet. I’m going to practice being present. It’s easy for me to be doing one thing and thinking about two or three other things while also having some song stuck in the back of my mind. No wonder I often struggle with peace of mind =).

  I’m going to go work out. (Bike) This time I’m going to focus on what I’m doing, how my muscles are working, my posture, and get the most out of my workout.

  My goal for today is to make something beautiful. It’s simple but important. Setting the goal for me is just as important as doing it. If I can set a goal every day (An obtainable goal) then I can see what I have achieved. Some days I feel like I haven’t completed anything significant. Well this is a way to not accidentally do something great, but plan on it.

  Sorry, No photos again. I’m re-thinking the photos or at least the frequency. Perhaps I’ll do it once a month, and weight weekly. Who knows? Either way I’m still in transition, and still trying to see how I can make the most out of this site, and how I can make a difference.

• 15Oct

  An Open Mind

  Fitness Motivation 2 Comments

  I’m keeping my options and even my opinions wide open. There is so much that I don’t know, and so much I will still learn. This process will continue throughout my entire life. Right now I don’t want any “diet” restrictions. I’m following some basic guidelines for diet that I read in “The Serotonin Power Diet” but haven’t even finished reading the book. Some of the strategies it suggests I disagree with. However, that’s what makes it a suggestion. Either way I’m paying very close attention to what my brain and my body needs and I’m not depriving it of anything. I know that my mind often thinks it needs chocolate, when it’s really needing serotonin, or a nap, or a healthy snack, maybe even some sugar. The amount of fat in chocolate is outrageous, and not worth it. It also make me upset to my stomach. I still love it, just with serious consideration, and in moderation.

  Right now I have no “plan” besides going surfing. Other then that, it’s a daily journey. For now, I’m getting use to treating my self to some relaxation time once a day even if it’s only for 5 min. I sat on my balcony and read for 15min in the sun today. It was great. I love the sun.

• 14Oct

  Serotonin & Cravings

  Diet/Nutrition No Comments

  Serotonin is not only linked to depression but moods, energy and cravings. The research I’m finding basically says that you can trigger the release of serotonin by eating just carbs. It’s very specific. If you eat just protein, or even protein and carbs you will not increase you serotonin levels enough to make a difference or even at all.

  I had been eating protein with all of my meals and for any additional snacks. My ratio for food was Protein 40%, Carbs 40%, and Fat 20%. When I needed to be more like Protein 20%, Carbs 60%, and Fat 20%. Not only that I needed to be eating just carbs once in a while. More specifically not even while I was digesting protein. Protein is very essential in the diet in order for the body to producing serotonin, but is not part of releasing it. In fact while protein is being digested it actually prohibits the release or production of serotonin because of other amino acid processes. It’s all very technical and there are all sorts of studies that explain it all better then I can. I’ll find the most reliable, scientific, and verifiable sources and add them to the site. Most of them are from test done at MIT back in 1970.

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