Dr J

Busting the "Onion Story"

2010-05-01T22:54:00.005-04:00

Okay...today, let's tackle the onion story.

This is what is currently circulating on the internet:

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people, there was a Doctor who
visited many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of
the farmers and their family had contracted it, and many died.

The doctor came upon one farmer, and to his surprise, everyone in the
household was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was
doing that was different, the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled
onion in a dish in the rooms of the home (probably only two rooms back
then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of
the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one, and when
he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously
absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

TAKING IT APART

First let's take apart the story. According to this story, a doctor took an onion that had been sitting in a dish and looked at it under the microscope. He apparently found the flu virus in the onion. What I do know is that in 1919, the only type of microscope available would be an ordinary light microscope. These types of microscopes do not have a resolution anywhere near enough to see a virus! To see a virus, you would need an electron microscope and the earliest version of these wasn't invented until the 1930's. So no, the doctor did not see the virus in the onion.

Second, this story refers to the flu virus as a bacteria. In reality, bacteria and viruses are very different organisms. A virus must find a host and invade its cells in order to reproduce. Bacteria, on the other hand, merely need some type of 'food' in order to replicate...and many natural food source we have will suffice for any number of different strains of bacteria.

Third, I cannot find ANY scientific papers that provide evidence of onions attracting/absorbing the flu virus or helping heal people who have the flu.

So, with these three lines of reasoning, I have to say the story is a hoax.

HOWEVER...there is a evidence that onions can fight off some bacteria (but not a virus).

There are three lines of evidence regarding onion's influence on bacteria.

First, placing cut onions around the house is a very old remedy that goes back at least 1000 years and throughout history to the present day. Usually when something lasts this long, there is some kernel of truth in it somewhere that warrants scientific investigation.

Second, there are scientific papers that show the juice of an onion contains thiosulphinate, which has been proven to kill some common types of bacteria.

Third, rubbing a cut onion (and thus exposing the juice) on cuts and wounds has been shown to reduce infection and speed up healing.

So, the bottom line is that onions do have an effect on some bacteria. But the way the story is currently being told is false.

Here is an INTERESTING TWIST that I think merits attention. Many people who become seriously ill with the flu, end up with a compromised immune system that leaves them open to 'opportunistic' bacterial infections. Their body's defense system is just not up to the task of warding off bacteria that they normally would be able to defend against. Indeed, many people who die after having been seriously ill with the flu actually die from one of these other infections, such as pneumonia. It might be possible that leaving a cut onion near a person when they are seriously ill will help keep these bacteria away (there is a reason you can smell an onion from a distance).

If nothing else, the person who cut up the onions will have probably spilled some of the juice on their hands and therefore cleaned their own hands of bacteria before they touched the patient.

However, washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20-30 seconds before and after tending to the sick patient and wearing a mask would do a better job of this.

super healthy eating on a low budget and weight loss!

2010-05-01T02:26:00.004-04:00

What an interesting week! Thursday was one week since I started learning how to eat healthy on a low budget. Yes, there have been some challenges...such as learning to plan ahead and remembering to eat all three meals plus three snacks. But, I am very pleased with the first week's attempt. I still have lots of food left from last week's shopping and just topped it up this week with $12 worth of goat's milk yogurt, a couple cans of sardines, a can of salmon (on sale), more goat's milk cheese, and some fresh apples.

A side effect to healthy eating...I somehow lost 6 pounds this week...and I wasn't even focusing on this aspect! I really haven't change any other part of my lifestyle...I have been a sedentary as usual!

Well...except for today...a friend and I had free passes to the CN Tower and we climbed stairs, walked miles and miles, and saw the city (and probably most of the province) from the upper observation deck. It was an absolute blast...but I did have to stop once in a while to rest...and I am sure my legs are going to be screaming at me tomorrow. I do not understand the mindset of whoever planned the tower. They would have an elevator for most of the journey up to the observation decks...and then make you climb a set of two of stairs to get there. Why couldn't it have been designed to be more accessible? We also took in that really incredibly fun "motion sensitive" ride that is there. It was an absolute blast and well worth the trip even if you don't take in the tower itself.

So today was not a typical day. I could become really discouraged about the fact that I did have to stop once in a while, but then I realize that a month a go I wouldn't even have attempted such an adventure because I knew I wouldn't be able to walk that far or last that long.

The changes are not going to occur overnight...but they are occurring. I just have to stick with the program and trust. I had a long hot shower when I got home and thought I would climb into bed early, but as usual, I got working on the computer (constructing some of the lectures for the courses I am teaching this summer) and forgot the time. Here it is almost 3 am and I am still not in bed. THAT part hasn't changed!

At least I know that with this new lifestyle I will sleep more soundly and wake up more refreshed than I used to.

I think the key has been to include many more servings of green vegetables, reducing wheat/empty/refined carbs, and drinking lots of water. I also cut down on quite a bit of red meat by substituting with healthy choices of protein such as the quinoa, salba, and sardines. I just have to wrap my head around the idea that plants can also contain protein, since I was raised on the idea that only meat can do this!

I did make a fantastic casserole of minced turkey, quinoa, onions, garlic, carrots, and spinach the other night and it was marvelous but will eventually attempt a "no meat" meal...eventually.

CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES

I have been craving diet coke but don't want to give into it...so I took an old 2 liter bottle, rinsed it out really well, filled it 3/4 full with nice fresh water, and then topped it off with good quality pomegranate juice. It looks something like coke and it is in a coke bottle, and it actually tastes really well....so I am using this when I really want coke. I think the cravings will eventually go away...it is just habit (especially late at night). I do find that if I do not take in a little caffeine each day, I get a huge headache, so I do have my one cup of coffee in the morning (black, because I can't seem to handle cow's milk very well and haven't been daring enough to try goat's milk...and it tends to be expensive).

TOO MUCH FOOD!

I think the hardest thing to do over this past week is to fit in all the times I am supposed to be eating...especially the snacks. It seems as if I am eating all the time...and yet I still managed to lose 6 pounds. Now, I'm sure part of this is just water from finally not bloating up from empty, highly processed carbs but my joints do feel better and my aches and pains from arthritis throughout my body are much less pronounced.

It is as if this healthy, low cost eating has been a magic arthritis cure! Just the addition of veggies and water seems to make a huge difference. I have been researching this quite a bit lately...go figure...I am a scientist after all...and I think I am piecing together an amazing body of literature that astounds me. All this information is available, but I have never put the pieces together before.

Related to this, recently, friends have been asking my scientific opinion on some of the food/water stories that have been circulating through the internet. I think I will dedicate a blog now and then to one of these topics. Lately, I have answered questions in regards to the "cut onions cure the flu" story, and the alkalized water rage that is currently sweeping North America. Being a physiologist does have its advantages!

I think I will address these two in my next blog...stay tuned!

Another aspect I would like to address in future blogs is the psychological aspect of trying to live on a low budget...the real & perceived lack of choice has a tremendous effect on the psyche.

healthy eating on a low budget: insights

2010-04-26T00:35:00.002-04:00

Its Sunday night. Three full days of experience with "healthy eating on a low budget". I've learned some very interesting quirks about myself.

First, I am really bad at planning ahead. Friday worked really well. Three meals but only two snacks. Found out I really like celery with Almond Butter. I had a very nice salad for lunch with spinach and lettuce, mushrooms, green beans, sunflower seeds, and a sprinkling of goats milk cheese. Supper was the left overs from Thursday night with new broccoli added in and some carrots. Combined pickled herring with canned beets for a wonderful protein snack. But, I was home most of the day and could easily plan my food. There was a bit of stress dealing with financial issues, but I didn't use food to compensate. All in all, I was quite proud of myself. And my body was beginning to feel better. Less pain in the joints, less swelling in the ankles, more energy, and a clearer head.

I thought I had Saturday under control but it went really wrong. I woke up feeling refreshed and could move around with little pain. I started the day with my glass of water with a dash of apple cider vinegar and flax oil capsules. Then had a healthy breakfast (the meal I always skip "to save money"). Had 1/2 cup of goat's milk yogurt with some organic blueberry jam in it topped with sunflower seeds (found out I don't like the crunch of seeds in my yogurt). Then I had two scrambled eggs (from free range chickens). Topped off with my watered down pomegranate juice and a cup of black coffee. I had a full morning planned with a stop off at the office to print off some material and then my Toastmasters meeting from 10 am until noon. I planned on being home by 12:45 at the latest to have another great lunch. But then things went a little off track. I ended up going out for coffee with a couple of friends after the meeting and it was well after 3:30 by the time I got home. No lunch. No snacks. I really didn't feel like cooking when I got home. I was very hungry and frantic to eat. So I grabbed some left over salad, woofed down the rest of the pickled herring/beet combo, ate the rest of the goat cheese and ate a tin of sardines right out of the can. When I finally calmed down, it was time to go out to a function that I had only to find they were serving pizza at the function. The smell of the pizza wafted throughout the meeting until we finally had a chance to eat at 7 pm. Usually I am not fond of pizza, but again, I was hungry and hadn't brought a snack, so I grabbed two pieces and gulped them down. I didn't want to drink diet coke, so I washed down the pizza first with bottled water, but that really didn't taste good so I then grabbed a regular coke.

While drinking the can of coke, I realized something rather strange about diet coke. The coke actually filled me up and tasted like it had some substance to it. I realized that all the time I drank diet coke I never felt full or that it was anything like a real food at all. I could easily drink 2 liters of diet coke in an evening and never really feel any sustenance at all. But half a can of coke felt full in my stomach. Interesting discovery. When I think about it from a physiological viewpoint (which is what my PhD is in after all), the sugar in the coke will give the impression of receiving energy from the coke whereas the artificial sweetener in the diet coke will not have this effect. I wonder if this holds true for other diet foods?

Anyway...the point is, I ate pizza and regular coke. Not healthy eating at all. Between the wheat and the mounds of cow's cheese on the pizza and the acid that we call coke, my body was not at all happy.

I woke up Sunday feeling bloated, puffy, and in pain. My back ached; my ankles ached, and my knees were very stiff. I got right back on the plan. I decided to plan my snacks ahead of time. I cut up a nice apple into chunks and put it into a plastic bag for later in the day. I cut up some english cucumber and put it into a bag. I put a handful of almonds into a bag. There! My snacks were ready. I didn't feel much like eating breakfast but I had my yogurt anyway (approximately $1.50 worth). Lunch was easy with a nice salad (about $3). I spent the afternoon with my mother to lift her spirits and brought along my afternoon snack with me. While we were having a coffee, I pulled out my cucumber slices and we shared them. The problem happened at dinner time. I was still with my mom trying to keep her calm and brighten her up from the rough day she was having (she has severe dementia and had a bad encounter with another resident in the nursing home) so I couldn't leave her until she was smiling again. I ended up skipping dinner since I always spend a couple of hours on Sunday nights with Nan, a sweet 88 year old angel. Karen Berger is Nan's daughter and I am proud to say she is a friend of mine. She is also a Kinesiologist and does incredible work with people helping them to see what is required to help balance their body with their energy. I had a session with her earlier tonight and feel absolutely wonderful AND I have some great insights into what my body needs.

When I finally arrived home tonight I was really hungry but I pulled out the apple pieces and munched on them until the hunger subsided. Then I cooked up some minced turkey (on sale; use about $2 worth), and cooked some quinoa (another $0.50) in with garlic and onions (together about $0.30 worth), dropped some asparagus (from the Chinese market...$1) into a boiling pot, and had an absolutely scrumptious late dinner. Again, a dinner for less than $4.

The total cost for the day was easily under $10.

So what have I learned? First, only one slip back into old habits makes a huge difference in my body (the pizza and coke the night before). Second, I have to plan ahead and make up snacks in case plans change. Third, I don't like to cook when I am hungry.

Interesting experience so far. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

eating healthy on a low budget

2010-04-23T01:37:00.005-04:00

So here's the deal. I haven't had a paycheck since January and have reverted back to what I call a "graduate student diet"...which means eating instant noodles with the cheapest meat I can find and forgoing fruits and vegetables. Yes, I was back in that old mindset...the one that spirals down. I felt like a failure for working so hard but not seeing any financial gain...so I cut my budget to the core and ended up eating crappy food that temporarily filled me up but left me craving all the foods that were really not good for me...and feeling worse when I gave in...got angry with myself and cut back to one meal a day...only to grab the worse food when I did have a couple of dollars...and gaining weight...and feeling crappy about gaining weight...so would really give up and just go for the highest carb alternative. My health has deteriorated. I have heartburn all the time; no energy; all my joints ache; I have difficulty walking even one block; I am not sleeping well; and my mind has been foggy.

I ended up fighting a severe depression.

But then a couple of friends dropped into town. They don't know each other but each of them helped in different ways. One friend has been battling depression for years and actually understood how difficult it was for me to do anything. Just having someone who understood helped. He insisted we go out for coffee and just chat. The other friend is a kinesiologist, Karen, who always has a bright attitude and eats very healthy (and is also a vegetarian).

I complained to this friend that I had to eat poorly because of my low budget.

Her response surprised me. Instead of agreeing with me, or chastising me, all she did was invite me along on a shopping trip. She temporarily lent me some money for food shopping and guided me through an amazing experience (yes, I can pay her back next month...I just signed contracts to teach 4 university courses over the summer).

We visited two health food stores, an Italian supermarket, a Chinese supermarket, and the Bulk Barn. I know what you are thinking...health food stores are expensive! Well, some items are...others aren't.

I have a very hard time digesting cow's milk but she showed me goat milk yogurt and goat milk cheese. I want to cut back on meat (since good quality meat is expensive) so she has shown me some protein alternatives. I had become so used to the "North American diet" that I couldn't see my way out of it and really don't know how to cook with these different foods. So she talked about how to use the foods...really simple ideas since the last thing I want to do is spend all my time cooking. I also learned that a dozen eggs from free range chickens are healthier and really not any more expensive than other eggs...and are also a good source of protein while being very versatile.

She helped me discover quinoa...an ancient whole grain that has a mild nutty flavor instead of using instant noodles. Very high in protein and easy to digest. A small bag of it cost me $7.99 at a health food store. I was dubious...it didn't look like much for that kind of money. But I cooked some up tonight and it really expands in volume! I cooked one cup of quinoa in two cups of water...and have enough to last two huge meals. At this rate, I will get at least 10 meals out of it if not more.

I learned that sardines are one of the healthiest meats...if you don't get them smothered in tomato sauce or oil (but you can just drain and rinse them if need be). I love sardines...and they are cheap ($1.39 per tin)! I also learned that canned mackerel is very good for you and it is also cheap ($1.99 for a large can). That is a relief...I don't have to become completely vegetarian!

I bought tons of vegetables...root vegetables such as beets, carrots, and white radishes; lots of green vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, celery, cucumber, green beans; and other vegetables such as portabelo mushrooms, onions, asparagus. I also bought some nice apples and black grapes...these were on sale for $0.99/lb. I learned how I can put almond butter or sunflower seed butter on the celery instead of peanut butter or that dreaded artificial cheese spread.

I bought dry roasted almonds at the Bulk Barn as well as unsalted, hulled sunflower seeds. Karen explained how I can sprinkle these on top of salads and almost any food, including the yogurt. I bought healthy pomegranate juice instead of "orange drink".

I used to eat lots of puffed rice cakes when they were on sale..but now I bought spelt puffed cakes and they actual have a taste to them (they don't taste like Styrofoam).

So...my fridge is bursting with all this food. I have opened the fridge four or five times tonight just to reassure myself that I do have food. So for under $100 I have enough food to very comfortably eat three proper meals plus three snacks a day that should last me for about 2 weeks...and hopefully feel healthier and happier than I have felt in a long time.

And guess what I made for dinner tonight?

It was the strangest combination of foods...but it actually worked! I had made up the quinoa already so I also steamed a huge bunch of broccoli. I opened, rinsed, and drained a tin of sardines (these ones were in lemon sauce), and tossed in some sage (yes, sage...of all things). When I mixed it all together, the sardines broke up into very small bits and it looked a lot like a casserole (and didn't taste like sardines anymore). So I put a bit of goat's milk cheese on the top (not too much...have to make it last), and let the cheese melt. I wasn't sure if I would feel at all full from it so I had a large serving. It was amazing! I only ate 3/4 of it before I was actually full.

This may not sound like much to you, but usually when I am eating empty calories, I don't ever feel full...just end up running out of food and/or feeling really dopey; and unsatisfied. But after this meal, I felt great...and it actually tasted great. I had two glasses of watered down pomegranate juice (1/2 cup juice in a tall glass) to go with my food and it was wonderful.

So, my first experiment with the new foods worked well. For the meal tonight, this is what I estimate I spent: quinoa, $0.50; broccoli, $1.29; sardines, $1.39; 4 slices of goat's milk mozzarella cheese, $0.70; pomegranate juice, $0.10. For a total of $3.98. Under $4 for an entire meal...and I have enough quinoa cooked up for tomorrow. It took me 20 minutes to make and I feel full and satisfied. No heartburn and no grogginess.

Wow. I wonder what I will have for breakfast tomorrow? This is one meal I have been skipping 'to save money'. Now I can eat again.

One concern...I didn't buy any diet coke. I have known for quite some time that it is extremely unhealthy...but haven't had the nerve to not drink it...to the point of almost feeling addicted to it. I thought it was a cheap alternative to other beverages...but I have now found out it is actually more expensive than healthy juices. Let's see how long I last without it.

Do you have any experience with cheap, healthy meals?

May 04

2009-05-04T23:12:00.004-04:00

Okay...been working really hard at staying positive and using my knowledge to focus and turn things around. Total weight loss so far...28.6 pounds. I'm in the 'writing mode' and have focused on putting my first e-book together. I have a wonderful opportunity to give a workshop to faculty members at the upcoming Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education on my birthday in June and I want the e-book published by then so the participants can purchase it. I am blessed with some awesome past students who have continued to remain in touch with me and one of them, Sakshi, has agreed to be a research assistant to help me find the papers I need to write the e-book.

It is an awesome process. The book will be called "From Dull to Dynamic: 3 easy steps to increasing your effectiveness in the classroom". It is great fun...and a lot of work. I am focusing on finding interactive means to quickly add value to the teaching and help them make the shift from teaching-centered to learning-centered activities.

Also last weekend, I attended a full day of "Strategies for Success" geared toward higher education faculty. It is amazing and a pure blessing to be surrounded by other faculty members from North America who really want to learn strategies for increasing active learning in their classrooms. I learned many new things and reaffirmed some I already knew but just as importantly, I had an awesome opportunity to connect and network with some amazing presenters and keynote speakers. I will be sending them a copy of my e-book and asking them to review it for me. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could entice these 'seasoned' experts to collaborate on a book with me?

Okay...on to other aspects of my process. It is taking a huge amount of work to stay positive regardng my career when I truly miss being in the classroom but seem to be shutout from UTSC (where I was and officially still am a sessional instructor). I really need to find a place where I can teach a class but also be involved in educational development while leaving time to conduct my workshops, seminars, speaking, publishing, coaching and mentoring. This will mean that I need to position myself as an expert 'everyday scientist'. I found an incredible workshop that would launch me in this direction but unfortunately the cost is very prohibitive. So I will need to allow the universe to manifest the funds for this. This may sound trivial but it is an important key. Our thoughts, feelings, and actions together create our reality. So far, I have somehow blocked financial wealth in my reality. When would now be a good time to change this? How about now? I deserve wealth in all aspects of my life including financial and it is time for it to occur. Much of this philosphy comes from workshops I have taken with James Arthur Ray (the Harmonic Wealth guy). It is time to put these teachings in practice. I deserve it...as does each of us.

Okay...on to another topic...I am totally blown away with the [Usana] products. It is incredible to have such macro and micronutrients that are of such a high quality and still taste so good. They are so easy to impliment into my daily life and a great strategy for when I have to go out to eat but don't want to fall into the old traps.

I am recommitting here and now to create new entries in this blog on a more regular basis. The next one will focus on cellular nutrition and get into some cell biology stuff (for those of you who have been in my cell bio classroom, follow along and see if you agree). It is so important to understand nutrition from a cellular level. From there, I think I will go through the neural pathways involved in satiety and hunger. I then want to talk more about the effects of MSG and other 'common' additives to our North American diet.

Okay..stay tuned. By the way...if you would like more information about [Usana] and would like to take a very quick health assessment, go to www.pattyl.usana.com

April 22nd

2009-04-22T23:05:00.002-04:00

As it really been this long since my last entry? My how time flies when you are scrambling to make ends meet. I have undergone a huge disappointment in the last week and unfortunately I have been rather depressed about it. I had applied to teach 4 courses on the campus where I have taught these courses before and was really excited about being in the classroom again. Unfortunately, I wasn't chosen to teach any of these classes. This was a huge shock since the union rules state that I should have received the contract for these courses. I have got to find a place to work that welcomes innovating teaching techniques! Sometimes it is really hard to stay focused on a vision and goal when people you have respected let you down. It has taken a lot of processing on my part to stay focused. As a scientist, I tend to look at 'failures' as just opportunities to see what went wrong and correct the procedure so that the experiment will work the next time. Thus, I am trying to figure out what went wrong with my teaching at the campus and figure out how to approach a similar situation in the future. I really miss teaching.

It is interesting how my eating behavior can reflect how I am feeling. I found myself going back to old habits of not wanting to eat in the morning and then wanting to eat all evening...but I caught myself as I started to do this and was able to stop the behavior. I realized it was just a reaction to the events in my life and this realization helped me separate the behavior from the feelings.

So I am still on course. But depression is not something that is easily overcome.

I did manage to have a lot of fun (and hard work) last weekend at the toastmaster's conference at which I was the audio/visual chairperson. I had so much fun making sure the microphones were working, the powerpoint slides were ready, the theme songs were ready and the videos were set. There were so many people! It was a blast! But, being an introvert by nature, I really needed Monday and Tuesday to be on my own and regain some energy.

Now I am working on a couple of new workshops that I think will really rock! One focuses on how to think 'outside the box' while still in the box. It will really help people to think differently than 'normal' so they can adjust and adapt to the economic times...how to become resourceful and have fun with it at the same time. The other workshop is focused on university/high school students and asks the question "why am I here"? It is focused on helping these incredible people to find their passion in life; how to get the most out of their 'education' and tells them the real reason they are in school.

The other workshop I am just starting to put together is one about this whole issue of a 'food guide' that actually makes sense from a scientific basis instead of what we have as the Canada Food Guide. It just makes me so angry to know that scientists have been proving for quite some time that our 'typical' diet is extremely unhealthy and that a healthy diet is really not all that difficult to manage. Especially when you think about what we are feeding very young children that will set them up for future health problems.

Anyway...I should get back to work...trying to scrape enough money together this month to pay the rent...being unemployed really sucks...although I am grateful for EI (without which I would be living on the streets...and I really don't want to go back there!).

Oh...and the grand total of weight loss in the first month was 16.8 pounds...thanks USANA!!!!!!

April 8th

2009-04-09T00:01:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it is April 8th already! Life is getting better and better. My body seems to be shifting and changing. I don't know if any of you can understand what I am about to tell you but for someone who has been as overweight and out of shape as I have been, this is rather significant. I had a very busy, physical day today...faciliating a networking workshop all morning, walking a lot this afternoon...and then walking from the subway to the BlueJays baseball game and back again...and the really weird part is that my legs felt great. They were tired but I didn't experience the horrible pain in my knees that would usually make me limp and even more strange is the fact that I could feel my entire leg moving. Usually I shuffle along and take small strides (because that is all I can do) but this time I could feel my entire leg swing in motion. It actually felt as if I was taller! I could stand up better and walk better. Usually my feet hurt a lot even without the physical exercise...but although they are tired, they do not ache.

Oh...and I met my friend (who has the tickets) at Harvey's (where we usually meet) and instead of having a burger and fries and a diet coke....I had a hot grilled chicken salad with a cup of tea. I was actually looking forward to the salad!

So just for fun I weighed myself tonight...and since I started on the USANA products on March 15th, I have officially lost 15.4 pounds...and feel fantastic!

April 3rd

2009-04-03T23:30:00.002-04:00

Another day of freedom. Freedom from carb cravings! Freedom to chose! I had lunch with a friend from university and had to choose from a menu. I was hungry! It was rather interesting to chat with the waitress. I called her by name and connected with her...and then we discussed how the food is cooked and what substitutions I could make. I think I am forming an addiction to spinach! I am not trying to belittle the agony of addictions (I grew up in the environment and saw its devastating effects in my family) but I actually substituted spinach for lettuce in my salad...and topped it with seafood lightly cooked with water in the pan instead of oil. I did have some wonderful feta cheese sprinkled on top and a bit of avocado plus the usual cherry tomatoes, and other 'salad things'. I had a vinaigrette dressing on the side. It was really scrumptious! AND I got to visit with a friend...without the alcohol or wings!

I got to tell you, these USANA products I am on are rather amazing. I can now have a balanced breakfast without worrying about being hungry or tired by midmorning. And by noon, I am hungry but still in control. The supplements are incredible. So much energy!

The only thing I am a bit worried about is that two of my main supporters left today for 10 days...and I really wish I was going with them (a James Ray event that seems awesome)! I am just going to have to tough it out and hopefully hear from a few of you who are reading this blog. Yes, my main motivation is coming from within me...but a bit of external support and encouragement is always helpful! I really want to thank those who are leaving comments...it does help to know that someone is reading this!

I promised myself I would get to bed by midnight tonight and it is approaching quickly. I have a full day tomorrow with a huge meeting from 9 am until 5 pm...then church...then home to get more work done (but with time to take a stroll at sunset by the waterfront).

April 2nd

2009-04-03T02:03:00.003-04:00

This is a difficult blog to write tonight. I spent most of the day in the emergency department with a very dear, dear friend. She is 87 years young and an amazing woman. She has taken very good care of her health all of her life and lives independently in her own home after losing her husband 6 years ago. She has always been very physically active (she was still figure skating and dancing at the age of 81 until she fell on the ice and broke her hip). She still does 1 1/2 hours of exercise each morning and can do exercises that I currently can't do. She is very, very conscious of the food she eats and takes suppliments regularly.

However, she had a health scare today. The good news is, this time it was only a scare. She is back at home tonight in her own bed. Yes, there will be more tests and there will be homecare for her...but it saddened her to realize she may not be as independent as she used to be. She has a very kind, warm heart and is constantly excited about learning new things. However, with the recent deterioration in her hearing, eye sight and circulation, she is forced to slow down.

This really brought home to me the importance of health. She has so many memories of adventures, journeys, and experiences. It was rather humerous when we talked with the doctor and had to answer questions about her health...no high blood pressure, no diabetes, no stroke, no heart problems, no medications. The only previous problem was varicous veins...at the age of 87!

I was very honoured to be there for her today and hold her hand and talk about pleasant memories with her. She inspires me.

She has agreed to share some of her exercises with me and I am paying attention to what she eats and when. There is so much wisdom in her and in her generation. I hope we are given the time to share so much more.

March 31st

2009-04-01T02:07:00.002-04:00

Okay...officially it is April 1st but I am just finishing my day. I need to fall into bed soon but I wanted to let all of you know I am still here. It has been a rough couple of days. I watched the video of my keynote speech from Sunday and saw how enormous my body is. I am trying to remain focused on my health instead of my weight but come on now...I looked like the Frosty the Snowman with these little arms sticking out the sides! Yes, the speech was inspirational and I do seem to have some talent for public speaking...but really! The weight has got to come off. The really weird thing is...I don't actually feel that fat! I don't know why, but I feel slim inside. I have more energy now than I have had in a very long time and I can think clearer and longer. I don't have the carb cravings that I used to have and I don't obsess about food. I have managed to lose almost 15 pounds in the last 3 weeks but there is a really long way to go. This tends to get me down.

Okay...time to focus. Keep the goal in mind...think it; feel it; live it. I am what I am. My body weight is the result of my past habits. As I continue to take my current actions and make the lifestyle shifts, my body will reflect this.

I guess I just want it to all happen right now!

Sometimes I get so darn angry that the knowledge of what our 'typical' diet does to our bodies has been known for quite some time but it hasn't been shared with the rest of society. Why haven't we paid attention? Why has the fast food industry and pharmaceutical companies been allowed to get away with this? Do they really influence our daily lives this much? Imagine what would happen to these industries if we all stopped eating the foods that are slowly killing us...the current fast food business would have to change drastically...and the drug companies would lose an incredible amount of money. However, we would also save a tremendous amount on our health care costs. If we were to eat a balanced diet that included only low glycemic carbs, and included moderate exercise, the number of obese people would drastically reduce...and along with it, the incidence of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, stroke...and who knows what else! I wonder if some cancers could be related to the foods we eat?

I have been on the planet for over 50 years now and have formed some rather typical habits regarding food. If we were to provide our children with proper nutrition and teach them the truth from a very young age, what would they feel like by the time they are 50 years old? What habits would they have?

It is difficult to change habits...according to the 'experts' it takes a minimum of 21 days....but in times of stress, we tend to still fall back on 'old habits'. If we do not eradicate these habits, we merely 'minimize' them...like the programs on your computer that you minimize but are stilling running in the background. If we are not consciously aware of our habits, they are still running below our consciousness.

It takes a combination of awareness, a willingness to change the habit, and repeated action of the new habit to remove the old one and replace it with a new one. Not just adding a new behavior...actually changing the old one.

Let me get a little scientific for a moment. Habit forming...and habit breaking...involve alterations to the connections in our brains (the points of connection are called synapses). As we repeat a behavior over and over, specific pathways between brain cells are strengthened. Their points of connection are strengthened so that the next time we experience the same stimuli (such as stomach growling), our brains direct us to follow our established pattern of behavior...our habits. To break an old habit and form a new one, the old synaptic patterns need to be weakened and new patterns need to be established. It is like having two muddy paths on a dirt bike trail. If one path is continually used, the ruts become deeper and deeper so that the next time you travel along it, you become forced to follow the exact same ruts...while the other, barely used path has very little ruts. The trick to changing a habit is to force yourself to follow the other less used pathway and use it over and over again until it forms deep ruts...while the old path has time to fill in the ruts. After a period of time, the new path is the one that will hold you tires in the ruts. But realize, this does take time...and at first, it takes conscious effort to chose the new path...until it becomes a well established habit and the synaptic pathways are strengthened.

The bottom line is...it is possible to change habits...we do have a choice...we are not stuck on the old paths! By keeping our goal in mind...and by continually revisiting our vision in a multi-senses way (feel, touch, taste, hear, see...know!), we can continue to chose the new path each time we are faced with the same stimulus.

This is what keeps me on this path. Thank God I know something about science! And now you do to.

It is not just a matter of will power...your body will actually assist you IF you give it the chance to form the new pathways in your brain...and if you give it the best chance possible...by limiting the carb cravings and feeding it what it needs to thrive...at a macro and cellular level. You can work with your body...and it very much wants to work with you!

March 29th

2009-03-30T00:31:00.002-04:00

I did it. I gave a keynote speech at a fundraiser for WOW...Wisdom of Women. I was so blown away by the support I had. Avishek was there to videotape the speech and take still photos (it was fun having him call me Dr J) and Patty was there to handle the USANA display table and cheer me on. It was incredible to share my journey with others. At moments in the speech, people would wipe a tear from their eye and at other moments they would laugh. I love interacting with the audience. The speech was titled, "from the streets to the podium" but I added in bits and pieces about the audience members and about the venue. The speech wasn't perfect, but it did touch people and inspire them.

I have got to find a way to do this more often!

March 28th

2009-03-27T23:36:00.003-04:00

There are times when I feel so very alone on this journey. Trying to figure out what to eat, when all around me I see advertisements for fast food or I get invited to join my friends for 'beer and wings'. Damn it! Why did I let my body get into this mess? I miss the laughter and commraderie of my friends sitting around a table with plates of nachos and wings being passed around and a nice tall pint of Guiness in front of me. I know what I need to do...but it is hard. If I were to speak to a couple of these people in private and let them in on what I am doing, they would probably support me enough to at least not pass the food in front of me...but I also know it would make others feel uncomfortable about eating in front of me...and I don't trust myself enough yet to not cave in and start munching.

Isn't it interesting that when I think about relaxing with my friends, it always seems to involve food. Come to think of it, most social interaction in our society seems to involve food. What is this obsession we seem to have with stuffing our faces with calories we really don't need?

I so much want physical freedom. I want to be able to move with ease and to have so much energy that I can easily do everything I set out to do each day. I want to be able to take long walks by the waterfront without hurting...and I want to be able to give speeches and conduct workshops without the agonizing pain in my knees.

I think it is time for a good cry.

March 26th

2009-03-26T23:11:00.002-04:00

Okay...I am really hurting! I just spent 3 hours tonight on my feet, jumping up and down, keeping order, interviewing people...and having a blast! I was the chairperson of the Division A toastmasters contests. I do love being in front of an audience! But my body is not yet able to keep up. My knees really hurt!!!!! I can't wait until I finally have the physical freedom to be able to do this kind of thng and just feel tired afterward without hurting so much! And you know what...they were serving pizza and cookies..and I didn't have a bite of it...I didn't feel tempted at all! It is amazing how incredible it feels not to be controled by carb cravings!!!!!

Okay...I really need to have a shower and climb into bed. Another incredible day along my journey toward health.

March25

2009-03-26T01:20:00.003-04:00

What a life! I hadn't realized before how much my wacky hours affect my health...but I am now finding out. I needed to stay up the last two nights to finish one of the on-line lessons I am putting together (neuroscience course) and it has shifted my entire habits. To do the audio portion, I need to wait until the building is very, very quiet (I can't afford a sound studio) so that means I don't start recording until 1 am....and I get to bed around 5 or 6 am...so I then sleep until 10 or 11 am. I just am not feeling all that well with this schedule..although it is the schedule I lived with for the last year. I guess I have been getting used to sleeping at 'normal' hours lately and getting more than 4 hours of sleep a night. I must say that at 4 am the urge to have a coffee is huge.

But I survived it. I still haven't had any coffee and I am still sticking to the 'food program'. But I feel bloated and out of synch. I guess all those studies are right about how sleep cycles have a large effect on our health.

This is a big week for me. Lots of public speaking opportunities. I realized this week how much I love public speaking but before I started the RESET program, my legs, knees, feet and back would ache so badly after an hour or so that I really stopped attending events. It wasn't until today that I just realized the pain from my arthritis seems to be very much reduced. I had learned to live with pain for so long that I hadn't realized when it had gone. I had been taking 2 extra strength ibuprofen every 4 hours just to be able to move around but except for the day of the major caffeine-withdrawl headache, I haven't taken any at all...but have been extra busy with speaking engagements all week.

Wow.

March 22nd...a tough day

2009-03-23T00:14:00.001-04:00

Ever had one of those days when nothing seemed to go right? Well that was today. I did manage to stick to the program as far as food goes but everything else seemed to totally irritate me. I missed church this morning because I couldn't get my act together in time. I didn't leave enough time to eat my proper breakfast, do my exercises, check my email, soak my toe (I had toe surgery two weeks ago and am supposed to be soaking it in salt water morning and night)and take 1/2 hour for meditation. I don't like to miss church. Then I ended up spending 8 hours in front of the computer catching up on work that I should have gotten done during the week but did't manage it. My apartment is a mess...I like a very clean home; my laundry hasn't been done; none of my friends were home today...left voice messages; and worse of all, I really, really wanted to take a long walk along the boardwalk and watch the waves wash in on this bright spring day; but I was stuck behind the computer...again!

I did manage to visit with a very special senior tonight as I do every Sunday night. She does help me to feel better and she is such a sweet soul. As I was sitting there with her over a cup of tea, I realized she was the first person I had actually spoken to all day. And then just to be a rebel, instead of coming home and cleaning my apartment, I took myself out to a movie (I Love You, Man). Now I have to get a bit of cleaning done before I can head to bed.

Okay...the worse part of all...even though this is supposed to be a journey towards health, I was really disappointed to see that I had not lost any more weight. I do feel better; my aches and pains are less; I have more energy; I feel more in control; but I do really like the side effect of weight loss. It seems that since I started adding in "real" meals, the weight loss has lessene. Okay...I know that 13.4 pounds is a lot to lose in one week. But when I saw no weight loss over the last couple of days, I did feel down and frustrated. It almost made me feel like skipping a meal...but I didn't.

I need to get away from using the scale to determine my mood. I need to focus on my health and trust my body to let go of the fat at a rate it can manage. I will contact people in my support team tomorrow and ask them for help.

March 21st...near disaster!

2009-03-21T23:08:00.000-04:00

Okay...I knew I was going to have to sit through a 5 hour meeting today, from 10 am until 3 pm and that the only food available was going to be high calorie stuff...so I prepared accordingly. I had my proper, healthy breakfast and then took an energy bar and a nutrimeal shake with me..all I had to do was add water. I thought I was all set. I avoided the coffee (and the coffee shops on the way to the meeting), avoided the 'snacks' (mini cinnimen buns, fruit flavored yogurt, candy, and cookies), and avoided the fruit drinks. I drank water. I had my snack at 11 am...so far so good. Lunch was at 1 pm. They provided salmon salad, egg salad, and chicken salad sandwiches...made with white bread...ugh! Now I love to eat salmon salad...but instead I had my nutrimeal shake (yummy chocolate flavor) and a small mini orange and a couple of carrot sticks. I was full and feeling fine. But then a friend called and asked if I could meet him to discuss some information he found at the Holistic Show that was in town...so instead of going home at 3 pm, I went across town. I didn't get home until 6:30 pm...by which time I was cold, tired, and very hungry. The last thing I really wanted to do was cook something but I wanted food...now!!!!!!!! I had visions of stopping at MacDonalds on the way home...or any other fast food place...but I didn't. Okay. Fast food wasn't an option...so what did I have in the fridge that I could eat really soon and in very large quantities? I grabbed an energy bar (yummy peanut butter) and munched on it as I got out some skinless chicken and stuck it in the microwave (yes, I know I shouldn't use a microwave...but I was desperate). While that was cooking, I prepared a plate of salad (what! where were the carbs and fats?) and as soon as the chicken was cooked, I plunked it down on the salad and started eating. I really didn't think this was going to satisfy my hunger by a long shot. At first I took big mouthfuls...but then a funny thing happened. I started to move the chicken out of the way so that I could get at the salad. Now this is very weird for me since I used to love to eat meat before anything else (and sometimes instead of anything else). I started eating more slowly and by the time I was finished, I was feeling full...but not stuffed...and there was one piece of chicken still on the plate.

Wow. What a strange experience.

March 20th

2009-03-21T01:18:00.000-04:00

Okay..it really is March 21st because it is 1:18 am where I live but it is the end of the day. I just got home from seeing a movie and I am actually tired. I am also proud of myself. Did I have popcorn at the movie? Definitely! But the medium bag of popcorn did not have any butter on it and I had a bottle of water with it. That may not sound like much to be proud of but compare that to what I usually eat at a movie; a large bag of popcorn with layered butter, a large diet coke and peanut M&M's. So good job Joan!!!!!

Also today...I discovered something funny about myself. It was one of those moments when you just have to take a step back and watch yourself. Today was the day I got to add in a low glycemic lunch and I had planned on having a great big salad and some fish. But I got absorbed in my work and didn't realize that I missed lunch time. So by 2 pm I was really hungry but found myself really frustrated and irritated with having to take time away from work to put the salad together and cook the fish. I just wanted to grab a USANA shake instead but I didn't want to ruin the plan. So I grumbled and complained to myself and finally got it put together...and then realized how totally bored I am with just sitting and eating. I realized that I am a 'grazer'. I like to eat bites of food in between working on the computer. It took me over half an hour to eat my salad and fish! This only seems obsurd when you realize I am a champion at eating very, very fast without a lot of bites. So even though I started out hungry, I ended up giving myself time between bites to check in and feel what was happening in my body. Wow! I am learning new things every day.

Oh..the totals for the 5 days of the RESET...13.2 pounds less and over 3,000 steps walked each day...and I am feeling better than ever.

March 19th

2009-03-19T23:44:00.000-04:00

The end of a very long day and I am tired...but I am not exhausted. And for the first time in a very long time, I didn't have a nap tonight. Let me explain...I usually can only sleep for 4 hours during the night and get up about 7 am...and then end up exhausted by 5 pm and have a 1 hour nap and then stay up until about 3 am. But that seems to be shifting. I actually obtained 6 hours of sleep last night and didn't have a nap this evening (didn't really have time to). Day 5 of the RESET pragram is complete. Tomorrow I add in a low glycemic lunch. I walked a total of 3046 steps today (as measured on my pedometer).

I had my first real temptation today. I met Patty (one of my support persons) at Starbucks tonight before a meeting. Now, you need to understand...when I give talks to small groups, they usually give me a giftcard as a thankyou...and they know me well enough to always give me a giftcard from one of the coffee companies such as Starbucks, Second Cup or Tim Hortons...that is how much I hang around coffee shops. There are a few shops around town that know me and my order well enough to start preparing it before I even order...a venti mocha with skim milk, half the syrup and no whip cream...and of course at least one 'treat' (expresso brownie or oat/fudge bar at least).

So I am in Starbucks waiting for Patty and I know I have at least 1/2 hour to wait. This of course, is more than enough time to scarf down a treat or two and finish my coffee drink. Very, very tempting. I love the smell of Starbucks and the chatter of the people and the fact that I can sit for 1/2 hour and check my email, read a book or just people watch while I drink coffee and eat high calorie treats. BUT I didn't order my 'regular' drink. I had a grande earl grey tea...without any milk and of course without any sugar...and no treats! I did have a USANA nutreo energy bar with me just in case the temptation was too great...but I was fine! I wasn't hungry and I wasn't craving anything. I sipped my tea and waited...feeling very proud of myself.

Life is good.

March 18, 2009 End of Day

2009-03-19T01:50:00.000-04:00

Okay…the end of the day. Busy, busy, busy…just like everyone else! Had a great day today...using a pedometer now to count the number of steps I take (at least it is a start towards exercise) and I reached 3018 steps today! Not bad for someone who can’t do stairs. Had a bit of trouble making time to each lunch today…got busy and wasn’t hungry (now that is new) but did fit it in.

Okay…I promised to disclose what I am learning from my research…and why these findings have made me very excited about this journey. So let’s get started. First, USA Today states that obesity is a worldwide epidemic with 65% of adults in North America being overweight or obese; so at least I am not alone. Of course, part of the research revealed the obvious conclusion that food plans that are balanced (include carbs, proteins, and fats) are essential for good health. But the question then became, “what particular carbs, proteins and fats are important”?

I have been wondering for quite a few years now why it seems I put on weight so quickly while other people don’t (just smelling donuts seems to add pounds to my butt). Well, part of the problem is that I have becoming increasingly insulin resistant. Insulin is a hormone in the body that is required to move glucose into the cells. Insulin is released from beta cells in the pancreas and is triggered when glucose levels rise in the blood…which occurs after we eat food. The higher the increase in glucose; the more insulin released. Glucose is a sugar molecule that feeds our body. Carbohydrates are foods that contain long chains of sugars. Glucose spikes (fast increases in blood glucose levels) occur from foods that are quickly broken down into sugars. These foods are usually the fast foods and processed foods and include breads, flour, rice, cereals and potatoes. These spikes stimulate high insulin release. The more we eat these foods, the more insulin we produce and the harder the beta cells in the pancreas work. The more insulin floating around in our blood stream, the more the cells are bombarded with it. The cell’s natural reaction is to become insensitive to the insulin. It’s kind of like having someone yelling at you all the time…eventually you just tune them out so no matter how loud or often they yell, you just don’t hear them anymore. The more insulin resistant a cell is, the higher the concentration of insulin it will take to effectively more glucose into the cells. This of course, sets up a vicious cycle of having to produce more and more insulin…and crave more and more carbohydrates. Type 2 diabetics are usually insulin resistant. They make huge quantities of insulin…but the cells are no longer paying attention. So these people have a high blood insulin level and a high blood glucose level because the glucose can’t get into the cells. If they can keep the glucose levels from spiking, through a disciplined diet, then they can function. Eventually, the beta cells become exhausted and stop functioning and this person will then need to take insulin into their bodies through pills or needles. So I am pre-diabetic…meaning I have high insulin levels but my glucose levels are still within normal range…my cells are building up an insulin resistance but for now, they are still sensitive enough to allow the high insulin levels to move the glucose into the cells.

Which leads me to my next breakthrough…glycemic index (GI). This is something developed in 1981 by Dr. David Jenkins. It is a measure of how quickly our bodies are able to absorb long chains of sugars that make up carbohydrates. The way the scientists measured this is to see how quickly foods caused the blood glucose levels to rise compared to consuming straight glucose. The faster the food made the glucose levels rise, the higher the rating on the index. So the foods I mentioned earlier (the ones that are broken down and absorbed faster after we eat) have a high score on the glycemic index. Again, these foods are usually the fast foods and processed foods and include breads, flour, rice, cereals and potatoes. Fruits and vegetables (for the most part) however, have a low score because they take longer to be absorbed into our bodies. Usually, the glycemic index is extremely good at predicting the food’s insulin index but there are a few exceptions in which a low glycermic index results in a high insulin index (such as dairy foods and to some highly palatable energy-dense "indulgence foods"). Some foods (such as meat, fish, and eggs) that contain no carbohydrate, just protein and fat (and essentially have a GI value of zero), still stimulate significant rises in blood insulin.
GI values can be interpreted intuitively as percentages on an absolute scale and are commonly interpreted as follows:
Classification GI range Examples
Low GI 55 or less most fruit and vegetables (except potatoes, watermelon), grainy breads, pasta, legumes/pulses, milk, products extremely low in carbohydrates (fish, eggs, meat, nuts, oils), brown rice
Medium GI 56 - 69 whole wheat products, basmatic rice, orange, sweet potato, table sugar, most white rices (eg, jasmine),
High GI 70 and above corn flakes, baked potato, watermelon, croissant, white bread, extruded cereals (eg, Rice Krispies), straight glucose (100)
A low GI food will release glucose more slowly and steadily. A high GI food causes a more rapid rise in blood glucose levels and is suitable for energy recovery after endurance exercise or for a person with diabetes experiencing hypoglycemia.
Like anything else in life, this is not a cut and dried sure-thing situation. There are many criticisms to solely using the GI to determine which foods to eat. For example, the glycemic index is significantly altered by the type of food, its ripeness, processing, the length of storage, cooking methods, and its variety. The glycemic response is different from one person to another, and even in the same person from day to day, depending on blood glucose levels, the degree of insulin resistance, and other factors. The glycemic index of one food may be affected by the other foods eaten with it. High-glycemic-index foods may have a low carbohydrate content, and low-glycemic-index foods may have a high carbohydrate content.
So what does this all mean? Well, the obvious conclusion is that a food plan that is balanced and contains mostly low glycemic foods (or very small quantities of high GI foods) is best. But it also means that people with a high degree of insulin resistance start off at a distinct disadvantage with high insulin levels that lead to carb cravings. I have spent a lifetime forming habits that grab for quick food fixes…and the advertisements and easy accessibility to these foods doesn’t help. So if I am to move successfully towards health, I am going to have to get rid of the carb cravings, becoming educated on what foods are best for me, and learn new habits. Okay…so now I have a basis of facts to build a game plan.

That is why I chose to use the USANA RESET program to literally reset my body away from carb cravings using low glycemic foods and help prepare me for a positive and effective journey towards health. I will talk about the USANA program in the next blog and I will also include some bizarre information I have gathered regarding MSG.

The Beginning

2009-03-18T12:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, that is really a picture of me taken just a couple of days ago! I am a beautiful, incredible woman who has a great deal yet to do in this lifetime...and I need the physical stamina and freedom to do so. I am on day 4 of the USANA RESET program and I am loving it. I am feeling more energetic and I am not hungry...and no more carb cravings! Oh...and a side effect is that in the last 4 days, I have lost a total of 9.8 pounds (which is probably mostly water at this point...but it is a start).

I have tried almost every diet...from eating only cabage soup or grapefruits, Atkins, South Beach, Dr. B, WeightWatchers, TOPS, cleansing diets...you name them...I have tried them and been successful at removing excess fat from my body on a number of occasions. For example, I lost over 160 pounds two years ago (110 of it on WeightWatchers)...only to gain 100 pounds of it back again. It is frustrating, demoralizing, depressing and disempowering. It seemed as long as I obsess about every bite I put in my mouth and have strict disciplinary control, I am successful but as soon as I start focusing on other areas of my life which are just as important...such as relationships, family, career, spirituality, and finances, the weight creeps back on.

Is it because I am "emotionally eating"? I delved into this aspect and did uncover some 'habits' I have (such as eating late at night when what I really want and need is a hug) and decided to find more constructive ways to deal with this (no...picking up guys in the bar for one night stands has never been the solution...lol). I now ‘phone a friend’ or spend some quite time getting to know myself (building a deeper relationship with myself…which has been rather fun). This has been very good for me but it doesn’t stop the cravings and hunger for high calorie junk food. I actually have learned to enjoy fruits and vegetables…but still crave the junk food and fast food. I would chastise myself for not having the discipline necessary to pass up all that easily obtainable fast food I see around me all the time. As a scientist (yes, I do have a PhD…fat people really are not stupid), I decided to research this area more thoroughly and try to figure out why I have such cravings and am constantly hungry. What I am uncovering about my body and about the foods I am putting into it is rather startling...at least to me!

I have been told by my doctor that I am 'pre-diabetic'; which means I have very high insulin levels in my blood. Most of my siblings have type 2 diabetes as did my father. Most of my siblings also have a great deal of other health problems related to being overweight, such as high blood pressure, joint and muscle pain, high cholesterol levels, other heart problems, breathing problems...the list goes on. My only major health problem are my joints. I managed to break my left knee 20 years ago when I was supper skinny (yes, I do tend to obsess) and have since had 5 knee operations (3 on the left, and 2 on the right) and have developed arthritis in the joints. So my knees are shot. And I am starting to feel the arthritis in other weight-baring joints. Other than that, I am quite healthy...so far...but if I continue the way I am going, some of these problems are inevitable.

I used to hate my body...I used to be so angry with it for being so fat and ugly. I would hate it for being hungry and craving fast food...and I would punish it by starving for a few days...just to prove that I could. But the funniest thing is, my body is the only thing that has been there for me all my life. Wherever I go...there I am! My body has seen me through eveything I have stuffed into it...and it is still there...trying to do its best to keep me alive and to do the things I make it to do. And what have I done in return? I have not exercised it properly (binge exercising...weekend warrior...more on that later); I have stuffed it with 'treats' that are not treats to it at all. It puts a great deal of stress on my body to digest huge quantities of unnessesary carbs...and it needs healthy alternatives...but I 'treat' myself with foods I do not need. It is time to forgive myself and love my body. To thank it for all its support and to care for it. It is part of me and a part that deserves love and nurturing.

So what did I uncover in my research about these cravings that I have? If it isn't just 'emotional eating', what is it? I will address this topic in my next blog! Watch for it tonight!