SUGAR and Other FOODS

On July 8, 2024 By dotluvs2writeIn Beauty, Diet, Food, Health, humanity, Inspirational, Life, Musings, Nutrition, Past Life ActivitiesLeave a comment

Cutting down on sugar a year ago this month was a good choice for me. Especially at my age. I didn’t want to continue eating so much every day. It isn’t good for people’s health (been learning a lot about it. Although, I kind of knew that years ago).

In the last eight or so months, I’ve lost 10-12 lbs., just because I’ve scaled down sugar. I allow myself a cheesecake slice or something along those lines on special occasions, and that’s worked well. The weight came off very easily, and this is pretty awesome since I’m in menopause, where the average weight you gain is 10 pounds! I’m now in the weight range I’m supposed to be in for my height.

In the last three years up to recently, I’ve had to really watch eating the food at my work. I’d have it every now and then, but at this point, I’d like to go back to not eating any fast food, except when it can’t be helped, which can happen on road trips. Before 2021, I’d only eaten Burger King once since before 2011. I have eaten at Subway several times in the past decade up to now. I don’t know it that is considered fast food.

When I went to non pre-processed food and organic whole foods back in 2011, that choice was also crucial for my blood sugar and overall health. Before doing that, I had to eat every three hours because I wasn’t getting the nutrients I needed in the food I was consuming (including too much sugar and starches, along with the other things I just mentioned here). Within a couple of years, I was finally able to fast before Communion the proper way (no food after midnight on Saturday evenings until Communion Sunday late morning). I also didn’t have hypoglycemic attacks for years and could go longer without eating throughout the day.

Thankful I don’t snack during the day and don’t eat after dinner at night. That’s always been a thing for me. But it’s a good thing, anyway!

I’ve also been keeping up on walking on my office-sized treadmill for four months so far. I walk at least 4 times a week, and that works well for me.

In addition, I should really go back to eating a high protein, low carb diet I was on in my early to mid-twenties due to my borderline hypoglycemia. It really balanced my blood sugar so well.

I do know for a fact that there is only one type of meat that makes me feel completely balanced, whole, and clear-headed. It’s beef in the form of either a burger or steak. It’s especially healthy if you eat grass-fed, organic beef with 85% fat. If you go higher in less fat, like 90%, it will raise your insulin levels, so keep to the 85%.

Eating whole foods is important because they give your body the nutrients it needs, and you aren’t hungry for several hours at a time. Organic whole milk is good to drink for its omega fats and has “more disease-fighting antioxidants than non-organic milk”, or non-whole milk, for that matter. Organic pasture-raised eggs are really good for you as well. I really like the eggs with the orange yolks. They taste better to me than the ones with yellow yokes. Just my preference.

I watched an amazing documentary last night and the rest this afternoon. Although, I’ve always kind of known this because of my experiences with these foods over the past 30+ years, some info I didn’t know, and so it was so helpful. I will post it below so you can watch if you’re interested.

Through my research of food and my own experiences over 30+ years, I found the biggest component in one’s health is what he/she eats. Food is the pinnacle of health. So, it’s important what we put into our bodies. Second would be exercise, although you don’t have to kill yourself doing exercises. Simple walking, biking, stretching, gardening, tai chi, and yoga works well. I do know some basic weight lifting (like 1-2 lb. hand weights) can help. Eating healthy fats and proteins helps your energy levels, creates muscle, and keeps your brain functioning well with no brain fog or grogginess.

I felt like sharing all of this info and hope it helps those who read this who were curious or interested in knowing about these things. Also, I hope you find this info interesting if nothing else. 🙂

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A Recent Healthy Decision

On July 4, 2024July 4, 2024 By dotluvs2writeIn art, Beauty, Cultural and Political, Fiction Writing, humanity, Inspirational, Life, Musings, Nature, Past Life Activities, Personal, reading2 Comments

Friends,

In late April, I realized that absorbing news stories several times a day was not healthy for my emotional and mental health. Dropping out of commenting on anything political would also be a healthy move for me.

So, I did.

However, I will read news headlines once in a while and listen for a few minutes on something going on in the political realm. Grateful that it doesn’t stick to me like a monster glue.

I’ve discovered I’ve found much more peace and breathe better out of that world, especially the social media world.

Reading has become a refreshing pastime. It’s been a while since I truly read for pleasure and didn’t need to do it to only support my writing.

When I listened to author Lisa Wingate talk this past Sunday, she presented the importance for local communities to read together. That book clubs were essential to bringing people’s common interests in something experienced together to discuss and learn from each other.

This really struck me, because it brought me back to a simpler time when humans spent time together in person, talking, sharing, relating, that has diminished over the era of the tech and internet universe.

Keeping our humanity and respect for each other has been and seems to be more vital than ever.

And reading does this.

As Lisa said, there is a shared experience when you read a book. It’s a dive into a pool of sorts, where you experience the world of the characters you’re reading about and it transforms your own world in making it more enriching and special.

There’s a certain amount of peace I get when I read. The best experience for me is reading outside in my backyard, with the plentiful, calming sounds of the birds and squirrels, and the rustling of the leaves of the trees. As if they’re with me on my journey in the world of the story I’m reading. And I seemed to have forgotten about this special intimacy for many years until recently.

To be able to have such moments of solace and solitude, bereft of noise pollution and never-ending bickering on social media and political shows is a great feeling and encounter.

Thank God I’ve been able to experience this and live my life in a much more healthy and happy environment.

What do you feel like when you are away from the chaos of the world? How do you feel when you are reading a fiction book that takes you out of the flotsam of the social media, political universe?

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Author Meet

On July 1, 2024 By dotluvs2writeIn art, Beauty, Fiction Writing, Fun, Inspirational, Life, Musings, News Events, Publishing, reading2 Comments

Yesterday afternoon, I attended an author talk and signing event – Lisa Wingate.

It was a great talk. Her presentation was informative and inspirational. So glad I got to be there at Barnes & Noble this afternoon.

We waited in line for a signed copy of her newest book. We were told to have what you want her to write to you ready for an attendant to write it on a sticky to place in her book for her to look at and write in her signing. I told the attendant my first name and to write “Keep being inspired.” That was all.

Met up with Lisa. Very sweet woman. Told her I was also an author. She smiled and was happy about that. Asked me what I write. I told her mostly women’s fiction with some faith and Greek Orthodox traditions. She said, “Oh, so similar to what I write with faith as well.” I told her yes. She said it was so nice to meet a writer who reads her books.