Fat, Fat I Ain't Down With That! Easy Tips To Revive Your Metabolism!

 I get a little lazy in winter since generally the swimsuit is many months away however this year I am determined to not let the holidays and all the great food that comes with it leaving me with a mad dash before summer to get those winter pounds off.  Here are some easy tips to help make fighting fat not so painful!

Metabolism, metabolism, metabolism. That one word has always been a mystery to me. Apparently I have a good metabolism (at least that is what my mother has always told me and I am not one to argue with her) and to tell you the truth I was never to sure what having a good metabolism entailed just was glad that I did (based upon serious looks my mother made when talking of metabolism ). One of my friends who is forever on a diet will tell you that she has a terrible metabolism and can never lose weight because of her metabolism (of course she always mentions this while eating several cookies at once). I decided to delve into the metabolism mystery and find some tips to help you speed up your metabolism whether you think you have a good one or a bad one.

When you have a high metabolic rate this increases the amount of calories, or energy, the body burns on a daily basis. Without optimal metabolism the body will store excess calories as fat for future use. The problem for many people is they don’t ever use these excess calories and as a result struggle with weight issues ( not fun).

Vavavoom Your Metabolism

**Eat Spicy Foods- Have you ever noticed that when you swallow that really hot jalapeno that you start to sweat and feel a little hot (I have on many occasions)? Great news! You are speeding up your metabolism. Add some red pepper, or jalapenos to your favorite dish to get going. Mexican and Thai are great choices for this.

**Eat Breakfast-Believe it or not, it may be the most important meal of the day as far as metabolism (and weight loss) is concerned. People who eat breakfast lose more weight than breakfast skippers do, according to studies. Breakfast gives your metabolism a boost and provides a consistent energy supply throughout the day. Christopher, a New York City fitness expert and my online personal trainer is constantly stressing this to me!
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**Eat Lots Of Small Meals Throughout The Day-If you can eat 5-6 small meals (try not to go for more than 4 hours without eating) this will keep your metabolism running great. I have also found this to be helpful so that I do not overeat. I never really feel hungry.

**Drink Green Tea-Studies have found that green tea extract actually increases metabolism. The antioxidants in tea appear to improve concentration, gently boost energy, make people happier, lower cholesterol levels, improve cardiovascular health and help guard against some cancers too. Sounds like a win win idea to me.
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**Avoid Stress-Too much physical or emotional stress causes our bodies to release a steroid called cortisol that actually slows down our metabolism and can cause weight gain, especially around your stomach area.

**Eat Protein-You should make sure that 10 to 35 percent of your total daily calories come from protein. The amino acids in protein make it harder for your body to break down than carbs and fats so you burn more calories. This does not mean you have to eat a lot of meat (if you do eat meat I think the organic grass fed is best). I am a vegetarian and eat a lot of eggs (thank you Christopher),nuts, cheeses and other low fat dairy to get in my protein.

**Get Plenty Of Sleep-Studies show that people who don’t get seven to eight hours a night of sleep are more prone to weight gain. I have heard that the first 4 hours of sleep help with brain repair and the last 4 hours help with body repair (this is just a rumor but comes from a reliable source).
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**Stay Away From Sugar- Honestly, this has to be my least favorite as I love, love, love sweets! Unfortunately, sugar throws our metabolic rate into fat storage mode (that just sounds awful).

Isn't this terrific! These are really not tough tips to include in our daily lives (although I do struggle with the sugar one) so that we can burn calories more efficiently and speed up the ever mysterious metabolism (what does a metabolism look like? anything?).

8 Foods To Help You Get Slim And Trim ... I Am Definitely In!!

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could eat things that are healthy and that we like and still lose weight? Below are some superfoods that your body will thank you for......

Superfoods To Help With Your Weight Loss

Olive Oil-I personally take a teaspoon a day as well as drizzle this on salads and pasta. Olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. It is also know to have anti-inflammatory properties and chronic inflammation in the body is linked to metabolic syndrome. 

Buckwheat Pasta- This pasta is high in fiber and, unlike most carbs, contains protein. This makes it hard to overeat buckwheat pasta over regular pasta. 

Quinoa-This whole grain is packed with fiber and protein, a nutrient combo than can keep you satisfied for hours.

 Blueberries-these berries have the highest antioxidant level of all the commonly consumed fruit and deliver lots of fiber. “Fiber may actually prevent some of the fat you eat from being absorbed because fiber pulls fat through digestive tract”. 

Almond Butter-May lower bread’s glycemic index (which measures food’s effect on blood sugar). A study from the University of Toronto found that people who ate almonds with white bread didn’t experience the same blood sugar surges as those who ate only the slice. This is great news because blood sugar changes cause the body to make insulin, which can increase abdominal fat.”

 Plain Yogurt-Has a trifecta of carbs, protein and fat that can help stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady. In a study from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, people on a low-calorie diet that included yogurt lost 61 percent more fat overall and 81 percent more belly fat than those on a similar plan but without the yogurt. I love plain yogurt with fresh or frozen berries on top!

 Pomegranate Seeds-they are loaded with folate and disease-fighting antioxidants, they’re low in calories and high in fiber. They can satisfy your sweet tooth without blowing your diet. 

Eggs-Egg protein is filling prompting you to eat less during the day. Women on a low-calorie diet who ate an egg with and jelly each morning lost twice as many pounds as those who had a bagel breakfast with the same number of calories but no eggs, a study from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge reports. I know that I am going to start including more of these in my diet and see what happens!

Merry Christmas eve!

 I was going to write a health post today but then decided that since today is Christmas eve I would much rather just say that I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season. May whatever holiday that you celebrate be a happy one. Although the holidays are a fun time they can also be a stressful time and a time when we sometimes splurge a little on our eating habits and eat an entire tin of fudge and all the chocolate for the kid’s stockings and then have to rush out to the store to buy more since you ate it all (okay maybe that is just me). Having said that I want to remind everyone to take a few deep breaths and know that it is okay to indulge a little as long as you get back on track. Have that cake, chocolate, or whatever it is that does it for you but have it in moderation. Give yourself a break over the holidays and relish the warmth and love of the season. Happy Holidays! Heidi

I used to always say "EGGS PLEASE GO AWAY" but now looking at the scale they can STAY! If you want to lose pounds quick then eggs are the way! HOORAY!

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 An Egg A Day Makes My Belly Look Okay!

I am just going to say it loud and clear..... I DESPISED eggs. Yes, completely and absolutely despised them and it all comes down to being on a ferry in England as a child and the only thing they had to eat was a runny egg. My mom made me eat it  (that entire unfanciful tale is for another time) and since then I have sworn them off but now well things have changed a bit.  I am always looking for a quick way when I am in a pinch to take off a few pounds and have known that eggs are a good way to do it. Desperation came calling when my Schmancy Pancy Christmas dress would not zip and then the horror of once I had it half on I could not get it off ( I think most of us have been there and even in a dressing room which is the most terrifying). So an unlikely hero emerged ...kind of like when Tarzan saved Jane . Eggs are Tarzan and Jane sadly was me.  Okay so enough of that and to what I did.  I looked everywhere for recipes to make eggs that did not taste like eggs and found several great ideas.  I ate eggs and salads with boiled eggs and that was it for 4 days (okay and well a few chocolates) and lost wait for it........3lbs.

I made these incredible egg pancakes which consisted of (and this is approximate bc I am in no way a cook or measurer) one egg, a teaspoon of cream cheese and 2 packets of sugar substitute (I used Stevia).  I put them in my blender and then in a pan and fried them up . They looked like a pancake and with the Stevia in them had a sweet taste.  I also made omelets with lots of cheese and veggies and salads with boiled eggs and low carb, low calorie dressings.  I saw that there is something called a 3 day egg diet so you could google that but the idea behind it is that eggs are full of protein, low or no carbohydrates and do not raise your blood sugar so are ideal for helping to lose weight.  There are a variety of ways to eat eggs and as long as you are light on the cheese and heavy toppings they are great for weight loss.  I had to find a way for me to be able to eat them and not have them taste like eggs so this worked for me.  I have heard of people doing a 3 or 4 day egg diet to boost their weight loss when at a plateau but cannot say if that works. This worked for me so thought I would share. I am not a nutritionist or have any medical training but just sharing what helps me in a I have to get into this dress kind of bind.  I would not advise eating eggs like this for a long term.  I think I may do this every month to get things going after overdoing chocolate which is my weak spot.  I had about 8-10 eggs a day and now my belly and booty are looking okay.

Oh My Giving Making Videos A Try......

 This is my first effort at learning to make videos. I am hoping that in the near future I can do videos as well as write. My first love is writing but who knows maybe I will get the videos down soon. I have to admit that seeing myself on video is a bit cringe (as my kids would say) and weird. It is time I get in the step with the times so here I go.......

Want To Buy Organic But On A Budget? Here Is A Guide Of Ones To Buy And Save You Money So When You Look At Your Budget It Won't Make You Cry.

 I will be the first to admit that I love to spend money. I love to shop and buying healthy organic food is no exception (who knew grocery shopping could be so fun-but hey it IS shopping). Unfortunately, I have to be on a budget in all areas and this includes my organic food choices. I looked around and found some helpful information on which are the top foods to buy organic if you are like me and on a budget ( I hate the word budget). Here we go-

Top Foods To Buy Organic-Worth The Money......

**Peaches-In some studies, they’ve had up to 10 times as much pesticide on them as other fruits and vegetables.

**Apples-Apples may contain methyl parathion. Both fresh apples and baby food applesauce can also contain chlorpyrifos, an OP which has caused large bird kills. Doesn't sound good.

**Strawberries-Strawberries receive a dose of up to 500 pounds of pesticides per acre.Straw-berries and other produce bought out-of-season are the most likely to have been imported, possibly from a country with less-stringent pesticide regulations.

**Milk-While milk is a natural product, all the antibiotics and hormones that go into high-yield cows most certainly aren’t. Some studies on supplements like recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) used in conventional milk production have suggested links to early puberty and other hormonal abnormalities. Danish studies have shown that not only does organic milk have less of the bad stuff, it has more of the good stuff. Specifically, organic milk has higher levels of vitamin E, omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants. Did you know that Europe has banned U.S. Milk? I also make sure to buy organic cheese, yogurt and all dairy products when possible.

**Meat-. Contrary to a widely reported "fact," meat typically contains less pesticide residue than plant-based foods, according to Debra Edwards, the director of EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs. That said, raising animals with conventional modern methods often means using hormones to speed up growth, antibiotics to resist disease and pesticides to grow the grain fed to the animals (plus I think modern methods promote cruelty to animals-had to get that in there). As the EPA puts it in an Ag 101 feature, "Antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones are organic compounds which are used in animal feeding operations and may pose risks if they enter the environment." Consumers looking to avoid meats raised with these substances can seek out certified organic meat. To meet USDA standards, this meat can come only from animals fed organic feed and given no hormones or antibiotics.

**Coffee-Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries where pesticides and chemicals are not regulated. Look for the fair trade certified organic label on your coffee for assurance.

**Eggs-Though they are a terrific source of protein, most eggs are produced using a range of antibiotics and hormones on the chickens that bear them. Given this, the health gains of eating organic eggs are similar to those of drinking organic milk. Essentially, organic eggs mean fewer hormones in the chicken and fewer foreign hormones (or chemicals acting as hormones) in your body.

**Celery, Grapes and Sweet Bell Peppers-Peppers and grapes have thin skins and celery none which creates little and no barrier to pesticides.

**Potatoes-Chlorothalonil, often used on potatoes, can be particularly harmful to children. In Canada, potatoes have been linked to high rates of asthma and asthma-related deaths in farming communities.

**Lettuce And Spinach-Leafy greens are often contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food.

Save Some Money And Probably Don't Need To Buy These Foods Organic-
**Broccoli,
**Bananas
**Frozen sweet peas
**Frozen corn**Asparagus 
**Avocados 
**Onions:

Levels of pesticides are low even in conventional versions of these.

Now you are armed and ready to save money and go do some organic shopping!

Chris Johnson's Meal Patterning Food Target Chart That Can Stop The Confusion And Get You On Track To A Healthy You.

 Below is Chris Johnson's meal patterning food target chart.  There is a book that goes with this but I wanted to show you the chart because it provides a simple way to see what you benefit from eating and what you do not benefit from.  For example, blueberries, kiwi, olives, fresh greens are in your best and white starches and soda are poor.  I can look at this wheel and it simplifies my shopping! Wish I wanted the healthy stuff and not the soda and white starches. Sigh.

Hope you enjoy!

An Apple A Day And You Will Be Saying Hooray! The Almighty Apple For Weight Loss And Health!

An Apple A Day........HOORAY!

I previously wrote an article on apples and all the benefits they provide to our bodies. Recently while flipping through my winter 2010 Oxygen fatloss magazine I saw an article titled. "Your #1 Fat Loss Secret" and you know I turned to that page immediately and lo and behold it was the almighty apple!

Apple, Apple, You Are The One For Me!

 

-A recent study published in Appetite found that people who got their calories from three apples a day versus three pears or oat cookies lost about two pounds after 10 weeks.

-A medium apple will fill you up as apples have approximately 80 calories and four grams of fiber. People currently enrolled in a large long-term weight-loss trial known as the calerie study, which is investigating whether calorie restriction can extend life span, have been getting thinner throughout the study. Their slimming strategy is to simply have an apple every day.

-Reduce your cholesterol with an apple-The soluble fiber found in apples can help to reduce your cholesterol!

-Less belly fat-Those who eat apples regularly are 21 percent less likely to have excess belly fat!

-Apple energy-Apples score low on the glycemic index at 39! The glycemic index is a measure of fast insulin is released after eating carbs. A result above 70 is high so at 39 the apple is a great choice!

I love apples but I just found even more reasons to love them!!! Think I will go grab one now!!

ref: Oxygen winter 2010 fat loss issue

Costa Rica Good For Your Health! Just Got Back To The Cold. Sigh

Just a quick catch up to say that I just returned from my beautiful Costa Rica two days ago and cannot wait to share pictures of my trip and to start writing lots of articles again.  For now I will share this amazing picture of me kissing a wild parrot that was sitting on a horse.  All in a normal day in Costa Rica:)

Adios!
Heidi

Chocolate, Wine And Cheetos Are Very Fine But Now It's A New Year So Time To Get In Line... Sigh

Here We Go Again....... New Year A New Me And Will I Really For Once Stay Healthy????

Every year I start out with such goals to eat healthy, exercise, get motivated, change this, change that but I have to be honest when it comes to New Year's resolutions I am a brat.  I love my wine, my dear sweet chocolate and all things carbs so I have learned to be honest with myself and boy do I hate that.  I am going to have my wine, my beloved chocolate and carbs but this year I swear I really do that I am going to do it in moderation ( I say this half heartedly because I know myself).  Now having said all this I do have a plan and I will share and do it as well as I can.

Today I am starting with boiled eggs and then scrambled eggs and I woke up thinking why oh why do I have to do this it makes me want to cry. I hate eggs and love pie but I suppose I can do this I am not going to die. The drama will be there and woe is me that I have to live a day or two eating healthily.  But alas I must because my jeans are to tight just this morning my favorite pair of pants and I got in fight.  So join me my on my journey to geriatric swimsuit woman galore and to finally be able to put on all those clothes I bought when I swore I will lose the weight and I will make it not a total bore.  I am getting back into the below swimsuit from the year before ! Let's do this!

After A While.............

One of my all time favorites since as long as I can remember.  When I make a mistake in trusting or believing someone these words come back to me and I am comforted. Hope they comfort you too!





After A While


©1971 Veronica A. Shoffstall



After a while you learn

the subtle difference between

holding a hand and chaining a soul

and you learn

that love doesn't mean leaning

and company doesn't always mean security.

And you begin to learn

that kisses aren't contracts

and presents aren't promises

and you begin to accept your defeats

with your head up and your eyes ahead

with the grace of woman,

not the grief of a child

and you learn

to build all your roads on today

because tomorrow's ground is

too uncertain for plans

and futures have a way of falling down

in mid-flight.

After a while you learn

that even sunshine burns

if you get too much

so you plant your own garden

and decorate your own soul

instead of waiting for someone

to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure

you really are strong

you really do have worth

and you learn

and you learn

with every goodbye, you learn...

Facebook-Which Type Are You? Funny!

Ok so this isn't really health related but maybe it is because it is funny and creates laughter and laughter promotes good health so enjoy!!!!!

Source: urlybits.com via Julie on Pinterest

Nuts For Coconuts!! My New Favorite Conditioner-Coconut Oil! Dry hair, Skin or FlakyScalp-The Coconut Soothes It All!

Bye, Bye Frizzy and Dry-To Coconut Oil say Hi!!

I am always looking for more natural ways to do things whether it is cleaning the house, getting rid of weeds or something to do with me. I recently read somewhere that a great natural hair conditioner is……. Coconut oil. Awhile back I saw where the Victorias Secret model Miranda Kerr was using coconut oil to help her from the inside out and claimed that it helped with her have great skin, soft hair and maintaining her weight so of course I thought that I would try it. I did and like most things (except my diet Coke) I got lazy and stopped taking the tablespoon a day (but I do think I noticed a difference in my skin but not weight so oh well).

After reading about coconut oil as a conditioner and looking in the mirror at my frizzy, dried out, bleached hair that had me putting it up in ponytails as to not look like I had put my finger in an electrical socket I decided to try it and I LOVED it! Coconut oil has long been heralded as one of the healthiest oils and is packed with fatty acids that can moisturize your hair. There are a variety of ways you can go about using the coconut oil in your hair but what I did was put it on dry hair starting at the bottom almost to the top but NOT on the roots (unless you have a dry flaky scalp then coconut oil works great for this) and left it on about half an hour. After washing the oil out and drying it I was very impressed that a little jar of coconut oil could do what so many expensive conditioners and treatments could not and that was to give me smooth, soft hair that actually looked decent. When doing this conditioner I would recommend to put too little rather than too much and find what amount best suits your hair. I also saw where some people mixed the coconut oil with other things such as mayonnaise and different oils or used a shower cap or dampened their hair. I think it just takes a little experimenting to find out what you like. I did read that the best type of oil is the organic extra virgin coconut oil which I used and purchased at a local health food store. I have also started cooking with coconut oil because I don’t see how it can hurt and I love using it on scaly dry skin too!!!! Who knew the coconut could do so much? We even had a local man in the Bahamas cut them open and make drinks and used the coconut as a glass!!! I guess what it comes down to is that I am nuts for coconuts!!!

Sore Eyes, Water Weight, Stinky or Blotchy-Simple Natural Cures That Make It Easy!

Alright it is time for me to get back to what I really like to do which is write about all the things health and foodwise that I obsess on. It seems my day to day life is a constant fight trying to find a balance between Cheetos and chocolate and fruits and vegetables. Recently my friend Ashleigh and I decided to invent the , “duck and run diet” as we liked to call it. We would eat salads, fruits, vegetables and drink lots of water so that we could gorge on the chocolate candy bowls at work creating some kind of balance (no this didn’t work bc neither of us lost a pound-lol). So, I am going to make a commitment to write weekly tips that can keep us healthy, fit and happy enjoying the good, the bad and the ugly foods . I know people will fall on the floor when I say this but it is what it is-I will not live without my wine, chocolate and Cheetos but having said that I also want to be healthy and happy and so there must be a balance which is what I endeavor to find for all of us that like me want it all. We deserve it don’t we! So, below are some EASY natural remedies to some annoying health issues:


Sore Eyes???- Try chamomile-Grab some cooled chamomile tea , soak a washcloth in it and cover your eyes with it for 5 minutes. Chamomile’s antioxidants relieve symptoms in just 5 minutes..

Water Weight got you down??-Most of us in the summer especially hold on to too much water and end up bloated like a balloon. To flush up to 5 pounds of water in three weeks, sip 2 cups of fennel tea daily.

Poison Ivy has you itching-According to UCLA researchers , immersing skin in Dawn, Joy or Palmolive detergent instantly stops poison Ivy pain and reduces outbreaks by 56 %. I had poision Ivy last summer and it was so awful and ugly and itchy! Wish I had known this then!

Stinky phew-Banish that funk!-Taking 30 mg of zinc daily stalls the growth of body odor inducing skin bacteria according to British researchers. Simple solution to the smellies!

Feeling blotchy?? Mix some honey and lemon to slough off damaged skin cells and start lightening dark spots. Mix 2 Tbs of honey and 1 Tbs of lemon juice with enough sugar to make a paste. Scrub gently then rinse.

Heidi

Love Who You Are-You Are Valuable:)

Just a quick note to let you know that I have been saving lots of ideas and articles that I think will be interesting and helpful but the last few months (years-lol) have kind of thrown me some curve balls which I know are in the long run going to be beneficial but trying to get back into my blogging is not as easy as I thought. So I hope to be back on entrecard and also sharing some intriguing and healthy tips we can all enjoy. My goal is to have a new article up in the next week so until then ……………………………………………. I leave you with this great quote a friend of mine put on Facebook:)

-"Ever notice that Rolls Royce and Bentley don't have commercials?



REASON: They know the value of their product brings customers to them.


LESSON: When you know your value, you don't have to beg people to like you, to be your mate, to spend time with you or to love you! You don't have to advertise either!


LOVE THIS!!!! 


Be confident in who you were made to be. Everyone can't & won't be able to afford the LUXURY of your love or friendship"

These Made Me Laugh and We All Need A Good Laugh!

These had me laughing out loud! Enjoy:)))

Heidi

What We Can Learn From The 5 Biggest Regrets of Those Dying-Not Too Late To Embrace Life To The Fullest!

I saw this article in the Daily Mail online and loved it!  It is not too late to live to the fullest!


I wish I'd hadn't worked so hard' and other great regrets of the dying... as revealed by former nursing home carer-

By Graham Smith

It is something none of us wants to contemplate - lying on our death bed worrying about the things we should have done.

Now a former nurse who cared for the terminally ill has revealed the five most common regrets of the dying.

Bronnie Ware spent several years working in palliative care in Australia, looking after patients in the last three to 12 weeks of their lives.

Recollections: Former nurse Bronnie Ware spent years working in palliative care in Australia, looking after patients in the last three to 12 weeks of their lives

During that time, she became accustomed to hearing the elderly reveal their biggest regrets.

 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the simple things in life, like staying in touch with friends and being true to yourself, that most people wished they had been able to achieve.

Ms Ware found that men regretted working too hard, while many people wish they had had the courage to more frequently express their feelings.

Book: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing

Inspired by what she discovered, Ms Ware has written a book - The Top Five Regrets Of The Dying: A Life Transformed By The Dearly Departing - about her experiences.

She said: 'My patients were those who had gone home to die and some incredibly special times were shared.

'People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality and some changes were phenomenal.

'Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected - denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance.

'Every single patient found their peace before they departed though.

'When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again.'

Ms Ware recorded the most frequent five regrets in the elderly as:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
   
   'This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.'
   
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
   
   'This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.'
   
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
   
   'Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.'
   
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
   
   'Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.'
   
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
   
   'This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093810/Bronnie-Ware-The-regrets-dying-revealed.html#ixzz1l3btSm5i

Another great song by Adele.. Set Fire To The Rain! Amazing Lyrics and Voice!

COME HOME DADDY CAT!!!! Missing Sweet cat:(

Missing!!! Feral cat I feed everyday and sleeps in my garage has been missing for a week now. We miss him so much so if you see him please contact me!  Putting up posters in my neighborhood too. We need to find him.

COME HOME DADDY CAT!!!!

Food Comas! What Our Bodies Really Do After A Meal! Guest Blogger Today-Patricia Walling-

photo by infinitycat

Today I am excited to share with you a guest blogger! This is a fascinating article that dispels everything I thought about why we get so tired after eating a meal and the what are bodies are really doing after eating that turkey on Thanksgiving!! 


 Why do People Get Food Comas?


Have you ever just wanted to fall straight asleep after a large meal? Do your kids often curl up and fall asleep after meals? Often we call this happenstance a food coma, but the scientific term used in medical coding for it is actually post-prandial somnolence, which pretty much just means “after-meal sleepiness.” Typically, a food coma can send people who have just eaten into a drowsy state that can last from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours. People used to think that blood from the brain was sent to the stomach for digestion after eating, and that this decreased blood flow from the brain was the reason for sleepiness after a meal. However, it has been proven that this does not happen at all, and that blood is diverted from muscle tissue to the stomach during digestion. Additionally, the brain is provided with adequate amounts of oxygen and blood flow in a regular fashion during digestion.

What is actually going on basically that in order to produce energy from food, some energy must be expended in order to break that food down in our digestive system. There are two specific things about this process that produces a food coma. First, the nervous system responding to digestion in the stomach will use up some energy in order to try and battle off any incoming germs or bacteria. Secondly, and this is the biggest factor in a food coma, the central nervous system will use energy break down sugars entering the blood, which is why there can be such an intense crash after a sugar high because of the amount of energy spent processing that much sugar. As food arrives in the stomach, the nervous system begins to kick in and activates the breakdown of the foods into usable energy. After eating, the body feels it has achieved its goal of attaining food and no longer must be on point to capture another meal, so some recharging is alright.

Eating foods that are higher up on the glycemic index, i.e. take less time to release sugars into your bloodstream, will cause glucose (sugar) to be metabolized quickly from the intestines into the bloodstream. To keep glucose levels stable, the pancreas delivers insulin to the bloodstream, which is what your body uses to break down sugars into energy. Insulin tells the body to absorb sugars, but it causes the body to stop processing an amino acid called tryptophan. You may have heard about tryptophan as being the reason why everyone falls asleep after large turkey dinners, but it turns out this compound is about as equally present in other meats like beef and chicken too. In any case, since tryptophan levels in the body usually stay pretty constant, the body will have an overabundance of it when insulin is delivered. This causes the brain to convert tryptophan into serotonin, which makes for that feeling of contentment you have after a good meal. Then in turn, serotonin can be converted into melatonin, which is the hormone that makes you sleepy.

If you want to avoid getting food comas, say if you need to do some work after a meal or something, you can try eating more foods that are lower on the glycemic index like fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. Eating smaller portions can also help prevent food comas as it will allow the stomach to more easily process it into usable energy. You can also alleviate food comas by doing physical activities after eating such as jogging, walking, yoga, or Pilates. These exercises can help move glucose into your muscle without the associated feelings of drowsiness.

About my guest blogger:

Patricia Walling is a web content designer in Washington state for

several websites regarding the field of medicine and careers in health
care. A self professed perpetual student, she finds herself drawn to
researching even the most esoteric information she comes across that
she doesn't already know something about. She likes travel, cats,
dogs, and children, and above all is interested in healthcare, its
history, and its future.