 I have lots of things I want to do- like - gardening both flower and vegetable, embroidering, tatting, read, learn more about computers and the internet, bicycle, hike, camp, travel, train my dogs, genealogy, study other cultures, etc. There are so many things I want to learn. Right now I'm learning about "Feng Shui" and "Aromatherapy and Essential Oils". Since my Husband, Al and I are also into Aromatherapy there is LOTS to learn. And the Benefits of all those wonderful smells, just can't be beat! Take the time for one of those relaxing baths with some special "blend" of oils my husband has made up for me! WORKING
From Home is MY GOAL!
Visit his Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy, Essential Oils and Supplies website for more information about this new and emerging field of complimentary health alternatives. Building webpages has been lots of fun for me and I will continue as our business continues to grow. Views
on Health
Natural is better, what nature intended. You are what you eat, or consume whether it be Food, natural herbs, vitamins, minerals or man made drugs. You need to read to get the knowledge to know what you want for yourself and your body. Your body will heal itself if you give it what it needs. Let's face reality, very few people truely eat good nutrition! Even those that claim too. You can find them drinking "diet sodas", candy bars, cookies, chips, candy or alcoholic beverages. We are not in a society that is truely "back to basics". If it were more families would be eating the basic food groups and not rely on packaged foods. I myself choose Natural as much as possible but admit I have my weaknesses too. Since I do, I know I need to supplement my body with the things that get missed , just not enough quantities of the building materials my body needs. I've read a lot about low carbohydrate diets, 5 HTP, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides,Syndrome X, diabetes, Essential fatty acitds, fats and oils, grass fed beef and poultry, no grain diets, metabolic diets, nutrtional supplements and Exercise and much more! THE BATTLE BEGINS
In 1989-1990, I and my husband went on the Richard Simmons "Deal a Meal" plan and did our exercises faithfully. After just 2 1/2 months my weight was down and my cholesterol was finally where the Doctor said was managible at "214". As long as I kept it below 220 he would be happy. Well, we had some major life style changes and whoops off the diet and exercise routines. I started working out of the home (big mistake) and eating foods not allowed on his diet. Pretty soon - within about 2 years all the weight was back and then some and my weight just kept going up!!!! I felt something
was missing in my diet so I started researching everything I could about
supplements. Vitamins, Minerals, Essential Fatty Acids. Food Allergies?
other allergies?
Back to the diet board again, and increase exercise. I got a Health Rider! Just loved it! I began working our slowly and eventually worked up to 40 minutes a day five days a week. I felt like I was accomplishing things. My waist trimmed down but not that much. By now my weight was 175 lbs and still going up. Oh by the way I'm only 5' 2" tall - When we got married in 1975 I weighed 103 lbs dripping wet. Even after I had our first son I got my weight back to that 103 in just a few weeks - of course he weighed 9 lbs when he was born - a big baby so of course the weight disappeared. Trouble - the
Health rider rubbed a spot on the inside of my thigh and I developed a
Lipoma - a blob of fat about the size of a grape where it rubbed. The doctor
removed it and after a resbite I then proceeded to go back to riding my
Health Rider.
Okay - now what to do for exercise. I like walking, biking, hiking, and bicycling (although this is not as comfortable since the surgery). And in Minnesota It gets cold and Penny is not one to go outside and frolic in the snow, wind and cold. So now what? About this time there was an infomercial for an Aerobatron - It was like a stair stepper, treadmill, cross country skier, bicycle. Wow. So I bought it. It is great. I'm up to 21 minutes 3 times a week. Al's back gave out on him and so he needed to build up his strength. We purchased a weight machine. It is great! I work out on this 2 times a week for about 30 minutes. Okay, toning up, but no weight loss! And my cholesterol and triglycerides are higher than ever. I don't think I can eat any less fat or protein. (I had gone on a lower protein diet about a year earlier and lost a ton of hair - so back to square one). Okay so now what. I decided to go surfin on the 'net. And I read about Sugar Busters - Okay so I studied the book and applied the diet - somewhat - I did lose about 12 pounds but my will power started to slip and a soon I'm back up there - this time closer to 180 lbs. Back to surfin' the 'net. I read books on 5-HTP, depression, obesity, and insomenia. I found a great book about serotonin and diets just for women. Now things are starting to fall in place for me. It's not just one thing I'm dealing with - it's many. I search out more after I learned more - tryptophan and 5-HTP - they are what I need to help me with the will power. So I started a combination of several of the low-carb diets along with the Eat Naturally and Stay Slim Diet for Women, taking supplements of 5-HTP and now also adding the new book from the Hellers for Heart Health Program. I have finally discovered for me what works. I've been on this new life style for about 2 months and I have lost 12 pounds. I eat til I'm full and satified and don't feel like there is still something missing. I have even left food on my plate - something you would have never ever caught me doing in the past. Now this still did not stop the cravings and before long my weight and waist are soring out of control. Now my weight is up to 195 lbs! Yikes. DIABETES??!!???
So here goes, cold turkey. But you know what? After about a week on this new way of life. I start to lose weight. My head clears, I start to feel better. I get a Glucometer (to check blood glucose levels). I get several books on Low carb diets. Atkins, Protein Power Plan, Carbohydrate Addicts and about a half dozen more. But my all time
favorite is:
Yes, his book helps me to learn and understand what I need to know about controling my blood sugars. In so doing, I'll live a much healthier and longer life. I should avoid or prolong the onset of many complications known to interfere with being a diabetic. WEIGHT LOSS and
SURGERY
Well, I have a large flap of skin on my abdomen, that is getting constantly infected. I powder with cornstarch, and I use cloth between the layers of skin. If I forget, or don't use the cloth, within a couple hours I have a start of an infection. So Al, has had
it with cornstarch and sets up a consult with a
January 30, 2003 - surgery day. Surgery went great, but 2 days later, my mother dies in the nursing home. Actually, although sad, it was a blessing. She had lived a long full life and was 82 years old. She had suffered for the past few years, as she had gone blind, and was in constant pain in her lower back, injured in a fall 6 months before her death. I had a month off of work, then returned to work at the Veterinary clinic. Limited exercise
for the next 6 months. This did not help my weight loss. Once the Surgeon
gave me the go ahead. I lost another 20 lbs. I was at 128 lbs. I
fit into size 4 pants banded waist! Down from size 16-18 elastic waisted.
I'm ecstatic with everything but my breasts.
Wow, A new body and new life style! Talk about an EXTREME MAKEOVER! Over the winter
and slipping on eating a few too many Carbs. My weight had again gone up
but not too bad.
NUTRITION
Another good site is Dr. Mercola's He is holistic physician. He has an enormous website with a lot of great information too. http://mercola.com/index.htm We have slowly adapted our diet and are continueing to change to more healthy options. We now eat more fresh raw food, grass fed beef and cheese made fromthe milk of grass fed beef. And we use butter, coconut oil and olive oil. WHAT DO WE EAT?
Desserts?? Ah yes, berries - Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries and a few tart Cherries (from my own trees). Fresh when in season. Frozen otherwise. With Heavy cream or whipped cream. Add a little stevia or splenda for sweetening. (We are trying to elimate the splenda but since I have to control my blood sugar and stevia is not my favorite taste for sweetening, we still use a little.) I do use Almond Flour to bake a few things. Crust for Cheesecakes, pancakes, pound cakes. I've become quite good at baking these, but they have to be limited as they add up the calories (and a few extra carbs) very quickly! EXERCISE
We have a weight machine so I do 15 minutes of weight training 3 days a week. And Also ride my exercise bike 30 minutes on those day. On my other days, I just ride the bike for about 50 minutes. On the weekends - in the summer- We like to ride my recumbant bike on many of the great bike trails here in Minnesota. IT'S WORKING FOR
ME
As of July 22, 2004 I'm at 142.5 lbs. So only about 15-17 lbs to go!! My body fat is about 24% (at one time was probably over 60%) but I would like to see it down to 17-18%. We will have to see how good I can do. I'll update soon! If you have things you would love to share with me please e-mail me. (email address is below) Til later,
Email me at Apennyk@birchhillhappenings.com (remove the "A" in front of pennyk - it is placed there to prevent 'spammers' from corrupting my e-mail address. Thanks) |
