Update on Life, Natural Pinkeye Remedy, Stress, and Tuna/Salmon Salad Recipe

Hello strangers!  Sorry I've gone MIA again.  I've entered a time in my life where stress has reared its ugly head and I'm trying really hard to find the balance amidst it all.  I've taken on a few too many projects, and I think all these projects would work out a lot better if I were tackling them about a decade later.  Because let's face it, taking on personal projects is reeaaaalllyyy hard to do when you have two small children to take care of.  Or for me it is, anyway.  I'm not a very maternal person, believe it or not, so honestly I think of all the stressors in my life, parenting is the hardest and the one getting to me the most.

Other than that, business has been BOOMING.  I have some amazing clients that I am soooo so grateful for.  One major thing I need to do business-wise is learn how to schedule time for my secretary (a.k.a. me), my bookkeeper (a.k.a. me), and my cleaning lady (a.k.a. me).  Sometimes I feel like all I have is a massage therapist on staff, as my files are piling up, my birthday coupons are weeks overdue to be sent out, and dust bunnies are nesting in my corners.  It's overwhelming I tell you!  Though, like I said, I am so grateful that this is the problem I have, being so busy.  It's definitely a good problem.

I've been doing an alternative market once a month too, which has been going very well.  I spend a the day (and some of the day before if I time it right) baking some of the recipes you find on this blog, as well as making pre-mixed packages of my paleo tortillas, cookies, and pancakes.  That evening I sell them at Market on Main in Red Bud, and I've gotten a lot of great feedback from my customers!  It's been very fun and rewarding, yet takes a lot of thought and planning making sure I get the ingredients I need as well as figuring up prices for my items.

Another project I've taken on is a 5k.  This idea started towards the end of last year when Justin and I were talking about the year a member of our community created a "Pay It Forward" run, which was an unofficial 5k that happened once a month, and she'd choose a different charity to donate to each time.  We'd donate whatever we felt like, she'd tell us the route, we'd take a group picture, and off we'd go.  Justin and I tried to make it to each one, and that was the year both of us were in our best shape.  We wanted to try to get back into running again, so I said how about we try to recreate the idea of the Pay it Forward run?  Not long after, Terri Liefer and I were talking about her new charity, Love Abby, in honor of her step daughter who's life was taken too early by a drunk driver.  The charity donates items to foster children in the local area, as well as homeless and women's shelters.  She said if I had any fundraiser ideas to let her know, so that's when I told her about my thoughts about a 5k.  It took off from there!  We're going to try to meet once or twice a month from April to October, and each time we'll collect items to donate to the Love Abby charity.

Maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew?  The first run is next Saturday, the 16th, and the only thing I have done is a 3.5 mile route planned out.  I intend to create a 5 mile route for bikers and more advanced runners, and a 1 mile route for walkers or novice runners.  I need to print maps, run copies of the printed maps, and create markers to put along the routes to direct people who don't do well with maps (or I'll just have to tell people to deal with it, ha).  But, at this point in time, I'm going to keep the routes the same each time.  So the next times, I wont have to think as much.  Just show up.

In amongst all this I'm still trying to keep my family eating healthy, manage the mundane tasks of homeownership like bills and cleaning and planning for the next projects we want to tackle with this new house, and raise these two lovely yet demanding children.  I've had to keep Harlee's karate schedule straight in my head, which I've screwed up a few times, and Elliot is at an age where I simply can't take him anywhere lest I go insane.  He refuses to talk at his ripe age of 20 months old (I could have full conversations with Harlee at this age), and lets me know with an adamant shake of the head that he's uninterested in vocally communicating with me, thank you very much.  And instead cries or whines or yells to communicate.  I'm so over it.

Natural Pink Eye Remedy

On top of all that, this has been the year of the pink eye at our house.  UGH it's relentless!!  What is up with that??  In case you're interested, I've cured it naturally every time.  But it seems like once I get rid of it, only three weeks later one of them will either bring another case home from school or daycare.  It's soooooooo contagious.  To treat it I put colloidal silver in their drinks, which is a natural antibiotic.  It's silver particles suspended in water, and bacteria cannot live on silver, and silver kills bacteria on contact.  I'm still working on researching how exactly that works, but I've known about it for decades and you can see it in action if you host a Norwex party.  I found this article, for starters, if you want to look into it yourself.  Anyway, I continue that a couple times a day until symptoms are gone. I follow up with lots of probiotics (I just break a capsule into their drinks), as you want to keep that beneficial bacteria thriving in your gut - that's what makes up most of your immune system!  I also use homeopathic eyedrops (they need to contain Euphrasia) 3-4 times a day until symptoms are gone.  Believe it or not, you can get these eyedrops at Walmart.  I've had it beat in no more than 3 days each time, usually it's gone within a day and a half.  If you choose to treat pink eye naturally in your own home, the rules according to our doctor are to wait 24 hours after symptoms have cleared up before returning to school or daycare.  I'm currently dealing with it again - Harlee brought it home from school and I had it kicked in a day and a half, but of course he shared it with Elliot, and I am still treating that.  That then messes up the schedule, as they have to stay home from school and daycare, which only adds to my stress with having to reschedule clients and find back-up to watch the boys (my mom has been a lifesaver).

So, that's where I am in life.  Not to mention it's getting nice out, so we've begun gardening, we've got lots of chickens, and we're getting ready to start landscaping and spend some tax return money on cabinets for our home office/mudroom (and hopefully get a little more organization into our lives).

Stress

One of these days (or weeks or months) I'm going to write a decent article about the effects of stress on our well-being.  Because I am totally experiencing that first-hand.  I've maintained a workout schedule, which amazes me to no end, yet I've been noticing the scale creeping up little by little.  Not cool! Especially after all the hard work I've put in to get it down!  I've been eating as healthy as I can, but I believe the stress in my life has thrown off some of my hormone production/transportation, as I've noticed with other symptoms going on.  I've been super bloated, feeling feeling fatigued during the day, I have a really hard time getting up out of bed in the morning, I'm craving junk food, my brain isn't firing on all cylinders, and I've been increasingly crabby despite the supplements I'm taking that I've always had success with.  I decided to start a mild cleanse.  I purchased a 14-day herbal cleanse kit from our local health store which basically contains two different herbal supplements to help detox your organs as well as a fiber supplement to help flush everything out.  I'm trying to focus on eating healthy during these two weeks as well as exercise regularly like I have been.  I'm on day 3 and already my fatigue is gone!  I actually got up with Justin at 5:30 this morning and did some basic stretching and yoga poses to start my day.  It felt really good!  Usually right about now I'd be ready to crawl back to bed for a nap and I'm still going strong!  I really hope I'm onto something!

It's almost time to pick up Harlee from school.  But before I wrap this up, I wanted to share a recipe with you, since it's been a long time since I've done that.  It's a tuna or salmon salad that I've made similar to my favorite chicken salad.  I've made it a few times both ways and it's been delicious every time!  I like to scoop some onto a bed of mixed salad greens and just eat it like that.  So good!

That's all for now, it was great to finally get to write again!  I miss this!  Hope you've been well, and I look forward to writing again!

Tuna or Salmon Salad

Sorry, can't come up with a more clever name.  It's got a lot of goodies in it!

2 cans tuna or 1 can salmon
1 boiled egg, chopped
1/4 cup real mayonnaise
1 tsp mustard (whichever kind you like)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2-1 stalk celery, finely diced
1/2 small yellow onion, finely diced
handful of dried berries
handful of chopped pecans or walnuts
(I didn't measure the berries or nuts - just put however much you like in there, or omit completely)

Mix ingredients until thoroughly combined.  Enjoy!

Raw Honesty, and Alternative Devil's Food Cake

Well, I'm home today with a not sick kid, who happens to be napping right now, so I figured I'd take this moment to catch up on my blog a bit.  For those of you who check in and read this regularly, I'm sorry I've been MIA.  But, I do want to say thank you for checking in and reading what I post, and for the feedback you give me whether in emails or in person.  It makes me feel like I'm not so alone with my line of thinking.  Lately I've been feeling super lonely, so any of you like-minded friends out there, I could use a little extra love.  Justin sayin...

And that's why I've been MIA.  I've just felt sorta discouraged, like what's the point of posting this stuff?  My home remedies and whatnot, that is.  I know more and more people are checking out my recipes, which is super cool, and my first day of Alternative Market went over with flying colors, so that's awesome too.  But when it comes to eating healthy on a regular basis, or healing illnesses or ailments with natural remedies, or avoiding problems by watching our diet, it seems like I'm totally alone on that one.

RSV has been traveling around my boys' daycare, and we were afraid Elliot might have it as he's had the symptoms, which are mostly just common cold symptoms.  And basically that's what RSV is, the common cold, but it can be dangerous for babies and little kids if it gets out of control, and it can get out of control pretty quickly, which it did for my niece (who was playing quite a bit with Elliot the day she got it).  But it's super common, a lot of times it just goes undiagnosed because symptoms remain mild like that of a regular cold and there's no reason to go to the doctor about it.  I'm sure we've had it a ton of times.  Anyway.  It's super contagious, so I'm just keeping Elliot home away from the babies at the daycare, and preventing further spread to our family because I'm going away with my husband this weekend for my birthday and I would love to go guilt-free and not leave a sick kid with my parents!

I'm not sure if he's RSV positive or not, though.  We had him tested at our doctor's office (which is a horrible nasal swab!), but they don't keep rapid results tests there, which I didn't realize until after we did the swab.  Sorry Elliot.  We won't get results for a couple days, so what was the point of having it done, right?  They don't keep those tests there, though, because they'd expire before they got used, because that's not something they routinely check.  Because they treat people primarily homeopathically.  I'm among a certain group of people that don't go in looking for an ailment like RSV.  We think differently.  We take action differently.

And this whole thing has been yet another moment thrown in my face with flashing lights that I am very alone.  Because all the other daycare parents are getting their results for their kids within minutes and I have to wait a few days.  I was sent home with a homeopathic remedy to treat Elliot's cough, which should assist in preventing RSV symptoms from escalating if that is, in fact, what he has, and his cough diminished as the day went on and I used the remedy.  That's how it is every time I go there - we have an ailment, we get a remedy, it works.  On we go with our lives, no side effects, no complications to our organs because of foreign chemical substances in drugs, no damages to our gut flora (and in turn our immune systems) because of harmful antibiotics.  These doctors know what drugs can do to our insides, and they respect that they should be saved for worst-case scenarios.  They know that our around 80% of our immune system resides in our intestines, so antibiotics are also saved as a last resort, and probiotics are strongly encouraged.  They recognize the importance of diet to a healthy immune system and overall well-being, and recommend diet changes to assist in achieving optimum health.  They see the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies, which have been used for centuries, and they work.  It's amazing how they work.  And for those of you who don't know the difference between homeopathic and holistic/natural, there's a big difference, please look it up.  I'm not talking about crushing a plant with a mortar and pestle and making a tea.  That's not homeopathic.  This is homeopathic.  Make sure you know what I'm talking about.

So anyway.  I see this stuff work time and time again, so effectively and harmlessly, that I can't help but wonder, why is this not mainstream?  Why is this not conventional medicine?  Why oh why am I a minority?  Why would everyone willingly choose chemical drugs with potential side effects and put their organs at risk when there is a better way right here under their noses?  And I get so confused, wondering why I'm alone...

I've gotten to the point where I don't really talk much about my natural lifestyle in the open.  Still, a lot of people email me on a very regular basis wanting advice.  But it's getting frustrating because I don't know exactly what you're looking for.  I give what advice I can, what I would do in your situation, and I'm beginning to realize that what I'm suggesting - the things that are very normal to me - are totally "out there" for you.  And food is another thing - I'll find myself amongst people talking about the Fruit Loops they gave their kids for breakfast, and I'm trying to keep my jaw off the floor.  And I have to step back and say, No Jami, most people aren't aware that starting your day with processed sugar and food dye is a very bad idea.

And it makes me sad.  And I stop and have a moment of gratitude that I have the awareness that I have, and the open mind to continue to learn more and try new things that are safe, that I have the knowledge to treat the problems rather than the symptoms if we come down with any sort of ailment.  And I wish I weren't so alone.

Am I really that alone, you guys?  Or are all you natural lifestyle enthusiasts just keeping quiet in your own little world just like I've begun doing lately, and that's why I don't know about you?  I'm tired of being the crazy one for doing what I feel is safer and healthier for myself and my family.  I'm tired of being surrounded by people who just give into the fear tactics used by the medical field.  I'm tired of being surrounded by people who blindly trust their physician.  I'm not saying doctors or physicians are bad people, I know it totally sounds like that's what I'm saying, I know they're not, and I want to believe that a lot of them truly do care about your well being more than they care about their wallet, they just don't know how to treat holistically and weren't trained to do so.  They treat your symptoms because that's how they were trained.  Because that's the kind of world we live in.  You're willing to take drug after drug after drug to treat your symptoms and completely ignore the problem that your symptoms are trying to warn you about, and then you're willing to take on the side effects of those drugs that may have long term damages you'll have to deal with late into life.

I'm sorry, guys.  This is a depressing post.  I just wanted to share some honesty though.  And vent some frustration.  Because being alone in your lifestyle choices is very frustrating.  Like I said, I need a little love.  So if you don't mind, leave a comment or shoot me an email letting me know you care about my posts on here, you care that I share my first-hand experience with you, that you've learned something through all this.  I've got so much to share - more remedies for the common cold, how to heal pink eye, basic solutions for boosting the immune system safely, etc.  I know some people care, I've talked to you at my office and sent you on your way with information.  But sharing it here... I don't know.  I'm losing ambition to make my knowledge available to the public.  So please let me know if this blog makes a difference to you.  I'd really appreciate it.


In the meantime, the best way to combat the blues is chocolate, right??  I think so!  I whipped up this chocolate cake based on my cinnamon scone recipe, and made the icing from scratch, and it turned out amazing.  Harlee took a bite of it and moaned happily, it was so good.  Seriously, forget that these are "healthy".  Alternative, yes, as they're grain-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free, but they taste too good to be "healthy".  They're sinful.  I'm totally calling it a Devil's food cake.

Alternative Devil's Food Cake

1 ½ cups cashews (or 1 1/3 cups ground)
¼ cup arrowroot powder
Pinch of salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp cocoa powder
4 tbsp organic maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract

1 Egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9” metal cake pan with parchment paper.  Blend the cashews in a food processor until ground into a flour.  Add the remainder of the ingredients to the food processor and blend until smooth.  You should have a thick, sticky batter.  Pour into the parchment-lined cake pan and spread out toward the edges.

Bake for 30 minutes, then top with prepared icing.  Let cool, cut into wedges, and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Icing

 

1/2 cup coconut butter, softened

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup almond or coconut milk

 

 

 Coconut butter works way better than coconut oil.  Oil would work just fine too, but you'd have to keep it cool as it can melt. 

Add all ingredients to a bowl and beat with a stand or hand mixer until thoroughly combined.  I found it easier to spread over a warm cake, as it melts and doesn't make the cake crumby.  Once cooled, it sets up well.

Everything in moderation, guys... Don't eat the whole cake...

Love Yourself!

So we finally got the boys to bed, Justin crashed since he has to get up earlier than me and I went on to finish cleaning the kitchen and switch out the laundry.  I went out to the garage to turn the light off and caught a snippet of Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass" on the radio (which plays all the time out there... I keep forgetting to ask Justin why he likes to leave it on) and then it got stuck in my head.  So as I was folding laundry I sang it to myself.  And reflected on how there's been this big body-loving movement going on encouraging everyone to love yourself no matter what size you are. Which is pretty awesome.

I'm on Instagram a lot - I use it as my online health journal.  Yep, I'm the person that posts swelfies after a workout or pictures of my super healthy meals.  If you don't like it, don't follow it (the glory of Instagram).  That being said, I follow a lot of like-minded people using IG as their online health journal as well.  I read the stories of people going from severely overweight to fit, and I read their stories about their journey, and find them so inspirational, then I go on to read some of the comments from other followers who say things like, "Your story makes it sound like fat people are bad."  Or, "What you said sounds a lot like fat shaming."

I've posted before and after pictures along my way too, and I always think, gee, I hope nobody thinks that of me.

I've worked my butt off to get to where I am (literally!).  Does that mean I think heavier people (is that the "politically correct" term?) are bad?  No.  I got to thinking about this whole concept as I was folding laundry...

What it all boils down to is self love.  Why did I want to lose weight?  Because I wasn't happy where I was before.  I lacked confidence, I felt sluggish, I felt fatigued, I felt weak, and I was depressed.  Diet and exercise changed all that for me, and while I lost weight, the most important thing is that I found happiness.

A lot of people have complained about themselves and their size or shape around me.  It sounds like a lack of confidence, but there's definitely a lack of self love. (I always liked the quote, "Would you talk about your best friend the way you talk about yourself?"  Think about that...)

So here's the thing.  There's nothing wrong with being fat, or skinny, or anywhere in between or beyond.  There's only something wrong with it if you're not happy in your skin.  And if you're willing to do something to change how you feel about yourself, no matter what amount of effort and hard work it takes, then do it.  If you're not willing to put forth the effort to change, then find a way to love yourself for who you are and what you are.

Better yet, do that anyway, even if you do have full intentions of embarking on a health or fitness journey.  It makes the journey much more successful, trust me.

Let's all practice self love this year!  And reap the benefits!  Quit comparing, quit shaming, and quit putting yourself down.  You are you - own it and rock it.

That's all!  Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, by the way.  I've been too busy juggling my business, preparing for adventures in 2016, organizing things from 2015, doing the family thing, recovering from the holidays, making it a priority to work out regularly, obsessing over trying to break my sugar addiction (which was my Christmas present to myself, hooray.) and trying to eat healthier.  I'm getting back there.  Maybe I'll blog about that next...

Anyway, I felt like sharing my musings from a late-night laundry folding session, short and sweet though it may be.  Hope everyone's 2016 is off to a great start!

The Power of Gratitude

Well, here I am again, it's been over a MONTH since I've blogged.  A MONTH.  That is unacceptable.  Okay fine I guess it has to be acceptable, because it happened.  But here I am, so let's do this.

I had a whole idea about Halloween to blog about (we had the best Halloween yet, by the way, it was SO much fun!) and never got to it.  Then I had this post that I wanted to write before Thanksgiving and never did.  But what can I say?  I'm living life.  Running a business, being part of a family - those two things in themselves are time consuming.  But it's a good thing to have that problem!  Life is definitely good right now.

Which brings me to this topic.  Gratitude.  I wanted to write about it before Thanksgiving, but really it reigns true throughout the year, throughout all of life, so anytime is a good time to talk about this.  But since I like to be all theme-y, I guess technically it's still within a week of Thanksgiving so I'm good, right? :)

This is SO TRUE.  This quote says it all.

Story time!

Granny would always  make comments about how I live a "charmed life".  She would ALWAYS say that.  And she's right, things have always sort of worked out for me.

My dad kind of set that foundation for me.  He got me started in life with the awareness that a positive attitude attracts positive things into life.  And I found it to be true.  But don't just think positive thoughts - BELIEVE them. And a step further from there, live as though you've already received what you're asking for.

And be thankful for it.  Be grateful.  Stop and honor what you've been given in your life, and more good will come.  More things will happen to you thank you can be grateful for.

And not just all the good things.  It's one thing to say "I'm grateful for my spouse.  I'm grateful for my kids.  I'm grateful for the roof over my head, the clothes on my back and the food on my table."  Finding silver linings in bad things and finding ways to be grateful for those can make a HUGE impact on your overall life and well-being.  I ALWAYS reflect on my gratitude for my learning experiences.  Yes, I agree with Granny that I've lived a charmed life, but it hasn't been perfect by any means.  But for that, I am grateful.  Here's why.

This post ties in with my post about The Other Side of Hardship, Depression, Pain, and Trauma.  But I'm going to dig a little deeper - perhaps you'll be able to relate to some of these experiences, or they'll help you to reflect on your own and find your own gratitude.

My first love (yes, we were only in like 8th grade but teenagers know what love is.  Granted, it's not the same when you're in your 20's, or 30's, or 70's, but it's love.  Just throwing that out there.) broke it to me that he was gay and it crushed my poor little teenage heart.  It was a huge struggle for both of us - him with his confusion and realizing he may have to face a lifetime of persecution just to be happy, and me having to come to terms that we can't be together, and I have to be open-minded and accepting of his lifestyle, which was completely foreign to me.

I learned to love and accept people.  If it weren't for him I wouldn't be as open and accepting and understanding as I am today.  Everyone has a journey.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone has battles.  I accept everyone for them, no matter who they are or what they're battling, or if it even makes any sense to me.  For that I am grateful.

I've been stabbed in the back, and nearly lost a job over it.  I had to learn not to harbor anger and resentment.  Life ended up working out for the better for me, as life usually does when struggles arise.  For that I am grateful.  It taught me to be cautious with my trust. Sometimes maybe a little too cautious... And I also had to learn forgiveness.  That's a hard lesson to learn.  But for that, I am grateful.

I've been in an emotionally abusive relationship, without even realizing it.  I was trapped for nearly two years, unable to see what it was doing to me.  I finally got out of it, and realized the importance of protecting my emotions and listening to my heart.  I had a bad feeling about it the whole time, I just never tuned in and listened and instead made excuses.  I know better.  I tune into my gut instincts, and I've developed my ability to understand what my heart is telling me.  For that I am grateful.

I've been the victim of huge misunderstandings founded in jealousy, close-mindedness, and lack of empathy or flexibility or willingness to change or stretch.  Another lesson in forgiveness, and a reminder that everyone has inner demons and personal weaknesses.  I can choose to either get sucked in with them, or let them travel their own journey.  I have the choice.  For that I am grateful.

I've fallen in love with someone still battling inner demons.  I was about to leave when a good friend gave me some sage advice that has stuck with me to this day, and I will share it with you:

"When you pray, what do you ask for?  What kind of person do you want to be?  What kind of qualities or characteristics do you want God to give you?"

And I thought about it and then said, "Patience, strength, courage..."

To which she said,

"Isn't that what you're getting from this experience by being with him? Isn't that the kind of lessons he's brought into your life?"

God (or Universe, or Spirit, or Source, whatever you want to call it) can't just GIVE you the qualities you want in yourself.  You have to earn them and develop them.  That's what you're here for!

I went back with patience in my heart and a new readiness to forgive and give it one more chance.  We both were willing to put in the work, which we did, and we made it through, stronger and more connected than ever before, and we're married today!  For those hardships, for his personal battles and how they affected us, I am grateful.  And he's amazing - through all of that, he grew in his own strengths - patience, forgiveness, understanding, and perseverance.  For that, I am very grateful.

I poured my heart and soul into my desire for a home birth with Harlee, who resulted in a hospital transfer and c-section, followed by the darkest days I've ever experienced in my life.  It left me questioning if my "charmed life" was all just a sick joke played by the Universe.  That there's no such thing as "think positive and positive things will happen."  Even though my entire life has proven otherwise.  I lost all faith and trust in everything I once believed in.  That is a very scary place to be.

But I made new friends through my search for support.  I strengthened friendships with people I didn't realize had gone through similar experiences.  I was led to discover fitness, and then healthy eating habits.  My life changed physically and I regained confidence and most of my happiness.  I then "stumbled" (divine intervention at it's finest, I like to believe) upon a therapist who led me even further into my journey of self-discovery.  I grew stronger.  I developed awareness, stronger consciousness, and I was more "tuned in" to myself and the world around me.

Which, interestingly enough, is everything I wanted before.  I used to want more awareness, higher consciousness, and connectedness.

The sage advice my friend gave me came around again.

I earned those characteristics and strengths.

And so, for the trauma of Harlee's birth and the darkness that followed, I am SO grateful.  Eternally grateful.  I could cry just thinking about how grateful I am.  I never EVER thought I'd be saying that when I was in the midst of the darkness.  But it's restored my faith in life and the Universe, that EVERYTHING happens for a reason.  And the worst of things that happen, if you handle them properly, can turn into the best learning experiences you'll ever get in this life.  And the person you can become when you rise from the ashes is more amazing than you ever dreamed you could be.

For my friend's advice that stuck with me, I am grateful.

For the people that came into my life "by chance" when I needed them most, I am grateful.

For my restored faith in the Universe, and my trust that good things happen when you think positive, I am grateful.  But also for the realization that you do get what you ask for, but sometimes you have to put in the work too which can turn out to be pretty difficult, I am definitely grateful.

Gratitude.  It's huge.  It's what makes the who positive attitude "Law of Attraction" thing work.

Now, every day I express gratitude.  Especially for the little obstacles that later unveil their reason for happening (which is always SO cool).  Like the other morning, I was about to head out the door when Harlee said something that reminded me I forgot something inside.  I felt gratitude for Harlee's comment. I went inside to get it and realized I left the fireplace on.  "Yikes, that could have been bad!" I thought.  I took a moment to feel gratitude for the fact that I forgot something that required me to come back inside and see that I needed to turn the fireplace off.  Call it a guardian angel, call it God's protection, call it coincidence, but I call it the law of attraction in action.  The more gratitude I express, the more things come into my life to be grateful for.

Try it!  What are you grateful for?  Of course you're grateful for your family and friends, your job and your home and your well-being.  But stop and think about where you've been in this life.  Everything that happened to you that brought you to where you are today.  Who are you because of it all?  How was your life made better because of the things that once made it worse?  Life is filled with learning experiences and opportunities to make the rest of your life absolutely incredible.  Seize them with gratitude and enjoy the ride!

Candida, Yeast Infections, Thrush, Group B Strep, and All That Nastiness

Yeah, this is a nasty topic.  One that not many people want to discuss.  One that I tirelessly searched the internet for answers to and information about for a very long time several years ago.

A topic that I've fortunately been able to not have to think about for about three and a half years.  But now I do.  Because I'm in that boat again.  Yay.  Years ago, when I was in that boat last, I didn't really want to blog about it because of the TMI factor, but now, I remember how much time I spent searching desperately for answers, and instead of finding answers I found so many people on forums desperately searching for answers themselves.  So I'm just going to blog about it in the event that I'll help somebody who was as desperate as I was years ago.

I think I mentioned in a past post that I was blessed with a monthly yeast infection for lord knows how long (it was way too long.  Like a couple of years, I think.  I try to block that out of my memory because it was miserable.).  It was one of the driving forces behind me really avoiding Western Medicine.  I had been on several antibiotics for several different things back when I was about 17 years old (I think?) - I had gotten sick, then got an abscess tooth, etc., and then found out the hard way that I'm allergic to penicillin, which was pretty ugly, and that's about when the yeast infections started.  Every month, without fail.  I could have bought stock in Monistat or Miconazole.  Which, by the way, can potentially make yeast infections worse if used too frequently, as the yeast develop a resistance to it, but I was unaware of that at the time.  And to this day that stuff doesn't work for me.  I didn't even bother trying it this time, I knew it wouldn't do any good.

Our local massage therapist at the time had a LOT of knowledge on holistic and natural healing, and I finally went to her and told her my situation.  That's when I got to learn more about probiotics and the balance of bacteria in our guts.  This is the post I wrote about that, which I STRONGLY encourage you to read, and if you already read it before, go back and read it again as a refresher.  It's not a long one, so you're fine.  Click it - right now - do it.  Thank you.



Ah, welcome back to this post.  Okay so you're now aware of how important it is to have a good supply of beneficial/friendly bacteria in your gut.  It's the powerhouse of your immune system.  Antibiotics kill ALL the bacteria, and down goes your immune system.  Probiotics help rebuild the beneficial bacteria population.

I haven't been on antibiotics since I wrote that post about my UTI.  My boys have NEVER been on antibiotics.  Well, I take that back, Harlee had a mild one when he had surgery on his broken arm.  But you can bet I was bombarding him with probiotics to keep his immune system strong.

So what is my problem now, then?  I believe it's a few different factors.  I hadn't been eating as clean as I would like to, and Justin and I have been indulging in wine quite a bit in the evenings (makes for a nice date night at home!), so I feel like I've killed off a few good guys.  I haven't been taking probiotics regularly, and I know I need to.  Plus, I've been craving chocolate like it's do or die, and at times it's been such a strong addiction that I can't fight it - one time I stopped at a gas station just for a chocolate fix, got a bag of mini Twix and ate the whole thing in like 4 minutes.  It was awful.  I'm embarrassed to admit that.  That's actually the first time I admitted that to anybody... you should feel special. 

I feel like since I had so many issues before, my immune system will forever be slightly compromised.  I need to take extra special care of it.  I've learned a LOT about yeast since having my issues years ago, and it would be unfair of me to keep that information from everyone else who's desperately searching for answers to this miserable situation.

So, once this yeast infection hit, I understood where the cravings were coming from!  An overgrowth of yeast and an imbalance in the gut leads to unhealthy cravings, especially for sugar and carbs.  Yeast feeds off of sugar, so the more they grow, the more they want, and the more you crave.  It's a vicious cycle.  And it truly is an addiction, because it's part of you that you have no control over making decisions for you.  You can't fight it.  You can't say no.

Let's Break it Down:

Candida is a form of yeast, or fungus, that helps out with digestion and nutrient absorption in the intestines, and exists in our bodies in small amounts.  Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of candida, and it ain't pretty.  When there's too much candida, it can break down your intestinal walls and get into your blood stream, which of course leads to a lot of health issues.

Thrush is a yeast infection commonly found in the mouth and breasts.  Elliot is down to only nursing at night, but it's enough that he caught my infection, and both of us are suffering.  He nurses and then cries while playing with his mouth like it hurts, and I won't get into the pain I'm experiencing on my end.

Group B Strep is a bacteria often found in the vagina, rectum, and bladder of women.  It's not dangerous unless it's present during birth.  I didn't know much about it originally, but after testing positive for it when I was pregnant with Harlee I did some research and discovered that it's associated with candida, as that's the primary organism present when group B strep is present.  I was able to retest in two weeks after testing positive with Harlee at 36 weeks and, thanks to a strict regimen of all my candida-busting tricks I learned, I tested negative and was in the clear at 38 weeks.  I repeated the same regimen two weeks before testing during my pregnancy with Elliot, and tested negative right off the bat.  I'll get to how I did that in a bit.


A lot of people have a problem with yeast and bacterial imbalances in the gut.  Here's an excerpt from Mind Body Green: 10 Signs You Have Candida Overgrowth:

1. Skin and nail fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot or toenail fungus
2. Feeling tired and worn down, or suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
3. Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
4. Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis
5. Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, ADHD and brain fog
6. Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, hives and rashes
7. Irritability, mood swings, anxiety or depression
8. Vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, rectal itching or vaginal itching
9. Severe seasonal allergies or itchy ears
10. Strong sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings

I know I certainly fit the bill for #s 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 10.  Big time.  How many of these signs do you currently have?

The #1 best way to beat candida (yeast overgrowth) is to cut out sugar COMPLETELY for at least two to three weeks, and if that's all you're doing to treat it, it could take three to six months.  And not just plain ol' sugar - ALL sugar - carbs too, meaning grains and legumes and starches - all your breads, pastas, beans, potatoes, everything.  Alcohol is also on that list, and so is dairy, as lactose is a form of sugar that can disrupt the system and hinder your progress.  You need a total, low-carb, clean diet.  But, if you're helplessly addicted to sugar in all its forms, thanks to the yeast overgrowth making you crave it, it may feel like it's next to impossible to do it.  But you have to.  It's the only way to beat this.  It takes willpower and determination like none other.

Here is a list of tips on how to beat candida, and also what I did to test negative for Group B Strep, and how I heal faster from yeast infections and thrush when it does occur (and how you can too!):

• Cut out sugar.  Completely.  Like I just got done saying but it's so important that I have to repeat it.  Just get it in your head that you HAVE to do this for your health.  It's like any addiction.  It's bad for you, you know it, you know the more you indulge the worse your problem is getting, you feel like you NEED it, you can't live without it, but deep down you know that's not true.  Dig deep.  Remind yourself constantly that this is the way you're going to get back into good health.  No more itching, no more burning, no more searing pain.  Isn't missing out on the taste of a cookie or ice cream for now a fair trade for no more pain?  I think so.  If you can't cut out sugar, then don't read any further.  You're not going to have any luck.  Period.  You just aren't.  You just need to accept a miserable life of burning and itching and all the other problems associated with it.

• Oh, you're reading on?  Good for you, congratulations on your choice to ditch sugar and move on with your life!  Maybe check into a 12-step program - I'm serious, cutting the sugar addiction is VERY VERY HARD.  Start getting excited about eating nothing but meat, vegetables, nuts, and seeds!

• Probiotics.  You have to fuel the good bacteria and build them back up.  Take around 100 billion live cultures or more throughout the day.  You can find them in the refriderated section of your local health food store.  There's an excellent probiotic formula called FemDophilus that I highly recommend for any woman suffering from yeast infections, whether chronic or infrequent.  Another good product is HLC MindLinx capsules, which is a strain of probiotic that isn't normally included in conventional probiotic supplements, but can be very helpful in combating candida.  Take these two as well as your conventional probiotic from the health food store, and you should be smooth sailing.  By the way, you don't only have to take probiotics orally - you can use the capsules as a suppository overnight too.  Get those guys working directly on-site and bypass the digestive system!

• Garlic is a very effective antifungal.  You can take it in supplement form or include the cloves in your food.  Another very effective way to use it (and to beat that burning and itching problem) is to thread a clove cut in half (to expose the good stuff) with dental floss or string for easy removal and use it as a suppository every night for about a week.  You'll smell like a pizzaria... but it's better than feeling miserable!  It cuts those symptoms out pretty quick, and if you're dealing with a yeast infection, you'll do ANYthing to free yourself from that nightmare.

• Black Walnut is another very effective antifungal.  So effective, in fact, that one study showed it to fight candida better than most over the counter antifungal drugs.  You get this treatment in tincture form, which you can add to your water as directed and take it orally or soak a cotton swab and apply it topically followed immediately by coconut oil.  Goodbye itching and burning, almost instantly!  That is definitely a win.  This is one of my favorite treatments for immediate relief of symptoms.

• Gentian Violet is an antiseptic purple dye that's used more as a treatment for thrush, which is usually an issue if you're breastfeeding.  It appears as white spots in baby's mouth, and while it isn't dangerous or anything to worry about, it is annoying and can be painful.  On mom's end, however, it's pretty awful.  I don't need to get into the gory details.  Gentian violet can be applied directly to the nipples and also in baby's mouth.  It stains everything purple so be careful with clothing!  And your baby will certainly look pretty funny with a purple mouth, but it seems to be very soothing upon application - both my boys have seemed happier after I applied it any time they had it (which fortunately wasn't that often, and just one time for Elliot).  While used primarily for oral thrush, it can be very helpful for vaginal yeast infections too, and most people (including myself) say it works better than any prescription treatment (and trust me, I've gone through plenty).

  

  Harlee at 3 months old sporting his purple mouth :-P

• Boost the Immune System.  Your immune system will improve with a clean diet, so you're automatically getting that benefit by following step 1.  No refined carbs, no sugars, no processed foods = healthy body with a healthy system.  To help your immune system along, you can take supplements such as echinacea and goldenseal, vitamin C, olive leaf extract, cinnamon, and pau d'arco.  Just to name a few of my favorites.

• Coconut oil has so many benefits I don't even know where to begin with it.  But in the case of candida, coconut oil is very soothing for that burning and itching (I apply it directly after applying the black walnut and that usually kicks symptoms right away), and it also contains caprylic acid, a fatty acid that is a strong antifungal that both kills candida and also restores balance to your stomach's pH.
 

I hope that helped!  Check out the links I shared throughout, as they link back to other helpful sites that you can get more information from.  But this list is everything I've tried and had great success with.  This time around, I only had a couple days of actual "suffering" - the first day it started until I got symptoms under control, and then a couple days later we went out to eat and while I had a salad, I wasn't thinking and got raspberry tea and I'm pretty sure the sugar in that flared it up again.  Other than that I've had mild to no symptoms, reminding me that I need to keep my diet in check, but reassuring me that everything is under control.  I plan to continue my no-sugar regimen with extra probiotics and garlic for another couple of weeks for sure, because I don't want to run the risk of this coming back (which I know it can!).  I'm happy to say I haven't used a single drop of a conventional Western treatment, yay!  I think that says a lot that I've had a better experience treating this situation naturally than I ever did treating it conventionally.  Mother Nature always looks out for us, and for that I am very thankful!

Why I Make My Own Toothpaste

Following up with my last post about the homemade toothpaste and how it saved the day after Harlee's fire ant attack, I said I'd share why I started making my own toothpaste.

There are several different factors, but mainly, conventional toothpaste has a lot of crap in it.  Fluoride being the main one.  It's not good for you, people.  But there is a lot of other junk in toothpaste too that really shouldn't be put in our mouths.  If you don't want to make your own toothpaste, there are several natural options on the market.  Here are a few ingredients to avoid when shopping for toothpaste or any other body care or personal hygiene products:

Fluoride

Fluoride is highly toxic.  It used to be used in rat poison as it is slightly more toxic than lead and slightly less toxic than arsenic.  The FDA requires fluoride toothpaste manufacturers to include a warning on their labels to contact poison control if more than what is required for brushing is swallowed.

A lot of health concerns and problems can arise from too much fluoride consumption, including but not limited to arthritis, bone/skeletal issues and disorders, thyroid problems, endocrine problems, fertility problems, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological issues.  Fluoride has also been discovered to be a mutagen, which means it can cause genetic damage.  Genetic damage can lead to the growth of cancers.  Fluoride is most linked to osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, which develops during the teenage years.  Fluoride has also been found to accumulate in the pineal gland in the brain, which can have many adverse affects including sleep disturbances and early onset of puberty in females.

So why is this stuff added to our drinking water??  And why is it also added to our toothpaste??  Well, some research has shown that fluoride helps prevent cavities and tooth decay.  This may or may not be true, but adding fluoride to water for this reason started back in the 1940s.  It's since been discovered that swallowing fluoride doesn't have any affect on dental health, yet the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water hasn't  really stopped since then.

Even if fluoride does help prevent tooth decay when applied topically, I'd still prefer to avoid it, knowing how toxic it is and seeing how many health problems can arise from too much of it.  I'm definitely not taking chances on my kids, who invariably swallow their toothpaste instead of spitting it out.

Triclosan

"Triclosan is an ingredient added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination."  Studies have shown that triclosan is a hormone disrupter, which can effect the thyroid, cause learning disabilities, and can lead to infertility or breast/prostate cancer.  As if that's not bad enough, triclosan can also create antibiotic resistant bacteria, meaning if you come down with an infection and take antibiotics for it, the antibiotics won't be effective in killing off the bacteria.  Antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been the cause of over 60,000 deaths each year.

It's not just in toothpaste, either.  It's in antibacterial hand sanitizers and soaps, many body care products, cosmetics, even clothing, furniture, and toys!

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

This is a cleansing agent and detergent that can damage eyes and irritate skin.  It can stay in the body for up to five days and accumulate in the heart, liver, lungs, and brain.  It can even be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) when combined with other chemicals.

Propylene Glycol

This stuff is everywhere.  It's the active ingredient in antifreeze.  Interestingly enough, the EPA won't allow its workers to handle it without wearing protective gear, yet it's perfectly acceptable to slather it on our bodies in soaps or scrub it into our gums (and how many of you brush your tongues too?).  It's in lotions, sprays and colognes, cosmetics, even personal lubricants.  It can be rapidly absorbed into the skin and can cause some big problems for the brain, liver, kidneys, and other organs.

Polyethelene Microbeads

Plastic.  Tiny little plastic microbeads that are intended to be a mild abrasive to help whiten teeth.  Instead they get embedded into your gums and between your teeth and cause more harm than good.  They're also in scrubs and body washes as an exfoliant.  But it's not just your gums it's harming, it's the environment too, as they slip through water treatment plants and spill into our waterways, lakes and oceans.  Fish eat the microbeads and the pollutants in them, and then in turn they work their way up the food chain back to humans.

Natural First Aid Kit and Homemade Toothpaste (And Fire Ant Rescue Salve...)

Now that's an odd title... But, interestingly enough, it's true!

I've been eager to write this article but I couldn't remember the exact recipe for my toothpaste, which I wanted to share with you, so I had to make another one up and make sure I got it right.

We took a family vacation to Myrtle Beach the last week in July and drove down in two days.  We had an awesome time - the boys loved the beach, we got some good quality family time in, everyone did great in the car, and we got to tour a really neat cave on our way back.  As for personal experiences, I was pretty tickled with the fact that this was quite possibly the only vacation I came back from that I didn't weigh more than I did when I left.  I packed coolers with lots of healthy foods (turkey, lettuce for wraps, pickles, carrots with homemade ranch dip, fresh cherries, etc.) and we stopped at rest areas to eat lunch on our way there.  This also helped us save money too since we didn't have to eat at so many restaurants.  I also skipped breakfast on some days to help prevent me from consuming too many calories on days that I knew weren't going to be as healthy, and I did notice I felt pretty good those days.  Check out my last article about Intermittent Fasting for more information on that.

Before we left I packed my natural first aid kit.  The only item from a typical Western pharmacopeia was ibuprofen, which we fortunately did not need.  I tried to think of everything we might need as far as common ailments go, and I think I did pretty well.

Natural First Aid Kit

I know I've written about this before but I've added to it and changed some things.  Here's my original post about a traveling first aid kit, but now that I'm no longer with Young Living I've changed a few things (there were a few YL oils in the first one).  Here's what I brought on this vacation:

Olive Leaf Extract: It's a preventive measure, it strengthens the immune system to help fight off something you may have already caught or are dealing with, the health benefits are endless.  This is our go-to whenever we come down with something.

Papaya Enzyme: Great for indigestion and settling an upset stomach.  They're chewable, taste waaaaay better than Tums, and are safer for you too.  Harlee loves them, we call them "tummy candy".

Arnica 30X or 200C: Homeopathic remedy for muscle aches and pains.  Definitely necessary if someone falls or hurts themselves.

Ipecacuanha 30X: Homeopathic remedy for nausea and vomiting.  Don’t wanna be doing that on vacation!  Settles the stomach and keeps ya going!

Nux Vomica 30X: Another homeopathic remedy for stomach upset, especially from overeating.  We all know that happens on vacation.

Chamomilla 30X: A very calming homeopathic remedy.  I wasn't sure how the boys, especially Elliot, would adjust to sleeping in a new environment and being away from home so this was good to have on hand.  Luckily we didn't need it.

Homeopathic Eardrops and Eyedrops

Coconut Oil: To mix with the EOs listed below:

Lavender EO: Still one of my favorite essential oils due to its versatility.  Calming and soothing to the nerves to help with sleep, very healing for bumps and bruises or burns, can work as a bug repellant, and takes the itch out of bug bites.  It's also a natural antihistamine, so it's great for allergies too!

Tea Tree EO: This is a great disinfectant while being safe for kids (most EOs are not safe for little kids, please be aware of that).  So it's my go-to for wound cleaning and healing.

Peppermint EO: In case Mom or Dad get indigestion.  Peppermint is not safe for little kids, we use papaya tablets if Harlee gets a tummy ache, or a homeopathic remedy for Elliot.

Germ Fighter EO blend (Plant Therapy, it's equivalent to Thieves or OnGuard): A powerful immune system booster and helps ward off illness.  Not safe for kids, though if we're dealing with something severe I'll dilute it with a good amount of coconut oil and put it on their feet or back.  It helps, but I only use it sparingly and usually as a last resort.  It's got some powerful oils in it and should be used with caution.

Aloe Vera Gel: For sunburns

Natural Sunscreen: I used Blue Lizard, and I'll probably write about sunscreen one of these days, as the conventional stuff just isn't good for you and could potentially cause you just as much skin cancer as too much sun exposure could.

And Homemade Toothpaste.  Which would originally have been put in a personal care category but it made it to the natural first aid kit list because it pretty much saved the day.

Homemade Toothpaste

First of all, why did I make my own toothpaste?  Well, I've decided it's best to save the answer to this for the next post, because it's a topic in and of itself covering a lot of different areas from fluoride to plastic to carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances.  Lots of stuff I don't want in my mouth, or in my family's.

Please take the time to read that post when I get it published.

Homemade toothpaste is pretty easy to make!

Here's my recipe:

1/4 cup coconut oil (I used refined because I don't really care for the flavor of coconut in toothpaste)
1 tbsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Bentonite clay
1/4 tsp colloidal silver
1 packet stevia powder
~5 drops of pure spearmint essential oil (I don't get caught up in the hype of the multi-level marketing EO companies.  Young Living and DoTerra are just fine, but I'm happy going the more inexpensive route and ordering from Plant Therapy.  Mountain Rose Herbs is another company I've heard good things about too, but there are plenty more out there to choose from.  Keep an open mind when it comes to EOs!)

I mix all that together in a small mason jar and either dip into it with my brush or use a pallet knife (or Elliot's spoon) to scoop some on.  I love how clean my teeth feel when I use it too - it's fabulous!

What's the Bentonite clay for?  Well, it's a mild abrasive, so it's great for scrubbing the teeth and gums and whitening teeth, but it's also a very absorbent clay.  It has the ability to attract and absorb toxins in the body, including fluoride and heavy metals, and allow them to either pass through the digestive system if you take it internally (look for calcium bentonite clay for that purpose).  I'll fill you in on the benefits of taking bentonite clay internally in a later post.  But absorbing toxins in the mouth is definitely a good thing!

And what about the colloidal silver?  Bacteria can't live on silver, and silver in turn kills bacteria it comes in contact with.  Ever heard of Norwex cleaning supplies?  Their cloths and products have silver woven into the fibers, which allows you to clean contaminated surfaces just with water, no chemicals!  It's great to use as a natural antibiotic when you're sick, and I definitely like adding it to my toothpaste both to keep bacteria from living in it, and to kill the bacteria in my mouth.  Win-win!

Why is this in my first aid kit?

So on our second day of travel, we stopped at a rest area in South Carolina for lunch.  Harlee wanted to try to climb a tree, and just as he stepped at the base of the tree, he started SCREAMING.  It was awful, but we couldn't figure out what the problem was.  Justin picked him up and we immediately both saw quite a few ants all over his foot.  We both started brushing and swatting them away, all the while Harlee was clearly in a lot of pain (he wouldn't stop screaming and we were attracting a lot of attention from passers-by).  Luckily I had Elliot strapped in his stroller so I didn't have to worry about him wandering off.  I carried Harlee back to the car where I fortunately had my first aid kit in an easily accessible location.  He was still crying quite a bit, but had at least calmed down enough for me to figure out what to do.  I asked him what the pain felt like, if it was a burning pain or stinging pain, and he said it burned.  I was thinking all along that I was pretty sure these were fire ants.  I immediately put a few drops of lavender and tea tree oil on his foot with some coconut oil.  Lavender is good for burns and insect bites, and it's also very healing.  Tea tree is disinfectant, so I put that on there to be safe.  I also rubbed some aloe gel on his foot as well, just in case that helped with the burning.  He was still crying, but he said it was starting to feel a little better.  But I guess another burst of pain kicked in because he started screaming and kicking again, and that's when I saw my homemade toothpaste.  A lightbulb went off - it's got everything in it!  The coconut oil is healing and soothing, the baking soda is neutralizing for stings and burns, and the bentonite clay draws out toxins.  I started slathering it on his foot like it was going out of style, and that's when he finally relaxed.

After rubbing some oils on, before my lightbulb moment

I got him buckled into his car seat, transferred the first aid kit to the front seat with me, Justin had already buckled Elliot in and ready to go, and we hit the road.  Harlee did start complaining that it was burning again about five minutes or so down the road, so I slathered on some more toothpaste and a little lavender oil, and he relaxed again.

Left: you can see the bumps have gone down.  Right: Slathered with toothpaste

He fell asleep, and when he woke up he said it didn't hurt anymore, and he never mentioned it again for the rest of the trip.  I did look up information about fire ants, and I'm pretty much 99.9% certain that's what got him.  They're pretty prevalent in the south east, they attack anything that steps on their nest, and they don't stop stinging until you get them off of you.  The pain burns too, like he described.  Ugh, poor Harlee...

The next day at the hotel - bumps are still there, but he said they didn't hurt!

Apis is now added to my first aid kit, which is a homeopathic remedy for stings and swelling, and the toothpaste is coming with me anytime we travel from now on, not just for oral hygiene, but for any potential cases like that fire ant attack too!  Hopefully we never need it again, but thank goodness it was there.  And thank goodness I thought to use it!

Intermittent Fasting

A great thing has happened in my life!  I saw a commercial for Dell where you can buy a laptop and get a free TV, so Justin and I decided to just go for it, let's get a new laptop.  The old one works okay-ish, it's just super slow and frustrating when I try to use it for photo editing and whatnot.  So the new laptop came, the old one moved to my office, and now during my freetime at work I can finally BLOG again!!  I'm so happy!  I've missed this so much, but at home there are things higher on my priority list than sitting at the computer typing my thoughts about healthy lifestyles.  For instance, actually living the healthy lifestyle I talk about is important.  Instilling that in my kids, teaching them about good food and natural healing, staying healthy and what to do to take care of your body when you do get sick.  I grew up with a natural healing mindset, and that's why I have a broad spectrum of knowledge on it today.  I want that same thing for my kids.

Anyway!  Gosh, so much has happened since I last blogged... We took a family vacation to Myrtle Beach, we went camping, Justin and I ran our first official 5k in two years, and in the meantime I've been really encouraging Harlee's interest in cooking, too, as my Facebook friends have probably noticed with all the "Chef Harlee" videos ^_^.  I've tried and invented new recipes, learned new bits of information, discovered new remedies, so it's hard to narrow down my list of things to share on this blog and choose just one for this post.  I figured I'd just follow up with my last post, in which I mentioned intermittent fasting.  Then I'll go from there!

Intermittent Fasting

I've been giving the intermittent fasting thing a try, and I must say I'm sold.  There is a lot of information out there to back up why it's so effective, and according to my results, I'd say it's working.  I wanted to be sure to share this information with you and tell you about my experience.  Because, guess what?  It's a super easy way to lose weight!  Who doesn't want that??  But there are more important things to it than just losing weight, which makes it even better.

Here's the article from The Paleo Mom that I shared in my last post (I may have talked about Sarah, "The Paleo Mom" before, but I'll just briefly mention that I love her articles, she takes a very unbiased, scientific approach to things, backing her work with tons of research, and she's got an impressive educational background to support it).  I'll share a few tidbits from that article in this post.

What Is It?

Intermittent fasting is a way of scheduling your eating, rather than a diet.  You can still consume your normal amount of calories, just in a different time span, and you'd fast the rest of the time.  This doesn't have to be done daily, but you can.  The most beneficial amount of time to go on a fast is between 16 and 24 hours.  It takes anywhere from 6-12 hours for your body to completely deplete its glycogen, or stored sugar.  So if you eat three meals a day, your body never depletes its glycogen, and you're constantly burning that as your fuel rather than being able to switch to your body to burning fat as fuel.  Of course there are a lot of other elements to this, such as what you eat as well as when you eat (like restricting your carb and sugar intake to switch into fat burning mode).  But I'm finding that IF-ing is a super easy way to switch your body into burning fat for fuel.

For most people, the easiest way to fast is to simply skip breakfast.  For example, you finish eating dinner at 8pm, and you don't eat again until noon the next day, which would be 16 hours later (nearly twice as long as it takes you to deplete your glycogen).  If you want to go the full 24 hours, you won't eat again until 8pm the next day.  Or you can skip dinner, and stop eating after lunch at noon and start eating again at noon the next day.  You can tailor it to your lifestyle, which is one of the many nice things about IF-ing!

Now, if 16 hours is plenty to get your body to burn energy from your fat stores, why would you go a full 24 hours?  Well, there are a ton more benefits than just weight loss and fat burning.

How Does it Work?

Let's get all sciency!  What's going on in the body when we eat?  So as I already explained, it can take 6-12 hours for your body to metabolize your glycogen stores and burn it up before it can start burning fat.  So your body will burn energy from your blood stream - aka the food you just ate - before it'll burn your fat.  If you ate a lot of carbs/sugar, it'll burn that up first.  That's why it's hard to lose weight if you consume a lot of carbs/sugar.  And if you keep replenishing your glycogen by eating frequently, it's harder for your body to burn your fat as fuel.

However, if you're fasting, your body doesn't have any food to burn energy from, so it automatically burns from your fat stores.  Yay!

If you want to look at this on a cellular level, you'll see a process called "autophagy", which is when a starving cell breaks down its own components (including damaged elements of the cell) to fuel more important cell processes.  Autophagy has many benefits such as destroying viruses and bacteria, or helping the cell identify a viral infection, or even preventing cells from becoming cancerous!  I think I like that even better then the weight loss!

More Benefits  

Now that you know how it works on a basic level and a scientific level, let's list some of the benefits of intermittent fasting (copied from the Paleo Mom article):

1. Increase lifespan. 
2. Increase insulin sensitivity, which can result in an increase in insulin signaling in the brain which is thought to be how fasting/calorie restriction works to increase lifespan.
3. Lower blood lipids, triglycerides and other markers of metabolic syndrome.
4. Fight/prevent cancer.  There is also some evidence that fasting before chemotherapy treatments can help reduce the negative side effects. 
5. Increase growth hormone secretion (which builds muscle and burns fat).
6. Normalize expression of the hunger hormone ghrelin, thereby reducing appetite.
7. Promote brain and peripheral nervous system health which can result in boosting the mood, memory, and mental clarity.
8. Increase dopamine production, meaning we get more enjoyment from less food. 
9. Increase energy through regulating metabolic hormones.

And one of my favorites: Intermittent Fasting is a little like hitting a reset button.  It can help curb sugar cravings, restore energy, and even promote deeper sleep.

Guess what?  I've experienced a lot of these benefits.  My hunger and appetite have been curbed and I'm less interested in food, I've been sleeping amazingly well and I feel so refreshed in the morning, I'm less and less interested in sweets the more I try fasting, and I've been feeling overall GOOD.  Plus, I've been losing weight without losing strength.

Another thing I like about it is that it's an easy way to restrict calories in a day.  Calorie restriction has been proven to have TONS of benefits, but it's next to impossible to stick with as hunger is a basic human function that's hard to override, when you cut your meals down to smaller sizes, that'll probably drive most of you crazy.  With intermittent fasting, you eat normal-sized meals, but in smaller windows of time (such as skipping breakfast as mentioned above). Here's a little more information about all that.

Why It Makes Sense to Me

Since discovering Paleo, I feel like I've compared everything to "the caveman days".  Not that I know exactly what those days were like - for instance they probably ate bugs, and I'm not real keen on that idea, and they very well could have eaten grains, which the modern Paleo diet says they didn't.  Another example is that if I were a cavewoman, and I found a peanut, I'd eat the peanut.  Modern Paleo is against peanuts.  There's a lot of gray area, and I just kind of hang out in that gray area rather than go full-blown strict with it.  But there are a lot of elements that make sense, like eating what's available to us through nature, because that's what our bodies were designed to consume from day one.  That, to me, is the focal point of Paleo.  Intermittent fasting fits very will with the Paleo lifestyle, because I'm sure our primal ancestors didn't schedule specific mealtimes and eat around the clock.  They ate depending on what was available to them, and that may have meant going without eating for spans of time depending on the success of their hunt or what they gathered or foraged.  Our bodies would have had to be able to still function in a fasting state - we'd have been in big trouble if it was necessary to our health to eat constantly throughout the day.

Where I'm At on my IF Journey

So far, I've loved my experience with IF-ing.  It took a little bit of growth and self-awareness to get to a good place with it, though.  One of my pain issues has been junk food.  I have definitely noticed that I don't crave sweets nearly as much, if at all, when I'm fasting, but that craving isn't gone permanently.  During my research to learn more about the health benefits of IF, I came across this article, which was full of good information but also a bad statement:

It’s with an intermittent fasting protocol that I feel you really can have your cake and eat it too. You need to be strict with the timing aspect, but besides that I’ve found you can eat a lot more of the foods you love but “should” abstain from on a daily basis.

Yes. Daily. (I’m not saying you should go and eat McDonalds every day, but treats can certainly be included).

I latched onto that and started using IF as a crutch.  I'm human, and I'm not going to hold back the negative details from you!  I started learning about IF around spring/early summer.  We had lots of picnics and parties and holidays and therefore lots of bad food.  I got excited when I read the article I just mentioned because it basically said it was okay to eat that stuff, I'd just have to fast before or after doing it to deflect the negative consequences.

It took a few times of feeling like absolute crap after eating junk (tired, fatigued, run-down, foggy brain, etc.), regardless of the fasting, to remember that I'm on a health journey here.  I'm in this for the long haul.  I want to keep my body healthy, and not only look good but feel good.  Paleo has become a lifestyle for me, and I want to keep it that way.  I think it's okay to indulge on treats every great once in awhile, but not make it a habit, and definitely not make excuses for it by fasting around it.

So now, at this point in my journey, I'm being careful with it.  Yes, if we wind up going out and I overindulge on not-so-healthy food, I will fast afterward to help my body along.  But I'm careful with my mindset - it's not an excuse to eat junk, and I'm not going to make a habit of it.  However I am human, and sometimes I just want to taste junk food.  Otherwise, I fast when it's convenient.  I don't do it daily, but usually 2-3 times a week.  Sometimes I'm rushed in the morning and it's just easier if I don't have to think about my own breakfast, then I wind up waiting until lunch to eat.  I've been continuing to lose weight, inches, and body fat, so whatever I'm doing is working for me.

Is This For You?

Intermittent fasting is not for everyone!  If you have a health concern, like diabetes or hypertension or whatnot, you should probably talk with a health care professional first (preferably someone with an open, holistic mindset!).  Especially if you have a blood sugar-related disease, IF-ing isn't for you.  Of course if you're pregnant or nursing, you should hold off on trying it as well.  Also, if you're happy with where you're at in life, your current diet and exercise plan is working great for you, and your body and health is right where you want it, then you probably don't need to mess with IF.  Though according to the research, a good 24-hour fast a few times a year may not be a bad idea!

Also, I came across a couple articles about how IF-ing may not be the best thing for women.  I haven't found any issues while trying it, but it's worth mentioning too.

Here's a very good article about possible health concerns regarding women and IF-ing:  http://paleoforwomen.com/shattering-the-myth-of-fasting-for-women-a-review-of-female-specific-responses-to-fasting-in-the-literature/

And here's a very interesting story about one woman's demise with IF-ing: http://civilizedcavemancooking.com/reviews/how-intermittent-fasting-saved-mewhile-slowly-killing-me/

I'm sharing that with you because it's not a perfect approach.  Yes, it can be "too good to be true", especially if used incorrectly.  I could have wound up where Kaleigh, the author of the last article I just shared, wound up.  Luckily I had a wake-up call before it got out of control.

Be Smart

Don't obsess over it.  LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.  That's the number one important thing!  Nourish your body with healthy foods found in nature, not processed junk from factories.  Fasting can have wonderful health benefits, if you're doing it with the right intentions and the right goals.

I'm going to stick with this IF lifestyle, I'm really liking it!  Especially now that I feel that I'm doing it for the right reason - to obtain the health benefits from it, not six-pack abs.  I'm not fasting every day, but rather at the most convenient times throughout the week, between 1-3 times a week for 16 hours at a time, or a full 24 hours if I really feel I need a recharge (but that's only maybe once a month).  I break fast with clean, Paleo or mostly-Paleo foods, I don't binge on gigantic platefuls of food when I break fast, and I stick with clean foods throughout the days between fasting.  I try to focus on eating when I'm hungry, and stopping when I'm full.  Plain and simple.  And IF has actually helped with my stress levels too, as when I fast it usually involves skipping breakfast, which allows me more time in the morning to get the boys' breakfasts made and while they're eating I can prepare lunches for the day or get caught up on some cleaning or whatever - who doesn't like extra free time in the morning??

So I'm happy with where I am right now.  If you decide to try it, let me know what you experience!  But most of all BE SMART and BE SAFE about it.  Obsessing over it or using it as an excuse to eat poorly can ruin everything.  Make your health your priority, and find what works for you!

For more information about IF, check out this article on NerdFitnes.com, it's a good one!