Friday, February 25, 2011

Eat & Exercise

I like to eat. Yep, I do! I also LOVE to exercise. I know, most people think I'm just crazy about that one. I love the way I feel during it when I'm pushing my hardest & when I think I just can't do anymore -- I find it in me to push through. Then at the end? It's like a high with all the endorphins rushing through me. I know, I'm strange. Well seeing that I also like to eat then it's a good thing I like to exercise huh? Well a couple days ago I was doing a workout for my core. Pushups, etc. The day before I had done some chest flys. Well, I woke up Tuesday morning in PAIN!! I popped out a ribhead in my back a while ago and when my chiropractor told me it could happen again she wasn't kidding!! I went through Tuesday on an ice pack and trying to rest. Well, by Wendsday morning I realized I had done some damage that needed medical care. I went to my chiropractor and had a mini massage that was very painful. Then Dr T started trying to help me but the pain was 15 on a 1-10 scale. I kept remembering childbirth. When they tell you "you know the contractions are real when you can't talk while they are happening". Yep, that's what happened. So, I left there with being told they muscles have to calm down before the ribheads can get pushed back in. I ended up in the ER that night too. The pain was too much and my wonderful 15 yr old was very worried. I got muscle relaxants & was very happy to take one that night. Honestly I hate meds. I know some times they are important and really needed. I just kept thinking it's muscle! It should calm down on its own. There has to be something natural I can take! Well, I don't know about that but I can tell you I was able to go back to my chiropractor and Dr J helped me this time. She was able to push on the ribheadS!! Yes, a bunch of them were out! No wonder the pain was so bad. I am feeling better now just in a little bit of pain & pretty sore.

I have had people make jokes to me that is this what it's like to get healthy & stronger? Guess what? Yes, sometimes getting healthy & stronger takes lots of work and it may hurt a bit. I feel stronger. I prayed & praised God the whole time. He slowed me down the way no one has been able to. He showed me a part of my 15 yr old son that I have never seen before. My son took care of me and my 5yr old (my husband was away with my other son). He took over the things in the house. He even opted out of some plans that he had made so he could be here to take care of me. So, yes I was praying & praising God. Through the trials we go through He is always there. When I am weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). I know that more now than ever.

Yes, I will workout again as soon as I can (because I still love to eat!!)! I will be alot more careful next time!!

Be BLESSED & HEALTHY!!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Snacking (and snacking and snacking....)

There is a new humming sound in the house. It's not the vacuum (ha!). Yes, it's getting warmer here but it's not the A/C either. It's our dehydrator!!! My oldest son found out we had one (collecting dust on a shelf in the laundry room) and went nuts with it. I have to say I started getting a little jealous that he was using it so much and enjoy the "fruits" of his labor :) I have to say though, I'm impressed!! Trying to get him to eat fruit most of the time is rough. He is old enough to be able to get his own food but sometimes needs to be prompted to eat his fruits & veggies. This gadget is just the thing! He dries his fruit and bags it up and takes it to baseball practice or games. The guys in the dugout go nuts for the stuff too (depending on what he dried). I needed to get in on the action so today I'm drying some bananas & zucchini!! I'm really excited about it. Maybe A will enjoy the zucchini too?! Who knows but it's worth the dry (heehee)





As for the snacking title. Yes, I am a snacker. I don't eat the 5 little meals a day that some say is important. It's hard enough to get my 3 good meals in to be honest with how busy I am. My snacks have to be healthy & filling for me. My favorite is brown rice cakes w/almond butter (or natural peanut butter with NO sugar or sweetener). If I do need a sweet thing I will put some raisins (golden are my faves) on top with the nut butter. Yummy!! Now I might have to say the dried fruit & veggies are my new faves. We'll have to see......

Leave me a comment! Let me know what your favorite snacks are!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Gluten Free or not to be?

When you eat do you feel miserable afterward? Does the pain send you into the bathroom or just into the fetal position? Yeah. Not until I did an elmination diet did I realize my body doesn't do well with gluten. When I added gluten back in the pain was not fun at all. Happened with dairy products too. My nurse pracitioner explained that I have a gluten intolerance. The more I looked into it and tried different things I understood. I thought being gluten-free would be really difficult. Well, as I got used to it, it isn't. It's actually rather easy. When I go out to restaurants now I know what to look for and ask about. Lots of restaurants are coming out with gluten-free menus (thank you Olive Garden!). I have been gluten & dairy free for 5 years. I also stay away from meat (I do eat certain fish) and I try to stay away from sugar as much as possible (Agave Nectar is my friend). Well, one of the reasons for this post is to tell you about an AWESOME cookbook my sweet sister who completely understands my new dietary lifestyle. It's
1000 Gluten Free Recipes by Carol Fenster
Every recipe I have tried in this book has been YUMMO-LICIOUS!! I have been completely impressed with it. She also has some great information in it and tells me which recipes are vegetarian or vegan. I love that. She uses a flour blend that is very easy to make with sorghum flour, potato starch & tapioca flour.

I'm going to try to put the link to amazon for the book here so you can check it out yourself! You might try the library in your area too. That's a great way to try out new cookbooks!! Enjoy!!

http://www.amazon.com/000-Gluten-Free-Recipes-Carol-Fenster/dp/0470067802/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297806580&sr=8-1

Be Blessed & Healthy!!