I want to give an update on part of the diet plan I laid out in the Fat Is Good post.
The super slim from Dr. Schultz did not happen as planned. The consistency was too thick and nasty and I have not had regular access to a blender yet, so I haven’t been able to mix it in with smoothies. However, I do like how it makes me feel. The mix is filled with fiber and energizing herbs and if I can just get it down twice a day I’d be satisfied. I don’t think three times a day will work for me. BUT, as of tonight, I now have a borrowed blender (plan on getting a Bosch mixer/blender in the coming months)……. If you are wondering why I don’t have a blender it is because all of our electrical appliances ‘died’ in a massive flood central TN had this year.
We recently moved into a new house (new to us anyways) 2 weeks ago and are now getting back to some sort of normal. So, there ya go!

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I’ve been hearing about Lyme Disease for the last several years, and how it can be a root cause for a range of disease…. such as arthritis, hypo-thyroidism, fibromyalgia, and a host of other health problems.
My friend Brenda has spent hundreds of hours researching Lymes and helping her family member fight this difficult battle. So, she wrote a guest post about her experience and provides very brief description of what it is, how you get it, and what to do if you think you  might have it…. Just in case you or someone you love ever needs to know this information!

When I married my man, I thought his mother and siblings sure did a lot of complaining about aches and pains and went to a doctor or chiropractor more than was necessary. But since finding out in the last couple years that their mother had Lyme for over 35 years and had passed it to 4 of her 6 children, I now understand why they seemed so unhealthy to me. One brother got especially bad after going through some real stressful situations and became bed ridden. After years of doctors, tests, surgeries, and traveling to clinics, he was diagnosed with chronic Lyme. The info was overwhelming to him, esp. with brain fog, so he came to our house for a couple weeks while I researched, cooked his special diet and just tried to help him understand the protocol and diet his Lyme Dr. put him on. His was a long hard road, but in about 18 months he was near 100%. This experience really sparked my interest and when I realized how huge and complicated the Lyme world is, I couldn’t resist the challenge of learning more. Read the rest of this entry »

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I’ve been sitting around, wondering what to post about and the only thing that comes to my mind is: I want to go swimming.
So, that’s what I’ll write about. Swimming was my sport! From the age of 5 or 6 I was on the summer Country Club swim team and I still remember the 2 or 3 blue ribbons hanging on my wall. By the time I was 8 – I was swimming year round and competing at the Junior Olympics (called the J.O.’s) and getting into the finals. Super fun! I heavily competed through about age 13 or 14 – at which age it’s hard to be almost naked around peers. And once you are at that level you need to practice before school and after school…. and smell like chlorine all the time.

So – I decided it would be more fun to make money using swimming skills rather than racing other girls my age (and to be honest, I’ve never had much of a competitive drive. stubborn drive: yes, compete to win: no). I then got my lifeguard and swimming lesson certifications and started working. It’s the only real way I’ve made money so far – besides scholarships and working with my husband in our business. I lifeguarded, taught private lessons, taught million kid swimming lessons camps, adult classes, baby classes, water aerobics, and coached swim teams. I really like the pool! I can’t wait till my kids are grown up enough not to possibly drown, so I can have a big pool in my yard.

Did you know that drowning is second only to car accidents for children’s accidental death? I know of at least 3 families that have either lost little ones or had major brain damage because of almost drowning – and most of the time the child drowning is within 25 yards of other people? Here’s a very interesting article about recognizing the signs of drowning – the signs aren’t what is shown in the movies: Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

But, the reason swimming is so heavy on my mind is because I’ve started swimming again for exercise! It’s short lived because we will soon be away from the free babysitters who actually want to sit by the pool or pond and watch me and my bigger kids swim while holding my baby (these strange creatures are also known as grandparents). I’ve been going 3-4 times a week and been able to swim laps, jog in the water, tread water, and throw kids around in the pool. All good exercise! And I’ve noticed some weight loss and muscle toning once I added in the on purpose work out. So, if you need any sort of encouragement to get out there and swim (who cares if you have to redo your hair – just don’t do it that morning), read this article from Web MD – Swimming Is For Everyone Hope you are having as much fun as I am this summer!

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Edited on 10/11/11
Since I now know my thyroid problems are actually autoimmune – extra iodine only inflames my auto immune attack. I am avoiding extra iodine, as I am getting to the root cause of the problem. If you have a thyroid issue read these two books:
Hope for Hashimotos
and
Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests are Normal?

I’ve been reading about this chemical element for the past few months. Here are some things I found most interesting:

• Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation. The LEADING cause! I could not believe it! Everyone thinks that because iodine was added to the salt – that we are okay. But even in developed countries there is a serious problem of Iodine Deficiency.
• There is a correlation between Iodine Deficiency and Breast Cancer – And Iodine Deficiency and Hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland and breast tissues actually hold Iodine (and use them).  Here is an interesting article by Dr. Howenstein, MD, called Iodine Is Vital For Good Health
• Iodine is put into animal feed as a supplement.

Read the rest of this entry »

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If you follow my Facebook page you might have read that I need to lose some baby weight! I had my third child five months ago and have still not lost the extra. I had no trouble with the first two kids. But, now I realize what people mean when they say “with three kids everything changes”. Things aren’t all that much harder….. just totally different. Every minute feels like it’s filled with something, and then trying to walk with three little children is quite different than walking long distances with one or two even in the stroller.

Most people when they want to lose the extra think “how can I cut calories and fat?” Well, cutting calories can ultimately help… but NOT cutting the fat. You don’t want to cut the fat. Good fat is good for you. I’ll scream it again! Good fat is GOOD for you. Read the rest of this entry »

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