GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

Get A Grip on Change – Greta Grypp Report #4

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SuperChgWomanGreta and I have collaborated FANTASTICALLY for the month of April.   On March 23rd I started the Virgin Diet and as of the date of this blog post I have lost 19 lbs.   Please note that I did not do any exercising during that period.   My success was all because I changed the food that I ate each day.   However, I know that in order to continue to have this success I need to reincorporate daily exercising again.

As I mentioned in last month’s post, I eliminated corn, soy, dairy, eggs, gluten, peanuts, and sugar/artificial sweeteners from my food intake.    The past two weeks, I reintroduced dairy and eggs to my diet.   Also, I had a couple of meals with friends that were non-organic even though I ate foods that were on the eating plan.   I did experience a negative reaction to this change and the weight loss did slow down.   So, I am reverting back to eliminating dairy and eggs again for several more weeks as suggested by the Virgin Diet.   It is apparent that I do have some food intolerances which evidently caused my weight gain.   I can never go back to eating eggs and dairy in the manner that I have for most of my life.

The next step is to keep eating organic and clean.    Even though the food costs more it is so tasty!   The fruits and vegetables are scrumptious.   I am eating a lot of wild fish and pasture-raised chicken with the occasional grass-fed rib-eye steak (I am a Texan).   I use spices and seasonings from Penzeys (http://www.penzeys.com) to switch up my taste buds so that I don’t get bored eating the same thing.   I have discovered that because the food is so tasty I don’t need to eat as much to feel satisfied.

There is an organization I want to follow that promotes “food as medicine” which I now believe is the purpose of food.    We human beings have re-purposed food into something that has made a lot of us sick.   Now that I have experienced the benefits of a few weeks of change, I want to move forward and I think following Ali Miller, RD, LD, CDE of Naturally Nourished (http://www.naturallynourishedrd.com) is the best next step for me.   I plan to attend one of her speaking events at the Urban Harvest Farmers’ Market that is scheduled several times a month.   I am also interested in some of her cooking classes.   Check out the website for some great healthy recipes.

Overall, I feel great.   I have lots of energy.   I am not dragging out of bed each morning.   I am not “foggy” in my thoughts.   The best benefit is that I still have enough energy at the end of my work day to come home and write.

QUESTION(S):

What do you think about the “food as medicine” philosophy?

 

Greta Grypp – The Choice to Detox

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SuperChgWomanSeveral friends and colleagues asked me about my choice to do a food detox for 21 days.   They thought eliminating seven types of food (gluten, sugar/artificial sweeteners, corn, soy, dairy, eggs, and peanuts) was a little extreme.   Some even exclaimed to me, “What is there left to eat?”

My choice was due to the fact that it seemed every time I had a meal I felt ill.   I eliminated gluten and felt somewhat better but I still had issues.    Plus, I had little or no energy at times and struggled to complete my daily schedule.   I kept wondering how I was going to live the rest of my life feeling this way.   Then one day it occurred to me that I could very well be shortening my life by not addressing these issues.

I didn’t want any pharmaceuticals.   You know when you reach a certain age and go to the doctor with complaints the first thing they want to do is write a prescription.    Have you ever seen those commercials where they tell you the wonderful benefits of a new drug and then spend an additional 3 minutes telling you about the side effects in “munchkin” language?    It is scary.   So, since I believe God gave the human body the ability to heal itself and supplied nature with healing elements, I decided to try a more natural approach and to start with a detoxification.

I researched some various methods and many of them overlapped with their principles.    I finally narrowed my choices down to the Virgin Diet (http://thevirgindiet.com) and the Ayurvedic Detoxification (http://www.mapi.com/ayurvedic-knowledge/detoxification/safe-ayurvedic-detoxification.html).    I felt the Virgin Diet offered a more “user-friendly” approach to meal planning for my busy schedule and provided me a wealth of information on food choices.   I needed this because a part of this process was an admission that I truly did not know how to eat in a way that my body could “healthily” process food.  I chose the Ayurvedic Detoxification method because of the positive experiences I have had with Ayurvedic treatments in the past – in particular with the benefits of their Transcendental Meditation methods.

I am now completing Day 18 of the Virgin Diet – Cycle 1 – Elimination.   I have lost 13 lbs and I feel great.   Now, I will continue with Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 of the Virgin Diet while starting the 15 day preparation phase for the 45 day Ayurvedic Detox program.   I know that sounds extreme but their eating plans are virtually identical and I will only be adding the herbal supplements, cleansing teas, and daily meditations to the overall plan.

All of this is hard work for me because I am cooking every day and it is difficult to cook for one person.   However, I am embracing it as an adventure with new discoveries to be made along the way.   I think my body was long overdue for a “system reboot” and this detoxification is proving to be the perfect way to “get a grip” on a healthy lifestyle again.

QUESTION(S):

Have you ever done a detoxification diet?

Would you consider a detoxification diet?

Greta Grypp Report #3

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SuperChgWomanAs I stated last month, March was going to be a better month.  It was.  Greta actually gave me a “thumbs up” to show her approval.    My focus this month was on evaluating the mistakes from February and researching some new methods to improve my journey.   When my girlfriend and fellow blogger, Anne, called me with the news she was revamping her healthy routine with eating “clean and organic”, I decided to try something similar.   (You can read about Anne’s journey at http://www.amivintageyet.com).

I recalled that I had a book in my Kindle library entitled “The Virgin Diet” that I had skimmed through previously.  It promoted starting with an eliminating detox diet to help with food intolerances and to aid in weight loss.   I decided to do it.    I had already given up gluten and experienced positive results so I knew the benefits of eating clean.   However, this diet required that I give up more – soy, corn, peanuts, dairy, eggs, and sugar/artificial sweeteners in addition to the gluten.    Also, it required eating organic veggies, pasture-raised chicken/turkey, grass-fed beef / pork, and wild seafood that contained little or no mercury.

So, I adjusted my previous plan.  I knew I was going to have to organize and prepare food for every meal.   It also meant I would have to cook more which requires time from my already burdened schedule.   I was determined so I worked my plan to get started with Cycle 1 – the elimination diet for 21 days.

I have just completed 7 days of the 21 days and I lost 7 lbs.   I feel really good and have steady energy.    The amazing thing is I have no cravings.   When I gave up only the gluten I still had some cravings.   Now that I gave up the other 6 food items I have no cravings.

This month I did try to start exercising again after my biking accident last month but I started too soon.   I worked out on my treadmill and my knee started to ache again.  I think I need to wait a little longer to do any weight-bearing workout.  This week I plan to try exercising again using only my stationary bike.

Overall, I am back on track with “getting a grip” on changing my health.   I am reaching beyond my old methods and embracing some new ones.   I will share information about them as I move along on my healthy path.

 

Best Things in Life #11 – Dancing

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If you are endowed with the ability to hear the beat and rhythm of music then you are capable of enjoying one of the most exciting experiences of human movement – dancing.    Dance is just as ancient as the human race and has been an integral part of our rituals, social events, and spiritual gatherings.   Dance remains one of the most expressive ways that we communicate with one another.

I love dance.   In my youth, I won a few freestyle dance contests and a talent show.   As a teenager, I recall dancing every single day after my chores were done.    I could dance alone, with a partner, or with a group of friends.   At the high school dances my partner and I were always one of the first couples on the floor.   When the music started I could not keep still as there was such freedom in “moving” to the music.   As a young woman, the ability to dance was a prerequisite for all date candidates and the prelude to some very sensual moments.

Then, life happened.   I met someone I really cared about but he did not express himself with dance.  I stopped dancing.   In fact, dancing became a very distant memory for many years as I navigated through motherhood and career.   It slipped away so silently that I did not notice it was gone because of the busy-ness of my life.

Then, I entered into the empty nest phase.   I met someone who brought dance back into my life.  I had all the time to become reacquainted with the freedom and sensuality of it again.   As that old saying goes – it IS better the second time around.

Just to name a few memorable dancing experiences – I have danced the Salsa (Mambo & Merengue) in Miami, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Aruba, and Acapulco.   I have danced the traditional dance of Welcome with the Tlingit Natives in their Beaver Clan House in Ketchikan, Alaska.   I have attempted to hula dance at the Luau Kapolei and the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu; and  standing near a waterfall on the road to Hana in Maui.   I still have the Tango to accomplish in Buenos Aires before I can call it quits.

Dancing is happiness.   One of my recurring fond moments is when I am traveling with my sister.   At some point during our time together she will stand in front of a mirror in our hotel room or cruise cabin and dance to the music in her head.     This is when I know she is at her happiest moment.  I always laugh and join her.

Here are some video clips of some happy Salsa dancers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_xwl_y5uT44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZHIQULn-MI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjSClEqdInw

QUESTION(S):

Can you dance?

Do you like to dance?

When was the last time you danced?

Greta Grypp Report #2

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SuperChgWoman

I am about a week late on this report. February was an eventful month and it was not all good.    I backslid a few times right into the point of Greta’s boot and by the end of the month I was bruised and battered from a crash into a ravine on my bike.

In reflecting on last month, I can attribute the root cause of my “backsliding” moments to lack of preparation.   I skipped going to the grocery store because I did not prepare my weekly meal plans.   So, I had too many “grab and go” meals during the month.   My daily schedule changed significantly and the new schedule will remain until mid-May.   I did not adequately plan for my exercise period in the new schedule which resulted in fewer workouts during the week.

I did stay on track with my long bike rides on the weekends.   I completed my first group bike ride in the 13th Annual Humble Lion’s Club Bike Ride which benefits physically challenged and diabetic children.   The routes varied with 22, 46, and 52 miles.  I rode 22 miles on a sunny scenic route with about 400 other riders.    The next weekend, my biking buddies and I started a new practice route at the Jesse H. Jones Nature Center.   We rode on the scenic Judy Bell Trail.

It was at the end of that ride that I had a biking accident injuring my knee and calf when I crashed into a ravine.   Also, I had quite a few sore muscles all over my body.   This resulted with me having to spend a-doctor-mandated 3 days in the bed with my leg either parallel or lifted above my heart and swallowing anti-inflammatory drugs every 12 hours.    I became a little depressed due to being immobile.   Now, I am better mentally but still unable to exercise at full potential.    I am anxious to get back on my bike and on the Judy Bell Trail again.

I am already on track with weekly meal planning and grocery shopping again.  I will wait another week before I attempt to exercise and will start with riding my stationary bike at home.     March will definitely be a better month.

Pictures from the Jesse H. Jones Nature Center – Judy Bell Trail:

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