I did this event last year but I FELL off the wagon. I learned a lot about my body, my craving and what is bad and good for me. So I want to do it again but I want to share more about what I am specifically doing--the "cheating" if there is any, what I use to cope when the cravings are just too much and what is really working for me.
I am on DAY 11 and this is a summary of what has happened so far: I started strong and doing well. I don't eat much wheat so that was not to bad. But the sugar cravings--that is a whole 'nother story! I ate four homemade chocolate chip cookies that my daughter made from scratch--they were about 1" across, so pretty small. Then I had some yougurt (black cherry, Greek yogurt with almonds and dry cherries) this is my go to food when I am craving sweets. Then my period started so I understood why I was craving the sweets. I had some yogurt off and on the next few days. I do allow myself some small boxes of raisins, fresh fruit and dry fruit as I want it. BUT NO PROCESSED sugars--so no ice cream, pie, cake, donuts, lemonade sweetened with white sugar or the like, ususally no daughters cookies and the list goes on and on. The way to not want to sugars are to give them up and have an acceptable SHORT list of items one can eat, like my yogurt/fruit list. The other thing I do is make sure that I have a healthy, non-processed snack with me if I need it (usually nuts, or dry fruits--but mostly almonds! Love those). I am still juicing. Today I made a mix of 1 pink grapefruit, 1 lemon, (peel both of these), 4 large juicing carrots and 1 small gala apple----THAT WAS INCREDIBLE! I made about half a quart. It was fresh on the palette, awakening--not bland to my tastebuds and just tasted great. In addition to that I made a three egg scramble that included organic butter saute' leeks, a bit of broccoli, halved grape tomatoes, some bacon (small pieces--I get the big bag of pre-cooked bacon from Sam's club, used in salads) and about 3-4 small mushrooms. I cook that all up and gently add my three organic eggs. Stir it up a bit to mix, let it cook and just as the mix is finishing cooking I add some sharp cheddar cheese in little pieces (about an ounce, maybe). This with my juice was my breakfast today. I am full but not dying. I have enough protein and fruit/veg in me; I have lots of fiber to keep my insides flowing and I can get through my work day with a couple of snack and a few bottles of water (still teaching in Flint with the poisoned water!) I have been eating kind of Paleo, but I add things like Chia seeds, quinoa and the occasional yogurt. I do eat a bit of dairy--as you can see but I try to keep it organic. Tuesday I fasted--no food, no liquids for 24 hours. I wanted to just clean out my system. If you want to try a fast do it! Don't make excuses and do it in a half-hearted effort. When you get the pangs of hunger, grab a pen and paper and write 2 things you are grateful for. Continue with this response every time your brain starts to whine, " I can't do this!" " I need food, I have to eat now" Grab that paper and give a little thanks! You know, of course, if you cannot do a fast and if you have serious health issues, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. But fasting once a month is a great tool for good health. I think that's all for now. I will continue to send out notes via REMIND, but I jsut had more to say about what I am doing. OH, by the way, I lost 4 pounds; I am down to 176.8. I am going to keep going too! Loosing weight may not seem like a big deal but with a slow cranky thyroid--4 pounds is the world! I will be walking a bit more too. So let's just see what happens! Have a happy snow day!
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So after my last visit to the doctor I was discouraged, frustrated and not really feeling the customer service love! I feel like when I go to the doctor, I am an inconvenience, in the way and quite frankly I am sick of that....Possibly a topic for another time.
As I was saying, I went and was told "you're fine and I will see you in one year." (!!!!???) My A1c jumped up to 5.8 (6.0 is diabetes), my weight has increased by about 10 pounds and I get see you in a year? Diabetes is in epidemic proportions in this country. But its a disease that 1) can be prevented and 2) makes many a boat payment for the doctors, supply companies and those who "support" the diabetic lifestyle. I am not trying to be one in the category of diabetes. So I try to eat well. Usually we have farm raised, grass fed (corn fed anything is ICK and sickly and FAT!) cow, lamb and pig...well the pigs eat well, maybe not all grass; I try to limit processed foods as they are so full of chemicals and not nutritional for the body at all. I try to keep active by running (yes, not as much as I want) and doing yoga, which keeps me active and focused on my wellness goals. Yet my sugars go up and I am poo-pooed by the doctor. I am changing doctors as we speak. I made appointments with a new endocrinologist and a new GP....we will see what happens. They seem to think that getting diabetes is OK. NOT SO! So in my quest to get the fat off and not get diabetes I am taking my eating one step up--No Sugar, No Wheat for 100 days. So far so good. I am on day 87! Yep. 87! So let me give you the short version of what my days have been like and what I will be doing next. DAYS 1-20 I was tired, a lot. Day 3 & 4 were really bad and Day 5 I had a fairly annoying Headache; Yoga helped relax and take my mind off the pain. If you plan to try this try to have a minimally active set of days to start. Know that you will be irritable, tired and possibly break out in pimples. DAY 14 Yes, I broke out in pimples--a surprise as the juicing I do has really, really cleared up my face, and my skin overall. One would think after puberty the pimples would GO AWAY but no....had them forever, during ovulation, during PMS, on my cycle, after my cycle---but juicing helped a lot! DAYS 13-20 I was super tired, factors could have been work, still transitioning off the wheat and sugar...and just life...but I was super tired. DAY 20-22 I allowed myself on caveat in the beginning--if the cravings got tooooo crazy I could have some organic greek yogurt with organic blueberries and gluten free cereal. I ate this one time during these three days. It helped, then my period started and I knew why I was all of a sudden craving, like crazy craving sweets! DAY 28 I was still at 182 lbs.....no serious weight loss, maybe a pound or two....I was near 185 when I started..... DAY 29 I am starting to really feel better DAY 34 I ran/walked 2 miles. It was a bit of a fight, but I felt good getting out to move in the sun. DAY 43 Melissa week is about here: that is Mother's day, our anniversary and my birthday within a week, in addition another family member has a birthday that week too. So I can see it now, cakes, ice cream, treats, desserts.....my brain is starting to really get bogged down and worried that i cant pull this off. I really want to hit my goal, I am a goal oriented person. DAY 47 We have a date night with some other couples. We go to Sarnia to Sarita--this Amazing (!!!!) Indian restaurant. I love, love, love Indian food. But I am worried as I LOVE Naan bread, Pratha bread--i Love all the breads. This is the first time I have gone out to eat food I really love and not get the food I love to go with my dinner. It was an interesting and educational night. I ate my food, dish and rice, with no breads and just water to drink--no alcohol, no sodas. I was comfortably full at the end of my meal. I was not stuffed, or hugging my "food baby" as I tell my friends as I usually get so bloated after a meal. I was just full. It was nice, a nice feeling. I could walk about, talk, and I did not feel like I needed to undo the top 3 buttons (you know, like after the Thanksgiving binge?). I felt good. I learned that BREAD fills us up--and its is not even healthy, bread is the filler of life. Bread is bad carbs and its given to you ALL THE TIME TO FILL YOU UP WITH EMPTY CALORIES. But I DID NOT EAT THE BREAD! woo-hoo! I learned that I can have an amazing dinner, enjoy great company and feel good about the experience. So can you! DAY 56 I had some yogurt...you see a pattern here? DAY 57 I really wanted some fried chicken and after I ate it smacked myself as there is Flour in the batter! But then I paid for it as my tummy hurt till the end of DAY 48. My period started today. Odd craving but understandable. DAY 67 I still weigh 182.... :o( DAY 71 Beach yoga starts and it feels good to get moving again. Three days in I feel really energized. Day 81 I was doing an art show in Birmingham and my hip was achy, not really sure why but the next day my period started--no fuss, not muss, no PMS, a zit or two but no major pimple break out, not tired today but the next day I was (DAY 82), no cramps---nothin'! THIS WAS GREAT! DAY 87 I am just hanging out updating my site and blog...:o) sharing what I have experienced. I have to say I feel better. less brain fog and part of that I know is being out of school. I enjoy the summer and my day job is extremely stressful. I teach at the alternative high school in Flint MI. I deal with all kinds of foul language, naughty behavior and kids who need some serious direction and love---some days my life is threatened, some days I am called all kinds of vulgar crass things and names...I love the days when I see the light in the eye of a student and they have accomplished something amazing. I think its that little light that keeps me coming back for more! I am less bloated and I like that. My clothes still fit the same, more or less. I am going to a couple of new doctors so I will keep you updated! DAY 90 I am feeling lighter, though I only dropped a couple of pounds and I just go up and down in that little window of fluctuation. I am OK with it. I found a new book--I RECOMMEND IT TO YOU ALL! Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP This book is helping me take care of me! I have been to about 8 different doctors over the years that have told me "You're fine" as a goiter the size of a baseball pops out of my neck! Hair falling our, weigh gain, horrible pregnancies--you follow me? Over the years I have found my own solutions. I eat way better, little to no junk food--this means no desserts, no junk chips, no pie, no ice cream, no pizza rolls, definitely no pop, alcohol or coffee/tea. Sure, you just rationalize all you want for the pie, the wine, the pop, the drinks--stay sick. I am not feeling sorry for you! I am fighting the fight and I know what works. I don't look my age--I look about 10-13 years younger and I have the energy of a younger person. My friends call me "self-caffeinated" and I am. Doing this fast has shown me that getting older does not mean one foot in the grave! DAY 100 (!!!!) Yep! I did it! No sugar cravings, great periods that start and stop without crabbiness, crazy cravings, cramps, pimple break outs---all gone! GONE I SAY! BLOATED---GONE! Its pretty nice. I like it. Abdominal bloating is gone too! I like that as well. I feel better. I am more clear headed and I have even more ideas buzzing about. DAY 108 Experiment time! So I tried an experiment to see what would happen--I ate three homemade muffins (pumpkin chocolate chip) that my daughter made. They were not too sweet as she only put in half a bag of chips. But almost immediately I felt bloated and big bellied. I did not eat them all at once but throughout the day. The last one was at about 8 o'clock at night. I SNORED that night...my husband had to find another location....I felt so bad. BUT I had proof that I react to wheat and not in a wonderful manner. WHEAT is inflammatory to my tissue. I just don't need it. In the "Root Cause" book the author talks about finding out what you react to and how to stay away from it, I love that book Right now there is a new movement of "doctors" out there practicing FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE. It sounds great, if you can afford it, about $500 a visit--cash! OUCH! But I have found that if you learn how to read a lab, do your research (in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses) online to corroborate information and facts--you can take better care of yourself! Be proactive in your own health. Read labels, change what you eat, turn off the electronics, walk, run, yoga, transform your life, don't diet--so frustrating, but get on the change-train for life--and find not only your inner Hot Chick but your inner HAPPY TOO! I have come to the conclusion that it will always be too cold, too hot, or I'll be too tired, or busy or not in the mood to run. So, as a woman that wants to be more healthy and continue the fight against diabetes. I need to get with it! Again.
Yes, I go in and out of wanting to be healthy. Can you believe it? Yep. Its true. I like ice cream. A lot. But unfortunately, it is not good for me in any way. I like some dairy items too--not good for me. I like some grains and they are really not good for me. So I am back on the paleo trail. Grass-fed and raised meats, fruits and veggies. That is it. No more cake, processed delights like pop-tarts, no candy and processed foods like chips...bummer. But in return, I can breath a lot easier. I get all congested and ISNORE (lol!!) becasue of it. I know, I know seems really funny right? But not so much when my husband needs to sleep too. ;o( I will have less bloating in my tummy area. Did you know that many react to grains with more mucous in the body and bloating in the tummy? I am TRYING to get slimmer! So I can give up the grains if it means I have more energy and more clarity of thought. Can you? This past weekend I have had so many ideas for blogging. Here are a a few that I will come back to and develop. ---easy baby food for moms who want inexpensive organic baby food ---getting a new spot for our yoga classes and getting ready for our training ---what is it that really keeps us from being our healthiest best? ---yoga at the beach ---running every day and just making it work no matter what! ---bringing art to my kids at school and making their lives a bit happier ---getting the house in order so I can feel better and have time to kettlebell and run ---the love hat relationship with kettlebelling and doing it today ---being daring and trying new activities like paddle boarding, beach yoga, and getting back on a bike! My brain is always buzzing and I have so many ideas I am not sure what to do with them all sometimes. But I try to keep track of them as I know one day, that idea may help, lift or inspire another. LIFE IS TO SHORT TO BE LUMP ON A LOG. Run today and find your inner Hot Chick! I like that the road is behind me...and the run is done. The future awaits and kettlebells...but this work leads to a healthy mind and body. I am willing to do the work, are you? happy running, Melissa The spring is finally upon us! Yaaaaaay! I am sure we will have a few brisk days and probably a tiny bit of snow as we work our way to into summer. As we start again into the season of summer, moving, and beach visits we need to revisit goals we "made" in January. Did you make any goals in January?...Did you really mean to keep them? I always try to keep mine. But I find, as with any goal, I have to try to reach it again and again, that is what must be done. Tenacity. My goal is to be healthy, increase my strength--I want to be able to do REAL, all grown up push ups, from a full plank, up and down, all by myself. Maybe about 20. That is one of my goals. I want to keep my A1C low and get it lower. The A1C is what tells one if they have diabetes; it looks at the glucose over a three month period. I have gone from 5.9 to 5.4! This is awesome! 6.0 is diabetes. My goal is to help others understand they too can reach their goals. Don't we all get caught up in life and forget about ourselves, forget about our goals, forget about what we want to accomplish--don't we? I have been teaching yoga for my Fat Chicks Running! It has been so much fun. It has been so rewarding! We have learned how to move, stretch and hold those poses, while also chatting about wellness and health. I shared information about getting grass-fed meats on the site Eatwild.com and from our local processor, Flemmings Meats in Croswell, MI. We have talked about the movie "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" featuring Australian Joe Cross and his journey to wellness, health, and a happier life. We have talked about great bra's (I like the Moving Comfort's Fiona) for larger women that support the girls and let one move with confidence and not rip any delicate muscles. We have talked about finding balance and happiness while being the best woman one can be--not an easy task. But a task that is very worthwhile. Finally, we have done some great yoga! So, in working to increase my health and the health of the women around me, I am offering more yoga classes and I will be offering a summer training for anyone who wants to do the Crim in August. The Crim is a 10-mile race that one can walk, walk-run, or just run. There is also a 5K and other races during the race weekend. I have to say a huge thank you to all the women and men that have attended the yoga classes. The feed back has been so awesome, edifying and uplifting to me, personally. I love chatting with everyone and teaching how to just let go of the stress, the tension and the crap of the day! I appreciate you coming to my class and making me a better woman for the experience! THANK YOU ALL EVER SO MUCH! Returning to our goals from January....what have you done? What have you forgotten about? What are you unmotivated to do any more but really still want to accomplish? Just start again. The first 30 seconds are the hardest. Just start and then just start again, and again and again--this is what every person has to do to be successful. DO IT! and if you have to start over and over, then do that too! YOU CAN DO IT! If I can, you can. I know this is a fact. I know IT! Only you can do it for yourself. And when you do--it will be so amazing. Let me share with you why I know this to be true. Here I am after my very first race, a 5k at the Detroit Zoo, the Run Wild...there is an 10K as well and my husband ran that. He gave me a kiss and off I went. Anyone who knows me, knows I chat, ...a lot..well sometimes, OK,OK most of the time! LOL! I am chatty. So as I ran, I bumped (metaphorically) into this woman. She was running with a man, I suppose it was her husband. I asked how she was doing. I don't know why I did, I just did. She was working hard as I was and he was checking on her over and over as if he wanted to protect her. So I just started yakking away. "Is this your first race? Have you done any others?" and the like. So we ran down the road.
She ran well and so did I. I told her husband to take off and leave us, we were fine. Near the end my new friend told me to take off too--she didn't want to wreck my time. I had no time goal in place, I just wanted to finish. So I made sure she would be OK and I picked up my pace. We both finished. She found me afterwords and we took this picture. She introduced me to her family. I, of course, am horrible with names, and as I write I cannot recall her name. But I think I have her name in my journal, as the day was journal worthy. Afterwards, she gave me a hug. She thanked me profusely and told me "You were my angel." I did not understand what she meant. She then gave me a bracelet with images of Saints all about the wrist. It was really beautiful. I was so touched. All I did was chat on my run with a stranger. But that talking and laughing was so much more to her. I don't know if the run was on her bucket list, if she was truly ill, if she died, if her family was crazy protective, or if she just had never tried anything like that race. I know that I cried when she told me I was her "angel," I did not think it was more than a fun race and lots of talking. But that is the point. When we share, talk, laugh or workout together--do we really know how much we are helping others? I don't think I realize if I help, or how much. But I like to help others be better and know they are beautiful and worthwhile. Every now and then someone will share how much I help and those moments are private but they help me to keep on doing for others...be kind and life will just give it right back to you! Same thing happens when we work to reach our goals of wellness. When we work together we lift each other, we support each other and then we find success. I can tell you, that with that help we all reach our goals. Keep trying each day and join us for summer yoga and our summer training and find your inner HOT CHICK! Hugs, Melissa Top Hot Chick! So often we know we have to work out, right? doctors say we should, insurance companies say we should, our friends say we should, our husband want us to--but isn't it so hard to exercise, eat right, get enough rest and do it all today, right now!!
Yes, it can be hard but we need to MAKE TIME to take care of ourselves. How can we be expected to do all in a day that we need to--deal with the kids, take care of ourselves, deal with husbands, boyfriends or even ex's, deal with work, deal with stress, deal with crazy commutes, ---we must MAKE TIME to take care of ourselves. What does that mean? Take care of ourselves?? Do you get enough rest? Are you organized with your time to be efficient? Put workout time in you day? Have a great budget to reduce stress? Stress can help you put on weight--did you know that? Yep, it effects the cortisol in the body which can add weight to the body. It is hard to reduce stress but we need to make it happen. Simplify your life, what can you do without? Cut out that extra TV time and workout--that can mean take a walk to clear your mind. Or take a run, jog or super-fast walk down by the water. Don't eat that serving or bag of junk whatever. Drink a liter of water and rest. Get a workout video and work up a sweat, enjoy the sweat! You can get a video from the library--for free. Do some yoga, yeah, it seems weird at first then you learn all these cool stretches that feeeeeeeel so very good after you are done. To MAKE TIME to work out means taking time, making time for your own care and well-being. To MAKE TIME means to say no to other distractions like TV, eating poorly or trying to function on little to no sleep--which can lead to a sluggish, weak immune system. Recall how you feel when you get sick, and how your body just wants sleep? I know I want to sleep and just be left alone. Right? But if we are able to get that great amount of sleep on a regular basis. Which can be hard when we are pulled in 10 other directions! It can be hard to say no to TV--after a day in the office or running the kids about--it is so easy to plunk down and just be a slug and watch a show or two and before you know it 3 hours have passed by! Whew! It could be so easy to just stick in a nice, sweaty workout... Eating poorly and stopping the habit is all about learning new habits and new skills. How to change and doing it can save your life. 1) Give up soda. If you do it cold turkey expect headaches, feeling like a slug. But after a couple of weeks you will feel more energized! Drink water, DRINK WATER!! We are mostly water and we never seem to get enough. Give up the junk, the chips, the white flour, the candy, the processed foods--eat fresh, fresh veggies, fresh fruits and farm raised meats. There are so many farm raised animal to be purchased. Farm raised meats are so WONDERFUL--once you eat farm raised, grass-fed animals you will NEVER go back to store bought, feed-lot craptacular animals full of chemicals, disease and ickiness. Try to get organic foods. They have no chemicals, hormones or artificial and added anti-biotics. Yes it is more expensive, but sometimes you have to look at the long term effects. When I was a kids I knew one girl who had diabetes and then later as a teen, my own grandmother had the adult onset. Today I could list at least thirty different people I know that have some kind diabetes. Which is very sad....very sad. Diabetes is preventable, especially Type II. Eat better, eat well--make a list of what you eat in a week and then complete a personal assessment. Those moments are so brutal, but you are a tough, gutsy woman--you can do it! Take an assessment of what you eat and list off some changes--how can you make your diet better? You can do it! Join us for Yoga at the Port Huron Rec Center to move all your part Monday and Wednesday. I feel you, sister, I feel you. I am now working full time about an hour from home. So with the temperature drops, the work and life getting in the way--it is even harder to run, work out or stay moving.
I have dropped a pound, but I know it is my muscle mass...this saddens me as all the fat is still jiggling about! Dang! I understand how hard it is to stay moving and keep health a priority. I get it. I always have. I have fought the great fight against fat but today I am just coming to terms with the reality of my new status. I love the job, don't get me wrong, it's a fun challenge. It is just what I have needed to burn my energy. Plus my kids need me, I am teaching at an alternative high school, teaching art. I don't want to be a "debby-downer" but I really hate not having enough time in the day to get stuff done that I want to--it's not that I am tired, but I just feel "done," You know, when you get home and you just want your jammies on? I feel that more often than not, but I know I have to keep fighting the fight. This past month I want you to know that I completed a 21 day sugar fast. I was happy that I was able to accomplish this feat. I can tell you that ideas of sugar treats buzzed through my head all month long. I mean, the serious mental cravings that just about made me crazy! I mean sugar, ice cream, pies, cakes ( I had my kids drawing ornate-Harry-Potter-ornate-cakes!), cookies, you name it I thought about it. After the 21 days was up I wanted a cinnamon bun. So on my way home I bought one. I am here to tell you that I thew up....three times. I can tell you that cinnamon buns DO NOT come up easily. It was a hard, chunk of gunk. Way to sweet, way to gross. In that 21 days my body had changed significantly. I have a low tolerance for those processed fake sweets. Yes, I still love and want ice creams but I will watch it! I found some English cookies with a hard cookie on the outside and a chocolate cream in the center. Nice, not to sweet, but sweet enough. Look for sweets not made in this country--and you may like them a bit better as they won't be so sickly sweet as treats are made in this country; sweets that are saturated with 4 or more sugars, like high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, malt syrup, invert sugar, fructose, maltose, glucose solids, sucrose, cane sugar, maltodextrin, Dextran, Barley Malt, Beet sugar, cane juice crystals, cane juice solids, corn syrup solids, brown sugar, date sugar, Diatase, Diatase malt, fruit juice, fruit juice concentrate, dehydrated fruit juice, fruit juice crystals, golden syrup, Turbinado, sorghum syrup, refiner's syrup, Ethyl maltol, maple syrup, and/or Yellow sugar. Here is some GOOD NEWS: healthy sugars----Stevia---a natural plant that is super sweet but does not affect the blood sugars in those with diabetes or who are fighting diabetes. BUT you must get it in a low processed form, not highly processed (which will be white). A great form will be green (but is should be without any added dyes. PLUS something cool--Stevia has no glycemic impact! It can be grown in your garden! Pluck it off the plan and use it fresh! Raw honey-- is our third sweetener. I like this one. As raw honey has several great properties including antibacterial, antibiotic and antimicrobial properties. Many use raw honey on topical scrapes or cuts to help fight infection. Choose your honey wisely, as There is nothing beneficial about processed honey! Molasses--its a great source of iron and calcium, but I think it taste like nasty--kaka--icky--blech! Artichoke Syrup--never even heard of it before writing to all you lovely ladies! But it's low glycemic and exceptionally sweet. I am told this one is great for those with candida concious diets, and diabetic aware diets. some research shows that this sweetener may improve gastrointestinal health and calcium absorption. With all sweeteners, USE IN MODERATION! Any overuse of sweeteners can overwhelm the liver and get turned in bad fat! ICK! TAKE CARE OF YOUR LIVER! I ran the Detroit half marathon this past Sunday. I have to say it was fun. I ran my second best PR and would have broken my PR if I was not distracted with a stunning sunrise as I ran over the bridge, having to really, really pee badly while crossing the huge bridge and then taking more photos as I entered the tunnel. Having done all of that I can tell you it was a blast! I felt so great! I was happy taking photos and laughing at others doing the same thing. I was excited for I ran the whole event! Last time I did this race I ran/walked a lot after crossing the tunnel--this time I ran the whole thing. It was so great to see other women out running--fat and fatter than me! IT WAS AWESOME! I had to yell that out here and there--WE ARE AWESOME! WE ARE NOT ON OUR COUCHES! It made me feel great to say it, it made others chime in and chuckle around me! It was edifying to yell it out from time to time--to remind myself of why I was doing the whole race in the first place. Before we started the race I was talking to a great woman named named Nikki, a flight attendant who flies all over. She was charged up to start and we were both freezing-- it was also about 37 degrees. So chatting and moving were getting us all ready. Nikki told me how she had lost about 30 pounds through running and she has about 30 more pounds to go and now she knows she can do it! Its amazing to see the magic, the power of running! Happy endorphins come from running! It psychs us up! It shows us what we can do! We can do amazing things--as women, mothers, wives, daughters---we forget the power we hold when we just get up and move! We inspire ourselves, we show others what they can do, what they can become, we get better and happier at everything. We are able to change, to grow to just become. Yes, I know it sounds crazy--running is not the end all be all, it is not the great fix it--but it sure does help. As a painter, I can tell you running has help me face all the challenges of being an artist...in a world that is very competitive, depressing, challenging, frustrating--and more! I can tell you that running has helped me find my way--not loose focus on what is important in my life. Running really helps....a lot. I know that it has helped me again not get Type 2 diabetes and that improves my quality of life. What are you doing to improve your own quality of life? I have to say I don't really like labels. I find they can effect ones mind and open the door for fear and personal limitations. Having said that I will share all the roles or labels I have, either self imposed or earned.
Wife-I have been married for over 20 years. My husband is awesome and first. As a professioanl I can tell you that I have been ridiculed for being unapologetic about being a wife. In my work as a painter I use the topic of "family" as a subject matter. This is not really accepted in the world. I am happy in my marriage and anyone who knows my husband and I know we have a blast with our lives. I have even had people get angry and not believe that we are best friends, don't fight with each other, don't scream in anger at each other (though we may during a nurf fight!), that we defend each other and take care of each other. Nope, sorry ladies I am not sorry for having any of that greatness in my life! I just hope that each of you can find and savor a marriage just as great! My husband was my inspiration to start running--I saw him finish his first half marathon (Detroit) and I was so moved by the energy, the supportive relationship between and from runners to each other , the support between the runners and the cheering crowd. The next spring I completed my first half marathon in Ohio! I also must say that he is supportive, encouraging, and just kind--in getting me out to run on the days I don't want to as well. He does not belittle me in any way--he has my back. That makes all the difference in the world to me. Artist-I have been a painter since before I could write! I was supplied by a mom who raised us alone. Even in those humble circumstances she made sure I had creative supplies. Today I have shown my work in museums, galleries and corporate spaces. You can see my work on my website, elephantworkstudio.com. I love animals, mostly the elephant, but birds, wild animals, endangered animals. I paint and draw them all. Currently I am working on a a baby giraffe that will be submitted to a worldwide competition. Two years ago I was chosen out of 1,100 artist to be in the show. It was all pretty exciting! For me, art is an extension of who we are as humans. Animals do not make art, but people do and art is a great outlet for love, hate, frustrations, successes--all we feel as humans. We all have challenges in life that get us down, so in my work I strive to focus on the positives--love, family , friends (not the freinemies!), happiness, cheer,--eternal things that give us true joy. That is why my work is bright colors, fun, and cheery. Mother-Yes! I am a mother! We have three great kids (except for when they are not!). Sometimes I love being a mom and sometimes I am tired of being a mom. I change my name and go off to see a movie and recharge. I am glad I could have children. I always wanted a big family, but, alas, this body did not cooperate. Drama with each pregnancy, HELLP Syndrome with the first, diabetes (and a doctor who told me I did not have that!) with the second and the third was just a cow and breach! I am still a bit annoyed with him about that. So I CAN relate to all the drama one can have while being pregnant. I love my kids, but I went through hell to have each one, plus three miscarriages were sprinkled about in between. We all have challenges, its how we face and conquer them that define who we are! Teacher- I have been teaching for about 12-13 years. Last year I taught in Detroit and it was pretty brutal. The "norm" for some of the schools in the city is very scary--assaulting teachers, swearing at teacher, skipping over 70%, all with NO consequences and then getting passed onto the next grade-- burnt me out! If I punched an adult or a child for that matter in the face I would be arrested. Instead there--every and all excuses were made! I felt sad for the processes in place for discipline are not helping our kids to be successful adults. instead it is setting them up to be a statistic. I love art and LOVE teaching art--I just don't think I should have to raise our kids and your kids too. if schools cannot have meaningful discipline actions kids will continue to spiral down a hole with learning. Do no expect any school to raise your kids! Teach them manners and how to be kind, how to read (!!!!) at home. Turn off that darn TV!! Make you kids DO something, play a board game, draw, read-something! Be active in their school, help! OK, I am done with this rant! Closet activist for public education too........sigh... Closet activist- So my husband is funny! He calls me closet activist when I love a product, a shoe, a food article, whatever I SHARE!! food--I love "Fat Sick and nearly Dead!" its a movie, check it out and get healthy today or next week. Eating well is a talent and a learned thing. READ READ READ! Get information, and find out what is in your food. I love to each well. This has truly helped me NOT get Type 2 Diabetes! Eat from outside the grocery store edge, fresh, fresh & fresh! More about this later. apple products--I love my mac! I can't say enough about the simplicity, the intuitiveness and the graphics. being healthy to live--I always talk to other about wellness, vitamin D3, and living well, with health. We will never get enough vitamin D living in the north, so we need to take more vitamin D! Read "The Vitamin D Cure" get more information for yourself! Find a source for green meat--farm raised GRASS fed cow....grass fed pig...YUM and good for you! No hormones, or extra chemicals...good for you! Diabetes Resistant- being active, healthy, learning with about food, eating well, getting enough sleep HAS KEPT ME FROM GETTING TYPE 2 DIABETES! Daughter- I have two parents who are in their 70's who are not on any drugs, healthy active, they are a great inspiration to me. I try to be a good daughter...I goof off occasionally. They are awesome! Mormon- Finally, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.I love the church and I know it is true--this means that I know that here I can have all I need to 1) be part of an eternal family--not till death do us part, 2) I know there is a living prophet on the earth so I don't have to wander about aimlessly, I know the plan of happiness and 3) I know that the Book of Mormon is a second tesitment of Jesus Christ. I love the King James version of the Bible and I love the Book of Mormon, both books are our road maps back to our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. In the church we have a health code called "The Word of Wisdom" this is our guide to healthy living. Years ago when I was in high school someone did a study of the impact of this code to see if living it effected life spans--it was discovered that Mormon men lived about 10 years longer than non-Mormon men. Not sure if that would be true today--but maybe! The Word of Wisdom does impact my desire to be healthy but only minimally. We joined the church when I was 11, my mom had me on a healthy path then. But I live it now as I can see how poor eating choices would impact my life. I think, no, I know, that it is vital that each person have a spiritual center. This has value in being a well-rounded person. Its important to be well-rounded--no pun intended for our Fat Chicks Running! hah! I served a full time mission in Mississippi, I have served in many callings (or Jobs) in the church--all are volunteer, as the church has a lay ministry. Am I going to preach to you on our runs? No. Will I answer sincere questions about my faith, sure! Who wouldn't? This pretty much tells you who I am and what motivated me. So today I wanted to run 3 miles. I have found it very frustrating that after taking only a week off, my legs are just full of protests! Like crazy, mad "I-don't-want-to-run-and-and-you-can't-make-me-protests!
Tomorrow we will be getting up and running at a lovely 6 am. I like to get it out of the way and start the day fresh. But I can tell you today I really want more. I see so many women that are just overweight and flat out fat and I feel so sad because its almost like the "world" is out there trying to get us to believe that its ok to be 20,30, or even 50 lbs. over weight. I know it is not. For me, just being the weight that I am I DOUBLE the chances of getting the adult onset diabetes. DOUBLE. Now you should understand, I don't think that being fat makes me or you less valuable. I don't think that the fat should be defining who and what I am as a woman--or even what I can accomplish. I know the fat CAN define or limit what I can accomplish, because there are days I feel like crap and that is just that! There are days I cannot run another step and I should be able to, I do listen to my body, but I want to push myself as well. |
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M. Leaym-FernandezHey, I am a wife, a mom, a teacher, a wellness activist, and connecting all my parts together--I am an artist! I worry about what women are doing to themselves. Gaining weight, not having balance in life, letting the stress destroy our bodies. This blog is going to be full of stories, ideas, and whatevers that I find to help women not end up like the women in the movie "walli" fat, unable to move, unable to work, unable to live. I want to share my struggles, my story. Archives
February 2018
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