Month: February 2012

Categories
General Weight Loss Tips

Don’t Let Your Mind Bully Your Body

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I found this print by Lori Weitzel on pinterest and had to put it up. Isn’t this the truth? I deal with my mind every single day. It likes to justify and convince me that my bad habits are survival. That I need to eat until I can’t move or until I’m sick. That it’s just this one time, tomorrow I will be good. It’s as though food is oxygen and even though I’ve had enough, it wants more. And every time I turn it down and say no, the bully gets weaker. I imagine it takes a very long time for the bully to play a very small part in my life. So small, that he won’t even make it to the end credits.

I’ve made a list of all the reasons why I don’t want to eat too much food. This list is best written after eating too much, because for me, it’s more true and it hits harder. This list is helpful for when the bully or the lower brain works with me to justify making me sick. It tells me I’ve earned it, that I’ve had a bad day or that I’m not worth the trouble. It tells me that food will smooth things over and make everything uncomfortable go away.

One thing on my list is how dramatically different I feel. When I’ve had just enough food, I feel like I can do anything. I feel hopeful, excited, and optimistic. When I eat too much food I feel depressed, moody and hopeless. It feels as though the earth will open up and swallow me. It feels like I will never make anything great happen. Knowing the truth helps me to ignore the bully, it makes me stronger.

What’s on your list?

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Categories
General Weight Loss Tips

Chopped

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I’m going to go ahead and congratulate myself again for prepping vegetables last night. It was late, I was tried and so ready for bed, but I convinced myself to cut up all the vegetables anyway. Thank you self. I was able to throw this salad together in about five minutes. Spinach, cherry tomatoes, red cabbage, green onions, cauliflower, monterey jack, cucumber, one egg and couple of pan-fried slices of polenta.

choppedsalad2 Chopped

And then the dressing, oh the dressing. Let me just come clean once and for all: I’m a creamy dressing person. Blame it on my West Virginia upbringing if you will, but I love ranch dressing. That love runs deep. And while I do like the occasional homemade vingrette, my heart and soul truly wants creamy dressing. And because I don’t always have ranch on hand, this is a good thing, I decided to make something up.

Creamy Salsa Dressing

1 T sour cream, 1/2 T mayonnaise, and 2-3 T homemade salsa. Mix it up, toss it with your fixings and behold, a better alternative to ranch. I love it so much that I could dedicate myself to a salad every single day.

I also had a serving of trail mix for a snack. Trail mix is hilarious. Have you seen what a serving looks like?

This was my first time cooking with pre-made polenta and I really enjoyed the added texture and flavor in my salad. I have a whole polenta log left, any idea as to what I should make with it?

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Categories
Weight Loss Exercise

Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment



Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong metabolic disorder characterized by high levels of glucose or sugar in the blood.  Type 1 diabetes is when the body does not generate sufficient insulin while Type 2 diabetes is when the cells do not respond to insulin.  This article focuses on the causes, symptoms and treatment of diabetes type 2.

About Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes type 2 is the most common type of diabetes and affects 90-95% of diabetics.  It is characterized by insulin resistance or a defective response by the cells to insulin.  In some cases, production of insulin by the pancreas may be reduced.

Glucose or blood sugar provides fuel for the cells in the body.  Insulin is responsible for transporting glucose from the bloodstream into the cells.  When insulin cannot move the glucose into the cells, glucose accumulates in the blood and can cause diabetes complications such as damage to the nerves, kidneys, cardiovascular system and vision.

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by lifestyle factors and genetics.  A sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and a diet high in carbohydrates and sweets are the most common causes of diabetes 2.

Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

The usual symptoms of diabetes are increased frequency of urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger.  People who have diabetes may also lose weight for no apparent reason.

When left untreated, diabetes can result in vision damage.  Prolonged high levels of glucose in the blood can cause glucose absorption in the lens of the eye, resulting in changes in its shape leading to blurred vision.

Other symptom of diabetes are skin rashes and wounds that heal very slowly.

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease with no known cure.  As such, “treatment” may be a misnomer.  A better term might be “management” of the disease.  Management focuses on keeping blood glucose levels as close as possible to normal.  If you are diagnosed with diabetes type 2, your doctor may prescribe some form of medication.  Diet and exercise are also important in controlling type 2 diabetes.

Recent studies show that type 2 diabetes can be successfully managed without the need for medications.  A healthy diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in fiber, protein, wholegrain cereals, dairy products, fruits and vegetables can keep blood sugar at normal or near-normal levels.  The right diet and exercise help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels and prevent or reduce complications of diabetes such as blindness, kidney damage, nerve damage, and heart disease.

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