MAINTENANCE--HERE I COME!!

I'm pumped! At this posting, only 3 more pounds to go to hit my 175 goal, from a 202 start. When anyone gets close to their goal, it is time to start...

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Test-Driving the Paleo Diet: Day 2 of the Caveman
Challenge

© Marissa Brassfield

Yesterday, I shared the unboxing of my week’s meals from Pete’s Premade Paleo and my first day’s meals. Today’s post outlines what I ate, how I felt and whether I’ve lost any weight.

Day 2 Revelations

I woke up today feeling pretty good, and very slim. I stepped on the scale and was pumped to discover I was down 3 pounds — great news, but no doubt due to digestion and adjusting to eating less food. It’ll be interesting to see how my weight fluctuates as the week goes on.

I didn’t get hungry before or after meals today, which again surprised me. Before this paleo challenge, I might just eat a bigger meal like a sashimi salad with a specialty roll, or have a protein shake in the morning and a big spinach salad with tuna or another protein later on. While these food choices aren’t horrible, I can now see how the calorie counts can sneak up, especially with X factors like salad dressing and the combination of ingredients in a sushi roll.

Typically, I have a big appetite, but I’ve adjusted pretty well to not eating after my snack at 6 p.m. Perhaps this challenge is the placebo I’ve needed to retrain my brain to eat appropriate portions for my height, fitness goals and build.

It’s really convenient to not have to cook meals from scratch as I usually do. I can see why people spring for meal delivery — there’s no thinking, no guesswork and no waiting. Opting for premade food that’s actually fresh, local and gourmet is a no-brainer. In the spirit of the paleo lifestyle, I’ve even used the time I save on cooking and dishes to work in an extra walk in the afternoons.

Day 2, Meal 1: Chipotle braised chicken thighs with field greens and an apple and bacon salad

© Marissa Brassfield

Oh man, was it nice to see bacon on the plate. I ended up piling the chicken atop the greens and finishing a bite of that with the apple and bacon salad until the greens were gone, then eating the rest separately.

Day 2, Meal 2: Duck tenderloin stir fry, carrots, snap peas and asparagus

© Marissa Brassfield

Delicious. I’d forgotten how much I like duck; it’s something I’d definitely order at a restaurant but just never think to buy and prepare at home. The veggies were still crisp and the duck perfectly tender.

Day 2, Snack: Spicy trail mix

© Marissa Brassfield

A nice sweet, spicy and savory treat.

Tomorrow, I’ll share Day 3′s meals, weigh-in and my revelations on adopting a paleo diet.

(By Marissa Brassfield for CalorieLab)

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Test-Driving the Paleo Diet: Day 2 of the Caveman Challenge is a post from: CalorieLab - Health News & Information Blog

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veman-challenge/

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The Paleolithic Diet Explained (INFOGRAPHIC)

(CC) OakleyOriginals/Flickr

As part of my 90-day Caveman Challenge, I wanted to highlight some of the nuances of the paleo diet. I found this infographic, titled The Paleolithic Diet Explained: Ancient Answers to Modern Problems from Pete’s Premade Paleo, where I’m buying my meals. It offers a nice timeline of human evolution and some of the theories behind the paleo diet’s benefits.

The paleo diet essentially focuses on foods we would have had access to before the Agricultural Revolution. The eating plan doesn’t really mesh with labels like low-fat or low-carb. Paleo folks get their fats and carbs from animal proteins, nuts, fruits, vegetables and other good stuff. They stay away from processed foods, grains, and both natural and artificial sugar.

Some people who eat a paleo diet adopt lifestyle hacks that create an environment similar to those our ancestors would have had. For example, they might avoid artificial light at night or train themselves to wake up without an alarm, when they’re rested. Outdoor exercise is another key component of the paleolithic lifestyle.

Check out the infographic below, and be sure to check out my progress on the 90-day Caveman Challenge here.

(By Marissa Brassfield for CalorieLab)

Ed. note: Enjoyed this post? Click the “Like” button below and be sure to “Like” the CalorieLab Facebook page.

The Paleolithic Diet Explained (INFOGRAPHIC) is a post from: CalorieLab - Health News & Information Blog

Read The Full Article:
http://calorielab.com/news/2012/08/07/paleolithic-diet-explained-infographic/

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MS - A DAY IN THE LIFE - a Patient's story

August 6, 2012

The below diary piece is my effort to show how much work combating a progressive disease can require.  It?s not the way, it?s just my way. This isn?t to brag or to make anyone feel inadequate or unproductive, though I suspect many of you will relate to certain aspects of this experience. We?ve all got to fight this thing any way we can.
9 am: Awakened by alarm, sit up in bed, drag the morning drugs out of my nightstand. Begin the day by taking one Ampyra, two Mycophenelate (the drug intended to aid with organ transplant that is supposed to help slow the progression of MS). Scooter to bathroom, empty bladder. Take first Tizanidine tablet of day.
Have breakfast of low sugar, high fiber cereal with soymilk. Fresh berries if they are available. Go back to bedroom/office, call insurance company, drug companies as required. This can suck up an hour of a typical morning. Depending on the day, I will use some of the morning for life coaching. Between 11 am and 12 pm, I head over to the gym, located conveniently down the block from my apartment.  I spend 1 ½ - 2 hours using a variety of machines to maintain my strength. 

Continue Reading 

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Easy Tips to Optimize Your Digestion for Better
Health

Guest Blog Post by Iris Higgins, gluten-free cook book author and blogger of www.thedailydietribe.com, hypnotherapist with master's degree in psychology plus a Women's Wellness Wizard.  Be sure to check out her very insightful and informative blog for great recipes and more.

As important as it is to eat the right foods and take the correct vitamins, it is equally vital that you optimize your digestion to better absorb the nutrients you're taking in. Individuals with compromised digestion, such as those with Celiac or Crohn's Disease, may have more trouble actually absorbing nutrients.

Stress Reduction Improves Digestion

One of the simplest - and often overlooked - ways to improve digestion and absorption is via stress reduction. Stress and anxiety during meals can decrease one's ability to digest food, thereby also decreasing the optimal absorption of nutrients. Here are some quick tips for decreasing stress before, during, and after meals so you can be sure you're getting the most out of them!

1. Don't eat standing up or while driving your car. Likewise, turn off the TV and move away from the computer. Meals and snacks should be eaten while sitting down and focusing on your meal. This allows your body to recognize that it's eating and focus its attention on that.
2. When you sit down to a meal, take 30 seconds to take some slow breaths in and out. If you like, use this time to say grace or give thanks for the gift of your food. This allows your body time to calm down and prepares your body to eat.
3. Begin meals with a salad that includes bitter greens, like dandelion greens or arugula. Bitter greens will promote the secretion of bile, which aids in digestion. 
4. Once you're done eating, give yourself another 30 seconds to take some relaxing breaths. If you can, do some gentle stretches or take a walk around the block. Try not to lie down immediately, as this can interfere with the digestive process and cause heartburn for some people. 
5. Don't forget that these tips also apply for taking your vitamins and supplements. Set up a routine for yourself so that you're not taking them as you run out the door. Take them with your meals, or if taken separately, sit down and use it as a five minute break in your day. 

 Less stress = better digestion = better absorption of nutrients = a happier, healthier you!

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http://blog.wellesse.com/blog/-not-set--2/easy-tips-to-optimize-your-digestion-fo
r-better-health

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Weight loss day 2

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I am 16 years old and from Australia. I am 35 pounds over my goal. I want to lose 20 pounds by the end of the...

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49.html

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11 Not-So-Healthy 'Health' Foods

Just because something is labeled "smart" doesn't mean it's an intelligent choice. Arm yourself with knowledge to avoid these sneaky saboteurs. ...

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